Monday 17 February 2014

The Writing Process

I have been invited by fellow Harper Impulse author Sue Fortin to join in this blog hop about our writing process.

You can find Sue's blog post about her writing process here. All writers do things very differently. And they feel more organised than me.

However, this is my writing process...


1)      What am I working on?

Currently I’m working on my second novel, Perfect Isn’t An Option. Whether the title remains is another thing. I class it as a working title. It isn’t a sequel to Plus Oneis a Lucky Number, it is another stand alone story. It was up to about 70,000 words, but needed some editing and additing (as I like to call it). As my first book was put into the Rom Com / Chick Lit category, I’m quite conscious to make sure this one fits in that category too. No pressure and all that.  My hero is inspired by the lovely Bradley Cooper, so I am enjoying writing this book.

2)      How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Gosh, I’m not sure if it does or not. I did always think Chick Lit was about fashion and shopping, and my books certainly don’t have a lot of that in it. I do tend to write the male point of view also, which not all romance does.

3)      Why do I write what I do?

Maybe at the time, when I started writing, something was missing from my life, and to add some excitement I wanted to be reminded of the first love, can’t-get-enough-of-you feeling and I started writing romance. It does comes naturally to me and they do say write what you know, and what you enjoy reading. I love a good romance. Besides, I’m not clever enough to write crime, but I enjoy writing the conflicts around relationships and romance. Nothing more exciting than two people who really want to be together but can’t be. Or two people fancying the pants off one another but don’t know how to express it.  

4)      How does my writing process work?

This is where I should say; I get the boys off to school, sit down at 9am with a cup of coffee, go through my emails, bit of Facebook, Twitter, and then I write...

Hmmm... it’s supposed to work like that but doesn’t always. Real life gets in the way! So does the ‘proper job’. I try to sit down for an hour a day, or more if I can. But I like to break it up so that I don’t over do it and flare up the RSI. Since separating from my husband and getting into my new house, it’s been tricky getting back into the writing routine, but I think I’m slowly getting there. I’m starting to make time for writing, and reading, which I believe is also key to success.

Next week, my good writing buddy, Becky Black is joining the blog hop and talking about her writing process. She is much more organised than me.

Becky's Bio: 
A long time science fiction fan, Becky thinks there are few story ideas that can’t be improved by the addition of the words “in space”. If the story also includes two gorgeous men unable to keep their hands off each other then so much the better. She’d happily go into space herself, but being English would insist on there being a reliable supply of tea available.
She likes nothing more than trapping her characters in tricky no-win situations and watching them figure a way out. When not chasing her characters up trees and throwing rocks at them Becky can be found working in an office – where she’s usually thinking about the next rock to throw.

Thursday 13 February 2014

Happy Publication Day To Me!

And Nikki Moore and Brigid Coady! My lovely fellow Harper Impulse writers!

The three of of us have an anthology out today titled Be My Valentine.


Treat yourself to a little Valentine gift! It's only 99p and contains no calories, but lots of love and feel good moments. Better than chocolate... almost!

I have promised myself that every publication day I will treat myself to flowers. So this morning I bought a small bouquet of my favourite coloured roses. They're yellow with orangy-pink tips at the petal. Lush!

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Fake Friday with Mandy Baggot

Yay! Today I have Mandy Baggot joining me for my Fake Friday slot! She's here to talk about her recently published Made In Nashville. Over to you, Mandy!  

My Twitter style question: Describe your hero in 140 characters.

Hot, sexy, rough around the edges, hard and tough with a good heart and strong values! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Why do you like writing romance?

Writing romance has always excited me. We all love that feeling of falling in love and being in love in life and when you can spice it up a bit and make nothing impossible in fiction it’s all the more thrilling. I love making my characters experience the whole range of emotions that comes with a story about relationships!

What do you do with a paperback once you’ve read it?

I give them to charity unless they’re signed by the author and then I keep them. I think the Kindle was invented just for me. I keep very little and being able to read something and press delete appeals! I never re-read books.

What is next on your agenda after publishing Made in Nashville?

I’m currently writing a novel set in an all inclusive hotel in Corfu. It’s about a thirty something accountant called Ellie Brooks and her half-sister Lacey visiting this hotel to plan Lacey’s wedding. While they’re there both sisters have an attraction to members of the animation team but, as with most of my books, there are secrets on both sides. Ellie’s in trouble at work, Lacey’s unsure about her impending nuptials and Yan is hiding the biggest secret of all…

Cocktail or shot? If so, what one?

Cocktail! There is a beautiful one I have all the time when I’m on holiday called an Apricot Cooler!

This is Jared, Mandy's hero!

Tea or coffee?

Tea!

Starbucks or Costa?

Neither! I’m not a coffee girl and I don’t like paying for over-priced anything!

Dogs or cats?

Cats!
  

Blurb for Made in Nashville


Love ABC’s Nashville? Fall in love with a story that’ll drag you into the heart of the country music scene.

Battle scars, broken contracts and a returning star with a point to prove.  Fists are flying faster than award nominations and emotions run even higher. 

Country rebel and rock star, Jared ‘Jed’ Marshall is hot property on the Tennessee music scene in more ways than one. He’s wild, he’s sexy and everybody wants a piece of him. But when he sets his sights on singer Honor Blackwood, is it pure attraction or just distraction on his mind?

Visit the home of country music and get ready for the finger-picking read of the year!

About:


Mandy Baggot is a romantic fiction author. In 2012 she won the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance. Her self-published title, Strings Attached was also short-listed for the Best Author Published Read award.

Also in 2012 she signed with American publishing house, Sapphire Star Publishing, who produced her novels, Taking Charge and romantic suspense, Security.

In June 2013 she signed a two book deal with Harper Collins' digital first romance imprint, Harper Impulse.

She is a regular contributor to writing blogs and on-line magazine, Loveahappyending Lifestyle http://www.loveahappyending.com/.

Mandy loves mashed potato, white wine, country music, World’s Strongest Man, travel and handbags. She has appeared on ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and auditioned for The X-Factor.

Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and cats, Kravitz and Springsteen.

Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/sjq4v
Amazon US: http://ow.ly/sjqbM
Loveahappyending Bookshelf: http://loveahappyending.org/mandy-baggot/
Harper Impulse: http://ow.ly/mAQBP
Latest release: Made in Nashville –          Amazon UK http://ow.ly/sMOIG

Thanks for popping by, Mandy. I love the book cover, and well, Jared can stay as long as he likes :) 

Sunday 9 February 2014

Maybe It's Time For A Change...


What I'm about to say may go down like a lead balloon, but I'm saying it anyway! I do have a point. This post is only a bit of fun, even if I'm speaking my mind just a little! Honest.

For nearly nine years now I've worked in a convenience store - the corner shop. I see the same kind of people who come into this store on a regular basis.

Sometimes it amazes me the amount of junk in people's baskets - that's another story.

Now this is a generalisation, because not everyone fits into this 'category' (some fitness fanatics also shop in convenient stores too), but basically, the kind of people who generally come into the store is for it's convenience. Convenient food. Also cigarettes. And so I see a proportion of the population who are overweight (and usually less attractive). Sorry I said it. If I go to hell, I go to hell. 

After a few shots of squashed frogs last night, my dear friend said that maybe I should work in a gym. Because he quite rightly pointed out that I'm seeing a percentage of the population who use convenient foods. The human race is a mix of all sorts at the end of the day. And would these same people use the gym? (It's quite clearly visible that a lot of them do not - sorry - again!).

No, in a gym I'd be surrounded by fitness junkies with lovely trimmed, muscular bodies. I would be surrounded by men like this...




Which in my opinion are beautiful and a much better view to help the mundane job go by. That is my opinion. It may not be yours...

So yes, time to find a job in a gym. Agree?




Tuesday 4 February 2014

Finally It's February...

...and I can drink wine!

All writers need wine... well, most of us do.

If you read this blog post, you will know I was a Dryathlete to raise money for Cancer Research.

I endured 31 days off the sauce! But to be honest, if a cancer patient has to go through Chemo, then I was sure I could go without a glass of wine for a month.

It's just a good job I didn't have to give up chocolate too, otherwise I really would have found this task hard.


Anyway, I want to say a very big thank you to everyone who donated. To you lovely, generous lot, I give you Henry Cavill :)



(That's just a cheeky way of getting an excuse to post a picture of Henry... obviously). 

And to those who still wish to show your support, there is still time to donate for this very good cause. Just go to my JustGiving Page Here.