Blog update

 

 

Popping in to update the blog as I’ve been quiet on here lately. Busy reading, and doing other things like knitting something small for someone special. A People’s Friend pattern looked good, so having a go at that.

This is what I’m attempting and done the back so far.

What I’ve been reading lately, is Dishing the Dirt, M.C. Beaton, In like Flynn, Rhys Bowen and also catching up with several weeks of People’s Friend and Fiction feast, My Weekly and Woman’s weekly fiction magazines.

It takes a while to catch up with the latest magazines, but being as I’ve had a mother of a sore throat and cough, it’s a good reason to curl up on the settee and read all those lovely stories.

The day job is going well, and now there’s less mud and more concrete and tarmac areas, so makes my job a lot easier and the people are really friendly which makes it a great place to go to.

On my kindle I’ve got tons of great reads… firestarter, almost finished, Highland Lass looking forward to reading, Gold Digger, Teresa Ashby great stories, and must write a review soon, This one’s worth reading as well, The Little Kiosk by the Sea, Jennifer Bohnet. Set in Dartmouth. Tons more as well.

When the weather gets cold and nights are dark, it always makes me want to read Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, and Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte two of my all time favourite reads. And there’s quite a good one tucked in there between them, more on that one in the next post.

Now with so much reading and knitting and eating as we have a smashing dinner lined up from the chef who is so gorgeous that I may just go and jump on him before doing any more of the above, my weekend is wrapped up to perfection.

Look out for a giveaway on the blog soon, and that doesn’t happen very often as everytime I go to give a book away I change my mind.

 

 

 

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Kindle on the pc

I’ve just downloaded all at sea by Teresa Ashby from Amazon.  It’s free, so there’s a good offer.  So now I have a kindle on the computer, me who thought I wouldn’t like one.  Though I have a good reason now to be kindled.  Here’s the copy of the actual cover of Growing up in the 70’s, due to be published soon.

I had an outline of it before, this one’s got more detail in, should be ready next week.  It feels like I’ve been talking about it for a long time, but almost completed.  In among the swirly colours are bits and bobs from all of the stories in the book.  Hope you’re sorting out your platforms and bell bottomed trousers in readiness for this.  I’m about to get my pogo stick out of the shed and bounce around on the yard.

Be inspired.

I’ve been tagged by Juliet Greenwood author of Eden’s Garden, which I was lucky enough to win a while ago.  It’s a brilliant book, and will review it when I’ve read it all.  Puts me in mind of Charles Dickens, with more romance.

So now I’m going to answer Juliet’s questions about my book!!! Well, that’ll teach me to go bragging about a contract.  It’s actually, (she says backtracking only a little bit) a story in a book, but it’s a contract nevertheless.

Remember a while ago I mentioned that Black Coffey Publishing wanted stories for Leaving home for the first time? well, the next book out, second in the series is, ‘Growing up in the 70’s’ I have a story accepted in there.  You’ll notice on the website that the editor Paul Coffey said there were over eighty entries, so wowee, not sure how many stories are in the book.  We get paid, da da da daaaah, how lovely.  It’s an e.book so, I love e.books now naturally.  So, keeping in the spirit I’ll answer Juliet’s questions, and pass on the award.

1. What is the name of your book?

Growing up in the 1970’s

2. Where did the idea for your book come from?

The 70’s is a decade I love, so it was easy to write about that era.

3. In what genre would you classify your book?

All of the stories will be set in the 1970’s.

4. If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie rendition, who would you choose?

Anyone good-looking or glamorous of course.

 

5. Give us a one-sentence synopsis of your book.

The decade of the 1970’s

6. Is your book already published/represented?

Should be published next month.

7. How long did it take you to write your book?

My story took a week or two including editing and re-writing.

8. What other books within your genre would you compare it to? Or, readers of which books would enjoy yours?

Remember that programme on t.v. with Amanda Holden and Brian Conolley?  I think Noddy Holder was in it as well.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book?

The editor was asking for humour, I love anything funny, especially Terry Pratchett  Not that this resembles Terry Pratchett’s writing in any way though.  I also enjoy anything written by Sue Townsend.

10. Tell us anything that might pique our interest in your book.

I just had to look up pique?  Something to make you bitter. Apart from that it’s published by Black Coffey, notice not coffee, I’m sure nothing would pique your interest in Growing up in the 1970’s.  Maybe if you weren’t part of that decade you’d be piqued…

Thank you Juliet for choosing me.  Now, I tag 5 people with 10 questions about their books.

Patsy Collins.  Escape to the Country.  I’ve read this, it’s brilliant, also I must thank you for blogging about Black Coffey in the first place Patsy.

Sarah Mallory.  The Dangerous Lord Darrington.  Lovely romantic reading.

Karen Clark  Great writer, with a book deal in process.

Rosemary Gemmell  Writer of great romances.  Also adventure.

Teresa Ashby.  One of my favourite short story writers, who now has books on kindle…

Here are my questions to the five lovely ladies above.

1.  What gave you the idea for your book?

2.  How long did it take to write overall?

3.  What kept you going when you were half way through?

4.  Are any of your characters based on real people, even though you have to say they aren’t?

5.  Did you ever wonder if you’d have the work published?

6.  When you’ve had one book published, do you feel under pressure with the next one?

7.  Would you write in a different genre next time, or do you always stick with what you know?

8.  Do you prefer writing a novel, or short stories?

9.  Do you use everyday happenings in your writing?

10.  If your book was to be on t.v. who would play the lead male and female roles?

Thanks Juliet for the award.  Look forward to hearing from Patsy, Sarah, Karen, Rosemary and Teresa.

Flowers for Mother’s Day.

Flowers for Mother’s Day.  Hope all Mothers are relaxing in the way they like best.  If you want to follow Patsy on her blog tour, she’s over at Teresa’s today.  Now that’s a real treat for me as Patsy and Teresa are my two favourite story writers.  They have that skill that I think goes unrecognised.  It’s the skill of writing a story, making it seem so easy that you think ‘I can do that’, but, boy is it hard?  They have the knack.  I’m sure they would agree that the only way to get better at writing is to keep on doing just that.  My slogan for this year is ‘Just write, right!’  So here I am writing.

The birds are happily twittering away in the garden this afternoon.  It’s been raining, so they’re so chirpy it’s smashing to hear.  I have some fat balls to put in a holder for them.  Also, some sunflower seeds to plant in the greenhouse, along with sweet-peas and cornflowers.  Here are last years to remind me how lovely they are, and why I grow them.

Welcome to my new blog followers.  Hope to catch up with you all soon.  Thanks for following.  I’m now going to try a piece of the lemon meringue pie I made earlier.  The middle bit was a touch on the runny side, but it’s been in the fridge, so should be alright now.  It’s Mum’s favourite, so I made one especially for her, which I’m going to deliver soon, as she only lives round the corner.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.