Nigel Jay Cooper's Blog, page 4
April 19, 2017
If she’s touched his knee once, she’s touched it 20 times… excerpt, Beat The Rain
The dinner party continues and Louise’s friend Alice and her new boyfriend John arrive. He seems nice to Adam in a nondescript kind of way. Not offensive, not particularly interesting but nice enough in an unmemorable way. Alice seems happy though, and that’s lovely to see. Adam thinks she’s been unhappy for a long time, even before her boyfriend left, if he’s honest. She’s one of life’s meek people who tend...
March 30, 2017
How readers and reviewers rewrite novels
It’s been fascinating to see how readers and reviewers bring out elements of a novel you don’t see yourself – facets that, even as the author, you hadn’t fully appreciated or understood. In fact, it got to the point where I rewrite some of my cover blurb and marketing material for my first novel Beat The Rain based on reviews.
I now understand that reviews aren’t only a tool for readers to understand whether a book is for them – although of course, thi...
March 24, 2017
Knitting with dog hair and how to poo at work
Something frivolous for a Friday afternoon.
As I’m in the advanced stages of editing my second novel (which has a seemingly strange premise – more on that here), I thought it would be a good opportunity to look at some of the strange offerings already out there.
No really, you’re most welcome.
1. Anyone can be cool?
Not as cool as you guys.
To be honest, I can only dream of the kind of awesome you’re talking about.
2. A beginner’s guide...
January 26, 2017
“I doubt there’s anything real about those, Imogen.” Excerpt, Beat The Rain
Shortly, the guests arrive and Louise is all smiles and nervous pleasure. Imogen is there first, wearing an over-the-top black dinner dress and carrying a bottle of champagne, as if she’s attending a black-tie event.
“I know Alice likes to bring Cava.” She says to Louise, thrusting the bottle at her and sweeping past into the living room and embracing Adam warmly, an embrace he returns out of politeness, despite how a...
January 24, 2017
Lessons from a debut author: things I wish I’d known a year ago
My debut novel was published 6 months ago now, so I thought it was worth rounding up some of my thoughts about the process, in particular, some of the misconceptions I had and what I’ve learnt in the hope it might help others starting out.
I’m in a pretty good space at the moment and just found out Beat The Rain wasmy publisher’s best selling title of 2016 – but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had a fair few ‘long dark teatimes of th...
December 20, 2016
Do you have seasonal jealousy disorder this Christmas?
I’m very excited to feature heavily inan article in the Daily Mirror today. I’ve had some lovely reviews and articles on some big websites, but this is the first national newspaper to featureBeat The Rain.
“In a strange twist, almost all those prone to jealousy said they rarely experience feelings of insecurity, mistrust and defensiveness at any other time of year [apart from Christmas].
The study was conducted by author Nigel Jay Cooper...
November 15, 2016
Female First article: pitfalls to avoid for men writing women
Very pleased to have a feature today inFemale First, a popular online women’s lifestyle magazine.
I’m talking about what it becoming a familiar subject now – although not one I gave much thought to when I wrote Beat The Rain: how men can write women well.
The articles covers whether men and women are really that different in reality and some of the charges levied at male writers when attempting to write female characters – and how...
November 9, 2016
Beat The Rain named semi-finalist in Goodreads Choice Awards 2016
I’ll admit it, I’m having a pretty good week as far as Beat The Rainis concerned and I’m allowing myself something pretty rare (for me) – to feel proud.
Since it launched, I’ve had some dark ‘it’s all pointless and nobody will ever even know my book exists’ moments. Many of them, in fact.
Then yesterday, I was on Goodreads, looking at what books people had recently added and reviewed onthere and I spied a little promo on the le...
November 8, 2016
All relationships start as love stories. They don’t all end as one.
All relationships start out as love stories. But they don’t all end as one.
In the past, in the beige neutrality of our flat with lawn mowers and televisions and scaffold poles and chirping seagulls outside, I swallow and open my eyes. Blink. My back aches because I’ve been sitting cross-legged on the living-room floor for what seems like an eternity.
“Are you meditating?” a voice says, but I’m not sure if it’s taking the piss or not. T...
All relationships start as love stories. They don’t all end as one #tuesdaybookblog
All relationships start out as love stories. But they don’t all end as one.
In the past, in the beige neutrality of our flat with lawn mowers and televisions and scaffold poles and chirping seagulls outside, I swallow and open my eyes. Blink. My back aches because I’ve been sitting cross-legged on the living-room floor for what seems like an eternity.
“Are you meditating?” a voice says, but I’m not sure if it’s taking the piss or not. T...
