The party season is in full bloom, with the Festival of Romance, and the Romantic Novelists’ Association Winter Party paving the way. Both are great events, with opportunities to meet readers, writers, book bloggers, editors, agents – all sorts of industry professionals.
5 Romaniacs
I met my publishers, Choc Lit, at the inaugural Festival of Romance, in 2011, not to mention the ladies who went on to become The Romaniacs.
The RNA parties provide the opportunity to meet with writing friends, and catch up with the latest news. It’s a great party.
I love these events, and if you are able to attend, I recommend doing so.
On the most recent trip to London for the RNA party, I had a few hours spare, so I took a trip to Harrods, something I haven’t done in years. The Christmas decorations are still on the third floor …
Tube Station
It was a fab couple of days away, but as always, I was pleased to be home with my lovely family, share with them my exploits, and show them the photos I’ve taken.
It took me a week to recover.
My next ‘big thing’ is a wrist operation, a week before Christmas, so I’m trying to get everything wrapped up before then. Excuse the pun.
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.
Over the last sixteen months, I’ve missed being able to pop next door and tell you all my news, so as today is special, I thought I’d fill you in on what’s happened since last July 22.
Despite the beautiful playing, the Yamaha remains unsold
Well, yesterday I spliced the top of my toe on a tent peg at Yeovil Car Boot. I know; you’re raising your brow and rolling your eyes, thinking, typical, but I can see the smile trying to break out. We sold some of your pictures – the beautiful Egyptian papyrus paintings. I liked the man who bought them. He knew his stuff and he appreciated the skill and time that went into the art. Whilst he was chatting with us, he was planning where in his flat he was going to hang them. He had seven ear-rings in one ear. He told me it didn’t hurt.
Ringo
Garry’s taken some of your things we didn’t sell to PAWS. I know you’ll be happy with that. You love your cats. We have three now – Daisy, Rascal and Sheldon (named after a character in The Big Bang Theory). I hope Ringo found his way to you.
I’ve been to Italy. We’d planned to go together, hadn’t we? To visit The Lakes. Have you been yet? I went to Umbria on a writing course. Sue Moorcroft, a name you know well, was the tutor, and Celia J Anderson, one of my wonderful Romaniac friends, who’s written Sweet Proposal, came too. The hosts at Arte Umbria are lovely. We were so well looked after, and the people I met there were warm, fascinating and funny – many laughs were had. I came home with a way forward with Follow Me, the book I started writing before you left, and a tan. Can you believe it? My usual ‘pale and interesting’ look has gone on vacation.
Laura, Sue & Celia at Arte Umbria July 2013
Sheffield was fantastic. That’s where the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s conference was held. It was a five hour drive, but I had my favourite music on, and the sun was shining. It was a weekend of learning and more laughing. I gave my first ever live interview. I couldn’t believe it. Now you’re really smiling. I know. Who’d have thought? The very lovely and very generous Miranda Dickinson invited me onto her vlog (video log, Mum), for a chat about my books. Yes. I did say books, in the plural. I’ll tell you about that later.
In March, the children, Garry, and I went to Florida for our first ever family holiday. Mum, it was fantastic. I’d like to live in Disneyworld – Hollywood Studios, in particular. The children loved it. We had a villa with a pool, a hire car and three weeks to visit the Disney parks, Universal Studios and NASA. I took over four hundred photos. Your grandson trained as a padawan, a young Jedi, your granddaughter tried every rollercoaster going, which was a huge breakthrough for the young lady who cringed just watching adverts about them, Garry enjoyed the driving and got us everywhere we needed to be, and I sung in The American Idol Experience and got through to the live show!
We returned home mid-April. I can’t believe it was three months ago.
When I attended the RNA Summer Party in May, and friends asked how the trip went, I realised, in the midst of conversation, it had been a life-changing holiday. I can’t put my finger on why, but I am now able to look forward more than back, and those occasions when I do peer over my shoulder, I’m able to raise a smile, not a tear.
Mostly.
Celia, Vanessa, Jan & Laura. 4/9 Romaniacs at Conference
The children are doing well. They are both high achievers and Garry and I are very proud of them. They talk about you often, and whenever we hear ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, we look at one another and say, ‘Gran’s here.’
I’m growing my hair a little longer, and Garry’s keeping his shorter. It’s a wise decision. His IT business is going from strength-to-strength. That’s nothing to do with keeping his hair short. He’s working hard.
And I just want to mention Bro. He’s an excellent big brother.
Christmas was different without you. Quiet. Not that you were the noisy one. We missed you. My birthday was difficult, but Mother’s Day was okay. I thought I’d struggle, but Garry and the children made sure I had a good day.
Right then. Books. Well, I’ve been saving this bit of news until last. You could tell there was something, couldn’t you? You know me so well. That draft you read – Truth or Dare? – it’s going to be published, and do you know by whom? Choc Lit. Yes. Choc Lit. I know. Another name with which you are so familiar. I hope to dedicate the book to you. You’ll be in a novel, Mum. I’m busy finishing book two at the moment, ready to submit to the Taster Panel. Let’s hope they ask for seconds.
I’m so pleased we had our time together. I’m so glad I was able to share with you the pleasure my family, friends and writing bring me. I think about you every day, and often chat to you, but that’s okay, because I’m a writer and we do stuff like that all the time. I hope you’ve been having not just a good time, but a great one, Mum. I stayed up last night and watched the clock turn over to midnight. I wanted to be the first to wish you a happy birthday. It was raining, but I knew by the time I woke, the sun would be shining. I remember you saying it is always sunny on your birthday. As usual, you’re right; it’s beautiful here.
Well, I have to go now, I’ve books to write and whites to wash. I’ll raise a glass of Ribena in your honour, Mum.
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 🙂
When I attended the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference last summer, Julie Cohen ran an excellent workshop on the skills and techniques Disney Pixar employ when writing the stories for their films. I am moved by animated films. I cry when I watch Cars, and just last week, Toy Story 3, no matter how hard I fought, turned me into a blubbering wreck, much to the amusement of my son. My daughter consoled me by advising she cried upon first viewing.
We were watching it on the Disney Channel, in Orlando. We were having a holiday of a lifetime – my first ever with my children, my last trip abroad being my honeymoon to Italy in 1996.
Since I was a child, I dreamed of visiting DisneyWorld. I still have a 1973 Disney annual – actually, my daughter is now it’s owner, but I love that book.
I remember seeing images of Epcot on Blue Peter, hearing about friends who had dined with Mickey Mouse, and falling in love with the magic and beauty of the fairy castle that opened and completed every Disney film. I’ve had such a great time watching all the old movies with my children over the years. ‘Pete Pan, Pete Pan!’ my daughter would squeal. Fifteen times in one week we watched Peter, Wendy and the Lost Boys defeat Cap’n Hook. Even my son tells me if I don’t believe in fairies, one will die. Tink’s real in this house.
The funny thing is that at the 2012 RNA Conference, after Julie’s workshop, I collected a complimentary fortune cookie. I ate the biscuit, then unfolded the thin, white strip of paper, to reveal my fate. This is what it read: ‘All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.’Walt Disney. Coincidence that the man himself made a virtual appearance after I’d taken a workshop on story structure, with positive examples from Disney Pixar?
I’ve kept that slip of paper. It sits with my Romaniac business cards.
My dream to take my family to DisneyWorld came true.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing your knowledge, and thank you, Walt Disney, for showing me the strength of belief and commitment.
A couple of weeks ago on Facebook, Harper Impulse asked if we writers prefer the pen or the keyboard.
My day had been spent with a notebook and biro, first at my local writing group, Off The Cuff, and then later, during a quiet half an hour sitting in the car. I had things I wanted to get down on paper, thoughts, ideas, a moment in time, for a 500 word story I’d been formulating the night before. The most immediate way for me to do this was to write it down.
This was my reply to the question from Harper Impulse:
“I mix and match, depending on my mood. Today has been a notebook and pen day – it’s a more intimate means of writing. It reminds me of something a musician, possibly Sir Paul McCartney, said regarding the difference between creating a song with a guitar and producing one using a piano. A guitar is hugged to the body, creating an intimate song, whereas he feels he is pushing away the piano, producing a distant feel to the music.”
Harper Impulse asked if I found using a computer to write, a more distant exercise. Giving it more thought, I replied I did.
Typing, at my slow speed, and with my errant fingers, is a stilted affair, and can have the effect of clipping my thought process. With the immediacy of writing, regardless of the illegibility, I can get my thoughts down as they appear, ready for later editing. That’s not to say I’m incapable of this when at the PC, but my words are more considered then.
Subject matter makes a difference too. I’m more likely to hand write an intense, emotional scene, allowing the thoughts and the pen to flow. The words are raw and straight from the heart of the character. In some respects, it’s similar to writing a diary, which for most, is a private and personal activity, not often emblazoned across the household PC monitor.
Having said all that, I edit at the PC. Perhaps that’s because I need perspective, and the distance a keyboard provides allows for that.
Pen or keyboard? Both methods complement my way of working.
What an interesting question posed by Harper Impulse. Thank you.
Happy New Year. I hope Christmas and your entry into 2013 was everything you wished it to be.
Christmas Day was different without my mother here, but I focused on the children and their excitement carried me through the day. We broke with tradition the next day and went to The Big Shops, to look for high beds, and had lunch at a certain pizza house. Our usual Boxing Day lunch consists of home made chips, cold pickles, and meat/vegetarian alternatives. It was right to do something a little different.
We had a great New Year’s Eve, which we spent with some good friends, and the children stayed up to see in 2013. It felt right. It felt as if it was time to consider moving on. Memories are portable.
13 is a great number. Our daughter was born on the 13th of the month, and in another year, I won a singing competition as number 13. I have high hopes for 2013. I have a writing course to attend in Italy, a day’s course in Reading, the RNA Conference and Summer and Winter parties, a work-in-progress to complete, friends to hug, and a family to nurture.
Jubilee street party
I have an entire year in which to create new memories.
