JULY 2010
What a fab month it's been so far. I presented the award to the winners of the South Yorkshire Drama Festival last week, seeing some fabulous drama from the talented young in our town and I opened up the complementary therapy unit for our lovely local Hospice - actually cut my first ribbon and declared it open, which was strangely thrilling and something I always wanted to do. And I went book signing in Doncaster - was lifted by the lovely comments I got only for my ego to drop after I heard one bloke 'whisper' rather loudly to his missus 'Well, there's hardly a queue is there?'
My book is enjoying its 11th consecutive week in The Heatseekers and DA DA!!! I've finished book 5! It's now out of my hands and with the publisher, which is always a bit of a vulnerable time. The dreams I have about my editor saying 'this is rubbish - you're sacked!' are too real for comfort. Still I always put my heart and soul into what I do so I'm hoping I deliver.
If you don't hear from me for a bit - because I do try and keep my website updated often - it's just that I close up shop for the summer whilst the kids are off. I'm enjoying the few summers that I have left with them before they spend all the hours outside school with their mates. We're off on the beautiful Azura where I'll be signing books and doing a talk about The Road to Publication. And making sure that I have all my details right in HERE COME THE GIRLS. The sea is the only place I really relax and a couple of weeks floating on gondolas, forgetting about calories and reading other peoples' lovely books will recharge my batteries like you wouldn't believe.
I wish you all a wonderful summer and we'll catch up in a few weeks.
JUNE 2010
28th June - interested parties please note that I have changed literary agencies. I am now with Lizzy Kremer at David Higham - the details are on my links page. I'm so looking forward to working with Lizzy and letting her work her magic!
Thanks to the lovely ladies of WWW.SINGLETITLES.COM for their smashing review and doing an interview, which interested parties can read HERE
Thought you all might like to see my friend Fraz's new website for personalised children's art - Marmaladepaws.com . He's a really talented guy - and this is a fab idea for the kids of today who have flaming everything!
More on this one later but on Saturday 20th November I will be signing books and judging at the Supreme Cat Show in Birmingham's NEC. I'll also be there with my Haworth Cat Rescue patron head on and my Father Christmas head on too as I hope to have loads of giveaways. It's the feline equivalent of Crufts - a huge, global event for cat lovers with all the latest fads and gadgets, kittens and ME! Come on, what more could you want ;)
Sorry folks - no news on when my COME DINE WITH ME will be aired. As soon as we know, we'll make sure there are plenty of announcements.
And on my Simon and Schuster author page - there's a youtube video of me talking about my books - resplendent in summer yellow :)
Books doing so well, I'm beaming (and thank you for all the lovely letters I've had - loads of them!) It's a Heatseeker number 2 this week and in the best seller top 50 charts for the 4th week running. Nice to know I'm doing something right - but to be fair to myself, you have to be more than a touch obsessive in this game to get on. Any bent to the loony side is welcome in this job.
10th June 7.30pm - 9pm - it's the Derbyshire Literary Festival and I'll be appearing with Lucy Diamond, Sarah Duncan and Veronica Henry for a GIRLS NIGHT IN event 7.30pm - 9pm, Chesterfield Central Library.
14th - 19th June - 7.30pm. - A major new talent emerges in Barnsley Lamproom with the World Premiere of 'Grappling' a musical play about the great old days of wrestling by Jack Noble-Land, the grandson of wrestler Karl Von Kramer - a home grown Barnsley great wrestler. It will be fabulous and there aren't many tickets left!
23rd June 7pm - I will be appearing at Birmingham Central Library - again with Lucy Diamond, Sarah Duncan and Veronica Henry. Come and ask questions, listen to us read, buy books, get them signed - it promises to be a very jolly evening.
MAY 2010
27th - My book went into Morrisons last week and it's the charts in Tesco (though not in Asda for those who ask if they can pick my book up in any supermarkets). It's a HEATSEEKER number 3 again, which is fabulous news for me - and if the publishers are happy, I'm happy.
Other news - the first two books are going to be rejacketed in the style of the beautiful covers of 'Spring Affair' and 'Summer Fling' - absolutely can't wait to see those.
And it also looks as if I'll be releasing two books next year- and the year after - including an Autumn and Winter book to complete the series.
And 'Spring Affair' and 'Summer Fling' have been sold to the Dutch market - which is great news too.
26th I'm cheap as chips in WHSmiths at the moment for anyone who wants a bargain
Fabulous news for me on the book front - two reprints ordered in the first week of sales, top 100 in Amazon, top ten in Tesco, featured in HEAT magazine - it really couldn't go much better. And if that sounds like I'm bragging, then you're right - I am. I've waited twenty odd years to blow my own trumpet in the world of books so let me have my five minutes of celebration. Ta :)
And here are some diary dates for anyone interested.
Monday 17th May 3pm - I'll be doing a live phone in on lovely Paulette's show - you can listen here. I'll be talking about writing books, so fling some questions at me about getting published or inspiration or anything relevant to the subject.
Thurs 20th May 11am-12 - I'll be signing books in lovely supportive Morrisons Barnsley for anyone who didn't manage to make the official library launch
Friday 21st May 10am - 10.40am - I'll be doing a talk about greetings cards in Barnsley library for the SMILE event - and selling and signing books yet again.
May is SO my favourite month. I'm so on top of the world at the moment after my launch. We raised £240 for Haworthcatrescue.org as well as stuffed our faces with the fabulously huge and sunny yellow cupcakes from the best bakery anywhere - Staniforths. A huge thank you to them. I sold stacks of books so I'll be getting the verdicts soon, which is nerve-wracking, but I can honestly say I don't think I could have written A Summer Fling any better than I did - I put everything I had into it - I'm very proud of it.
Thank you to everyone who travelled long distances to see me on Thursday - I'm truly touched. My lovely authoress friend Tara Hyland travelled from London - mid house move too! And my fabulous PR man Nigel whisked me off for an Italian meal to die for at Nonna's in Sheffield. The best lasagne I have EVER had.
Here's an article we did about cross generational friendships for the Sheffield Star.The major theme of my book :)
APRIL 2010
21st - Here's a Yorkshire Post article about women and their friendships, which is what my new book is all about.
More details to follow but it appears that I WILL be doing an official launch of book 4 - A SUMMER FLING - in Barnsley library on Thursday April 29th at 2.30pm. I'll be doing a talk about what inspires me then I'll be selling and signing books whilst scoffing some Sunny Buns - so please join me.Oh and there will be a free raffle as a bit of fun. A few prizes 'something for nowt' for a change. I'll also be giving away two copies of the terrific book 'Daughters of Fortune' by Tara Hyland - and the nice thing is that Tara will be there herself to sign them! It's a terrific read - something to really get your teeth into.
To book a place for the book launch - the event is free but places are limited - please contact Jill Craven, Reader Development Officer, on 01226 773921 or email JillCraven@barnsley.gov.uk
MAR 2010
What a busy month Feb turned out to be. I went for a trial to be a BBC Radio presenter - so you may be hearing 'The Milly Johnson' show in the future as well as reading the books. Don't know how though - I think I sound like a strangled parrot. Still it was great fun and cranked up the adrenaline levels no end.
37 days to BOOK LAUNCH now (at time of writing) and I'm so excited about it because it's a little different to my others - not too much, but then I don't have a vampire in the previous ones ;) It's coming out early and will be available in Morrisons and Tesco as well as all good bookshops :)
Quite a few appearances this month
11th March - I'm at the Cawthorne Ladies Circle
18th March - I'm at Sheffield WI
20th March - my biggest audience yet. I was the after dinner speaker at Ardsley House Ladies Lunch - 300 lovely women who made me feel very very welcome, wanted and laughed in all the right places. I absolutely loved it and doubt I'll ever come truly down from the 'high.'
Oh and for those who asked - THE ELVIS PRESLEY GIFT SHOP Poem is on the odds and sods page. For some reason it won't post, so I've put it there in 'longhand'.
More news later - I just wish I had more time to sit down and write books! So much takes you away from your desk in this job :)
FEB 2010
Thurs 11th Feb - Radio Sheffield at 10am talking to Paulette about BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE
Sorry folks - no idea when my Come Dine With Me week is going to be shown yet - it hasn't been scheduled in. I will announce it as soon as I know.
JAN 2010
GRAPPLE FANS - there is a WORLD OF SPORT LEGENDS SHOW on March 6th in Rothwell Sports Centre, junction 10 M62 at 7.30pm - where aficionados of the glory days can meet up with their old heroes like Johnny Kincaid, Johnny Saint, Marty Jones and WWE's Robbie Brookside and many more - see here for the poster (it's a PDF file - or here if you can't view PDFs). It promises to be a fantastic night. Tickets are £10 only - details on the poster.
Some exciting news - talks have begun to turn the Yorkshire Pudding Club into a film! Now, I've been here before so I'm not letting myself get too excited because these things have a real tendency to flare up and flop like a firework from the pound shop. But it's nice to dream and I'm enjoying seeing the process unfold. Out of all my books, this is the one I really want to see in film and so far so good.
Anyway - my new book is out in 97 days (at time of writing). It's the grittiest one yet and very contentious in places. Just because I use humour, doesn't mean to say I don't tackle the weightier subjects - life contains both, so why shouldn't books?
And, early news as it is, the title of book 5 has been agreed - HERE COME THE GIRLS. It's all about 4 women on a cruise. It's great fun to write and the research is second to none :)
Here's a Yorkshire Post article I wrote about becoming a novelist - stop faffing about and just do it!
DECEMBER
16th - Had a lovely intimate evening at the Civic reading poetry with my old friend James Nash and my new friend Andrew McMillan - the very talented son of local Lord Ian McMillan. Mince pies, mulled wine and good company. We will definitely do it again. And if you do enjoy poetry, do check them both out because they are very VERY good.
I can't compete with their skill, but here is a little (!) Christmas poem to entertain. I've brought 'The Night Before Christmas' up to date and set it in the North.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The whippets were snoring all snug in their beds
While visions of dried pigs ears danced in their heads
And I in my curlers, with Baileys nightcap
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my pit to see what was the matter
Oh God, not some hoodie with drug-addled brain
Out to kill me for pence just to buy crack cocaine
But no, twas a sleigh landing lively and quick
I knew in a moment, it must be St Nick
He was leading eight reindeer all cuddly and tame
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name
"Now Demi, now Jordan, now Gaga and Whitney
On Cheryl, on Shannon, on Brooklyn and Britney"
(Alas even in these traditional rhymes
Names are obliged to move with the times)
His eyes how they twinkled, his nose like a cherry
He made straight for my bottle of Bristol Cream Sherry
He was portly - with chins, a right jolly elf
(If I hadn't just waxed, he'd have looked like myself
Though red's not forgiving and had I been him
I'd have gone for all black with a fake sable trim)
His sack was packed full with iPhones and iPods
"Eeeh the kids of today" he said "Spoilt little sods
No orange, no nuts, no small hanging socks
They want five hundred quid and a flaming X Box"
He laughed like a drain then "So long as they're happy
You can't have bairns sad cos their presents are crappy"
Then spotting the carrots he said "Oh that's kind
To have the concerns of my reindeer in mind.
They so love their veg, they'll have quite a feast
And then they'll be trumping till Easter at least."
He looked at his list, "And now let me see
What, my dear lady, did you ask from me?"
"A Tiffany watch," I said, "Three Mont Blanc pens
Brad Pitt in his pants and a Mercedes Benz"
I tried, but it came as little surprise
To get Thorntons and books and some slippers my size.
He burped up his booze, like a typical bloke
Then adjusted his crotch and fastened his cloak
He gave me a wink and bid me adieu
Then called to his reindeer and sprang up the flue
They rose to the sky and there in formation
They flew faster away - than Tiger Wood's reputation
But I heard St Nick shout as he guided his fleet
"Happy Christmas Dear Barnsley - God Bless... and Good Neet."
NOVEMBER
24th - Do you know any LOCAL HEROES from Barnsley who deserves an accolade? International photographer - and local lad - Chris Sedgewick, is looking for those wonderful inspirational people who represent the spirit of Barnsley, people who have gone the extra mile - dinnerladies, policemen, coaches, nurses, sportsmen, doctors ... people other than the usual 'celebs' associated with Barnsley, true heroes who deserve to have a professional photographic portrait hanging in the huge flagship Plaza in the Townend and be part of a permanent exhibition. If you know of anyone who fits the bill, click here to register your nomination. And watch out for updates on my site and in the Chronicle.
7th - First news is that the publication of book 4 has been put back to the end of April. Don't know why, publication dates are never really set in stone, but it is a summery book, so really it's the ideal time to launch as Britain warms up.
The second news is that I've just spent the maddest week EVER filming COME DINE WITH ME. I can't give out details about recipes or who won or who else was on - I'm contracted to keep my trap shut plus I don't want to spoil any surprises but what I can say is that I have had the wildest week of my life. I am so glad I auditioned because I met the most fabulous people and I'm wondering around lost now and not knowing what to do with myself. There will be lots more detail when the show is aired, but it will be rock n roll. And I think the kids will disown me.
Now I'm having to do a big 'Come Diet With Me'!
OCTOBER
23rd - a little article in the Keighley News - big giants, short authors and little cuddly kittens.
21st - Did a wonderful talk in Doncaster library. I'm always amazed when a lot of people turn up to see me but we had such a jolly evening and I was made to feel very welcome. Any authors reading this who would like to do a talk with them, and sell some books, would be hard pressed to find a friendlier venue.
7th - Had an absolutely fantastic day in Blackpool at their 'Wordpool' Book Festival. Met some cracking authors who I've been chatting with online - Kate Long and I had a great gossip about Catherine Tate and Anne Reid who starred in the TV version of her book 'The Bad Mother's Handbook' (I'm such a star spotter!) and it's always a pleasure to see the lovely Jane Costello. It's fascinating to learn how other authors work. Some of us plot out books, some (like me) just dive in and swim. However many books I get under the belt, I'll always be on a learning curve!
SEPTEMBER
22nd - I'm finally back into proper work mode - although it's taken me a while because I was on too much of a high on holiday and my head was still in that gorgeous little restaurant in Venice being served the most simple, but fabulous, meal of grilled chicken, iceberg lettuce, plump black olives and mayonnaise as thick as my first boyfriend.
I've just managed 9000 words of the new book in 2 days, which was going some. It took me about an hour to get the first words down - that mass expanse of white on the screen is always a killer, but then the words just flowed. Mind you, it is only a first draft so names and hair colourings and events change and I've had to go back and do a bit of editing so I can keep some continuity. I'm loving it though. It's very sketchy at the moment but the editing will start to add some colour and depth. I have to produce the first 100 pages to determine my new contract - so no pressure then!
My friend Kate Harrison sent me this a while ago - for anyone who needs some inspiration to get some words down on paper. It's a word count tool and is called Dr Wicked.
1st - I'm back after a wonderfully relaxing three week cruise in the Adriatic. Although I did get a fair bit of work done along the way too. Writing never feels like work to me - luckily I often work to relax because I find it difficult to switch off, but there were plenty of moments of sitting by the pool, cocktail in hand and warming my bones in the sunshine. Now I'm raring to go and will do as soon as the lads go back to school next week. I'm writing two books this year and dropping all other commitments to get that done. So watch this space...
