It's International Book Giving Day, so a perfect time to tell you which books I was given on my birthday last week. 

You should know this - if in doubt, buy me a book! It was my birthday last Saturday and my mum pulled it out the bag again with a great title. 

STONER ~ John Williams

'Stoner' was book of the year 2013, according to Waterstones. I'm currently finishing the second of my two Christmas book presents, but I look forward to getting stuck into this new one. Having not read a lot in the last few months (Christmas, work disruption, fiance in the country with me!), I'm really looking forward to getting a few volumes under my belt before Easter. 

I have yet to buy myself a birthday present (personal tradition, not to be missed!), and I'm thinking I might try to clear out some of my Amazon Wishlist of books. I'll try to limit myself!

Have a great weekend all, see you next Friday. 

Lou x

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Christmas is a time of giving. I'm a reader. If you're in any doubt on what to give me as a present in the future, do as my family wisely did*. Give me books. 

Two books came my way this Christmas:

THE WHITE TIGER ~ Aravind Adiga

This author is previously unknown to me. This novel was added to my Amazon wishlist, originally recommended by a friend when I was travelling last year. 

THE UNFORTUNATES ~ Laurie Graham

I loved Laurie Graham's "The Future Homemakers of America", so this one will hopefully be a good 'un too!

I'm currently trying to finish "Dexter By Design" by Jeff Lindsay (big fan of the Dexter TV series, wading through the books), but I can't wait to get stuck into these two. 

Welcome to any new readers, by the way. I was lucky enough to be invited onto BBC Northampton Radio this lunch time with presenter Helen Blaby. We talked about lots about getting into reading and how great blogs are...  and I managed a cheeky bit of promo for this blog, so it's good to have you here. 

See you next week!

Lou x

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*Feel like I should mention my family didn't just give me two books. I was a very lucky girl this year!

The friendships between women cohabiting have long been fodder for novelists and scriptwriters. Have you considered adding this element to your short story or novel?

This week I'm paying tribute to fictional my favourite fictional female flat share: the twins in "Her Fearful Symmetry" (Audrey Niffenegger). Female twins are the protagonists in this novel. The majority of the novel is set in and around their flat, located close to Highgate Cemetery in north London, and it works very well. I admire their relationship in the very least; my sister and I would certainly not survive if we had to live in a little London flat together!

Everyone who has ever shared a house or a flat with someone other than family or a partner knows there's ups and downs to sharing where you live with others. Friends or 'randoms' thrown together, it can be an interesting mix.

There'll be someone in the possibly 'unnaturally' thrown together household who winds you up, no doubt. My friend has constructed a whole (hilarious and shocking) blog on this subject alone. For instance, one of your housemates might watch TV on a loud setting into the night. There'll be someone who doesn't pull their weight with the cleaning or restocking of the toilet roll. And you know each tenant will have a different standard of what is deemed to be clean! However, you might also enjoy the company and find a new friend, make life a little cheaper by sharing the rent and bills, and cooking together can be fun. 

There's positives and negatives to having a female (or indeed male/mixed) houseshare, and literature reflects this. Many of your readers will be able to relate to this situation, either having shared a place with someone before or having had kids who are doing it at the moment. Setting the domestic scene as a houseshare is a perfect example of a way to bring real life, real problems, and real relationships into your writing.   

You know, I can't think of any fictional male flatshares in literature... Maybe men just aren't so interesting to read about in a domestic or friendship context! Sure, there's several famous ones on TV and in movies, but in books, I'm trying to think of one. Let me know if any spring to mind for you...

Lou x

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I'm a reader. I'm a writer. But what do titles of books mean to me? What's in them which pique my interest and make me buy, read, or borrow that novel?

A discussion evolved a month or two ago between myself and a friend. We both decided that the words in a fiction title will influence how keen we are to buy said volume. However, if we were shopping for non-fiction, the content and writer may carry a higher weighting than how the title is phrased. 

I'm a book geek, I admit. I have kept a personal 'reading record', as I was taught in primary school, since January 1998. I have written the author's name, the title, and a score out of ten for every book I have read between then and now. It would be one of the first things I'd grab if my house caught fire! Looking through my notebook, I started wondering, which books have I read where it was purely the title which encouraged me to delve into the pages?

The Beach - Alex Garland
I'm a real beach bum (take a look at my travel blog for proof!), and the title sparked something in the part of my which contains all things desire and dreams. I stole a copy from my art teacher. Sorry, Miss. I did return it, though, after I'd read it!

The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
This was my first Iain Banks novel. My mum recommended I try him out, and this title intrigued me. What would a wasp factory be like? How would you keep the wasps inside??? Of course, it's not that kind of novel in reality, but the title worked for me. 

Millennium - John Varley
I read this only because it was the end of the millennium and I felt the need to read on the subject. The title couldn't be more obvious and perfect. 

How to be a Canadian - Will and Ian Ferguson
In 2006 I went to live in Canada for a year. This was a present from a fellow foreigner on Canadian soil; a humourous take at the odd and endearing behaviour of our temporarily adopted nation. There can't be a better reason to read a book named this way!

Egg Dancing - Liz Jensen
An amusing title, if nothing else! I gave this one 9/10 though, back in 2004, so it must have been more than just a well-named book. 

I didn't read these books due to how well the novel was known or regarded. It wasn't the cover design. It wasn't the reputation of the writer, or the fact I'd never read anything by them before. It was the fact their novel had a fab title. I prefer short, snappy titles, but it's not essential. 

Writers: Now consider the blog, short story, novel you're working on, or even the poem. What does the title say to you? Does it give you a clue as to what the piece is about? Do you think it would intrigue the reader enough to open the cover or click the link?

If you really get stuck (or bored!), take a look at Lulu's online title scorer. It's a quick test which analyses the words in your title and gives you a 'likelihood of success' score at the end. Statisticians have studied the bestselling novels of the last 50 years and come up with this equation.... It's just a bit of fun, really, but it's worth considering to help play around with your title configuration. 

This post was inspired by a conversation I had with Northampton's newest hair blogger, Sarah Becker. Take a look at her new blog, Get The Look You Want. 

See you next week,

Lou x

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I had a lovely afternoon last Sunday. I went down to Bookmarks Festival, the small Northants village of Helmdon's very own offering to the world of writing and book events. It's in its second year and I can see there will be outcry if this small, friendly, and well-meaning festival doesn't come back for 2014. 

There are two reasons why I love Bookmarks Festival. 

1. The focus of the festival is on local writers. The speakers this year were Adrian Magsun, Alison McQueen and Garry O'Connor, all who hail from Northamptonshire. Engaging, friendly, and very different from each other, they made for a good panel. 

2. Bookmarks raises money for a global charity. It's a different charity each year, and 2013 is the year of Hand in Hand for Syria. Very commendable, in my eyes, and the choice of charity could not be more pertinent given the news from Syria in the last week or two.

I want to show you the fantastic fun I had at Bookmarks Festival, but like the pro I am, I managed to take photos with no SD card in the camera.

However, as you can judge from this blog post title, there is a down side to going to all these wonderful, creativity-filled, welcoming, interesting literature festivals. Yes, while I'm there mingling with other readers and writers, I'm having a great time. Events like this often encourage cake eating, and armed with a slice and a cuppa, I make new friends and acquaintances of bloggers, novelists, journalists and wannabes. However, long-term, literature festivals are indeed detrimental to my social life.

Why?!

Because I've come away with yet more books to add to my 'To Read' list. 

Once again I'll revert to my teenage bookworm state and become completely absorbed into the wonderful world of reading. I'll escape any trials and stresses of the day and enrich my writer's palette. 

I plan to be unapologetically unsociable.

I didn't really need these new volumes to add to the growing collection of books I want to devour, but look at them - how could you resist?! And they were all at the bargain price of £1 per novel. I already have piles of unread beauties at my pad just waiting to be opened, but being the slow reader that I am, I doubt I'll get onto many of them this decade. This means I will spend a good portion of my weekend curled up, sprawled out, perched on a chair with a book. I'm currently reading the beast that is Tom Jones ~ Henry Fielding as part of my 30 Before 30 Challenge, and I really want to get it finished. Then I can start on these fab looking titles.

If you need me, you know where to find me. 

Lou x

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April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days. #AprilBlogChallenge Check it out! 

** F is for FIVE books **

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As a writer, I am often asked who my favourite writers are. My default is Audrey Niffenegger as 'The Time Travellers Wife' is one of my favourites of all time, but I have developed a better answer than this.

These are the five books which have most inspired me. 

REBECCA - DAPHNE DU MAURIER

This book inspired me to read a wider range of genres. I was recommended it by a friend, and was a little wary... I have not enjoyed historical fiction or classics in the past, but I thought I'd give it a go. 

I was glued from page one, with that famous opening. 

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” 

The story took turns I didn't expect, and the change in genre by Du Maurier from romance to a ghost story was inspirational to me as a writer. It is very well written and I'd recommend it on, paying it forward, to anyone. It's in my top 10. 

TRAVELS ON MY ELEPHANT - MARK SHAND

Mark Shand's book was given to me as a gift from an ex boyfriend from years ago. He knew my favourite animal was elephants and knew I liked reading, so this gift was perfect! 

It's an easy read, interesting and humourous in parts. I loved it. The book certainly fuelled my love for the beautiful beasts, and last January I got the chance to work with elephants in South Africa. A dream come true, and encourage in part by this great book. 

THE HELP - KATHRYN STOCKETT

'The Help' again, inspired me as a writer. The main character, Skeeter, is a strong woman who works hard for a cause she believes in. I am a passionate person about a couple of subjects, and I would love to find a serious job writing for a living. 

This book is another of my top 10 favourite books. Inspiring, awareness-raising, sad yet heart-warming. 

Plus, Skeeter proves curly hair and glasses is gorgeous. 

SUCCESSFUL NOVEL PLOTTING - Jean Saunders

Back in 2008 I decided to take writing more seriously and joined a writers's group in Milton Keynes. 'Speakeasy', the group based in MK, had a guest speaker the first night I attended, a writer called Jean Saunders. 

She said she'd written hundreds of books but I'd never heard of her.... She was a great speaker, encouraging, friendly, talented and celebrated. Jean was selling copies of these books that evening and reading it over the next couple of weeks inspired me to move my writing up to the next level and write THAT book. 

Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger

This book, by my favourite writer, inspired me to take a day trip to London - today, in fact! I met with two friends from school who now live in London and we visited Highgate Cemetery. 

Highgate Cemetery was opened in 1839 and it features in the modern contemporary story written by  Ms. Niffenegger. The twins in the book have a flat which looks out over the cemetery. I was intrigued to visit, and it was worth it. The three of us girls had a lovely day out and the weather was the best we've had this year yet!





That's it from me and the A to Z Challenge today. I'm lucky I've managed to post today as I moved house yesterday and had to work out the wireless in the new place. Don't forget, tomorrow is Sunday which we A to Z bloggers don't post on. 

See you Monday!

Lou x

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Yes, I’m about 3 months behind the craze – I have been out the country for 9 weeks – but I started to embark on a journey of many shades this week.

EL James’ ‘50 Shades of Grey’ has been, as you are probably aware, the talk of not only book clubs, but lunches with ladies, office chat and casual conversation. It’s been heralded as the new ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover,’ 45 years hence. More than a little naughty, very accessible; this trilogy seems to have collected quite a following. The fastest selling fiction novel of the 21st Century? I had to try it!

Reading the book before me, a friend of mine advised me the first third of the book was ‘ultra boring’. She then reached the two-thirds point and said it was ‘pure filth’. It improves then! When she’d devoured the book to the last letter, she said claimed it was an excellent read.

Therefore, in search of a good structure, this is a review in thirds of the famous ’50 Shades of Grey’.

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The first third of the book takes us to about the 170 page mark. So far, I’ve not warmed to any of the characters. Anastasia, the protagonist, is irritating the hell out of me. Yes, she’s innocent, and supposed to be a little ‘green’, but even someone still clinging onto their virginity wouldn’t have been so ill-informed as to the activities in some people’s sex lives. She’s how old, 21? And how many times does she say ‘crap’ in each chapter? I feel this is dialogue characterisation stretched a little too far. Sure, that’s what she says, and I don’t mind, but she says it probably more times than is necessary. Mix it up a little!

I don’t like the name Christian; it doesn’t seem to suit the lover Anastasia falls for. I wonder why the author chose (carefully, I hope) this name in particular. It seems a middle-high class name, but did she mean it to have a religious connotation to it? He’s a less irritating character than Anastasia, perhaps because I am too busy drooling, but I question the author’s choice of name. With Mr ‘Grey’, she hit the nail on the head. Strong, uncomplicated, plain, disguising deeper shades. Adding the first name of ‘Christian’ ruined it for me.

Added to this, the writer doesn’t seem to have much creativity in terms of explaining how the dialogue is being delivered. Anastasia whispers or murmurs everything. In reality, how much whispering does anyone do? I found this a little unrealistic. But then, I’ve not personally been in her position… Maybe whispers are completely necessary in such situations, and no substitute would be acceptable? On some pages all she does is whisper and murmur, when there seems little call for quiet. However, when the main character isn’t whispering or murmuring, she’s snapping irritably. Apparently Anastasia uses the word ‘holy’ every 3.5 pages. My original view of the writing lacking something stands.

One part of the first third of the story I did enjoy was the scene in which Anastasia gets wrecked. Her explanation of how she feels is exactly how I have felt in the past, albeit perhaps not puking into azaleas specifically. She says “this is just too appalling for words” – a line in which, had I been more eloquent and able to pull myself together to voice my thoughts, I would have said at times myself. Ahh, student days… Anastasia makes some good points through her chunks and spurts (e.g. “vomiting profusely is exhausting”) and it makes for a truly empathetic scene. A real “I’ll never drink again” moment.

Inconsistencies in text is not one of my major bug bears. Perhaps it should be, but I very rarely spot anything in fiction I read. However, when Anastasia first reads the Non-Disclosure Agreement Christian presents her with, one of the stipulations is that she, as the Submissive (I’m not letting loose any spoilers I’m sure here!), is required to have seven hours sleep a night when they are not together. Less than 70 pages later, this has unexplainably been altered to eight hours. Anastasia should re-read that contract and makes sure she knows what she’s getting into. That extra hour of sleep could be the difference between waking at 7am or 6am – inconsistent writing, and something the Submissive should see as worth negotiating on. A lesson in reading contracts carefully before signing perhaps, but I feel the gravity of the lovers’ contract and the importance to the story means that the author should have gone over the details of the agreement with as much care as Anastasia should have.

Finally, and this is just a side note, but I’d be interested to hear the answer. This is an American print book, so all the words are Americanised. While we’re on the subject of Mr Grey, can someone explain to me why the colour grey in the USA is ‘gray’, yet Mr Grey is with an ‘e’? This must have presented some heavy editing issues in proofing the text with an American English spellchecker.  

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50 Shades of Erotica

 I’m now two-thirds of the way through ’50 Shades of Grey’. This is the extra juicy part, according to my friend. And yes, it’s definitely juicy. I don’t need to tell you, you’ve heard the rumours, hype and snippets, but it’s definitely a saucy read. Not exactly a book I’d recommend to my Gran, but I am surprised at how much I am starting to enjoy it.

Yes, there’s still very little plot to speak of, and the characters haven’t got any more interesting, but maybe a little more erotic fiction in my life wouldn’t be a good thing! And hey, it is porn, essentially. Perhaps the author wasn’t after the Orange literary prize with this volume. How often is porn aimed at men criticised as being poorly written/directed/acted?

It’s easy to tell porn from erotic literature. Porn shows the eyes on the front cover. Literature doesn’t. This also makes it much more appropriate to read at your desk during lunch.

There have been glimmers of lightening grey hope since the book has progressed. I like the private joke which Christian and Anastasia share when using ‘laters baby’ as a good bye greeting. This is a good example of a phrase akin to private language and jokes between two lovers. I warmed to this sweet phrase which shows the lighter, more playful side of the darkly dreaming (and acting) Christian.

Also, the whispering continues. Even the waitress at the IHOP is at it!

Page 430 was a step too far though. Four words so you can decide to skip it if you so wish: Tampon. Her. Removes. Christian. That’s nasty.

I wonder how much experience EL James has in this department, and how much she learned while researching this novel. Or perhaps she’s just living out a few fantasies to get her through a particularly boring marriage?

I continue…

'Shading' image courtesy of Fountain Pen Network.

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50 Shades of Enjoyment

I’m finished. The most famous modern porno novel aimed at frustrated housewives is in my official Reading Record on Goodreads.

I’m finding myself defending 50 Shades more and more. Who amongst you hasn’t fantasised about being whisked away in a private jet by a millionaire at some point? And what’s wrong with a little ‘posh porn’? As Jolene Beauchamp suggests, it’s what women want nowadays.  It’s easy to tell porn from erotic literature. Porn shows the eyes on the front cover. Literature doesn’t. This also makes it much more appropriate to read at your desk during lunch, perfect for working women who want some office escapism.

Erotic fiction has slowly been working its way onto a large platform in the literary mainstream in the last few years and has become a much more commercially viable product for publishers. The secret to its revival? Kindles, I believe. Erotic fiction has always been a little clandestine and having no book cover on view to everyone you sit next to on the train is of massive benefit to those who enjoy a bit of naughtiness on the morning commute.

My friend was, it seems, quite correct. The more I suspended reality and left my writer hat in the other room, I had to finish this book, whether it was worth reading or not. Call this enjoyment, or commitment, I finished it. But who am I to judge? Sit back and enjoy, suspend reality and silence your inner critique. You might just find a new genre you enjoy. I just don’t think I’ll be first in line to watch the film.

Lou x

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I've been tagged in "The Next Big Thing" blog hop. 

"What does this mean?!" I hear you cry.

The idea of 'The Next Big Thing' blog hop is that I write a blog post answering the questions below and mentioning the person who tagged me, the brilliant Philp Bell. At the end of it I tag other writers I love in the chain and they take the baton.

So who's Philip Bell?

Philip Bell, from the Isle of Wight, tagged me this month in this blog hop. He's a dad of two, which puts him in a great position to works for an award winning, family run, indie publisher of kids' books, Beachy Books. Philip's into 'life and humour' and his writing certainly reflects this. Take a look at his 'Next Big Thing' blog too, while you're online and catching up on your blog reads!

I'm instructed by Philip (and the makers of the blog hop) to tell you all about my next book by answering these ten set questions. Here I go...

What is the working title of your next book?

I'm calling it 'Scrabble Pieces' at the moment. I considered 'Two Sisters' and just 'Two' (that one was scrapped pretty quick though), but as you can probably tell, titles aren't my strong point! No doubt the title of this book will change again before it's published, but I am feeling good about this title at the moment. The reason for the scrabble reference is that the two joint protagonists in my book have the same tattoo, the "R" Scrabble tile drawn on their wrists as a mark of sisterly bonding. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I remember exactly where I was when I had the initial idea for the book. I was ferry hopping between Greek islands - this one was Naxos to Santorini, I believe. My boyfriend (at the time) and I were nearing the end of a wonderful two week holiday full of beaches and sun, and inspiration just hit me. I spent the long and claustrophobic trip bouncing ideas off him and excitement grew for my next book. Those 90 minutes or so became one of my favourite holiday memories - even if it was spent on a rocking, smelling ferry. 

What genre does your book fall under?

This book is a story of a personal quest of two sisters - twins, in fact. It's a story of family, grief and personal discovery and development. 

The sisters, in their early 20's, have recently lost their parents in an accident, and they embark on two contrasting paths to deal with their unexpected and tragic loss. One of the girls, Rachel, stays home (UK) with her new boyfriend to look after the book shop they've inherited, welcoming the familiar and comforts of home. Her other half, Roni, takes a different attitude. She heads off on a round-the-world trip to escape the horror home reminds her of and deals with her grief in a very different way. The two stories dovetail in portraying grief, and the characters grow as their develops and subsides in two separate but entwined stories. I imagine 'Scrabble Pieces' would sit nicely in the 'contemporary fiction' genre.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Now you have me stumped. I struggle to remember celebrities' names at the best of times (with a few exceptions: Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman, mmm!)... Perhaps Emma Watson could work as Roni, but Rachel would need some further thought. 

But wait! They're twins! Emma Watson would have a double gig! Ummm.... I need a cup of tea! Whoever it was who played R & R, they'd have to be British - I cannot abide fake British accents.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

'Scrabble Pieces' follows the story of two sisters who take the opposite stance in dealing with a family bereavement - a story of grief, personal and world discovery, family, and abuse. (Ok, I cheated a little there, adding the hyphen!)

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

The best of us know that writing a novel is an epic undertaking, and that's only the beginning. Actually publishing a novel is a whole other ball game. I actually love self-publishing for the control it gives the author - I get final say on the cover artwork, I'm in on all the fun being a marketing whore has to give, and I have no middle man. All the decisions (and profits!) lie with me which give publishing a whole other angle and a steep learning curve. 

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I'm not done yet, but I'm nearing 20,000 words. I'm probably going to be hitting the 30,000 word mark by the end of it, I imagine, making it a novella. I don't think my book has the legs for a 100,000 word masterpiece... I'd hate for it to turn into a 60,000 word waffle-novel just for the sake of creating a doorstop. The worst thing I could do is to ruin the work I've done by stre-t-ch-ing it out over another 200%. Cut the crap, make it interesting, and keep the reader wanting more - that's what I'm aiming for. Oh, and I'd like to achieve a more successful proof-read before I publish this time - lesson learned there from my debut novel, online dating rom com 'Girl Meets Boys'! It wasn't horrendous, but I know my style and skill has come on leaps and bounds since then. This is a very different (and truly fictional) story compared to my memoirs of internet dating, so I hope it works out!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I'm not entirely sure... Library Thing suggests many books in grief and family contemporary fiction - take a look and see what you think. There are some beautifully worded titles there, if nothing else!

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I'd enjoyed reading 'Her Fearful Symmetry' by Audrey Niffenegger, and when I finished it I felt inspired to make Roni and Rachel twins instead of mere sisters. My short stories often have a twist and I wanted to transpose this to a bigger level in the form of a novel. I think it's working so far - only my future readers will be able to tell me that for certain.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

I shan't say too much here as it might spoil the read, but 'Scrabble Pieces' excites me. I have days when I don't think of much else, even if I'm not working on the manuscript. I'm trying hard to make the characters complex and intriguing, and the structure is something I hope will interest from the reader. There's action, mild horror, romance, and (hopefully) a couple of tear-jerking moments. I would love to be able to make my reader cry. A mark of a good book, I think!

Here are the authors I've tagged who promise to tell you about their Next Big Thing... 

- The coach surfing, poetic and journalistic genius of Steve Clarkson 
- Rebeccah Giltrow - Lowestoft's best!
- The King of Geekhood, Andy Robb 
- Three times best-selling and self-published author Adam Croft
- The awesome and inspiring Sarah Grace Logan - A (HUGE!) Slice of Imagination 

I look forward to hearing from you guys! Readers, take a look, these are some of my favourite writers on the TwitSphere, my personal life, and random blog findings. 

Thank you again for tagging me, Philip! 

Lou x

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