October 3, 2011
Morning. That’s a slightly bleary ‘morning’ from me because I got back last night from a fantastic but exhausting weekend in Croyde, North Devon. It’s one of the surfing hot spots of the UK. We body boarded, had some great pub meals and relaxed on the beach enjoying the unexpected and wonderful October weather.
So back on a Monday morning which should be grey and dull but isn’t because it’s the launch party for my writing buddy, Nell Dixon’s, new book: Renovation, Renovation, Renovation. It’s an inspired title for a book I read as a manuscript. It’s funny, warm and romantic with a ghostly twist. Now, here’s Nell to tell you all about it:
Renovation, Renovation, Renovation is a contemporary romance with a twist. One of the residents at Myrtle Cottage, a fifteenth century house is a rather mournful ghost called Mary Ann. She was resident during a turbulent period of English history when Oliver Cromwell was coming to power and civil war raged throughout the country. Mary Ann’s story becomes entwined with that of Kate, the current owner bringing glimpses of the past into the present.
Here’s a small excerpt.
“Hey, Kate, can you get me the torch from the kitchen?” Steve’s voice was muffled but excited.
I went and collected the torch from the junk drawer and passed it to him. “What have you found?”
He’d pulled a crate into the fireplace and balanced on it, shining the torch into the flue. Knowing my luck he’d happened on some protected species of bat and we’d have to abandon the whole project or live in the Hammer house of horrors for evermore. I could hear him scrabbling around.
“This is so great.”
“What?” My curiosity was piqued in spite of myself. Maybe he’d found treasure – some previous owners nest egg of sovereigns perhaps?
Decorated with yet more dust and soot, he emerged from the fireplace clasping a small dirty brown object in his hand.
“I never thought we’d be lucky enough to find one of these. I’ve heard about them but never, ever thought I’d find one.” An excited grin split his face and he looked like a small boy who had just been given the world’s biggest treat.
He held the object out towards me almost reverently. “It was on a ledge, quite high up inside the chimney.”
As I looked more closely I could see that what he’d found appeared to be a child’s shoe. Much worn and filthy dirty from its time in the chimney. I failed to see why Steve was so excited.
“You do know what this is, don’t you Kate?” Steve touched it carefully with the forefinger of his other hand. Again a cool movement of air swirled around my feet and ankles.
“It’s a shoe.”
“It’s a spirit trap.”
© Nell Dixon 2011
Available from Amazon UK and Amazon.com
Posted by Phillipa @ 5:00 am |
September 29, 2011
Are you enjoying the glorious warm weather we’re having in the UK? I’ve had to get the shorts out again and we’re definitely going to be out and about making the most of it over the weekend.
However, looking forward a few weeks, I’m very happy to say I’ve booked my ticket to the Festival of Romance on Friday October 21st. The Festival is for readers and writers of romantic fiction and I just had this press release about it:
There’s so much exciting Festival news to share!
Let’s start with cupcakes. Famous in the 80s and 90s LOVESWEPT has relaunched and you can meet your favourite LOVESWEPT HERO at the Festival and what’s more he’s there to give you a LOVESWEPT cupcake. Yum.
Now chocolate! CHOC LIT’s chocolate tasting will now include a chocolate making demonstration courtesy of CHOC Chick. Ooo!
Enough sweet stuff. Have you seen what’s new on the Festival programme:
For Her Eyes Only! Meet erotic authors and editors at a special erotic romance panel.
So You Want to Write Short Stories? Join in Helen Hunt’s workshop.
Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves! Join in the discussion about what’s kindling the boom in self-publishing.
The Xciting launch of the Xcite Win A Publishing Contract Competition.
We just announced this week the shortlists for the READER AWARDS. Congratulations to all the authors shortlisted.
http://festivalofromanceonline.ning.com/profiles/blogs/press-release-shortlists-for-brand-new-romantic-fiction-awards-an
Meet these authors and more at the Festival, and take up the challenge to read all TEN SHORTLISTED BOOKS for the FESTIVAL BOOK GROUP. Join in the chat on Facebook at http://en-gb.facebook.com/#!/groups/220774001317700/
We’re also DELIGHTED to be welcoming to the Festival:
Authors Philipa Ashley, Antonia Adams, Lucy Felthouse and Berni Stevens
ROUGE, the UK’s newest romance line, will be at the Festival with a chance to hear about all the plans and meet editorial director Gillian Green. Don’t forget everyone is invited to the ROUGE online launch Girl’s Night In TODAY from 4pm to 8pm at www.rougeromance.co.uk
There’s still tickets left for the Festival so if you want to come, it’s not too late to book. We also still have one to one slots available for your chance to personally meet editors from MILLS AND BOON and TOTAL-E-BOUND.
For all the Festival information and links to the ticket booking, go to: http://festivalofromance.co.uk
Next week I have fellow Festival author, Charlotte Betts, winner of the RNA New Writers Award 2011 as a guest on my blog – and I’ll be guesting on Charlotte’s site.
Have a great weekend
Posted by Phillipa @ 7:48 am |
September 23, 2011
Psst.. wanna see the new US cover for Carrie Goes off the Map? You know you do… ta dah!
I’m trying to stop drooling! Here’s the blurb:
Carrie Brownhill, recently dumped by her fiancé, is determined to get away from men forever. Yet she finds herself stuck in a VW camper van careening through the English countryside with the intriguing Matt Landor, MD, and he seems to be just what the doctor ordered for a broken heart…
This book was published in the UK and elsewhere as It Should Have Been Me and will be available in the USA in paperback and e-book from December 1st 2011.
Posted by Phillipa @ 12:12 pm |
September 21, 2011
Bayeux, France
Yes, I’m firmly back to the real world after my hols.
Before we left, I finished my new manuscript and sent it to my agent which is great. But I didn’t know whether we could actually go until two days before departure date as Mr B had a severe problem with his back. I’m sorry to say that the NHS was absolutely no help and it was only thanks to the skill and experience of a physio friend of ours that he was able to travel. The good news is that he’s continued to improve and we had a relaxing week in Normandy, visiting historic sites such as Honfleur, the Bayeux Tapestry, chateaux and the World War II Normandy landing beaches.
Then it was onto glorious Cornwall where Ms B joined us and body boarded and surfed every day – I had two surfing lessons and no, I couldn’t quite get to my feet! But my daughter managed to stand up and surf within half an hour. She does do trampolining and windsurfing so I’ll console myself with that.
I also managed to find two of my rings – exactly where I’d looked for them ( 3 times.) I didn’t want to come home but there are books to edit and launch and write so that can’t be bad. 🙂
Posted by Phillipa @ 12:11 pm |
September 18, 2011
You may have noticed (or not!) that I’ve been AWOL for a few weeks. I’ve been on holiday to France and Cornwall but I’m back with a brilliant guest post from author, Talli Roland, on shaping up to be a writer (not that she needs it!)
How to Avoid Writer’s Arse
As a full-time writer, I’m lucky that I don’t need to go out to work – or brush my hair, get dressed, and endure getting up close and personal with someone’s armpit on the Tube. No, I can roll right out of bed, throw on my fluffy slippers and robe, and head straight to my desk for another day within the heady proximity of the fridge. The only downside to this Nirvana? The threat of an ever-expanding butt.
To combat this, I’ve developed a handy set of exercises for writers. No need to embrace the great outdoors – or even get off your chair! Now, you too can have the svelte frame of a commuter, without the commute! Are you ready? Here we go!
The five-fingered salute. Every so often, lift your fingers from the keyboard and make a fist. Open and close your digits several times in quick succession. This is even better when performed near a window in proximity of passers-by to encourage social interaction.
March like you mean it. The ideal exercise to release any frustration when your characters just don’t behave. Sitting on a chair, lift one knee in the air and bring your foot down firmly on the ground, then do the same with your other knee. Repeat for five minutes – or as long as your downstairs neighbours will allow. When you’re finished, you won’t care anymore about your characters’ misdemeanors. You’ll only care about impending repairs needed to the floorboards.
The burning butt-clench. Designed to encourage circulation after long periods of sitting, this exercise has the added benefit of making anyone around you question your need for the loo. Sitting comfortably, lift one buttock off the chair, and clench the cheek that’s touching the surface. Hold for twenty seconds, then repeat with the other butt cheek. You should feel a burning desire never to do this exercise again.
The navel gaze. Tilt your head slowly downwards until your chin touches your chest. Hold for thirty minutes – or until you drift off. This position allows observers to believe you’re engaged in deep thought, while elongating your neck muscles. Repeat until observers get bored and depart.
So there you have it! My tried and true methods to maintaining your shape while keeping your manuscript moving ahead.
Thanks, Talli for the tips – and I need them all!
Talli Roland has three loves in her life: chick lit, coffee and wine. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine). Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories – complete with happy endings. Her first novel, The Hating Game, was an Amazon UK best-seller, remaining in the top 100 for almost three months, and she’s just released her second, Watching Willow Watts. Talli blogs here and can be found on Twitter here.
Posted by Phillipa @ 4:42 am |
