Literary Fact : 17th September 2013
American author, Ken Kesey was born on this day in 1935. His most famous novel was One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
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Discussions : Would You Use A Pseudonym?
Pseudonym’s are used by many authors when publishing work. JK Rowling caused a media storm when she became Robert Galbraith. Was it a publicity stunt or was she simply giving her writing a chance for a fair review?
Ruth Rendell has also been known as Barbara Vine, Charlotte Bronte was Currer Bell and Nicci French is actually the husband and wife team of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French.
I can see the benefit of pseudonym’s especially if, like Rowan Coleman and Sophie Kinsella, you’re writing in more than one genre.
Have you used a pseudonym? What made you choose to use one? Would you ever consider using one in the future? If so why? If not, why?
by Book Reviews :
Sphere, July 2013.
Waverley would do anything for her two best friends except tell them the truth about what’s going on in her life. She is not only about to loose her bakery but her house too.
She is envious of her two best friends – Kate, whose husband is running for Governor of Virginia and Amy, who has a beautiful daughter and a seemingly happy marriage.
Waverley is not only about to loose her business but possibly her house as well. With all this going on, she almost misses things going on with her friends that are happening right in front of her and tries to help before it’s too late.
This looks at the complex friendship between three women and does this well. Waverley seems like the strong person keeping her friendship circle together but seems to become less together as the story unfolds.
by Competitions :
Thanks to the lovely people from Something Literary, we’ve got these goodies to give away for one lucky winner.
Included is an Upside Down’ notebook, a ‘Read’ postcard, a little Book keyring, and a collage framed picture (the background is a page from Pride & Prejudice and the quote is Louisa M. Alcott.
To enter:
Comment on this post with your name and town before the closing date which is Sunday 22nd September 2013 at 23.59. The winner will be announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Monday 23rd September 2013 and the winner will also be contacted via the e-mail address they provide when entering.
UK and Ireland only.
Good Luck.
by Literary Fact : 16th September 2013
At the time of it’s release, The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown had a printing of 6.5 million (the largest in Doubleday’s history up to that point,) and it was also the fastest selling adult novel, selling one million on its first day.
by Competitions : Through it All Winners
Thank you to all the people who entered our competition to win a copy of Through It All by Kristyn Lewis.
Sphere, July 2013.
Well done to Amanda Graham from Cardiff and Natalie Collett from Manchester who have both won a copy of the book.
by NK Fiction Friday : Fact with Fiction
Fiction Friday: Friday 13th September 2013.
Pick your favourite or least favourite historical character and then create a fictional piece around them. For example, what if Elizabeth I did get married? Write for five minutes and then keep going. Don’t edit, just post.
by Book News : An Epic Tale from Nicholas Sparks
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks. Published by Sphere, 17th September 2013.
From the man who has a gift for making me cry (in a good way) comes a tale of two couples, two love stories.
About the book:
Ninety-one-year-old Ira Levinson is in trouble. Struggling to stay conscious after a car crash, with his mind fading, an image of his adored – and long-dead – wife Ruth appears. Urging him to hang on, she lovingly recounts the joys and sorrows of their life together – how they met, the dark days of WWII and its unrelenting effect on their families.
A few miles away, college student Sophia Danko’s life is about to change. Recovering from a break-up, she meets the young, rugged Luke and is thrown into a world far removed from her privileged school life. Sophia sees a new and tantalising future for herself, but Luke is keeping a secret that could destroy it all.
Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples, separated by years and experience, whose lives are about to converge in the most unexpected – and shocking – of ways.
by Diary of a Wannabe Writer, aged 32 : Getting to Know You.
I’ve been working on the first draft of my book for a long time now and it’s been plagued with its share of false starts. There have been moments where I’ve wanted to give up altogether but if there’s been one thing that has stopped me from abandoning it, it’s my main character.
Carrie is like a constant voice in my head – a voice that refuses to shut up. It’s similar to having a legitimate imaginary friend except that this one is constantly nagging me to write.
When I submitted my first RNA New Writers Scheme project last year, one of the comments from the reader was that my characters needed development. I didn’t know Carrie very well and I should do.
by Literary Fact : 11th September 2013
David Herbert Lawrence, known as D.H Lawrence was born on this day in 1885 in the town of Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.
He was a novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter. His novels include The Rainbow, Sons and Lovers and Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
by Discussions : Casting Characters.
Despite the fact that I am at the beginning stages of my novel, I do have an idea of what my characters should look like. I do like to have a visual idea of my characters physical attributes and therefore, I cast them.
For example, my main character, Carrie, looks a little like Ginnifer Goodwin when she was in Something Borrowed. My male lead is the lovely Tom Hiddleston (not with the Loki haircut though.) Carrie’s ex boyfriend is currently Patrick Dempsey (not that the character is as nice as Dr. Shepherd.)
I find casting them helps me. Do you cast your characters? Do you find it helps? Do you not cast them and why?
by Competitions :
Sphere, July 2013.
We’ve got two copies of Through it All by Kristyn Lewis to give away.
About the book:
The first step is the hardest . . .
Waverly Brown is the anchor that keeps her tight circle of friends together. Loyal and generous with her time, she would do anything for Kate and Amy but she can’t bring herself to tell even her best friends the truth about her bakery and her increasing debt. She’s so consumed with her own worries that she almost misses what is right in front of her; something is wrong with Amy, terribly wrong.
Try as they might to reach out, Waverly and Kate can’t make Amy open up to them. She refuses to admit there’s anything wrong but Waverly is convinced Amy is in trouble and she’s terrified. Can Waverly convince her friend to save herself before it’s too late?
To enter:
Commet on this post with your name and town before the closing date: Sunday 15th September 2013 at 23.59. Two winners will be picked at random from the entries. The winners will be announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Monday 16th September 2013 as well as being contacted via the e-mail supplied when entering.
Good Luck.
by Competitions : Katherine Webb Winners.
Thank you to all of you who entered our competition to win a copy of The Misbegotten by Katherine Webb.
Orion, 2013.
Well done to Katherine De Riera, Andy Cooke and Rebecca Scott who have all won a copy of the book.
by Competitions :
Thanks to the lovely people at Writers’ Forum Magazine, we have a ONE YEAR subscription to give away.
Each month Writers’ Forum helps thousands of new and aspiring writers to achieve their dreams. It’s packed with up-to-date market information, advice from experts in the publishing industry and inspiring stories and tips from fellow authors and writers.
To enter:
Comment on this post with your name and town before the closing date of 20th September 2013 at 23.59. The winner will then be picked at random from the entries. The winner will be announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Saturday 21st September 2013. The winner will also be contacted via the e-mail address you supply when you enter. UK only.
Good Luck.
For more information on the Writers’ Forum Magazine, visit their website.
by My Best Writing Moment :
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.
 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 Literary Fact : 6th September 2013
NK Fiction Friday : Empty Room
Fiction Friday: 6th September 2013.
You find yourself sitting in a chair in an empty room and you have no idea how you got there.
Write for five minutes and then keep going. Once you’re finished, post on here.
by Book News : Bernard Cornwell
The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell – HarperCollins, 26th September 2013.
The new novel in Bernard Cornwell’s number one bestselling series The Warrior Chronicles, on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
Alfred the Great is dead and Edward his son reigns as king. Wessex survives but peace cannot hold. The Danes in the north, led by Viking Cnut Longsword, stand ready to invade and will never rest until the emerald crown is theirs.
Uhtred, once Alfred’s great warrior but now out of favour with the new king, must lead a band of outcasts north to recapture his old family home, that great Northumbrian fortress, Bebbanburg.
Loyalties will be divided and men will fall, as every Saxon kingdom is drawn into the bloodiest battle yet with the Danes; a war which will decide the fate of every king, and the entire English nation.
by Book Reviews : The Second Life of Amy Archer by RS Pateman
Orion, July 2013.
Released by Orion, July 2013.
I wanted to read this from the moment I read the blurb. I found the story idea so interesting. How could a child, who had been missing suddenly reappear after ten years – having not aged a day? Straight away, it pulls you into a mystery you’re immediately trying to solve.
I couldn’t put this book down (even when I was supposed to be doing other things, like sleeping.)
The Second Life of Amy Archer follows Beth’s story. It’s told entirely from her viewpoint so you do get a really good look into her mental state. It helps bring across the loneliness she is feeling at the beginning of the book as you start to learn about Amy’s disappearance.
Libby arrives on Beth’s doorstep ten years after Amy disappeared with the news that her ten-year-old daughter, Esme, is in fact, Amy.
Beth then goes on a rollercoaster of emotions, Continue reading
by Literary Fact : 5th September 2013
Viking Press, 1957
Jack Kerouac’s novel, On The Road was published by Viking Press on this day in 1957. Kerouac originally finished it 1951 but it took until 1957 to find a publisher.
by Competitions :
Orion, 2013.
We have three copies of The Misbegotten by Katherine Webb to give away.
To enter, comment in the box below with your name and town by the closing date which is Monday 9th September 2013 at 23.59. The winners will be picked at random from the entries and announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Tuesday 10th September 2013. Winners will also be notified via e-mail. Good Luck.
About the book:
Dark truths. Beautiful lies.
Bath, England, 1821. Rachel Crofton escapes the binds of her unhappy employment as a governess by marrying a charming self-made businessman. She sees a chance to create the family and home she has so long been without, but her new life soon takes an unexpected turn. Continue reading
by NK Chats To.... : 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 Competitions : Liane Moriarty Winners.
Penguin, August 2013.
Thank you to all who entered our competition to win a copy of The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty.
Well done to Susan Andrews and Katie Guest who have both won a copy.
Liane is still on her blog tour. Check out the banner on the right for information on her current stop.
by Literary Fact : 3rd September 2013
John Steinbeck wrote the novel, Of Mice and Men. Apparently, an early draft of this book was eaten by Steinbeck’s dog, Max. Oh dear!
by Discussions : Which one?
There are many books that could be put into my top ten (far too many for me to pick just ten.) It depends on my mood. However, not many have stuck with me. I can remember what song I was listening to the most when I read The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood. Bridget Jones Diary because, at the time I read it, it struck a chord and I will always have a place for the Malory Towers books as my sister used to read them to me.
Is there one I’d wish I’d written? I’m pretty sure, somewhere along the line I wished I’d come up with Harry Potter because of the intricate connections between the books. The Help had such strong, female characters. Bridget is such a loveable heroine. I’d like to be able to produce something that have the elements I liked about these books.
Is there one book that you wish you’d written?
by Writing Room : September: Random Sentence.
Pick a random page in the book you’re currently reading. The first sentence you read is the title for your piece. Then, pick another random page. The first sentence you read is your first line.
Try and write for ten minutes or 1,000 words. Continue reading
by Book Corner :
Penguin, 2010
Do you know your desert-island, all-time, top five most memorable split-ups?
Rob does. He keeps a list, in fact. But Laura isn’t on it – even though she’s just become his latest ex. He’s got his life back, you see. He can just do what he wants when he wants: like listen to whatever music he likes, look up the girls that are on his list, and generally behave as if Laura never mattered. But Rob finds he can’t move on. He’s stuck in a really deep groove – and it’s called Laura. Soon, he’s asking himself some big questions: about love, about life – and about why we choose to share ours with the people we do.
by Competitions :
Penguin, August 2013.
We have two copies of The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty to give away.
For your chance to win a copy, enter your details (name and town) in the comments box below before the closing date of Wednesday 4th September 2013 at 23.59. The two winners will be picked at random from the entries and will be announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Thursday 5th September 2013. Winners will also be contacted via e-mail.
About the book:
Mother of three and wife of John-Paul, Cecilia discovers an old envelope in the attic. Written in her husband’s hand, it says: to be opened only in the event of my death.
Curious, she opens it – and time stops.
John-Paul’s letter confesses to a terrible mistake which, if revealed, would wreck their family as well as the lives of others.
Cecilia – betrayed, angry and distraught – wants to do the right thing, but right for who? If she protects her family by staying silent, the truth will worm through her heart. But if she reveals her husband’s secret, she will hurt those she loves most . . .
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.
NK Chats To.... : 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 Literary Fact : 30th August 2013.
Mary Shelly, whose most famous novel was Frankenstein, was born on this day in 1797. Her most famous work was originally published anonymously.
by Book News : Become a Character in a Crime Novel.
Author Will Jordan (Ryan Drake series,) in conjunction with Dead Good Books are giving you the chance to have your name in a crime novel.
Will Jordan’s next book, Betrayal will be published in September 2014 and he is giving you the chance to become a character in his next book. The winner will be contacted by Will where you will both develop the character.
The closing date is 31st October 2013. For more information, a video message from Will and details on how to enter, click on the link below.
Enter via the Dead Good Books website.
Read Will’s interview with Novel Kicks.
by NK Fiction Friday : Time Travel
Fiction Friday – 30th August 2013.
You stumble across an unusual object that then transports you back into the past. What happens next?
Write for five minutes then keep going. Don’t edit, just post.
by Competitions : Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook Winners.
Thank you to everyone who entered our competition to win a copy of The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2014.
Bloomsbury, July 2013
Well done to: Mickie Bull in Bridport, Mark Brockbank in Barrow-in-Furness and Christina Field who have all won a copy.
by Literary Fact : 29th August 2013
Book News : Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin.
Orion, November 2013
Inspector Rebus is back this November.
Rebus is back on the force, albeit with a demotion and a chip on his shoulder.
A 30-year-old case is being reopened, and Rebus’s team from back then is suspected of foul play.
With Malcolm Fox as the investigating officer are the past and present about to collide in a shocking and murderous fashion? And does Rebus have anything to hide? His colleagues back then called themselves ‘the Saints’, and swore a bond on something called ‘the Shadow Bible’.
But times have changed and the crimes of the past may not stay hidden much longer, especially with a referendum on Scottish independence just around the corner.
Who are the saints and who the sinners? And can the one ever become the other?
by Discussions : Self Publish or Publisher?
I’m in the middle of writing my first novel. Although I know I shouldn’t get caught up in the publishing side before even finishing the book, it’s hard not to think about it a little.
With the creation and rise of e-books, it’s made publishing and marketing your own novel more accessible.
When the time does come, I’m not sure how I will approach it. Self publishing means that I am not putting myself through possible rejection from publishers and agents. Having said that however, any book benefits from an editor’s eye.
Which one have or would you choose and why? Have you already self published? If so, what are the good and bad points? Do you think a more traditional route is the better option?
by Literary Fact : Tuesday 27th August 2013
The protagonist in C.S Lewis’ Science Fiction novel were very loosely based on his friend and fellow author, J.R.R Tolkien.
by NK Fiction Friday : Printer Error…
Fiction Friday prompt for 23rd August 2013.
You’ve printed off some sensitive material. Maybe its confidential company information? A private letter? However, you realise too late that it’s been sent to the wrong printer and you don’t know it’s location. Keep writing….
Write in the first person.
Remember, write for five minutes then keep going.
Don’t edit, just post.
by Competitions :
Bloomsbury, July 2013
Thanks to Bloomsbury, we have three copies of The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2014 to give away.
To enter:
Comment in the box below with your name and town. The winners will be picked at random from the entries after the closing date which is Wednesday 28th August 2013 at 23.59. The three winners will be announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Thursday 29th August 2013 and they will also be notified via e-mail.
The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook website.
Like Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook on Facebook
Follow Writers’ & Artists’ on Twitter.
The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook:
The annual edition of the best-selling guide to all aspects of the media and how to write and get published, the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook is now in its 107th edition. Acknowledged by the publishing industry, authors and would-be writers as the indispensable companion to navigating the world of publishing. Includes a foreword by Martina Cole.
by NK Chats To.... : 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 Discussions : Would You Like To Write A Book?
From the time I was a small child, I’ve loved creative writing but it wasn’t until I was about eighteen that I thought about writing a whole novel – that the idea that writing one wasn’t just something other people did. So many people claim that they could write a novel but a surprisingly small number actually do. It’s not as easy as it looks when you get down to writing one.
Since then, there have been so many technological developments. The creation of ebooks has meant that it’s easier to self publish rather than going down the traditional route of finding an agent and then a publisher but both hold their good points and their difficulties. For me, it’s been very easy to get wrapped up in worrying about that stage when I’m still in the middle of writing the novel.
Are you’re interested in writing a book or do you have one finished? What would you write about? Fiction or nonfiction? How might you get started? Would you rather self-publish or get a book deal with an established publisher? What’s the difference, to you? Is there a downside to self-publishing?
by Competitions :
Thank you to all the people who entered our competition to win a copy of The Second Life of Amy Archer by RS Pateman.
Orion, July 2013.
Well done to Anne Cater from Lincolnshire, Anne Mackle from Glasgow, Jim Milligan from Tyneside, Charlie Rooney from Poole and Sophie from Southwick who have all won a signed copy of the book.
by Competitions : The Night Flower Winners.
Thank you to all of you who entered our competition to win a copy of The Night Flower by Sarah Stovell.
Tindal Street, Aug 2013
Well done to Emma from Lyme Regis and Laura from Wrexham who have both won a copy of the book.
Read our review of The Night Flower.
by Book News : Tempting Fate by Jane Green
Penguin, 12th September 2013.
When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him – even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .
Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.
Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?
by Literary Fact : 16th August 2013
Book Reviews :
Corgi, Sept 2011.
Delilah Darling wakes up one morning to realise that she has, without meaning to, hit the Big Twenty and she still hasn’t found The One.
“Everybody’s got a number. In fact, everyone has a few numbers. There’s the one we tell our friends, the one we tell our boyfriends, and the one, if absolutely pushed, that we tell our parents. But only we know what our true number is. Come on, you know what I mean… How many people have you slept with? Well, I was getting a little self-conscious about my number. So I decided that twenty would be my limit. No more. Not ever. But then I woke up one morning and realized that I’d accidentally reached the Big Twenty and still hadn’t found The One. Disaster! I’ve only got one option – to go on the ultimate road trip back to the beginning and revisit all those past lovers. Could I have missed the Love of My Life without realizing it? “
I read this book after I saw the film; therefore, it was a little hard to visualize anyone who wasn’t in the movie. Continue reading
by Diary of a Wannabe Writer, aged 32 :
The last few weeks have brought truth to the rumours that moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do. I can’t actually remember a time where I wasn’t surrounded by packing boxes. We’ve been in the new house a week and we’ve still not got sorted out.
However, I could barely do anything until my study/writing area was set up and even that took a couple of days. Kitchen equipment, clothes – no, nothing was as important to me as my little area where I can write.
My writing time has taken a beating. My deadline for the end of August Continue reading
by Fiction Friday: Dialogue
Friday 16th August:
This week, write something that’s almost completely dialogue. You can pick the theme, subject, characters etc.
(Write for five minutes and then keep going. Don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.)
by Book News : The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Penguin, August 2013.
At the heart of The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty is a letter that’s not meant to be read . . .
Mother of three and wife of John-Paul, Cecilia discovers an old envelope in the attic. Written in her husband’s hand, it says: to be opened only in the event of my death.
Curious, she opens it – and time stops.
John-Paul’s letter confesses to a terrible mistake which, if revealed, would wreck their family as well as the lives of others.
Cecilia – betrayed, angry and distraught – wants to do the right thing, but right for who? If she protects her family by staying silent, the truth will worm through her heart. But if she reveals her husband’s secret, she will hurt those she loves most . . .
by Literary Fact : 15th August 2013
On this day in 1939, the film adaptation of L Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wizard of Oz had its Hollywood Premiere at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
by Competitions :
Orion, July 2013.
We have FIVE signed copies of The Second Life of Amy Archer by RS Pateman to give away.
To celebrate The Second Life of Amy Archer being our pick in Book Corner this month, thanks to RS Pateman and Orion, we have FIVE signed copies to give away.
To enter:
Comment on this post with your name and town before the closing date which is Sunday 18th August 2013 at 23.59. The winners will be announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Monday 19th August 2013 and will also be notified via e-mail.
UK and Ireland residents only.
About the book:
On 31st December 1999, ten-year-old Amy Archer went missing from her local playground. Her body was never found and the lives of her parents, Beth and Brian, were torn apart.
On the tenth anniversary of the disappearance, Beth is alone, still struggling with the enormity of her grief and the horror of not knowing the fate of her only child. Continue reading
by NK Chats To.... : 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 Book Reviews : 365 Ways To Get You Writing: Daily Inspiration & Advice for Creative Writers by Jane Cooper
How To Books Limited, May 2012.
365 practical activities to kick-start your daily writing.
I have only been using this book a few days and already I can see the benefit of something like this. I have a lot of ‘how to write’ books and I have to say, I prefer practical books like this which actually get me writing rather than just giving me examples. This acts like a workbook and gives you space to write your answers. The first activity was ‘show, don’t tell’ and this was an area I particularly struggle with so, therefore, I found this activity very helpful. I am looking forward to seeing what else is in store.
If you’re wanting a daily exercise every day to warm up the writing muscles or just want to dip in and out, this is the book for you.
by NK Chats To.... : 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
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 Literary Fact : 13th August
On this day in 1931, Novelist and screenwriter William Goldman is born. He wrote the novel and screenplay for one of my favourite films, The Princess Bride.
by Discussions :
When I read, I really tend to get into the story. I imagine what the characters look like, the environment they live in – my brain tries to fill in as much detail as possible. I think that’s why, when I see an adaptation of some of the books which are my favourites, I can be disappointed. The Lovely Bones was an example. I cried my eyes out (on my break whilst at work. It wasn’t my best look,) but the film just wasn’t how I pictured it and plus, some stuff was changed.
The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic was another. I liked the film adaptation but it just wasn’t as magical as the book was when I read it.
However, Bridget Jones’ Diary is one of my favourite film adaptations along with Harry Potter.
Which film/book adaptation did you like? Dislike? Is there an adaptation you wished they’d not done or one you hope someone does adapt into a film?
by Book Club
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