It's About Time!

‘bout time, Amanda. So where have you been? It’s been over a month.

Has it really? Oh Lordy, Lord - I have no excuses – not a single-y one.

Shame on you, girl.

Sorry, sorry. Ooh, do I get a discount for under-usage?

No. So what you been up to?

Writing.

Just for a change.

Umm.

Sold anything?

Yes, yes *dances a little – although legs are stiff from sitting writing* I’ve sold a couple of stories to That’s Life! Australia. YAY!

Calm down, calm down. I got wind you had a pile of rejections too...Plus you should probably fade into a corner somewhere, as other bloggers have probably forgotten all about you. But first, tell us about your Novel.

Please don’t ask.

I just did.

Blah.

Oh come on, we’re all friends here.

Well, I sent the first three chapters off to a nice lady agent who was keen *again* on the concept. But it came right back. ‘Not what I thought it would be,’ she said in as many words. ‘But good luck with it, hon.’

She called you hon?

Well, no.

You’re lying for affect.

Yes, you have to if you want to be famous.

So what are you going to do with your novel now?

Well *clenches fists excitedly* I’ve made HUGE changes. First, I deleted the first three chapters as they can’t behave themselves in front of an agent. Second I deleted a character. RIP Gavin – we still love you and may resurrect you in the future – but frankly, you’re JUST NOT REAL ENOUGH.

And?

I’ve changed it ALL to first person, present – which I’m hoping gives it more depth. And, and, I’m making the supernatural side less *unbelievable* and more *is she really seeing a ghost, or is she going totally mad?* type thing. So watch this space.

And you think that will really help.

Well, who can tell with all the rain we've been having?

You mean the current difficult climate?

Umm – but I feel happier about the novel. In fact, the happiest I’ve ever felt.

So how’s things over at Womag2Weekly?

GREAT! We’ve sold seven W2W stories so far – to My Weekly, The Weekly News, Oz and TAB – not bad for a relatively new group me thinks. But they're a super-duper lot!

Well thanks for joining us, today, Amanda - I’d say ‘bout bloody time, but I was brought up proper.

Well thanks for having me - sorry I didn’t quite catch your name. Poor show on the coffee and cakes though - cheesecake next time, yes?

HAT TRICK!

So, after a spell of ‘why do I write, again?’ with much crying on my extremely lovely writer friends’ shoulders. Oh, and causing my hubby to get that glazed look which means, ‘I’m pretending to listen, but the grass growing outside is more interesting.’ SUDDENLY, like buses on the number 47* route, three came along at once. YES. SALES. My Weekly bought three of my stories all on the same day. All on the same email. All at the same time. I’m so very thrilled, and a trifle gobsmacked, quite frankly.

So thanks everyone for supporting, and listening to me whinge. I’m living proof that a scary amount of rejections in one week can be followed by great news. So it looks like we just have to keep on going then. You know, if we want to get where we want to be – even if we do stumble and fall from time to time...YES? Well I'm up for giving it a go...

*The number 47 route is being used for example purposes only. No buses were harmed in the writing of this blog post.

An Award & A Sale

Crumbs, is it June already? So what's been 'appening?

Well, I’m almost there with the novel! Okay so you’ve heard that before! But it’s now printed off and covered in biro and I’m working through it and, and, and...I will get there one day!

Lately, though, I’ve been mainly having trouble with italics. When should we use them? For example would I use them if I said ‘The Radio Times’ ‘David Essex’ or ‘Cadbury’s Flake’? Answers on a postcard please!

Oooh, and I’ve FINALLY cracked The Weekly News. Oh YES! I’m so chuffed as I’ve had so many rejections from them - I’d even set up a separate hard-drive to house them all. I read on WOMAG's blog some time ago how lovely the editor, Jill Finley is – and I can vouch she really is! Guidelines for The Weekly News can also be found on Womag's blog

I’ve been to the BEAUTIFUL Halkidiki, and returned all refreshed and raring to WRITE. Actually, I wrote a little while I was away too. I also read Sue Moorcroft’s new book All That Malarkey and really loved it – a FAB holiday read, would really recommend.

The lovely David has passed on an award for little old me – thanks David. By the way if you haven’t ventured over to his FAB blog, do pay him a visit! I just hope, while accepting my award, nobody will stand in the background looking bored and showing their belly, because I hear Patrick Stewart can get a wee bit uppity.

Okay, apparently I have to tell you 10 things about me. Crumbs. I’m far too boring. But entering into the spirit here goes.

1. I’m obsessive but not compulsive.
2. I love travelling and I’ve been to many countries, but I didn’t fly until the year 2000! And before that I’d only been to France for the day.
3. I’m a born organiser. (see no.1)
4. I worked for six years as a School Secretary in a junior school. (see no. 3)
5. I love poppies.
6. I was accident prone as a child and pretty sickly.
7. My Granddad died in The Battle of Dunkirk
8. My favourite film is ‘Gone With The Wind’.
9. I left school with only a grade E ‘O’ Level in English and a C in Art!
10. I love to write – HA – bet you didn’t know that!

Told you it was BORING!

I’d like to pass this AWARD on to ...

Karen

Gaeliika

Sarah

Colette

Becky

Have a LOVELY day one and all.

David Essex in All the Fun of the Fair

I went to see All the Fun of the Fair yesterday, at The Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London. If you're a David Essex fan it’s an absolute MUST.

When David first appeared on stage, I wanted to ‘woop woop’ as you do ... but nobody else did, so I thought I’d better behave myself and settled down to enjoy the show.

I think to fully appreciate All the Fun of the Fair you have to like David’s music and you mustn’t expect too much in the way of effects. It is a lovely story with fantastic singers and actors; Christopher Timothy plays Harvey, and the up and coming actors Michael Pickering, Nicola Brazil, Susan Hallam-Wright, Cameron Jack and Tim Newman were a pleasure to watch. The show made me laugh and cry and I would go again tomorrow and watch it all over.

David Essex remains an extremely talented, lovely man who is growing older gracefully. He’s who he is today because of yesterday, but doesn’t claim to be the heartthrob he once was – except he still is – if you know what I mean! I’ve loved his music since ROCK ON reached number 3 in the UK charts in 1973 - (when I was three months old ;-)) And I have bought all his new stuff too – being a die-hard fan and all.

Oh and now the exciting bit! I met him after the show. Oh yes indeed. I had my photograph taken with him too! And as he walked away, he turned and eyed my hubby's shirt.

‘I’ve got one of those,' he said. 'Tesco Finest.’ It was! Well not Finest, Cherokee - but close enough.

As David zipped up the Charing Cross Road, I realised that’s what's so great about him – his ability to be just like everyone else.