tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73271296014846974552024-03-14T02:10:27.812+00:00The PocketeersA blog for lovers of pocket novels written by a group of authors who are: Kate Allan, Cara Cooper, Fay Cunningham, Noelene Jenkinson, Patricia Keyson, Chrissie Loveday, Carol MacLean, Fenella Miller, Margaret Mounsdon and Sally QuilfordThe Pocketeershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124101740561917118noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-89757041430938594092015-04-29T16:09:00.001+01:002015-04-29T16:09:29.067+01:00The Jubilee Letter - E book now available<div>
The Jubilee Letter is available from publisher Accent Press or from Amazon and other book platforms.</div>
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Set against the backdrop of 1950s Glasgow and the grand drama of the young Queen's coronation, Avril must choose between two suitors. Both have secrets and only once Avril finds out what they are hiding will she be able to find a love to last a lifetime.</i><div>
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<i>Will she be tempted by the charming Jack or by quiet Gordon? A choice once made which will affect her whole life.</i></div>
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Carol MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17893946748914418193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-64360330858805533092015-03-02T07:05:00.002+00:002015-03-02T07:05:32.971+00:00Out Now - The Dark Marshes<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sallyquilford-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00SLZFPLU&asins=B00SLZFPLU&linkId=2GOTGXETR6LK6X5C&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
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My latest romance, a gothic tale of madness and murder, is out now on Amazon Kindle. You can get it for a reasonable 99p. Quillershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00148636009202550512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-4061669561010176312015-01-04T14:29:00.001+00:002015-01-04T14:29:39.116+00:00The Power Of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong> Out on 1 January 2015. A lovely start to the New Year.</strong><br />
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<strong> The Power of Love </strong><br />
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<strong>Hannah Lavender's family don't do conventional. Her mother who really should know better elopes with a Texan cowboy. Her sister , Ronnie, is an activist, never happier than when she is demonstrating about something, and her brother in law is a hairy biker. All Hannah wants to do is work in a library but when she loses her job she is forced to work for geothermal engineer Steve Talbot, one of Ronnie's long time targets. That's when things really begin to get complicated.</strong><br />
margaretsromanceworld.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16592451457548282029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-80026813820399825782014-12-31T09:20:00.000+00:002014-12-31T09:20:27.420+00:002014 highlights and Happy New Year.2014 was an excellent year for new writing - for the first time in three years I was back to my original output of 4/5 books a year. I continued to sell all my books for Large Print and this means they will eventually appear in the library. However my writing career took off when Amazon introduced KU - and I was a Star Author for two months running. I also got a two page spread in the local paper and the photo was flattering -although the one of my cat was even better. Christmas at Hartford Hall was No 1 on the Regency list for three weeks. The year is ending more on a whimper than a bang - but then - who has time to read in December? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H69upPfycAY/VKO_vGobEtI/AAAAAAAAAaw/JkQ87SB_qZI/s1600/Lord%2BIlchester's%2BInheritance%2BSMALL%2BAVATAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H69upPfycAY/VKO_vGobEtI/AAAAAAAAAaw/JkQ87SB_qZI/s320/Lord%2BIlchester's%2BInheritance%2BSMALL%2BAVATAR.jpg" /></a></div>
I have a new Regency coming out in January - Lord Ilchester's Inheritance - and am part of a joint venture which will be releasing a boxset in time for Valentine's Day. Very excited about this -there will be more news nearer the time.
Happy and peaceful New Year to everyone.
Fenella J MillerFenella J Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612724388603068664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-89042216417826054592014-11-25T09:16:00.000+00:002014-11-25T09:16:14.967+00:00Latest Pocket Novel ReleaseMy latest pocket novel BENEATH AN OUTBACK SKY was released recently in the UK. Hope some of you notice it on the bookshelves!?<br />
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And just a reminder that the ebook and paperback editions are on preorder for release in a few days on 30th November on iBooks, Smashwords in all e-formats and Amazon Kindle.</div>
Noelenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189586588231645515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-40655810891585006672014-10-15T15:32:00.000+01:002014-10-15T15:32:29.057+01:00Christmas at Hartford Hall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UE8cSAwY8IE/VD6Ccl2nIYI/AAAAAAAAAYY/IvEMD8PbhVs/s1600/Christmas%2Bat%2BHartford%2BHall%2BMEDIUM%2BWEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UE8cSAwY8IE/VD6Ccl2nIYI/AAAAAAAAAYY/IvEMD8PbhVs/s320/Christmas%2Bat%2BHartford%2BHall%2BMEDIUM%2BWEB.jpg" /></a></div>
I am delighted to tell you that a novella, Christmas at Hartford Hall, which I wrote for My Weekly Pocket Novels in 2009 is now recyled and has appeared with a lovely new cover.
This is a Cinderella story and ideal for a light read.
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This is the cover for the Linford large print.
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This is cover it had with Musa -who have just returned the rights.
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This is the MWPN cover - note the tree - not around in the Regency, but still a decent cover.
Which one do you prefer? Mine is the new one by the wonderful Jane Dixon-Smith.
Fenella J MillerFenella J Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612724388603068664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-4976832941824116602014-09-21T08:28:00.000+01:002014-09-21T08:28:18.883+01:00Barbara's War -The Resolution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4SwBFUgY94/VB576HWGLVI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/9ZsuOioAjL0/s1600/Barbara's%2BWar%2B3%2BMEDIUM%2BWEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4SwBFUgY94/VB576HWGLVI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/9ZsuOioAjL0/s320/Barbara's%2BWar%2B3%2BMEDIUM%2BWEB.jpg" /></a></div>
This is on pre-order on Amazon at the moment.
http://amzn.to/1vDvNbv
Barbara's War -The Resolution is the final part of a three book series. The books can be read as stand alone -but would be better read in order.
If Barbara's secret is discovered it will destroy her family, but no one can keep a secret forever. Her husband Alex, a Spitfire pilot, would reject her and her marriage will be over. A tragedy almosts rips the family apart and then Alex is posted abroad. Barbara has to learn to live without him. A series of domestic catastrophes, bad news and the unexpected appearance of her childhood friend, John Thorogood, cause her further heartache. Can she find a happy resolution to her problems?
I was sorry to say goodbye to the characters having lived with them through three books. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Fenella J MillerFenella J Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612724388603068664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-80258662376370194382014-09-12T10:05:00.001+01:002014-09-12T10:05:46.591+01:00My sweet romance 'To Love Again' is available now<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Meg and her
little daughter Katie, flee to rural Devon to escape her sinister ex-husband
Phillip. Here, Meg meets the reclusive artist, Garth Winter and although
neither wants to become friends they cannot ignore the magnetism between them.
As the threat from Phillip increases, Meg realises she needs Garth's help to
keep Katie safe. Set against a backdrop of country moors and busy London
streets, Meg must battle to keep her daughter while she falls irresistibly in
love with Garth.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Carol MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17893946748914418193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-57859378696667919942014-09-08T01:17:00.003+01:002014-09-08T01:17:43.390+01:00WHISPERS ON THE PLAINS<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been remiss and forgot to post when my latest pocket novel WHISPERS ON THE PLAINS was released at the end of July.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Irish teacher, <b>Meghan
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accepting a six month posting to Mallawa in outback Western Australia.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Widowed wheat farmer, <b>Dusty Nash</b>, of Sunday Plains
pastoral station, desperate to let go of his heartbreaking past, is instantly
captivated by the spirited Irish redhead who has blown into the district with
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thrown together in the small isolated community, each
resists their budding attraction while they resolve personal issues and
tragedy. When Dusty finally learns the truth about the district newcomer, can
he overcome his hurt enough to forgive and love?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">From the vast and rustic Australian outback to the jewel
green Irish countryside, WHISPERS ON THE PLAINS, takes you on a journey of
personal discovery and redemption toward true love.</span></i></div>
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But never mind, if you missed it, it is now available in paperback and Kindle ebook from Amazon <a href="http://amzn.to/1xvh7wL" target="_blank">here</a> or paperback from The Book Depository <a href="http://bit.ly/1rr9dvJ" target="_blank">here</a> and ebook from Smashwords <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/465682" target="_blank">here</a> in all formats.</div>
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Noelenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189586588231645515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-25912239411124965452014-09-01T14:17:00.001+01:002014-09-01T14:17:31.700+01:00SLEEPING DOGSSLEEPING DOGS<br />
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This book has been shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger. First published by Robert Hale in hardback, the book then appeared in large print and was picked up by Harlequin Worldwide for a paperback edition. I have now put Sleeping Dogs on Amazon as an e-book available for download at £1.85. I had to wait until the Hale rights reverted to me before I could publish it myself.<br />
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I wanted to make the point that there is more than one avenue to go down with a book. I know there are even more places this book could go to for publication, but I have now got it where I want it to go and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it does well as an e-book. All my books, except one, first appeared in print format before they became e-books, most of them as Pocket Novels. I am one of those people who need to be told my books are worth publishing before I go down the Indie route. A lack of self-confidence on my part, probably, and I know a lot of authors have been very successful with self-publishing alone.<br />
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I recently sold the first book of (hopefully) a trilogy to Maggie, and eventually all three will appear in large print and as e-books. I am still trying to break into the magazine serial market and I will get there in the end, but meantime I have no one breathing down my neck demanding a book or two a year. I hate working to a deadline and enjoy being my own boss, but I really admire the writers who are with one or other of the big publishers and maybe even envy them a little. <br />
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Fay Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08272589694665680806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-44946224033662085982014-08-21T15:45:00.000+01:002014-08-21T15:45:24.918+01:00Lord Orpington's Wager<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppjqgtf8nVU/U_YElCQuw5I/AAAAAAAAAVw/DjGlxE28TfU/s1600/Lord%2BOrpingtons%2BWager%2BCover%2BLARGE%2BEBOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppjqgtf8nVU/U_YElCQuw5I/AAAAAAAAAVw/DjGlxE28TfU/s320/Lord%2BOrpingtons%2BWager%2BCover%2BLARGE%2BEBOOK.jpg" /></a></div>
I have just released my very last back list novella -originally entitled 'A Reluctant Bride' it's now re-emerges as Lord Orpington's Wager.
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These are the two previous covers. Thank goodness MWPN has better covers nowadays.
I have no more MWPN novellas to put up now -just six that I will get back from Musa over the next few months.
Happy days!
Fenella J MillerFenella J Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612724388603068664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-52990937696800710862014-08-01T00:28:00.002+01:002014-08-01T00:28:35.257+01:00New People's Friend pocket novel OUT NOW!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Delighted to let you all know that my latest People's Friend pocket novel is out today - 31 July - in the UK. Won't be on the bookshelves for long so head on out and grab yourself a copy for a lovely romantic read. This is the first of an Australian outback duo featuring the Nash siblings, brother Dusty on <i>Sunday Plains </i>in Western Australia and sister Sophie on her own property, <i>Casuarina Downs, </i>in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia [coming soon].<br />
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Noelenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189586588231645515noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-75839222844144162992014-05-22T10:09:00.001+01:002014-05-22T10:09:20.440+01:00My Latest Pocket Novel saleReally delighted to announce my latest sale WHISPERS ON THE PLAINS which will be released as a People's Friend Pocket Novel on 31 July. I have posted the following link to a blog post I have done about the novel and its setting in the wonderful outback of Western Australia.<br />
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<a href="http://noelenejenkinson.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/another-sale.html" target="_blank">http://noelenejenkinson.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/another-sale.html</a><br />
<br />Noelenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189586588231645515noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-3432462851406216992014-05-22T10:06:00.002+01:002014-05-22T10:06:23.967+01:00VALE - Mary Florence Elinor STEWARTMany people will know that romantic thriller author, Mary Stewart, died earlier this month. I am posting a link to a blogpost I have done which is just a short tribute to the well known and bestselling novelist.<br />
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http://noelenejenkinson.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/vale-mary-florence-elinor-stewart.html<br />
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<br />Noelenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189586588231645515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-59290839350964582082014-05-22T09:59:00.000+01:002014-05-22T09:59:26.362+01:00New large print release GRACE'S COTTAGE<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
GRACE'S COTTAGE</h3>
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I'm delighted to announce the release of the Linford large print edition of GRACE'S COTTAGE on 1 June. It has a beautiful cover and can be preordered now from the <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=grace%27s+cottage%2C+noelene+jenkinson&search=Find+book" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>.</div>
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Noelenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189586588231645515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-52973469026339684172014-03-22T11:33:00.001+00:002014-03-22T11:33:12.493+00:00A Gallant Defender - new Regency.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8f09_-ZSdI8/Uy1zqaHWVGI/AAAAAAAAATc/QsX86D_oTaY/s1600/A+Gallant+Defender_SMALL+AVATAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8f09_-ZSdI8/Uy1zqaHWVGI/AAAAAAAAATc/QsX86D_oTaY/s200/A+Gallant+Defender_SMALL+AVATAR.jpg" /></a></div>
Today I am pleased to tell you that the very last of my backlist from Robert Hale is now republished as an e-book on Amazon. This isn't a pocket novel, but is a Regency in exactly the same style as all my pocket novels. In future all my new Regency titles will be submitted to My Weekly Pocket Novels, as well as appearing as e-books and, hopefully, large print with Linford Romance.
http://amzn.to/1nMqYtc
Eliza Fox, devastated by the death of her father and future husband, recovers by assuming control of the family estate, firmly believing that matrimony has no place in her life. Then Lord Wydale, a notorious rake hell, wins Grove House from her brother. Edmund Fox returns to his older sister hoping she can save their home.
Mr Fletcher Reed meets Eliza who steals his heart and she appears to return his feelings. He is her gallant defender – but can he save his beloved and her younger sister from the machinations of the villainous Lord Wydale?
Fenella J Miller
Fenella J Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612724388603068664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-10060794314891832962014-03-10T08:21:00.001+00:002014-03-10T08:21:32.341+00:00Guest Post - Sue Barnard<strong>Sue Barnard is one of the (regular) students on my Pocket Novel/Romance writing courses. She joins us this week to explain how learning to write pocket novels led to publishing success elsewhere.</strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">POCKETING THE EXPERIENCE</span></h1>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">How learning how to write a Pocket Novel taught me to be a better writer</span></em></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back in 2008 I did
an online Creative Writing course with the Open University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was called <i>Start Writing Fiction,</i>
and lasted for about three months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As part
of the course the students were set two tutor-marked assignments, one of which
involved writing about an emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The choice of
emotion was left up to us, but were advised by our tutor that it was much
easier to write convincingly about a negative emotion (such as anger) than
about a positive one such as happiness or contentment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having tried both, I very quickly discovered
that she was right; my attempt at a “positive” piece sounded trite and shallow,
whereas the “negative” emotion produced a powerful passage which was so
toe-curlingly harrowing that I still cringe whenever I read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the tutor did give me full marks for it,
so in that respect at least I must have done something right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But for a very long
time after that, I found I couldn’t write anything which wasn’t dark, or
brooding, or in some cases downright depressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wasn’t, I hasten to add, because of any
serious angst in my own life – it was purely and simply because I’d got into
the mindset that the only way I could write anything “serious” was by going
over to the dark side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when, a
couple of years later, I made a tentative start on writing a novel (more about
that later) I still found it very difficult to shake off that doom-laden mantle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then, in January
2012, I chanced across an advertisement for an online workshop run by Sally
Quilford, on the subject of writing Pocket Novel romances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romance writing was something I’d never had
the courage to tackle, but this six-week course looked interesting, manageable
and affordable – and I desperately needed to learn how to lighten up my
writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite (to my shame) knowing
next to nothing about Pocket Novels, I signed up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Before the course
began I bought and read a few of the DC Thomson Pocket Novels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t take long for me to realise that a
Pocket Novel offers a lovely dose of escapism, and is usually intended to be
read in a single sitting (ideally whilst either lounging on a sunny beach or
curled up in front of a roaring log fire).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I ought to be able to write something like this, I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, how hard can it be…?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How naïve of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I very quickly
learned that writing a Pocket Novel is nowhere near as simple as the experts
make it look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite their modest price
and unpretentious appearance, Pocket Novels are no less “proper” novels that
those costing several times as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
much so that they are recognised by the Romantic Novelists’ Association.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No trivial matter, then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I’d found during
the OU “emotion” exercise, easy reading makes for very hard writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story needs to be light but not bland,
readable but not simplistic, and with likeable and credible characters and
enough action and conflict to keep the reader’s interest until the last page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not easy, when the Pocket Novel Rulebook is
(or at least was at the time) a long list of <i>Thou-Shalt-Nots.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All plots need conflict, but how on earth can
a writer produce a convincing plot when so many of the usual sources of
conflict (crime, infidelity, divorce, death) are totally off-limits?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And yet, under
Sally’s expert tuition and kind encouragement, I eventually began to learn that
yes, it is possible – if one regards conflict in terms of a problem that needs
to be solved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can take the form of
(for example) fear, or insecurity, or separation – all of which can be tackled
without recourse to any of the traditionally more traumatic themes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one of the rules for a Pocket Novel is
that the Happy Ever After ending is non-negotiable, the story is all about the
journey towards it, and how those problems are overcome along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By the end of the
six weeks I had a hero, a heroine, a few secondary characters, a basic
storyline and a selection of scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plus a whole new set of friends and writing buddies – all of whom are
every bit as valuable to me as everything I learned during the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took me another few months to produce the
rest of the book – during which time one of the characters completely floored
me by saying something which went on to change the entire course of the
subplot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then I had no idea that
my fictional creations could take on personalities of their own!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly I still had a lot to learn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And that learning
curve included one of the hardest lessons of all: rejection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My pocket novel was turned down by both of
the DC Thomson outlets – probably because it didn’t tick all their very
stringent boxes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So the Pocket Novel
was relegated to the murky depths of my hard drive whilst I turned my attention
back to the novel I’d started a couple of years earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a retelling of the traditional <i>Romeo
& Juliet</i> story, but a version in which the star-crossed lovers didn’t
die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that stage I was writing it
mainly for myself, because it was the ending I wanted, but I was now able to go
back to the manuscript with a fresher and more critical eye, and a better
knowledge of what a publisher might look for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In short, the Pocket Novel workshop taught me how to take my writing
more seriously and how to develop a more professional approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result I was able to fine-tune the
manuscript and eventually submit it to a publisher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Ghostly-Father-Sue-Barnard/dp/1909841447/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">The Ghostly Father</span></span></a>,
published by <a href="http://crookedcatpublishing.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Crooked Cat Publishing</span></span></a>, was officially
released (very appropriately, given the subject-matter) on St Valentine’s Day
2014.</span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sallyquilford-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00IBZ96JC" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So even though my
Pocket Novel didn’t manage to jump through DC Thomson’s hoops, I learned so
much from the experience of writing it – including one very valuable lesson: no
writing is ever wasted, even if it doesn’t always make the final cut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sue Barnard</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">March 2014 </span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Postscript – after Crooked Cat accepted The Ghostly
Father, I was inspired to resurrect my Pocket Novel manuscript and submit it to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was writing this blog post,
the email arrived telling me they’d accepted it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s billed as “a romantic mystery.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch </span></em><a href="http://broad-thoughts-from-a-home.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><em>this space</em></span></a><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">, folks…</span></em></div>
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<br />Quillershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00148636009202550512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-6704119332904782612014-03-01T03:03:00.000+00:002014-03-01T03:03:16.294+00:00Big Ebook Sale<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;">Smashwords annual Ebook week promotion is about to kick off. Goes from 2-8 March. All my books are 50% off. HALF PRICE. Head on over to <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=noelene+jenkinson" target="_blank"><b>my Smashwords page</b></a> and enjoy. Happy downloading!</span></div>
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Noelenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189586588231645515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-46877538544341035162014-02-02T09:15:00.004+00:002014-02-02T09:15:39.803+00:00The Duke's Reluctant Bride - New Year new title.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PL9Cs2E4Oj4/Uu4I535ymLI/AAAAAAAAASs/h3RQmxkESm8/s1600/The+Duke's+Reluctant+Bride+SMALL+AVATAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PL9Cs2E4Oj4/Uu4I535ymLI/AAAAAAAAASs/h3RQmxkESm8/s320/The+Duke's+Reluctant+Bride+SMALL+AVATAR.jpg" /></a></div>
The Duke's Reluctant Bride is my first new title by 2014. I'm writing a second series of duke books, but this time keeping them all at 50,000 words so they will be eligible for DC Thompson and Linford Romance. This also seems to be a very popular length in both the UK and the US.
I've now written three books since last summer; two regencies and one mainstream World War II historical. I'm hoping to write two further regencies and the final part of my World War II trilogy this year. I also intend to continue to republish my back list – I have the final Robert Hale book to go up in March and three short novellas in the following three months. After that all my titles will be new.
Although I go through the old books and edit etc, I wonder if my readers can tell the difference between books written at the beginning of my career and books written now. I hope my writing is now more fluent than my first few books for Robert Hale.
Having not written anything, apart from a young adult fantasy romance, in the last three years, to be able to write again is a wonderful thing. Writing five new books a year (as I used to a few years ago) seemed an impossible dream a few months ago – but now I think it's achievable.
2014 is going to be a productive year for me and I hope for everybody else.
Fenella J MillerFenella J Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612724388603068664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-16219242394146260002013-12-18T09:30:00.000+00:002013-12-18T09:48:58.567+00:00Write What You Know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDePjRgb8XI/UqzTLxYmI1I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/DyfwTmoLJjE/s1600/PatsyCollins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDePjRgb8XI/UqzTLxYmI1I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/DyfwTmoLJjE/s200/PatsyCollins.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #d9d2e9;">We (Mary and Ruth) are very pleased to welcome Patsy Collins as a guest on the pocketeers blog. As many of you will already know, Patsy is a prolific short story writer and novelist. In the following she tells us what she means by write what you know.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">'Write what you know' is a common piece of writing advice. As with all such rules we'll be tempted to break it from time to time. I feel that would be a mistake. Yes, even if you're writing science fiction. I suppose I'd better explain …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">We know things in different ways. First there are the things we've always known. These tend to be overlooked when we think about writing. Our lives are normal for us. I for example was brought up on a farm. There's no point writing about milking the cows, or how you get one in calf if you don't happen to own a bull, or what it's like to see a calf born because everyone knows that stuff. Except they don't. (If you'd like to find out, the details are all in my romance</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Country-Patsy-Collins/dp/0956853587/ref=la_B004O08LRQ_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386796053&sr=1-3"><span style="color: #0000e9; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">Escape to the Country</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">.)</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">Maybe your current home, job, family, hobby, neighbourhood or even neighbours could provide a basis for your story. My novel</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paint-Me-Picture-Patsy-Collins/dp/1490310029/ref=la_B004O08LRQ_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386796112&sr=1-5"><span style="color: #0000e9; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">Paint Me a Picture </span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">is set in and around <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Portsmouth</st1:place></st1:city>, an interesting area which just happens to be where I live. The main character is a keen gardener, as am I. You get the idea. If we know it, we can use it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">Our writing needn't be limited to what we already know. We can use things other people know. For example Luigi, the gorgeous Italian restaurant owner in</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Year-Day-Patsy-Collins/dp/1490310940/ref=la_B004O08LRQ_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386796085&sr=1-4"><span style="color: #0000e9; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">A Year and a Day</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">, flirts in Italian. I spent a year in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> learning the language and flirting with handsome men. Oh no, sorry that was the fiction writer in me rebelling at sticking to the truth. What I actually did was get help from a fluent Italian speaker. Mavis in Paint Me a Picture attends an inquest, so I contacted a coroner's assistant and sat in on one. If we don't know, we can learn or research so that we do. (Not by doing a Google search and relying on the first hit.)</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">Finally there are the things nobody knows, because they've not happened yet, or aren't real. Whether we're writing about vampires, or ghosts, or little green men we still need to know everything about them. We know it by creating them and their world as though it were real. There has to be logic. For example, if your ghost can walk through walls you must know they can do that and therefore can't be trapped in a locked room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">So, always write what you know, even if you have to research or create the knowledge first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">You can draw your own conclusions about how I gained the knowledge to write the stories in this</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Not-Drop-Drink-Patsy-Collins-ebook/dp/B009RX5MGS/ref=la_B004O08LRQ_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386796342&sr=1-14"><span style="color: #0000e9; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">FREE collection</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00ccff; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">Thanks so much for inviting me on to your blog! Please feel free to drop into</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://patsy-collins.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: #0000e9; font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;">mine</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times-Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: Times-Roman;"> <span style="color: #00ccff;">anytime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Patsy's books are available from Amazon and her BlogSpot is full of useful and interesting information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Patricia Keysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14082225991760220713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-55260590608382074612013-12-16T11:53:00.002+00:002013-12-16T11:55:36.794+00:00A Computer Guy for Christmas<em><strong></strong></em><br />
A link to Amazon, so you can get it easily. It's also going to be just 97p later today and through to Christmas! <br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/B00H8T3S2S/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link"><img alt="A Computer Guy For Christmas" border="0" height="300" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519WkWmsA1L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-59,22_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Computer-Guy-For-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00H8T3S2S"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>A Computer Guy for Christmas</i></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don't forget ... only 97p later from 16th December!</span>Chrissie Lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10183822415068255476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-44930209813298807932013-12-11T11:53:00.002+00:002013-12-11T11:55:58.253+00:00A Computer Guy for ChristmasHi,<br />
I am pleased to announce the publication of my latest book. Published by Pulse, it was a winner in their competition.<br />
<strong><em>'A Computer Guy for Christmas' </em></strong>is a shortish novella<strong><em> </em></strong>for a Christmas read.<br />
Harry and Jasmine leave the office party when people begin to photograph ...using the photocopier. They go back to his place and well, it is Christmas. He asks her to move in with him but there are complications. Then Jasmine's friend Sally makes even more problems ... Perhaps you need to read it to discover more!<br />
Chrissie Lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10183822415068255476noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-45085181058808391602013-11-30T10:55:00.001+00:002013-11-30T10:55:22.110+00:00Love Craft Online/Email Romance Writing CourseI am taking bookings for my next email Romance Writing course, which starts on 1st February 2014. There's an early bird offer of £20 off the cost of the £120 fee for anyone who books and pays by 31st December 2013, so the fee would be just £100 for a three month course that involves critiques of 6 tutor marked assignments. <br />
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<a href="http://quillersplace.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/love-craft-email-romance-writing-course-2014-special-offer/" target="_blank">Details can be found on my blog.</a>Quillershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00148636009202550512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-71576800723708050582013-11-27T01:00:00.000+00:002013-11-27T01:00:00.802+00:00TITLES AND COVERS<div style="text-align: justify;">
Because I'm in the midst of typing up all the scribbled notes and plotting ideas and snatches of scenes and dialogue for about a dozen potential novels I've tossed into files over the years, I thought it timely to discuss titles and cover pictures.</div>
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My first interest in a book is drawn by both title and cover. As we all know, appearances and perceptions really do matter. Then I flip over to the back cover for the blurb to see if the accompanying story sounds interesting. If it passes those tests, then I read the first page or two. So without drawing in a potential reader through both title and cover images, we risk losing our audience.</div>
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I can't start a novel until I have the title. I've been fortunate in that none of mine have ever been changed and we don't often have more than a token input over the choice of book cover if it's published traditionally. In the case of my own self published ebooks, I've been lucky to find pictures that come close to my ideal of what I believe conveys the feel of the story .</div>
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My two favourite covers for my own trad published works are the My Weekly Pocket Novel cover for WOMBAT CREEK and the Linford Romance cover for STARTING AGAIN.</div>
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For the upcoming large print Linford Romance of GRACE'S COTTAGE, I have sent Ulverscroft the image I used to self publish and they are going to consider using it for continuity of covers across all editions of the novel - paperback, ebook and large print. I can't wait to see how they adapt the image.</div>
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I was also ecstatic to discover what I considered the perfect image of a peacock sitting on a bluestone wall for my Australian saga PEACOCKS ON THE LAWN. The homestead was bluestone and the epitome of success as judged by the early sheep squatters which was the theme of my novel was having "peacocks strutting across the lawn". For GRACE'S COTTAGE there is a mystery behind it so I thought the gate leading into it and not knowing what lies beyond captured the essence of the story.</div>
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I would like to hear what your favourite titles and covers are for your own books.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-EGC_r1NcA/UpQYetGx_8I/AAAAAAAAEg0/ftQFQ1HwL54/s1600/Grace%2527s_Cottage_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-EGC_r1NcA/UpQYetGx_8I/AAAAAAAAEg0/ftQFQ1HwL54/s200/Grace%2527s_Cottage_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" width="125" /></a> <img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8JszIL55ec/UpQYRhzgNUI/AAAAAAAAEgo/ZHnxH0ys0A0/s200/Peacocks_On_The_Lawn_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" width="129" /> </div>
Noelenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189586588231645515noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327129601484697455.post-86383856606004454252013-11-26T09:59:00.000+00:002013-11-26T09:59:18.549+00:00Writing in the Now
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing in the Now<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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When I presented a workshop for the lovely Write Place
Writing School at the beginning of November, I touched briefly on ‘writing in
the now’ and wanted to explore that point further, because I didn't have much time in class to do so.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As it wouldn’t be fair to share my students’ ideas I have
come up with a scenario to explain what I mean. This is a bit off the cuff, so may not be perfect, though I did find I kept adding bits to it as the story grew!</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Annie and James meet
in university when they join the same band, with Annie as the lead singer and
James as the lead guitarist/singer. They are each other’s first love, but at
the end of university life they go their separate ways because James decides to
move to America to pursue his musical career. Ten years later they meet up
again, and James is a huge star, whilst Annie is a backing singer, working to
keep a roof over her and her young son’s head. Annie is still hurt that James
left her and thought his career more important than their love and she is also
angry that he stole the song that they wrote together and which became his
biggest hit. She has been too proud to sue him for her rights and is certainly
not going to ask him now! It is revealed that James left because he had reason
to believe that Annie was cheating on him and he had taken the song as revenge.
When he meets Annie’s son, he automatically assumes the child is the other guy’s,
but Annie knows better. Not that she’s going to admit that to James after he
cheated her out of millions of pounds…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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If you were writing the novel to this short summary, where would
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When one of the students came up with a scenario that charted
all her hero and heroine’s romantic life, I suggested to her that she would be
much better starting the story in the now; at the point where their conflict is
about to come to a head. That adds immediacy to a story, and helps speed up the pace of reading.</div>
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A chronological story that begins with the hero and heroine
falling in love, maybe getting married or living together for years before conflict rears
its ugly head may be more realistic. After all, in real life, falling in love and
getting married is generally the easy bit. It’s only afterwards when children and
the resulting lack of money come along that conflict starts. But if you started at the very
beginning, it would make the first chapters rather slow. Of course if your hero
and heroine do meet and are immediately faced with a conflict, then it will
speed up the pace. But if you’re describing a relationship that began then
ended several years before for some reason, the time to start the story is when
they meet again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So if I were writing the story I’ve outlined above, I’d
start where Annie and James meet up again, at a recording studio perhaps. I’d
introduce the conflict from their past very quickly, avoiding
flashbacks, which also slow down the pace of a story. Let the past come out in
dialogue (whilst avoiding ‘information drop’).<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are some novels, particularly family sagas, in which
you can start from the year dot – or when the heroine was born – but even they
will hint at some conflict. Maybe the hero or heroine has displaced an elder
sibling or cousin who was due to inherit. Or there is a question over their
parentage that will inform the rest of their lives until such conflict is
resolved. Even then the story will more than likely jump forward ten years or
so at a time, missing out the boring bits.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G5WYG02?ie=UTF8&camp=3194&creative=21330&creativeASIN=B00G5WYG02&linkCode=shr&tag=sallyquilford-21&=digital-text&qid=1385459657&sr=1-1&keywords=Sally+Quilford" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G5WYG02?ie=UTF8&camp=3194&creative=21330&creativeASIN=B00G5WYG02&linkCode=shr&tag=sallyquilford-21&=digital-text&qid=1385459657&sr=1-1&keywords=Sally+Quilford" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3naVgl4iSA/UpRvqpcALXI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/aoLre6bZlDE/s320/lovingprotectorcover.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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It doesn’t matter if you’re writing historical romance. The ‘now’
is the ‘present’ time in any era. So in my novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G5WYG02?ie=UTF8&camp=3194&creative=21330&creativeASIN=B00G5WYG02&linkCode=shr&tag=sallyquilford-21&=digital-text&qid=1385459657&sr=1-1&keywords=Sally+Quilford" target="_blank">Loving Protector</a>, the story starts
when the heroine and her family are saved from a highwayman by the dashing hero.
So yes, it is the first time they meet and then goes on to chart their romance,
but it very quickly sets up the conflict (the heroine’s nasty stepsister) and
hints at further conflicts. Plus the romance happens over weeks, not years. I’ve
heard criticism about romances that happen too quickly, but to me that’s what
writing romantic fiction is about. It’s about falling in love at first sight,
but being faced with a conflict that tests that notion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If every romantic novel had the same pace as a real life
romance, then it would be very boring for the reader. It can be done, however. The
film <em>Same Time Next Year </em>by Bernard Slade, starring Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn, used the conceit of a couple
meeting the same time every year to carry on an illicit romance, and it showed
how they both changed over the years. But each ‘episode’ of the romance took
place at the time they met – in the now - and missed out all the bits in
between, simply feeding information to the audience through dialogue. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So try to write in the now, when the real conflict begins.
That may well be at the beginning of a romance, but it may well be ten years down
the line when the hero and heroine meet again and are forced to deal with the
problems that parted them before.<o:p></o:p></div>
Quillershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00148636009202550512noreply@blogger.com16