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.
Adrenalin rush? I’m not sure that covers the excitement of the past week.
On Sunday 20th October, Truth or Dare?, my debut novel, published by Choc Lit Lite, was nominated for the Best Romantic Ebook award, organised by the Festival of Romance, and then the book went live on Amazon on October 23rd 2013.
I woke the next morning to more excitement as I checked the Amazon rankings. The book hit #1609 in ‘Paid Kindle’, and #37 in Fiction > Romance > Thrillers and Suspense, and #36 in Fiction > Romance > Romantic Suspense.
Being new to this, I have no idea how the rankings work, but it was as thrilling as Disneyworld’s Harry Potter Dragon Challenge ride to see it hit the top 40, albeit for a brief time. Another adrenalin rush.
Then yesterday morning, a friend alerted me to the fact my local radio station, Wessex FM, was running the news of the award on their bulletins and website.
As it stands, Truth or Dare? has received 2 reviews, both 5*, and I’d like to thank everyone who takes the time to leave their thoughts on Amazon, and thank you to everyone who has already bought a copy, tweeted and Facebooked news of its arrival, and eased it into the big, wide world. I am overwhelmed and touched by your amazing support. Thank you.
I hope you enjoy the read.
Here’s a clip from one of our favourite TV shows in the James household: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ9Uct0LHR0 – the Big Bang Theory girls, playing Truth or Dare?, just as many of our lovely friends did at Romaniac HQ on Thursday 🙂
My intention today is to start the planning process for book 3, and using techniques taught to me this summer, I’m aiming to write this book in nine months – that is half the time it took to write Follow Me, which in turn, took approximately four years less than ToD. Don’t ask.
So, without further procrastination, I shall unroll my large tube of lining paper and dive into my imaginery world.
The Smugglers Inn, where Gajitman and I had our wedding reception. Declan and Kate spend the night here.
Weymouth and writing go together like fish and chips, the sea and sand, and Portland Bill and the red and white lighthouse. I love using scenery from my home town, and Chesil Beach features in both Truth or Dare? and Follow Me, but leading up to the release this week of my debut, Truth or Dare?, I would like to share with you an insight into my life, in fact and fiction.
Truth or Dare? begins in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, where I bought my first house. In the late eighties and early nineties, it was a small market town, a fifteen minute drive from the big shops in Central Milton Keynes. I moved there from Watford, primarily because property was cheaper, but also for my job. I was an insurance claims assessor, and Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire were part of my area.
Weymouth Harbour. I love sitting here on a sunny day, with my family, eating fish and chips, watching the world sail by.
My parents lived in Weymouth, and I visited whenever work, social life, and Rotaract permitted, rising early so during my drive I would see the sun drift over Salisbury Cathedral, and arrive in Weymouth in time to watch the dedicated dog-walkers set their hounds free on the beach. I would reach my parents’ house ready to sit at the family table for breakfast. Sometimes I told my mum I was coming, other times, I’d just pitch up.
I’ve lived in Weymouth for twenty years, on three separate occasions, this latest spell being the longest. I cannot imagine leaving. It holds many precious memories – marriage, births, deaths, friendships.
Chesil Beach. Rosie and Josh have a ‘moment’ here.
I love the scenery, the drama, the cry of the gulls. The sea.
It is no wonder Weymouth and Portland feature in my novels. I hope I can do it justice.
Beautiful and inspirational
And I hope you enjoy reading Truth or Dare? It’s published today, and is available on Kindle.
Kate Blair’s sick of unrequited love. She’s quietly waited for Mickey for the past six years and finding a compass-carved heart, with their initials scratched through the middle, only strengthens her resolve: no more Mickey and no more playing it safe.
It’s time to take a chance on real love and Declan O’Brien’s the perfect risk. He’s handsome, kind, and crazy about her so it’s not long before all thoughts of Mickey come few and far between.
But old habits die-hard. Kate may have started to forget … but has Mickey?
It was Dorset Heritage weekend on the 14th and 15th September, and there were houses and places of historical interest open to the public for free.
We were attending Kate Kelly’s YA ‘Red Rock’ book launch on Saturday, an excellent event, so it was on Sunday we took a trip to Dorchester. We spent a fascinating afternoon touring the old Crown Court and underground cells.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried in this very court and held in the dark, claustrophobic cells before and during the trials. It’s part of our rich Dorset history, which includes smugglers, a naval base, George the Third, the Olympics, and Thomas Hardy. Kathy Sharp and I, both Dorset writers, have been contracted for books that were inspired by our beautiful county.
Dorset inspires, from its landscapes to its buildings.
‘Truth or Dare?’ will be with you in October, and in the lead-up, I’ve been busy visiting places that feature in the story, and capturing them on camera. A photo tour will follow in due course.
There will also be the cover reveal. It is superb. Another Berni Stevens masterpiece.
Truly, madly, deeply excited to announce my short story, Bitter Sweet, which achieved runner-up position in Choc Lit’s first short story competition, 2012, has been selected for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Anthology, due for publication, by Harlequin, February 2014. The anthology is entitled Truly, Madly, Deeply. You can find out more here.
The week I first heard it had been accepted was the same week as I signed Truth or Dare? to Choc Lit. I lived on adrenalin. And I smiled lots.
I’m still having a few ‘shaking head’ moments. On both counts. How lucky am I?
The RNA’s anthology, Loves Me, Loves Me Not, was a great success and I am thrilled to be contributing to Truly, Madly, Deeply, and I am completely overwhelmed with the line-up of authors.
Thank you to the RNA, its members, and its New Writers’ Scheme for the time and effort put into guiding and advising new writers, and for helping me fulfil a dream.
And thank you to Choc Lit, without whom, Bitter Sweet would not exist.
What a week! I was conversing with my lovely Romaniac friends about how busy I’ve been this week. It wasn’t until that point I realised why I’m so worn out.
It started with the arrival of my first ever set of edits for my debut novel, Truth or Dare?, during the week leading to my return to the stage.
See? That sentence alone is enough.
A few years ago I became involved with a great organisation called UK Unsigned, and entered their singing competition. On my second time of entering. I took second place, nationally, in my category.
This year, the genius behind the outfit, John Downie organised an event in celebration of UK Unsigned turning 15, and I was on the performers’ list. I haven’t sung for two years, but I started my singing exercises, and practised a few songs. I chose a Caro Emerald song, Liquid Lunch, and had a great time.
Singing is a lot like writing in that the muscle must be exercised regularly. I still have some way to go to get my voice into peak condition, but walking onto stage last week has reminded me what fun singing is. It was lovely to have the opportunity to support John with this event and give a little back to an organisation that had me singing at the O2, Shepherds Bush in 2010.
For the next few days, I had my head down, going through my edits for Truth or Dare?, a process I was surprised to find I loved. It has certainly got the old brain ticking over and I have been able to rectify those niggling issues that have bothered me since I submitted the manuscript to Choc Lit. I learned what exposition is. It is quite possibly something of which I am guilty not only on paper, but in real life.
I booked time out to meet with my family and friends who were camping locally; we went to the beach, we took a trip to the cinema, and we went into town to watch the carnival.
Yes, it’s been a busy week, but a good one, and I managed to finish my edits, spend time with my family, and prevent my pale and interesting look from returning.
Time to put my feet up? Oh no. Time to finish Follow Me, before the next round of edits arrive…
It’s official! I have most definitely signed with award-winning publisher, Choc Lit.
I say that as if it wasn’t official before, but to see it written in black and white in Book Trade Announcements is thrilling. And I am so pleased for my friends, Alison May and Rhoda Baxter – we’re all in it together, ladies.
I’ve had my head down writing book 2, Follow Me, and I’m aware the first round of edits are imminent for Truth or Dare?, hence the relative radio silence. I’ve also been training my voice back into shape for a couple of singing outings coming up. Loving Caro Emerald at the moment. It’s fair to say I’m going to be rather occupied for the next few weeks.
Thank you for all your support, good wishes and for continuing to read my posts. I truly appreciate it. My previous post, Dear Mum: A Letter to the Skies reached a phenomenal number of readers last month. It will be a great honour to dedicate Truth or Dare? to my mum.
The Dorset Flag
I’m off now to complete a pivotal scene before lunch, followed by hanging the duvet out to dry. I lead a glamorous life 🙂
The Italian Job? Well, I will be in Italy, and it is to do with my ‘job’; not that I call writing a job. It’s a passion.
After the excitement of my book contract with Choc Lit, I’m getting my head down, finishing book two, and what better way to move a story forward than to participate in a writing course. My fellow Romaniac, Celia Anderson, is attending, and we are being tutored by one of my Choc Lit colleagues, Sue Moorcroft.
With Gajitman and his techno army in charge back at base, I shall be crafting my art, and learning new skills, as well as practising my swimming and sampling the local fare.
I know, but somebody has to do it.
There will be photographic evidence of hard work, I promise. Until then, have a great week and enjoy the sunshine.
I am delighted to tell you my first novel, ‘Truth or Dare?’ has been accepted for publication by the marvellous Choc Lit, under their new Choc Lit Lite imprint, and I couldn’t be happier.
Choc Lit are a well-respected, award-winning, independent publisher, with great work ethics and fantastic authors, and one with whom I feel honoured to be linked.
I’m quite sure none of this would have happened had I not joined my local writing group, Off The Cuff, or the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme, and owe everyone involved my thanks. If you are an unpublished writer of romance, the NWS is the scheme for you. Find out about it here.
Through both groups, I have learned such a lot about writing, and life, but best of all, I made enduring, solid writing friendships, including my online support group, The Romaniacs.
Then there are those wonderful friends and family at home, who for the last six years have listened to me without glazing over, and encouraged me to keep going.
You are all stars, and not once have I found writing a lonely experience 🙂
