Postbag : Summer Releases
The summer may be taking a while to catch up but here are some upcoming book releases…
Midsummer Magic by Julia Williams
Avon, 6th June 2013.
Recently engaged Josie is visiting her parents in Cornwall with best friend Diane, fiancée Harry and his pal Ant. Josie can’t wait to start wedding planning, if only Harry was more interested, and Diane and Ant weren’t at war with each other. As the four make amends over a drink in the local pub, they meet Freddie Puck, a well known TV hypnotist and find themselves agreeing to a dare – to stay out all night on the hills by the standing stones. Local mythology says a young married couple will find true happiness if they can last a whole night there on Midsummer’s Eve. But as night time falls, not everyone seems to have remembered the boundaries of love…
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Book Reviews : The Twelve Days To Christmas by Michelle Gorman.
CreateSpace. 2012
Twelve Days To Christmas by Michelle Gorman.
Here’s the blurb:
Hannah’s in a bit of a pickle. In twelve days she flies from Hong Kong to the US with Sam, where he’s finally going to meet her parents and ask to marry her.
Since overcoming a rather rocky patch in their relationship (which was totally his fault), he really is a new man, and they’re completely in love. The problem is, she feels panicky every time she contemplates matrimony. Which is perfectly normal, isn’t it? Isn’t it?! She has no idea but she’s got to find out before he pops the question… because she’s not 100% sure she’s going to say yes. Which will make for a very uncomfortable family holiday. He’s got to ask her before they go. So Operation Proposal begins.
by Blog : Ali McNamara’s tip for new writers…
Never give up! If this is what you really want to do and you genuinely believe your novel is as good as or even better than what’s already out there on the bookshelves, then keep going. Listen to the feedback to get along the way, take it on board, be brutally honest with yourself and then alter your manuscript if you think it’s valid (they’re not always right.) Then just keep trying…because one day it might just happen.
It did to me.
Read Ali’s interview.
by Diary of a Wannabe Writer, aged 32 :
I have wanted to be a writer for a long time but the hurdle of becoming a writer is that, at some point, you have to actually sit down and write a book.
Many people say that they’d like to write a book but few get through their first draft.
Ah yes, the dreaded first draft. I’ve been working on my manuscript for a long time and it’s been through many stages and false starts. I have an idea but getting it down on to the page terrifies me.
I’ve taken part in National Novel Writing Month for about five years now and it’s strange how differently I approach that challenge. As I know no one else is going to see my draft and that it IS just for me, I can write (my record was 23,000 words in one evening. A productive night that I, to this day, don’t know how I managed and have never since.)
by Blog : Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher – Winners Announced.
Thank you to all the people who entered our competition to win a copy of Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher.
Penguin, 2013.
The winners are…..
Laura from Spain who would like to meet John Keats, (who wouldn’t with some of the poems he produced.)
Shannon from Cumbria who would like to meet Giovanna Fletcher, (me too. A girlie chat with cake and coffee.)
Mona from Germany who would like to meet the Queen of England because she seems adorable. (I’ve always imagined her to have a brilliant sense of humour away from official life.)
Billy and Me is was released this week and is now available from Amazon (a link is on our widget on the right hand side.)
by Blog : Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell – Winners Announced.
Thank you to everyone who entered our competition to won a copy of Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell.
Arrow, 2013
The winners are (drum roll) …..
Val Leath, Eliza from Exeter, Trish from Blackburn, Natasha from Leighton Buzzard and Jacqueline Pye. Well done all. You’ve all won a copy of Before I Met You.
Before I Met You is available from Amazon UK.
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NK Fiction Friday.
Every Friday, we’ll post a prompt. The idea of this is that you then write for 5 -10 minutes and then post the result in the comments section. There is only one rule. NO EDITING. It’s all about getting the words down on paper.
Week One:
Introductions. You meet a stranger in a lift that then gets stuck. Try to get all the essential information out in dialogue.
by Blog :
There are many books out there that will tell you how to create characters, plot your story and get published. These books will help you kick start your writing…
The Write Brain Workbook by Bonnie Neubauer.
(Writer’s Digest Books, 2006.)
I’ve used this book and have found it very helpful. It contains 366 exercises to help kick start your brain. It’s a workbook so you can write and draw straight into the book (For someone who never writes in books it took a while to get used to but great fun once I had.) One exercise a day. It will help warm up the brain before jumping in on the work in progress.
by Blog : Chris Baty’s tips for new writers…
Chris Baty was one of the founders of National Novel Writing Month. He’s now become a full time author and public speaker.
1) Follow your heart. Don’t write the book you feel you should write. Write the book that excites you.
2) Know that the books that inspired you to write started out as craptastic first drafts. Don’t be discouraged by the quality of your early drafts. They’ll get better over time.
3) Turn writing into a social activity. The sound of other people writing will make you want to write. Find other folks who are working on books and pick one night a week (or more!) to get together and write.
4) Use mini-deadlines to break up large, daunting projects into smaller, achievable tasks.
5) Remember that completion is more important than perfection. You have a lot books left to write. Get this one done and move on to the next.
To read his interview with Novel Kicks, click here.
by NK Chats To.... : Andrew Clover
Andrew Clover (Photo, Maria Head.)
Andrew Clover is the author of the Dad Rules column published in The Sunday Times Style. Learn Love in a Week is his first adult novel. We talk about his brilliant solution to writers block, who’d he like around for dinner and his new novel…
Can you tell us about your novel?
It’s called Learn Love In A Week. It’s about a wife called Polly who chucks her husband, because he’s too grumpy. He has a week to win her back. The reason is she gets an offer that no woman could refuse… She meets a man called James Hammond. He’s her ex. He’s her Road Not Travelled. He’s also attractive and rich and in a week’s time he’s inviting her to his hotel in the countryside, because he wants to give her the job she’s always wanted. He also wants her. Should she accept? Her best friend says: ‘Go’, but she’s stuck with a skanky man who resists commitment the way a dog resists the bath. Polly’s husband says: ‘Stay… I can change.’ But can he? After ten years, can you learn to love again? And if you could, would you still choose your partner?
by Book Reviews : The Time of my Life by Cecelia Ahern.
Harper, 2012.
Sometimes we need to make time for our life.
Lucy Silchester is taking her life for granted. She’s busied herself with other stuff – friends, work and her car (which is on it’s last legs.)
It’s time for a wake up call.
Only Lucy knows the truth and she’s deluding everyone else.
It’s time for a meeting with her life. It turns out that Lucy’s life is a kind but rather rundown man in an old suit who is determined to bring about change and not to let Lucy off the hook.
I’m a fan of Cecelia Ahern. I like the mix of reality and fantasy; how Cecelia takes the ordinary and adds a little magic. Continue reading
by NK Chats To.... : Fayette Fox, “How I tricked myself into writing a novel”
Fayette Fox
Fayette Fox’s debut novel, “The Deception Artist” is literary fiction about childhood and make-believe, truth and lies. It was published by Myriad Editions in May 2013.
I needed to put my other interests aside. No cooking elaborate Thai curries, no crafternoons, or hikes in the English countryside. And no meeting up with friends for a drink. I had to focus. I had a novel to write. It was late October 2006 when a colleague told me about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), a personal challenge to write a 50,000-word novel (about 175 pages) during November.
The longest thing I’d written for my Creative Writing BA was short stories and I hadn’t written fiction for several years. So writing a novel in a month sounded like fun. How do you plan a novel in two days? I’d been living in London, but decided to set my story in northern California in the late Eighties, the time and place of my own childhood. Less research, I figured. I dreamed up Ivy, a child protagonist with a vivid imagination who lies a lot.
I scribbled a few plot points on index cards and on November 1st, started writing. Every day after work, I worked on my novel. Focused and determined, nothing could stop me. Then a friend invited me to see a play with her. Sure, why not? Then another friend wanted to catch up over a drink. Before I knew it, I was slipping behind in my word-count. By the end of the month I’d written about 60 pages, way short of my goal, but also a personal record. Continue reading
by Competitions :
Thanks to the lovely people at Penguin, Pixiwoo and Giovanna, we have three copies of Billy and Me to give away.
Penguin, 2013.
To enter: Continue reading
by NK Chats To.... : Blog Tour: Q&A with Giovanna Fletcher.
Giovanna Fletcher
Giovanna very kindly had a chat with us as part of her blog tour. We had a chat about her typical writing day, how she combats writers block and how she’d like to eat cake and drink champagne with Marilyn Monroe…
Can you tell us about your route to publication and the moment when you got your book deal?
I was encouraged to write by others after years of reviewing books for magazines and my blog. Sitting down and writing it was one thing, but nothing prepares you for the anxious wait once it’s been sent out to publishers. I loved the book, and so did my agent, but would anyone else? Luckily, yes! I was on the way to a wedding dress fitting when I got the news that Penguin had offered a deal… Needless to say it was quite a special day.
Can you tell us a bit about your debut novel, Billy and Me?
Billy and Me follows Sophie May as she falls for teen heartthrob Billy Buskin – a huge movie star. Like most of us, Sophie comes with baggage, and as a result she doesn’t cope very well in BIlly’s world.
When starting a book, are you a planner or do you have an idea and just see where it leads?
by Book Reviews :
Penguin, 2013.
Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher.
Penguin, May 2013.
Sophie May has been keeping a secret – one that she’s managed to keep for years. With her dreams of going to university and travelling the world given up, Sophie is satisfied to live in her little village, living with her mother and working in the local teashop where she’s worked since she was a teenager.
When the gorgeous Billy arrives in the village, Sophie’s world is turned upside down. An actor with ambitions, Billy wants to make it to the top but it’s not long before he sweeps Sophie off her feet and whisks her away into Billy’s glamorous and ruthless world.
After shying away from attention for so long, can Sophie handle the scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? Also, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be shared with the nation?
Billy and Me is the kind of debut novel that I some day want to write. It’s warm, charming, engaging, grounded and funny. Continue reading
by Blog : Blog Tour: Giovanna Fletcher.
I am very pleased to be the sixth stop on the blog tour for Giovanna Fletcher’s debut novel, Billy and Me which will be released by Penguin on 23rd May 2013.
My review of the book plus an exclusive Q&A with Giovanna will be posted shortly.
All of us on the tour were asked what our impressions were of the cover of Billy and Me. When I saw it, I felt warm -like I was getting a hug. I fell in love with the cover. It’s beautiful.
Giovanna matched our emotions by drawing an exclusive cupcake. I LOVE IT.
Tomorrow, the tour is stopping off at Fairy Tale Ending Book Reviews.
Previous stops on the tour:
by Competitions :
Win a copy of Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell.
Thanks to the lovely people at Arrow, we have five paperback copies of Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell to give away.
Arrow, May 2013.
To enter, simply comment with your name and where you’re from. The competition closes on Thursday 23rd May 2013 at 23.59. The five winners will be picked at random from the entered comments on Friday 24th May 2013. Good Luck.
About the book… Continue reading
by Postbag : Book News: Little White Lies by Lesley Lokko.
Little White Lies by Lesley Lokko.
Orion Books.
Published – May 2013.
In a gorgeous beachfront mansion in Martha’s Vineyard, Annick and Rebecca have left their young children in the care of their life-long friend Tash. Tash has made millions from her fashion business and treating her friends to a luxury holiday makes all the hard work worthwhile. But by the end of the afternoon, one of the children will have vanished. Continue reading
by Blog : Marian Keyes competition winners.
The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes.
Penguin, April 2013
Thank you to all who entered our competition to win a copy of The Mystery of Mercy Close.
Well done to Zoe, Jools and Roisin who have all won a copy of the book.
by Discussions :
I have loved reading since I was a child. The first book I can remember reading were the Winnie The Pooh stories and the love of books has just continued to grow into adulthood.
I do go through periods where I don’t read much (but not very often) and would much rather have my head in a book than channel hop on the TV.
I don’t think I could say which book has been my favourite. There are many that have had an impact on me or remind me of a particular point in my life – The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood reminds me of my last year at school (as that’s when I read it,) and Ralph’s Party by Lisa Jewell will remind me of the time I was in the first few months of the relationship with the man who’s now my husband.
What’s your favourite book? Is there one that has remained with you and jolts the memory?
by NK Chats To.... : Julie Cohen’s best Writing moment so far…
When I was a little girl in Rumford, Maine, USA, I used to go to my local library every week, and sometimes more. It was a short walk for me down a steep hill, and even though the walk back was up that steep hill, laden with books, I never minded because I could read all the way.
 |
 Julie’s Writing Garret. |
As a teenager, I got a job in the library shelving books and I read all of the books I possibly could. Quite often I read the books instead of shelving them. I always dreamed that one day, one of my books would be on the shelf there, along with my favourite authors. Now, every summer, I take a hardback copy of my latest book to the library in Rumford, Maine. And the librarian puts it on the shelf, along with my favourite authors. Every time it is a dream come true.
by Blog : Book News: Inferno by Dan Brown.
Inferno by Dan Brown is the fourth book in the Robert Langdon series and is released today via Bantam Press. Being a bit of a fan of the Robert Langdon books I have been looking forward to this one. I like all the mystery and history that usually comes with this type of book.
Here’s the blurb….
‘Seek and ye shall find.’
With these words echoing in his head, eminent Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon awakes in a hospital bed with no recollection of where he is or how he got there. Nor can he explain the origin of the macabre object that is found hidden in his belongings. Continue reading
by NK Chats To.... :
Bernardine Kennedy, under the pen name Marie Maxwell is the author of the novel, Ruby. Her latest book, Gracie was released by Avon in April 2013.
Can you tell us a little about your new book, Gracie?
Gracie is set in the 1950s and is about a young woman who grabs at the chance to draw a line under the mistakes she made in her past and move on with her life. The book starts with Gracie accepting a marriage proposal from Sean who she’s known for a long time. She’s so thrilled to be a step nearer her dream of a family life she jumps in with both feet and doesn’t listen to all the advice she’s given about thinking first and not keeping secrets from her fiancé! Gracie has a traumatic time over the course of the book as her life unravels ………….
by Competitions :
We have three paperback copies of The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes to give away.
Penguin, April 2013.
To enter, leave a comment for this post. Closing date is Thursday 16th May 2013 at 23.59. Three winners will be picked at random and announced on Friday 17h May 2013. Open to UK and Ireland residents.
To read Laura’s thoughts on The Mystery of Mercy Close, click here.
by Book Reviews :
The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes.
Paperback edition. Penguin, April 2013.
Helen Walsh doesn’t believe in fear. She thinks it’s just something invented by men to get more money and better jobs, yet she’s sinking. Her job as a PI has dried up, she’s lost her flat and has had to move back in with her parents and now some old demons have resurfaced – her ex-boyfriend, Jay for starters.
Jay turns up with a load of cash and a missing persons case. Having no money herself, Helen is forced to help Jay find Wayne Diffney, ‘the wacky one’ from boy band, Laddz.
Helen’s not happy about having to work with Jay. Things didn’t end well with him plus Helen has a new boyfriend now – the very sexy Artie Devlin. Jay’s reappearance is stirring up way too many feelings Helen thought she’d left behind.
Helen is drawn into a dark and glamorous world where her worse enemy is her own head and where she only really feels connected to Wayne, a man she’s never met.
by Blog : Sophie Kinsella winners.
We had three copies of Sophie Kinsella’s new book, Wedding Night (Bantam Press, April 2013,) to give away.
Well done to Vicki from Southampton, Tina from Devon and Theresa from Wakefield who have all won a signed copy of the book. Well done ladies.
by Discussions :
I have been an avid reader much longer than I have wanted to write. From the time I was little, books were a way to use my imagination and to extend my understanding of the world. Plus they were a good way to escape into another world for a while.
When I was a teenager, I read anything from the Sweet Valley High books, to Anne Fine to Judy Blume. I could be found with my head in a book much more than watching TV (which is strange considering I now watch TV for a living.)
I couldn’t imagine trying to write without reading as many books as I do. Many writers I have spoken to say that reading is an important pastime for anyone who is looking to write a novel.
Do you agree? Do you have to be a big reader to be a writer?
by Book Reviews : The President’s Hat by Antoine Laurain
The President’s Hat by Antoine Laurain.
Gallic Books, March 2013.
Daniel is dining alone in an elegant but expensive Parisian Brasserie and can hardly believe his eyes when President François Mitterrand sits down to eat at the table next to him. It’s once the President has left that Daniel finds Mitterrand’s black hat. After a few moments of soul searching, Daniel decides to keep the hat as a souvenir – a reminder of an extraordinary evening. The hat is a perfect fit. When Daniel wears it, he starts to feel somehow different.
This book had such an unusual premise. From the first few pages I was hooked into the story. I started to read and before I knew it, I was already halfway through. The plot interested me – the thought of one object being the link between different people. I am always fascinated when fact is mixed in with fiction (which is what I liked about The Chaperone by Laura Moriaty.) At the beginning, I thought that Daniel was going to be the main protagonist but it was a surprise when other characters were introduced as the hat found them. It could be a co-incidence or it could be magic and destiny. Daniel, Fanny and Aslan were fascinating characters and I want to know what happened to them beyond the end of the story. Bernard was the character I liked/related to the least but when the plot surrounding him develops, I could see his place in the book. There was also a nice twist at the end too which I didn’t really see coming. I like it when a book pleasantly surprises me and this was certainly one of them. If you like stories that hint at destiny and have a little magic in them, then you’ll like The President’s Hat. I did.
by Writing Room : May: Random Combinations.
For May, try dividing a piece of paper into four columns.
In the first column, list as many types of people as you can. For example, fireman, Grandparents or Teacher.
In the second column, list as many places as you can like a petrol station in Scotland or a hill in France.
by Competitions :
We have three signed copies of Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella to give away.
 Bantam Press, April 2013. |
 Photo by Blake Little. |
To enter, simply comment on this post making sure you give us your name and where you’re from. The winners will be picked at random from the entries after the closing date which is Thursday 9th May 2013 at 23.59. The three winners will be announced on Friday 10th May 2013. Open to UK and Ireland residents.
A bit about the book:
Lottie is tired of long-term boyfriends who don’t want to commit to marriage. When her old boyfriend Ben reappears and reminds her of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. There will be no dates and no engagement-just a straight wedding march to the altar! Next comes the honeymoon on the Greek island where they first met. But not everyone is thrilled with Lottie and Ben’s rushed marriage, and family and friends are determined to intervene. Will Lottie and Ben have a wedding night to remember or one to forget?
by NK Chats To.... : Stella Newman
Stella Newman is the author of Pear-shaped. Her latest novel, Leftovers was released last month.
What’s your typical writing day like?
I don’t really have a typical writing day as such because I have a full time job. On a weekday I’ll go to work, and if I have any energy by the time I’m home, I’ll write for a few hours after dinner. At the weekends and on holidays I’ll try to do as full a day as possible, so up to 12 hours. Either way, I drink a lot of tea and coffee while I’m writing!
Do you plan or simply wing it?
I do plan quite a bit. Years ago I went on an Arvon creative writing course which I found incredibly inspiring, and one of my tutors, Kate Long, talked about how you should know your characters inside out, even if you don’t end up showcasing every detail about them on the page itself. So for example, you should know what was the first record each of your characters bought, even though that sort of info probably won’t be in the finished novel. I thought it was great advice, as it means your characters are fully formed in your head before you start pulling their strings.
by Discussions : To plan or not to plan?
by Blog :
Leftovers by Stella Newman.
Avon, April 2013
Thank you to all our entrants. Congratulations to Carol Peace, Rosie D and Katarina Micallef who have all won a copy of Leftovers.
by Book Corner :
The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick.
Picador, 2009.
Pat Peoples has a theory that his life is actually a movie produced by God, and that his God-given mission in life is to become emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending – which, for Pat, means the return of his estranged wife Nikki, from whom he’s currently having some ‘apart time.’ It might not come as any surprise to learn that Pat has spent several years in a mental health facility. When Pat leaves hospital and goes to live with his parents, however, everything seems changed: no one will talk to him about Nikki; his old friends now have families; his beloved football team keep losing; his new therapist seems to be recommending adultery as a form of therapy. And he’s being haunted by Kenny G. There is a silver lining, however, in the form of tragically widowed, physically fit and clinically depressed Tiffany, who offers to act as a go-between for Pat and his wife, if Pat will just agree to do something for her.
by Postbag : Upcoming Titles
New books that have arrived at Novel Kicks this week.
Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella.
Bantam Press, April 2013.
Lottie is tired of long-term boyfriends who don’t want to commit to marriage. When her old boyfriend Ben reappears and reminds her of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. There will be no dates and no engagement-just a straight wedding march to the altar! Next comes the honeymoon on the Greek island where they first met. But not everyone is thrilled with Lottie and Ben’s rushed marriage, and family and friends are determined to intervene. Will Lottie and Ben have a wedding night to remember or one to forget?
by NK Chats To.... : “My favourite writing moment so far” – Ilana Fox.
“I’ve got two favourite moments of being a writer. The first was when I encountered a stranger reading my second novel, SPOTLIGHT, on the tube. I felt very awkward watching her, but when she laughed out loud while reading it I couldn’t stop smiling. It’s a treasured memory!
 Ilana Fox |
 How I tend to work, in the living room with a cat on my lap. |
My second favourite moment was at my launch party for ALL THAT GLITTERS – I invited all my favourite book bloggers to come along as well as my friends and family because I wanted to give something back. People often forget that book bloggers are real people too (and not just people to send press releases to!), and it was so nice to finally meet people who I know virtually.”
by Competitions :
Leftovers by Stella Newman.
Avon, April 2013.
Thanks to the lovely people at Avon, we have three copies of Stella Newman’s new book, Leftovers to give away. Continue reading
by Book Reviews : Leftovers by Stella Newman.
Avon, April 2013.
Leftovers by Stella Newman
Review by Helen Jackson.
A novel about friendship, hope and the power of pasta from the bestselling author of Pear Shaped.
According to a magazine, Susie is a ‘Leftover’ – a post Bridget Jones 30 something who has neither her dream man, job, nor home. She doesn’t even own six matching dinner plates.
According to her friend Rebecca, Susie needs to get over her ex, Jake, start online dating – or at least stop being so rude to every guy who tries to chat her up.
But Susie’s got a plan. If she can just make it the 307 days till her promotion and bonus, she can finally quit and pursue her dream career in food, then surely everything else will fall into place. If only her love life wasn’t so complicated…
A sharp, witty and refreshing novel about love, friendship and enjoying what’s left on the table.
by Blog : Mslexia subscription winner.
Thank you to all the people who entered our Mslexia Competition.
Well done to Emily, who has won a one year subscription to Mslexia Magazine.
Emily’s entry:
“I get up. The cat doesn’t answer when I call. The laptop whirs to life. I write, the keyboard speaks to me with a tap tap tap. I say hello to the postman. I write some more. I teach online. I write some more. I have dinner with my partner. Jon Snow presents the news. I chat with my partner but his voice is a little too deep, the timbre not quite right. I miss women’s voices.”
by Discussions :
Blogging has become very popular over the past few years. I have a blog (although I don’t update it as much as I should do.) I take part in A Round Of Words in 80 days and it’s used primarily to check in with that. Some people find plenty to say whereas I struggle. I’m certainly not a natural when it comes to knowing what to blog about.
Many writers, along with their website, have blogs as well as Twitter and Facebook pages. Blogging is a good way of keeping people informed and for me, as a new writer, I find it’s a good way to continiously practise my writing skills too.
Do you need to have a blog to be a writer? I personally don’t think you do. It’s more of a social tool than a required one where the writing is concerned.
What do you think? Do you need to be into blogging to be a writer?
by Postbag : Upcoming releases.
Some of the upcoming releases that have arrived at Novel Kicks this week…
Lacey’s House by Joanne Graham.
Legend Press, May 2013.
Lacey Carmichael leads a solitary life. To her neighbours she is the mad old woman who lives at the end of the lane, crazy but harmless. Until she is arrested on suspicion of murder. When Rachel Moore arrives in the village, escaping her own demons, the two women form an unlikely bond. Unravelling in each other tales of loss and heartache, they become friends. Rachel sees beyond the rumours, believing in her innocence, but as details of Lacey’s life are revealed, Rachel is left questioning where the truth really lies. Winner of the Luke Bitmead Bursary.
by Book Reviews : The Ugly Sister by Jane Fallon.
The Ugly Sister by Jane Fallon.
Penguin, 2011.
Review by Laura Parish.
When it comes to family, you can’t pick them. Abi should know; she’s been in the shadow of her older sister, Cleo for as long as she can remember. It’s made worse when Cleo is spotted by a modelling agent and is whisked away for a life of fame and glamour. Cleo has been all but lost to Abi for the past twenty years. When, out of the blue Cleo invites Abi to come and stay with her and her family over the summer, Abi sees it as an opportunity to build bridges and spend some time with her sister, getting to know her again. What Abi didn’t bargain for was for Cleo to be preoccupied with other things and to be left with an unhappy brother in law and two spoilt children.
by Competitions :
Novel Kicks has a one year subscription to Mslexia Magazine to give away.
To enter, simply leave a comment telling us why you’d like to win the subscription. One winner will be picked from the entrants. The competition closes next Wednesday (24th April 2013) at 23.59. The winner will be announced on (or soon after) Thursday 25th April 2013. Open to UK and Ireland residents.
(The first issue will be sent to the winner with instructions on how to activate your subscription.)
For more information on Mslexia, visit their website.
by Blog : Mslexia Woman’s Novel Competition 2013.
A great competition open to unpublished woman writers.
Mslexia Women’s Novel Competition
The closing date is 23 September 2013 and the entry fee is £25.
The competition is open to unpublished women novelists writing in any genre for adults including literary fiction, women’s fiction, young adult fiction, science fiction, fantasy, chick-lit, crime fiction, thriller, romance and historical fiction, (no nonfiction or fiction for under 13s.)
To constitute a novel, your book must total at least 50,000 words. To enter the competition, send up to 5,000 words – which must be the first 5,000 words of the novel.
The First Prize is £5,000
by Discussions :
Can movie adaptations really do a book justice?
Summit Entertainment, Mr.Mudd, Entertainment One.
I am a fan of both film and novel. However, i am always a little sceptical when I see films that have been adapted from novels especially if it’s a novel I have read and loved.
Many films have been adapted from novels, The Silver Linings Playbook and The Perks Of Being A Wallflower are just two examples from last year.
I love reading but I find that if I see a movie before reading the book then I find it difficult to read the book on which the film is based (The Time Travellers Wife.) I also find that if I read the book and then see the film, if it’s not been adapted well, I sit there the entire time comparing the film to the book.
by Postbag : Upcoming Titles…
Here are some of the upcoming releases that have arrived at Novel Kicks this week.
Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher.
Penguin, 23rd May 2013.
Sophie May has a secret.
One that she’s successfully kept for years. It’s meant that she’s had to give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.
But then she meets the gorgeous Billy – an actor with ambitions to make it to the top. And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the comfort of her life into Billy’s glamorous – but ruthless – world.
Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? And most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation?
by Book Reviews : Stalkers by Paul Finch.
Stalkers by Paul Finch. 
Avon, February 2013.
Review by Helen Jackson.
Time’s up. You’re Next.
“All he had to do was name the woman he wanted. It was that easy. They would do all the hard work.”
Detective Sergeant Mark ‘Heck’ Heckenberg is investigating the disappearance of 38 different women. Each one was happy and successful until they vanished without a trace.
Desperate to find her missing sister, Lauren Wraxford seeks out Heck’s help. Together they enter a seedy underworld of gangsters and organised crime. Continue reading
by Book Reviews : God Says No by James Hannaham.
God Says No by James Hannaham.
McSweeeney’s Publishing, 2009.
Review by Laura Parish.
Gary Grey and his girlfriend love Disney. They are fellow students at Central Florida Christian College. They are young, god fearing and are eager to start a family but a week before their wedding; Gary goes into a rest stop bathroom and lets something happen. God Says No is Gary’s testimony. It’s the story of a young, black Christian man struggling with desire and belief. It gives a picture of how a life like his can be lived and how it can’t.
I would never have independently picked up this book but this proves the cliché ‘never judge a book by its cover.’ Some of its themes would have been something that may have put me off if I had spotted it in a bookshop. I am glad that I gave this book a chance. Yes, this book has serious themes but it was still an enjoyable read.
by A Notebook for writing inspiration.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have an obsession with stationery particularly notebooks. I have many dotted around at home (most with scribbles occupying a couple of pages and then the rest is blank – a sure way to know that I had moved on to another notebook I simply couldn’t be without.)
A writer can’t ever have enough notebooks right?
This one I like. It’s from Blottshop.com and it’s £4.00. I love inspirational quotes and this one will come in handy if I were trying to write my novel in it. Blott have some stores in the UK too. I walked into the one at Meadowhall and had to eventually drag myself out of there forty minutes later. It’s amazing!
by NK Chats To.... : Lulu Taylor
Novel Kicks chats to author Lulu Taylor. Lulu is the author of Beautiful Creatures, Midnight Girls and Heiresses. Her latest novel, Outrageous Fortune was released in 2012.
Can you tell us about your latest novel, Outrageous Fortune?
It’s a reversal of fortune story, with two girls born on the same day, one to great privilege and the other to a life of hardship. But events bring great changes, and Daisy, our rich girl, finds herself facing a huge challenge, while Chanelle, who’s grown up in poverty, does whatever it takes to get away from her background. And, of course, their lives become intertwined in unexpected ways…
Describe your typical writing day?
The writing day depends really on how close my deadline is. I always spend ages over the beginning of the book and then realise that time is disappearing, so then write much faster. Ironically, my endings are always better than my beginnings. I have written at home in the past, but I find that so distracting now that I’ve just got an office space outside home. And it’s great. It helps me treat writing more like a 9 to 5 job, and paying rent for my work space helps focus the mind wonderfully.
by Writing Room :
For the month of April, the writing exercise is to write about a 60 year old woman who can sometimes be a little petulant. It can be from third person or first person point of view. 
Post your contributions in the comment box.
by Postbag : Upcoming Titles.
Some of the upcoming releases that have arrived at Novel Kicks…
Leftovers by Stella Newman (Avon, April 2013.)
A novel about friendship, hope and the power of pasta from the bestselling author of Pear Shaped.
According to a magazine, Susie is a ‘Leftover’ – a post Bridget-Jones 30 something who has neither her dream man, job, nor home. She doesn’t even own six matching dinner plates.
According to her friend Rebecca, Susie needs to get over her ex, Jake, start online dating – or at least stop being so rude to every guy who tries to chat her up.
But Susie’s got a plan. If she can just make it the 307 days till her promotion and bonus, she can finally quit and pursue her dream career in food, then surely everything else will fall into place. If only her love life wasn’t so complicated…
by Book Corner : April’s Book
Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’ Farrell
It’s July 1976. In London, it hasn’t rained for months, gardens are filled with aphids, water comes from a standpipe, and Robert Riordan tells his wife Gretta that he’s going round the corner to buy a newspaper. He doesn’t come back. The search for Robert brings Gretta’s children – two estranged sisters and a brother on the brink of divorce – back home, each wih different ideas as to where their father might have gone. None of them suspects that their mother might have an explanation that even now she cannot share..
by Trisha Ashley’s advice for new writers…
I often hear people say they’re going to write a novel…eventually, when they retire, or the children have left home (do they ever, these days?) and they have the right computer, or pen, or the wind is coming from the south west…
I’ve never really understood this, because if you’re a writer, you write. You burn to write. It’s part of who you are. And its fun, too – in fact, Stephen King says writing is the most fun you can have on your own and he’s quite right.
Perhaps it’s a fear of failure or success, but you won’t experience either unless you actually get the words down on the page, so why not start today? If your writing U-bend needs unblocking first, you should read Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones, and all will soon be flowing freely. And I’m going to quote Stephen King again (you should read his book, On Writing) when he says that you should write your first draft with the study door closed, i.e., just for yourself, then the second draft with the door opened, rewriting it with an eye to your readers. That’s great advice – write with a red-hot pen, let the words rush out onto the page, then hone and polish till it sparkles.
For those going the traditional route and submitting to agents or publishers, a little market research in the Writers and Artists’ Yearbook beforehand can work wonders, so that you’re submitting to an agent or editor who actually handles/publishes the genre of fiction you write.
Of course, to do this you actually need to know what kind of novel you’ve written and make this clear in your synopsis, because if you don’t know, then the agent/publisher certainly won’t.
And once it’s gone, don’t wait for the novel to come back, but crack on with the next one straight away.
by NK Chats To.... : Jacqui Rose
Jacqui Rose is the author of of the novel, Trapped which has just been released by Avon (Harper Collins.) Jacqui chats to us about writing and her new book.
Can you describe your writing style in fifteen words or less.
Lyrical, passionate, intuitive and at times poetic.
What’s your typical writing day like?
I’m contracted to write two books a year which I love but instead of spacing it out sensibly, I leave actually sitting down to write the book until almost the last minute because I thrive under pressure and I think it makes my writing better. So then I’m left with long writing days. I could start early in the morning and not finish writing till midnight. This will go on for about six weeks, writing between 2-3000 words a day and on crazy days up to 7,000 words, but those days are few and far between. And as much as it becomes very intense I wouldn’t have it any other way.
by Book Reviews : You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
Avon, 2012.
Review by Helen Jackson.
What happens when the one that got away comes back? Find out in this sparkling debut from Mhairi McFarlane.
‘Think of the great duos of history. We’re just like them.’
‘You mean like Kylie and Jason? Torvill and Dean? Sonny and Cher?’
‘I think you’ve missed the point, Rachel.’
Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. It was them against the world. Until it all fell apart. It’s been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away.
They’d been partners in crime and the best of friends. But life has moved on: Ben is married. Rachel is not. Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. And along with it, the broken heart she’s never been able to mend.
Hilarious, heartbreaking and everything in between, you’ll be hooked from their first ‘hello’. Continue reading
by Book Corner : March’s Book
The HitchHiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
It’s an ordinary Thursday lunchtime for Arthur Dent until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly afterwards to make way for a new hyperspace bypass and his best friend has just announced that he’s an alien. At this moment, they’re hurtling through space with nothing but their towels and an innocuous-looking book inscribed with the big, friendly words: DON’T PANIC. The weekend has only just begun….
by Matt Dunn talks about creating characters.
If there’s one question a novelist (well, me, at least) always gets asked (apart from “where do you get your ideas from?”, to which I always reply “there’s a great website – IdeasForNovels dot com”), it’s “is the central character based on you?”. 
I’m never offended – after all, I don’t write books about serial killers – but though I don’t always like to admit it, the answer is quite often a resounding “yes”.
And I sometimes apply a similar approach to the supporting characters too. There’s a saying that goes something like: “when you write a novel, half your friends will be annoyed because they think they’re in it, and the other half will be even more annoyed because they’re not.” Most authors will probably smile wryly at this, but there’s a reason why, at the front of very novel, you’ll read a disclaimer that says something like ‘any similarity between characters and persons alive or dead is purely coincidental’, and that reason is, well, because any, ahem, similarity isn’t always, you know, purely coincidental. Well, at least in my books!
Of course, while most of us writers – me included – wouldn’t stoop so low as to completely and accurately reproduce our friends and family in the books we write, it’s probably fair to say that many of us do occasionally ‘borrow’ or exaggerate facets of people we know’s personalities, or pinch things they’ve said, or even the way they speak, in order to give life to characters on the page.
Certainly, the supporting characters in my first two books – Best Man and The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook – were based loosely on friends of mine. At the time – and it was early on in my writing career – it just seemed easier to imagine someone I knew, then just write that down. And it seemed to work.
I now know most novelists take a much more formal approach – spending ages writing full character CVs, or even question-and-answer profiles so they know exactly what a character’s like. This works well – I’ve done it myself recently. But strangely enough, I’ve found my best received characters have all had a dose of reality about them.
by Book Reviews : The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling.
(Little, Brown. September 2012.)
Review by Laura Parish
Parish Counsellor Barry Fairbrother is dead. This has caused a casual vacancy on the Pagford Parish Council. It’s not long before the town is divided into two camps; the people, like Barry Fairbrother who believe that a council estate called ‘The Fields’ should stay part of Pagford and the people who wish to disassociate the estate from the town.
It’s not long before the people standing for election see their darkest secrets posted anonymously on the Parish Council’s online forum and their election hopes are put into question as well as the revelations having an effect with other aspects of the lives of the people of Pagford.
I am a HUGE fan of the Harry Potter books and therefore was both nervous and excited to be reading this book. I had the opportunity to visit the Southbank Centre and hear Jo Rowling talk about The Casual Vacancy and found that very interesting. Due to that and the hype surrounding its release, I wanted to wait to read it once everything had settled down, (a little like not seeing the films nominated for an Oscar until the ceremony has been and gone.)
Anything she wrote post Potter was going to be a hard sell. Having been placed into a genre that was suitable for a wider audience and creating a series of books that was so well loved, she had a hard task on her hands.
by Book Reviews : The Ghost of You and Me & Between Today and Yesterday by Joanna Lambert.
The Ghost of You and Me
By Joanna Lambert.
Authors Online, 2010.
Review by Laura Parish.
The Ghost of You and Me is the third book in the Behind Blue Eyes trilogy.
It’s been a year since Matt and Ella had last seen one another in Meridian Cross. Now, back with Andy, Ella is trying to move on and is hoping that the arrival of their daughter will help things in their marriage. Things are going OK until Andy hears about his ex-girlfriend’s imminent wedding and he puts a plan in motion to stop it.
In the meantime, Matt is over in New York about to embark on a UK tour with his newest singing sensation, Marcie Maguire who is secretly in love with Matt and is trying to do everything in her power to get him to fall in love with her.
by Book Club
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