Garden party

Alfie Dog Fiction are hosting a virtual launch party for 'Up the Garden Path' on 20th June and you're invited!

I also have a (very short) book trailer. Please note how we've not just co ordinated my outfit to match the book cover, but also found a garden in the correct colour scheme.

Round

Word of the week time has come round again. I'm pretty sure you all know what round means ... in my case it's an excuse to post a picture of The Sphere. (Hah! thought I'd got over that, didn't you?) It can also refer to sandwiches and drinks - round here we call that a picnic.

Here's a competition I meant to tell you about earlier, but didn't get round to mentioning. Erewash writers are holding a draw for all those who've entered one of their competitions (you have had a go at all the free ones I've told you about, haven't you?) They have competitions open so you can still qualify and be in with a chance of winning a book. nb you need to email to confirm you wish to take part.

And to round things off, these people are looking for submissions of stories from 5,000 words to 'long' novels. Might be worth a look if you have something the wrong length for regular markets.

Bits and pieces

I have a confirmed release date of 20th June for Up the Garden Path.

Not a Drop to Drink is still FREE!

I've found another potential market to check out.

There are snowballs in my garden even though it's almost midsummer.

If you're not sure which I'm most excited about, here's a clue - it will happen on the summer solstice!

Lunch with my editor ...

... well sort of. I went to a workshop run by Woman's Weekly and hosted by the lovely fiction editor Gaynor Davies. Although I didn't share her table in the lunch break we were in the same room!

Cara Cooper very kindly met me at Waterloo and between us we navigated our way to the impressive Blue Fin building. Later I met up with Wendy Clarke, Tracy Fells, Amanda Brittany, Lindsay Bamfield, Karen Clarke, Helen Hunt ... OK, I'll stop with the name dropping now!

Well except to mention Suzanne Ahern who gave an interesting insight into writing serials and Laura Lonrigg  who we interrogated about the role of an agent and the state of the publishing industry. (I think some of us wished she'd not been quite so honest!)

I think the workshops are now all sold out, but if you do get the chance to go to one - or anything remotely similar I thoroughly recommend it. However much writing you've done you're likely to pick up a few tips (or be reminded of things you'd forgotten!) to have fun and come away encouraged and inspired.

As I didn't photograph my lunch you'll have to make do with a picture of my notebook. Gaynor says we must carry one always!

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group time again.

I have been feeling a little insecure recently, but writing has been the answer, not the cause. Although writing can, and frequently does, give me insecurities, when it's going well it can be absorbing and as good an 'escape' as reading.

Do you have favourite story characters, locations or situations you turn to when you need cheering up?

Real books and a couple of quickies

Paint Me a Picture and A Year and a Day are now real books!

Answer a multiple choice question here for a chance to win tickets to Harrogate Crime Festival.

The University of Chester are looking for flash fiction.

Coming soon ...

Alfie Dog Fiction are producing a collection of my plant based stories. It'll be available as both an e version and a paperback. I'm jolly excited about this.

Working on this project made me wish A Year and a Day  and Paint Me a Picture were both available as real books too. So I've sorted that!

If you're working on a novel yourself then the prize for this competition might be very useful. Actually it's a great prize for any writer.

If you're interested in education, people laughing at themselves or getting your mits on £150 then this competition might appeal.

Anyone who likes stationery (that's all of us isn't it? - I can't be the only one with more pens and notebooks than I strictly need and a collection of lucky paperclips) might like to try this one.

Bingo!

Bingo is a 'gambling game using cards marked with numbers'. Do you play? The word is sometimes also used as an exclamation in much the same was as 'Eureka' to mean 'I've got it!' Ever say that?

Even if you've never played and never shouted out the word in a moment of enlightenment you can have a go at this competition and be in with the chance of winning a kindle. All you need do is write a new bingo call. (Y'know legs eleven, two fat ladies etc)

You don't need to have played to try this poetry competition either, but having some idea of the game might be an advantage. First prize is £150.

For those wondering about the weird package shown in the last post - it was gardening tools. There will be more about them on my other blog soon.

Something different

Although I have absolutely nothing against receiving a big fat cheque I do like competitions which offer unusual prizes. Perhaps that's partly because I've done OK in a couple of those (My first ever writing success netted me tea with the mayor along with a book token)

Is there anything you'd particularly like to win, or is cash more appealing? Please do let me know if you come across any competitions with weird prizes (or more normal ones)

This poetry competition has great prizes - an Arvon course for the winner and book tokens for 2nd and 3rd.

Talking of different, Cafelit are actively looking for submissions and they accept a wide range of stories. If you have something quirky that you're not sure what to do with you might want to give them a try.