It's Been a Long Time

It’s been weeks since you last saw me here. I wouldn’t for a single moment want you to think it’s because I’ve had nothing to say. Does that ever happen? In fact I’ve been extraordinarily busy. Maybe a list is the best way to describe it:

29^th August – I met my publishers at Sapere Books in person for the first time...

Amy Durant, Editorial Director

Caoimhe O’Brien, Marketing Director

Richard Simpson, Operations Director

I was understandably slightly nervous. After all, there were three of them and only one of me. My trepidation disappeared in the blink of an eye and I began to believe I’d won the Lucky Dip. It didn’t really come as a surprise. We’d communicated online so I was fairly confident we’d get on but what a pleasure to meet REAL people. I can’t wait to get down to work with them. Here is my link on their website if you’d like to see what’s to come.

https://saperebooks.com/authors/natalie-kleinman/

After snatching a week’s holiday in sunny Eastbourne during the first week of September things took off big time. It’s been a whirlwind of a month.

9^th September – Visit to the House of Lords

As a member of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists I attended the AGM in one of the committee rooms at the House, introduced by Baroness Floella Benjamin, the society’s president. Following this (and a scrumptious tea) we were so lucky to be treated to a tour of the House by Floella and her husband, a wonderful couple who work as a team. It was a privilege and a day I shall never forget.

The lovely Floella Benjamin and SWWJ members

11^th September – The People’s Friend Workshop at DC Thomson, Fleet Street

This was a full on day. The workshop was entitled ‘Write a Serial for the “Friend”’ and was run by Shirley Blair, Fiction Editor at The People’s Friend and Alison Carter, an experienced writer for the “Friend”. It had long been my ambition to meet Shirley who has been my editor since my first short story was accepted in 2012 and I was delighted to have the opportunity of spending the day with her and 22 others writers.

23 writers all hard at work

On the same day one of my stories appeared in The People’s Friend Special. It was set in England’s Regency, the period in which I now write my books, and a delightful coincidence that the two things coincided. I was a very happy bunny.

My People's Friend Story

14^th September – The RNA York Tea and Joan Hessayon Award Presentation

Not one to miss the opportunity for a ‘jolly’, three friends – Elaine Everest, Elaine Roberts and Francesca Capaldi (one of this year’s contenders for the award) - and I decided to make a weekend of this event and travelled up by train from London on Friday the 13^th. Far from being horrific, we had a wonderful time, meeting other friends who joined us later. We steeled ourselves for the obligatory visit to the famous Bettys Tea Room. It had to be done! York is a beautiful city and I walked further in three days than I have for a very long time. And we went for a short cruise on the River Ouse. The ‘Tea’ on Saturday was a fabulous event. Held at the Merchant Taylors Hall, we were plied with lovely sandwiches and cakes before the main event, the presentation. This year’s winner was Lorna Cook with her debut novel, The Forgotten Village. My congratulations to her and to all the other contenders, each of whom was a winner, having graduated from the RNA New Writers Scheme with their book being published.

Lorna Cook - Joan Hessayon Award Winner 2019

I was delighted to have a further opportunity to chat with Amy Durant who was present as one of the final judges and to meet Natalie Linh Bolderston, Editorial Assistant at Sapere, whom she brought with her.

Since then (was it only two weeks ago?) I’ve been busy preparing for what promises to be a fabulous event on 25^th October when I am lucky enough to be one of twenty-five authors at a book-signing event at The Grand in Folkestone. I hope some of you will be able to join us from 7-9pm. And here we are: 

That’s about it for now. I look forward to seeing you next time

Natalie

Natalie Kleinman in Recovery Mode

I’m still in recovery mode. Last week’s Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) Summer Party was even more special than I could have anticipated and I hope it will remain in my memory forever.

Though it was the subject of this blog last week, in particular with reference to the Joan Hessayon Award, I cannot continue without mentioning it again as it was only the beginning of yet another amazing week. And I’m posting a picture of the group of finalists again…because I like it and because I can.

Joan Hessayon Award Finalists

So what followed this amazing event?

Firstly, my missive to Writers’ Forum, written prior to the party, appeared as the lead letter on the Writers’ Circle page. And for anyone who’s read it, no, I didn’t spill wine down the front of my dress. Cue another picture (left).

On Wednesday of this week I picked up a copy of The People’s Friend containing my short story, Secrets in the Attic. It’s almost a year since this story was sold and notification of the publication date in an email a couple of weeks ago took me by surprise because, frankly, I had forgotten about it. It was the last short story I sold (or submitted) as I had by then moved full time to writing novels. It raised a question though. The thrill of buying a magazine with one of my stories in it hasn’t diminished. To know that it will be giving pleasure, even in the short time it takes to read, is actually quite humbling. So here’s another picture.

Will I go back to them? Unlikely. I am completely committed to writing novels and, much as I enjoyed my previous work, I cannot do justice to both. With the end of the week approaching I, and approximately 250 other delegates, received the pack for the RNA Conference which will take place in London in July. A huge amount of work goes into preparing for the Conference and, without diminishing the work that others do, all credit must be given to Jan Jones for the organisation that goes on before the envelopes drop on our doorsteps. 

I have begun to study the contents and will do so many more times before attending what to me is the most valuable writing event in the calendar. There's a lot to take in. In case you don't believe me, here's another picture.

Food and wine are also involved. I look forward to seeing some of you there.

The Joan Hessayon Award and Romantic Novelists' Association

Colour Clash!

Hopefully every day of one’s life has some special element about it but for me last Thursday was way up there.

By now there have been many posts, pictures and comments on the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Summer Party but I’d like to give you my take on it. The build up to this particular event has been long – and I’m not referring to all the hard work put in by the organisers. I won’t mention names here as I’m bound to leave someone out and I don’t want to upset anybody.

RNA parties are always great! Always! Well, the five I’ve been to anyway. The Royal Over-Seas League, London is a fantastic venue and the atmosphere ever electric. This time was different though. This time I was a contender for the coveted Joan Hessayon Award, so kindly sponsored every year by Dr David Hessayon in memory of his wife Joan.

Class of 2015

There were fourteen of what should have been fifteeen in the line-up this year (sadly Heather Rosser was absent due to ill health) and we’d all known for some time that we would be on the list. The competition is for members of the New Writers' Scheme who graduate with a novel that went through the scheme to publication. Having one’s first book published is monumental and I don’t imagine any writer would deny the magnitude of the thrill of knowing your work has been recognised. To stand in a large reception room with the other graduates in a space that was filled with our peers, some published, some yet to be, as well as agents and editors, all happy for our success, was an experience I will never forget.

The photo shoot (I believe that’s what it’s called) was an experience in itself as the contenders gathered before the event for individual and group pictures. Some of the authors I had met before, some I hadn’t, but the bonding that took place in that short time was tangible and it was a thrill to be in the company of such lovely people. The photographer, and I’ve seen her at previous parties, is amazing. A lovely personality and so good at her job.

With my agent, Lisa Eveleigh
of the Richford Becklow Literary Agency

We moved into the reception to mingle with the more than two hundred people attending. There are a few prerequisites to attending an RNA party. One needs to be able to hold a glass in one hand and a canapé in the other; have a keen eye or the ability to ask people their name without embarrassment - even if you have met them several time before - if you are unable to read it on their badge. I know this will touch a chord with others as I am aware I’m not the only one who can’t put names to faces. Nobody is offended. It is also sometimes necessary to get close up and personal as it’s almost impossible to hear oneself speak, never mind the man or woman who is talking to you.

Little groups of friends often form themselves naturally but past attendees were on the lookout for name tags with a gold sticker attached. These indicated first timers and organiser Sally Quilford (okay, so I have mentioned a name after all) had thoughtfully asked us to be aware and make welcome anyone who might be on their own and a little bit anxious. What a thoughtful thing to do.

With my certificate
Proud or What!

In due course the contenders for the award were called to the front of the room and assembled before a large white board. Fourteen glammed up ladies in a row, everyone a winner just for being there, each stepping forward one pace as new Chair, Eileen Ramsey, read a short blurb about their book, the cover of which was flashed up onto the screen together with an image of the author. My own book, Safe Harbour,can be seen here in the right hand banner.

Brigid Coady
Winner - Joan Hessayon Award 2015

Then Eileen announced the overall winner, a delighted and emotional Brigid Coady, for No One Wants to be Miss Havisham – how fantastic a title is that. I wish her every luck and success in the future.

It’s very difficult to put into words – and me a writer – the pride I felt at being part of this wonderful annual event. It felt like an American-style graduation, standing up there with the rest. Hell, it was a graduation! If we’d been wearing mortar boards we would have flung them into the air. Well done everyone in the Class of 2015.

My thanks to the RNA, Elaine Everest and Vivien Hampshire who supplied images for me. I didn’t take a single one myself. 

Finally, were you there? I'd love you to share your own experience. You weren't? Then I hope to see you next year or perhaps at the Winter Party on 18th November. I can promise you a great time.

Natalie Kleinman

You Wait for a Bus and Two Come Along at Once

You may have wondered if you follow my blog what happened to Monday’s post. I have been waiting until today so I could share my wonderful news with you.

One of the dictionary definitions of kaleidoscope is a continually changing pattern of shapes and colours - and that's just what my life feels like at the moment, but in the best possible way. It's customary, I know, to start at the beginning but in this case there isn't one, not really. Actually I'm wrong, there is. Or at least a platform from which to bounce.

It all began with me joining the Romantic Novelists Association's (RNA) New Writers' Scheme (NWS) and graduating in my first year with my debut novel, Safe Harbour. In spite of having had several short stories published, there was nothing like the thrill of seeing my book and name in print for the first time; to see the product of my labour of love sitting in pride of place on the bookshelf. 

This morning the RNA announced the shortlist for the Joan Hessayon Award for 2015, a prestigious and coveted recognition given by the lovely Dr David Hessayon in memory of his wife to the graduates of the NWS. You can see the announcement here. To be named as one of the contenders is a huge thrill and you will see from the link that I am in wonderful company. There are fifteen of us in contention this year - what a tribute to today's romantic novelists and to the RNA for running the New Writers' Scheme and giving so much opportunity to its members. For those of you who would like to read it and haven't yet done so, here is the link to Safe Harbour. 

A writer is never idle. If we aren't actually putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard we are busily turning plots around in our heads. My apologies to anyone who sees me staring off into the middle distance when I am supposed to be taking part in a conversation. Now you know the reason. So I am just as thrilled to announce the publication today of my second book, Honey Bun. You can find it here. It's more a novella than a novel but I think it has a genuine 'feel good' air about it - well, it does for me. I hope you enjoy it as well. 

I shall be in and out of Facebook and Twitter today where some lovely messages have been posted to me and my fellow contenders. The writing community is one I am happy and grateful to be a part of. Oh, and with my third manuscript in the hands of my agent, Lisa Eveleigh, I am now in the process of writing my fourth book.

Watch this space!