Archive for September, 2007

September 30, 2007 | 3 Comments

I just dropped my dd off at her shared house as she starts her new university term. I’ve had a wonderful summer with my MR B and CJ at home on and off between her travels. She’s only 90 miles away but I’m still going to miss her company. She’s 20 now and a very keen reader and writer of fantasy, classics and non-fiction (but not romance except Meg Cabot) so she’s a big help with reading my drafts - and giving her opinion. Funny, but she is the one person whose crits of my writing I never take offence at. She has a way of knowing exactly what I’m trying to say and when and why it isn’t working. Pity she’s a scientist but I guess you can’t have it all…

So here’s a photo of Mr B and CJ taken at Bedruthan Steps on the Atlantic North coast of Cornwall. Yes, it was that cold and that breathtaking…

Here’s a link to the review I got from www.singletitles.com

September 29, 2007 | 4 Comments

I’m back from Cornwall which was even more beautiful than I’d remembered and has left me bursting with inspiration. It took six hours to drive home but I’ve had the most relaxing, invograting time. I spent a lot of the time asleep too - I realised how absolutely knackered I was after the drama of the past 18 months by being unable to stay awake past 9.30 most nights. I even crawled into bed in my clothes one evening, too tired to get undressed after a day walking the beaches and coast.

Anyway, I returned to some lovely snippets of news and with some great photos. Snippet number one is that Just Say Yes, my new Cornish novel, is on Amazon and out the same month (June 2008) as Nell Dixon’s Blue Remembered Heels. (That’s her book, not her feet which are pink-ish as far as I know…)

Snippet two - I got two lovely reviews for Wish You Were Here.

Number three was an email from my agent regardring ’something somebody said’ about my writing that means an awful lot to me.

As well as sleeping and relaxing, I did wake up most nights for an hour or so wondering if I was going in the right direction and what to do next. Rare is the night when I don’t wake up worrying if everything is all going to come clattering down around my ears but I feel more encouraged now.

Pics and news tomorrow.

September 21, 2007 | 5 Comments

The book’s gone and tomorrow morning so I will I. I’m not going to do any work, think about books or plan them. For two years I wrote while I was on holiday and I’m not doing it this time. I don’t think I even want to read a book though I’ll take the latest Ian Rankin and Frenchman’s Creek with me just in case.

I’m going to have a Proper Holiday - and that means doing things like walking on the beach, eating pasties, seeing Tintagel castle and the Minack Theatre. I’m going to spend some quality time with my family because that’s what a holiday is for.

One editor made a great point at the RNA conference about letting the seed of an idea grow rather than ploughing from one book to another as if you’re on a conveyor belt. My agent thinks it’s really important for authors to have a life outside writing. Wise advice from both, I feel. Being a copywriter, I like to think of the concept of Having a Real Life as the white space in an ad. White space sells…

And finally. This is one of my biggest ambitions and it’s sad. I want to see where Doc Martin lives in Cornwall. If I ever get to write a TV series (in my dreams), I’d like to write something like this.

September 19, 2007 | 5 Comments

I just typed the magical words The End at the final chapter of Just Say Yes. It’s my longest ever book at over 70,299 words.

I need to give it a proof read - the kind that avoids tinkering of any kind - and send it to my agent for her feedback while I’m away in Cornwall next week. When I get back I’ll look at the ms with fresh eyes and make any changes then send it to my new editor at Little Black Dress.

And quiver… (while thinking about the next one)

I might order THIS as a treat. Click on the link to hear Richard narrating this book in his ‘Thornton’ accent.

September 16, 2007 | 6 Comments

Well, we had a mega party last night to mark the launch of WYWH and the DE Movie Thing. Saw Nell, Robyn, Rosy, Janeite, RQ, Lily, Millhand, Janice The Bookseller and lots of family and friends. It was on a vaguely French theme because Wish You Were Here is set in Corsica.

We sat out in the garden eating dinner, drinking Pousse Rapiere cocktails (Champagne, Armagnac and orange syrup) - all by the light of lanterns (and moths!) until it got too cold. It was a wonderful evening I shan’t forget.

Later, after much wine, I was encouraged to read some rude bits from Wish You Were Here but I hadn’t got past the first ‘naked‘ when everyone started giggling and shrieking - so I gave up. And these people are supposed to be mature professionals. Like yeah!

Has anyone else ever tried to read aloud their sex scenes to people they’ve been to school and uni with? Don’t. Nor should you read them in the presence of your OH’s work colleagues…

Just waiting now for our daughter to come home as it’s her birthday…

UPDATE - Monday

Our friends helped us clear up. Now the house is full of squashed Daddy Long Legs and flowers. We have enough wine and beer to last until the next book launch but no food other than tarte aux pommes and creme fraiche. I had a fabulous time - thank you to everyone who came along and hugs to those who couldn’t.

CJ came home after lunch and had her pressies and cards - she’d had her own party at her university house the night before.

P x