Nicola Marsh's Blog, page 100

Succinct

Nobody says it better than Jenny Crusie.

I adore her books, her humour and her succinct way of putting things.

Read this.

Interesting words as always.

Weekend Book Club: Looking for Alaska

I'm on a real YA kick at the moment, reading across the range so when I heard several recommendations for this book, I had to snap it up. The title itself intrigued me. At first, I thought it referred to the place I honeymooned and hence holds a special place in my heart, Alaska. But no, John Green's Alaska is a teenage girl, a wild one at that. I can sum up the story in 4 words. Real.Gritty.Raw.Powerful. Published in 2005, it won the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in Young Adult...

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It's almost that time of year, when the amazing Brenda Novak runs her charity auction to raise money for kids with diabetes.

I've participated the last few years, with one lovely writer bidding an amazing sum of money to have me critique her partial last year.

This year, I'm offering a critique of a Romance or Modern Heat first chapter. Any takers?

Once again, Brenda has a truly mind-boggling array of auction items for writers, readers and everyone interested in supporting ...

Deseo

My Navy SEAL gets another outing this month!

Are those pecs for real?

Roll over and one fell out

Changes afoot in our household last night.

Toddler moved from cot to his 'big' bed. And it is a big bed, a queen futon.

He loved it, very excited and fell asleep in a heart beat while mum? More than a little sad my 'baby' is growing up way too quick!

Despite lining both sides of the floor with cushions just in case he rolled off, I still didn't get much sleep worrying about him. And yep, 5am this morning, found him lying on the cushions.

Today, I need to go buy some of those side railings so I...

When a pic will suffice

Because I'm braindead from all the writing I'm doing (with a lot more to come!) I haven't got the energy for a post today so a pic will have to do.


Lucy Monroe posted this pic a few weeks ago.

Have no idea who the guy is but definitely hero-inspiring. A brooding, sexy Mod Heat hero, perhaps?

Weekend Book Club: The Lost Symbol

I've had Dan Brown's THE LOST SYMBOL on my TBR pile for a while so decided to delve into it this week.

The good thing? I'd heard absolutely NO reviews about this book. Not that I pay much attention to reviews (except those lovely reviewers who adore my books!) as reading is so subjective, but a huge author like Dan? There are bound to be loads of opinions.

Once again, the book is entirely plot driven. We don't get much of a feel for the characters at all, which would usually bother me but ...

Loving it

I love school holidays.

Love the laid-back mornings, lounging in PJs and eating late breakfasts and not driving in peak hour traffic.

Love daily walks to the park.

Love having treat brunches and lunches with my boys.

Love inventing new games.

Love the creativity of sitting with a bunch of crayons and a blank piece of paper.

Love baking cookies.

Love hearing the constant laughter of toddler as he imitates everything big brother does.

Love watching old kids' movies.

And have really loved hearing the kid...

Happy viewers

Be still my beating heart.

For our viewing pleasure, this man returned to our screens this week in OZ.


Note to writers for 'Brothers and Sisters': please, please, pretty please write Gilles into your scripts for many series to come!

Speed freak

Regular readers to this blog know I'm a huge fan of the Alphasmart and post raves at intervals.

Warning.
Here comes another.

School holidays the last 2 weeks, super busy, could seriously affect word count, yeah?

Not with super portable Alphie!

I've been writing in snatched 15 minute bursts here and there, with kids usually playing at my feet or asking me to be DNAlien to their Ben 10 or building towering block constructions.

The result? The word count is flying.
Only having that tiny screen where...