Independent Bo'ness publisher set for new book launch

Sam Dolan (40) founded Lost the Plot Creative in the town she now calls home in January, working out of the Flxy Space in North Street.

As well as stocking some of the most exciting titles in romantasy, fantasy and sci-fi, Sam has also established a popular monthly book club and a bi-weekly writing club.

In addition, she’s been working with writers from near and far who are looking to publish their work in a traditional fashion, while steering away from the publishing industry’s big five.

Sam graduated in 2016 with an MA in creative writing from Napier University and is also currently working on her PhD at Lancaster University.

She published an anthology of her own short stories in 2018 and worked as an editor with science fiction magazine Shoreline of Infinity, in which her work has also been published.

Having moved to Bo’ness with her husband in 2014, the London native has come to love her ‘home’ town and decided it was the ideal place to launch her own business.

She said: “It’s a wonderful community in Bo’ness and people in the town have been really supportive.

“It’s lovely to be in the Flxy Space too, with people popping in to buy books and find out about the different genres.

“The book club is now full and the writing club, which only launched a couple of weeks ago, is going really well too.”

It has been a busy five months since launching but Sam’s also managed to work closely with some talented writers, keen to publish their work.

On Monday, May 18, Lost the Plot Creative will host its very first book launch in the town’s Hippodrome at 7pm.

Riches to Rags is the first foray into writing for Broxburn-based author Emma Davies, who has put her trust in Sam to promote the semi-autobiographical book.

Sam said: “I’m offering a direct route to an independent publisher for authors, helping to mentor them along the way.

“It’s been a learning curve, for sure, as both Emma and I have been working it out as we’ve been going along.

“Emma is really driven though, which has helped, and we’re both very excited about next Monday’s book launch.”

An army veteran, Emma has chosen to write about her grandfather Jack, who also served in the army during World War One. Stationed in France, he was captured at Haplincourt and became a prisoner of war.

Riches to Rags charts his story during the war years and after, when he returned home to Liverpool.

In addition to the Bo’ness launch, there will be a book signing event in Liverpool where Emma’s family are originally from.

Sam and Emma have been working together since January, doing a power of work to ensure the book was ready for its May launch.

Sam enlisted the help of Palimpsest typesetters in Falkirk on the layout and it is now at the printers down south, with copies due any day now.

“We can’t wait to see the finished book,” said Sam. “It’s been a busy few months but we’re looking forward to the launch in the Hippodrome and hope people will pop in to find out more.”

Kicking off at 7pm, Emma will give a short reading from the book and then open the floor to questions.

Copies of Lost the Plot Creative’s first book, signed by the author, will also be available, priced £10.99.

Sam added: “I’m excited but nervous; being an independent publisher, you take the risk for the author.

“However, the independent advance reviews have been incredible so we’re hoping it will do well.”

For those who can’t attend the launch, copies of the book will also be available at Lost the Plot Creative and Inkspot and Silverleaf Booksellers in South Street.