You Say Tomato...

Hello, all! Thank you for the lovely supportive comments on last week's blog post!

It's a Bank Holiday Monday here, the 'hood is alive with the sounds (and rubbish) of Notting Hill Carnival, and I'm on my way out the door. So I'm pleased to hand over the blog to the wonderful Laura Pepper Wu today. Take it away, Laura!

You say tomato, I say tomato. You say eggplant, I say WTH?!

 As a Brit living in Seattle, I love reading Talli’s blog and hearing all about the happenings “back home”, and of course her perspective on them as a Canadian in the UK!

When you move to a country other than the one you grew up in, you expect culture and language differences to hit you almost immediately. And they do; I say rocket, you say arugula, I say duvet you say comforter, and so on.

There are plenty of subtle things that creep up on you only as time goes by however. The longer I’m here in the US, the more I realise that there are a myriad of social and cultural differences that are harder to spot. Though we speak a common language, the US and UK have different ways of socialising, making friends, interacting, humour, and what’s ok - and what’s not ok to talk about or do can be contrasting, too.

It takes some analysis to understand why a conversation bombed, why you felt totally misunderstood, or why you were left feeling as though you just did something utterly inappropriate and awkward! But it’s all part of the fun of traveling or living overseas, right? Entering my fourth year living in North America, here are the language differences that I’ve come to understand of late!

The British use of negatives to describe something positive

-       The other day the nice man at the smoothie bar asked me how my day was going - in typical West Coast friendliness – and I replied cheerfully “Not bad, thanks!” This was met with lots of laughter. As he filtered strawberries and banana into the blender, he periodically threw his head back to giggle, saying under his breath, “not bad, not bad!” I felt a little flummoxed by this until I read recently that Brits are infamous for using a negative to describe something positive. Case in point: That Talli is awfully nice, isn’t she?

Calling me out

-       A few years ago, I asked a new acquaintance “What is your son called?” She asked me to repeat the question several times, and then looked a little peeved as she responded, with a wee bit of attitude, “you mean his name?”

I sort of forgot about this incident until a couple of weeks ago when a friend asked me where I had just come from. “Oh I was just having coffee with this woman called Liz…” I started. “What did you just say?!” she laughed, going on to explain that in US English, using the term “to call someone” is pretty rude. Rather, Americans might say  “I was having coffee with this woman named Liz…” I cannot tell you how many times I must have said or written this over the last few years. Holy shitake.

What’s in a name?

-       In the UK, you could have a lengthy conversation with a strange in a pub, or sit next to someone on a train or plane for hours without ever exchanging names. You might know the man down the street as ‘the bloke with the red car’, even though you say hi to him every morning!

In the US, names seem to be much more important – people often introduce themselves as soon as you meet them, even if you’re likely only to be talking for a few minutes and may never see them again. It’s just not that important to us Brits to be so name-aware – or at least we have a different sense of privacy than in the US where greetings are often accompanied by revealing your identity.

I know that readers of Talli’s blog are from the US, Canada, UK, Oz… and we speak all kinds of le English! I’d love to hear your stories about times you felt completely awkward or embarrassed when using a kind of English that wasn’t familiar to the other person… and the consequences of course! Leave a comment J

Laura Pepper Wu is Editor at The Write Life Magazine. She grew up in the UK before spending 3.5 years in Japan, and the last 3.5 years in the US. She loves culture, travel, and exploring Seattle’s best coffee shops! Find out more about her and the lifestyle magazine for writers – The Write Life Magazine – at www.thewritelifemagazine.com. The digital magazine is available for free download from the App Store now.  Say hi on Twitter @LauraPepWu!

Thank you, Laura. Have a great week, all!

It's a Bit of a Struggle

I'll be honest here. Writing a novel while caring for a baby? It's a bit of a struggle. I love Baby TR with every cell in me, and I can't imagine life without him now. But looking back PBTR (pre-Baby-TR), I honestly had no idea how much time I had. I want to bellow at the old me now: Enjoy it! Lie on the sofa! Savour the silence! Take that nap! Because you'll never, ever be able to fully relax again! I am constantly twitching at each and every little noise, thinking it's the baby crying.

While I do manage to get the odd uninterrupted nap (I only write while he's napping), more often than not, I'll just be getting into a scene when he lets out a wail. I'll tip-toe in, settle him, creep back out and sit down at the desk . . . and another wail erupts.

No-one is forcing me to write while my baby is still young. But writing is a part of me -- I need to do it. I can't imagine not having a story playing out in my mind; not having that creative outlet. It's a piece of me I can't (and don't want to!) let go, no matter how hard it may be.

On the positive side, though, Baby TR has forced me to be extremely disciplined about sitting down at the desk. When I know I only have a limited window, suddenly it's not so hard to turn off Twitter and write like the wind, even if I'd much prefer to a. take a nap!; b. lie on the sofa and savour the (occasional) silence; or c. drink a freakin' HUGE glass of wine.

Writing a novel is hard work. Taking care of a baby is hard work. The two of them together? Well . . .  Where's that wine?

(And if you tell me to cherish these moments, I will virtually slap you with a very wet nappy.) 

I Will Never Be One of Those Writers

Happy Monday, all! Hope you had a glorious weekend.

As I tear my hair out over the second draft of The No-Kids Club - which I thought I'd finished and got everything spot on... so not the case!), I have finally come to terms with the fact that I will never be one of those writers. You know, the ones who have everything planned out on neat little PostIts or glossy whiteboards -- and who somehow manage to stick to it.

How? How do they do it? (Can you hear me howl?) Because no matter how many times I vow I've got it right, and that this is the time I've got everything sorted beforehand, inevitably once I've started drafting I'll take a look at my meticulous plot and think: naaahhhhhh. And then blithely go on my merry writing way.

I've written oven ten novels now -- not many by some standards but not a paltry sum, either -- and I have finally made peace with my writing process. The only way my writerly mind makes sense of things is by writing, rewriting, rewriting the rewrites, and rewriting some more. Sigh!

But as frustrating as that may seem sometimes, it's part of the fun, too. You never know what road you'll go down, what new characters might come up, or what the finished product will resemble (hopefully not a pile of poo).

So here's to never being one of those writers!

What kind of writer are you?

Party Like It's... 2013

Hello, all!

I'm a little late posting today due to some earlier high jinx, but it's wine o'clock, Baby TR's in bed, my writing for the day is finished, and a takeaway is simmering in the oven. Ahhhhhhhhh.

Today, I'm delighted to be hosting Janice Horton, writer and partier extraordinaire.

Take it away, Janice!

How To Party Online 

Social media applications are perfect forums for parties – the venue capacity is infinite, the guest list can be global, and all the fun and games can lead to bestselling success!

One of my top tips for creating online fun is to think carefully about the party date. Consider factors that might affect your guest’s attendance. If it’s a school holiday, for instance, will that be a negative or a plus for your party? Red letter days like Halloween and Valentine’s Day might tie in nicely with your theme, but be aware that lots of other online party peeps might have the same thought and therefore it might be harder for you to get noticed. 

In the same regard, public holidays like May Day and Easter Weekend might take people away from home or away from their social media networks. Essentially, once you have chosen your party day, work backwards on a timeline to make sure you can fit in all the planning.

I decided to write ‘How To Party Online’ after hosting several successful online parties and then being contacted by party peeps who wanted to know how I went about organising them. The result was ‘How To Party Online’: a guide that aims to help you to find fun and success while you party online!

“Social media marketing could be her specialist subject on Mastermind.” DG Life Magazine

 How To Party Online is available exclusively for Kindle on Amazon UK and Amazon.com

About the author: Janice Horton escaped a city-chic lifestyle and a career in corporate brand placement to live in a remote cottage on the side of a hillside in Scotland. Previously traditionally published and now writing as an Indie, Janice writes fiction with humour and heart and a hint of tartan. When not writing novels, Janice writes lifestyle articles and has had work published in national and international magazines. She has also been involved in BBC Scotland's 'Write Here Write Now' incentive. Janice is a regular blogger and you'll often find her partying on Facebook and Twitter.

Janice’s Blog. Follow her on Twitter: @JaniceHorton. Like her Facebook Page. Link to her Amazon Author Page. Check out her Goodreads. Featured Author & Associate Editor at: Loveahappyending.com

Thank you, Janice!

Have a lovely week, everyone. See you next Monday!

Won't You Be My Neighbour?

Am I hallucinating, or did that used to be a song by Mr Rogers (I realise I've probably just dated myself here)?

Anyway, it's big excitement here in the 'hood, because as you may have heard, we have a new neighbour: Prince George.

TR Towers (ha!) is right around the corner from Kensington Palace, so we were delighted to welcome the new resident.On the day following his birth, Baby TR and I took a stroll around to see if we could greet him. Instead, we found the world's media gathering in eager anticipation.

Baby TR wasn't quite the baby they were waiting for, but he was happy to pose anyway.

No sooner had we arrived home than we heard the helicopters overhead and sirens blaring, welcoming the new prince home. Ah, well. We may have missed the royal baby, but I've got a little oligarch all for myself.

Have a great week, everyone!

Baking and Basking

Monday! It's baking in London (yet again - we're actually having summer!) and I'm currently stuck to the leather sofa as I type. Not a pretty sight, I can assure you.

Thank you so much for all the congratulations on my Amazon deal! I've yet to make my way around to everyone, but I appreciate each and every comment.

Last week's news overshadowed my return from the annual Romantic Novelists' Association Conference. This year, it was held in sunny Sheffield and I couldn't wait to attend. As the moment for departure drew closer, though, I had to tear myself from from Baby TR (first night away!) and force mind and body through the door.

A glass of wine and my wonderful flatmates put everything right once I was there (except for my bionic boobs which were near to bursting all weekend, but we won't go into that!), and I soon drifted off on a wonderful cloud of writerly conversations and fantastic company.

Basking outside in the tropical temperatures: Giselle Green, Rhoda Baxter, Lizzie Lamb and me.

Still basking: me and Cally Taylor.

Our luxurious accommodation.

My wonderful flatmates! Kate Johnson, Imogen Howson, Ruth Long, Sarah Callejo, me, Jane Lovering

More basking.

(All photos courtesy of Lizzie Lamb because I was too lazy.)

As you can see, attending a conference is very hard work indeed!

I hope you all have a lovely week ahead. See you next Monday!

NEWS!

Happy Monday, all! It is a very happy Monday here indeed, because not only is the weather downright tropical, but I can finally announce that I have signed a two-book deal with Amazon Publishing! It has been absolutely killing me to keep my mouth shut until all the nitty-gritty details were ironed out (huge thanks to Madeleine Milburn, my agent, for her tenacity and hard work), but I can now say that Amazon is going to re-publish The Pollyanna Plan with a sparkly new cover, and they'll release The No-Kids Club sometime around Spring 2014.

Yay!

Many of you know that I've been very happy self-publishing since choosing to leave my publisher almost two years ago. And that hasn't changed -- I plan to continue to self-publish around my other novels as time and schedules allow.  However, I have to admit it will be nice to collaborate with a knowledgeable team of professionals . . . not to mention it's Amazon! I have witnessed the impact of their marketing power and hope they can help me grow my audience. I'm really excited to be on their team.

I have to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me from the very beginning (2010 wasn't that long ago, but it seems like forever!). From my blogsplash to baby, you have continually made my day and even though I can't do the blog rounds as often as I'd like, I love hearing from you. I really feel like you're all a huge part of my writing journey.

So . . . wine for all! Champagne for all! Red Twizzlers for . . . ME!

Once again, a heartfelt thanks and have a lovely week.

Made of Win!

In case you haven't noticed (and if you live in the UK, you'd have to be under a rock not to), we have a new Wimbledon Champion -- and for the first time in 77 years, he's British! Well done, Andy. You've given strawberries and cream a whole new raison d'etre.

Not only that, but London is currently in the grips of a 'heatwave' (known by the rest of the world as 'summer'), and the skies are blue, Pimms is overflowing, and parks heaving. Plus, I've finished the first draft of the No-Kids Club! It's all good.

Here are a few photos for you from last week's exploits in the sun.

Bubbles on the South Bank.

View of The Shard (the tall, pointy building) from the Millennium Bridge.

First Pimms of the season!

Gratuitous baby shot! Baby TR examines the grass of Kensington  Palace and finds it lacking. 

Next weekend, I'm off to the RNA Conference in Sheffield, so brace yourself for tales of wine and shoes on Monday! Have a great week, everyone. 

Sunlounger is Here... on Canada Day!

Happy Monday!

Today is a very auspicious day, because not only is it Canada Day (yay!), it's also publication day for Sunlounger, an anthology organised by the wonderful Belinda Jones, including a story by moi. There's lots of info about the authors and their stories at this website, and just look at the fabulous cover.

If that doesn't get you in the summer spirit, I don't know what will! Here's a bit more about it:

Take a trip around the world with 44 of the hottest writers in Women's Fiction!

This collection of sun-kissed short stories will have you boarding a millionaire's yacht in St Tropez, exploring a sheik's palace in Dubai, swimming with dolphins in Australia, partying in Ibiza, surfing in Hawaii, exploring ancient ruins in Turkey and Cambodia and sipping Limoncello in Italy! 

Whether you read it on your favourite beach (Sunlounger features golden sands from Greece to Thailand) or on your daily commute or coffee break you will be spirited away on a variety of adventures - some will make you chuckle, some will make your heart pang, others will inspire you to live your life to the max!

You can check it out on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

Happy Canada Day, all! Have a great one!

Life Begins at 22

Hello, all! I had a total blog fail yesterday owing to someone pinning me down on the sofa and forcing me to watch the Federer Wimbledon match. What can I say, it was difficult but I toughed it out. 

So today, I'm taking part in the Life Begins at 22 'blorgy' (a Gemma Burgess word; I didn't make it up!)  to celebrate the launch of Gemma's Brooklyn Girls. Find out more about the book here and read more Life Begins at 22 entries here. I'm posting a bit early but there will be plenty of other entries to peruse soon!

For me, this post should probably be entitled Life Begins at 24, because that is the age I finally finished my Masters and went out into the big wide world of work. And thus began the disillusionment with corporate life, because although I loved having my own flat, making money, and living in a great city, I detested the nine to five grind of doing something (in this case, editing a medical journal) which was guaranteed to put me to sleep within five minutes. 

In fact, my colleagues and I would often indulge in a cheeky little snooze while looking suitably engrossed in an article on DREs (don't ask - you really don't want to know, believe me). 

But the brilliant group of people I worked with more than made up for the rather lacklustre material. All young, most just a few years out of university and living away from their hometowns, we became a close circle. Outside of the beige office, we took on Montreal: going to bars, eating eating eating, and hanging out on the terraces during the lovely hot summers. 

I still remember the heady excitement of exploring a fantastic new city, the freedom of returning home to my own apartment, and knowing that if I wanted something, I had the money to buy it. Life after 24 was all about freedom and fun, and although there was the inevitable heartbreak and confusion, that's what I remember most.

What do you remember about your twenties?

Pavilion in the Park

I hope everyone had a glorious weekend! I have now passed the 50,000 mark on The No-Kids Club, which I'm sure deserves a few glasses of wine. I'm hoping to finish the first draft in the next few weeks, and then the dreaded editing begins. *cue music of doom*

The past week has been a busy one! I'm very pleased to say I signed with super-agent Madeleine Milburn. She's got a great stable of authors -- many of whom I know -- and I'm thrilled to be a part of them. I hope to give more details of exactly why I've decided to go with an agent in the near future!

In a complete non sequitur, every year, the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens commissions an architect to design a summer pavilion. Checking it out has become an annual occurrence! While I wasn't keen on last year's, I quite like this summer's structure.

Gratuitous baby shot!

Have a great week, everyone. See you next Monday. 

Sex. On Tuesdays. Or Not.

Oh, my. It's Monday! Again! Who knew time could pass so quickly? I am currently tearing my hair and rending my wardrobe (not to worry, I've been wearing the same coffee-stained sweater for days).

Well, you'll be happy to hear that Baby TR has now decided he likes his crib and has returned to regular nap-times. Phew! I'm able to write again and I'm almost half-way through the first draft of The No-Kids Club. Whoop!

But enough about me! Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Tracy Bloom to the blog.

Take it away, Tracy.

Dreams Do Come True - But Not How You Expect Them To!

 I’d always dreamed of writing a book and getting it published. I pictured myself walking into book shop and seeing it there, right at the front, with my name all over it. That was my dream. And it came true…well sort of.

I didn’t start writing until marriage, a baby and a husband sent to work in the USA for three years slung me out of my previous career developing theme park rides and attractions and into desperate housewife territory.  In a bid to avoid domestic duties and people who didn’t understand my Derbyshire accent I threw myself into my dream, writing whilst my son napped in the afternoons. I joined a creative writing class and my romantic comedy, No-one Has Ever Had Sex on a Tuesday, began to take shape.

Eventually I finished my tale of a one-night stand that leads to utter chaos so I skipped class to sweat over letters to potential agents in London. Not that I thought I’d get one, I just fancied getting some transatlantic mail.  But to my absolute shock one wanted me. Champagne corks popped.  My dream was coming true...wasn't it?

My agent took my book to Frankfurt Book Fair and I waited patiently to hear when I would see my book in Waterstones. The news came that it had sold to the highest bidder in a German auction and a pre-empted bid had secured it a home in Italy. Not long after Brazil grabbed hold of it followed by Poland. But no UK publisher stepped forward. Initially I was crushed that I wouldn’t be seeing my book on home territory until the reality of being published abroad sunk in. Someone in Brazil, a country I had never even visited, thought I was funny, thought I could write and wanted other Brazilians to read my story.  That, I decided, was very cool.

So I headed to Italy to live the dream of seeing my book in a store.  I took pictures whilst trying to convince shop owners that I was the author and not some eccentric English lady who couldn’t speak Italian and yet convinced she's written an entire book in their language. Not quite what I had imagined but amazing all the same.

This year NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY is finally published in English. With the support of my agent who also represents Sophie Kinsella, Veronica Henry and Kate Harrison I have self-published on Amazon.  So I still won't get to see it in a book shop but who knew that watching my novel fight its way up the Amazon charts gathering great reviews as it goes would actually be my dream come true?

You can follow me on Twitter @TracyBBloom or Facebook www.facebook.com/tracybloomwrites or get in touch via my website www.tracybloom.com.

 Thank you, Tracy! 

And an even better ending: since writing this post, Tracy's novel has rocketed to Number One on Amazon.co.uk! Congratulations, Tracy. It seems dreams really do come true. 

Have a great week, everyone. 

Notting Hill Press Launches!

Hello, Monday!

This week has been a busy one as usual, especially since Baby TR has decided he does not want to nap in his lovely new crib. Camping out in his room during nap-times has somewhat reduced my productivity although I swear I now have the ability to see in the dark.

But onwards and upwards! Today is an exciting day: I'm thrilled to announce the launch of a new publishing partnership I'm involved in: Notting Hill Press, a place to find some of the U.K.'s best-loved chick lit/romantic comedy. 

With more than 40 books already under its imprint, our authors include Sunday Times best-sellers Belinda Jones, Chrissie Manby and Sue Welfare; Romantic Novelist Association nominees and award-winners Victoria Connelly and Scarlett Bailey (aka Rowan Coleman); Festival of Romance  award-winner Nicola May; and best-selling debut author Lucy Robinson and Amazon best-sellers Nick Spalding, Matt Dunn and Michele Gorman.

Phew! 

We have a piece on the USA Today Romance blog explaining how it all came about, but basically, we're a collective of traditionally published writers who are also self-publishing, and we'll be sharing promotional efforts and professional contacts. Plus, we want Notting Hill Press to act as a sort of 'seal of approval' for British chick lit/ rom-com novels. It's an exciting time to be an author, and we hope this new initiative will showcase author power.

And there's a huge giveaway happening over on our Facebook page. Pop by to check it out!

Enough excitement for one day, I think . . . and little Lobster Baby is wailing again, so I must be off. See you next week!

Party and Parks

Happy Tuesday! Yes, Tuesday. I'm a little late posting this week, owing to the long weekend. For once, we had sun! Yes, sun! On a Bank Holiday weekend. I needed a drink to get over my flabbergastion (should be a word!).

I've been attending parties . . .

At the RNA Party a couple weeks ago.

Wrangling with this little guy . . .

Now five months old!

And enjoying springtime in London with my parents.

And, of course, I've been writing writing writing. It's busy times here chez Roland!

Is it spring in your neck of the woods? Have a great week, everyone!

Love, Cupid, and Gosling

Happy Monday!

This week I am gallivanting around the city (well, as much as one can 'gallivant' with a five-month-old), so I'm inviting the wonderful and vivacious Holly Hepburn to take over my blog today! I shall return next week with photos from the RNA Summer Party and all my latest exploits. Brace yourself!

Until then . . . here's Holly!

My name is Holly Hepburn and I am an addict. But before you judge me, read my story.

Back in December 2012, I was just like you. I had an idea for a book about Cupid, but I thought it would be a YA novel and, with all my other writing, I didn't really have time to write it. Then two things happened; firstly, I watched a film called Crazy Stupid Love, starring a certain R Gosling. I should say at this point that although I was aware of Le Gosling, I hadn't seen any of his films and could quite possibly have passed him on the street without knowing it. That all changed once I watched Crazy Stupid Love. Not only did it make me guffaw with laughter, it ignited an - um - appreciation of the actor himself.

The second thing was that I dreamed I actually wrote Cupidity. Only it wasn't a YA novel, it was a chick lit novella and it sold like red roses on St Valentine's Day. And in my dream, it was made into a film starring Ryan Gosling as Cupid. After that, it seemed rude not to write the book and release it on Valentine's Day 2013.

Fast forward around two months and I abandoned the project at around 13,000 words. It was two days before Valentine's Day, I couldn't finish it in time and I had other deadlines banging at my door. So, with deep regret, I closed the Google page of Ryan Gosling images and got on with my other writing.

Around six weeks later, I was finishing my contribution to the Sunlounger anthology and was hit by the sudden realisation that Cupidity didn't have to be a Valentine's Day story - it could work just as well as a tale of summer loving. With quivering fingers, I searched out an image of my leading man, made it the wallpaper on my phone and knuckled down to work. Ten thousand words later, I was done - Cupidity was finished. It's been an Amazon bestseller since the day I uploaded it, which I'm obviously happy about. But the personal price has been high - I'm left with a lingering infatuation with Ryan Gosling. OK, it's more of an obsession. I mean, imagine him in a toga. Actually, I might have to make it a loincloth for the film. Mmmm, Ryan Gosling in a loincloth...

See?

My name is Holly Hepburn and I am a Gosling Addict. It has been ten minutes since I last Gosled.

My website is www.HollyHepburn.com and you can read the first chapter of Cupidity for free here www.hollyhepburn.com/books. Twitter - @hollyh_author

Thank you, Holly!

Have a lovely week, everyone.

London-versary!

Hello, all! Hope everyone had a great week and that all the mums in North American had a fabulous Mother's Day. It truly irks me to no end that in the UK, we celebrate the day in March, when the weather is at the peak of its yucky greyness. I should start a petition to move the day to May! In all my free time, snort snort. 

Well, I'm pleased to report that I'm about one-third of the way through the first draft of The No-Kids Club, my latest novel. I'm really enjoying writing it, and the three points of view are certainly providing lots of opportunity for conflict. My hope that putting more thought into plotting would mean less rewriting hasn't exactly come to fruition, though . . . I seem to have gone off-piste again! Ah, well. That's part of the fun, isn't it? Just remind me of this when I'm struggling with the edits. 

Last week, I celebrated my nine-year Londonversary. In May 2004, I packed up my belongings, hopped on a plane, and travelled to London in hopes of finding a job and a new life in one of the world's greatest cities. It was a leap of faith, and one I've never regretted making. Within a week, I'd met Mr TR, who became my guide around town -- and my boyfriend (and then, a few years later, husband). It took a little longer to find a permanent teaching job, but the hellish few months of supply teaching in Central London seemed more like an adventure than torture.

The Royal Festival Hall and the London Eye, site of my first date with Mr TR.

The Millennium Bridge to St Paul's. 

One of my favourite buildings on my street.

Now -- several jobs and one baby later -- I can't believe I've been living here for nine years. I can't imagine being anywhere else! I feel a part of this city now; it's wound its way into my life. Heck,  I even published a book on it!

So here's to nine incredible years in London . . . and the UK!

The Black Mountains in Wales. 

With Mr TR, looking down over Broadway in the Cotswolds.

A village in the Cotswolds.

If you could live anywhere you liked, where would it be?

Books, Bank Holiday, and Baby!

Happy Monday, all! We're in the middle of a glorious long weekend here, with plenty of lovely sunshine, for once. I'm a little anxious this will turn out to be our 'summer' before we plunge back into grey and cold, but I'm trying to get out and enjoy it as much as I can.

Basking in the sun in Holland Park.

'How the heck did I get here?'

They smell so gooooood!

And in book news! I've managed to finalise the cover for my new novel, The No-Kids Club. Click here to read more about it, and to add it to your Goodreads.

And in even more book news! The lovely Glynis Smy has a new novel out this week, a wonderful book called Ripped Genes.

Ripped Genes will be at a special launch price of 99c/(77p approx) for the ebook version, until end of May. The descriptive blurb holds a spoiler for those who have not read the first book. If you would like to read, Ripper, My Love, first, then contact Glynis at: glynissmy at outlook dot com, and put FREE BOOK PLEASE in the subject line. You will be sent a code for Smashwords, where you can download a copy in any format you please. 
 

Growing up in late nineteenth century East London, Kitty Harper’s life is filled with danger and death – from her mother, her beloved neighbour and the working women of the streets ... Read more. 

Purchase and Review Link to all books by Glynis Smy

About Glynis:


Glynis has lived for eight years in Cyprus. Her historical novels carry a twist in the tale, and she creates strong female characters who struggle in life. In June 2013, Glynis returns to her hometown,Harwich, Essex,in the UK, where she will gain inspiration for her next novel, The Man in Room Eighteen.  

Find Glynis on:
Twitter: @ghunibee. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glynissmyauthor

Congrats to Glynis!

Have a lovely week, everyone. I'm struggling to fit in my blog rounds with as much frequency as I used to - I'm feverishly writing whilst the baby is napping! - but please know I do appreciate each and every comment you leave. 

Scaling the Mountain

Happy Monday, everyone! It's a sunny morning here in London (yay!), and I've managed to write 1,500 words of my new novel today (yay!) and, well, I'll be drinking wine tonight (double yay!).

Starting a new novel is always a little daunting. Although I've done extensive planning this time around and I feel I know my characters' motivations inside out, it's a bit like staring up a mountain you're about to scale. Plus, I've found that no matter how much I plan, things always change. A scene I thought would take ages to write turns out to be only half a chapter, or a new character jumps into the fray. While I like the surprises, sometimes I wish writing could just be straightforward! Or that I could bl**dy well stick to an outline!

Plus, there are often those bleating voices in my head constantly saying: 'This is boooooring! No-one will read this! This is booooooring!' I find eating chocolate helps to vanquish them.

I'm hoping to get this new novel out by autumn, although with a baby in the house, one never knows what each day brings. More details coming soon!

So this week, I'll be writing, writing, writing... hopefully.

How do you feel about beginning a new novel? 

Have a great week!

What a Difference A Few Years Makes

Happy Monday, all! Hope you've had a lovely week. I've no idea where mine went!

Today I'm excited to host author Michele Gorman, talking about how publishing times have changed. Take it away, Michele!

What a Difference a Day (or a few years) Makes

In what other profession does one pour her heart and soul into her work, for years, without getting paid? All right, nuns, yes.

But we’re not nuns, are we? Definitely not. No, we’re authors, so we don’t even get VIP tickets through the pearly gates. And yet, there we are, toiling at the laptop, month after month, year after year. For what?

Well, for a lot of things, actually. Because the fact is, we love to write. Every character that we fall in love with, every storyline that comes together makes us happy. Sure, everyone has dreams of writing their first book, quitting the day job, staying in their pyjamas all day to pen novels and watch the cash roll in. But something makes us keep writing, even after that first book doesn’t find an agent or a publisher. We still write, late at night after a long day’s work, without being paid. Why? Because eventually all that writing pays off.

When I started, around 14 years ago, I had the same idea that everyone does when they start. But it took two books to find an agent, and four to find a publisher. I took me six to be in a position to quit my day job to write full-time. I’ve just published the seventh book I’ve written, Bella Summer Takes a Chance, and got to spend months with some of the warmest, funniest characters I’ve ever imagined, exploring the question: does “in love” really exist, and do you have to be in love for a relationship to last? They’re questions that I’m sure lots of women ask (myself included), and it was fantastic to see my characters figure out the answers for themselves…. I think it’s my best book yet.

That’s what I’ve learned from all this – the late nights, sacrificed weekends, knock-backs and rejections. That we get better the more we do it. It never gets easier, because we’ll always push ourselves to perfect our craft, but we get better. That’s good for us and it’s good for readers.

The publishing world has certainly changed since I started. That makes me sound like a rocking chair-bound octogenarian. In fact, we’ve seen an incredible rate of change in just a few years. The Kindle wasn’t launched until late 2007, and Amazon.co.uk’s Kindle store didn’t open until August 2010. Yet by May 2011, eBooks were outselling all other formats on Amazon.com. What a difference a few years makes, eh?

So now we can publish with the Big 5. We can publish with small presses. We can publish independently. We can do all of the above. And as tempting as it is to hurry along the process, we do need all that practice to become the best possible writers. So as tempting as it is, try not to rush it. The more we write the better we become. If it’s your dream to have a traditional publishing deal, then keep going until you get there. If you want to publish independently then make sure you give your book the attention that it, and your writing, deserve: use professional content editors and copy editors, and ensure it has the best possible cover. As authors we have more options than ever before. But at the end of the day we are authors because we love to write. And doesn’t that make us lucky girls and boys?!

Michele Gor

man is the best-selling author of the Single in the City series and Bella Summer Takes a Chance. She also writes upmarket commercial fiction under the pen name Jamie Scott. Born and raised in the US, Michele has lived in London for 16 years. 

If it weren't for Twitter and Facebook, Michele would be a much more prolific writer, but wouldn't have nearly as much fun, so do chat to her online:

Twitter:@expatdiaries - Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MicheleGormanBooks - Blog: www.michelegormanwriter.blogspot.com
Website: www.michelegorman.co.uk

Thank you, Michele!

How have changes in the publishing world affected you?

Have a great week, everyone!

Friends and Foes

Monday, Monday! And guess what? I'm not wrapped in a blanket shivering, oh no I'm not. I'm actually wearing a T-shirt. Without a sweater! Spring seems to have finally sprung in the capital, thank goodness.

Last week, I had the chance to put on my party shoes, trot lost around Victoria for a little while, then head (via pub) to Belgravia Books where the wonderful Caroline Smailes was launching her latest novel. If you haven't read any of her books... get on it! Caroline's style is unique and mesmerizing.

Me, DJ Kirkby, and a very animated Caroline. (Photo by Pete Dominican.)

Me and author Michele Gorman, who'll be on the blog on Thursday!

I am so out of wine-guzzling shape, so can you believe I was hungover from two glasses of wine? Sheesh!

This week is the London Book Fair, and although I won't be gate-crashing this year, I'm looking forward to seeing my dear friend and crime writer extraordinaire Mel Sherratt while she's in town.

So what of the foes? Well, they're the mindless daytime telly programmes I seem to be falling victim to on a daily basis! No more Millionaire Matchmaker for me. And this time I mean it.

What are your foes, metaphorical or otherwise?

What I've Learned in the Past Three Months

Nothing brings yourself into sharper focus than having a baby. In the past three months, amidst the inevitable fatigue and the millionth nappy change, I've learned a lot! So, in no particular order, here are my revelations. 

About Writing:

- I need to write. Even if I'm tired or covered in spit-up, writing has become a part of me.

- Sadly, I am not one of those cool, multi-tasking writerly types who can pen their tomes from the comfort of their sofa. Nope, I need a desk, a chair, and no telly within easy reach! Hence, my new makeshift office. 

I think the word is 'basic'!

- Crying babies do not enhance the creative process (surprising, I know!).

- Despite my more limited writing time, I'm still capable of wasting as much time on the Internet. Sigh!

About Babies:

- Nappies never fully contain explosive poos. I believe this is a market gap and I shall soon be developing my duct-tape diaper design. Watch for it at a Tesco near you!

- You can fall asleep while still rocking the baby's basket. Looks like I possess the multi-tasking ability after all. 

- There's nothing better than your baby's morning smile. Awwwwww!

And in other news, writer DJ Kirkby has a new book out called Special Deliveries. It's a lovely collection of stories from the maternity unit. If you enjoy Call the Midwife or One Born Every Minute, you'll definitely enjoy it, too. 

What's something you've learned recently?

Have a great week, everyone!