A New Year – So New Inspiration Required!

I got my manuscript back from Jane Eastgate, who did a brilliant job for me, so the "bad bit" has now started. i.e. "Trying to Get an Agent."

No luck so far, and I'll be approaching various agents – especially those with an interest in historical fiction – over the summer. I'll be meeting several of them at the RNA Conference, and at the Historical Novel Conference in Oxford. Note: it is VERY early days in this process, and its just what you have to do! *sigh*

For those not in the world of writing, you need to send off a synopsis of your book, plus the first three chapters. Strangely, beyond this standard, every agent likes their submissions to come in different formats. Some want it printed out, some as a series of docs attached to an e-mail, and some with everything concatenated into a single e-mail. It behooves an author to get the format right for each agent. By doing that, you remove the likelihood of them chucking it out before they even look at it.

Oh, and you wouldn't believe how many writers fail to follow an agent's submission guidelines.

On the social side, I've had three (!) trips to London – the first to the rarified heights of Wimbledon, where we combined catching a show with meeting some of our oldest friends. Two excellent nights! The show was Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace's last touring show – The Last Tango. Once again, choreographed by the pair of them and Karen Bruce. It is still touring until July and, if you like dance, you will love this. We've seen all of their shows, and been fans since they started on Strictly, and have met them a few times.

The Last Tango!

The second trip was to join my old friends, the London Hash House Harriers, who were celebrating their eighth Leap Year Run. This was the first not to have been set and organized by my old friend Colin, truly a Prince among men. It is also an occasion when EVERYONE comes out of the woodwork and goes specifically to meet their old friends. These days, being embarrassed in the working-leg-department to the tune of one, its the best and only reason for me to go, but so, so worth it.

In the Admiralty, on the South-west corner of Trafalgar Square.

Not just an excellent pub and full of friends,
but they were having a "Pie Promotion into the bargain!

I also did some "street research" for the next book, walking around Mayfair and snapping some of the old buildings there where my protagonists actually lived. VERY useful! As was a trip to the V&A to check out dress and costume from the 1770s.

Clarges Street

Stanhope Gate

  

I can just see myself and Pam in these!! 

 The third London trip was for the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards. For my writer friends and I this is the equivalent of the Oscars, and is very much a Dress Up affair! (for nearly everyone) (you had to be there).

   It was held at No. 1 Whitehall Place, in what used to be the National Liberal Club. This is a magnificent venue and we all appreciated being there. We managed to fill the Gladstone Library and its adjoining areas.

   I found myself slightly torn, knowing well six of the authors who had made the short list, and knowing slightly several more. One of my friends won her particular class, but EVERYONE nominated has worked so hard, and, in some cases, for so long. Well done to all of them!

(and don't they scrub up WELL!)

The one and only Milly Johnson,
winner of the Romantic Comedy Award

The winners, plus Fern Brittain, who gave out the prizes.

The full list can be found atThe RoNAs - 2016.
and thanks to Goldsborough Books for sponsoring the event.

Iona Grey, the overall winner, for Letters to the Lost,
and my best pic of the night.

The Terrible Twins, AKA Brigid Coady and Liz Fenwick

Alison May & Janet Gover

It was a great night and capped off by going up the road for wine and pasta with a very convivial bunch. 

Immi and Pippa Howson, and Julie Vince, leading me astray!

There's a disease called Caligynephobia. I am SO glad I don't suffer from it!

On a more somber note, it's been a hell of a year for losing friends – apart from the public figures whose numbers seem to be mounting unusually rapidly. I've lost two friends in particular, in Eric "Digit" McGaw, and Johnny "Condom" Johnson. Even more salutary when you think that we are all of an age.

The irrepressible and never-to-be-forgotten
Johnny Johnson.

Eric *Digit" MacGaw

So for now, it's back to the grindstone, and inspiration is proving difficult to find, but it WILL come eventually. I know the outline of the story, but am working very hard to fill in lots of blanks, and it really IS very hard work!

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” 
― Ernest Hemingway

 Caligynephobia: The fear of beautiful women!

We Wish You An Inspirational Christmas and a Productive New Year!!

Time for another update as we drift into a VERY miserable 2016 (from a weather point of view)

We had a wonderful Christmas; everything worked. The only cloud on the horizon was that our younger daughter had to work! *sigh*

Never mind, she will be over at Easter and her mum can spoil her then.

Talking of her mum, we recently celebrated our Ruby Wedding, so I must be doing SOMETHING right.

I took Pam over to Brussels to see some friends, go to the Christmas Marker (brilliant) and to do some shopping, and happily, she had a great time. It was lovely for her to see a lot of people she hasn’t had the chance to see for too long. Brussels is such a fun city, anyway. Did I mention the beer? I’m sure I must have mentioned the chocolate.

It has been a busy time for the writing. I made the decision to send my manuscript to be professionally edited, once I had completed the amendment suggested by my New Writers Scheme reader.

 As I knew Jane Eastgate from Conference, and she came highly recommended., she seemed to be an easy choice. She has turned out to be an excellent choice as well. Still lots to do, and, as I write, I have finished 310 pages of line-edits. I’m taking a 2 day break before I attack the Structural edits, etc. It’s all good!!

Quite a few people do blog posts on their best reads of the year, so I thought I would too.

My top reads of the year were, in no particular order:

The Lost Girl, by Liz Harris.

I have been reading Liz’s books since her first one was published, and they get better and better. The Lost Girl, set in the mining communities of Wyoming in the 1870s and covering a period where the mining industry were bringing in a large number of Chinese miners.

Liz writes with a great eye for detail, and this book is both is a delight to read. Sympathetic characters and good pace though out.

The Lost Girl on Amazon.co.uk

The Secrets Women Keep, by Fanny Blake.

A big surprise for me. This was the first of Fanny Blake’s books that I had read. A gripping family tale, set in Italy and Cornwall and totally absorbing. If there is a moral in the tale, it’s “Don’t leave your mobile phone lying around!”

Fanny’s prose style transports the reader effortlessly to the warmth of a Tuscan orange grove. A great discovery for me.

The Secrets Women Keep on Amazon

Under a Cornish Sky, by Liz Fenwick.

Liz Fenwick is another author whose books get better and better. Under a Cornish Sky is Liz’s fourth book and best yet. Once again Liz has brought out the “spirit of Cornwall” in her book. Great characters as usual, a strong romantic thread and lots of family intrigue. Just a delight. (as she is in real life)

Under a Cornish Sky on Amazon.co,uk

Buy, read, review and enjoy them all. I did!

So, whether you running, walking, reading writing or editing, have a great time doing it – and it WILL be worth it in the end.

Keep the faith!

John

The Nights are Drawing In

Yes, the nights ARE drawing in, and it can only mean one (actually, several) things.

The RNA Winter Party – AND the new series of Strictly Come Dancing!

I write this just after the RNA Winter Party. I had booked early and cheaply to get a train ticket at a decent price, but I still arrived in London just in time for the Love Stories Awards. Normally these are held at the Festival of Romance. Unfortunately, that was cancelled so their organiser, Kate Allan, rearranged the awards for the same day as the Winter Party. 

The venue was Jewel, a fashionable drinking hole close to Piccadilly, and it was well supported by writers, bloggers and editors. A good start to the day, and great to see so many friends there.

Mandy Baggot, who needs no introduction, and Kate Allan,
who organised the event and kept the bubbly flowing!

Julie Cohen, - a Winner!!

Samantha Tonge, whose Game of Scones is a REALLY good beach-read (and another winner)

Waterstones on Piccadilly was placed handily half way between Jewel and the Royal Over-Seas League. A handy spot to gather breath, especially timing our arrival for Happy Hour, but the pull of the party held firm and after the shortest of breaks we were off to the League.

This was one of their best ever parties, and pretty well as full as it could be. I talked to a LOT of friends old and new for three hours plus, and STILL managed to miss several people. Such is life! I missed Alison Morton completely, and only got a passing glimpse of Carol McGrath and Imogen Howson, and missed getting snaps of several friends! I'll do better next time, promise.

Highlights for me included finally meeting, if only briefly, Ellie Dean and Fanny Blake, whose books i have REALLY enjoyed.

Julia Ibbotson and Ellie Dean

Lynda and Hadyn Stacey, with Liam Livings.

Lynda Stacey and Kate Johnson

I did manage to talk to Jane Eastgate though, who is going to edit my MS. A new experience for me; we have met a couple of times, she has already seen part of the MS and she comes highly recommended, so I eagerly await the results. 

Once I have them, I’ll act on them and then start touting the MS around, and try and get myself an agent.

The writing course I mentioned in my last blog was a blast! 11 eager pupils and 2 wise owls tutoring us. A great place for it, too, and back in my old back yard (we lived 4 miles away for many years). 

Our wise owls were Alison May and Janet Gover, good writers and good teachers both.

Wendy Prove and Immi Howson

I followed this up with a one-day course in York, held by two more friends, Rhoda Baxter and Jane Lovering. I’ve spent a lot of the time since then trying to put into practice what I learnt and improve the MS. Time will tell if I’ve been successful.

Oh, we also had a quick break in Northumbria at Bamburgh. In preparation for The Last Kingdom on TV (it's allegedly Uhtred's home)

The Christmas Season is upon us and we live in challenging times. Have a great party season, stay safe, love and be loved, and may Christmas and the New Year bring you all you wish yourselves, (only more so)

The next update will be in the New Year!

John

.....And a Short Cool Summer *sigh*

Time for another blog update!

A busy couple of months too. I have been insanely busy editing and correcting “the book”. I submitted it back in June under the New Writers Scheme. For my non-writing friends, this is a scheme organised by the Romantic Novelists Assoc., whereby – if you are accepted– they will arrange for your manuscript to be given the “once over” by an experienced author who knows what they are doing.

The lady who read and critted my MS did a brilliant job. I’ll never know who it was – that is part of the deal. It is completely anonymous, but the level of detail she covered was brilliant. A shed-load of work, but all very do-able and all sensible. So if she happens to read this – many thanks.

I’ve now reached the stage where I need to send it out into the cruel wide world to try and find an agent who will take it on. I’ve still got about 3 weeks more work first. It still needs a final polish.

I’ve been busy on the Social side, too. I went down to Oxford for the biannual UK Nash Hash – exceptionally well hosted by Oxford H3. Before the festivities started I had time for a very convivial lunch with a favourite author and friend – Liz Harris.

While my running days are over, I go purely for the joy of meeting old friends. Besides, who could resist a weekend imbibing the excellent Hook Norton?

Loads of friends there, but more special than most was seeing Whad-Ya-Say (known in the civilian world as Iain McRobbie) up and around after a shocking accident when he was knocked off his bike. Long may his recovery continue. Even the weather smiled for most of the weekend.

 

This is the famous Whad-Ya-Say, Good to see!

Oh, and for the avoidance of doubt, I can confirm that Oxford is FULL of outstanding pubs!

London H3 still throw a mean cocktail Party - and dress accordingly!

Hashers en-mass are always a colourful bunch!

Two friends from my local RNA Chapter, Lynda and Jane, arranged the RNAs first event in the North of the UK, “The York Tea”. We had the use of the Guildhall in York, handily close to Bettys, and a gorgeous venue on its own.

About 85 RNA members and guests turned up, some from considerable distance away – and a seriously convivial afternoon tea was had by all. Kudos to Lynda and Jane (and their other halves) for putting it all together. What we’d REALLY like now is for one of the other RNA Chapters to take it on for the next one.  

 This is Katie Fford who has the biggest smile on the face of the earth and came for the day all the way from Cheltenham!! THAT's dedication.

A great venue!

 The afternoon started with a glass of prosecco, which certainly had the desired effect of loosening everyone's tongues, and finished with the hysterically funny Milly Johnson presenting a paper comparing Northern Birds with their Southern Counterparts. I laughed so much the tears ran down my legs. 😂

I resumed my visits to Silverstone this year, going back for the Silverstone Classic. 2 days of classic sports and racing cars, back from my formative years and even before!

This was when racing cars LOOKED like racing cars – besides, what can you say about a race with 7 Bentleys and 3 Bugattis – all from the 20s and 30s.

It does rather help if the rain stays away.

Coming up, I’ve got a weekend writing course in a couple of weeks – just up the road from our old home in Evesham. Hopefully I’ll be in time to get a few punnets of plums. It's jam, jelly and chutney time again. Haxby, our village, has a couple of crab apple trees right outside the Post Office and Sainsbury's. There are also a lot of Rowan trees, so we now have a stock of Crab-apple Jelly, and Crab and Rowan Jelly nestling next to the beer in our garage-cum-beer cupboard.

Next time, I’ll tell you of the frustrations of trying to find an agent and/or publisher!

John

Another Long Hot Summer

Wow!! Just back from my first RNA Conference. For my non-writing friends, this was a VERY concentrated three days of talks, workshops and panels, freely mixed with meeting toooooo many old and new friends to count, and doing a LOT of socialising. More on the Conference in a moment.

A month ago, we went over to Ireland for our major holiday this year. This was a combination of meeting more old friends, including many Hash House Harrier friends, and a chance to do some research as well as have a great break.

We managed all four, just. Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and Cork.

H3 (that's Hash House Harriers)  friends growing old disgracefully in Galway.

Mullingar was the highlight in many ways – the on-line research that I had been doing for my book was pleasantly confirmed, but I really wanted to get a “feel” for the places. It’s a gorgeous area. My leading villain, Robert Rochfort’s house is still there, as is his brother’s, and the wall he built between their houses. (he didn’t like the view, and trees took too long to grow!)

Robert's House "Belvedere"

Georges House "Rochfort House" (Now renamed Tuddenham)

The Wall that Robert built.

We loved Ireland. Lots of space and GREAT driving. Empty motorways and low tolls. The Guinness really DOES taste different in Ireland, as well.

Of course, as always, it’s the people!  Old friends, new friends, more old friends and young friends!

My friends over at Manchester Hash House Harriers were celebrating their third birthday in June, and it would have been churlish not to join them for a real fun weekend. Apart from the friends (again / more) the highlight has GOT to be playing Hungry Hippos with real people!! Hysterical.

It IS as much fun as it looks!!

And so to the RNA Conference. I was told by Roger Sanderson, the doyen of male RNA members, that you see the RNA at their best at Conference and he was NOT wrong. A great weekend, a stack of friends old and new and a lot of very helpful info for someone like me. I had three meetings with Agents/publishers/editors all of which were excellent and very positive, I went to a LOT of talks, lectures and workshops and generally had a great time.

Some highlights? Hazel Gaynor on promotion, Jane Johnson, Joanne Hickson & Jenny Barden on Research, Charlotte Betts, Emma Darwin on keeping the reader reading(your book), Alison May on projects down the line, AND

                                The utterly brilliant Julie Cohen on the Art of the Rewrite!!

(subtitled Repetition is Death!)

On the social side, it was almost beyond comment. I’m sure RNA members will be reassured to know I’ll be over in France stocking up on bubbles before next Conference. Preparation is key.

I took over 400 pics of the weekend, and most of them have appeared on Facebook. Adrienne has grabbed 40 or so for Romance Matters, so we'll see those in a few weeks. (the best ones from the Gala Dinner)

To close, a taste of pics from the totally vital and imperative socialising that accompanies Conference. 

Jenny Barden
Great books and impeccable research.

Charlotte Betts

Liz Harris (old friend who got me into all this in the first place)

 Liam Livings (at last. Good bloke)

 Imogen Howson (who WALKED to Mile End from Kinfs Cross with a Backack!)

The naughty step, with Jane Lovering, Alison May and Kate Johnson.

Lovely Liz

Henri Gyland

Pia and Loraine

Some tags: Liz Fenwick, Christina Courtenay, Lorraine Hossington, Henri Gyland

The next blog update will be after I get my manuscript back from the New Writers Scheme and pitch into it to incorporate their recommendations, and probably after the August Bank Holiday and UK Nash Hash in Oxford!

Enjoy your summer, wherever it takes you.

John