A Bouncy, Squeaking Bubble & Lots Of Screaming

January 8, 2016
I started my new year in much the same condition as many people. I didn't have a hangover as I hadn't overindulged, but I'd had a very late night and been on too much of a high to get to sleep until gone 4, so I woke up - sort of - in a somewhat slow fashion.

I had one thing I wanted to know before I got on with the day, so I sat at the top of the stairs in my cosy dressing gown, hollering to my husband, who was in the kitchen (there is no hiding place in our house). 

"I'll just check," I warbled, when I had his attention, "but we know I won't be there, so then we can just forget it, can't we?"

I turned on my iPad and scrolled down the list. "Nah, just as we thought - I'm not there," I hollered. "I'll just read it through once more, I wasn't really concentrating." And then, I gave a piercing scream that had my husband worried the police might be called; the sort of shriek that would, at the very least, rattle your chandeliers. For, I WAS THERE! I had made the cut to the Awesome Nine! The short list for the 2016 Historical Novel Society Indie Award!

And then I threw myself upon his chest and sobbed all over him.

This is beyond my wildest dreams, beyond my most fevered imaginings. If you see a rainbow-hued bubble bouncing along a few feet above the ground attended by unicorns and making a strange squeaking noise, that will be me. And the finalists won't be announced until May, so I can continue to bounce happily along in my bubble until then.

Wish me luck, everyone. Here's my shiny new logo - isn't it lovely? 
                                                          
And here is the short list itself - for which I can't add a link for as my techy skills are not what I should like them to be; you'll have to copy and paste it, sorry. https://historicalnovelsociety.org/hns-awards/2016-hns-indie-award-shortlisted-titles/ 
 

An Exciting Announcement

November 2, 2015

I'm thrilled to announce that not only has Out of Time been reviewed on the Historical Novel Society, but it has also been awarded an Editor's Choice logo and, even more exciting, has been long-listed for the 2016 HNS Indie Award. I don't suppose for one minute it will make it to the short list, but I am over the moon that it has got this far.
If you would like to read the review, please click on the link on the top of my home page.





Continue reading...
 

Out of Time - the book I was never going to write

August 13, 2015
Yet another exciting new step for me - I have now published my first ever historical novel. Out of Time is set partly in 2006 and partly in 1191. It involved many new areas for me as it is also my first full length novel.

In the past, I have said that I would never write historical fiction; although I enjoy reading it, I didn't believe it was something I could write well. However, I am learning never to say what I will not write - each time I say that, it is the exact thing I end up doing. And...

Continue reading...
 

Changing Direction

June 15, 2015
Some of you may have noticed that my writing has taken an unexpected turn. I went for a wander in Writing Woods, took a different turning than usual and ended up down Short Story Lane. And I found I liked it.
My first foray into fiction, a novelette, Where Angels Tread, came out in March 2014, and was followed by two collections of short stories, Beautiful and Four Christmases.
My fourth work of fiction, actually my eighth book in total, Out of Time, is a novel which starts in 2006 but quickly ...

Continue reading...
 

Feel Good Poetry

December 4, 2013
So, why do I write the type of poetry I write? Why not write angst or about broken hearts? Simple. I want to leave you with a smile on your face. 

I enjoy writing beautiful poetry, and inspirational verse, but I also like to make people laugh. I hope, sometimes, you might be moved to tears by my poetry, but only in a good way. And I love to make people laugh. Much of my poetry is fairly down-to-earth, so it appeals not only to people who enjoy reading verse, but also to those who wouldn't norm...

Continue reading...
 

Now Available From Amazon.

November 8, 2013


I'm delighted to announce that some of my books will now be available from Amazon. Some will still be exclusively available from this website and Blurb.com.  Hopes, Dreams & Medals, and Jumping in the Puddles of Life, with their glorious colour photos, are also avaible as beautiful iBooks, from the Apple iBookstore, and iTunes. 


Continue reading...
 

Exciting News

May 29, 2013

I have some very exciting news to share with you.  I have been asked to create an exclusive poem for a film track about why athletes do what they do. A sort of mini epic poem. To find out more, pay a visit to the guy who will be making the film. Here is his blog . http://www.danielherrick.blogspot.co.uk/ 



Continue reading...
 

A bit about me - for those who'd like to know

March 28, 2012

Ok, so if you would like to know a little about me - here goes! I was born in 19flubbetyflbu (oops, my keyboard just seized up! - you'll just have to take a guess at that one!) I wrote my 1st poem at school when I was ten - the teacher asked us to write a poem about a haunted house. I scared myself to death at bedtime for weeks with that one! Teachers, please bear that in mind for future reference! 

I never took further education, although my teachers were rather miffed about that. Notwithstan...


Continue reading...