An Army (and Talli Roland) March on their Stomachs

When Talli agreed to be a guest on my blog I knew we were all in for a treat. What I wasn’t expecting was to laugh out loud as I read (and related to) the following. Enjoy.

Talli Roland - in between snacks

Writing from home each day, most of the excitement in my life revolves around food. From the second I sit down at the computer to start writing, I’m already fantasising about burnt toast o’clock, when I get to munch on yummy carbon slathered with butter. We all know the benefits of cupcakes and chocolate, and how they can lift us from the doldrums when things may not be going so swimmingly with our writing efforts. But what about all those other mood swings writers experience? What should we munch on then?

I've developed a handy-dandy guide to help with just that question.

Stuck on a plot point. If your creative juices aren't flowing, why not encourage a little saliva? I'd suggest munching on something sour; perhaps some of those super-mouth-pursing penny candies from the corner shop. Or, why not try sucking a lemon?

Bored with the MS. No matter how excited we may be when we begin a new project, it's inevitable that at some stage, boredom will set in. At this point, I'd recommend a bracing bite of a durian. It tastes like feet and I can guarantee you'll feel alert after eating it!

Restless and anxious. Sometimes, reading over one's own writing and the thought of showing it to others can be vom-inducing. I'd suggest a lovely cup of chamomile tea, paired with a digestive biscuit. Ahhhh...

When that character just won't behave! Don't kill them off with abandon. Instead, I recommend cooking up a piece o' meat then stabbing it over and over to release frustration. (Note: I haven't actually done this – yet).

I suck. I’m finished. No-one will ever want to read this rubbish. There’s only one thing for it: sugar sugar sugar! Chocolate, liquorice all-sorts, or even just some granules straight from the canister (I’ve done it in desperation) – whatever you choose, rest assured that in about ten minutes, you’ll get a rush that will banish the blues.

The Amazon one-star review. If you’re published, only two things are certain: 1. your mum will buy your book; and 2. at some point, you’ll receive a one-star review. Such moments are crushing and even soul-destroying . . . until you drink some wine and put it all back into perspective again. Someone doesn’t like your book. So what? They probably can’t read, anyway.

The elusive 'this MS rocks' moment. Grab whatever food is handy and stuff your face fast, 'coz I can guarantee that moment probably won't last!

Happy eating! Oh yes... and writing.

Talli Roland writes bittersweet and witty contemporary women’s fiction. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine).

Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories—complete with happy endings. Talli’s novels have been short-listed in Best Romantic Reads at the UK’s Festival of Romance and chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites. Her most recent book, Marriage to Measure, was published in December 2014.

When Serenity Holland proposes to her long-time boyfriend Jeremy, she’s certain ‘forever’ is a perfect fit. As the wedding train steams forward, though, Serenity starts to wonder if they really are an ideal match. From a crusty old ring to a dilapidated house she’s left to renovate on her own – not to mention the appearance of Jeremy’s clingy ex-fiancée – engagement feels more like disengagement. 

To learn more about Talli go to www.talliroland.com or follow Talli on Twitter:@talliroland.

Links:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Delighted you could join us today, Talli…and thank you for the permission to indulge in what might before have been considered forbidden fruit. And speaking of fruit, I had to look up durian. Not sure I'm quite ready for that one yet. Next time I have a guilt trip I shall think of this post.

Natalie

And Now For Something Completely Different

Well, it is for me anyway. As is probably obvious from the title of my book, Safe Harbour, and, more particularly, its cover, I write contemporary romantic fiction. 

However, one of my greatest pleasures when my children were small was reading to them and with them. 

I know I’m not alone in this.You can see above the delight on all three faces so I thought I’d try to understand the appeal to the adult, other than the obvious one of spending quality time with little people. And therein I think lies part of the answer.

Having decided that writing for children was going to be my topic for the week, I stopped off at the library on my way home from my Tuesday morning writers’ group. I’m not even going to tell you how long it is since I last went there. Kindle has a lot to answer for and it isn’t just about holding a book in your hand. Aside from that there are shelves full of books in my home that are still waiting to be read so why go to the library? I found out why soon enough.

Our local library underwent a complete refurbishment a couple of years ago. While it still retains that wonderful hushed atmosphere that prevails in any of its counterparts that I’ve ever visited, it is sleek and modern with a huge computer area and just as large a children’s section, and it was to this latter that I gravitated. What a joy! There were armchairs – adult and child size; tables and books…lots and lots of books. I suppose it was mainly the pre-primary school section I looked at and I discovered almost immediately that I have for many years wrongly been under the impression that most of the illustrations in children’s books were done by the author. Not true, though some most certainly are. I am now given to understand that it is the publisher's job to find an illustrator and that indeed some are so well known that books are written around their pictures or, indeed, that illustrators supply their own words.This is where I admit to a long-held wish. I’d love to be able to write for this age group but, unable to fulfil the other half of the input, I’d rejected it as being out of reach. But if it's feasible to find an illustrator …could I, might I?

I’ve been told it’s hard to write for children. Far fewer words but every single one has to count. I chose six books from the hundreds available and brought them home. I’ve read them all; it didn’t take long; but I was taken back so many years to the excitement and complete suspension of disbelief I’d shared with my daughters. 

So what if a pig could talk or a little bull save the world? There was wonder and joy in all six volumes and each was, in its own way, a morality tale. And I enjoyed them. On my own. Without two small children sitting beside me in rapt attention. Aren't we all just big kids at heart? So isn't that another part of the answer? The child in each of us is just as capable to enjoying something 'aimed' at a four year old. All we have to do is use our imagination...and believe, just for a while anyway. A children's book well-written is suitable for any age group. 

Will I do it, write that book? Almost certainly not. I’ll leave it to the experts. But what a delight to go back in time to such innocence. Time travel. Hmm. Now that’s another genre I’d quite like to try. 

Cathy Mansell - Across the Sea to Ireland

I'm thrilled to welcome Cathy Mansell to the blog today. It's always a pleasure to talk to this delightful lady.

I’ve not long finished reading ‘Where the Shamrocks Grow’. You covered a huge amount of history in this wonderfully inspiring book. Can you tell our readers something about your research?

Although Where the Shamrocks Grow is a work of fiction, some aspects are loosely based on my mother's life, my great aunt and my experience of New York.

I love research and when I was writing Where the Shamrocks Grow it was a great excuse to go back to my roots. I walked the streets of Dublin that I remembered as a child, visited Dublin's National Library where I researched the upstairs/downstairs of the period. Scrolled down many Dublin newspapers printed in the 1920s and 30s. The history of the Irish Civil War I recalled from my school days and researched what I wasn't sure of.

American history had always fascinated me because of my great aunt who lived in the Bronx before, and during the great depression. We never met, but I tried to imagine how she might have felt when she lost her savings in the 1929 crash.

It would seem that all your books are set in Ireland. You’ve lived in England for many years. What prompted you to set your work in the land of your birth?

I've asked myself this question many times, Natalie, having lived so long in Leicester. For some reason, I've never been inspired to set one of my books here. Maybe one day. Ireland to me is inspirational, the people, the landscape, the history. Besides I was brought up there, worked and went to school there at a time when I was an impressionable young teenager. I seem to have an affinity with Ireland, Dublin in particular.  Inspiration to write comes easily when I'm there.

You haven’t always written novels. What did you do before and when and why did you change?

When my first husband died from leukemia in the 70s, I found comfort in writing short verse. I then progressed to writing articles on bereavement to give consolation to others going through the same thing. To my surprise these articles were published in National magazines. I found healing in writing so I then wrote my life story for my children. It went for a second read at Arts Council England, and I was encouraged to carry on writing.

This, in turn, gave me confidence to have a go at writing a full-length novel.  Then in 2003 when I had finished writing and editing Where the Shamrocks Grow, novelist, Jean Chapman encouraged me to join the Romantic Novelists Association's (RNA) New Writer's Scheme.  It proved to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. With support from the RNA, and other supportive groups, I am now a published author writing my fifth novel.

Can you tell us about your working day?

My working day has changed over the years. When I started writing first, I had lots of time to write. Usually from nine in the morning and on and off throughout the day, sometimes working well into the night. I thought time was my own.

But that is never the case when you have family and grandchildren. I adore spending time with them, and they are all supportive of my work. When I have time off, I find myself working later and later into the evening. I start at nine but rarely get to my writing until the afternoon.  Promotion and networking take up half of my writing time.  Most authors will identify with this, but as we want to sell books, it becomes part of the working day and night.   

Where is your favourite place to write – and why?

I am fortunate to have a fantastic working place. My husband, Dennis, calls it the crow's nest. It's a small attic room in the roof of the house that he converted some years ago. It overlooks fields and trees. I can be completely alone up here with my characters.

I love it because no one likes climbing the ladder, and it keeps the grandchildren away from my computer. I've been working up here in my special place for years now and have become quite good at climbing the ladder. Some days it is the only exercise I get. 

Do you have any favourite hobbies outside of your writing (not that writing can be called a hobby)

I used to like gardening and decorating, but that fell by the wayside. I love reading and read most genres apart from science fiction. I have a passion for good drama, live or otherwise. Can’t get enough of it.

Your most recently published book, ‘Where the Shamrocks Grow’, has received excellent reviews. Is there another in the pipeline? 

Yes, I'm currently writing another romantic suspense set in Dublin and Birmingham in 6os. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my publisher, Tirgearr Publishing, will like it. It's always a bit nerve racking when you start a new book, wondering if the story will engage readers.  

Your publishers, Tirgearr Publishing, are based in Ireland. Is this a coincidence?

Yes, in a way. When the situation arose to submit work to them, I thought they might be the right publisher for me as my work was set there. As it turned out, my publisher is from California and her husband is a Cork man. I love this combination. It was a right decision.  

Cathy is an experienced writer of romantic fiction. Her early work was stories and articles published in national magazines. She organized an anthology of works funded by Arts Council England, appeared on the TV show Food Glorious Food 2012

Nowadays, Cathy writes novels set in Ireland, depicting the lifestyle and hardships of families in those days. Some of her characters become wound up in intricate criminal plots.

She lives in Leicestershire with her husband, where she writes daily in her ‘Loft Study’

Thank you so much for sharing, Cathy.

Links:

http://www.cathymansell.com

http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com

Amazon:

Tis the Season

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s Christmas Day on Thursday. Eeeeek! You’ve finished? Done? Everything? Amazing and I’m very impressed. I, on the other hand, have a list that is still as long as my arm – and I have pretty long arms. Well, I hope they’re pretty.

So I’d just like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and, if it’s been a tough year, I hope the next is good for you and, if it's been good, I wish you an even better one.

Please come and visit again in 2015 – yes, I can’t believe it either – when my first guest of the year, on 5^th January, will be the lovely Cathy Mansell

2015 is the year of the goat so go on, go at it
(sorry, couldn't resist)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

If you would like to be my guest, please contact me on natalie@nataliekleinman.co.uk

.

Strictly Star of the Future?

My guest today is Wendy Clarke. Wendy is a full time writer of women's fiction. Her work regularly appears in national women's magazines such as The People's Friend, Take a Break Fiction Feast and Woman's Weekly. She has also written serials and a number of non-fiction magazine articles.

Wendy lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex and when not writing is usually dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!

Room in Your Heart is Wendy's first collection of short stories.

I set out to find out more.

I am aware you haven’t always been a writer. What did you do before and why did you choose to change careers?

I’d like to say I was one of those writers who was born with a pen in their hand but it wouldn’t be true. I always loved English Language at school but thought that studying it at university sounded a lot like hard work so did psychology instead. After that, I drifted into teaching. When my children were born I was a stay at home mother for a while before working as education officer at The Sussex Wildlife Trust. I eventually returned to teaching – this time as English teacher in a private primary school. When the school sadly closed in 2011, due to the recession, I decided to do an online creative writing course while thinking about my future. I loved it, despite having not written any fiction for over thirty years - and the rest, as they say, is history!

Your prolific output, and indeed your success, as a short story writer is well known. How do you maintain such a level?

I’m lucky in that writing is my only ‘job’ so that helps. Having said that, I still only write part-time - fitting it in around other things such as my choir, walking the dog and seeing my grandchildren. I try to write at least one story week and am very lucky to have a very good relationship with The People’s Friend who publish a lot of them.

It was a real pleasure to meet you at the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) Winter Party a few weeks ago. Does this mean you’ll be turning your hand to novel writing?

I’m trying – honestly! I have three chapters of a novel written but I’m aware I’ve been saying that for rather a long time now. I just seem to keep writing more short stories and serials... I just can’t help myself! The plan is to try to get onto the RNA New Writers’ Scheme in January and that, hopefully, will spur me on.

Can you tell us about your working day?

That’s a little difficult as each day is different. What I’ll do is tell you what I did today. Firstly (while still in bed) I checked Facebook and Twitter and posted/tweeted new items and left comments etc. Then I looked at my blog to see if there were any comments I needed to reply to. After that, I got up and went Christmas shopping. Once home, I walked the dog then wrote 1000 words of a short story before stopping for lunch. In the afternoon, I wrote another 1000 words then, around five, I went back to checking social media again. This was a productive day but they’re not all like that.

Where is your favourite place to write – and why?

I am a writing nomad! I usually start off in the living room as it’s south facing and the move around the house as the mood takes me. In the summer I like writing in the conservatory but it’s a bit cold now that it’s winter.

You’ve recently had an anthology published of some of your short stories, Room in Your Heart. How did you choose which to include?

I decided that I wanted Room in Your Heart to be a collection of romance stories and thought I’d use ones previously published in The People’s Friend. I read them all and then chose my favourite stories for the start, end and middle of the collection. The rest were selected to mix light stories with more emotional ones, male and female viewpoints, first and third person and past and present tense. Hopefully, the finished collection is a well-balanced one.

If you could choose anyone to invite to a dinner party, who would your guests be?

My friends would laugh if they saw this question and say ‘nobody’ as they know I don’t like dinner parties but if I had to then I’d say Strictly star Kevin from Grimsby – so that he could dance with me between courses! David Nicholls – so he could tell me how he writes such wonderfully funny books and Dame Judi Dench – just because she seems so lovely (well, she was when I met her in a garden centre!)

And while you’re not busy writing and entertaining, what do you do to relax?

Oh, that’s easy... I dance! I’ve been dancing modern jive for around twenty years and salsa for over ten. Five years ago, my husband and I took up ballroom and Latin and try to dance twice a week – there’s nothing like dancing for forgetting everyday problems. I also belong to a choir and a very friendly, informal badminton club and I mustn’t forget walking my dog Bonnie, that’s when I do my thinking.

What’s next for Wendy Clarke?

More of the same probably. I like writing short stories too much to give them up but if I can write a novel alongside them then it would be the icing on the cake.

Thank you very much for having me on your blog Natalie; it was lovely of you to ask me.

It’s been a pleasure, Wendy.

Links:

Amazon:Room in Your Heart.

Blog: http://wendyswritingnow.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wendy.sargent.376

Twitter:https://twitter.com/WendyClarke99

It's a Wonderful Life

It’s the 8^th December and Christmas is rushing towards us at an alarming rate. I’ve already lost count of the number of feel good seasonal films I’ve watched on the television and what I once found sentimentally cloying I now unashamedly weep at. Mind you, even in the past I cried every time I saw ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ – a feel good production that has stood the test of time, as has ‘Miracle on 34^th Street’. There are many others, both recent and not so. ‘The Holiday’ in 2006 and ‘Love Actually’ unbelievably released as long ago as 2003. Do you have a favourite?

This sort of reminded me a bit of Kate Winslet's house in 'The Holiday'

The past two weeks have been about as hectic as the previous two – just in a different way. I was concerned about my first ever guest post here on the blog but I couldn’t really go wrong with Elaine Everest could I. A really good evening at The Write Place Creative Writing School in Dartford on Wednesday, Elaine again, was followed on Saturday by the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) London and South East Chapter Christmas Party. I defy anyone not to enjoy themselves at one of these events and it was lovely to ‘catch up’ with people. The warmth inside more than made up for travelling around in the freezing cold weather. Jean Fullerton was given a wonderful send off by Juliet Archer and Linda Chamberlain - no, she's not leaving, just relinquishing the reins after six years. 

One of the things I’ve found quite difficult since publication of Safe Harbour has been to find a balance between over exposing myself (don’t be naughty) and promoting sufficiently to attract attention. If you are a writer reading this blog, what do YOU do in these circumstances? And yes, of course, now that I’ve mentioned it I have to put the link here. http://amzn.to/14pRXmy There’s still in time to get it before Christmas. Now is THAT being too pushy. I wish I knew.

Next Monday, on 15^th December, I hope you can join me again when my guest will be the lovely Wendy Clarke.

In the meantime, please do let me have your comments on any of the above.

If you would like to appear as a guest on my blog please email me on natalie@nataliekleinman.co.uk

Chatting with Elaine Everest

I am thrilled to welcome Elaine Everest today as my first guest. She has had a particularly busy couple of years – not that she was idle prior to that. I had several questions for her:

You haven’t always been a fiction writer. What did you do before and how did you make the transition?

My first sales were with short stories although I was also writing content for our breed club magazine. As the editor of a twice yearly publication that was posted around the world, I had to source articles about Old English Sheepdogs and their owners. Writers who have experienced this kind of work know that sometimes it is easier to write it yourself! Working on articles gave me the confidence to start to pitch ideas to magazines and newspapers and gradually my main income came from journalism with short fiction an added extra. In my spare time I worked on ideas for novels. Romcom, crime, historicals, I’ve tried them all!

In the Spring of 2013 you graduated from the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) New Writers’ Scheme (NWS) with your delightful book, Gracie’s War. What came next?

I was thrilled to be accepted onto the New Writers’ Scheme although by that time I had three non-fiction books published.  Graduation and being part of the Joan Hessayon award was an added bonus. I met my agent, Caroline Sheldon, after we discussed saga writing when she was a guest on the RNA blog. She read Gracie’s War and asked if I was seeking representation. Of course I was!

So now you have an agent. How did things progress from there?

Since the early part of 2014 I’ve been working on another historical saga. This is set in WW2 in Kent. The research into the area at that time and getting to know my new characters and their families has been absorbing. At the end of September Caroline sent out the first part of the novel and only a couple of weeks later the lovely people at Pan Macmillan showed interest.

Many congratulations on securing a contract with Pan-Macmillan. Is there a map laid out for your future?

Thank you. My future will consist of a lot more writing! My first book is expected to be published at the end of 2015 with the second the following year. The books should be on sale in supermarkets which I find exciting as I often stop to look at the paperbacks written by my friends and wonder if mine will ever sit alongside them. I will be meeting my editor at Pan Macmillan soon and look forward to planning my future along with Caroline’s guidance. I’m still pinching myself!

What do you enjoy most about writing novels?

I enjoy recreating settings for my novels that come from an area I know well and where my family has lived for centuries. I like to create a believable life for my characters that take them through an interesting period in the history of England. All the settings in my stories were once real places and that takes a little more research. The area where Gracie, and Sarah from my next book lived with her nan, were once vibrant areas of Kent. Many living there now would not know of the past as the village and town have been absorbed into the Greater London area. Back in the time of WW2 the area was so different and it is this that I like to recreate in my writing.

How do relax when not working?

Dogs! Since 1972 I’ve owned, exhibited, judged and bred dogs. Apart from one crossbreed I’ve had Old English Sheepdogs and Polish Lowland Sheepdogs in my life. 99% of the time they have been pets but the other one percent has seen us at large and small shows around the country competing with the Paddipaws gang. At present we have just the one dog, Henry. Henry was imported from France and is a chocolate coloured Polish Lowland Sheepdog, the very first one of his breeding in this country. He has done well in the show ring and 2015 sees us stepping up the number of shows we attend as he heads towards competing to be a champion – fingers crossed. Saying that he is a joy to live with regardless of how he does in the ring. He will also be used at stud in the next year so there are lots of little Henry’s on the horizon which is making me broody for another puppy…
The dog world has also been important to my writing as I’ve written three non- fiction books for dog owners as well as making a living a journalist specialising in the canine world which has led to broadcasting on radio and my books appearing on television.

If you were a guest on Desert Island Discs what would be your chosen book?

Goodness that is a hard question! Could I take my Kindle? No? Hmm… In that case I’ll take the latest Ben Elton novel, Time and Time Again. I became a fan of Ben’s writing after reading his novel set in WW1 The First Casualty was so beautifully written and he did not stint on the horrors of what the soldiers endured whilst fighting for their country. In Time and Time Again he revisits WW1 but with a twist as it’s a time slip novel.

Elaine has sold over sixty short stories as well as many articles for national newspapers and magazines. She specialised in writing about the canine world (with three non-fiction dog books) but will write about anything if paid enough! In the past year Elaine has concentrated on her novel writing, graduating from the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme with her WW2 saga, Gracie’s War (Myrmidon Books), in 2012. She is a qualified tutor and runs The Write Place creative writing school in Dartford, Kent.

Elaine is represented by the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency and has just signed a two book contract with Pan Macmillan.

Links:

Email: elaineeverest@aol.com

The Write Place: www.thewriteplace.org.uk

Amazon author page

Gracie’s War

Twitter: @elaineeverest

Facebook: Elaine Everest

Thank you for welcoming me to your blog, Natalie.

It’s been a pleasure, Elaine. 

If you would like to appear as a guest on my blog please email me on natalie@nataliekleinman.co.uk