Bright & Breezy Blog

Suddenly felt funny today not funny ha-ha... but funny as in Blogging whasit all about?

I'm kind of feeling I should use it for other stuff apart from book launches and publisher's parties and my navel-gazing worries over my old and new novels. It all feels so.... not me. .. well it is me, I love parties and mingling and meeting people and stuff, but it's not everything and it shouldn't be either...

I should be reading more women's fiction and commenting on it. I've read three books by men this week. OK I can say it's because I'm trying to get some tips when I rewrite my main man in the new novel-- a few people have commented he's a bit girly--but I don't like to read so-called women's fiction and I'm a woman! Apart from some classics and a bit of literature stuff, but maybe I should really see what the range of women's books are out there... I wonder if we get lumped into one group, the silly pastel covers with curvy writing, the dreadful titles. But then Selfish Jean is a pun, and has a cover many people tell me they hate... so do other women writers feel they have been put in the wrong category too? I'm not sure I'll ever write Literature, but I'm certainly not Chick Lit either, so maybe I'll have a little explore, and see what's out there, or non-chick-litters or litters, are we critters?

I've sent a draft of my new novel out to a few special people to read, before writing a final draft to send in to MNW. (By the way new title is either A Beginner's Guide to the Art of Love, Life and Mackintosh or A Picture of Veronica) so all this week I've had nothing much to do, but meander both along the beach and in my thoughts. Glorious weather today, better than in this pic, but the same beach and that could be me the sole person on it, except I was sitting, ruminating and could see about a mile either way with no one in sight, just me, and the slight breeze, the blue sky, the sun, the regular breathing sighing of the sea... and it felt wonderful, just another day, but a beautiful one, a day it's OK to be alone on. So I've had a good day reading, thinking, walking and drinking primoridal soup.

And wonder what the hell I should be doing instead of writing novel and hanging around to be rejected. I should find something else in my life. I want to write though and make money. I'd like to make enough money to open a huge seaside foster home to house the kids nobody else wants. Karmically perhaps I think if I state this on my blog, then my second novel won't be rejected and will do brilliantly well so poor kids can find a place of respite... there's no end to my conniving is there. You see I don't want to be published just for myself. Who am I trying to kid?

So blogging what's it for?

Shopping and Cooking

Well I promise not to mention Ready, Steady Cook anymore after this. I was watching it between my fingers more like it was the film The Ring. It was excruciating. I vowed never to leave my seaside hut ever again, but to become a full time hermit. The day after, I decided not to be so precious and get over it. The day after that, I was in London chatting for four hours with Lucy on the top floor of Waterstones Piccadilly, where there is a rather nice restaurant bar with great views. Fours hours? What on earth did we talk about? Oh you know....girl stuff... books... men....clothes...quantum physics...

Lucy has unbelievably had her second novel rejected by Macmillan New Writing, she's written about that in more detail on her own blog. Check it out for the full story. It's obviously got me wondering about how mine will fare...

The great thing about Macmillan New Writing has been the people you meet. Lucy and I were saying how we can't believe that we've only known each other since last April. We were in London really to go to Mike Barnard's retirement party at Macmillan Head Office, which wasn't a bad do at all, especially as Mike ended up playing and singing in the band, he's so cool!

Also there were most of the other MNW writers, some of whom are gearing up for first novels to be published, others who are about to have the next one published, such as Roger whose new novel shown here is out next week, though that is with another publisher. I've ordered it from Amazon and imagine he will do well as he's very talented. I also heard a few people talking about the first totally American novel that will be published by MNW in the Autumn. A controversial book that should get people talking. Intrigued, I looked up David Izaak and found he has read all of our books and has lots of interesting comments on MNW and nice things to say about Selfish Jean, such as "I really did enjoy your novel; a nice combination of touching and LOL funny." Also: "Cate Sweeney’s Selfish Jean had me snorting coffee out my nose (her “letting the wine breathe” scene was so funny I read it aloud to my long-suffering POSSLQ Pamela. [Pronounced possel-queue. Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters according to the Census Bureau, those incurable romantics.])"
I quoted all that bit so you could see his sense of style. The MNW list is getting very eclectic!

Ready Steady Book!

So check it out: Monday 22nd January, 4.30pm BBC2

Oh dear Lucy and I look like we've been put through the Food processor rather than the Word processor. This was taken just after the show, we look knackered. I look as if I'm trying to run away save for Lesley grasping my arm. Oh the things we have to do!

The things I have to do!

Last night I went to a book group and two bagpipe players turned up as well.
The photo was taken whilst I had a bagpipe stuck in either ear, so couldn't hear a thing for about five minutes afterwards, probably just as well, as the group were discussing what they thought of Selfish Jean.

A very friendly, lively group, who were very positive about it, though some honest comments as well, and there was a even a social worker in the room too, so I feared the worst, but she realised my male social worker wasn't a baddie! She did tell me in 25 years of being a social worker, she'd only ever met one male social worker, and he wasn't dishy so there you go.

They have a vote at then end of the session so here are the results:
I would rather watch paint dry 0
So-so 4
A very good read- I would recommend to a friend: 14
I put my life on hold to finish it: 1

I covered my eyes during the vote!

Book launch in Sheffield

Went to a great launch in Sheffield last week (and also caught up on visiting my bro Pete.) Matt did his Oscar acceptance speech (thankyou one and all!) but because it was really touching and personal and more like a wedding (or an Irish wake) with family interrupting to say nice things, and people setting fire alarms off and Matt swinging a huge bloody sword, many people had a little moist moment.
Anyway got I reckon he's gonna be big! So buy a first edition hardback whilst you can. I did and got it signed too.

Had a nice meal afterwards courtesy of Mike Barnard, with Will & Sophie from Macmillan and David Headley of Goldsboro books. It felt very strange hob-nobbing with my publishers in Sheffield, my home town (City!) where I was born and bred, but left at 18. London it's OK to do such things, but Sheffield? I felt like I was "Gettin above my station" or "giving myself airs and graces"

CAN YOU HELP ME WITH A TITLE PLEASE?

OK so here's a puzzle for you.
Can you think of a title for my new book. I've had several and can't settle on one. Here are some images and themes from my novel. It's actually a modern, funny, quirky, sexy story about love and art, and a mystery surrounding a Mackintosh interior. So even though it looks like it's set in the past by these photos it's not really. Or only a bit of it is.

Below are titles I've been thinking of at various stages. I'm now warming to the idea of something with Mackintosh in the title, jumping on the band wagon perhaps, but hey every little helps.
Pick one or write me another I'll acknowledge it in my new book if and when it is published. Give it a go. Let me know.

The Mackintosh Shoes

Mackintosh Footprints

In the Footsteps of Mackintosh

The Mackintosh Way

The Rose Way

The Rose Path

A Picture of Veronica

Mackintosh Rooms

The Heart of The Rose

The Moon Also Rises.

For The Love of Margaret.

I hate all of them. Help!

HAPPY NEW YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAR!

I just want to wish you all a happy new year.

And best wishes for a great 2007!

Whatever you dream you can do. Begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.

Goethe

I have had a pretty amazing 2006. I started the year volunteering at an orphanage in Costa Rica working alongside two delightful all American girls, Susanne & Sunia,who were great fun to be with, much younger than me, but put up with my English Miss Marple ways. There are photos of them here, as well as some of the gorgeous, heart-melting kids. Also the odd monkey here and there. I'll leave you to work out which is which. Most of the photos are Susanne's.

Of course had a book published, nuff already said about that, but made some new friends because of it, not least of all Lucy, who's a little marvel. Also as Mike Barnard (photo on news clipping below, crouching man at front) is the guy at Macmillan who believed in my book, I'm eternally grateful to him. He's retiring in a couple of weeks, I have an invite to the party and though I have given up alcohol for Jan, I will have to toast him won't I? He will be really, really missed at Macmillan and by many of us MNW writers too.

My year ended with moving to the seaside, kissing Ainsley Harriot and finishing book two. Not bad for 12 months eh?

I hope I've got more of the same in store for 2007! I know writers should be above cliches but... watch this space!