ABOUT ME

My photo
Morecambe, Lancashire, United Kingdom
In the mornings I’m a Nursery Cook, the rest of the time a Writer. Been writing for decades: short stories, plays, poems, a sitcom and more recently flash fiction, Creative Writing MA at Lancaster Uni and now several novels. Been placed in competitions (Woman’s Own, Greenacre Writers and flashtagmanchester) and shortlisted in others (Fish, Calderdale, Short Fiction Journal). I won the Calderdale Prize 2011, was runner-up in the Ink Tears Flash Fiction Comp & won the Greenacre Writer Short Story Comp 2013. I have stories in Jawbreakers, Eating My Words, Flash Dogs Anthologies 1-3, 100 RPM and the Stories for Homes anthology. My work’s often described as ‘sweet’ but there’s usually something darker and more sinister beneath the sweetness. I love magical realism and a comedy-tragedy combination. My first novel, Queen of the World, is about a woman who believes she can influence the weather. I’m currently working on a 3rd: Priscilla Parker Reluctant Celebrity Chef. Originally from West Midlands, I love living by the sea in Morecambe, swimming, cycling, theatre, books, food, weather, sitcoms and LBBNML … SQUEEZE!

Monday, 22 April 2013

My TBR Pile

At the suggestion of Paul Magrs, here is my TBR pile complete with 'small stuffed friend' (Edward has spent his whole life looking serious, bless him. Perhaps he's laughing inside.)
Two of these are re-reads ... the GK Chesterton stories (originally my grandfather's) which I read decades ago & found really funny ... and 'The Man in the Rubber Mask', a fun read that will probably make me want to watch old eps of Red Dwarf again.
And this year I'm determined to learn something about gardening (attempting to grow veg) with Monty Don's help.
Looking at the photo I see my well worn Chronicles of Narnia lurking behind. Would love to read them again one day.
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Sunday, 21 April 2013

They're Not Mythical

Within a few days of submitting to agents at the beginning of February I was ASTOUNDED to receive what, at the time, I thought of as 'the mythical request for the full'.

I sent off the complete manuscript (all 81,634 words) of Queen of the World to the agent's assistant who asked for it and waited, while trying to crack on with first draft of the second one. She kept in touch as she read it, saying how much she was enjoying it, then emailed to say she'd handed it to the agent. All very encouraging.

After a few more weeks I received a very nice rejection. Basically, the assistant adored it (her word, 'adore'!) but the two agents, who’d both read and enjoyed the whole thing and said that I write 'incredibly well' weren't 'lovestruck' enough.

Well ... you could wait your whole life for someone to be lovestruck!

But I still felt positive. It was all too good to be true anyway. During this waiting time I had several other straight rejections - the sort of thing, when I embarked on this, I expected to get from all the agencies.

And now ... just last week I got another 'request for the full' from an agent who says that my novel has a 'brilliant opening'.

They're not 'mythical'. They're very real and very possible.

And the first one clearly wasn't a fluke.

So I'm waiting again. Waiting and wondering and trying not to get my hopes up too much while making sure they are up just enough. Tricky stuff!



I've just got this bracelet. Perhaps not that clear on the photo but it has 'Queen of the World' engraved on it. The jewellery-loving writer's version of wearing your heart on your sleeve?
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