Ali Bacon's Blog, page 19

December 18, 2012

Nina Milton and her new children’s novel

Nina MiltonWith my publisher Thornberry signing new authors every week, I’m delighted that one of them is my writing-friend Nina Milton with her children’s novel Tough Luck. Nina writes for children and adults and since visiting here around a year ago has also found a publisher for her Sabby Dare novels. Great year, Nina! Do tell us more about Tough Luck.


Has Tough Luck always been the title?

It was originally called Bad Luck Dimesy, but everyone told me that this wasn’t urgent or specific enough; it did...

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Published on December 18, 2012 01:11

December 14, 2012

A second stab at cross-genre for Gillian Hamer

A few month’s back my comments about Gillian Hamer’s The Charter caused a bit of a furore and now Gill is back with another offering which is already on my TBR pile. It sounds alike a fascinating storyand here’sGill to make her case for breaking the genre ‘rules’.


Gillian HamerWhat’s that saying … something about once bitten, twice shy? Well, clearly I don’t know it well, or I wouldn’t be putting myself through the second of two indie book launches in the past six months. But as the other saying goes … I a...

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Published on December 14, 2012 01:48

December 11, 2012

Turn of the Tide: Scottish history comes to life

Knowing this Scottish historical novel by Margaret Skea had battled through the scrutiny of Authonomy authors and the Alan Titchmarsh People’s Novelist Competition, I was really keen to read it, but at first I was uncertain. The writing was polished and clearly backed up by detailed research but could I be gripped by this tale of warring 16th century lairds? More importantly (wine with supper not always conducive to concentration!) could I remember which side they were all on? The dialogue al...

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Published on December 11, 2012 04:58

December 7, 2012

Sex in the Sixties

book coverThis week I’ve been reading the new best-seller Thursdays in the Park, so we’re talking age, not era I’m afraid. But as I’m zooming towards the decade in question, it seems like something to think about. Is the older generation neglected by fiction writers, and has this one done them (us!) justice?


Interestingly, the oldies are already making a bit of a comeback on the screen. Just last year we had Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a feel-good film which didn’t ignore the problems of old age (money,...

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Published on December 07, 2012 09:00

November 30, 2012

Book Week Scotland: Dark Secrets of The Dean

book-week-scotland-logoAppropriately for Book Week Scotland (and St. Andrews Day of course!) I’ve been reading a Scottish mystery which has thrown up some fascinating connections. The Lewis Man is the second in Peter May’s trilogy and I’m grateful to the friend who tipped me off about it as it’s a haunting and intriguing read against a backdrop of the Outer Hebrides, which to be honest are as remote to me as a foreign country.


the Lewis Man coverIt’s about ex-cop Fin who returns from Edinburgh to his island home to find that a body ac...

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Published on November 30, 2012 04:01

November 23, 2012

Labor Omnia Vincit – or old school ties

Today I’m with leading Scottish indie author Janice Horton where I’m saying a bit more about the locations in A Kettle of Fish most of which are in my home town and the surrounding area.As I was writing that piece I discovered via another former pupil that my old school, Dunfermline High has just been rebuilt.


Here’s how it looked in my day, and in Ailsa’s day too, in fact every day since 1939 when it moved from a previous site. I suppose I thought it would never change.


But here’s howit looks...

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Published on November 23, 2012 01:52

November 15, 2012

Jonathan Pinnock tells us how to get published – twice!

This week is National Short Story Week, and by an amazing stroke of good luck feat of planning, my guest today is none other than short story supremo Jon Pinnock who guested here a couple of years ago before he was famous. So while I congratulate myself on an ace bit of talent-spotting, here is the man himself to to explain that all you need to get a novel and a short story collection published within a year is talent, determination, and a trip to a certain clothing chain.


Take it away, Jon


I’v...

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Published on November 15, 2012 02:19

November 7, 2012

Location, location

TodayA Kettleof Fish is officially launched on the Love a Happy Ending website where I indulge in the fantasy of how I might cast the book if called a upon to do so by Hollywoood (or Pinewood come to that!)


But never mind the people, what about the places? Here ‘s a taste of the locations you might see, with thanksto the Fickr members who have alllowed their photos to be shared.


Click to view slideshow.
With thanks to alljengi (Newhaven), Karen v. Bryan (Newhaven Harbour),OctogenEm (Dean Cemeter...
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Published on November 07, 2012 00:45

October 30, 2012

Help fund a new creative magazine

Some time last winter, I began writing e-book reviews for What the Dickens Magazine run by Victoria Bantock. I was really impressed by the presentation of this online writing magazine (not to mention the tempting mail-order gifts ) and despite the deadlines :(have enjoyed doing the reviews. But even the most beautiful magazine is still not so easy to read all through on the screen, so I’ve occasionally bought the Kindle edition to browse at leisure.


But now WTD is going into print! - or at lea...

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Published on October 30, 2012 10:00

October 25, 2012

Spellbound!

As a rule I don’t read much romcom, but earlier this year my interest was piqued by a book called Reaching for the Stars, and when I read the opening scene onthe author’s website, (an all too humancelebrity chef has a hangover from hell!) I was completely hooked.


Voodoo coverThen two weeks later I met, Janice Horton, the hugely successful indie author who also happens to be one of the Love a Happy Ending crew. And so I have no hesitation in promoting her latest book which has a seasonal theme and a strong...

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Published on October 25, 2012 01:17