book

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 5 Comments

How’s your week been? I’ve had an industrious week writing-wise. As well as continuing with the editing of my second children’s book, I’ve started work on two other short pieces.

One is for TenX9 Nottingham, where nine true-life pieces of no more than ten minutes are read. The theme for the next one is waiting.

My second piece is for Let’s Write, an online writing group I attend. This month we had a choice of three prompts. I spent some time deciding which prompt to use and made a start on my piece.

I’m feeling satisfied.

What are you pleased or satisfied with this week?

Ticking off writing tasks

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 6 Comments

This week, I am pleased with a plodding along sort of week. I’ve plodded on with the first draft of my second children’s book. Plodded on with contacting bookshops and libraries to ask them to stock my book. I’ve volunteered, been out, kept the house (reasonably) clean and tidy, groomed the cats and so on. See what I mean by plodding? It’s good to have a plodding along week sometimes.

What are you pleased with this week?

Benjamin, my tuxedo cat, needs lots of grooming

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 6 Comments

Share something you’ve achieved, or are pleased with, this week. It doesn’t matter how big or small; go ahead and flaunt it.

In the last week, I have taken my children’s book, The Clocker, to two local libraries. I’ve met lots of children and their families and had a wonderful time. Each session has started with me reading a few chapters of my book, followed by a writing/ craft session. I’ve been very impressed at how many children know what a blurb is and where to find it on a book.

Each child, as well as some of their family members, thought of an animal whether real or imaginary they’d like to write a book about. They came up with titles, drew pictures and wrote a mini blurb. What fantastic ideas they had, from Superflea, to The Finx, from Flight (about a bird called Blue Bell), to Fun Facts About Snakes. There’s definitely some budding talent out there.

Thank you to Nottingham Central Library and Wollaton Library for inviting me; I loved it.

This is the first thing I saw when I arrived at Nottingham Central Library My Books

Sum up Sunday

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How’s your week been? If you’d like to sum it up in 25 words or less, I’d love to hear from you.

Charity shop Monday

Write and clean Tuesday

Write more on Wednesday

Friends on Thursday

Library event Friday

Shop and write Saturday

And it’s Sunday again

Having the chance to read some of my children’s book, The Clocker, at the library was fantastic My Books

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 7 Comments

Today’s the day to share anything that you’re pleased with this week. Here’s mine:

Having had my debut children’s book, The Clocker, published this year, I have been beavering away on a second children’s book. It’s a follow on, with a focus on a different character than the first book.

I’m delighted to have now written over 30,000 words. Although it’s very much a first draft, that feels quite an achievement.

I’m looking forward to adding this book to My Books

Wordy Wednesday

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This week, I’m going to hand over to Nev, the main character from my children’s book, The Clocker. Nev likes to make up his own words and he’s going to share one of them.

I love making up words. Sometimes there isn’t one that exists that says what you want. I started making up words when I was little. It made people laugh so I made up more. The first made up word in The Clocker is ‘slumpfolded’. It means you’re slumped and folded over all at once. It described how my dad looked when my mum had left us. Apparently, that word also means something to do with a geographical feature but I think my meaning is better.

Have you ever made up a word, either by adding two words together or creating your own word? I’d love to hear them (and so would Nev).

https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/middle-grade/the-clocker

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 14 Comments

It’s Friday again and time to reflect on achievements, or things I’m pleased about this week. I’d love to hear your Flaunt it Friday too.

I’ll admit it, I’m not someone who finds it easy to ask something of others; offering comes much easier. This makes the task of promoting my children’s book, The Clocker, a challenge. It’s not something you do just once either; it’s an ongoing process. I find it easy to decide it’s not worth asking when, the reality is, I don’t find asking comes naturally. As the saying goes, if you don’t ask ….

With this in mind, I’m pleased that I’ve reached out to several people this week, asking them to review my book. Even if I’m trudging along, I’m putting one foot in front of the other and I keep going.

Keep going …

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 11 Comments

I’ve been doing more reaching out to libraries this week. I have dates in my diary for Nottingham libraries and thought I’d see if any in Nottinghamshire would be interested. Libraries are great places where I can read from my children’s book, The Clocker, as well as getting children to do some of their own writing.

I’m feeling positive and looking forward to meeting some of my target audience.

Here is the link to my book at Troubador Publishing bookstore.

https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/middle-grade/the-clocker

Looking forward to library events

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 6 Comments

My word this Wednesday is blurb. I’ve always thought it seemed a very informal word to describe the short description that appears on the back of a book, or to describe a film.

An early 20th century word, it was coined by Gelett Burgess, an American humorist. He is said to have invented the word for the promotional cover of his own book.

It is, of course, a term now widely used and recognised by publishers and authors. That small word, though, holds great importance. The blurb on the back of a book is, for many of us, the difference between buying or not buying. I wonder if that’s true for you?

To buy, or not to buy …

Sum up Sunday

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Here’s my Sunday sum up. Can you sum up your week in 25 words or less?

Bank Holiday volunteering

Meeting friends

New book underway

Characters light up

The page

Volunteering on Bank Holiday Monday