Real life has come between me and my hope to keep up to date with blogging. But I'll be back soon to reply to your messages and to visit your blogs. And I have awards to accept (at least three).
This is only a quick visit to Blogland to show off the cover for my People's Friend pocket novel - available in the shops until Wednesday (apart from in Dunfermline, where I cleared the shelves).
So, this is it:
Isn't it gorgeous? I'm so, so pleased. This is exactly how I'd imagined Grace.
I'm thinking I should maybe update my blog. It's been a while.
A lot going on - and yet so many things stay the same...
I'm still trying to lose weight.
Still shivering (thinking I should maybe move a bit more to help generate heat).
Still trying to find time to write more
I've identified one area where I could save a significant amount of time: I'm spending far too long watching my Amazon rankings. Amazon only update every hour. So why do I feel the need to click on the reports every five minutes?
I suspect I'll get tired eventually (at least I hope I will - it's such a pointless thing to do).
So, news (some of you will have already caught up with my news on Facebook, so apologies for repetitions):
I've been busy basking in reflected glory as my sixteen-year-old recently passed her alto saxophone grade 8 exam with distinction (proud mama's counting the UCAS points).
And there's some writing news: Since my last post, I've sold a handful of short stories. And I've sold the large print rights for Hidden Heartache, so my lovely Nick will get a third cover and be in libraries.
In a couple of weeks, my People's Friend pocket novel will be in the shops. I'm beside myself - eager to see if they've changed the title...? What the cover's like...? This is the one I'd called 'Sean McIver's Return'. Sean left town to go travelling many years ago, and not everyone is delighted to see him back.
And Twitter. Twitter has been known to irritate the life out of me. I set up my account when I didn't quite know what I was doing and followed everyone who followed me (unless they were obviously spamming). The result is my twitter feed has turned into a joke with so many people screaming nonsense and wanting me to buy their books/beauty products/assorted stuff. And, because of all this spam, it's too easy to miss messages of real interest. So I'm pleased to announce I've discovered lists. And I've only put people on lists if their tweets are of value... Minxes, Writers (ones I know, not the thousands who only want me to buy their books), Editors, News, Interesting Tweeters... Now I only read these lists and can ignore the rest.
Finally, as I sit here shivering with my hot water bottle and five layers (vest, t-shirt, two jumpers and a fleece), I have anticipated that summer might arrive one day. So I've positioned this blog under the shade of some lovely greenery. This is optimistic in the extreme, given I've yet to see a single leaf on any of our trees this year.
This is Nick and Emma's story - and, in my head at least, Nick's the most gorgeous hero ever. I think I love him. Even though he's spoken for. And he's not real.
I know I've been neglecting this blog dreadfully - I'm still not over the whole chrome/explorer thing if I'm honest it it's kind of taken the shine off blogging and made it into a bit of a chore. I'm thinking about getting my own web domain and I'll maybe move my blog onto that - we'll see.
But, in the meantime, I'm being interviewed on Maria's Book Blog and also on Romance Book Haven. Pop over and say hello if you have a minute.
And, as it's Valentine's Day, The Minxes have made Blaze free for the 14th, 15th and 16th February - so if you haven't read it already, now's your chance to grab a copy from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.
So, my long promised numbers for 2012 (and yes, it is shocking that I'm posting this mid way through February).
I kept a spreadsheet of words written and here's what happened last year (I always feel a bit like I'm showing my underwear when I do this - but I hope some of you might find it useful - I know I'm always interested to know what other people have done):
Total words written in 2012 = 147,060
Total words written in 2012 that sold in 2012 = 92,808
Total words written in 2012 self-published = 5,650 (my story in Blaze - yay)
Words written in 2012 carried forward as wips to 2013 = 48605
Total words sold in 2012 including words written in previous years = 215,900
Those 215,900 sold words were made up of:
14 short stories
3 pocket novels
1 large print rights sale. Yes, I counted 50k twice in total sold - but I sold them twice, so I stand by the numbers - and I haven't counted the Blaze words as sold because they were self-published and I didn't give myself any money.
It took me a long time to get over the mental hurdle of self-publishing. Which was daft because I've happily read self-published work by others for some time - and have been very impressed by much of it.
Thankfully, I was taken by the hand and, with the encouragement of Minxes, I jumped in. And it's a great adventure. So far, apart from Blaze (which went through three rounds of edits), I've only self-published stories that have previously sold to other markets - because I've needed the validation of an independent editor telling me the work is okay. But I'm now working on a non-fiction project that I hope to publish in the next few weeks (as soon as I can do something about a cover).
I hope you're all well and keeping warm and cosy. Anyone would think it was winter with all this snow still lying around.
Popping by very briefly to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I'm feeling positive about this new year and I hope you are, too.
You can see how I spent the first day of 2013 here:
No, I didn't go in myself - I watched from a safe distance. But I did shiver in sympathy. It looked very cold.
I'm still getting my '2012 writing year' post together. I also have some awards to accept - at least four. And I'll be catching up with everyone - and everything - soon.
Starting the year as I mean to go on (not) - by running around like a headless chicken trying to catch up on things.
In the meantime, the very lovely Maria has interviewed me on her terrific book blog here. Leave a comment to be in with a chance to win a mobi copy of my recently published short story collection, The Baby of the Family & Other Stories. (And it's worth going over if only to see how awful I look - I don't know what's wrong with cameras these days, I used to look nice in photos.)
I've been threatening to do it for a while - and I've finally managed to upload my first short story collection onto Kindle. Actually, I've uploaded it about a dozen times, because each time it went live I (or someone else) noticed something wrong. So I've had to stop looking at it or I'd never get anything else done.
Here it is:
Of all the stories I've ever written, one included here - Football Crazy - has to be my favourite. And it was inspired by real life. Of course, some things were changed - the dad in the story had died, rather than run away. And the accident was exaggerated for dramatic purposes. But the wee girl was based on my own daughter - as was her reason for playing football. And, when it was published, the illustration even looked a bit like her - and there was no way the artist could have known. (I can't show you because I haven't cleared copyright with the artist.)
My favourite thing to do is writing, but actually selling stories and getting them published is very difficult - as any of you who submit stories for publication will know. And I have people to thank for the fact my work has ever seen the light of day:
All the stories in this collection have been published previously in The People's Friend (click here to find their page on Facebook). And I can't begin to tell you how much I owe to my lovely editor at the magazine, Shirley Blair.
And then there are the critique partners who have commented on my stories. But, more importantly, offered friendship, kept my spirits up and understood when I've needed to talk.
As for the business of actually promoting my work, you'd never know it with the amount I talk about myself, but I find it all quite difficult. Luckily I've had help with that, too:
You can read a bit about the stories in this collection over on Sally Clements' blog, because she's written a post about it.
And (this is about the Minx anthology rather than The Baby of the Family) you'll find a chance to win a copy of Blaze over on Maria's Book Blog - where she's interviewed me.
As for my novel, Trust In Me, two people (who I don't know, but to whom I'm very grateful) have each written five star reviews - one on Amazon.co.uk, the other on Amzon.com. I'm considerably more than a tiny bit chuffed.
Finally, because it's Christmas (and for those who haven't seen my links on FB or Twitter), can you imagine what might happen if Kim Wilde and her brother Ricky got on the same train as you? It might look a little bit like this:
I always thought Kim Wilde was a bit miserable, but I've changed my mind. She'd be terrific fun at any party.
My next post will probably be my yearly 'writing round up'. It's been a good year, so I'm looking forward to writing it :0)
I lied, I'm sorry. I said I'd be back on Monday and I wasn't. Today's Tuesday. But the days are flying by so quickly I kind of lost track of time.
But I'm here now with a story of two copies of the same book and news of a giveaway.
As soon as the pre-order button appeared on Amazon, I ordered a copy of Maya Blake's debut M&B The Price of Success (Mills & Boon Modern) . Of course I did, it was the sensible thing to do. Not only is Maya thoroughly lovely and a terrific friend, but she's also one of the best writers I know.
And, to prove just how wonderful she is, a few weeks ago she sent me a copy of her book. A signed copy.
Once I had it in my hot little hands, I devoured it in one sitting. Seriously, it's that good. And, if you don't believe me, have a look at some of the reviews. See? We can't all be wrong.
In due course, my copy arrived from Amazon.
So, here I am with two copies of The Price Of Success. While some of you will be sitting there with no copies.
Unfair.
In an attempt to redress the balance somewhat, I've decided to send my duplicate copy to one lucky winner. (I'm giving away the brand new Amazon copy, not my signed copy - I'm nice, but not that nice. Besides, unless your name was Suzanne the signed copy would be no good for you.) All you have to do is to leave a comment on this blog post by 6pm on Sunday 2nd December and I'll draw a name at random.
And, while in such a generous mood, I've also shared the list of my top ten writing snacks over on the Minx blog. I'd love to see you over there and be sure to tell us about your own favourites.
Plus, if you're quick, this weekend you can get a free copy of the terrific Teresa Ashby's The Colonel and His Daughter from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.
Pop back on Monday for news of a free draw - there will be a copy of my lovely friend Maya Blake's debut Mills&Boon up for grabs.
Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post. I've picked a name out of the hat and Caroline is the winner of the e-copy of Trust In Me. If you could please email me at suzanne(at)jones4582(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk to make sure I have your current email address, I'll send that straight across.
And my new cover:
This is for a collection of short stories I'm preparing to put up on Kindle - all previously published in The People's Friend.
The Baby of the Family is the story of a teenage girl who is mollycoddled by her very lovely family - when all she wants is to be treated like a grown-up. So I thought it might be apt to use a photo of my own teenager for the cover.
The days here have been disgusting - dark, murky, windy, wet... These past few weeks, travelling over our hills has been very much as I imagine driving through the end of the world might be. Horrible.
I hope it's nice and bright wherever you are.
And if it isn't (or even if it is), there's news of two Minxy books:
It's my book. On Amazon. Doesn't it have a gorgeous cover?
This is the e version of my first pocket novel which was published way back in August. And I have a Kindle copy to give away. Leave a comment on this post by 6pm on Sunday 18th November and I'll pick a winner at random.
There is more writing news: A My Weekly Easy Read coming out in January - I have a soft spot for my Biker Boy and really hope everyone else likes him. Also, this week I sold a pocket novel to The People's Friend - Sean McIver's Return will out on the 18th April.
Short story news: a few more sold, a few more published. I have one still out in the current People's Friend Christmas Special, and another story in The People's Friend Annual 2013 - which would make a lovely gift if you're looking for ideas. You really have to see the annual to realise just how gorgeous it is - beautifully illustrated and a proper hardback book. I'm particularly fond of the illustration for my story - as I've said before, my hero is utterly gorgeous and exactly as I'd imagined him when I wrote the story.
And, in a follow up to my last blog post, I can't believe how quickly the days have passed. We're into the depths of murky autumn and my baby girl was 16 a few weeks ago. Her stock reply now, whenever she's asked to do something, is that she doesn't have to do as she's told as she can now get married.
I've told her to go ahead. I'll buy a hat. But if she gets married her pocket money will stop.
Summer hardly even happened here. And now it seems to be over as we're shivering and piling on vests and socks. The school's are back in Scotland, too - the start of a new year. My daughter went back last Thursday. Scary thing is she's in form five now and I have to accept she's a big girl and doing Highers.
Yet again, I'm left wondering where the time's gone? It really does seem like only yesterday she went to school for the first time. And now there's only one more first day of the new school year to go.
This time of year always makes me think - much in the same way as Hogmanay - of the things I've done and the things I still hope to do. This past year has been an okay one in terms of writing - a number of short stories sold and a pocket novel published.
This coming year I hope to write more short stories and (fingers crossed) sell some of them - and I'm working on another longer story. I've made a list and aim to hit some targets - rather than just hoping for the best and finding that time's run away.
Time has a habit of doing that. This photo was taken in 1998 - but it seems like yesterday those little arms were reaching for me:
I blinked - and this is what happened:
2012 - fourteen years and 500 odd miles away from the first photo. When she was one, she was worried about 'crumbs of the sea' on her feet. Now she knows it's sand and just brushes it off. And I'm left reeling at how quickly it's all flown by.
Abba put it better than I ever could. This song always makes me cry even at the best of times, but especially now when thoughts of leaving school and going off to university are being voiced on a daily basis. Hankies at the ready.
I'm over at the Minxes' today, talking about how personal you should really get in a blog. It would be great to see you there. You can let me know if you'd like me to keep it to just writing :0)
I'm sure you've all been wondering what happened to the dirty sock in Pobol Y Cwm (reference previous post). Did she keep it in her handbag as a souvenir? Did she give it back?
Neither as it happens. She threw it out. Not only was it dirty, it also had a hole in it. But she bought the boyfriend a new pair, so he should have been happy - right? Wrong. He ended the relationship. Even though it wasn't said, I suspect the sock had a lot to do with the decision.
And for part two of this blog post - and the inappropriate crushes confessions I've been hinting at for ages - please pop over to see the Minxes.
Please visit - hate it when I blog there and get no friendly comments (and I know that makes me needy and pathetic, but that's me).
PS - my pocket novel is in the shops now. So excited. Have been busy admiring it on the shelves. And huge thanks to those who have read it and offered feedback and to those who have blogged about it. xx
Another quick visit - with huge apologies for my bad manners. I will be back with the promised post on inappropriate crushes very soon. And, more importantly, I'll be back to answer all your comments on the previous post.
But I'm so excited - LOOK:
I completely love it. And huge thanks to lovely Judy Jarvie for scanning it in for me. It will be in the shops on August 9th.
As though this wasn't enough, my copy of The People's Friend Annual 2013 arrived and I have a story in it.
. Of course I did, it was the sensible thing to do. Not only is Maya thoroughly lovely and a terrific friend, but she's also one of the best writers I know.
