Carole Matthews's Blog, page 6
December 5, 2016
Christmas? Are you sure?
Hello, lovely people!
Oh, my goodness! I’m so missing having a Christmas book out this year. My festive novel usually comes out in August – in plenty of time for Christmas, of course! I am the woman in my local Co-op looking for mince pies as the sun is beating down, making mulled wine instead of summery cocktails involving strawberries. My Christmas book has become a bit of a tradition over the last five years and I start to look forward to Christmas earlier and earlier (much to Lovely Kev’s annoyance!)
This year, without the anchor of my book, it’s all gone to pot. I’ve hardly bought any pressies; none of the ones I’ve actually got are wrapped. At this time of year, I normally resemble Cassie from Calling Mrs Christmas – my character who organises fabulous Christmasses for other people. I haven’t even done my usual Christmas Spreadsheet yet! No doubt I’ll be doing the last-minute Christmas eve dash. Though I do take some solace in the fact that I’ve handmade all of my Christmas cards this year – no popping down to Next for a 3 for 2 deal. Oh, no. And I do send a LOT of Christmas cards! I was spurred on by my new novel, Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses, being set in the world of crafting which we are cheekily releasing on 15 December – not exactly a Christmas book, but it will still give you a lovely warm glow.
I haven’t been slacking, though! There is a Christmas novel for next year, already delivered and approved by my editor. Yay! She loves it and I think you will too. It’s a festive follow-up to The Cake Shop in the Garden and it has been lovely to spend time with Fay and Danny on The Dreamcatcher again. And, if you really need a Christmas Carole fix, then I have five backlist titles to choose from – each one with a different festive flavour!
I did put my tree up on 26 November – just because it’s the only free day I had before Christmas and we have a MONSTER tree. It’s ten feet tall and takes us all day to decorate and Lovely Kev tries very hard not to lose the will to live with it. We have some mulled wine, mince pies and a bit of Michael Bublé on the iPod to help us along. Then, to round off the proceedings, we go and have a roasty dinner and champagne with our lovely next-door neighbours. So that’s finally started to get me in the festive mood. Three months later than usual, but better late than never. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Love C : ) xx
ps: All of my lovely Christmas novels are at frivolously festive prices to download for Kindle at the moment!
November 17, 2016
Milton Keynes Short Story Competition
Hello lovely people
How often do you read a story set in Milton Keynes? Not often enough!
Help the good people of Costa del Keynes to celebrate MK’s 50th birthday in 2017 by writing a short story set in our unique city. Science fiction, thriller, romance, historical fiction or gritty crime: as long as your story has MK as a backdrop, we want to read it.
I’ll be judging along with local author Karen Guyler and Scott Dorward. 50 of the best stories will be selected for publication in a limited edition anthology.
Maximum number of words: 1050
Age categories: 14 – 19 and 20+
1st prize £100, 2nd prize £50, 3rd prize £25 – in both categories
Deadline for submissions: 21st April 2017
Winners will be notified by: 19th June 2017
What you need to know
All entries must be written in English
Stories must be set in Milton Keynes: past, present or future
Stories may be in any genre, eg Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, History
There are two age categories 14-9 and 20+
Entries must be no more than 1050 words per story (there is no minimum word limit)
Entries should be submitted in Microsoft Word, RTF or Plain Text as an attachment to an email
All work should be typed in Arial size 12 font and should include a word count
Writers should not include their name on any part of the attachment as entries will be judged anonymously
Work should be original and not previously published
All stories submitted may be considered for publication in an anthology. This will be published in a limited edition and available for purchase
Complete stories or extracts may be broadcast on MKFM radio station
First prize in each category: £100
Second and third prizes in each category £50 / £25
Judges include local authors: Carole Matthews, Karen Guyler and Scott Dorward
Judges cannot correspond with entrants or give feedback on submissions
The competition is supported by Community Learning MK, IngramSpark and MKFM
What you need to do
All entries should be submitted as an attachment to an email and sent to mk50shortstory@milton-keynes.gov.uk
In the email subject line please state MK50 Short Story Submission
Please include the following details in the body of your email:
Your full name
Age category
Title of piece
Email address/phone number
Deadline for submissions: 21st April 2017
Winners will be notified by: 19th June 2017
Request full terms and conditions by emailing jo.wellings@milton-keynes.gov.uk
November 14, 2016
Mary Berry and the World Bunting Record
Hello lovely people
I had a fabulous day at Upton House in Warwickshire last week. They’ve been doing the Knitting for Victory Guinness World Record attempt for knitted bunting. I know!
On Thursday, the lovely Mary Berry went along for the day and announced – in a typically British downpour of rain – that they had smashed the record with a total of 7.55km of stocking stitch flags! I knitted about 70 bits of bunting and many of my readers took part too. Such fun.
I also had the chance to meet Mary again and get some of her cookery books signed from my ever-growing collection. As she’s an avid reader of my books, she got a very special advance copy of my latest novel, Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses, which I really hope that she enjoys. She’s such a lovely and elegant lady – a delight to talk to.
November 9, 2016
Paper Hearts at Hobbycraft MK!
Hello lovely people
A date for your diary! Just to let you know that I’ll be signing books at Hobbycraft in Costa del Keynes on Saturday 10 December from 2-4pm. Those o
f you who’ve seen my love of crafting will know that Hobbycraft is my second home!
Lovely Christine Emberson, paper crafting ambassador, top blogger and demonstrator on Create & Craft TV will be with me and we’ll be showing you how to make gorgeous chocolate wrappers in time for Christmas. What’s not to love?
Christine was also the inspiration for my new book, Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses, which I think is one of my best books yet.
Hope to see you there. Come along and say hello!
C : ) xx
October 31, 2016
Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses Down Under
Hello lovely people!
Just to let you know that my new book – Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses – will be out in Australia and New Zealand on 21 December. Literally, just in time for Christmas
Here are the links so that you can pre-order to make sure you get your copy!
C : ) xx
Paperback
New Zealand www.mightyape.co.nz
Australia www.booktopia.com.au
Ebook
iBooks itunes.apple.com
Kobo: kobobooks.com
Christie Chapman is a single working mother who spends her days commuting to her secretarial job in London and looking after her teenage son, Finn.
It can be tough just getting through the day but Christie has always found comfort in her love of crafting and any spare time she has is spent in her parents’ summerhouse working on her beautiful creations. From intricately designed birthday cards to personalised gifts, Christie’s flair for the handmade knows no bounds and it’s not long before opportunity comes knocking. All of a sudden Christie sees a different future for her and Finn – one full of hope and possibility, and if the handsome Max Alexander is to be believed, one full of love too. It’s all there for the taking.
And then, all of sudden, Christie’s world is turned upside down.
Christie knows that something has to give, but what will she choose? Will she give up her dreams and the chance of real love? What price will she pay for doing the right thing? Can Christie find her happy ending in . . . Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses.
October 18, 2016
Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses down under!
Hello ladies and gentlemen!
Just to let you know that my latest book – Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses – will be out in Australia and New Zealand on 22 December.
It will be published both in trade paperback and ebook with this gorgeous cover look. I think you’ll like this one!
Christie Chapman is a single working mother who spends her days commuting to her secretarial job in London and looking after her teenage son, Finn.
It can be tough just getting through the day but Christie has always found comfort in her love of crafting and any spare time she has is spent in her parents’ summerhouse working on her beautiful creations. From intricately designed birthday cards to personalised gifts, Christie’s flair for the handmade knows no bounds and it’s not long before opportunity comes knocking. All of a sudden Christie sees a different future for her and Finn – one full of hope and possibility, and if the handsome Max Alexander is to be believed, one full of love too. It’s all there for the taking.
And then, all of sudden, Christie’s world is turned upside down.
Christie knows that something has to give, but what will she choose? Will she give up her dreams and the chance of real love? What price will she pay for doing the right thing? Can Christie find her happy ending in . . . Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses.
October 11, 2016
Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses!
Hello lovely people
So pleased to be able to announce that my latest book – Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses – is out on 15 December. Just in time for Christmas!
This is my 29th novel and the hardback and ebook will be published first, followed by the paperback in April 2017.
This is such a lovely, heartwarming story and I think it’s one of my best books, so I hope that you fall in love with it too. The main story draws on the life of my dear friend, Christine Emberson and her son, Elliott. A few years ago, Christine introduced me to the fabulous world of crafting and had no idea what she was about to unleash! Both her and Elliott have been a huge inspiration to me and I hope that this book does their story justice. I’ve also thrown in a totally gorgeous romantic hero for good measure – how could I not!
There are going to be lots of lovely events and giveaways to celebrate the gorgeousness of this book, so keep in touch through my newsletter, Facebook and Twitter.
If you’d like a copy in time for Christmas, I highly recommend that you pre-order through Amazon.
PRE-ORDER PAPER HEARTS & SUMMER KISSES NOW
Christie Chapman is a single working mother who spends her days commuting to her secretarial job in London and looking after her teenage son, Finn.
It can be tough just getting through the day but Christie has always found comfort in her love of crafting and any spare time she has is spent in her parents’ summerhouse working on her beautiful creations. From intricately designed birthday cards to personalised gifts, Christie’s flair for the handmade knows no bounds and it’s not long before opportunity comes knocking. All of a sudden Christie sees a different future for her and Finn – one full of hope and possibility, and if the handsome Max Alexander is to be believed, one full of love too. It’s all there for the taking.
And then, all of sudden, Christie’s world is turned upside down.
Christie knows that something has to give, but what will she choose? Will she give up her dreams and the chance of real love? What price will she pay for doing the right thing? Can Christie find her happy ending in . . . Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses.
June 29, 2016
Fancy a bit of cakey tea with me?
Morning! Coming to join me in Bewdley, Worcs for a bit of cakey tea? I’ll be chatting to Heart FM’s Rachel New over a cuppa and it would be great if you could be there.
10 September, 2.30. Tickets, a very modest £6, are on sale now. Spaces are limited so be quick, quick!
C : ) xx
June 27, 2016
Fab British Indie Film!
Hi guys!
This looks totally fabulous. An award-winning British indie film and we all love a rom-com, right!
The debut film by writer/director Rachel Tunnard, stars Jodie Whittaker as a woman in her late 20s who specialises in lo-fi films featuring talking fingers, and lives in a shed at the end of her mother’s garden. Based on a Bafta-nominated short, the comedy drama premiered at the Tribeca film festival in New York and won the prestigious Nora Ephron award.
If it’s on near you – there’s a list of cinema’s on the website – please go to see it. The reviews are amazing.
Here’s a cheeky peak… Adult Life Skills Trailer
C : ) xx
They have a FB page too. Adult life Skills
And are on Twitter: @adultlifeskills
Save
May 26, 2016
Join me in a Knitting World Record Attempt!
Lovely ladies! Want to get your knit on and join me in a knitting world record attempt?
You know I’m a big fan of the National Trust, well Upton House in Warwickshire is Knitting for Victory this summer and you can be part of it too. They’re trying to make the world’s longest line of knitted bunting. All the details you need to knit your bunting are below and they need the completed pieces by September – the sooner the better though.
Our bestie, Mary Berry, will announce the results in the Autumn and there’s a chance to win afternoon tea with her. Woo hoo! What’s not to love?
Knitting for Victory! All you need to know to take part!
You can follow my progress on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – All of The Places!
Let’s do it! C : ) xx
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