The Blog
Smashwords – Valerie & But By Degrees Available Now
I’m happy to announce that both Valerie and But By Degrees are now available over at Smashwords. I know that some people don’t use Amazon and are frustrated when there are no alternatives, so I’ve remedied that.
Valerie on Smashwords
But By Degrees on Smashwords
I originally uploaded But By Degrees to Smashwords when it was first published. However, I had some technical difficulties with the platform, so I pulled the book and focused on Amazon. I’ve decided to take another punt with it now, although please do let me know if you download and there are any issues.
Lesfic Sale Going On!
Once again, the fantastic folk over at I Heart Lesfic have coordinated a massive sale of lesbian fiction of all varieties. Whether your preferences are for romance, erotica or thriller novels, there’s something in the Mega Spring Sale for you.
I’ve listed both Valerie and But By Degrees for 99p/$0.99 as part of the sale (those links will take you straight to the Amazon pages), but there are plenty of other books for you to grab too. I’ve listed a few of my personal highlights below:
- There’s a romance novel by Lila Bruce which looks good. I’ve just finished one of hers so quickly added this one to my Kindle too.
- Secrets by Barbara Winkes is one I read recently with plenty of twists and turns.
- Escape to Pirate Island is probably the best lesbian novel I’ve read in 2018 so I’d recommend that one. Niamh Murphy also has a couple of others in the sale, including a retelling of Hansel and Gretel.
- Alice & Jean by Lily Hammond was one of my highlights of last year. It’s a beautiful book.
Hopefully, these recommendations will get you started and there’s plenty of other novels on there to fill up your Kindle. I’ve tried to be a good girl and only downloaded 7 so far (there’s still time though). Thanks to all the authors involved, there’s a great range and I’m looking forward to the novels by Harper Bliss and MJ Duncan especially. It’s going to be a good summer with these novels lined up to read, but I’m still intending on doing lots of that other thing I’m meant to be doing – that writing thing!
The sale runs until Friday and you can find the full list here.
Remember, after you’ve read any of the books, consider leaving a review on Amazon. It really helps!
Thinking Sequels and Stories
For anyone who missed my recent announcement on Facebook, you might be pleased to learn that I’m in the process of writing a sequel to Valerie. It was something that I was considering before I launched, feeling that there was more these characters wanted to do and say. As their author, the least I can do is listen to them.
I’ve always had an ambivalent attitude towards sequels. Sometimes, it feels as though there’s nothing new to be said and that inevitably leads to a book that doesn’t live up to the first one. That’s part of the reason why I’ve got twelve distinct novels in various stages of writing and rewriting – I was determined that I’d never be tempted to write a sequel just because it was easier than coming up with fresh ideas. That way, if I ever got the urge to develop a sequel, it’d be on genuine merit, not simply because I was worried about writing something new.
Valerie is very much a novel about a trio – Valerie, Max and Amy. The dynamics between those three are crucial to every chapter and every scene. It’s not just a love story, it’s a story about family and how families are formed, what they mean, how they function. There were some deliberate loose ends in Valerie, some ambivalence that mirrors real-life. I understand the need for happy endings (especially in fiction about lesbian characters), but life isn’t all hearts and flowers. My novels aim to grapple in the undergrowth of emotions and, perhaps, that’s where the best stories are.
As yet, I don’t have a release date for the sequel. I’m in the process of rewriting it and it’ll go through as many edits as it needs before I release it. There’s also something else in the pipeline which I’ll reveal in the coming weeks. Sign up to my mailing list to receive updates on my releases and monthly freebies during 2018.
One thing I can tell you now… The title to this sequel? ‘Amy’.
A Man Once Told Me…
It’s difficult not to get caught up in the swirling scandals that are engulfing every facet of modern society. I have nothing but admiration for all those women and men putting their stories out there. I’m fortunate never to have experienced anything too bad in my time, but I’ve been reminded of various conversations I’d had over the years. One, directly related to my writing, has stuck with me.
This man whom I respected and considered a friend (at the time) pointed out that I didn’t portray men in my novels as particularly nice. It’s taken me a while to realise that what he actually meant was that they weren’t prominent and at the heart of the plots. Now, for a self-avowed writer of lesbian fiction, that’s not exactly a big shock to me, but I did go through the characters in my novels to work out if the men were all evil. Shock horror – they’re not.
Matt in But By Degrees is lovely, not exactly based on anyone I know but just a nice, decent guy. Even Michael doing what he does (trying to avoid spoilers here) is understandable when you look at it in context (I think, feel free to argue). In Valerie, the two prominent men are Drew and Ed. Drew’s an idiot and a bit of an arse but I don’t write saintly characters, male or female. Ed, too, has his faults, although I’m very attached to Ed as the kind of guy I’d like my nieces to grow up around.
Looking back, this friend made a judgement on Drew mainly and that rankles. I’ve known many guys like Drew and I get on with some of them. Just because a character – or human being, for that matter – has some flaws, it doesn’t mean that they necessarily jump into the “bad” camp. I’m not keen on that camp at all, to be fair. Life’s made up of grey people and grey areas a lot of the time, and that’s something I try and put across in my fiction.
I don’t write lesbian fiction because I want to write about men. Nor do I brush them out of existence and pretend that women don’t have male friends who can be a bit irritating sometimes. I write stories that are about lives, centred on lesbians, and men are on the periphery of those lives. What’s so wrong about that?
Freebie Short Story Every Month!
Well, we’re only a week into 2018 and I’m already falling behind on my writing goals!
I intended to finish a second draft in December, prior to returning to one of the two projects that will be my next release – ‘Make Old Bones’ or ‘Nights at the Majestic’. As it happens, December didn’t quite work out like that and I’m still beavering away on the second draft of ‘Vic’. That’s coming to an end, though, and I’m delighted by how much the story of that has evolved. One thing I love about my various projects is that I don’t feel like I’m wasting time with any of them. When I’m in, I’m all in, and I think it’s important to love the project you’re working on.
However, while I try and catch up on my novel schedule, I’m also thinking ahead for the rest of 2018. The short story collections I wanted to release last year didn’t quite come to fruition. That was due to several reasons, although getting engaged needs to take its fair share of the blame on that (I’m not knocking it, believe me). It means that there’s still plenty I want to do though. High priority is the Victorian short story collection I discussed last year – research time badly needed!
In the meantime, I want to offer something to my readers and potential readers. So, every month, I’ll be giving away a short story to my subscribers. They’ll vary in style and content, but they will include some of my previously published short stories. You won’t be able to retrospectively grab the monthly stories after they’ve been delivered to subscribers for that month so sign up ahead of time.
All you have to do is sign up using the form below. As an added bonus, you’ll receive my award-winning short-story ‘Sidetracked’ freebie straight away.
Heard About the I Heart Lesfic Mega Sale?
To all who celebrate, I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas. I ate too much cheese (but, then, that could be considered a typical day) and got a little writing done, so that was pretty ideal for me. However, I’m not interrupting your day to talk about cheese. I wanted to draw your attention to a sale that’s going on involving over 50 authors of lesbian fiction.
T.B. Markinson over at I Heart Lesfic has put together a mega sale involving 90 books in varying genres. The discounts on some are pretty stupendous and I was delighted to put my novels on sale alongside the likes of Susan X Meagher and Niamh Murphy. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a mystery, a romance, or a little erotica! The sale lasts until the 29th and you can find the full list of discounted books here.
If you want to buy either of my two novels at only 99p / $0.99, you can jump over to Amazon now with the links below. Enjoy and send a lot of love over to I Heart Lesfic for organising this mammoth sale!
Valerie – Amazon UK – Amazon US
But By Degrees – Amazon UK – Amazon US
Muddling Through Somehow
Is it sacrilege to say that I’m not really a fan of Christmas?
All around, I see people getting into the festive spirit and shopping with gusto. The adverts on the radio are grating with their constant common theme and my inbox is bursting with offers from all those companies I’ve signed up to receive news from, the ones I quite like during the rest of the year. Nevertheless, I remain a little detached from it all. Perhaps the essence of Christmas has passed me by and, yet, there is something I do appreciate about it – the music.
When I say “music”, I’m not really talking about the festive party tunes courtesy of Brenda Lee and Mariah Carey, although I do like them in moderation. I just find the beauty of traditional carols more entrancing. That’s not really something that came from my childhood, although my paternal grandmother had a carol collection we dug out of the piano stool every year for her to play. I had to sacrifice the piano last year in a move, but I still have the carol book. The carols I know well are the ones she liked, so that means I’ve only just started to recognise how beautiful ‘I Saw Three Ships’ is.
My favourite carol, though, is undoubtedly ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ (Holst’s version). It isn’t only because it’s based on a poem by Christina Rossetti, but it also sums up the atmosphere I find so engrossing at this time of year. Yes, it’s specifically religious, but remove it from that setting and what do you get? A depiction of a world where it’s difficult for anything to thrive. That resonates more and more, however advanced the world apparently becomes.
Christmas and winter, for me, is essentially about loneliness and the fear that comes with it. That’s one reason why my other favourite Christmas song is Judy Garland’s version of ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. It has to be Judy, and not simply because I invariably choose her interpretations of songs above all others. To appreciate the song, listen to it in the context of Meet Me in St. Louis – Esther is trying to make Tootie feel better about the fact they’re leaving their home to move to New York. It’s a song about belonging and trying to make the best of things. Interestingly enough, the line that subsequent versions of the song change (apparently on the request of Mr Sinatra in the first instance) is “Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow” which becomes “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough”. If Frank thought that the overall tone of the song was too downbeat then that was the intention in context. For me, that line sums up what life, never mind Christmas, is all about.
While it’s my favourite, ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ isn’t the only Christmas song Judy recorded for one of her films. ‘Merry Christmas’ was featured in In the Good Old Summertime and is similarly downbeat whilst still recognising the warmth of Christmas. Again, context matters and Veronica’s inner struggle between how she feels at the time and how she would like the traditions of Christmas to make her feel instead is palpable. The song might not be as well-known as ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, but it’s just as heart-wrenching.
So, perhaps, heart-wrenching is what I see as the perfect Christmas song. Whatever that means, I’m going to enjoy the rest of December in the company of some stunning choral groups and, of course, Miss Judy Garland.
Winter Rereading Fun
Every now and then I’m struck by the fact that I have all these shelves of books, most of which I’ve read once, and they just sit there getting dusty. In the past, I answered that “would you rather be on a desert island with infinite new books or 100 favourites” question with “favourites”, but my attitude gradually shifted over time. There are so many books to read so, if asked now, I’d choose an endless supply of books (and a fishing rod). However, I do feel sorry for all those books sitting on my shelves year after year. That’s why I decided to make December a dedicated rereading month this year. As well as being fun, it’s a good excuse to stay indoors and keep away from the icy winter weather that’s starting to bite here in Yorkshire.
Figuring out where to start wasn’t hard. Harry Potter is a constant staple of those procrastination-inducing lists you find on social media and I’ve been reminded a lot lately of the bits that didn’t make it into the films. Professional McGonagall (especially in Order of the Phoenix) is my favourite character and I want to spend a little time in her stern company.
Beyond those seven books, I have no definite plans. It’s been years since I reread any of Sarah Waters’ books and I felt the urge to do a full reread of all Sophie Hannah’s crime series. I could throw a classic in there too – maybe The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte or Emma or Persuasion by Jane Austen. My bookshelves are my oyster, to coin a new saying.
Perhaps I’m getting carried away – there’s only three weeks left of December, after all! But I intend to spend those three weeks in the company of old friends. I’m looking forward to it.
Blogging NaNoWriMo 2017: Phew
I’ve been incredibly quiet while I’ve been working on NaNo. Well, I’m not sure the people in my writing haunt would agree with that to be fair. I’ve been tapping furiously away in the corner for the last three weeks, scurrying to the counter for fresh reserves of caffeine, gummy bears, and the occasional serving of fries. Since this place has seen me through the publication of both But By Degrees and Valerie, they’re pretty much used to me by now.
I started late, wobbled a lot, but eventually hit 50,000 words around 4:30pm on the 29th. At that point, the entire draft itself crumbled to a conclusion, as though the weight of words had finally taken its toll on the characters as well. That’s not unusual for me. My first drafts generally come in short and expand during future drafts (only to be mercilessly chopped up in the final sweep through). We’ve all got our different ways of working and this is mine.
It’s been a project of surprises and that’s left me with a lot to consider for future drafts. The truth is, it’ll be a year at least before I get to a second draft of this one, leaving plenty of time for ideas to percolate. But I like the characters and the way they diverted immediately from the sketches in my head. I’ll do more work on those when I come back to the novel, as well as deciding whether the plot works in its current form. I can probably say right now that it doesn’t. The published versions of But By Degrees and Valerie bear little resemblance to their first draft, and that’s a good thing. Time, for me, cures all plot ills.
Below, you can see how my NaNo victory shaped up. As for me? Well, there’s no rest for the wicked author. Back to work.
Blogging NaNoWriMo 2017: Caught Ya
It took a while but yesterday my total finally made contact with the diagonal line. For those unfamiliar with NaNo, that means that I actually reached the number of words I was meant to be on come 21st November – 35,000. Given that I started a week late and so was over 10,000 words behind, it’s nice to gallop into line.
In terms of the novel itself, the whole thing has turned far darker than I’d originally intended. I knew it wasn’t going to be sweetness and light (my stories rarely are), but I didn’t anticipate it going this way. Perhaps when I slip into pure pantser mode, this is what happens.
I began with a clear scene in my mind in a supermarket car park. Along with the vaguest idea of character, that’s where I started. It’s always incredible to get to this point and realise how much has sprouted from that one small idea. Sure, the whole thing’s a mess and is currently riddled with inconsistencies. However, it’s developed on its own. The latest twist my characters threw in startled even me!
My focus now is finishing NaNo and the draft itself. My usual total for a first draft is between 50,000 and 55,000, so it shouldn’t be any problem to finish it before the month’s out. I wish I’d had more time to participate in this social side of NaNo this year. Unfortunately, the pressures of wanting to catch up coupled with that little thing called life have prevented it. The only write-ins I’ve been to are the private ones in my favourite writing haunt where they know my coffee habits and don’t mind me taking up a table most of the day. I’ve written, rewritten, and edited so many projects in there over the last four years that it’s more like my primary home than my second. Seriously, if you’re ever in Wakefield, give Create at Wakefield One a try. I’ll probably be in there, whether that’s a deterrent or not…
