Romy Gemmell's Blog, page 38

Author Spotlight: Debut Novelist Anne Stenhouse

I’m sure Anne won’t mind me mentioning that my short novella, The Aphrodite Touch, is released today from Tirgearr Publishing and is also on Amazon. I’m being interviewed by my lovely publisher on Hearts of Fiction this week. Please pop over and leave a comment to have a chance of winning an autographed e-copy for a limited time! And don’t forget the blog party here on Tuesday.
And now it’s a pleasure to welcome Scottish author and writing friend Anne Stenhouse (also known to many as playwright Anne Stenhouse, and to some of us as Anne Graham) whose debut historical novel, Mariah’s Marriage , was released this month from MuseItUp Publishing, Canada. Anne’s novel was shortlisted for the prestigious RNA Joan Hessayon debut novelist award and she received a certificate and cheque at the Summer Party and Awards evening in London last week.
I’m reading Mariah’s Marriage at the moment and enjoying it very much. Ann has written the following delightful post about dancing, one of my own favourite hobbies.
Rosemary, thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog. Write what you know is a well worn adage and I’ve danced a lot over the years. I thought I’d tell your readers a wee story about how dancing has been important to me.
When I was a school prefect, the head of PE enlisted me to help him teach basic Scottish dancing to the third year boys for their Christmas party. With perseverance, I mean PERSEVERANCE, I managed to teach one of the lads a Canadian Barn Dance. It was a staple of party programmes. The lad had outgrown his brain in the sense that it didn’t realise his limbs were six inches longer than when the grey cells last checked. Even so...
On the night of the party, my young friend asked me up for the first Canadian Barn Dance and refreshed his memory. After the interval, he was able to ask the girl he fancied. She was able to say ‘Yes’. She’d seen he could dance it and knew she wouldn’t be ridiculed by a stumbling oaf. Result.
Lizzie Bennet is not the only one who didn’t want to dance with an incompetent partner. I’ve never fancied it much myself. Trampled toes, beery breath and wandering hand trouble all combine to spoil a perfectionist’s evening.
When Lizzie is horrified to discover she must stand up with her papa’s heir, Mr Collins, she has to steel herself. Mr Collins does not disappoint the reader, but Lizzie is faced with a serious dilemma. She knows he won’t be any good as a dancer, but if she turns him down, she won’t be able to accept anyone else. This we know from the recent Netherfield Ball programme on TV.
There isn’t a dance in my debut novel, Mariah’s Marriage, but dancing is referred to in Tobias’s thoughts when he sees how tall Mariah is. They would be comfortable together. Clearly two left feet were not prized as much as a well taught pair and that hasn’t changed over the generations. Many marriages began with a courtship in the dance halls.
Mariah’s Marriage
Leaving the chapel in London’s 19th century Thames’ side where she teaches the alphabet to a raggle-taggle of urchins, Mariah Fox is charged by a stray pig. The quick intervention of Tobias Longreach saves her from certain injury. Mariah has always believed her destiny to be teaching. After the early death of her mother, she was brought up by her papa, Jerome, to believe that she could learn anything a boy could. She shares his vision of a future in which everyone, rich or poor, boy or girl, will be taught at least the rudiments of reading, writing, and counting.
Tobias was brought up a second son, but following his elder brother’s premature death, inherits an Earldom and the need to provide it with an heir. He comes to believe that Mariah will make a perfect countess and enrolls her papa’s help in securing her hand.
However, Sir Lucas Wellwood, whose debts have made him urge his sister to attempt to trap Tobias into marriage, has sinister intentions. Mariah suspects Wellwood has been mistreating his sister and she heads off impetuously to rescue her. Will Tobias and his friends reach Wellwood’s home before he can exact revenge on Mariah?
Short Excerpt
At three minutes to noon he saw her and drew himself up to his full height. His papa had been a tall man, and despite his mama’s tiny frame, Tobias topped six feet by two or more inches. It was a disadvantage to be quite so tall when seeking dancing partners. Mariah Fox was a tall girl who would not be swamped by his height should he take her onto the dance floor.
“Good morning, Miss Fox,” he said when they arrived at Mellon House’s entrance stairs at the same moment. “This is a most pleasant surprise.”
“Is it?” she replied, unsmiling, and Tobias began to think he may have made one or two misjudgements in his plan to captivate Miss Fox. “Is it not your hand behind the changes taking place in my life?”
Mariah’s Marriage is available from MuseItUp, and Amazon UK and US and Barnes & Noble.
Anne Stenhouse has always loved words. Reading them and using them greedily, she can’t truly remember a time when she couldn’t escape into the pages of a book and certainly can’t remember when she couldn’t talk and ask questions. Anne is a published and performed playwright. She studied both English and History at University in Edinburgh, and finds it a great joy to combine these two disciplines in her first novel, Mariah’s Marriage.
Being a playwright means Anne loves dialogue and knows a piece is going well when she ‘begins to hear the characters talking to each other’. She has been a civil servant, full-time Mum, and for a while, a worker in an Addictions’ rehabilitation unit. Anne lives in Scotland with her husband and dancing partner of over thirty years. Their children and a grandchild are close by.
You can find out more about Anne on her Novels Now blog and Write, Watch and Critique Plays 

Writing Market: The Stinging Fly

This might be of interest to the short story writers in particular. The Stinging Fly is an Irish publication accepting good quality short fiction from new Irish and international writers and they especially like promoting short stories.

Have a look at The Stinging Fly submissions page as they only take work in certain months, and there is also the opportunity to submit a flash fiction story on one day only - it's worth having a look through their requirements.

Over on the Flights of Imagination blog today, I'm featuring tween writer, Cheryl Carpinello, with her great Arthurian legend inspired novels - popular with children and adults!

Rosemary

Lovely New Cover Reveal

This has all been happening fairly quickly, but I'm delighted to reveal the lovely cover for the first romantic contemporary/fantasy novella in my new series set in Cyprus featuring Aphrodite and Adonis. The Aphrodite Touch is being released next Thursday, 23rd May from great little Irish independent Tirgearr Publishing!


My publisher will be interviewing me on their blog on release day, with a free download offered to one commenter, and I've decided to have a fun online launch party (as usual) on this blog to celebrate on Tuesday, 28th May. Get us in the mood for summer - if it ever arrives! Watch out for the invitation.

Here's the blurb to maybe entice you to read the whole of the short, fun novella:

The Aphrodite Touch

Carla hopes that ten days on the romantic island of Cyprus will finally progress her relationship with reserved Scottish boyfriend, Jamie, to a full physical commitment. Or prove that they have no future together. But they had reckoned without the intervention of the goddess Aphrodite and her lover, Adonis. Will Aphrodite awaken Jamie’s hidden depths and allow him to return the passion that Adonis senses in Carla?

Meanwhile, I musn't forget my recently published children's book, The Jigsaw Puzzle! I'm featured on Kai Strand's lovely blog today, answering a few fun questions.

Rosemary

(or Romy or Ros depending which kind of writing I'm talking about!)

New Writing Opportunity

Some of you may already have heard that Novelicious has started a new digital imprint and is now accepting novels within two lengths:
Novelicious Originals - full length contemporary novels of between 80,000 and 100,000 words Novelicious Smalls - short contemporary romantic comedy of between 15,000 and 30,000 wordsThis is a great opportunity for anyone writing modern romance. Full submission details are on their website.

Over on my Flights of Imagination blog, I'm featuring children's author, Penny Lockwood, with her charming picture book, Boo's Bad Day . Penny is giving away a signed copy of her book to one commenter, if in the US, or a Pdf copy if outside the US.

Rosemary

Author Spotlight: Debut Author Jane Riddell

A warm welcome to author Jane Riddell, who lives in Scotland. I’m delighted that Jane is able to tell us a little about her writing life and intriguing debut novel, Water’s Edge . First a little about the novel.

Water’s Edge

Water's Edge is a contemporary story in the genre of quiet women's fiction.

When Madalena invites her four children to Switzerland for a family gathering, she isn't prepared for the excess baggage of their lives they bring along - secrets they are compelled to keep and those that must be divulged; the compromises they make, and, ultimately, what can and can't be resolved - for Madalena, too, has things about her past that she would prefer not to reveal.

Set against a backdrop of mountains and lakes, Water's Edge is a woven tapestry of love, lies and family.

Water’s Edge is available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Tell us a little about how you became a writer

I had been writing as a hobby for many years, but was never caught up enough in it to work on something for more than a couple of hours at a time. Although I had a paid job for most of these years, it was only part time so time wasn’t a limiting factor. When we decided to move to France for a couple of years, things changed. I knew I’d be unlikely to find work there because of my limited French, and reckoned that I would probably spend more time writing. Several months before we left Edinburgh, during a Saturday afternoon at the gym, I found myself on the treadmill, listening to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas singing Dancing in the Street, and thinking: I’ll have a go at becoming a serious writer.

When we arrived in France in 2006, I found I could write for longer chunks of time. While there I finished writing Chergui’s Child, revisited short stories and wrote the first draft of Water’s Edge. I also wrote a guide to English and French grammar, prompted by the experience of homeschooling our son. When we returned to Edinburgh three years later, I extended my career break to study for a Masters in Creative Writing. After completing this, I resigned from my job, realising I’d prefer to focus on my writing.

Did you have to do a lot of research for this novel?

No. When I visited Brunnen, I used a camcorder and a camera. So in addition to having a pictorial record, I could remember the ‘feel’ of the place. I conducted superficial research online, and read several books about Swiss culture.

Why did you choose this setting?

As a lover of travel I like to set my books in ‘foreign’ countries. After I’d finished writing Chergui’s Child, which is based in the south of France, I thought about having an alpine setting for my next one, and Switzerland came to mind. Shortly after, I spent a few days in Brunnen, on Lake Luzern. I’d been there as a teenager on my first family holiday abroad, and remembered this wonderful old hotel, the Waldstätterhof where we’d spent a night en route to Austria. It’s the sort of hotel where you enter to the sound of piano music emanating from the drawing room. It was only when I arrived in Brunnen, however, that I decided to make it the setting for Water’s Edge. I didn’t base the hotel in Water’s Edge on the Waldstätterhof because I wanted something less grand. However several scenes take place in it.

I think that at a subconscious level, the location was inspired by Anita Brookner’s Hotel du Lac although at the time of writing the first draft of Water’s Edge, I didn’t know that the hotel used in the film version was actually on Lake Luzern. (In the book, the protagonist, Edith Hope, is exiled to a hotel on Lake Geneva.) (Wonderful setting, Jane – we stayed in Luzern on holiday years ago!)

What is the most difficult part about starting a new book?

Leaving a finished book behind is difficult. I experience a sense of bereavement as I can no longer justify spending head time with the characters.

Devising a storyline can be challenging. Sometimes I have an idea which gradually develops. At other times I make a conscious decision to devise a plot. This happened with my ‘back boiler’ book, Via Piacenza. I was in Italy at the time and spent an afternoon on the beach in Positano, putting together a plot, which, surprise, surprise, is located in…Positano.

Do you think eBooks are the future? Or do you prefer print?

Apparently ebook sales have risen to about 22%, both in the UK and the US. If this trend continues, they might eventually overtake the sales of hard copies. I am sure, though, that there will always be people who prefer to buy a hard copy.

If I hadn’t been e-published, I don’t know if I’d have got round to purchasing an ebook reader. Once I knew this was happening, however, I felt almost duty bound to buy a Kindle, likening the situation to having invented a washing powder without owning a washing machine. Now that I am fairly competent using the Kindle, I do enjoy it, partly because of the potential saving in money and having a choice of reading. That said, there isn’t the pleasure of gazing at an attractive book cover, and instead of knowing which page you’re on, you only know what percentage of the book you’ve read which has taken a bit of adjusting to. (I think many of us feel the same!)

How do you promote your book and does it work?

Water’s Edge has only been out for several weeks, so it’s early days yet, both in terms of promoting and of knowing what is working. A fellow ThornBerry author told me that promotion can feel 'like shooting through a keyhole into a dark room, trying to hit something'. I think this is a wonderful simile.

To date, I have created an author’s website and made a promotional video. I’ve tweeted (in restrained fashion) and emailed people I met in France who have now returned to the States and Canada, in the hope of kickstarting sales in those countries.

I’ve been interviewed by our local, independent community newspaper and in various blogs. I’ve given several readings. Lastly, I’ve created an author’s page in free sites such as Authorsden and Amazon.

This feels like a lot of effort for someone who continually has to suppress the thought that self-promoting isn’t a ‘nice’ thing to do.

I know of about ten people who have bought the book, so far – mainly friends. Apart from that, I am in the dark. As sales figures aren't revealed to authors who aren't self-published, it’s hard to find evidence of new sales. In time, of course, I will receive royalties from the publisher, but not knowing how the book is selling is proving harder than anticipated: everyone appreciates feedback!

Do you have a favourite writing place?

In France, I rented a room in a complementary health centre, for two days a week. The building had received Feng Shui input, and the corridors and waiting areas were painted in a wonderfully relaxing rich, warm yellow. I loved working in my room there. I was always focused and productive, though I have to admit to taking siestas on the patients’ couch, from time to time…

I now rent office space at The Melting Pot in Edinburgh, for 50 hours per month (days and times to suit myself). This provides some interaction with others, which helps to compensate for isolation, the constant companion of many writers. I also write at home, but obviously there are more distractions, although I am unlikely to choose to do the dishes over writing or editing.

Do you find time for hobbies?

Yes. I am not the type of writer who works on their novel for 12 hours a day. I swim, play tennis, go to movies. I meet friends for lunch, do things with family. What has been sacrificed is attention to housework. Any aspirations of becoming a domestic goddess have been abandoned. (And we all echo that!)

What are your current writing plans?

For the last eight months or so, I have been rewriting Chergui’s Child. I’m now in the final stages of editing it. I have also nearly finished writing a guide to editing, based on a technique I use. ThornBerry Publishing have shown interest in it, so I am hopeful it will be published soon, probably initially in digital format. Once I finish Chergui’s Child, I have several novels in various stages of completion to which I can return, although I may decide to start a new one.

Any tips for new writers?

Technical books on writing are often maligned, but they have taught me a lot about the craft of writing. Reading a lot, and studying the novel for techniques used - what works, what doesn’t – is another way of learning.

Working with a mentor can be enormously enriching. Exchanging work with fellow readers is also helpful, although there are pitfalls: how do you know someone is giving an honest opinion? How do you know their personality isn’t warping their judgement? As well as choosing a reader who enjoys the genre in which you write, you also have to consider that person’s personality. For example, if you have a mentally fragile character, asking for a critique from someone whose belief system is that you ‘get on with your life’, is inviting a negative response.

Another tip is to have more than one piece of writing on the go. One morning you may not feel like working on your novel but can find enthusiasm for finishing the short story you began the week before. This is one advantage of blogging. When you’re not feeling particularly creative, you might still be able to blog about something that happened to you at the weekend, or a crazy idea buzzing around in your mind. That way you still exercise your writing muscle. A proviso, though: excessive blogging can be a form of procrastination. So can reading too many technical books….

Many thanks for such interesting and wise words, Jane!

Before writing full time, Jane worked as a dietitian and health promoter for the NHS. In 2006, she took a career break to move with her family to Grenoble, France, for three years. There, she unexpectedly found herself involved in the homeschooling of her son and wrote the first draft of Water's Edge.

An enthusiastic blogger, including penning letters from a Russian cat who aspires to be a writer, Jane is currently rewriting her second novel, Chergui's Child.

In addition to creative writing, she has a small editing business, Choice Words Editing, and holds a Masters in Creative Writing. Jane resides in Edinburgh with her partner and son. To maintain a semblance of sanity, she swims and drums, but not simultaneously.

You can find out more about Jane on her Quiet Fiction website and Choice Words Editing website, or her Papillon blog and Letters from Bakhtin blog.

Travel Inspiration: Barcelona

I thought it was time for another travel inspiration post, since our weather up here has still not gone beyond a slightly sunny autumn type day - if we're lucky.

We've been to Barcelona a few times and it never ceases to delight and inspire me. Apart from the amazing Gaudi architecture and the bustling Ramblas with its myriad of stalls and people, there is an indefinable atmosphere in Barcelona - perhaps it's an air of enjoyment.


It's difficult to avoid their famous architect in the centre of town, as the unusual Gaudi designs and shapes are everywhere. The large bone coloured Casa Mila, or La Pedrera,  sits right on the corner of the main street, its twirly, 'ice cream cone' turrets just visible on the roof.


Then there's the stunning La Sagrada Familia which you can reach by the frequent metro or bus. Never quite completed, and almost always under some kind of construction at certain parts, it's one of the most ornate buildings I've ever seen, with its quirky little sculptures here and there.

Another famous Gaudi sight is the Parc Guell which is situated in a hilly part of town. It's advisable to take a bus as it's some way out of town and an uphill walk. It's well worth the visit. Gaudi's trademark ornate designs welcome visitors with a building at either side of the gate. The biggest attraction here is the colourful mosaic salamander which is always surrounded by tourists and their cameras.


The whole city of Barcelona is a delight and when you tire of busy sights and streets, the sea front provides a lovely long walk away from the buzz. Or take a cable car and enjoy an overview of this vibrant city.



While I'm talking travel, I must mention my dear husband, Simon, who has been a professional travel agent for more years than he wants to remember and now works with Designer Travel. A few weeks ago, he was at his company's conference in Teneriffe and he came home with this lovely award for Business Development! I think he very much deserves the recognition, although he was stunned. It's clear glass so it was difficult to get a good picture of it.




And as usual on a Monday, I'm featuring a children's author on Flights of Imagination - today it's American author, J.D. Pooker with her book for the 8+ age group, The Ifs.

Rosemary

For Romance Writers

For anyone writing romance of any kind, you might find the following two new digital imprints of interest, both from mainstream print companies - and one is running a competition.


This seems to be the trend now - bigger publishers bringing out a digital-first imprint. I was speaking at a fairly large group through in Edinburgh on Monday evening and asked who used an e-reader of some kind. Must admit I was slightly surprised, and delighted, to find only about about three people didn't use one now. Even if many of us still love to read a print book at times, there's no denying ebooks are hugely popular - and that is good news for writers!

Pulse (part of Myrmidon) Submissions and Competition

Pulse is looking for action drama romance in novel or novella length. They are running a competition at the moment which closes on 31st May 2013. Full details on the Pulse website.

Harper Impulse

This is the new digital-first imprint from the large Harper Collins company. They want 'romance fiction for today's woman' in all romance genres. Their blog gives some details but, interestingly, they broke this news on Facebook, where you'll find more details.

Good luck if you enter or submit!
Rosemary

When Writing is all Worthwhile

I'm sure, like me, many of you will have received lovely comments about your writing, even if only from friends and family or fellow writers. If we're lucky, we might gain some good reviews for published novels, while editors or publishers continue to take our work.

And, yes, we all have the rejections too! For every six short stories we submit in hope, we're doing well if half are accepted - and evidently that also goes for the most well-published short story writers. I always find that a comforting thought as it's reassuring to know we can't expect everything to hit the right mark, every time. Writing is such a joy and a priviledge that I couldn't imagine ever giving up, no matter what each day brings.

Then, occasionally, along comes a day when a completely 'out-of-the-blue' comment arrives and reminds us why we continue to follow this career choice. I received just such an email yesterday and I had a huge grin on my face for the rest of the evening. It was so unexpected, completely unsolicited, and came from a prolific young reader whom I do not personally know (I only know her grandmother).

I'm just going to reproduce three sentences of her lovely comment here so as not to give away part of the plot of Mischief at Mulberry Manor (which she calls 'Mystery' - as it does have a mystery!). Her grandmother had bought her a print copy of the book:

To Romy,
I just finished your book called mystery at mulberry manor and I loved it soooooo much!!! I had such a clear image of what Mulberry manor would look like, and the snowman and all the gardens and stuff.
I'm starting to read summer of the eagles now. Mystery at mulberry manor is one of my absolute favourite books ever. Natasha xx

I'm sure I don't have to tell any other writer what it means to receive such a heartfelt comment from a young reader who the novella wasn't even aimed at! So keep writing, everyone - your words are being read and enjoyed somewhere.

Meanwhile, I'm featuring one of my Scottish writing colleagues, Jack Hastie, over on the Flights of Imagination blog, with his debut children's novel, Fraser's Voices.

Rosemary

One of Those Weeks

We get them every now and then - a week when everything is happening at once and normal routine is slightly altered, with so many different things clamouring for attention that we don't know where to start. That just about sums up my week!

Part of it was to do with writing: first edits for new contemporary novella, appearing on blogs with the new children's book, new articles for the online company, finishing judging a novella competition and preparing the talk for Monday coming - and a few other bits and pieces. Then there's the social networking online, the writing group with an entertaining and busy guest author, lovely social and writerly day with a couple of writing friends, and lunch with my sister today.

In between all this, my husband and daughter were going off on different trips on different days and I got involved with their preparations on the day before each journey. Maybe by tomorrow (Saturday) I'll start to feel more in control! I'm sure many of you have weeks like this.

Meanwhile, Lindsay is kindly featuring The Jigsaw Puzzle on her blog today. And I'm going to try and finish these edits before and after enjoying lunch out with sister! Hope you enjoy your weekend.

Rosemary

First Guest Interview

Although I didn't ask to be featured on anyone's blog with my new children's book, The Jigsaw Puzzle , several very kind authors have invited me to talk about it!

Today, I'm talking about the inspiration for the story over on Canadian author Suzanne's blog, and I'd love you to leave a comment if you have time. I'm giving away a free download of the book to one commenter and Suzanne has already bought and read The Jigsaw Puzzle and enjoyed it! 

Meanwhile, over on my Flights of Imagination blog, I'm featuring very interesting debut YA author, Philip Coleman, and his exciting book set in Brussels.

If anyone is interested in the Winchester Writing Conference, the competition and booking details are now online.

Rosemary (our fleeting spring has gone away again!)