Keep Going

Mathematics? It's a foreign language to me. Sudoku? Why put yourself through such misery? (Supposedly for fun). Memories of binary lessons at my girls' grammar school can still bring me out in a cold sweat ... oh and the slide rule! An instrument of torture. Numbers may as well be hieroglyphics to me.

But words ... I've love them - can't get enough of them. Reading them or writing them, I'm in heaven.

Click on image to purchase.

After my three children grew up and left home, I had more time to do the things I wanted to do. The thought of writing a novel hadn't even entered my head. It was the process of writing that I craved, not its publication. I wrote long newsy, embellished letters to people. I wrote short stories for my eyes only. I wrote children's stories that never saw the light of day. I packed them away in a drawer, happy for them to stay there.

Then I woke up one morning with a story in my head. I remember, it was 7th July, 2007. I spent the day in bed scribbling into an A4 pad. I couldn't stop the images and storylines from coming and didn't believe I could afford the time to get showered and dressed in case the images faded. This novel took a year of re-drafts, editing and polishing before I began to realise that I was proud of my achievement. It was the first thing I'd done for myself and I'd completed it. Perhaps it could be published? In fact, that was now quite an exciting thought. I started searching for a literary agent. I sent off 3 submissions at a time. (Agents prefer you send to send one out at a time, but if it takes 6 to 16 weeks to receive a reply, new writers would be receiving their pensions before they found success.) I wrote down when and to whom I'd submitted to and waited. It wasn't long before the cold shower of rejection letters started to drip onto the doormat. 'Not quite what we're looking for.' 'I didn't quite love it enough.' 'Our author list is full.' Now I have to say, when I'd received almost an A4 page of rejections and had written 'It's a no,' in red pen next to the agents' names on my list, the penny dropped. (It could have been ten pence, but as you now know, I don't do numbers!) If I wanted to be published, I had to up my game, as they say. It was up to me to learn and improve my writing. So I set about doing just that.

I started novel number two. I joined a writing group (Nottingham Writing Club) where I won several club writing trophies. I bought how to books about novel writing, grammar, character development etc. Time passed. I joined Twitter to develop an online presence. I continued to write. I continued to submit my book. I continued to be rejected. I entered competitions - and came nowhere. I joined Facebook. I travelled to London to listen to published authors speak and attended workshops at Harper Collins Publishing. I went to masterclasses, annually visited The London Book Fair, and also listened intently at local libraries to writer interviews. I continued to write. I started my own blog and read many other authors' blogs. More time passed. I continued to submit my book and ... a London-based agent asked to see my entire manuscript. She liked it! She sent me a contract. I signed it. This was it! Or so I thought.

With the contract signed, I finished my second novel and started on my third. For the next year I intermittently heard from my agent. Each time she informed me that she hadn't found a publisher for my novels. Significantly to me though, I was receiving more positive feedback about my books from these publishers. This encouraged me despite the continued rejections. Novel one and two were contemporary women's fiction but for novel three and having visited France and the martyred village of Oradour-sur-Glane, I felt compelled to write my next novel in a different genre - historical fiction. I informed my agent about my decision but I got a lukewarm reception. Well, thinking back, it was an Arctic iceberg of a response. "It's not a popular genre," she says. I say, tell that to Georgette Heyer, Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick (who I had a lovely cup of tea a piece of cake with in Nottingham) and hundreds more very successful authors. Surely an agent supports and encourages her/his writers? Not only this, but I couldn't enter a significant number of competitions because I HAD an agent. A part of me was saying, an agent in the hand is better than two in the bush (you know what I mean) but the other was saying, she's actually holding me back instead of helping me.

Eighteen months after finding an agent I wrote to her and ended our contract.

Instead of feeling disheartened, I felt free. I continued to write and in whatever genre I wished to express myself. I researched. I joined a second writing group (Nottingham Writers' Studio). Several of us developed an off-shoot fiction critiquing group called Ellipses and Ampersands. We meet monthly to critique each other's chapters and to give encouragement and support. (Hello Frances, Andy, Gaynor and Paul). I entered a national First Chapter Of An Unpublished Novel Competition AND WON! I now had an additional achievement to add to my writing CV. I pitched to agents at The London Book Fair and at the writing studio. As years had now passed by, I was watching and learning from online writing tutorials. I entered my third novel to the Festival Of Romance's New Talent Award in 2015 (people fall in love during wartime, too). I was shortlisted. I entered Choc Lit's Search For A Star and I was shortlisted. I started book four - another historical novel set in Paris during the German occupation. I went to another London Book Fair. I continued to write.

I can't pretend that I felt upbeat about writing throughout these ten years. Several times I became despondent, but this is where friendships, both actual and virtual online friendships, help. The support I received during these downbeat moments was immense. To mention a few people who were bastions of support: my twitter and author friend, Mariam Kobras. In the early days of my writing she told me I was a writer, not an aspiring writer. Frances Thiamann, Andy Miller, Gaynor Backhouse and Paul Anderson, my fiction group towers' of strength. Tina Williams who worked with me at the City Hospital and who read my book on reams of paper and was so positive about it. Of course my family, too. They are everything to me but maybe they're a little biased!

So, eleven years after I sat up in bed with a story to tell, I have signed THREE contracts for my first three books, with Choc Lit's new imprint, Ruby Fiction. My novel, Arlette's Story, (the historical novel my agent didn't want me to write) is now published. Thank you so much, Ruby Fiction.

To writers who are still waiting to be discovered, please keep going. Keep learning. Keep practising. Keep in touch with fellow writers. Keep writing.

The London Book Fair 2016 And Meeting An Agent

Every New Year I start counting down the weeks until I visit The London Book Fair in the Spring and this year I spent two days at the fair's 45th anniversary event. Although Olympia is more difficult to get to than Earl's Court (where the fair used to be held), its natural lighting and a balcony view of events and stands, make it an altogether more pleasant internal space. There's always a huge amount to be discovered at the fair. There were companies that could convert your book to digital, seminars that showed different approaches to marketing and the exciting thing is, you just might have a chance meeting that could lead to future success. Publishing professionals from around the world meet each year, to learn, network and do business. The London Book Fair is the leading global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. The fair is a unique opportunity to explore, understand and capitalise on the innovations shaping the publishing world of the future.

On Tuesday 12th April I saw some of the industry’s leading names, including acclaimed British novelist, screenwriter, director and actor, Julian Fellowes and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, John Whittingdale. Jeffrey Archer was also spotted in the English PEN Literary Salon where he shared his thoughts on all things publishing.

Tuesday’s Author of the Day was Marian Keyes. Marian is one of the most successful Irish novelists of all time. Storming into print in 1995 with Watermelon, Marian created a genre that she has dominated and redefined ever since. What a lovely lady with a delicious sense of humour.

Wednesday was a Shakespearian experience which was apt as it was the eve of the four hundred year anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. There was a full line-up of inspired readings, talks and appearances about and written by the Bard of Avon. The London Book Fair 2016 welcomed renowned writers to the stage in his honor. I listened to Tracy Chevalier at the English PEN Literary Salon, where she told a packed audience about her upcoming Hogarth Shakespeare project.

Wednesday’s Fair was also visited by prolific cookery book authors, Si and Dave. (Maybe you know them as the Hairy Bikers.) They visited their publisher Orion, at the Hachette stand.

It's easy to meet fellow writers in the cafes and become engrossed in conversation, swapping notes and simply enjoying the company of other writers who'd come to explore. This year a handful of writers had been given the chance to secure a one-to-one chat with a literary agent by submitting a chapter and synopsis, weeks before The London Book Fair started. I was delighted to have my work chosen and I was emailed by Midas PR and given a time to meet the agent. I met another lady who had also been selected to speak with a different agent, and I was delighted to have a chat with her and ease our nerves before our meetings. Sadly it wasn’t a pitch with an agent, but I had an interesting talk in the Author HQ theatre with Ed Victor Limited’s, Charlie Brotherstone. We discussed Vichy France, the continued popularity of war novels and the publishing industry in general. I did wonder why we'd been asked to submit sample work, but I imagine it’s because they wanted agents to meet with writers who were serious about their craft and had written complete novels.

Now it's back to work by continuing to write my fourth novel. I have until the end of August to send my manuscript to the Romantic Novelists' Association's New Writers' Scheme, so I'd better get writing...

My visit to The London Book Fair 2015

This year's London Book Fair moved from Earl's Court Exhibition Centre to Olympia. Although Olympia was more difficult to get to, involving taking a tube and then an overground bus, the new venue was perfect. With natural lighting and a balcony view of events and stands, it was an altogether more pleasant internal space than Earl's Court. There was a huge amount that could be discovered at The London Book Fair. There were companies that could convert your book to digital, seminars that showed different approaches to marketing, a future-gazing presentation that could change your strategy. The exciting thing is that there just be a chance meeting that leads to future success.

The variety of topics covered and the number of stands was huge. It gave visitors access to an incredible line-up of educational seminars, interviews, workshops and demonstrations. The first talk I was interested in listening to was Introduction To Publishing - The Roles Of Publisher And Literary Agent. This took place in the Author HQ and consisted of conversation between the audience and David Shelley, CEO of Little Brown and Lizzy Kremere, Literary Agent.

At the Children's Hub a couple of hours later, there was a talk about The Power Of Reading: Developing Reading For Pleasure In Schools. Having three ideas for children's books that are only scribbles in notebooks at the moment, I found this very helpful.

I met a couple of fellow writers in the cafe and we became engrossed in conversation, swapping notes and simply enjoying the company of other writers who'd come to explore. We had to sneak into the back of a seminar that had already started but which turned out to be an excellent question/answer session. Questions were asked from the audience about writing a synopsis, how important a 'hook' is in the first chapter (not always was a surprising answer), how publishing has changed and how too much description should be avoided. I always find these sessions the most useful because the questions are so varied, as opposed the talks about one particular aspect of writing.

There were lots of books for sale and literary gifts to buy. This is the pile I brought back from London with me. (Note to self; they were heavy - take a shopping trolley next year!)

Oh, I nearly forgot - I also found a little something else in Harrods!

My Highlights of The London Book Fair 2013

With the snow and the frost a mere shiver of a memory away, sunshine and a mild breeze accompanied me to the 42nd London Book Fair this week. I hadn't planned anything in particular as this year I'd decided to wander the stalls, stop for a coffee at the Literary Pen Cafe and linger at the Author Lounge whilst listening to whichever writer happened to have the microphone at the time.

The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. It takes place every spring and is great for exploring and learning about the innovations shaping the publishing world of the future. This year Turkey was the Market Focus country following on from China last year.



Author of the day on Tuesday 16th April was Elif Shafak who answered questions and spoke about her novel, Honour. Honour is her ninth novel and is about a Turkish-Kurdish family saga set in London. She writes fiction in both Turkish and English. Critically acclaimed as “one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary literature”, her books have been translated into more than thirty languages. Elif Shafak said, 'Stories make a difference in my country (Turkey) and all around the world. They connect us across borders. By giving voice to the voiceless, making visible the invisible, and challenging intolerance and bigotry, storytellers can mend the bridges that extremist ideologies smash, dividing humanity into islands of "us" versus "them." It is a pleasure and honour to have been chosen one of the Authors of the Day at the London Book Fair this year.'





I was drawn to the kobo stand having seen their new Aura HD ereader advertised. With it's adjustable lighting, 1-2 month battery life and being the highest resolution 6.8 inch screen on the planet, it had me coveting the little rectangular piece of plastic like nothing else at the fair!



For the first time ever at the London Book Fair, 'The Pitch' enabled unpublished authors to meet and network with literary agents and gave them the opportunity to present their book proposal to a literary agent, face-to-face, and get feedback on their ideas and submission material. I haven't heard whether a new author was successful in finding representation at the fair, but wouldn't it be wonderful if they had? It's great to think that someone has seen fit to help unpublished writers and to offer them this opportunity.



The great debate at this year's Fair was 'Amazon: Friend or Foe?' The wide-ranging poles of opinion were that Amazon was being 'unfairly maligned' or were 'destroying the competition.' Eoin Purcell, editor of New Island Books and Irish Publishing News defended Amazon by saying that it was only taking advantage of the natural properties of the internet and digital change. Jennifer Lee, publisher of Daily Lit agreed saying that Amazon were 'the one's who created a critical mass for digital reading.' She said that 'the company had also opened distribution for writers via self-publishing which had unleashed a new stream of creativity.'

Arguing against Amazon was Tim Godfrey, Chief Executive of the UK Booksellers Association. He said that 'Amazon has got so big, they are not competing but destroying the competition. Do we really want an environment in which there are virtually no book shops and far fewer publishers and agents? Because that is really where we're heading.' Robert Levine, author of Free Ride backed Tim Godfrey by saying that, 'If you're a writer, you usually want to sell books for money. Amazon wants to propagate a platform.' He also stressed the importance of controlling one's pricing, calling Amazon a 'hyper-efficient machine for dragging down prices.'

A vote was taken on whether or not Amazon was a positive influence in today's writing world.
For Amazon - 59 votes. Against - 117.



On a more light-hearted note, these were the two books I treated myself to. A gorgeous notebook (yet another!) decorated with buttons and which is far too lovely to stain with ink, and a one hundred year old copy of The Mill On The Floss by George Eliot.



I thought the final word could go to the English poet, writer and broadcaster Sir John Betjeman, who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack". I took a photograph of the wonderful statue of him at St Pancras Station.



A Bay In Anglesey by Sir John Betjeman

The sleepy sound of a tea-time tide
Slaps at the rocks the sun has dried,

Too lazy, almost, to sink and lift
Round low peninsulas pink with thrift.

The water, enlarging shells and sand,
Grows greener emerald out from land

And brown over shadowy shelves below
The waving forests of seaweed show.

Here at my feet in the short cliff grass
Are shells, dried bladderwrack, broken glass,

Pale blue squills and yellow rock roses.
The next low ridge that we climb discloses

One more field for the sheep to graze
While, scarcely seen on this hottest of days,

Far to the eastward, over there,
Snowdon rises in pearl-grey air.

Multiple lark-song, whispering bents,
The thymy, turfy and salty scents

And filling in, brimming in, sparkling and free
The sweet susurration of incoming sea.

London Book Fair 2011

Birds Sing Louder In The City I love London. Partly, I imagine, because I was born there, but also because one of my first memories was of sitting on my father's shoulders. I remember hanging onto Buckingham Palace railings, looking at the soldiers dressed in red. I left when I was three, but its magic seems to have seeped into my bones! What better excuse to return to the Capital, than The London Book Fair. I booked a hotel for an overnight stay and spent two days lost in the world of books. I explored the Book Fair, browsed book shops, did some research for my second novel (more later), read Carol Ann Duffy's poetry on the tube (Mrs Midas is amazing), made notes for my WIP...and generally luxuriated in the written word.
There were two huge halls full of literary experts, authors, publishers, agents, book sellers, buyers and visitors. Clutching my pass, I roamed the halls in awe at some of the names and faces which were part of the exhibition. I joined the throngs at a talk about promoting your book and listened in on some interviews. Some friends find it bizarre that I'd happily swap two days shopping in the City, for hours and hours at The London Book Fair?

I was delighted to meet up with my lovely writer friend, Avril. We met through leaving messages on each other's blogs. Sitting at The English Pen Literary Cafe, we chatted about family and our writing dilemmas and successes. It's so heart-warming to talk about a passion for writing with like-minded people. My closest friend in Nottingham doesn't read for pleasure and has no desire to write. She's never asked to read any of my work even though she's proud of my achievements. So it was a delight to catch up with Avril in person. I also met my agent Juliet, who had a very hectic schedule as you can imagine. I managed to say hello inbetween her appointments, as I thought it would have been such a shame to have been in the same building and not said hello. My WIP is a second contemporary women's fiction novel called, Sugar and Spite. In Chapter 5 my protagonist, Erin, meets her best friend Libby at The Parlour Restaurant on the first floor of Fortnum and Mason on Piccadilly. (For my overseas blog visitors, it's an iconic British store which sells high quality goods.) As a sub-plot, Libby is failing to conceive and also struggling to recover from the sudden death of her brother. This in turn leads to a stupid mistake which gets her into serious trouble after leaving Erin at The Parlour. Of course I had to sample their cream tea whilst jotting down the atmosphere, decor, lay-out, smells, colours, staff......! Below is my favourite park in London - St. James's Park. It's set in Westminster and is the oldest royal park. It has two islands in its lake and the park is full of wonderful waterfowl. I love this view from the middle of the bridge over-looking the lake. The London Eye is on the right and Horse Guard's Parade on the left. It was a warm sunny day in the park, where people lounged on the soft grass eating picnics, lovers held hands, children chased ducks and joggers seemed to run with a spring in their step. No doubt the sunshine made their exercise a lot more enjoyable! A little wander in the sunshine took me to Piccadilly Circus where I found the usual chaotic hubbub. Sirens wailing, street sellers shouting, taxis and red buses vying for right of way, bustling pedestrians, cyclists' shrill bells, mobiles ringing...a far cry from peaceful St. James's Park! Circus comes from the Latin word meaning, circle. Nowadays we call it a roundabout! It's also famous for its neon signs on the side of this corner building. They say birds sing louder in the City in order to be heard. I find that sad. I imagine them with sore throats, struggling to be heard above the cacophony of the capital! I live in a small village called Car Colston in Nottingham. It doesn't have any shops, just a quaint pub called The Royal Oak. I've written about it in my first novel, Lies and Linguine. It's where my protagonist first sees the hero of my novel, whilst sipping Pimms on the village green. The birds in Car Colston have got it made! They live in the gentle buzz of the countryside, whereas the poor old Cockney Sparrows live amongst the deafening roar of the metropolis. The photograph above is of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is the nickname for the bell of the clock and it's the largest four-faced clock in the world. (sorry for sounding like a history teacher, but you never know when you'll be invited on to Mastermind!) The London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe. It makes an appearance in my second novel, Sugar and Spite. I find it so much easier to write about places I've been to. Even better, to make notes whilst actually visiting a place. Touching the surroundings, smelling the street life and feeling the atmosphere help to evoke a clearer picture when I'm back at home telling the story with my fingertips. I visited Amsterdam's Red Light District for that very reason! My antagonist in Lies and Linguine made a terrible mistake whilst on a stag weekend there; but that's another story.... Buckingham Palace - the home of the British monarchy. It's going to be a very busy place on 29th April 2011. Congratulations William and Catherine. It's a shame all the glorious daffodils and tulips will have died away by then.

I always pop into Harrods in Knightsbridge. I might shun Topshop for The London Book Fair, but with over one million square feet of shopping space, a girl can't say no! I treated myself to a bottle of Jo Malone's Pommegrante Noir perfume as I'd run out. The only celebrity I saw was Joe Pasquali who coughed as he passed me! I had to smile because even his cough is squeaky! And so another year's book fair is over. I look back to when I visited last year and think of my achievements. My lovely agent Juliet Burton is now representing me and Lies and Linguine, I've joined a second writing group, I've been invited onto the committee of Nottingham Writers' Club, I've read my work in public, I have three trophies in my writing room for my novel, poetry and a YA story and I'm about to join The Walk's Book Club. I've also accumulated even more notebooks to add to my bulging collection. It's just a shame that they're all too pretty to write in!

To see Avril's blog, visit http://www.onthewhitepage.com/

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

I haven't got out of bed yet! I'm sitting propped up with a cuppa on my right, laptop on my knee and husband on my left. Sunny Cornwall seems so far away now, but it re-charged my flagging batteries. We stayed in the house in the photo, so you can see just what a delight it was. (my protagonist's parents live in this house)

Now it's time to metaphorically roll my sleeves up and get busy. I don't believe in making resolutions on new year's eve. I think you're setting yourself up for a fall if you voice huge changes to be made in your life. Instead, I just like to set myself goals which are achievable. I want to complete my second novel, eat a healthier diet, re-visit The Chelsea Flower Show, Cirque de Soleil and The London Book Fair. Last year at the LBF, so many stands were deserted because travellers couldn't fly due to the volcanic dust cloud. All that planning - then with one puff of smoke from mother nature, everything's cancelled.

One of my writing groups holds its Christmas buffet and awards night next Wednesday. Our previous attempt to hold it was blighted by the snow. (mother nature putting her oar in again) I've entered Lies and Linguine into a competition along with some other poems and prose, so I'm crossing everything that something may have won a placing. I would urge any new writer to join a writing club. I've entered competitions, attended workshops, made friends, read my work out loud for the first time, listened to constructive criticism and picked up many valuable literary tips. I wish I'd done it earlier!

Well, my tea's cold now and my husband has got up and walked the dogs on the village green whilst I've been typing. I can hear him stacking the dishwasher now, so guilt is kicking in and I'd better get up!

Oh, one more thing I'd like to achieve - find more followers for my blog.....

The Big Smoke

It appears to me that trying to get to Hampstead Heath for a spot of research for my book, has similarities to trying to get published! Neither are a smooth journey.
I first attempted the journey to London last September on my birthday. I wanted to be selfish and indulge in my passion for that day. But not being writers, family members thought it strange that I'd want to spend the day alone. They missed the point that I would be spending the day surrounded by the characters in my book. So I ended up in Cambridge, and spent a lovely day with my mother and daughter instead.
Autumn also conjured up obstacles to defer another attempt. Still, writers know all about waiting patiently!
I made it to London last Monday. Uninterested people waved a nonchalant hand when I asked for occasional directions, just as uninterested agents have rejected my manuscript. I got on the tube going in the wrong direction, just as I'd received a letter from a publisher offering to publish my work....for a fee! Not a direction I wanted to travel down.
When I reached Hampstead Heath, the sun was shining and the blossoms were bursting. People pointed me in the right direction with a smile, just as some agents have been very complimentary about my writing and urged me to continue. Isn't it wonderful when an experience exceeds your expectations? I reached the summit of Parliament Hill, taking the same journey my fictional family did in Lies and Linguine. Sitting on a bench, shining with a polished patina from thousands of bottoms, I looked over the huge metropolis and felt as if Denise and her family had actually sat there before me. Just to add a further dimension to my visit, a group of impromptu gospel singers sprang into song on the summit of the hill. I drank in sun, the constellation of dandelions, the children's squeals, the smell of the grass and the distant rumble of traffic. It makes so much difference to visit a place you want to write about.
I also visited The London Book Fair. The quote of the day for me, was by author Richard Ford who was being interviewed in the Literary Cafe. He said, "Every writer experiences rejection. We all have to have a turn in the cold shower. Ultimately, be yourself. You've got to write what you've got to write."
How true!

The Big Smoke Beckons

Has a year passed already? It doesn't seem like twelve months ago that I was sitting in a masterclass entitled How To Become Published at The London Book Fair. And no - I haven't - yet. I've been told these things can't be rushed!
So it's with a skip in my step that I'm off to The London Book Fair 2010 on Monday. Seems like a good time to mull over my achievements since last year's fair.
Well, a year ago I hadn't won a competition for my first chapter. I hadn't had an agent request my entire manuscript having read my first three chapters, and I also hadn't started my second novel, which is now well under way.
I'm happy with that progress!