Pantsers, Psyche and garden paths.

I believe I started this blog in February around 6 years ago because ‘that’s what authors did.’ The intention was it would be a showcase for my books as they were published, and everyone would immediately rush out and buy them. It would make me rich and famous, and I could spend my life writing …

Trust

Something a little different this week. Although I wasn’t brought up with technology from an early age, I have learnt the importance of being cynical online. If it smells like a fish, and swims like a fish it’s a pretty good bet it is a fish. Of course, it could be a mermaid but that’s …

You should write a book

How many times have you heard that? After all, it’s easy, right? You put some words down on paper or laptop, find a publisher, or self-publish and sit back waiting for the royalties to roll in and make you rich. Easy, peasy. Er no, not quite. Anyone who has seriously tried to publish a book …

Safety online

I’m a great believer in privacy and although I’m happy to share personal information with people of my choice, it’s important there are rules and regulations in place to help prevent scamming. Unfortunately, it seems in so many instances lately common sense has gone out the window. A simple statement on a web site, Facebook …

Procrastination and Social Media

As an author it’s sometimes difficult to decide where to concentrate your marketing efforts. Facebook is probably the first choice, but then you need to get to know your readers so should your personal page include fans, or be restricted to actual physical friends and family? If you have a business page, should it constantly …

Juggling

I’ve been trying to handle so many different things lately, I feel I’ve joined the circus. First up was assisting an elderly friend with some government on-line form filling. Name, address, mobile telephone number all quite straightforward - or so I thought. To confirm identity a code was sent to the mobile number which then …

Social Media – Facebook

Wearing my Writing Guru hat, I thought it might be fun to look at the use of various forms of Social Media in the life of an author. Facebook, blog, web-site, Twitter, Instagram, author page, newsletters, give-aways, paid advertising – the list is endless, and no sooner have you conquered one than they change the …

Social media and ‘orse piddles

It suddenly struck me my Aspects series was complete, and I had nothing written for this week. Should I discuss the meaning of life? Rattle on trying to flog you my books? No, let's just have a whinge. 😀  It’s been a funny few weeks/months. It should have been an exciting time with the release …

The allotment Part 2

Continuing the short story started last week while I consider other options for revising the blog. Where does the time go?  The allotment. Part 2 Some readers were surprised last week at the turn the story took, expecting it to be a romantic love story.  Read on. 😀  I totally lost it. Grabbing Jason by …

The allotment Part 1 and blog changes

There was some really useful feedback last week, which I'll be taking into consideration when revising the blog format. Thanks to everyone who responded and messaged me. After a very busy week, here's the first part of the traditional short story for you to enjoy while I work out why and where the traditional set-up …