Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Blog holiday

For the first time in over a year, I am taking a few weeks out of writing on this blog. I have plans and will talk about them when I am back but for now, let me share the exciting news that I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HOT COUPLE IN THEIR SNOWY CABIN!!! Yes, I finally finished the book I had been reading (SINCE LAST DECEMBER) and it turned out to be a pretty fabulous read and exactly what I needed (basically a cute romance with a hot man, YES!) so if you are ever after the same thing, I'd definitely recommend it. It's called Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan (here).

I'm off for now but will be back soon with tales that probably don't involve me in a cabin with a hot man.

Until next time.

Monday, 18 April 2016

Celebrating the return of an old favourite (obsession)

Judith McNaught is back in my life and I couldn't be happier about it. After working so much recently, I decided to treat myself to a couple of books that I have wanted for ages! One is a book I have already read (and loved AND blogged about here) and the other is a JUDITH MCNAUGHT BOOK I HAVEN'T READ!

I repeat, IT'S A JUDITH MCNAUGHT BOOK I HAVEN'T READ!!

I think it's time to see the books, don't you?


I bought them both from The Book Depository here. What I love about the website is that they offer free worldwide delivery regardless of how much you spend ... and the fact you are able to get different editions of the same book that you might not be able to find so easily is pretty great too.

I went for the US 10th anniversary edition of On Writing : A Memoir of the Craft (link to buy it here) because ... cover.
The price is worth it for the spine alone.

I just love the design of the Double Standards cover - it definitely doesn't scream 'I'M A ROMANCE NOVEL!' Buy it here.
Not a bare torso in sight!

Reading is such a pleasure and something I haven't been able to do for a while (I still have no idea what has become of the ridiculously hot couple in their bloody cabin that I have been reading about since LAST YEAR) but I am pushing myself to make the time each day to read. If I want to be a writer, I think it's important I read as much as possible. Basically this is short for LET ME READ THE MCNAUGHT, PRONTO.

Until next time.

Friday, 15 April 2016

Priorities

Mother,

Photographic evidence of my fondue of dreams
(From Le Caveau, Verbier)
My week in Switzerland was wonderful. Like I mentioned in my last post I vowed before I went that I would make the most of the trip and even though I was there for work - some days working very long hours - I really did make the most of it. Every moment I wasn't working I was exploring the beautiful town of Verbier and I have one very special memory on my night off, when I was high up in the town staring around me at the darkened mountains and distant chalets snaking up the mountains lit like Christmas tree lights, feeling (quite literally) on top of the world...and most importantly, I had the fondue of dreams that night. A pretty perfect working week.

After Switzerland I spent a very special 6 days with my mum and since then it's been crazy! This week started off exceptionally well with a very nice surprise in the shape of a 5 star rating on Goodreads for my book WEIGHTING TO LIVE. Apart from the one star stinker of a review on Amazon - which we will never talk about again (...and that I blogged about here) - the feedback for the book has been wonderful. I've been doing a lot of thinking where the marketing for it is concerned and at this present moment I just can't justify the time it would take to commit to doing it right. I think what helped me make this decision was reading a lot of interviews with the self-publishing phenomena that is Rachel Abbott who said she spent 14+ hours a day marketing her books and I just don't have that time what with working and everything else. So for now I am leaving it all to fate and hoping for the best, tinkering when I can, but I just want to write so that is what I am going to do. For the next four days I will be working long shifts but after that, I am going to reread the draft of my book that I have banged on about more than Judith McNaught (and that's saying something). It's the idea I can't leave alone and the idea that makes me really excited.

I will be back on Monday with another blog post. CLUE: It involves Judith McNaught (See? I told you I mention her a lot...).

Until next time.