My First Book Launch

Living in London and surrounded by a plethora of literary events -- and even having a few books of my own published -- I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit I'd never been to a book launch until last night. What actually happens at those mythical launches, I always wondered.

So when the lovely Caroline Smailes invited me to the London launch of her new book Like Bees to Honey, I jumped at the chance to go. Like the true social coward I am, though, I dragged along my husband with me so I could talk to him if no-one wanted to talk to me.

Luckily, I knew some online friends were going: DJ Kirkby, for one, and Carol from Not Only in Thailand, so I hoped they'd provide a few friendly faces!

Slightly sloshed from an earlier jug of Pimms, I donned my high heels and pranced (OK, tried not to fall over) all the way to Wood Green, North London, to the wonderful Big Green Bookshop. I hadn't been there before but I'd enjoyed reading the bookshop's blog, and owners Simon and Tim proved to be every bit as nice (and quirky) as they were in the virtual world.

Walking in the crowded room, it was obvious the party was already in full swing and my husband and I quickly made our way towards the drinks (as you do). Waiting at the cash to pay for my copy of Like Bees to Honey, I finally met Caroline's publisher, Scott Pack, who had given me such great advice on the cover of my 24 Hours London book and helped me promote it through giveaways on his blog.

The lovely Carol from Not Only in Thailand gets her book sighed by Caroline.

The night quickly blurred into a flurry of meeting Twitter and blogging folk like Liz Fenwick (whose website I stole these photos from - hope you don't mind, Liz!), Sue Guiney , @beecee, @katheastman and the very cool @themanwhofell, whose book my husband bought! I do think that name-tags (can you tell I have a dork inside me fighting to get out) are definitely in order, as Twitter photos cannot be trusted and I missed out on meeting loads of people, namely @GKateB, the author of the Dating Detox, whose book is next on my list to read!

My husband and I (with our heads thankfully cut off so you can't see how sweaty our faces are - it was hot!) wait to get our book signed.

It was fun alternating between my Talli-Marsha identities, as I tweet from two accounts, but I fear as the night went on and my fluid intake increased I became less responsive to either name! By half-nine my husband and I stumbled out and back to the Tube, happy to have made the journey north.

So what does go on at book launches? A lot of wine/ Maltese beer (at this one, anyway), some very nice people, and a very good time!

(Stay tuned for a review of Like Bees to Honey, right after my review of Nicola Morgan's Wasted)

Ten for Tuesday: My Favourite Enablers

I'm in the throes of editing, and nowhere are my procrastination enablers more significant than at this stage. So in an effort to embrace them and thereby reduce their lure (I'll let you know if it works!), I thought I'd list them here!

1. Twitter. The duck-and-dive nature of Twitter really makes it ideal for a few prime minutes of procrastination fun. See what's going on around the world, with loads of other procrastinating writers! I have three (yes, three) Twitter accounts just to, you know, maximise the enjoyment.

2. Facebook. Catch up with people you haven't talked to since high school and probably never will, even though you're Facebook friends! I've got two FB accounts - one for writing and one for personal use - and one FB Page for my 24 Hours travel guides, so I can play around for hours!

3. Google Reader. Not blogging - because I know once I delve into that world, I won't come out - but I like to check my Google Reader through the day to see what pops up!

4. Watching people rifle through the rubbish bin outside. This is surprisingly good entertainment! See what treasures lurk under the sandwich wrappers!

5. NovelRank.com. Oh Lordy, how I wish I'd never found out about this website where you can track sales of your books and look at handy-dandy sales charts and figures. I can easily obsess over it, checking it at least three times daily.

6. The Daily Mail online. You can't help but love The Daily Mail, where everything somehow seems to cause cancer and teenage pregnancy. Green tea? Causes cancer. Nick Clegg? Causes cancer. Faulty Tube system? Teenage pregnancy.

7. Staring into the fridge. I think sometimes if I stare long enough, food might actually appear.

8. BonsaiKittens. An oldie but goodie. Just how do they get those kittens into those jars?

9. Looking at my to-do list. This isn't exactly a fun one but is guaranteed to waste at least five minutes. Want a break? Scan the list, do nothing, then go back to work. Mission accomplished!

10. Staring at my husband. He always makes fun of me but I frequently get up out of my chair, walk over to him, stare for a good minute or two, then walk away. Why? I dunno!

Stay Cool

A lovely week of exploring Wales and other bits of London, and now I'm back at my desk.

Sweltering in the +30 C sun.

I can't tell you how odd it is to write 'sweltering' in the UK, because we rarely get to 'warm' here, let alone 'swelter'. I am exaggerating... slightly. Winters are are relatively mild, and summers are much the same. Honestly, you can pretty much wear the same wardrobe all year round, and it's actually quite good writing weather. Who wants to go outside in the cold drizzle when you can wrap up all cozy and warm and watch others suffer from the comfort of your window?

So when the mercury rises above +25 C, all hell breaks loose. People strip off, exposing flabby white bits and mismatched sandals with yellowed toe-nails. The sun becomes an enemy and all the talk is of a summer dry spell, or even worse -- the dreaded hose-pipe ban (don't ask)!

I don't really care much about any of that. But I do care about getting my pesky edits done. And that's hard to do when the sun is shining in the window of my Victorian terrace home -- the large window, in fact, that doesn't actually open! And no, I don't have air conditioning. I don't know of anyone in the UK who does! I have all the other windows open, letting in the welcome sounds of the drilling, drilling, drilling next door, but I'm still sticking to the chair.

Please tell me: how do you stay cool enough to write in the summer? Should I just give up and go for Pimms?

(FYI - I'm well aware of the irony that I'm complaining about the sun, after months of complaining about the rain!)

Wales - Journey to Hay on Wye

There were so many amazing photos to choose from, and these are but a few from our journey through the Wye Valley and the Black Mountains to Hay-on-Wye in Wales. If you want to see more and you're on Facebook, I'll upload them to my account. It truly is a feast for the eyes and we had such an amazing time! See my post below for the Town of Books, Hay-on-Wye.

Chepstow Castle.

Tintern Abbey.

Isolated chapel driving through Gospel Pass in the Black Mountains.

On top of the Black Mountains, about to descend into Hay-on-Wye.

Wales - Hay on Wye

Glorious two days in Wales, with the sun shining and some real warm temperatures! Our final destination was the Town of Books, Hay-on-Wye, just north of the Black Mountains. The town holds a massive litarary festival every year at the end of the May, and with over 40 bookshops it's more than earned its place in Britains literary elite. Off tomorrow to Brighton but I'm back to regular programming on Monday. Happy weekend!

The River Wye, just outside the town centre.

Lots of biking and footpaths, with all signs in Welsh, too!

Our B&B, called The Start. Glorious!

Kitty (who tried to bit my hand) curled up inside a bookshop.

One of the 40 bookshops in Hay.

This shop was called The Book Passage. And it was - literally!

The largest second-hand bookshop in the world, Richard Booth. In the 70s, Booth declared himself King of Hay on Wye, and even issued passports for the residents.

Inside Richard Booth.

Hitting the Bank

Happy Wednesday! I've been busy tooling around London with my parents, but I wanted to share some photos of my wonderful Monday night on the Southbank.

The Southbank is the cultural heart of London, with the British Film Institute, National Theatre and the Royal Festival Hall all within metres of each other. But more than that (for me, anyway), it's where I first met my husband, where he proposed last year, and where we got married a few months later. Monday was the anniversary of when we first met in a blind date six years earlier, so we grabbed a bottle of champagne and headed down to the river in the early evening sun.

The terrace of the Royal Festival Hall. A (my husband) and I first met here the week I arrived in London - it was a blind date, and although we'd corresponded by email, I was super nervous. Luckily it turned out pretty well!

Café at the British Film Institute. The yummiest burgers ever!

The National Theatre at dusk.

The Queen's Walk on the Southbank.

And finally, because I'm feeling all romantic and smushy...

After our wedding ceremony, in front of the London Eye.

I'm off to Wales tomorrow for a day or two, so I'll see you on Saturday with more photos! Have a great week everyone!

The Hunchback of Kensington

While I haven't quite reached the state of this poor bloke, increasingly I'm noticing just how terrible my posture is as I hunch over my keyboard! I try to throw my shoulders back, to force my spine straight, but one minute later I'm right back where I started.

I swear, by the time I'm sixty, I'll barely be able to bring myself upright! I'll have to spread all my reading material out on the floor and type with my toes.

Back in my corporate days, I had my office ergonomically designed. But even that didn't seem to make a difference to my errant posture. There's just something so comforting about learning close to my laptop screen, as if the proximity to my brain will enable diffusion or something. Soon my head is going to be fused to the screen.

Does anyone else have a posture problem? And what do you do to solve it?

*(I'm going to be slightly MIA as my parents are visiting this week. I'll try my best to post here and there and visit blogs while I can, though!)

**(Fellow Twitterer and writer Sarah Callejo has just entered the blogosphere! She's great and I can't wait to meet her at the RNA conference in July. Head on over to say hi if you get the chance!)

Sweet Sunday: Chocolate Eclair

This is a tale of love lost and rediscovered. You see, when I was young, I embraced the creamy goodness of chocolate éclairs with all my heart. But as I got older, other goodies beckoned -- creme brulée, sticky toffee pudding, cupcakes... well, you know the story. I turned my back on the lowly éclair and plunged into the goodness that awaited.

Fast forward twenty-odd years or so. I'm standing in the local Tesco's, clutching a £10 note in my hand. I'd used up the other £9 and I had £1 remaining for the all-important dessert (because I couldn't go back home without one, naturally). Scanning the shelves, my heart sank. Everything was at least £2 -- but wait! What was that? Four éclairs for a pound? I grabbed the packet. They looked rather forlorn, pushed back on the bottom shelf, but éclairs were better than nothing. Or so I thought.

But oh, OH! When I bit into the first one after dinner, I remembered straight away why I liked them so much. The rich cream, the light pasty... and the chocolate! Perfect!

Please forgive me, éclair. How could I have forsaken thee, for so long? Never again, my love. Never again.

Something for Saturday

Happy Saturday! Thanks so much for all your wonderful feedback on The Hating Game cover. I really appreciate it!

And now may I present: Blenheim Palace. The birthplace of Churchill, it's about an hour outside of London and definitely worth a trip. I took these photos on a visit there last year. It's as beautiful as it looks. Enjoy!

Cover Up!

My publisher's just sent over the latest cover design for The Hating Game, and I have to say that I love it (although quite honestly, I've looked at it so many times I've sort of lost perspective)! It's starting to seem real, even though I'm engrossed in a load of edits and I'm moving at a snail's pace!

I'd love to get your opinion on it! The novel is firmly chick lit and we hope the cover gets across the genre as well as the general 'theme' of the book. Can I implore you to cast your vote in the quick poll below? Any thoughts and feedback also appreciated!

Thank you and a virtual cupcake (or glass o'wine -- or, who am I kidding, both -- to you!)

Free Online Surveys

Paris, Plonk and Patisseries

Something a little different today in honour of my travel book, 24 Hours Paris, that's launching today in the other half of my schizo world! I thought I'd do a Paris post, dedicated to the two loves of my life (after writing, of course. Oh yes, and my husband): food and wine. So here are five of my favourite places to eat and drink in Paris. Enjoy! (*Drool, drool!*)

If you fancy winning a copy of the book, brilliant book blogger Scott Pack is doing a giveaway today on his blog, Me and My Big Mouth. Head over and write something in French in the comments section (Google Translator's helpful!) and he'll pick the winners on the weekend.

Sweet Breads
The debate over Paris’ best bakery rages on, but Poilâne is a definite contender. Opened in 1932 by the young Pierre Poilâne from Normandy, Poilâne’s bread has stood the test of time. Baked in a wood-fired oven the same way they always have been, the traditional sourdough loaves were so popular Salvador Dalí once ordered a whole bedroom made out of them! Bite in to see if they live up to your bread expectations. And if you love the bread so much you can’t live without it, never fear – you can take away a cushion shaped exactly like a Poilâne loaf and fill your head with sweet bread dreams. Poilâne: www.poilane.fr

Crazy for Coffee
If the heady smell of roasting coffee beans doesn’t get you, one look at the quaint, coffee-bean stuffed interior will lure Café Verlet has been giving caffeine-starved Parisians their coffee fix since 1880 and it couldn’t be more different from its chain-gang neighbours if it tried. Choose from a menu of coffees from the Yemen to Brazil, or splash out for a rare gourmet bean from Australia. No matter what you go for, you’re sure to leave here with a buzz! Café Verlet: www.cafesverlet.com

Hats Off
Napoléon and his hat parted ways at Café Procope, said to be Paris’ first café The young officer couldn’t pay for his meal and his beloved hat was left as collateral. It’s still there today, displayed proudly behind glass. Founded in 1686, Procope attracted everyone from Voltaire to Robespierre, all there for the drink of the hour: coffee. Just make sure you can pay the bill or you might lose your hat, too! Café Procope: www.procope.com

Crêpe Expectations
The crêpe may have its roots in Brittany, but it’s the stuff of legends at Chez Josselin. Located close to the Montparnasse train station (with a direct train to Brittany), this tiny crêperie is nestled amongst a whole host of other restaurants selling the national dish. Bretons coming to Paris for work settled around the train station, and restaurants set up shop to serve their crêpe cravings. The best of the bunch, Chez Josselin is cosy, cluttered and fast! Choose a dinner crêpe (with savoury filling, called galette) or satisfy your sweet-tooth with a traditional sugar crêpe. Either way, you can’t go wrong at Chez Josselin. Chez Josselin: 67 Rue du Montparnasse

Chamber Music
Housed in a twelfth-century prison complete with a guillotine that served its purpose well, Le Caveau des Oubliettes is a night-spot with ambiance to spare. Grab a drink in the pub upstairs then head down to the caveau – which used to be linked to a nearby prison by underground tunnels – for some free jazz. Today, the sweet sounds of music echo around the small room but centuries ago the room reverberated with the screams of tortured prisoners. Keep your head and avoid the rush down the narrow stairs by getting there at least thirty minutes before the music begins. Le Caveau des Oubliettes: www.caveaudesoubliettes.fr

Hope you enjoyed the mini-trip around Paris!

Making a List and Checking It... Thrice!

I have lost my mind.

And I've tried everything to stop things from going wrong. Schedules. Lists, ad nauseum. But even when I make a list and read it -- over and over again, sometimes staring at it for hours -- things don't seem to be getting done. I'm crossing items off. I'm working my way through. But somehow, some way, pesky little items slip through my soggy brain and fall by wayside.

There's only one excuse. My mind has gone missing. Declared itself closed for business. Holed up with the politicians while they debate coalitions and cupcakes.

Yet how I can remember to buy wine and éclairs, while forgetting the milk? Why can I write blog posts no problem, yet anguish over edits? Is it selective brain functioning? Has only a select group of neurons decided to shut down?

Please come back, neurons. No more lists, I promise!

(PS - The still-working part of my brain wishes to thank you all for the lovely comments yesterday! General consensus seems to be in favour of cupcakes!)

How to Make Friends

Happy Monday! Guess what? The weekend may have been filled with doom and gloom as the country battles to form a government under darkening May skies, but now... it's sunny! And while we're no closer to a government here, I can safely say I have moved past the point of caring. So let's move on to today's topic, shall we?

I'm so excited to finally be going to a writer's conference this July -- the wonderful Romantic Novelists' Association is holding their annual gathering this year in London. Since I don't need to pay for travel or lodging, this means I can just about afford to go (thanks, overdraft!). Now here's where I really start stressing: how will I spend three days milling around with people I don't even know?

I need your help. Should I:

a) Bring trays of cupcakes and distribute them at random, hoping people will pounce and speak to me in the process?

b) Get completely sozzled so I don't care if no-one talks to me, I can have my own party?

c) Wear a T-shirt that says: I'll give you £10 if you talk to me?

d) Pretend I'm an agent so I can be popular?

Any other options I've missed out on?

Sweet Sunday: Lemon Tart

Oh dear. My mouth has filled with saliva and I've only just begun writing this -- a true testament to how much I adore the tangy taste of lemon tart.

It's the perfect way to end a rich meal: the lemon filling and light pastry base cleanses your palate, leaving you wanting even more. I have been known to buy a pie-sized tart, pick it up, and demolish it bite by bite (although I probably shouldn't be so eager to share that).

It's the kind of thing that's so good you take another bite before you've even finished chewing the one in your mouth!

Lemon tart, I love you!

Something for Saturday

It's the weekend! And it's rainy and cold... what a shocker! But it was sunny for about five minutes on Thursday, which is when I took this photo of the house across the street from us.

Talk about flower power!

Happy Saturday!

Meeting Nicola

This was a crazy week for me: I won not just one, but two book giveaways! Usually, if there's any kind of contest, I'm sure to lose it -- so I was in shock when Rosalind wrote a comment on my blog that I'd won a copy of Nicola Morgan's newest book, Wasted. And even better, Nicola herself asked me if I wanted to meet up for the handover!

Nicola is an author you can't help but admire. She's had over 90 books published and persevered for years to break into the industry. She also dispenses incredibly useful and forthright advice at her blog, Help! I Need a Publisher. A self-described 'crabbit old bat', I have to admit I was slightly nervous at meeting her. Did she smile? Should I bring her chocolate to placate her? And what footwear would grace her tootsies?

I felt like I was blind dating. With every crabbity-looking woman that passed by, my lips formed an eager half-smile. Finally, a woman approximating Nicola's photo appeared and I stood to greet her. She wasn't crabbity-looking in the least -- what a disappointment! Sadly, I didn't get a chance to check out her shoes, as I was too busy chatting away. She's lovely, easy to talk to, and gave me some great advice. We talked about Twitter, steampunk, eReaders and more, and when she left for her train I was sorry to see her go. But I've got my copy of Wasted and I can't wait to delve in! I'll be doing a review once I'm done!

Is there an author you'd like to meet? Or an author you've already met who's helped you on your way?

(Thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments on my interview with Jen! And welcome all new followers!)

Dragon Lady

Today's a great day for me since I've just had my first official interview as a fiction writer!

The wonderful Jen at Unedited has just posted it, so scoot over if you like to read how I feel about dragons, why I hate The Brady Bunch and where I like to write!

Thanks so much, Jen!

Hands Off My Breasts!

Hope that title got your attention! : )

Stephanie at Bah to Cancer has just announced a wonderful initiative where, for a £2 donation to a cancer charity, you have the chance to win loads of wonderful books. Head over to check it out, along with some great author interviews. Stephanie's defeated breast cancer and a she's brilliant blogger, too.

Update: Stephanie has just told me the contest is open to non-UK residents, too.

Next up, the wonderful Kim Franklin and TJ Carson tagged me with this and it looked so fun I couldn't wait to do it!

Question 1: Where were you 5 years ago?

In London
Teaching hooligans in a local comprehensive
Trying not to become an alcoholic by drowning my sorrows each evening
Trying to write each evening but failing miserably
Desperate for sleep!

Question 2: Where would you like to be 5 years from now?

Still in London
With an extra wardrobe so I don't need to rotate my clothes every month!
I'd love to have a cat for added writing distraction
On the Times bestseller list (one can dream, right?)
(This probably doesn't count because it's not for me, but I'd love my for husband's first film to still be released and playing regularly in cinemas around the world!)


Question 3: What is (was) your to-do list today?

Ugh, do you really want to know?
Outline new idea
Talk to publisher re: launch activities for my non-fiction title next week
Write a pitch for media
Blog and check out other blogs
Drink wine and eat! (OK, it's not on my to-do list but it should be!)

Question 4: What 5 snacks do you enjoy?

Cupcakes!
Chocolate!
Licorice All-Sorts!
Cupcakes!
Chocolate!

Question 5: What 5 things would you do if you were a billionaire?

Do loads of print runs for my books, then buy them all so I could make the bestsellers list!
Make a cupcake a day mandatory for all schools
Make books out of candy so kids want to read more
Buy my own vineyard in France
Seriously: I'd love to introduce more literary schemes to help improve children's reading skills

Now I'm supposed to tag five people:
India Drummond (I will stalk you if you don't do this!)
Brigid
Deniz Bevan
May Day Writer
Mel Chesley

Awards!

Yay for awards! Thanks so much for passing them my way, everyone, and I'm sorry for hoarding them for the past few weeks. I have more to pass on but I'll do this lot for now. Thanks for the wonderful tags, too -- I haven't forgotten!

Let's get started!

I got the Soulmates award from the wonderful Roxy at A Woman's Write. For this award, you must say outrageous things about the people you're passing it on to. And so I'll hand it over to India Drummond, who loves haggis and has a sheep farm; and Al at Publish or Perish, who hates travelling to any site with stairs.

I received the Oh My Blog Award for the wonderfully named Creepy Query Girl. This goes out to some people on my side of the ocean: Fran, Jayne and Lindsay.

Alyson from May Day Writer passed the Beautiful Blogger Award my way. Sticking with more Europeans, I shall give this to Ellen, Mia and Brigid.

TJ Carson gave me the A for Awesome Award. This goes out to Theresa Milstein, Bossy Betty and Crystal Cook.

Right! Next batch!

I received the Sweet Blog award from the wonderful Shelley and The Muse 30. This goes to Aubrie, Anne from Piedmont Writer and Kim Franklin.

Kayeleen gave me the Happy 101 award. I'm going to give this one to Lisa of Notes from Nadir. Lisa, you would make us all very happy if you would just SNOG GORDON!

Southern Princess Courtney passed on the Sugardoll award. I am going to pass this on to all of my wonderful blogger buddies! Thank you so much for reading my drivel and for all your support!

Lindsay and Susan Fields gave me the Prolific Blogger award. This goes out to Laura Marcella, JJ Beattie and the Alliterative Allomorph.

And finally, Ann from Inkpots and Quills passed the From Me to You award on, where I must reveal 7 true things about me.

So here they are!

1. I used to be able to perform up to 15 back handsprings in a row. Age and cupcakes have now caught up to me.

2. I once got fired from a spa after I was outed as the author of anonymous blog.

3. I like to dress in layers (a lot of them!) even in summer. I hate being cold!

4. My husband is Egyptian and when we went there shortly after our wedding he failed to correct my Arabic, resulting in me telling everyone how beautiful they were, instead of expressing how beautiful the scenery, etc, was! I could still kill him. His excuse? It was fun!

5. I hate the word 'panties'. Makes me cringe.

6. I don't like beer. In fact, I hate it. Strange, I know!

7. If I don't have to let out the top button of my trousers at the end of the meal then I haven't eaten enough.

This award goes out to Elle of The Seventh Circle of Elle and Bish Denham.

Thanks again, everyone!

Sweet Sunday: French Toast

I've just had this for breakfast so it seems very a propos to make it my Sweet Sunday spotlight! For me, bread is key to the making of good French toast. It needs to be slightly crispified (or stale). Mix the milk with eggs, put in a drop or two of vanilla extract alongside a generous sprinkling of cinnamon, then heat some butter in a pan and fry it up til it's golden!

Smother it all in rivers of glutinous maple syrup, and if you really want to be posh you can throw in a berry or two.

Could getting to paradise be any easier?

Happy Sunday!

Something for Saturday

Happy weekend! It's a Bank Holiday weekend here, thanks to May Day, so of course it's rainy and dark. To brighten things up, I thought I'd give you all a little tour around my neighbourhood. I've lived here for six years and I love it so much!

The Orangery at nearby Kensington Palace.

One of the many antique shops on our street.

Blossoms on the trees in the terraces behind us.

Looking through the columns of our terraced row.


Happy Saturday!