Archive for January, 2009

Green shoots

January 27, 2009 | 4 Comments

Why aren’t I blogging much? Because I’m a – earning a living and b – totally rewriting the current wip, It’s My Party, in my spare time. It has grown to 108k in the layering and I’m only about 1/5 way through the revising. It’s got quite an intricate plot with several strands and the first draft was 100k. I should have known it needed more of almost everything. I think the extra bits are called character development and motivation…

However, the daffodils and crocuses are poking through the earth which is an encouraging sign. I hope to finish my rewrites by spring.

And I think it must have been The Best Idea Ever to have a joint signing with Nell. She’s posted a notice on one site.

Two award-winning authors in one place – we also have chocolate.

If you’re struggling to get published, don’t give up. We could never have dreamed of what would happen to us just two years ago. I certainly don’t know how it happened to me – especially while I’m trying to wrestle this new book into submission!

Joint launch with Nell

January 20, 2009 | 5 Comments

Nell Dixon and I are planning a joint launch for our LBD’s, It Should Have Been Me and Animal Instincts. We’ll be at Waterstones, Merry Hill, Dudley on March 7th between 12 and 2 pm. Come and say hi!

Smiling amid the gloom

January 16, 2009 | 3 Comments

Well, I’m feeling in a very good mood this morning. Even though we’re all dooooooomed (according to the press), something small but significant happened yesterday that has made me all smiley smiley again. Just a little boost from my ed and publisher that has made all the difference to my confidence. I’ve also started to make notes on revising It’s My Party, and am looking forward to developing some ideas I had while writing the first draft.

Today, I’m hoping to get tickets to see Paul Weller (of Jam fame) on Cannock Chase in June. The Bitterest Pill – is my favourite Jam song and kind of appropriate for It Should Have Been Me. The really scary thing is that I was 19 when that song was released, at uni and had just started seeing Mr Bennet.

Tomorow, we’re off to Duckface’s Fancy dress party in London. We’re both going as fictional historical ‘superheroes’. I’ll post pictures on Monday, if they’re not too horrific.

Writer or wh*re?

January 15, 2009 | 7 Comments

Novelist Geoff Dyer is quoted in an article in the Independent, saying:

Anyone who has an eye on the market is not a writer but a whore. Nothing wrong with being a whore, of course – just don’t try to make out you’re a writer. Writers sometimes talk of pressure from their publishers to do this or that in order to be more commercial. Nine times out of ten this is sophistry and cowardice… I have this existential conception of writing not as a career but as a back-against-the wall option, the thing you turn to when you’ve got no other way of making a mark on the world. In those circumstances, whether or not you’re going to be adequately recompensed is irrelevant.

This quote has aroused (tee hee) much discussion on my other writers’ messageboard. Personally I think the implication that writers of commercial fiction are wh*res (I only use the asterix to prevent unwanted hits!) is offensive. And complete rubbish too.

What do you think?

RNA anniversary news

January 13, 2009 | Comments

The RNA is 50 years old next year and is publishing a book of short stories by its members. Contributors include Christina Jones, Joanna Trollope, Carole Matthews, Katie Fforde and Adele Parks. There are just too many great names in there to list!

I must mention one name, however, and that’s my pal and fellow LBD author, Nell Dixon, whose car park fairy story is featured. Plans are also now underway for the Double Act launch of our LBD releases in March. More news as soon as we have it.

The shortlist for Romantic Novel of the Year has also been announced today. Congrats to everyone on that.

And.. may I just say a small squee here. I just had a shed load of copywriting land on my desk. Hurrah! Right, nose back to the grindstone.