PHOTOTIME, SHADOW SISTERS and SHORT STORIES

So it’s 2016, and I only posted once on my blog in 2015.  I’m not going to say I’m an awful blogger – because you already know that.

But all that is about to change!  Yes, I know, I’ve said that before too.

But this time, it’s different. I have a plan. Oh, yes! And I’ve convinced myself that if I brag here that about it, I will stick to it.  That's the theory anyway.

The said plan is to blog regularly about what I’ve learned about being a writer over the last six years: the ups and the downs of writing for women’s magazines, editing tips and things that have really helped me along the way to improve my writing.

I hope to interview writers too. So if you fancy chatting with me here, and having a cup of cyber-tea, do whiz over an email at amandabrittany@aol.com and I’ll send you some questions. 

I hope to share wee reviews on books I’ve loved too.

And I’ll be sharing my writing journey going forward - which is exactly why I set the blog up in 2009. 

And talking of my writing journey, I’m still writing short stories, and loving it! One of the highlights of 2015 was seeing my murder mystery serial published in The People’s Friend. The artwork was amazing!

Also, I’ve recently completed two novels, cor blimey!  The first with the very lovely Karen Clarke under the pen name Clare Ryan!   A psychological thriller called Shadow Sisters.  The second, Phototime - a new-adult novel – which is called this rather trendy genre name because the main character is 23.

We have everything crossed for both novels, obviously, and the rather mysterious Clare Ryan is already cracking on with her next thriller. More news on both novels to follow...  

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and successful 2016.

Amanda X

Love is all you need

I’m delighted to bring you news of a brilliant new anthology Love is all you need.  A compilation of 10 great stories with heart – the winning tales of love from The Sophie King Prize 2014, chosen by bestselling author Sophie King.   

"I picked those that surprised me and also left a lovely warm feeling. A bit like a love affair, really …" Sophie King 

Love is all you need is available to download on Amazon HERE

The very lovely Sherri Turner’s story ‘Funny Face’ was one of the winners. It is a light-hearted, humorous story that also looks at how we see ourselves compared with how others see us.

Sherri was brought up in Cornwall and now lives in Surrey with her husband. She has had numerous short stories published in women’s magazines in the UK and abroad (under the pseudonym Bernadette James) and has won or been shortlisted in competitions for both poetry and short stories, including the Bristol Prize, the Writer’s Bureau competition and the New Writer Prize.  Her stories have also appeared in a number of anthologies.  If you would like to know more about Sherri, you can read her interview with the equally lovely Helen M Hunt HERE.  Do pop over and say hello.

I can’t wait to read Sherri's story and those of Alyson Hilbourne, Yvonne Eve Walus, Johanna Grassick, Pauline Watson, Melanie Whipman, Linda Triegel, Laurel Osterkamp, Helen Yendall, Mary Lally.  Their stories in turn hold the promise of romance, reflect on finding love, or show the lengths we'll go to for the special person in our lives.  

In the Kitchen with a Knife by Susan Wright.

Well, hello there!  Long  time no blog post!  Yes, yet again I’ve been a dreadful blogger.  In fact, I think I might be a tortoise, as I tend to hibernated during the winter months – when my cyber-socializing grinds to practically a stop – and then I’m on go-slow for the rest of the year. 

But all that’s going to change – and what better way to start by announcing the launch of a lovely writer friend’s debut novel.

Susan Wright has sold over a hundred short stories, and today, In the Kitchen with a Knife  -  such a brilliant title – goes on sale.  Her book can be downloaded on Kindle HERE at Alfie Dog or HERE on Amazon.  Or the paperback is available to buy from the same outlets.

Susan is chatting today with the lovely, Suzanne Jones on her blog HERE.  So do whiz over and say Hi.

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As for me, well I still haven’t YET plucked up the courage to do anything exciting with my novel – so we’ll quickly skip past that subject.  But I did sell my 65^th short story this week – which I’m delighted about.  It never ceases to thrill when I receive an email from a lovely editor who wants to buy one of my stories - and, yes, I do still dance around the room and squeal a lot - making my dogs bark!

Right, I think that's about all I've got to say for myself - not a lot after almost four months. But maybe when I get this novel of mine self-published... 

HAPPY NEW YEAR & BLOG CHAIN THINGY

Wendy Clarke has very kindly included me – linked me, if you will – to the blog chain thingy - and here are the questions that I have to answer.

What am I currently working on?

 I confess to pausing from writing for three whole days over Christmas, but I’m now writing a summer story. There’s nothing like planning ahead.

How

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

At the moment, I don’t think I write in a specific genre. Well I certainly don’t for short stories.  That’s why I absolutely love writing for women’s magazine.  It’s an opportunity to explore so many genres – and have such fun doing so.   I’ve sold ghost stories, love stories, twist in the tales, the odd murder mystery– and I even sold a science fiction story to one magazine.   Although, obviously the magazines have different requirements:- The People’s Friend, for example, wouldn’t accept a ghost a story.  

Novel-wise, genre is my fall down.  I’m the first to admit that I’ve jumbled genres in my novels - and I’m sure it puts agents/publishers off as they can't successfully market it.   In 2014 I hope to put this right!

Why do I write what I do?

See above J

How does my writing process work?

Sometimes I’m VERY lucky, and a story will come to me almost fully formed – and oddly, they seem to be the ones that sell quickly.   Other times, a story will need a thousand re-writes – and I often feel like throwing my pens out of the pram - but I’m lucky to have a wonderfully supportive writer friend who always picks up my metaphoric pens for me  – and I’m also part of a super critiquing group.  I would definitely recommend both.

I tend to set myself goals and deadlines - a chapter a week – a story a fortnight, that kind of thing.

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The lovely person who will be the next link in the blog chain thingy is Karen Clarke who will be posting their answers to these questions on 6^th January.   

Karen Clarke has had over 200 short stories sold to magazines. Her novel My Future Husband was published by Random House/Goldmann in Germany and Put a Spell on You will be published by Constable & Robinson in 2014 as part of a 3 book deal.

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Finally I would like to wish you all a VERY happy and healthy 2014!  (When I will be blogging much more often – obviously)

X