Hello,
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas. I had a lovely time with my family over here in California. It was super warm, which you probably think sounds brilliant and maybe compared to the wind and rain back home it was, but I still missed that very special English feeling that you just don't get over here. It feels much less Christmasy here, although it was nice to pop to the beach for a walk on Christmas Eve morning.
I know I've been a bit lazy recently with the blog but there's a good reason. I've been super busy working on book number four while also still working on THIS FAMILY LIFE. The good news is that THIS FAMILY LIFE is now with my lovely proofreader and it's looking good for an early release next year. I don't have a definite date yet, but hopefully I'll know soon. I'm really excited for you to read it. The people who have read it so far have loved it and I honestly think it's a better book than THIS THIRTYSOMETHING LIFE. I'll let you be the judge of that though.
So book number four is under way. It's still very much in it's infancy but I can tell you that it's a story about family. It's going to be another comedy, but it's definitely going to have lots of drama, lashings of heartwarming, truthful and bitter sweet moments and hopefully it's going to be a book that everyone can relate to because we all have family. We all have parents that annoy us, kids that we despair of and we've all had those big family arguments. It's going to be told in a very interesting way though. I'm not going to give anything away now, but it's a really cool idea and I hope it's something that's going to get people excited.
I mainly wanted to write this blog to say THANK YOU. Thanks to everyone that's made my 2013 a brilliant year and one I'll never forget. I had two books published this year and I've had loads of fan emails and tweets and it's been one of the best years of my life..so THANK YOU! I also want to wish you all a very happy 2014. It's going to be an amazing year for us all, I can feel it.
Big love to you all.
Hugs,
Jon X
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Hello,
I'm back. Well, sort of. I've been really busy lately and the reason is that I'm trying to come up with a cracking idea for a fourth book. I thought my struggles would make a good blog and so here I am. Hello. It's nice to see you again, you look fantastic.
Readers only ever get to see the finished product. We see a writer knocking out a book a year and most readers probably assume that it's been a year of sitting around in coffee shops, the words flowing effortlessly onto the page exactly as they're reading them. This couldn't be farther from the truth...and especially at the moment for me. Let me explain.
My third novel was always going to be the sequel to the first. So when I sat down to start writing THIS FAMILY LIFE, I already knew what I was doing. Yes I had to think up a great, gripping plot, make it hilarious and write the bloody thing, but it wasn't the most difficult book to write. I actually for the first time in my life, finished it within a year. Although before I get all carried away, it's currently with my publisher and they might come back with hundreds of changes and it might take another year to get into print. Just to put everything in perspective, I've had two books out in 2013, THIS THIRTYSOMETHING LIFE and HAPPY ENDINGS and so next year I'll probably only have out THIS FAMILY LIFE and I'm hoping to do a Christmas novella. This means my fourth book,the one I'm just getting started on, won't see the light of day until 2015. 2015! That's literally years away. So why is Rance getting all worried about it?
A lot of people ask me about the difference between being self-published and working with an agent and publisher. To be honest, I'm fairly new at this and it's still less than a year since I got the call from Hodder and Stoughton and got my first book deal. So this book, this fourth novel, is in many ways my first book that I'm really working on from scratch with my agent. She knew I was going to write THIS FAMILY LIFE a while ago, so it was always in our plan. But now I have to come up with a new idea. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, I thought. I already had loads of ideas knocking about on my computer. Surely she would love one of them. I quickly put together a few of them for her and one by one she has rejected them all. All of them. And they're good ideas. But here's the thing. She thinks I can do better. I could easily have already started work on a number of books, but she's stopping me because she wants me to do something better. She wants something unique, original and fresh.
So what is the difference between working alone or with an agent or publisher? If I was alone, I would have taken the easy option and started writing one of the books I already had planned. However, because I have an agent who is pushing me to do better, who wants me to succeed, who wants us to come up with something brilliant, I'm still working through ideas. So what can I tell you? If you're currently self-published or without an agent or publisher, let me tell you this. You're going to have lots of ideas and 99% of them are going to be blah. They're going to be formulaic, unoriginal and probably pretty boring. Don't stop at the first idea that comes along. Push yourself until you're convinced that the idea you have is brilliant and unique. It isn't easy. I'm working in an idea at the moment that I think is pretty cool, definitely original and fresh and hopefully brilliant. I hope my agent agrees with me. We're in no rush though. I could easily put out two books every year. I have twenty books mapped out on my computer, but writing isn't about volume, it's about quality. Be 100% proud of each book you write and know it's the very best book you can write. If it takes two years or five years, that's fine (my agent wouldn't agree with this), but one brilliant book is worth more than ten average ones.
If you ask any agent what they're looking for, they always say the same thing. Something original. So, if like you, you're trying to write a romantic comedy, you have to really think about it. It's easy to think up the usual plot, boy meets girl, trouble ensues, they're kept apart, she's a bit neurotic and he's a bit of a loser, someone dies and then everyone ends up happy. But what they want is something new. Take this formula and turn it on it's head. Find a new way of telling an old story. Look at it from a new angle. Like I said, it isn't easy, but it isn't supposed to be. I have to get back to my new idea now. It's taking shape and I'm working on a synopsis at the moment, but I probably won't start writing it for another month at least. This is a new record for me, but I hope it will pay dividends. This book is going to be brilliant. My agent will make sure of it.
Until next time.
Hugs,
Jon X
I'm back. Well, sort of. I've been really busy lately and the reason is that I'm trying to come up with a cracking idea for a fourth book. I thought my struggles would make a good blog and so here I am. Hello. It's nice to see you again, you look fantastic.
Readers only ever get to see the finished product. We see a writer knocking out a book a year and most readers probably assume that it's been a year of sitting around in coffee shops, the words flowing effortlessly onto the page exactly as they're reading them. This couldn't be farther from the truth...and especially at the moment for me. Let me explain.
My third novel was always going to be the sequel to the first. So when I sat down to start writing THIS FAMILY LIFE, I already knew what I was doing. Yes I had to think up a great, gripping plot, make it hilarious and write the bloody thing, but it wasn't the most difficult book to write. I actually for the first time in my life, finished it within a year. Although before I get all carried away, it's currently with my publisher and they might come back with hundreds of changes and it might take another year to get into print. Just to put everything in perspective, I've had two books out in 2013, THIS THIRTYSOMETHING LIFE and HAPPY ENDINGS and so next year I'll probably only have out THIS FAMILY LIFE and I'm hoping to do a Christmas novella. This means my fourth book,the one I'm just getting started on, won't see the light of day until 2015. 2015! That's literally years away. So why is Rance getting all worried about it?
A lot of people ask me about the difference between being self-published and working with an agent and publisher. To be honest, I'm fairly new at this and it's still less than a year since I got the call from Hodder and Stoughton and got my first book deal. So this book, this fourth novel, is in many ways my first book that I'm really working on from scratch with my agent. She knew I was going to write THIS FAMILY LIFE a while ago, so it was always in our plan. But now I have to come up with a new idea. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, I thought. I already had loads of ideas knocking about on my computer. Surely she would love one of them. I quickly put together a few of them for her and one by one she has rejected them all. All of them. And they're good ideas. But here's the thing. She thinks I can do better. I could easily have already started work on a number of books, but she's stopping me because she wants me to do something better. She wants something unique, original and fresh.
So what is the difference between working alone or with an agent or publisher? If I was alone, I would have taken the easy option and started writing one of the books I already had planned. However, because I have an agent who is pushing me to do better, who wants me to succeed, who wants us to come up with something brilliant, I'm still working through ideas. So what can I tell you? If you're currently self-published or without an agent or publisher, let me tell you this. You're going to have lots of ideas and 99% of them are going to be blah. They're going to be formulaic, unoriginal and probably pretty boring. Don't stop at the first idea that comes along. Push yourself until you're convinced that the idea you have is brilliant and unique. It isn't easy. I'm working in an idea at the moment that I think is pretty cool, definitely original and fresh and hopefully brilliant. I hope my agent agrees with me. We're in no rush though. I could easily put out two books every year. I have twenty books mapped out on my computer, but writing isn't about volume, it's about quality. Be 100% proud of each book you write and know it's the very best book you can write. If it takes two years or five years, that's fine (my agent wouldn't agree with this), but one brilliant book is worth more than ten average ones.
If you ask any agent what they're looking for, they always say the same thing. Something original. So, if like you, you're trying to write a romantic comedy, you have to really think about it. It's easy to think up the usual plot, boy meets girl, trouble ensues, they're kept apart, she's a bit neurotic and he's a bit of a loser, someone dies and then everyone ends up happy. But what they want is something new. Take this formula and turn it on it's head. Find a new way of telling an old story. Look at it from a new angle. Like I said, it isn't easy, but it isn't supposed to be. I have to get back to my new idea now. It's taking shape and I'm working on a synopsis at the moment, but I probably won't start writing it for another month at least. This is a new record for me, but I hope it will pay dividends. This book is going to be brilliant. My agent will make sure of it.
Until next time.
Hugs,
Jon X
Monday, November 4, 2013
Jon meets...Lynda Renham
Hello,
Another week and another interview with another brilliant author. This week it's the turn of Lynda Renham. Lynda is the very successful author of the romantic comedy novels, Croissants and Jam, Pink Wellies and Flat Caps and Coconuts and Wonderbras, just to name a few. Lynda is a brilliant writer, one very funny lady and in her own words, a little bit mad, but maybe it's this madness that makes her books so well loved. Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, I give you the delectable Lynda Renham.
A big welcome to Lynda Renham. How the devil are you?
People and everyday situations. I am a great people watcher. Mostly though from my own crazy life. I am the woman who walks into the gents loo and wonders why there are so many men in the Ladies. I leave my handbag in supermarket trolleys. I walk across a restaurant from the loo with my skirt tucked into my knickers. I’m the woman who runs for a bus wearing a boob tube and ends up with her boobs hanging out when she gets on the bus. I’m my own novel.
I guess at thirty five *little cough* I do have more life experience. It seems like I burst onto the scene quite late, but I have been writing a long time actually. I think life experience can help in writing, absolutely. I wouldn’t want to be a young upstart again, that’s for sure.
Tell us a bit about
what you’re working on at the moment?
Another week and another interview with another brilliant author. This week it's the turn of Lynda Renham. Lynda is the very successful author of the romantic comedy novels, Croissants and Jam, Pink Wellies and Flat Caps and Coconuts and Wonderbras, just to name a few. Lynda is a brilliant writer, one very funny lady and in her own words, a little bit mad, but maybe it's this madness that makes her books so well loved. Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, I give you the delectable Lynda Renham.
A big welcome to Lynda Renham. How the devil are you?
Well, I’m just back from
Cambodia and I’m seriously jet lagged. I’m falling asleep everywhere. Mind you
I’m normally an insomniac so this is really an insomniac’s dream right? Oh, I’m
good, you have to admit. Dream, sleep… Yes well, anyway. Let’s crack on before
I send everyone else to sleep.
For those people out
there, you know the ones, the ones who might not know who you are, tell us a
bit about yourself?
Well, I’m a little bit mad, although I think I am perfectly sane but when
most people tell you the opposite I guess that’s proof. I’m a writer (for the
ones who don’t know who I am. I mean where have you been?) I write romantic
comedy novels but I also write political articles under my full name of Lynda
Renham-Cook. I live with my second husband and our cat Bendy, which is short
for Bendrix, named after a character from a Graham Green novel. I’ve been on
the radio, not that that means much but my publisher always says to mention it.
Your romantic comedy
novels, Croissants and Jam, Pink Wellies and Flat Caps and Coconuts and
Wonderbra’s have all done incredibly well. What is it about them that people
love?
The readers when
reviewing the novels say they make them laugh out loud. In fact one reader (a
well-known author who I won’t name) said she embarrassed herself often at a spa
weekend because she laughed so much in public when reading ‘The Valentine
Present and Other Diabolical Liberties’
How did you end up
(that sounds bad) being an author?
When I realised selling my body was not an option (that’s a joke,
obviously) I’ve always written but stopped for fifteen years during my first
marriage, which is a long story and will most certainly send you to sleep. My
now husband, Andrew, encouraged me to write again. I did and the rest, as they
say, is history.
Where does the
inspiration for your novels come from?
People and everyday situations. I am a great people watcher. Mostly though from my own crazy life. I am the woman who walks into the gents loo and wonders why there are so many men in the Ladies. I leave my handbag in supermarket trolleys. I walk across a restaurant from the loo with my skirt tucked into my knickers. I’m the woman who runs for a bus wearing a boob tube and ends up with her boobs hanging out when she gets on the bus. I’m my own novel.
I think one of the
hardest things about being an author (apart from the actual writing) is
deciding what genre you want to write in. How and why did you decide on
romantic comedies?
I’ve always had a good
sense of humour. I have written serious novels. There is one available titled
‘The Diary of Rector Byrnes’ which is a contemporary romance. I love that book.
It is under the name of Edith Waylen. It’s very gripping. But one day I
thought, wouldn’t it be nice to write a feel good book, a book like a feel good
movie. So I had a go and haven’t looked back.
What sort of books do
you like to read and who are your favourite authors?
I read most things. My
favourite author is Iris Murdoch and I was lucky to meet her husband John
Bayley and see where Iris wrote her novels. I also like Kimberly Chambers and
enjoy reading biographies.
I hope you don’t mind
me saying this, but you came to writing a bit later in life (only as opposed to
all those young upstarts trying to make it big in their twenties - how dare
they!). Do you think having more life experience helps when writing a novel?
I guess at thirty five *little cough* I do have more life experience. It seems like I burst onto the scene quite late, but I have been writing a long time actually. I think life experience can help in writing, absolutely. I wouldn’t want to be a young upstart again, that’s for sure.
How do you write? Are
you a planner or do you just jump in and work it out as you go - or somewhere
in-between?
A bit of both, I guess.
An idea comes. I make notes. Bounce ideas around with my husband and then
begin. The novel then kind of writes itself. Writing is weird. I look back at
what I’ve written and think I didn’t write that, did I?
It’s a Romantic Comedy
about a woman who loses everything on Christmas Eve but then discovers she has
been left a cottage, except all is not what it seems when she arrives at the
property…. That’s your bit…
And lastly the most
important question for any writer. What biscuits do you prefer with your tea?
Fig rolls.
 | ||
| Her latest novel The Valentine Present and Other Diabolical Liberties |
Thanks so much to Lynda for answering my questions and if you haven't read one of her books, I suggest you do it very soon. I'll be back soon with more authors and hopefully some news of my own!
Until next time.
Hugs,
Jon X
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Jon meets...Poppy Dolan (again)
Hello,
I'm quite excited about today's blog because I have my very first returning author. Today it's my interview with the lovely Poppy Dolan, author of The Bad Boyfriend's Bootcamp and her latest There's More To Life Than Cupcakes. Since Poppy's last appearance on here she's gone from strength to strength and her new book is being published by those brilliant girls at Novelicious. So here talking about writing, love and, of course, cupcakes is Poppy.
A big welcome back to Poppy Dolan, the first person to appear twice on my website. Hello Poppy, welcome back, how are you?
I’m great, thanks Jon! I had an absolute blast recently around my publication day in October (which I shared with Happy Endings, in fact!). I had so many lovely messages, even some flowers, and it was the perfect antidote to the ‘Oh my God, everyone’s going to HATE it’ wobbles. I am so chuffed to be your first repeater on the site – we should try and get me into Guinness Book of Records with that. Then I could legitimately say I helped create a Sunday Times bestselling book… Sneaky but technically true.
The last blog you did for me, you were talking about your first book, The Bad Boyfriend’s Bootcamp, what have you been up to since then?
I’ve written another book since then, one that is less conventionally plot driven than The Bad Boyfriends Bootcamp, but comes more from personal experiences and a ‘what does it all mean?’ time of life. I’ve also been baking a lot…
Tell us about your new book, There’s More To Life Than Cupcakes.
There’s More to Life than Cupcakes is about the time in your life when the whole world seems confident you should have a baby but you’re really not actually all that sure. As I’m in my 30s and married, I get a lot of well-meant hints and even some out-right prompts about getting pregnant ‘before it’s too late’. It’s such a personal, important decision but it seems some people don’t have any compunction at bringing it up at dinner, at a wedding, in a business meeting even. Not to name names but I’ve experienced probing questions at all these kinds of events!
What makes your books different from other chick-lit books?
I’m not sure they are, and I’m not sure I want them to be! I love women’s fiction, all kinds, and I love that it gives you an instant emotional experience – you can laugh, you can weep, you can clutch your heart while it aches for the characters. I try my Billy best to write books that make people think and feel good things. If I can make you giggle then I have done my job. I suppose you could say that this book is unique because it features possibly more foodstuffs than people. Oh, and Paul Hollywood makes a little cameo.
You've signed with those lovely ladies at Novelicious. How is it working with them as opposed to being self-published?
Being with Novelicious is a dream come true! They took care of all the editing, cover design, proofing, promotions and social media planning for me and came up with so many great ideas that I wouldn’t have dreamt up in a month of Sundays. It’s also great to have someone there – when you’re in the grip of the aforementioned writerly wobbles – to reassure you that you’re not writing pages of dull nonsense and, no, it’s not a god idea to throw your laptop out the window. I heart Novelicious big time. Those ladies (and Edd) know their stuff.
Do you consider yourself a bit of a rom-com aficionado?
I think that would have to go on my tombstone, yes. I can pretty much recite When Harry Met Sally verbatim and even have a collection of favourite rom coms that went straight to DVD but are actually pretty great (Love and Sex, starring Famke Jannsen – give it a try! It’s not actually filthy but lovely and romantic!). I have to say that I think the 80s and 90s were a heyday for rom coms but I go with a hopeful heart every time a new Katherine Hiegel movie hit the cinemas.
What’s the key to a great romantic comedy?
I think the right mix of the predictable and the unpredictable is essential. In any rom com, you have a good feeling of how it will end: the meek, plain girl will come out of her shell or the good guy will win in the end or the two people that just loathe each other are Meant To Be. So there’s always a degree that we can see what’s coming, but when it comes to jokes and twists the audience should be completely taken by surprise. Maybe where we’re going is clear but how we get there should be a rollercoaster!
Your top five rom-com films?
When Harry Met Sally (number one with a bullet), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Sleepless in Seattle, The Princess Bride and The Runaway Bride
What book or writer has most inspired you?
I read Bridget Jones’s Diary at what I now realise was an early and inappropriate age – 15. But I’ll never forget how I hooted at every page, nodded with perfect understanding at Bridget’s broken heart and thigh issues, and let out an almighty sigh when I reached the awesome, longed-for ending. From then on, I wanted to be able to write something that could entertain a reader from all angles like that. Maybe in another 5 or 6 books I’ll get within a mile or so of it.
Tell us a bit about what you’re working on next?
I am dreaming up a new idea for a novel and all I’ll say is that I’m pretty sure it will feature two PE teachers as my lead characters.
And lastly the most important question for any writer. What biscuits do you prefer with your tea?
Until next time.
Hugs,
Jon X
I'm quite excited about today's blog because I have my very first returning author. Today it's my interview with the lovely Poppy Dolan, author of The Bad Boyfriend's Bootcamp and her latest There's More To Life Than Cupcakes. Since Poppy's last appearance on here she's gone from strength to strength and her new book is being published by those brilliant girls at Novelicious. So here talking about writing, love and, of course, cupcakes is Poppy.
A big welcome back to Poppy Dolan, the first person to appear twice on my website. Hello Poppy, welcome back, how are you?
I’m great, thanks Jon! I had an absolute blast recently around my publication day in October (which I shared with Happy Endings, in fact!). I had so many lovely messages, even some flowers, and it was the perfect antidote to the ‘Oh my God, everyone’s going to HATE it’ wobbles. I am so chuffed to be your first repeater on the site – we should try and get me into Guinness Book of Records with that. Then I could legitimately say I helped create a Sunday Times bestselling book… Sneaky but technically true.
The last blog you did for me, you were talking about your first book, The Bad Boyfriend’s Bootcamp, what have you been up to since then?
I’ve written another book since then, one that is less conventionally plot driven than The Bad Boyfriends Bootcamp, but comes more from personal experiences and a ‘what does it all mean?’ time of life. I’ve also been baking a lot…
Tell us about your new book, There’s More To Life Than Cupcakes.
There’s More to Life than Cupcakes is about the time in your life when the whole world seems confident you should have a baby but you’re really not actually all that sure. As I’m in my 30s and married, I get a lot of well-meant hints and even some out-right prompts about getting pregnant ‘before it’s too late’. It’s such a personal, important decision but it seems some people don’t have any compunction at bringing it up at dinner, at a wedding, in a business meeting even. Not to name names but I’ve experienced probing questions at all these kinds of events!
So
my character Ellie goes through a big dilemma in this book – is she
ready for motherhood or is just giving in to pressure from her husband,
mum, family and friends? And can she risk taking a year off work when
the foody magazine she works for is in such trouble? The one thing Ellie
is definitely ready for is burying her head in cake. So she starts a
baking class and meets new friends: Hannah, a super cool teacher, and
Joe, who just happens to be distractingly hot…
What makes your books different from other chick-lit books?
I’m not sure they are, and I’m not sure I want them to be! I love women’s fiction, all kinds, and I love that it gives you an instant emotional experience – you can laugh, you can weep, you can clutch your heart while it aches for the characters. I try my Billy best to write books that make people think and feel good things. If I can make you giggle then I have done my job. I suppose you could say that this book is unique because it features possibly more foodstuffs than people. Oh, and Paul Hollywood makes a little cameo.
You've signed with those lovely ladies at Novelicious. How is it working with them as opposed to being self-published?
Being with Novelicious is a dream come true! They took care of all the editing, cover design, proofing, promotions and social media planning for me and came up with so many great ideas that I wouldn’t have dreamt up in a month of Sundays. It’s also great to have someone there – when you’re in the grip of the aforementioned writerly wobbles – to reassure you that you’re not writing pages of dull nonsense and, no, it’s not a god idea to throw your laptop out the window. I heart Novelicious big time. Those ladies (and Edd) know their stuff.
Do you consider yourself a bit of a rom-com aficionado?
I think that would have to go on my tombstone, yes. I can pretty much recite When Harry Met Sally verbatim and even have a collection of favourite rom coms that went straight to DVD but are actually pretty great (Love and Sex, starring Famke Jannsen – give it a try! It’s not actually filthy but lovely and romantic!). I have to say that I think the 80s and 90s were a heyday for rom coms but I go with a hopeful heart every time a new Katherine Hiegel movie hit the cinemas.
I love rom coms on the silver screen or in book form – who doesn’t want to laugh and feel smushy?
What’s the key to a great romantic comedy?
I think the right mix of the predictable and the unpredictable is essential. In any rom com, you have a good feeling of how it will end: the meek, plain girl will come out of her shell or the good guy will win in the end or the two people that just loathe each other are Meant To Be. So there’s always a degree that we can see what’s coming, but when it comes to jokes and twists the audience should be completely taken by surprise. Maybe where we’re going is clear but how we get there should be a rollercoaster!
Your top five rom-com films?
When Harry Met Sally (number one with a bullet), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Sleepless in Seattle, The Princess Bride and The Runaway Bride
What book or writer has most inspired you?
I read Bridget Jones’s Diary at what I now realise was an early and inappropriate age – 15. But I’ll never forget how I hooted at every page, nodded with perfect understanding at Bridget’s broken heart and thigh issues, and let out an almighty sigh when I reached the awesome, longed-for ending. From then on, I wanted to be able to write something that could entertain a reader from all angles like that. Maybe in another 5 or 6 books I’ll get within a mile or so of it.
Tell us a bit about what you’re working on next?
I am dreaming up a new idea for a novel and all I’ll say is that I’m pretty sure it will feature two PE teachers as my lead characters.
And lastly the most important question for any writer. What biscuits do you prefer with your tea?
Whoah.
This is a biggie. I think on an average day it’s Cadbury’s Chocolate
Fingers – easily munchable, very moreish, a nice little crunch going on.
But if it’s a special day then a Wagon Wheel. I don’t care that they
have been likened to cardboard covered in loft insulation, I love them
+(1).png) |
| The beautiful cover of There's More to Life than Cupcakes |
Until next time.
Hugs,
Jon X
Monday, October 28, 2013
Hello,
Welcome. It's Monday and time for another guest blogger. Today it's the turn of Michael J Holley, a fellow Sotonian (from Southampton) and also a very funny writer of comedy books. So before I bore you with my waffle, here is Michael talking about his latest novel PLASTER SCENE.
 |
| Michael J Holley looking very dapper |
First of all, I’d like to thank Jon for letting me on to his
blog. I met Jon via Twitter, which is almost a modern cliché now given that
every guest post seems to originate in the same way. I’d love to say that we
met on the side of a mountain in Tibet while we were both finding ourselves…
but we didn’t.
Instead, I read his first novel (This Thirtysomething Life)
and was blown away by the observational comedy, which rang uncannily true with
my own experiences. I went on the interweb and discovered that he was from
Southampton too. After a brief panic where I thought he might actually be my
alter ego, I tweeted him to say hello and the rest is beautiful online history.
I’ve been writing seriously for a couple of years now and in
that time I’ve managed to self-publish a collection of short stories (TheChristmas Number one) and a novel (The Great Corporate Escape), but today I’d
like to talk about my second novel, Plaster Scene.
Plaster Scene is a comedy which is set in the UK, both in
the sixties and in the modern day. A mystery begins to unravel when an aging
hippie dies suddenly and leaves an unexpected inheritance behind. The problem
is that she’s buried it somewhere and her snobbish nephew, who’s the sole heir,
and his domineering wife then have to cook up a plan to retrieve it. Once they
do, an adventure begins which changes the lives of everybody involved, forever.
I’ve loved writing this story, which was inspired by the
comedy of PG Wodehouse and Tom Sharpe, and I hope you enjoy reading it. It’s
jam-packed with an array of colourful characters who are buffeted by the
endless twists and turns. I’ve had positive feedback so far and I can’t wait to
hear what you have to say.
Thanks once again to Jon for allowing me to gate crash his
blog. Plaster Scene is now available in both eBook and Paperback.
You can find out more about me via my blog; michaeljholley.com
Or my Amazon
profile page.
 | |||
| PLASTER SCENE - GET IT NOW! |
Hugs,
Jon X
Sunday, October 20, 2013
This Family Life
Hello.
I hope you're all doing well. Good, good. So it's done. The sequel to my first novel This Thirtysomething Life is complete. I have to say that writing a sequel was much harder than I originally thought. The first book sort of wrote itself in many ways and I didn't write it with a sequel in mind. However, writing This Family Life I had to get 'back into voice' remember the characters, their stories and above all, make sure this didn't let the first book down. I've read too many sequels and watched too many second films that weren't anywhere as good as the original. Maybe this explains how difficult it is to write a sequel. I so desperately wanted this to be as good if not better than the first book. And I think I've succeeded.
I only say 'think' because at the end of the day, until you lot - the 'readers', get your mitts on it and start reviewing it then it's only my opinion. BUT. I think since I wrote Thirtysomething way back in 2010, I've become a better writer, a better planner and also because my agent helped me a lot and pushed me to write a better book.
So what's it about? For a start it covers a whole year from New Year's Day to New Year's Eve. The first book only covered nine months. We find Harry and Emily, now parents of four and half month old William, still struggling to adapt to life with a baby. Emily wants to get fit, correction, she wants them both to get fit, which causes Harry great swathes of pain - both physically and emotionally. They get two new sets of neighbours, one of whom we already know from the first book (I won't say who) and the other who causes lots of problem for Harry. There's a pub quiz battle, Harry gets an unexpected surprise at school, which actually means he will have to do some work and there's nakedness - I won't say who, but it shocks Harry to his core! There's a trip to a caravan park which almost ends in disaster, a fight about Ben Fogle's house, Harry has a near-death experience and the Spencer family go to Australia where Harry ends up dancing in his underwear and gets called bastard A LOT!
The reason it's called This Family Life is that the first book was about going through pregnancy and dealing with growing up, but this book really is about family. Both sets of parents figure more heavily and especially Harry's mum and dad. They also feature in the probably the most heart-felt and heart-warming scenes in the book. I won't divulge the details, but their story is as important as Harry and Emily's and it will probably shed a few tears.
I think this book is definitely as funny as the first, if not funnier and it's definitely a bit more emotional. It's a real roller coaster ride with lots of tears, laughter and poo. Oh yes, where there's a baby, there's poo. Harry is still eating far too much bad food and drinking in the shed, he's still worried about dying from some mysterious illness, he still makes some terrible mistakes and is worried William has a 'funny-shaped' head and will grow up listening to terrible music - Gangnam style anyone?
This Family Life is another life-affirming, hilarious, heart-warming story of family life. I hope it doesn't let anyone down. I've worked really hard on it and I love the characters so much and I know the readers do to - hence why I was so worried about this being great. At the moment it's being sent off to my publishers, so hopefully they will love it too and before long I'll be able to write a blog with some great news!
Until then.
Hugs,
Jon X
I hope you're all doing well. Good, good. So it's done. The sequel to my first novel This Thirtysomething Life is complete. I have to say that writing a sequel was much harder than I originally thought. The first book sort of wrote itself in many ways and I didn't write it with a sequel in mind. However, writing This Family Life I had to get 'back into voice' remember the characters, their stories and above all, make sure this didn't let the first book down. I've read too many sequels and watched too many second films that weren't anywhere as good as the original. Maybe this explains how difficult it is to write a sequel. I so desperately wanted this to be as good if not better than the first book. And I think I've succeeded.
I only say 'think' because at the end of the day, until you lot - the 'readers', get your mitts on it and start reviewing it then it's only my opinion. BUT. I think since I wrote Thirtysomething way back in 2010, I've become a better writer, a better planner and also because my agent helped me a lot and pushed me to write a better book.
So what's it about? For a start it covers a whole year from New Year's Day to New Year's Eve. The first book only covered nine months. We find Harry and Emily, now parents of four and half month old William, still struggling to adapt to life with a baby. Emily wants to get fit, correction, she wants them both to get fit, which causes Harry great swathes of pain - both physically and emotionally. They get two new sets of neighbours, one of whom we already know from the first book (I won't say who) and the other who causes lots of problem for Harry. There's a pub quiz battle, Harry gets an unexpected surprise at school, which actually means he will have to do some work and there's nakedness - I won't say who, but it shocks Harry to his core! There's a trip to a caravan park which almost ends in disaster, a fight about Ben Fogle's house, Harry has a near-death experience and the Spencer family go to Australia where Harry ends up dancing in his underwear and gets called bastard A LOT!
The reason it's called This Family Life is that the first book was about going through pregnancy and dealing with growing up, but this book really is about family. Both sets of parents figure more heavily and especially Harry's mum and dad. They also feature in the probably the most heart-felt and heart-warming scenes in the book. I won't divulge the details, but their story is as important as Harry and Emily's and it will probably shed a few tears.
I think this book is definitely as funny as the first, if not funnier and it's definitely a bit more emotional. It's a real roller coaster ride with lots of tears, laughter and poo. Oh yes, where there's a baby, there's poo. Harry is still eating far too much bad food and drinking in the shed, he's still worried about dying from some mysterious illness, he still makes some terrible mistakes and is worried William has a 'funny-shaped' head and will grow up listening to terrible music - Gangnam style anyone?
This Family Life is another life-affirming, hilarious, heart-warming story of family life. I hope it doesn't let anyone down. I've worked really hard on it and I love the characters so much and I know the readers do to - hence why I was so worried about this being great. At the moment it's being sent off to my publishers, so hopefully they will love it too and before long I'll be able to write a blog with some great news!
Until then.
Hugs,
Jon X
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Hello,
It's here! Seriously, I'm not kidding. The paperback edition of HAPPY ENDINGS is out today! It's hard to believe. It doesn't feel like five minutes ago that it was just an idea in my head, a mere bean knocking about in my brain. Then, of course, it grew up a bit, started to talk to me, it got bigger, we had arguments, it took over my life and then before I knew it, it was all grown up and now it's off out into the big wide world by itself. All I can do now is wish it well.
I'm very proud of HAPPY ENDINGS and I must say it feels brilliant to finally have two books out. I feel a bit more like a proper writer. So without further ado and anymore waffling because trust me, I can waffle, I give you HAPPY ENDINGS (the real version for all those people who need something big and hard in their hands- I know I'm sorry, I couldn't resist).
I hope you love it and if you do, please don't hesitate to let me know. Of course, if you hate it, you can keep your opinions to yourself. Much appreciated. I'll be blogging again soon with news of what's coming up next and so until then, be safe out there.
Hugs,
Jon X
It's here! Seriously, I'm not kidding. The paperback edition of HAPPY ENDINGS is out today! It's hard to believe. It doesn't feel like five minutes ago that it was just an idea in my head, a mere bean knocking about in my brain. Then, of course, it grew up a bit, started to talk to me, it got bigger, we had arguments, it took over my life and then before I knew it, it was all grown up and now it's off out into the big wide world by itself. All I can do now is wish it well.
I'm very proud of HAPPY ENDINGS and I must say it feels brilliant to finally have two books out. I feel a bit more like a proper writer. So without further ado and anymore waffling because trust me, I can waffle, I give you HAPPY ENDINGS (the real version for all those people who need something big and hard in their hands- I know I'm sorry, I couldn't resist).
I hope you love it and if you do, please don't hesitate to let me know. Of course, if you hate it, you can keep your opinions to yourself. Much appreciated. I'll be blogging again soon with news of what's coming up next and so until then, be safe out there.
Hugs,
Jon X
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)