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.

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Myths

Published April 24, 2015 | By Laura

Friday 24th April 2015: Myths

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: Write a story that has elements of mythology in it. From what time period is up to you.

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Author Interview: Ben Adams

Published April 23, 2015 | By Laura

Ben Adams is the author of 6 Months to Get a Life. Thank you for joining us, Ben. Can you tell us a little about your new book?

Thanks for inviting me on to your blog.

Six Months to Get a Life is the story of a man trying to come to terms with his divorce. The book follows Graham Hope as he strives to get over his ex, to maintain his relationship with his children, to build new friendships and to work out a way of having sex again at some point in his life.

How did the idea for the book originate?

I recently went through a marriage break-up myself. I started writing Six Months to Get a Life as a way of capturing my own thoughts. If you like, it was therapy for me.

So is it about you then? I thought it was fiction?

It is fiction. About two days into the writing process, I realised that the book shouldn’t be about me. It shouldn’t be about my ex or my children either. What right did I have to write about them? And who would want to read it if I did? If it had been about me, people would have slit their wrists by the end of Chapter 3.

So instead of writing a memoir, I created a fictional tale. I invented a new ex, new friends, new children, new events and new debacles. Did the marriage guidance scene happen to me? No. Did I meet my ex in a sexually transmitted diseases clinic? Er, no. Have I ever twerked in a nightclub? Maybe, but that’s another story. Have I got a big ego and a small penis? No comment.

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My Favourite Books: Harry Potter

Published April 22, 2015 | By Laura

prisoner of

Copyright: JK Rowling

I have always been a big reader. Even at a young age, you were more likely to find me reading than watching TV (the only rival to my reading would have been colouring books.)

I have loved going on different adventures, falling in love with characters and loving to hate the villains. I’ve been thinking back to the books that have stayed with me even years after I’ve stopped reading the last page and in this new feature, I wanted to share some of my favourites with you.

One of the books that has stayed with me, is Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling.

I was late coming to the Harry Potter series. I think the books came to my attention when browsing in a book shop one day around the same time that the first film had appeared in cinemas. As the film had just been released, I’d been hearing a lot about the series (or the books that had been released up to that point,) and I was intrigued so I picked up the first book in the series. Let’s just say, within three days, I had to buy the rest. One of the things I love about this book series in particular is that it appeals to all ages and covers a variety of themes. I am fascinated by how these seven books all interconnect – how a small piece of information in the first book, like the fact that the wands are brothers is the thing that ends up saving his life later on.

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Book Haul: Five Books I’m Excited To Read

Published April 22, 2015 | By Laura

I have a HUGE obsession with books. I have been sent some great books over the past few weeks and I have also brought a few new books too. Despite the fact that I have quite a large TBR pile, it doesn’t stop me from adding to it on an almost daily basis. You can never have enough books, right? It was hard to pick but I wanted to share five of them with you – five I am looking forward to reading and reviewing soon. Let me know in the comments if you’ve read any of the books below and what you thought? Do you have any more you’d recommend?

The first book is We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman.

I love Rowan Coleman. Simple. I am also adoring this cover for her upcoming novel. It’s beautiful. It is due to be released on 21st May 2015 by Ebury who were kind enough to send me a review copy. I can’t wait to get stuck into this book and going by the blurb, it sounds great.

The blurb… Do not miss me, because I will always be with you…I am the air, the moon, the stars. For we are all made of stars, my beloved… Wherever you look, I will be there. Stella Carey exists in a world of night. Married to a soldier who has returned from Afghanistan injured in body and mind, she leaves the house every evening as Vincent locks himself away, along with the secrets he brought home from the war. During her nursing shifts, Stella writes letters for her patients to their loved ones – some full of humour, love and practical advice, others steeped in regret or pain – and promises to post these messages after their deaths. Until one night Stella writes the letter that could give her patient one last chance at redemption, if she delivers it in time…

The second novel I wanted to share is Freedom’s Child by Jax Miller.

This book sounds like such a roller coaster and it sounds so intriguing. I like mysteries (if you’ve not already guessed.) This is the debut novel from Jax and it is due to be released by Harper Collins on 30th July. I love it when books arrive with little surprises from the publisher. This review copy arrived at my house with a mini bottle of Southern Comfort which the husband will enjoy immensely.

The blurb…A heart-stopping debut thriller about a woman named Freedom, who will stop at nothing to save the daughter she only knew for two minutes and seventeen seconds. Call me what you will: a murderer, a cop killer, a fugitive, a drunk…There’s a lot people don’t know about Freedom Oliver. They know she works at the local bar. They know she likes a drink or two. What they don’t know is that Freedom is not her real name. That she has spent the last eighteen years living under Witness Protection, after being arrested for her husband’s murder. They don’t know that she put her two children up for adoption, a decision that haunts her every day. Then Freedom’s daughter goes missing, and everything changes. Determined to find her, Freedom slips her handlers and heads to Kentucky where her kids were raised. No longer protected by the government, she is tracked by her husband’s sadistic family, who are thirsty for revenge. But as she gets closer to the truth, Freedom faces an even more dangerous threat. She just doesn’t know it yet.

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Review: The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain

Published April 21, 2015 | By Laura

The Red Notebook tells the story of Laurent Letellier, a bookseller living in Paris. One day, he finds an abandoned ladies handbag. Looking inside with a hope to reuniting it with its owner, he finds no money, wallet or personal contact information. What he does find is a small, red notebook which is full of handwritten private thoughts, lists and jottings. The longer he spends in possession of this notebook, the more it reveals someone who Laurent wants to get to know – a woman named Laure. This book is his journey to try to find her in a city full of strangers.

Written by Antoine Laurain, this book has been translated from French by Jane Aitken and Emily Boyce. I’d previously read The President’s Hat so I had a small idea of what to expect. I loved that book so I was very excited and intrigued when The Red Notebook arrived. I love the covers of both this book and The President’s Hat. They are beautifully drawn and adds to the whimsical theme of the book.

This book isn’t very long. It is under 200 pages so I read it in a couple of sittings. It’s perfect for if you want a book for a train journey or a lazy afternoon. The style of writing is easy to get into and I was reading it not realising a huge chunk of time has passed.

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Writing Room: Varying View Points

Published April 8, 2015 | By Laura

Writing Room is our online writing group.

We post an exercise. Once you’ve written your piece, post it in the comments box below for discussion. Anyone is welcome to take part and it’s an opportunity to post work plus give and gain feedback.

Today’s exercise: Varying View Points.

Today, it is a short story (minimum of 600 words.) The scene is a doctor’s surgery. It is 10 o clock in the morning. The decor of the room is cream and there are leaflets and posters up on the wall.

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Review: Campari For Breakfast by Sara Crowe

Published January 28, 2015 | By Laura

Campari For Breakfast is the first novel for actress and author, Sara Crowe.

Sue is mourning the loss of her mother and is not happy that her father seems to be moving on so soon after her mother’s death. Estranged a little from him, she goes to live with her Aunt at Green Place in a home that is pretty much falling down around them. Sue begins to try and rebuild her life as she tries to find the truth about her mother. In the process, she discovers a lot about herself and the people closest to her. This book is told from the point of view of Sue in 1987 and of her Aunt Coral, in the form of journal entries starting from when she was a girl.

I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect from this book when I read the blurb but from the first few pages, I was hooked and could not put it down. Sue is a wonderfully original voice who is trying to discover who she is. She wants to be a writer and her short story, snippets of which are featured occasionally through the book are very witty.

Sue is very innocent and naive at the beginning of her story but I found that she’d come into her own a bit by the end.

The supporting characters were a cross between wonderful Continue reading →

A Moment With…Talli Roland

Published November 30, 2014 | By Laura

Day thirty of National Novel Writing Month. Earlier, author Julie Cohen took us through her editing process and now Talli Roland talks to us about her experience with self publishing.

Self-publishing provides another route for authors to get their books directly to an audience. I think it’s wonderful to be living in a time when authors have choices. No longer do they need reach readers through a publisher – they can decide what is right for them and for the book.

I had a wonderful relationship with my publisher, but as a small independent, their distribution reach was limited. Most of my sales were ebooks, and I’d spent a great deal of time building up my platform. It made sense for me to go out on my own, hire a cover designer and an editor, and keep my profits. It was very scary jumping ship – jumping off the ship! – but I’m so pleased I did.

It’s been an amazing journey – hard, challenging, and somewhat obsessive – but I’ve really enjoyed having control over everything from cover to content to timelines. And it’s been wonderful to make living from writing, too. That said, like any business, sales can fluctuate, depending on many factors. You don’t have the security of an advance from a publisher, so that can be a little daunting.

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A Moment With…Julie Cohen

Published November 30, 2014 | By Laura

This is it. Day thirty of National Novel Writing Month. Well done to all who have finished, good luck to all the people who are still going and if you didn’t manage it, you’ve still got words written that you didn’t have when you began which is fantastic. Today, Julie Cohen joins us to chat about her editing process (she uses Post-its and I have to say I like her style.)

After I’ve finished the first (very rough) draft of my novel, I usually have a list of all the things I want to change. I write it all down as instructions to myself.
After that, I often spend some time analysing what I’ve written. I find that Post-Its are really handy for this. I outline the entire book, event by event, using colour-coded Post-Its for each story thread. Then I arrange in them in order on the wall, or on paper.
This method lets me see all of the story at a glance. It can make it much easier to understand where you’ve got problems, and to see where new parts can fit, or irrelevant parts need to be cut.
Here’s a picture of one of my novels after it’s had the Post-It treatment.

Julie is the best-selling author of Getting Away With It and Dear Thing and Where Loves Lies (which was released by Bantam Press on 31st July.) To find out more about Julie, visit her website: http://www.julie-cohen.com

A Moment With…Jane Fallon

Published November 29, 2014 | By Laura

Jane Fallon’s books include Getting Rid of Matthew, Foursome and Got You Back. Her latest, Skeletons was released by Penguin earlier this year. She’s also a producer whose credits include Teachers and This Life. On day twenty-nine of National Novel Writing Month, she talks to us about supporting characters:

Your supporting characters create your world. They’re your colour and texture. Without them your book will feel two-dimensional and flat. Every character, however small a part they play needs to feel authentic and alive. It’s always a temptation to try to use shorthand to get across a character who is only going to appear a few times in your book. Everyone understands a cliche. But if you do that your reader is going to lose their sense of disbelief. You’ve asked them to immerse themselves into the world you’ve created so it’s important that world never feels cliched or flimsy. Make sure they’re as real as your leads.
Lesser characters can also be like a breath of fresh air – light relief, a pause from the intensity of the main story. They can throw a different light on your main characters. allowing us to see our heroes in a different way. They are what makes us feel we have entered a world that exists whether we’re there or not. Don’t underestimate them.

To find out more about Jane, visit her website: http://www.janefallon.co.uk

A Moment With…Cathie Hartigan

Published November 29, 2014 | By Laura

Cathie Hartigan-

Cathie Hartigan-

National Novel Writing Month finishes tomorrow. I can’t believe we are almost at the end of another year. I hope you’ve had a good month. If you’re still going; that 50,000 word goal still being elusive, you can do it! Today, Cathie Hartigan talks about whether there is a right place to write:

Is there a right place to write? Perhaps there is, but it certainly isn’t the same place for everyone. I’ve met writers who can only work in a café or with the television on and those who need complete silence and become all night long writers. My friend and colleague, novelist Sophie Duffy writes in a lovely shed at the bottom of her garden, although she also recommends writing in bed. Hopeless for me! I fall asleep almost immediately.

My writing space is doubles as the HQ for CreativeWritingMatters and it’s chock full of files, books, several computers and stationary for England. We all know writing is sedentary so in order to get some exercise and not be distracted by a sudden need to turn on the washing machine, I take myself to the wonderful Devon and Exeter Institution (it’s a library, honest!) as often as I can. There I can sit at a huge mahogany table, which has nothing on it except a fabulous shine. Perfect. I’m nose to screen until from across the green I hear the Cathedral clock strike five and it’s time for the library to close.

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Book News: Bella Osborne To Release Debut Novel

Published November 20, 2014 | By Laura

Bella Osborne

It-Started-at-Sunset-Cottage-Cover

Harper Impulse, Feb 2015

I am so delighted that Bella Osborne (from our Bella’s Scribblings column,) has secured a two book deal with Harper Impulse (an imprint of Harper Collins.) The cover for her debut novel, It Started at Sunset Cottage has been revealed by Harper Impulse and I LOVE IT. So pretty.

It sounds fantastic and we want to say congratulations to Bella. Her novel is due for release in electronic form on 12th February 2015 followed by the paperback release on 23rd April 2015.

About It Started at Sunset Cottage:

Kate Marshall is slowly getting her life back on track after losing her fiancé. As an author she has been able to hide herself away from the world and its expectations – but now one of her books has been optioned for a film and Hollywood suddenly comes knocking on her door!

When Kate is given the opportunity to stay at a beautiful country retreat and concentrate on the screenplay, it’s an offer she can’t refuse. Encouraged by her best friend, sharp-tongued single mum Sarah, Kate sees it’s finally time to stop letting life pass her by.

Looking for confidence and inspiration in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside, the last thing Kate expects is for Timothy Calder, A-list actor and leading man in the movie adaptation of her book, to turn up on her doorstep, hoping to lie low after his latest tabloid scandal! But after a rocky start, with Tim narrowly avoiding death by watering can, they find they have a few things in common: a liking for Lady Grey tea, walnut whips and bad ‘knock knock’ jokes. Actually, the bad jokes are just Tim.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Going Back

Published October 24, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 24th October 2014: Going Back.

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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: Have you ever wished you could go back to a time and change it but going back knowing what you know now? After you fall over and bang your head, you find that you’ve gone back in time to an important point in your life – a crossroads for you and you have the chance to alter the outcome. Where do you go back to and what happens? It can be based on fact or you can completely make up the situation (if you are working on a character, where would they go back to?)

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Cover Reveal: The Forgotten Holocaust by Scott Mariani

Published October 24, 2014 | By Laura

We are very excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for the new release by Scott Mariani.

Ta-dah!

The new book is called The Forgotten Holocaust. It’s due to be released by Avon on 29th January 2015. It’s the latest adventure starting Ben Hope and we are looking forward to reading it.

About the book:

A lost, aimless and hard-drinking Ben Hope has wandered back to his old haunt in Ireland. The ex-SAS soldier is searching for peace, but trouble soon appeared when Kirsten Hall, a young journalist, is brutally murdered right in front of him. Unable to prevent it, Ben is driven by guilt to hunt down the killers. All he has to go on is a handful of clues from Kirsten’s research – but how can the journals of Lady Stamford, the wife of an English lord during the time of the Irish Great Famine, have put Kirsten in mortal danger?

Ben’s quest for the truth leads him across the world and finally Oklahoma, USA, where a deadly secret awaits. What connects the journals, a wealthy American politician and an intrigue surrounding the Irish Famine?

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Novel Kicks Chats To… Nicci Gerrard

Published October 24, 2014 | By Laura

Nicci Gerrard is one half of the writing duo, Nicci French. She is also the author of The Winter House, Missing Persons and The Moment You Were Gone. Her latest novel, The Twilight Hour was released by Penguin on 23rd October. We chat with Nicci about her writing, her new novel and her favourite word.

Hello Nicci. Thank you so much for joining us. Can you tell us about your novel, The Twilight Hour and how the idea originated?

Thanks so much for having me! And for asking me these questions.

The Twilight Hour is really about the past and present life of Eleanor Lee. Now in her nineties and blind, she needs to tidy away her life before her family discovers secrets that she has kept hidden for seven decades. She is about to be moved from her old house by the sea to a home and she employs a lost young man called Peter Mistley to go through all her papers and photos. Gradually he – and the reader – are drawn back into Eleanor’s turbulent history, her love and her guilt. I wanted the novel to shift between two times and to unwind a story that still has power over the present. I also wanted to show how the old – who are often invisible to us – contain all the selves they have ever been. Eleanor might be in her mid-nineties and close to her death, but she is also youthful, caustic, purposeful, passionate and complicated. She still has hopes and desires. She is brimful of memories.

I first thought of writing The Twilight Hour when I and my siblings were moving my very old and extremely frail parents out of the family home. It was very poignant, gathering together a life and packing it away, deciding what to keep and what to discard We came across a film of their wedding day, and that ghostly sense of their young and radiant selves was powerfully moving.

Do you plan much before a novel and do you edit as you go?

I do plan – or at least, I have to have a sense of the journey the novel will make and I have to know why I’m writing it, what is its beating heart, if that makes sense. But then, my plan always goes awry, because of course a novel isn’t like a machine. It won’t obey you. Characters don’t want to do what you thought they should. They go their own way – and that’s good, it’s when the novel is working and taking on life.

I edit as I go – which often means throwing things away and starting again. And then when I’ve finished. And then after my agent has read it. And then after the publisher has read it….But often I think that I know from the start if something is working or not, and if it isn’t all the editing in the world can’t save it.

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October’s Book Corner: Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson

Published October 3, 2014 | By Laura

Book Corner is our monthly online book club.

How it works…

We love books and we love chatting about them even more. Anyone can take part in our book club. 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.

This month, our pick is Before I Go To Sleep by S.J Watson.

About the book:

Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?

Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love – all forgotten overnight.

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Blog Tour: The Rosie Effect Winner…

Published October 2, 2014 | By Laura

Thanks to Graeme, Penguin and FMcM Associates, we had ONE copy of The Rosie Effect to give away.

Well done to Derek Norton from Co Durham who has won a copy of the book.

About the book:

With the Wife Project complete, Don settles into a new job and married life in New York. But it’s not long before certain events are taken out of his control and it’s time to embark on a new project . . .

As Don tries to get to grips with the requirements of starting a family, his unusual research style gets him into trouble.

To make matters worse, Don has invited his closest friend to stay with them, but Gene is not exactly the best model for martial happiness. As Don’s life with Rosie continues to be unpredictable, he needs to remember that emotional support is just as important as practical expertise.

Join Don and Rosie in the next chapter of their weird and wonderful journey.

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion is published by Michael Joseph on 25th September, £14.99 hardback

Follow Graeme on Twitter: @GraemeSimsion

Review: After Before by Jemma Wayne

Published September 30, 2014 | By Laura

That was the day that Mama made the rules: If they come, run. Be quiet and run. But not together. Never together. If one is found, at least the other survives….
During a cold, British winter, three women reach crisis point. Emily, an immigrant survivor of the Rwandan genocide is existing but not living. Vera, a newly Christian Londoner is striving to live a moral life, her happiness constantly undermined by secrets from her past. Lynn, battling with an untimely disease, is consumed by bitterness and resentment of what she hasn’t achieved and what has been snatched from her.
Each suffering their own demons, their lives have been torn open by betrayal: by other people, by themselves, by life itself. But as their paths interweave, they begin to unravel their beleaguered pasts, and inadvertently change each other’s futures.

After Before follows the lives (before and after) of three women, all living in London. The overall idea of the story was very interesting. I like stories where characters who are apparently strangers are then brought together and become connected and where history is gradually revealed. In my opinion, flashbacks are used well and don’t stall the story in any way.

To me, this is a story of forgiveness and acceptance.

The plot elements concerning each of the three women are all interesting and compelling (and in parts outright heart-breaking.) I didn’t find myself favouring any story over another and I didn’t find that I was battling through one character’s story in order to get back to another.

Emily is alone in the city having escaped the Rwandan genocide. Deciding to make something more of herself, she decides to train to be a carer as she tries to escape the memories of her past. Emily is lost and vulnerable and from the beginning you sense that there is a huge part of her she is holding back. The book starts with Emily’s story and it immediately pulled me into the story. I was intrigued as to how she would develop as a character.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Building Suspense

Published September 26, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 26th September 2104: Suspense.

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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: Carry on from this sentence (max word count, 1,000.) Build the suspense the further you get into the story.

‘I don’t know what will happen if you flick that switch. I have never tired to find out what it does.’

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Blog Tour: Win a Copy of The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

Published September 23, 2014 | By Laura

Thanks to Graeme, Penguin and FMcM Associates, we have ONE copy of The Rosie Effect to give away.

About the book:

With the Wife Project complete, Don settles into a new job and married life in New York. But it’s not long before certain events are taken out of his control and it’s time to embark on a new project . . .

As Don tries to get to grips with the requirements of starting a family, his unusual research style gets him into trouble.

To make matters worse, Don has invited his closest friend to stay with them, but Gene is not exactly the best model for martial happiness. As Don’s life with Rosie continues to be unpredictable, he needs to remember that emotional support is just as important as practical expertise.

Join Don and Rosie in the next chapter of their weird and wonderful journey.

How to enter:

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Blog Tour: Review – The Rosie Effect

Published September 23, 2014 | By Laura

With the Wife Project complete, Don settles into a new job and married life in New York. But it’s not long before certain events are taken out of his control and it’s time to embark on a new project . . .

As Don tries to get to grips with the requirements of starting a family, his unusual research style gets him into trouble.

To make matters worse, Don has invited his closest friend to stay with them, but Gene is not exactly the best model for martial happiness. As Don’s life with Rosie continues to be unpredictable, he needs to remember that emotional support is just as important as practical expertise.

Join Don and Rosie in the next chapter of their weird and wonderful journey.

I have been looking forward to this book for months. I loved The Rosie Project so there was a little bit of an expectation with this follow-up. I don’t think you’d be able to read this one without reading The Rosie Project first. It doesn’t stand on its own.

It picks up where The Rosie Project left off. Don and Rosie are now married and are living in New York (I love this fact as New York is one of my favourite cities. I had my honeymoon there.)

I have to say, it was so lovely being back in Don’s company. He’s like a friend I’d not seen in a while. There is something so nice and endearing about him and something interesting in how he sees the world. He’s become one of my favourite characters. It was nice to catch up with the other characters in this book but to be honest, both books for me are about Don and how he copes with the world around him and this book certainly gives him loads to try and cope with. His and Rosie’s relationship is tested and some of what they go through can be very relatable.

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Blog Tour: The Rosie Effect

Published September 23, 2014 | By Laura

We are very delighted to be welcoming Graeme Simsion to our blog today and his blog tour for his new novel, The Rosie Effect which is the follow-up to the fantastic, The Rosie Project. Graeme talks to us about how writing much of the novel in New York influenced it.

I had about half of The Rosie Effect drafted, and a clear idea of where it was going, when I arrived in New York with my wife for three weeks in December 2013. We had spent seven months there in 2010, and this was a chance to catch up with friends and revisit favourite places. A holiday: but I had vague intentions of working on the novel, which I felt would benefit from being written ‘on location’. By the time we arrived, those intentions had crystallised into a plan: I would try to write two thousand words every day and finish the draft. As motivation, I promised myself that any day on which I failed to meet the target would be an alcohol-free day.

One of the pleasures of NYC is its bars and restaurants, and I’m a reasonably enthusiastic consumer of wine and the occasional cocktail (‘occasional’ meaning ‘on the occasion of being in New York and it being evening’). I didn’t miss a day. My wife was particularly impressed to find me up at 7 a.m. on Christmas morning, writing diligently. We had champagne with the turkey.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: A Document

Published September 19, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 19th September 2014.

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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: You find a document about your life. As you begin to read about the current day, things from the page start to happen in real life. Continue on the story. What happens next?

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Bella’s Scribblings: Post Holiday Blues (PHB)

Published September 18, 2014 | By Laura

Bella Osborne

Oh my word it’s hard being back at the proper job! All those wonderful days relaxing in the sun are so quickly a distant memory as you walk back into the office, open your in-box and start catching up. It all takes so much effort to keep your brain focussed in the room and not wandering off back to that sun lounger by the pool, with the warmth of the sun of your skin, the gentle breeze and the distant laughter of children splashing in the pool… sorry what was I saying? Yes, keeping your attention on the day job is tricky, but essential, because it’s the one that pays the bills.

Somehow after a holiday it all seems just a little bit more pointless than it did before you went away. Before you went on holiday, you were excited about the plans for the second half of 2014, you knew you were adding value, heck you actually enjoyed your job but something has changed. Of course nothing has actually changed – it’s just post holiday blues (PHB).

So question is how best to overcome them? There are probably quite a few right answers for this but here’s just a few suggestions that I tried:

Cake – no don’t laugh, I’m serious. There isn’t much that can’t be solved with cake. Also if you share it with others it means less calories and lard points for you and a kind gesture to others suffering from PHB.

Tea or Coffee – More frequent tea/coffee runs gets you away from your desk, which stretches your legs and gets the circulation going again. Giving yourself a break from a computer screen is good for your eyes. So physically this is a good thing.

Lists – I love lists. It may be because they involve stationery and I have a proper fetish about stationery but any list is a good way to concentrate on the ‘must do’ things. Just take it one day at a time. Too much on the list makes it a ‘laugh and tear up’ list, you need it to feel achievable. You will also feel great as you tick things off your list. Make the first item on the list – Make a list!

Choices – You do have a choice. You don’t have to do the day job. You could quit and do something completely different or do nothing at all but you choose to stick with what you know. Sometimes it helps to accept that it is your choice to stay in your current job, you could choose to leave but you dislike the alternatives more than staying so you choose to stay. Oh yes you do – I’m not saying it’s a great choice but it is a choice!

Continue reading →

Book News: R.S Pateman

Published September 18, 2014 | By Laura

The Prophecy of Bees is the new book from the author of The Secret Life of Amy Archer.

I loved R.S.Pateman’s first novel and so I am looking forward to reading his second novel. It’s due for release by Orion in hardback and e-book on 20th November 2014 and then in paperback on 31st December 2015.

About The Prophecy of Bees.

Moving to Stagcote Manor was meant to be a fresh start for Lindy and her teenage daughter Izzy. A chance at a new life in the country after things went so wrong in London. But for Izzy it is a prison sentence.

There’s something about the house that she can’t quite put her finger on. Something strange and unnerving. As Izzy begins to explore the manor and the village beyond its walls, she discovers the locals have a lot of bizarre superstitions and beliefs. Many of them related to the manor . . . and those who live there.

When Izzy begins to investigate the history of the estate, her unease deepens to fear as the house’s chilling past finally comes to light.

The Prophecy of Bees is available for pre-order

Read our review of The Second Life of Amy Archer.

Writing Room: Photo Prompt

Published September 18, 2014 | By Laura

Writing Room is our online writing group.

We post a prompt. Once you’ve written your piece, post it in the comments box below. Anyone is welcome to take part and it’s an opportunity to post work plus give and gain feedback.

Today’s prompt: Pathway.

Photos can be great for inspiration. What does this photo make you think about? Does it inspire a story? Using this photo, make a list of all the words and themes it makes you think of and then write a story between 500-1000 words.

Continue reading →

Mick’s Musings: Time To Let The Baby Fly The Nest

Published September 12, 2014 | By Laura

Nope, we’re not talking a variation on the Immaculate Conception, so don’t all line up wanting to become my manager. No ‘get rich quick’ scheme here. I’m referring to the fact that after getting my report back from the book I submitted to the RNA New Writer’s Scheme, I’ve now completed the changes/followed the advice that I was given and sent it off to the first publishing house yesterday. But it felt like letting my baby fledge and I admit to needing a little bit of a push to hit that ‘send’ button in my email. A little bit of procrastination reared its head. Asking a friend for advice, replying back, replying back, replying back…you get the picture, anything but admitting that I couldn’t quite get the back to finally send it off.

So, that’s the first one on the way. I was fortunate to get what could only be described as a very positive report. Ask my friends, I never ‘blow my own trumpet’, perhaps that’s down to a little lack in self-confidence, but what really made my mind up to crack along was meeting with the lovely ladies of the RNA Birmingham chapter the other week where they were all so enthusiastic after reading the report, and convinced me that it could barely have been any better. A time-line and two different meals were the only things I needed to change, apart from advice on the punctuation. I couldn’t believe my reader took the time to go through the whole manuscript to enter where they thought I needed better punctuation! Who was that ‘masked reader’? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s wonder reader!!! Sorry, silly hat off.

To say I was choked up when I plucked up the nerve to read the report would be an understatement. I’d worked myself up so much, that I was convinced it would be a couple of lines saying – ‘Step away from the computer. Never darken Word’s doorstep again. You can’t write.’ Okay, you get the picture. See above comment re confidence. Then what it actually said, taken with the lovely ladies of Birmingham RNA reactions and I hunkered down to make said changes. Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Parents

Published September 12, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 12th September 2014:

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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: ‘The last time I saw my mother was fifteen years ago.’ That is your first sentence. Who your character is and where you go is up to you.

Continue reading →

Book News: Cecelia Ahern

Published September 10, 2014 | By Laura

The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern.

It’s no secret that I love Cecelia’s novels. I am looking forward to the movie adaptation of Where Rainbows End. As if that wasn’t enough, she is also releasing her latest novel. The Year I Met You will be released on 9th October (so just under a month to go,) by HarperCollins and it’s available to pre-order. I think this has to be one of my favourite covers of 2014 too.

About The Year I Met You:

Jasmine loves two things: her sister and her work. And when her work is taken away she has no idea who she is.

Matt loves two things: his family and the booze. Without them, he hits rock bottom.

One New Year’s Eve, two people’s paths collide. Both have time on their hands; both are at a crossroads. But as the year unfolds, through moonlit nights and suburban days, an unlikely friendship slowly starts to blossom.

Sometimes you have to stop still in order to move on…

Short Stories For Christmas.

Published September 9, 2014 | By Laura

Yes I know, it’s only September but I love Christmas and I am getting more excited as it draws nearer. The other great thing about this time of year is the Christmas stories we get treated to. Here are four short stories I am looking forward to reading. They are all due for release on 6th November – just in time for those dark, cold evenings.

Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café by Lucy Diamond.

Lucy’s latest short story is due to be released by Pan on 6th November.

This looks brilliant and I am loving this cover.

With her Cornish Beach Café closed for the winter, Evie Flynn should be looking forward to lazy days and a happy Christmas, with nothing more pressing to think about than when to have her next mince-pie.

But her sister Ruth is coming to stay, in a cloud of heartbreak and bitterness following her marriage breakdown, along with her three unhappy children, and Evie knows she’ll have her work cut out, trying to spread some festive cheer. Then her boyfriend Ed breaks the news that he’s going to spend Christmas in London, for family reasons, and her heart sinks even further.

Add in to the mix a lost dog plus the hotly contested village Christmas bake-off and before long, Evie is feeling the strain. But there are still a few surprises in store for her, that look set to make this Beach Café Christmas the most memorable one yet . .

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Back to School

Published September 5, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 5th September 2014: Back to School.

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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: Back to School. Most children are going back to school this week. The character you’re writing about is a man called Bob and he wakes up to find that instead of being 44, he’s back to being 14 years old (but aware of his life as an adult.) What happens? How does he react and does this change?

Continue reading →

Book News: September Releases.

Published September 3, 2014 | By Laura

Autumn is on its way and although I am very sad to be saying goodbye to August, I am very excited to say hello to September as there are some brilliant books due for release this month. I have picked three books we are looking forward to reading.

The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop.

Due for release on 25th September by Headline.

I love the cover for this book. It’s very pretty. Victoria is the best-selling author of The Island and The Return and we’re looking forward to reading her latest release.

About The Sunrise:

In the summer of 1972, Famagusta in Cyprus is the most desirable resort in the Mediterranean, a city bathed in the glow of good fortune. An ambitious couple are about to open the island’s most spectacular hotel, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots work in harmony. Two neighbouring families, the Georgious and the …zkans, are among many who moved to Famagusta to escape the years of unrest and ethnic violence elsewhere on the island. But beneath the city’s faade of glamour and success, tension is building.

When a Greek coup plunges the island into chaos, Cyprus faces a disastrous conflict. Turkey invades to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority, and Famagusta is shelled. Forty thousand people seize their most precious possessions and flee from the advancing soldiers. In the deserted city, just two families remain. This is their story.

Continue reading →

A Moment With: Nell Dixon.

Published September 2, 2014 | By Laura

Nell is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Her books include Christmas Ever After, The New Bay Series and Radio Gaga. Today, Nell shares her five tips for new writers.

Read lots.

Keep writing.

Write what you love.

Don’t be scared to reach out to other writers.

Never be scared to edit.

For more information about Nell and her books, visit her website: www.nelldixon.com

Follow Nell on Twitter.

For more information on the Romantic Novelists’ Association, visit their website: www.rna-uk.org

Events: Peter F Hamilton

Published September 2, 2014 | By Laura

Peter F Hamilton will be at Foyles on 8th October to celebrate the upcoming release of his new book, The Abyss Beyond Dreams (which is a prequel to his popular Void trilogy.)

The event is taking place on Wednesday 8th October 2014.

It starts at 7pm and is being held at Foyles on Charing Cross Road in London (it’s being held in the auditorium on Level Six.)

Since the publication of his first novel, Mindstar Rising, Hamilton’s grand space opera visions have enthralled readers worldwide, with over two million copies of his books now sold.

Tickets are £5, and this includes a glass of wine.

To find out more or to book tickets, visit Foyles website: http://www.foyles.co.uk

Writing Room: Hi.

Published September 2, 2014 | By Laura

Writing Room is our online writing group.

We post a prompt. Once you’ve written your piece, post it in the comments box below. Anyone is welcome to take part and it’s an opportunity to post work plus give and gain feedback.

Today, we are introducing ourselves to our characters.

As writers, we spend a lot of time with the people we create in our imagination but how well do we know them? How much you know your characters will depend on what kind of writer you are and what planning you do before you begin. Today’s exercise is about asking your characters questions about themselves and getting to know them better.

Ask three of your main characters the five questions below. You can choose to either share your answers in the comments box below or simply tell us whether this exercise helped you and why.

Ask your characters the following:

Continue reading →

Book News: Graeme Simsion

Published September 1, 2014 | By Laura

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion is the follow-up novel to the fantastic, The Rosie Project.

I loved The Rosie Project and completely fell in love with Don and Rosie. I was lucky enough to attend an author session with Graeme where he told us a little about this new novel and I have been looking forward to its release ever since.

The Rosie Effect is due to be released by Michael Joseph on 25th September 2014 and is available to pre-order in hardback and e-book.

About The Rosie Effect:

With the Wife Project complete, Don settles into a new job and married life in New York. But it’s not long before certain events are taken out of his control and it’s time to embark on a new project . . .

As Don tries to get to grips with the requirements of starting a family, his unusual research style gets him into trouble. Continue reading →

Courses and Competitions: The Writers’ Workshop Writing Course.

Published September 1, 2014 | By Laura

Creative Writing Flying Start is a four-week online course aimed at beginners.

This is a course which aims to shed light on the whole creative process. The course helps you get those words from head to heart and onto page or screen. The first few exercises are designed to stimulate creativity and to get you into the writing habit. Above all this is about having fun, about letting your imagination fly.

The course will include an introductory period followed by four weeks of study which will look at Self, Other People, Language and Writing the Story.

It’s being hosted by The Writers’ Workshop and the course is £195. The next available course dates are 2nd September and 4th November. Continue reading →

News: Unseen Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Chapter Released.

Published September 1, 2014 | By Laura

charliebook001

Puffin.

Roald Dahl’s classic, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory turns 50 in October.

It is certainly one book that has stayed with me from my childhood and that is why I am excited about the Roald Dahl estate releasing a previously unreleased, unused chapter.

This chapter was not used in the 1964 published book. According to the chapter, there are two new children and another two are referenced but none of which feature in the published novel. These children are Tommy Troutbeck, Wilbur Rice, Augustus Pottle and Miranda Grope.

The characters in this chapter visit the Vanilla Fudge Room in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

The draft chapter which was featured this weekend in the Guardian, reveals that in earlier versions of the novel, there were as many as ten golden tickets and ten children as opposed to the five children we are familiar with – Augustus, Veruca, Violet, Mike and of course, Charlie. Also in early drafts, it’s been indicated that Charlie was accompanied to the factory by his mother and not Grandpa Joe.

Y0u can read this unseen chapter at www.theguardian.com

September’s Book Corner – A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride

Published September 1, 2014 | By Laura

Book Corner is our monthly online book club.

How it works…

We love books and we love chatting about them even more. Anyone can take part in our book club. 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.

This month, our pick is A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride.

About the book:

This experimental debut novel tells the story of a young woman’s traumatic coming-of-age in rural Ireland, as she struggles with her abusive family and clings to her relationship with her terminally ill brother.

(Published by Faber & Faber. April 2014.)

Buy from Amazon in paperback and e-book.

Continue reading →

Review: Created, The Destroyer by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir.

Published August 31, 2014 | By Laura

Sphere, August 2014.

Sphere, August 2014.

Created, The Destroyer was originally published in the early 70’s and has now been republished by Sphere. It was released on e-book on 21st August 2014.

About the book:

Sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit, ex-cop Remo Williams is rescued from the electric chair at the eleventh hour and recruited by a secret government organisation named CURE. From this moment, he ceases to officially exist.

From now on, he will be an assassin, targeting criminals who are beyond the law. Remo’s trainer is a grouchy old Korean named Chiun, whose mastery of the terrifyingly powerful martial art of Sinanju makes him the deadliest man alive.

Together Remo and Chiun set forth on their epic, impossible mission to vanquish every enemy of democracy – every bad guy who thinks they can escape justice.

This is a new era in man’s fight against the forces of evil.

This is the time of the Destroyer.

I wasn’t sure what to make of this book. I had very little knowledge of it before reading aside from the fact that I knew it was a series.

This book began well and drew me in. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Of course I knew Remo was going to escape his execution but how was a mystery and it was interesting to see how his rescuers got him out of that situation.

Remo is a believable hero (you don’t find out too much about his past aside from the fact that he was in Vietnam. I would have liked to have known more about him.)

Continue reading →

Mick’s Musings: Torn Between Two Stories.

Published August 29, 2014 | By Laura

There should be a song in there somewhere. Set at some time from the seventies where all the ladies (and gentlemen) had big hair, knew it and weren’t ashamed (I know as I was one). Anyway, today’s story concerns a tale of two stories. Whilst waiting for the critique from the NWS reader – did I mention how wonderful they are? – I allowed myself to be persuaded to start the Children’s story I had the idea for a couple of years ago up in the Yorkshire Dales. I remember the day well, as my lady wife and I were on holiday and she was anxious to get an early start for a trip to (another) castle/ancient town/something else she wanted to see in case it fell down. I was sat at the breakfast bar whilst she was finishing getting ready and this single line came into my head from somewhere:

The Four Hedgehogs of the Apocalypse.

What followed was about thirty minutes of frantic scribbling as what came into my head, was desperately (and slightly illegibly) jotted down in a too small notepad; all the while with my lady wife looking over my shoulder and tapping her watch in a very meaningful way. Then, it got pretty much forgotten about until I’d finished the story that went off to the RNA NWS scheme. In the meantime, as happens, around three or four other ideas came from somewhere and vied for prime-spot in the ‘next to be written’ pile.

My heart and gut actually wants to write another romance, but I’ve decided to allow myself to give this children’s one a go. So far, there are only two and a half chapters written, so much slower than I was hoping for, but I think I’ve just had a minor ‘block’. I do love Walter the Henchtoad and his evil boss Greyback the Squirrel (grey of course), but I’m not exactly enamoured with a couple of the names I’ve given my hero Hedgehogs, but I guess they’ll do to let me keep writing, I can always change them later.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday – Late, Late, Late.

Published August 29, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 29th August 2014: Late, Late, Late.

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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 running late for a meeting. Why are they late? What consequences are there for the character because they are late? What happens? Do they make the meeting? Have you ever been late for an important meeting? If so, use it as inspiration.

Continue reading →

Blog Tour: A Piece of Cake by Trisha Ashley

Published August 28, 2014 | By Laura

We are very happy to welcome Trisha Ashley to our blog today as we kick off the blog tour for her new short story, A Piece of Cake which was released today by Avon.

Trisha will be sharing one of her own recipes shortly but first, we review the book.

A Piece of Cake is the latest short story from best-selling novelist, Trisha Ashley.

Kate is an accomplished cake maker and is currently making the cake for her best friend, Laura who is getting married. Also, much to Kate’s annoyance, as if she’s not got enough to do, Laura is trying to play matchmaker and set Kate up with her groom’s best man, Wes. However, Kate has met Wes before and first impressions die hard. The last thing Kate wants is a romantic encounter with Wes.

This short story was so charming. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. I am a huge fan of Trisha’s books and this one did not disappoint. Despite its length, it still has the humour and warmth that I would usually find in Trisha’s novels.

I found that the characters were well-rounded and I liked Kate and Laura’s dynamic.

Wes was an interesting love interest who is charmingly awkward toward Kate and this, to me made their relationship and interactions more realistic and believable.

I read this book within about twenty minutes. I would love to know what happens next actually. This book is perfect if you are looking for a quick read before bed, or on the bus or looking for something to read for a relaxing session in the bath.

I loved A Piece of Cake. Bravo, Trisha.

To celebrate the release of her latest short story, Trisha shares with us her recipe for Caribbean-style Chocolate Rum cake and we have to say, it looks scrummy.

Caribbean-style Chocolate Rum Cake (Serves 12)

I spent some Christmases in Antigua and Grand Cayman, where I substituted the usual fruit cake for a local speciality, Rum Cake. You can get them in different flavours all over the Caribbean, but it’s taken me a few attempts to recreate anything similar at home. Here’s my recipe for chocolate rum cake, which is as close as I can get to the original and makes a perfect alternative to the traditional Christmas cake.

Continue reading →

Fiction Friday: Nursery Rhymes

Published August 22, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 22nd August 2014: Nursery rhymes.

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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 a nursery rhyme (it can be any one you want,) and write a story using it as inspiration for a story. The maximum word count is 1,000 words.) You can choose whether you tell it from first person or third person point of view and it’s your choice as to which character within the rhyme you use.

Continue reading →

Courses and Competitions: The Big Idea Competition

Published August 22, 2014 | By Laura

Do you have an idea for a story that children will love?

The Big Idea Competition is giving you the chance of seeing your idea transformed into a book, TV, movie or theatre production!

The judges are Tess Daly, Neil Blair, Barry Cunningham, Debra Haywood, Philip Ardagh and Sonia Friedman. The closing date for entries is 2nd September 2014.

All you have to do is come up with an original story for children and tell the judges in 500 words (they ask you don’t exceed 750 words,) about your story using the following questions:

. Who’s in it?

. What happens?

. Who’s it for?

. When and where?

To enter, Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Chats To: Janice Preston

Published August 22, 2014 | By Laura

A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Janice’s debut novel, Mary & The Marquis was released by Mills and Boon Historical earlier this month. We chat to Janice about her book, her approach to her writing and her advice for new writers.

Can you tell us a little about your debut novel, Mary and the Marquis and how the idea originated?

Mary and the Marquis is set in Northumberland in the autumn of 1811. When destitute widow Mary Vale aids an injured man on the road, she is shocked to discover he is the reclusive Lucas Alastair, Marquis of Rothley. She’s intrigued by him, but when she offers to nurse him back to health in return for shelter he proves a difficult patient. Lucas hides some deep emotion beneath his brusque manner, and a stolen kiss leaves Mary longing for more… She’s able to help mend his physical injuries, but can Mary heal the wounds of his painful past?

The idea came from a mental image of a young woman, with two small children, walking through a gloomy wood. Suddenly a deep, rasping groan sounds from amongst the trees. Who is she? Why is she in that wood? Where is she going? What is that noise?

Did you plan much before starting the novel?

I probably knew more about Mary and Lucas’s pasts than I did about what would happen in the actual story. I had ideas for the turning points, but I didn’t plan in any great detail, which is probably why the editing caused me such headaches! I had to delete a few scenes entirely – always hard to do.

How do you approach editing?

Every day, I go over what I wrote the day before as a way of immersing myself back in the story. I do tend to edit at that point, although I’m well aware it can be a waste of time if that particular section ends up deleted (see previous question). I should try and break that habit!

Continue reading →

Bella’s Scribblings: Procrastinators Anonymous

Published August 20, 2014 | By Laura

Bella Osborne

Bella Osborne

Last time on Bella’s Scribblings I talked about finding time to write. What I didn’t cover was how to avoid squandering it on non-writing displacement activities. School holidays is the time when most of us grab a couple of weeks away from the proper job to spend time with our offspring and hopefully get some writing done too. What actually happens is that offspring magically eat up all but a smidgen of the time we have and when we do get time to write what do we do?

I’m afraid to say that sometimes, not always, but sometimes we waste the time that we do have. I am thinking of starting a local group of Procrastinators Anonymous, but in the meantime here are my suggestions for combating procrastination:

My family want feeding – This is an easy one. Go back in time and spend a day making batches of food you can reheat and use fish fingers for the other days, they’ll be fine – that’s what vitamin supplements are for.

The house needs cleaning/tidying – scientific fact that living in a sterile environment isn’t good for the immune system so a little bit of dust will be better for your family’s long term health.

I need to go on Twitter to keep my social media presence current – and a couple of quick posts a day should do it. You do not need to read everything from the last ten hours on your feed nor do you need to look up everyone you know to see if they posted something interesting in the last few days. Trust me, they won’t have. Do not get caught up in conversations about dogs, cats or wine – they go on forever. Stop obsessively checking the number of followers you have and trying to work out who has deserted you – it doesn’t matter – well, certainly not as much as finishing your writing does.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday – It’s Not All In Your Imagination.

Published August 15, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 14th August 2014 – It’s not all in your imagination.

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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 can be male or female and any age over 18. They have always had an active imagination. What if they woke up one morning to find that their imagination was coming to life? Whatever they thought of appeared in front of them. It’s great at first but if course, like with everything, there are consequences. What happens?

Continue reading →

Book News: Ella Harper

Published August 14, 2014 | By Laura

Pieces of You by Ella Harper was released today by Avon. It’s available to buy digitally from 14th August with the paperback being released next month.

A couple of weeks ago, mysterious post began showing up at my door. First, I got a box containing a picture frame and a letter. This was followed by another letter. Eventually, a copy of Pieces of You by Ella Harper arrived. I love it when publishers send little clues and I now can’t wait to read the book. Going by the clues and the blurb, this book sounds brilliant.

About the book:

The perfect marriage.
A devastating secret.
An impossible choice.

Lucy was always sure of one thing – her future with husband and soul mate Luke. But after eight long, heart-breaking years trying to have a baby, that future is crumbling before her eyes. Continue reading →

News: Harper Fiction Launches Digital Imprint

Published August 14, 2014 | By Laura

HarperFiction is launching a brand new digital crime and thriller imprint. It’s called Killer Reads and initially, for a limited period, they are opening their doors to un-agented submissions of crime and thriller novels.

Killer Reads is looking for a wide range of submissions from across the genre, ranging from police procedurals to psychological thrillers, to high-concept thrillers and beyond. The selected manuscripts will be the first titles to be published.

‘This is a hugely exciting opportunity for us to discover emerging talent in the crime and thriller area and bring their work to readers hungry for new stories.’ says, Sarah Hodgson, Deputy Publishing Director.

Submissions will be accepted from 29th August until 14th September 2014. From 29th August writers can submit their full manuscript, a synopsis of their novel and an author biography, by emailing: killerreadssubs@harpercollins.co.uk.

Continue reading →

Writing Room: Colours

Published August 14, 2014 | By Laura

Writing Room is our online writing group.

We post a prompt. Once you’ve written your piece, post it in the comments box below. Anyone is welcome to take part and it’s an opportunity to post work plus give and gain feedback.

Today, we’re looking at using colours.

Write a short story. Begin your first sentence with a colour. Then continue to use a colour (different one each time,) at the beginning of each paragraph. Try to use as little description as possible. Try to use dialogue as much as you can.

Write up to 1,000 words.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Chats To Paige Toon

Published August 13, 2014 | By Laura

Paige Toon has worked at various magazines before becoming Reviews Editor at Heat Magazine. Her novels include The Longest Holiday and One Perfect Summer. Her new book, Thirteen Weddings was released in May. We chat with Paige about her book, her favourite word, Tom Cruise and Simon Cowell.

Can you tell us a little about Thirteen Weddings and where did the idea originate?

It’s about a wedding photographer who falls in love with a groom. The year before last I went to four weddings in one summer and I remember watching the wedding photographers and imagining what it would be like to be such an important part of two complete strangers’ ‘best days of their lives’ – I thought it would be an interesting subject for a story.

If Thirteen Weddings had a soundtrack, what songs would you include?

Love by Daughter – even Bronte listens to this song when she’s thinking about Alex. I also listened to a lot of Lana Del Ray while I was writing it – dark and moody yet totally beautiful.

What’s your favourite word and why?

‘Aah’ – I seem to say it a lot on Twitter when I’m conversing with my lovely readers!

Continue reading →

Birthday Kindle Competition: Winner Announced

Published August 12, 2014 | By Laura

We turned five last week and to celebrate, we were giving you the chance to win a Kindle plus a £10 Amazon voucher.

Thank you to all who entered our draw. We had a staggering amount of entries.

Well done to Stu H from Hampshire. You were the lucky winner of our draw. We will be e-mailing shortly.

Thank you to everyone for your support over the last five years.

To find out more about the Kindle, head to http://www.Amazon.co.uk

Review: The Tiny Wife by Andrew Kaufman

Published August 11, 2014 | By Laura

TheTinyWife_thumb

The Friday Project, 2011.

A robber charges into a bank with a loaded gun, but instead of taking any money he steals an item of sentimental value from each person. Once he has made his escape, strange things start to happen to the victims.

A tattoo comes to life, a husband turns into a snowman, a baby starts to shit money. And Stacey Hinterland discovers that she’s shrinking, a little every day, and there is seemingly nothing that she or her husband can do to reverse the process.

The Tiny Wife is a weird and wonderful modern fable. Small, but perfectly formed, it will charm, delight and unnerve in equal measure.

The Tiny Wife is a short novella. It’s about ninety pages in length and so I read it in a couple of sittings (night shifts got in the way again,) so it’s great if you’re looking for something short to read. This book got recommended on You Tube so I thought I would give it a go. I chose the hardback version as I just thought the cover was beautiful. You can also get in paperback and on Kindle too.

The story opens on a bank robbery but the thief doesn’t take money. Instead, he takes a sentimental item from each person. Soon after the robbery, each person goes through a different experience – some have a positive outcome and some don’t. The story is mostly told from the point of view of the husband of someone in the bank. Stacey begins to shrink soon after the robbery as a reflection of her own life. Another example is Dawn’s tattoo of a lion that comes to life and begins to chase her.

This story makes you really think and the lesson is not to take your life for granted. It really made me reflect on my life. From the first page this book pulled me into everyone’s story. I wanted to know how it ended and it’s beautifully written. I loved the illustrations which are dotted throughout the book too. It made me think of what would happen to me. Even though I finished it a couple of days ago, I am still thinking about it.

This was an original, magical story and well worth reading. I loved it.

Buy from Amazon.

Competitions – Where Love Lies Winners.

Published August 11, 2014 | By Laura

Thanks to Julie and the lovely people at Bantam Press we had THREE copies of Where Love Lies to give away.

Well done to Elaine from Lancashire, Rich from Surrey and Annette from Staffordshire who have all won a copy of Where Love Lies.

Here is a little about the novel:

Lately, Felicity just can’t shake a shadow of uncertainty. Her husband Quinn is the kindest person she knows and loves her peculiarities more than Felicity feels she deserves. But suddenly it’s as if she doesn’t quite belong.

Then Felicity experiences something extraordinary: a scent of perfume in the air which evokes memories that have been settled within her for a long time, untouched and undisturbed. As it happens again and again, the memories of a man Felicity hasn’t seen for ten years also flutter to the surface. And so do the feelings of being deeply, exquisitely in love . . .

Overwhelmed and bewildered by her emotions, Felicity tries to resist sinking blissfully into the past. But what if something truly isn’t as it should be? What if her mind has been playing tricks on her heart?

Which would you trust?

Where Loves Lies is available to buy via Amazon and other leading bookstores.

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Reunion

Published August 8, 2014 | By Laura

Friday 8th August 2014: Reunion.

Fiction Friday is our weekly 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: You haven’t seen your family for a while. You are all forced to reunite for some reason. Why haven’t you seen them for a while? What happened? Who is in your family and what is the dynamic?

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Competitions: Win a Kindle.

Published August 5, 2014 | By Laura

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

Novel Kicks is five and to celebrate, we are giving you the chance to win an Amazon Kindle.

We love books and reading. This Kindle fits in your pocket (it is incredibly light,) has Wi-Fi so you can easily download over 650,000 titles and will hold up to 1,400 books (that will get you through a holiday.) It can also be seen clearly in sunlight which will be perfect for the summer.

Not only are we giving you the chance to win a Kindle, we are also giving the lucky winner a £10 Amazon voucher to go with your new Kindle so you can immediately treat yourselves to some books.

TO ENTER:

To be entered into the draw to win a Kindle and the £10 voucher, comment on this post with your name and county by the closing date which is Monday 11th August 2014 at 23.59. The winner will then be picked at random from the entrants and announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Tuesday 12th August 2014. The winner will also be contacted via the e-mail address they provided when they entered the competition (we will never pass it on to someone else.)

UK and Ireland only.

As a side note, Amazon will require you to have an amazon account in order to register the Kindle upon receipt. To find out more about the Kindle, visit www.amazon.co.uk

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Book News: Matt Dunn

Published August 4, 2014 | By Laura

Matt Dunn is the best-selling author of A Day At The Office and The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook. The next book from Matt Dunn is called What Might Have Been. We love Matt Dunn here at Novel Kicks and I have to say, we are adoring this book cover too.

It’s due to be released on 12th August 2014 by Lake Union Publishing (so not long to wait,) and is available to pre-order in paperback. It will also be available in e-book.

About the book:

A year ago, Evan and Sarah shared one incredible night. Then Evan’s music—the thing that brought them together—suddenly tore them apart.

Since then, Evan’s not been able to forget about her. And try as she might, Sarah can’t seem to get over him either.

With time running out, Evan’s got one last chance to convince her that the two of them were meant to be. But is one night enough for Sarah to make a decision about the rest of her life—even if it was the best night of her life? And if she doesn’t believe in love at first sight, how can Evan persuade her that what they had will last?

Click here to read Matt Dunn’s guest post on creating characters.

Blog Tour: Where Love Lies by Julie Cohen

Published August 4, 2014 | By Laura

We are super excited to be welcoming Julie Cohen to our blog today. Julie is the best-selling author of Getting Away With It and Dear Thing. Her new novel, Where Loves Lies was released by Bantam Press on 31st July. We are very happy to be kicking off her blog tour today for her new novel. We chat with Julie about her book, her writing rituals and Sherlock Holmes…

Can you tell us about your new book, Where Love Lies and how the idea originated?

I’m calling it a sort of twisted love story. It’s about Felicity, who has been happily married to Quinn for a year—at least she thinks she is happily married. Until out of the blue one day she starts to smell the scent of frangipani, and along with that, she experiences overwhelming memories of a man she was in love with ten years ago, before she met Quinn. Believing this is some sort of sign, she leaves Quinn, to find Ewan, her first love, and discover why she is having these emotions. On the way she grapples with the different kinds of love, and tries to understand her own heart. But sometimes our heart is not ours to control…

I can’t actually tell you how the idea began, because if I did, it would give away part of the story! But it is based, very loosely, on something that actually happened to a friend of mine. I talk about it in a note at the end of the book, so you will have to read the book to find out! Sorry.

Which fictional character would you like to chat to and what would you talk about?

I am an enormous Sherlock Holmes geek, and have been for most of my life—so much so that I’m an official cartoonist for the Sherlock Holmes Society, and I’ve written an alt-reality Sherlock Holmes story that will be published later in the year, under my initials JE Cohen. So I would love to talk to Mr Holmes. In the stories, he’s a charming conversationalist as well as the world’s greatest detective. I’d like to go to dinner with him, and maybe a violin concert, and then I would tag along whilst he solved one of his cases!

Do you have any writing rituals?

I always make a soundtrack for my novels. Sometimes it’s songs that reflect what the book is about, and sometimes it’s just songs that I like and which get me in the mood for writing. My soundtrack for Where Love Lies included ‘Never Going Back’ by Fleetwood Mac, and ‘Our Day Will Come’ by Amy Winehouse.

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