Some excitement on the book front: I've been asked by Ann Gawthorpe, a Hodder author, to add a section on self-publishing to her forthcoming book, Teach Yourself How to Write Your Life Story, so I've done that for her and sent it off. Thanks for thinking of me, Ann - and I look forward to reading the book when it comes out in January 2009.
Though I'm afraid it's rather a case of from the sublime to the you-know-what today. This morning, I was asked to go in and sign books at a shop that must (to spare my fellow-writers' delicate blushes) remain nameless in a nearby town. As you know, these days being invited to do something by a shop that must remain ... (well, you know the rest ...) is much like Goliath inviting David for supper and a "chat". For me personally that is - I must stress that point or I fear I will be beaten with twigs (which is strangely attractive, I must say). Again ... That is (I'm back to the David image now, in case you're lost), I know he doesn't want me there (ah, understandably of course - who would?), and there ain't no way on earth I'm going to get out of there alive. Which proved to be much the case. When I got there, the assistants - even those who knew I was coming - stared at me in shock (not that I can blame them - I was dressed rather strangely and my hair was wild, dahlings, wild ...), and I had to beg one of them to get copies of Pink Champagne and Apple Juice out of the stock room where the shop (etc etc) have decided to keep them. Overcome with terror, I didn't dare ask them about my other books. They then swept me into the never-visited Local Interest books corner where they'd hidden the rest of my stuff - naturally I always lower the tone, you see ... Still, my fellow-writers bravely rescued me and, as the three of them have wonderful books which people like and want to have in their shops (hurrah!), I managed to sign four or five copies of mine. The truly and utterly-butterly wonderful assistant even allowed me to move some of my stock up from the bottom shelf, but only to the one above. No doubt they'll be down on the bottom shelf once more by the end of the day and in the stock room again by the weekend. Indeed, I can't blame them, m'dears - I'm obviously such a bad person that I am lucky to be allowed to remain in Surrey at all, tee hee. Next time, I'll think I'll take a t-shirt saying "Yes I know I embarrass you but I'm from Essex and one must make allowances for the underprivileged!" Hey ho.
(And yes, I still do prefer the original of that last paragraph - which I have kept btw as you never know when it might come in handy for purposes of bribery and corruption, cue evil laughter ... - but it's edit or die, I fear ...!! I will be in disguise for the next few weeks just in case of literary repercussions. The owl hoots at midnight and I'm the one under the lamp-post dressed in purdah ... Oh, and the will's under the bed.)
So, reeling from the trauma of all that, I managed to stagger back home, still carrying the books I'd brought of course, and edit another chapter of The Bones of Summer. I'm facing the really long chapter now - Chapter 15 - so I've eaten the last of Jane H's chocolate (thanks, Jane) in order to psyche myself up for it. Ooh, and talking of books, Maloney's Law on Amazon.com now has 5 whole sellers of new copies on it, hurrah, including Mr US Amazon himself. Gosh! But no cover art yet - sigh. We struggle on ...
This afternoon, I attended one of the Diocesan Summer School workshops run by Viv Stacey (whom I rate) called "Guarding the Heart". I started the session feeling completely trammelled by the day, but actually it was quite interesting and parts of it I even got enthused about. I took down the details of the Contemplative Spirituality Network and will be keeping an eye on them. She gave out some good meditation tips too, which I shall try to use at some point.
I've also just finished "Showcase Myspace: The New Poetry". Um, I have to admit, first off, that I didn't actually think it was very good as a collection - many of the pieces had poems inside them (probably) but they were very cunningly hidden by a clutter of words, so rather a disappointment really, as well as being too overwrought and melodramatic. That said, one or two pieces did take my fancy, including Robert D Edelman's "In the cards", and the humour of Nicky Jones' "Bunion" is fun but I could have done without the exclamation marks. Please can someone edit this properly?? However, I do think that Janice Windle's work which ends the book has a hell of a lot of power and really deserves to be elsewhere. She's a fabulous artist too.
Today's nice things:
1. Having something in a Hodder book
2. Escaping the agony of the shop that must not ... oh, you know!
3. Editing Bones
4. The Diocesan workshop.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
ANNE BROOKE BOOKS: Independent writer of modern fiction
Showing posts with label Goldenford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goldenford. Show all posts
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Notes, rings and Bones
Have spent most of the day trawling my way slowly, slowly through the vast numbers of notes I took on last week’s Away Day. It’s like wading through treacle. When you have no map. Soon I think I will lose the will to live entirely. Hey ho.
Still, I’m much cheered by the thought of nipping into town at lunchtime to look at eternity rings, hurrah! I’d like one with emeralds, as the engagement ring is an emerald and, dahlings, you know how I do so hate to clash … UPDATE: I found a ring I really, really, really like in Cry For The Moon. Swoon. I’ve asked them to put it aside till Lord H and I can see it together on Saturday. It’s fabulous – I am seriously in love with it. Give me jewellery and give it to me now!... Oh Lordy, but I hope he likes it too. Anyway, while I was there, I also paid in a cheque (for books, double hurrah!), picked up a copy of the Radio Times and tried to see if there was anything about me in this month’s Writers’ Forum magazine – there wasn’t. Lordy, but I have a planet-sized ego for sure – just a shame I don’t have the confidence to go with it. Now there’s a scary thought.
Meanwhile, the tension continues to mount on the journey of the US Amazon Maloney’s Law – it now has a publication date of 29 June 2008, which is obviously wrong. But hey at least we’re moving forward towards some sort of resolution, possibly, so I’m not complaining.
And today’s exciting Chaplaincy phone query (the Chaplaincy office is temporarily with us while they’re being rebuilt) which I answered as Ruth G isn’t in today: where can I do A Level Hebrew in Surrey? I think I managed to dredge up some off-the-top-of-my-head knowledge about local schools and colleges but, goodness me, sometimes I could really do with a Phone a Friend or Ask the Audience button. It’s tough here in the hot seat, you know.
Ooh and the lovely Megan Taylor, author of the marvellous How We Were Lost, has just finished reading Thorn in the Flesh and has been kind enough to call it “a gripping and intriguing read”. Thanks, Megan – glad you liked it!
Tonight, I’m supposed to be going to both Guildford Writers and one of the Diocesan Summer Schools – I’m nothing if not overbooked … However, they’ve moved this evening’s Summer School course to somewhere near the Lido and I am too much of a Geography Wimp to attempt to work out how to get there. If only they’d kept it at the Cathedral, which I know without having to think about, then I probably would have gone, but the thought of driving to a strange place is beyond me and I am filled with existential terror. Really, it’s astonishing I go out at all. I’m just a hermit in the making.
So I think I’ll stay in and concentrate on The Bones of Summer instead – I’m on Chapter 10 of the edit now and doing a lot of juggling. Which incidentally is an essential writers’ skill that I wish they’d teach you at Writers’ School – we all need to know how to text-juggle, believe me.
Ooh and on the way home, I bravely popped into see Gladys - and she was the most pleasant and chatty she's been for a long, long time, hurrah! So I didn't need to wear my body armour after all ... I think the trick is not to talk first but to wait until she's ready to talk to me. I just went straight into her room and started sorting out the bird table outside her window and doing a lot of smiling. She seemed happier with me then, so maybe I'll try that trick next time. But hey, result!!
And finally I don’t think Lord H and I are going to be able to resist the no doubt High Tosh Factor of tonight’s new TV series, “Bonekickers” – or “Boneknickers”, as we like to call it. Archaeology, doom and ridiculous plots – just what the doctor ordered.
Today’s nice things:
1. Shopping for an eternity ring
2. Another small addition to the US Amazon Maloney entry
3. Feedback on Thorn
4. A pleasant visit to Gladys
5. Editing Bones
6. Tosh TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Still, I’m much cheered by the thought of nipping into town at lunchtime to look at eternity rings, hurrah! I’d like one with emeralds, as the engagement ring is an emerald and, dahlings, you know how I do so hate to clash … UPDATE: I found a ring I really, really, really like in Cry For The Moon. Swoon. I’ve asked them to put it aside till Lord H and I can see it together on Saturday. It’s fabulous – I am seriously in love with it. Give me jewellery and give it to me now!... Oh Lordy, but I hope he likes it too. Anyway, while I was there, I also paid in a cheque (for books, double hurrah!), picked up a copy of the Radio Times and tried to see if there was anything about me in this month’s Writers’ Forum magazine – there wasn’t. Lordy, but I have a planet-sized ego for sure – just a shame I don’t have the confidence to go with it. Now there’s a scary thought.
Meanwhile, the tension continues to mount on the journey of the US Amazon Maloney’s Law – it now has a publication date of 29 June 2008, which is obviously wrong. But hey at least we’re moving forward towards some sort of resolution, possibly, so I’m not complaining.
And today’s exciting Chaplaincy phone query (the Chaplaincy office is temporarily with us while they’re being rebuilt) which I answered as Ruth G isn’t in today: where can I do A Level Hebrew in Surrey? I think I managed to dredge up some off-the-top-of-my-head knowledge about local schools and colleges but, goodness me, sometimes I could really do with a Phone a Friend or Ask the Audience button. It’s tough here in the hot seat, you know.
Ooh and the lovely Megan Taylor, author of the marvellous How We Were Lost, has just finished reading Thorn in the Flesh and has been kind enough to call it “a gripping and intriguing read”. Thanks, Megan – glad you liked it!
Tonight, I’m supposed to be going to both Guildford Writers and one of the Diocesan Summer Schools – I’m nothing if not overbooked … However, they’ve moved this evening’s Summer School course to somewhere near the Lido and I am too much of a Geography Wimp to attempt to work out how to get there. If only they’d kept it at the Cathedral, which I know without having to think about, then I probably would have gone, but the thought of driving to a strange place is beyond me and I am filled with existential terror. Really, it’s astonishing I go out at all. I’m just a hermit in the making.
So I think I’ll stay in and concentrate on The Bones of Summer instead – I’m on Chapter 10 of the edit now and doing a lot of juggling. Which incidentally is an essential writers’ skill that I wish they’d teach you at Writers’ School – we all need to know how to text-juggle, believe me.
Ooh and on the way home, I bravely popped into see Gladys - and she was the most pleasant and chatty she's been for a long, long time, hurrah! So I didn't need to wear my body armour after all ... I think the trick is not to talk first but to wait until she's ready to talk to me. I just went straight into her room and started sorting out the bird table outside her window and doing a lot of smiling. She seemed happier with me then, so maybe I'll try that trick next time. But hey, result!!
And finally I don’t think Lord H and I are going to be able to resist the no doubt High Tosh Factor of tonight’s new TV series, “Bonekickers” – or “Boneknickers”, as we like to call it. Archaeology, doom and ridiculous plots – just what the doctor ordered.
Today’s nice things:
1. Shopping for an eternity ring
2. Another small addition to the US Amazon Maloney entry
3. Feedback on Thorn
4. A pleasant visit to Gladys
5. Editing Bones
6. Tosh TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Friday, July 04, 2008
Bones, bodies and breakdowns
Lordy, what a rollercoaster of a day. Up with rosy-fingered dawn (lucky dawn) today as I'd booked an 8.30am haircut and Lynda is super-efficient and always turns up early. Indeed when Lord H left the house at 8.15am, he found her parked outside and sent her up. She'd probably been parked there all night. Perhaps I should have offered her breakfast? Anyway, after her tender ministrations, I now look fairly presentable. At least temporarily.
All this meant I could pop into Godalming first thing and stock up on essential local papers and jiffy bags (in case someone actually buys Thorn in the Flesh and I have to send it to them - hell, you never know!). I also spent my birthday book vouchers in Waterstone's, and the girls there were incredibly helpful and got me books I might actually want to read - ie dark, quirky and different, which was what I asked them to find. I suspect they might have been significantly less helpful if they'd known I was one of the hated Breed of Authors. Bookshops don't mix with the likes of us, you know. Interestingly, one of the girls also said how boring most of the stuff they had in now was and it was very dull that everyone was writing the same sort of book, and how lovely it was that I as a reader was making their jobs exciting by asking for something different. Cue my line of bringing Goldenford and our wonderfully different books to their attention, but I was too frightened to mention it, to be honest - it's not often bookshop staff are nice to me and I was too moved by the experience to ruin it ... Sigh. I am a Grade One Wimp, to be sure.
The big event of the day however was of course Penny's funeral. Her work friends turned up in force, which I was glad to see, plus long-term friends and family, so actually it was very fitting. And very "Penny". We had a laugh, along with a few tears as well, of course. In the end, it was sassy, straightforward and fun - much like the woman herself. Guildford Crematorium is a lovely place, I must say. I'll be very happy to end up there. And I got to know it extremely well too as after the service, my car wouldn't start. Goddammit. My, Penny would have loved that - she would have killed herself laughing, so it's probably a good job she's already dead. If I'm allowed to say such a thing on Funeral Day. Ruth was kind enough to wait until I'd called the RAC man and sorted out my time of rescue, and also bequeathed (couldn't resist it, sorry) me the remains (God, but I'm good) of her apple juice plus a mug to drink it with from the bowels of her campervan. Thanks, Ruth. So I had a pleasant hour-and-a-half sitting on a shady bench and admiring the funeral style of the next body in. Or possibly out. Funeral Number Two had a zillion mourners, truckloads of flowers and the black horses with the plumes. Way to go! It did make my car and the RAC van rather unpopular, as they could have done with the extra parking spaces, and we were obviously not of their ilk. Ah well. I also managed in the unexpected lull to write out a plot and themes for Hallsfoot's Battle. So that's got me excited and enthused about it again, hurrah! Not to mention having a brand-new battery and a car that works now, double hurrah.
It'll still have to be put on hold though as when I got back I found the report on The Bones of Summer (anyone remember that one?) from The Literary Consultancy. It was much better than I'd anticipated, triple hurrahs! So thank you, Sara Maitland, for your advice. It's very much appreciated. Her overall view was that the novel was "a very satisfying and dramatic tale", and she loved the whole Craig and Paul story arc. She thought I handled the sex very well (gosh!), as it was open and realistic without being "in your face". That's a relief then, as sex writing is one of my strong points, I think. Negative points are that I really need to up the ante of my plot (which I knew - I always need help with plot. It's my big weak point), and she gave me some wonderful suggestions for that. Alongside, I also need to give more life to the secondary characters, but her plot suggestions will go a long way to sorting that out. So I've started the edit and I'm looking forward to giving it some welly as I go through, along with some more exciting strands. My, how I love getting my teeth into the edit - as long as the report I'm basing it on is a positive one, that is!
Oh, and I see from a read through of The Surrey Advertiser that the police have "swooped" (why do they always do that??) on the nearby sleepy little village of Elstead, as they've discovered a cannabis farm there. My, how exciting! You would have thought they could have invited us round for a party first, dammit. It's getting more "Midsomer" here by the minute. And a Guildford man has been shortlisted for Husband of the Year in Eve Magazine's awards. How hugely embarrassing for him. Though, to my mind, Lord H could knock all of their entries into a cocked hat - I shall have to enter him for it next year ...
Today's nice things:
1. Haircut
2. Saying goodbye to Penny
3. Breaking down in a Crematorium (yes, I know, but it was funny ...)
4. Discovering a plot and some themes for Hallsfoot
5. Getting a positive report for Bones - and hey one I can use for improvement!
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
All this meant I could pop into Godalming first thing and stock up on essential local papers and jiffy bags (in case someone actually buys Thorn in the Flesh and I have to send it to them - hell, you never know!). I also spent my birthday book vouchers in Waterstone's, and the girls there were incredibly helpful and got me books I might actually want to read - ie dark, quirky and different, which was what I asked them to find. I suspect they might have been significantly less helpful if they'd known I was one of the hated Breed of Authors. Bookshops don't mix with the likes of us, you know. Interestingly, one of the girls also said how boring most of the stuff they had in now was and it was very dull that everyone was writing the same sort of book, and how lovely it was that I as a reader was making their jobs exciting by asking for something different. Cue my line of bringing Goldenford and our wonderfully different books to their attention, but I was too frightened to mention it, to be honest - it's not often bookshop staff are nice to me and I was too moved by the experience to ruin it ... Sigh. I am a Grade One Wimp, to be sure.
The big event of the day however was of course Penny's funeral. Her work friends turned up in force, which I was glad to see, plus long-term friends and family, so actually it was very fitting. And very "Penny". We had a laugh, along with a few tears as well, of course. In the end, it was sassy, straightforward and fun - much like the woman herself. Guildford Crematorium is a lovely place, I must say. I'll be very happy to end up there. And I got to know it extremely well too as after the service, my car wouldn't start. Goddammit. My, Penny would have loved that - she would have killed herself laughing, so it's probably a good job she's already dead. If I'm allowed to say such a thing on Funeral Day. Ruth was kind enough to wait until I'd called the RAC man and sorted out my time of rescue, and also bequeathed (couldn't resist it, sorry) me the remains (God, but I'm good) of her apple juice plus a mug to drink it with from the bowels of her campervan. Thanks, Ruth. So I had a pleasant hour-and-a-half sitting on a shady bench and admiring the funeral style of the next body in. Or possibly out. Funeral Number Two had a zillion mourners, truckloads of flowers and the black horses with the plumes. Way to go! It did make my car and the RAC van rather unpopular, as they could have done with the extra parking spaces, and we were obviously not of their ilk. Ah well. I also managed in the unexpected lull to write out a plot and themes for Hallsfoot's Battle. So that's got me excited and enthused about it again, hurrah! Not to mention having a brand-new battery and a car that works now, double hurrah.
It'll still have to be put on hold though as when I got back I found the report on The Bones of Summer (anyone remember that one?) from The Literary Consultancy. It was much better than I'd anticipated, triple hurrahs! So thank you, Sara Maitland, for your advice. It's very much appreciated. Her overall view was that the novel was "a very satisfying and dramatic tale", and she loved the whole Craig and Paul story arc. She thought I handled the sex very well (gosh!), as it was open and realistic without being "in your face". That's a relief then, as sex writing is one of my strong points, I think. Negative points are that I really need to up the ante of my plot (which I knew - I always need help with plot. It's my big weak point), and she gave me some wonderful suggestions for that. Alongside, I also need to give more life to the secondary characters, but her plot suggestions will go a long way to sorting that out. So I've started the edit and I'm looking forward to giving it some welly as I go through, along with some more exciting strands. My, how I love getting my teeth into the edit - as long as the report I'm basing it on is a positive one, that is!
Oh, and I see from a read through of The Surrey Advertiser that the police have "swooped" (why do they always do that??) on the nearby sleepy little village of Elstead, as they've discovered a cannabis farm there. My, how exciting! You would have thought they could have invited us round for a party first, dammit. It's getting more "Midsomer" here by the minute. And a Guildford man has been shortlisted for Husband of the Year in Eve Magazine's awards. How hugely embarrassing for him. Though, to my mind, Lord H could knock all of their entries into a cocked hat - I shall have to enter him for it next year ...
Today's nice things:
1. Haircut
2. Saying goodbye to Penny
3. Breaking down in a Crematorium (yes, I know, but it was funny ...)
4. Discovering a plot and some themes for Hallsfoot
5. Getting a positive report for Bones - and hey one I can use for improvement!
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Sunflowers, poems and the joys of bitchiness
Some moments of joy this morning when I realised that a delightful person - who I suspect is probably the doctor at the University Health Centre who enjoys taking my dark stuff on holiday with her, God bless you, Vicky - has bought a copy of A Dangerous Man from its Amazon listing. Delightfully, this meant that for a few brief minutes I was actually in the Amazon gay fiction charts - ye gods, Carruthers, somebody pass me the smelling salts as I've never been there before ... Okay, it was in the late 70s in the list and has now sadly vanished but I'm hanging on to my moment of chart glory with all my might. Hell, wouldn't you?
Anyway, I was out fairly bright and early this morning to collect copies of Thorn in the Flesh and Pink Champagne and Apple Juice from the Goldenford office. I was thrilled to find that Jennifer had remembered to leave me the £6.00 I was owed from the Writers' Conference. Hurrah! I am now rich beyond the dreams of Ava Rice. Lucky old Ava.
On the way back home, I popped into Tesco and bought some sunflowers. I love sunflowers. They make me feel so happy just by looking at them. So big and bold and brash. Wonderful. They are now standing firm in the tallest of my vases - looking like nothing so much as yellow-hatted soldiers standing to attention. Bloody hell but there must be a haiku in there somewhere. Give me a map and a torch and I may just find it.
Talking of poetry, I've been thinking about things disappearing (inspired by the various disasters of yesterday) and what it means, so have come up with this, while the bath-water was running:
Disappearance
They take away our books,
then the shelves we put them on.
Next it’s our homes, our friends,
our names.
Last of all, they kill our history
and we are entirely gone.
Nice to have a poem out in the open. Feels like it's been a while. Must be a poetry day really, as I've also written something supremely bitchy about the latest edition of Mslexia, which turned up today. Sigh. Lord alone knows why I bother with it - to my mind, the new layout they've been talking about for ages looks even worse than the old one. Same old attitude too. Anyway, here it is (with apologies to the menfolk: I do know the last stanza is grossly unfair, but somehow it fitted. Sorry ...)
Mslexia blues
I want to be bitchy about Mslexia:
About the way it always makes
my heart groan when it falls through the letter-box.
About how surely the women
it’s supposed to be catering for
must have died out in the Seventies.
Or, with luck, be hidden somewhere dark and deep
where normal folk can’t find them.
I want to shout about the way
it’s so irritatingly worthy
and dull, not to mention prissy.
For if we must have a writing magazine
for women, then please try to find
some real ones to talk to. And a decent font.
Give us grace and wit and charm. Humour,
if you can manage it. Better still,
give us nothing.
Wiser perhaps to turn your attention
to a how-to-read magazine for men
who may well need it.
For the rest of the day, when I'm not worrying about things vanishing or irritating writing mags, I've been working on Hallsfoot's Battle. I haven't done that much - am on about 12,300 words now, but I'm happy with what I've done. Which is something. And for the first time in weeks, I think it might just be going somewhere. Ye gods and little fishes, but I may even have a plot. Of sorts. Miracles can happen, you know.
Tonight, Lord H and I are out at the theatre to see The Quiz. Looks just our sort of thing, m'dears. But I suspect it won't be relaxing. Ah well.
Today's nice things:
1. My moment in the Amazon gay fiction charts
2. Sunflowers
3. Writing
4. Being bitchy
5. Theatre.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, I was out fairly bright and early this morning to collect copies of Thorn in the Flesh and Pink Champagne and Apple Juice from the Goldenford office. I was thrilled to find that Jennifer had remembered to leave me the £6.00 I was owed from the Writers' Conference. Hurrah! I am now rich beyond the dreams of Ava Rice. Lucky old Ava.
On the way back home, I popped into Tesco and bought some sunflowers. I love sunflowers. They make me feel so happy just by looking at them. So big and bold and brash. Wonderful. They are now standing firm in the tallest of my vases - looking like nothing so much as yellow-hatted soldiers standing to attention. Bloody hell but there must be a haiku in there somewhere. Give me a map and a torch and I may just find it.
Talking of poetry, I've been thinking about things disappearing (inspired by the various disasters of yesterday) and what it means, so have come up with this, while the bath-water was running:
Disappearance
They take away our books,
then the shelves we put them on.
Next it’s our homes, our friends,
our names.
Last of all, they kill our history
and we are entirely gone.
Nice to have a poem out in the open. Feels like it's been a while. Must be a poetry day really, as I've also written something supremely bitchy about the latest edition of Mslexia, which turned up today. Sigh. Lord alone knows why I bother with it - to my mind, the new layout they've been talking about for ages looks even worse than the old one. Same old attitude too. Anyway, here it is (with apologies to the menfolk: I do know the last stanza is grossly unfair, but somehow it fitted. Sorry ...)
Mslexia blues
I want to be bitchy about Mslexia:
About the way it always makes
my heart groan when it falls through the letter-box.
About how surely the women
it’s supposed to be catering for
must have died out in the Seventies.
Or, with luck, be hidden somewhere dark and deep
where normal folk can’t find them.
I want to shout about the way
it’s so irritatingly worthy
and dull, not to mention prissy.
For if we must have a writing magazine
for women, then please try to find
some real ones to talk to. And a decent font.
Give us grace and wit and charm. Humour,
if you can manage it. Better still,
give us nothing.
Wiser perhaps to turn your attention
to a how-to-read magazine for men
who may well need it.
For the rest of the day, when I'm not worrying about things vanishing or irritating writing mags, I've been working on Hallsfoot's Battle. I haven't done that much - am on about 12,300 words now, but I'm happy with what I've done. Which is something. And for the first time in weeks, I think it might just be going somewhere. Ye gods and little fishes, but I may even have a plot. Of sorts. Miracles can happen, you know.
Tonight, Lord H and I are out at the theatre to see The Quiz. Looks just our sort of thing, m'dears. But I suspect it won't be relaxing. Ah well.
Today's nice things:
1. My moment in the Amazon gay fiction charts
2. Sunflowers
3. Writing
4. Being bitchy
5. Theatre.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Websites and yet more Maloney
I had great plans today to go into Godalming to wander around the French market and pop into Waterstone's with my book vouchers - but in the end, I really felt too exhausted to bother. Time of the month, you know, dammit.
Still, at least it's meant I've updated my website with the pleasing news that The Bones of Summer was shortlisted in the Writers' Conference Novel competition. Hurrah! Which is lovely but strange - The Gifting was shortlisted last year (and Donna from Piatkus Press, who judged the competition, also asked to see the start of that one - but so far the agent hasn't yet sent it to her ...) and now it's Bones' turn. And that in the face of the fact that Piatkus publish neither fantasy nor gay crime. Most odd. Still, nice to know I'm reaching a readership that ... um ... doesn't really want me. Heck, in publisher terms, I should be used to that though!
I've also updated the Goldenford site with the latest news items, so do pop in and have a read. You can also admire the wonderful photographs in the News section, as well as the new cover art for the upcoming Luther's Ambassadors. My, we do some shit-hot covers here in the Goldenford world, you know. The contents are pretty hot too.
And I have the latest edit of Maloney's Law to do - that is, the final final edit after my final changes have been added in. It all looks wonderful so far, except that on the Acknowledgements page, I see I can't even spell Guildford. Sigh! So far it's the only thing on my final final edit list though, so here's hoping it stays that way. After that's done, Paul and his story will be off to the printers and all I'm waiting for then is actual publication. Hurrah! Honestly, I can't quite credit it's happening - this stage of the game never actually seems real, though I know that when I'm actually holding a copy of the novel I'll be as emotional as ever. I do think that Maloney is turning out to be my favourite child so far. I care about him most of all.
Oh, and last night's opera was great fun, but not the tour de force I was hoping for, I must say. Not enough sexual tension or pizzazz, to my mind. Which surprised me. So, perfectly enjoyable, but not an opera I'll be rushing to see again, I think. Thank goodness for Dr Who though - which was the best I've ever seen. And included Ianto Jones - what more can you want? But ah (spoiler alert!!!!) - who will be the next doctor now???
Today's nice things:
1. The Bones shortlisting
2. Getting the websites updated
3. The final final Maloney edit.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Still, at least it's meant I've updated my website with the pleasing news that The Bones of Summer was shortlisted in the Writers' Conference Novel competition. Hurrah! Which is lovely but strange - The Gifting was shortlisted last year (and Donna from Piatkus Press, who judged the competition, also asked to see the start of that one - but so far the agent hasn't yet sent it to her ...) and now it's Bones' turn. And that in the face of the fact that Piatkus publish neither fantasy nor gay crime. Most odd. Still, nice to know I'm reaching a readership that ... um ... doesn't really want me. Heck, in publisher terms, I should be used to that though!
I've also updated the Goldenford site with the latest news items, so do pop in and have a read. You can also admire the wonderful photographs in the News section, as well as the new cover art for the upcoming Luther's Ambassadors. My, we do some shit-hot covers here in the Goldenford world, you know. The contents are pretty hot too.
And I have the latest edit of Maloney's Law to do - that is, the final final edit after my final changes have been added in. It all looks wonderful so far, except that on the Acknowledgements page, I see I can't even spell Guildford. Sigh! So far it's the only thing on my final final edit list though, so here's hoping it stays that way. After that's done, Paul and his story will be off to the printers and all I'm waiting for then is actual publication. Hurrah! Honestly, I can't quite credit it's happening - this stage of the game never actually seems real, though I know that when I'm actually holding a copy of the novel I'll be as emotional as ever. I do think that Maloney is turning out to be my favourite child so far. I care about him most of all.
Oh, and last night's opera was great fun, but not the tour de force I was hoping for, I must say. Not enough sexual tension or pizzazz, to my mind. Which surprised me. So, perfectly enjoyable, but not an opera I'll be rushing to see again, I think. Thank goodness for Dr Who though - which was the best I've ever seen. And included Ianto Jones - what more can you want? But ah (spoiler alert!!!!) - who will be the next doctor now???
Today's nice things:
1. The Bones shortlisting
2. Getting the websites updated
3. The final final Maloney edit.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Maloney done and a musical coronation
Have finished the final edit of Maloney's Law this morning and sent it back to the lovely people at PD Publishing. I only found 5 mistakes, so that's fabulous. And, bloody hell, but certain passages especially later on in the novel still make me cry. And I wrote the bloody thing - not to mention having read it through about a dozen times in the last few months! I'm not sure I'll ever write anything as emotionally strong as that again. It packs a punch for sure. And probably, in essence, says a whole lot more about my family than I'd realised. In its fashion. Now there's something for the reader to chew on ...
Anyway, the very generous and talented Vicki Tyley - whom I met via the Authonomy Beta site - has made an eBook of Thorn in the Flesh for me. It looks good, Vicki - many thanks! I've sent it to the Golden Girls as a sample of what can be done and it's certainly a very interesting thought for the future. I just have to work out how to add in the cover art and publisher details etc. One for Lord H, I think!
This afternoon, we're off to Glyndebourne to see The Coronation of Poppea. I love Monteverdi and it's the first Glyndebourne of our summer season (my, how posh I'm sounding for an Essex Girl ...) so I'm so excited I might actually be sick. We're eating in the Mildmay Restaurant which is our favourite too. Bliss.
And there's a slight shock for Lord H waiting, which I'll have to break to him gently when he comes back with lunch soon - I've realised that when I have to send something from his mailbox it adds in the photo of his good self which the Mac took when we first had it. Whoops! I know he's going to hate that ... I feel that photo - lovely though it obviously is - is not going to be around for too much longer. Sadly. The dangers of new technology are rife, you know.
Today's nice things:
1. Finishing off Maloney and feeling happy with it
2. The eBook of Thorn
3. Glyndebourne.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, the very generous and talented Vicki Tyley - whom I met via the Authonomy Beta site - has made an eBook of Thorn in the Flesh for me. It looks good, Vicki - many thanks! I've sent it to the Golden Girls as a sample of what can be done and it's certainly a very interesting thought for the future. I just have to work out how to add in the cover art and publisher details etc. One for Lord H, I think!
This afternoon, we're off to Glyndebourne to see The Coronation of Poppea. I love Monteverdi and it's the first Glyndebourne of our summer season (my, how posh I'm sounding for an Essex Girl ...) so I'm so excited I might actually be sick. We're eating in the Mildmay Restaurant which is our favourite too. Bliss.
And there's a slight shock for Lord H waiting, which I'll have to break to him gently when he comes back with lunch soon - I've realised that when I have to send something from his mailbox it adds in the photo of his good self which the Mac took when we first had it. Whoops! I know he's going to hate that ... I feel that photo - lovely though it obviously is - is not going to be around for too much longer. Sadly. The dangers of new technology are rife, you know.
Today's nice things:
1. Finishing off Maloney and feeling happy with it
2. The eBook of Thorn
3. Glyndebourne.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Friday, June 27, 2008
A lovely day at the fair and the final Maloney
Irene, Jennifer and I have spent most of the day selling Goldenford books at the Annual Writers' Conference today. And what a good time we've had! So far it's proving to be the best Writers' Conference ever, in terms of conversations held with people and even books sold. Well gosh! Amongst the rather respectable sales we've done, I even managed to sell two copies of Thorn in the Flesh and two copies of A Dangerous Man. Hurrah! That's pretty good going for me. I now only have 2 ADM first editions left so will be moving on soon to attempting to sell some of my 2nd edition stock. Double gosh. I almost feel like an author, you know. Hell, it can't last.
Interesting how the more you engage a browsing customer in conversation, then the less they're likely to buy. It's the knack of knowing when to withdraw verbally and leave them with buying space, I suppose. If you talk too long, it just becomes a (usually very interesting) conversation and you lose the roles of tradesperson/customer. Interesting also how people were particularly taken - as they often are these days - with Goldenford being an all-woman company. There's power in the Golden Girls indeed!
Anyway, we packed up for the day at about 6pm and I'm now home for the evening. Thank the Lord. I couldn't have borne the thought of a night out certainly. I'm aiming to concentrate on going through the final proof (gosh! final proofs - whatever next?) of Maloney's Law which turned up from PD Publishing last night. I'm now about to start Chapter 8. The excitement notch is definitely on the up here in the shires. I'm so looking forward to seeing Paul Maloney in print - he's one hell of a hot babe. In my opinion.
Today's nice things:
1. The Writers' Conference fair
2. Going through the final Maloney proofs
3. Selling books.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Interesting how the more you engage a browsing customer in conversation, then the less they're likely to buy. It's the knack of knowing when to withdraw verbally and leave them with buying space, I suppose. If you talk too long, it just becomes a (usually very interesting) conversation and you lose the roles of tradesperson/customer. Interesting also how people were particularly taken - as they often are these days - with Goldenford being an all-woman company. There's power in the Golden Girls indeed!
Anyway, we packed up for the day at about 6pm and I'm now home for the evening. Thank the Lord. I couldn't have borne the thought of a night out certainly. I'm aiming to concentrate on going through the final proof (gosh! final proofs - whatever next?) of Maloney's Law which turned up from PD Publishing last night. I'm now about to start Chapter 8. The excitement notch is definitely on the up here in the shires. I'm so looking forward to seeing Paul Maloney in print - he's one hell of a hot babe. In my opinion.
Today's nice things:
1. The Writers' Conference fair
2. Going through the final Maloney proofs
3. Selling books.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Nightmares, visits and books
Woke up hyperventilating like a hot pig way too early this morning, after a distinctly Dr Who-ish and rather terrifying nightmare. Lord H and I were in the desert which was full of large statues, some of which were in a museum also in the desert. I knew beyond any doubting that the large statue in front of the building was coming alive and intended to kill people. When it finally started walking, nobody would listen to my attempts to warn them - so Lord H and I went inside the museum where smaller statues were coming to life too. We attempted to find out if they were dangerous or not by communicating with them. But when they started to attack us, I tried to beat the thing to death, but it just wouldn't die. Thank the Lord I finally woke up! Haven't a clue what that all means, but hell it's been a difficult week and I do tend to have rather vivid dreams. Still, at least it meant I didn't have to wait for the alarm. There's always a positive side.
Back in the real world, I've spent most of today writing up yesterday’s minutes and sorting out the final versions of all the other minutes that seem to be outstanding at the moment. Plus worrying about the mysteries of the Personal Tutors’ Handbook updates – something which I feel is never going to please everyone, or possibly not anyone. It’s such a mysterious life, you know.
Took the University Writers’ Group at lunchtime – didn’t feel as jittery about it today as I usually do, probably due to the calming pills I took this morning. I never feel confident enough to chair this kind of group, but people do seem to keep coming to it. And we get some marvellous pieces of work, so it’s always an inspirational hour. At least for me.
And Ruth bought a radio for her campervan at last. Apparently she and Douglas have been making do by working their way through the musicals and have now come to the end of their combined repertoire. Thus raising the need for a radio. I suggested that it might be more fulfilling to record their own efforts and simply play them on loop, but Ruth has kept faith with the shop-bought option. Shame!
Tonight, I’m going to pop in to see Gladys for the five or ten minutes she can bear me – though it’s usually only two minutes before she starts shouting, sigh … I’m going to try a new approach this time – I thought I’d take some birdseed from home (which we never use anyway as we don’t have a garden) and fill up the bird-table outside her room. I know she likes looking at the birds when she can, so at least I can be doing something useful rather than just pissing her off. I'll keep the birdseed in the car and fill the table up whenever I visit, as the seed I took for her before seems to have vanished. Anyway, it’s a plan. UPDATE: It worked, sort of. She didn't start shouting at me until four minutes had gone by. I think I confused her by not saying hello initially and just doing the bird-table thing straight off. Sigh. Still, I suppose that's progress, but I have to admit I'm not really liking the hugely crotchety and difficult old lady she's suddenly turned into. Is it something nursing homes put in their tea? Perhaps it's a new Government directive? Hell, it wouldn't surprise me. In the meantime, the vicious, mean and downright nasty part of myself wonders why Gladys didn't die, and Penny live. Again, it's a mystery.
Once back at home, I might even try to add a few sentences to Hallsfoot’s Battle as I haven’t done any for so long – or that’s how it seems – and I’ve forgotten entirely what’s supposed to be happening or who anyone is. Still, that’s never stopped me before. Besides, there’s nothing on TV. Again.
I've just finished Dai Vaughan's Germs - a collection of 77 short stories which is well worth a read. They're all very short so if you don't like one, another will be along pretty damn soon. Hurrah! Some of them were utterly superb and some left me utterly confused, but there's something very human about them. And Story 53 - entitled "Manna" - was the second totally perfect short story I've ever read in my life. Bliss. The other, to my mind, is "Blackthorn Winter" which appears in Esme Ashford's On the Edge, a collection published by Goldenford. High-Five to us then!
Today’s nice things:
1. Having a day when nobody appears to have died, thank the Lord
2. Writers’ Group
3. Books.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Back in the real world, I've spent most of today writing up yesterday’s minutes and sorting out the final versions of all the other minutes that seem to be outstanding at the moment. Plus worrying about the mysteries of the Personal Tutors’ Handbook updates – something which I feel is never going to please everyone, or possibly not anyone. It’s such a mysterious life, you know.
Took the University Writers’ Group at lunchtime – didn’t feel as jittery about it today as I usually do, probably due to the calming pills I took this morning. I never feel confident enough to chair this kind of group, but people do seem to keep coming to it. And we get some marvellous pieces of work, so it’s always an inspirational hour. At least for me.
And Ruth bought a radio for her campervan at last. Apparently she and Douglas have been making do by working their way through the musicals and have now come to the end of their combined repertoire. Thus raising the need for a radio. I suggested that it might be more fulfilling to record their own efforts and simply play them on loop, but Ruth has kept faith with the shop-bought option. Shame!
Tonight, I’m going to pop in to see Gladys for the five or ten minutes she can bear me – though it’s usually only two minutes before she starts shouting, sigh … I’m going to try a new approach this time – I thought I’d take some birdseed from home (which we never use anyway as we don’t have a garden) and fill up the bird-table outside her room. I know she likes looking at the birds when she can, so at least I can be doing something useful rather than just pissing her off. I'll keep the birdseed in the car and fill the table up whenever I visit, as the seed I took for her before seems to have vanished. Anyway, it’s a plan. UPDATE: It worked, sort of. She didn't start shouting at me until four minutes had gone by. I think I confused her by not saying hello initially and just doing the bird-table thing straight off. Sigh. Still, I suppose that's progress, but I have to admit I'm not really liking the hugely crotchety and difficult old lady she's suddenly turned into. Is it something nursing homes put in their tea? Perhaps it's a new Government directive? Hell, it wouldn't surprise me. In the meantime, the vicious, mean and downright nasty part of myself wonders why Gladys didn't die, and Penny live. Again, it's a mystery.
Once back at home, I might even try to add a few sentences to Hallsfoot’s Battle as I haven’t done any for so long – or that’s how it seems – and I’ve forgotten entirely what’s supposed to be happening or who anyone is. Still, that’s never stopped me before. Besides, there’s nothing on TV. Again.
I've just finished Dai Vaughan's Germs - a collection of 77 short stories which is well worth a read. They're all very short so if you don't like one, another will be along pretty damn soon. Hurrah! Some of them were utterly superb and some left me utterly confused, but there's something very human about them. And Story 53 - entitled "Manna" - was the second totally perfect short story I've ever read in my life. Bliss. The other, to my mind, is "Blackthorn Winter" which appears in Esme Ashford's On the Edge, a collection published by Goldenford. High-Five to us then!
Today’s nice things:
1. Having a day when nobody appears to have died, thank the Lord
2. Writers’ Group
3. Books.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Friday, June 20, 2008
Climbing up the well ...
I can't believe it, but I'm actually feeling more like a normal human being today, bloody hell and put out the ruddy bunting. I feel today that there might actually be a glimmer of hope out there somewhere, but not of course in the publishing trade. That remains, as ever, a veritable pit of darkness and despair. Ah 'tis a place of strange mystery, Carruthers, from which nobody returns alive, or at least in human form ...
First thing this morning, I was bizarrely cheered whilst waving goodbye to Lord H to see a young man in a blue shirt walking an extremely large and very coiffured (is that a word?) poodle past the end of the garden path. It was really almost the size of a sheep. Perhaps it was a sheep, I don't really know. Strange things do happen in Godalming. But a poodle-walker is definitely a first here in the shires. For the rest of the morning, I have been having a wonderful massage courtesy of the lovely and really rather pregnant (should she be doing massage in her condition??) Laura. When she got to my notoriously stiff-as-boards shoulders, she was putting so much effort into beating the tension into submission that I feared she might give birth there and then. But luckily not. That would have been a terrifying start to my birthday weekend.
On the journey back, I was also cheered to see I was following a green van belonging to the Godalming piano company almost all the way home. I suddenly came over all 1950s - it felt like something out of "Dad's Army". I half expected the van to stop and Corporal Jones to appear. Oh God, I'm getting whimsical - I will have to be beaten into sense with twigs again. Sigh.
Later, I was planning to play golf with Marian, but she wasn't able to go after all due to the rigours of her week. Which, to be honest, suited me as my week hasn't been that good either (as you know, you poor people ...) and I was pleased for the extra quiet not-having-to-socialise time. But I'll pick up the golf again in a couple of weeks, weather permitting.
However, some sad news on my sick Guildford friend, which puts my self-obsessed and dark ramblings very much into perspective - unfortunately, she's still in hospital and not up to being visited much at the moment, or even being talked to. I really wish I'd gone to see her this week, as I'd planned, after all - I put it off entirely because of me and I hope I don't live to regret that decision. I hope Ruth from work and I will be able to visit next week. And I hope we can go together. Bloody hell, but sometimes other people's lives and the things that happen to them are just so bloody unfair that it makes me want to take God by the scruff of the neck and give him a bloody good shake. No doubt he feels the same way about me however. I just hope next week brings good news. Sick Friend deserves it.
For the rest of the day, I've been typing up the utterly huge amounts of Goldenford minutes I took last night. Girls, girls! You have so much to say and you say it soooo quickly! Highlights of the plans to come include a brief book signing at Waterstone's in Guildford on Thursday 10 July at 10.30am. Bearing in mind that they only actually have one copy of Pink Champagne and Apple Juice and they are refusing to buy in copies of either Thorn in the Flesh or Tainted Tree, I can see it's going to be a very short visit. Luckily they have copies of other Goldenford books, so we can at least try to hang around and beg people to buy them for a while before they chuck us out. My new theory is that actually bookshops secretly hate both books and authors, and are way too posh to be seen to be hobnobbing with the likes of us inky-fingered and suspect writers. It's like putting Cruella de Ville in charge of the nursery - she wouldn't really want to catch sight of the children.
Tonight, I'll be doing the cleaning so I don't have to do it tomorrow, as 21 June is an Official Writers' Day Off to celebrate my 44th birthday. Anyone who dares to write anything tomorrow will have to pay the forfeit of actually buying one of my hard-to-get books. Hey, think of it as a challenge ...
So, have a good weekend and, if you're not having one for any reason, you have my heartfelt sympathy. I know how that feels.
Today's nice things (especially for Jen):
1. The poodle
2. Feeling better, ye gods!
3. Massages
4. Piano vans
5. Getting the Goldenford minutes under control - of sorts
6. My 44th birthday tomorrow
7. Being able to laugh at Waterstone's.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
First thing this morning, I was bizarrely cheered whilst waving goodbye to Lord H to see a young man in a blue shirt walking an extremely large and very coiffured (is that a word?) poodle past the end of the garden path. It was really almost the size of a sheep. Perhaps it was a sheep, I don't really know. Strange things do happen in Godalming. But a poodle-walker is definitely a first here in the shires. For the rest of the morning, I have been having a wonderful massage courtesy of the lovely and really rather pregnant (should she be doing massage in her condition??) Laura. When she got to my notoriously stiff-as-boards shoulders, she was putting so much effort into beating the tension into submission that I feared she might give birth there and then. But luckily not. That would have been a terrifying start to my birthday weekend.
On the journey back, I was also cheered to see I was following a green van belonging to the Godalming piano company almost all the way home. I suddenly came over all 1950s - it felt like something out of "Dad's Army". I half expected the van to stop and Corporal Jones to appear. Oh God, I'm getting whimsical - I will have to be beaten into sense with twigs again. Sigh.
Later, I was planning to play golf with Marian, but she wasn't able to go after all due to the rigours of her week. Which, to be honest, suited me as my week hasn't been that good either (as you know, you poor people ...) and I was pleased for the extra quiet not-having-to-socialise time. But I'll pick up the golf again in a couple of weeks, weather permitting.
However, some sad news on my sick Guildford friend, which puts my self-obsessed and dark ramblings very much into perspective - unfortunately, she's still in hospital and not up to being visited much at the moment, or even being talked to. I really wish I'd gone to see her this week, as I'd planned, after all - I put it off entirely because of me and I hope I don't live to regret that decision. I hope Ruth from work and I will be able to visit next week. And I hope we can go together. Bloody hell, but sometimes other people's lives and the things that happen to them are just so bloody unfair that it makes me want to take God by the scruff of the neck and give him a bloody good shake. No doubt he feels the same way about me however. I just hope next week brings good news. Sick Friend deserves it.
For the rest of the day, I've been typing up the utterly huge amounts of Goldenford minutes I took last night. Girls, girls! You have so much to say and you say it soooo quickly! Highlights of the plans to come include a brief book signing at Waterstone's in Guildford on Thursday 10 July at 10.30am. Bearing in mind that they only actually have one copy of Pink Champagne and Apple Juice and they are refusing to buy in copies of either Thorn in the Flesh or Tainted Tree, I can see it's going to be a very short visit. Luckily they have copies of other Goldenford books, so we can at least try to hang around and beg people to buy them for a while before they chuck us out. My new theory is that actually bookshops secretly hate both books and authors, and are way too posh to be seen to be hobnobbing with the likes of us inky-fingered and suspect writers. It's like putting Cruella de Ville in charge of the nursery - she wouldn't really want to catch sight of the children.
Tonight, I'll be doing the cleaning so I don't have to do it tomorrow, as 21 June is an Official Writers' Day Off to celebrate my 44th birthday. Anyone who dares to write anything tomorrow will have to pay the forfeit of actually buying one of my hard-to-get books. Hey, think of it as a challenge ...
So, have a good weekend and, if you're not having one for any reason, you have my heartfelt sympathy. I know how that feels.
Today's nice things (especially for Jen):
1. The poodle
2. Feeling better, ye gods!
3. Massages
4. Piano vans
5. Getting the Goldenford minutes under control - of sorts
6. My 44th birthday tomorrow
7. Being able to laugh at Waterstone's.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Getting through the day ...
Hmm, it’s a bit like that today. I am lying low, battening down the hatches and attempting not to react in too emotional a fashion to any outside stimulus. Good job I’m at work then, I suppose! In an attempt to counteract the ongoing gentle slide, I’ve doubled my HRT dose and will have to see if that works. I certainly felt a little better last night as I was going to bed, but didn’t really stay awake long enough to see if the feeling continued. Ah well.
This morning, all is strangely blank once more. Plus I’m feeling hugely vulnerable, so much so that today’s inner statement is probably more along the lines of: Yes, you’re probably right – I am rubbish. Sorry, girls. Lord H thinks I was roughly the same last month, so it’s obviously hormonal. Still, knowing the source doesn’t make it any more pleasant, I must say.
I was already feeling rather vulnerable anyway, from my unfortunate attempt to chat to the neighbour’s son in a friendly fashion last night. Well, I won’t be bothering with that again, I thought he was really rather rude. But I was feeling way too weak to fight back, so I just walked off. The idjit probably didn’t notice though – too obtuse. Or maybe he just has the conversational skills of a toad.
And this morning, I’ve chatted to the lovely girls in Catering about sorting out this lunchtime’s meeting – which isn’t one of mine, but I was trying to be supportive anyway. At the end, one of the girls who’d actually bought Thorn in the Flesh some time ago jokingly said she’d managed to sell it on eBay and had got tuppence for it. At least I think she was joking but really, who’s to say. Naturally, I laughed and said something light-hearted as I like her but, to be honest, this sort of thing is hugely more of a knock-back than people imagine. Especially from those who are supposed to be on your side. I’m beginning to think that indeed the minuses vastly outweigh the plusses in this business. As a result, I’m rapidly losing any kind of confidence I once had, and now even if people say how much they enjoy my books, I don’t actually comprehend it. And, looking at it logically, can you blame me? After all, when push comes to shove:
(a) I don’t sell more than 100 books or so of anything, and a significant proportion of these are really no more than gifts to people who don’t want to buy them.
(b) My agent never contacts me, even with bad news – whereas an online friend whose latest novel was sent out at roughly the same time as mine is already meeting the first of two publishers next week. I doubt I’ll hear anything now about The Gifting – in the same way I heard nothing about the Thorn submissions until after a year when I simply had to assume the agent had been unsuccessful. It’s that terrible silence which defeats me.
(c) Until recently, I’ve tried to drum up interest in my work on the Writewords site but I've been less and less successful there – evidently I’m not important enough in what is now a very competitive commercially-focused writing environment. I suspect that I may not last there until my August renewal, to be honest. Hell, even when I add a comment to a thread, nobody now responds. So I’ve given up trying. (That said, a huge thank you to the handful of lovely people who do buy my books from there – I really appreciate that support, but I think you’re a rare breed now!)
And these are only the latest complaints. Sigh! So, why bother? Honestly, I don’t know. I’m increasingly reminded of a former church acquaintance who once told me that he used to love playing golf but had given it up as it had become more of a hindrance than a joy. Food for thought indeed. I do certainly feel that the book business has well and truly defeated me. However, I know I’m cursed by bloody-mindedness: I’ve started Hallsfoot’s Battle so I’m determined to finish one day. But maybe as there’s no-one out there keen to take it, I should just write it when I feel like it. Can’t see that one coming along quickly then!
Hey ho. And I’m still at work, worrying about a meeting at lunchtime when I have to say something intelligent about the Personal Tutors’ handbook, when really I’d much rather not. I’m just not interested. And tonight it’s the Goldenford meeting. When at the moment the feeling is much the same. So it’s a question of getting through the day and doing a heck of a lot of pretending along the way. Double sigh. Best break out that Emergency Chocolate again …
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
This morning, all is strangely blank once more. Plus I’m feeling hugely vulnerable, so much so that today’s inner statement is probably more along the lines of: Yes, you’re probably right – I am rubbish. Sorry, girls. Lord H thinks I was roughly the same last month, so it’s obviously hormonal. Still, knowing the source doesn’t make it any more pleasant, I must say.
I was already feeling rather vulnerable anyway, from my unfortunate attempt to chat to the neighbour’s son in a friendly fashion last night. Well, I won’t be bothering with that again, I thought he was really rather rude. But I was feeling way too weak to fight back, so I just walked off. The idjit probably didn’t notice though – too obtuse. Or maybe he just has the conversational skills of a toad.
And this morning, I’ve chatted to the lovely girls in Catering about sorting out this lunchtime’s meeting – which isn’t one of mine, but I was trying to be supportive anyway. At the end, one of the girls who’d actually bought Thorn in the Flesh some time ago jokingly said she’d managed to sell it on eBay and had got tuppence for it. At least I think she was joking but really, who’s to say. Naturally, I laughed and said something light-hearted as I like her but, to be honest, this sort of thing is hugely more of a knock-back than people imagine. Especially from those who are supposed to be on your side. I’m beginning to think that indeed the minuses vastly outweigh the plusses in this business. As a result, I’m rapidly losing any kind of confidence I once had, and now even if people say how much they enjoy my books, I don’t actually comprehend it. And, looking at it logically, can you blame me? After all, when push comes to shove:
(a) I don’t sell more than 100 books or so of anything, and a significant proportion of these are really no more than gifts to people who don’t want to buy them.
(b) My agent never contacts me, even with bad news – whereas an online friend whose latest novel was sent out at roughly the same time as mine is already meeting the first of two publishers next week. I doubt I’ll hear anything now about The Gifting – in the same way I heard nothing about the Thorn submissions until after a year when I simply had to assume the agent had been unsuccessful. It’s that terrible silence which defeats me.
(c) Until recently, I’ve tried to drum up interest in my work on the Writewords site but I've been less and less successful there – evidently I’m not important enough in what is now a very competitive commercially-focused writing environment. I suspect that I may not last there until my August renewal, to be honest. Hell, even when I add a comment to a thread, nobody now responds. So I’ve given up trying. (That said, a huge thank you to the handful of lovely people who do buy my books from there – I really appreciate that support, but I think you’re a rare breed now!)
And these are only the latest complaints. Sigh! So, why bother? Honestly, I don’t know. I’m increasingly reminded of a former church acquaintance who once told me that he used to love playing golf but had given it up as it had become more of a hindrance than a joy. Food for thought indeed. I do certainly feel that the book business has well and truly defeated me. However, I know I’m cursed by bloody-mindedness: I’ve started Hallsfoot’s Battle so I’m determined to finish one day. But maybe as there’s no-one out there keen to take it, I should just write it when I feel like it. Can’t see that one coming along quickly then!
Hey ho. And I’m still at work, worrying about a meeting at lunchtime when I have to say something intelligent about the Personal Tutors’ handbook, when really I’d much rather not. I’m just not interested. And tonight it’s the Goldenford meeting. When at the moment the feeling is much the same. So it’s a question of getting through the day and doing a heck of a lot of pretending along the way. Double sigh. Best break out that Emergency Chocolate again …
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Saturday, June 14, 2008
All Faired Out
Have spent the day attempting to sell Goldenford books at the Pirbright Open Day with the stalwart Jackie and the equally stalwart Irene. The rain held off, thank the Lord, but sadly we only sold three books. Sigh. So that's two Tainted Trees and one Thorn in the Flesh. And that latter was to someone I knew from an old poetry group - thank you, Valerie! How marvellous it must be to sell to strangers though. Ah well. So a bit of a waste of a day, but it was lovely to catch up with two of the Golden Girls, so all was not entirely lost.
Anyway, you'll be pleased to hear that Irene and Jennifer did slightly better than that in the recent Freiburg Festival - the audience loved them (as they should!) and they sold honourable amounts of their books. Hurrah! And apparently, Goldenford has been asked to go back to the same event next year, so that's good news. Thank you, Freiburg.
I have to admit to feeling rather blank at the moment - it's the aftermath of sitting in the sun and attempting to smile at people without frightening them off. Interesting also the numbers of young boys who seemed to have a great interest in A Dangerous Man. Or perhaps it was the same boy running around our lonely stall very quickly?? Anyway, I rather suspected his parents wouldn't be too impressed if I actually sold him a copy - best to come back in ten years' time, I feel. I really don't want to be up in court for dubious activities - at least not so early in the year.
Tonight, I am attempting to regain any sense of energy I once had by watching Dr Who. I did have the chance of going out, but I don't think I can cope with any more people. Not for a while certainly!
Today's nice things:
1. Actually selling a copy of Thorn
2. Freiburg successes
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, you'll be pleased to hear that Irene and Jennifer did slightly better than that in the recent Freiburg Festival - the audience loved them (as they should!) and they sold honourable amounts of their books. Hurrah! And apparently, Goldenford has been asked to go back to the same event next year, so that's good news. Thank you, Freiburg.
I have to admit to feeling rather blank at the moment - it's the aftermath of sitting in the sun and attempting to smile at people without frightening them off. Interesting also the numbers of young boys who seemed to have a great interest in A Dangerous Man. Or perhaps it was the same boy running around our lonely stall very quickly?? Anyway, I rather suspected his parents wouldn't be too impressed if I actually sold him a copy - best to come back in ten years' time, I feel. I really don't want to be up in court for dubious activities - at least not so early in the year.
Tonight, I am attempting to regain any sense of energy I once had by watching Dr Who. I did have the chance of going out, but I don't think I can cope with any more people. Not for a while certainly!
Today's nice things:
1. Actually selling a copy of Thorn
2. Freiburg successes
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Of petrol, water-tanks and toilet etiquette
Bearing in mind the Government’s edict not to panic-buy petrol last night, both Lord H and I nipped into the petrol station to fill up our tanks in a calm and measured manner. Well, we do like to obey instructions when given. And at least it means we’ll be able to travel over the weekend – though I’m not sure anybody will actually notice the strike, to be honest. But you can never be too careful, ho ho …
And the noble Lord H has fixed the water-tank problem, hurrah! What a super-hero that man is. So we won’t be annoying our neighbour by dripping on his plants any more. Next mission: the return of the flush on our toilet. Aha, I feel a story title coming on: The Mystery of the Missing Flush. A challenge for Hercule Poirot, perhaps? Mind you, Lord H is being sidetracked slightly by sorting out my stuff on the new Mac and by the thought of buying new binoculars, so watch this space …
Meanwhile, at work, it’s much cooler, thank the Lord. And I’m chuntering on with non-urgent stuff with the satisfaction of knowing I’m fairly up-to-date with it all at the moment. Famous last words, eh. And there’s joy on the diary front – my academic diary has at last turned up, so next year will happen after all. That’s a relief then. I was beginning to think the world might end in July. Also bizarrely the Dean visited the facilities (as it were) in one of the Faculties opposite and opened the door to find a naked man changing out of his cycling gear. At least, that’s his story and he’s sticking to it … My, life on campus is a constant round of excitement. We suggested he complain about standards of behaviour to the Dean, but as he is the Dean that will be tricky. In the meantime, we have all decided to cough loudly before entering any toilet area. Are people too claustrophobic to use the cubicles for changing any more?? It’s not lavatorial etiquette, you know.
After work, I’m girding my loins for the undoubted challenges of popping in to see Gladys tonight. Honestly, she’s so difficult these days that I utterly dread the experience. Though, really, she’s never been exactly easy – it’s just one of those duties I picked up somewhere on my way through life. Funny how that happens to women, but never, I think, to men. Or perhaps I just don’t see it.
I’m also hoping to do some more of that Annyeke/Simon scene from Hallsfoot’s Battle as well as giving time to the penultimate episode of “Springwatch” – on earlier this evening because of the wretched football. Sigh. The blue tits are looking better than expected at the moment, I must say.
Finally, huge good luck to Irene and Jennifer from Goldenford who are off for a few days to sell our books – hopefully! – at the Freiburg Festival in Germany starting today. Our first international tour then …
Today’s nice things:
1. A working water-tank
2. Hallsfoot
3. The Goldenford tour.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
And the noble Lord H has fixed the water-tank problem, hurrah! What a super-hero that man is. So we won’t be annoying our neighbour by dripping on his plants any more. Next mission: the return of the flush on our toilet. Aha, I feel a story title coming on: The Mystery of the Missing Flush. A challenge for Hercule Poirot, perhaps? Mind you, Lord H is being sidetracked slightly by sorting out my stuff on the new Mac and by the thought of buying new binoculars, so watch this space …
Meanwhile, at work, it’s much cooler, thank the Lord. And I’m chuntering on with non-urgent stuff with the satisfaction of knowing I’m fairly up-to-date with it all at the moment. Famous last words, eh. And there’s joy on the diary front – my academic diary has at last turned up, so next year will happen after all. That’s a relief then. I was beginning to think the world might end in July. Also bizarrely the Dean visited the facilities (as it were) in one of the Faculties opposite and opened the door to find a naked man changing out of his cycling gear. At least, that’s his story and he’s sticking to it … My, life on campus is a constant round of excitement. We suggested he complain about standards of behaviour to the Dean, but as he is the Dean that will be tricky. In the meantime, we have all decided to cough loudly before entering any toilet area. Are people too claustrophobic to use the cubicles for changing any more?? It’s not lavatorial etiquette, you know.
After work, I’m girding my loins for the undoubted challenges of popping in to see Gladys tonight. Honestly, she’s so difficult these days that I utterly dread the experience. Though, really, she’s never been exactly easy – it’s just one of those duties I picked up somewhere on my way through life. Funny how that happens to women, but never, I think, to men. Or perhaps I just don’t see it.
I’m also hoping to do some more of that Annyeke/Simon scene from Hallsfoot’s Battle as well as giving time to the penultimate episode of “Springwatch” – on earlier this evening because of the wretched football. Sigh. The blue tits are looking better than expected at the moment, I must say.
Finally, huge good luck to Irene and Jennifer from Goldenford who are off for a few days to sell our books – hopefully! – at the Freiburg Festival in Germany starting today. Our first international tour then …
Today’s nice things:
1. A working water-tank
2. Hallsfoot
3. The Goldenford tour.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Writers' Forum mention and continuing the Battle
Had a lovely Clarins facial and massage today - utter bliss. Charlotte (the therapist) had to struggle to make some kind of inroad into my stiff-as-a-wall back though. And as she's on the petite side of petite, it was quite a struggle. But I do feel better now and my shoulders have come down - if temporarily - from my ears. Phew! Bad backs are the Writers' Curse, you know. One of them at least. I really have to go back to my daily relaxation exercises - they do make such a difference.
I also managed to pick up a copy of June's Writers' Forum magazine, which contains a very challenging article about print-on-demand writer-publishing and the current Amazon (shame on you, Amazon ...) nightmare by the wonderful Siobhan Curham. This includes several mentions of Goldenford (what a fabulous publisher!) and some quotes from me. Plus a picture. Gosh, thanks, Siobhan! Fabulous article, and I nearly look human too - how do you do that?!?
For the rest of the day, I have been pulling out words, slowly slowly, from the deep dark pit to add to Hallsfoot's Battle. Lordy, but it's an agonising process today. I've managed to finish off Johan's small first section, plus put the finishing touches to the Snow Raven's initial part (yes, I am bringing the Snow Raven more centre stage this time - he deserves it - but hell it's hard writing bird-speak!). But the main voices of this first chapter belong to Annyeke and, of course, Simon, and I need to focus on those more. Or at all really. The first chapter won't be done without them - the ideas are floating around but I'm too tired to grab them and make them concrete. Hey ho.
So I've taken a break and had a much-needed nap. Double bliss. I might do some more to it this evening, but we'll see. Not much TV on really - I haven't actually got round to committing to "Heroes" at all - but I might watch "Earl".
Today's nice things:
1. Clarins treatments
2. Siobhan's article in Writers' Forum magazine
3. Wrestling that damn Snow Raven down and getting something vaguely sensible out of it.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
I also managed to pick up a copy of June's Writers' Forum magazine, which contains a very challenging article about print-on-demand writer-publishing and the current Amazon (shame on you, Amazon ...) nightmare by the wonderful Siobhan Curham. This includes several mentions of Goldenford (what a fabulous publisher!) and some quotes from me. Plus a picture. Gosh, thanks, Siobhan! Fabulous article, and I nearly look human too - how do you do that?!?
For the rest of the day, I have been pulling out words, slowly slowly, from the deep dark pit to add to Hallsfoot's Battle. Lordy, but it's an agonising process today. I've managed to finish off Johan's small first section, plus put the finishing touches to the Snow Raven's initial part (yes, I am bringing the Snow Raven more centre stage this time - he deserves it - but hell it's hard writing bird-speak!). But the main voices of this first chapter belong to Annyeke and, of course, Simon, and I need to focus on those more. Or at all really. The first chapter won't be done without them - the ideas are floating around but I'm too tired to grab them and make them concrete. Hey ho.
So I've taken a break and had a much-needed nap. Double bliss. I might do some more to it this evening, but we'll see. Not much TV on really - I haven't actually got round to committing to "Heroes" at all - but I might watch "Earl".
Today's nice things:
1. Clarins treatments
2. Siobhan's article in Writers' Forum magazine
3. Wrestling that damn Snow Raven down and getting something vaguely sensible out of it.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Writers and Meetings City
Carried on typing up yesterday’s minutes this morning and attempting to sort out the teething troubles on my new computer, ie no printing facilities, emails that go through copious spellchecks before being sent and my missing screensaves. After all, how am I supposed to get through the day without seeing the front covers of all my books drifting before my eyes??... I can’t survive without at least some ego massage, you know.
Anyway, this lunchtime, I have had the University Writers Group – very enjoyable as always. I think it’s best if I take my calming pills beforehand though, not being a natural leader. And I have stolen an idea from the adorable Nik Perring for the homework, so thanks for that, Nik!
This afternoon, I have minuted the Nursery Management Group, even though most people didn’t seem to be there. Which means we’ve had a heck of a lot of biscuits to eat up. Ah it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. I brought back a secret supply of them for the office and have already demolished the chocolate chip cookie option. Mmm …
And tonight, to crown my Meetings Extravaganza Day, I will be minuting the Goldenford meeting. Upcoming Goldenford things to look forward to: the event in Woking Library on 28 May, the talk in Freiburg in Germany on 12 June and our stall at the Writers Conference at the end of June. Ye gods, it’s all go over the summer! It’s astonishing we have time to write books at all.
Ooh, and I’m interested to see that, following the agent’s submission of The Gifting to the Powers That Be yesterday, Penguin in the States have been looking at my website. In shock and amazement, no doubt. However, the balance of the writing universe requires that for one vaguely hopeful thing offered, another crueller one is given. And so I am not entirely surprised to see that the latest critique of Thorn in the Flesh on the as yet unenterable Authonomy site seriously doesn't like it. Hey ho. Mind you, I'm always rather chuffed to be called "muddled, fragmented and confusing". Dahlings, it's so me!
Today’s nice things:
1. University Writers Group
2. Goldenford
3. Putting the words “Penguin” and “looking at my website” in the same sentence – heck, I’m all for (very) short-lived bursts of hope and glory!
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, this lunchtime, I have had the University Writers Group – very enjoyable as always. I think it’s best if I take my calming pills beforehand though, not being a natural leader. And I have stolen an idea from the adorable Nik Perring for the homework, so thanks for that, Nik!
This afternoon, I have minuted the Nursery Management Group, even though most people didn’t seem to be there. Which means we’ve had a heck of a lot of biscuits to eat up. Ah it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. I brought back a secret supply of them for the office and have already demolished the chocolate chip cookie option. Mmm …
And tonight, to crown my Meetings Extravaganza Day, I will be minuting the Goldenford meeting. Upcoming Goldenford things to look forward to: the event in Woking Library on 28 May, the talk in Freiburg in Germany on 12 June and our stall at the Writers Conference at the end of June. Ye gods, it’s all go over the summer! It’s astonishing we have time to write books at all.
Ooh, and I’m interested to see that, following the agent’s submission of The Gifting to the Powers That Be yesterday, Penguin in the States have been looking at my website. In shock and amazement, no doubt. However, the balance of the writing universe requires that for one vaguely hopeful thing offered, another crueller one is given. And so I am not entirely surprised to see that the latest critique of Thorn in the Flesh on the as yet unenterable Authonomy site seriously doesn't like it. Hey ho. Mind you, I'm always rather chuffed to be called "muddled, fragmented and confusing". Dahlings, it's so me!
Today’s nice things:
1. University Writers Group
2. Goldenford
3. Putting the words “Penguin” and “looking at my website” in the same sentence – heck, I’m all for (very) short-lived bursts of hope and glory!
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Websites, review lists and the languishing author
A very quiet day today, people. This ruddy cold has really wiped me out all day and I've been languishing all over the flat making faint groaning sounds. So, a normal weekend then, here in the deep south. At least I am keeping Mr Lucozade in business. Not to mention Mr Kleenex. If there was ever an Olympic sport in snorting like an old horse, the gold medal would already have my name on it. As it were.
I have not been entirely useless though. I have revamped the Goldenford site book pages so each book in the main listing has a thumbnail picture of the front cover next to it, which you can see here. Though I say it myself, we do some shit-hot covers here in Goldenford country.
I've also been thrilled to discover that the lovely and hugely talentedLisa Glass has very kindly added A Dangerous Man to her Book Depository Top Ten List, calling it An erotic page-turner about a violent artist and his stockbroker lover. Gripping plot and sharp characterisation. Gosh, thanks, Lisa - much appreciated indeed!
Ooh, and we have a cuckoo in the street. Joy! We're hearing it every morning at about 10.30 at the moment - it's obviously a late riser, though I suppose it doesn't have the children to take care of so can probably party all night, the little goer. You never see the damn thing of course, but it's a wonderful sound.
Tonight, I'm collapsing in front of "Dr Who", which has a marvellous-sounding Agatha Christie plot. And of course there's "Pushing Daisies". And, I hope, an early night and a more energetic day tomorrow.
Today's nice things:
1. Updating the Goldenford site
2. Lisa's review of A Dangerous Man
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers - with pictures!
I have not been entirely useless though. I have revamped the Goldenford site book pages so each book in the main listing has a thumbnail picture of the front cover next to it, which you can see here. Though I say it myself, we do some shit-hot covers here in Goldenford country.
I've also been thrilled to discover that the lovely and hugely talentedLisa Glass has very kindly added A Dangerous Man to her Book Depository Top Ten List, calling it An erotic page-turner about a violent artist and his stockbroker lover. Gripping plot and sharp characterisation. Gosh, thanks, Lisa - much appreciated indeed!
Ooh, and we have a cuckoo in the street. Joy! We're hearing it every morning at about 10.30 at the moment - it's obviously a late riser, though I suppose it doesn't have the children to take care of so can probably party all night, the little goer. You never see the damn thing of course, but it's a wonderful sound.
Tonight, I'm collapsing in front of "Dr Who", which has a marvellous-sounding Agatha Christie plot. And of course there's "Pushing Daisies". And, I hope, an early night and a more energetic day tomorrow.
Today's nice things:
1. Updating the Goldenford site
2. Lisa's review of A Dangerous Man
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers - with pictures!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Goldenford and the reluctant socialiser
Have spent this morning updating the Goldenford website with information on Irene Black's upcoming novel, Darshan - which is a gripping and literary tale of a young Indian woman's search for her UK roots. You can read the beginning here. We're hoping to publish it over the summer, so watch this space!
I've also updated the News section with the details of Goldenford's June visit to Germany - a Surrey publisher goes international, so all exciting stuff!
For the rest of the day ... well, quite frankly, I've napped. And chilled. Lordy but I need it. Haven't even faced the ironing yet, but hell these things can wait. We will just have to be crumpled for a while. A state of being we should be used to, after all.
I've also decided that - bearing in mind all my editing is done and that's the promise I made, at least to myself - that I will go up to London tonight (reluctantly) to see the old University girls. Actually I was originally intending simply not to go and not say anything, as I assumed my editing wouldn't be finished. Lord H did suggest earlier in the week (when, yes, I've been agonising) that the answer would be to work more slowly, but I can't do that. The editing speed is the editing speed; it's either "on" or "off". So I can't say I'm looking forward to my night out. Sorry, as I do know that probably makes me some kind of bitch with no idea of the value of "friendship" (inverted commas are deliberate), but I'm just not. Ah well. Unwillingly to school is the feeling here. And I'm very, very twitchy. None of us seem to see each other as we really are any more - nor do we want to, in my opinion - so it feels like flogging the dead horse (apologies for the cliche) of friendship when it's been down and mouldering for some years now. It's just that nobody's noticed it. Or perhaps we've just ignored it is the more accurate statement. Anyway, ye gods, what an image. Sorry.
And, hell, it's London. I don't much like going to London. God, sorry about the moaning too. I'd slap myself into some sense if I could summon the energy.
One thing though - I've moved on in my "next novel thoughts" to thinking I don't want to do a comedy after all. At least not today. Dark grittiness, angst and pain are more the thing. Hell, it's just so much more me, dahhlings.
Today's nice things:
1. Updating the Goldenford site
2. Napping
3. Um, um, coming home later!
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
I've also updated the News section with the details of Goldenford's June visit to Germany - a Surrey publisher goes international, so all exciting stuff!
For the rest of the day ... well, quite frankly, I've napped. And chilled. Lordy but I need it. Haven't even faced the ironing yet, but hell these things can wait. We will just have to be crumpled for a while. A state of being we should be used to, after all.
I've also decided that - bearing in mind all my editing is done and that's the promise I made, at least to myself - that I will go up to London tonight (reluctantly) to see the old University girls. Actually I was originally intending simply not to go and not say anything, as I assumed my editing wouldn't be finished. Lord H did suggest earlier in the week (when, yes, I've been agonising) that the answer would be to work more slowly, but I can't do that. The editing speed is the editing speed; it's either "on" or "off". So I can't say I'm looking forward to my night out. Sorry, as I do know that probably makes me some kind of bitch with no idea of the value of "friendship" (inverted commas are deliberate), but I'm just not. Ah well. Unwillingly to school is the feeling here. And I'm very, very twitchy. None of us seem to see each other as we really are any more - nor do we want to, in my opinion - so it feels like flogging the dead horse (apologies for the cliche) of friendship when it's been down and mouldering for some years now. It's just that nobody's noticed it. Or perhaps we've just ignored it is the more accurate statement. Anyway, ye gods, what an image. Sorry.
And, hell, it's London. I don't much like going to London. God, sorry about the moaning too. I'd slap myself into some sense if I could summon the energy.
One thing though - I've moved on in my "next novel thoughts" to thinking I don't want to do a comedy after all. At least not today. Dark grittiness, angst and pain are more the thing. Hell, it's just so much more me, dahhlings.
Today's nice things:
1. Updating the Goldenford site
2. Napping
3. Um, um, coming home later!
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Maloney done and the Golden Girls' Roadshow
Success! I've finished the final run-through of Maloney's Law and have sent it off to PD Publishing. I'm happy and I think they're happy, so that's a relief! It feels so damn wonderful to be at this stage, I have to say. It's come at the right time for me too - what with a holiday booked for the end of May, it's going to be lovely to have a break.
This afternoon, the Goldenford Girls and I have been at the Guildford Institute giving our "Writing from our Roots" talk. Sans Irene sadly, as she needed to be elsewhere, but I read her talk out for her and, really, the whole event went astonishingly well. The audience seemed to love it (hurrah!), we had loads of questions at the end and people bought books. Double hurrah! I even sold four copies of Thorn in the Flesh which filled me with joy. And an arts organiser from Farnham took our cards as she'd like us to come and give a talk to them as well. Gosh indeed! Also lovely to catch up with Peter, our retired University registrar (and the very kind man who actually gave me my job, against all the odds, I'm sure!), who was there. And who also bought a copy of Thorn. Thank you, Peter!
Tonight, I'm going to chill out. Lord knows I deserve it. Though I do fear the ironing pile is calling out to me, dammit ... Back, back, you beast, back!...
Today's nice things:
1. Finishing Maloney and thinking yes
2. The Goldenford talks
3. Selling some copies of Thorn.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers - giving you the hottest books around, don't you know!
This afternoon, the Goldenford Girls and I have been at the Guildford Institute giving our "Writing from our Roots" talk. Sans Irene sadly, as she needed to be elsewhere, but I read her talk out for her and, really, the whole event went astonishingly well. The audience seemed to love it (hurrah!), we had loads of questions at the end and people bought books. Double hurrah! I even sold four copies of Thorn in the Flesh which filled me with joy. And an arts organiser from Farnham took our cards as she'd like us to come and give a talk to them as well. Gosh indeed! Also lovely to catch up with Peter, our retired University registrar (and the very kind man who actually gave me my job, against all the odds, I'm sure!), who was there. And who also bought a copy of Thorn. Thank you, Peter!
Tonight, I'm going to chill out. Lord knows I deserve it. Though I do fear the ironing pile is calling out to me, dammit ... Back, back, you beast, back!...
Today's nice things:
1. Finishing Maloney and thinking yes
2. The Goldenford talks
3. Selling some copies of Thorn.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers - giving you the hottest books around, don't you know!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Tee-shirts, toilet cleaner and Maloney revisited
Have managed to book the away day for our work team on 1 July – which appears to be a date when most people can make it, hurrah! And goodness me but that took some doing. However, the venue keep saying they’ve sent me the contract to sign, but there’s nothing remotely in the email which looks like a contract. When I ring them up about it, I’m not sure they believe me. Sigh. Why would I hassle them about a thing like that if it weren’t true?? Just send me the contract, people!
In the meantime, we are planning on updating the Student Advice section of the website – but I feel that whilst the ideas are good, our current web system might not quite be up to handling them. Or possibly it’s just that I’m not up to it. Who can tell? In any case, roll on the new web provider is what I say – and soon. It will be a brave new world, I’m sure.
This lunchtime, I have nipped into town to stock up on suncream and tee-shirts for our upcoming holiday – can’t wait! Ruddy hot walking in though. Thank goodness I keep emergency deodorant at work – I don’t want to traumatise the office after all.
Oh, and good news on the Maloney’s Law front. I’ve been contacted by PD Publishing and they’re doing the second edit now, so I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into that very soon. Hurrah! I’m so excited about seeing Paul’s story in print later this year – it’s really making my day knowing that it’s in the system somewhere, as well as giving me more incentive to get the edits done to The Bones of Summer. Where I’m now onto Chapter 14 of 27, you’ll be pleased to hear.
Talking of books, I’ve just finished Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale. A very impressive novel indeed and I can highly recommend it. It’s stuffed full of literary references and manages to work books into a novel in a way that’s rarely done well, I think. A fantastic start and a humdinger (and very clever) ending, which made me smile – though I did think it rather sagged in the middle and could have done with some judicial cutting at points. It’s so well written though that you can forgive both that and the rather wonderfully over-the-top storyline. However, even that works in terms of what the book is though. I’ll be looking out with interest for her next.
I'm also pleased to see that the Surrey Advertiser now has our Goldenford book event on 14 May listed here - though you'll need to scroll down to 14 May on the list to see the Golden Girls' names in print, hurrah!
Tonight, I shall pop into see Gladys on my way home. And then it’s an evening in. Wonderful. Ooh, and I am much amused by the instructions on the toilet cleaner I bought yesterday: Number One: Lift the toilet seat. Well, hello – what the hell do they think I’m going to do??? Spray it in my hair?? Honestly, words fail me …
Today’s nice things:
1. The news about Maloney’s Law
2. Laughing at toilet cleaner instructions
3. Editing.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
In the meantime, we are planning on updating the Student Advice section of the website – but I feel that whilst the ideas are good, our current web system might not quite be up to handling them. Or possibly it’s just that I’m not up to it. Who can tell? In any case, roll on the new web provider is what I say – and soon. It will be a brave new world, I’m sure.
This lunchtime, I have nipped into town to stock up on suncream and tee-shirts for our upcoming holiday – can’t wait! Ruddy hot walking in though. Thank goodness I keep emergency deodorant at work – I don’t want to traumatise the office after all.
Oh, and good news on the Maloney’s Law front. I’ve been contacted by PD Publishing and they’re doing the second edit now, so I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into that very soon. Hurrah! I’m so excited about seeing Paul’s story in print later this year – it’s really making my day knowing that it’s in the system somewhere, as well as giving me more incentive to get the edits done to The Bones of Summer. Where I’m now onto Chapter 14 of 27, you’ll be pleased to hear.
Talking of books, I’ve just finished Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale. A very impressive novel indeed and I can highly recommend it. It’s stuffed full of literary references and manages to work books into a novel in a way that’s rarely done well, I think. A fantastic start and a humdinger (and very clever) ending, which made me smile – though I did think it rather sagged in the middle and could have done with some judicial cutting at points. It’s so well written though that you can forgive both that and the rather wonderfully over-the-top storyline. However, even that works in terms of what the book is though. I’ll be looking out with interest for her next.
I'm also pleased to see that the Surrey Advertiser now has our Goldenford book event on 14 May listed here - though you'll need to scroll down to 14 May on the list to see the Golden Girls' names in print, hurrah!
Tonight, I shall pop into see Gladys on my way home. And then it’s an evening in. Wonderful. Ooh, and I am much amused by the instructions on the toilet cleaner I bought yesterday: Number One: Lift the toilet seat. Well, hello – what the hell do they think I’m going to do??? Spray it in my hair?? Honestly, words fail me …
Today’s nice things:
1. The news about Maloney’s Law
2. Laughing at toilet cleaner instructions
3. Editing.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Tainted Tree launch and DIY corner
Have spent most of the day having a wonderful time at the launch party for Jackie's new novel, Tainted Tree. A humdinger of a read, if you haven't realised that before, and well worth the purchase! The food was wonderful, the guests lovely and, pleasingly, we sold £400-worth of books, so that was a serious result, hurrah! Many thanks, Jackie, for putting on such a great party.
Talking of books etc, I seem to have had huge numbers of people visit either this blog or my website over the last couple of days, with a massive 123 hits to the site yesterday. Well, gosh. Can't imagine what's suddenly made me quite so popular, but welcome anyway - it's lovely to see you all. Even if only virtually. And if any of you out there do feel inclined to browse my highly exciting book page, please do - you can find it here. Um, not that I'm desperate. Hell, what am I saying?? I am desperate. We should all know that by now! Alternatively, if my mother has suddenly gone into some kind of repeat hit loop on her machine, welcome, Mother x123.
On the way back home from the launch, Lord H and I have hit the DIY store with a vengeance. We've come back with a whole length of different curtain samples, three tins of paint, a set of paintbrushes and a light fitting. I think we've now decided on the terracotta velvet curtains for the living room, but without the tie-backs and the valance - too fussy and the room doesn't need it. And my goodness, our bathroom is going to be bursting with new life come next weekend. We hope. Already, I have de-moulded the place - and, ye gods, the new zappy mould remover gets rid of everything in 4 minutes. Including us, if we're not careful. Lord H is now washing the walls and ceilings, and I am washing the bathroom curtains, the bathroom door and anything else I can find within my reach. As it were. Do you think this is our version of a midlife crisis? Cheaper than a mistress or two for sure.
Tonight of course, everything must stop for "Doctor Who" on TV, and I mustn't forget "Pushing Daisies". In the midst of all this, I have managed to edit Chapter Seven of The Bones of Summer and I might even squeeze in some more before the end of the day. After all, anything can happen here in DIY Corner ...
Today's nice things:
1. The Tainted Tree launch
2. The energy of DIY.
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Talking of books etc, I seem to have had huge numbers of people visit either this blog or my website over the last couple of days, with a massive 123 hits to the site yesterday. Well, gosh. Can't imagine what's suddenly made me quite so popular, but welcome anyway - it's lovely to see you all. Even if only virtually. And if any of you out there do feel inclined to browse my highly exciting book page, please do - you can find it here. Um, not that I'm desperate. Hell, what am I saying?? I am desperate. We should all know that by now! Alternatively, if my mother has suddenly gone into some kind of repeat hit loop on her machine, welcome, Mother x123.
On the way back home from the launch, Lord H and I have hit the DIY store with a vengeance. We've come back with a whole length of different curtain samples, three tins of paint, a set of paintbrushes and a light fitting. I think we've now decided on the terracotta velvet curtains for the living room, but without the tie-backs and the valance - too fussy and the room doesn't need it. And my goodness, our bathroom is going to be bursting with new life come next weekend. We hope. Already, I have de-moulded the place - and, ye gods, the new zappy mould remover gets rid of everything in 4 minutes. Including us, if we're not careful. Lord H is now washing the walls and ceilings, and I am washing the bathroom curtains, the bathroom door and anything else I can find within my reach. As it were. Do you think this is our version of a midlife crisis? Cheaper than a mistress or two for sure.
Tonight of course, everything must stop for "Doctor Who" on TV, and I mustn't forget "Pushing Daisies". In the midst of all this, I have managed to edit Chapter Seven of The Bones of Summer and I might even squeeze in some more before the end of the day. After all, anything can happen here in DIY Corner ...
Today's nice things:
1. The Tainted Tree launch
2. The energy of DIY.
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Bones, curtains and paint
Have spent a large part of the day working on the edit to The Bones of Summer. Bloody hard work, by George, but I'm enjoying it. I've done - or redone - four chapters now so am leaving it for today. Yes, that may not sound much, I know, but during this part of the game I spend a lot of time thinking and working out what I need to foreshadow and if so how much. Then there's the ditching of repetition, the changing of facts and events which clash with what happens later in the novel (when I'm more in my stride - or should be ...) and the alteration of the viewpoint from first person to third person. And no, much though I'd love it to be, that isn't unfortunately as simple as changing everything from "I" to "he". Dammit! Changing viewpoints changes everything - the look, feel and even the smell of the thing. But it's better in third person. It gels more. And of course, in a gay novel, there's the curse of the pronouns: which "he" is really "he" and which is the other "him"?? A little quirk the straight novel writers amongst us don't get to play with indeed! Ah, the joy of it all.
I've also nipped out and collected a parcel for Lord H, and - wait for it! - I've gone to Homebase and looked at curtains and paint. Ye gods!!! Have I been swopped for somebody normal?? Or am I finally succumbing to the Curse of the Bank Holiday? The plot thickens, Carruthers ... I just have a desperate urge to change our living room curtains (or the African Room, as we like to call it. Pretentious Gits 'R' Us ...), which have been slowly falling down for years due to their own weight. So it's time for something new, I feel. I am getting desperate urges for tie-backs and valances too, but will try to suppress them. And in case you're wondering, the curtains are currently a colour somewhere between terracotta and gold. And I'm hoping they'll stay in that vicinity too. To go with our terracotta and gold room. Though I do pay court to the concept of lightness with the cream leather sofa and chairs. My, how I do hate pastel shades for old houses. Funny how people (if they're ever allowed in at all) enter our living room and either love it or hate it instantly. Nothing in between. It's probably much the same reaction as they have to us really.
I'm also planning on repainting the bathroom in our 15-year battle to minimise the mould which also lives there. Ah, old Edwardian (or are we Victorian? I forget!...) houses, you know - it's a constant fight against history and time. But I do wonder where all this DIY keenness is coming from - and where indeed it's going to - as we've done nothing at all for fourteen years, preferring to spend our time (a) writing or (b) studying. Perhaps it's marking the completion (apart from the editing) of my seventh novel after all this time, and the space before I embark on my eighth. It's hard to say, but I'd best make the most of it before the feeling evaporates. I'm sure the flat will appreciate the temporary attention.
Anyway, tonight, if I can drag myself away from my curtain shades and paint quandaries, Lord H and I are off to the Guildford theatre to see Spies by Michael Frayn. Should be good - the man's a ruddy genius. Though I have to admit I've never read this novel. And hey after tonight I won't need to! God, but I'm cheap. And should be ashamed, yes I know.
Finally, don't forget that today is the first day of publication for Jackie's wonderful romantic saga, Tainted Tree. Well worth a look!
Today's nice things:
1. Starting the Bones edit
2. DIY dreams
3. The theatre.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
I've also nipped out and collected a parcel for Lord H, and - wait for it! - I've gone to Homebase and looked at curtains and paint. Ye gods!!! Have I been swopped for somebody normal?? Or am I finally succumbing to the Curse of the Bank Holiday? The plot thickens, Carruthers ... I just have a desperate urge to change our living room curtains (or the African Room, as we like to call it. Pretentious Gits 'R' Us ...), which have been slowly falling down for years due to their own weight. So it's time for something new, I feel. I am getting desperate urges for tie-backs and valances too, but will try to suppress them. And in case you're wondering, the curtains are currently a colour somewhere between terracotta and gold. And I'm hoping they'll stay in that vicinity too. To go with our terracotta and gold room. Though I do pay court to the concept of lightness with the cream leather sofa and chairs. My, how I do hate pastel shades for old houses. Funny how people (if they're ever allowed in at all) enter our living room and either love it or hate it instantly. Nothing in between. It's probably much the same reaction as they have to us really.
I'm also planning on repainting the bathroom in our 15-year battle to minimise the mould which also lives there. Ah, old Edwardian (or are we Victorian? I forget!...) houses, you know - it's a constant fight against history and time. But I do wonder where all this DIY keenness is coming from - and where indeed it's going to - as we've done nothing at all for fourteen years, preferring to spend our time (a) writing or (b) studying. Perhaps it's marking the completion (apart from the editing) of my seventh novel after all this time, and the space before I embark on my eighth. It's hard to say, but I'd best make the most of it before the feeling evaporates. I'm sure the flat will appreciate the temporary attention.
Anyway, tonight, if I can drag myself away from my curtain shades and paint quandaries, Lord H and I are off to the Guildford theatre to see Spies by Michael Frayn. Should be good - the man's a ruddy genius. Though I have to admit I've never read this novel. And hey after tonight I won't need to! God, but I'm cheap. And should be ashamed, yes I know.
Finally, don't forget that today is the first day of publication for Jackie's wonderful romantic saga, Tainted Tree. Well worth a look!
Today's nice things:
1. Starting the Bones edit
2. DIY dreams
3. The theatre.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
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