Sue Bentley's Blog, page 3
July 29, 2017
Young Adult Literature Convention
First time for me at YALC, Olympia, London. I could only attend on the Friday, so wanted to make it count. Wasn't sure what to expect when we walked in. The place is beyond huge, but the Film and Comic Con, of which YALC is part, is in the main hall and YALC is in a separate hall. It's small enough that you can easily get around the stalls and see everything, but large enough to contain all the bookish delights any bookaholic could wish for. My publisher's stall www.everythingwithwords.com
was easily found. I spent most of the day there, with Emily Critchley - a fellow author with the same publisher - meeting readers, signing books, and generally chatting all things books. Between signing copies of We Other, I found plenty of time to buy lots of great books to add to my 'to read' pile, which will soon be as tall my house. (Also had a lovely time collecting giveaways - including some beautiful postcards and bookmarks to fuel my stationery addiction. And some mini-books of first chapters. Always great to get a taste of a new authors writing before buying the book - you get a much better idea than if you just read the cover blurb. Note to self - think about producing mini-book of first chapter when new book is published. Juggling with trying to finish this present book entitled, Second Skin, while also polishing some short stories, so time to read is precious. I really think if literary siege conditions were announced, I be absolutely fine for an entire year. But I'm a true bookaholic and will continue to buy, borrow, beg and acquire in-any-way-possible new books. It's in my blood. And I like it that way. Happy reading fellow book-lovers.
was easily found. I spent most of the day there, with Emily Critchley - a fellow author with the same publisher - meeting readers, signing books, and generally chatting all things books. Between signing copies of We Other, I found plenty of time to buy lots of great books to add to my 'to read' pile, which will soon be as tall my house. (Also had a lovely time collecting giveaways - including some beautiful postcards and bookmarks to fuel my stationery addiction. And some mini-books of first chapters. Always great to get a taste of a new authors writing before buying the book - you get a much better idea than if you just read the cover blurb. Note to self - think about producing mini-book of first chapter when new book is published. Juggling with trying to finish this present book entitled, Second Skin, while also polishing some short stories, so time to read is precious. I really think if literary siege conditions were announced, I be absolutely fine for an entire year. But I'm a true bookaholic and will continue to buy, borrow, beg and acquire in-any-way-possible new books. It's in my blood. And I like it that way. Happy reading fellow book-lovers.
July 23, 2017
We Other etc
Hi all - my chocolate peanut addiction continues to fuel my writing at present. Can't kick it, no way! At around 450 pages, Second Skin is nearing first draft stage. (its another YA novel, but not a sequel to We Other. That's my next project after Second Skin!) But I know there is more work to do on this book after a complete read through. An intense time of writing and eyes get tired from staring at the PC screen for long hours. Progress always seems much slower than I'd like, but when I see the pile of printed pages mounting up I take heart. I will get there eventually, and all the re-writing, cutting, sharpening-up of dialogue and careful choosing of the perfect word or phrase to make clear my meaning, with be worth it.
In the meantime, I'll be at the Young Adult Literary Convention, this Friday 28th July, at Olympia, London. I'll be there for most of the day. YA readers/book lovers/anyone interested in writing, do come say Hi and exchange book-chat with me on the www.everythingwithwords stand. It's a different experience to be with a vibrant new publisher for We Other, after being so well-known for my cute fluffy Magic Kitten books for younger readers. A strange, slightly scary and exciting place to be! A bit like life, itself. Let the magic happen... Happy weekend reading everyone...
In the meantime, I'll be at the Young Adult Literary Convention, this Friday 28th July, at Olympia, London. I'll be there for most of the day. YA readers/book lovers/anyone interested in writing, do come say Hi and exchange book-chat with me on the www.everythingwithwords stand. It's a different experience to be with a vibrant new publisher for We Other, after being so well-known for my cute fluffy Magic Kitten books for younger readers. A strange, slightly scary and exciting place to be! A bit like life, itself. Let the magic happen... Happy weekend reading everyone...
July 15, 2017
Magic Kitten Event
Great to meet lots of enthusiastic readers at St James Library for launch of Summer Reading Event 2017 - Animal Agents. Fun pics taken with PSCO Pemberton entitled 'Found in Possession of a Magic Kitten' - and then had my fingerprints taken as part of the activities. Loved that.
St James Library looks amazing, bright, colourful and inviting - even a mini-garden out back with a reading seat. Friends of St James Library Group are a very pro-active bunch - all power to them!
Hopefully copies of We Other, my first novel for Young Adults, will soon be in all Northamptonshire Libraries. It's very different from anything I've written so far - a dark and complex fairy thriller. I think of it as suitable for 14- going-on 80 years olds. Strange to think that I worked for Northamptonshire Libraries for many years and now I'm there on the bookshelves! Happy weekend reading everyone!
St James Library looks amazing, bright, colourful and inviting - even a mini-garden out back with a reading seat. Friends of St James Library Group are a very pro-active bunch - all power to them!
Hopefully copies of We Other, my first novel for Young Adults, will soon be in all Northamptonshire Libraries. It's very different from anything I've written so far - a dark and complex fairy thriller. I think of it as suitable for 14- going-on 80 years olds. Strange to think that I worked for Northamptonshire Libraries for many years and now I'm there on the bookshelves! Happy weekend reading everyone!
July 8, 2017
We Other
Totally delighted that We Other got a 4 star review in the Sun newspaper yesterday 7th July 2017.
It's been getting good reviews on Amazon too. So a really great end to a busy and fairly stressful week.
I'm working hard to finish my present novel and I'm not far off completing a first draft. Which took a very surprising turn this afternoon! Then it's a complete read through and a tight edit, before I let anyone read it. So a little while to go, but loving how it's shaping up.
Busy next week with officially opening the Summer Reading Challenge - subject this year - Animal Agents, at St James Library, Northampton. 15th July at 10am - come along if you're in the area. I'll be reading from Magic Kitten and there's a free raffle to win one my books. Happy reading this weekend book-lovers! xx
It's been getting good reviews on Amazon too. So a really great end to a busy and fairly stressful week.
I'm working hard to finish my present novel and I'm not far off completing a first draft. Which took a very surprising turn this afternoon! Then it's a complete read through and a tight edit, before I let anyone read it. So a little while to go, but loving how it's shaping up.
Busy next week with officially opening the Summer Reading Challenge - subject this year - Animal Agents, at St James Library, Northampton. 15th July at 10am - come along if you're in the area. I'll be reading from Magic Kitten and there's a free raffle to win one my books. Happy reading this weekend book-lovers! xx
July 2, 2017
We Other
So many great books to read. So little time. I'm busy trying to finish my present novel, entitled Secondskin. But have been busy with author events and talking about We Other, my new YA novel. Loved meeting readers and talking all things books at Earls Barton Literary Festival, Daventry Arts Festival. Also visited Creaton Northants and Clipston Leics schools recently, for Magic Kitten events. I'll be at the YA convention Olympia, London 28th July. Hope to see lovers of dark fairy thrillers/fantasy there.
Must keep up the daily wordage for Secondskin. I've given myself a deadline of end of Summer to finish/review the first draft. Wish me luck!
Must keep up the daily wordage for Secondskin. I've given myself a deadline of end of Summer to finish/review the first draft. Wish me luck!
May 17, 2017
Launch of We Other
Really enjoyed the official launch of my new YA novel, We Other, in Waterstones, Northampton on Sat 13th May. Great turn out of friends, relatives, fellow writers, readers and people enjoying a browse in the shop.
Great to sign so many books and chat with a few people who had pre-ordered copies and were already reading it.
This book is such a departure from my well-known Magic Kitten,Puppy,Ponies, Bunny series. We Other is a more complex, dark, and thrilling read. I felt quite nervous, but keen to know what people think. Well - so far so good. Reviews are starting to come in, so fingers crossed!
Also enjoyed chatting with Bernie Keith on Radio Northampton yesterday, Tuesday 16th May at 10.45 for more info, links to both of the above go to my Facebook page at suebentleyauthor - See you there!
And check out my publisher's everythingwithwords website too.
Great to sign so many books and chat with a few people who had pre-ordered copies and were already reading it.
This book is such a departure from my well-known Magic Kitten,Puppy,Ponies, Bunny series. We Other is a more complex, dark, and thrilling read. I felt quite nervous, but keen to know what people think. Well - so far so good. Reviews are starting to come in, so fingers crossed!
Also enjoyed chatting with Bernie Keith on Radio Northampton yesterday, Tuesday 16th May at 10.45 for more info, links to both of the above go to my Facebook page at suebentleyauthor - See you there!
And check out my publisher's everythingwithwords website too.
May 9, 2017
Today, I begin
This is my first blog on Goodreads. I am so looking forward to meeting other readers and those who are as passionate about books as I am.
I am super-excited right now because the launch of my first book for Young Adults is taking place this Saturday - 13th May at 11am at Waterstone's, Abington St, Northampton - my home town. If you're in the area drop in and say Hi.
We Other is a departure from the fluffy magic kitten, puppy, ponies and bunny books I'm most well known for. For a while now I've wanted to really stretch my writing muscles and get into the deeper and darker territory of this novel. It's particularly close to my heart and has been in development for some years.
We Other is a psychological fairy thriller. So yeah, very different from my cute lovely animals books, as fond of them as I am and always will be.
We Other is finally out in the world. Scary - but very exciting! I have to let it go and speak for itself. I send it out with my blessings and hopes that many of you will connect with my vision and find something in the book that resonates with you. Something that casts a spell over you, beguiles you and draws you in to my world, so that you lose yourself for a while in the enjoyment of it.
I am super-excited right now because the launch of my first book for Young Adults is taking place this Saturday - 13th May at 11am at Waterstone's, Abington St, Northampton - my home town. If you're in the area drop in and say Hi.
We Other is a departure from the fluffy magic kitten, puppy, ponies and bunny books I'm most well known for. For a while now I've wanted to really stretch my writing muscles and get into the deeper and darker territory of this novel. It's particularly close to my heart and has been in development for some years.
We Other is a psychological fairy thriller. So yeah, very different from my cute lovely animals books, as fond of them as I am and always will be.
We Other is finally out in the world. Scary - but very exciting! I have to let it go and speak for itself. I send it out with my blessings and hopes that many of you will connect with my vision and find something in the book that resonates with you. Something that casts a spell over you, beguiles you and draws you in to my world, so that you lose yourself for a while in the enjoyment of it.
