London Love

Thanks loads for the fantastic response to my Watching Willow Watts Party! I'm thrilled so many of you have signed up to come have a ball. Yay!

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the London riots. Horrific pictures and tales have been streaming in from across the city. Monday night -- the height of the violence -- was my and Mr TR's second anniversary. I've harped on about our London love story so I won't wax poetic here, but needless to say this city played an integral role in our relationship. As we headed out to the theatre and dinner on Monday, we had no idea of the violence that was about to erupt, just ten minutes away from where we live.

I don't want to talk about any of the horrible things that happened in the city. I do want to show you some fantastic images of London on our wedding night. So... here's to London and love!

The National Theatre, all lit up.

London Bridge, done up in pink.

The City, London's financial heart.

The Millennium Bridge.

London Eye.

London Eye, from the river.

On the Roof!

Every once in awhile, a weekend comes along that reminds me how much I love London. This past weekend was exactly that! I've yammered on before about how much I love the Southbank. With the Vintage Festival happening and temperatures reaching 25C (heatwave by London standards), Mr TR, step-daughter and I hopped in the car and went over to the river.

Rooftop garden, on top of the Royal Festival Hall.

Pimms!

Looking down to the Thames on a perfect summer evening.

Hope you all had a great weekend, too. Anyone get up to anything fun?

Britaversary!

Me and Mr TR on the Cotswold Way, six years ago

Seven years ago today, I arrived in the UK. I knew no-one, I had no job, and I really didn't know what to expect.

Now, I'm married, I'm a British citizen and I have three books published with another on the way. Looking back on that day when my plane landed at Gatwick on a misty May morning, I can't believe how far I've come. And I wouldn't have it any other way! I've made my home in London and fallen in love with (almost) everything about it.

So... here's to the UK! Cheers!

On a completely unrelated note, I'm guesting over at Pauline Barclay's website, talking about how I have no self-control. Sad but true.

London!

Well, it had to be London, didn't it? I've been here for almost seven years now and my love for the city is just as strong as the day I first arrived.

And now for some shameless self-promotion:

This is by the 'other' me, the travel writer. According to London Mayor Boris Johnson (and who wouldn't believe the mayor!): 'It's a nifty guide for Londoners and tourists alike'.

Happy L Day, everyone!

The Reluctant Video Star

There's nothing more cringe-worthy than watching yourself on video, is there? Last weekend, Mr TR bought a new video camera and, to test it out, he decided to shoot a small video. With no other victims and under great duress, I grudgingly agree. Here's the result! Hope you enjoy watching more than I enjoyed starring.

The Weather Outside

This post is a bit of a mish-mash; quite representative of my head at the moment. Bear with me!

The Take On Amazon Web Splash is tomorrow! I can't quite believe the day is finally here. A massive thank you to everyone taking part and to those who've taken the time to read and review The Hating Game. Fingers crossed!

I'll be on Twitter all day, keeping people up to date on Amazon rankings with the hash tag #TheHatingGame. Along with posting updates, I'll also be serving virtual champagne, chocolate, cupcakes and assorted fizzy drinks for everyone. Pop by on Twitter and say hi! Make sure to use the tag #TheHatingGame so your tweet won't be missed. I'll also be guest posting on Strictly Writing, talking about the importance of social networking (big thanks to Debs Riccio for organising that!).

I want to give Sangu Mandanna a big shout-out today: her novel Woven is going to be published! Head over and say congrats if you get a chance!

And finally, since the UK is covered in a blanket of snow and ice (rare for November), I leave you with this photo taken a few years ago during London's snowstorm. Only in Britain!

Roll on December 1!

Around the Block

(Web Splashers: The email with all the details went out today! Click here to see the html version.)

So it being Friday and all, I thought I'd give you a little tour around my part of London. If I seem to be focused on London lately, it's because I haven't been writing much this week but I have been venturing out of the flat! I hope you enjoy the little tour around the area as much as I love living here.

Kensington Church Walk - a quiet little walkway lined with shops.

The Churchill Arms, my local pub. Delicious Thai food!

One of the many antique shops on my street.

Notting Hill Brasserie: a great neighbourhood restaurant, tucked away in a quiet street. And I'm off there this afternoon!

Happy Friday!

Ten for Tuesday: Why I Love London

Happy Tuesday!

Although I have been known to complain from time to time about the tube (and if you live in London, I know you feel my pain), I do love living here.

1. The architecture! If you come from North America where many of the buildings are sixties and seventies-style or steel and glass, London's ornate architecture is awe-inspiring.

2. The variation from one part of the city to the other. It's impossible to get bored in London; moving from east London to west London is akin to visiting a different country. Every borough has a different feel to it, since London is really a collection of smaller communities that were gradually gobbled up by the metropolis.

3. The museums -- which are free! I have a crush on The Tate Modern. I love drifting through the galleries, then up to the cafe where you can have a glass of wine and gaze out over the Thames and St Paul's.

4. The markets. These days Portobello is swamped with tourists, but it's still worth a stroll down between the stalls. Columbia Road flower market and Borough market are also among my favourites.

5. Hyde Park. I love wandering around the park, particularly in the winter when it's empty and the sky is grey. My husband and I have our own spot, right in front of The Serpentine.

6. The South Bank. Yes, it's where I got engaged, got married, yada yada yada, but it's also the cultural centre of London with the British Film Institute, The National Theatre, and The Royal Festival Hall.

7. Daunt Books. Located in an old Edwardian bookshop in Marylebone, I feel calmer as soon as I walk into this shop.

There are plenty of other reasons I love living here, but I must now go placate my stomach with chocolate.

Do you love where you live? Or would you escape faster than Houdini on speed?

Ten for Tuesday: My Favourite British Summer Things

This year -- for the first time in many -- we're having a proper summer. By 'proper summer', I mean that it's not raining every day of the week, the temperature's above 15 C, and you don't need to head out swathed in scarves to brave the elements. (I'm not joking. One year, I didn't even unpack my summer clothes.)

So to celebrate, this week's Ten for Tuesday will be all about my favourite summer things!

1. Pimms. When I posted about Pimms a week ago, many of you didn't seem to know what it is! For shame! Pimms is a yummy liqueur that you mix with lemonade, cucumbers, strawberries and gin. I know it sounds strange but it can actually be very refreshing. And lethal. A friend of mine once streaked through Richmond after consuming too much Pimms.

2. Proms. Every night from mid-July to mid-September, you can attend wonderful classical music concerts at the Royal Albert Hall for only £4!

3. The Serpentine Pavilion. Each summer, a new architect is commissioned to design a pavilion in Kensington Gardens. It's up for about two months and then they dismantle it.

4. Stripy deck chairs in Hyde Park. Plop one down by the lake, lean back, and watch the trees sway above your head. Bliss!

5. Regent's Park Open-Air Theatre. The only permanent professional outdoor theatre in Britain, Regent’s Park Open-Air Theatre holds over a thousand people. With its pitched seats, though, you’ll feel like you can practically touch the actors on stage. Founded in 1932, the resident company is the New Shakespeare Company. At least two Shakespeare plays are performed each summer – one of them usually A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which lends itself perfectly to the park’s leafy environment.

6. Swimming in the ponds at Hampstead Heath. Bizarre but true - if you fancy a dip in a secluded pond, head up north to the Heath. There's a men's pond, a women's pond and a mixed pond.

7. Opera Holland Park. Every summer, a massive open-air opera stage is constructed in Holland Park. Tickets range from £10 to £57 and if you're a young person (not me...) then you can get free tickets here.

8. Pavement Cafés. Being able to sit on the street and eat probably doesn't seem that exciting, but when you live in a country where the sun rarely makes an appearance then it's downright intoxicating (in more ways than one).

9. South Bank Stroll. I may have mentioned that my husband proposed and we got married on the South Bank, so it's no surprise strolling along the Thames when the sky is brilliantly blue is on my top 10 list.

10. Sun. SUN! SUUNNNN! Although technically, I'm not sure sun can really be classified as part of a British summer, when it does make an appearance we appreciate it that much more!

Screw Work!

On a steamy London night, I braved the sweaty masses on the Tube and headed to the London Writers' Club to hear author John Williams speak about his new book, Screw Work, Let's Play. John has had phenomenal success with the recent launch: he's been featured twice in the Sunday Times and even been named as one of the top six self-help books of the summer. So how does a first-time author get a book deal and become an Amazon best seller?

Here are John's tips. While these are mainly for non-fiction, they can also easily apply to fiction.

1. To get a book deal, just start doing it. Start writing, blogging, doing what you love and having fun doing it. Pick something with tangible results so you can see the outcome, and enjoy what you're doing. A lot depends on timing. Put yourself out there, go to events where there are like-minded people, and talk about what you're doing.

(This one really rang true for me. I met my publisher as a result of trying to get myself out there to meet other writers. )

2. Write the right book. It has to be fun for you, and it has to feel natural. Make sure your book solves a problem for people. The title and cover are both worth spending time on - make sure they're eye-catching and memorable.

3. Write the book in a way that feels like play, in a structure that keeps people engaged and in a way that works for you.

(I love this point because it's so easy to forget to enjoy writing!)

4. Get a good publisher who can help you structure your book, do a great job editing and help out with marketing.

5. Play your way to market the book. This goes back to networking and putting yourself out there. Due to social media, authors have more control over how they can market their book. Get on Twitter, Facebook, and start your own blog and website -- you don't have to wait until you have a book deal. Give people incentives to sign up for newsletters (etc - extracts from the book), and keep them updated. Use your contracts, colleagues' contacts and have a co-ordinated campaign to drive Amazon sales.

6. The most important: write a good book!

John's website is here and his book is available on Amazon.

The London Writers' Club has a newsletter full of great writing tips; you can sign up here, follow the hashtag #writersclub or WritersClub on Twitter.

Something for Saturday

A gorgeous day today! And even rarer, no planes in the sky overhead (thanks, volcanic ash!).

The view from the South Bank.

Crossing the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's.

Happy Saturday!