Meeting Pippa Wright

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours with the talented Pippa Wright, author of Lizzy Harrison Loses Control, Unsuitable Men and The Foster Husband. 


Pippa offered her services to provide an hour of editorial advice on publishing/getting an agent in an online auction for a very worthy cause - Authors for the Philipines that has already raised almost £55,000. I was lucky enough to win the bid to benefit from Pippa's expertise. All credit to the organisers of this fantastic idea too! And let's not forget the devastation caused to the people and this beautiful country and hope the funding goes some way to helping them rebuild their lives.

We chatted for way over the hour over coffee in a lovely little cafe in Soho. Pippa, who brought along her darling little dog, Bill, was very down to earth and easy to talk to. She offered an invaluable critique on my novel, Preparing for Doomsday and discussed my idea for my next one, gaving me lots of practical advice whilst sharing her expertise and experience. 

Thanks to Pippa, I left London feeling far more confident, better educated in the world of publishing and writing and truly inspired to get my next project started, so watch this space!  
Also keep an eye out for Pippa's next novel, The Gospel According to Drew Barrymore.  out later this year.





   

100 Ways to Fight The Flab - Jane Wenham-Jones

Just received my copy of '100 Ways To Fight The Flab', Jane Wenham-Jones' fabulous new book.

It's a light-hearted approach that includes certain measures that serial dieters will relate to with a few sensible tips and methods thrown in.

A timely addition to your reading list if you managed to stretch the festive season over two weeks like me - why does it take weeks to lose a few pounds and only days to put the same number of pounds back on? I'm sure there's some scientific reason but I think I'll stick to the more simple ideas Jane is offering particularly since she's promising results whilst avoiding any deprivation of wine and chocolates.

Anyway, check out page 175 for my contribution.

The book is available on Amazon as an e-book or paperback
http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Ways-Fight-Flab-chocolate-ebook/dp/B00AVWLYG6

10 grammar rules you can forget: how to stop worrying and write proper

 

10 grammar rules you can forget: how to stop worrying and write proper

http://www.theguardian.com/scienc

Sunday Sound Off - Presenters and Botox

Is it just me who is mildly irritated by the increasing number of TV presenters who are unable to move their mouths properly because of their latest vanity shots. I appreciate their desire to look good on screen in front of thousands of viewers but come on, they're employed to speak. Many of them already sound like they have a mouthful of marbles in any case but that teamed with Botox, fillers or whatever else they're having pumped into their faces makes for painful viewing in my eyes!

Are Elephants and Anteaters even related??

Just been watching a programme about elephants. 'Lovely animals, strange but beautiful' I said at the end. My husband opened his eyes looked at the TV and replied 'Hmm, Anteaters'

What! Just how much Coke is in that Vodka!!!

Lost and Found

Well after letting off steam yesterday with Emirates after two phone calls to their Dubai Airport Lost and Found and three ignored emails to the airline I about my lost Kindle on my flight back from the Maldives, I sent a rather stern message to Emirates Customer services.

Today I contacted Kindle to inform them I had lost my Kindle in case anyone managed to order books through my account,. The good news was, I found out I could download an App that would allow me to access all the books I'd bought through Amazon on my laptop - Yippee, I can finish the 50 Shades Deeper I started on my holiday!

Feeling pleased with myself that I could access my library of book purchases, I routinely checked my emails there it was, an email from Emirates Customer Service, even better, they've got my Kindle, woo hoo!!!

Then ping! Amazon's amazingly efficient service-an email telling me they had de-activated my account attached to my Kindle-Nooo.

Well done Amazon for your extremely quick and efficient customer service, however, on this occasion, I can't help wishing they had been a bit more like Dubai Lost and Found!

Oh well ... 50 Shades, now where was I up to...  

The Art of Blogging

Is it just me that finds blogging so difficult?

Despite my love of writing I find it much easier to write about other people, lose myself in a world of make-believe and let my imagination run away as I hit the keys, or rattle off a rhyme, but writing about myself and opening up my world for all to see is a different matter. Whether it's concerns about how much to disclose, not wanting to bore people or worries about how  friends and family might react if I inadvertently reveal something they don't want people to see, I'm not really sure.

So I'll get my apologies out of the way now and if you do have any feedback good or bad, let me know.

I'm told it gets easier - we'll see!