Archive for August, 2010

August 27, 2010

Do you remember the horror of seeing ‘Back to School’ promotions in the shops – the day after you’d broken up for the holidays? Ohh, I used to hate that. Then there was the uncertainty of starting a new class, school or university. I’ll never forget leaving home for uni …then 25 years later I saw my own daughter off. I don’t know which was more traumatic!

But thankfully, I’m actually very excited about this coming new ‘term’.

We have a Bank Holiday weekend in England – the last chance for families to get away before a new school year starts. We’ve just got back from the Lakes, and for a change, we had sunny, warm weather while the southern half of the UK got a soaking. Some people don’t believe that it really was glorious up there so here’s a pic to prove it.

This is Waterhead at the northern end of Windermere and you can just glimpse the chimneys of our flat building poking up through the trees in the centre of the photo.

Naturally, every time I visit, I’m reminded that this gorgeous place was the inspiration for Dating Mr December. We even saw a house that *could* have been Will’s:

I remember walking into an estate agents when I was writing Dating Mr December and asking for details of ‘the sort of place a multi-millionaire would own’. I omitted to mention that it had to be a great sh*g-pad too so I didn’t get thrown out!

I got back to a totally unexpected piece of good news about my US books. It’s not something I can share but I had a big grin on my face when I told Mr B. He can’t retire yet but I can treat him to a new mountain bike jersey. The last of the big spenders, me.

For those of you asking about new UK books, I have no news yet but if do get any, you’ll hear about it! For now, I’m going to focus on the launch of my US books.

Already, mentions of Dating Mr December are popping up all over the book blogosphere, as the romance reviewers receive their advance copies. This morning, I had the bizarre experience of spotting my new book in someone else’s hands, 5000 miles away – and on a video too. My book’s featured about 3 mins in.

So, I’m looking forward to my New Term with the usual mix of excitement, anticipation – and fear of the unknown. Will I get hauled into the toilets and have my head flushed down the loo by the School Bully (aka a snarky review site?) Will I make any new friends or end up mooching around the playground, ignored and kicking up the leaves? Will I get into trouble with the headmistress (aka my US ed) or be Teacher’s pet?

Oh err…. perhaps it’s a good thing I don’t have a crystal ball!

How about you? Are you dreading or looking forward to September?

PS if you haven’t already, please join my Facebook Like page for extra pictures, updates and news of all the free giveaways and contests for my US releases.

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August 12, 2010

I’ve finally succumbed and set up a Phillipa Ashley Like Page on Facebook.

I feel slightly embarrassed about this – it’s not very ‘British’, is it? But it is the perfect way of sharing news about my books, contests, reviews, photos and Youtube clips from 12 men of Christmas on Facebook. Please come and join!

In non-writing random news, here’s a picture of our new Vango Orchy tent. Mr B and I want to get out into the Great Outdoors more. You know I love all that walking/biking/bodyboarding stuff – and the tent is a way of ‘getting back to nature’ more often. It keeps me sane and is the antidote to all that time spent I spend inside, sitting on my bottom, writing.

However, rest assured I shall be taking chilled Champagne with me to ease the pain of not having my TV and own loo.

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August 5, 2010

Squee …Dating Mr December was featured by Sourcebooks in their RWA Conference brochure 2010. This is getting real!

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August 4, 2010

Editing your first draft manuscript is never easy – after all, how do you gain the necessary distance from your precious ‘baby’, after spending months (or even years) on it?

Multi-published historical author, Elizabeth Bailey, is giving her Five Top Tips on editing your manuscript on the RNA blog today.

These are all very useful tips and I particularly like numbers 4 and 5. When I’ve had revisions, I always start with the smaller changes in the editorial letter (or agent’s email) as it helps me feel I’m making progress. Along the way, I find I begin to see ways of making bigger changes that work for my book, in my own way.

Killing your darlings…

At the end of the process, I’ve found the courage to ‘kill’ cherished scenes that just have no part in the book – like a helicoper rescue scene in one of my books. I’d researched it to death, interviewed RAF personnel and an ex MSF-doctor and I wanted to use it. Unfortunately, it did not move my plot along. It took me ages to find the nerve to delete it and replace it with a much smaller incident later in the book, that led to the deeper character development I needed.

Sometimes I think you need to go quite a way along the wrong path, to realise what the right path is. I’m always wandering off anyway!

Conversely, post-editing, there will also be points that I just ‘know’ are right and should stay. After a thorough round of revisions, I’ve usually got the confidence to keep them. Most editors or agents don’t want to be dictatorial (!), they would rather you worked out how to strengthen your book in a way that’s true to your own voice.

But everyone edits differently – any tips uou find helpful?

Liz is also launching a critique service for authors – all details on the RNA blog.

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August 3, 2010

Yes, everyone seems to be on holiday, or about to go on holiday, especially if they work in publishing so anyone waiting for news (which is most writers, at some time) is going to have to be patient.:)

I’ve been away from the blog, working and Having a Real Life, rather than a virtual one. We went bodyboarding over the weekend, in Croyde, Devon and Widemouth Bay, Cornwall – I even caught some good waves this time, unlike my first attempt last year.

We had really great weather and visited Clovelly and Hartland Bay – we walked down to Hartland Quay to see the cottage used as the Dashwoods’ home in the recent BBC adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. It is beautiful, quaint and remote – and looks nothing like the cottage in the movie! A local lady told us that the film crew had added a complete new facade to the house.

We’ve bought a tent so we can get away more often in the summer weekends. I’m a fair weather camper who hasn’t slept under canvas (actually, it’s nylon now) for a squillion years so I’ll let you know how I get on!

And the above picture of Mr August from 12 men of Christmas has nothing to do with my decision!

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