Talli Roland's Blog, page 52

Ten for Tuesday: Bag Lady

Last the week, the lovely Sangu tagged me to list the contents of my bag. Since they're as much a mystery to me as anyone else, I thought it'd be interesting to have a root through one of them and see just what the heck is in there! I'm way too lazy to clean out my handbags with any kind of consistency so... here goes:

1. An empty packet of Nurofen (ibuprofen). Why empty? Because, like I said, I'm too lazy to throw it out. This packet will provide a false sense of security when I comb through ...

Something Old, Something New...

Happy Monday! I'll start with the new first!

I'm not one for posting extracts of work in progress, but I've just started fiddling around with a new idea and I'm excited! So I thought I'd give a little taste of what it's about. The working title is Build A Man, and here's a brief blurb:
Trin Holland dreams of the day when she's a breaking-news tabloid reporter. Right now, the closest she gets to tabloids is when the Page 3 Girl shows off her booty at the plastic surgery clinic where Trin...

Sweet Sunday: Take Your Pick!

Welcome to a special edition of Sweet Sunday! Why? Because I've now reached over 300 followers! And being, ahem, rather broke, I would like to show you all some love the best way I know how: with yummy scrummy food!

For the past few months, almost every Sunday I've written about one of my favourite treats. And so, in thanks to everyone who has been reading and commenting, I would like to share them all with you. Please, take as many as you like and enjoy! And the best bit? They're calorie free...

Author Interview: Nik Perring

I'm thrilled to have author Nik Perring here today! Nik has recently released the short story collection Not So Perfect.

Having grown up reading Canadian short-story writers Alice Munro and Alistair MacLeod ( The Lost Salt Gift of Blood is one of my all-time favourites), I've always been a massive fan of short stories.

Nik's success proves that publishers do embrace quirky and unique writers and that they are willing to publish talented writing (can writing be talented? hm). Read on to find out ...

Sleepyitis: A Sufferer Speaks

[image error] Sleepyitis: a condition known to affect writers in varying degrees of severity, resulting in the urge to nap frequently during the daytime hours. Sufferers are not physically tired but may experience similar symptoms: heavy eyes, drowsiness and lack of ability to form complete sentences.

Since Monday, I have been a victim of sleepyitis. I start the day with the best intentions, but come 11 am my eyelids are heavy and I'm gravitating towards the bed.

Nothing has changed: my prose is as scintill...

Book Review: The Dating Detox

I know chick lit isn't for everyone, the same way vampires and werewolves aren't for everyone. But, like any other kind of novel, there's a definite art to writing chick lit, and Gemma Burgess has got it.

Awhile back, I posted the wonderful trailer for the book. It was such a great teaser that I started reading the book that afternoon!

Here's the blurb, courtesy of Amazon:

If you can't date anyone nice, don't date anyone at all...Dating is a dangerous sport. So after her sixth successive...

Ten for Tuesday: Through My Window

Thanks to everyone for all your lovely comments yesterday! The photographer should send me some proofs on Thursday, so I'll post a few for your perusal. But only if they're good!

I like to look out the window. A lot. It's where I turn when my mind needs to puzzle something out, worry, or just go blank (which happens a lot). It's a good thing, then, that I live on such an interesting street! Here are some of my top window-gazing sights.

1. The red zippy car. This perfectly formed mini-car...

A Picture is Worth 80,000 Words

Or so I hope, anyway!

Anyone who's friends with me on Facebook (just send a friend request if you're on FB!) knows I was in a slight tizzy yesterday. Why? I had to have some photos taken. Photos of me. AS much as I love to look at lovely photos of myself, the actually taking and making of said photos strikes fear into my unphotogenic heart.

I have two photos I've been using whenever anyone asked -- for my websites, blog interviews and the like -- but the time had finally come to expand my...

Sweet Sunday: Blueberry Grunt

Today's Sweet Sunday is in honour of my Nova Scotian roots: blueberry grunt! You have to love a dessert with 'grunt' in its name.

Lots of gooey blueberries, plenty of sugar and some very yummy dumplings, all baked together and served up with a helping of cream.

Oh, my mouth is tanging already (and I don't care if tanging is a word or not, it's the perfect description for what my mouth is doing!).

Gotta get some grunt!

Happy Sunday!

Author Interview: Gary William Murning

I'm delighted to welcome author Gary Murning to the blog today! Gary's first novel, If I Never, was just released last year. I'm particularly happy that Gary shares my view on writer's block, a term which (I'm sorry!) never fails to irritate me. So... welcome Gary!

Tell us about your journey to publication.

In many ways, my story is quite typical. I wrote for many years before achieving publication. I started writing seriously when I was about twenty and whilst I didn't expect anything to happ...