Jan 6 2015

Putting it out there

Having a novel published for the first time was both exhilarating and scary. While it was wonderful to see my book in print, this collection of words I had somehow managed to put down on paper—now other people would read them. Those who read lesbian fiction I wasn’t too worried about. They would either like it or not. And obviously my publisher and editor thought it was a good story. But there were friends and family now going to read it, and lesbian romance wasn’t a genre of choice for any of them. My mother and sister both said they enjoyed the story. Other friends and relatives have been surprised, I think, to find out what goes on in my head.

When the book came out in paperback I gave a copy to a friend, a former English teacher. Weeks passed and she didn’t mention it, and I was afraid to ask. Then just before Christmas my partner and I were enjoying a glass of mulled wine in a local café and my friend’s husband came in. After ordering their drinks he sat down at a table nearby. Looking over, he recognised me, and to my surprise said, “Oh, I’ve read your book. Really enjoyed it. But it was a bit steamy.”

Now there are some sexy scenes in the book, it’s a romance after all. Hardly in the erotic category, though. But then, to someone who doesn’t read lesfic, it would probably seem that way.

At that point his wife arrived. She said she was in the middle of reading ‘The Return of the Native’ which is why she hasn’t got around to reading my book yet. I didn’t think I could compete with real literature, so I let her off.

Close family members all got a paperback copy of ‘Starting Over’ for Christmas, even though I knew they’d downloaded the ebook as soon as it was released. The photo is one my sister sent me, taken on Christmas day, showing off her new slipper socks and the book.

I don’t know if it gets any easier…the process of releasing your words out into the ether. I’m sure I’ll go through the same ecstasy and agony with the release of my next book, which is due out in May. And if my friend’s husband thought ‘Starting Over’ was ‘steamy’, I better give her fair warning – ‘Arc Over Time’ might be too hot for him. That’s all I’m going to say about that for now.

Note: I would like to thank all those people I don’t know personally who have read ‘Starting Over’ and particularly those who have given me feedback and/or posted reviews. It is a tremendous boost to know it’s being read and enjoyed.

(‘Starting Over’, my debut novel is available from Affinity, Amazon, Bella Books and Smashwords.)

Dec 31 2014

Reflections on 2014

Now’s the time to reflect on what has been an amazing year.

Starting with last things first, I got married in December. My partner and I were able to convert our Civil Partnership into a Marriage. And although on the day we didn’t feel any difference in our relationship, or ourselves, there was a warm glow in thinking ‘hey, I’m married’. Whether society in general likes it or not, same sex couples in England now have an equal right to get married.

Finding the wonderful community of like-minded writers and readers via social media, particularly on Facebook, is another thing that has made this year special. I love the online interactions with people from all over the globe.

But of course, the really big change for me this year has been in becoming a published author. I’ve now had two short stories and a novel published by Affinity eBook Press with another novel due out in May.

The publication of the first novel, Starting Over, was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. I really didn’t know what to expect, so to receive some wonderful reviews at the outset was encouraging. The book has also been nominated for two Golden Crown awards – Debut Author and Traditional Contemporary Romance. Just to be included on the list of nominees is a thrill – so many books there by authors I admire.

2015 is shaping up to be another exciting year with more words to be written, more friends to meet, and just…well, more…

Wishing everyone the very best for the New Year.

Dec 28 2014

Love me, love my cat!

Finding different ways to promote my book is quite a challenge. So I decided today to let you know – in case you haven’t read it yet – that there are two cats who feature in Starting Over. The cats are called Soames and Fleur. Fleur is the mother of Soames (just to mix things up a bit – Forsyte Saga fans will appreciate this). She’s a tabby cat and is more active than Soames, the ginger one, who can generally be found resting on top of the Aga cooker in the kitchen. I imagine he looks something like this:

Here’s a quote from the novel featuring the two main characters and Soames:

“Ellie was in the kitchen, sitting at the table, Soames sat contentedly on her lap enjoying the sensation of her fingers stroking him; long, leisurely strokes, starting at the top of his large ginger head continuing down his spine and caressing the length of his tail. Both Ellie and the cat had their eyes closed, but only Soames was purring.

Robin watched from the doorway. Lucky Soames. It had been a long time since Ellie had stroked her with such tenderness.”

So, come on, cat lovers – get the book and start reading!

Starting Over is available from: Affinity / Amazon / Bella Books / Smashwords

Dec 23 2014

Christmas reading

I was given ‘A Christmas Carol’ as a present when I was ten. And I still have the very old paperback that only cost 35 cents.

As a writer, one of the hardest things is to know where and how to start your story. So I went back and had a look at this one by Charles Dickens which has lasted a good long time, a story that is still enjoyed today. The first line reads – Marley was dead, to begin with.

And that’s it. Simple, you would think. But, what if there was no comma in that sentence? What if it was changed around – To begin with Marley was dead – ? Neither of those works.

Six words to begin the story that was described – on the back of this particular book – as “an impassioned plea to humanity for charity, mercy and tolerance.” This book was first published in 1843. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is due another visit, I think.

A book with a similar message and also one of my favourites is ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” It’s the wording near the end of the story that always made me well up…”the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day…” And he charges back down into Whoville to return all the presents and the food he had taken during the night.

Powerful storytelling in both these stories with messages that have stood the test of time…and lessons to be remembered, not just at Christmas.

However you celebrate at this time of year, I would wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday…and some good books to read!

Dec 15 2014

In Praise of Older Lesbians

Mulling this over as I was sitting in a café at the weekend, enjoying a glass of mulled wine on a cold December day, I was encouraged to see that this month’s Diva magazine has a feature article on some very talented and sexy older lesbians including VG Lee and Diana Souhami. This diverse group of women in their sixties and seventies are still living life to the full and making plans for the future. And my plan is to emulate these ladies and carry on growing old disgracefully.

When I began writing ‘Starting Over’ I didn’t consciously set out to write about older women. However, one of the main characters, Ellie Winters, was struggling with the idea of reaching fifty.

As part of her midlife crisis, Ellie has a brief affair with a woman her own age, Dr Kathryn Moss, a professor of archaeology. They share many of the same interests. Ellie taught history at high school level and now makes a living as a potter. They seem to be a well-matched couple and at the beginning of the story it’s Kathryn who is interested in ‘starting over’ with their relationship. But things don’t always work out the way you think. And there are a few obstacles in the way of this reunion.

The main characters in my book are in their mid forties to fifties and as one reviewer put it – they jump in and out of bed “as if they were training for the Olympics.” A bit of an exaggeration, I thought, it’s not like there’s sex on every page. However, they do have their moments.

If you haven’t taken a chance on a new writer and added ‘Starting Over‘ to your holiday reading list, now’s the time to take the plunge and find out what’s happening with the ‘oldies’ at Starling Hill farm.

(Note: ‘Starting Over‘ has been nominated in two 2015 Golden Crown Awards categories: Debut Novel and Traditional Contemporary Romance)

(Available from Affinity, Amazon, Bella Books and Smashwords.)

Dec 6 2014

Introducing Arc Over Time

I’m pleased to announce that the sequel to Starting Over will be published by Affinity eBook Press in May 2015.

Arc Over Time continues the story focusing mainly on the developing relationship between the archaeologist, Dr Kathryn Moss and the journalist, Denise Sullivan— with all the problems inherent in maintaining a long distance relationship.

That’s all I’m going to say for now. More will be revealed in the coming months.

If you haven’t read Starting Over, then now’s the time to check it out and discover how these two characters met and what might be standing in the way of a happy ever after ending for them.

(Available from Affinity, Amazon, Bella Books and Smashwords.)

Nov 27 2014

Christmas is Coming!

And so is a wonderful collection of stories from Affinity…due out 7 December.

Jen Silver: The Christmas Sweepstake

Commander Nike Jordan might have met her match in Dr. Isobel Turner, the newest addition to the spaceship crew bound for Earth, and the only one to say no to the handsome commander. Will one lucky crew member be getting a Christmas bonus, or is the sweepstake destined for a rollover?

Ali Spooner: Big Sky Christmas

Join the crew of the MCS ranch as they enjoy Christmas, Montana style. Can cowgirls do it in the snow, too? Festive Fun and games…and cookies!

Fran Heckrotte: Death, A Christmas Story

A visit with Jennifer and Suze, characters from Kiss of the Butterfly, part of Fran’s Odyssey of the Butterfly anthology.

Annette Mori: The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Elves in Love

Christmas could be in serious trouble, production is down and Santa won’t be delivering any gifts unless he can provide them for all the children. Something needs to be done, and fast. But a lesbian elf to the rescue…really? Read this delightful tale from Annette to find out more.

JM Dragon: Sleigh Bells

An adorable child, a broken family, and a six-foot elf? Yep, all the right ingredients for a wonderful romantic Christmas adventure from the talented JM Dragon.

Nov 21 2014

A Singing Bird

It amazes me that after all these years I can open The Norton Anthology of English Literature (Volume 2) and quickly find the poem I remember so well. This is ‘A Birthday’ by Christina Rossetti. It is, like so much of her output, full of memorable phrases. It’s the one that starts off…

“My heart is like a singing bird

Whose nest is in a watered shoot:”

…and ends with…

“Because the birthday of my life

Is come, my love is come to me.”

I always wondered about Christina. She had three male suitors and married none of them. It has been suggested this was because of her religious views. However, I wonder if there wasn’t something else at play here. Her brother’s illustration for the cover of one her most famous poems, Goblin Market, shows two women intimately entwined. In the poem, the women are sisters, but is there a subtext? Why did he choose this image to illustrate the cover?

Illustration by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Nov 13 2014

My exciting week!

So far this week:

I had a winner in the Women and Words giveaway. So, a signed copy of Starting Over is now on its way to Karen B. Many thanks to Karen and everyone else who took the time to read my guest blog on the site – A Journey to Publication.

My novel’s been nominated for two 2015 Golden Crown awards: Debut Author and Traditional Contemporary Romance. Wonderful to be nominated but the competition looks fierce!

And the local bookshop sold two copies of my book.

And…it’s only Thursday!

Nov 5 2014

Starting Over – Character profile: Introducing Jo Bright Flame

If you’ve read the blurb on the back of the book, you will know the names of the three main characters: Ellie Winters, the potter and owner of Starling Hill farm; Robin Fanshawe, her wandering lover; and Dr Kathryn Moss, an archaeologist.

So today I would like to introduce one of the other characters. She turned up in Chapter One, arriving at the farm in her colourfully painted VW camper van, reminiscent of the psychedelic heyday of the 1960s…along with her rescue dog, Harry.

The intention when I started the story was that she would only have a minor role. Her border collie, Harry, unwittingly sets off the chain of events that leads to a university-led archaeological dig at the farm. Robin had invited Jo to visit because she expressed an interest in learning how to throw pots. However, as events unfold, she ends up having a bigger part to play.

Jo is a free spirit and immediately entrances Ellie, even though she is one in a long line of Robin’s one-night stands. She calls herself a craft worker and makes things out of recycled materials…wind chimes from old CDs, belts and tablemats from plastic bags, and even a dog bed for Harry made with old towels. She sells her wares at local markets and fairs and during the summer makes the rounds of various music festivals.

However, recently she’s started to think about settling down and has found herself drawn to Hebden Bridge, a small market town on the edge of the Pennines. There’s an atmosphere in the town that resonates with her spirit and idea of how she wants to live her life. She can feel the buzz of creativity in the air. She’s attracted by the constant movement…a flow, not just of the river and the road traffic, but the people…visitors passing through, cyclists, ramblers, street performers, outdoor markets, small local businesses and an abundance of cafes and open air seating, meeting places in the square in the heart of the town, and in the park located between the river and the canal.

Oh, and there are, allegedly, a fair number of lesbians living in the town. All in all, Jo can see herself fitting in just fine.

This is the sign, referred to in the book. The first is the wording you see approaching the town from the west, the second is what you see as you leave the town travelling the other way.