Writer Archives - Page 2 of 2

Moaning feet…

Before I bore you with my moaning feet, may I firstly wish you all a very Happy New Year! Yes, it’s 2015 already, and I’d only just got used to 2014. Rude.

My moaning feet… well, it’s all because I took them out dancing on New Years Eve. To a party. i thought they deserved a treat as I don’t think they danced once during the year other than in a ‘Just Dance’ dance-off with our mini-me daughter (who, may I add, I beat all the time despite being an old bird compared to a young whipper-snapper). I haven’t taken them to any parties, dance classes, nights out… So, I dressed them in a smart pair of shoes, with heels no less, and tights without ladders. And, we danced, me and my feet, to all sorts of tunes. There were modern ones (because I’m trendy and fashionable and down with the kids…), and old ones, and in between ones like ‘I’m in the Mood for Dancing’ – Nolan Sisters rock. And, my feet danced, and danced, and danced. And, they didn’t complain once during the night. But, yesterday and today, they are not happy. In fact, they’re miserable and i don’t think I’ll take them dancing again, unless they change their attitude and stop being miserable. I’m going to dress them in flat shoes and boots, and socks with holes in the toes.

What did you all do for New Year? We decided to go somewhere glamorous, warm, fashionable, cosmopolitan… Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth. And it was fab.

So today I’m writing, writing, writing. Second book needs to be written quickly as I’ve a deadline, and so I’ve started it and, so far, quite like it. Still so grateful that ‘Friendship, Love and Apple Tea’ has continued to sell over the festive period. Thank you!!!! Well, it is set in Turkey after all, which goes with Christmas.

I’m off now to comfort my feet… enjoy the first weekend of the year everyone. And may 2015 be full of everything you dream of.

Penny

Never have a tango with an Eskimo…

I’ve no idea if the title is correct but this is a song I heard yesterday on a Xmas CD when out in the car with our daughter, and I can’t get it out of my head… I mean to say, what does it have to do with Christmas other than Eskimos being in the snow and cold? And why wouldn’t I want to tango with one? If an Eskimo ever asks me to, I will most definitely tango with him/her and shall be proud of it. In fact I may go and start a flashmob dance with loads of Eskimos and non-Eskimos. Let me know if you’re in…

Pressies are wrapped (eventually). Actually they were not all bought until yesterday lunchtime. We had a Xmas dinner last night as we’re out on Xmas Day to family. We had a duck for a change. It provided enough meat to feed one of us, must have been the skinniest duck ever, a healthy one, probably went jogging. But it was very nice indeed.

So we’re tracking Santa via Norad and will be visiting the pantomime after a festive meal. Well, tapas. But any meal can be festive when its accompanied by a large glass of wine. Then we’ll sprinkle the reindeer food on the front lawn (haven’t bought any this year so will making some with my porridge and glitter, I hope no reindeers actually eat it) and will be off to bed, ready to be woken at 6am. Now our daughter is 13 we’ve put a curfew on her where she’s not allowed out of her bed on Xmas morning until 6am. Actually, am wondering if I can move it on another hour till 7am… might give it a try.

Thank you, dear readers, for giving me the best year ever with all your support for the launch of my first book. It’s been fab. Working on the second one, struggling a little as the character is very serious and it’s not something that comes naturally to me… so it will involve lots of research and the study of serious people who don’t smile very much.

Merry Christmas, and have a good one. And, if you’ve bought duck for the Xmas Day meal tomorrow, make sure you’ve a lasagne or something in the freezer as a back up, and make lots of potatoes to go with it.

It’s nearly Christmas…

I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas…and, am I organised? Absolutely not. Never have been. I plan to be each year, but it just doesn’t happen. Why? Probably because I’m too busy dressing the dog in Santa outfits… I’ve been to a fabulous Christmas party and met some lovely people, I’ve been to a school play. I just haven’t prepared for Christmas. Oh well, it’s weeks away yet (yes, I know it’s almost here, but it makes me feel better pretending).

Anyway, here’s a nice Christmassy event to look forward to – Arts Gateway MK are holding their Christmas Networking Mingle on Wednesday night, 17th December, from 6:30pm. And, I’m very lucky to have a stall there, with my ‘Friendship, Love and Apple Tea’ book for sale. AND (yes, this gets even more exciting!!!) a lovely, local actress, called Zara Ronghi, is reading from my book! This calls for an over-indulgance of exclamation marks!!!!!! So, it would be lovely to see you there. Go to the Arts Gateway MK Events page to find out more information and to register.

If I don’t see you there, I hope that the next time you hear from me I’ll have bought presents, sorted the festive food and will be ready and willing to embrace the season of goodwill. And, there’ll be no more dressing dogs in Christmas outfits…ok, maybe a little.

Penny

Paperback Book Launch 25th October 2014!

The Autumn weather is here, and the summer seems a distant memory… so why not get into a summery mood by coming along to a Turkish themed book launch! Yes, the date is set – 25th October 2014 and will be held at the Grill Med, Milton Keynes from 7pm. Join us for a complimentary apple tea and borek, and take the opportunity to purchase the paperback for £5.99. And, why not make the most of the beautiful food on offer and stay for the Buffet offered by Ali and his family for £12.99 per person. If you haven’t been to the restaurant before, give it a try. It’s one of our favourites.

Click here to find the Grill Med’s address and Google Map.

See you on the 25th Oct! yay!

Free iBooks copy of my latest book in return for a professional review

I’ve received 11 lovely reviews so far on Amazon after people read ‘Friendship, Love and Apple Tea’ through the Kindle Store. Thank you to all those that have taken the time and energy to do this, it is greatly appreciated.

I’m very keen to have some independent reviews too, maybe by professional bloggers or media, and I’m able to offer a free copy through iBooks to anyone that would be prepared to be involved. Please get in touch if you’re interested, or share this through your network of contacts.

Busy, busy, busy with the book, completing some edits ready for the paperback release. Eeek! There’s going to be a book launch at a Turkish restaurant in Milton Keynes. Let me know if you’re interested… I’m hoping it will be in October. And, I’m busy plotting the storyline of my next book. At the ideas stage presently, and all I know is that the main character is not very nice at all…!

Have a brill weekend

My Writing Week…

Well, what a week. Actually, make that ‘what a fortnight’…

Can’t quite believe it’s only 2 weeks since my book went live. it’s gone really well, and I’ve had some brilliant reviews. Take a look at the Amazon review list. If you have read my book, please do leave a review on Amazon. Feedback is very much appreciated, no matter what, and do recommend to others if you think they would like to read it.

The book is now also available through Kobo and Nook (Barnes & Noble US and UK). And, is about to go live within the next few hours through iBooks! I’ll post the link when I have it.

The paperback version is on its way… it will be available on Amazon very soon and I’ll post the link. However, paperbacks will also be available through my website, and from me directly, which may prove to be more cost-effective for those that wish to buy.

And, there will be a local book launch, date and venue to be arranged but it’s looking likely it will involve a Turkish meal at a lovely local restaurant. Get in touch if interested in coming along, I’d love to see you there!

Lots to do in the next few weeks – I’m arranging a few local book launches at independent bookstores, some guest speaking (eek!) and am in the initial stages of planning a new book. And, it feels blooming brilliant!!!

Have a great weekend

Penny

Welcome, and thank you for joining me in my first blog…

Hey, thanks for reading my first blog. The first blog I’ve written as a ‘pending’ author no less… The news is, I’m about to publish my first novel. Yay for me!!! An actual novel! A real, live, writerly one with words in and all sorts.

Now, I’d like to say it’s only taken me a few months but, the truth is, it’s far longer than that. I’ve been wanting to write a novel since I was at school – yes, just a few years ago (ahem…) And, I’ve talked about being a writer for years but have complained continuously that I don’t have the time/there’s too many demands on me/it’s impossible to be a writer when you work full time and have a family, etc etc … all of that stuff. And, each New Year, I’ve been depressed that I haven’t met my annual goal of being published in some way when, in actual fact, I haven’t even written anything that could have been published.

A while ago, whilst wallowing in my ‘I’m never going to be a writer’ mood, I asked an author ( a lovely one, who will appear on my links page when my website is up and running) for some sort of miracle potion which would help me write when I’m so, so busy… and she basically said ‘get off your butt and write, and stop moaning about it, as your book is not going to write itself’… I’ll always be grateful to her for the straight talking, she was absolutely right.

I found my own method of getting the words onto the page, something quite new that I hadn’t tried before, but that worked really well. And, to cut a long story short, it’s almost ready to be born. Yes, I’m in the final stages of labour… The book is written, edited, edited again (in fact, edited 10 times but possibly still contains typos and things I’d re-write again and again), and is about to published as an ebook through Kindle.

It’s a weird feeling. I’m not the most confident of people, not when it comes to my ability in doing anything at all, but I’ve had the most brilliant support and encouragement from so many people. And now, the last piece of the jigsaw is almost there. The book cover is being created by a wonderful illustrator who is also my best friend of over 40 years, and it’s very exciting. Once it’s ready, I’ll be publishing it. But, before then, I need to get my website up and running and prepare myself for the launch, something I’ve dreamt of for so many years.

The book is written in my maiden name, and the website will therefore be the same – www.pennycanvin.com – I’ll let you know when it’s up and running. And the title is just about decided on, which I’ll put in a separate blog.

So, thank you to all that are reading this – you’re with me right at the start of this journey and it’s nice to know I’m not alone. I’ll be posting when the website is launched, and also when the book becomes available on Kindle.

Have a great weekend everyone, wherever you are!