tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31355691786951358512024-03-19T01:54:46.390-07:00What I've Been DoingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17545731235436346381noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135569178695135851.post-72091341155154484712014-09-19T03:42:00.001-07:002014-09-19T04:54:01.947-07:00QUICK READS<style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbsf9T9fbf3Uqrf3flQxYOLZVSmid2WUcqmbk0hY_Bb8MgRPKulSr43QzP7BZBFHCviZeXjg7b2H-J3v2BT7lJ1pRwLM3G44XP9o7xcsf1lWnD8KPQiJuZGDKyIJR2zTzl8_mDA-3XhnL/s1600/QR+2015+Packshots+Horizontal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbsf9T9fbf3Uqrf3flQxYOLZVSmid2WUcqmbk0hY_Bb8MgRPKulSr43QzP7BZBFHCviZeXjg7b2H-J3v2BT7lJ1pRwLM3G44XP9o7xcsf1lWnD8KPQiJuZGDKyIJR2zTzl8_mDA-3XhnL/s1600/QR+2015+Packshots+Horizontal2.jpg" height="100" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">According to a 2012 National Literacy Trust
Survey, as many as 1 in 6 adults finds reading a struggle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Having been involved with books and reading
all my adult life, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">as a
publisher, journalist, a reviewer and most recently as a novelist,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> I find that a shocking statistic. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’ve always loved reading and continue to believe in books and the
transformative power of reading at any and every level. Reading can widen your
horizons without your even having to leave home. It’s a pleasure that that
should be open to everyone at any age or stage of their lives. The fact that
Quick Reads aims to make that possible is a wonderful thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Quick Reads is a charity that has been formed
with a view to breaking down the barrier to reading. Every year they publish
six short books that have been specially written to engage and encourage those
who find reading difficult, for whatever reason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In 2015, a new set of books will be
published. I’m very proud to be one of the authors and extremely honoured to be
in the company of Man Booker prize-winning novelist Roddy Doyle, author of The
Commitments, bestselling novelists Jojo Moyes, Sophie Hannah and Adele Geras.
What’s more there’s even a specially shortened version of the extraordinary a
moving story of Street Cat Bob – the only cat I’ve ever seen do a high five!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I hope our books will provide plenty of
enjoyment to readers as well as being another step on the way to reducing the
statistic I quoted at the start. Oh, and they’re only £1 each!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17545731235436346381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135569178695135851.post-44626428476403555442014-04-15T01:08:00.000-07:002014-04-15T01:08:08.777-07:00THE WOMENTORING PROJECT
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20OmEKJFQYWwqKL6Fljf-Z5jE_lhmolE-m_GDaS_myFfTJ-yVTpFLiT5IJUiJc6eDSIzw0C4kYSGdfUIh7vLj3ybav2pQWrONYbPrirpolN0vV0VI6WmrhIlbX25n23cTgeDz2Z-p7l45/s1600/WoMentoringIllo1CropWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20OmEKJFQYWwqKL6Fljf-Z5jE_lhmolE-m_GDaS_myFfTJ-yVTpFLiT5IJUiJc6eDSIzw0C4kYSGdfUIh7vLj3ybav2pQWrONYbPrirpolN0vV0VI6WmrhIlbX25n23cTgeDz2Z-p7l45/s1600/WoMentoringIllo1CropWeb.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Today,
April 15<sup>th</sup>, marks the start of a fantastic new MENTORING SCHEME FOR WOMEN WRITERS that I’m thrilled to be part of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The WoMentoring
Project aims to introduce successful literary women to other women writers at
the beginning of their careers who would benefit from some insight, knowledge
and support. The hope is that we’ll see new, talented and diverse female voices
emerging as a result of time and guidance received from the mentors. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m one of
those mentors who are offering free advice </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">to up and coming female writers who would
otherwise find it difficult to access similar opportunities.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Why do we
need it?<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Like many
great ideas the WoMentoring Project came about via a conversation on Twitter.
While discussing the current lack of peer mentoring and the prohibitive expense
for many of professional mentoring various writers, editors and agents were
asked who would be willing to donate a few hours of their time to another woman
just starting out. The response was overwhelming – within two hours over sixty
volunteer mentors (including me!) had signed up.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
WoMentoring Project is run on an entirely voluntary basis and all the mentors
are professional writers, editors or literary agents. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This is how it works</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In an ideal
world we would offer a mentor to every writer who needed and wanted one. Of
course this isn't possible so instead we've tried to ensure the application
process is accessible while also ensuring that out mentors have enough
information with which to make their selection.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Applicant
mentees will submit a 1000 word writing sample and a 500 word statement about
how they would benefit from free mentoring. All applications will be for a
specific mentor and mentees can only apply for one mentor at a time. Selections
will be at the mentor's discretion. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Interested?
Then go straight to the website, check out the mentors, see who you think might
be most helpful to you and apply.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Website
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">www.womentoringproject.co.uk</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17545731235436346381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135569178695135851.post-10442725767108658602014-02-21T01:45:00.000-08:002014-02-21T01:53:18.704-08:00Truly Madly Deeply, an anthology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-2KO5dlUblSpneKWh-JgPXaBRViWMksouvujTxy_wB8JFDPzrFYXdd-fUJB0BqEcg6_tfRruZFfONnudjHsY-cUjci0AzSUGDr23iMIGu9ub9NVozpAB3JkRYWkbgDjZqYsD7LC5UKbL/s1600/Truly,+Madly,+Deeply+front+cover+official.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-2KO5dlUblSpneKWh-JgPXaBRViWMksouvujTxy_wB8JFDPzrFYXdd-fUJB0BqEcg6_tfRruZFfONnudjHsY-cUjci0AzSUGDr23iMIGu9ub9NVozpAB3JkRYWkbgDjZqYsD7LC5UKbL/s1600/Truly,+Madly,+Deeply+front+cover+official.jpg" height="320" width="196" /></a></div>
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How better to return to my blog that to celebrate the
publication of Truly Madly Deeply, a collection of short stories by members of
the Romantic Novelists Association that’s published TODAY, February 21<sup>st</sup>.
In there you’ll find stories from Elizabeth Buchan, Adele Parks, Katie Fforde, Judy
Astley, Kate Harrison and many more, including yours truly.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have pleasant memories of writing my story in the shade of
a terrace in Formentera (little island near Ibiza). I sat at a small table with
my laptop as the sun beat down, with a pool just a step away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I listened hard, I could hear the sea
in the distance and the odd shout as someone bicycled down to the beach.</div>
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Third Act was inspired by recently having seen a friend’s
talented daughter playing Sybil in Coward’s Private Lives at the Sheringham
theatre. Thinking about it, the image of a mother driving up the M11 at its
most hellish in order to see her daughter’s first night in said play started
knocking on my brain. Hot on the heels of that came the complications in her
private life and her own memories of being in the same play at uni.
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I remembered a brush I’d had with an aspiring actor (now rather
successful)at university myself and so, with that as a starting point,</span> the
story began to unfold and the twists in the tale began to take shape. I hope you enjoy
it as much as I enjoyed writing it – as well as all the other terrific stories in the collection. </div>
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<span class="fsl">The print edition of Truly, Madly, Deeply
has 24 new stories in it. The eBook edition has 11 more new stories in it. </span></div>
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Just click
here and they're all yours!</div>
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Truly-Madly-Deeply-Adele-Parks/dp/0263245616/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1392889559&sr=1-2</div>
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<span class="fsl"></span></div>
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<span class="fsl">AND there are four copies of the print edition
of Truly, Madly, Deeply to giveaway. Just enter using the Rafflecopter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- </span><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b631020/"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b631020/</span></a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17545731235436346381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135569178695135851.post-85811034516769754312013-11-21T01:56:00.001-08:002013-11-21T01:56:44.276-08:00EDITING: GETTING THE DISTANCE
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRja5swLhaWbFakq3ZltemZif3nwB-YXWgyfHSJw9zUahTEqG9uKdZOGK0mvkIzR151t3YX4CmdZrYIIgvaf26z6O4kAfreEYC21qyxs0z2WJ4vhSl0lcaq9XIyTzalDwE3jEUpr1PBbFT/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRja5swLhaWbFakq3ZltemZif3nwB-YXWgyfHSJw9zUahTEqG9uKdZOGK0mvkIzR151t3YX4CmdZrYIIgvaf26z6O4kAfreEYC21qyxs0z2WJ4vhSl0lcaq9XIyTzalDwE3jEUpr1PBbFT/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m in the middle of
editing my latest novel. The biggest problem I have on my hands is time. Or
lack of it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those of us who try to
write a novel a year, time is not a luxury allowed us. But we have to try to
achieve a good distance from our work in order to objectify and improve it. Being
able to achieve that distance gives you the ability to ‘kill your darlings’ –
suddenly they aren’t your darlings any more. Over the years I’ve learned a few
techniques that help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I write my first draft on
a computer, then send it to my agent and editor, both of whom make their
comments. During that period of anything between two to six weeks, I don’t look
at the novel at all, hoping that when I return to it, I shall see it with new
eyes. That’s when the work begins. In fact, this is part of the process I enjoy
the most – teasing out the characters, sharpening the plot, tightening the
prose. To distance myself further, I try to make the process as different as I
can from the original writing process.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First of all I print it out
in a different typeface to the one I’ve been working in thus far. This was
given to me as a tip by a successful writer years ago. My eye then isn’t used
to it and doesn’t slide so easily over the passages I’ve become all too
familiar with. Then I pick up a pencil. This has to be one of those coloured
plastic propelling ones with a rubber on the top – sold in packets of four in
WH Smiths – nothing else will do! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading the words on paper
is, for reasons I don’t understand, a completely different experience to
reading them on the screen. With editorial notes at my side, I’m quite ruthless
about the slashing and burning process. Suddenly what my editor has said makes
even better sense. In some regard, I imagine the process as similar to a
sculptor working with a lump of marble – chipping away, chipping away and
gradually – you hope – something more beautiful will begin to emerge, something
that’s been lurking within waiting to be released.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then back to the screen,
reading<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(in another typeface
again, if I feel I need it) as I put in my corrections and cuts, checking that
they work as well as I thought in the first place (not always the case).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And lastly – I read the
whole thing out loud. Yes, really. Again I was encouraged to do this by another
successful novelist. She was right. Any awkward phrases or stilted dialogue
stand out a mile, ready for correction or cutting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And yes, it takes time,
but not ten years. By then I hope my experience of the novel is as close to a
general reader’s as I can get.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then it’s back to my
editor … Wish me luck!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17545731235436346381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135569178695135851.post-17337361987210701442013-11-13T09:28:00.000-08:002013-11-14T05:11:53.552-08:00THE IMPORTANCE OF TITLES<div class="MsoNormal">
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I’m looking for a title. I did have one, but my publisher doesn’t think it
works. It doesn’t matter what it was because it doesn’t exist any more but it
was one I’ve been living with since I began writing at the beginning of the
year when it defined the story for me. However when she described the negative
reactions of her colleagues to it and their reasons, I began to see what she meant.
There was little point in fighting for it when the people taking it into the
world didn’t think it would work.<br />
<br />
So how important is it to get the right title for your novel? I’d say very. The
title is a vital selling tool. It’s the first thing to make an impression on
any potential reader. It needs to pique their interest, make them want to know
more. So it’s got to be arresting or intriguing, and make your book stand out
of the crowd. The Madness of a Seduced Woman, A Woman’s Guide to Adultery, I
Don’t Know How She Does It, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fried
Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Café – they all did it. But so does Stoner,
The Poisonwood Bible or Hateship, Friendship, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Courtship, Loveship</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">. At
least, I think so.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
The title should convey something of the content of the book – whether you use
a phrase, an object, a name, an event, whatever. Although I have once been told
that this isn’t true, that if the title’s good enough it doesn’t matter about
how much it reflects the content. I don’t think this was a joke.<br />
<br />
But how do you find the right one, the crowd pleaser? Sometimes they just float
unbidden out of the ether. Sometimes they’re to be found hiding in the text.
Sometimes someone else suggests one. And sometimes they’re the result of weeks
of thought, argument, slog and despair.<br />
<br />
The problem I’m finding is that all this is very subjective. As with everything
else in life, we bring our own baggage to interpreting what’s put in front of
us. Different words and phrases have different connotations for different
people. It’s hard sometimes to explain or justify one’s preference for one
title over another. You just respond differently. And that’s why deciding a
title by committee can never please everyone. <br />
<br />
My list of new possibilities is growing. Some are better than others. But
somewhere in there must be the one that will please me, reflect the book, and
appeal to the publishers. All I have to do is find it. <br />
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17545731235436346381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135569178695135851.post-52439446980436377772013-11-04T09:20:00.000-08:002013-11-06T01:54:10.281-08:00A FEW OBSERVATIONS FROM ITALY<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwdujcOXUmCxf50FQ6q7riFOPxPbfoq9xbvd-pdNy7QOnIkBG3k6z1FLz2jm3-AhPmVFZtgC7USWfO3bXllXmUD5Om0Fd8Ca_oJic8CeMsPQL-3mCLfYCFBRZlJt3UhhzzZGwWonMTm86/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwdujcOXUmCxf50FQ6q7riFOPxPbfoq9xbvd-pdNy7QOnIkBG3k6z1FLz2jm3-AhPmVFZtgC7USWfO3bXllXmUD5Om0Fd8Ca_oJic8CeMsPQL-3mCLfYCFBRZlJt3UhhzzZGwWonMTm86/s320/IMG_0554.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For the last ten days, we’ve been travelling
around a patch of northern Italy, from Mantua to the Euganean Hills, Padua,
Lake Garda and Verona.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Travelling to northern Italy at the end of
October is a risk, weather-wise. Our friends who live near Florence and joined
us for the middle weekend, said that they left home in balmy autumn weather. As
they crossed the Appenines in our direction, all they could see beyond was
low-lying cloud. And when I say low, I mean, low. So no, the weather wasn’t all
it might have been until the sun came out for our last three days in Verona.
But it was always warm, at least – even when it was pouring with rain at Lake Garda.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In our
wanderings, we saw countless beautiful, less beautiful, startling and
interesting things. We ate and we drank, and we walked and walked and
walked. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most
beautiful was unquestionably the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua (perhaps
you’ve seen it) its walls alive with Giotto’s expressive fresco cycle. No photos allowed. Perhaps
most extraordinary was d’Annunzio’s house on Lake Garda – a monolithic house of
a megalomanic filled with tiny opulent but dark (he was photophobic, we were
told) rooms crammed with books, memorabilia, relics and objets d’art. Evidence
if there ever was that one man’s clutter is another man’s treasure. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMW0eCvIjQk-1gVE76JtgwaF779L3mpVG0KLK27zGDUCpZUUg-PK9sCl8tR3bXggykX_ifQyvSaAa5w_MFwSjqZSzyUMB2wCbZRKfJYi7jZgLDi7HNRxy0SVQVCOBVsy7LFZ6H3IgKqdL/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMW0eCvIjQk-1gVE76JtgwaF779L3mpVG0KLK27zGDUCpZUUg-PK9sCl8tR3bXggykX_ifQyvSaAa5w_MFwSjqZSzyUMB2wCbZRKfJYi7jZgLDi7HNRxy0SVQVCOBVsy7LFZ6H3IgKqdL/s320/IMG_0516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Most disappointing was not being able to
see the Mantegna ceiling in Mantua because of earthquake damage to the
building. Nearby however was Sabbioneta, a small renaissance town with its own
palazzo, synagogue, garden palace and the first free-standing theatre in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>modern Europe: small and perfectly
formed. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjWpPVCjxynFJ_nFuQUujO9JzVGyzXvmbDT5q3u5i3hLRB8galCWBMW86H_uQwEzFvpqvk-45lYf8lHKEebirFnBJs0VghiuEugBr7s4EP6lu8j2aeYWbuAYquy_-SrVud7opqjy7Sy6x/s1600/IMG_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjWpPVCjxynFJ_nFuQUujO9JzVGyzXvmbDT5q3u5i3hLRB8galCWBMW86H_uQwEzFvpqvk-45lYf8lHKEebirFnBJs0VghiuEugBr7s4EP6lu8j2aeYWbuAYquy_-SrVud7opqjy7Sy6x/s320/IMG_0381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">An
unexpected pleasure was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in discovering
the Giardino Giusti where we sat alone in the sun overlooking the roofs of
Verona. As was finding the lower church in San Fermo. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w2vuVd6njJRZrJtsZaLvV2Ls-TR2EuL6e5ke0x_6mEd78mFDdsB_tMiF2fJ8dLnT-2MXU-0Z44QhK6zKoAnfmfbrykghKDg7psjNV3oEh2NZnd6drEF2aYUKUjaK_YJ1gIiyUDIpYyEM/s1600/IMG_0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w2vuVd6njJRZrJtsZaLvV2Ls-TR2EuL6e5ke0x_6mEd78mFDdsB_tMiF2fJ8dLnT-2MXU-0Z44QhK6zKoAnfmfbrykghKDg7psjNV3oEh2NZnd6drEF2aYUKUjaK_YJ1gIiyUDIpYyEM/s320/IMG_0553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most
surprising were the Euganean Hills where we stayed in a picturesque village
where Petrarch spent his final years – a part of the world dotted with villas,
gardens and small historic towns, its green volcanic hills <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a welcome contrast to the industrial
Lombardian plain. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzOYH5VDbBtlqiFPe2CEXaDK7QAQrK8G86ZbhQChmqtqVVcFUmGSQlPxBfHv1waqMQ8aY2hHfYlVh2zMvDcwn4s1qwtNgcYRde3H92NjpLLLVw9IoiExo3sN1s7zIp6dBFuENZ0f7__gY/s1600/IMG_0409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzOYH5VDbBtlqiFPe2CEXaDK7QAQrK8G86ZbhQChmqtqVVcFUmGSQlPxBfHv1waqMQ8aY2hHfYlVh2zMvDcwn4s1qwtNgcYRde3H92NjpLLLVw9IoiExo3sN1s7zIp6dBFuENZ0f7__gY/s320/IMG_0409.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Best house wine – the local Lugana. The best food. Mmmm. I
discovered pasta and polenta are not my thing but it was the wild mushroom season
and I don’t remember a dud meal apart from a sandwich in Mantua of warm sliced
white bread and melting processed cheese. Well, we were starving! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One or two things I’d forgotten or never
knew:</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*Italians don their winter wardrobe according
to the time of year, not the weather. While we tourists were still in our
summer kit, the Italians were wrapped up in scarves and the ubiquitous puffa
jacket.</span></span></span></h4>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*Travelling out of season means running the
risk of finding what you came to see shrouded under netting: ‘in restauro’. This is what we found in Mantua as they gear up to be a contender for European City of Culture 2019.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAZjIXZA6SN2h7H0JrUUrb4bCDPmJM02hdSKWQ4OdsCGV_OmSNGzu7uLUiGfkvDC3m6Ixtt5uqFKTk14JgXd7qck3zi6cGxYGJSIboe-XijCHDuPBCPzPEvzo4GXns7OzZCxqwjQx0uou/s1600/IMG_0355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAZjIXZA6SN2h7H0JrUUrb4bCDPmJM02hdSKWQ4OdsCGV_OmSNGzu7uLUiGfkvDC3m6Ixtt5uqFKTk14JgXd7qck3zi6cGxYGJSIboe-XijCHDuPBCPzPEvzo4GXns7OzZCxqwjQx0uou/s320/IMG_0355.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*Crossing the road at an unlit pedestrian
crossing demands nerves of steel. The traffic doesn’t stop unless you hurl
yourself in front of it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terrifying
at first, you soon get the hang of it.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*The virulent orange drink that appears on
many a lunchtime drinker’s table is a ‘Spritz’. Aperol, white wine, slice
(orange) ‘n’ ice. Bitter enough to stop you drinking too fast. But better, I
discovered, if made with CInzano and wine. Prettier too.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*The bag and shoe shops are stuffed with
objects of desire. As I’d left my credit card on the kitchen table by mistake,
the frustration I experienced when browsing inside was acute.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*Best ice-cream in the world. But everyone
knows that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*Sirmione, on Lake Garda, was home to three
great writers, Catullus, Dante and one Naomi Jacobs from Ripon. She has her own
plaque there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*Red trousers definitely look better on Italian men! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Finally, I’d like to be able to tell you
about what I read, but as I’m on the judging panel for the Costa Short Story Award this
year, I can only say that I had my iPad and a constant supply of stories. Just
off to read a few more now.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17545731235436346381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135569178695135851.post-40217935599593690822013-10-10T10:10:00.003-07:002013-10-11T01:15:19.056-07:00TO REVIEW OR NOT TO REVIEW …<style>
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Many years ago, I met the writer, Anthony Burgess. He told me
he never gave a bad review. If a newspaper sent him a book, he would read it.
If he didn’t like it, he would return it with a polite note saying he would
rather not write about it. He knew only too well how much went into writing the
book and believed that it was better to quietly ignore a writer whose efforts
hadn’t paid off than demolish them publicly. </div>
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Wise words from a great novelist and I took them to heart.</div>
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It seems to me that, among other things, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this blog is a great opportunity for me
to tell you about the things I love and want to recommend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to be blogging about the books
I read and enjoy. One of my other passions is going to the theatre. I go way
more than is good for my bank balance, but I don’t care. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I scrimp and save and go anyway. So I’ll
be telling you about the plays that I can’t stop thinking about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent a very happy year last year as
an Olivier Awards panellist. I was given a pair of tickets to every new show
that opened in the West End (all 103 of them!). Of course I didn’t like everything
but a lot of them were truly wonderful – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night Time, The Dolls House, This House, Richard III and Twelfth Night and
Misterman were just a few that have stayed with me. This year, I’ve
particularly enjoyed Chimerica by Lucy Kirkwood which I thought was thrillingly
original and gripped me the to the last minute. And I’m looking forward to
Ibsen’s Ghosts next week at the Almeida.</div>
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I love musicals too and see as many as I can – The Book of
Mormon has been favourite so far this year. I’ve got my eye on The
Scottsborough Boys (Young Vic) and Candide (Menier) in the next couple of
months. </div>
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eye on The Scottsborough Boys (Young Vic) and Candide (Menier) in the next
couple of months. And I’ll be writing about any films or TV shows that grab me
too.</div>
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In fact, I’m off to the theatre again tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So watch this space!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17545731235436346381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135569178695135851.post-67391756100887797812013-10-01T01:52:00.003-07:002013-10-11T01:16:53.160-07:00THE COFFEE SHOP BOOK CLUB<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuM2NyQTIN-M_Ks2ZgC9ISj0puObsa8fr7pvmFFIUTaT-eHQh9jFJ2cDJROs9hB-3fVOd02uAtykICUezMtgKIySy3PXrwH50FUe4sZ5sCctMOIbfjuPTqT2VwiHUTcDcD0uE-Q4D4ggdL/s1600/The+Coffee+Shop+Book+Club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuM2NyQTIN-M_Ks2ZgC9ISj0puObsa8fr7pvmFFIUTaT-eHQh9jFJ2cDJROs9hB-3fVOd02uAtykICUezMtgKIySy3PXrwH50FUe4sZ5sCctMOIbfjuPTqT2VwiHUTcDcD0uE-Q4D4ggdL/s320/The+Coffee+Shop+Book+Club.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />Welcome to my first blog!<br />
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I've been putting off writing this for months. Why? I've been apprehensive because writing the first one commits me to writing a regular blog and I haven't been at all sure what I would write about. Or who would read it if I did. I could write about writing - but plenty of people do that extremely well already. So I'm just going to write about what interests me, as it comes up. So here goes ...<br />
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Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was fantastically well looked after by Barts Hospital and, thanks to them, I became more aware of the extremely worthwhile work done by the charity Breast Cancer Care. As the books editor of Woman & Home, I commission a story every month for the magazine. (The link is coming - be patient!) After my treatment I was wondering who to commission next and looking at a list of those writers who had already appeared in the magazine. And what a list it was. It struck me that with those writers' help we could put together an anthology, find a publisher and raise money for a charity. For obvious reasons I was keen it should be Breast Cancer Care. Fortunately that is one of the charities that Woman & Home support too. And so our first anthology was born that raised thousands of pounds.<br />
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In September this year, our fourth anthology of short stories was published by Orion - The Coffee Shop Book Club. The collection contains so many fantastic writers - Fern Britton, Elizabeth Buchan, Tracy Chevalier, Jenny Colgan, RJ Ellory, Julia Gregson, Tessa Hadley, Maeve Haran, Veronica Henry, Victoria Hislop, Eowyn Ivey, Cathy Kelly, Erin Kelly, Deborah Lawrenson, Kathy Lette, Lesley Lokko, jill Mansell, Val McDermid, Kate Mosse, Jojo Moyes, Adele Parks, Nicky Pellegrino, Ian Rankin, Cara Ross, Penny Vincenzi, Katherine Webb and me.<br />
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There's something in it for everyone's taste and £1 from every copy sold goes to Breast Cancer Care. It's a perfect bedside companion.<br />
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A number of us celebrated the book with a virtual coffee morning on Twitter, when a number of the authors were there to talk to anyone who came to join the party. This was a bit of an experiment and, to begin with, it took a bit of getting used to as the questions poured in and we had to get used to the delays on the feed and remember to add the hashtag. But an hour and a half went by quickly and everyone enjoyed themselves with plenty of questions being answered. <br />
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On October 18th at 10.30am, Elizabeth Buchan, Cathy Kelly, Peny Vincenzi and I will be at the Bar des Arts at the Guildford Book Festival to talk about The Coffee Shop Book Club, writing short stories and anything else that comes up.<br />
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I hope we might see you there! And if not, do buy the book - it's for such a good cause. <br />
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Coffee-Shop-Book-Club/dp/1409129748<br />
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