12 Wednesday Nov 2014
Tags
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.
01 Saturday Nov 2014
Tags
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/
29 Friday Aug 2014
Tags
author, books, elderly, England, Move to France, poor care. abuse, published, travel, writing
Welcome, Tottie Limejuice…
Please help yourself to the tea and scones, settle in your chair and tell us about your writing world.
I’m Lesley Tither, much better known as Tottie Limejuice. I’m a retired journalist/copywriter/copy editor, now a published writer.
What was the first story you wrote?
We always had to write a diary on a Monday morning at junior school. I have always loved writing so mine were sometimes very long indeed. I always had a notebook on the go full of scribbled stories. I remember one about a blackbird. My father was a newspaper editor and he also wrote. I remember writing a sequel to a short story he had written when he was young, called The Renfrew Street Ghost.
Were you inspired by someone or something?
When I was very young I met the award winning author Alan Garner. He was such a lovely and very ordinary person, always very kind to me. I loved his books, although was never interested in writing anything in the same genre, which is rather Tolkienesque, although Garner had never read Tolkien.
What do you like about writing a story?
I just love telling stories, always have done. If you got stuck next to me at a dinner party you’d not have to worry about lulls in the conversation, that’s for sure!
Can you tell us about your newest book?
I’ve recently published ‘Mother, Was It Worth It?’, the third in my Sell the Pig series, about my life in France. It’s a bit different from the average as there are no whinges about France and the French.
How did you come up with the story?
It’s easy writing non-fiction as I just write about what happens. I don’ believe in embellishing, if something isn’t amusing enough in its own right to go in the book, I would rather leave it out.
What genre best fits for the book?
Ah, the million dollar question! Some would say travel memoirs, although I personally don’t care for the word memoirs, it’s just a thing of mine. There was a really good category for it on Amazon but for some reason they moved the goalposts so that category no longer exists.
Are you working on something new at the moment?
Yes, lots! Currently revisiting two children’s books I wrote ages ago, animal adventure type stories, a bit nostalgic in a way, from the days when no one had mobile phones, certainly not children. There’s a sequel to the Sell the Pig series in the pipeline, and a very exciting collaboration with two other writers. That is something so different we may actually have to invent a new genre to classify it. In a literary spin-off, I’m also launching Tottie’s Tours in April 2015. People have expressed an interest in the beautiful Auvergne region of France since reading the Sell the Pig series so I’m running holidays where people can come and discover the region, meet me and, amongst other things, hear some of the tales which didn’t make the editor’s cut.
Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
It’s hard work, and you’re very unlikely to make a fortune. Get ruthless beta readers who will tell you honestly what your work is like and don’t be offended or disheartened by their comments. With their help, you will get there in the end.
What is your writing routine?
I write a lot in my head. When I’m walking the dogs, or gardening, or whatever, my mental typewriter is usually churning away prodigiously. Luckily my memory is still good enough to hold the snippets until I get in front of my computer. Once that changes, I shall have to get a voice recorder but I am such a technophobe I may never master using it!
Do you have an editing process?
As I’ve worked as a copy editor for many years, I’m pretty ruthless. I always like to go over what I’ve written before I write fresh and I keep all drafts of everything so I can always go back to how it was first if I over-think things.
What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?
I’m a bit stubborn, I’m too old and ugly to do things I don’t like so I like all of it.
How important is it for you to share your writing?
I love sharing things I am passionate about, and I’m passionate about the Auvergne, so I love telling people about it.
Where can people go to read your work?
All of my books are on Amazon, which is probably the easiest place to find them. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tottie-Limejuice/e/B00ADQX5KS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Where can people find you on the internet?
I’m on Facebook considerably more than I should be!
You’ll find me here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1450797141836111/
I’m also on Twitter https://twitter.com/tottielimejuice
And I have a website and Blog http://tottielimejuice.com/totties-tours-discover-beautiful-auvergne/
Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers?
I love to chat, so don’t be afraid to get in touch.
Thanks for stopping by, Tottie, it’s been great to hear your news. Suzan x
09 Saturday Aug 2014
Posted in Author, Editor, Uncategorized
Welcome, John Hudspith…
Can you tell me a little about yourself?
I live in the UK with my wife, Andrea and two lovely dogs, and writing is my living.
What books have you published?
Kimi’s Secret, a paranormal sci-fi fantasy and its sequel Kimi’s Fear.
Were you inspired by someone or something?
Yes, I set myself a challenge to create an original otherworld and an original storyline that would encompass all those things I loved when I was growing up: aliens, ghosts, time-travel and monsters under the bed; a story that could be enjoyed by adults and kids alike.
What do you like about writing a story?
The creational challenge, coming up not only with something new but an enjoyable plot.
Can you tell us about your newest book?
The second book Kimi’s Fear takes off where the first book ends. Kimi finds herself accused of murder and must travel through time and dimensional space to prove her innocence.
How did you come up with the story?
A few `what-ifs` presented themselves at the conclusion of Kimi’s Secret, so I guess the story came up with itself.
What genre best fits for the book?
None, really. Bloody genres.
Are you working on something new at the moment?
Yes, an adult horror with a touch of ghostly fantasy.
Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
Reading is an artform, too. So many aspiring writers fail to grasp this.
What is your writing routine?
I sit down and write and the hours fly by. I don’t set word count targets, simply write the next scene.
You’re an editor as well as a writer. What’s the editing process for your own work?
With the Kimi books I drafted once through then went back to the beginning to start the editing and tightening process. The work in progress, however, needs a different approach. With up to eight POV characters, each with a different narrative voice and a tightly-woven plot, I’m editing and polishing each chapter as I go, which can mean up to ten drafts per chapter, then it goes to beta readers, another polish, then off to my own editor for a final inspection.
What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?
Most: playing in the magic zone. Least: writer’s arse.
How important is it for you to share your writing?
I’m as vain as the next, and like nothing better than making that psychic connection with a reader on the other side of the world and playing my stories out in their head.
You have many excellent editing testimonials. Where can people find your editing services?
http://www.johnhudspith.co.uk/
http://kimissecret.wordpress.com/about/
https://www.facebook.com/JohnHudspithEditor?ref_type=bookmark
Could you share your editing FAQs? I believe you offer a free sample edit?
I do, yes. Send me the opening chapters to your work and I’ll tell you where you’re going right and wrong.
FAQs: http://kimissecret.wordpress.com/faqs/
