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NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Eight
Jane Fallon
Jane Fallon joins us for day twenty-eight of our NaNoWriMo Author Advice. Jane’s books include Getting Rid of Matthew and Foursome. Her new book, Skeletons, is out next year. Jane gives us her five tips for new writers.
1. Keep moving forward. Don’t get stuck editing the same passage over and over again. There’s time for that later. I think that a first draft is all about getting the whole story down on paper as quickly as you can, and then sitting back and assessing what you’ve got.
2. If you have a block write through it. Don’t give up because you are stuck on a passage that’s going to be difficult to write. Write a version of it, however bad. Eventually you’ll hit a point where the story flows again. And then it’ll be easy to go back and rewrite.
3. Don’t think you have to write in perfect, grammatically correct, English. You’re Continue reading
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NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Seven
We’re almost at the end of National Novel Writing Month. Today, Trisha Ashley, who’s latest book, Wish Upon a Star was released by Avon earlier this month, talks about finding your muse.
As readers of my newsletter know, Muse slipped into my head and took up residence while I was reading Paradise Lost at school and then refused to leave. At the time I took him at face value, but I’m pretty sure now he isn’t a real muse at all, because he’s male, steely-blue, wears a lot of leather, is winged, has talons and is devilishly handsome, if you like that kind of thing. Everyone else seems to have a fairly useful female Muse, but no – I have to be landed with a creature who needs to be arm-wrestled into submission every morning.
But then, that’s not such a bad thing, because there’s no point in wafting around looking soulful and waiting for the Muse of Inspiration to stop flitting round the room and land. No – get a firm grip and tell him or her to jolly well get on with it, and then soon the only thing flying will be your novel.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Six
Lisa Jewell joins us for day twenty-six. The author of Ralph’s Party and The House We Grew Up In, talks about finding the discipline to write…
It’s taken me many years and many books to get to the point where I could call myself a disciplined writer and the turning point for me was when I realised I couldn’t work anywhere with broadband or wifi. So now I take my laptop to a cafe to write every day, just for two to two and a half hours. I have yet to have a day when I didn’t get to my 1000 word goal. Sometimes I even finish early and go and mooch around the shops for a while. It’s all about knowing your own limitations and working around them. It’s also about routine. The best gift for a hard-working novelist is for every day to be the same as the last!
Related articles
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Five
Fiona Walker, the author of The Summer Wedding and The Love Letter joins us for day twenty-five of National Novel Writing Month. She’s discussing Character vs. Plot.
I’d say that characters are more important than plot because it’s really good, believable characters that ultimately create plot. That said, you need a strong kernel of a structural idea to place the characters into from the start – it can be a simple as two contrasting characters falling in love, meeting after a long absence, both wanting the same thing that only one can have etc. I find that if my characters aren’t established enough, the plot tend to become more and more extreme and farcical to try to keep the reader engaged, whereas really loveable, rounded characters should achieve that engagement in the first place
by Novel Kicks attends the launch of Raising Steam.
Pratchett launches his 40th Discworld novel on-board the Iron Girder.
We were very excited to be invited to the launch of Raising Steam, the latest novel by Sir Terry Pratchett and the 40th book in the Discworld series. On Friday 22nd November at 3pm sharp, we arrived at the Watercress Line at Alton Station where we were greeted by the billowing steam of the train that was to be the Iron Girder for the day.
On the platform stood Sir Terry, proudly wearing his train conductor’s hat. Soon after arriving, we all boarded the train where we would have afternoon tea of scones, jam, cream, a cup of tea and even a small glass of sparkling wine. We were even Continue reading
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Four
We’re into the last week of National Novel Writing Month and on day twenty-four, Margaret James, the author of The Wedding Diary and The Silver Locket joins us to talk about creating good supporting characters….
Make sure your supporting characters add interest and depth to the central story, as opposed to start telling a story of their own, distracting the reader from the fates of the hero and heroine and splitting your story in two.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Three
Jill Mansell is the best-selling author of Don’t Want To Miss a Thing and Rumour Has It. She joins us on day twenty-three of NaNoWriMo to talk about what makes a perfect hero….
A perfect hero? Easy – all the good aspects and none of the less enticing ones that real men tend to have! Seriously, just make the hero someone you would LOVE to meet, both physically and mentally. But most of all, give him a charismatic personality. Identikit characters let down so many otherwise well written books. And good luck to everyone doing NaNoWriMo!
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Two
We are almost at the end of National Novel Writing Month. On day twenty-two, Sophie Duffy, the author of The Generation Game and This Holey Life, talks about what to do when you’re working on your draft and you hit the stage where you’re flagging…
Write in different places. In the car. In a cafe. With a writing buddy. Read a book. Watch a film. Listen to a radio drama. Have a long bath or a dog walk or a swim, where you can wrestle, really wrestle, with a tricky plot point. (And remember that every plot difficulty can be overcome. You’re in charge.) Write long hand. On lined paper. On plain paper. In a beautiful notebook. You will see the text in a different way and have an altered perspective on your writing. And if you are really stuck ask the question: what is the worst thing that can happen to my character right now?
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty One
It’s day twenty one of National Novel Writing Month. Talli Roland, the author of Last Christmas and The Pollyanna Plan, chats about finding the time to write…
With a young baby and masses of deadlines heading my way, finding the time – or making the time – to write has become of critical importance. For me, setting targets and creating a routine is the only way to do it. If I don’t schedule in the writing hours, I know they won’t happen! Whether it’s getting up at five in morning or squeezing in a few words before bedtime, I love ending the day feeling like I’ve accomplished my goal.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty
It’s day twenty of National Novel Writing Month. Paige Toon, the author of Johnny’s Girl and The Longest Holiday talks about the internal editor….
If I let my internal editor take over, I would never write a book a year – let alone two. It used to take me more time to write the first fifth of my books than the entire rest of it – mainly because I kept reading over that first fifth again and again, editing it over and over, instead of letting my thoughts flow through to the rest of the book. Far better to push on and come back to the early stuff later when you have a much better overall view of what the book needs. Of course, it’s easier said than done. I’m still a total control freak!
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Nineteen
Chrissie Manby
Chrissie Manby, author of Flatmates and Kate’s Wedding, joins us for day nineteen of our NaNoWriMo Author Advice. She tells us about the most important thing to remember when writing a first draft…
The most important thing to remember is that we live in a digital age. You don’t have to worry about saving paper. Stick down every sh*tty sentence that comes into your head. Write, write, write and edit afterwards. Editing as you go will only slow you down.
by Samantha Tonge
Samantha Tonge
Samantha Tonge’s debut novel, Doubting Abbey (published by Carina,) was released on Kindle earlier this month. Samantha chats to us about her new novel, her favourite word and who she’d like to invite round to dinner…
What’s your writing day like?
With both children at school, I am lucky enough to write full-time, so most days I’m at my desk by 8.30am and more or less stay there until 3pm, balancing the hours between novel and short story writing – unless the dust is an inch high or the cupboards bare.
Can you tell us about your debut novel, Doubting Abbey?
Doubting Abbey was inspired by Downton Abbey – I was fascinated by the public’s obsession with this period drama, and wondered what would happen if I put a thoroughly modern gal into a stuffy, aristocratic environment. In Doubting Abbey, pizza waitress Gemma must pass herself off as posh Abbey for two weeks, to help run-down Applebridge Hall win the reality show Million Dollar Mansion. Her stay is not without mishaps! Nor the tempting presence of gorgeous Lord Edward…
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Eighteen
It’s day eighteen of NaNoWriMo. Crime author, Mark Billingham talks to us about creating suspense…
Crime writers are often asked how to create suspense. Now, of course there are tricks of the trade and we all use our fair share of twists and cliffhangers. We all choose when and how to reveal key pieces of information. BUT, for me, they key to creating genuine suspense is really very simple. You need to give the reader characters with whom they can genuinely engage. If you do that, if you create well-rounded characters, you will have suspense from the very first page.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Seventeen
Rob Pateman (Photo Paul Stuart)
We are on day seventeen of NaNoWriMo and today, Rob Pateman, the author of The Second Life of Amy Archer, talks to us about keeping your reader gripped….
Keep your readers gripped by giving them enough new information/action to keep them guessing and interested – but not so much that it falls onto them in one go. Pace is vital.
If you’re not sure if your ‘reveals’ are in the right place, make a graph with chapter number on the left and plot on the bottom. Chart each plot point/reveal with a mark by the chapter it appears in. Your flat points will soon be exposed.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Sixteen
M. Jonathan Lee
On day 16 of our NaNo Author Advice, author of The Radio, M. Jonathan Lee tells us about the feeling you have when the first draft is done…
“It took me an age to actually sit down and start writing. All the fears as to whether I could actually do it and whether I was good enough. And then, one day I sat down and I started.
All you need to do it sit down and start. Write, write and write. Forget quality control. Get your story down, let the words flow from your brain to the page. Live and feel your story. Become the characters. And keep the momentum going by continuing to write. Whenever you can.
The feeling when it’s all down is immense. You did it, you told the story that you dreamed you would. You are halfway there. And now your story is a huge screwed up ball of paper that with a lot of careful editing will soon have all the creases flattened out.”
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Fifteen
Photo by Blake Little.
We’re midway through National Novel Writing Month. Well done to everyone who is still going toward that 50,000 word goal. Author, Sophie Kinsella has some great advice for the halfway point…
Halfway through your project it will all seem impossible and you will be tempted to jack it in and begin another, far more exciting idea. Trust me, that idea will get difficult halfway through, too. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You may not find your voice or style straight away. Write the book you would love to read yourself.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Fourteen
On day 14 of NaNoWriMo, Victoria Fox chats to us about editing.
My advice? Keep going, keep going, keep going. Don’t look back. If I stop after every chapter and try to edit what I’ve done, I get sucked into changes and tweaks and I never push on with the word count. This can shake your confidence, especially if you’re a perfectionist. So much will change when you’ve finished – scenes you thought were terrible suddenly have a new significance; likewise others you loved might no longer be needed. You can’t know your parameters until you’ve written ‘The End’ and you have an entire book. Keep going until you get there, a little every day.
For more information on Victoria, visit http://www.victoriafox.net/
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Thirteen
It’s day thirteen of National Novel Writing Month. Today, Michele Gorman, the author of Single in the City and Christmas Carol, talks about recurring characters…
Hi Laura, thanks for asking me on the blog today, and best of luck to everyone participating in NaNoWriMo!
Writing recurring characters is a bit like visiting an old friend. Of course you love her, but you also know all about her flaws. And so do your fans.
Plus: You already know the character. This makes it easy to put her into a new situation and know how she’ll behave.
Minus: You already know the character. It can be difficult to sustain your enthusiasm for the book over 80,000-100,000 words.
Plus: Continue reading
by Bee Ridgway
Bee Ridgway is the author of The River of No Return which is her debut novel and was released by Michael Joseph in May 2013. Bee chats to us about her writing day, the character from fiction that she’d like to meet and her ideal dinner guests…
Hello Bee. Thank you for joining us. What’s your writing day like?
I either have a writing day or I don’t. A non-writing day is either a workday, or a day for doing errands, or for seeing friends and family – everything, in other words, that isn’t writing. A writing day begins with a cup of coffee, and ends with a bath. In between, for as many hours as I can cram in, I sit in my red chair in my office and I write write write write write. These are my favorite days, by the way. Nothing at all is as much fun as writing.
Can you tell us a little about your debut novel, The River of No Return?
The River of No Return Continue reading
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twelve
Freya North
Day twelve of National Novel Writing Month. Freya North gives us her writing advice.
Write because you want to tell stories, not because you ‘want to be a writer’
Look after your posture – this is ESSENTIAL!
Don’t spend too long faffing and editing – that’s just a fancy way of procrastinating.
by My Writing Space: Meredith Goldstein
Meredith Goldstein is the author of The Wedding Guests. She chats to us about her writing space.
I used to have to leave my apartment to work on “The Wedding Guests.” I’d lock myself in my friend’s beach house where I had no cell phone reception, or I’d go to my Aunt Nancy’s and hide in the basement where there was no TV. I had to block out all distractions. I had no attention span whatsoever. But I’ve matured since then. (Sort of.) Now that I’m writing my second book, I don’t have to hide in remote locations. I can write in my bedroom, and the décor is all the motivation I need. On the wall in front of my writing spot (my very fluffy bed) is a painting of cotton candy, my favorite sweet. My friend’s ex-husband, a professional artist, made it for me as a housewarming present. They decided to divorce shortly after I hung the piece on my wall. I almost took it down after they split, but then I remembered that it’s my friend’s hand in the painting. She was the model, holding up the cone of cotton candy while he tried to get it down on canvas. There’s something inspiring about having the finished product nearby as I write. My friend’s hand looks so tough, so determined — just like she was in real life after the divorce. I see her strong grip and I think, “Keep moving.”
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Eleven
Matt Dunn is the author of A Day at The Office. On day eleven of National Novel Writing Month, he tells us how we need a good plot…
Whether you’re an author writing a novel, a gardener on an allotment, or an evil genius planning to take over the world, if there’s one thing you need, it’s a good plot. Assuming you’re reading this because you’re doing NaNoWriMo (so we’re talking about novels here), put simply, a plot is the sequence of events that make up a story – and while the order of those events (and of course, the events themselves) are up to you, getting that order (and the events) right is crucial if you’re going to engage the reader. I’m a romantic comedy novelist, and while everyone knows how romantic comedies go (girl meets boy, stuff happens, girl and boy end up together), it’s always helped me to think about my plots (the stuff that happens) not as HOW they get together, but as what STOPS them from getting together. Some writers plot their whole novels before writing a word, others just sit down, start writing, and see how the plot develops. I’ve tried both approaches, and probably prefer the latter. But if you like to plot beforehand and are having trouble, you’ll be pleased to hear seven ready-made ones already exist for you to choose from for FREE (don’t believe me? Just type ‘The Seven Basic Plots’ into Google). Presumably you know the start and end points of your novel – then ‘all’ you need to do is pick the one that applies to your story/setting/characters and get writing!
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Ten
Cecelia Ahern
Day Ten of National Novel Writing Month. Today’s advice comes from best selling author, Cecelia Ahern.
Find your own voice. I think it’s so important for writers to write what they feel passionate about, what moves them, instead of looking to others and seeing what’s popular or what moves other people. Readers respond to a unique voice and they can tell whether it is honest or not. Writing what you’re passionate about means that your well of ideas and emotions is endless and it is easier to stay motivated.
Believe in yourself. It’s a basic tip but with writing, so many people will have so many different opinions of your work. If you try to appeal to them all, then what is true and yours will change and the essence of your work will change. It is important to take on advice but never lose what makes you different. When faced with rejection and negative comments, believe in your abilities.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Nine
Day Nine of National Novel Writing Month. Julie Cohen, author of Dear Thing, talks about writing space:
While I need to have a permanent writing space, somewhere I can spread out and make as much of a mess as I like, I often find that changing where I write can help me be more productive. Last week I spent eight hours writing in a cafe. I was stiff and hyper-caffeinated afterwards, but I got a lot of work done. My local library also has study carrels, which are great because they’re anonymous cubes with no distractions at all…though occasionally I think I startle the person in the next carrel by laughing aloud! Sneakily, against the rules, I smuggle a flask of tea into a carrel and spend hours making that bland space full of my imaginary characters.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Eight
It’s day eight of National Novel Writing Month. Ali Mcnamara talks about what you should be writing….
When people ask me for advice about writing, I always say the same thing: Write what YOU love. Then your writing will come across as genuine, and heartfelt, and if you enjoy it reading it back, then someone else definitely will.
Also if you think your story is just as good or preferably better than those you’re seeing on the bookshelves, then never give up on your dream, no matter how many rejections you may get at first. Because someone some day will read your work and love it just as much as you!
by Ali McNamara’s Time Traveling Tour: Swinging 60’s Fashion
We are happy to welcome Ali McNamara and her blog tour for her new book release, Step Back in Time. Today, we go back to the decade of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and mini skirts….
60s Fashion 101
Women’s fashion evolved so much in the 1960’s that it’s difficult to pinpoint just a few trends…
At the beginning of the decade the height of fashion was the style favoured by Jackie Kennedy, the first lady of the United States. Her quintessential look was the smart suit, pillbox hat, and neat court shoes.
Then is 1964 hems shot up when Mary Quant introduced the first mini-skirt, and the monotone black and white look, that is so synonymous with the sixties today became popular. Make-up was pale, and the androgynous look made famous by the British model, Twiggy was the style to aspire to.
Towards the end of the decade – the hippie movement also exerted a strong influence on fashion, with bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye and batik fabrics being extremely popular amongst the young, hip and trendy set.
If I’d been a teenager in the 1960s….I think I’d have been a Mary Quant girl!
Step Back in Time by Ali McNamara is published by Sphere and is available to buy now.
Ali’s blog tour continues on Monday where she is stopping by One More Page and Life on Magrs
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Seven
On day seven of our NaNoWriMo advice feature, Adele Parks says that you need to take writing seriously…
‘Write. Seriously, it astonishes me how many people tell me they want to be a writer but then confess they never write anything more elaborate than a shopping list. Write everyday even if it’s only for 20 minutes. Discipline is key. You also need to listen. Be inspired by everything that is going on around you.’
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Six
Day Six of National Novel Writing Month and I hope that everyone is having a great first week. Continuing on with our NaNoWriMo Author Advice, Sue Moorcroft, the author of Want to Know a Secret and All That Mullarkey, tells us about why she thinks social networking is important for writers:
‘I find social networking useful in all kinds of ways. It makes me visible, it allows readers in interact with me (which is a privilege) and allows me to get news about new books or workshops out into the world. It’s also a great source of research – not so much factual research, but opinions and ideas. For example: Is it OK to use text to ask for a second date? (Answer: yes!) My hero’s going to a fancy dress party. What should he go as that’s hot? (Answer: devil in lycra.) Twitter and Facebook seem to know the answers to any question in the world.’
For more information on Sue and her books, visit her website at www.suemoorcroft.com
by Amy Bird’s Writing Room
Amy Bird is the author of Yours is Mine, published by Carina UK. She chats to us about her writing space…
I’m lucky enough to have a separate study for my writing, so I do most of my work there. The desk overlooks the garden. I love that; it means that in front of me, I have a free open space whilst behind me, the books on the shelves provide a comforting support. Everything is very green, very tranquil – the trees, the leather of the desk, the curtains. If I feel myself getting stale, I’ll retire to the leather sofa at the back of the room or pace about a bit.
 Amy Bird |
 Amy’s Writing Space |
I don’t always write in my study, though – sometimes I have to bribe myself with an afternoon working on the living room sofa with my laptop. Or when I commute (I work four days a week as a lawyer) I write on my iPad on the London Underground. Plus the trusty iPad recently came on a boating holiday with me – I curled up in the cockpit, clocking up my word count against the beautiful backdrop of the Norfolk Broads.
I suppose it’s odd to write thrillers in such benign settings. But the lighter the space, the freer my mind, and the darker my books can become.
‘Yours is Mine’ is available now from Carina UK, the new digital imprint of Harlequin, at http://www.carinauk.com/yours-is-mine and via Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yours-is-Mine-ebook/dp/B00DP220YY, Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Yours-is-Mine/book-u1u9U5e7aUm9JztScFyNOA/page1.html and iBooks/iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/yours-is-mine/id667517004?mt=11. You can follow Amy’s progress at www.amybirdwrites.com, on twitter at https://twitter.com/London_Writer and on facebook at www.facebook.com/amybirdwrites
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Five
Lucy Clarke
On the fifth day of National Novel Writing Month, Lucy Clarke, author of The Sea Sisters, talks about who you should write for…
Write for yourself. Write the type of book you love reading, or on a subject you’re passionate about. That honesty will feed through your work.
Be open to inspiration. It’s all around us. Start keeping a notepad and pen on your person and make yourself write one thing in it every day, whether it’s a snippet of conversation, an interesting sight, or something you watched on TV that caught your imagination. Inspiration is out there; you just need to tune in.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Four
Ilana Fox
We’re on day four of National Novel Writing Month. Today, Ilana Fox, the author of Spotlight and All That Glitters talks about the importance of finding the right place to write.
Everyone says you should write at a desk – and that you should save yourself the agony of a stiff back should you work anywhere else! – but I find it hard to be creative when writing feels like work. I really do suffer for my art! I wrote my first two novels in bed, and my second two on my sofa. Some people feel more inspired if they write in a coffeeshop or in a shared working space, but I find I can’t lose myself to my manuscript unless I’m completely alone.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Three
Day three of National Novel Writing Month and Lucy Robinson, author of The Greatest Love Story of All Time. talks about getting through the first draft…
Just write. It doesn’t matter if your idea isn’t yet fully-formed. Mine never are and so far they seem to end up being something that works!
Give yourself time off! Do other things in between writing periods! Take it slowly!
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Two
On day two of National Novel Writing Month, Rowan Coleman, author of Dearest Rose, talks to us about research:
For me, research is an important part of understanding your character and your plot. I will always try to go to a place I set a book in person, take photos, talk to people and if possible write in situ. When it comes to characterisation, if your characters are facing a real life problem, then research can be invaluable. When researching ‘Dearest Rose’ I spoke to many women who had found themselves in a similar situation to Rose. Her character was created out of all of those stories, and as a result she is one of my most powerful heroines.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day One.
Over the month, to coincide with National Novel Writing Month, authors will be offering pieces of advice to help whether you’re taking part in the NaNoWriMo craziness or writing your first draft at your own pace.
On day one, it seemed only fitting that one of the founders of National Novel Writing Month kick things off…
“Don’t be discouraged by the quality of your first drafts. They will get better in time. Know that all the books which inspire you to write all started out as craptastic first drafts. Follow your heart and write the book that excites you, not the book you feel you should write.”
Chris Baty.
by M.Jonathan Lee
Jonathan’s debut novel, The Radio is now available in paperback and for Kindle. We’re very happy that Jonathan stopped by to chat about his book, his writing process and what superpower he would have…
Can you tell us about your debut novel, The Radio?
The Radio centres around the decline of the lovable, yet hapless George Poppleton, a middle-aged, henpecked father and husband who stumbles across an old transistor radio in his loft. His obsession with listening to the radio drives him on an unexpected journey, fuelled by the painful memories of the suicide of his only son many years before. It ends with an unimaginable twist and is the first part of a trilogy.
Do you plan?
I begin with an idea. Maybe one or two sentences with the overall story and where I want to go with the story. The characters are then designed to fit the story. I usually pick two main characters, and summarise their three main traits. I then begin writing. Continue reading
by Jon Rance
Jon Rance is the author of This Thirty Something Life. His new book, Happy Endings is available now. Jon popped in for a chat about his new book, his ideal dinner party and his favourite word.
Hi Jon, thanks for joining us. Can you tell us about your latest novel, Happy Endings?
I’d be honoured. Happy Endings is the story of Kate, Ed, Jack and Emma, four late-twentysomethings all trying to find their own version of a happy ending in modern-day London. Its four inter-connected stories about love, growing-up, and, of course, the search for happiness. It’s a novel that’s very close to my heart because it took a long time to evolve from the initial idea to its finished state. I always knew I wanted to write a novel about happiness and how we’re all trying to find it, yet not many of us actually know what it is that we need to make us happy. It’s about that journey and I’m very happy with it.
Do you plan?
A little bit. I read a quote today that said there are two types of writers, architects and gardeners. I’m definitely a gardener. I plan as little as possible really because for me the story evolves organically as I write it. It comes from the characters and how they react to situations and I don’t know the characters enough at the beginning to plan a whole novel. It’s a bit haphazard at times, but it seems to work.
How do you approach editing? Continue reading
by Victoria Connelly
Victoria Connelly is the author of the Austen Addicts series. Her latest book, Happy Birthday, Mr Darcy? is available now.
Can you tell us about your new book, Happy Birthday, Mr Darcy?
Happy Birthday, Mr Darcy, is a light-hearted romantic novella. It’s the fifth book in my Austen Addicts series and takes place during the summer of 2013 when Warwick and Katherine are celebrating the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice by getting married. But can Katherine put aside her fears about the future and can Warwick put down his pen long enough to actually make it up the aisle?
What superpower would you like to have?
I’d choose to be able to fly so I could soar above the beautiful English countryside. Oh, and never have to use public transport again!
What’s your favourite word? Continue reading
by Helen Phifer
Helen was a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme and her novel, The Ghost House is published today by Carina UK.
Helen, thank you for joining us today. Can you tell us about your latest novel, The Ghost House?
It is a time slip thriller set in 1886 and 2013. The story revolves around a Police Woman Annie Graham, a crumbling haunted mansion and a diary she discovers, which may lead her to the man killing young women in the town before he gets to her.
Do you plan?
I always try and do a basic plot; I know roughly what I want to happen and where I want the story to go. I then take my index cards and write a mini synopsis of each chapter on them and pin them onto the big cork board next to my desk. Do I follow them? Not always because stories seem to take on a life of their own.
How do you approach editing?
With great trepidation and a huge sigh, seriously though I print out a copy of my draft and then I take my trusty red pen and sit and read through it marking my way. I also use a big notebook and reference my page numbers into the book with more detailed notes of what needs changing.
by Gill Paul’s Best Writing Moment…
Gill’s writing space.
Gill Paul is the author of Women and Children First and The Affair, both published by Avon. Gill tells us about her best writing moment so far, as well as the moment she got her book deal.
Every time I get a Tweet, an online review or a Facebook message from someone who likes my latest book, I’m blown away. These moments are utterly precious.
My book deal moment – I got a phone call from my agent and immediately collapsed in foetal position on the carpet, my heart beating so hard I couldn’t breathe. Once I calmed down, I rang my mum.
by Amy Bird
Amy Bird
Hi Amy, thank you for joining us. Can you tell us about your latest book, Yours is Mine?
‘Yours is Mine’ is a psychological thriller about two women who exchange identities, masquerading as each other. One woman is persuaded to participate in the ‘experiment’ thinking it is part of a PhD study, and that it will help get her spark back while her military husband is overseas. The other woman, who planned it all, has a very different motivation, which unfortunately only becomes clear too late for our heroine. Although it’s very much in the thriller genre, the subject matter also really allows me to explore the idea of identity – and it all gets a bit existential.
What’s your writing day like?
I have quite a leisurely start – a sit-down breakfast, then a walk, and I’ll start to write at maybe 10.30. That way I know I am fully awake, and my brain has started to buzz with ideas. I’ll have a short lunch break around 1.30 and then back to it in the afternoon – and probably late into the evening. At the moment, because I’m working on a new novel, my time is broken up between writing and research.
For a new reader, can you quickly describe your writing style? Continue reading
by Ellie Campbell
Ellie Campbell is the pseudonym for sisters and collaborators, Lorraine Campbell and Pam Burks. Their latest book, Looking for LaLa was published in March 2013 and they share with us their best writing moment so far…
There are two moments that stand out. One was finding our literary agent, Caroline Hardman. They often say it’s harder finding an agent than a publisher and we were thrilled when she agreed to represent us. Having a professional backer, who believes in you and who puts their reputation on the line, means so much.
 Lorriane’s Office |
 Pam’s Attic |
The second moment was having Caroline ring Pam up and tell her we’d been offered a two book contract with Arrow, an imprint of Random House. It was just unreal. Something we’d dreamed about but could never quite believe was going to happen. Going through our publishing journey together was tremendous.
by Margaret James
Margaret James is a novelist, journalist and teacher of creative writing. She is also one of the founders of the Exeter Novel Prize. Thank you for joining us today, Margaret.
Thank you for inviting me to be your guest, Laura. I’m very happy to be here.
You’re involved with The Exeter Novel Prize. Can you tell us a little about it?
The Exeter Novel Prize is for an unpublished novel, but authors can have had other novels commercially published, or have published their work themselves. The team at CreativeWritingMatters – Cathie Hartigan, Sophie Duffy and I – are all teachers of creative writing. We felt that while there are very many short story and flash competitions, novelists are rather hard done by in this respect. We’re well aware that winning or being listed in writing competitions can help the authors along the road to publishing success. We are looking for submissions in any genre except children’s. Here’s the link: http://www.creativewritingmatters.co.uk/the-exeter-novel-prize.html. As with any competition, please read the rules carefully before entering.
by Jane Fallon
Jane Fallon, the author of Getting Rid of Matthew, Foursome and The Ugly Sister, shares her best writing moment so far.
I find that writing comes in waves, so any period when the words are flowing easily counts as one of my favourite writing moments. There was a period, though, that is pretty unrivalled in my memory of the times I have enjoyed my work the most. When Penguin bought Getting Rid of Matthew, my first book, I had written 30,000 words of an eventual 100,000.
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Jane Fallon |
 I love my little office up in the attic. I’m surrounded by my favourite things. Notice my small furry assistant in the bottom left hand corner. |
The few months after were blissful. Someone – and not just someone, but Penguin, the publishers I had always dreamed of being associated with – liked my work enough to want to publish it. I had no concept then of the attention the book would get, or the self-conscious second guessing that would inevitably come when writing another book after the first has been an unexpected success. I didn’t think about how it would be received, or whether my publishers would like what I was writing. I just wrote.
Obviously it’s impossible to ever go back to that naïve and stress free approach but that doesn’t mean I don’t still get enormous satisfaction from what I do. I still consider myself the luckiest person in the world. It’s just that sometimes it gets harder to lose yourself so completely in what you’re writing.
by Katherine Webb
Katherine Webb. (Photo Credit, Andrew Morris.)
Katherine is the author of The Legacy and The Unseen. Her latest, The Misbegotten, is available now.
Hello Katherine and thank you for joining Novel Kicks today… Hi Laura! Thanks for having me.
Can you tell us a little about your latest book, The Misbegotten?
It’s set in 1821 in Bath, and centres on a disparate group of people who find themselves drawn together – however unwillingly – by the disappearance of a young woman twelve years earlier. Some of them want to find out the truth about what happened to her, and some will go to any lengths to make sure that the truth stays buried…
How do you start a new book? Do you have any rituals? Do you plan?
No real rituals, but a strong habit – at the desk by 9AM, 2000 words minimum per day. I plan a bit. I do a lot of research for my historical settings, which results in a lot of notes, which I have next to me even if I don’t look at them that day. I have an outline of the plot – an idea of where each character and the plot will start and end up, but the way they get there tends to evolve as I’m writing. I certainly can’t write chapter plans or anything like that –I just work my way through it. Sometimes that means going back because I’ve left out something important, or because something I wanted to include doesn’t actually work, but that’s fine.
by The Husband’s Secret Blog Tour: Review.
Penguin, August 2013.
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty.
Penguin, August 2013.
The Husband’s Secret firstly focuses on Cecelia who seems to have it all – a wonderful husband and perfect children. However, when she finds a sealed envelope addressed to her, in her husband’s handwriting saying ‘To my wife. To be opened in the event of my death,’ hidden among his things, she battles with the choice to open it.
It then turns to Tess who has just found out that her husband has fallen in love with someone else. Trying to escape the betrayal she feels, she takes her son and retreats back to her mother’s house in Sydney.
Finally, we have Rachel whose daughter was murdered many years before. Her main focus is now on her small grandson whose parents now want to take him out of the country.
These three women are soon bound together by this letter. The first part of the book sets up the characters and looks at their lives before Cecelia opens the letter. The second half is dealing with the aftermath once the letter is opened. I have to admit, when the book first began to focus on these three women, I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go. I love a good mystery though and once I’d got my head around who everyone was, I was hooked to the story and couldn’t put the book down.
It poses a very interesting question. If you found a letter addressed to you but with instructions not to open it, would you? I’m not sure I’d be able to resist.
Rachel’s and Tess’ stories are heart-breaking and although she was my least favourite character, I felt sorry for Cecelia when having to make a difficult choice – the truth or protecting her family and her life. It’s hard to know what anyone of us would do in that situation. The revelation in the letter I didn’t see coming straight away and I actually liked the fact that the secret was only revealed half way through. It established the characters well and the plot was well thought out – not giving too much away too soon.
I was intrigued as to how it was all going to be resolved at the end. I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a good holiday book.
by The Husband’s Secret Blog Tour: NK chats to Liane Moriarty
I was very pleased to be included in the blog tour for Liane Moriarty’s new novel, The Husband’s Secret. Liane lives in Australia and is the author of Three Wishes and What Alice Forgot as well as three books for children, The Space Brigade.
Hello Liane. Thanks for joining us today. How did you get the idea for The Husband’s Secret?
Two years ago I stumbled upon a fascinating article about real-life deathbed confessions. I learned about Christian Spurling, who confessed on his deathbed to faking a notorious photo of the Loch Ness Monster. There was a famous songwriter who was dying of cancer who wrote a letter admitting, after years of adamant denials, that she had plagiarized a lullaby melody. Then there was the hapless man who, after suffering a stroke, confessed he’d killed his neighbour thirty years earlier. The only problem was that he didn’t end up dying. After he was released from hospital, he went straight to jail. These stories, particularly the one about the man who didn’t die, got me thinking. I was intrigued by that overwhelming desire to share your darkest secret. So I came up with the idea of a man who feels such a powerful desire to share a secret that he sits down and writes a letter to his wife, to be opened in the event of his death. It’s a deathbed confession, except he’s not dead.
So far, what’s the best thing about being a writer?
The first memory is of sitting on a Sydney ferry and seeing the woman next to me open her handbag and pull out a copy of my first novel, Three Wishes. She then proceeded to read it. As if it was a real book! Until then I’d secretly wondered whether the whole process of publication had been a giant (cruel) practical joke.
The second memory is of sitting on my back steps watching my son play in the yard, while I was on a conference call with my literary agent, a film agent, and a Hollywood film producer. The producer was buying the film rights for What Alice Forgot. “We were thinking of someone like Jennifer Aniston or Reese Witherspoon for the role of Alice,” he said, just as my little boy bellowed, “I’m hungry!” It was quite surreal.
Which superpower would you have?
To fly. I know everybody has dreams about flying, but mine feel so very real. Each time I dream-fly, I think, “That’s right, of course I can fly—how could I have forgotten!”
What do you do in your spare time when you’re not writing?
I read in bed, read in the bath, read in the TV commercials, sleep, eat chocolate, work off all that chocolate in gym classes, ski (not that I ski every weekend, but I thought I should mention something outdoorsy), and now it occurs to me that I haven’t mentioned my children, and I don’t know how I could have forgotten them, because they are currently with the babysitter, screaming their darling little heads off in the hallway just outside my office door. What I actually do when I’m not writing is take care of my five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter, and I like that very much.
The next tour stop is The Friendly Shelf.
by The Husband’s Secret Blog Tour.
RS Pateman – A Tale of Two Rooms.
RS Pateman’s debut novel, The Second Life of Amy Archer has been our book corner pick this month. Rob chats to us about his writing space…
It makes me look very grand to say I have two writing spaces but bear with me – one of them was only mine on loan while I wrote The Second Life of Amy Archer. Both are blessed with very different – but equally fantastic – views. And both are clutter free. I’ve read a lot about a messy desk being conducive to great creativity but it doesn’t help me at all. I need clear space and lots of light.
The city view is from the room where I first had the idea for Amy Archer. I put the idea in a notebook and left it in a drawer for twenty years. The draw is just out of shot! I then went on and wrote another three novels at this desk, none of which got anywhere. The whiteboard was meant to be for planning and notes about characters but, as I don’t really plan, it’s usually just an outsize diary and shopping list. The assortment of magnets keeps my young niece entertained. Me too, truth be told.
Despite the great skyscapes beyond the window, I felt a bit cooped up and needed a change of scene if I was to write the book. A friend offered me use of his conservatory in a remote part of the Cotswolds. Lucky, lucky me. Instead of planes all around me, I had birds. And rabbits. And stoats. Hunter and prey – a perfect backdrop for the tale I was telling. And the location of the house inspired my next book too; the well in the foreground plays a big part in The Prophecy of Bees.
by My Best Writing Moment: RS Pateman.
RS Pateman, the author of The Second Life of Amy Archer tells us about his best writing moment so far.
There have been so many high points but the most recent happened just yesterday I had a tweet from someone in Perth, Australia, saying how much
she was enjoying my book. It blew my mind that someone on the other side of the world was reading my book. Also, every time I’ve been in a bookshop
for the last twenty years or so, I’ve always found the gap under ‘P’ where my book would go if I ever got down to actually writing one. I used to
visualise my book being there (usually between Ann Patchett and Boris Pasternak). Now that it’s happened, I don’t think seeing my book in a bookshop
will ever get boring.
To take part in Book Corner, click here.
by RS Pateman
RS Pateman’s debut novel, The Second Life of Amy Archer was released by Orion in July 2013. We caught up with Rob to chat about his writing day, his ideal dinner guests and what ability he’d like to have….
Can you tell us about your book, The Second Life of Amy Archer and what was it about the idea that interested you?
Amy Archer is a psychological thriller about a mother’s search for the truth about her ten year old daughter Amy, who vanished from a nearby playground. She hasn’t been seen since. No body has ever been found. But on the tenth anniversary of Amy’s disappearance, a girl turns up on Beth’s doorstep – she looks like Amy, knows things only Amy could – and yet she’s still only ten years old. Esme claims to be Amy reincarnated and Beth’s sanity is pushed to the limit as she tries to work out if she’s the victim of an elaborate scam – or if her daughter has miraculously returned. I’m fascinated by the things people believe (and why they believe them) and by the power of faith, memory and hope. What is incontrovertible truth to one person, is total tosh to another. In the grey area in between, there’s a lot of fun to be had.
What’s your writing day like?
I’m an early bird. I try to be up and at my desk by 5.30 or 6.00am (easier in the summer than the winter of course!). Continue reading
by Will Jordan
Will Jordan is the author of The Ryan Drake series – Redemption and Sacrifice. He lives in Fife and is currently working on book no. 3. Will popped in to chat about his writing day, his book series and Geordie Shore…
Can you tell us about the Ryan Drake series?
Ryan Drake is a former British soldier who used to be involved in shady blacks ops work, before being court martialled and forced out under murky circumstances. For the past few years he’s been working for the CIA as a ‘Shepherd’, finding and rescuing lost or missing agents. However, an offer to wipe his record clean in exchange for rescuing a prisoner from a Russian jail sets in motion a chain of events that will change his life forever. The prisoner in question is a woman named Anya, a former operative with the CIA who holds the key to a web of conspiracy and betrayal stretching back almost 20 years. A threat to his family forces Drake to go on the run with her, and he soon learns that Anya is more than a match for anything the CIA can throw at her. The only question is whether they can work together long enough to stay alive.
Describe your typical writing day…
For me it’s less a writing day and more a writing evening. Continue reading
by Isabel Ashdown: Forbidden Places
Isabel Ashdown
Remember the ‘Charley Says’ adverts, warning us away from dangerous places and menacing strangers? Despite these warnings, how many of us, as children, would still return to those forbidden locations time after time, in search of longed-for adventure? For me, it was the village dump, an illicit playground of abandoned cars and fridges and rusted bicycle wheels. We all knew it was unsafe, and we knew our parents would go spare if they caught us there. But it was an exciting place, rich and full of possibilities for a seven or eight year old child.
With age, I realise I have developed an ongoing fascination with derelict buildings and land; those neglected places that once rippled with life, but now lie to waste, fading away beneath vines and decay. In Hurry Up and Wait, I became quite obsessed with the abandoned Victorian building that once was my secondary school. I tracked down online photos of the interior in various states of decline, and found myself stalking the perimeters to snap a few shots to help inspire my writing …
by Ellie Campbell
Ellie Campbell is the pen name of sisters and collaborators, Lorraine Campbell and Pam Burks. One is based in the UK, the other the USA, they write together via e-mail and phone. Their latest book, Looking for LaLa was published in March 2013….
Can you tell us about your book, Looking For LaLa.
Looking for La La is the funny, crazy story of Cathy, a bored, unappreciated housewife and mother of two. Her world of school runs, ferrying children here and there, and the occasional nights out with friends is radically transformed by the arrival of a love postcard to her husband. What follows next takes Cathy on a wild ride of suspicion, temptations, marital breakdown and some very dangerous territory. It’s a comedy but with situations that many women can identify with and, be warned, it does have its dark murder mystery side.
What’s it like writing as a partnership? Does it bring its own challenges? Continue reading
by Sarah Stovell Blog Tour: The Night Flower Characters
I am very happy to be taking part in the blog tour for The Night Flower by Sarah Stovell. Today, Sarah chats about whom she would like to cast as her characters:
Actors who would play characters:
Rose: Rebecca Hall – she played the vindictive, nasty Sylvia Tietjens in Parade’s End so well, I think she’d make a great Rose. I loved the way she played Beth Raymer in ‘Lay the Favourite’ – she survived in a brutal world through the force of her character and I think Rose is all about survival.
Ma Dwyer: Helena Bonham Carter – because she plays cartoonish, larger-than-life characters brilliantly. I thought she made a fabulous landlady in ‘Les Miserables’ and I’m sure she could carry off a great Ma Dwyer.
Revered Sutton: Jim Broadbent – he’d so versatile and brilliant, he’d carry off a sleazy, hypocritical reverend better than anyone else. I really admired the way he played Lord Longford in the film ‘Longford’ which was about Lord Longford’s relationship with Myra Hindley and, in my very very wildest dreams, I’d love him to be in an adaptation of The Night Flower.
I really can’t think of anyone to play Miriam – all the young English actresses I can think of are all so posh and pretty. We need someone really gritty for her. And northern. She definitely needs to be northern
My review will be coming up soon and be sure to stop by the Reading in the Sunshine blog tomorrow for more content from Sarah.
by NK Chats To… Claudia Carroll.
Claudia is the author of A Very Accidental Love Story, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother. Her latest book, Me and You has just been released. Claudia stopped by Novel Kicks for a chat, as part of her blog tour. We talked about her typical writing day, who’d she have over for dinner and what makes her laugh.
Can you tell us about your new book, Me & You.
I’d be delighted to! ME AND YOU, centres around a heroine called Angie, who’s arranged to meet up with her best friend Kitty at a swanky health spa…only Kitty stands her up. No answer to her mobile or house phone, absolutely nothing. Which is so not like her. So Angie of course, does what any concerned pal would do, spirals off into a complete tailspin of panic. Calls just about every mutual friend they have, who all say, ‘but we thought Kitty was with you!’ Turns out though that no one has seen her in days, so Angie calls Kitty’s boyfriend Simon and between them they start searching, but yet again nothing. Just dead ends everywhere they turn. Course, pretty soon their initial concern morphs into full-blown panic. So in desperation, Angie and Simon go to the police and pretty soon, a nationwide search follows. But bubbling under it all is a whole other development; Simon and Angie’s
by Review: Me & You by Claudia Carroll
Avon, 1st August 2013.
Angie knows a lot about her best friend Kitty. She knows Kitty is mad and wild and loves to wear clashing colours. She knows she’s incredibly funny and generous but also very unreliable. And she knows that there is a perfect explanation for Kitty standing her up on her birthday. She thinks she knows everything about Kitty, except she doesn’t. Kitty knows that she is the happiest she has ever been. She knows she’s so lucky to have a lovely boyfriend, Simon and a best friend like Angie. But what she doesn’t know is that on this night, her past is finally going to catch up with her.
From the moment I received this book, I was looking forward to reading it. The cover was really cute and the story interesting – how could someone disappear into thin air? Why would they? Also, would we ever find out what happened? From the first page, I was hooked. There was mystery in the plot. I can’t resist a good mystery as I try to work out what has happened whilst I read. Angie is a warm, if slightly crazy character and, like her friends in the book, you can’t help but like her from the first page. Simon sounds like a lovely boyfriend to have and I also liked Jack; feeling there was more to him than first appeared and hoping it would be he if ended up with Angie (although you will have to read the book to find out if he does!) Written in part like a diary, this helped the plot along nicely (and helped establish between Angie and Kitty,) and I really felt as though I was on the same journey as the characters – like I was on a quest to find Kitty. I was intrigued to maybe know more of Kitty’s story once she left Ireland as I feel there’s a whole load of her story we didn’t get to see which, I understand wouldn’t have helped the pace of this book. I couldn’t put this book down (reading when I should have been packing up for a house move..oops.) I loved Me & You. It was my first proper introduction to Claudia’s books (there were others in my to read pile that are now definitely being pulled up the list,) and I’ve very firmly become a fan.
by Claudia Carroll.
I was HUGELY excited to be asked to take part in Claudia Carroll’s blog tour for her new book, Me & You (Avon, 1st August 2013.) In her guest post, exclusive to Novel Kicks, Claudia talks about writing her two main characters, Angie and Kitty…
Just to tell you a wee bit about the book, ME AND YOU, it all centres around a heroine called Angie, who’s arranged to meet up with her best friend Kitty at a swanky health spa…only Kitty stands her up. No answer to her mobile or house phone, absolutely nothing. Which is so not like her.
So Angie of course, does what any concerned pal would do, spirals off into a complete tailspin of panic. Calls just about every mutual friend they have, who all say, ‘but we thought Kitty was with you!’ Turns out though that no one has seen her in days, so Angie calls Kitty’s boyfriend Simon and between them they start searching, but yet again nothing. Just dead ends everywhere they turn.
by Catherine Alliott
I was very excited to have been asked to take part in Catherine Alliott’s blog tour. Her new book, My Husband Next Door (1st August, Trade paperback £12.99/ebook £7.99, Michael Joseph) was my introduction to Catherine’s books and very good it was too, (click here for my review.) In her guest post, exclusive to Novel Kicks, Catherine talks about her tips for having houseguests.
Top Tips for Having House Guests
1) I love having house guests but one or two ground rules need to be established before they stay, like for how long. A friend of my sons’ was still in his habitual spot at the kitchen table eating cereal as the taxi arrived to take us to the airport and thence the South of France. I fully expected to find Arthur still in the kitchen eating cereal on our return.
2) I fail miserably on this front but the correct response to “Can I bring anything?” is “Yes please” or, even better, “A pudding would be lovely “. Don’t, as the weekend approaches, sit on the kitchen floor and cry about how much there is to do, or kick the dog/ husband instead.
3) Some people start drinking the moment they cross the threshold and since we’ve already built up a head of steam and would hate to peak without them, we’re thrilled. More troubling are the “flinchers at the bottle” to borrow a splendid phrase. Should such a guest materialise and a frantic search of the larder reveals only a sticky bottle of Ribena circa 1998, jerk your head meaningfully at one of the teenagers to make haste to the village shop, ignoring assurances that “tap water will be fine!”
4) Visiting children tend to be on their best behaviour and no trouble at all. In fact these days some even suggest that they make you a gin and tonic and light your cigarette for you. The same, however, cannot be said for dogs. If a guest asks to bring a dog, swallow your disappointment and check it doesn’t chase chickens. “I’m not sure” means “Yes.” One Irish terrier appeared at the lunch table having clearly had tremendous fun with the poultry. Her owner leaped to her feet shrieking: “I didn’t know Billie could get such a big cock in her mouth!”
5) Still on dogs, owners swear blind they are housetrained, but they always get over-excited in a strange house and make unerringly for the Aubusson carpet in the drawing room – the only thing Aunt Marigold left you. As you trill “it couldn’t matter less!” and scrub away with a J cloth, suggest that Co-Co from Belgravia kips in the car for the night? As a look of horror crosses the owner’s face, agree that she can of course sleep by the Aga, but perhaps not on the spareroom bed where you’ve nervously noticed her velvet cushion has been placed.
6) Keep the fathers off the trampoline after Sunday lunch. We’ve been to A & E too often.
7) By all means have a visitors book, but be prepared for guests like my husband, who, after a heavenly week in a luxurious chalet in the Alps, wrote in our hosts’ tome: “Satisfactory.”
8) Likewise keep a dinner party book if you must. (You didn’t know they existed? They do). I found mine the other day. Clearly bought in a flush of young bridal enthusiasm twenty five years ago, a single entry records that on the 21st January 1989 I subjected eight people – who’s names, apart from my brother’s, mean nothing to me – to Chicken Marengo followed by pineapple cheesecake. The snowy white pages that follow suggest this wasn’t a resounding success.
9) Weekend guests always want to know how to leave the bed, which is lovely, but strippers are a bore. If they’ve stripped before you can shout “Leave it!” try not to mind. It means you can’t just flip the duvet, check the bottom sheet for watch springs and leave it for the next visiting teenager, but you’ll feel virtuous as you carry the pile of sheets down to be washed on Monday.
NB – I always change for grown ups. Standards must be maintained.
10) Even more about dogs. Hopefully your houseguests won’t fight after a long and intoxicating weekend, but your canine guests will. Just as when the children were young, your own dogs have to learn that a visiting dog can do no wrong and it is ALWAYS their fault. On no account put your hand into the teeth-gnashing fray, and if you must set about with the turquoise espadrille, make sure you only whack the home team.
NB – just like the dogs, you too will be tired and emotional and keen to see the back of your very dear friends, but on no account should you bite anyone.
11) A word about presents and recycling them, in particular, chocolates deemed Too Nice to scoff in front of Morse repeats. I recently took a recycled box of Charbonnet and Walker to a friend’s party and left them on the hall table. Unaware they were from me, she brought them back to my own dinner party three weeks later. The girl who’d originally given them to me was present. She told us she hadn’t bought them either. When we opened them, they were grey with age.
12) If you have very smart friends they might leave a tenner on the bedside table for your Daily. Resist the temptation to hoover it up yourself, muttering darkly about there only being one person who does any REAL work around here, and threaten any teenagers who loiter knowingly outside the spare room door. Instead, on Monday morning, pass the money on to the intended recipient, who will almost pass out with shock. Your warm glow will last about twenty seconds.
Buy Catherine’s new book, My Husband Next Door.
Buy A Crowded Marriage & The Wedding Day for a special offer price of £1.99 each.
Tomorrow, head along to Chick Lit Chloe for more exclusive content.
by Lucy Clarke
Lucy Clarke (credit: James Bowden.)
Lucy’s debut novel, The Sea Sisters was released by Harper in May 2013. It was selected as a Richard and Judy’s Summer book club read. We chatted to Lucy and asked about her typical writing day, what makes her laugh and what fictional character she’d like to meet…
Can you tell us about your novel, The Sea Sisters?
It is a gripping mystery about two sisters, Mia and Katie. The story begins in London with Katie learning the devastating news that her headstrong younger sister, Mia, has been found dead in Bali – and the police claim it was suicide. But when Katie discovers that Mia left behind a travel journal, she decides to retrace the last few months of her sister’s life to uncover the mystery surrounding her death.
Describe your typical writing day…
by Trisha Ashley: My Most Memorable Writing Moment.
Looking back on my long writing career, there have been many memorable moments and one totally unforgettable year – 1983, when I not only gave birth to my son, but also had my first novel accepted. Fast forward a couple of years and I’m listening to the talk by Diane Pearson of Transworld which was to lead me to my agent, Judith Murdoch, and the publication of my first romantic comedy with Piatkus, Good Husband Material.
by Book Club
