It’s been an exciting few days as I’m now in a position to start putting together the invitation for the book launch of my first paperback, Follow Me, Follow You, published by Choc Lit , out September 2014.
Together with three local Weymouth writers, Kathy Sharp, Kate Kelly and Carol Hunt, I am hosting an author afternoon and launch at the Chesil Beach Centre, run by the fabulous Dorset Wildlife Trust. It is the perfect location, as Chesil Beach plays a major role in Follow Me, Follow You, and it also features in my debut novel, Truth or Dare?. My current work-in-progress also uses Chesil, Portland, Abbotsbury and surrounding areas as the backdrop, so I am thrilled to have the opportunity to show friends and family why I love writing with Dorset as the setting. Perhaps I should call the books The Chesil Series.
I’m in the process of creating the invitations, but here are the details as they stand:
There is a plenty of parking (pay and display) and a café attached to the centre. With the pebbly beach and sea either side, it is a beautiful spot. I would like to thank Dorset Wildlife Trust for the wonderful support.
We would love to see you there – there will be giveaways and the opportunity to chat with the local authors, buy the books, and if you would like, have them signed.
And so you know, I’ve been diligently practising my signature … 🙂
Lisa Eveleigh, Gillian Green, Lyn Vernham and Matt Bates: The role of booksellers, publishers & agents in a new book buying age.
It was fabulous – a concoction of workshops, discussion panels, friends, food and wine. I never fail to learn at these events. My friend and fellow Romaniac, Sue Fortin has posted a wonderful round-up of the weekend here. The RNA has a great post here.
At one point of the proceedings, there was an interesting, unscheduled chat about how comfortable we feel saying we write romantic fiction.
In my early days … okay, two years ago … I was slightly ill at ease telling people I was a writer. It had nothing to do with the genre – I am incredibly happy to be reading and writing romantic fiction – it was more that I had nothing solid to show for my efforts. In April 2012, when my 1500 word story, Bitter Sweet, achieved the runner-up position in Choc Lit’s short story competition, I had my first writing credit, and it was a little easier to speak the words, albeit it quietly, ‘I am a writer.’
Penrith 2012
Later that year, at the RNA conference in Penrith, the lovely Miranda Dickinson presented a workshop and everything I’d experienced, she too had been through, but she was a writer, and the more she said it, the easier it became to repeat and believe.
I left that presentation motivated and inspired, and still have the postcards Miranda gave out that day, asserting ‘I write, therefore I am a writer.’
Things have progressed for me since then, with Bitter Sweet finding a home in the RNA’s Truly, Madly, Deeplyanthology, stories in Romaniac Shorts, publication in Choc Lit’s Love Match, with a second anthology from them out soon, my debut novel, Truth or Dare? digitally published last October and my first paperback, Follow Me, Follow Youdue out this September. All my stories are romantic fiction.
I’m hoping you’re reading this and picturing me talking about it to you, my eyes wide with excitement, my speech a little too fast for clarity, because I love what I do. I love writing.
And I love writing romantic fiction.
I believe in self-fulfilling prophecies and affirmations. I believe that by saying something often enough, that dream, that hope, will happen. Whether caught up in the enthusiasm or reacting to the broken record, others start to believe too, and things happen.
Yes, we make our own luck, seek out the opportunities, put ourselves forward, but we need to believe in ourselves and in what we do to have the energy to pursue the dream. And that energy and belief will draw people in.
Negative energy will repel.
My name is Laura James, and I write romantic fiction.
My mum, who was an avid reader and booklover, introduced me to Jill Mansell’s and Sheila O’Flanagan’s books a number of years ago. It was in Jill’s Good At Games, which I read first and enjoyed so much I devoured from cover-to-cover, where I first came across the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Jill wrote so enthusiastically about the organisation, I was compelled to investigate its website. I was thrilled to discover some of my favourite authors were members, and there was a scheme for new writers. As someone who believes there’s a novel in everyone, and as a person who’s penned poems, songs, comics and plays from a young age, I’d hit gold.
Jill Mansell showing an example of her novel planning.
In 2013, my debut novel, Truth or Dare? was released and published as an eBook by Choc Lit.
In September this year, my second novel, Follow Me, Follow Youwill be released digitally and as a paperback. A dream come true.
Exeter Library
The evening of chat at the library was entertaining, informative and engaging, with the three ladies sharing their experiences and knowledge about novel writing. For me as a writer, their advice was invaluable, and as a reader I cannot wait to get started on their new books.
This truly was a RLD.
I am so pleased I was finally able to thank Jill in person for the inspiration she provided and for shining the light in the right direction.
And I’m so glad my mum had an excellent taste in authors.
I say that like I need an excuse to enjoy chocolate, but it’s not an excuse, it’s a reason.
My dependency on chocolate goes in phases. Believe it or not, there are times when I don’t fancy it.
Sorry. I should have warned you to sit down before I made that confession. I tend to go for savoury more than sweet – salted, buttery popcorn, cashews, black olives. I wonder if chocolate-covered black olives would be palatable …
But fear not, I’m experiencing a long phase of chocolism at the moment. I’m wondering if it’s my age, or if it’s because I’m a writer. Or perhaps my body is in desperate need of trace elements contained in a Galaxy bar.
There is never enough to share. Just saying.
I do enjoy a hot chocolate in those chilly, icy months. I had one last week at my son’s school sport’s day. Yes, I know it was June, but I was blue with cold. And I have a frozen shoulder.
You think me doth protest too much?
Hot chocolate is a soothing drink and was used as a form of medicine way back when. It’s feeding and comforting and smooth.
As I was thinking about this post, I realised both Truth or Dare? and Follow Me, Follow You have hot chocolate mentions and scenes, and all for different reasons.
In Truth or Dare? Declan makes the drink for Elle as a peace offering and an invitation to talk:
He pushed himself up, approached the kettle and prepared two hot chocolates. Two minutes later, he was on the landing, outside Elle’s bedroom, tapping on her door. ‘Elle?’ He gave her a moment to reply, but was met with a silence that was becoming too familiar. ‘I’ve made us hot chocolates.’ He heard rustling and shuffling, two floorboards creek and a nose blow, indicators Elle had been lying in bed crying; another familiar scenario. Yesterday, Elle propped Declan up, supplying cups of tea and plates of toast. Today, it was his turn to be strong. It wasn’t a conscious decision to alternate, but thank goodness they didn’t sink to the bottom together. They were a source of support for each other, and for that, Declan was grateful. The door opened.
In Follow Me, Follow You, out September 2014, Victoria remembers her dad supplying mugs of hot chocolate in times of upset and sadness. It provides her with strength. It’s her go-to drink when she needs bolstering.
A waitress, wearing regulation black, and sporting a Santa’s elf hat, placed one hot chocolate and one lemonade on the table. Victoria smiled her thanks, and reclined. The bench, though dressed with cushions, was uncomfortable, but its style was in keeping with the rest of the interior; dark mahogany beams across the ceiling, white wooden sash windows, and porthole lights. Christmas decorations hanging overhead like jungle vines brought colour, but it was the heat and glow from the central log burner that gave the room its warmth. The place had character. More than Victoria remembered. Not that she’d paid much notice to it in her youth, her eyes and mind being all about Chris.
And on this day, it seems appropriate to add I’m published by the wonderful Choc Lit.
My short story, Bitter Sweet, published in the RNA anthology, Truly, Madly, Deeply, is about a chocolate sculptor, and in Melt, a story appearing in Romaniac Shorts, Carissima Sweet owns a café called The Chocolate Bar.
I’m beginning to see a theme …
One last thing. Do you like your chocolate straight from the fridge or eaten at room temperature?
For our daughter’s fourteenth birthday, we took a family trip to the Harry Potter Studios in Watford. I grew up in Watford but moved away a little before Leavesden Aerodrome was turned into a Warner Bros studio lot. I have family in that direction, so we have driven passed the site on occasion and seen the famous purple Knight Bus.
Our daughter is a life-long fan of the Harry Potter series and can answer any trivia question thrown at her. I, on the other hand, have never read the books or seen all of the films. I know. It’s a crime. I apologise. It’s something I will rectify once I’ve liberated the books from our daughter’s bedroom. I might have to carry out an early morning raid …
London Book Fair. Andrew Davidson, seen here with a photo of his etched cover for the most recent Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone cover. The new designs, all by Mr Davidson, are aimed at an older reader.
The thing is, I admire J K Rowling. Not long after I started writing novels, I watched her bio pic and even allowing for artistic licence, I found it an emotional and inspiring story.
So, yes, I was excited to be visiting the studio, but I was thinking in terms of the films, looking forward to seeing the sets, the costumes and our daughter opening the doors to the Great Hall (a birthday treat). What I didn’t expect was my emotional response to a quote from J K Rowling, posted on the wall in the queuing foyer.
It positively choked me. I had goosebumps, shivers and a deeper understanding of what it is to be a writer.
Everything we saw at the studio started as a seed of an idea in a writer’s head.
The day took a completely different turn for me, and I looked at everything through a writer’s eye. Perhaps I should have been doing that from the start, but we were there to see the incredible animatronics, Diagon Alley and Privet Drive, and we did, and they were amazing, but I love the fact we were reminded that Harry Potter, the boy wizard, first appeared to us on a page in a book.
Thank you so much to friend and fellow Romaniac, Celia J Anderson, for inviting me to take part in the Meeting My Main Character blog hop.
Celia introduced us to Mab, from her debut novel, Sweet Proposal, and you can meet both ladies here.
What is the name of the main character? Is she real or fictitious?
Victoria Noble is a fictitious thirty-five-year-old. Known as Vicky Paveley in her youth, the divorced mother is the director of the highly successful EweSpeak.
When and where is the story set?
The story begins in London, but swiftly moves to Weymouth and Portland, in Dorset, my beautiful home county. Chesil Beach plays a major role in my character’s life, as it does in mine.
What should we know about her?
Having been let down and betrayed twice by the male of the species, Victoria has pulled the plug on romance. She wrestles with the work-life balance, throwing most of her energy into maintaining her business, and her relationship with her four-year-old son, Seth, is at breaking point.
What is the main conflict? What messes up her life?
Left to raise a child with whom she has little connection, everyday life is a struggle for Victoria. There is huge conflict between her and Seth, and simple tasks such as giving him a bath and putting him to bed create anxiety and tension. He is resistant, belligerent, and on occasion, violent. Victoria believes she provides well for him, but realises it’s not enough when the draw of her EweSpeak office is greater than his cry for love.
If the men in her life had kept their promises, she wouldn’t be caught in the vicious circle of daily battles with her son. She holds one man in particular responsible ‒ Chris Frampton, Victoria’s first love.
What is Victoria’s goal?
To let go of the past, stop blaming others for her mistakes, and heal the damaged bond between her and Seth.
Paperback due out September 2014, published by Choc Lit.
Thanks so much for tagging me, Celia – I’m now passing the baton to my friend and fellow ChocLiteer, Alison May – find out about her main character here –http://alison-may.co.uk/blog/ and also the lovely Christine Stovell, whose new release, Follow A Star, is available for pre-order http://homethoughtsweekly.blogspot.co.uk/
I’m looking forward to reading about their main characters.
The day has finally arrived!! Nikki Moore’s debut novel with HarperImpulse – Crazy, Undercover, Love – is released as an ebook today, 24th April 2014.
If you like pacy, sexy romance and fancy a long weekend in Barcelona with a smoking hot guy this one’s for you! Want to know more…?
When uber-feisty career girl Charley Caswell-Wright takes on the assignment as PA to the gorgeous Alex Demetrio, CEO of Demetrio International, she’s there under entirely false pretences; to get her life back on track. Having lost the job she worked so hard to earn, she’s determined not to give it up so easily, especially when she didn’t deserve to lose it in the first place.
Mr Dreamy CEO is her only chance of clawing back her career – and her reputation. So she has to keep things strictly professional… boy, is she in trouble!
What people are saying about Nikki’s other stories…
The Love Letter and A Day in the Life… HarperImpulse short story collection Be My Valentine, with Teresa F Morgan and Brigid Coady, attracting 4 and 5 star reviews.
‘I loved all 5 stories and will look out for more books by each author.’ CometBabesBooks, Amazon
‘Whilst I enjoyed all of the stories, I particularly liked Nikki Moore’s … her voice as an author really resonated with me and I can’t wait to read more of her work.’ Kate Beeden, Goodreads
Nikki’s short story A Night to Remember in the Mills & Boon/Romantic Novelists Association anthology Truly, Madly, Deeplywhich has also attracted 4 and 5 star reviews.
‘My favourite story was A Night To Remember. I think what drew me to this … was its resonance with real life. I’m not going to spoil the story but I could feel the emotions spilling out of the page – it was beautiful.’ Beckie, http://www.beckiesbookmix.blogspot.co.uk/
Nikki Moore lives in beautiful Dorset and writes short stories and sexy, pacy romances. A finalist in several writing competitions including Novelicious Undiscovered 2012, she graduated from the Romantic Novelists Association New Writers’ Scheme after four years and and has contributed to their magazine Romance Matters. She has far too much fun attending the annual RNA conference and has previously chaired a panel and taken part in a workshop at the Festival of Romance.
She blogs about some of her favourite things – Writing, Work and Wine – at http://www.nikkimooreauthor.wordpress.com/ and believes in supporting other writers as part of a friendly, talented and diverse community.
You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NikkiMooreAuthor or on Twitter @NikkiMoore_Auth and she invites you to pop in for chats about love, life, reading or writing!
I’ve been out and about recently, and feeling a little guilty. I should be dwelling in my edits cave, but my forays into the fresh air have been writer-based. Promise.
On Friday 21st, I recorded an interview with my local radio station, Wessex FM, with snippets played the following Sunday during the news programmes.
At Radio Solent
The next day, I gave my first-ever live radio interview with Radio Solent’s Breakfast in Dorset DJ, Steve Harris. I was concerned I would clam up, but I needn’t have worried. I was made very welcome, and the chatter flowed.
Both interviews were centred on the surgery I’ve had to help manage my rheumatoid arthritis, and how this helped me achieve my dream of writing a novel and becoming a published author. I was keen to thank the Rheumatology and Orthopaedic teams at Dorset County Hospital for the care I’ve received, and continue to receive.
I also featured in the Dorset Echo and View From. It was a busy few days.
In the process of transforming a previous sculpture into three iconic authors
On Saturday 5th April 2014, I had a lovely time at Weymouth’s Sandworld, attending as a local author. This was in celebration of the opening of their theme for the season, Literally in Sand. Five authors with links to Weymouth enjoyed the wonderful hospitality and friendly atmosphere, chatting with people who’d come to view the amazing sand sculptures, and have a look at our books.
I spent a more than pleasurable evening preparing my new promo postcards for the occasion. #stationerylove.
Edits, edits, edits. Three rounds. The first has dropped in to my inbox. This time last year, I had no idea what to expect from the edits. This time last year I was an unpublished writer. This time last year, I was in Orlando, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, performing in their version of American Idol, our daughter decided she would like to take up photography, our son was a trained padawan and Gajitman was looking forward to our trip to the Kennedy Space Centre.
I’m considering setting book 4 in Orlando. Research may be required.
As usual, I digress.
I have received my editor’s report for Follow Me, Follow You, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in to improving the book. Since submitting the manuscript, I’ve made notes as to what to add, what needs to change or be explored further, and what I feel is irrelevant. Now that I have the report, I can start to physically alter the manuscript – track changes on, of course – and polish those sections that are a little lack-lustre.
I enjoy this process and intend to fully immerse myself in Victoria and Chris’s world.
I am delighted, thrilled and excited beyond belief to announce that my second novel, titled, Follow Me, Follow You, is to be published by Choc Lit in both digital and paperback formats later this year.
This will be my first book published as a paperback, and I cannot wait to hold a copy. The very talented artist and writer, Berni Stevens, designed the beautiful cover and has once more produced a perfect work of art and captured the essence of the whole novel.
I think this is a stunning cover. Thank you Berni and Choc Lit.
I feel privileged to be able to share this today, as it’s the second anniversary of the passing of my lovely mum. I started writing this book in the January of 2012, and was 60,000 words in to the first draft before Mum died, and whilst she never had the chance to read Follow Me, Follow You, she was kept abreast of the characters’ comings and goings.
As I stated before, she was a great supporter of my dream to write, and I can imagine her smile upon seeing this. She would say the cover was totally me.
Okay. She probably wouldn’t use the word ‘totally’, but she would instinctively know how much I love the colours, and the sheer pizzazz of the shooting star.
Sharing this today is fitting, and for me, completes another circle.
Take care.
Laura x
Follow Me, Follow You:
Victoria Noble has pulled the plug on romance. As director of the number one social networking site, EweSpeak, and single mother to four-year-old Seth, she wrestles with the work-life balance.
Enter Chris Frampton, Hollywood action hero and Victoria’s first love. His return from LA has sparked a powder keg of media attention, and with secrets threatening to fuel the fire, he’s desperate to escape. But finding a way forward is never simple. Although his connection with Victoria has lasted the test of time, has he been adrift too long to know how to move on? With the risk of them breaking, will either follow their heart?
