Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape. There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone. I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha. I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then. When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time. I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.

Writing Room: Introducing Your Characters

Published February 16, 2016 | By Laura

Tuesday 16th February 2016: Introducing your characters.

Today’s Prompt:

Something I am realising as a first time author is getting to know your characters is really important before sitting down to write. Today, write down five facts about your character and use these to write a bio about them. Write it in the first person as though they are telling someone about themselves. Make the facts go beyond their physical features. For example, what song do they like? What’s their earliest memory etc.

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Author Interview: Hannah Vincent

Published February 16, 2016 | By Laura

I am pleased to be joined by author, Hannah Vincent today. Her novel, Alarm Girl was released by Myriad Editions in August 2014. Thank you for joining me, Hannah. Can you tell us about Alarm Girl and how the idea originated?

I was travelling in Africa when I came across a newspaper article about a woman who died on the eve of her young daughter’s birthday. The image of a mother preparing for her child’s birthday which she will never see caught my imagination.

It’s a rite-of-passage story, told partly from the point of view of a child who hasn’t been told enough about the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death. To fill in the gaps she makes up her own version of the truth. Set in South Africa, the book’s location is a metaphor for the strange emotional world a child inhabits after the death of a parent.

What’s your writing process like? How much do you plan and do you edit as you go?

I make notes for scenes for a long time and when the time is right (and judging this is crucial, I think) I start ‘joining up the dots’, filling in the gaps in between these scenes. Edit as I go, yes. Writing is rewriting.

You’re also a playwright. How did this contribute toward writing the novel?

My experience of writing plays means I am confident writing dialogue. Also, I visualise scenes, with characters moving about and relating to one another physically.

In a play, the writer only reveals the tip of the iceberg – what characters say to one another and what they do on stage. In prose, the writer has the freedom to show the reader a lot more of the iceberg but writing plays taught me how to be economic and show only what is necessary to the drama.

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Book News: Recent Releases

Published February 15, 2016 | By Laura

There have been some great titles released over the last week. Below is a selection. Let me know in the comments below which ones take your fancy.

Time to Say Goodbye by S.D. Robertson was released on 11th February 2016 by Avon.

I am looking forward to reading this book. I have a copy waiting to be read. The plot sounds compelling and the cover is beautiful.

HOW DO YOU LEAVE THE PERSON YOU LOVE THE MOST?

Will Curtis’s six-year-old daughter, Ella, knows her father will never leave her. After all, he promised her so when her mother died. And he’s going to do everything he can to keep his word.

What Will doesn’t know is that the promise he made to his little girl might be harder to keep than he imagined. When he’s faced with an impossible decision, Will finds that the most obvious choice might not be the right one.

But the future is full of unexpected surprises. And father and daughter are about to embark on an unforgettable journey together . . .

This House of Grief: The Story of a Murder Trial by Helen Garner was released on 11th February 2016 by Text Publishing Company.

Not completely fiction but this book sounds very interesting and one that I will definitely be reading at some point especially as it’s based on a real case and sounds similar to Making a Murderer on Netflix.

On the evening of September 4th 2005, Robert Farquharson, a separated husband, was driving his three sons home to their mother, Cindy, when his car left the road and plunged into a dam. The boys, aged ten, seven and two, all drowned. Was this an act of revenge or a tragic accident? In a tale reminiscent of In Cold Blood (1966), Helen Garner decided to reveal every aspect of this complicated and highly emotional case.

The case became Garner’s obsession; she followed it on its protracted course until the final verdict was delivered, and attended every day of the trial (and subsequent retrial). She was there alongside countless journalists and family members – exposing with great compassion the emotional complexity of a case that gripped the nation.

In this utterly compelling book, Helen Garner tells the story of a man with a broken life – she presents the courtroom as a theatre with its actors and audience, all gathered for the purpose of bearing witness to an often uncomfortable truth.

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Book Vs. Film

Published February 15, 2016 | By Laura

There is always one thing that is certain when there is a beloved book adapted into a movie and that is everyone will have an opinion as to which one is better. Book worms will insist that the book will always be better. I loved the Bridget Jones films for example but the books will always be better (an opinion that will not be changed post third film.)

The company www.cartridgediscount.co.uk have designed this beautiful graphic comparing the books vs. film for some of the most loved series. The books and films analysed are Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games and Fifty Shades of Grey. It’s interesting to see the comparison. Can a film ever outdo the source material? Take a look….

Book Worm Vs Film Buff

Harry Potter is one of my favourite series and some of the best-selling novels of all time. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings is the same. According to this, it takes twenty hours to watch all the Harry Potter films and two and a half days to read all the books. It would take twenty hours to watch all of The Lord of The Rings films although it may be more if you have the extended versions. I feel these series have been adapted so well. With Potter, I would have liked to have seen Peeves though.

The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings

The Hunger Games is also a book series I loved. I liked it more than I thought I would and I devoured the novels. I was disappointed when they had to end to be honest. I was definitely team Peeta. I was also happy with the way it ended. The films were great but I think I preferred the novels. According to this, it takes seventeen hours to read the novels. With Twilight, it was the other way around. I actually liked the film more than the novel.

The Hunger Games

Fifty Shades of Grey is a trio of books which gripped the UK when it was released. The first film in the series was released last year and the other two are expected. It originally began as Twilight fan fiction. The books apparently take one day and three hours to read. At the moment, the film will take you a little over two hours but in its defence, there is only one.

There are so many interesting facts in these. Do you agree? Which one is your favourite and why?

My Five Favourite Books For Valentine’s Day

Published February 12, 2016 | By Laura

Harper, 2012 edition

Harper, 2012 edition

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I am not against Valentine’s Day although I am usually so disorganised, I end up joining the people who go to the shop to collect something last-minute. For me, it’s a perfect excuse to avoid all the overcrowded restaurants and to curl up with a book instead (especially as this year, my husband is at work.) It was hard to pick but I wanted to share five of my favourite love themed books that I think are perfect to be reading over this weekend, especially on the 14th itself.

Which books would be in your list? Let me know in the comments section.

P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern.

Holly has a guardian angel; her husband Gerry who has recently died of a brain tumour. Letters from him mysteriously appear giving her advice and teaching her how to move on. This book is such a beautiful love story for me and is perfect for February. This is the book where I fell in love with Holly and Gerry and with Cecelia’s novels. There is just something magical about this story which is why it is in my top five favourite love stories and will remain there for a long time.

Everyone needs a guardian angel…

Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry.

Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other’s sentences and even when they fought, they laughed. No one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other.

Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry’s death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms, Gerry comes back to her. He’s left her a bundle of notes, one for each of the months after his death, gently guiding Holly into her new life without him, each note signed ‘PS, I Love You’.

As the notes are gradually opened, the man who knows Holly better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing – and being braver than ever before.

Life is for living, she realises – but it always helps if there’s an angel watching over you.

Sphere, 2007

Sphere, 2007

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.

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My Writing Ramblings: The Month Where I Don’t Write

Published February 12, 2016 | By Laura

February could be renamed ‘the month in which I don’t write.’ I get my notebook out, I open my laptop but then I lose the motivation. Life has got in the way a little this month. It’s amazing how much that has played havoc with my productivity and it is something I need to work on. Life is something that does happen though and there is not a lot I can do about that. It doesn’t stop me from feeling guilt about not writing.

However, even though I have not been physically writing, I have been thinking about my novel. When I’ve been driving, I’ve developed plot lines, when I am sat watching telly, I am thinking about my characters; these people who seem to not want to leave me alone. I see this as a good sign as it means that the book is still churning away in my head even though I have not written anything.

I know I can’t carry on like this. I know that at some point I am going to have to fight through the procrastination and the other things in my life that seem to be sucking up my time but I am feeling a little happier about where I want my book to go and that can’t be bad.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Fish Out Of Water

Published February 12, 2016 | By Laura

Friday 12th February 2016: Fish out of Water

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.

Today’s prompt: Your character is usually a confident person. However, they suddenly find themselves completely out of water and in a situation they don’t know how to deal with. Maybe they’ve realised that they can’t speak (the charm of their voice is usually what worked for them,) or they go from being rich to poor or lucky to unlucky. Anything goes.

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Writing Room: Confessions Prompt

Published February 9, 2016 | By Laura

Tuesday 9th February 2015: Confessions.

Your character is shown into a room. There is a circular table in the middle the room with six chairs around it. Eventually, five other people are shown into the room. These five people along with your character are told to take a seat. They are each told that they are connected and they need to confess what they have done to the people around them. Carry on the story….

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February’s Book Club: The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Published February 9, 2016 | By Laura

Black Swan, January 2012 edition.

Black Swan, January 2012 edition.

Welcome to the Novel Kicks online book club.

How it works…

We love books and we love chatting about them even more. Every month, we pick a new book for discussion. We will post a question to kick things off and then you can talk about any of your thoughts about the book in the comments box below. The best thing about our book club is that everyone is welcome to take part. It’s open to all. You can read the book at any point in the month or if you’ve already read it, tell us what you think.

For February, we are getting into the mood for Valentine’s Day. This month’s book is one of my favourite books, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.

About the book:

Meet Rebecca Bloomwood.

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Blog Tour: The Last of The Bowmans by J. Paul Henderson.

Published January 31, 2016 | By Laura

I am very happy to be a part of the blog tour for the latest book by J. Paul Henderson, The Last of The Bowmans.

After an absence of seven years, Greg Bowman returns home from America to find his father lying in a bamboo coffin, his estranged brother Billy stalking a woman with no feet, and his 79 year-old Uncle Frank planning to rob a bank. While renovating the family house, he is unexpectedly visited by the presence of his dead father and charged with the task of ‘fixing’ the family. In the course of his reluctant investigations, Greg discovers an unsettling secret of his father’s, and one that brings him face to face with the consequences of his own past.

Lyle Bowman is eighty-three years old. Taking a break from painting his house he decides to go and get a Double Decker from the local shop. What he has not realised is that he has drunk a glass of white spirit and his inability to walk results in him being knocked over and killed by a double-decker bus.

His youngest son, Greg returns from America for his funeral. It is the first time he has been home to see his family in seven years – his Uncle Frank and his older brother, Billy (a brother with whom he has been estranged.) Whilst staying in his father’s house, Greg’s Dad suddenly appears. What ensues is a look at this dysfunctional family who has to learn how to be a family again.

This book was not what I expected. There were elements of the story that took me completely by surprise especially the ending. There is a thread of sadness running through it but it is also done with great humour. There were some bittersweet moments, some strange moments and some outright funny moments – my favourites involving Greg’s Uncle Frank. I think out of all the characters, he was my favourite.

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Writing Room: Fictional World

Published January 19, 2016 | By Laura

Tuesday 19th January 2016.

Today’s prompt: Fictional World.

Pick a fictional world or a fictional character. When your character wakes up one morning, they find themselves either in this fictional world or sitting next to this fictional character. What are they like? What do they get up to? What happens next….

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Blog Tour: What a Way To Go by Julia Forster

Published January 11, 2016 | By Laura

I am very pleased to welcome Julia Forster to Novel Kicks and her blog tour for her debut novel, What a Way to Go. Hello Julia, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you first tell us a little about your new book, What a Way to Go which was published last week by Atlantic Books and how the idea originated?

It is lovely to be here today to talk about What a Way to Go. Thank you for having me.

The novel is a coming-of-age tale, set in the east Midlands in 1988, told by twelve year-old straight-talking Harper. Her parents, Mary and Pete, divorced when she was little, so she divides her time between her Mum’s rented house, which is being sold from underneath her, and her Dad’s mouldering cottage in a sleepy Midlands village. It’s a bittersweet tale about growing up and discovering some surprising home truths along the way. Harper’s a resourceful kid with an old soul, an infectious sense of fun and a sideways glance on the adult world around her.

The idea originated when I was successful in getting a £1,000 bursary from Literature Wales to pay for six months of nursery fees in order to begin a novel. When I started, I had no plan for how to approach it, no characters and no plot. All I had was a blank page. The idea originated when Harper’s voice exploded out of the blinking black cursor on the very white page about half way through the bursary period. The two of us got on like a house on fire. What a Way to Go is told in the first person and in the present tense, so there is an immediacy to how she narrates the story. It is very much a voice-driven piece of work.

The book features 80s music. Which 80s pop song best describes you?

That is definitely the hardest question that I shall be asked in the entire blog tour, Laura!

I created a Spotify playlist as I wrote the book and I listened to it a lot as I wrote. However, it isn’t one from this playlist which I would like to choose. I would pick ‘Solsbury Hill’ by Peter Gabriel.

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My Writing Ramblings: Reflections on 2015

Published January 8, 2016 | By Laura

Happy New Year everyone.

I can’t quite believe that 2015 has come to an end and we’re already eight days into 2016. Last year went so fast. I know that this year will probably do something similar. The older you get, the quicker it goes right?

I’ve been thinking a lot about 2015. I am a member of the New Writers Scheme which is part of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and last year, I didn’t manage to get any of my novel in for appraisal by one of the readers. I am not sure what happened. I just seemed to run out of time and what I had written didn’t seem good enough. I lost my confidence a little. So, if I have any goals for this year, it is to get my novel into the NWS by August.

As well as my writing and throwing myself into planning and writing my book, I’ve been thinking about the books I read in 2015. I read so many brilliant novels and escaped into so many stories and met so many characters. I went through the list and tried to pick my favourites (which was so difficult to be honest.) However, here is a list of my favourite novels from last year. What were your favourites?

Stranger Child by Rachel Abbott.

(Black Dot Publishing, 2015.)

This was a great book; a thriller mixed with mystery. This novel had me gripped from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t guess what was going to happen and a mystery novel that can have me guessing until the end is good.

It focuses on Emma and David who seem to have the perfect life. However, David has known sadness when his wife was killed in a car accident and his six-year-old girl goes missing. When his daughter suddenly reappears, Emma has to question everything that she knows.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Message in a Bottle

Published January 7, 2016 | By Laura

Friday 8th January 2015: Message in a Bottle

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.

Today’s prompt: Your character is walking along the beach and cuts their foot on a piece of glass. On closer inspection, they realise that it is from a bottle that is laying nearby. There is a piece of paper with a message on it inside the bottle. Write about what happens next. What’s the message?

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January 2016 Book Club: The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

Published January 6, 2016 | By Laura

Anyone is welcome to join in our monthly online book club.

How it works…

We love books and we love chatting about them even more. Every month, we pick a new book for discussion. We will post a question to kick things off and then you can talk about any of your thoughts about the book in the comments box below. The best thing about our book club is that EVERYONE CAN TAKE PART. It’s open to all. You can read the book at any point in the month or if you’ve already read it, tell us what you think.

With it being December, this month’s book is: The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler.

About the book:

Six people – five women and a man – meet once a month in California’s Central Valley to discuss Jane Austen’s novels. They are ordinary people, neither happy nor unhappy, but each of them is wounded in different ways, they are all mixed up about their lives and relationships. Over the six months they meet, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable – under the guiding eye of Jane Austen a couple of them even fall in love…

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Blog Tour: Winner of the Paula Brackston Novel Set

Published December 16, 2015 | By Laura

To celebrate the release of her new novel, Paula Brackston and Little Brown have given me a set of novels to give away to one lucky winner, her latest, The Silver Witch was released on 3rd December 2015. Click here to read my review.

Congratulations to Sally Jenkins who has won the set of four novels from Paula Brackston.

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Silver Witch

About the books:

The Witches Daughter:

An enthralling tale of modern witch Bess Hawksmith, a fierce independent woman. Desperate to escape her cursed history, she must first confront the evil witch who has haunted her for centuries.

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Blog Tour: Win a set of Paula Brackston Novels…

Published December 9, 2015 | By Laura

To celebrate the release of her new novel, Paula Brackston and Little Brown have given me a set of novels to give away to one lucky winner, her latest, The Silver Witch was released on 3rd December 2015. Click here to read my review.

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Silver Witch

If you fancy winning some books to read over the festive period or you think a friend or family member would enjoy these books, we are giving away one gift set.

This gift set includes The Witches Daughter, The Winter Witch, The Midnight Witch and The Silver Witch.

The Witches Daughter:

An enthralling tale of modern witch Bess Hawksmith, a fierce independent woman. Desperate to escape her cursed history, she must first confront the evil witch who has haunted her for centuries.

The Winter Witch:

In her small Welsh town, there is no one quite like Morgana. She has not spoken a word out loud since she was a child, and her silence – as well as the magic she can’t quite control – makes her an oddity, a magnet for rumour, mystery . . . and resentment. Concerned for Morgana’s safety, her mother arranges for Morgana to marry Cai Jenkins, the widower from the far hills who knows nothing of the nasty things folk say about her daughter. It isn’t long before a dark force makes itself known – a force which will stop at nothing to turn everyone against her.

The Midnight Witch:

Lady Lilith Montgomery is the daughter of the sixth Duke of Radnor. She is one of the most beautiful young women in London and engaged to the city’s most eligible bachelor. She is also a witch. When her father dies, her hapless brother Freddie takes on his title. But it is Lilith who inherits their father’s role as Head Witch of the Lazarus Coven. And it is Lilith who must face the threat of the Sentinels, a powerful group of dark sorcerers . . .

The Silver Witch:

One year after artist Tilda Forwells loses her husband, she is finally ready to move into the secluded Welsh cottage they were meant to be sharing together. In the valley below her mountain home is a mystical lake which inspires a strange energy in her. She starts to experience potent dreams, visions, presentiments which all lead her to Seren, the witch and shaman who legend has it lived on this lakeshore in Celtic times. As Tilda explores the lake’s powers and her own, her connection to Seren grows stronger. And when she comes under grave threat, she must rely on Seren and this ancient magic to save her.

How to enter:

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Blog Tour: The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston

Published December 9, 2015 | By Laura

One year after artist Tilda Forwells loses her husband, she is finally ready to move into the secluded Welsh cottage they were meant to be sharing together.

In the valley below her mountain home is a mystical lake which inspires a strange energy in her. She starts to experience potent dreams, visions, presentiments which all lead her to Seren, the witch and shaman who legend has it lived on this lakeshore in Celtic times.

As Tilda explores the lake’s powers and her own, her connection to Seren grows stronger. And when she comes under grave threat, she must rely on Seren and this ancient magic to save her.

I was very happy to be asked to take part in the blog tour for Paula Brackston’s new novel, The Silver Witch. I had not read any of Paula’s previous novels so I was not sure what to expect. I was very intrigued by the description of this book.

The cover of this book is so beautiful. Bravo to the cover designers.

Paula’s style of writing drew me into the story straight away. With it being the third book in the Shadow Chronicles, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t know what was going on but it can be very easily read as a standalone novel. The description of the setting and characters are so lovely and vivid and is so atmospheric. I could really feel myself being pulled into the novel. It is also set around Christmas so reading it under the light of my Christmas tree really helped with the atmosphere (when reading Tilda’s chapters anyway.)

Books that combine history and fantasy appeal to me and so I couldn’t stop reading this book. The story is told from the perspective of two women.

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My Favourite Christmas Books

Published December 3, 2015 | By Laura

Christmas, hands down has got to be my most favourite time of the year. I love singing all the Christmas carols and songs, an excuse to watch Christmas films (I know these are cheesy but my Christmas is not complete without Santa Claus: The Movie, The Holiday, The Snowman and Love Actually) and I adore getting a real tree and decorating the house. Christmas just makes me smile.

What I also love is being able to pull out all of my favourite Christmas books. There is nothing I like more on a cold, festive feeling evening than to snuggle up in my chair with warm jumpers and socks, a cup of hot chocolate and a festive smelling candle and read one of my favourite, festive themed books. I wanted to share some of my favourites with you.

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson (Jerry Pinkney)

I can remember first reading this at school and even then, I couldn’t get over how incredibly sad this story is. It’s certainly a reminder of all we have to be grateful for and not just for his time of year too. Whenever I read this book I end up crying (it never fails.)

This wonderful story is an ageless chronicle of a young girl struggling to stay warm on New Year’s Eve using the very matches she is supposed to be selling to earn money for her family. With each strike of a match the little girl sees wonderful things in the flames which warm both her heart and soul.

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs.

This story never fails to put a smile on my face. It is just classic and timeless and it is a book that has been a part of my Christmas since I can remember. Whenever I see anything to do with the Snowman, I just launch into Walking in the Air in my head. To me, this story is amazing. I love it and if I am ever lucky to have children, it is one I look forward to sharing with them too.

One winter’s night, a snowman comes to life and an unforgettable adventure begins. Raymond Briggs’ favourite classic is a true piece of Christmas magic – narrated entirely through pictures, it captures the wonder and innocence of childhood and is now recognised throughout the world.

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My Writing Ramblings: Reflections on National Novel Writing Month 2015

Published December 2, 2015 | By Laura

Wow. We’ve reached December. My countdown to Christmas has begun. My Christmas Card list has been made (and they sit on the side waiting to be done.) I have my beautiful Christmas tree up (nothing like a real one) and I can legitimately sing Christmas songs without getting funny looks from people (well, kind of. My singing is terrible.)

This time of the year also means that National Novel Writing Month is once again over for another year. I always have a mixture of emotion when I finish NaNoWriMo. On the one hand, I am relived and pleased that it is done. 1,667 words a day is a lot to commit to and it is easier said than done to reach on a daily basis when all you want to do is curl up and sleep or have family commitments or in my case, a holiday. On the other hand though, I am sad it is over. By now, I am in the bubble of the NaNoWriMo thing. I have got into the swing of my story. It is around now that I am past the moments where I have found it hard going and the threat of my laptop meeting my wall have been temporarily suspended.

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Writing Room: Helping Out

Published December 1, 2015 | By Laura

Tuesday 1st December 2015:

Today’s prompt:

Your character works for a secret agency and has a secret identity to match. As a favour, they agree to pretend to be someone’s love interest to help them out at a family gathering and it all gets a little out of hand. What happens? Does the identity of your character get revealed?

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December’s Book Club: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Published December 1, 2015 | By Laura

Vintage Children's Classics, Reprint Ed. August 2012

Vintage Children’s Classics, Reprint Ed. August 2012

Book Corner is our monthly online book club. Anyone can join.

How it works…

We love books and we love chatting about them even more. Every month, we pick a new book for discussion. We will post a question to kick things off and then you can talk about any of your thoughts about the book in the comments box below. The best thing about our book club is that EVERYONE CAN TAKE PART. It’s open to all. You can read the book at any point in the month or if you’ve already read it, tell us what you think.

With it being December, this month’s book is: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

About the book:

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Writing Room: Identity Crisis

Published November 17, 2015 | By Laura

Tuesday 17th November 2015: Identity Crisis.

Today’s Prompt:

Your character works as a waiter/waitress in a small greasy spoon in the middle of a busy town. They have no family and only a small group of friends. However, one day a stranger walks into the cafe. They look identical to your main character. Write in third person. Try to write mostly in dialogue. Continue…

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My Writing Ramblings: The Second Week Block

Published November 13, 2015 | By Laura

I’m nearly through the second week of NaNoWriMo 2015. It’s inevitable in a challenge like this that at some point, I was going to lose a little bit of motivation to carry on and eventually my will to live. It happens every year and usually around the halfway mark.

This is why I love the NaNo community. Everyone is so supportive and other people will be having the same thoughts as me (or similar thoughts; mine include locking my laptop in my car so I don’t have to see it and then retreating to my duvet, hiding and not coming out for a few days.)

It’s also usually around now that I begin to question why the hell I put myself through this every year. It’s not as though I am being forced to do this. I could just quit and not get myself stressed.

However, I do this because I love to write, I love the challenge. I love it because some of my best friends also take part and write ins are fun. I do it because I couldn’t imagine my November without it.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Another Unlucky Day

Published November 13, 2015 | By Laura

Friday 13th November 2015: Another unlucky day

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.

Today’s prompt:

It is Friday 13th and for some, that is unlucky. How about if your character has to keep reliving it but for every mistake he sees coming, another one soon takes its place. Nothing is the same. Why does he keep repeating the day and what does he have to do to escape it?

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Quick Spotlight/Review: Everyday by David Levithan

Published November 12, 2015 | By Laura

Egmont, August 2013

Egmont, August 2013

Every day I am someone else.

I am myself – I know I am myself – but I am also someone else.

It has always been like this.

Each morning, A wakes up in a different body. There’s never any warning about who it will be, but A is used to that. Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

And that’s fine – until A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with – every day . . .

I did not know what to expect when I picked up this book. I found the blurb for it very intriguing. A wakes up in a different body, in a new location every day. He has no say in where he goes, who he becomes. He is only there a day and he moves on. It’s his consciousness but a stranger’s body. This was such a great idea to me. I wish I had come up with it.

I find the idea that this kid has a say in people’s lives but doesn’t get to stick around to see the result of his decisions in that one day fascinating. How a decision he makes can affect the person he is ‘visiting.’ Also, I would have loved to know where these people go when they have been replaced by A.

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Writing Room: A Nice Event

Published November 10, 2015 | By Laura

Tuesday 10th November 2015.

Today’s prompt:

There are many stories that begin with an unpleasant thing or event. How about beginning your story with a nice event? Maybe your character sees someone they have been excited to see? Maybe someone gains something they’ve always wanted? Pick a nice event and write from there. Once you’ve finished, have a read through? Did your story remain nice or did something bad or sinister happen?

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My October Favourites

Published November 9, 2015 | By Laura

I can’t believe we’re into the second week of November. Christmas is next month! I know I am a little late off the mark but I wanted to share some of my October favourites.

Composition Book from Knock Knock.

I love the stationary from Knock Knock. They are the company that usually do all of the cute sticky to do pads with little funny sayings on them. This book was kindly sent to me from the guys over at Chronicle Books. This is part of a little series. As well as the purple one which is the important topics notebook, they do a pink one titled the funny one and a blue one too titled, hyper organised so you can pick the one that suits your personality the best. I’ve always loved the look of the composition books that I used to see on TV shows like Degrassi Junior High and films like Struck by Lightening and now I have one (almost.)

Santa’s Little Melter Candle.

I light a lot of candles. If I am at home, you can usually find a candle lit in the room I’ve decided to hang out in. This is the Santa’s Little Helper candle from Bomb Cosmetics. I originally got one of these last year for my birthday. I fell so in love with the scent that I had to buy another one. It’s such a lovely, sweet scent and reminds me of all the sweetie goodness of Christmas (it has a little cinnamon in it I think.) Along with this one, I am also loving the Berry Trifle candle from Yankie Candle. So many lovely candles, so little time to burn them.

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My Writing Ramblings: Reaching That Word Goal

Published November 6, 2015 | By Laura

I am almost at the end of the first week of National Novel Writing Month. I can’t believe a week has nearly passed already. From experience, I know how hard NaNoWriMo can be. To make 50,000 words by 30th November, it is recommended that you reach 1,667 words per day. It sounds easy and some days, when the writing gods are in your favour, it can be as simple as sitting down, typing and getting to 1,667 in no time at all. However, if you’re like me, more often than not, it doesn’t work that way.

Don’t get me wrong, some days are better than others. However, during NaNoWriMo, I have to really fight to keep my inner critic at bay so it sometimes takes me longer to get to my word count than it should. The further I get into the month, this becomes less than a problem but it has taken me a few days to lock my inner critic away and to let the first draft breathe.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: A Picture Paints…

Published November 6, 2015 | By Laura

Friday 6th November 2015: A Picture Paints….

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.

Today’s prompt:

Use the picture for a story. What does the picture inspire? Maybe your character is meeting someone?

Maybe whenever they take a step forward, the horizon seems to stay at the same distance and everything depends on them getting to the other end?

Where is this? Has your character travelled far to be here?

Have they just appeared here out of nowhere and people surrounding them think they are magic or are they scared of them?

Has your character travelled back in time?

What you choose is up to you. Just have fun.

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Review: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

Published November 5, 2015 | By Laura

Bloomsbury, April 2014.

Bloomsbury, April 2014.

EVEN A DREAMER CAN START A REVOLUTION

Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

This book took me a few chapters to get into. I had to fight a little to stick with it but once I got into the swing of the story, I was hooked. I suggest that you do stay with it if you are also struggling as it does eventually find its feet. There is simply a lot of information to begin with – I found it hard to keep up with who was who and who could do what (there is a glossary at the beginning of the book.)

Once I did get into the story, I found it completely compelling. Paige is an interesting heroine. After being taken after committing a crime, her secret is revealed as the group holding her find out she is one of the most powerful clairvoyants. I got a Hunger Games/Harry Potter vibe from it. There are a few twists and turns to keep you guessing as to what is going to happen to the characters.

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My Favourite Books: The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Published November 4, 2015 | By Laura

One of the books that will always be in my top ten would be The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. This was the first book that not only introduced me to Sophie Kinsella, it introduced us all to Becky Bloomwood – a love, for me that has spanned nearly a decade now.

First of all, the cover is pink. Pink is my favourite colour.

I adore this book. The main reason I like this book series is that I love Becky. She is my kind of heroine. She is not perfect. She has her faults and weaknesses and real problems that are incredibly relatable. She doesn’t always learn by her mistakes on the first go around but her heart is in the right place.

The books are full of humour, awkward moments and lovely scenes too. Luke is a great hero and he loves Becky. It is all very romantic.

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Writing Room: Finding Inspiration Prompt

Published November 3, 2015 | By Laura

Tuesday 3rd November 2015:

Today’s prompt:

Find some magazines or go through some online news sites/magazines. Cut out or save any pictures or stories that catch your eye and inspire you. Once you’ve got a few, go through and pick three of the articles/pictures that most inspire you. Try and include these three things in a short story.

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Christmas Themed Books Spotlight

Published November 2, 2015 | By Laura

One of the things I love most about this time of year is that when I am taking part in National Novel Writing Month, it has become my countdown to Christmas. It is my favourite time of the year. October and November’s arrival also means that there are all the new Christmas book releases. I love the Christmas themed stories and the beautiful Christmassy covers. This year is no exception and I wanted to share some of the Christmas themed stories I am looking forward to reading this year.

Notting Hill Press, October 2015

Notting Hill Press, October 2015

Festive Feast by Michele Gorman.

I love this woman’s books and adore her Christmas themed books especially. They never fail to put me in a festive mood. What I love about this year is that her publisher, Notting Hill Press have released a three book bundle called Festive Feast which means you can get three of Michele’s christmas books in electronic form for less than £2.50 which I think is a bargain. I have read Twelve Days to Christmas and loved it and am looking forward to reading the other two in the bundle.

The Reluctant Elf: Meet Britain’s Worst Innkeeper… Single mother and extremely undomestic goddess, Lottie, has five days to become the ultimate B&B hostess to save her beloved Aunt Kate’s livelihood.

Christmas Carol: One winter wedding, two happy couples, three ex-boyfriends. And a very uncomfortable weekend… Carol hates Christmas. Being recently dumped, she’s not crazy about weddings either. So her sister Marley’s nuptials, over the Christmas weekend, with her three exes, are making her positively Scrooge-like.

Twelve Days to Christmas: What if his proposal had an expiration date? In twelve days Hannah flies from Hong Kong to the US with Sam, where he’s finally going to meet her parents… and ask to marry her. The problem is, she feels panicky every time she contemplates matrimony. Which is perfectly normal, isn’t it? Isn’t it?! She has no idea but she’s got to find out before he pops the question…

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November’s Book Club: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Published November 1, 2015 | By Laura

Book Corner is our monthly online book club. Anyone can join.

How it works…

We love books and we love chatting about them even more. Every month, we pick a new book for discussion. We will post a question to kick things off and then you can talk about any of your thoughts about the book in the comments box below. The best thing about our book club is that EVERYONE CAN TAKE PART. It’s open to all. You can read the book at any point in the month or if you’ve already read it, tell us what you think.

This month, our pick is: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

About the book…

Errand requiring immediate attention. Come.

The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. ‘He never says please’, she sighed, but she gathered up her things.

When Brimstone called, she always came.

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My Writing Ramblings: My NaNoWriMo Survival Kit

Published October 31, 2015 | By Laura

This will make the fifth year that I have taken part in National Novel Writing Month (2015’s event kicks off tomorrow.) Whilst there are many moments within the thirty days where I want to scream, lift my desk and throw it over whilst also throwing my laptop out the window whilst screaming “Laura smash,’ hulk style, there is nothing like that feeling when you reach and pass the 50,000 word target and feel incredibly proud of yourself for doing so.

For people who don’t know what National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is, it’s a 30 day writing challenge. 50,000 words, 30 days. It’s all about getting the words down in any shape or form and telling your inner writing critic to go away for a while. It can be hard work but it can be really fun and there is a lovely online community attached to it too.

As usual though, in true Laura style, I have left everything to the last minute. I have been frantically trying to get all my planning done and get the things together that I need for my NaNoWriMo survival kit.

My computer, notebook, loads of pens and pencils.

This is a must for my NaNoWriMo. I do mostly type straight onto the computer (using Scrivener,) but sometimes, it does help me to have a notebook nearby for when I need a change of scenery or when I can’t use my laptop.

My NaNo Plan.

I find I am needing to know where I am going with a story, especially during November. There is so little time in the month to get to 50,000 words that I need to have a clear idea of where I want the story to go so I don’t get stuck and waste time.

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Competitions: See Me by Nicholas Sparks Winner

Published October 31, 2015 | By Laura

To celebrate the release of See Me, Sphere and Nicholas Sparks gave me one signed copy of See Me to give away to one lucky winner.

Well done to Donna Caldwell who was picked at random and has won the signed copy.

About the book:

Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot.

At twenty-eight, he’s focused on getting his teaching degree and avoiding all the places and people that proved so destructive in his past. The last thing he’s looking for is a serious relationship. But when he crosses paths with Maria Sanchez one rainswept night, his carefully structured life is turned upside down. And when Maria, a hardworking lawyer, meets Colin she begins to question every notion she has ever had about herself and her future – and what truly makes her happy.

Before the couple has a chance to envision a life together, menacing reminders from events in Maria’s past begin to surface. And as the threat of violence begins to shadow her every step, she and Colin will be pushed to breaking point.

A Moment With… David Nicholls.

Published October 30, 2015 | By Laura

Wordsworth Editions, New Ed: 1993

Wordsworth Editions, New Ed: Dec 1993

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Penguin Classics, January 2003

As part of Booktober, one of the books I’ve been reading is Us by David Nicholls. We asked David the following question: if he were only allowed to own three books, which three would he pick? Here are his choices…

The first would be a Dickens – if not a single volume complete works then ‘Bleak House’, his masterpiece, a great, brilliant, rich and endlessly complex novel that’s also endlessly moving.

The story is told partly by the novel’s heroine, Esther Summerson, and partly by an omniscient narrator. Memorable characters include haughty Lady Honoria Dedlock, the menacing lawyer Tulkinghorn, the realistic John Jarndyce, and the childish and disingenuous Harold Skimpole, as well as the imprudent Richard Carstone. At the novel’s centre is long-running litigation Jarndyce and Jarndyce, which has far-reaching consequences for all involved. This case revolves around a testator who apparently made several wills. Dickens’ satirization of the English judicial system is based in part on his own experiences as a law clerk, and in part on his experiences as a litigant seeking to enforce copyright on his earlier books.

Secondly, I’d probably go for Shakespeare’s complete works, including the sonnets.

Finally, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, simply because I’ve never read it and always pretend that I have.

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Competitions: Win a Signed Copy of See Me by Nicholas Sparks

Published October 25, 2015 | By Laura

To celebrate the release of See Me, Sphere and Nicholas Sparks have given me one signed copy of See Me to give away to one lucky winner.

About the book:

Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot.

At twenty-eight, he’s focused on getting his teaching degree and avoiding all the places and people that proved so destructive in his past. The last thing he’s looking for is a serious relationship. But when he crosses paths with Maria Sanchez one rainswept night, his carefully structured life is turned upside down. And when Maria, a hardworking lawyer, meets Colin she begins to question every notion she has ever had about herself and her future – and what truly makes her happy.

Before the couple has a chance to envision a life together, menacing reminders from events in Maria’s past begin to surface. And as the threat of violence begins to shadow her every step, she and Colin will be pushed to breaking point.

How to Enter:

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Blog Tour: See Me by Nicholas Sparks

Published October 25, 2015 | By Laura

I was very pleased to be asked to join the blog tour for See Me, the new release from Nicholas Sparks.

About the book:

Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot.

At twenty-eight, he’s focused on getting his teaching degree and avoiding all the places and people that proved so destructive in his past. The last thing he’s looking for is a serious relationship. But when he crosses paths with Maria Sanchez one rainswept night, his carefully structured life is turned upside down. And when Maria, a hardworking lawyer, meets Colin she begins to question every notion she has ever had about herself and her future – and what truly makes her happy.

Before the couple has a chance to envision a life together, menacing reminders from events in Maria’s past begin to surface. And as the threat of violence begins to shadow her every step, she and Colin will be pushed to breaking point.

I have fast become a fan of Nicholas Sparks and his novels. I adored The Longest Ride and The Notebook will remain one of my favourite love stories. As I have said before, Mr Sparks has a habit of being able to make me cry and there were parts of this novel that succeeded. Thank you, Nicholas.

Maria and Colin could not be more different but in my opinion, they are a perfect fictional couple and they complement one another well. Even though they are complete opposites, I could completely buy into them as a couple. They, along with the supporting cast were developed well and I found myself really warming to these characters. Colin sounds lovely and he is proof that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

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My Writing Ramblings: A Few Words at a Time…

Published October 23, 2015 | By Laura

Happy Friday everyone. How has everyone’s week been?

This week, I have been thinking a lot about how a little can go a long way. Mike Gayle, when being interviewed for this blog, said that if you were to write every Sunday during the Eastenders omnibus, you’d soon have a novel within a few months. I think he is definitely on to something there.

This past seven days I’ve been working on a short story about a guy’s performance review for his very unusual job. The idea of writing the story as a whole was a little intimidating to be honest. So, after procrastinating for a while, I broke it up into so many words at a time.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Favourite Fictional Character

Published October 23, 2015 | By Laura

Friday 23rd October 2015: Favourite Fictional Character

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.

Today’s prompt:

Pick your favourite fictional character. You have suddenly found yourself in their world, surrounded by the characters around them. What if you were transported to middle earth or you suddenly find that you are Harry Potter’s best friend? What if you suddenly found yourself in a post apocalyptic world and you had no choice but to have a baby for an infertile couple?

Whatever character you chose, how would you live their story?

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Blog Tour: Secrets of the Royal Wedding Chapel by Kathleen Irene Paterka

Published October 23, 2015 | By Laura

I am pleased to be welcoming Kathleen Irene Paterka and the blog tour for her new book, Secrets of The Royal Wedding Chapel which has recently been published by Booktrope. Hi Kathleen, thank you very much for joining me today.

Thanks for inviting me to be a part of your blog today, Laura! As much as we authors tend to be private people, living isolated lives as we indulge in the creation of our imaginary worlds, we actually do enjoy connecting with real people!

Can you talk us through your writing process? For example, any rituals before you begin? Are you much of a planner? Edit as you go?

I’m a very slow, methodical writer. And since I’m an early riser, I prefer to work in the early morning. Normally I’m at my computer no later than 6 am. I have a little timer on my desk, and I set it for two hours. For me, writing is like falling into a lovely dream, and I tend to forget about time, space, real life, or anything other than what’s happening in the magical make-believe world appearing on my computer screen. It’s as if I’m watching a movie clip in my mind, and typing as fast as I can to get it all down before it disappears. The next morning, when I sit down at the computer, I normally begin by editing a few paragraphs from the previous day’s work. That helps me fall right back into the tempo of the novel.

Your latest book is called Secrets of the Royal Wedding Chapel. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Who doesn’t love weddings and all things royal? My day job is as resident staff writer at a beautiful castle located in Northern Michigan. The Castle hosts numerous weddings throughout the year, and I have plenty of opportunities for ‘behind the scene’ peeks at brides on their special day. When I decided to write a book about weddings, I couldn’t think of a better setting than Las Vegas. My husband and I renewed our 20^th wedding vows at a wedding chapel in Vegas, plus our daughter and her family live in Las Vegas. Secrets of the Royal Wedding Chapel combines my passion for royalty and romance with my love of weddings and Las Vegas. The result: The Royal Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, where dreams come true… and are just as easily destroyed.

Here’s the blurb:

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Author Interview: The Chocolate Lovers’ Christmas by Carole Matthews

Published October 22, 2015 | By Laura

I am so pleased to be welcoming Carole Matthews back to Novel Kicks. Her new novel, The Chocolate Lovers’ Christmas is published today by Sphere. Hi Carole, Can you tell us a little about your latest book, The Chocolate Lovers’ Christmas? What is it about and what themes are explored?

This is a follow-up to two of my most popular books, The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet. It features the same ladies, Lucy, Chantal, Nadia and Autumn – all brought together through their love of chocolate, they share the trials and tribulations of their relationships. But, if you’re new to my books, then it’s not necessary to have read the first two. The theme is generally about the enduring power of friendship. It’s a lot of fun and I love to write about these ladies. To combine the joys of chocolate and Christmas was a dream!

What elements make up a good novel do you think?

You have to have great characters that your readers fall in love with. If you’re not rooting for them then it really doesn’t matter how clever your plot might be or how fancy your setting.

Which fictional world would you like to visit? What would you do?

I’d love to be in A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin. I’d like to be one of the good guys and I’d try very hard to keep my head on my shoulders, which could potentially be quite difficult!

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Writing Room: Changing the Tense

Published October 20, 2015 | By Laura

Tuesday 20th October 2015.

Today’s Prompt:

Today is all about changing the tense. Take a page out of your favourite fiction novel. Rewrite the first few paragraphs changing the tense as you go. If it’s past, change it to present and vice versa.

How was it? How has it changed the story. If you want to, try it with a section of a work in progress and see if it helps in any way?

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My Writing Ramblings: Creating Characters

Published October 16, 2015 | By Laura

I have been busying myself this week by going back to basics with planning my novel. One of the main pieces of feedback from both submissions to the RNA New Writers Scheme is that I don’t seem to know my characters very well. This feedback is completely fair especially as I am realising that I seriously get stuck if I have no idea where I am going or who I am talking about.

Planning has always scared me mostly because I feel guilty at the thought of it. I should be writing and I’ve previously seen planning as just another distraction or worrying that it would sap all of the spontaneity out of the plot. That is not true. Planning, for a writer like me is very important. I need that road map.

What I have found is that, instead of hating it, I have had serious fun getting to know my main characters. It’s like having a legitimate reason to have imaginary friends in adulthood and I think that is pretty cool.

Being a little new to the planning stage of a novel, I wanted to share some of the things I have been doing in my character building process; what I have been asking my characters for anyone who might find something like this helpful especially if, like me, you are trying to write your first book.

As I said, I have been trying to get to know them so I made a character list including all the small characters (mostly so a Daniel doesn’t suddenly become a Stephen halfway through.)

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Carrying on the Story

Published October 16, 2015 | By Laura

Friday 16th October: Carry on the Story….

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.

Today’s prompt:

Use the following first line as a starting point and then try to carry the story on as long as you can.

‘Congratulations, you’ve won.’

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Author Interview: Bridget McNulty

Published October 15, 2015 | By Laura

Hi Bridget. Thank you so much for joining me on Novel Kicks today. First, can you tell us about your website, Now Novel and what inspired you to start it?

After my novel Strange Nervous Laughter was published in South Africa and the US, people were constantly asking me how to write a book and – perhaps even more than the actual writing how to find the motivation to finish. I wanted to create a platform for this.

What are you hoping people will get out of Now Novel?

A supportive, motivating space that helps them improve their writing and follow through on their novel writing dream. The end goal? A finished first draft.

There are various packages available for people wanting to use Now Novel. Can you tell us a little about what each package offers? Is there a minimum term you’d need to sign up for?

Basic access to the website (including our critiques system for giving and receiving writing feedback and our writing groups) is free. We have three paid options. The first, ‘The DIY Writer’, is our plan for writers who don’t want personalized help. It includes the Now Novel Story Builder, our online tool and step by step process for working out a blueprint for your story. If you need extra motivation, our middle tier plan, The Aspiring Novelist, includes having a mentor whom you can correspond with via email for extra help and motivation. Our top tier plan, The Experienced Writer, is ideal for writers who are serious about getting their novels written. It includes biweekly Skype calls with your mentor and editing of 3000 words of your writing per month by professional editors.
You can pay for any of the three plans month on month, if you prefer, or you can pay for a six or twelve month package that provides a substantial discount on the usual monthly rate. There’s also a 30 day money back guarantee on all our plans.

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My Five Favourite Inspiring Quotes for Writing

Published October 14, 2015 | By Laura

I have to admit, I am a sucker for quotes especially inspiring ones. I have many pinned up around my computer and I write a few in my notebook if I find one I particularly like. For me, they are important especially if I am having one of those days where writers block is rampant. They just give me that little bit of a positive push to keep going and write through any block I may have in my head. I have picked out five of my favourites.

‘The worst thing you write is better than the best thing you did not write.’

I am not sure of the origin of this quote but it is so true. I have not done a lot of writing lately and the one thing that makes you a better writer is practise. You can’t edit nothing after all. You need something on the page and I think this quote hits the nail on the head.

‘A word, after a word, after a word is power.’

I have seen this quote by Margaret Atwood many times and I love it. I am not sure why but to me, it is very very true. One word leads to another and then another and then another and before you know it, you have a first draft. The Handmaid’s Tale is also one of my favourite books so what better than to take inspiration with a quote like this.

‘Where’s the fun without a bit of risk?’

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Events: Literary Kitchen Writing Festival

Published October 14, 2015 | By Laura

The Literary Kitchen is the only festival in London devoted to Writers and Writing.

It kicked off on Monday and is going on until 18th October 2015. It’s a riot of writers, artists, musicians, publishers, agents and pets. Over 150 writers are taking part in the events over the week in twenty venues across South London.

The festival is featuring some of the UK’s best young authors alongside cabaret, parties, pub crawls, walks, talks and more. There is also a two-day publishers’ fair with a chance to meet agents too. It sounds absolutely fantastic.

Other events include Unwriters’ Anonymous where you can share procrastination stories and leave with tips and techniques on how to resist it, Lit Live where there will be Prose and Poetry and Masterclasses.

For more information and to book sessions, visit http://www.literarykitchen.co.uk/festival/

Writing Room: Working Backwards Writing Prompt

Published October 14, 2015 | By Laura

Wednesday 14th October 2015.

Today’s prompt:

Begin a story from the last line and work backwards. You can either start something new or use the current project you’re working on (something you’re maybe struggling with?) If you need inspiration for a story, here are some suggestions below:

A wizard, a London flat and the secret of life is revealed.

A gambling addict, train and a character overhears a shocking conversation.

A parent, the dock and a character must tell a lie.

If you’d like to share your work, feel free to leave it in the comments below.

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Blog Tour: Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain

Published October 12, 2015 | By Laura

I’m thrilled to welcome author, Diane Chamberlain and her blog tour to Novel Kicks today. Diane is the best-selling author of The Silent Sister and The Dance Begins. Her new novel, Pretending to Dance was released by Macmillan on 8th October 2015.

About Pretending to Dance:

When the pretending ends, the lying begins . . . Molly Arnette is good at keeping secrets. As she and her husband try to adopt a baby, she worries that the truth she’s kept hidden about her North Carolina childhood will rise to the surface and destroy not only her chance at adoption, but her marriage as well. Molly ran away from her family twenty years ago after a shocking event left her devastated and distrustful of those she loved. Now, as she tries to find a way to make peace with her past and embrace a healthy future, she discovers that even she doesn’t know the truth of what happened in her family of pretenders.

To celebrate the release of her book, Diane has shared with us the twenty four things she’s learnt when writing a novel. Over to you, Diane…

Figure out your ending first. Although it may change ten times during the writing, it gives you a target to aim for.
Don’t stress about formatting. I once asked an editor what font and margin size she preferred. She responded “I wish writers wouldn’t worry about that sort of thing. Just give me a good story.”
It takes an hour to sign your name 250 times. When my novel Necessary Lies was a Target Bookclub Pick, I had to sign 5000 copies. It took 20 hours and half a bottle of Tylenol. (But so worth it!)
No matter how brilliant your novel is, several people will still give it one star on Amazon. Get over it.
Editors are your friends, not your enemies. They want your book to be every bit as extraordinary as you want it to be. Take their suggestions to heart.

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Review: The Curvy Girls Baby Club by Michele Gorman

Published October 8, 2015 | By Laura

Ellie is fresh back from her honeymoon and can’t wait to share her news with her best friends Katie and Jane. To everyone’s surprise, mother-of-two Jane has news of her own… The women are due a day apart and Katie can’t wait to be an honorary auntie to the babies.

But it’s hard to keep your sense of humour, not to mention your self-esteem, in the face of hemorrhoids and elasticated waistbands. Add a clingy mother-in-law, a career in cardiac arrest and a sex life that makes Mother Theresa look lusty, and soon their lives are as out of control as their bodies.

As the co-founders of The Curvy Girls Club, where loving yourself is the only rule, will the friends be able to practice what they preach?

I was very happy to hear that Michele has written a follow up to her novel, The Curvy Girls Club. This novella returns us to Ellie, Katie and Jane not long after the end of The Curvy Girls Club ended.

Ellie announces her pregnancy and not long after, so does Jane. The characters are delighted to be going through this event together, especially when Katie makes a surprise announcement.

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Blog Tour: Love You Better by Natalie K Martin

Published October 7, 2015 | By Laura

I am very pleased to be welcoming Natalie to Novel Kicks today and her blog tour for her new novel. To celebrate the release of Love You Better, Natalie tells us about her typical writing day. Over to you, Natalie.

Being a bit of a nomad, typical days are few and far between now, let alone a typical writing one, but one thing I always try to incorporate is yoga. It’s a nice way to stay constant with so many physical and environmental changes and I find it really helps to get my mind settled, especially because I tend to have a million things going around in my head at once and it only increases when I’m writing.

After yoga and breakfast, I usually start with checking my social media, emails and then get a cup of tea going. I tend to go back and re-read a couple of the previous chapters to get me back into the groove again, and start from there. My ideal working spot is somewhere quiet, where I can disconnect from the distraction of the internet and plug in my music, but since I’m travelling a lot I tend to end up in buys hub cafe’s. It can sometimes stretch my day out by a few hours with people dropping by to say hello, but it can also be pretty precious, and let’s face it, working in a cafe in Goa, or Cornwall by the beach is hardly a chore! I’ve met lots of people in situations like that who’ve inspired aspects of my characters, or situations.

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Writing Room: Continuing the Story…

Published October 6, 2015 | By Laura

Tuesday 6th October: Continuing the Story…..

Today’s prompt:

Continue on the story by using the following opening line. Also, your two characters are called Charlie and Alison. The setting and when the story is set is up to you. Don’t think about it, just set a timer for fifteen minutes and write. Once you’re finished, edit it and cut the word count by half. If you’d like to share your story then I’d love to see them in the comments below.

Use the following line as your starting point, ‘There are two times when you need to stay absolutely still. The first time is…’

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My Very Late September Book Haul

Published October 6, 2015 | By Laura

Morning all. I’ve more books that I would like to share with you today. I love this time of year as we start to edge toward Christmas (yes, I am one of those very annoying people who go completely childish when it comes to Christmas.) There have been some fabulous books that have come my way this month. All the books mentioned are either available now (when stated) at most UK bookshops or are available to pre-order.

What books have you got recently and are looking forward to reading or have enjoyed?

See Me by Nicholas Sparks (Sphere, Oct 2015.)

This was sent to me by Sphere and I was very excited to get a copy of this book. I am a long-term fan of Nicholas Sparks. This man has serious Jedi powers. He can make me cry loads whilst reading one of his books and I am sure this one is going to be no exception. If you’re a fan of Nicholas’s books, we are taking part in the blog tour for this novel and will be giving away a special prize to one lucky winner so stay tuned.

Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot.

At twenty-eight, he’s focused on getting his teaching degree and avoiding all the places and people who proved so destructive in his past. The last thing he’s looking for is a serious relationship. But when he crosses paths with Maria Sanchez one rainswept night, his carefully structured life is turned upside down. And when Maria, a hardworking lawyer, meets Colin she begins to question every notion she has ever had about herself and her future – and what truly makes her happy.

Before the couple has a chance to envision a life together, menacing reminders from events in Maria’s past begin to surface. And as the threat of violence begins to shadow her every step, she and Colin will be pushed to breaking point.

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Events: Cheltenham Literature Festival

Published October 5, 2015 | By Laura

CLF14 cr mcphersonstevens.com (8)

Photo Credit: mcphersonstevens.com

The Cheltenham Literature Festival 2015 kicked off on Friday 2nd October and is running through until 11th October.

The festival is themed around defining moments. There are 500+ events/panels/interviews happening over the 10 days and there are some fantastic speakers appearing too.

Speakers appearing include Bill Bryson, Nigella Lawson, JoJo Moyes and Carrie Hope Fletcher. Paula Hawkins will also be talking about her book, The Girl on the Train.

Terry Wogan, Mark Billingham, Merra Syal, Bill Oddie, Marian Keyes and SJ Watson will also be attending.

For more information and to book tickets for this fantastic event, visit their website: http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

My Writing Ramblings: Writing Around Work

Published October 2, 2015 | By Laura

It has been a bit of a mixed bag with the writing this week. As like many of the people trying to write a novel, I work full-time. I work shifts and that involves day and nights. My productivity level can vary depending on whether I am working and the twelve-hour shifts can stifle my word counts.

I am lucky that I do have a job where I am sat down in one place so that does give me ample time to think through plots and character development. However, at three am in the morning, the last thing I want to do is think (beyond what I have to do for my job, obviously.)
As a result, I am not always getting the word count I am after.

When on shift, it’s all about the organisation for me. Organisation is not always my friend but is needed if I am going to get anything done. If I know I want to get so many words done per day, I will either try and be up a little earlier or I will write in my break. I will have no distractions. I will just try to write through to it. I will treat it a little like NaNoWriMo. I will just concentrate on getting the words down.

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October’s Book Club: Booktober Challenge

Published October 2, 2015 | By Laura

Book Corner is our monthly online book club. Anyone can join.

How it works…

We love books and we love chatting about them even more. Every month, we pick a new book for discussion. We will post a question to kick things off and then you can talk about any of your thoughts about the book in the comments box below. The best thing about our book club is that EVERYONE CAN TAKE PART.

This month, I am doing things a little differently. As it’s October, and also the launch month for Books are My Bag 2015, I am going to be doing the Booktober challenge. Four weeks, four books. I’ve picked four books that I will be reading over the next four weeks. You can either read along with me or pick four of your own. Please do let me know in the comments if you’d decided to read along and which books you’ve picked.

Also, to celebrate Booktober, anyone who takes part and comments on any of the books they are reading in the comments below will go into the draw to win a £10 Books Are My Bag gift card which is accepted in bookshops nationwide.

(Competition open to UK only. Draw will close on 31st October 2015 at midday and the winner will be drawn at random soon after and announced on the Novel Kicks blog.)

So, to the four books I’ve picked….. The Day we Disappeared by Lucy Robinson, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, Us by David Nicholls and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

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Author Interview: Megan Tayte

Published October 2, 2015 | By Laura

Hello Megan, welcome to Novel Kicks. Firstly, how much planning do you undertake when beginning a novel and do you edit as you go?

I let ideas come freely for a long while, and then I start planning. Once I have a detailed plan down, I start writing, but from that point on I still follow the creative process as I write. Sometimes that leads to a deviation that doesn’t work, and I cut the whole lot and go back to the plan. Sometimes the deviation turns out to be great, and I go with it and amend the plan accordingly.
My day job as an editor can be quite a hindrance to writing – I automatically slip into editing mode, and that pulls me out of being in the pure creative flow. My solution is to try very hard to resist the urge to edit as I write. So I write the first draft quickly, letting the words flow out. And then, some weeks later, I begin to edit. And edit. And edit.

Is there a fictional character you’d like to meet?

Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. It seems to me he could do with a friend – and some relationship advice.

Who’d you like to invite to a fantasy dinner party?

Oliver Queen (the Arrow), James Corden (presenter), Dawn French (comedian), Ed Sheeran (singer), Bear Grylls (adventurer), Kathy Reichs (author), Stephen Fry (actor), Beaker (Muppet). Oh, and we’d better have someone to cook, or we’ll be eating cheese on toast – Gordon Ramsey will add a bit more colour (and volume) to proceedings.

Five pieces of advice for new writers?

1. Explore. Go places, meet people, challenge your assumptions. Thoreau says it best: ‘How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.’
2. Read. The single best way to improve your writing is to learn by osmosis, to read and read and read. Not just in your favourite genre; all kinds of books by all kinds of writers. Literary, mass market – even the bad ones have plenty to teach you.
3. Believe. If you don’t have faith in yourself, why should anyone else? You’ve nothing to lose by believing you can write, and everything to gain.
4. Enjoy. Always remember why you want to write – for the sheer love of it. Don’t get bogged down in the business of writing. Love every minute.
5. Keep writing. In his bestselling book Outliers Malcolm Gladwell lays down the 10,000-Hour Rule: to succeed at anything, you need to practise your craft for 10,000 hours. That’s a lot of writing!

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