When Writing is all Worthwhile

I'm sure, like me, many of you will have received lovely comments about your writing, even if only from friends and family or fellow writers. If we're lucky, we might gain some good reviews for published novels, while editors or publishers continue to take our work.

And, yes, we all have the rejections too! For every six short stories we submit in hope, we're doing well if half are accepted - and evidently that also goes for the most well-published short story writers. I always find that a comforting thought as it's reassuring to know we can't expect everything to hit the right mark, every time. Writing is such a joy and a priviledge that I couldn't imagine ever giving up, no matter what each day brings.

Then, occasionally, along comes a day when a completely 'out-of-the-blue' comment arrives and reminds us why we continue to follow this career choice. I received just such an email yesterday and I had a huge grin on my face for the rest of the evening. It was so unexpected, completely unsolicited, and came from a prolific young reader whom I do not personally know (I only know her grandmother).

I'm just going to reproduce three sentences of her lovely comment here so as not to give away part of the plot of Mischief at Mulberry Manor (which she calls 'Mystery' - as it does have a mystery!). Her grandmother had bought her a print copy of the book:

To Romy,
I just finished your book called mystery at mulberry manor and I loved it soooooo much!!! I had such a clear image of what Mulberry manor would look like, and the snowman and all the gardens and stuff.
I'm starting to read summer of the eagles now. Mystery at mulberry manor is one of my absolute favourite books ever. Natasha xx

I'm sure I don't have to tell any other writer what it means to receive such a heartfelt comment from a young reader who the novella wasn't even aimed at! So keep writing, everyone - your words are being read and enjoyed somewhere.

Meanwhile, I'm featuring one of my Scottish writing colleagues, Jack Hastie, over on the Flights of Imagination blog, with his debut children's novel, Fraser's Voices.

Rosemary

One of Those Weeks

We get them every now and then - a week when everything is happening at once and normal routine is slightly altered, with so many different things clamouring for attention that we don't know where to start. That just about sums up my week!

Part of it was to do with writing: first edits for new contemporary novella, appearing on blogs with the new children's book, new articles for the online company, finishing judging a novella competition and preparing the talk for Monday coming - and a few other bits and pieces. Then there's the social networking online, the writing group with an entertaining and busy guest author, lovely social and writerly day with a couple of writing friends, and lunch with my sister today.

In between all this, my husband and daughter were going off on different trips on different days and I got involved with their preparations on the day before each journey. Maybe by tomorrow (Saturday) I'll start to feel more in control! I'm sure many of you have weeks like this.

Meanwhile, Lindsay is kindly featuring The Jigsaw Puzzle on her blog today. And I'm going to try and finish these edits before and after enjoying lunch out with sister! Hope you enjoy your weekend.

Rosemary

First Guest Interview

Although I didn't ask to be featured on anyone's blog with my new children's book, The Jigsaw Puzzle, several very kind authors have invited me to talk about it!

Today, I'm talking about the inspiration for the story over on Canadian author Suzanne's blog, and I'd love you to leave a comment if you have time. I'm giving away a free download of the book to one commenter and Suzanne has already bought and read The Jigsaw Puzzle and enjoyed it! 

Meanwhile, over on my Flights of Imagination blog, I'm featuring very interesting debut YA author, Philip Coleman, and his exciting book set in Brussels.

If anyone is interested in the Winchester Writing Conference, the competition and booking details are now online.

Rosemary (our fleeting spring has gone away again!)

Burst of Sunshine

Lovely writing friend, Janice Horton, has awarded me the Sunshine Award and coincidentally, it's one of the few spring-like days we've had here for a while!

Rather than answer another round of questions about myself, I'll give you these sunny daffodils to brighten up your day. And if anyone would like this award, please help yourself as I'm sure many of you already have one and I don't know who to choose from all my lovely blogging friends - okay that's a cop-out!

  

Have a great weekend!
Rosemary

An Invitation and The Weekly News

You are Invited

to the blog party launch

of The Jigsaw Puzzle

Thursday, 18th April

All day on the Flights of Imagination blog

Trailer, Prize Draw, Virtual Food and Drink, and Fun!

Hope to see you there!

Yesterday, I was delighted to receive a short story acceptance from Jill Finlay at The Weekly News. Poor Jill has been struggling to read all the submissions since last year and had stopped taking any more for a couple of months. My story, The Shopping Bag, was sent in last August, so I think it's a good idea to get through the backlog before being inundated again! The story is going to be in this week's Weekly News, the issue dated 20th April.

I think Jill is opening up submissions again at the end of this month, so good luck with any stories you send in. For those who don't know this publication, it takes the form of a newspaper which you can find in most large newsagents or supermarkets and is published by Scottish favourite D.C.Thomson (of My Weekly and People's Friend fame). It usually contains two or three stories a week and they should be suitable for a mixed audience of men and women, so they're not generally straight romance stories - in fact this is a good place for twist, ghost, 'cosy' crime, and slightly more quirky stories. But, as always, it's best to read a few of the stories they publish to get the right tone.

See you tomorrow on the other blog!
Rosemary

Perseverance and Productivity

First the exciting news I promised on Friday, although a few may have seen it on Facebook yesterday (but I'm giving fuller details here)! In another new departure, I submitted a short contemporary/fantasy novella set on Cyprus to great little Irish company, Tirgearr Publishing. Not only have I now signed a contract for the The Aphrodite Touch but they asked me to write further novellas to make it a series.

These are slightly sexier stories than I've written before and I had to make one important scene a little more so! Each story will involve a different couple on the island, trying to move their relationshiop on in some way. But the main recurring theme, and fantasy element, is that Aphrodite and Adonis play with people's lives each summer, 'helping' where possible, and they will be in each book. Since I've always loved mythology, this is fun to write. So I'd better knuckle down and start the next story soon.

I was thinking about perseverance recently, and not only because of getting some more work out and accepted. Some of you may know that I write for an online US company, Demand Studios (for the eHow UK section). We choose up to three titles at a time and we have to submit each article within a week of claiming them. On about three different occasions now, I started the reseach but was struggling to complete the article in time without becoming more stressed. Each time, I almost gave up and was going to release the title back into the system. And yet... the thought of earning a fairly good amount within a few days of submission made me pause and I persevered knowing I could do this.

The point is that it reminded me of the way I often work (and husband will confirm) - leaving things until the last minute, not persevering when it gets tougher if I have the option to move on to something else. Well, it's been a good lesson and seems to have come at the right time if I'm now expected to produce more novellas in a series. In the past, I've spent so many years procrastinating that I'm now determined to be more consistently productive. Wonder how long that will last! Does anyone else struggle to persevere with their writing projects?

Meanwhile, if you have time to take a look, fellow tween author, Tammy Lowe, is on my Flights of Imagination blog today with her great time-slip book, The Acadian Secret. And watch out for an invitation to my blog party launch for The Jigsaw Puzzle later this week.

Rosemary

Release Day!

Having more Internet connection problems but just wanted to mention that my new tween book, The Jigsaw Puzzle, is released today from MuseItUp Publishing! All eformats are available from their bookstore, and I'll be having an online launch once it's also available on Amazon.

Had some other exciting news but will wait until Monday to reveal that and hopefully I'll have the connection sorted out by then.

Have a good weekend,
Rosemary

The Jigsaw Puzzle Cover Reveal!

I'm delighted to reveal the brilliant cover by C.K. Volnek for my new Tween/Middle Grade book, The Jigsaw Puzzle, which will be released from MuseItUp Publishing as an ebook first at the end of this week. Publisher, Lea, made this great banner for publicity purposes. The boy on the cover is a very good image for twelve year old asthmatic and thoughtful main character, Daniel. His cousin Amy is the bossy one!

As usual, I'm aiming to have an online launch in the next week or two, over on my Flights of Imagination blog, and I'll announce the date here once it's arranged. I'm now almost finished making a trailer for it as, being a visual person, I love that side of creativity.

Here's a peek at the blurb.

Twelve-year-old asthmatic Daniel stays with his bossy cousin, Amy, her mum, and two cats in the Scottish countryside during the Christmas holidays while his parents take a trip to sort out their problems. When Amy and Daniel make up an old jigsaw puzzle, the cottage and garden gradually change to resemble the Victorian cottage pictured on the box lid.

In between searching for the missing Title Deeds of the cottage to save it from land developers, they complete the jigsaw and find a strange rhyming puzzle hidden within the box. What does it mean? Daniel and Amy soon find out when they become trapped in the past.

Will they solve the cryptic written puzzle and find their way back to the present before it’s too late to save themselves, the destruction of the woods, and their cottage?

No doubt you'll be hearing about it on Facebook and twitter, once I get into gear with promotion. Watch this space for the date of the online launch!  

Rosemary (or Ros for this book)  

P.S - A little later than expected, but another MuseItUp author is on my Flights of Imagination blog now with her lovely Tween book, The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy. Leave a comment over there to have a chance of winning a digital copy of her book.

The New Writer Relaunched

I received an email the other day informing me that The New Writer magazine is being relaunched soon. You can have a sneak preview of the 12 sample pages from the relaunch issue here.

In addition to interesting articles, they normally run annual writing competitions. Two special introductory offers are available for UK writers at the moment:

• half price introductory copy
• reduced price one year subscription

You can order either or both on The New Writer website. I've ordered my half price copy as I'm always interested in writing magazines, even though I subscribe to most of them and get way behind with the reading!

Rosemary

A Dragon and a Princess

Over on my Flights of Imagination blog today, I'm featuring Bill Kirton's very special book for children, Rory the Dragon and Princess Daisy. Originally written to entertain his grandchildren, it is now helping to raise funds for the Children's Hospice South West after Bill's little great-niece, Daisy, lived for only 16 weeks when diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

You can read about the family's Friends of Daisy Chain and their great efforts in raising funds for families touched by life-limiting conditions.

Rosemary