Writers' News - Four-book deal joy

	Four-book deal joy When ex-firefighter, Tony Paul, started writing two monthly columns for the practical art magazine Leisure Painter, he had no idea that it would lead to a book deal, let alone a four-book series. After Leisure Painter’s annual survey found the column Colour of the Month to be one of the most popular columns in the magazine, Tony, Dorchester, Dorset, was asked to extend it. ‘It eventually ran for three years,’ says Tony ‘after which I brought it to a close, having exhausted all the useful colours.’ Whilst the series was running both LP and Tony received letters asking when the information would be available in book form.
	When the series closed we received a deluge of letters to the same effect,’ he adds. In 2002 he sent off to appropriate publishers but had no joy until one, New Holland, replied with interest. ‘‘We agreed a deal and a 25,000 initial print run – within six months I delivered the manuscript,’ says Tony. New Holland suggested a series, though, and invited Tony to write three more books which he did... one every six months.

The final manuscript How to Paint from Photographs was delivered last December.

‘I believe part of the reason I was commissioned to do more,’ says Tony, ‘was because they found that I was reliable and delivered easy to work manuscripts.’

The first book How to Mix and Use Colour which has almost sold out in hardback has been reprinted in paperback, the third How to Create Texture in Your Paintings is out next month, £14.99.

This wasn’t his first attempt at writing. Whilst in the Fire Service Tony wrote and illustrated The Story of the Fire Service, published by former military publishers Almark (1975).

His first novel The Brats, based on the exploits of his grandfather who stowed away to Canada, was printed by POD [Print on Demand] – Woodfield Publishing.

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