Publication Day!

Hello,

Publication day. It's always an exciting and terrifying time. The book I've spent a whole year thinking about, writing, editing, nervously worrying about, is finally going to be released to the public. To you. 

When I think back to my first book, This Thirtysomething Life, I wasn't really that nervous because I had no expectations. I only thought a few people would buy it, mainly friends and family, and so I didn't think about getting reviews and chart positions. I was just happy that I'd done it. Now, on the verge of book number three coming out, my expectations are different and with it comes along a whole procession of other worries. This Family Life is released today, and I couldn't be happier about the book, but all I can think is that what if all the people who loved the first book feel let down. What if it dives down the charts faster than a novelty World Cup song after the World Cup? What if...I could go on, but you'd probably start getting bored.

So why should you spend your hard earned money on my new book? If you read and enjoyed This Thirtysomething Life, I'm sure you're going to like this. This book is funnier - I've read both a lot and this makes me laugh more. It has more story lines, some great new characters, and it's longer. It really is a book for both men and women, so when you've finished reading it you can give it to your partner to read too - so technically it's two for the price of one! Lastly, due to me having complete control over this, it's only 99p! You might be thinking, why so cheap Jon? The regular price will be 1.99, but I thought, I have some great fans, I'm nice, I enjoy a bargain, let's go for 99p. It's only for a limited time, but for 99p you're getting a whole novel that will hopefully have you doubled-over in laughter. You might even cry a bit too. So get it cheap while you can!

So here it is, This Family Life, it's out there so please go and grab a copy. It's only available as an eBook at the moment, but hopefully the paperback won't be far behind. Please read it, share it, tell your friends about it, write lovely reviews on Amazon, and let me know what you think. I really hope you enjoy it.

Until next time.

Hugs,
Jon X

Writing Process Blog Tour

Writing Process Blog Tour


I have been invited by author F.C. Malby to answer some questions about my current writing as part of a writing process blog tour. You can read her answers on her blog
Here are my responses to the following questions:


What are you currently working on?

At the moment I'm working on book number four. I'm at a very interesting point because I've finished the first draft and it's off with my agent. It's probably the most nerve-racking time for me as a writer. She's the first person to have read it and she's my agent, and so if she really doesn't like it or doesn't think it's very good then I've wasted six months. Obviously I'm hoping she's going to come back and say it's brilliant and doesn't need a word changed. The reality is that she will probably come back with something between my worst nightmare and my biggest hope. 

Book four is a book about family, about how we live together, love each other, sometimes hate each other, but how we're intrinsically linked together whether we like it or not. Of all the books I've written so far it's by far the nearest to what I'm always trying to achieve and it's that balance between comedy and drama. For me comedy needs a serious edge and drama needs lightness, and so hopefully this is a book that really will have people laughing out loud and crying with sadness.


How does your work differ from others of its genre?

I think my work is similar to other writers such as Mike Gayle, Matt Dunn, and Nick Spalding, but it definitely has it's own style. I really try to get a balance in my work between comedy and drama and I think it's that balance that makes me different. Writing comedy is very difficult, but I always try to find a unique story or a different angle, and make sure that the most important thing is the story and characters and to let the comedy come from that. I often take out jokes because when I read it back it sounds like a joke, and that's not what I want.

Why do you write what you do?

I've always believed that you should write what you love to read. Writing is a passion and you have to be passionate about what you write. I love comedy and so when I came to write it felt only natural to write from a comedic viewpoint. Every time I sit down to write a new book, the first thing I think about is what I want to read. It's that simple. Also, as mentioned above, for me the book is first and foremost a story about interesting characters, which could be any genre really. All books whether romance, comedy, science-fiction, historical, they all need to have the same basic elements of a great story and brilliantly written characters.

How does your writing process work?

As I'm discovering, my process isn't the most fluid. Working on my latest book I tried to do a bit more planning than usual, but I find that despite my best laid plans, the work always takes on a life of its own once I start writing it. I always have a pretty good idea of the story I want to write, and how it's going to end, but the story usually writes itself - dictated by the characters as they evolve. I can't plan a whole book and stick to it because as I'm writing and as I get to know the characters better new ideas and new plot lines begin to emerge. I do try and stick to six months for a good first draft and then six months for editing - so always roughly about a year per book. The thing is, there's lots of ways to write a book and none of them are correct. The only way that you can write a book is the way that you write a book. As long as it gets done, it really doesn't matter how you get there.  


I'm now going to pass these questions onto Tasha Harrison who blogs at http://tashaharrison.com/ so look out for her answers soon!

THIS FAMILY LIFE

Hello,


In just 5 days (Monday June 30th) THIS FAMILY LIFE will be released and the best thing is that for a limited time it's only 99p! (99cents in the US). Actually the best thing is that it's finally available and hopefully you'll love reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The journey to publication has been a difficult one, but finally the long awaited sequel to THIS THIRTYSOMETHING LIFE is here. Harry, Emily, and baby William are back and more hilarious than ever. Below is the synopsis and cover to get you in the mood.

 

The sequel to the Amazon bestselling book THIS THIRTYSOMETHING LIFE

Things that might happen during your first year of parenthood:

1. You’ll get covered in a ‘nuclear’ poo.

2. You’ll be convinced your son is talking with a Japanese accent.

3. You’ll worry that when your son waves, it looks like a Nazi salute.

Of course, this might just be Harry Spencer.

Taking up where This Thirtysomething Life left off, Harry Spencer and is wife Emily are back and trying to survive their first year of parenthood. It has its ups and downs (and a few bits in the middle), but along the way they begin to understand the true meaning of family and what it takes to be a parent.

Featuring a hilarious cast of extras including Harry’s father-in-law Derek, who has a unique problem with Scotch, Steve and Fiona, the parents from children’s entertainment hell, and a yoga instructor with a prominent camel-toe, This Family Life is the ultimate comedy for anyone who is a parent, has a parent, or is thinking about becoming one.

Until next time.

Hugs,

Jon X