Meanwhile here's the news ....
Author Newsletter: November 2013
Hello again to all my friends and
readers – welcome to this latest update about my books and writing. And to
start off, I’ve got some good news for those of you waiting for the third in
the series about the Jennings sisters. Here it is, now available on Amazon for
Kindle:
Millie Being Married
(How to stay married – and love it!)
Millie
and Tom were only eighteen, and expecting a baby, when they got married. At the
time, they featured in a TV documentary about teenage marriage – convinced they
would beat the odds and prove to their families that their relationship would
survive.
Now, fifteen years later, their two daughters are stroppy teenagers, money is tight and although they’re still together, life’s not exactly a bed of roses. The TV company wants to produce a follow-up film about how their marriage has turned out. Which would be fine … except that there are a couple of things Millie would prefer not to be revealed in the documentary. In fact she’d prefer they weren’t even revealed to Tom.
Can Millie and Tom survive the intrusion of the film crew into their already stressful lives? Or will the cameras perhaps expose some secrets that would have been better kept hidden?
Now, fifteen years later, their two daughters are stroppy teenagers, money is tight and although they’re still together, life’s not exactly a bed of roses. The TV company wants to produce a follow-up film about how their marriage has turned out. Which would be fine … except that there are a couple of things Millie would prefer not to be revealed in the documentary. In fact she’d prefer they weren’t even revealed to Tom.
Can Millie and Tom survive the intrusion of the film crew into their already stressful lives? Or will the cameras perhaps expose some secrets that would have been better kept hidden?
Download the book now for
only 77p at: http://tinyurl.com/qgs9eng
(this is a shortened link to the Amazon page, for your convenience) – and find out what happens to Sophie and Debra’s youngest sister,
Millie, when the TV crew descends on her family!
I hope to produce the
book as a paperback in due course for those who prefer their novels in paper
format. Meanwhile I hope those of you who download the digital version will
enjoy Millie’s story. And of course, many thanks to all those who have already
read the previous two books and been in touch to say how much you’ve liked
them.
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Out and about
Although we writers by necessity spend most of our time with
our bums planted firmly in our chairs and our fingers glued to the keyboard,
playing with our imaginary friends, we do occasionally get allowed out too.
I’ve been quite busy this year on the ‘writer talks’ circuit, within my home
county of Essex, visiting various clubs and organisations who like a speaker to
entertain them (I use the word loosely!).
I remember this being a fairly nerve-racking experience when
I first started, but over the years I’ve come to enjoy it. I normally talk
about some aspects of a writer’s life, maybe dispelling a few myths but
hopefully not putting off too many would-be authors in the process!
I’ve presented talks to as few as half a dozen people, and
to as many as 200 in a crowded hall with standing-room only. The organisations
have ranged from U3A groups to WI clubs, Lions and Rotary clubs, Townswomen’s
Guilds, and earlier this year I gave a talk to the lovely members of a local
centre for the blind and partially sighted. Yes, even though they weren’t able
to read my books! – they were a very appreciative audience, and enjoyed hearing
a reading of a chapter of ‘Sophie Being Single.’ Of course I’ve also taken part in many local
library events – I’m an ardent supporter of the library service.
I’d like to think most of my audiences have enjoyed these
talks, although there have been one or two times where someone has walked out
halfway through – but because of a timing issue rather than in disgust!
Taking part in a writer panel event with other authors who
are good friends is a particularly enjoyable type of occasion. These are very
relaxed affairs, with one of us acting as chairperson, asking the others to
talk about their lives and their writing, and then throwing it open to the
audience to ask us questions. It’s a popular type of event and we’re often
asked back. Last month, for instance, Maureen Lee, Fenella Miller, Jean
Fullerton and I held a panel afternoon in Wivenhoe Library as part of the
WivWords Festival.
Our author panel at Wivenhoe
Library
Sadly there was torrential rain on the day, which kept a lot
of people away, but the small audience was enthusiastic and the library staff
are hoping we can repeat the event as part of the Essex Book Festival next
year. We’ve done this previously at Hadleigh Library.
Regardless of circumstances, the ‘show’ always goes on, and
I always enjoy chatting to members of the audience afterwards. It makes a
change from talking to people who only exist in my head!
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‘Other People’s Lives’
As promised, I’m
giving a short intro and background to one of my earlier books in each
newsletter, and this time it’s ‘Other People’s Lives’, the second of my
published novels.
This is the story of Beth, a single mum who’s just about to
turn thirty and feels like her life has become a dead-end. Deserted by her little
girl’s father, she’s had to resort to cleaning other people’s homes to help to
provide for herself and four-year-old Ellie. Fortunately her best friend, Fay,
is a tower of strength and support to her, and despite the struggles Beth
faces, she enjoys getting involved in the lives of her clients – perhaps a
little too involved in some cases. But when she falls out with Fay, it really
does feel like Beth is on her own. All she wanted from everyone was some
honesty … was that too much to ask for? Or is she really being honest with herself?
‘Other People’s Lives’ is very much a story about
friendship and loyalty, as well as ending with a bit of romance. It was
originally published in 2003 in hardback, and in 2004 in paperback. It was
translated into Italian, and was also sold to an American publisher, who
published it in the States under the title of ‘Would I Lie to You?’. One of the
most exciting moments of my writing career came when the book was the subject
of a mini-auction between two film companies who were interested in the film
rights – although sadly, nothing came of that in the end!
Since publishing this book on Amazon for Kindle it’s done really
well and is currently the best seller of my backlist. I hope you’ll download it
and have a read, if you haven’t already!
Sheila / Olivia
www.sheilanorton.co.uk www.oliviaryan.com
