Tag: writing

In Recovery

In Recovery

Lancaster Uni Campus
Lancaster Uni Campus

I have almost recovered from the whirl that was the 2016 RNA conference. Held in Lancaster, a seven hundred miles round trip, I left Dorset at 02:45 on the Saturday morning, 9th July, and arrived at the university at 08:30, just in time to help with The Romaniacs Sparkle Spotlight interviews, all of which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqfWTBjiNvdZ67625p2kwA

Pens, Pals & Pompoms
Pens, Pals & Pompoms panel
Pens, Pals & Pompoms Crowd
Pens, Pals & Pompoms pals

The following day I was a member on The Romaniacs panel – Pens, Pals and Pompoms – which was a high energy discussion on the highs and lows of writing, with a few cheerleading moments thrown in to celebrate the successes of everyone in the room.

Over the two days I attended workshops and panels all of which were informative, interesting, enlightening and fun. The journey home was shared with my good friend and fellow Romaniac, Catherine Miller, whose company always makes long journeys appear brief.

An excellent weekend of socialising, laughter, information, friendships, pens, pals and pompoms.

Catherine & Lucie
Catherine Miller & Lucie Wheeler

Now it’s head down and on with book four.

Take care.

Laura x

Offers!

Offers!

Exciting times! I have two books currently involved in promotions.

Click on the images to go straight to the deal.

The first ends this Thursday, 12 th May 2016. This is a Kobo UK offer:

FMFY Kobo UK 3 For 2 Sale May 2016The second is the Amazon May Madness event, which ends 22nd May 2016.

WDKY Pebbles May Madness

 

 

If you’ve read and enjoyed any of the Chesil Beach books, each linked, but standalones, would you consider leaving a review? That would be lovely, thank you 🙂

Take care,

Laura x

50 Copies of What Doesn’t Kill You Available

50 Copies of What Doesn’t Kill You Available.

WDKY_FRONT_300dpi

My lovely publisher, Choc Lit, is offering 50 Kindle copies of my latest novel, What Doesn’t Kill You, in exchange for an honest review.

To request a copy, email Choc Lit at: info@choc-lit.co.uk. Please insert ‘What Doesn’t Kill You Offer’ into the Subject heading. If you claim a copy, you will need to read the book and write an Amazon review for it.

What Doesn’t Kill You is the first title in Choc Lit’s new Dark imprint – compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels. Not your typical romance story. An intense, emotional, heartbreaking story.

Blurb:

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – but how strong can one person be?
Griff Hendry knows what it is to be strong. After a turbulent past, he’s dedicated himself to saving lives, working as a coastguard along the breath-taking shores of Dorset. It’s Griff’s belief that everyone is worth saving – which is why he can’t forgive his father, Logan, for what he did.
Griff’s future is plunged into uncertainty when his wife, Evie, tells him she wants a separation. The revelation is a shock and leads Griff to question what Evie could possibly be hiding – and she isn’t the only one holding back. Griff’s troubled stepdaughter, Tess, also harbours a dark secret.
As the truth is uncovered, Griff is forced to accept that perhaps he’s never understood what real strength is.                     

 

Today I’m in Choc Lit Corner defending book covers. Is it a crime to judge a book by its cover? I state my case …

Laura x

 

 

 

Rabbit, Bunny, Jabber, Yap, Rabbit. Romaniacs On Tour. Chi Library Talk.

Romaniacs On Tour.

This Thursday, 25th February 2016, I and two fellow Romaniacs, Sue Fortin and Catherine Miller, are giving a talk at Chichester Library. It’s the first we’ve done as a group since being published, and we are looking forward to it immensely.

Chi Library Talk

We will be chatting about our different approaches to achieving publication and what lies beyond the signing of a contract. With light refreshments, a Q&A session, and three Romaniacs in the house, it promises to be a fun, lively and entertaining evening. We would be delighted to see you there. Tickets are £3, available from the library, and are selling well.

If you would like The Romaniacs to visit a library near you, please do let us know and we shall see what we can do … 😀

Take care.

Laura.

I Have a Date on Valentine’s Day …

Littoralis Pinned Post

This Sunday, 14th February, 2016, I’m appearing at the Purbeck Literary Festival with two of my Littoralis buddies, Kate Kelly and Kathy Sharp. Our books are published by well-respected, independent publishers, and we are bringing our experiences to the festival and holding a discussion on choosing the independent publisher route.

It is free entry to our talk, but please check out the Festival website for further information. There will be books for sale, writerly chat and events for all ages over the two weeks.

We would love to see you there.

Littoralis Purbeck Lit Fest

 

Taking The Small Publisher Route

The small publisher option for your fiction.

In an informative and lively ninety-minute discussion, Littoralis, a group of Dorset authors, share their diverse experiences in achieving publication with small, independent publishers.

 

Topics include:

The advantages of being an author with a small publisher.

Knowing your audience and choosing a publisher.

Preparing to submit your manuscript.

Building your online profile.

Marketing and promotion.

The importance of support networks.

Finishing with a question and answer session, we aim to encourage writers looking to achieve publication to consider the small publisher option as the first step of an exciting journey.

 

Laura

Monday Monday …

It’s Monday and it’s back to school and work for the James family.

It’s time for me to make headway with my work-in-progress, which has been left untouched for a couple of months. I have been writing – I wrote two Treats for my publisher, Choc Lit, and I wrote out my Christmas cards. I have been creative, designing social media adverts for my books using Canva, an excellent and easy-to-use tool, and baking a cake for my son’s birthday, and I’ve been inspired by films I’ve watched, games I’ve played, and books I’ve read during the holidays.

One of my new adverts, designed using Canva.
One of my new adverts, designed using Canva.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my break, but I have so many ideas and ways forward for the WIP, I’m raring to go.

I just need to sort out my to do list.

Speaking of which, The Romaniacs, a writing support group of which I am a member, has introduced its new schedule for 2016, kicking off with Motivation Monday. It’s a chance to list our weekly goals so we can work toward achieving them by Friday. We’re asking you all to join in, so we can encourage and support one another, and celebrate everyone’s successes, major and minor. Please hop over to find out more. Click here.

I hope you’ve all had a fab start to the year, and I look forward to hearing about your successes.

Take care.

Laura.

What Doesn’t Kill You – It’s Here!

What Doesn’t Kill You – It’s Here!

The day has arrived! My third novel for Choc Lit is live!

WDKY_FRONT_300dpi

 

What Doesn’t Kill You is the third in the Chesil Beach series, and follows the stormy lives of Griff, Evie, Tess and Logan.

Set in and around Weymouth and Portland, the story starts with Griff wondering where his life went wrong. It was but a short journey from happily married family man, secure and comfortable in his village cottage, to living alone in a rented one-bedroom flat in the town centre. And he doesn’t understand how it happened.

Published under Choc Lit’s new Dark imprint, What Doesn’t Kill You isn’t a typical romance. As Choc Lit state, their new imprint is for ‘… compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels.’

Here is my teaser trailer.

I had difficulty choosing the music. Although lovely, some tunes were too happy, too sad, too busy … Then I found three I loved! This is the first version. For the more dramatic trailer, please pop over to The Romaniacs blog. I also have a seasonal version to put out in the next couple of weeks.

Hogan & Gajitman
Hogan & Gajitman

My husband valiantly stood in as Griff for the photos used in the trailer, borrowing a friend’s dog – gorgeous Hogan – to stand in as Ozzy, Griff’s faithful pal.

As you can see, Hogan is a German Shepherd. Ozzy is an Old English Sheepdog. I think Hogan did an excellent job on a blustery, chilly day at The Bill. My children were very taken with him. Such a lovely boy. Thank you to our friends for loaning us Hogan for the morning. What wonderful, varied and fun experiences we have as writers. It truly is a joy.

The adapted version used in the trailer.
The adapted version used in the trailer.

I really hope you enjoy the read and thank you for popping by today.

Have a great weekend.

Take care.

Laura x