Learning to Love. Could you?

Learning to Love

The good Dr David Adams had been a bad boy. Could you learn to love him?

Learning to Love

Exploring the Fragility of Love, Life, and Relationships

 

Widower, Dr David Adams, has recently moved to the village – where no one knows him, ergo there’s no fuel for neighbourhood gossip – to start afresh with is ten year old son, if only he can get to a place where his son wants to speak to him. Angry and withdrawn, Jake blames his dad for the death of his mother, and David doesn’t know how to reach him.

Andrea Kelly has too many balls in the air. With three children and a “nuts” mother to care for, her fiancé can’t fathom why she wants to throw something else into the mix and change her career. Surely she already has too much on her plate? Because her plates are skew-whiff and her balls are dropping off all over the place, Andrea points out. She needs to make changes. Still her fiancé, who has a hidden agenda, is dead-set against it.

When Andrea’s house burns mysteriously to the ground and Andrea and her entourage are forced to move in with the enigmatic Dr Adams, however, the village drums soon start beating, fuel aplenty when it turns out someone does know him – the woman carrying his baby.

 

To celebrate the launch of Learning to Love in e-book, we are having a massive Promo Blitz on 21st and 22nd July! It will be a 2 day party with some FAB Giveaways. The theme of the party is: If you had to reinvent yourself what name would you use? Would you change occupations and have a whole new identity? Whose identity would you steal? Where would you relocate to and why? Feel free to post pics! We are looking for the most imaginative ones! So, get your thinking caps on!

FACEBOOK EVENT ~ THE place to be seen!

 

Tour Stops:

21st July 2013

DizzyC’s Little Book Blog - http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Brook Cottage Books – www.brookcottagebooks.blogspot.com

Patricia Sands - http://patriciasands.wordpress.com/

Mandy Baggot – www.mandybaggot.com

Shani Struthers - http://shanisite.wordpress.com/

Melanie Robertson-King - http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/

Angela Williams - http://chaoticbookcorner.blogspot.co.uk

22nd July 2013

Wendy Chartier - http://theauthorandreaderspotlight.blogspot.co.uk/

Zanna Mackenzie - http://www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk/

Donna Trinder - http://donnasroomforreading.blogspot.co.uk/

Julia Hughes - http://www.wordspi.com/

Carol E Wyer- http://facing50withhumour.com/

Brook Cottage Books – http://brookcottagebooks.blogspot.com

Silvy Silvana  - http://books-are-my-life-silvy.blogspot.com/

Joan Hill - www.romanticfiction.org

Heidi - https://cosmochicklitan.wordpress.com

Nikki Mahood - http://nikkimahood.wordpress.com/

Pauline Barclay - http://paulinembarclay.blogspot.co.uk/



 

 

 

Review ~ Little White Lies and Butterfies by Suzie Tullett!

Little White Lies and Butterflies by Suzie Tullett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Little White Lies and Butterflies Lydia Livinston is flouting the modern day ‘having it all’ norm. She’s going against the feminist grain and refusing to juggle career and family. She’s plumped for simply being a wife and mum – preferably to five children, cue gasps of horror. Ideally, she has to find Mr Right first. And Mr Right has to be just right, ticking all the boxes on Lydia’s list of criteria: handsome, romantic (into B&W films) and solvent enough to support five children to name but three. Fast approaching thirty, Lydia’s beginning to realise her family might be right. She is barmy. He doesn’t exist. Her search for the fairy-tale ‘happily ever after’, which in itself has been a career, has been fruitless. Lydia now has to change her change her game plan and thus sets off to take stock on the beautiful Greek island of Kalymnos, where she meets the Fatolitis family, who, though more effusive in their affections, peculiarly mirror her own.

Rather than admit to being sadly single when persistent Sam the climber appears on the scene, Lydia decides to reinvent herself. After all, what harm can it do? She’ll never see him again. Reinventing herself as a professional chef sampling the local cuisine when she can’t boil an egg was perhaps not the best of ideas, she realises, as annoying Sam the climber announces it to the whole restaurant. Said restaurant owned by the Fatolitis. Oh, and Sam does more to catch Lydia out in her little white lie, but to tell would be a huge spoiler. Suffice to say, it made me chuckle. I think I would have ditched the foliage and skidded out of there, too. One little white lie of course leads to another, and suddenly Lydia finds herself being blackmailed. I have to say, I liked Sam straightaway. When he and Lydia chatted in Paradise (no spoilers), I just wanted to pick him up and love him. Go, Sam! The plot thickens, Lydia’s little lies leading to a series of cringe-making events that have you wanting to slap your hands over your eyes. How is she going to keep her family, who’ve arrived dressed in their British best, out of the mix? How the hell is she going to cater for a Greek Wedding?

Little White Lies and Butterflies (love that title) is a fabulous romantic comedy, with just the right of romance and humour. The two families, characterised beautifully – colourful, embarrassing, “madder than mad” – are a perfect backdrop for the story. You just can’t help but love them. We all have one!

Suzie Tullett writes with a style that flows beautifully. She’s obviously done her research, too. Her description of the gorgeous Greek landscape and culture immediately transports the reader there. Personally, I was rooting for Sam throughout, but is he all he appears to be? Read the book and find out. It gets a feel-good-factor of FIVE from me.

 

Buy Links:

Safkhet Publishing

Amazon

Amazon.com

 

Suzie’s Links:

Suzie’s Website

Suzie’s Facebook Page

Suzie on Twitter

View all my reviews

Totally Awesome ~ Live Lit!

I was recently invited to read as part of the Droitwich Festival Literary Day ‘Live Lit’ event. So, how did it go? WOW! The collective talent, wonderfully ambient location (Park’s Café, where the food is superb: the menu offering dishes with a distinctive traditional feel, where possible using local suppliers and ingredients) and fabulous organisation meant the event went with a real buzz.

 

One of many events organised in conjunction with the Droitwich Arts Network (chaired by the ever-enthusiastic Peter Hawkins), the ‘Live Lit’ is one I would highly recommend. Whether you are a lover of poetry, fiction, music; a reader or a writer – or just in search of good food with a generous side helping of thoroughly enjoyable, inspiring entertainment, this is one for your diary.

 

The literary day featured an eclectic mix of performance poetry and poetry, short fiction and novel readings, complemented by music from festival artists.

Special thanks to Sarah Leavesley (Sarah James) for all her tremendously hard work in organising the ‘Live Lit’ event. The performers and readers were absolutely awesome. Obviously to list them all would take all day, so I’ve popped some pics below.

 

A special mention to Ian Bowkett, however, whose performance can only be summed up by ‘Wow!’.  If you do ever get a chance to hear Ian Bowkett perform live, go! His clever, entertaining poetry and his stunning ability to remember the most complex pieces will blow you away.  Amazing!

 

For info, Droitwich Arts Network (which supports all local arts and aims to engage the public) organises several events throughout the year:

Arts 4 All, encouraging people to “have a go” and join the various art related clubs.

Summer Festivals – combining water & music & art festivals.

Arts trails and painting/ photography displays.

Food and Drink Festivals.

Literary Festivals … and MUCH more.

 

Please do visit the Droitwich Updates Facebook page to keep up-to-date with events.

http://www.facebook.com/Droitwichupdates

If you’d like to find out more about Sarah Leavesley (Sarah James) and her work, go here: Sarah James

 

You can find Ian Bowkett’s Facebook Author page here: Ian Bowkett on FB

It's Never Too Late! Birmingham City Uni, my MA Degree & Me!

Did I mention I was a total disaster - as in if it can go wrong, Sheryl is usually at the heart of it? I’m the one who falls off public transport whilst on crutches and ends up back the hospital, remember? The person who disappears over the backs of boats and no one notices is missing, that’s me.

I was recently super-proud to be part of the School of English, Birmingham City University Creative Summer Show, where I was to read part of my short, The Memory Box, which has been included in the Birmingham City University Anthology, Paper and Ink (this year’s collection of new fiction, life writing, poetry and script). The anthology was edited by Rhoda Greaves, Zoe Southall and L.M. Thompson, who worked extremely hard and did an absolutely fantastic job. Bear in mind, I am to be in the company some fabulously talented, inspiring writers here, cue nervous nail-biting and manic mantra chanting, I will not fall in a dead faint at the podium. I will not trip over my feet, fall down the steps going to the podium, and bite off my tongue. I MUST not be late! I will not fall…

The show featured readings by students on the BCU creative writing programme, and was hosted by Ian Marchant (author of the memoir Something of the Night, the travel books The Longest Crawl and Parallel Lines, and the novels In Southern Waters and The Battle for Dole Acre), who managed to make me smile, even through my mantra chanting, with his witty introductions. Until he introduced me, that was. In my defence, the reason I was late was… Seriously, have you ever driven from Worcester to Birmingham in the rush hour, patted yourself on the back at having managed to negotiate your way there and found a parking spot, and then had minor palpitations when you realise it’s a PRIVATE car-park – on a one-way street. Oh, dear, I uttered demurely, set off to find another, and promptly got lost. Yep, that’s me, perpetually missing.  

So, Ian introduces me precisely one minute after I’ve tiptoed – late – across the floor in front of EVERYBODY and the palpitations escalate to imminent heart attack level. I will not trip over my feet...

I didn’t trip over my feet and, like a real trooper, completely ignored all my worldly good, including my sat nav – without which I would never be seen again, sliding down the back of my chair as I stood, and took my place at the podium. My mouth, by now, was parched. I hadn’t got enough spit to even swallow. I was shaking, from the inside out. Catching the wonderful Zoe’s eyes, however, and receiving a lovely smile of encouragement from Rhoda, and another from Sally Watson-Jones, I steeled myself… I will not fall in a dead faint at the podium …and, after a wobbly start, I got through it – and was marginally ecstatic that I had.

I should say that I have given talks before, I am published and it comes with the territory. This, however, was that little bit more worrying for me. Having waited – age not disclosed – many years to grasp the chance to undertake my MA, I really was nervous. Can I actually do it, has been the overriding worry. With one or two major life events recently conspiring to divert my attention, my worry multiplied threefold. However, I am now halfway through the course. I AM doing it and I think that’s largely down to the lovely supportive lecturers at BCU (staff in general) and the also lovely and supportive fellow students I’ve had the pleasure of studying with.

The guest speaker at the show was the novelist, playwright, and television writer Stephen May, author of Life! Death! Prizes! (shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2012), TAG, and Teach Yourself Creative Writing. Stephen injected just the right amount of realism regarding the life of an author into his talk, but also a healthy dollop of humour. So, once the nerves had been subdued by a large glass of medicinal wine, I relaxed, laughed and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

 

Ian Marchant and Stephen May

A huge thanks to everyone at Birmingham City University from accident-prone me.

Upcoming Events. Snoops is a Busy Bee!

I thought I’d share a few of my upcoming events. Hopefully keeping myself up-to-date, too!  I’m majorly involved in live appearances this month – and praying I don’t trip over my tongue.  Snoops is going to be a busy boy!

On Sat, 22 June, I’m at the Worcestershire Literary Festival 2103!

The festival features a showcase of writing talent from across the region in the beautiful hall of St Swithun’s Institute in the heart of Worcester. Entry is free! Up to twenty-five authors will be displaying their work and short performances will take place on the stage throughout the day. Refreshments available. 

http://www.events.worcslitfest.com/event/authors-fayre/

On Weds, 26 June, I’m at the School of English, Birmingham City University Creative Writing Summer Show! The School of English, Birmingham City University Summer Show launches this year’s collection of new fiction, life writing, poetry and script, Paper and Ink on Wednesday 26th June 2013 from 6.00pm to 8.30pm at the Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, Paradise Place, Fletchers Walk, Birmingham, B3 3HG. I will be reading from my short ‘The Memory Box’, which has been selected as part of the Birmingham City University Anthology, and which now features as part of my latest novel ‘Learning to Love’ which has accepted for publication by Safkhet Publishing. Coming soon!

Order tickets via Eventbrite:
http://creativewritingsummershow-efbevent.eventbrite.com/

On Sat, 29 June, I’m at Droitwich Festival Literary Day, ‘Live Lit’!

DROITWICH Arts Network presents a free literary day featuring an eclectic mix of performance poetry and poetry, short fiction and novel readings, complemented by music from festival artists. The Droitwich Spa 10th Anniversary Summer Festival and Worcestershire Literary Festival post-festival event also includes book signings and an open mic section for local writers and performers.

MUSIC – from 10am to 5pm in Salters Shopping Centre

LIVE LIT – at Park’s Café, Victoria Square, Droitwich

DAYTIME (10am to 4pm) – authors and performance poets will be giving a 15-minute taster of their work, followed by a book signing and/or chance for people to ask them questions.

4PM – 5PM STORYTIME – Children are invited to bring a story to share with Sarah James (aka Sarah Leavesley) and/or listen to Malcolm Wakeman and Ann Reed tell the Pirate and the Dinosaur story complete with hand puppets. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

EVENING (6pm – 9.30pm) – An evening of 10-15 minute tasters of author and performance poets’ work, including a chance to buy their books and have them signed. There will also be a sign-up on the night open mic section offering a number of 5- 10 minute slots. These spots are limited, so please arrive early if you wish to sign up for one. 

More info here: http://www.facebook.com/events/562879797079827/

Cover Reveal & Guest Post ~ Little White Lies and Butterflies by Suzie Tullet

Today, I’m delighted to be hosting fellow Safkhet Publishing Author, Suzie Tullett!

Suzie is here to show off her lovely cover and share a little about the inspiration behind her fabulous new Romantic Comedy, ‘Little White Lies and Butterflies’.

 

Suzie, I love the setting for your book! What attracted you to this particular location?

Choosing the Greek island of Kalymnos as the setting for Little White Lies and Butterflies was easy. After all, who doesn’t like a bit of sun, sea and sand in their holiday read? I know I do. More than that though, is the fact that I was lucky enough to live there at the time and having all things Greek at my fingertips was too good an opportunity to ignore. 

The mountainous landscape of the place is absolutely stunning and so dramatic it didn’t just remind me of a scene from Jason and the Argonauts, it provided a great backdrop against which the story could unfold – Lydia’s ups and downs rising and falling just like the mountains themselves. And because Kalymnos is a mecca amongst the world’s climbing fraternity, the landscape also inspired Lydia’s love interest, Sam – not that I have ever, personally, partaken in this activity. Like Lydia, I much prefer my feet to remain safely on terra firma!

          
Then there’s the Hellenic way of life, which in many ways is much more relaxed than ours in Northern Europe. So whilst we’re rushing around from A to B all the while trying to meet deadlines, the Kalymnians are enjoying a spot of café culture, spending three hours chatting over a single cup of coffee… I know, it’s hardly surprising the Greeks invented the frappe, is it?
   
However, socialising also tends to involve big family get togethers that include lots and lots of eating – food playing an important role in seemingly every Greek household. As, indeed, it does in the book, hence, my weight gain during the writing process… The things we have to do in the name of research!

Moreover, such families are made up of the most wonderful and engaging of characters. And whilst those in Little White Lies and Butterflies are completely fictitious, I have to say that as a writer, their colourful attitudes did give me loads to draw upon… and so the Fatolitis family was born.
                  
Even the culture and history of Kalymnos didn’t escape my attention, although to tell you how would be to spoil the book before you’ve even read it. Something I most certainly don’t want to do. And whilst I’ve sadly left the island in search of pastures new I just hope that by the time you reach ‘The End’ for yourselves, your experience of Kalymnos will have been as much fun as mine.

Sigh. I’m tempted to book my flight. And, as I have done a bit of mountain climbing (well, more mountain walking and falling over the odd rock), I’d definitely appreciate those views. This sounds like a holiday must-read for me. I am, in fact, reading it! Best of luck, Suzie.

Buy Links:

Safkhet Publishing

Amazon

Amazon.com

Suzie’s Links:

Suzie’s Website

Suzie’s Facebook Page

 

Suzie on Twitter

How To Party Online ~ FAB, FUN Marketing Tool!

How To Party Online by Janice Horton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I’m not sure it’s an actual lifesaver, but it would certainly have saved my sanity if I’d read ‘How To Party Online’ before I kicked off with my own first online book tour. Before I got hold of this little gem of a book (an absolute must-read-and-keep-handy if you are serious about getting your work out there in cyberspace), I did participate in some of the author’s online events and I can attest to the fact that the lady parties in style! Even the titles are innovative: Voodoo Wedding Party, for instance. You have to admit it makes you want to take a peek. The book itself is a fabulously practical, user friendly, ‘How To’ guide on partying successfully, i.e. promoting your books successfully. Janice Horton takes us by the hand and leads us step-by-step through each stage of planning a party, showing us it’s actually far less daunting than it might seem, and uber-importantly, how to engage your audience.

Janice’s humorous writing style, with various personal tips and illustrations along the way, makes this book hugely enjoyable to read and easy to follow. I can’t thank her enough for this concise, tremendously valuable marketing tool. Would I recommend it? Absolutely!

You’ve done all the hard work, you’ve written your book. Don’t you owe it to your baby to give it a good start in life and launch it in style? ‘How To Party Online’ will show you how.


View all my reviews