Ruby Soames's Blog

Suggested books to socially isolate with

In this weird, terrifying and super-stressful period, some people only want to watch and read apocalyptic, medical and horror; others, like me, want to get clear away from it and escape to an alternative world where no-one says the word 'virus'.

Here are a few suggested books which absorbed me and took me away from this present world:

* The Dutch House - Ann Pratchett
* Bad Girl - Mario Vargas Llosa
* Nicholas Nickleby - Charles Dickens

* My Year of Rest and Relaxation - Ottessa Moshfegh
* The Good Soldier - Ford Maddox Ford

For those who, also like me, are finding it difficult to commit and concentrate on a full-length novel, here are some absorbing short stories and essays:

* Property - Lionel Shriver
* Feel Free - Zadie Smith
* Notes from the Underground - Dostoyevsky
*The Strawberry Tree - Ruth Rendell
* The White Album - Joan Didion

Stay safe!

Short-story Prize!

I thought life got simpler as one got older. I was wrong. My fantasy of writing novels from a remote, little cottage with cats and calm is very far from my deadlines, drama and debt-driven decisions. This year has been particularly challenging so it was particularly wonderful and uplifting to find myself winning second prize in the The Short Story Competition, an international short-story competition which showcases the best writing from people all over the world.

http://www.theshortstory.net

I'm writing this to myself, and anyone else out there who is struggling with trying to write and live in the real world, to remind us that if we believe in our stories, someone out there will believe in us too.

What do you do when the man you love is voted 'Sexiest Man in the World'?

What do you do when the man you love is voted 'Sexiest Man in the World'?

Find out for 99p on social promotion at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_s...

Maybe something you didn't know...?

Did you know that you don't have to have a 'Kindle' or an 'e-reader' to read e-books? The 'Kindle App' can be downloaded free for any Android phone or tablet or iPad, Mac, PC, Windows...anything.

http://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3...

Just letting some of you know because I'm still being asked if my book can be read as a paperback by readers who don't want to go down the route of electronic reading - this is the easy way of seeing how buttons rather than pages suits you.

Let me know how you get on!

Mothers, Fathers & Lovers

The difference between publishing a novel in 2011 and Today

I'm surprised by how many people have asked me if 'Mothers, Fathers & Lovers' is coming out as a paperback - from what one reads in the press, you'd think you print-readers had gone out with carrier pigeons, 45" records and men who stand up in a room when a lady walks in - but no - and sadly, there's not much I can do about that.

When my publishers, Hookline Books, published 'Seven Days to Tell You' in 2011, the e-book version seemed like an experimental, supplementary, add on...but three years later, the e-book was outselling the paperback by 500-1. This is why my new book is coming out first as e-book and maybe, if sales do really well, it will be released in the printed form.

And this is the way most publishers have already gone or are going. I haven't even caught up with the change myself - not to touch the results of years of writing or being able to line it up on my shelf, not to be able to send the book to those who've been so kind to help me on the way...nothing to sign! Pressing a button...that wasn't the dream.

As a reader, I welcome the break from the 15th century ways of communicating - I converted to e-books a long time ago and every time I pack for a holiday I'm grateful for it - but as a writer - I'm grieving too.

Mothers, Fathers & Lovers

Seven Days to Tell You

Ruby Soames

Mothers, Fathers & Lovers

Ever wondered what it's like to date someone who hits the Hollywood big time? Jealousy, intrigue, gossip - and that's just your closest friends. When Joseph West rises from penniless waiter to Oscar nominee, Sarah Tyler drops from city lawyer to homeless dog walker.

And ever wondered what you'd do if your father who abandoned you at birth invited you to his wedding in Barbados?

Sarah follows him to the platinum coast where she learns that if you don't own your past, you become its slave.

Ever wondered what it would be like to lose everything, only to find yourself?

After 'Seven Days to Tell You' comes 'Mothers, Fathers & Lovers'.

My Summer Holiday Reading Plans

For the next three months I plan only to read two novelists: A M Homes and Evelyn Waugh.

Starting with, May We Be Forgiven, I already know I am going to love working through these two brilliant and funny writers who create worlds that are entertaining and moving to visit but you wouldn't want to live in them. Next will be Waugh's The Loved One.

Air con, Kindle and disconnect until September.

Reading and signings at Bookstock!

I'm reading from Seven Days to Tell You, answering questions and signing copies at this fun and literary event on Saturday 26th January. Get out of the snow and join us for a great night out at the Green Man off the Euston Road - songs, quizzes, stand up comedy, readings, book swap and signings from 6pm!


http://www.northlondonreadinggroup.co...

Seven Days to Tell You

No 6 in Kindle Bestsellers' Charts!

Thrilled to see Seven Days up there with the Great Gatsby and 50p more expensive at only 99p!

Thank you readers!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bestsellers-K...Seven Days to Tell YouSeven Days to Tell You

Not a winner this time!

So this week, my publisher and I went to St Pauls, London, to the People's Book Prize gala dinner as a finalist for the Best Novel 2012. It was a pretty tense evening in huge, dark, wood-paneled rooms with stained-glass windows and manuscripts hanging on the walls dating back from the Magna Carta.

On arriving I sat for a filmed interview about the book and the competition - my first time in front of a camera - and then we dressed for the black-tie event.

In the Ladies' changing rooms, the nervous smiles were friendly and the compliments on each other's dresses kind, but who could hide their private longing to hear their name being called out a few hours away? We knew who the others were before they told us. Everyone there was there to have that crystal monolith award pressed into their hands which would hopefully launch their novel from an small, independently published book to a best seller. It's a great opportunity, so, as you can imagine, it wasn't the kind of do where we'd be cracking jokes and line dancing.

After the lavish three-course meal was wasted on us - all too nervous and fearful of making a speech while digesting salmon and truffles, white chocolate mouse and coffees - the prize giving started.

I came in the top three but lost to Valerie Thornhill, 'In Restoration', who in fact I'd sat next to. I'd liked her very much and we had a lot in common so when Frederic Forsyth, writer of The Day of the Jackal, called out her name, the loss didn't sting as much. I was very happy for her.

Within minutes, the disappointment spread across the stained white table cloths, people made their getaways and the great hall was cleared.

So, not a winner this time. I've heard that so much in my writing career but thankfully, having stayed in long enough and not giving up, I believe it. Just got to keep getting better, and, as Samuel Goldwyn said, 'The harder I work, the luckier I get.'

Thank you so much to all those who supported me through this. XXX

Seven Days to Tell YouSeven Days to Tell You