Talli Roland's Blog, page 47

September Scariness

Can you believe it's September? Can you believe I say that every September? I'm so original, I know. It's just that September reminds me of everything I haven't done; of all those looming deadlines.

There's exciting -- if scary -- stuff around the corner. The Hating Game launch next year is getting ever-closer and we're also planning to release an e-book version in time for Christmas! I have some ideas up my sleeve for that one, but I'll stay mum for now.

And I've surpassed 400 followers! Thank...

The Macaron Mandible Mishap

If you've lived in France, you're probably familiar with a little place called Ladurée and their legendary macaron. Sweet and chewy, with a gooey filling (oh, my mouth is filling with saliva), macarons cannot be resisted.

Ladurée has since come to London and its macarons have spread wide and far to many French bakeries across the city. So when my husband's co-worker bought him a dozen flavoured macarons from Paul for his birthday, I did what had to be done. I ate them.

To clarify, I only ate t...

Right Old Ding-Dong

It's Friday! And lo and behold, it's still raining. It's a long weekend here, the Notting Hill Carnival invades my 'hood this weekend with the obligatory pissing and vomiting, and, well, I'm feeling quite brain-dead these days. So I offer you up a few funny words and phrases for your own entertainment!

Your level of hilarity will probably depend on if you're British or not, since most of the expressions I find amusing are British. If you are British (or Irish! -- for Niamh, Brigid, Barbara, An...

Book Distribution for Beginners

When my first travel guide was published in the UK last year, friends and family back home in Canada asked why they couldn't get it in the big book stores over there. I had a hard time explaining why -- given I knew next to nothing about how book distribution worked! I still don't know a great deal, but I do know that getting your book published doesn't necessarily mean it will wind up on the shelves.

Why? It all comes down to distribution.

There are four main players:

1. The Author. Writes the...

Skip a Starbucks - Save a Life (and Your Gut)

Thanks to everyone yesterday for supporting my dreams (even the completely unrealistic ones -- 'cause let's face it, eating cake every day without gaining weight just ain't gonna happen). I loved reading your dreams, too!

Yesterday as I was browsing blogs, I came across something that took hold of me and wouldn't let go. No, it wasn't an alcohol-induced hallucination: it was CJ Redwine's Skip a Starbucks - Save a Life post, which I got to via Shannon Whitney Messenger's wonderful blog.

CJ and ...

Ten for Tuesday: Dream Big

When I was an athlete, my coach encouraged me to write down my top three goals each year. He'd look at them, then tell me to reach even higher. If you don't aim high, you'll never know if you can get there, he'd say.

At the risk of turning this post into lyrics from a 1980s boy band, I'm going to take those lessons learned and apply them to my writing and my life. Today's Ten for Tuesday will be all about my dreams, because I do believe there's nothing wrong with wanting to reach the top -- as...

Not Now - I've Got a Headache

Let me preface this post by saying that I am the world's best excuse-maker. Seriously. I can make a valid (sounding) excuse for anything. Need that plate washed? It's more time effective to wait until I actually use a glass, too -- then I can wash them together. Dirty laundry? There's no point until that towel is at least dirty enough to throw in.

Right now I have a massive headache pounding away at my temples, and it's been in residence all day. But. I've done some writing and managed to spe...

Why I Blog

If you're looking for the Guess That Character blogfest reveal, click here!

This Sunday, author Nicola Morgan will be dropping by my blog as part of her talk on social networking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. I thought it only fitting to post why I love blogging!
I've been asked by many writers if I think blogging is worthwhile. And my answer is always, without doubt, a giant yes. Why? Not only does it let you write without worrying about plots and structure, but it provides...

Guess That Character - The Reveal

Thanks to everyone who dropped by and guessed what my main character Jem looks like, based on the snippet below! Quite a few were correct, actually: Jem's a brunette, very well-groomed and put together. She's quite a control-freak (you'd need to be after five years of keeping your impulses in line!).

Big thank you to Jen for organising the blogfest! It was a ton of fun and I'm really enjoying getting to meet new bloggers and reading everyone's work!

Here's my snippet from yesterday:

Today I'm p...

Guess That Character!

Today I'm participating in my first blogfest, organised by the lovely Jen of Unedited. I know blogfest posts can be lengthy and time-consuming to comment on, so if you're not participating please don't feel obliged!

The Guess that Character blogfest is this: I post a snippet of my writing, and you try to guess what the main character looks like.

Here's a bit from the opening of a short story I've written called The Five-Year Itch.

***
Jem Ryan turned her smile on the eager crowd in front of her....