tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81360718776902625312024-03-14T08:16:59.350+00:00Excuse Me While I Note That Down...Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-5366434475634624592020-05-11T18:30:00.003+01:002020-05-11T18:30:38.304+01:00It's been a long time!Hi!<br />
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I don't know if anyone is still following this blog as I haven't posted for years - so here is a quick update!<br />
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I am not writing at the moment - in 2018 I decided to train as a life coach, partly in response to my husband being made redundant and a feeling that I am going to need something I can keep doing, even after retirement age!<br />
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I still THINK about writing! I have 25% of a novel written - in fact, two novels! - but there just aren't enough hours in the day!<br />
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If you are still following, do let me know what you're up to!Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-38311608122296452862015-03-01T14:04:00.002+00:002015-03-01T14:04:52.659+00:00A new endeavour.It's a very long time since I have been here and I am looking forward to getting my blog back on track and catching up with some long-lost blogging friends!<br />
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The sun has come out, the buds are starting to appear on the trees and the sap is rising... After a lull of over a year, I can feel my own sap rising too and with it has come a little epiphany. I have been somewhat directionless, always feeling that the ideas I had were only 'half-ideas'. Suddenly, things - as they so often do - have fallen into place. I work with children, I love the company of children, I still think like a child (maybe!)... I should be writing for children. I teach children to read and spend time listening to them read. Why not write something I think they would enjoy?<br />
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Watch this space! Work has yet to begin, but begin it will!<br />
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Have you ever had an epiphany-type-thing? Writing related or otherwise?Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-21521615062383378702014-08-22T12:48:00.002+01:002014-08-22T12:48:45.395+01:00The Writing Process Blog Tour<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks to the very talented <a href="http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Jane Ayres</span></a> for
inviting me to take part in The Writing Process Blog Tour, a blog relay in
which each author discusses their individual writing process, and then passes
the baton on. I've been a bit of a slow runner on this one due to
being away on holiday and not posting when I said I would, but I hope I won't
have held the team up too much!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've followed Jane's blog for a few years now. She writes, among other
things, equestrian-themed novels and I have a real nostalgia for those sort of
books, having been a huge fan of pony stories as a kid/early teen. The number
of books she's had published makes me gape... I'll never catch up! Please do
follow the link above to check out her blog, The Beautiful Room (what a
fabulous name for a blog) where you can find all her titles, including her latest release,<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Horse-Jane-Ayres-ebook/dp/B00MFTBTRW"> The Perfect Horse</a>, and the cover
reveal for her latest book 'Beware of the Horse 2: Angie's Revenge'. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img alt="The Perfect Horse" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xnIHLB9GL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="200" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You can read Jane's stop on The Writing Process Blog Tour <a href="http://www.janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-writing-process-blog-tour.html"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now I have to answer 4 questions and pass the baton on:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. What am I currently working on? </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have been taking a break from writing (see previous posts) due to
family and canine commitments (!) but I will be properly back in the writing
saddle at the end of September. My brain has, of course, still been working
whilst my fingers had a break and my current project is a supernatural
time-slip novel set in a stately home that's being restored. I love history and
the sense of layers of time in old buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>How does my work differ from others of its genre?</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's difficult to make short stories for women's magazines differ very
much from others<br />
as there are certain requirements. I don't suppose my work does vary very much
from anyone else's really! As far as writing the novel goes, there seems to be
a definite formula for time-slip work. I will be doing my
best to find some way of making my story in some way different from others in the genre. I like stories with a lot of threads, and that's what I'm aiming
for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Why do I write what I write?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am mostly influenced by sensory stuff - feelings, vibes, sights are
what usually get me started. I began writing short stories because I felt it
would be a way to build my confidence and perhaps become published. Now I have
achieved that and my inspiration has (hopefully temporarily) run dry on the
short story front, I want to concentrate on my novel. The trouble is, short
stories provide a quick fix - quick yes or no, quick payment (!) and that
becomes a bit addictive. I think having had a long break will help me chill out
and take my time with my novel. At least, I hope so!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. How does my individual writing process work?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is something I definitely need to work on. I am very undisciplined!
When working on a short story I tend to get up early and do an hour before
work, then a bit more after work if I can. I think on my feet and re-write as I
go along. It's a bit hap-hazard, to be honest, but fine for short pieces of
work. I think that for the novel, being a larger body of work, I will need to
write it more or less without editing and then go back over it, otherwise I'll
never get to the end! (It's happened before - I have several that I stopped
half way through because I'd lost heart and interest.) Wish me luck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And now for the passing on of the baton...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">The fabulous </span><a href="http://patsy-collins.blogspot.co.uk/" style="color: #222222;">Patsy Collins</a><span style="color: #222222;"> will be the next in line, although I think, like me, she isn't going to be running especially fast! </span></span></div>
<img alt="Click the picture to visit my Facebook author page" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeea5sPLxmwHG2DE_JjmTQW10HZ80LO3TTrZFcfs1qeKH3jsnQFfmWF43nSnYnGVBe1htjUrz4RcrLgGU6jhndzRabQe8du6CqDIBalvd8KHzeyOm32TBcfjtQxbniYPAXoi-_s4Mq54E/s230/Me.jpg" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">Patsy is a fellow writer of short stories and has also published several novels. Her blog, 'Words about writing and writing about words', is always witty and interesting - no pressure to keep that up, Patsy ;-) - so do pop across and have a look. You can pick up her </span><span style="color: red;">free</span><span style="color: #222222;"> e-book of short stories - '</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Not-Drop-Drink-Patsy-Collins-ebook/dp/B009RX5MGS/ref=la_B004O08LRQ_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408706390&sr=1-1" style="color: #222222;">Not a Drop to Drink</a><span style="color: #222222;">' - by clicking the link. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.46666717529297px;">Well, that was fun! Thanks for popping in!</span></span></div>
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Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-85036018436978332342014-07-03T16:30:00.001+01:002014-07-03T16:30:35.461+01:00IWSG JulyAnother month gone:<br />
busy, tired, jelly-brain,<br />
words stuck in my head.<br />
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But I'll get writing again this summer. It may have to be a 'school holidays' occupation in the interests of avoiding exhaustion, but I'm looking forward to the joy of releasing my thoughts onto the screen again.<br />
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Hope you're not too insecure this month!<br />
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Thanks as usual to <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">Alex J Cavanaugh</a> for giving us all this opportunity to vent and commiserate or encourage. The list of participants is really too long to put on here, but you can find it over on his blog.<br />
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Wishing you all a productive month :-)<br />
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<br />Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-60046592921241694342014-06-10T07:00:00.000+01:002014-06-11T17:45:24.800+01:00Our Beautiful Child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Congratulations to <a href="http://annalisacrawford.blogspot.co.uk/">Annalisa Crawford</a> on the publication, today,
of...<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Publisher</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Battered
Suitcase Press</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Available from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KWF93O2/?tag=viewbookat-21">Amazon</a></span></span><br />
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I'm always terrified about reviewing because I can never put into words <i>why </i> I've enjoyed something. I <i>feel</i> what I'm reading, live between the pages, float off into another world... and that's definitely what happened while I was reading My Beautiful Child.<br />
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I LOVED these stories and have already read them twice. They positively delighted me! The three
in this collection are linked by a pub, The Boathouse, although each is a perfectly
formed tale on its own and each managed to surprise me with its twists and turns. The stories are moving and the characters fully formed, quirky and interesting; not a caricature in sight. Annalisa’s
style is easy to read – spare yet expressive and descriptive; the words flow easily from the page. Nothing is contrived. She delves into the
dark recesses of human nature and writes a satisfyingly complete short story without any hint of ‘twee'. If you are
not a fan of short stories, these will change your mind. If you love short
stories, you won’t be disappointed! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The Boathouse collects misfits. Strange solitary creatures that yearn
for contact with the outside world, but not too much. They sit, glass in hand,
either staring at the table in front of them, or at some distant point on the
horizon.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">…
so says the narrator of Our Beautiful Child. And he’s been around long enough
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">People
end up in this town almost by accident. Ella is running away from her
nightmares, Sally is running away from the memories of previous boyfriends and
Rona is running away from university. Each of them seek sanctuary in the 18th
century pub, The Boathouse; but in fact, that’s where their troubles begin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkvhI6m_4sL2bLPidSFdau-peKQDNG5BWPug1SHy0Ti4e0I1lrD3SBvZOhBSVzUFOz1BcmrZROjwrz1G-XN-ia7YX5pmauWsdXA5xX25tTejJK4xl2p5Jw2lBV6TBkkEIqfKDzczPFqM/s1600/head+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkvhI6m_4sL2bLPidSFdau-peKQDNG5BWPug1SHy0Ti4e0I1lrD3SBvZOhBSVzUFOz1BcmrZROjwrz1G-XN-ia7YX5pmauWsdXA5xX25tTejJK4xl2p5Jw2lBV6TBkkEIqfKDzczPFqM/s1600/head+shot.jpg" height="173" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I live in Cornwall UK,
with a good supply of beaches and moorland right on my doorstep to keep me
inspired. I live with my husband, two sons, a dog and a cat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Despite my location,
I neither surf nor sail, and have never had any inclination to try. I much
prefer walking along a deserted beach and listening to the waves crashing over
rocks. For this reason, I really love the beach in the winter!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Annalisa's Links:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.annalisacrawford.com/"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Website</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
// </span></span><a href="http://annalisacrawford.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blog</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
// </span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/AnnalisaCrawf"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Twitter</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
// </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/annalisacrawford.writer"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Facebook</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
// </span></span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/annalisacrawfor/"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pinterest</span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></u></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">// </span></span></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22336457-our-beautiful-child"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Add
to Goodreads</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-47611121571953433942014-06-04T07:00:00.000+01:002014-06-04T07:00:06.114+01:00IWSG JuneI missed a couple of these while I was bogged down with life-stuff (see my previous post) and I'm afraid I didn't get time to hop around and read many blogs, either :-(<br />
<br />
Thanks, as always, to <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">Alex J Cavanaugh</a> and those who assist him each month so that the rest of us can have a moan or offer words of comfort and encouragement.<br />
<br />
I don't know whether I can be bothered to feel insecure this month. I haven't written anything since the end of January, although I did tweak and re-submit a short story this week. I think it will probably ping back to me, but as the editor said, it's always worth another try!<br />
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A break from writing has been very refreshing. I feel detached rather than agonisingly stressed about it and have realised that it isn't the be-all-and-end-all it had become. I really hope this feeling stays with me and I don't become consumed by the need to write and frustrated by the lack of time.<br />
<br />
To anyone who is reading this and feeling that writing is no longer exactly a pleasure, I would like to say I know exactly how you feel. I was forced into not being able to write by circumstances, but am feeling that it was basically A GOOD THING and that a break doesn't mean you will lose your ability to write or never write again.<br />
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Happy first Wednesday of the month to you!Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-74191633266662415742014-05-29T11:36:00.000+01:002014-05-29T11:36:38.524+01:00May HaikuSo much for good intentions! At the beginning of this year I intended to post a Haiku for each month, but that flew out of the window when my mother-in-law fell and broke her wrist and pelvis, and then the window slammed shut when we got the puppy and I realised JUST HOW MUCH HARD WORK A PUPPY IS!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp6sM55sqJWRw3D-QqkngQvxa3rpn8aFT9hTcKCy6UJi8MTBcMpq1ZTU7OrQmKnFxrPhNk8bYr47wRgYrHgG0CrcGiM7a8PA5ETvHiTx47XeYbPrSK-peEb5FLNCDERJ-vbA0GmzkBvu5/s1600/Dora+shoulder+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp6sM55sqJWRw3D-QqkngQvxa3rpn8aFT9hTcKCy6UJi8MTBcMpq1ZTU7OrQmKnFxrPhNk8bYr47wRgYrHgG0CrcGiM7a8PA5ETvHiTx47XeYbPrSK-peEb5FLNCDERJ-vbA0GmzkBvu5/s1600/Dora+shoulder+shot.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
She's now nearly 4 months old and is much better at laying patiently while I fiddle around on the laptop, and the MiL has had to accept that she's almost completely recovered and can't have me on call all the time, so I am thinking it's time to put the fingers on the keyboard, or pen to paper, again.<br />
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How did that happen?</div>
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Time flies, they say, and it's true -</div>
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of this year, at least!</div>
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Spring sprung secretly.</div>
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May - I blinked once and missed you.</div>
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June - please knock loudly!</div>
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Thanks for visiting!</div>
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What do you prefer - fingers on keyboard or pen on paper - and why?</div>
Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-67806544801972443002014-05-28T07:00:00.000+01:002014-05-28T07:00:04.095+01:00Cover reveal - Our Beautiful Child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's high time I got back to blogging. A sick mother-in-law and a new puppy have stood between me and writing / blogging for too long now! The MiL is on the mend and the puppy is an angel, so no excuse. </div>
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I'm absolutely delighted that my fabulous writerly friend Annalisa Crawford has a new book coming out in a couple of weeks. I love her quirky style and I'm desperate to get my hands on a copy of this! Watch this space for a link when the time comes, but for now... isn't the cover lovely? The story sounds intriguing, too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1TK3sC0jwK0o7R7kjqutc1N3Sa2uVEg6lk95srE-Pnc1pYblwyKRMVHNcanCoxMfbLHjTsQ9RopuHFjdLYwV6lR_NkaQRGLWKfFB_bQNmWMbdEXGjVZEfmxEoZM_PdD2fr1fahppwuE/s1600/OurBeautifulChildFinalRETAILCover700x1066p96dpiRGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1TK3sC0jwK0o7R7kjqutc1N3Sa2uVEg6lk95srE-Pnc1pYblwyKRMVHNcanCoxMfbLHjTsQ9RopuHFjdLYwV6lR_NkaQRGLWKfFB_bQNmWMbdEXGjVZEfmxEoZM_PdD2fr1fahppwuE/s1600/OurBeautifulChildFinalRETAILCover700x1066p96dpiRGB.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Release date</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">: 10<sup>th</sup>
June 2014 </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Publisher</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Battered
Suitcase Press</span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The Boathouse collects misfits. Strange solitary creatures that yearn
for contact with the outside world, but not too much. They sit, glass in hand,
either staring at the table in front of them, or at some distant point on the
horizon.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">…
so says the narrator of Our Beautiful Child. And he’s been around long enough
to know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">People
end up in this town almost by accident. Ella is running away from her
nightmares, Sally is running away from the memories of previous boyfriends and
Rona is running away from university. Each of them seek sanctuary in the 18th
century pub, The Boathouse; but in fact, that’s where their troubles begin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ella
finds love, a moment too late; Rona discovers a beautiful ability which needs
refining before she gets hurt; and Sally meets the captivating Murray, who
threatens to ruin everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Three
women. Three stories. One pub.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkvhI6m_4sL2bLPidSFdau-peKQDNG5BWPug1SHy0Ti4e0I1lrD3SBvZOhBSVzUFOz1BcmrZROjwrz1G-XN-ia7YX5pmauWsdXA5xX25tTejJK4xl2p5Jw2lBV6TBkkEIqfKDzczPFqM/s1600/head+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkvhI6m_4sL2bLPidSFdau-peKQDNG5BWPug1SHy0Ti4e0I1lrD3SBvZOhBSVzUFOz1BcmrZROjwrz1G-XN-ia7YX5pmauWsdXA5xX25tTejJK4xl2p5Jw2lBV6TBkkEIqfKDzczPFqM/s1600/head+shot.jpg" height="173" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I live in Cornwall UK,
with a good supply of beaches and moorland right on my doorstep to keep me
inspired. I live with my husband, two sons, a dog and a cat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Despite my location,
I neither surf nor sail, and have never had any inclination to try. I much
prefer walking along a deserted beach and listening to the waves crashing over
rocks. For this reason, I really love the beach in the winter!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Links:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.annalisacrawford.com/"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Website</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
// </span></span><a href="http://annalisacrawford.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blog</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
// </span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/AnnalisaCrawf"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Twitter</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
// </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/annalisacrawford.writer"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Facebook</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
// </span></span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/annalisacrawfor/"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pinterest</span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></u></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">// </span></span></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22336457-our-beautiful-child"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Add
to Goodreads</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-52335081648851426492014-04-14T11:45:00.000+01:002014-04-14T11:45:54.069+01:00AWOLI've been AWOL - or in my case AWOLAMG... Absent Without Looking At My Blog. I have an excuse and it really is a good one. Here she is:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEafEnh-RrCK17_Ezvbl1OZnKQ53rqITofaxDodYyRRE9c9h-LPd00qopA83lNBFb72DXnrih8KXQS1lwLOiWIm2U8knWzslSezif-MjcfyPXxg02hhCD7VBWmVRlqdvkP1R1Uj3Oezkv/s1600/Dora+9+weeks+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEafEnh-RrCK17_Ezvbl1OZnKQ53rqITofaxDodYyRRE9c9h-LPd00qopA83lNBFb72DXnrih8KXQS1lwLOiWIm2U8knWzslSezif-MjcfyPXxg02hhCD7VBWmVRlqdvkP1R1Uj3Oezkv/s1600/Dora+9+weeks+002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjW2pdn8TNEhqyjFMdRhW9R3wSKI8Uqr7nphRxM1MHjpZV51w6jmSBXppZRbCVdmRRvFJD06QdljRIfnji1H9lQ2-E7XuZSxdnJos0QokgncnQDgGUTY5SPA7Hsdm1fHRB83ANVV58drX_/s1600/Dora+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjW2pdn8TNEhqyjFMdRhW9R3wSKI8Uqr7nphRxM1MHjpZV51w6jmSBXppZRbCVdmRRvFJD06QdljRIfnji1H9lQ2-E7XuZSxdnJos0QokgncnQDgGUTY5SPA7Hsdm1fHRB83ANVV58drX_/s1600/Dora+033.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the ADORABLE DORA, a labrador-whippet cross (also known as a whippador!)<br />
<br />
She looks a bit of a loon in the bottom picture here with a piece of grass or something hanging out of her mouth, looking like a smile.<br />
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She's now ten weeks old (we had her at only 6) and has been consuming all my free time. She doesn't think it necessary for me to go on my laptop or even do any writing - she always has other ideas! My hands are raw from washing them and I'm exhausted, but I wouldn't swap her for anything.<br />
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I will get back to the blogging and writing eventually, but for now I'm just enjoying my baby-with- razor-sharp-teeth-and-no-nappy.<br />
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Thanks for visiting!<br />
<br />
Linda xLinda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-43701406690450378632014-02-10T07:00:00.000+00:002014-02-10T07:00:10.470+00:00A vist from Elizabeth Seckman - Fate Intended Blog Tour<span style="color: red;">I'm really pleased to have the lovely Elizabeth Seckman on my blog today because she is simply one of those fellow writers it's a pleasure to know. I probably don't really need to introduce her as so many of you already know her. I'm totally in love with the cover for her newest book, Fate Intended, and it's definitely going on my 'to read' stack! </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Over to you, Elizabeth!</span><br />
<br />
Okay Linda, you asked for a surprise; I promised you something sexy.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Whoop! Well, it is nearly my birthday, after all!</span><br />
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<br />
Here's a little somethin' for the ladies:<br />
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And a little somethin' for the gents... <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/t7q2p7LC-Ks" width="420"></iframe>
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Miss you Linda! Hope you enjoyed your sexiness ;)<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Man, that sexiness was something else! ;-) Thanks for that, Elizabeth! Come back to visit again soon :-)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbaejSnhsAzT9bnldK0YmMXw-wizM-xhvzxVlPigHASy4-fg4NHdzj73ZntKCFu6pFcpkDR3grF2fDOKCYjl0lILrAwHZJLntthleLiY5kvW3c3xlFchEDmS5JSsHVUCfa_u5FKM11K4/s1600/Final+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbaejSnhsAzT9bnldK0YmMXw-wizM-xhvzxVlPigHASy4-fg4NHdzj73ZntKCFu6pFcpkDR3grF2fDOKCYjl0lILrAwHZJLntthleLiY5kvW3c3xlFchEDmS5JSsHVUCfa_u5FKM11K4/s1600/Final+Front.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a><i>Fate Intended</i> is the
third book in the Coulter Men Series. Trip is the last of the Coulter
sons to find love. He’s a handsome man with all the skills a young spy
needs to succeed. But when it comes to love, he misses the target. Jane
is a sweet beauty who may or may not be wanted for murder. She’s hiding
out as a cleaning lady when chance brings her and Trip together. It
looks like a happily ever after is in the cross hairs until reality
tries to destroy what fate has intended.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRZ5a0_rGFPmW4TaywiXtlR90H2Tu9xDzujuUZzlHAELTE9dFZrm_isq7VXLivOJMrv3tfkRFWpHE-q-W_RHyci2ff-C4jRqQ4PbGn2wqgYU4pVW_ykramiLOyB1wW-plMlg6Gqy5GzI/s1600/3H3W1881.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRZ5a0_rGFPmW4TaywiXtlR90H2Tu9xDzujuUZzlHAELTE9dFZrm_isq7VXLivOJMrv3tfkRFWpHE-q-W_RHyci2ff-C4jRqQ4PbGn2wqgYU4pVW_ykramiLOyB1wW-plMlg6Gqy5GzI/s200/3H3W1881.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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Elizabeth Seckman is a simple chick with a simple dream…to write stories people want to read.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #626060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><a href="http://eseckman.blogspot.com/">Blog</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #626060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Seckman-Author/361427683923220">Facebook</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #626060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Seckman/e/B008VTLXSA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1">Amazon Page</a></span><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2f1fed10/" id="rc-2f1fed10" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-21284119477927208512014-02-05T22:37:00.000+00:002014-02-06T18:05:56.944+00:00IWSG FebruaryI'm looking forward to hopping around and finding out how everyone's feeling now that we've got through January and the New Year's Resolutions are in full swing (or not!)<br />
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I was feeling distinctly insecure in January... I was working on a project I wasn't feeling the love for but felt I had to continue with, and was also finding it very hard to find enough time to write. The situation is now resolved and I'm working on something else instead when I have the time.<br />
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TIME! The greatest bug-bear of all! I have decided that in February - and in the rest of 2014 - it will not be my enemy. I am going to write when I can... and if I simply can't for a few days, so be it. I've read so much about 'write every day, no matter what it is,' that I was developing a bit of a paranoia about my skills slipping away if I didn't.<br />
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I can't, though. End of.<br />
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Trying makes me feel stressed and ill.<br />
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So, I'm going to chill!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.orangedonkey.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Cat-Chilled-Out-1.jpg" height="162" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat Chilled Out <a class="_wf irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.orangedonkey.net/cat-chilled/" style="background-color: #222222; color: #660099; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="color: #7d7d7d; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis;">www.orangedonkey.net</span></a></td></tr>
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One day, I'll have more time on my hands. Until then I'll do what I can.<br />
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So - how are you feeling?<br />
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Thanks for visiting - and as always thanks to <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">Alex</a> for starting it all off. You can find all the participants <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">here</a> on his blog.<br />
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Oh, and while I'm here... I'd like to introduce you to my husband who has just started his blog. He's a sort of 'urban poet', I think! You can find his first ever post <a href="http://seagullonabagofchips.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/howdy-yall.html">here</a> - please go and say 'hi'!<br />
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<br />Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-8392460286834518812014-01-08T07:00:00.000+00:002014-01-08T07:00:00.985+00:00IWSG JanuaryIt's the first IWSG of the New Year! Happy 2014 to anyone I haven't visited yet this year!<br />
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Thanks as always to <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">Alex J. Cavanaugh</a> and to all the other administrators of the group.<br />
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This month is a time of New Year's Resolutions and positivity - a time to turn over a fresh page and enter a new mind-set. In this vein, I'm hoping to feel a little less insecure this year. I've done a lot of thinking and have had a long break from writing (which did me a lot of good) and have managed to feel a lot less 'keyed up' about writing. There is no pleasure in it for me when it becomes a compulsion - and I do not want to lose that pleasure! A schedule in my diary, an old kitchen timer to write to and a fresh approach are how I'm starting this new year.<br />
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Good luck to everyone with what they want to achieve - and if I can offer you one piece of advice, it is this: write the way that suits you, in the amount of time that suits you, and try not to resent other areas of your life for infringing on your writing time. I used to obsess about word-count each day - now I am content if I have moved my story on, whether that be by adding 1000 or 200 words. Moving forwards is the key, however small the steps.<br />
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Wishing you all a Happy Writing New Year.<br />
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Thank you for visiting!Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-68137373486353141152014-01-01T20:09:00.000+00:002014-01-01T20:09:55.139+00:00Just for Fun... New Year's HaikuHappy New Year! I hope 2014 brings you all everything you need or wish for :-).<br />
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In the interests of stretching my creativity, I have decided to include some haiku in my blog every month in 2014. Call it a New Year's Resolution!<br />
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Now, I know there are some rules around haiku, but from what I've read it seems that they aren't set in stone. I understand the lines should flow into one another without stops and starts, although I have read many where this isn't the case. I hope you will forgive me any glaring errors in the form and it would be fabulous if you would like to contribute some haiku yourself in the comment box.<br />
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Yesterday, the last day of 2013, my husband and I took advantage of an hour or so's break in the persistent rain we have endured throughout the Christmas period and escaped to the countryside for some air.<br />
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Today's experiment is an offering of 5 haiku, inspired by yesterday's walk. (The photos were not taken yesterday, but on a December walk in the same place a couple of years ago.) Thanks for being here and for reading!<br />
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<b>A Walk in the Country</b><br />
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<b>Chilled beyond the bone,</b><br />
<b>bright cheeks, frozen toes and ears,</b><br />
<b>crisp grass underfoot.</b><br />
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<b>A church spire, lonely,</b><br />
<b>spied across a furrowed field,</b><br />
<b>dark clods stiff with frost.</b><br />
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<b>A soup of wet mud,</b><br />
<b>boots slipping in the scramble</b><br />
<b>to claim grassy verge.</b><br />
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<b>Determined boxer,</b><br />
<b>face screwed, eyes wild with delight,</b><br />
<b>escapes to greet us.</b><br />
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<b>Hot breath on cold air,</b><br />
<b>pub fire, conversations hum.</b><br />
<b>Refresh, refuel, thaw.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sYMXIWuImnWEe3vHchBphHnVA9HH4aRM0vMlJTyG27EQifwkeFlnWkM5o2aUppCeSnxOR-5ZbhkSgBx5mtvh2GFzUQRQ9R7R-PD0K0yhQbH1CYdz1lC3d0V0gt4jqD7Vl9gZDNbYLR0f/s1600/Christmas+2011+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sYMXIWuImnWEe3vHchBphHnVA9HH4aRM0vMlJTyG27EQifwkeFlnWkM5o2aUppCeSnxOR-5ZbhkSgBx5mtvh2GFzUQRQ9R7R-PD0K0yhQbH1CYdz1lC3d0V0gt4jqD7Vl9gZDNbYLR0f/s320/Christmas+2011+043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH_8VqeZ2LhT8akzC7oUet-6GA068Fz68_EUu0YgTtHkOx4v1N3GQGHHlOtvidJBvFlhYRR5HUgZdFWp_T7HbAJWR2WQzr8yF7_JXwWY3ZGrypaSDxQmoU7vmVjcU16gNPmqMPeQH92Yu/s1600/Christmas+2011+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH_8VqeZ2LhT8akzC7oUet-6GA068Fz68_EUu0YgTtHkOx4v1N3GQGHHlOtvidJBvFlhYRR5HUgZdFWp_T7HbAJWR2WQzr8yF7_JXwWY3ZGrypaSDxQmoU7vmVjcU16gNPmqMPeQH92Yu/s320/Christmas+2011+045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(The pictures are taken between Dedham and Flatford, the home of John Constable the artist and subject of many of his paintings.)<br />
<br />Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-40911818394028165432013-12-09T18:20:00.000+00:002013-12-09T18:20:15.801+00:00Insecure Writer's Support Group going Large!If you are not a member of the <a href="http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html">Insecure Writer's Support Group</a> then you really should pop over there and see what it's all about!<br />
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In a nutshell, a group of us blog on the first Wednesday of every month about... well, anything to do with writing and either feeling insecure or having smashed our insecurities that month! You are just as likely to find upbeat posts as posts looking for some friendly encouragement.<br />
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This month there's a contest with some really great prizes, details of which you can find <a href="http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/">here</a>, all in the name of spreading awareness of the IWSG. Personally, I've met some really nice people through the IWSG and I'm delighted to have discovered that there is now a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/IWSG13/">Facebook page</a> too. If you're a writer, you'll know that connecting with other writers is invaluable - and I think we all have our insecurities at times! So what are you waiting for? If you're not already in the group, come and commiserate or celebrate with other writers. I am positive you won't regret it!</div>
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<br />Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-74406839500114319262013-12-05T12:00:00.000+00:002013-12-05T12:00:10.991+00:00Lexa and Julie's Dream Destination Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi-knndgYBlGFJjBgNVo4E3mnpJPwwMaCZ2ZfIx2fDKObHWzkp5wjDkY3oMP81ahKXNFt-4ma6MkqESMEcIV9uA3NoV3KDUz2UNq0OmxgR6TCGv1KsxBNehfcIXZ17HsXO-eGV8i7RTUJ/s1600/Blog-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi-knndgYBlGFJjBgNVo4E3mnpJPwwMaCZ2ZfIx2fDKObHWzkp5wjDkY3oMP81ahKXNFt-4ma6MkqESMEcIV9uA3NoV3KDUz2UNq0OmxgR6TCGv1KsxBNehfcIXZ17HsXO-eGV8i7RTUJ/s320/Blog-Hop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'd normally be taking part in the <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">Insecure Writer's Support Group</a> over at Alex J.Cavanaugh's blog but I'm giving my usual incessant whingeing a miss this month in favour of letting my thoughts meander to a less-stressful, non-writing place (which pretty much tells you how I'm feeling about fitting writing into my life just now!)</div>
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<a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.com/">Lexa Cain</a> and <a href="http://julieflanders.blogspot.com/">Julie Flanders</a> are hosting this Blog Hop, so please hop over to their blogs to say "Hello" and to take part in the free Rafflecopter Giveaway! There are around 20 prizes up for grabs!</div>
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And now... a dream destination. Hmn... I'm really torn between somewhere hot and somewhere deliciously cold and snowy. I've always found the thought of a log cabin with a roaring fire, fur (but not real fur - yuk!) rugs to recline on and snow drifting down on pine trees outside the window <b>very</b> appealing. I'm a bit of a sucker for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI">Wham's 'Last Christmas' video</a> too!</div>
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So... maybe this would be my Dream Destination:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5zvC_tHXeDWWfpp7tPsK5ArgCGz2apEhK_pw-j8ZQEnqKdjmZAsZRwREoXMX86mQsh8yXzUXxNq_RWWhciJp7w_l4W0yMOaoHZcuJQKfAw1GfsnFIue086NVD6exl3XBCZwdWci-57o/s400/Hotel+Kakslauttanen+log+cabin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Hotel Kakslauttennan, Lapland/Finland border)<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Or this: </span></div>
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<img height="293" src="http://hookedonhouses.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Holiday-Inn-movie-house-cover.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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... although I must admit it's not exactly a cabin! Holiday Inn is one of my favourite films, though - and it gave us that wonderful early rendition of 'White Christmas'. </div>
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Well, now I'm feeling all cosy and quite Christmassy, I'm off to <a href="http://julieflanders.blogspot.com/">Julie's</a> or <a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.com/">Lexa's</a> blog to take a look at everyone else's Dream Destination. I'd love you to come with me! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi-knndgYBlGFJjBgNVo4E3mnpJPwwMaCZ2ZfIx2fDKObHWzkp5wjDkY3oMP81ahKXNFt-4ma6MkqESMEcIV9uA3NoV3KDUz2UNq0OmxgR6TCGv1KsxBNehfcIXZ17HsXO-eGV8i7RTUJ/s1600/Blog-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi-knndgYBlGFJjBgNVo4E3mnpJPwwMaCZ2ZfIx2fDKObHWzkp5wjDkY3oMP81ahKXNFt-4ma6MkqESMEcIV9uA3NoV3KDUz2UNq0OmxgR6TCGv1KsxBNehfcIXZ17HsXO-eGV8i7RTUJ/s1600/Blog-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi-knndgYBlGFJjBgNVo4E3mnpJPwwMaCZ2ZfIx2fDKObHWzkp5wjDkY3oMP81ahKXNFt-4ma6MkqESMEcIV9uA3NoV3KDUz2UNq0OmxgR6TCGv1KsxBNehfcIXZ17HsXO-eGV8i7RTUJ/s1600/Blog-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi-knndgYBlGFJjBgNVo4E3mnpJPwwMaCZ2ZfIx2fDKObHWzkp5wjDkY3oMP81ahKXNFt-4ma6MkqESMEcIV9uA3NoV3KDUz2UNq0OmxgR6TCGv1KsxBNehfcIXZ17HsXO-eGV8i7RTUJ/s1600/Blog-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi-knndgYBlGFJjBgNVo4E3mnpJPwwMaCZ2ZfIx2fDKObHWzkp5wjDkY3oMP81ahKXNFt-4ma6MkqESMEcIV9uA3NoV3KDUz2UNq0OmxgR6TCGv1KsxBNehfcIXZ17HsXO-eGV8i7RTUJ/s1600/Blog-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi-knndgYBlGFJjBgNVo4E3mnpJPwwMaCZ2ZfIx2fDKObHWzkp5wjDkY3oMP81ahKXNFt-4ma6MkqESMEcIV9uA3NoV3KDUz2UNq0OmxgR6TCGv1KsxBNehfcIXZ17HsXO-eGV8i7RTUJ/s1600/Blog-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a>Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-73027601285733820042013-11-06T18:34:00.001+00:002013-11-06T18:37:42.153+00:00Losing my nerve! IWSG November.Yes, it's November already! Thanks as always to <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">Alex J Cavanaugh</a> for running the group. You can find a list of the participants and information on what it's all about over on Alex's blog.<br />
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I was determined not to whinge this month, but I can feel a bit of a whinge coming on. The title of this post is pretty whingey, for one thing!<br />
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I had the summer off writing as I had a full schedule and was feeling pretty stressed. My brain didn't stop working and I didn't stop making notes, but I did barely any structured writing. Actually, it was lovely just being 'normal' again (e.g. watching TV, seeing friends, reading, going out with family, etc.)<br />
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THE TROUBLE IS... now I want to write again (and have had an idea for a serial provisionally OK'd by a magazine) I seem to have forgotten how to sit down and concentrate. I deliberately subbed the idea knowing that it would force me back to the keyboard, but my reaction to getting the go-ahead to write the first part was as much terror as joy! It's been hanging round my neck and terrifying me for over a week. I started it and don't like what I've written and my cotton-wooly brain won't co-operate with coming up with alternatives. I still don't feel as though I've got enough time (or understanding support in the home, tbh) to write it.<br />
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I WILL write it - so watch this space - but something tells me it's going to be a long and painful process!<br />
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Does anyone else feel unsupported at times? I get a lot of "Wow, that's great," and "How much are you getting for it?" when something's accepted, but when it comes down to being allowed uninterrupted time to get words on the page, I may as well forget it unless I'm alone in the house, which I rarely am.<br />
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Whinge over. Feeling better already!<br />
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Going to write now!Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-87370901864005645462013-10-11T18:15:00.001+01:002013-10-11T18:15:41.799+01:00Finally, I think I get it!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Free Pen And Paper Stock Images - 5750194" height="155" itemprop="image" src="http://www.stockfreeimages.com/Pen-and-paper-thumb5750194.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pen and paper" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Spartak | <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/">Dreamstime Stock Photos</a> & <a href="http://www.stockfreeimages.com/">Stock Free Images</a></td></tr>
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Eyeball-burn, life-burn, general burn-out. <br />
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That was me back in July and as a result I stopped writing almost altogether. <br />
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For years I have been a strictly keyboard writer, my theory being that my mind works faster than I can write - or at least write legibly - but, do you know, I was getting sick to death of staring at a screen! It seemed to be ruling my life and instead of writing I was spending hours procrastinating on Facebook, surfing this and that, and my eyes were burning (even though the screen glare is as low as it will go). I felt stressed, time-poor and pretty miserable. Worst still, I had mislaid my love of writing.<br />
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I had all of August off from writing, all of September and have just started writing again - with one difference... BY HAND.<br />
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It's a joy. No temptation to go on the internet, no eyeball-burn and OMG - there's no need to write full sentences! I also don't then keep going back over and over them editing even though I know I shouldn't. My first draft is not going to be much more than detailed notes and I can relax, knowing that when I type it all up I'll be doing the first edit at the same time. <br />
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I know you lot all knew this all along, but I feel as though I've made a writing-life-changing discovery!<br />
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On another subject, I want to apologise for not visiting many blogs lately. I have a lot of trouble with Blogger pages not loading properly - on every other page I seem to get a message from Internet Explorer telling me it encountered a problem and has to close the page, or the page just freezes for ages, or I get an error message saying there's something wrong with the page. I use Internet Explorer and this ONLY happens on Blogger. Obviously, I want to keep up with your blogs, but with the above happening, it's so time-consuming I often have to just give up and go do something else. Please - <span style="color: red;">does anyone else have this problem? </span><span style="color: black;">Should I be using Firefox or Google Chrome instead? Is Blogger doing it on purpose because of the Google connection - trying to make me change to Google Chrome? I'd love to hear about your experiences and solutions regarding this!</span><br />
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Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-85742860743593612782013-09-27T07:00:00.000+01:002013-09-27T07:00:00.064+01:00The Cephalod Coffeehouse - My favourite book this monthThis is a new bloggers' 'Book Club', organised by <a href="http://armchairsquid.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/the-cephalopod-coffeehouse-september.html">The Armchair Squid.</a> The idea is that on the last Friday of each month we blog about the best book we've finished over the past month. If you'd like to be part of this, the details are <a href="http://armchairsquid.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/the-cephalopod-coffeehouse-september.html">here.</a><br />
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For me, this is a tricky one because I've already blogged about the book I've enjoyed this month - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sadie-Thing-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00BK8PN0I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380209982&sr=1-1&keywords=That+Sadie+thing">That Sadie Thing</a> by Annalisa Crawford.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/B00ABLJ2DE/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Road to Rouen" border="0" height="300" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51D29%2BoaZeL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-70,22_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="300" /></a>However, there is another book that made me laugh aloud and that was an absolute delight to read this month and that was <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-to-Rouen-ebook/dp/B00ABLJ2DE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380210061&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Road+to+Rouen+Ben+Hatch">The Road to Rouen</a> by Ben Hatch. <br />
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This is an hilarious, often painful tale of marriage, kids and a summer spent touring France so that struggling writer, Ben, can write a travel guide. I loved the dialogue - the kids are so funny - and also the honesty with which the relationship between the parents is portrayed. Needless to say, it's not all a smooth ride - in fact very little of it is! My favourite part has to be the escapade with the donkey - but if you want to know more about that, you're just going to have to read the book! And as for Ben's misadventure over the border in Spain... mind-boggling! If France, or the idea of France, seduces you, this delightful romp will charm the <em>pantalons</em> off you. This book isn't just a comedy, though. Ben examines his life so far, his motives and his relationship with his father as well as pondering on his future. There's also some back-story on the couple's lives 'pre-kids', which plumps out the characters of Ben and Dinah very effectively. I was left sympathising greatly with (long-suffering) Dinah, and longing to re-visit France. I also wanted more, because there's nothing so wonderful as an easy read that makes you laugh. Real escapism!<br />
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Please hop around now to find out about other September favourites! Here's the list:<br />
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<style type="text/css">.sl_linktable,.sl_formwrap{font-family:Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;}.sl_title{font-weight:bold;}.sl_msg{padding:5px 10px;border:1px solid #009900;background-color:#D9FFD9;padding-top:10px;</style>
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<table class="sl_linktable" id="sltable_7ac8b9da-b3fb-46e5-a89a-759ea6c065d4"><tbody>
<tr><td width="5%">1.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://armchairsquid.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">The Armchair Squid</span></a></td><td width="5%">2.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://rememberinggrace.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Remembering Grace</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">3.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.be/2013/08/reading-watching-listening-to_27.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Vanessa Morgan</span></a></td><td width="5%">4.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://twfwordstuff.blogspot.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Trisha @ WORD STUFF</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">5.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://mjfifield.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">M.J. Fifield</span></a></td><td width="5%">6.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://laussieswritingblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Denise Covey @ L'Aussie Writing</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">7.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://mycreativelyrandomlife.blogspot.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">My Creatively Random Life</span></a></td><td width="5%">8.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://subliminalcoffee.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Subliminal Coffee</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">9.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://www.therandombookreview.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">The Random Book Review</span></a></td><td width="5%">10.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://www.divinesecretsofthewritingsisterhood.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Divine Secrets of the Writing Sisterhood</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">11.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://mouldwarp.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Scouring Monk</span></a></td><td width="5%">12.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://clarissadraper.blogspot.mx/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Clarissa Draper</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">13.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://spiritcalled.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Huntress</span></a></td><td width="5%">14.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://www.mainewords.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">mainewords</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">15.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://excusemewhileinotethatdown.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Excuse Me While I Note That Down</span></a></td><td width="5%">16.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://nocestories.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Mark Noce Stories</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">17.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://strangepegs.blogspot.com/2013/09/unexpected-applause-temporary-anne.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">StrangePegs -- Temporary Anne</span></a></td><td width="5%">18.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://blueskygazing.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Blue Sky Gazing</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5%">19.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://cmock127.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">What's Up! MOCK?</span></a></td><td width="5%">20.</td><td width="45%"><a href="http://nickielson.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Nicki Elson</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Thanks for visiting!<br />
Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-42852274335972143552013-09-24T07:54:00.003+01:002013-09-24T07:54:38.339+01:00Another book recommendation<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="" height="320" id="main-image" rel="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518vymXmRAL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX342_SY445_CR,0,0,342,445_SH20_OU02_.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="245" /></div>
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Do you ever read a book on Kindle (or other reading device!) and wish it was available in paperback? Some books, you just need to hold in your hands and feel the pages. This, for me, is definitely one of them - and now my wish has come true! I've tried short story anthologies before - including those by well-known authors - and haven't been exactly blown away. I was beginning to think I wasn't really a fan of short stories until I read <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/That-Sadie-Thing-other-stories/dp/1492218855/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380004986&sr=1-1&keywords=that+sadie+thing">That Sadie Thing</a>. I admit that Annalisa Crawford is an online friend of mine, but I can - hand on heart - say that doesn't influence me. As we all know (and it's painful), we can't automatically like or endorse the writing of all our writerly friends.<br />
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Anyway, this book is packed with diverse stories about diverse relationships. The writing is expressive but unpretentious and the stories very readable. I find that they kind of bob around in my head, demanding attention after reading - Annalisa has a knack for characterisation and atmosphere - and this is a book I would return to. <br />
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I've just really enjoyed my second reading and with three bonus stories it's definitely worth buying in paperback even if you've already got it on Kindle. <br />
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Anyway, that's all! Just wanted to say this book is now available in paperback - it would make a great, inexpensive Christmas stocking-filler for someone!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by :-)Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-43622587886370394602013-09-04T20:56:00.000+01:002013-09-04T20:56:58.930+01:00IWSG SeptemberIt's still sunny here and I'm ignoring the fact that it's September and pretending it's still the middle of the summer. For once, we've had a good summer and everyone I know seems to have had their spirits lifted by it!<br />
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I'm not insecure this month, which is a nice feeling. I have a story in September's Woman's Weekly Fiction Special, another submitted and another just begun and I feel pretty chilled. I think this new, laid-back state is because I put writing on a back-burner for the summer. I spent time with my friends and family, caught up with people and didn't break myself in half trying to fit writing in around it (although I did manage to write one story.) <br />
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At the start of the summer holidays I was thinking I'd have days and days to write, but once the texts started to-ing and fro-ing and the calendar filled up, I could see that wasn't to be the case. I wrestled with the idea of putting some people off and leaving whole days free, but in the end I decided that...<br />
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GOING BY MY PAST PERFORMANCE...<br />
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I could write my novel for the 4 weeks I had free, ultimately abandon what I'd written and not have spent time with all these wonderful people. So I didn't write.<br />
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Now I'm back at school, my time is limited and I'm inspired to write again. I have come to the conclusion I like having small pockets of time to write in. Whole days are scary! Too much time to procrastinate - as most of us know!<br />
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I'm off to see how you're all getting on now! <br />
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Thanks for reading :-)Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-54329511291171282762013-08-27T07:00:00.000+01:002013-08-27T07:00:07.621+01:00Interviewing Libby HeilyIn my last post, I listed some books I've really enjoyed recently, one of which was Tough Girl by Libby Heily.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/B00AV34RE6/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link"><img alt="Tough Girl" border="0" height="300" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41nJKOyvmEL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-70,22_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSh-Pgg8GvjAlLz_lxBjSWm5dqFgtryPM58Rb0mXF_4A09fLdnDSlOojIcY4Ve5WMCsLlc3hSSw1YV11RMXG_iZMzfy8AGhGIGTio-h2KNCvQlVIc3u7I5xqMeTyjJSeg0o5ptOr_8qyOP/s1600/in_the_pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSh-Pgg8GvjAlLz_lxBjSWm5dqFgtryPM58Rb0mXF_4A09fLdnDSlOojIcY4Ve5WMCsLlc3hSSw1YV11RMXG_iZMzfy8AGhGIGTio-h2KNCvQlVIc3u7I5xqMeTyjJSeg0o5ptOr_8qyOP/s200/in_the_pink.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Tough Girl - as I've said - isn't really like anything I've read before and I couldn't put it down. I was also intrigued and wanted to know more about the author. So,without more ado, here's what I asked Libby...<br />
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<em>Was the idea for Tough Girl one you nurtured for a long time before writing the book or was it one of those ideas that springs on you from nowhere and demands to be written NOW? Did anything or anyone in particular inspire the story?</em><br />
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The idea for Tough Girl was slow to form. I read Alice in Wonderland as a kid and then did a play based on the book in high school. I loved the idea of a girl getting lost in her own dream world. It took a few years to fully develop the idea. I was also working on a screenplay about four siblings that helped their mob-boss father run a neighborhood. During a ten mile run, I realized the two stories were parts of a whole and the idea for Tough Girl was born.</div>
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<em>You self-published Tough Girl. What made you choose the self-publication route and would you self-publish again?</em></div>
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I did not shop Tough Girl around. I did, however, get advice from fellow writers who had been published. The consensus was that the market for Tough Girl was going to be limited. The main character was 11 making her too young for most YA audiences. The story was demanding but the telling was simple making the book not quite right for the average contemporary fiction reader. The thought was, if I had sold Tough Girl I would be asked to change the story to fit a market. Self-publishing meant that I got to keep control of the story, which was very important to me. Also, as a writer of plays and screenplays and short stories, I have spent an incredible amount of time submitting my work for production and publication. At the time Tough Girl was completed, I just could not rally myself for yet another round of queries.</div>
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I would definitely self-publish again. I studied film and theater and both art forms stress a DIY attitude. I'm thrilled that I'm writing novels at a time where this self-reliant streak has hit publishing. Don't get me wrong though, I would love to go the traditional route if possible.</div>
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<em>How do you write? A complete first draft, warts and all, or do you edit as you go along?</em></div>
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<em></em><br />
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I've developed my own process over the years. I write sketches of scenes, bits of dialogue, and develop the idea by hand in a notebook. I then do a plot outline and write character journals for the main characters. I then redo the plot outline and start the first draft. I edit a bit as I go along but I have come to accept that my first drafts are going to be atrocious. The second draft is where I begin to concentrate on editing.<br />
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If I'm writing a play or screenplay, I usually do 10+ drafts. Tough Girl took 4 full drafts, several rounds of editing, and 2.5 years to finish. </div>
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<em> </em></div>
<div>
<em>What are you working on now?</em></div>
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Right now I am working on two novels. One is soft science fiction, the other is contemporary fiction set in a non-realistic reality. I am also developing an idea for a screenplay that I'm pretty excited about. </div>
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<em>I love the sound of a non-realistic reality!</em></div>
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<em>Have you published any other books/been published elsewhere?</em></div>
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I have had several short stories published including one that was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. I also released a collection of short stories called "Fourth Degree Freedom". My new collection of short stories will be published in September. This one is called "The Victory Rule".</div>
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<em>Because I'm very nosey, what is your workspace like?</em> </div>
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My workspace is teeny, just how I like it. I have a small computer nook in our apartment which I have filled with art, notebooks, and pens. I would supply a photo, but I would be a touch embarrassed for the world to know how messy my workspace gets.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<em>Do you write full-time or juggle it with a day-job?</em></div>
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<br />
<div>
I go back and forth. I have worked full-time, part-time and no-time in the past 5 years. I love not having a day-job so I can focus on writing, reading and life, but sometimes the bills require employment.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div>
<em>What jobs have you had in the past and which was your favourite?</em></div>
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</div>
<div>
I have kind of bounced around employment wise. I have been a waitress, a barista, a videographer, a call center customer service representative, and a customer care support person for academic publishing. Being a videographer was fun because I got to be somewhat creative and the CSR position in academic publishing was wonderful because I could listen to audiobooks all day while I worked.</div>
<br />
<br />
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<em>And finally, three things about yourself?</em></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
Three Things:<br />
<br />
One - I can spin a basketball on every finger of my right hand including my thumb and pinky</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377507817571_6762">
Two - I love rainy days, especially if I have the day off and can curl up on the couch with a book or a movie</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377507817571_6761">
Three - I love to buy stickers, but I'm never quite sure where to stick them!</div>
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</div>
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<em>I can identify the stickers thing - I've walked wistfully past pretty stickers so many times!</em></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div>
Thanks so much, Libby, for the interview. That's satiated my curiosity! Links for Tough Girl are below and you can find Libby's blog <a href="http://libbyheily.blogspot.com/">here.</a><br />
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tough-Girl-ebook/dp/B00AV34RE6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377511448&sr=1-1&keywords=Tough+Girl+by+Libby+Heily">Amazon UK</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Tough%20Girl%20Libby%20Heily">Amazon.com</a></div>
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</div>
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And here's the blurb:</div>
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</div>
<div>
Danger lurks everywhere in eleven year old Reggie's world—from the bully next door to the unwanted attentions of a creep at school. Raised by her mentally ill mother, Reggie is left to fend for herself in a rough neighbourhood. She escapes in daydreams, battling aliens with her alter ego, Tough Girl. When Reggie's mother disappears, her fantasy life spirals out of control and starts to invade reality. She is hunted by a creature of her own design, and even Tough Girl is not strong enough to stop him. Will Reggie survive long enough for her mother to return, or will her dream world take over? Contains adult themes and adult language.</div>
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</div>
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</div>
Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-79716373878043790332013-08-16T14:42:00.000+01:002013-08-16T14:42:29.961+01:00Falling back in love with readingIf you read my IWSG post this month, you might remember that I have returned from holiday exhausted from all the relaxation and don't feel at all like writing...<br />
<br />
This situation has an upside which is that I have got back into reading, for which I never seem to have enough time, and have even been managing to read without the persistently wandering mind that usually afflicts me!<br />
<br />
I don't like picking books apart and analysing them, but I do know what I've enjoyed and I thought I'd just share a few with you now. These are all books I have not wanted to put down and was sorry to finish (sob).<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>So Much For That</strong> by Lionel Shriver<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/So-Much-for-That-ebook/dp/B003B5M0V8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376659639&sr=1-1&keywords=so+much+for+that+lionel+shriver"><img alt="Product Details" class="productImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ifTqAb8yL._SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU02_AA160_.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong>Gone Girl</strong> by Gillian Flynn<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gone-Girl-ebook/dp/B007ZXK08C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376659693&sr=1-1&keywords=girl+gone+gillian+flynn"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gone-Girl-ebook/dp/B007ZXK08C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376659693&sr=1-1&keywords=girl+gone+gillian+flynn"><img alt="Product Details" class="productImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Lg22K3ViL._SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU02_AA160_.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong>Belong to Me </strong>by Marisa de los Santos<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belong-Me-Novel-ebook/dp/B0015DTUMU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376659736&sr=1-1&keywords=Belong+to+me+Marisa+de+los+santos"><img alt="Product Details" class="productImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cFKZYNqDL._SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU02_AA160_.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong>Tough Girl</strong> by Libby Heily<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tough-Girl-ebook/dp/B00AV34RE6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376659959&sr=1-1&keywords=Tough+Girl+Libby+Heily"><img alt="Product Details" class="productImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YF4i3ujHL._SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU02_AA160_.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
I'm not going to give you the low-down on them because you can find them in your bookshop or on Amazon and read the blurb. All I want to say is that I really enjoyed them for various reasons. Each is unusual in its style and content and to me were like a breath of fresh air. They also stopped my mind from wandering - and that says a lot!<br />
<br />
If you've already read any of them, I'd love to know what you thought!<br />
Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-7115852952092927542013-08-07T13:31:00.002+01:002013-08-07T13:31:51.699+01:00IWSG August - Taking a BreakIt's the summer, it's August, no work for me and plenty of time to sit and write... <br />
<br />
The trouble is I don't really want to! <br />
<br />
Before school finished (I'm a teaching assistant) I planned to come back from an idyllic two weeks on Zakynthos and keep my calendar clear so that I could spend whole days of the remaining four weeks doing what I wanted - writing. <br />
<br />
Nah.<br />
<br />
My brain won't work. I spent my holiday feeling jittery as though I should be doing something else (writing?!) and I'm not sure that I like that feeling.<br />
<br />
I have so many friends and family trying to catch up with me while I'm off work that even the thought of juggling serious writing and socialising makes me hyperventilate. <br />
<br />
I am feeling trapped by my hopes, dreams and ambitions - and a little voice inside me is saying make the most of people while they are still around to enjoy (especially aging parents). I'm sick of feeling pulled in so many directions, the main pull being towards the laptop.<br />
<br />
Will I write something this holiday? Maybe. Maybe not. The novel is there, in my head, but to be honest it could stay there ripening for another couple of years. I'm not sure the time is right. Maybe I'll go back to writing the occasional short story when the inspiration strikes, and give myself a break.<br />
<br />
It's not good to be laying on a sunbed jangling because you've forgotten how to relax. I can't even read without my mind wandering. Time for something to change, I think.<br />
<br />
Thanks for listening to my inner turmoil. <br />
<br />
Hope you're not feeling too insecure - I'll be hopping around to find out!<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks as always to <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html"><span style="color: #992211;">Alex J Cavanaugh</span></a> for starting this group. You can find the full list on his blog but I'm not pasting it here because it gets longer all the time!Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-84389990363418086092013-07-03T18:06:00.000+01:002013-07-03T18:06:27.586+01:00IWSG July - Drowning a little!OMG how can it be July already, blah, blah, blah. I have no idea how these first Wednesdays come around so quickly! I'm glad they do, though, because it's the one time in the month I can really make time to hop around and say hi - and I'm so glad that people do the same for me!<br />
<br />
On with the insecure stuff...<br />
<br />
Firstly, I have no excuse to feel insecure because I had a long-short accepted by Woman's Weekly which buoyed me up no end!<br />
<br />
However (and yes, there has to be one of those)... I've lost my way with the novel. It wasn't flowing - I felt as though I was wading through mud. My characters weren't speaking to me and - I don't know - I think I wasn't feeling it. I also began to worry that what I was writing wasn't original enough - but I think I've got myself over that one. The result is that I have now started AGAIN - having said I was going to plough through to the end come what may. I've started differently and the main characters are different - for both my modern day and time-slip parts. <br />
<br />
I'm more excited about it now, but my day job is so busy at the moment that I can't seem to find the energy to write. I feel drained of all creativity (probably because I'm using it all on a Year 6 production of School of Rock and, believe me, those kids know how to drain...) I think the teacher and I are going to have to get up there and perform it for them.<br />
<br />
Anyway, a lovely two weeks in Zakynthos are looming at the end of the month when I will recharge my batteries. I hope to come back here on the first Wednesday of August raring to go.<br />
<br />
How are you doing? I'll be popping along to find out.<br />
<br />
Thanks for being here!<br />
<br />
And...<br />
<br />
Thanks as always to <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html"><span style="color: #992211;">Alex J Cavanaugh</span></a> for starting this group. You can find the full list on his blog but I'm not pasting it here because it gets longer all the time! Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8136071877690262531.post-88030069169236468072013-06-17T18:30:00.002+01:002013-06-17T18:30:34.125+01:00PAIN IN THE BOOK!I'm a flitter. I have always known this. The trouble is, I don't think being a flitter is a particularly good attribute when trying to write a novel.<br />
<br />
I was enjoying writing my novel but then the call of the short story came again and I meandered from the path. Now, darn it, having wandered back to the novel, I want to change the character in my time-slip part to a servant instead of a lady! I guess it was distance from the project that made me think differently - and I have to agree with myself that this would make it better and introduce some other angles - but what a PAIN!<br />
<br />
So, here I go again, revising and rewriting what I thought was just going to be a first draft. <br />
<br />
Ah well, it keeps me busy.<br />
<br />
How are you all getting on?<br />
Linda Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.com17