Apr 24 2015

“Never start a novel with dialogue.”

I’ve seen this listed many times as one of the top ten rules for how not to start a story. And I can understand the reason why. Readers don’t know who the characters are, so why will they care enough to read on with a bit of random dialogue thrown at them in the first sentence.

(I’ve also been warned about starting sentences with ‘And’. All in all, I’m not very good at following the rules.)

So my second novel, Arc Over Time, starts this way:

“She calls, you go running.” Jasmine looked at her friend in disgust. “Aren’t you fed up being second best?”

Now, I suppose the purists could construe this as a disastrous beginning. But I like to leap straight into a scene and as this book is a sequel, my thought is that most readers will have read the first one, Starting Over. They will, therefore, have an inkling who Jasmine is and the relationship she’s referring to. The following paragraphs give more background information and, right or wrong, I felt that this opening was the best way to introduce the reader to the story.

Anyway, feel free to let me know what you think. Was this a good way to start, or not?

The first chapter is available to read on the Affinity website. (Arc Over Time will be released as an ebook on 15 May 2015.)

Starting Over is available from Affinity eBook Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bella Books, Smashwords, and iTunes.

Mar 29 2015

A new book and a new cover

I’m pleased to now be able to show off the cover for my second novel, due out in May. Thanks to another sterling job by Irish Dragon Designs, I feel this cover conveys exactly the tone I was looking for.

Arc Over Time is a continuation of the story in my first book, Starting Over. The characters didn’t want to let go and it’s not surprising.

Dr Kathryn Moss, professor of archaeology, has much to think about. The job offers are flowing in after her exciting archaeological discoveries at Starling Hill the previous year. Now she has choices to make that could jeopardise her relationship with Denise Sullivan, the fiery journalist, who has become her lover.

Den has her own worries. She feels they have moved beyond the casual sex stage to something more like a true relationship. However, she’s not sure how to handle Kathryn’s continuing infatuation with Ellie Winters, the beguiling owner of Starling Hill farm.

Arc Over Time is a journey of discovery for all involved. I hope you will be tempted to come along for the ride.

The first chapter is available to read on the Affinity website.

Starting Over is available from Affinity eBook Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bella Books, Smashwords, and iTunes.

Mar 13 2015

I sold a book today – and this is news – why?

Because, of all the cafés in all the world, I chose to walk into this one at eleven o’clock in the morning. Taking a break from writing, I had just popped in for a small cappuccino. Only one customer was sitting at a table across from the counter and as soon as I came in asked, ‘What do you think of men?’

Only one answer occurred to me in that moment – ‘I don’t think of them.’ The two young women who work there laughed, nervously.

It turned out there had just been an incident with a man. The female customer, a visitor from the US, had asked if he could read what was on the monthly newsletter that advertises what’s happening in town. The print is so small on this paper that I’m sure no one can read it without a magnifying glass. Obviously he couldn’t, so one of the girls told him to put his glasses on. And he went off on one. Very loudly. Telling her, with appropriate exaggerated hand gestures that she shouldn’t be putting him DOWN, she should be building him UP. And then he stormed out. It turns out he works there and his co-workers weren’t at all surprised by his behaviour.

However, as a result of this the American woman was declaiming that ‘Men are the new women’ – which is all very well as a catch phrase – except that I feel it’s an insult to women.

Anyway I started chatting to her, asking where she was from, who she was visiting. Then she said how she liked Hebden Bridge because it was full of artistic types. She asked me what I did and for the first time in my life (in a public place anyway) I said, “I’m a writer.”

“Oh, wow! What do you write?”

As it happened, a paperback copy of my novel was sitting on the café bookshelf. They have selection of books that customers can either read with their coffee or buy to take away and I had donated a copy of Starting Over for this purpose. So I found it and gave it to her to look at. Then I sat at the table next to hers and we talked some more. She said she would like to buy my book and I was able to tell her that it was available from the bookshop across the road.

After we’d paid for our coffees, and she asked another customer take a photo of her and myself with the staff, we went across to the shop. She bought my book and I signed it for her.

Outside on the street we hugged and said goodbye.

I walked back home in the sunshine and thought about this unexpected encounter and the joy it brought into my life. I hope reading my book brings some joy into hers.

Jan 22 2015

What’s in a word?

I received some useful feedback on my novel from two American readers. They said there were a few expressions and words that were unfamiliar to them. They were able to work out the meaning from the context of the story. Anyway, I thought I would share these ones that they made particular note of (apologies and warning of bad language):

1. ‘scraping away like buggery’ (Note – this isn’t something I would say myself, but it seemed to fit the character who said it – photo here shows me in the act)

2. ‘lay by’ – this may be something peculiar to British roads. It’s often a small area with just enough room for one or two cars to park off the road – possibly to look at the view (quaint euphemism for taking a toilet break). Some lay bys, on very narrow roads, are meant as passing places so you can pull in to let another vehicle past. I would be interested to know if there is an American equivalent.

3. ‘stop taking the piss and I might tell you’ – I guess they managed to work out that this meant stop making fun of me.

The word that always throws me when I read American books is ‘pissed’. Now I know that this means ‘angry’ or ‘upset’. To a British reader though, it means ‘drunk’.

If anyone would like to add to cross-cultural use of words and their perceived meanings, please leave a comment.

Jan 17 2015

The Cover Question

I’ve seen some discussion threads recently about covers. Do you judge a book by its cover? Some people say they do, some don’t. Some say they read the blurb and the reviews to make their buying decision. But then it’s also pointed out that the reviews can’t be trusted. Others say the cover doesn’t matter because if you read an ebook, the cover isn’t seen, once you’ve purchased it and start reading.

So this is all very baffling for a newly published author. I’ve been told that Starting Over is a good story and most of those who have read it, enjoyed it. But perhaps the cover isn’t attracting people to it. The story is a lesbian romance, so shouldn’t it at least have two sexy looking women making out on the cover? With all the books available why would anyone choose this one?

For me, the cover works. I took the photo that is the background image and suggested it could be used as it was taken in the place where the main part of the story is set. And then the choice of the image of the woman on the motorbike, gazing over the scene – this represents an actual scene in the book. And it was an important turning point for this character. The imagery on the cover fits with both the story and the title.

The woman on the bike is Robin Fanshawe. Of all the characters in the book, she is the one most likely to be hated, at least at the beginning of the story. After all, she cheats on her lover, Ellie Winters. And as Ellie is portrayed as such a wonderful woman, why would she do that? Could I really expect readers to buy into Ellie being a doormat for so long?

But at the start of the story, this situation is set to change fairly rapidly. All the main players end up at the farm in the first two chapters and set in motion the events that follow. One reviewer described it as having elements of a French farce about it.

Throughout the story there is humour, there is heartache – it’s a romance after all – and in the end there is happiness. What more could you ask for?

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 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 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!