Talli Roland's Blog, page 8
March 25, 2013
Birthday on the Bank
It's Monday again, and wouldn't you know it: London is still freezing! No matter, because I had a wonderful birthday weekend despite Arctic conditions and a failed shopping trip (why is it that when you want to buy something -- anything! -- nothing takes your fancy, but when you're dead broke...). Not wanting to brave the snow flurries on Saturday, I holed up indoors and watched Margin Call. It's a brilliantly terse film with wonderful dialogue. The night was topped off by strawberries and champagne and, er... pizza. Not quite as decadent as champers and berries, but just as yummy!
On Sunday, Mr TR, Baby TR and I faced down the biting wind and had lunch at the British Film Institute on the Southbank, where I got a wonderful pair of diamond and sapphire earrings. I'm a lucky woman!
You can sort of see my new earrings here!Then we strolled along the river, trying not to freeze, and over to the Tate Modern for some art and dessert. Baby TR had just about enough at this stage and his Lobster-y side kicked in, so we beat a hasty retreat home where we gulped down some delicious Chinese takeaway and birthday cake.
Baby TR... before becoming Lobster-y.And that was that! So, okay, it wasn't Paris and yes, there was plenty of poo and pee involved (the baby's, I hasten to add!). But I have to admit, it was a pretty damn fabulous birthday anyway.
Thank you all for the birthday wishes here, on Facebook and on Twitter!
Have a great week.
On Sunday, Mr TR, Baby TR and I faced down the biting wind and had lunch at the British Film Institute on the Southbank, where I got a wonderful pair of diamond and sapphire earrings. I'm a lucky woman!
You can sort of see my new earrings here!Then we strolled along the river, trying not to freeze, and over to the Tate Modern for some art and dessert. Baby TR had just about enough at this stage and his Lobster-y side kicked in, so we beat a hasty retreat home where we gulped down some delicious Chinese takeaway and birthday cake.
Baby TR... before becoming Lobster-y.And that was that! So, okay, it wasn't Paris and yes, there was plenty of poo and pee involved (the baby's, I hasten to add!). But I have to admit, it was a pretty damn fabulous birthday anyway.Thank you all for the birthday wishes here, on Facebook and on Twitter!
Have a great week.
March 18, 2013
I Love London in the Springtime...
Happy Monday! Less than one week until my birthday, just in case you needed reminding. Last year, Mr TR and I went to Paris for the weekend. This year, well... let's just say it'll be a celebration if I make it through the day without being sprayed with spit-up/ pee/ explosive cascading poo/ drool. I do have a super-cute baby for my troubles, though, so I really can't complain (much).
This past week was a busy one! I met with my agent at a cute cafe next to the English National Opera, had an enquiry from a publishing house in Brazil, went to lunch with six other mums at the Orangery in Kensington Gardens -- you should have seen the horror on the other patrons' faces as we wheeled our prams in! -- and attended a talk by the wonderful Jane Lovering at a Romantic Novelists' Association event. And the weather, well . . . let's not speak of it; I'll let the ironic title of this post do that. Argh.
I'm now putting the finishing touches on my short story, and tomorrow I'll start plotting a new novel. I've been mulling this one over for a while and I can't wait to get started crafting the story line! A big thank-you to everyone who chimed in with nap suggestions. You'll be pleased to hear Lobster Baby is dozing as I type. Long may it last!
I'll leave you with a photo of this time last year in Paris... sigh!
Have a lovely week, everyone!
This past week was a busy one! I met with my agent at a cute cafe next to the English National Opera, had an enquiry from a publishing house in Brazil, went to lunch with six other mums at the Orangery in Kensington Gardens -- you should have seen the horror on the other patrons' faces as we wheeled our prams in! -- and attended a talk by the wonderful Jane Lovering at a Romantic Novelists' Association event. And the weather, well . . . let's not speak of it; I'll let the ironic title of this post do that. Argh.
I'm now putting the finishing touches on my short story, and tomorrow I'll start plotting a new novel. I've been mulling this one over for a while and I can't wait to get started crafting the story line! A big thank-you to everyone who chimed in with nap suggestions. You'll be pleased to hear Lobster Baby is dozing as I type. Long may it last!
I'll leave you with a photo of this time last year in Paris... sigh!
Have a lovely week, everyone!
March 11, 2013
Existential Monday
Monday again! I've no idea where the time is going, and what a difference a week makes. This time last Monday, I was picnicking in the park sans jacket. Now, I'm cowering by the heater wrapped in a robe as Britain suffers a wintry blast. Fingers crossed Spring sees fit to make a return!
Yesterday was Mother's Day (or Mothering Sunday, as it's also known) in the UK. I always found it strange to celebrate in March as opposed to May, and this year - as a new mother - even more so. Despite the icky weather, Mr TR, Lobster Baby and I managed to make it out to brunch on nearby High Street Kensington where I devoured a HUGE stack of pancakes in about five minutes. I may not be classy, but man, can I eat quickly! I hope all the other UK mums reading this also had a fantastic day.
I am feeling so out of the loop these days, and I hope to return to make the blog rounds soon. (Yes, I've said that before, I know, I know.) With Lobster Baby on a regular nap schedule now (and if he stays napping when he's supposed to), I should be able to! Thankfully, I have been able to get some words down amidst the clamour of the ongoing painting work. It's been a strange couple months not writing, I must admit, and I did miss it. Slowly, slowly, I am finding my way through the mists of motherhood and back to the world!
What's the weather like in your neck of the woods (yes, I'm obsessed with weather)? How on earth do you get children to stay asleep once they're down? And why are we here, anyway? :)
Have a great week, everyone!
Yesterday was Mother's Day (or Mothering Sunday, as it's also known) in the UK. I always found it strange to celebrate in March as opposed to May, and this year - as a new mother - even more so. Despite the icky weather, Mr TR, Lobster Baby and I managed to make it out to brunch on nearby High Street Kensington where I devoured a HUGE stack of pancakes in about five minutes. I may not be classy, but man, can I eat quickly! I hope all the other UK mums reading this also had a fantastic day.
I am feeling so out of the loop these days, and I hope to return to make the blog rounds soon. (Yes, I've said that before, I know, I know.) With Lobster Baby on a regular nap schedule now (and if he stays napping when he's supposed to), I should be able to! Thankfully, I have been able to get some words down amidst the clamour of the ongoing painting work. It's been a strange couple months not writing, I must admit, and I did miss it. Slowly, slowly, I am finding my way through the mists of motherhood and back to the world!
What's the weather like in your neck of the woods (yes, I'm obsessed with weather)? How on earth do you get children to stay asleep once they're down? And why are we here, anyway? :)
Have a great week, everyone!
March 4, 2013
Sunlounging!
Summer seems so far away, doesn't it? But this week, I've been working on a short story for Belinda Jones' Sunlounger anthology, featuring thirty chick lit writers (including yours truly!). My story is set in Cairo, complete with sand, camels... and sun! Sigh. Although it is sunny in London at the moment with a high of 13 Celsius, so I can't really complain.
If you fancy getting your story in there, you can submit 1000-5000 words right up until 31st March. Click the photo to read the fine print...
Apart from camels, I've been busy doing more park walks, lunches, and brunches in Soho. And next week, I hope to start plotting my new novel. Yay!
Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Wishing everyone a great week ahead!
If you fancy getting your story in there, you can submit 1000-5000 words right up until 31st March. Click the photo to read the fine print...
Apart from camels, I've been busy doing more park walks, lunches, and brunches in Soho. And next week, I hope to start plotting my new novel. Yay!
Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Wishing everyone a great week ahead!
February 28, 2013
When in Rome
Happy Thursday, all! Thank you for your lovely comments on Monday's post. You'll be happy to hear I'm feeling much better, blood pressure aside, and I'm off for a lovely stroll through Hyde Park in a bit!
Today, I am pleased to welcome fellow RNA member Alison Morton to the blog to talk about her new novel, Inceptio.
Over to Alison!
Thank you very much for welcoming me to your blog, Talli.
Tomorrow is the official publication date of my debut novel, INCEPTIO. Hooray! Three years of slog – researching, writing, and polishing – have led to this exciting moment. It’s a thriller, so it’s doubly exciting. Now, I’d like to tell you about it! But too much telling’s frowned on by Those Who Know, so let me show you…An eleven year old fascinated by the mosaics in Ampurias (huge Roman site in Spain), I asked my father, “What would it be like if Roman women were in charge, instead of the men?” Maybe it was the fierce sun boiling my brain that day, maybe it was just a precocious kid asking a smartarse question. But clever man and senior ‘Roman nut’, my father replied, “What do you think it would be like?” Real life intervened (school, uni, career, military, marriage, motherhood, business ownership), but the idea bubbled away in my mind and INCEPTIO slowly took shape.
Of course, I made the classic mistake of submitting too soon, but had some encouraging replies. Several rewrites later and I’d made some full submissions, even to a US agent! I had replies like ‘If it was a straight thriller, I’d take it on’ and ‘Your writing is excellent, but it wouldn’t fit our list.’ I was (am!) passionate about my stories so I decided to self publish with bought-in publishing services. Using high quality professional backing (editing, advice, registrations, typesetting, design, book jacket, proofing, etc.), I think it’s a fantastic way for new writers to enter the market.
You describe your novel as an “alternate history thriller” – how is that different from a normal thriller? Alternate history is based on the idea of “what if”? What if King Harold had won the Battle of Hastings in 1066? Or if Julius Caesar had taken notice of the warning that assassins wanted to murder him on the Ides of March? Sometimes, it could be little things such as in the film Sliding Doors, when the train door shuts and Gwyneth Paltrow’s character splits into two; one rides away on the train, the other is left standing on the platform.
The rest of the story or history of a country, from that point on develops differently from the one we know. In my book, Roma Nova battled its way from a small colony in the late fourth century somewhere north of Italy into a high tech, financial mini-state which kept and developed Roman Republican values, but with a twist. It’s really fun working this out! The thriller story then takes place against this background. The nearest comparison would be J D Robb’s Eve Dallas Death series.
Stories with Romans are usually about famous emperors, epic battles, depravity, intrigue, wicked empresses and a lot of sandals, tunics and swords. But imagine the Roman theme projected sixteen hundred years further forward into the 21stcentury. How different would that world be?
So what’s INCEPTIO about?New York – present day, alternate reality. Karen Brown, angry and frightened after surviving a kidnap attempt, has a harsh choice – being eliminated by government enforcer Jeffery Renschman or fleeing to the mysterious Roma Nova, her dead mother’s homeland in Europe. Founded sixteen centuries ago by Roman exiles and ruled by women, Roma Nova gives Karen safety, a ready-made family and a new career. But a shocking discovery about her new lover, the fascinating but arrogant special forces officer Conrad Tellus who rescued her in America, isolates her. Renschman reaches into her new home and nearly kills her. Recovering, she is desperate to find out why he is hunting her so viciously. Unable to rely on anybody else, she undergoes intensive training, develops fighting skills and becomes an undercover cop. But crazy with bitterness at his past failures, Renschman sets a trap for her, knowing she has no choice but to spring it...
And next? I’m working on PERFIDITAS, the second book in the Roma Nova series.
You can find INCEPTIO on Amazon UK and Amazon US.
You can read more about Alison, Romans, alternate history and writing on her blog: www.alison-morton.com, on Facebook www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor and follow her on Twitter @alison_morton.
Thanks, Alison. Have a great weekend, everyone!
February 25, 2013
Lurgy, Builders, and Lobster Baby
Well! It's been an eventful week, what with Mr TR and I being struck down with the lurgy from hell, trips to the GP, more trips to the GP, and today's journey to the hospital to investigate my apparently high blood pressure (white coat syndrome! white coat syndrome!). There's nothing quite like being poked, prodded, and stuck with wires early on a Monday morning. I can say -- definitively -- I am now very alert!
And lucky us, this week we have builders painting our back wall, complete with clanging scaffolding and blaring radios. As we live in a five-storey Victorian terrace, any maintenance job seems to take forever, requiring a United Nations team of workers! What I can't get my head around is how these very manly men can bear to listen to Taylor Swift-esque music all day long.
This week, I'll be working on writing a short story for an upcoming anthology. I'm looking forward to crafting a story again, even if it's not my usual full-length novel. And, of course, I'll be doing some Lobster-Baby-Wrangling with my now two-month-old!
What are you up to this week? Entertain me!
And lucky us, this week we have builders painting our back wall, complete with clanging scaffolding and blaring radios. As we live in a five-storey Victorian terrace, any maintenance job seems to take forever, requiring a United Nations team of workers! What I can't get my head around is how these very manly men can bear to listen to Taylor Swift-esque music all day long.
This week, I'll be working on writing a short story for an upcoming anthology. I'm looking forward to crafting a story again, even if it's not my usual full-length novel. And, of course, I'll be doing some Lobster-Baby-Wrangling with my now two-month-old!
What are you up to this week? Entertain me!
February 18, 2013
A Walk in the Park
Hello, all! Hope everyone had a great weekend.
Lately I don't seem to be doing much writing (wonder why?), but I have been doing a lot of walking! It's a great way to get out of the flat, and Lobster Baby seems to fade away, leaving a lovely sleeping cherub.
I'm very lucky that I live smack dab between two iconic London parks, Holland Park and Kensington Gardens. While I usually head to the Gardens, today I decided to opt for the less-touristic Holland Park. It's much more manicured than Kensington Gardens, and also features a mini-woodland.
The fountain.
Manicured garden in the sun.
Statue of some dude (aren't these captions informative?).
One of the many peacocks... and a London police officer (on the left).
The Kyoto Garden.
A heron basks in the sun.
Gorgeous, eh? By the way, thank you all for sharing your worst date stories last week! I share in your pain. :)
Have a great week, everyone!
Lately I don't seem to be doing much writing (wonder why?), but I have been doing a lot of walking! It's a great way to get out of the flat, and Lobster Baby seems to fade away, leaving a lovely sleeping cherub.
I'm very lucky that I live smack dab between two iconic London parks, Holland Park and Kensington Gardens. While I usually head to the Gardens, today I decided to opt for the less-touristic Holland Park. It's much more manicured than Kensington Gardens, and also features a mini-woodland.
The fountain.
Manicured garden in the sun.
Statue of some dude (aren't these captions informative?).
One of the many peacocks... and a London police officer (on the left).
The Kyoto Garden.
A heron basks in the sun.Gorgeous, eh? By the way, thank you all for sharing your worst date stories last week! I share in your pain. :)
Have a great week, everyone!
February 11, 2013
Your Worst-Ever Date!
Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend. It was a rainy and yucky one here in London. Ugh!
Starting today, a group of chick lit writers - including me - are banding together for Valentine's Week to share our own romantic (or not!) experiences. Head over to Michele Gorman's blog to read about our worst-ever dates. I have to admit, answering some of the questions to come brought up some memories I'd prefer to forget! Pop by Michele's blog each day for a new question.
And now, since I hear Lobster Baby's increasingly lobsterish cries, I must be off! Have a lovely week!
What was your worst-ever date? Care to share?
Starting today, a group of chick lit writers - including me - are banding together for Valentine's Week to share our own romantic (or not!) experiences. Head over to Michele Gorman's blog to read about our worst-ever dates. I have to admit, answering some of the questions to come brought up some memories I'd prefer to forget! Pop by Michele's blog each day for a new question.
And now, since I hear Lobster Baby's increasingly lobsterish cries, I must be off! Have a lovely week!
What was your worst-ever date? Care to share?
February 7, 2013
Love Thyself
It's Thursday! I don't usually post on Thursdays, but this year I've decided to make my new blogging schedule Mondays and Thursdays instead of Fridays. Hopefully, that will give me more time to get around to everyone in between. On that note, a huge thanks to everyone who continues to visit here despite me not returning the favour. I miss you all and hope to be able to start making the rounds soon. Baby TR, visits from Mama and Papa, and life in general has kept me hopping!
And now for today's guest... I turn you over to Eliza Green.
I’m so used to blogging about writing topics that when Talli asked me to write a light-hearted post, I was secretly pleased. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and keeping the focus on love, I thought it might be fun to look at what we love about ourselves. Besides a new author, the one thing I enjoy being is a woman and I’ve compiled my personal top ten list. Some things are more obvious, others not so much, but these are my favourite reasons why.
1: We can get away with being in a bad mood once a month and longer if nobody is keeping tabs on our outbursts!
2: We can use our feminine charms to our advantage, whether it’s flashing a quick smile to the person holding the door open for you or to the barman so he will serve you first.
3: We are far better at spotting a bargain in a store, although not so good at reining in the spending!
4: We are encouraged to be more adventurous with our fashion choices and we have plenty to choose from. Men’s choices are simpler, but they can get stuck in a rut. They aren’t always inclined to make the same effort that women do.
5: We get extreme satisfaction from eating chocolate. I’ve tried to educate my partner about savouring each square but he just doesn’t get it. I definitely think it’s a woman thing!
6: When it comes to books, our tastes are more varied than men’s. We will read much more from Crime, Fantasy, Chic Lit, and Erotica ... many genres.
7: We’re extremely capable of multitasking, something I enjoy teasing my male colleagues about.
8: We have bigger hills to climb because we are female and I think that makes us stronger.
9: We don’t complain when we are sick. We just get on with things. A man sneezes and it’s the end of the world, as he knows it.
10: Having a good old cry can reduce stress. Women seem to understand that better than men.
Do you agree? Is there something you would add to this list, or subtract?
Eliza Green has just released her debut science fiction novel, BECOMING HUMAN and has one Kindle copy of her book to give away. Just leave a comment to be in with a chance to win.
See you all on Monday!
And now for today's guest... I turn you over to Eliza Green.
I’m so used to blogging about writing topics that when Talli asked me to write a light-hearted post, I was secretly pleased. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and keeping the focus on love, I thought it might be fun to look at what we love about ourselves. Besides a new author, the one thing I enjoy being is a woman and I’ve compiled my personal top ten list. Some things are more obvious, others not so much, but these are my favourite reasons why. 1: We can get away with being in a bad mood once a month and longer if nobody is keeping tabs on our outbursts!
2: We can use our feminine charms to our advantage, whether it’s flashing a quick smile to the person holding the door open for you or to the barman so he will serve you first.
3: We are far better at spotting a bargain in a store, although not so good at reining in the spending!
4: We are encouraged to be more adventurous with our fashion choices and we have plenty to choose from. Men’s choices are simpler, but they can get stuck in a rut. They aren’t always inclined to make the same effort that women do.
5: We get extreme satisfaction from eating chocolate. I’ve tried to educate my partner about savouring each square but he just doesn’t get it. I definitely think it’s a woman thing!
6: When it comes to books, our tastes are more varied than men’s. We will read much more from Crime, Fantasy, Chic Lit, and Erotica ... many genres.
7: We’re extremely capable of multitasking, something I enjoy teasing my male colleagues about.
8: We have bigger hills to climb because we are female and I think that makes us stronger.
9: We don’t complain when we are sick. We just get on with things. A man sneezes and it’s the end of the world, as he knows it.
10: Having a good old cry can reduce stress. Women seem to understand that better than men.
Do you agree? Is there something you would add to this list, or subtract?Eliza Green has just released her debut science fiction novel, BECOMING HUMAN and has one Kindle copy of her book to give away. Just leave a comment to be in with a chance to win.
See you all on Monday!
February 4, 2013
Out and About
Happy Monday, everyone! It's a gloriously sunny day in London, and can you believe the daffodils are actually starting to make an appearance? Hope you all had a lovely weekend.
I had a great week with Mama and Papa TR in London -- the highlight was introducing them to their new grandson. Thankfully, Lobster Baby stayed (mostly) hidden away and Baby TR was quite well behaved. We even took the pram for a spin in Kensington Gardens.
In front of Kensington Palace.
Baby TR and the Albert Memorial. All the walks in the fresh air whipped up our appetite, so we had to sample 'American' pancakes at Jamie Oliver's new restaurant at Notting Hill Gate, Recipease. Yum! (And if you're wondering what American pancakes are, they're light and fluffy as opposed to the flat, more crepe-like ones that are popular here.)
And apart from walking, eating, and visiting... well, there hasn't been much apart from that, actually!
What have you been up to? Skydiving? Streaking? Snoozing?
I had a great week with Mama and Papa TR in London -- the highlight was introducing them to their new grandson. Thankfully, Lobster Baby stayed (mostly) hidden away and Baby TR was quite well behaved. We even took the pram for a spin in Kensington Gardens.
In front of Kensington Palace.
Baby TR and the Albert Memorial. All the walks in the fresh air whipped up our appetite, so we had to sample 'American' pancakes at Jamie Oliver's new restaurant at Notting Hill Gate, Recipease. Yum! (And if you're wondering what American pancakes are, they're light and fluffy as opposed to the flat, more crepe-like ones that are popular here.)And apart from walking, eating, and visiting... well, there hasn't been much apart from that, actually!
What have you been up to? Skydiving? Streaking? Snoozing?
