So what's been happening...?

Well, I’ll start with the bad news.  When an agent said my children’s novel was one of the better ones they’d seen, I got rather excited and decided to invest in it. I posted it off to a consultancy agency, in the hope of getting it up to scratch, but got a terrible report back. I cried, as you do, and have now seriously lost faith in it. I'm not saying what the agency had to say was wrong, but I'm not sure how long it will be before I find the courage to read it through again.

There is good news though, I sold two stories to My Weekly, and I have a story in this week's Yours. There’s even a teeny, tiny photo of me too, which is nice and slightly scary at the same time.

In other news, I’m planning to publish the first three chapters of my thriller, Eight Degrees, on a series of blogs.  How daring is that?  Well not very, as I'll be hiding behind the pen-name, Amanda Timoney, as I'm too chicken to use my own.  The blogs are almost ready, so watch this space!

  

And in other middle-sized news, I’ve completely amazed myself as, not only have I set up a Facebook page as Amanda Timoney, BUT, and you’re going to say 'WOW', I know it.  I’ve only gone and added a clever ‘LIKEY’ thingy-me-jiggy-widget-type-bobby on Writing Allsorts.  Go that girl! If you cast your eyes to the right side-bar you’ll be able to see it in all its glory.

And on that note, I better go and hang the washing out before it storms.

Woman's Weekly Writing Workshop

I won't attempt to go into too much detail about this wonderful workshop, as Wendy Clarke and Tracy Fells,  have written excellent in-depth posts, which are definitely worth reading.  But I just couldn't resist mentioning what a fabulous day it was.  

Gaynor Davis is lovely and made everyone feel instantly relaxed, to the point I even read out the beginning of a story.  And guess what, my voice only wobbled a teeny tiny bit.  Gaynor smiled, nodded and said, ‘lovely’ - which I was thrilled about. I’ll gloss over the fact she said encouraging words to everyone.  (Justifiably I might add, there were some amazing writers there!) 

It was an absolute treat to finally meet writers I’ve been chatting to on blogs, forums and over on Facebook over the past five years.  They were all even lovelier than I thought they would be.

The talks by Suzanne Ahern and Laura Longrigg were excellent, and the building itself, The Blue Fin Building in London, was incredible.  Apparently lots of films and TV programmes have used the location.  In fact, I watched I'll give it a year at the weekend and felt sure parts of that were filmed there - although don't quote me on that one.   I know The Worlds End was definitely filmed there.  Very exciting! 

       There were lots of photographs taken, so keep your eye on the Woman's Weekly Website and on their Facebook page   I hope they caught my good side.  By that I mean the back of my head!

Woman’s Weekly is the *only magazine I haven’t managed to sell to – but I’m going to keep on keeping on, and who knows, following this wonderful workshop I might just produce the perfect story for them. Wish me luck!

Mini-update...
*By this I mean UK women's mags that carry fiction, obviously.  

Also I've just spotted lovely Patsy Collins's post on this great day - go see! :-)

Reality Blog

The lovely Karen Clarke from Get On With It, has given me an ever-so lovely Reality Blog Award.   The REALITY, in actual fact, is that I haven’t updated my blog in yonks, and I certainly don’t deserve any such award – but it was very lovely of her all the same.  And in actual fact, I'm hoping it will give me the necessary kick up the backside to start blogging again. 

 

Accepting the award involves me answering some questions and nominating more bloggers...simples!

If you could change one thing, what would it be?

I would change the minds of any editor who was about to send me a rejection.

 
If you could repeat an age, what would it be?

I’d never go back.  I feel with every age I’ve learnt a little more about life.  If I returned, I would lose all of that. (How profound is that?)

What one thing really scares you?

Candyfloss.

If you could be someone else for the day, who would it be?

A character in Midsomer Murders – preferably not the victim.  

Ooh, that was FUN!

I would like to nominate ‘EVERYONE’ who is reading this blog post, as I so appreciate that you're still reading my bloggy blog - thank you! X

Have yourself a very Miranda-ry Christmas

Well hello to you my old chums!

Did you get my Miranda-ry tone there?  Or my Amanda-ry tone, as it were.

So you may have noticed I’ve barely blogged this year – totally ashamed, especially as it’s been a pretty good one in a, what I call, writerly way.

‘So have you cracked Woman’s Weekly yet Amanda?’  

RUDE!

No, it’s okay.  It’s only Peggy from round the corner, dropping in for mince pies and a tiny glass of sherry.  She likes to keep abreast of my story sales.

‘Well,’ I say, munching on a pie. (They’re very nice.  Do help yourself!). ‘Thanks for asking, Peggy. But no, despite having such fun writing away, I have YET to crack Woman’s Weekly.’

‘So what have you achieved then?’ She’s pouring another sherry.  Cheeky!

‘Well, I sold 15 stories this year – more than I’ve ever sold in a year – and I’m teetering – *teetering* I like that word – at the edge of 40 sales.   Plus I was thrilled to crack the lovely People’s Friend.’

‘Awh, I love the lovely People’s Friend, and My Weekly is just fab.’

‘I had a couple of stories in there too.’

‘Showing off now, are we?’

‘And I had a few in Take a Break’s Fiction Feast earlier this year.’

‘Showing off now, are we?’

‘But I’m really, really excited because I’ve FINALLY finished my children’s novel – SUCH FUN!’

‘Ooh, tell me more.’  She’s pouring another sherry!

‘I will indeed tell you more.  In fact, I’m hoping to twitter on about it lots in 2013.  Not on twitter, as such – I get very confused on there – but on here.’

‘So what is it about?’

‘It’s about a little girl called Emily, and I’m very excited about it.’

'You said.' Peggy’s not really listening any more.  She's much more interested in the contents of the sherry bottle, so I'd best sign off!

Thanks for dropping by, and I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a brilliant 2013.

Special thanks to the lovely Miranda Hart for lending tiny fragments of her voice for my post.  She doesn’t know – well I don’t know her funnily enough.  But I do LOVE her to bits, she’s right at the top of my candyfloss list.  (People I’d like to share a candyfloss with, obviously)   

SUCH FUN!