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Suzan Collins: Author of Fiction and Non-Fiction

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Suzan Collins: Author of Fiction and Non-Fiction

Monthly Archives: November 2014

How To Write Back Cover Blurb For Your Non-Fiction Book

27 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in Author, Books

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Write Back Cover Blurb Non-Fiction

Super advice here on How To Write Back Cover Blurb For Your Non-Fiction Book

http://rethinkpress.com/blog/how-to-write-back-cover-blurb-for-your-non-fiction-book/

Author Fair/Pop-up Bookshop Lowestoft 2015

27 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in Author, Books, Writing

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author, books, Indie and traditionally published authors, pop up bookshop, The Coconut Loft Art Gallery, writing

Author Fair/Pop-up Bookshop  Lowestoft 2015

Indie and traditionally published authors! No bookshops this side of town? No problem! Why not showcase your books in a unique ‘pop-up bookshop’?

Dates: Sat 25th and Sunday 26th July 2015.

Venue: Already established for its two vibrant galleries of colourful, original paintings, the Coconut Loft Art Gallery, 8 Waterloo Rd, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0AA, is the perfect venue to showcase your books. As well as allowing you to show off your work, the Coconut Loft also sells sensational Italian coffee, ice cream and great value lunches, adding to its established footfall.

Time: 10 am – 4pm. And after a successful day, why not unwind with fish and chips on a Blue Flag beach just 100 metres from the gallery for an exchange of feedback and ideas?

Prices: just £7.00 per table per day, or take advantage of a great SPECIAL OFFER of £12 per table for both days. Tables will hopefully be available both indoors and outside. You can also choose to do a reading of your work.

Book early to avoid disappointment! We are expecting authors from all over the country and are prepared to extend the number of days if there is sufficient demand. Early bookers can be sure of securing accommodation at the best prices before the holiday season starts.

Where to stay in Lowestoft http://goo.gl/fkiv87

Close to Lowestoft train station  http://goo.gl/9EhMjI

To secure your place at this unique event, simply visit the Just Write It! website, and don’t forget to say if you wish to do a reading. www.justwriteitworkshops.com

Places are limited so why not book yours TODAY?

Three authors, take three birds.

25 Tuesday Nov 2014

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Hi Jill, thank you for taking some time out to talk to me about the book you have written with Tottie Limejuice and Janet Holt, ‘Take Three Birds’.

Jill Pennington

How did you all meet?

We initially made friends on the internet and joked about turning up on each others doorstep, and I thought well why not go to France to see Tottie, it’s only over the border I don’t actually have to fly. Though it wasn’t until i considered writing about it that it became a serious idea, to do it just for fun was one thing but to turn it into a book made us see things from the business point of view and suddenly it became more viable.

Tottie and me discussed it and invited Janet to be the third bird. In the beginning we had another person interested in being the UK bird but she dropped out and we decided we really wanted to go ahead so we got Janet onboard, and we were either very lucky or very clever because she fitted perfectly for what we wanted.

Tottile Jill and~Three little birds

It was always a risk, as we were all aware that internet friends can be very different in person, but we went in with open minds and came out laughing, so it was an amazing experience/experiment and the memory of it will stay with all three of us because we all had such a fabulous time.

Take Three Birds

On a mountaintop in Italy, English writer Jill comes up with an idea – to meet up in the flesh with two other writers she encountered on the internet and has shared many online laughs with. One slight problem is that Janet lives in England and has never flown. Another is that Tottie lives in France and, like a good wine, doesn’t travel.

So intrepid Janet boards her first ever flight to meet Jill in Italy and together they embark on a crazy road trip in a twenty-year-old Fiat Punto, to disturb the peace of Tottie’s little ‘grottage’ in France’s Auvergne.

When two sixty-somethings and a forty-something meet up, there’s lots of laughter and plenty of chatter. But will it turn out to be a lasting friendship or will the Three Birds part company vowing never to meet again?

Take Three Birds is out on Dec 15th. How can people pre-order their copy?

Tottie~Three Little Birds

For pre-order – AMAZON UNIVERSAL LINK SMART URL: smarturl.it/17q33q

Guest blog: Author Talli Roland

16 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in Author, Books

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Talli Roland, writing

Welcome, Talli Roland…

Talli Roland

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I started off writing travel guides, which was so much fun! My dream was always writing fiction, though.

After training as a journalist, I’d quickly discovered that sticking to the facts can be a little . . . dull. I wrote four novels before I managed to get my first published, and things have gone from there. I love writing – it’s the perfect job for me.

What was the first story you wrote?

When I was around thirteen, I wrote a novel called Glint off the Gold about a handicapped diver who makes it to the Olympics. I sent it off to many publishers and received my first rejections!

Were you inspired by someone or something?

I loved reading as a child, and my favourite authors inspired me. Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables), Monica Hughes, and Judy Bloom all pushed me to make up my own stories.

What do you like about writing a story?

I love immersing myself in another world, and watching my characters grow and change. It’s so rewarding to know you’ve created this out of nothing but an idea in your head.

Can you tell us about your newest book?

My latest novel is called The No-Kids Club, and it’s about a group of woman who – having lost their friends to babies and motherhood – form a social network for people who don’t have children.

How did you come up with the story?

I didn’t have my son until my late thirties, and until I hit my mid-thirties, I’d been quite sure I didn’t want children. I watched many of my friends embark on parenthood, and I saw how their lives and priorities changed. The fundamental differences between people who don’t have kids and those that do fascinated me, and I wanted to explore it.

What genre best fits for the book?

The novel fits quite nicely into contemporary women’s fiction.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

I’m working on a novel called The Everything Dream, about a woman who must choose between following her passion and fulfilling familial responsibilities.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

My tip would be to just keep writing! Don’t give up if one novel doesn’t get published. Plus, keep an open mind about how you’d like to be published. There are many routes to market these days.

What is your writing routine?

My son is in nursery three mornings a week, and that’s when I get most of my work done. I sit down at 8 a.m. and usually work until around 11:30 – with a break for toast! And coffee!

Do you have an editing process?

The second draft is when I focus on the structure, the third and fourth are smoothing out the characters’ journeys, and the fifth is copyediting and working on the writing.

What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?

By the time I get to the fifth draft, I’m usually VERY sick of the whole thing! It takes every bit of motivation to persevere and get through it.

How important is it for you to share your writing?

Very. I love hearing from readers! I enjoy writing, but I want others to hopefully enjoy reading it.

Where can people go to read your work?

All of my novels are available worldwide on Amazon.

Where can people find you on the internet?

My website is www.talliroland.com, my blog is http://talliroland.blogspot.com, and I’m on Twitter at www.twitter.com/talliroland.

Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers?

Thanks for reading! I love getting emails from readers, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks for a great interview Talli and I look forward to reading The No-Kids Club. Suzan.

 

 

HarperCollins is inviting unsolicited manuscripts from aspiring authors…

12 Wednesday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in Author, Books, Editor, Writing

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aspiring authors, award-winning, HarperCollins, international publishing house, publishing, unsolicited manuscripts

HarperCollins is inviting unsolicited manuscripts from aspiring authors in Australia, New Zealand and around the world. Whether or not you’ve been previously published, this is the perfect opportunity to submit your work and have a chance to be published by an award-winning, international publishing house.

http://www.wednesdaypost.com.au/

Want to learn about writing a book?

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in Author, Books, Writing

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author, Get Reading Literary event, glynis smy, Jayne-Marie Barker, writing, Writing a book

If you would like to know more about writing a book please take a look at this…

http://justwriteit1.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/want-to-learn-about-writing-a-book-just-write-it/

 

 

It’s Friday!

07 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in Author, NaNoWriMo, Writing

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NaNoWriMo, Southwold Library, writing

Yep! It’s Friday. There’s nothing exciting about writing and it being Friday. I write during the day, the evening and the night, but not continuously you understand. I write when the brain tells me to. The characters in my novel are keeping me up at night, again, that’s part of being a writer. You can’t just switch off once you close the computer down.

I had an enjoyable time at Southwold Library on Wednesday, facilitating the NaNoWriMo writing group there.

It’s been a busy few days, not only writing my novel for NaNoWriMo but also finishing writing some workbooks and okaying their covers. An exciting time but it has used a lot of my time.

My lovely cat has been keeping my company.

Cat sleeping and laptop~1~29th Nov 2013

I can’t stay long as here as I have been writing most of the day and need to give the ole eyes a rest.

I need food, energetic food not this…

Strawberries cream and profiterols~7th Sept 2014

Wordcount: 10,105.

 

Three days of #NaNoWriMo

03 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in NaNoWriMo

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NaNoWriMo, writing

Saturday

Writing the first 300 or so words was relatively easy, but keeping going wasn’t. I was distracted a few times and also got a little tired staring at the screen.

It looked lovely outside and I decided to cut the lawn. Fresh air and a bit of exercise was good. It gave me time to switch off, albeit for a short while.

In between writing and eating I wrote 1, 840 words. I stopped at a very exciting point in the novel as I knew this would encourage me back to it.

Sunday

A lovely cycle ride and lunch with friends.

Egyptian birds          Swans

Then back to writing… really looked forward to getting back to it and carrying on with the story. Armed with snacks and treats I booted up the laptop and continued typing.

I stopped when my eyes began to sting.

Monday

Woke up early to get some words written. Been focused and not allowed myself Facebook and Twitter until I had finished writing.  I’ve now written 6,105 words and am pleased with my progress.

 

November is: write 50 thousand words in a month #NanoWrimo

01 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in Author, Books, NaNoWriMo, Writing

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Great Yarmouth Library, NaNoWriMo, Norfolk, Southwold Library, suffolk, The Coconut Loft, writing

Today is the 1st November 2014 and for writers all across the world, it is #NanoWrimo time. This is a great annual novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world. For more information log in to: http://nanowrimo.org/

This is my first time of supporting and also writing #NanoWrimo.

I am delighted to be supporting #NanoWrimo writers at Southwold Library in Suffolk  each Wednesday during this month.

NaNoWriMo

 

I have started writing my 50 thousand word novel today. 50 thousand words sounds a lot and could cause me some stress [I don’t do stress]. So, I’m not going to refer to that amount until the 30th Nov when I announce I have written that amount. However, I will try and update my blog daily or every few days to let you know how I am getting on.

I have other writing projects on the go and I will try and be disciplined and give time to each one.

Yesterday I was editing one of my writing projects at this lovely Art Gallery called The Coconut Loft.

Editing at The Coconut Loft and Art Gallery

Back to today…

This is my memory stick that will house my NaNoWriMo writing. My other writing projects will stay on my other memory stick [and both will be backed up regularly onto the computer].

Memory stick

A big shout-out to all fellow #NaNoWriMo writers both locally and across the world.

That’s all from me for now, catch you later. Suzan

 

Interesting writing workshops coming up this month

01 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by suzan collins in Author, Books, Editor, Writing

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Ann Bowyer, author, books, Editing, Get Reading Literary event, glynis smy, Jayne-Marie Barker, Jo Wilde, Marketing, Planning, published, publishing, Researching, Rosy Thornton, Suzan Collins, writing, writing press releases, Yvonne Newbold

Interesting writing workshops coming up this month. For anyone looking for tips on #Planning  #Researching #Editing  #Publishing #Marketing. With 6 published and successful authors. FEW PLACES LEFT, BOOK NOW! http://justwriteit1.wordpress.com/

Flyer for Nov workshop~FINAL

 

 

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