A blog and a book

A couple of treats for you today. When you stop writing and take a rest you could visit the new Julia Douglas blog at www.juliadouglasromance.blogspot.com

And, if you feel like escaping to Spain, Kate Lord brown has a new short story up on Kindle. It was her German editor's idea, and is being published there next month as a prequel to 'Perfume Garden'. Kate thought,  if it was up in English for free for a couple of days,  it would be a way to say thank you to everyone who has supported her books:

UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Last-Rose-Summer-ebook/dp/B00CSH8X48/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1368709819&sr=8-5&keywords=kate+lord+brown

US http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kate+lord+brown+the+last+rose+of+summer

To sign or not to sign

Most of you have more than likely seen or heard about the new DC Thompson contract which is asking for a lot more rights for no extra payment. If you believe this contract is unfair to writers then please join our silent, peaceful protest. From now until the end of July we will not be signing the contract or sending any fiction stories to My Weekly, The Weekly News or People’s Friend.

Please note that this action isn’t trying to convince writers not to sign the contract, whether they sign or not is up to them, this is just about sending a message to DC Thompson that writers deserve better. The more writers that take this stand hopefully the more impact it will have.

Giggle Blog

Susan Jane Jones http://susanjanejones.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/all-aboard-the-giggle-jerker/#comment-1750 began a giggle blog last month and is posting a giggle at the beginning of each month. Now others, including me, are joining her. We all need to laugh, or at least smile.

Here's my giggle.
My friend, Babs (name has been changed to protect the gullible), asked me to help her perform a miracle with a new hair product she'd bought via a shopping channel. 'It's hair string,' she told me. 'You put a bit on your hands, rub them together until the stuff gets sort of stringy and then you sort of push it up under your hair. It's supposed to make it look thicker, add volume…'
She sat in front of her dressing table mirror and I stood behind her while she read out the instructions and I obeyed them. We weren't expecting such a transformation. The stuff actually worked. As I tweaked at her hair it sprang outwards, filling out, lifting up,  looking gorgeous.
'Gosh,' said Babs. 'I look like Dolly Parton.I hope it washes out. Oh, and I'd better not lean against any walls in case I get stuck to them.'
Both feeling very clever we went downstairs for a cup of tea. As we sat chatting I watched Bab's hair slowly flop until it was flat to her skull.
I left soon after, before she looked in the mirror. I didn't have the heart to tell her she'd gone from fully blown to wilted in the length of time it took to demolish a cup of Tetley's.

 

Short story news

www.alfiedog.com  is now carrying over 900 short stories for 240+ authors around the world and is bringing out short story collections as well now, including one launching tomorrow for Sarah England. Well worth taking a look.

A taste of things to come...

The team at John Hunt Publishing isn't psychic. I chose my own cover so that's why it features all my favourite colours. There was another one that I liked - it had butterflies on it - but I'm glad it's this one now.

Some of you may remember that the National Association of Writing Groups published a little book of mine ages ago called The Handy Little Book For Writers. Handy Hints for Writers is a larger, more expanded, wiser version. Wiser because I've learned a lot more since the NAWG one was published.

This one, Handy Hints, has a launch date of 30th August when, no doubt, you'll be hearing lots more about it.

We apologise for the technical hitch...

Many of us will know the frustration of technical problems and Julia Douglas has had her fair share lately. It was due to technical problems that publication of The Showman's Girl was delayed. I posted about this earlier. Now, to compensate for any inconvenience to anyone who couldn't find it over the weekend, it's going to be free on iTunes for a full month.

LINK: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-showmans-girl/id639618472?mt=11

Re-run of my television appearance

I've just heard, from a friend who was on Deal Or No Deal with me, that my show will be on Challenge Channel on Sky TV tomorrow, Wednesday 17th. If you want to catch it you'll have to make an early start. There are two shows, one of which will be mine, starting at 6am but they are on again on Challenge + 1 an hour later, obviously.
Challenge is also on Freeview. I may be up early tomorrow. I'll consider it a refresher course as I'm giving a talk on my experiences at the Dream Factory to a local WI group on Thursday evening.