It’s been a couple of months since I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia now.
Being diagnosed offered me some comfort in knowing that I wasn’t a complete hypochondriac.
It also gives me something to write angry poetry about…
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Introducing the Productivity for Writers Paperback
Ever since Productivity for Writers was published, I’ve toyed with whether or not to create a print version.
Initially I chose not to because doing so is time-consuming and reaps little rewards.
However, after I downloaded Scrivener 3, I felt Productivity for Writers would be the perfect opportunity for me to practise with its new formatting options.
And it was.
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28 Things I’ve Learnt in 28 Years
Today is my 28th birthday. I can’t quite believe I’ve made it this far, nor can I believe how much I’ve changed in the last three years, let alone the last 28.
Naturally, of course, my birthday has made me go all pensive. So here’s 28 things I’ve learnt in my 28 years…
Warrior
Happy International Women’s Day!
Since it’s International Women’s Day, I thought I’d share an inspiring poem.
It’s one that I’ve read at a few events lately and that has been received really well.
It’s called Warrior.
What Happens in New York: Meet Hollie Baxter
It’s time for me to introduce to you the final character from What Happens in New York, Hollie Baxter.
The scene below is the first chapter. If you like what you read, you can also check out scenes featuring Fayth Campbell, Astin Mack, Liam York and Trinity Gold, and Tate Gardener. You can also purchase your copy from all good ebook retailers now (and in print from Amazon), to find out what happens next!
Happy reading!
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What Happens in New York: Meet Liam York and Trinity Gold
In the latest scene from What Happens in New York, it’s time to meet Hollywood golden couple Liam York and Trinity Gold. They look like the perfect couple, but are they as perfect in real life as they appear to be on camera?
Don’t forget you can check out scenes featuring Astin Mack, Tate Gardener, and Fayth Campbell too!
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What Happens in New York: Meet Fayth Campbell
A while ago now, I asked on my Facebook page which characters you’d like to meet first. Astin Mack came first, followed by Tate Gardener, and deuteragonist Fayth Campbell came third.
In this scene, Fayth is working in the family pub when her ex-husband Patrick appears. She desperately tries to avoid him, but it doesn’t quite go according to plan…
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What Happens in New York: Meet Tate Gardener
A few weeks ago now I asked which character from What Happens in New York you’d like to meet first. It was a tie between Astin Mack — model-turned-stunt-performer — and Tate Gardener, singer/actor/entrepreneur/model. I went with Astin first, because his scene is earlier in the novel and I have a soft spot for him. This second scene is all about Tate!
Tate is only a minor character in this book, but she’s one of my favourites to write, and also the glue that holds a lot of the characters together. Whilst she’s only got a handful of scenes in What Happens in New York, she’ll have a bigger part to play in book two, and also has her own spin-off novel.
This isn’t the first time we meet her, but in her first scene she doesn’t speak! I figured it’s better to introduce her to you all in a scene where she says/does a little more!
In this scene, Hollie’s in the toilets reapplying her make-up when Tate and her friend burst in…
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What Happens in New York: Meet Astin Mack
When I asked on Facebook which character people wanted to meet first, I wasn’t surprised that model-turned-stunt-performer Astin Mack was at the top of the list. I didn’t expect a tie with his best friend Tate Gardner, but she’s given me permission to let him go first; she’s nice like that.
I’m super excited for you to read this. Astin has caused me some of the biggest issues writing this novel, but I adore him and his blue eyes and leather jacket and the way he teases Hollie. All the pain, ranting, and listening to No Doubt deafeningly loud has paid off.
This scene is the first time we meet Astin, right after Hollie’s been shut out of the theatre for arriving late (she has a small bladder. It’s not her fault she needed to pee!). She’s in the middle of playing Angry Birds Star Wars when she knocks over her drink. And so our story begins…
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The Original Opening of What Happens in New York
Sometimes, no matter how attached we are to a piece of writing, we have to sacrifice it. This piece is incredibly fun to read, but it just doesn’t set Hollie up as well as I’d like.
It was raised in workshopping that her boss isn’t set up as enough of an arsehole, and some people could sympathise with him more than Hollie, especially given her temperament. I’ve since hyped up the anxiety and her boss’s controlling ways. The premise has remained the same, but there’s more build-up and less stock taking.
It pained me to rewrite it, but it’s important to not get too attached to your writing as you have to do what’s best for it, not what you’re most emotionally attached to.
I’d love to know what you think in the comments below! 🙂
You can also check out a video of me reading the below scene from What Happens in New York at the final Restless Minds anthology event!
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