Here Comes the Sun... and the Olympics!

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a good week? Here in London, the city is awash with confused tourists, traffic snarls, and copious doses of Olympic fever.

But none of that matters. Because . . .

It's finally summer! Yes, my friends, after months and months (and more months) of rain and grey skies better suited to winter, the sun has made an appearance just in time for the start of the Olympics. It was lovely yesterday, too, and we took advantage of it by strolling through nearby Kensington Gardens with lunch at the Serpentine Lido, then a quick jaunt through Yoko Ono's exhibit at the Serpentine Pavilion.

Kensington Palace in the Sunday sun.

A sculpture across a branch of the Serpentine Lake. The reeds are the highest I've ever seen them, thanks to all the rain!

Yoko Ono's wish tree, where members of the public write their wishes on paper and attach them to the tree.

And in other news, today I'm over at Kim the Bookworm's blog with fellow authors Emma Burstall, Alice Peterson, and Janey Fraser. Pop over to say hi if you get the chance!

I will be making the most of this week's good weather, but I'll be back on Friday with a post from the lovely Amy Saia. See you then!

Recovery Mode

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you all had a lovely weekend, filled with sun and plenty of Pimms. I spent the weekend at the RNA Conference in beautiful Penrith, Cumbria, where -- believe it or not -- we only had a sprinkle of rain!

As always, the conference passed in a blur of smiling faces, wonderful chats, and lots of useful workshops. I'm happy to report my talk on online marketing went off without a hitch, despite my nerves at the beginning and the lack of promised heckling from the Irish contingent. About ninety attendees turned up bright and early on Saturday morning for it, and I was happy to see so many friendly faces.

Me (looking very happy!) on the first day of the conference, with Sue Fortin and Catherine Miller.
Photo: Liz Fenwick.

Passing out hand-outs right before my talk.
Photo: Liz Fenwick.

I am now in full-on recovery mode and gearing up to speak on a panel about digital publishing at The Ivy Club tomorrow evening. The rest of the week will be writing, writing, writing! Now, off to nap...

Have a great week, everyone. I'll see you next Monday!

Longing for Lobster... and Sun

Happy Monday, everyone!

Well, the Great Hope (aka Andy Murray) may not have won Wimbledon, but hey, at least he provided a very good reason to pig out on strawberries and cream along with pear cider (non-alcoholic, sigh) on a Sunday afternoon. *pats belly contentedly*

And in total non-sequitur, I'm at Mel Chesley's today, talking about my books and such... and Mel has a lovely review of Build A Man.   I'm also at Carol Hedges' blog, discussing my reasons for self-publishing. Carol is a wonderful, sparky writer starting out on the self-publishing journey herself, so pop by if you get the chance!

I'll only be posting on Mondays for the next two weeks, due to a hectic schedule. This Friday, I take off to the wilds of Penrith for the Romantic Novelists' Association annual conference! Where's Penrith, you ask? I haven't a clue. (Ah, okay, I've just looked it up, and it's on the edge of the Lake District.)

Sounds idyllic, but for the fact it's only supposed to be around 15 C and rainy the whole time. The autumnal weather is, as you can imagine, prompting a wardrobe/ shoe crisis the likes of which has never before been seen. My previous plan had been to spend the weekend in lovely floaty maxi dresses with comfy yet stylish flat sandals. The dresses had the dual function of not only looking passable, but also hiding my bulging pot-belly which looks more like I've ingested too many pastries  rather than a 14-week pregnancy. Now, I'll be squishing myself into trousers paired with random tops that make me resemble the Michelin Madam.

Where's that lobster outfit when you need it?

Have a lovely week, and spare a thought for those battling the elements while you bask in glorious rays of sunshine, wearing the lovely floaty summer dresses I long for!

Ghostly Hanky-Panky

Happy Friday, everyone! Today I am pleased to welcome fellow romantic novelist Linda Gillard to the blog, writing about some of the, er, issues with ghostly sex. 

Take it away, Linda!

When I set out to write THE GLASS GUARDIAN, a supernatural love story with a ghost hero, I didn’t realise how hard it would be. I don’t plan my novels much and tend to let the characters dictate the story (which in this case gave a new meaning to the phrase “ghost-written”.) 

The problem was spectre sex. Vampires are (apparently) solid flesh and blood and very fit. Ghosts? Well, ghosts aren’t. So how could I give an insubstantial ghost lover an erotic power and a physical presence without cheating? Could something traditionally thought of as cold, ever be hot?... 

I hit upon the idea of water. Water can be sensuous and sexy; cold, but invigorating. Maybe my ghost’s element could be water… 

“He grabbed my hand, pressed the palm to his cold face and closed his eyes. His flesh yielded, but my hand didn’t penetrate his form. There was an uncanny resistance. Had he felt more solid, I suppose I might have thought of a corpse, but Hector was no more corporeal than a waterfall, or a river in spate. I could sense that energy, that force in him.” 

Well, it worked for me in a weird sort of way… 

“I took his chill, long-fingered hand and slid it inside my dress so that his palm lay on the curve of my breast. The sensation was one of cold, silky water trickling over my body, then he pulled me toward him and pressed his mouth on mine. For a second I panicked. Inundated by the cool liquidity of Hector’s form, I felt as if I was drowning, until I realised I didn’t need to hold my breath or prevent him from entering my mouth. I was quite safe...” 

Water in its various forms actually became a theme in the book. A snow-bound Isle of Skye provides the wintry setting. The dramatic climax takes place in a glacial world where ice can be a killer. And of course my watery ghost melts Ruth’s frozen heart. 

If you like your love scenes aquatic rather than athletic, he might melt yours too.

Love, loss and loneliness… Ruth Travers knows all about them. She’s lost a lover, both parents and her job. Now she thinks she might be losing her mind. For Ruth’s falling in love again – with a man who died almost a hundred years ago...  THE GLASS GUARDIAN (£1,90/$2.99) Amazon UK; Amazon.com

Thank you, Linda! And for anyone who hasn't yet read my novel Build A Man, there's  a chance to win it over on I Heart... Chick Lit. Have a great weekend, everyone!

My Favourite American Things

Happy Fourth of July to all Americans everywhere!

In honour of the holiday, I've decided to post my favourite American things. Okay, so I'm not a citizen of the States, but I did live in Texas for three months, so that must count for something, right?

So, in no particular order, here we go!

1. New York City. The energy of this place is amazing. It's like being on uppers 24/7. Love it.

2. Target. Okay, need I say more?

3. Dry zones. Really makes you appreciate the wet zones! (Dry zone = area where you can't buy alcohol.)

4. New Orleans. Oh my, what a crazeeee place. Definitely has a vibe all its own. I love the back alleys of the French quarter.

5. Friendly people. Canadians are friendly, too, but Americans have the hospitality thing down pat.

6. Sonic. I LOVE Sonic milkshakes and burgers! Oh so good.

What are your favourite American things?

Grunt It Out

Happy Monday, everyone! Thank you all for the lovely wishes on my last post.

Well, it's July! Can you believe it? I certainly can't. But Wimbledon's here, strawberries and cream are gracing the grocery aisles, and the weather -- well, let's not talk about that. To top it all off, I've started writing my next novel, The Pollyanna Plan. It's always difficult knowing where to start, but I've found the best thing to do (after the preliminary planning) is to plunge right in. I'm very much of the mindset that I can fix it later, and I just need to get through the first draft.

Which brings me to the grunting! (Can you tell I'm watching Wimbledon as I type this?) Although everything always starts off perfectly clear and harmonious within my novel-writing brain, as the pages progress, I often find myself complicating matters. New characters crop up, plot twists occur . . . and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the surprises that happen when I'm creating, even though it leads to a lot of grunt work later. And now I can't even console myself with wine!

So, ladies and gentlemen, for the next few months, I'm looking for a new self-soothing method to get me through. If I can't drink wine... what on earth is a novelist to do? Grunt like a tennis player?

Help!

News! My wonderful friend Mel Sherratt has a new book out! It's a brilliant read -- take a look if you get the chance.

Works in Progress: Inside and Out

Happy Friday! You'll be happy to hear the road resurfacing nightmare is over, and we now have a pristine street out front that really didn't need any work done in the first place. Must be the end of the fiscal year... our tax dollars hard at work.

London is bursting with construction from one end to the other in preparation for the Olympics, actually. Everywhere you turn, the city is polishing itself up in readiness for the five bazillion visitors who will soon be descending upon us. Should make for some interesting times!

Apart from the joys of asphalt, there's been another little development in my life -- currently about the size of a lemon! I'm happy to report that Mini TR will be joining us in early January. Mr TR and I had our first peek as he happily bounced around inside me yesterday, and the doctor informed us the baby was 'very male'. Yikes!

So, that's my latest work in progress. Thankfully, he'll do all the hard work himself -- no revisions or editing needed!

What are you working on these days, internally or externally? :) Have a great weekend, everyone!

Talk Talk

Brace yourself: this post is going to be boring. (Can you imagine if I started a novel like that? I wonder how many people would read on...) Anyway, I do apologise. I'm utterly brain-dead after a torturous night listening to heavy BEEPING machinery scrape the asphalt off the street in front of my flat all night until 5 a.m. And even worse? They'll be back tonight!

(I've tried earplugs. They don't work.)

So, in lieu of a functioning brain, I thought I'd share a couple talks I'll be doing over the next few months.

July 14: The Romantic Novelists' Association Annual Conference, Penrith. Marketing for Writers. I'll be talking about the many social media platforms and strategies writers can use to market themselves. And I assure you, one of those will NOT being DM'ing everyone on Twitter your Amazon buy-links! Grr!

July 17: Byte the Book, Digital Literary Soirée, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., The Ivy, London. The Author Experience of Publishing in a Digital Age. 

Sept 7: York Festival of Writing, 2 to 6 pm. How to be a Professional Self-Publisher and Succeed (mini-workshop)


Sept 8: York Festival of Writing, 4:40 pm. Traditional or Self-Publishing: How to Know What's Right for You

Nov 16-18: Festival of Romance, Bedford. TBD.


Are you still reading? Hope so! A small shout-out for a very supportive chick lit reader, Kevin Loh, who has just started his own review blog. You can check it out and follow here.

Happy Wednesday, everyone. Think of me while you're sleeping soundly this evening.  

Guilty Pleasures

I won't even tell you what kind of photos I found searching for 'guilty pleasures'. My eyes, my eyes!

I've started plotting my next novel, The Pollyanna Plan, but as you know, lately I'm been embracing the faff. And to that end, I've indulged in a few guilty pleasures. So here they are... in no particular order.

1. Afternoon naps. There's something so decadent about shutting your eyes and drifting away...

2. Phil and Kirsty. Give me any property show with these two, and I'll watch for hours. I don't care how boring real estate is -- I love their chemistry.

3. Staring into space. Mr TR calls it 'being a horse' (like animals in fields staring at nothing), and I love it. I can only manage a few minutes before getting bored, though.

4. Window shopping. I'm lucky enough (well, not for my budget) to live close to High Street Kensington, a street lined with loads of shops. Although I'm not much a browser, I do love looking into shop windows and people watching.

5. The Daily Mail. Every day, a story in this paper makes me laugh. From cancer-causing veggies to sperm-squirting squids (don't ask), the more ridiculous, the better.

So there you have it! A few of my tamer guilty pleasures.


What are yours?

The Yin and Yang of Wine and Coffee

Happy Friday! I'm still occupied with my faffing, so today I'm pleased to host the lovely Hart Johnson, talking about hew new novel, The Azalea Assault. I loved this book --  the cast of characters were all interesting and varied, and I liked that Cam was intelligent and interesting. The wonderfully lush setting in Roanoke really come alive, too. I'm not a big mystery reader, but this one has whet my appetite for more.

Over to Hart!

First I want to thank Talli so much for hosting me as part of my blog book tour! I think Talli is such an amazing presence, always cheerful, always fun, but MAN can she nail that marketing creativity thing! She's had some of the most unique ideas for really getting herself out there, and I think all of us can learn from her. She pushes all of us to up our game!!!

I thought, because Talli is a coffee and wine gal, I'd talk about the ongoing struggles my MC and her best friend have on exactly these topics (and how it's symbolic for their character differences overall) See, Camellia Harris (Cam) is pragmatic, calorie conscious (sort of a light weight where liquor is concerned) and prefers things mild. Annie, her long-time best friend, is sassy, bold, spicy... all about life's little pleasures (and big, if you can find them). [Cam is a PR professional and Annie owns a cupcake shop]

 In the very opening scene there is a debate about CREAM... Cam using the non-fat, non-dairy substitute and Annie insisting she is missing the point entirely, lecturing her about TEXTURE. Likewise on the wine. Cam is white, not too dry, not too sweet (a nice grigio). Annie is red and bold, usually choosing a merlot, but enjoying unusual twists. I had such fun setting up their personality contrasts in terms of flavor—seriously.

There is also an ongoing beer debate and Annie constantly pushing Cam to add a little spice to her palate. (And swear more, but never mind) I think the details like this can be so telling, and give a great sense of personality without having to... you know... describe personality.

 So the coffee or wine bar are open, depending on what time it is: How do you prefer yours? I am a black coffee drinker most days (though at Christmas always need at least one eggnog latte) and drink wine like a high school kid (pretty and sweet—I get that from my grandma).

 The Azalea Assault 
 Cam Harris loves her job as public relations manager for the Roanoke Garden Society. It allows her to combine her three loves, spinning the press, showing off her favorite town, and promoting her favorite activity. She's just achieved a huge coup by enlisting Garden Delights, the country's premiere gardening magazine, to feature the exquisite garden of RGS founder, Neil Patrick. She's even managed to enlist world-famous photographer Jean-Jacques Georges. Unfortunately, Jean-Jacques is a first-rate cad—insulting the RGS members and gardening, goosing every woman in the room, and drinking like a lush. It is hardly a surprise when he turns up dead. But when Cam's brother-in-law is accused and her sister begs her to solve the crime, that is when things really get prickly.Available at: Barnes & Noble Paperback or Nook Amazon Paperback or Kindle (pretty much any book store and some big boxes) 

Alyse Carlson is the pen name for the author some of you may know as Hart Johnson. She writes books from her bathtub and when she isn't writing, does research for a large, midwest University or leads the Naked World Domination Movement (your choice). Alyse/Hart/The Tart can be found at: Confessions of a Watery Tart.


Thank you for your kind words, Hart (I didn't pay her, I swear!). Before I go, you can read about my fifteen firsts over at the Chick Lit Bee, and there's a chance to win a copy of Construct A Couple at the wonderful Book Chick blog.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Embrace the Faff

Although in my normal life, I'm extremely goal-oriented to the point of obsession, I'm an expert faffer when I put my mind to it. And with the launch of the book behind me, most of the accompanying activities squared away, and a few free days looming before diving into my next novel, that's exactly what I intend on doing.

'Faffing' for me usually entails a few hours aimlessly surfing the 'net (Daily Mail, anyone?), entering random Google searches and snickering at some of the ruder results. What can I say, in this current state, it doesn't take much to amuse me! Then, when I finally haul my arse off the sofa and away from Whiny Housewives of Orange County -- strangely addictive, I might add -- I'll wander down to Kensington High Street and peruse the shops for red trousers (!!), grab a yummy strawberries and cream drink thingy from one of the gazillions of Starbucks along the way, and saunter through the park past Kensington Palace on my way home.

Perfection.

What's your favourite way to faff?

In the Headlights

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and that all the dads out there had a fantastic Father's Day!

I'm in the headlights at Rebecca Leith's blog today, answering some very interesting questions about temptations and animals. Drop by to say hi if you can!

And in other news, there's a chance to win Construct A Couple over on Chick Lit Central. Just comment on your favourite dad to enter.

I'll keep this short and sweet as I think I've said it all over at Rebecca's. Have a great Monday, everyone!

PS! Blog buddy Stephen Tremp is having a Breakthrough Breakout Book Giveaway today and tomorrow. For these 2 days, his debut novel Breakthrough will be available for free on Amazon. Check out Stephen's blog for the details.

The Aftermath

TGIF, everyone!

First off, a massive thanks to everyone who popped by on Wednesday, helped spread the word about Construct A Couple, or even took the time to review my novel. I am constantly amazed by the level of support in the writing world!

It's a funny thing when launch activities die down, the hoopla fades away, and you're left staring at the computer screen wondering what to do next. Of course, there are plenty of things I should be doing, but I find I always need a little time to regroup and recharge. Next week, I'll start in on The Pollyanna Plan, due out in the autumn, and I've already got a draft cover designed for Marriage To Measure, the next in the Serenity Holland series.

But until then, I'm going to sit on my arse, eat raspberry trifle to my heart's content, and ogle the monitor mindlessly.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and thanks again!

(Today is the last day Build A Man is free on Amazon (.com; .co.uk). Yay! Grab your copy now if you haven't already.)

Launch Day!

Yippee! It's launch day for Construct A Couple (.com; .co.uk for 99c/99p), and there's lots of exciting stuff going on! 


Over on High Heels and Book Deals, I'm talking about how many drafts I go through, among other things. 

On Trashionista, you can enter to win a copy of Construct A Couple. 


The lovely Meredith Moore has posted a rather nice review of Construct A Couple on her blog. Thanks, Meredith!


And to celebrate the launch, Build A Man will be free on Amazon for the next three days (.com; .co.uk). Yay! Grab your copy now if you haven't already. 


A big thank you to everyone in blogland who, as always, is super-encouraging and supportive. So grab a glass of wine, champagne, or wine, and tell me:


What do you think makes a successful couple? 


I'm going to say patience. For both Mr TR and me!


Have a great day, everyone, and thanks for dropping by to help me celebrate!

Into the Light

Happy Monday! You'll be stunned to hear it's still raining (har). Hope everyone had a wonderfully dry weekend.

Things have been pretty quiet of late at TR Towers. As I may have mentioned one or thrice, I've had my head down, working away on Construct A Couple. My deadline was originally the end of May. I'm a sticker for deadlines, but this time around I just needed that bit more time to finesse the text, and make sure I was happy.

After working like mad for the past few weeks and neglecting everything but bodily functions (TMI?), I'm pleased to report Construct A Couple is now up on your friend and mine, Amazon (.com; .co.uk) for 99c/99p! Phew.

There's always a sense of relief when a big project is finished, mixed with nerves about people actually reading the novel. Not to mention, I have a list a mile long of everything I pushed to one side while trying to get this book out the door! And part of that includes catching up on my blog rounds, which has suffered a little over recent weeks.

I hope you'll come by on Wednesday for the official launch, when there will be wine, wine, wine and wine. And if you don't like wine, there's always wine!

Have a fab day, and I'll see you then!

Give Poetry A Chance

Happy Friday, all! Today, I'm delighted to welcome Jessica Bell to the blog, in celebration of Fabric, her new book of poetry. I'm a massive poetry fan, and this book is not only beautifully laid out, it's very accessible. Drawing heavily on Greek terminology and mythology, Jess's poems are an assault to the senses - it's writing you can't be neutral about. 

Jessica says:
My poetry will not baffle you with phrasing that scholars award for academic genius and that can only be understood by those who wrote it. My poetry is for the everyday reader. In fact, it is even for those who don’t like to read poetry at all. Because it is real, stark and simple.

The poems in Fabric are no different. They explore specific moments in different people’s lives that are significant to whom they have become, the choices they’ve made. It’s about how they perceive the world around them, and how each and every one of their thoughts and actions contributes to the fabric of society. Perhaps you will even learn something new about yourself.

So, even if you do not usually read poetry, I urge you to give this one a go. Not because I want sales (though, they are fun!), but because I want more people to understand that not all poetry is scary and complex. Not all poetry is going to take you back to high school English, and not all poetry is going make you feel “stupid”.

You can still say to people that you don’t read poetry … I really don’t mind. Because if you read Fabric, you’re not reading poetry, you’re reading about people. And that’s what reading is about, yes? Living the lives of others? 

The e-book is only $1.99 and the paperback $5.50. Here are the links: Amazon US; Amazon UK; Goodreads

About Jessica:

If Jessica Bell could choose only one creative mentor, she’d give the role to Euterpe, the Greek muse of music and lyrics. And not because she currently lives in Greece, either. The Australian-native author, poet and singer/songwriter/guitarist has her roots firmly planted in music, and admits inspiration often stems from lyrics she’s written.She is the Co-Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and co-hosts the Homeric Writers' Retreat  Workshop on the Greek Isle of Ithaca, with Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest. Website

Thanks, Jess! Have a great weekend, everyone.

The Sequel Cometh

Ladies and gentlemen! Dogs and cats! Children and... okay, I'll stop. But you can see how excited I am to share the news that Construct A Couple, the follow-up to Build A Man, will be available as an ebook next week! And even more delightful (for me, anyway), I'm really happy with it.

If any of you would like a review copy, please let me know -- either in the comments or by emailing me at talliroland AT gmail.com. I'll gleefully fire one your way with the utmost of thanks!

With a great job at a reputable magazine and a man who’s the perfect match, Serenity Holland thinks she’s laid the foundation for an ideal London life. When a routine assignment uncovers a shocking secret threatening her boyfriend’s company, Serenity decides to leave nothing to chance, taking matters into her own hands. Soon, though, she realises keeping secrets isn't as easy as she thought . . . and the consequences are far worse than she ever imagined.


All I can say is... phew! With every novel I've written, there's always a sweaty-palmed, heart-fluttering moment where I think that I'll never be able to turn my pile of crud into something readable. This novel has been written through Canada and Egypt, house-guests galore, some very exciting news, and more. And it's finally done! Just a few more read-throughs, and it's ready to go. 

I'm off to collapse in a corner now...

Have a great Wednesday! (It is Wednesday, right? I've lost all track of time.)

Rivers and Romance

It's Monday, we're in the middle of a four-day weekend, and if you caught a glimpse of the Jubilee flotilla yesterday, you'd see the weather has returned to its usual Apocalyptic self! Mr TR and I had contemplated heading to the Jubilee Piccadilly street party, but with wind and rain lashing down, well . . . the comfort of our sofa beckoned.

It was wonderful to see the Thames in such splendour, though -- the river is one of my favourite London spots. Since I'm still in a Jubilee kinda mood, I thought I'd share some photos from my own celebratory flotilla: my wedding reception, which was held on The Edwardian on the Thames. And I'm proud to say I spotted our boat in yesterday's spectacle!

(All credit goes to Monika and Marek of Gold Lens Photography.)

The bell of The Edwardian, with Blackfriars Bridge in the distance. 

The Millennium Bridge.

Chatting on board.

Wonderful jazz singers atop the boat, with County Hall in the background.

Canary Wharf. 

London Bridge, lit up pink.

The National Theatre, with the London Eye in the background.

And even more cause for celebration! Tomorrow is the launch of DJ Kirkby's novel My Dream of You. Everyone who leaves a ‘pick me’ comment on the online launch party blog post or shares the post from DJ's Facebook author page or Tweets using the #MDOY hashtag making sure to copy @djkirkby gets their name entered into a draw for the following prizes:

• A Bothams of Whitby champagne afternoon tea hamper custom made for the My Dream of You launch party (UK only).
• One of five limited edition (signed) paperback copies of MDOY (open to worldwide entrants). 
• A character named after you in my next novel (open to worldwide entrants). 
• One of 15 MDOY fridge magnets (open to worldwide entrants). 

Have a great day, everyone. 

Jubilation Nation

You'd have to be living under a rock in this nation to escape knowledge that this weekend is the big'un: The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The city is awash with Union Jacks, road closures, street parties, and a rubbish weather forecast (in keeping with the British theme). And to top it all off? A four-day weekend! I ask you, what could be better?

As this Land of Hope and Glory is my adopted country and one to which I've become a citizen, I hereby present my own Best of Britain, the very things I love.

In no particular order...

1. Free museums! I was astounded when I first realised 99.9 per cent of the wonderful museums you don't need to pay for. What a fantastic thing.

2. Drinking outside pubs. Drinking in parks. Heck, you could even drink on the tube until our kindly (ha!) Mayor put a stop to it. I like that alcohol beyond the bar confines isn't automatically vilified.

3. Black cabs. They cost a pretty penny, but they're roomy, plentiful, and the drivers knows the city like the back of their hands.

4. Markets. From Camden in the North to Borough in the South, London has a market for almost everything. They're colourful, vibrant, and perfect for people watching.

5. Rule Britannia. Seriously, what other country has a song that goes: 'Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves. And Britains never never NEVER will be slaves.' That never bit cracks me up. I get it, people. Never. Never ever.

6. Sticky toffee pudding. Moist sponge base, gooey toffee sauce . . . *slurp*

7. The Proms. Every summer for something like 100 nights, you can pay a fiver for access to the Royal Albert Hall to see legends of classical music. Over the past few years, I've heard Yo Yo Ma, among many others.

8. Red trousers. Okay, so it's a love-hate relationship. But it makes me giggle!

9. The fact that Canadians can simply exchange their driver's license without taking a test. Words cannot express how much this boosted my love for Britain. I was a bit of a danger on the roads until I figured out what half the signs meant, but . . .

10. Red double-decker buses. There's nothing better than grabbing a set at the front of the top deck and watching the city rush by.

So there you have it! What do you love about your country? (Besides freedom, la la la...)

Moving Goalposts

Some of you may know that every Tuesday, I post on The Writer's Guide to ePublishing. A while back, I wrote about the changing nature of dreams. Time and again - through discussions with friends and other wriiters - I'm reminded how the goalpost can shift along the way. I thought I'd share the post here.

So... here it is!

When I first decided to try to get published, I had a dream. I’d have a swanky agent, get a three-book deal with a major publisher, have a fabulous launch party drowning in cocktails, and see my novel on every bookshelf up and down the country. I wanted to be invited to author talks; to see people on the Tube reading my novel; and to get reviews in national magazines. In short, I wanted everything that people imagine when they think ‘author’.

All through having two non-fiction books and two novels published traditionally, I held onto the dream. It would materialise sometime, surely. All I needed was an agent. A bigger publisher. A better distributor. I’d stay the traditional course and I’d get there in the end.

But somewhere along the way, I realised something was more important than the dream: readers. With the ebook and self-publishing revolution, I could take control of my timeline and release more books a year than traditional publishing would allow, hopefully building up my base and reaching more of a target audience. Was I willing to step off the road that led to wine-soaked launches, peer recognition, and books on shelves?

Yes.

Now, as I prepare to release my fourth novel in a year-and-a-half, I realise my dream has changed. I still get a pang of desire when I think of all the fringe benefits beckoning from traditional side of publishing, but growing my readership and taking control more than compensate for cocktails (I can’t believe I just wrote that!). And, as self-publishing becomes more mainstream, I’ve seen that it doesn’t have to be one or the other — an author can successfully do both. Not only that, for some authors, self-publishing can lead to an agent or a traditional publishing deal. There’s more than one way to achieve a dream.

The rapid changes in the publishing industry over the past few years have forced me to examine my long-held desires. Do I still want to see my book in the shops? Yes. Do I still want wine? (I think you know the answer.) Do I want to be eligible for industry awards? I’d love to be. But most of all, I want to write, and I want to have readers.

Everything else is just gravy.

What’s your publishing dream? Do you still long for ‘traditional’ success? Can success even be defined by books in shops, etc, any longer?

Dream a Little Dream

Happy Monday! The glorious sunshine continues here in London - it's almost too good to be true. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Today, I am taking part in Rebecca Emin's online launch party for When Dreams Come True. Rebecca asked us all to share our nightly dreams.

I'm not sure mine make very interesting reading, because - as Mr TR pointed out - nothing bad ever happens in them! I might be on the cusp of crashing, drowning, or any other random horror, but somehow I always seem to find my way out. Thank goodness, because as a very light sleeper, I have a lot of dreams, and I usually remember them all.

One recurring dream I have is that of drowning. I'm on a boat crossing rocky waters. The boat rocks perilously before overturning, and I flounder in the ocean. But - you guessed it! - I somehow kick my way to the surface and I'm saved!

Guess my subconscious is determined not to let me succumb to nightmares.

Do you dream? If so, any horrifying scenarios to share?


Congrats to Rebecca on her launch day!

When Good Things Happen to Good People

Ladies and gentlemen, the London heatwave continues (and by 'heatwave', I mean I'm not wearing layers). I'm sorry I haven't been my usual commenty self, but one thing I've learned in eight years of London is that when the sun shines, you must grab all the rays you can.

One of the things I love about blogland and the writing world in general is that we can share in each others' success. Sure, it's easy to get little pangs of jealousy time and again, but mostly, there's an overwhelming feeling of elation when a writer finally gets a book deal or an indie author hits their fifty-thousandth sale.

Last night, I was at a book launch for a debut novel by Liz Fenwick, a fellow member of the Romantic Novelists' Association. Glancing around the room packed full of published authors, it really was heart-warming to think we're all here to celebrate her success. And it's not just the real world: I see the same thing every day virtually, too.

Writing is a long, hard slog. Nothing is guaranteed -- except for anxiety and rejection. It's the people around us who lift us up when we need it, and who cry 'hurrah' when we make it.

Thank you all for being one of my 'people'!

Have a great Friday, and a fantastic, sun-filled, wine-soaked weekend. 

Summer in London Town

Well, I think it may have finally happened. Summer! Day after gloomy day of hail, rain, wind (wettest April ever! Coldest spring since records began!) has finally given way to sun and warmth -- for a few days, anyway. My step-daughter is visiting and tonight we're heading to the South Bank to soak up the rays. 

I know this blog has been a little thin on content lately (party shoes, lobster costumes and such), but hey. You don't really want to hear about me removing the millionth 'just' or eye-roll from the zillionth draft of my latest epic, do you?

I thought not. So, instead...

The sun shines on Kensington Palace.

Royal Festival Hall, with the London Eye in the background.

Pimm's at a pub on the Thames. 

Little Venice on a calm summer's morning. 

Is it summer in your parts yet? (Your 'neck of the woods parts', not your other bits, ha!). See you all Friday!

Party Shoes!

Happy Monday, everyone! I'm back from my self-imposed blog exile, and while I still have a few rounds of edits left to go, I'm coming into the light. Finally.

The highlight of last week -- without a doubt -- was the Romantic Novelists' Association summer party. Seeing as how I don't get out much, wearing skyscraper shoes and donning a lobster costume (I jest - I went with the summery floaty dress) always ranks high in my books. Here are some photos (stolen from various sources. Hope they don't mind!).

Carole Matthews' wonderful book handbag! LOVE.

Jane Lovering wins Romantic Novel of the Year.

Catherine Miller, me (sans lobster costume), DJ Kirkby, Rhoda Baxter.

The Royal Overseas League where the party was held, tucked away behind The Ritz.

Shoe wars! Jane Lovering's black sandals versus my orange ones. 

So, that's what I've been up to -- well, the interesting bit, anyway. Happy Monday!

Peacocks, Mazes, and Castles, Oh My!

The inevitable has happened: it's Monday. And yes, it might be raining, but I'm pleased to report we actually had a few days of sun while my parents were in town! Here are a few photos from our trip yesterday to Leeds Castle which, confusingly enough, isn't in Leeds.

One of the many peacocks on the castle grounds.

The castle's rear view. 

The maze from hell. I suck at mazes and got bored after about ten minutes. 

The castle from the front. Beautiful view!

And apart from castle-ing, there are other exciting things going on today: Becca and Angela have a special Random Act of Kindness gift waiting for you, so hop on over to The Bookshelf Muse to pick it up. And author Jessica Bell has a new book of poetry out, which I very much enjoyed!

I'm playing catch-up this week and with a party on Thursday (tough life, I know) and a draft to get off to my beta readers, I'm taking the week off blogging.

See you next Monday!

Making the Ugly Beautiful

It's Friiiiday! Momma and Poppa TR are in London Town! All is right with the world!

Today, I'm pleased to have Gilli Alan, author of Life Class and Torn,  here to talk about a topic near (athough at the present time, not quite so dear) to my heart: editing.

Over to Gilli!

Editing (or making that ugly ill-formed lump into a thing of beauty)

When I was fifteen, I found and reared a fledgling owl. I called him Timmy. I’ll tell you in a minute what this has to do with writing.

Editing is the best bit of writing because every time you do it you’re making your book better. But before you can start the editing you have to have the raw material to work on. Sorry to state the obvious! Writing doesn’t come easily to me. To get the original story out and onto the page is a slow, hiccupy sometimes painful process. It was when I was thinking about the creation of that first ugly, misshapen draft, that the image of my owl came to mind. In the wild, owls eat the whole of their prey, bones, fur and all. They then regurgitate a pellet of the indigestible part of the diet. So, if you’re rearing a young owl, you have to incorporate some of these elements, to keep this mechanism working.

Timmy lived in our garage; I often watched him, sitting up on a rafter, regurgitating these pellets. It looked very uncomfortable; it looked like it took a great deal of effort; it looked like Timmy would far rather be doing something else as he gagged, retched and eventually brought up a surprisingly large and steaming lump of matter.

It’s only after the horrible process of excavating that first draft out of myself, that the fun begins. It’s only when I read the whole thing through that I realise it’s not as bad as I first thought. But even if it is, the ideas about how to improve it start to flow. And it’s not just the way I’ve expressed myself that can be tidied up. New revelations come to me about the characters and their motivations - why did X say that and Y do this? Flaws in the plotline show up, but also the solutions. The story may even go off in new and surprising directions. All of this is like magic and is deeply rewarding.

After we released Timmy we’d leave his food out in the garden. He’d return every evening to eat. Then he stopped coming. One summer night, a year later, we heard a very loud and very close ‘tu-whitting’ . It sounded just like Timmy. My dad shone a torch onto a full-grown owl sitting in our beech tree. As we watched he flew down and perched on the top of the side door to the garage where Timmy had lived. I believe it was him. It was almost as if he’d come back to tell us he was all right. And I’ve discovered since, he wasn’t a boy. It’s the girls who go ‘tu-whitt’ and the boys who go ‘tu-whoo’.

Now where can I get an owl called Timmy? Thanks, Gilli!

Gilli can be found at her blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. Her new novel, Life Class, is available here.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Beating Books Into Submission

I'm going through one of those phases where I eat, sleep, and dream my book. Over the past few weeks, I've been busy beating the plot and character development into submission, and praise the Goddess of Wine, there's finally light at the end of the tunnel.

I read somewhere recently that writing is like the process of distillation, and it's certainly true for me. No matter how clear I think I am in the beginning, I need to write . . . and write . . . and write again until things become clearer and everything crystallises. I can't even tell you how many times I've written some scenes, trying to get everything to hang together just so.

I tell you, if anyone ever says this writing lark is easy, they'd better get out of the way of my boxing gloves!

What irksome things make you want to don your virtual boxing gloves, writing or otherwise? Not that I condone violence, of course... :)

Let 'Er Rip!

It's Monday! And today, we're celebrating the launch of Glynis Smy's debut novel, Ripper, My Love. Glynis has got to be one the loveliest, most supportive people out there, and I'm thrilled to be able to celebrate this day with her.

Here's a bit more about the book:

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.

With her ever-watchful father and living surrogate family though, Kitty feels protected from harm. In fact, she feels so safe that while Whitechapel cowers under the cloud of a fearsome murderer, she strikes out on her own, moving into new premises to accommodate her sewing business.

But danger is closer than she thinks. In truth, it has burrowed itself right into her heart in the form of a handsome yet troubled bachelor, threatening everything she holds dear. Will Kitty fall prey to lust – and death – herself, or can she find the strength inside to fight for her business, sanity and her future? And who is the man terrifying the streets of East London?

If you've ever thought historical novels are a little bit boring, you really must give this a go -- it's anything but dull! Combining fiction with reality, Glynis creates a story with plenty of twists and turns, along with characters you can't help but love or hate in equal measures. I enjoyed the strong, independent heroine who refuses to bow to convention and even sets up her own successful business. Using colourful language, the world of East London comes to life, and you can almost taste the fear and unease that wraps itself around this novel.A wonderful debut, and I can't wait to read more from Glynis!

Want to purchase a copy? Launch day price for the Kindle is 99c/77p and it's available here:
Amazon Kindle
Amazon.com Paperback
Amazon.co.UK Paperback & Kindle UK
The Book Depository UK (free delivery worldwide)
The Book Depository. Com
Barnes & Noble

Italy? Yes Please!

Guess what, lovely bloggery bloggers? It's Friday! And even better, I've got Catherine McNamara here, talking about her new book, The Divorced Lady's Companion to Living in Italy.

Now, I'm not divorced nor do I live in Italy, but being an expat myself, I'm always fascinated by other expat  experiences. So... take it away, Catherine!

Living in Translation

Anyone who has lived abroad knows that learning a language involves embarrassing moments. You ask for a baguette in your best French and the baker looks back with a perplexed stare. You study Italian in Milan and end up in a town where everybody speaks an incomprehensible dialect. Or, you ask if there are any preservativi (condoms) in a jar of jam instead of conservanti (preservatives), and set a whole room laughing!

When I set out to write my women’s commercial novel ‘The Divorced Lady’s Companion to Living in Italy’ I wasn’t sure I would find a convincing storyline or voice. I’d published a lot of short stories, some tragi-comic, but I’d never tackled humour or romance, or written a story set in this noisy, flashy country despite living here for eight years. I knew that my character Marilyn Wade was in Italy to reformat her life, and I knew that her learning Italian would provide lots of laughs. I also knew that the most immediate way of learning a language is to acquire a partner who speaks the desired tongue, and that the most effective lessons take place beneath the sheets.

Enter virile agronomist Federico, who has already snatched a few of my readers’ hearts.

I had a wonderful time writing this book – so far from my own experience that I think it made my imagination wilder. One summer I set up my desk in the chicken shed attached to the house so my children couldn’t hunt me down every five minutes. Everyone knows that writers like to keep on their coffee highs for as long as possible. And that to unfurl an idea you have to isolate yourself and keep your thoughts well-fed while you urge the words onto the page.

So how much easier is it when English is your secret niche and your mundane daily activities are carried out in Italian? This is something that I have discovered about living in translation, where I have my writerly secrets at my desk and my stories vivid in my thoughts, undisturbed as I pay bills in Italian, chitchat at the fruit market, drink aperitivi and make my awful, horrible language trip-ups. These days however, I have learned NOT to ask if there are any condoms in the jam!


Thank you, Catherine! The book is available here, and on all the usual suspects.

I would like to know: Have you had an embarrassing experience, linguistic or otherwise, when travelling? Share!

PS: Thank you for the fashion input on Wednesday! I'll reveal my purchases on Monday. Have a great weekend!

What Should Talli Wear?

You probably wouldn't guess it looking at my over-stuffed wardrobe (hey, it's tiny), but I am so not a shopper. I like new clothes, but the process of buying them? Not so much.

I'm a bit out of practise, too. I went through a few very lean years where my monthly expendable income was about £15 and one trip to Primark to buy black socks pretty much blew the budget. Then, working from home, the allure of magical new outfits to take the sting from the work day was no longer necessary. I was more concerned with fuzzy warm socks than swanky shoes.

However, every once in a while, a glamorous occasion reared its pretty head, requiring a trip to the shops. This time, it's the Romantic Novelists' Association Summer Party, coming up in mid-May. While technically, I need a new dress like (insert clever simile here), it's a little treat to myself after years of austerity.

But sadly, that requires shopping. While Mr TR likes to peruse the wares for hours (not kidding. Hours!), I prefer the hit and run method. In fact, I've even been known to time myself at Notting Hill Tesco to see how fast I can get in and out! What can I say, a challenge makes buying stale bread that much more enjoyable.

So, to help me prepare, I'm conducting a little poll and I'd very much appreciate your input.

What Should Talli Wear? 

a. Red trousers with a powder-blue top
 b. Floral jumpsuit with padded shoulders in the style of the eighties
c. Nothing. Going out nude in London is en vogue at the moment.
d. Regency dress.
e. A lobster costume to celebrate her heritage.
f. A lovely floaty summery dress. 

I look forward to your answers. Happy Wednesday, everyone!

And before I go, lovely blogger Clarissa Draper's book is out now! Hop on over to the 'Zon and get it quick. It looks fab!