Looking for fairies and tropics has arrived plus a great giveaway.

There’s nowhere like Warwickshire when the bluebells appear in the woodlands. Ann and Sophie have the same thoughts on a warm sunny April afternoon. Sophie is on the hunt for fairies.

You never know when they may appear and glad to see she found them. Good to see magic in the air. Hope you’re enjoying the Easter break and doing things you enjoy.

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, so to make up for that I’m doing a giveaway. Not one or two but three of my Redington paperbacks to give you some great sunshine reading. It’s a collection of short stories set in Norfolk, a mixture of happenings and characters to keep you entertained for a while. Obviously if you’ve read the book you wouldn’t want another one, so only for people who haven’t already got one can apply. Just pop a comment saying why you’d like one, and good luck if you have a go.

Other great news is my tropics skin-care storybook has arrived. It’s called the story book of skin care as it’s adapted to what you need. Here’s mine on the right, and a tropical day in Torquay on the left.

The complete boxed set has cleanser, toner, moisturiser, green serum for lovely skin, face mask full of natural products, see more here.

They really work well and if you want to know more about that, let me know and I can put you in touch with Ann, who will give you more information.

Enjoy the weekend, and get your name in the comments box if you’d like a free signed copy of my book.

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RNA Profile

I now have a profile on the Romantic Novelists Association profile pages. If you want to have a look, it’s here.  

Thank you to John Jackson for all his hard work in updating everyone’s profiles, and hope you see some other names you recognise from your favourite writers.

Hope the writing is going well with you all, or whatever else you may be doing. I’m busy reading up on WW1 and WW2, as well as having a lovely chicken dinner. We’ve got our four legged friend for company as well.

He likes to have a paddle whenever he can. Have a great week, talk soon.

 

RNA Conference in Leeds

Me with Carol and Linda after lunch

Had a great time on Saturday in Leeds meeting up with other romantic writers. Glad to meet Jan again as well. Such fun to find my Robinson Crusoe pocket novel in the goody bags, and on the table in the reception area. Now I’ve got lots of plans to get on with the writing, and an article to write on one of the talks I went in to. Such lovely weather we’re having, makes you want to keep drinking something cool.

Great to meet up with my pocket novel editor, Maggie Swinburne and join the lecture on writing pocket novels. Really interesting, and learned a lot. All of the talks were excellent, and lots of people must have worked hard to put it all together.

I had the bag, as well as the tee shirt, well they say it’s all about promotion, nothing like having your book on your front.

Did I mention I have a pocket novel out? Yes I did, alright then, off to write the next one. Have a great week and thanks Jan Jones and the RNA for a great event at the weekend. Thanks, John for taking the photos of us.

Setting the scene

Following on from a recent holiday, I’m now starting on a story set somewhere warm. Let’s face it, we’re in the middle of a heat-wave so you don’t need to go far really, but I want a lovely blue ocean, and sandy beaches where music plays on into the evening.

There will be plenty of music in the story, like the lovely Caro Emerald song below.

Can you tell this blog post is to get me back on track with the writing? Had such a lovely relaxing day, it was like being on holiday all over again. Have a great week, whatever you may be doing. And don’t forget to look out for this in the shops on Thursday. I might have mentioned it already, but you know how we have to shout about these things.

 

More promoting

I’m getting into this promoting lark now. So I’ve been working on my website as it’s been neglected for a while. No excuses not as I have more news to tell you, and I think there might be an option to sign up to a newsletter on the front page of the website. Still working it out, so if you sign up and hear nothing, fear not, it’s just me working it out.

Following on from last post, there’s been a review in prices of the Writers’ key rings. Talking to the boss it turns out that I got the prices wrong, not the only thing this week, but that’s another story. Details will be on a Facebook page where you can see the more generous offer. Now I’m busy making up key rings with my own book covers and watch out for some fab giveaways on here very soon.

It’s football fever around here and well done to England with that great win over Panama earlier, but not sure Panama knew the rules. Did you see all that dancing and hugging going on?

Her Own Robinson Crusoe will be in the shops on 12th July, but I’m sure I’ll be reminding you before then as I’m so excited and can’t wait to see it on the shelves in Asda. The cover is really lovely and just how I imagine the heroine Serena to look.

Have a great week and enjoy the lasting sunshine but don’t forget the hats and sun cream.

 

Catch Up with Patsy

It’s a real pleasure to welcome my writing chum to the blog today, and a job to catch Patsy, between travel trips and workshop days, so thanks for popping by for a bit of a gossip. I’ll put the kettle on and get you up to date with what’s been going on in my life lately and you wouldn’t believe it… but that can wait till later, how’s things with you?

The biscuit is just a starter, I knew you were coming so I baked a cake. And would you believe it I was in the middle of a good book – lots of short stories, oh, and one by the well known author, fancy that, it’s one of yours, Patsy. To be found here.

Now I happen to know you have a new collection of love stories recently published – With love and kisses I really love the cover and know your hubby Gary sometimes designs your covers – did he do this one? And this is the second love collection, with All that love stuff being the first. The cartoon images remind me of the LOVE IS, characters that were around in the 70’s.

That’s enough of me doing all the talking, over to you – Patsy… Have you nodded off? Patsy my blog followers are waiting to hear from you. She’ll be okay in a moment, it must have been that huge slice of cake making her sleepy. Patsy will be with you in a moment. Please check back soon:)

Thanks for inviting me over, Suzy.
No, I’ve not nodded off – just saving my strength ready to dive into that yummy looking cake. Looks like we’re going to need a whole pot of tea to get through that!
Mostly I’ve been writing short stories lately, although I have been thinking about the two novels I have on the go. One is a romance involving horses … Hmmm, that doesn’t sound quite right, does it? It’s humans who’re doing the romance stuff. And there are horses.
The other one is a cosy crime story. That’s if it still cosy is cosy when there’s blood. I’m better at writing them than explaining them, honest!
Come on then, slice up that cake…

Oh, what were you saying??? Sorry was I snoring? Aren’t these lazy Sunday afternoons divine? that’s really interesting, but you know how it is when you’ve eaten too much cake. So lovely having you over, Patsy. Let’s do it all again soon. Must get clicking and buying some of your stories, travel safe to your next destination. That crime novel sounds interesting. Toodles for now. xxx

 

Pocket Novels

I’m a pocket novelist for My Weekly, and proud to say another one will be published soon. It’s set in the Caribbean, will let you know as soon as it’s here.

Great to see family members today, Ann and Sophie called, then our Son and his dog bounded in, and lovely to see them all.

                

Knitting is another pastime that I find helps with relaxing, not that I need an excuse to sit down and watch something funny on t.v. Rising Damp is on, and for me good comedy doesn’t date. Same as Larry Grayson who was on the night before. He was a local celebrity in our area, coming from local town of Nuneaton.

My day job is now making badges and key rings, also putting words on tee shirts. Can’t wait to put book covers on key rings, and more news on that coming soon. Have a great week, however you’re spending it.

 

 

 

Updating the blog…

It’s been a few months since I updated the blog – here’s me and Sophie having a swing in our local park. Always great to spend some time together, and she’s growing into a clever little girl. Making cakes and loving her reading books and spending lots of time outdoors.

Swing-time

Making cakes for nursery

 

Marble Arch at dawn, for
any Fools And Horses fans

Two handsome chaps relaxing and chatting by the seaside.

Magic moments xx

Sly doesn’t want to get his feet wet today…

The building work on our house is finished for now, and we have a jukebox in the corner of the room so we can listen to fabby music all day long, when not at work. Alan retired this year, so it’s smashing to enjoy long walks in the afternoons together.

A quiet moment before we walk a bit further.

Now today it’s snowing and the scenery looks great. Funny how everything looks different coverd in snow and so glad it’s a day when I don’t have to go out to work.

Gathering sticks for a real fire

Mom and Dad’s dog – Tess

A couple of fun pics to finish with, and enjoy the festive season spending time with loved ones – More blogging news soon, I’m off to edit the last chapter of my latest pocket novel, more news on that later.

Billy and the blue jeans will be on tour next year

With Suzy on guitar:))

 

 

The Winner is…

Congratulations to Sally J, the winner of Murder in the Village. Alan drew your name out of the pepper pig pot a while ago.

Well done, Sally

 

 

The winner is…

Your signed copy will be on it’s way next week if you could email your postal address please. Or p.m me on facebook. Well done.

Thank you to everyone who had a go at winning my latest book. Jan, Honoria, Maggie, Nick, Rosemary, Amy and Navedeep.

Here’s the link if anyone would like to buy it, and there will be more giveaways on the blog later on. To enjoy the first in the series of Redington, that one is here.

If you’d like to see the other works I’ve done along the way, these are found on this link.

The garden is looking good at the moment, have a look at these.

You wouldn’t be surprised that I have an idea for a book with the word sunflower in the title for later on in the year. Still working on the Caribbean story, and looking forward to the RNA conference next Saturday. Have a good week, and more news after the conference.

Anyone for lettuce?

We’re fully stocked with salad leaves. At the moment it’s all year round lettuce, spinach and rocket leaves available in the kitchen garden. And growing on we have yellow courgettes, mini munch cucumber, tomatoes, money maker are my favourite variety. As well, we have normal cucumber, green courgettes, dwarf beans, and dwarf peas, lots of herbs and tons of strawberries with heaps of flowers on them as well.

Good job the garden is looking rosy as we’re having the house re-vamped and it’s going to be a bit of a building site during the summer months

Front border

 

In writing news, this will be available soon.

And I’m busy working on my next pocket novel, which is a romantic story set in the Caribbean, so off there now. So I’m going to have some chopped pineapple to eat while I’m sailing away… Up to chapter 6, and more news on that as it develops.

Enjoy the lighter nights and mornings. It’s getting light at half past four in the morning now when I go out to my cleaning job.

And the great thing is I’m all done by coffee time.