tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33513148555444558252024-03-05T07:31:17.319+00:00Caroline Storer - Romance Writer I'm P.A.R - Passionate About Romance. I read and write Romances. Historical through to Contemporary. I've recently got myself a publishing contract with HarperImpulse part of HarperCollins and I'm chuffed to bits! My books will be out in 2014 and they are Roman Historicals.Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-49417380617181196102014-05-16T19:12:00.006+00:002014-05-16T19:12:57.891+00:00Competition to win a copy of Steven King's book - "On Writing"...
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p>Hi I'm doing a Blog Tour - this week and next. For a chance to win, click on the Tour Host's below and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Steven King's - "On Writing". Caroline xx </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Tour Host</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">12</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://www.brookcottagebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-roman-by-caroline-storer-promo-post.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #24890d;">Brook Cottage Books</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">13</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://tracyriva.com/promo-tour-the-roman-by-caroline-storer/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #24890d;">Tracy Riva Books and Reviews</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">14</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://mrsbbooks2011.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-roman-caroline-storer-excerpt-and.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #24890d;">The Book Corner</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">15</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://www.everythingbooksandauthors.com/blog/giveaway-excerpt-the-roman-by-caroline-storer" target="_blank"><span style="color: #24890d;">Everything Books and Authors</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/welcome-romance-writer-caroline-storer.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #24890d;">Rachel Brimble Romance</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">16</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://thegirlmeetsbooks.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/excerpt-giveaway-the-roman-by-caroline-storer/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #24890d;">Girl meets Books</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">19</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://rhodabaxter.com/category/inheritance-books/"><span style="color: #24890d;">Inheritance Books with Rhoda Baxter</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://victoriaadams.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #24890d;">Victoria’s
Pages of Romance</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">20</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://jgrwriter.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #24890d;">jgrwriter</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">21</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://cometbabesbooks.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: #24890d;">Cometbabesbooks</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">22</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">nd</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://sylv-jenkins.com/"><span style="color: #24890d;">Sylv Jenkins</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">23</span><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://www.allthingsbookie.com/"><span style="color: #24890d;">allthingsbookie</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Giveaway</span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">2 x A4 notebooks<br />
1 x A5 notebook<br />
1 x A6 notebook<br />
A pack of pens<br />
A box of notelets and envelopes<br />
A copy of Stephen King’s “On Writing”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">For your
chance to enter to grab some of the swag in this tour giveaway, follow Caroline
on Twitter (@CarolineStorer6) and your <strong>answer in the comments on any
tour host post</strong> to this question:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="color: #767676; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Marsallas is a man who hides his warmth
under a cold and arrogant front. Which actor do you think would be suitable to
play him in The Roman movie?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tell us
what you think, and you’ll be entered into the draw. Winners will be chosen by
the author after the giveaway closes on 25th May 2014. Don’t forget to leave
your Twitter name in the comment too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-27895562452530164402014-04-25T18:51:00.001+00:002014-04-25T19:05:57.913+00:00Meet My Main Character...<strong>Meet My Main Character</strong> <br />
<br />
Thank you Judith Arnopp for tagging me in the Meet My Main Character Blog hop. You can read Judith’s (fabulous) blog post <a href="http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/meet-my-main-character-or-one-of-them.html" target="_blank">here </a><br />
<br />
Firstly, apologies for the delay in blogging up this post (I should have done it on the 19th of April) but my main PC has been misbehavin’, and I’m not tecci enough to blog this up on my mobile phone. Anyway, PC is now fixed so here goes…
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<br />
<strong>What is the name of my main character? Is he real or fictitious?</strong>
<br />
<br />
Aulus Epidius Marsallas is totally fictitious but I have drawn inspiration from real life heroes such as Spartacus. I’ve also been inspired by the many Roman films I’ve watched over the years, such as BenHur, Quo Vardis and Cleopatra. Being a writer is great as you get to watch, read, and ogle about great people all the time – all in the name of research of course! But if I have to think of one person/character who inspired me to write Marsallas’s story then it was Maximus Decimus Meridius – a.k.a Russell Crowe in The Gladiator. I’ve watched this film about 10 tens now and I’m still bowled over by his gorgeousness! He is the typical alpha male Roman hero IMHO.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>When and where is the story set?</strong>
<br />
<br />
The story is set in and around Rome in AD79. However, there are flashback scenes 6 years previously when the Hero and Heroine (Justina) first meet each other in their home town of Herculaneum. The date – AD79 – is, as you may recall, a pivotal date in Roman history, as later in the year Mount Vesuvius erupts, destroying all of Herculaneum and Pompeii. However, the majority of the story is set in Rome – Marsallas is a charioteer in the Circus Maximus and he also has a large farm (Villa Rustica) just outside Rome. This is where the heroine ends up (but I won’t spoil it too much!)
<br />
<br />
<strong>What should we know about him?</strong><br />
<br />
Marsallas left Herculaneum and fled to Rome as a young man because the only woman he’d ever loved betrayed him by becoming his uncle’s mistress. This has made him bitter, and he trusts no woman, refusing to let anyone ever hurt him again as Justina did six years ago. He’s dedicated to life in the Circus Maximus and excels at the sport, not caring if he lives or dies as he races around the arena. He’s made himself very rich by being the best in the Circus, and this has allowed him to buy up a large farm and become a very successful businessman.
<br />
<br />
<strong>What is his main conflict? What messes up his life?</strong>
<br />
<br />
His life is hard. Endless races, endless wins, has made him tough, not just on the outside but also on the inside. And he refuses to allow anyone (male or female) get close to him. He has few friends and acquaintances outside of the Circus Maximus, preferring to keep himself to himself. He has lovers – but only on his terms. Then Justina comes to see him at the Circus to ask him to return to Herculaneum as his uncle is dying. Marsallas has no interest in ever returning to Herculaneum, but when he sees Justina for the first time in six years all the emotions he’d long supressed come back to haunt him. He wants her like he’s never wanted another woman. And he means to get her…but only on his terms…
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<br />
<strong>What is Marsallas’s personal goal?</strong>
<br />
<br />
Before Justina comes back into his life, Marsallas’s goal was money – and the pursuit of it. He wanted to be richer than his uncle – the uncle that took Justina away from him by offering her more money than he’d had at the time to become his mistress – or so he believed...
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<br />
<strong>What is the book's title?</strong>
<br />
<br />
The title of my book is called – THE ROMAN
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz75QgV-w20XzO9VYPpSj2TLo3KD7NcWv4mPPTX139Df6DM4bZW-mQDo6v9gY8bRkolB3LnEk_rQWkUmEU06h8t1ixlC56_f0gc1VRL_1N_Tss4knztx1tciqWj6rBCG9sh3gZwk9PC-od/s1600/safe_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz75QgV-w20XzO9VYPpSj2TLo3KD7NcWv4mPPTX139Df6DM4bZW-mQDo6v9gY8bRkolB3LnEk_rQWkUmEU06h8t1ixlC56_f0gc1VRL_1N_Tss4knztx1tciqWj6rBCG9sh3gZwk9PC-od/s1600/safe_image.jpg" height="166" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<strong>When will the book be released?</strong>
<br />
<br />
The Roman was released in e-book format on the 20th of February 2014, but will be available as a paperback via Amazon on the 28th of May 2014. <br />
<br />
If anyone else would be interested in doing this Blog hop tour then follow the same format as above. If you could mention me in the beginning that would be lovely! Thanks – Caroline x
<br />
<br />
THE ROMAN - ROME AD 79 - The one woman he ever loved was the one woman who betrayed him. And now, the Roman will have his revenge… Marsallas and Justina were young, beautiful and desperately in love once, until a tragic betrayal tore them apart. Six years have passed since that day and Marsallas has since thrown himself into the deadly world of chariot racing, gaining fortune, fame, and a salacious reputation throughout Rome. His bed could be kept warm by a different woman each night if he chooses, but his heart remains iced over as the memory of Justina’s betrayal continues to haunts him. The last thing he expects is to see her again, but when she steps back into his life he sees a chance to avenge his broken heart. But beneath the hurt, an attraction so intense still burns between the two, and as their fates begin to intertwine once more, their determination to resist one another starts to falter…
<br />
On Amazon.com - <a href="http://ow.ly/tPGTX">http://ow.ly/tPGTX</a><br />
On Amazon.co.uk - <a href="http://ow.ly/tPHfJ">http://ow.ly/tPHfJ</a><br />
On Barnes and Noble - <a href="http://ow.ly/tPHvY">http://ow.ly/tPHvY</a> <br />
On Kobo - <a href="http://ow.ly/tPI1N">http://ow.ly/tPI1N</a> <br />
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-28857757400566188412014-04-14T07:33:00.001+00:002014-04-14T07:33:00.726+00:00Fiction Addiction Blog TourOne thing I've learned (if that's the right word to use) since I've been published (all of 2 months now!) is the sheer amount of promotion you have to do to get your book "out there"!
Currently, I blog up in over 100 FaceBook promo sites and Tweet.
I was recommended that I try Shaz Goodwin - Ficton Additcion Book Tours for a promo spot.
Highly recommeded! The link to my Clog Tour is <a href="http://fictionaddictionbooktours.com/2014/04/14/fiction-addiction-book-tours-the-roman-by-caroline-storer/comment-page-1/#comment-4580">here</a>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-14801832479102714032014-03-25T22:17:00.004+00:002014-03-25T22:17:47.305+00:00Harper Impulse - meet the author....ME!My publisher has put up a blog post about me - which is nice!<br />
<br />
Check it out here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/meet-caroline-storer/">http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/meet-caroline-storer/</a><br />
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-33190116669009461802014-03-13T19:19:00.002+00:002014-03-13T19:23:25.564+00:00Promo...promo...promo...<br />
Yup! That's what I've been doing since the 20th of February when my debut release "The Roman" launched itself into the big world of book publication.<br />
<br />
As a first time author it's something you just have to do. Unless you just happen to have a name that you can trade on (famous parents/married to royalty etc. etc.), or you are Celeb of sorts (A - Z lister and anything in-between) you have to promote yourself like no-one's business if you want your books to sell. <br />
<br />
Once friends and family have bought a copy, then any sales after that are down to hard work, frankly. I've spent hours and hours on tinternet (my spelling!) promoting my book. I've done quite a few blogs, and the latest is <a href="http://www.janelinfoot.co.uk/1/post/2014/03/pretty-feet-featuring-caroline-storer.html" target="_blank">here</a> if you would like to go and have a look. I'm talking, of all things, about my wedding shoes! <br />
<br />
However, if the above sounds like I'm whinging - believe me it's not meant to be! I've made lots of new "friends" on BookFace (my version again) and Twitter. I've had some lovely reviews as well (not many - but quality rather than quantity IMHO!) And in truth, it's been a blast. I've even managed to gain myself a couple of "fans"! Quite, quite lovely to be honest.<br />
<br />
So, I'm now well into the revisions of Book 2 and that should (I hope) be released later this year.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">THE ROMAN</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> - ROME AD 79 - The one woman he ever loved was the one woman who
betrayed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now, the Roman will
have his revenge…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Amazon
*****5 star review – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“A Perfect Voice for
Historical Fiction”</i> – Historical Romance Reviews – AND - Harlequin author,
Michelle Styles says –<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> “</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">A lovely debut
from a highly talented author. Her eye for historical detail helps to bring
this steamy emotional roller coaster of a story to life. A fantastic read for
when you want to escape into another time and place.”</span></i><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">On Amazon.com</span>
- </span><a href="http://ow.ly/tPGTX"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://ow.ly/tPGTX</span></a><u><span style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Amazon.co.uk - </span><a href="http://ow.ly/tPHfJ"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://ow.ly/tPHfJ</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Barnes and Noble - </span><a href="http://ow.ly/tPHvY"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://ow.ly/tPHvY</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Kobo - </span><a href="http://ow.ly/tPI1N"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://ow.ly/tPI1N</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztUBLoC6aunbuBNubDErpsw9egarXRONJBOE6XJ-ycjEplLhVEXH7cvu0IyLcjndWUWMTe2YqaGjKmPonHre7oztVzL31BM8VCZEBGKsjFpiJKO9eShJIJ6b_cF9LyPnDxbnLPT3MTJRz/s1600/Master+Roman+jpeg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztUBLoC6aunbuBNubDErpsw9egarXRONJBOE6XJ-ycjEplLhVEXH7cvu0IyLcjndWUWMTe2YqaGjKmPonHre7oztVzL31BM8VCZEBGKsjFpiJKO9eShJIJ6b_cF9LyPnDxbnLPT3MTJRz/s1600/Master+Roman+jpeg.JPG" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
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Speak soon - Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-62263374464549666902014-02-20T11:13:00.000+00:002014-02-20T11:13:23.330+00:00My book is OUT today! <o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just wanted to let you all know that my historical romance <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The Roman”</b> is out today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m beyond excited!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you would like to buy my book then the link is <a href="http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/books/the-roman" target="_blank">here</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/books/the-roman" target="_blank"> </a> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you – Caroline x <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The blurb</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Famous charioteer, Aulus Epidius Marsallas
wants revenge against Justina Philipus - the only woman he’s ever loved, but
who’d betrayed him by becoming his uncle’s mistress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forced to meet Marsallas for the first time
in six years, Justina is shocked at the changes she sees in him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone is the carefree youth she once loved,
now replaced by a hard muscular stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But there is no denying the attraction that still flows between them,
and when his uncle dies, Marsallas offers sculptress Justina a challenge – a
bronze stature of himself, and his four horse chariot, to be displayed at the
Circus Maximus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justina knows that this
commission is just what she needs to make a name for herself, and give her the
freedom she covets, so she accepts Marsallas’s challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Justina is unprepared when Marsallas
states one further condition – she must become his mistress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Justina has a secret, she’s still a
virgin, she just hasn’t told Marsallas yet…</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-22754321332978570232014-02-09T10:51:00.001+00:002014-02-09T10:51:38.754+00:00My Writing Process - Blog Tour
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Today (well it's actually tomorrow - but I'm away from my PC tomorrow so I'm posting early!) is
"My Writing Process" blog tour day, when writers answer questions
about their writing process. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week,
fellow author Judith Arnopp posted hers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can check it out <a href="http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">here </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Judith writes
fabulous historical romances set in medieval times, and also the Elizabethan
period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I once met Judith on a writing weekend in Fishguard a few years ago and she's a lovely lady. </span>Many thanks for the invitation,
Judith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So,
what is my writing process?<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
write around my working, and home, life (no surprises there!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for me I only work part-time now (3
days a week).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my job as an
Environmental Health Officer can be quite stressful, and I often find that once
I get home from work I’m emotionally drained to think about writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But saying that, since I’ve had a contract
and a two book deal with HarperImpulse I’m finding that not to be an excuse
anymore as a deadline tends to concentrate the mind somewhat, so I’m writing
more or less every day now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to do
most of my writing sitting in an easy chair in our bedroom with my feet on a
footstool and the laptop on a small laptop table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The DH watches TV whilst I type away to my
heart’s content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing I need
to get into “the zone” is a pair of earplugs to mute the sound of the TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What
am I working on?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
That’s an easy question to answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
second contracted book which is due in at the end of February!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But notwithstanding that, I have a Viking on
the go and a Regency that’s begging to be written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">How
does my work differ from others of its genre?<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hopefully,
because my “voice” is different from others!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But my love of history definitely influences my work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I have to reign myself in and not overload
my books with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too</i> much history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, I am writing a romance with a HEA!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Why do I write what I do?</b><br />
I write what I love to read in a nutshell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve read romances of all different genres for over 30 years now, and
particularly love the “Cinderella” type story with a tortured hero and heroine
who journey to their HEA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">How
does your writing process work?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
For many years now I’ve suffered from insomnia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To get to sleep I normally make up stories in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beginning of a love story between two
individuals set almost anywhere!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then by
the end of the first chapter I’ve normally fallen asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My hard drive is full of “Chapter 1”
ideas!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also get ideas from reading
voraciously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my debut book for
HarperImpulse – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Roman”,</i> the idea
came from reading a children’s book about Herculaneum that I found in the library
one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often find children’s history
books (lots of pictures) spark an idea much more readily than a weighty
historical tome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this particular book
there was a villa discovered at Herculaneum which had lots of bronze
statutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justina, my heroine in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Roman”</i> is a sculptress and she
lives and sculpts in a huge villa in Herculaneum!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when it comes to writing the whole book I’m
definitely a “pantster” though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea
starts and just flows from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
tried to plot out books, but to no avail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The characters just take over and demand to have “their” story written,
and not some script I’ve developed for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If you would like to buy my debut book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Roman”,</i> then it releases on the 20<sup>th</sup>
of February 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the blurb : </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The
Roman</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> – Famous charioteer, Aulus Epidius Marsallas wants revenge against
Justina Philipus - the only woman he’s ever loved, but who’d betrayed him by
becoming his uncle’s mistress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forced to
meet Marsallas for the first time in six years, Justina is shocked at the
changes she sees in him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone is the
carefree youth she once loved, now replaced by a hard muscular stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is no denying the attraction that
still flows between them, and when his uncle dies, Marsallas offers sculptress
Justina a challenge – a bronze stature of himself, and his four horse chariot,
to be displayed at the Circus Maximus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Justina knows that this commission is just what she needs to make a name
for herself, and give her the freedom she covets, so she accepts Marsallas’s
challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Justina is
unprepared when Marsallas states one further condition – she must become his
mistress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Justina has a secret,
she’s still a virgin, she just hasn’t told Marsallas yet…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> A</o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">mazon.co.uk link is <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-HarperImpulse-Historical-Romance-ebook/dp/B00HY5ZCR0/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390521739&sr=1-11&keywords=The+Roman" target="_blank">here </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Amazon.com link is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Roman-HarperImpulse-Historical-Romance-ebook/dp/B00HY5ZCR0/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391803626&sr=1-2&keywords=caroline+storer" target="_blank">here</a> </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Facebook is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/caroline.storer.50?ref=tn_tnmn" target="_blank">here</a> </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Twitter is <a href="https://twitter.com/CarolineStorer6" target="_blank">here</a> =<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Any author’s wanting to participate in this Blogtour
– then please post a Blog on your own Blog on the 17<sup>th</sup> of February 2014
using this format and mentioning me in the blurb at the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, if you can, link 3 other authors at the
end of your Blog who should then post their Blog’s the following week (i.e. 24<sup>th</sup>
February).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks – Caroline <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-26956912007001505872014-02-07T14:01:00.002+00:002014-02-07T14:01:43.902+00:00My new book is out soon! <br />
Hi everyone - this is my new book out. You can buy it <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-HarperImpulse-Historical-Romance-ebook/dp/B00HY5ZCR0/ref=sr_1_17/276-0068652-5258522?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391781423&sr=1-17&keywords=storer" target="_blank">here</a> <br />
<br />
This is my hunky Roman!<br />
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Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-50335921950564379692014-01-12T17:37:00.001+00:002014-01-12T17:37:37.133+00:00Happy belated New Year.......sorry it's late. Deep in revision cave. Got. To. Get. This. Book. Done. Normal service will be resumed in approximately 2 weeks. (((sigh))) p.s hope everyone is ok. Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-65854057255468715482013-12-15T09:38:00.002+00:002013-12-15T09:38:23.121+00:00Updated my blog pageI've recently updated my blog page. Not before time though. Some of the information was about 2 years out of date. I've also changed my strap line from "Romance Writer in Waiting" to what you see now. Can't really call myself "in waiting" anymore since my dreams of being published have finally come true. Santa came early for me this year! Hope everyone has a great Christmas and holiday season. Caroline xxxCarolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-38099192771990528902013-12-05T18:32:00.001+00:002013-12-05T18:32:12.988+00:00Woohoo - I've landed a 2 book publishing contract........after years of trying and <strike>procrastination</strike> trying again I've finally managed to sell one of my books. It's one of my Roman Historical's called <em>"Mistress To The Roman",</em> <br />
<br />
2012 and early 2013 was a year of virtually doing nothing writing wise unfortunately, (bereavement is a killer of the Muse IMHO). I finally shook myself down and sent out one of my MS's to Agents and Editors alike in August/September. Cue lots of waiting and rejections. But then in early October I got an email from the lovely Charlotte Ledger editor at Harper Impulse (the romance arm at HarperCollins) who said that she liked my book and wanted to ring me to chat about it.<br />
<br />
Three days of sleepless nights later I managed to hold a semi-coherent telephone conversation with Charlotte in which she offered me a 2 book deal! Charlotte remembered reading my sample chapter when I entered it in the Mills and Boon New Voices competition a few years ago and really liked it. (Charlotte was an editor there at the time). When she was telling me this I was gobsmacked that she <em>even </em>remembered it, and so flattered as well. Once the telephone conversation ended I put the phone down to lots of whooping and happy dances around the living room. <br />
<br />
Anyway, my book is going to be released in February 2014 to coincide with the release of a film that is due out then - Pompeii.<br />
<br />
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-74608047609524015332013-11-30T19:38:00.002+00:002013-11-30T19:38:37.799+00:00I did it....NaNoWriMo that is.......50,185 words to be precise. Quite how many of those words are any good is another matter entirely! But that's the beauty of NaNo - it's about getting words down and not what they look like. Editing comes later - much later.<br />
<br />
Hope everyone is ok in blogland. Is it me, or is it very quiet out there at the moment? I think Facebook and Twitter have taken over. <br />
<br />
Promise to post soon. And when I do, I hoping to reveal some good news. Words like "contract", "2 book" and "publishing" in the same sentence for example! Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-7889742299301355892013-10-17T20:44:00.001+00:002013-10-17T20:44:24.248+00:00Hello...is there anybody out there?Wow! It's been such a LONG time since I last posted. Huge apologies. No excuse...well apart from trying to edit my latest "Roman". It's been like wading through treacle with a fat suit on and tied to one of those giant elastic bands that ping you back when you get too far ahead of yourself.<br />
<br />
One day I'll realise that it was all worth it...but not right at this present moment in time...it's hell...<br />
<br />
As well as being in my editing cave I've also had a PC die on me and had to save up for a new one. The new one is way too tecci for my liking - so I had to pay for an hour's tutorial to more or less learn how to switch the bloomin' thing on. What's embarrassing, is that if I had asked my 13 year old niece for help, she would have rolled her eyes and said, "It's easy aunty Caroline." Give me back my old PC any-day," it did what it said on the tin" if you forgive the pun. <br />
<br />
Anyhoo...back to the editing. Promise I'll post soon...promise...Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-3690724178215589832013-07-01T19:37:00.000+00:002013-07-01T19:37:16.600+00:00The book has left the building....After months of <strike>procrastination</strike> editing, I've finally finished editing my "Roman" historical romance and sent it back to an editor at <strong>Entangled</strong> who requested it ages ago.<br />
<br />
It's been a labour of <strike>hate</strike> love I must say. I'm not an author who likes editing that's a definate.<br />
<br />
Apologies, too, for the length of time it's been since I last blogged, but something has to give! (<em>Not CandyCush Saga though, Caroline. Why is that I wonder?)</em><br />
<br />
To say it's a weight off my shoulders is an understatement, and when I pressed "SEND" to the poor editor who has (the joy of) reading it, I felt totally drained but also anxious too. What if she <em>hates</em> it and it wings it way back post haste? What if she thinks its <em>ok</em> but then asks for a shed load of revisions? What if she <em>loves</em> it and offers me a 2 book deal? All sorts of scenarios kept buzzing through my poor addled mind - que more procrastination!<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, back to reality. I thought I would blog briefly about what have I learned about this writing lark?<br />
<br />
1. It's a <em>lot</em> harder to edit a 63k book than a 3k short story! Many a day has been spent re-reading what was typed in Chaper 1 as I've forgotten a plot point or twist as I've got further into the story. (Note to self - use the post-it-note method a bit more to keep tabs on it). <br />
<br />
2. If you edit too much it starts to lose some of the originality and you also start to lose that elusive "voice". Many a time I was tempted to edit, and edit some more, but had to restrain myself. Sometimes less is more I think.<br />
<br />
3. When writing a romance you really need to keep track of the CHARACTERS and not the PLOT. A romance <em>has </em>to be character driven and <em>not</em> plot driven. Easier said than done to be honest. <br />
<br />
4. With a romance you <em>really</em> need to get inside your characters heads <em>before</em> you start writing a book. A mistake I made first time round and hence the length of time it's taken me to get this MS out there. <br />
<br />
5. A romance (and any other work if fiction IMHO) needs the make sure of the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>You need to create sympathetic characters a reader will root for.</li>
<li>To have enough reasons/conflict/drama to ensure that a reader will support that character through to the end.</li>
<li>You need to create obstacles to make it look like a character can't obtain what they want.</li>
<li>You need to introduce the main conflict early on - ideally in the first 5 pages. Avoid information dumping (easily done in historicals), too much backstory and long flowing descriptions of scenery etc. </li>
<li>And finally - a killer first line if you can.</li>
</ul>
Well there you go. My take on novel writing. Have I followed my own advice? Umm I hope so!<br />
Take care until next time. Caroline p.s I promise to blog more often. CandyCrush Saga will have to wait. (<em>Yeah, right, Caroline!)</em><br />
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-15063054109519421022013-05-04T18:11:00.000+00:002013-05-04T18:11:41.499+00:00I'm on a roll! Another short story published..........this time in June's edition of PRIMA magazine. Didn't even know it was in, until the fabulous Teresa Ashby told me! I win a Kobo e-reader which is nice! <br />
<br />
This is the 2nd success of 2013. I've still got a few short stories out there, but have had a few "R's" too.<br />
<br />
On the book front - the "Roman Romance" - I've still not finished editing the bloomin' thing. It's like wading through mud/treacle/cement all at the same time. But...I've given myself until the end of May <strike>2014</strike> 2013 to finish the bloody thing! I am <em>definitely</em> not one of those authors who "<em>likes</em>" editing and finds it "<em>cleansing and cathartic</em> "! Hey ho.<br />
<br />
Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-3503480544576363692013-03-28T19:58:00.002+00:002013-03-28T19:58:52.738+00:00My short story is in Writers' Forum........yay! Pleased as punch to be honest. It's only the second short story that I've ever sold! So I'm feeling quite chuffed really. <br />
<br />
Hope everyone is ok in blog land - I'm very much a random blogger of late. It depends on whether Blogger is behaving itself and lets me post something these days!<br />
<br />
News wise - I've recently come back from Madeira where I celebrated my 50th birthday. Had a fab time - DH spoiled me rotten to be honest! But I'm not complaining. I now need to get back to the writing and finish off one of my "Romans" and send it "out there"!<br />
<br />
Hope everything is OK with all of you. Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-47615580338572997832013-03-01T09:15:00.000+00:002013-03-01T09:15:04.506+00:00Halleluja! At last........I seem to be able to post a BLOG! I've done something to my settings, and touch wood, it seems to be working at long last! I just wish I was more technologically proficient to know what I'm doing! Hope everyone is OK in Blogland. I've been quite good recently on the writing front. Here's a resume.<br />
<br />
1. My short story (2nd prize) should be in the next edition of Writers' Formum (April), so I'm looking forward to seeing my name in print.<br />
<br />
2. I had some good feedback from an editor at Entangled Publishing about my Roman Historical. She said she liked my main characters, in that they "were well rounded and sympathetic" but that it (the story) needed to be longer. I had sent her a 40k story whittled down from an 85k original (!) So I'm in the final stages of bringing it back up to around 60k to fit their guidelines, which I will then resubmit to her. Note to self - see you CAN edit when you want too!<br />
<br />
3. I've nearly finished another "Roman"l and I've also started a "Viking" as well! I've got all these ideas in my head for stories that they fight amongst themselves all the time for which one will get written first! <br />
<br />
4. I've also sent off a few short stories to the Womags - but I've heard nothing yet. I think the poor editors are overwhelmed by short stories at the moment, as the market has shrunk as there a fewer and fewer magazines printing short stories these days. Which is, of course, a real shame.<br />
<br />
Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-16985623899826079092013-02-07T14:57:00.001+00:002013-02-07T14:57:12.017+00:00Some writing success at last.........I've won second prize in Writers' Forum Short Story
competition. Happy days! It's for a short story I wrote AGES ages ago
- Alegra's Fairy Tale Wedding. I subbed it to all the Womags (except
Peoples Friend - it certainly isn't a PF story!) and got no-where. You
read about "moving on" in the writing world - i.e. forget the
rejections and write something else. But....sometimes you just love a
story and believe in it.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is what I
felt/feel about AFTW, so I didn't give up and subbed it just before
Christmas to Writers' Forum. Then in January a lovely email from Sue
Moorcroft saying it had been shortlisted; and then last week another
email from Sue saying it has come second (£150.00 prize as well!)<br />
<br />
<br />
The story will be in March's (26th) publication so I'm looking forward to seeing my name in print (at last). Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-52975391133471943162013-01-09T19:01:00.003+00:002013-02-07T14:51:07.892+00:00Some writing sucess at last..........I've won second prize in Writers' Forum Short Story competition. Happy days! It's for a short story I wrote AGES ages ago - Alegra's Fairy Tale Wedding. I subbed it to all the Womags (except Peoples Friend - it certainly isn't a PF story!) and got no-where. You read about "moving on" in the writing world - i.e. forget the rejections and write something else. But....sometimes you just love a story and believe in it.<br />
<br /> <br />
This is what I felt/feel about AFTW, so I didn't give up and subbed it just before Christmas to Writers' Forum. Then in January a lovely email from Sue Moorcroft saying it had been shortlisted; and then last week another email from Sue saying it has come second (£150.00 prize as well!) <br />
<br /> <br />
The story will be in March's (26th) publication so I'm looking forward to seeing my name in print (at last). Caroline x Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-51007639516995293152013-01-09T18:56:00.002+00:002013-01-09T19:05:43.622+00:00Hello! Or maybe not.......why? Well for some reason as I type this email it JUST might get published. Since my last blog-post in July I've been unable to post ANYTHING! But now, without not quite knowing how (!) I've managed to type something into a "new post". Fingers crossed, when I press "save" it will and you will be able to see what I have written.<br />
<br />
Sooo...what's been happening with you Caroline, I hear you ask? Wellll.....I'm still waiting to hear whether I've been successful with my Editor Pitch (despite a couple of prompt emails). The editor still has it and will get back to me hopefully in a few weeks.<br />
<br />
Best go - I just lost what I've just typed and managed to find it again! Fingers xrossed I get to post this! Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-49622411140925237172012-07-23T19:11:00.000+00:002012-07-23T19:11:55.179+00:00I've won an Editor Pitch!Firstly, MASSIVE apologies for being AWOL for the past " (yikes!) 2 months on the blogwriting front. <br />
<br />
It's because I've been trying to write more, and blog less. And as you can see from the title it has (sort of) paid off. I entered an on-line Pitch Competition last week for Entangled Publishing, and I'm happy to say that my pitch has been picked as one of the "winners".<br />
<br />
I've now been allocated an Editor and all I need to do now is send the completed MS off to her. YIKES! Que (((((panic))). So, it goes without saying that the rest of this week (and may be next week) I will be re-writing and editing to "polish it" up as best I can.<br />
<br />
Wish me luck folks! Caroline xx<br />
<br />
<br />Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-68103957174020616502012-04-22T12:34:00.000+00:002012-04-22T12:34:07.205+00:00Hello - and a plug for Linda Lewis's great book!Just popping in to say "hello" as I've been a bad blogger recently.
But, in my defence, this is because I've been having real trouble with
Blogger recently. (Is it only me? I ask!) Some blogs I can comment
on, some I can't - which is really frustrating. And to cap it off,
yesterday I lost this blogsite. But I managed to get it back by typing
in my phone number, whereupon I get a phone call with a verification
code. I presume this is standard practice - but I hate giving out my
phone number!<br />
<br />
Now don't die of shock but I've actually started writing. I've had a
writing hiatus for the past year or so! But the other day, I wrote a
short story in a couple of hours. Hallelujah chorus everyone - the
words flowed, and I wrote the whole thing in one go! And the reason
for this complete change? A remarkable book I downloaded onto my Kindle
called "The Writer's Treasury Of Ideas" by Linda Lewis who has a blog
called "Short Story Writer".<br />
<br />
Frustratingly for me, Linda's blog is one of the blog sites that I
can't leave comments on at the moment -to thank her - grrr - so if any
of you kind hearted people could pop by and tell her that I am
eternally thankful for all her great advice - then that would be
great. Linda has also gone through the mill recently (if you read her
blog you'll see), so my thoughts are with her at the moment. <br />
<br />
And, of course, it goes without saying, that if any of YOU are having
problems with your creativity then Linda's book is DEFINITELY for you!
Go buy it - TODAY! Caroline xCarolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-42959109212802043822012-04-22T12:26:00.000+00:002012-04-22T12:31:19.780+00:00Hello and a plug for Linda Lewis's book!Just popping in to say "hello" as I've been a bad blogger recently. But, in my defence, this is because I've been having real trouble with Blogger recently. (Is it only me? I ask!) Some blogs I can comment on, some I can't - which is really frustrating. And to cap it off, yesterday I lost this blogsite. But I managed to get it back by typing in my phone number, whereupon I get a phone call with a verification code. I presume this is standard practice - but I hate giving out my phone number!<br />
<br />
Now don't die of shock but I've actually started writing. I've had a writing hiatus for the past year or so! But the other day, I wrote a short story in a couple of hours. Halleluja chorus everyone - the words flowed, and I wrote the whole thing in one go! And the reason for this complete change? A remarkable book I downloaded onto my Kindle called "The Writer's Treasury Of Ideas" by Linda Lewis who has a blog called "Short Story Writer".<br />
<br />
Frustratingly for me, Linda's blog is one of the blog sites that I can't leave comments on at the moment -to thank her - grrr - so if any of you kind hearted people could pop by and tell her that I am eternally thankful for all her great advice - then that would be great. Linda has also gone through the mill recently (if you read her blog you'll see), so my thoughts are with her at the moment. <br />
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And, of course, it goes without saying, that if any of YOU are having problems with your creativity then Linda's book is DEFINITELY for you! Go buy it - TODAY! Caroline xCarolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-81923214601005137612012-03-10T17:47:00.003+00:002012-03-10T18:02:15.476+00:00Sad Today....Part 3!....It's been a bit of a traumatic 6 months I have to say. First it was the death of my lovely MIL last August, and then in December my gran who was 93. <br /><br />Then, if that's not enough, this week we've lost our lovely dog Molly. She had mouth cancer and the vet said it was for the best. But still, it's a massive loss. We were both devoted to her. She ruled the roost there's no doubt about it, wrapping both myself and the DH and my other dog Bob around her paws like no-ones business! But she was my fur baby. I've never had children, and I'm the first to admit that I treat my dogs like children. Some people don't understand how an animal, be it cat or dog or whatever, can take the place of a child. But then others can. <br /><br />Anyway - to say I've shed a bucketload of tears these past 3 days is an understatement. My only consolation is that we had her for 7 fabulous years. She came to us aged around 6 from the dogs home, having been abandoned and then picked up by the dog warden (who I know through work). She was in a very poor state when we got her. Skin and bone. But we fed her up, took her for long walks around our lovely island here on Anglesey, and she soon forgot all about her poor start in life. She especially enjoyed our outings in our old motorhome. <br /><br />Anyhow - choking up now. So RIP Molly - we loved you so much.Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351314855544455825.post-23790316871119527802012-02-24T09:23:00.003+00:002012-02-24T09:56:07.994+00:00Hello? Is there anybody out there....?....I'm only asking as it's been an AGE since I last posted. Mucho apologies - that old saying "I don't know where the time goes" springs to mind. <br /><br />Again, all I can say is sorry. Life seems to just keep getting in the way at the moment. Presently its work related. As an EHO specialising in housing issues (think landlords/tenants) my "busy" time of the year is winter. I get a lot of complaints about housing conditions - especially damp and mould. So I get to inspect a lot of damp dingy houses (nice - not) and then have to do something about it, either by writing to the landlord asking them to do/fix something (and if they don't pointing out our enforcement powers). But sometimes the condition of a house is not because a landlord won't do something. It's a delicate thing trying to explain to a tenant that the house they are living in -that is seriously affected by black mould and thier children are suffering from chest infections- is actually being caused by thier own actions. This is something that happens a lot - and has definately been affected by the current economic climate. People have to decide whether they heat thier homes or put food on the table. I've had scenarios where people have ripped off wooden doors for wood to put on a fire as they can't afford to run a heating system. <br /><br />I often find that some of the work that I do definately finds its way into my writing life - especially my short stories. Pretty much anyone who writes will tell you that your creative process is very much driven by what you've experienced, or are experiencing, in real life. For example I wrote a short story recently about an eccentric old man who had eliniated his neighbours. This was definately drawn from "real" life. Again in the day job I deal with "F&V's" - Filthy and Verminous. We ofen have to get into a property and clean it up - and sometimes the person as well! It can be upsetting, but at the same time rewarding. 9 times out of 10 the person who you are trying to help is (initially) very hostile to what they see as interference. But once we've cleaned them up so to speak, arranged for help via social services etc. they often thank us for helping them. It's very often a cry for help - things have gotten so bad - that they just can't cope anymore. <br /><br />Anyhoo - enough wittering - I've got work to do! Speak soon - Caroline xCarolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.com12