Novel Kicks

About Novel Kicks/Laura... Novel Kicks was founded in 2009 and is run by Laura who is currently living in Hampshire, and lives with husband, Chris and her cat, Buddy. She would love to be a writer. She’s trying to write the novel she thinks so much about. She’s loved reading and writing since ‘Creative Writing’ classes in primary school. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything she can get her hands on, she loves reading, dancing like a loon, and watching Project Runway and Ugly Betty (her two TV guilty pleasures.) She also has an obsession with chocolate and Jammie Dodgers.

Postbag: February

Published February 24, 2015 | By Novel Kicks

We’ve received some fantastic books already this month. We wanted to share a selection with you….

Polly and The Puffin by Jenny Colgan.

As well as her latest novel, Summer at the Little Beach Bakery coming out at the end of February, Jenny has her first children’s book coming out on 26th February. Illustrated by Thomas Docherty, it’s available in paperback and as an e-book. It arrived beautifully wrapped with a cuddy puffin too.

About the book:

Polly heard a CRASH downstairs. Was it a monster? NO! Was it a spider alien? NO!

It was a little puffin with a broken wing…

When Polly discovers an injured puffin, she and her mummy look after him in their cottage by the sea.

Slowly, Neil’s wing heals and Polly must prepare herself to say goodbye to her new friend. Will she ever see him again?

(Little Browns Books for Young Readers, February 2015.)

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A Moment With Jacqueline Harvey

Published February 23, 2015 | By Novel Kicks

My writing day varies depending on where I am in the world. When I’m at home in Sydney I usually work in my study. It looks out onto two sunny courtyards and across to the upper storey of a beautiful Queen Anne style home. Some days if I’m editing I might walk up to one of the local coffee shops and work there – I like to be around the hum of people depending on what stage of the writing process I’m at.

I start my day with a skinny latte but try to limit myself to one coffee, so after that I’ll have one or two cups of tea.

I’m usually at my desk by 8am and often work until 6pm. I’ve only been writing full-time for two years and one thing I’ve found problematic is my lack of movement! I have to make sure that I get up and walk every half hour or so. To that end I investigated a brilliant standing desk arrangement last year. It has a large flexible arm to hold the computer screen and keyboard so you can adjust it to a sitting position and then push it up so you can stand. The negative impact of sitting for long periods is frightening, apart from the inevitable weight gain, so I hope the standing desk will work for me.

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Writing Room: Party

Published February 23, 2015 | By Novel Kicks

Writing Room is our online writing group.

We post a prompt. It could be a first line, a suggested exercise to work on plot or characters or it could be about writing about a situation. 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: Your character is about to enter a party where they don’t know anyone. Using only dialogue, they meet two new people – one of which they like a lot and one they instantly dislike. Where this party is, the age and gender of your character is up to you. Write between 500 – 750 words.

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The Rosie Effect Book Tour

Published February 17, 2015 | By Novel Kicks

Graeme Simsion plans second UK bookshop tour.

Graeme’s novel, The Rosie Effect is due to be released by Penguin on 26th February 2015.

The Rosie Project tells the story of socially challenged Genetics professor Don Tillman and his unique challenge to find a wife and how his life is upheaved when he meets a girl called Rosie. It’s sequel, The Rosie Effect carries on and focuses on his life as he settles into a big city.

‘The Rosie Project has touched the hearts of millions worldwide with its irresistible blend of comedy, romance and poignancy. But it’s Don Tillman – a truly memorable creation who can proudly sit alongside Adrian Mole and Bridget Jones – who steals the show and we are thrilled to be reuniting him with thousands of readers and booksellers this Spring,’ says Maxine Hitchcock, the Publishing Director of Michael Joseph

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Author Interview: Julie Shackman

Published February 16, 2015 | By Novel Kicks

Hello Julie, thank you so much for joining us. Can you tell us about your debut novel, Rock My World and how did the idea originate?

Ruby Cameron is an ambitious reporter for a local paper where she is fed scraps of news, and lives with a man whose “idea of living dangerously is to leave the heating on when we pop out to the shops”. But after catching her squeaky clean boyfriend in flagrante delicto she ups sticks and moves into her own small home, only to discover the ghostly presence of a cheeky rock star who becomes her confidant as the dynamics of her small town, and her feelings about her dashing new boss, begin to throw up more questions than she can answer. Will Ruby discover who she really is, and perhaps more importantly, who she wants to be? I love music, especially rock and have to have music playing whilst I’m writing and the idea for Rock My World just came about from that.

Do you cast your characters and if so, did you have someone specific in mind for Ruby?

Yes, I tend to! I think my dream cast for Rock My World would be Santiago Cabrera for Stevie, my ghostly rock singer. He’s very attractive and has stage presence. For Ruby. someone lovely and passionate like Natalie Portman and for Matt, it would have to be the wolfish Bradley Cooper with those eyes of his!

What’s your writing process like – do you plan, edit as you go?

I tend to make sketchy notes before I start and read over the previous day’s writing to polish it a bit before starting the next chapter. Then once I’ve finished my novel, I’ll go over it again a few times to see where I can improve it.

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