Archive for September, 2009

Why have an agent plus Christina’s news

September 29, 2009 | 2 Comments

Have updated the blog because I came across this excellent post about Agents by Emma Darwin, the Headline author who always offers insightful, balanced and informative advice.

And please visit Christina’s blog – she has some wonderful sale news!

I don’t care if Monday’s blue…

September 28, 2009 | 3 Comments

I ought to be blue. I’ve got a sore throat that makes me sound like I’ve swallowed a scrubbing brush and also – my daughter has left home. Yes, she’s gone away to do a PhD which means she has effectively moved out (but in that case, why do we have 90% of her stuff here?)

But I’m not as blue as I could be because I’m so happy she has found something she really wants to do. Also, things could be worse. If you could have seen where she’d been initially accommodated…. it is definitely going in a book. The excuse was ‘well, it’s student accommodation.’ Sorry, I don’t buy that – not from an institution that prides itself on being world class. I’ve seen plenty of other accommodation at other universities and colleges and this was totally unacceptable and unsuitable. The room I had as an undergrad a squillion years ago, seems like a palace in comparison.

After a stressful weekend, all has been sorted but I’m still concerned for the other students that might have to put up with what will have been offered them.

So, off my soapbox. Miss Bennet has flown the nest and I’ll miss her terribly but I’m so happy she can now settle in and start her new life.

Tesco, buried treasure and Will

September 24, 2009 | 6 Comments

Excitement here this week for three reasons, two of them a bit sad, really.

Monday - a brand new Tesco Extra has opened in our nearest town. Believe me this is a major cause for celebration and naturally I was there on opening day. Woolworths closed earlier this year and our old Tesco shut – as recession hit. I’m not a fan of Tesco per se but we so badly needed a big store and this one sells *everything* including riding hats, cycle lamps and frozen Tarte au Snickers.

Wednesday - Cougartown premiered on ABC in the USA. It stars Courtney Cox and Josh Hopkins. As this man is going to be playing Will, the hero of my novel so I feel it is in the public interest to flag up these photos of him from the Cougartown shoot.

Thursday - the biggest ever hoard of Anglo-saxon gold has been found very close to where I live. In fact, our sleepy village is abuzz with the story of this magnificent treasure said to be as important a find as the Lindisfarne Gospels. Could it have been discovered in a field near us? No confirmation yet but I do hope so! Maybe the Tesco Extra sells metal detectors…

Blog comment trouble?

September 22, 2009 | 3 Comments

Is anyone having trouble commenting on my blog?

Debs – great woman – has emailed me to say she can’t post comments…

If you are, please contact me by email or by the contact form. I’d be very grateful!

It might be that You Tube vid of Kristin Chenoweth.. You Tube embeds can cause trouble.

Russian delight

4 Comments

Ypa! ( I think that means hurrah in Russian but it could just as easily mean ‘mine’s a double gin’ for all I know.

But Ypa! I heard last night that It Should Have Been Me is going to be translated into Russian. I can picture it now in the Leningrad branch of Waterstoneskis… it all sounds impossibly exotic to think there will be Russian readers. I feel a holiday book tour coming on, I’ve always wanted to visit such an exciting place.

But mostly, the news gives me an excuse to use a picture of Richard Armitage in Moscow (because I think there has been an RA drought on this blog lately.)