Frances Maynard's Blog
November 4, 2019
Book Club Questions for Maggsie McNaughton's Second Chance
1. Do you think the book is a convincing portrayal of someone with dyslexia?
2. Maggsie has had problems with alcohol, she's been to prison, comes from a poor background, has dyslexia … but the book is uplifting rather than bleak. What methods does the author use to achieve this?
3. What does Maggsie's relationship with Audrey the cat tell us about her character?
4. When Maggsie was a child her headmaster told her she would never amount to anything. It was almost a curse. Who in the book do you feel undoes this 'curse'?
5. Do you think it's possible for a few words (good or bad) from someone in authority to change your life?
6. Maggsie tries many methods of anger control. Which was the most effective?
7. What role does T.J. play in the book?
2. Maggsie has had problems with alcohol, she's been to prison, comes from a poor background, has dyslexia … but the book is uplifting rather than bleak. What methods does the author use to achieve this?
3. What does Maggsie's relationship with Audrey the cat tell us about her character?
4. When Maggsie was a child her headmaster told her she would never amount to anything. It was almost a curse. Who in the book do you feel undoes this 'curse'?
5. Do you think it's possible for a few words (good or bad) from someone in authority to change your life?
6. Maggsie tries many methods of anger control. Which was the most effective?
7. What role does T.J. play in the book?
September 12, 2019
Dorset tour of Maggsie McNaughton's Second Chance this autumn
I'm looking forward to talking about my second novel, Maggsie McNaughton's Second Chance in four Dorset libraries this autumn. As my heroine struggles with reading but does, finally, venture into a library, talking about her there seems particularly fitting! Everyone welcome. Events are free but please book: libraries@poole.gov.uk
Poole Library Tues 17th Sep 2019 7 - 8.30
Parkstone Library Friday 18th Oct 2019 4.30 - 5.30
Broadstone Library Wed 13th Nov 2019 2 - 3
Dorchester Library Sat 16th Nov 11 - 12.30
Poole Library Tues 17th Sep 2019 7 - 8.30
Parkstone Library Friday 18th Oct 2019 4.30 - 5.30
Broadstone Library Wed 13th Nov 2019 2 - 3
Dorchester Library Sat 16th Nov 11 - 12.30
June 10, 2019
Maggsie McNaughton's Second Chance - out on June 27th!
'My name is Marguerite. Marguerite McNaughton. It's a poncy name. I can't actually write Marguerite. What I call myself is Maggsie M. If the pen-pusher that's asking for it looks disapproving, I just give them a go-fry-yourself stare.'
September 22, 2018
Author Talks
I'm going to have a sore throat - three autumn author talks on The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr coming up:
2.30 p.m. Thursday September 27th at Westbourne Library, Dorset, UK
7.30 p.m. Tuesday October 23rd at Waterstones Bookshop, Southampton, UK
2 p.m. Friday, November 2nd at Parkstone Library, Dorset, UK
Do come along - they're all free!
2.30 p.m. Thursday September 27th at Westbourne Library, Dorset, UK
7.30 p.m. Tuesday October 23rd at Waterstones Bookshop, Southampton, UK
2 p.m. Friday, November 2nd at Parkstone Library, Dorset, UK
Do come along - they're all free!
August 17, 2018
The Society of Author's McKitterick prize
I was thrilled to be runner-up for this UK prize which is awarded each year for a debut novel from an author over 40. It was a wonderful, if very, very hot, evening in London and I got to shake hands with Stephen Fry! The winner was Anitie Isong for Radio Sunrise, a funny and poignant novel set in Nigeria.
June 14, 2018
'Elvira' short-listed for the McKitterick prize!
I'm thrilled and honoured to be shortlisted for the 2018 Society of Authors Mckitterick prize awarded for a debut novel by an author over 40.
The prize will be given next month at an Awards Evening hosted by Stephen Fry!
So grateful to everyone who's helped me along the way. www.societyofauthors.org
The prize will be given next month at an Awards Evening hosted by Stephen Fry!
So grateful to everyone who's helped me along the way. www.societyofauthors.org
June 3, 2018
Seven Imperfect Rules for Improving Your Fiction Writing
1. The beginning has to be compelling. You need to suggest as early as possible that your character will need to do something about a difficult situation.
2. Rather than racking your brain for a plot think more about exploring a situation. Ask, ‘What if? …’
3. There should be something special or interesting about your central character. They should be someone we could care about.
4. Dialogue needs to be convincing. We don’t speak in perfect sentences!
5. Characters need conflict. We might not have faced the same ones, or not ones so bad, but we’ve all had troubles and set-backs. Reading about fictional ones can illuminate your own.
6. Show don’t tell. Help your reader notice but let them think about and discover things for themselves – always the best way to learn anything.
7. There is no special writer’s language! Don’t show off at your readers’ expense with long words, foreign terms etc. A novel should be for readers, not therapy for the writer.
2. Rather than racking your brain for a plot think more about exploring a situation. Ask, ‘What if? …’
3. There should be something special or interesting about your central character. They should be someone we could care about.
4. Dialogue needs to be convincing. We don’t speak in perfect sentences!
5. Characters need conflict. We might not have faced the same ones, or not ones so bad, but we’ve all had troubles and set-backs. Reading about fictional ones can illuminate your own.
6. Show don’t tell. Help your reader notice but let them think about and discover things for themselves – always the best way to learn anything.
7. There is no special writer’s language! Don’t show off at your readers’ expense with long words, foreign terms etc. A novel should be for readers, not therapy for the writer.
