Category: Competitions

Bridport Story Slam III

Bridport Story Slam III

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What an honour it was to be at last night’s Bridport Story Slam, attending as a judge – my first time in this role as a writer.

Part of the Bridport Open Book, the event was held at the Beach & Barnicott, a wonderful, intimate grade II listed bar and restaurant in the centre of Bridport, Dorset. Supported by The Dorset Writers Network, the slam was organised by the lovely Frances Colville, and compared by Declan Duffy, a charming and humorous MC who ensured the proceedings were seamless.

Twelve brave souls entered the fray, and when their name was pulled from the hat, they stepped onto the stage and entertained us with stories no longer than five minutes each.

From the foreboding tale of Hide and Seek, to a plum fedora, and ending with the death of Cock Robin as told by the sparrow, I was delighted with the diversity of the new writers.

Kate Kelly, Penny Deacon & Laura E James
Kate Kelly, Penny Deacon & Laura James

With my two colleagues, Kate Kelly and Penny Deacon, I retired to the Judges Chambers to consider the verdict.

The winning story was A French Tale, a glorious, witty, well-observed account of a seven-nearly-eight-year-old girl’s burgeoning curiosity about the world around her. It was written and read by Wendy Breckon.

Writing for a slam is a different art form to that of writing for a mail-in competition. There has to be a performance at a slam. The reader has to put the physical energy and life into his or her words, get up in front of a room of waiting listeners, and entertain them. There’s something very traditional about that. Something familial. As if we’re snuggled around the fire in the warmest room in the house, holding our breath as our grandparents, mothers, or fathers tell us their greatest tales.

Wendy achieved this. Her descriptions put me right in the middle of her scenes and I could visualise the story from start to finish, and her delivery was divine. But had I received her tale to read for myself, it would still have worked – proof she had written a great story.

Book Table

Many thanks to the organisers, performers, my able assistant, my daughter, who handled book sales, the venue and my fellow judges. It was an excellent evening and I hope a positive experience for everyone who took part.

I’m already looking forward to next year.

Take care.

Laura x

 

 

 

Catching Up With Me – The Festival of Romance

At the Choc Lit table
At the Choc Lit table

Catching up with news? Sleep? Eating?

Yes to all three. What a weekend at Bedford’s Festival of Romance!

This was my third attendance, but my first as a published author, and it was a thrill to be behind the Choc Lit table, chatting with readers and writers who share the same passion for romance.

I took my Truth or Dare? scratch cards and I’m now waiting for more of those truths or dares to hit the wall of my Facebook page, before choosing a winner to receive a Kindle version of the book. If you have anything you wish to share, or evidence of a dare, why not drop by and reveal all, here?

Lucie Wheeler, collecting her New Talent Award
Lucie Wheeler, collecting her New Talent Award

Saturday night saw the presentation of the awards, the results of which can be seen here. Many congratulations to all the winners and nominees. I was particularly excited when my lovely Romaniac friend, Lucie Wheeler picked up the New Talent Award. Congratulations, Lucie – it was a hotly-contested prize.

On Sunday morning, I, along with another Romaniac friend, Celia J Anderson, Linn B Halton and Kristy Price were on a panel discussing the factors that helped us on our way to publication. For at least three of us, belonging to a writing group has made a huge difference, providing support, guidance, and friendship.

It was a great weekend.

Sunday morning breakfast, with The Romaniacs
Sunday morning breakfast, with The Romaniacs

And yes. I am still catching up.

Take care.

Laura x

 

The Festival of Romance: The Truth or Dare? Scratch Cards

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There’s nothing wrong with a Noddy table cloth.

The Festival of Romance has started! I shall be attending Saturday and Sunday, with my Truth or Dare? scratch cards.

This blog is a gallery of the fun my family and I had this week, making the cards, following a suggestion from fellow ChocLiteer, Rhoda Baxter. She sent me this link: http://www.cupcakesforclara.com/cupcakes_for_clara/2012/03/the-make-your-own-scratch-cards-tutorial.html which is fabulous, and I must acknowledge Cupcakes for Clara – thank you.

Acrylic paint and washing-up liquid

IMG_4800   Painting the stick-backed palsticIMG_4820   IMG_4821     IMG_4825  IMG_4824

Gajitman is holding the fort back here, so it’s a weekend with the girls … I look forward to seeing you in Bedford this weekend.

Come and play Truth or Dare? for a chance to win a Kindle version of my book. There will be one winner only, so I want to see your best dares, and hear your most honest truths. 😀 Applies to my scratch card game only.

Dare you play?

Have a great weekend.

Laura x

 

Festival of Romance Awards

Festival of Romance Awards 2013. Here are the nominations:

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Press Release

London, 21 October 2013

The shortlists for the 2013 Festival of Romance Awards have been announced. Comprising the Romance Reader, Romance Industry and New Talent Awards, the winners will be announced on Saturday 9th November at the Festival of Romance along with two competitions run by romance publishers to find new authors in the genre; both Piatkus Entice and Carina UK have publishing contracts on offer to writers. Now in their third year the Romance Reader Awards are judged solely by a panel of readers and include novels by bestselling authors on the shortlists as well as books by newer names. Independent publisher Choc Lit and new digital romance imprint HarperImpulse from Harper Collins have been nominated for Publisher of the Year and for the first time there is to be an award for Romance Blogger of the Year, recognising the invaluable contribution by bloggers reviewing books and creating social media buzz around romance reading. Nominated for the Hall of Fame Award for outstanding achievement in romantic fiction is the Romantic Novelists Association which has been representing authors and been a defining, driving and positive force for the genre since 1960.

2013 Awards Shortlists

Romance Reader Awards

Best Romantic Read

Just for Christmas by Scarlett Bailey (Ebury)

Take a Look At Me Now by Miranda Dickinson (Avon)

A Cornish Affair by Liz Fenwick (Orion)

Hubble Bubble by Jane Lovering (Choc Lit)

Is This Love? By Sue Moorcroft (Choc Lit)

Playing Grace by Hazel Osmond (Quercus)

Best Historical Read

The Lost Duchess by Jenny Barden (Ebury)

The Spice Merchant’s Wife by Charlotte Betts (Piatkus)

The Gilded Fan by Christina Courtenay (Choc Lit)

A Bargain Struck by Liz Harris (Choc Lit)

Maid of Oaklands Manor by Terri Nixon (Piatkus Entice)

The Affair by Gill Paul (Avon)

Best Romantic Ebook

It Happened One Night by Phillipa Ashley (Piatkus Entice)

Beyond Grace’s Rainbow by Carmel Harrington (HarperImpulse)

Truth or Dare? by Laura James (Choc Lit Lite)

How to Win a Guy in 10 Dates by Jane Linfoot (HarperImpulse)

Confessions of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson (HarperImpulse)

Best Short Romance

Come Full Circle by Natalie-Nicole Bates (Books to Go Now)

The Art of Deception by Liz Harris (Choc Lit)

The Rebound Guy by Fiona Harper (Mills and Boon Cherish)

Stranded with the Tycoon by Sophie Pembroke (Mills and Boon Modern)

Best Author Published Read

No One Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday by Tracy Bloom

The Good Sister by Amielise Gable

The Bow Wow Club by Nicola May

The Pollyanna Plan by Talli Roland

The Hollow Heart by Adrienne Vaughan

Cooking Up a Storm by Sue Welfare

New Talent Award

Fate Plays Dangerous Games – Kaye Chaloner

Lucky Kate – Glenda Cooper

The Wildflower of Ravenscar – Wendy Grace

Rock, Paper, Scissors – Jayne Hall

Fifty Not Out – Vivien Hampshire

Boot Camp Bride – Elizabeth Lamb

The Survivor – Shada Lapite

Glitter Red Shoes and Sky Blue Gingham – Anna Mansell

The Bow Wow Club – Nicola May

Baby Number Two – Catherine Miller

Acting on Impulse – Bella Osborne

The Honey Projects – Fay Rusling

Missing Grace – Vanessa Savage

Crazy Little Thing – Kate Scholefield

Broken Jigsaw – Lynda Stacey

Edge of Life – Karen Taylor

Head over Heart – Lucie Wheeler

Romance Industry Awards

Innovation in Romantic Fiction (Publisher)

Choc Lit – for their commitment and support to developing new writers

Harper Collins – for use of different formats; ebook compilations, hardbacks and paperbacks

HarperImpulse – for listening to what romance readers want and connecting with readers through social media

Innovation in Romantic Fiction (Author)

Julie Cohen – for outstanding and captivating teaching methods leading to many of her students receiving publishing contracts

Linn B Halton – for evolving the loveahappyending.com author/reader initiative into an interactive lifestyle magazine

Lindsey Kelk – for excellent social media campaigns and use of short stories to promote her novels

Lorraine Wilson – for being such an inspiration to other writers

Publisher of the Year

Choc Lit – for promotion of romantic fiction and the hero and heroine benefiting the entire genre

Harper Collins – for evolving in the ever changing marketplace and the use of imprints to reach many different readers

HarperImpulse – for going from zero to huge in such a short space of time

Literary Agent of the Year

Carole Blake – for a long, successful career contributing 50 years to publishing

Broo Doherty – for always being the professional and a first class mentor and advocate for her authors

Hannah Ferguson – for her faith in new writers and ability to spot future bestsellers

Lizzie Kremer – for her commitment to the romantic fiction genre

Romance Blogger of the Year

 Tanya Farrell (After The Final Chapters) – for writing honest, funny and no holds barred reviews and using social media to connect with readers throughout the world

Sharon Goodwin (Jera’s Jamboree) – for honest reviews and her active support of new authors as well as more established names

JB Johnston (Brook Cottage Books) – for being unstinting in her support of authors and reviewing tirelessly

Kirsty Maclennan (The Love of a Good Book) – for being a tireless supporter of romantic fiction and continuing to make her blog better than ever

Carol Wright (Dizzy C’s Book Blog) – for being innovative with interviews and seasonal extras and having daily posts that are interesting and varied

 

Hall of Fame

The Romantic Novelists’ Association – for being a defining, driving and positive force for the genre since 1960

Many congratulations to everyone on the shortlists and good luck.

I am thrilled, delighted, and honoured that my debut novel, Truth or Dare? is on the Best Romantic Ebook. I have spent the last two days stunned, breathless, and excited.

I’d like to wish my Romaniac chums, Catherine Miller, Vanessa Savage, and Lucie Wheeler all the luck in the world for the New Talent Award. They are three talented writers.

I would also like to wish my friends at Choc Lit the best of luck, too.7 of 9. The Romaniacs

Two awesome teams. How lucky am I?

It promises to be one heck of a party.

And watch out for Truth or Dare? – It will be on your digital shelf this week.

Laura x

‘Lone Wolf’ Winner Announced.

 And the winner is…

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition to win a signed hardback copy of Jodi Picoult’s Lone Wolf.  Over at the Romaniacs HQ, we asked you to tell us which Jodi Picoult book is your favourite and why?

Having read all the entries, our winner was chosen. We thought the honesty of the reasons for liking their chosen book were touching and well explained, as follows;

‘My favourite to date, is Sing You Home. I read the synopsis and was not too sure, but a friend lent it to me when I was going through a difficult time last year. I had suffered a very painful miscarriage, she never thought to tell me what the book was about (?). But by the time I had got to the end of it I felt it had had helped a lot. I already have 2 beautiful boys so I’m very lucky to not experience what Zoe did, but this was our last chance at having another so longed for baby due to a new treatment I had scheduled for my rapidly advancing Multiple Sclerosis. Anyway, the book seemed to echo exactly what I was feeling, and it helped to me express these feelings to my husband, who luckily did understand a little better than Zoe’s husband, but I still found it hard to express to him exactly how I was feeling. I feel I owe this book a huge debt of gratitude, and I know I will always go back and read it from time to time.
 
I think this is the beauty of her books, they are very real? She has an amazing power of empathy.’
 
This is the winning entry from Donna Trinder, Lincs. Many congratulations, Donna, and I’m totally with you on the empathy front. Lone Wolf is winging its way to you.
You can follow Donna at www.donna-lostandfound.blogspot.com
Once again, many thanks to all who entered.
Laura x