tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43879778981828178072024-03-13T05:34:43.237-07:00The Coffee Stained ManuscriptThe Coffee Stained Manuscript follows Marissa de Luna through her writing highs and lows as well as exploring writing tips, getting published and marketing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.comBlogger271125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-87481246308546129462019-03-16T12:54:00.001-07:002019-03-16T12:55:54.134-07:00Writing with Imposter Syndrome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Imposter syndrome - You may have read about this recently in the press as it has been featured quite a bit in various articles lately. It's a real phenomena and from what I've read it mostly affects women. Wiki defines this syndrome as <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It may sound a bit random to you, perhaps a little new-age. I would have probably dismissed it ten years ago, but actually it does make sense! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">For example I never really think of myself as an author - despite my author website and self-promotion and author branding (this blog is proof of that) I don't actually think of myself as a legitimate author and why is that? I'm not hugely successful as a writer if you compare me to the best-sellers but I am commercially successful. And thinking about it, do you have to be commercially successful to legitimise your profession - especially when you work in the arts? Surely not. Yet sometimes, nearly always, we need commercial success to validate our passion and career - it's why some people exaggerate their salary - because they feel their earnings are a reflection of their worth.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">My author career, in a nutshell, is as follows: </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">6 published novels ( two of which were taken on by Independent publishers the rest self-published) - which are making a profit. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Several articles about my books published in local publications</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two author interviews for websites/newsletters</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Presenting a talk at a local library and being asked to talk ( and doing so) at a local Literature and arts festival </span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Membership to the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers Association, both of which have their entry criteria. The latter only accepting authors that have been traditionally published (with your publisher having to be on their list). </span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A writing blog</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">If someone I knew told me the above about themselves I think I would be in awe. It's my author career and yet I continue to refer to it as just a hobby, when I know I would like it to be more (Perhaps if I didn't keep referring to my writing as just a hobby I would be able to step up a gear - am I limiting myself by continually saying 'it's just a hobby' - that's another blog post in itself!) So why do I feel a little like an imposter? Why do I continue to think I am not a legitimate author?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Starting my journey with self publishing may have had something to do with it. Self-publishing doesn't make you a pariah as it did before but s</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">elf-publishing is still stigmatised - probably more so by writers than readers who don't give a second glance to the publisher of the book they are reading. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Or it could be because I have a fixed idea in my mind as to what a successful author looks like - before I was offered a publishing contract, it was someone who had been offered a contract - no matter how fruitful. When I listened to a local author speaking at our local lit festival I said to myself that if I ever got approached with something similar then I would know that I'm a legitimate author. Well that day came and went and still I question myself. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">So I know my goals are continually moving - like goals should, but what do I now want to achieve to legitimise this 'hobby' of mine? A new book deal with an established publisher, paperbacks regularly stocked in physical bookstores, shelf space at airport bookshops... maybe even some window space at my local Waterstones.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I, like most authors, need to stop and reflect how far we've come with our writing. But on the other hand perhaps a bit of imposter syndrome is good - I have new goals, goals which will motivate me to work harder, do better and keep at it... A writer doesn't quit... and maybe that's it - maybe it's just my determination that makes me a legitimate author. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-29357065384705138942019-03-15T03:47:00.000-07:002019-03-15T03:47:24.146-07:00Writing is an exploration...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go. - E L Doctorow<br />
<br />
I mentioned in my previous post that in the near future I would be looking to go down the traditional publishing route again. If you are not familiar with my writing history I have had two books published by Indie publishers and the rest I have self published. I can't give the two Indie Publishers great reviews but the first did open some doors to me because, let's face it self-publishing is still stigmatised; not as much as it was when I started self-publishing as books like The Martian and Still Alice have proved there is not much wrong with it!<br />
<br />
I then gave up with going down the trad route because my self-pubbed titles were doing quite well (better than the Indie published books), but now I'm thinking of looking into this route again. Why? because self publishing is hard work and so is the marketing element. Having some support with this would be a good thing, I previously said I wouldn't look at Indie Publishers again. However, I think I would moving forward - not all, just a select few with a proven track record. I'm not being pricey (well I am a little) but I feel I have earned it . Some get great write-ups and do quite a bit for their authors which is what I want and what I'm going to go for. I'm also going to look at publishers like <a href="http://www.bookouture.com/" target="_blank">Bookouture </a>- digital publishers from the big publishing houses that publish some great authors and I will consider the tradition publishers as well - but they mostly require agents and I'm not sure if I want to go down that road again.<br />
<br />
However, this is all in the future. The Chupplejeep series will still be self-published, but my new Shilpa Solanki series is the one I will be approaching agents with. The issue is that I need to write the book first! My son has just decided he no longer wants an afternoon nap so when I am going to write this book I have no idea... but I will find the time somewhere. Maybe after the house move!<br />
<br />
In the interim I came across a self-publishing advice page that rates Indie Publishers. You can see their list here: <a href="https://selfpublishingadvice.org/allis-self-publishing-service-directory/self-publishing-service-reviews/">https://selfpublishingadvice.org/allis-self-publishing-service-directory/self-publishing-service-reviews/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-17903844513926630792019-02-09T11:08:00.001-08:002019-02-09T11:08:35.907-08:00An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail - Edwin Land<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail - Edwin Land<br />
<br />
There has been quite a bit in the press and of course social media about wellbeing. Last year's mindfulness is this years self-love. Everyone is jumping on the wellbeing bandwagon. I am all for wellbeing and it's great to see the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers Association talking about this hot topic. It needs to be talked about to make people more aware of it. Mental health issues are so important especially when social media is making most of us introverts. On-line chat instead of having to call someone (for anything from ordering a takeaway to finding out about a computer from a store) means we have less social interaction. So many companies are now encouraging staff to work from home (which is great in my opinion) but again reducing the interaction we as humans need.<br />
<br />
If you write full time you'll know that writing is a lonely profession. Of course there are writing groups and author events where you can socialise, chatting with your editor or publishing personnel, but there is little workplace banter because your workplace is most likely to be in your home. I work part-time and love the interaction I have with my colleagues. I still get my work done so it's a win-win situation. Writing is different though. I need silence to write. I can't have interaction and office banter to do this and (pre-child) I realised that sometimes when I had a day or an evening to myself hours would pass without me uttering a word. So it's important that we talk about wellbeing.<br />
<br />
It's not just the loneliness we writers need to be wary of. It's the juggling we have to do as well (our own doing, but nevertheless). Most writers have a full time or part time job and they may be a parent (I've recently found out just how difficult it is to manage a part time job, write a book and bring up a toddler). So what do we writers do to look after our wellbeing?<br />
<br />
I could write at length about crystal therapy, colour therapy, yoga, pranayama and meditation -– all things that I've tried and can honestly say they work, but this is a writing blog so I'll stick to that. Something I have started doing recently is free writing. I've blogged before about free writing as therapy, but since having my son my sleep patterns have been disturbed and sometimes I wake at 2:00am for no rhyme or reason and just can't get back to sleep. I start thinking of all sorts of problems, or not-problems which I turn into problems. To stop doing this I have started a journal before bed for free writing - If you don't know what free writing is, it's just putting pen to paper and writing anything that comes to mind without lifting you pen of the page. This can often help with writers block, but also for me it helps clear the mind. Sometimes my garbled writing turns into some focused thoughts, sometimes maybe even a plot idea, but generally it's garbled. I find it clears the mind and helps me sleep better.<br />
<br />
I also make a list of all the things I need to do the following day and sometimes write out an energy log (three things that sapped my energy and three things that gave me energy that day- its a good way to see what you need to cut out and create more of in your life!) and I end it all with a thought for the day. I find this final thought always centres around being grateful. What I've learned in the last decade is that you need two things for happiness - A sense of purpose and gratitude. If I teach my son one thing, it will be that.<br />
<br />
Whatever it is you do to look after your wellbeing make sure you do it regularly... we writers need to keep our energy levels up so we can do everything we need to do and then write, write, write!<br />
<br />
This week I have just finished reading Lisa Jewell's Watching you. A great author and a great read. I gave it five stars!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-32779973691304014932019-01-07T08:05:00.003-08:002019-01-13T12:00:13.714-08:00Writers aren’t people exactly. Or, if they’re any good, they’re a whole lot of people trying so hard to be one person.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">“Writers aren’t people exactly. Or, if they’re any good, they’re a whole lot of people trying so hard to be one person.” - F Scott Fitzgerald</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">So about a year or so ago I gave up on this blog. After becoming a mum I didn't think that this blog was 'me' anymore. I wanted a place where I could not only express my writing but life as a new mum as well and so I started a new blog to do just that . It was called Writing and Weetabix - reasons for the name explained on the blog itself, but Weetabix was basically my life back then - mainly cleaning it off the high chair. The blog started well but quickly fizzled out and now my son is nearly two I feel like the 'old writer me' is back. Well it's a good job I didn't delete this blog entirely (probably because I didn't know how). </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">So what have I been doing in this two year interlude? Well you can have a look at some of my posts on Writing and Weetabix, but in a nutshell I've been bringing up a small person, working on the third Chupplejeep book (<i>Jackpot Jetty)</i> - which I have just published (Hurrah! you can buy it <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jackpot-Jetty-Chupplejeep-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LDWMNKJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546876385&sr=8-1&keywords=Jackpot+Jetty" target="_blank">here</a> - yes that was a sneaky book plug but you can't blame me) and I have an idea for a new series. Another cosy crime series set in Devon with a young Indian Miss Marple type sleuth. That's all I can say for now but I am super excited about it. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Along with the above we have taken on a massive renovation project and will shortly be moving house...so I decided to take a break from writing. It's great in one sense as with returning to work part time (three days) means I can concentrate on making sweet potato chips and healthy meals for N (said son) and look longingly at my mood boards deciding which fabrics match (I have zero idea about home furnishing and actually quite dislike it). As fun as this is, I am clearly itching to write... hence the return to my trusty old blog. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The fourth book in the Chupplejeep series isn't going to write itself ( </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">Murder in the Monsoon</i><span style="font-size: 14px;"> is the working title and I already have the plot written!) and the first in my new Shilpa Solanki Series (</span><i style="font-size: 14px;">Sweet Murder </i><span style="font-size: 14px;">is the working title) is not going to write itself either</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">. The good news is that in the new house we will have a study! I can't wait after having to give up my study to make way for N's arrival. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I'm hoping to take this year to do a bit more marketing and promoting of my books. I haven't done any in ages and feel like I have really lost touch with it all (so easy to lose touch when technology and social media is moving at a million miles per hour). I want to read and re-read some books on improving my writing and perhaps do a course on polishing and editing (my punctuation still sucks!). </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">So that's the plan for this year and I will let you know how I get on with my new endeavours. I'm also hoping to look at the traditional route of publishing again with my new series. The publishing world has also moved (with the big players having imprints to focus on ebook and audible like Hatchette's Bookouture) on since the last time I looked at this route. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">So that's it. I'm back. I can't guarantee regular posts, not with all that is going on but I am here! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Ooooh and I have been doing lots of reading. You can find me on Goodreads to see just what books I have been reading. At the moment I am reading The Maid's Room by Fiona Mitchell and loving it! </span></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-83467383888400973122018-01-12T06:08:00.000-08:002018-01-12T06:08:35.005-08:00One last post! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't blogged in a long while - a year to be exact. A new baby has changed my priorities and this blog didn't make the list! I am still writing though - I have written the first draft of <i>Jackpot Jetty </i>the next instalment in the Chupplejeep series. I only finished the draft because I haven't been blogging!!!<br />
<br />
I started this blog when I first started writing. I have received some lovely feedback and I feel that this blog has helped me become the writer I am today. I have shared my writing highs and lows and my experience with my followers and have enjoyed every minute of it.<br />
<br />
However, I feel this blog has come to a natural end and so this is a final post to say just that. But my blogging days are not over just yet. I have started a new blog <a href="https://writingandweetabix.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Writing and Weetabix</a> which will continue to follow my journey. This blog will be different to The Coffee Stained Manuscript though as it will not only follow my writing highs and lows but it will also follow the ups and downs of being a new mum. I could have kept The Coffee Stained Manuscript going but I felt it was time for a change. This new blog probably won't appeal to all my existing followers but take a look and if it does please do follow me at my new home. <br />
<br />
Thank you for reading my writing rants and following my journey! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-56736637922141563782017-01-02T00:07:00.001-08:002017-01-02T00:07:28.291-08:00New Year - New writing! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy New Year! I'm sure you've seen all those New Year inspirational quotes already telling you to start something new, perhaps go on a new adventure - so I won't bore you with all that.<br />
<br />
January is generally a depressing month - ice scraping the car featuring more this month than most. We all have resolutions and writers will have writing resolutions. I know I always do. This year I can't promise to blog more or write more - what I can promise is that I will be writing something new and hoping to get a couple of drafts done for titles that will appear in the next couple of years. Writing is a long process isn't it? A labour of love.<br />
<br />
Last year I removed <i>Goa Traffic</i> from sale - in that I asked Authorhouse to stop selling it. Copies are available if stores still have stock, but otherwise just my kindle version will be out there. It's a title that is still selling but if you are a regular reader of this blog you'll know that I have had some internal issues with the book and at this point I felt it was the right time to withdraw it from sale in paperback form. Just having the kindle version available gives me total autonomy of the title and I can unpublished this at any time. It felt good making this decision (after I deliberated for about two years), but I felt with the launch of <i>The Body in the Bath</i> it was the right time for me to pull the plug.<br />
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Book sales - Why are they so complicated? Sales for <i>The Body in the Bath</i> and <i>Under the Coconut Tree </i>are going well. Better than I could have imagined (especially given the limited publicity for <i>The Body in the Bath </i>and the fact it only has two reviews so far!). However, from speaking to my publisher sales for <i>Poison in the Water</i> are not going as well and I'm not sure why. From <i>The Body in the Bath</i> sales I would have said I have a bit of a following, but perhaps this is just for books set in Goa and the fact that these books are part of a series?! I don't know. The world of book sales is hugely complicated. And at the moment I don't have the time or the energy to look into this further. I know this makes me a terrible author - because these days an author has to do all these things - we need to know our target markets. Being lazy will get you nowhere in this business which brings me to my topic for the week - is writing a hobby or a business?<br />
<br />
That's the funny thing with my writing and I'm sure for quite a few authors out there. It is a hobby. If you are a writer you'll know that you have to keep writing - it's a compulsion and you need to do it to feel sane. But I have been lucky enough to turn the majority of my books into a commercial success ( which I define as making money from them) therefore they have become a business as well - that and the fact I have to fill out a self- assessment tax return (grrr). But surely this is a good thing. As a writer I want people to read and enjoy my books - providing a bit of escapism for when readers need it most. But I can't say that I am doing the whole business side of authoring well. I did with GT in the beginning and this probably paid off because it has done extremely well commercially- or was it because it was easier back then when self publishing was relatively new?<br />
<br />
I now find that with each title published that I can't muster the energy that I had with that first book to plug away, spam people so that they know about the title. I feel as if I am repeating myself, boring people by telling them to buy my books. I need to get back to it and find the energy from somewhere for this hobby turned business. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-54146893930232348612016-12-06T04:37:00.000-08:002019-01-07T08:17:39.684-08:00Author Interview - The Body in the Bath: A Chupplejeep Mystery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NoIHVBS0Fv4Re6jC_eOQh-oK0m91SFO0CZ6u0Y5yxC6jOj86b_e4fZQqs5oKtemS4AauCILmGX1Ej6DBU01eiAt3FPTh-RqTmLAfvO2J9d9MrEF96ykCdj8gpL3bO7pPgQrqQNUBqMhA/s1600/Body+in+the+bath+eBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NoIHVBS0Fv4Re6jC_eOQh-oK0m91SFO0CZ6u0Y5yxC6jOj86b_e4fZQqs5oKtemS4AauCILmGX1Ej6DBU01eiAt3FPTh-RqTmLAfvO2J9d9MrEF96ykCdj8gpL3bO7pPgQrqQNUBqMhA/s200/Body+in+the+bath+eBook.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We’re all excited about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Body in the Bath</i> the latest book in
the Chupplejeep Mystery Series. What’s this one about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The body of an
actress is found in a bath of a boutique hotel in rural Goa. The death appears to be a suicide, but closer inspection suggests foul play! Detective
Chupplejeep is called to investigate and in doing so unearths a plethora of
secrets from the troubled actress’s past. Suspects are rounded up and motives are aplenty. It’s a complicated case with a sinister
twist. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The first book in the series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Under the Coconut Tree</i>, introduced us to
the main characters and a mysterious case for Detective Chupplejeep and Officer
Pankaj to solve. Will readers have to have read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Under the Coconut Tree</i> before they read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Body in the Bath?</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Absolutely
not! Although the Body in the Bath is part of a series and you can see the main
characters develop through the novels, each book is stand alone and so they
don’t have to be read in sequence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Did you always want to write a
cosy crime series?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I never
set out to write one, but the idea came to me while I was visiting my
father’s ancestral home in rural Goa and it was too good an idea to pass up.
The exotic charm of rural Goa, the flavours, the sounds and the sights inspired
me while I was there and it was too good an opportunity to pass up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chupplejeep series is written in a
similar vein of the No. 1 Ladies Detective agency by Alexander McCall Smith.
I’m glad that I went down this route – although writing a series does have its
challenges! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can you tell us a little more
about the challenges of writing a series?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Continuity can be a
problem, and once a book has been published you can’t go back to make big
changes to main characters or continuing story lines the characters have. You
have to work with the back stories and locations you have given your characters
at the outset. However, on saying that there is something magical about writing
a series. Through the various scenarios your main characters find themselves in
you begin to learn more about them, they really develop as people and you get
attached to them (a little like imaginary friends for grown-ups!).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You grew up in Goa. How have your experiences influenced your writing? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Chupplejeep Mysteries are set
in modern day Goa, but they often refer to things from my past such as Star
TV, which is still available but on Tata Sky. Chicklets, another little
addition – I’m not sure if you get this chewing gum there anymore, but you
certainly did when I was growing up. I like adding little touches like that
which are personal to me and from a time when I was growing up in Goa. I still
try to visit Goa once a year so I have seen it change over the years. There has
recently been a resurgence in the rural villages and people are moving away
from the hustle and bustle of the beaches. The village which inspired the
series is definitely rural but development is now dominant. There is talk of a hotel and an art school in neighbouring
villages (the idea of which influenced Advani’s art school in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Body in the Bath</i>). I have
tried to capture the old and the new Goa in my books. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I love the characters in the Chupplejeep Mysteries.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Who is your favourite character
and why? <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In <em>The
Body in the Bath</em> my favourite character is Advani, the flamboyant artist with a
dark secret. He is eccentric and can be described as a bit brutal to his art
students and the people he works with. However, there is a loving side to him –
he has just hidden it well. I won’t say too much though as I don’t want to
anything away!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know
you said one character, but I have to mention Christabel, Chupplejeep’s
girlfriend, because she is also a favourite and features in both books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has definitely developed over the two
books and has come into her own. She has the usual insecurities many of us
women have, albeit a little exaggerated, and she has the biggest heart. She
also loves her food and has dreams she is determined to make happen! I love her
spirit and her sometimes sneaky ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">What next?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am working on the third book in
the Chupplejeep Mysteries. The working title is <i>Jackpot Jetty</i>.
Chupplejeep takes a well deserved break and visits a lake house for a bit of
R&R, but his peaceful stay quickly comes to an end when a body is
discovered in a wooden boat on the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m also working on a thriller called <i>Splinter </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">which is set in England</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Body in the Bath</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> is available now in <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Bath-Chupplejeep-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B01MXEW3WB/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481026333&sr=1-2&keywords=the+body+in+the+bath" target="_blank">e-book</a> and
in <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Bath-Chupplejeep-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/1540340473/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481026333&sr=1-6&keywords=the+body+in+the+bath" target="_blank">paperback</a>. Marissa de Luna is an author with a
passion for travel and adventure. <i>The Body in the Bath </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is her fifth novel. For more information see </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.marissadeluna.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">www.marissadeluna.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-18563448318219052252016-11-11T04:41:00.000-08:002016-11-11T04:41:30.601-08:00My Writing Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And so it’s
nearly here - d-day to publishing my fifth novel – <em>The Body in the Bath</em>. Back in
2008 when I started writing, if you told me I’m be on my fifth publication in
2016 I’d have laughed. Don’t get me wrong I would be hopeful and determined
(I’m always determined) to reach that target, but I would still have laughed. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Writing for
me started as a hobby, a pass time, turned in to a little business and now has
reverted back to a hobby. A hobby that pays me. I do have a full time job, so
many people I meet ask if writing is my full time profession, but it’s not. I
work full time as a project manager in property development for a housing
association and I love what I do. Writing is just a nice little side line that
keeps me sane and if you’re a writer you will know that once you start writing
you can’t stop. It’s something that is in your blood. To stop would be a big
ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So as I get
ready to release the <em>Body in the Bath</em> this Sunday the 13<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> November
(as an e-book – paperback to follow soon after) - I thought it would be a good
time to take a moment and reflect over my writing journey. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I started
I didn’t really know what I was doing I just wanted to write, I self-published
my first book – perhaps too hastily as looking back on that first novel I’m not
entirely happy with it. Obviously I was at the time or I wouldn’t have
published it! And it taught me so much: How to self-publish (before the days of
Scrivener), the joys of 5* and the pain of 1* reviews, finding a glaring error
five years after publication and how to deal with it. The commercial success of
the book (it has sold the most copies of any book I have published). It has
enabled me to keep writing knowing that I’m making a profit and it was this
commercial success which planted the seed that is now <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Chupplejeep Mysteries</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But mostly without the publication of the first, I wouldn’t have produced
any of my other work – all of which I am proud of. So my advice to anyone who
has written a book and is scared of getting it out there, or even someone who
is thinking about writing is to just get on with it and do it. Why not? What
have you got to lose – as a writer friend wrote in her recent guest post on my
blog – no one ever died from writing a book – so what have you got to lose. Yes
you are scared of 1* reviews, but trust me you will learn more from them then
the 5* ones and much more than from your manuscript sitting in a drawer. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Joining a
writing group too has done my writing wonders. I don’t take stuff to read every
week – In fact I rarely do these days – just the first chapters – but listening
to critique and critiquing has been valuable. In the first couple of years
after I joined I read out quite a bit as well and the feedback was just what I
needed to fix those issues with my writing that I just couldn’t see. What has
been really helpful though is the sub-writing group that I’m in where we critique
full manuscripts. Three of my books (the last three) have been critiqued and
the feedback has been invaluable. The editors I have worked with have commented
(in a positive way) about my plot lines relatively free of gaping holes and I
put this down to the critique. So that is my other tip – join a writing group
and not a loving one. We are not loving – we tell it like it is. Of course you
want to hear that your writing is fab but that isn’t going to improve your
writing. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It isn’t just
writing groups that are helpful. I’ve read countless books on punctuation
(believe it or not they have improved my punctuation – but I’m still not great)
and a couple on novel writing. I have stacks of information and books on
forensics and on trees and birds of Goa (for Chupplejeep research). I probably
know more Konkani (native language of Goa) than I have ever known. Reading
general novels as well as been a help – sometimes an inspiration, but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mostly light relief and being able to
appreciate some amazing authors. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So after the
steep learning curve of the first book, I signed up to an indie publisher for
the second – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bittersweet Vine</i> -
and although I don’t see much of a return from this book, it has opened doors
for me. I’m now a member of the Society of Authors and more recently the Crime
Writers Association. Two prestigious and fantastic societies I am proud to be
part of. And I did learn from my publishing experience. I signed to another
small press for my fourth book – Poison in the Water and the experience was
better. I’m not sure what the sales have been like but again I’m not expecting
much. The beauty of Indie publishing is learning from other publishers - that
and not having to pay for the publication. It keeps my profit and loss account
looking healthy (that business degree of mine is coming in handy!), but long
term it isn’t the best financial decision as my self published books make more
of a profit. I’ve realised though I like having the mix. Self publishing is
hard work and having someone else worry about the cover, the editing and the
actual publication is a welcome change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My third book
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Under the Coconut Tree</i> was by far (I
think) my best work. I think by book three I had honed my skill and with
Chupplejeep I found a niche I’m comfortable and confident in. It is cosy crime
so not to everyone’s liking. I know people who loved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bittersweet Vine</i> didn’t really take to Chupplejeep. I do love
writing thrillers and my fourth book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poison
in the Water</i>, although marketed as a romantic suspense novel, I think is
more of a hybrid between thriller and romantic suspense. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chupplejeep
is a series and book 5 – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Body in the
Bath</i> is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Chupplejeep Mystery</i>!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So that’s it.
My writing career in a nutshell. It has been an interesting 8 years and it has
flown by. My advice to you is that if you are thinking of starting a book…just
do it – what have you got to lose?!</span> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-60405183485534940792016-10-12T05:47:00.001-07:002016-10-12T05:47:06.795-07:00We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master - Ernest Hemmingway</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I thought it was about time that I put a blog post up - it has been a while, hasn't it. But I haven't just been watching Netflix - well I have watched quite a bit, but that's not it. I have been busy putting the final touches on the long awaited follow up to <i>Under the Coconut Tree</i>, <i>The Body in the Bath.</i> I am sure you are all eagerly awaiting to find out whether Chupplejeep will make it to Kerala and whether he will propose to Christabel. I have to admit in writing <i>The Body in the Bath</i> Christabel has really worked as a character for me. I would go as far as saying she is my favourite character. I love writing about her and what goes on in her mind - her ideals of marriage and a happy family, her difficult and condescending mother and her reluctant and commitment phone boyfriend. She really does put a smile on my face. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Another great character in The Body in the Bath is Advani - a flamboyant artist with a secret to hide. Well, everyone in The Body in the Bath seems to be hiding secrets. And then of course there is my beloved Pankaj - Chupplejeep's sidekick and hopeless romantic. We last saw him pursuing (well trying to pursue) his love interest Shwettika. Will he pick up the courage to ask her out? Spoiler alert - he does! But I won't tell you what happens on their date... </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The book is still with my editor, but I'm hoping it will be out (in Kindle at least) by the end of the year. Hurrah! finally. I don't generally like publishing more than one book a year and Poison in the Water was out in May, but this year I will make an exception - then there may be a lull before the next one is out. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And what of the next one? Well there is definitely another Chupplejeep on the way. I know I previously said that the last first draft I wrote was in 2013 - well as you know (if you're a regular reader) I have started writing two other books - A Chupplejeep Mystery called Jackpot Jetty - I have some fantastic ideas for the front cover and another thriller - that seems to be more challenging to write - It's currently called Splinter - which on reflection is a terrible name so I need to change it. Drowning in Secrets is a contender - but it needs more work. I am struggling with the book as much as I am struggling with the name. Jackpot Jetty on the other hand is coming together nicely. But I have stopped myself from writing anymore on the book - I need a breather from Chupplejeep or they will all sound the same - I need time to come up with some fresh ideas for the characters and me me that involves mulling them over. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So that's about it - I'm hoping to do an author interview for <i>The Body in the Bath</i> so watch this space I'll certainly post it here. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the meantime I will carry on reading. I seem to be reading more than I am writing at the moment. I recently read The Lake House by Kate Moreton and Sleep tight by Rachel Abbot and I have just finished The Widow by Fiona Barton (the next Girl on the Train they said - but I can't say that it was) Nevertheless they have all been good reads. The current book I'm reading is <i>Addition</i> by Toni Jordan. Not something I would normally pick up, but I am glad I did. It was a choice for a work book club I have started and although the internal monologue grated on me at first, I am now thoroughly enjoying it. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-9784571121299913752016-08-26T05:09:00.001-07:002016-08-26T05:09:15.775-07:00Mia Culpa! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> It's my fault I haven't blogged in yonks. If you scroll back far enough on this blog, you will see from my social media in a nutshell post that you must blog little and often.... clearly I don't practice what I preach. But let's not dwell on the past. This is about today, the present and what I'm doing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Being lazy that is what I have been doing. I have plodded on with my new thriller - Splinter, up to 30,000 and I am happier about the shape that it currently is in. I am glad I persevered with the project but it still needs work. I have also just finished the final edit of the Body in the Bath - the next Chupplejeep instalment. Hurrah!!!! So it should be out by the end of the year. Just one more read through and then it's off to the editor. Then another final read through and boom. It's done. I still love the front cover and can't recommend JD&J enough for their book cover designs. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And what of my published books? Well I am still toying with taking down the print book for Goa Traffic. It's not selling as well as before and the mistake in the print book cant be rectified. I think by the end of the year I will pull it down and leave the ebook up for now. The Bittersweet Vine - well that appears not to be available as an ebook anymore which I have taken up with the publishers. Not happy about it but my hands are tied really. Hopefully it will be available soon. Bittersweet, although my second, is a good book I feel and it's a shame it didn't get the same following GT and my other self published books have got. Which brings me on nicely to Under the Coconut Tree which is doing well, very well and I think that is partly down to my competition - they have given the genre (cosy crime in India) a bit of a following, ensuring that my sales are consistently high. I'm even selling paperbacks which is good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then there is Poison in the Water. I won't lie I had high hopes for this title, but someone the reviews are not coming in thick and fast like I expected and the reviews are mixed as well. I think it may be because it has been marketed as a Romantic Suspense and although it is - it's not standard. It has some dark scenes in it, some weird psychological nuances and I'm not sure if this is everyone's cup of tea - well not those that read pure romance at least. I know this because I read romance books and quite frankly I don't like them. They are just not my thing. I want something a little dark and twisted in the tale. So if you have read the book pretty please write a review, or if you are looking for a summer (late summer) read, give it a go. You can buy a copy <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poison-Water-Lies-deceit-story-ebook/dp/B01DYDGA3U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472211068&sr=8-1&keywords=poison+in+the+water" target="_blank">here</a> and it's super cheap at the moment! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-17901248245941704782016-06-06T05:21:00.001-07:002016-06-06T05:21:59.140-07:00I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged. Erica Jung </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was looking for a quote for today's blog post and I came across this beauty. It's not really relevant to my post but I love it and I am sure it will resonate with writers out there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So what is new? Poison in the Water is out and the paperback is beautiful. There is something hugely satisfying in putting your hands on a copy of your latest book - how are the sales going? I'm not quite sure. I could ask my lovely publishers at So Vain, but it has not even been a week yet, so perhaps I will give it some time. In my experience with books I have published they seem to be slow burners. Under the Coconut Tree is now selling brilliantly - oh a good 8 months after publication. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With So Vain working with me though I would like to think that sales for Poison will be sooner rather than later although reviews to date have been slow. But I suppose you need to give people the time to read the thing! One thing that has got me wondering is this genre of Romantic suspense - in all honesty I think GT was a romantic suspense but I just put it down as a suspense book, not knowing much about the genre of Romantic Suspense and from a review on Poison someone said they didn't like the ending because it was not a happy one (trust me it is happier than it was before my publishers saw it). My books rarely have happy endings unless they are the Chupplejeep ones - because I don't really like happy endings. I don't think that life is all about happy endings and I always like a little bit of a twist at the end - a final quirk to get you thinking. But I get that people may want their fiction to have a happy ending the same way you kind of want to movie to go...But even though it was just one review I cant help but thinking whether the Romantic Suspense reader just generally wants something a little more than I am willing to give (Happiness?!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It reminds me that to sell books successfully you need to know your reader. Yes, the review could be a one off - but it is something I need to investigate if I am to go down this Romantic Suspense route. Am I? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Marketing, publishing and promoting... we writers never stop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I will of course be doing a Goodreads book giveaway in June so watch this space. As well as that I will be at a stall at a writer's festival in the not to distant future selling my books. It's a new experience so I'm looking forward to it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And what of the new MS I was working with? Well I am still working on Splinter. I broke through the - is this working, or not? phase and I am ploughing on. It may fail, but at least I have tried.</span> <br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-69469477181340516512016-05-23T05:35:00.001-07:002016-05-23T05:35:16.628-07:00Writer's Block or just a bad story <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am excited. In less than a week So Vain Books will be releasing my latest novel 'Poison in the Water.' I am thrilled about this book and hope that readers will like it. Watch this space on how sales are going and the tricks I am going to use to promote it. It is helpful that I have built up a bit of a base ( I don't feel famous enough to say Fan Base) of people who will buy the book and get it started so I am pretty grateful for that. <br />
<br /><br />
I have also started writing two new books. Jackpot Jetty - The 3rd Chupplejeep instalment and Splinter. The Chupplejeep is going fine, words were flowing freely, but I have put a stop to that. I am still finalising the second book in the series and feel a little Chupplejeeped out. I need to have a clear mind to think of Jackpot Jetty and keep it new and fresh and the only way I can do that is to write something else. <br />
<br /><br />
So 12,000 words into Jackpot Jetty I started writing Splinter - A thriller of sorts. I had the idea for this awhile ago and thought I would just start writing. But at 6000 words it has become a bit of an uphill struggle. There is something not right about it - is it the characters? the plot? the location? I'm just not sure. I have never struggled to get words down onto a page but I seem to be struggling here. <br />
<br /><br />
I felt a little like this with Poison but with perseverance and a lighbulb moment (using the therapist's office) whilst driving to London I transformed a book that wasn't quite doing it for me! <br />
<br /><br />
But I am not sure what the problem is with Splinter and I'm not sure now whether I have a touch of writer's block or I am just not feeling the story. I want to stay away from JJ for now, so I am not sure what to do next. Persevere or give up? <br />
<br /><br />
Anyone else ever feel like this? The perils of being a writer! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-11350142874116871982016-04-21T05:08:00.003-07:002016-04-21T05:08:55.168-07:00Author Interview - Poison in the Water <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Take a look
at my author interview about my new novel – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poison
in the Water</i> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmMa4yP0ZQGc9feW-YWy6NApZ3pwa6zBQrttAjBmH-E52wv73BThX7tf4JHn2HAFzK0wPk3UcoJ0GviZv_iUxgXLBEJhqbxS1JutRMKyAC0gErxgMKTblVYchPIHCz66GJ5ilMRQSvNQg/s1600/Final+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmMa4yP0ZQGc9feW-YWy6NApZ3pwa6zBQrttAjBmH-E52wv73BThX7tf4JHn2HAFzK0wPk3UcoJ0GviZv_iUxgXLBEJhqbxS1JutRMKyAC0gErxgMKTblVYchPIHCz66GJ5ilMRQSvNQg/s1600/Final+front+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tell us in a
couple of lines what the book is about.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fashion
designer Celeste Renshaw is living her dream amidst Hong Kong’s glitterati. But
the sparkle on her glamorous lifestyle soon begins to fade when she stumbles on
a dark secret her husband has been keeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>An
exotic location. Tell us a little more.</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There
are a couple of key locations in the book. The protagonist Celeste takes a
career break to travel and in Thailand where she meets Mr Charismatic – Alex
Renshaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An unfortunate event pushes
them together and they travel on from Koh Phi Phi to Krabi. The story takes you
on a journey through the islands encountering the smells, sounds and the tastes
of the East. Thailand remains a special place for the couple and they venture
back there when their marriage is on the rocks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then
there is London, which is home and where Cross is based (the name of the
fashion house where the protagonist is a designer). The reader is
introduced to luxe living and private members clubs and is given a
glimpse into what life is like behind those closed doors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
Hong Kong, where Celeste and Alex eventually settle, you have the atmosphere of
street life - hawkers selling century eggs and glazed ducks hanging in windows.
Hong Kong is such a busy place, full of culture and the hustle and bustle of
street life at every corner. But<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hong
Kong has another side as well - a commercial side which
can be quite anonymous. You have these towering skyscrapers and malls with
exquisite dining options in each one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once you are inside one of these malls you really could be anywhere in
the world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>You
are a keen traveller. Are any of your travel experiences reflected in the book?</strong>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
backpacked around Thailand so I experienced some of what
Celeste experiences. There is a scene in the book where Celeste is on a boat (very similar to the one I went on) and a little barefoot boy
throws rice into the brilliant turquoise waters near Kho Phi Phi and hundreds
of silver fish come to the surface to eat. That memory is so vivid in my mind
from my time travelling that I just had to include it. There are a few snippets
like that in <em>Poison</em>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
have also spent time in Hong Kong – as a child we went there as a family on
holiday, then again when I was backpacking and I have been there on business as
well. My sister had an apartment there too. A few years ago I went over to help her furnish
the three floor property and spent a good month in Hong Kong. Looking at fabric
swatches during the day and eating at luxe restaurants at night. Each time I
visited Hong Kong I experienced a different side to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just the perfect place to set a
novel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What inspired
you to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poison in the Water</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The lives of
the rich can be something of an enigma to us. We are intrigued by socialites
and we have certain perceptions of them. Whilst many are pretty ordinary, some are not. You just have to turn the TV on these days and
you can see ‘The Real Housewives of….’ Or Millionaire’s Mansions. Programmes
that revolve around a lifestyle with money. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have been
lucky enough to get a glimpse into this lifestyle and see what it is really
like. The apartment my sister had in Hong Kong was luxury itself, set over
three floors. It provided amazing inspiration for a place to set this book. I
could just see Celeste and Alex living in an apartment like that with the money
to match that lifestyle. I have had the privilege of going to private members
clubs in London and going to expensive restaurants. It was this champagne
lifestyle that inspired me to write the book. Because the adage of ‘All that
glitters is not gold,’ is quite true and I wanted to explore this theme. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So the book
revolves around a champagne lifestyle. What other themes are prevalent in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poison in the Water</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Love, of
course. It is a romantic suspense and tells a love story. Celeste meets the man
of her dreams, but things are not all as they first appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friendships are a big theme in the book as
well. Some are tested and some are broken. The protagonist has some close
friendships, a man she adores and a meddling busy body assistant. They all help and
hinder her to some extent. Knowing who to trust is a big issue for Celeste,
especially when she has been let down so badly. But the protagonist is not
perfect herself. She has made some mistakes too and finds it difficult to
swallow her pride. Saying she is sorry to the right people is important. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Who is your
favourite character and why? <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Celeste, the
protagonist. It has to be. She is a career woman with steely determination and
when we meet her she has such a passion for life. I love that about her. She
lives for the moment – whereas I am constantly thinking about the future. She
reminds me to be more present in the present!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Celeste gets swept up into a world that is all diamonds and Dior, but
the sparkle soon begins to fade and she faces some difficulties that no woman should
ever have to face. She has some strong people around her, but she has to find
an inner strength to truly move on. I suppose, on some level, I admire her and
what she goes through in order to get out the other side. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>What next?</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am working
on the second book in the Chupplejeep mysteries. It’s called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Body in the Bath</i> and is a
light-hearted detective story set in rural Goa. I am also working on a thriller
called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Splinter</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Poison in the Water</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poison-Water-Lies-deceit-story-ebook/dp/B01DYDGA3U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460549765&sr=8-1&keywords=poison+in+the+water" target="_blank">pre-order</a> now and on
general release from the 26<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> May. Marissa de Luna is an author with
a passion for travel and adventure. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poison
in the Water</i> is her fourth novel. For more information see </span><a href="http://www.marissadeluna.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">www.marissadeluna.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-16299408780938928202016-04-08T04:36:00.003-07:002016-04-08T04:36:59.208-07:00A new book and a view on reviews! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It has been a
while since I last blogged but I have been busy. Busy critiquing books by other
fabulous writers in my writers group and promoting Under the Coconut Tree –
which I might add has suddenly started selling well. You see, these things take
time so 8 months after release it has taken off. I am hoping more reviews will
follow and sales will increase. I had priced it at 99p with a view to
increasing the price to £1.44 (the magic price that shot GT to no.1 bestseller
on Amazon) on the 1<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup> April – but the 1<sup>st</sup> came and went
and I didn’t change the price. I have decided to change it mid-month. I don’t
know why I guess I was on a high from the number of sales I made last month and
didn’t want to jeaopardise it. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have also
finalised my front cover for Poison in the Water. Ta da!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0OJqvBq-m0gMyQCMpDPUqssQxn2GnCsk4X_J2BWPeFSXKjzh0FiJiV0ZM3ccfEJmqTqZbgd0T1FCSPpdenFOzglOW0SPTp5FyDLYXBmUMZTSaP-WW47wOWTIlyyXLo46rjiv_OyxHQZg/s1600/Final+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0OJqvBq-m0gMyQCMpDPUqssQxn2GnCsk4X_J2BWPeFSXKjzh0FiJiV0ZM3ccfEJmqTqZbgd0T1FCSPpdenFOzglOW0SPTp5FyDLYXBmUMZTSaP-WW47wOWTIlyyXLo46rjiv_OyxHQZg/s1600/Final+front+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What do you
think. So Vain Books (my publishers) have been fantastic with everything and I
am super excited. The first attempt at the front cover wasn’t great so we
switched designers and got the above, I think it captures the mood perfectly
and the blurb etc is upon my website now. You can also pre-order a copy (go on
you know you want to) on Amazon now. For the bargain and a half price of 99p! Just click through to Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poison-Water-Lies-deceit-story-ebook/dp/B01DYDGA3U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460115150&sr=8-1&keywords=poison+in+the+water" target="_blank">here!</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My final
comment today is about Amazon reviews. A fellow author reposted a blog post
from an author and book blogger who has had two years of reviews removed
because they think she is manipulating ratings. Although I find this hard to
accept – you can’t possibly know all those authors– I also rely on Amazon for
my self-pubbed book sales (I have tried smashwords, Kobo and Nook with limited
success). So can I really criticise the giant that gave me the ability to get
my work out there? I can’t bite the hand that feeds me. So although I agreed
with the blogger I found it difficult to like or share the post for the reasons
above. I do think that all reviews manipulate the ratings though – isn’t that
what they are there for – I mean if you think about this in practical terms I
could read a book in a genre I didn’t like and give it a terrible review
because quite frankly I don’t like horror books. It could be no reflection on
the author or his style, but I may not see that for all the blood and gore. I
may criticise the authors writing, just because I hate the actual content (to
no fault of the author). You can’t police people writing reviews and the more
we advance technologically it will get harder to police. You end up affecting
the small time authors (with fewer reviews) and not the big ones. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Also does it
matter if you know the author and write a good review? Okay so it is biased,
but believe me as an author it’s so hard getting people to review your book –
believe me people you know are not going to be able to manipulate ratings. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As for the
popularity of reviews, personally I think it’s a downward trend (I think I have
blogged about this before). Why? Because these days everyone has an opinion
which they want to share. And basically there are too many of us with opinions.
Our opinions are determined often by our preconceived perceptions, our upbringing,
maybe at our current moon. That 5* hotel you booked may have been faultless,
but whilst there if your other half asked you for a divorce you may think
differently. I used to trust Trip Advisor 100% about 10 years ago. Now, I don’t.
I still love the site and use it… but I don’t really look at the rating… I look
at the content of the review and whether a hotel is walkable to restaurants
etc. (everyone has different expectations and I think Trip Advisor is the one site
where you can really see when someone’s expectations (or their perceptions) don’t
meet reality. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sky Movies
and Netflix ratings are another rating system that doesn’t work. Pick a movie
my sister said, the other day, ignore the ratings they are not accurate. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is only
time before books go that way. Most readers I know never look at reviews – just
the rating – for now, but soon that too will become a thing of the past – we rely
on recommendations, word of mouth if someone tells me a book is worth reading I
won’t even look at the star rating I just buy it. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyway rant
over.</span> </span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-23061931999625550192016-03-10T04:40:00.004-08:002016-03-10T04:40:49.013-08:00Looking for Inspiration?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Looking for
inspiration<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So I have
started reading the Guardian and whilst I was on there the other day, I was
struck by how many news stories or ‘opinion’ articles out there that would make
great starting points/ideas for short stories or novels. I always find that as
I start completing one novel, ideas for new books come at me from nowhere.
Especially when I am driving or in the bath – my two inspirational sources. At
the moment I have so many ideas for Chupplejeep I think I’ll have material for
another five books in the series. I’ve started Jackpot Jetty (book 3) already!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So what
inspired me this week on the Guardian website? Firstly there was an article on
a group of friends that discovered a decomposing body at the end of a garden
when they rented a place in Paris on Air B and B. Now this is a story begging
to be written! Chupplejeep would certainly be interested and you may well see
an element of this idea in one of my Chupplejeep books! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then there
was a letter from ‘The Other Woman’ and yes this has been done to death
trillions of times, but the emotion and observation from the mistresses point
of view was really inspirational – to me in any event. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Kesha
story, blind date stories and even the reader question: Which flowers can I
plant on a damp grave? In the Ask Alys lifestyle section got my mind thinking. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So if you are
looking for some writing inspiration, get onto a news website and get those
creative juices flowing! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-84846783696186098052016-02-29T05:20:00.000-08:002016-02-29T05:20:05.844-08:00The Body in the Bath: A Chupplejeep Mystery <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So here it is people the front cover for the next book in the Chupplejeep series, The Body in the Bath</span>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_GTX4ld-lWnY4qN3dqMmQEdIyp1JDLeqcC059-ra3mSOcP5fsnbFJd1Dz2okWRXev9CONgEiYhs9JTV0qezDZ2FfK9JpsGMNBw3wbkZYimvT3tycqARGPywxTzWzR9-Yh2w6KpsaMyIk/s1600/Body+in+the+bath+eBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_GTX4ld-lWnY4qN3dqMmQEdIyp1JDLeqcC059-ra3mSOcP5fsnbFJd1Dz2okWRXev9CONgEiYhs9JTV0qezDZ2FfK9JpsGMNBw3wbkZYimvT3tycqARGPywxTzWzR9-Yh2w6KpsaMyIk/s1600/Body+in+the+bath+eBook.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I hope you like it! The blurb is as follows</span>: <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As the
International Film Festival of India draws to a close and the celebrations of
Christmas descend upon Goa, actress, Subrina Basi, is found dead in the bath of
her hotel room. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At first sight, Subrina appears to have
committed suicide, but closer inspection suggests foul play. Subrina’s best
friend - the flamboyant artist, Advani looks like he has something to hide. And her
boyfriend, Dattaprasad, has mysteriously disappeared. But it is not only
Subrina’s close acquaintances who are suspected. As Chupplejeep and Pankaj
delve into the troubled actress’s past, a dark secret is unearthed which casts
a shadow of doubt on some of the local villagers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is no
ordinary case. Chupplejeep is under pressure from Inspector General Gosht to
solve this high-profile case fast, whilst Christabel is busy making marriage
plans. Plans which Chupplejeep is not entirely comfortable with. Meanwhile, Pankaj
has been given his first case to solve - a perilous blackmail case with a fast
approaching deadline. Chupplejeep and Pankaj work against the clock, but will
they solve the two cases in time? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The book will be released December 2016! Hurrah!</span> <br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-185965581367400822016-02-26T05:11:00.003-08:002016-02-26T05:11:44.752-08:00Knowing your FOMO from your MOMO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So I had planned to do a blog post on the new rules of social media. With a new book coming out soon... Yes, Poison in the Water should be released by the end of April, I thought I would look at my social media tactics and perhaps give them a bit of a refresh because we all know that Social Media is here to stay and we need to raise our profiles and brand awareness as authors (blah blah blah ... yes, we rather be writing). And of course I thought I would share this information with you!, but when I got down to it I realised I wasn't going to be doing anything too different. Just a little more of what I should have been doing. Confused? read on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So I joined <a href="http://www.crowdfireapp.com/" target="_blank">Crowdfire</a>. Which I had avoided until recently, because I thought it was too impersonal, but now I'm a fan. Twitter is just too big otherwise. So better late to the party than never. If you haven't joined Crowdfire join it now - because sneaky tweeps follow you for a follow back and then un-follow you. Crowdfire is the only way to stay on top of this in this dog-eat-dog world! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How do I feel about Twitter? In all honesty I think 9 out of 10 people on twitter are trying to promote or sell something. If you are an author you follow other writers – you get bombarded with promotions for other books. You try and retweet them to get some retweets yourself – but which consumer is actually going to see this? There are some, of course. Every tweeter has non-promoters following them – be it friends or family and they may read a retweet – after all their newsfeed isn’t clogged with a million authors trying to sell their latest release. So although I don’t think Twitter is the best way to promote your book I think it’s worth sending tweets now and again – but remember with the intense traffic they do suggest that you tweet 7-9 times a day with the best times to tweet being at lunch times, after 930pm and around 7:30am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My advice- Get the app, do it from your phone and be tweet smart and link your blog (if you have one) to twitter to automatically tweet about your blog post (I covered the linking of social media accounts in my last social media post). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And speaking of social media, did I tell you that I did an interview about social media and my tactics in Mary Cavanagh's new book - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Calling-all-Authors-Seriously-Successful/dp/1785075470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456492055&sr=8-1&keywords=calling+all+authors" target="_blank">Calling All Authors</a>? It's a great little book if you are after some sound advice on what publishing route to take and of course for the do's and don'ts's of social media. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have to admit that I am not as good as marketing my books on-line as I used to be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Why? Because
life happens. One minute you are plugging your new book and the other you are
completing a quantity surveying course, mastering dishes from Ottolenghi’s new
cookbook and watching Netflix. So okay, I got a little tired of talking about
my books and followed my desire to do nothing for a while. After all, authors
want to write not publicise and promote. You could say that I lost the bug –
like the travel bug, the author promotion bug can take you by surprise and push
you to do stuff you wouldn’t normally do (Especially when you can see the
results in your sales). I feel I am waffling a bit now… But what I mean to say
is that I think I have got the social media bug again. Hence the regular blog
posts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So social
media is constantly evolving and the young ones and I mean seriously young seem
to take to it so easily – I mean they even learn coding at school<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- but it is a bit of an effort for the not so
technically/showy offy minded. And I recently read an article in the Guardian
where celebs are actually avoiding Social Media – having a bit of an outage for
certain events etc. Apparently it’s called MOMO – mystery of
missing out. So in layman’s terms if everyone is quiet on social media – you
are missing you and you don’t even know what it is you are missing out on –
that is the mystery! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had just
got to grips with what FOMO was – the fear of missing out! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I realised on my social media quest that I have to use the social media sites I am already connected to, but smarter (a bit like the twitter times as above) and with more frequency. So more Facebook posts, productive tweets and an updated website. Check it out at </span><a href="http://www.marissadeluna.com/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">www.marissadeluna.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, I am sticking to the traditional channels but I
am upping my game – being more active means I should increase followers,
page likers etc. You’ve got to start (again) somewhere</span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-5943986027853306192016-02-12T05:15:00.000-08:002016-02-12T05:15:35.208-08:00Embracing your inner geek! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have to admit I'm a geek. For a long while (when younger) I tried to hide the fact that I was a geek because, quite frankly, geeks were uncool. Now they are pretty popular and to be fair the older I get the less I care whether something is cool or not. That's the beauty of getting older - you just care less. <br />
<br />
To be honest I didn't hide my geekyness as well as I could have because I probably didn't realise I was a geek and living in Goa pretty much everyone is a little geeky. <br />
<br />
Before writing came along I did nerdy things like a degree , a masters, obtained various certificates and I even qualified as a Chartered Surveyor! Now I'm doing some quantity surveying thing too. The fun never stops... The course was to pacify my inner geek because I haven't done a course for a long while. And as I struggle to complete it I realise that our brains get a bit rusty with age. <br />
<br />
Despite my desire to learn I hate being called intellectual - I am not! I guess I would say I am more of an academic. But then if I compare myself to a real academic, I can see that I am certainly not one of those. So I wont pigeonhole myself into a category - I just like to learn new things. <br />
<br />
Mid-studying I learnt about calligraphy and graphology, colour therapy, touch typing, did a punctuation course (epic fail), learnt about crystals and of course I read loads on forensics and the art of writing. But I have never taken a writing course and as I am a lover of courses I had to ask myself why? Why had I never done a writing course. I needed it when I started out, yet I just rely on learning as I go, a good critique group and reading around the subject to help me out. <br />
<br />
The reason being is that for me writing started as a hobby - it still is to a certain extent and I enjoy it. One of my worries is that if I learn the rules (because despite it being a creative process there are some loose rules- the inciting incident, the big question that readers have to read on to find the answer, stuff like that) in such a strict format then my creativity will be boxed in. I may even dislike writing - because generally when I study something, when there are tasks involved and exams to pass then my interest in the subject does wane. <br />
<br />
I would benefit from a creative writing course I am sure. My first book was riddled with point of view changes mid chapter and I know this annoyed readers. Every time I write (even with this blog) I learn, I understand, I develop and hone my writing skills. And there is always more to learn, we are continually adapting and changing our styles in the way we dress, the way we talk and the way we write. I cared about what people thought when I was younger, and don't really care anymore and that very notion makes what I write and how I write different. <br />
<br />
I recently found myself humming along to a Justin Beiber song - I have to admit his stuff is pretty good of late (don't judge me) but I guess he is changing too! <br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-39633088487528790202016-02-01T05:28:00.003-08:002016-02-01T05:28:52.224-08:00Judging a book by its cover <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Judging a book by its cover. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This last week has been trying. Why? Because I am trying to finalise the front cover for <em>The Body in the Bath</em> - The second book in the Chupplejeep Mysteries. The book is not finished - it's a long way from completion. If I'm lucky I'll get it out in time for Christmas but I wanted the cover for my website and I also wanted to deal with the stress of agreeing the front cover now...instead of during the publication process when I am stressed out! See, that's a good bit of forward planning stress reduction! There is a reason why they say with experience comes wisdom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But it's tough this front cover malarkey because everyone has different, sometimes extreme opinions. Perhaps I asked too many people. I asked my writers group first and they were all pretty supportive with some good suggestions. I had actually failed to make it Goan in the first draft which one writer pointed out - that would have been a big faux pas. Then I asked H, the family and the inner circle (they are my besties). These people don't hold back and they are opinionated. This is probably the main reason why we are friends and it was tiring listening to people and their views (Sorry, if any of you are reading this). Of course I needed to hear what people think and I know because of some of the comments the cover is going to look fab... but getting there has been an effort. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I haven't listened to everything they have said... it would have been impossible and quite frankly not worth the trouble. But I listened about colours and textures etc and the resultant product is perfect (to me). I will put it up on this blog later in the week when I get the final. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm also starting to look at front cover ideas with my publisher for <em>Poison in the Water </em>(remember this name people - this book is going to be huge!). This I think will be a different experience. Why? Because a professional is going to take the time to debate styles and ideas with me. Now I'm not saying self pubbed covers are not as good as trad published ones - that would be a stupid thing to say because it's not true. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The experience will be different for me because the burden is shared between the publishing house (who are paying for the thing) and me whose work it is and whose name will be emblazoned on the front. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I think that is the difference,. It's not necessarily the quality of the cover, but your perception and your confidence. When you self pub you can ask a million people what they think but when that book is published it's your fault if its good or not with a publisher I think you can share the shame! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The one saving grace is that when you self publish - depending on how you do it you can change the cover at any time. However, and its a big however, it really depends on how much time you want to spend on these ancillary matters. Do you really want to go back and change the cover? Because after all if you are anything like me you want to spend minimal time on the cover and more time on the writing! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But hey ho, I guess if you get it right the first time your book will last forever, without the need of a facelift and it will work for you...on the beach (when people are reading it), on people's shelves. The possibilities are endless! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What about just an e-book cover? Well the cover looks great on promotional materials too so maybe we do need to take time, ask around and get it right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">However, on saying this I am also currently wondering how much is a cover worth these days? Most kindle readers I know never buy a book based on it's cover. I agree because I am in that category...but I can't deny that a good cover helps sell books. Maybe not directly, but indirectly. If you are attracted to something you will buy it. If you see a postcard with a pretty book on it you are more likely to remember the name so you can search for it on line later... Just a thought. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Until next time...</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-85064933815181026642016-01-21T04:47:00.000-08:002016-01-21T04:47:03.174-08:00Structural edits and all that jazz <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Structural edits and all that jazz..<br />
<br />
It has been a busy week for me. I received the structural edit suggestions from my publisher and I have been busy working on them. I have been able to sort out the issues relatively quickly - well all except one which requires more brain cells than I seem to possess at the moment. I think last night at some unearthly hour I finished it but now that the structural edits have been made I need to read through the whole darn manuscript again to make sure it all makes sense and flows.It is only too easy to assume consistency to avoid reading the whole book again, but although I am not someone who usually pays attention to detail etc., I know I need to do this. So tonight the task starts. <br />
<br />
One of the structural edits was to change the ending - now when my writing group read the book they said the same thing and I thought -nooooo, I really like the ending the way it is. So I left it and that was the main thing my publishers suggested to change! So after a bit of sulking I came up with an ending I think readers would be happy with...Let's see what the publishers say. <br />
<br />
I think that's one of the nice things working with a publishers - being able to bounce ideas off them and getting their feedback- although on saying that if you are self pubbing you can always hire a structural editor to give you their feedback. Personally, I have never done that but I am in the most amazing writing group that critique full manuscripts and they tell you exactly where you are going wrong - as the above example shows! If you are a budding writer and not in a writing group I would definitely recommend joining one - and not a lovey dovey one - You need a group that keeps it real and points out the flaws in your plot, your 2d characters and generally keeps your feet on the ground! <br />
<br />
Most writers I know get fed up with editing and I know that you can only read through your novel so many times until it all becomes so familiar that you can't see the wood from the trees. <br />
<br />
Nevertheless, we authors persevere because that is what you have to do as a writer... yes, bring out the world's smallest violin! We are hard done by. <br />
<br />
But it's not all doom and gloom. With my edits done and just one final read through before it goes to the line editing stage surely I am half way there already (If they like my structural edits that is). It wont be long before I am revealing the front cover and the release date! <br />
<br />
To add to my workload I have also received the front cover proofs for the next Chupplejeep Mystery - The Body in the Bath. I like what JD&J have done but it needs tweaking here and there so I need to get back to them today. I have had some feedback from friends and family and other writers - which always helps. I don't think you can ever make a front cover decision in isolation! <br />
<br />
And another thing - not sure if I mentioned this last time I blogged, but I realised the other day that I haven't written anything new since 2014!!! Crazy! So this year I need to start something new. I have an idea for a book which I will let you in on later. The opening scene is written (I wrote this a long time ago) but maybe I'll take it along to my next writing group meet and see what people think.<br />
<br />
Anyone embarking on a new writing project? What are your writing goals for 2016? Tweet me @marissadeluna </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-40218140251362398192016-01-08T04:57:00.001-08:002016-01-08T04:57:46.152-08:00So you've got that elusive publishing contract. Now what?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So you've got that elusive publishing contract. Now what? <br />
<br />
Hurrah! I can finally announce that I have signed a publishing contract with the fantastic <a href="http://www.sovainbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">So Vain Books.</a> I should be getting the structural edits required in the next couple of weeks - so watch this space. I'm excited too for <em>Poison in the Water</em> - the book they are set to publish. They have classed it as a Romantic Suspense novel which I am happy about because I worried that it was between genres of Chick Lit and Thriller. <br />
<br />
I have to admit when I received the contract I was a bit wary - why? because a contract is legally binding and no matter what is said and done you need to make sure you are protected so if there ever if a fall out, if the relationship turns sour (I hope that will never be), you are covered. <br />
<br />
Now, I'm a bit of a researcher and what I have found is this: I have to admit you read some articles where people have signed away their rights to TV show etc, never seen a penny and all that and you think that wont happen to me - I can't see them buying the TV rights to this book I won't worry about it and so you don't. Typically the rights get snapped up and you didn't pay attention to that clause so you never make a penny. Most sites will tell you be wary ask them to take out this clause etc. and there are several clauses they will tell you never to sign. A contract is serious stuff and you should pay attention to it, but at the same time don't be so scared you have sleepless nights. There is a lot of scaremongering going on out there. <br />
<br />
I think a little differently (often to my own detriment - well sometimes). I say pick your battles. Look at all the clauses and what they say and pick the ones that are important to you to have removed/amended. <br />
<br />
You can go in and strip the contract bare - by all means that is what contract negotiation is all about, but at the same time be reasonable. <br />
<br />
The important thing is to make the decision yourself and live by it! You win some, you lose some - yes your book may make millions of pounds if the TV rights are picked up, but will the rights ever be picked up if you don't sign the contract in the first place? <br />
<br />
But in saying that don't be scared to stand up for what you want (once you have picked your battles) just because you are a first time author. For my first contract I asked a friend who had the same publishers to run me through the contract and it was fine. Looking back I would have added a couple of things to it definitely about termination rights (In this new era of ebooks) but I didn't so I chalk it down to experience. There is no use crying over spoilt milk and all that. <br />
<br />
With this contract I was bold enough to ask for the removal of some clauses and the addition of another and they agreed. The best thing about this is that we are both happy and we can now file away the contract and work collaboratively which is how the best relationships evolve (If you keep referring back to the contract - you know where the relationship is going or isn't). <br />
<br />
I rarely talk about my day job on here, but I do deal with projects and contracts all the time and the collaboration is a must to get something done (and have fun at the same time), so I have some experience here. <br />
<br />
What I would definitely recommend though is to join the Society of Authors and either send your contract to them or read the various info papers they provide on what should be included/excluded for contract deals including E-book and POD deals. <br />
<br />
You <u>must</u> also check out Stroppy Author's <a href="http://www.stroppyauthor.com/p/how-to-read-publishing-contract.html" target="_blank">blog</a>. the author goes through the clauses in the contract line for line explaining it. It's a must read... <br />
<br />
And finally, you can of course consult a solicitor, especially if you have a friend who is one. If you are paying remember they need to provide a report on their findings which is more likely to scare you more than anything else. <br />
<br />
So there you have it, my top tips for signing that contract! I hope it helps. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-75725168229172099442016-01-04T05:01:00.002-08:002016-01-04T05:01:26.140-08:00We need to laugh!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We need to laugh! <br />
<br /><br />
Happy New Year! 2015 went pretty quick, didn't it? Christmas was warm and fabulous in Goa. Some more research done for the second instalment of The Chupplejeep Series - <em>The Body in the Bath</em> - which should be out by the end of the year. New Year was spent in Devon - there is something raw about the British coastline in stormy weather that makes me feel quite at peace. I think its the bleakness of the landscape that makes me feel alive. That may or may not make sense - I hope it does - but if it doesn't just don't think I'm completely nuts - I'm just having one of those days. <br />
<br /><br />
One of those days when I look at the year ahead and think we need to laugh more. We really do. Writers especially. We take it all so seriously sometimes and I for one think this year should be filled with more laughing and less complaining. I generally rant on this blog and I'm sure from Feb I will be back to normal, but I am going to make a conscious effort of laughing a bit more this year - and finding the humour in even the dullest of situations - like 1* reviews and rejections! Why not - as the quote that keeps going around says - 'None of us are going to get out alive...'<br />
<br /><br />
My other resolution for the year is to do one awesome thing every month! It benefits me, it may benefit others (I may adopt a whale - yes that's how much Blackfish affected me) and hopefully it will encourage me to laugh even more. <br />
<br /><br />
And another thing, the author Mary Cavanagh has released a fantastic book to help writers decipher the publishing process and marketing etc. The book is titled <em>'Calling All Authors'</em> and can be bought <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Calling-all-Authors-Seriously-Successful/dp/1785075470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451911844&sr=8-1&keywords=calling+all+authors" target="_blank">here</a><br />
I read an earlier edition when I started on my publishing journey and I loved it - I'm now reading this edition and its even bigger and better - and features an interview with me! It's a must read for any author.<br />
<br /><br />
So what about my writing plans for 2016! I previously mentioned sending Posion off to a publishers and so far the feedback is good. I'm in discussions but that's all I can say at the moment. With any luck though it will be published later this year - Hopefully I can reveal all by the end of the month. And I am still working on <em>The Body in the Bath</em>... A massive edit is due and I'm hoping it will be looking ship shape by the summer.<br />
<br /><br />
I have some dratted Quantity Surveying exams in March (I brought it on myself!) that may take my focus away, but other than that... I also plan on writing some new stuff this year. I have a preliminary idea for a thriller - work in progress title is <em>Splinter</em> and the third Chupplejeep book - <em>Jetty Jalousie.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
Happy writing people..... Remember this is 2016. Anything is possible! <br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-8980336866709408752015-12-09T00:00:00.000-08:002015-12-09T00:00:09.444-08:00Finding your feet – with Lizzy Huitson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today's guest blog post is perfect for anyone who is thinking about writing (and a good read for established writers too!). Lizzy is a talented writer and part of the Abingdon Writer's set. I am certain you will be reading one of her novels in the not too distant future! </div>
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<u>Finding your Feet:
Ten Tips for New Writers<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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So you’ve decided to take writing seriously. Maybe you’re a
young person hoping to start a writing career, or a not-so-young person who’s
ready to let writing out of that safe little box labelled “hobby”. Whatever
your background, getting started is no simple task. Besides the actual act of
getting words on the page, there are a whole host of other challenges you’re
going to encounter, so here are some (hopefully) helpful tips.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Work at
it, don’t play at it.</b> There’s absolutely nothing wrong with writing for fun
– it can be a really rewarding hobby. If, however, you plan on taking it
seriously, you need to prioritise it. Don’t bother cleaning the oven when
there’s writing to be done – no-one ever looks in there anyway. Try not to
write for five minutes, then watch fifty-seven funny cat videos on YouTube,
then blame your real job/kids/dog for taking up all your time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Find a
balance. </b>That being said, don’t work so hard that writing becomes nothing
but a chore. If you feel you’re in danger of burning out, take a break. A
change can be as good as a rest, so put down the historical novel and write a
short crime story or some poetry or Doctor Who fanfiction. Anything that breaks
the monotony will help get the creative juices flowing.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Try not
to go crazy with isolation. </b>If you devote a lot of time to writing, it’s
likely that your social life will suffer and your friends may not take kindly
to being rejected in favour of fictional characters. Saying “What do you
expect? I’m working on a novel” does not have the same effect as “What do you
expect? I have two toddlers.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, there are ways of using writing to socialise. Joining a writers’
group is a way of connecting with other writers and getting your work critiqued
at the same time. You could even arrange a “writing date” with another writer
(get together at a café or pub, do some writing, drink/natter and repeat), and
of course there are plenty of online forums for writers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Self-doubt
is perfectly normal and does not mean your writing sucks. </b>Even if it does
suck, that’s OK. You’re allowed to be terrible at first. Unfortunately,
self-doubt tends to linger, so that when you experience any kind of success,
you feel like a massive con artist who is days away from being found out and
sent to prison. Take a deep breath. Remember that you deserve any success that
comes your way – chances are you’ve worked your arse off for it. Also, nobody
goes to prison for bad writing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jealousy
is normal and does not mean you are a despicable person. </b>Let’s face it –
all writers have egos. So it’s only natural that when other writers become
successful, you may experience jealousy and resentment. The only sensible thing
to do is to push it deep down inside you where no-one can see it, smile and
congratulate them. Success in writing never comes easily, so remember how hard
they must have worked. We’re all in this together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Get some
exercise. </b>I’m not saying that in a “Careful you don’t get fat or you’ll
never land a husband” kind of way. But if you have a sedentary job and spend
the whole working day sitting at a desk, then spend large amounts of your free
time sitting at a desk, you are going to feel crappy. Try doing some stretches
at your desk to avoid aches and pains. Go for a walk now and then.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Develop a
good bullshit detector. </b>Most of the time, when people critique your work,
they do it out of a genuine desire to be helpful. However, a handful of people
have their own agenda and will either pointlessly bash your work or give you
spectacularly unhelpful “advice”. Often, it is because they don’t agree with
the content of what you are writing rather than the writing itself. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Oh, and ignore that guy you met on a writing course who said you’d never
be a good writer until you got more “life experience”. He is probably going to
try selling you drugs or persuading you to have sex with him in a graveyard or
something. You know, to give you some of that “life experience” you need.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Don’t be
held back by writer’s block. </b>To misquote Churchill, “If you’re going
through writer’s block, keep going.” Just keep writing. Ignore your inner
editor and don’t worry if what you’re writing is terrible. Get those words on
the page and sort them out later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cherish
your first rejection e-mail. </b>Print it out and stick it on the fridge. Maybe
even frame it. In my opinion, this is the moment you become a proper writer.
Chances are, you are going to get rejected a lot so you need to shake off the fear
of it. I’ve received all kinds of rejection e-mails, from the boilerplate kind
to the helpful and encouraging to the strangely poetic. I’ve never received a
mean or spiteful rejection e-mail.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">N.B</b>. People talk about
rejection letters but I’m not convinced they still exist. I’ve never seen one…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Find your
voice. </b>This is the difficult one. Expressing yourself in the best way you
possibly can will always be a challenge. Developing that special something that
makes your writing unique may be a life-long process, but the rewards can be
immense. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">N.B. </b>I am not talking about financial rewards. These will most
likely be puny. I mean rewards like creative fulfilment and a sense of
achievement and all that woolly stuff.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most people become writers because they are readers. Try to imagine every
feeling, thought and experience you’ve ever had because of something you read.
The ways in which writers can affect people they will never even meet are
phenomenal. At the least, something you write might brighten someone’s day, and
that’s always a worthwhile goal. So let’s get writing! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lizzy
Huitson is a 28-year-old writer who feels qualified to give writing advice
mostly because she is no longer 23. Her poetry chapbook “The God of Cold Girls
and Cold Places” has been published by Dancing Girl Press, and her poetry has
also been published in journals around the world, including Salamander, Goblin
Fruit and Vine Leaves Literary Journal. She has had short fiction published in
Fiction365 and has recently written her first novel. She lives in Abingdon and
has a proper job in Oxford.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-10720169591334136282015-12-02T00:00:00.000-08:002015-12-02T00:00:00.190-08:00How to fall into murder...with Elizabeth Mapstone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Coffee Stained Manuscript is proud to present a guest blog by Elizabeth Mapstone, an accomplished fellow author who has recently published The Amazon's Girdle – A mystery with a delicious twist! </div>
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HOW TO FALL INTO
MURDER... with Elizabeth Mapstone<o:p></o:p></div>
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I never intended to write a murder mystery. <b>The Amazon's
Girdle </b>began as a love story, with former film-star Jacques, mouldering in
a corner of the Michelin-starred Paris restaurant he runs with his wife Louise,
remembering his all-too-brief time with the Amazon, the one woman he truly
loved. But she died. I realized, rather belatedly, I had to decide how.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A natural death, by cancer say, was out – Eric Segal and
“love is never having to say you're sorry” (what rubbish!) had done that. Death
in childbirth was possible, but my Amazon was a medical doctor, so improbable;
and in any case, I didn't want to deal with the concomitant inevitable guilt. A
road accident seemed too facile. Suicide was out. Murder suddenly became
essential to the story: it was the obvious way for someone as strong as my original
heroine to disappear from the scene; she'd never have bowed out for anything
less.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This was a bit of a blow. I had a small cast of characters,
but now I had to decide which of them was a murderer. Each one might have had a
motive, but how is it that all are carrying on with their lives 17 years later?
What happened? Was it perhaps one of those murders that went undetected? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Who dunnit? And who decides to investigate this late in the
day? And why? Inevitably, it had to be the young daughter of the doomed love
affair between Jacques and the Amazon, inspired by her own heroine, the
beautiful and malicious French film-star Madeleine Marvell, who deliberately
sets out to disrupt the apparently peaceful and successful life of her former
husband Jacques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Complicated? I'd say.
But then murder mysteries usually are. And MM makes a delicious villain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Given the way this story evolved in my head, it is clear
that the book is not structured like a classic murder mystery. Working out
whodunnit, I think, is not difficult for those who enjoy the challenge. But the
motivations of all possible suspects are psychologically sound, and several
reviewers have said they were surprised, even shocked at the outcome. Which is
hugely gratifying! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Would I ever write another murder mystery? I'd have said NO,
until I launched this one into the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazons-Girdle-Dr-Elizabeth-Mapstone/dp/1512221538/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">amazon.co.uk</a>
ether (where else?). It's been fun. So when I have finished my quiet
psychological novels (<b>The Porcupine's Dilemma</b> is now with an agent), I
might dip another toe in those dangerous waters. Marissa writes them so
successfully, I shall ask her advice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "nimbus roman no9 l"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nimbus Roman No9 L";">Elizabeth Mapstone has lived in France, Belgium, Canada, and
now England, and is a bilingual veteran of numerous occupations: in
restaurants, offices, shops, news reporter, radio interviewer, teacher,
translator, political commentator, book reviewer, and theatre critic. A new
mid-life career began with a doctorate from Oxford, and she became Founding
Editor of <i>The Psychologist,</i> then a psychotherapist, and published two
books with Random House: <i>War of Words, </i>on the psychology of arguing;<i> </i>and
a self-help book that really works,<i> Stop Dreaming, Start Living</i>. Now
retired,<i> </i>she is writing fiction, has published several short stories as
well as a mystery novel <i>The Amazon's Girdle</i>, and once won the Luigi
Bonomi prize for the best opening pages to a novel (soon to appear in <i>The
Porcupine's Dilemma)</i>. You can buy The Amazon's Girdle <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazons-Girdle-Elizabeth-Mapstone-ebook/dp/B00YYKOAOO/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1448803959&sr=8-1" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "nimbus roman no9 l"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nimbus Roman No9 L";"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9gR-2JGpOIIp_XreK7AmX_9FPBV-ROcAi7RHyjsnOxLlueFLv7ptpvhR0Xayj1hfy6iBHhXK00q2SLMvQSf5jTZ7VXs_HfzBTyyJnSqeTayl6mgF5tXVuQ4Kqnj0svNwz2gCjNbKNnqa/s1600/The+Amazons+Girdle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9gR-2JGpOIIp_XreK7AmX_9FPBV-ROcAi7RHyjsnOxLlueFLv7ptpvhR0Xayj1hfy6iBHhXK00q2SLMvQSf5jTZ7VXs_HfzBTyyJnSqeTayl6mgF5tXVuQ4Kqnj0svNwz2gCjNbKNnqa/s320/The+Amazons+Girdle+2.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "nimbus roman no9 l"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nimbus Roman No9 L";"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "nimbus roman no9 l";"> For more information about Elizabeth and her books see: www.elizabethmapstone.co.uk</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387977898182817807.post-17235335788869112032015-11-30T05:30:00.000-08:002015-11-30T05:30:01.967-08:00The way we live<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The way we live...<br />
<br />
In the latest journal of the Society of Authors I read in interesting article about consumerism (I'm terrible - I can't recall who wrote it). But it got me thinking about the way we live now. Netflix and my recent purchase of this on-demand product is just one example of this. And I'm always a little late to the party. I got Netflix because I want to watch tv show and movies when I want to watch them. I don't want to sit and watch mindless tv waiting for something good to come on. I want to watch the mindless tv I choose.<br />
<br />
Amazon too announced they will charge readers as they read for borrowed books, no longer charging for the full book. I remember a time when if I started a book I had to finish it (admittedly that was just me - but sometimes I was pleasantly surprised at the end). Okay, so I don't always finish what I start anymore, but still... it was something I was doing – there was no incentive to stop reading like there is now. Will this mean more 1* reviews if the book isn't a page turner? Even if the end is crowd pleaser?<br />
<br />
I could be wrong, but most authors are traditionalists at heart, or so I like to think. We may embrace the Kindle, after all it has opened up the world of self-publishing, but we still cherish a paperback – holding those carefully crafted stories in our hands. And in waiting for a particular TV programme you often stumble across a show you wouldn't have ordinarily watched. You see there is a benefit of not watching stuff on demand. <br />
<br />
You may not agree with this. Our time is limited you say, why spend time reading something we are not going to enjoy, why waste time watching television shows with adverts. Want to read something you normally wouldn't - they call it a book club - or film club for that matter. I see your points, I do, but my issue is this: the world we live in is fast moving and it seems to be going faster and faster... Will it stop - no, it's likely to get worse. The younger grow up with life happening all around them - documented with a photo and then they quickly move on ( Geez, I sound like a gran)<br />
<br />
We are in a fast moving world. We expect things to happen quickly, we want everything to be perfect. I'm no different. I generally get twitchy if I send an email and don't get a response the same hour... yes I have a problem. But being constantly connected via our phones and tablets, I like to say I am just a victim. Social media helps us authors, but at the same time because it's always there on your phone luring you in, if you are like me you tend to feel guilty when for not promoting your book, checking the competition and of course as you can always see what other authors and entrepreneurs are doing, you can see what you should be doing and feel the guilt.<br />
<br />
It's not going to change, this world we live in. If you try and slow it down, you'll get left behind, or worse still trampled by a FOMO (someone with the fear of missing out on social media). So what can we do? Well, we can change ourselves - amend our expectations. I'm not saying put your standards in the gutter, but perhaps we need to asses how important something is to us, what the consequences of our expectations are before having them. And I reckon we just need to start being kinder – to ourselves (we won't get everything right, we can't do everything all of the time), to everyone else – put yourself in their shoes before making a judgement, remember that we all make mistakes and for me to note more than anyone else - be patient. Some people take longer to respond than others and what is the hurry.<br />
<br />
Right, rant over... What I really wanted to say is that this Wednesday and next I am hosting two guest bloggers. The fabulous Elizabeth Mapson – Author of The Amazon's Girdle who is blogging about 'falling into murder' . I've read her 2nd novel at Abingdon writers and this one is on my kindle, waiting in line. She writes so beautifully, her books are definitely worth reading. The following week Lizzy Huitson will be giving you her top tips when you start out writing. I've read the post and I have to say even if you are an established writer you will enjoy reading this. Until then...<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973679872394039240noreply@blogger.com0