Cracked the womags!!!

It is with the greatest pleasure and relief that I can finally announce I have sold a story – to That’s Life! Australia. My very first sale to a Womag (to any publication actually!!)

After over a year of writing stories with Womag2Weekly I have written 20 stories, subbed 35 times and had 21 rejections. I can honestly say I never thought I’d make a sale and I was about 3 months from giving up completely. In hindsight its easy to say but I implore anyone who feels this way IT CAN HAPPEN!!!

I cannot wait to see my work in print!!!

I'm still here!

I would just like to say a big thank you to all those of you who haven't stopped following me.  I am still writing, still busy subbing stories left, right and centre (and then dodging them as they come flying back).  I'm taking a bit of a blog break as there isnt any new and exciting news going on.  Unless you count my taking three months off work to go travelling round America in August but believe me there will be more on that nearer the time. 

Hope you all had a nice Easter and haven't turned into a chocolate egg like me!!

Back soon!

Lily

x

Catching up

Wow - that was a productive weekend!  I sadly got no sun but I did manage to clear out my entire email.  From there I was able to re-organise, re-edit and re-sub 8 out of 16 short stories.  4 of the remaining 8 are seasonal so are on hold for now.  The novel isn't really coming along as well as I'd like.  I have another idea which has been burning a hole in my head for a while now and I am debating about whether to take part in Sally Quilford's writing challenge: May - You Write Your Novel.  80,000 in 80 days - not bad considering you can go around the world in that time.  If you've worked on a novel before you'll know that it can be a lonely business so the support you are likely to get is invaluable.  I coudn't have completed the initial draft of CIM without knowing that the novel racers blog was only a click away so I am huge fan of this kind of thing.
Anyway, if I decide to work on something new I will be taking part but for now I shall keep going with the short stories during the week and the novel at the weekend.
If anyone's interested in signing up for Sally's challenge you can sign up here

I would just like to mention that this weekend was down to the Massive Action Day run by Jurgen Wolff.  Jurgen ran the MAD between 9am Saturday morning until 1am Sunday with hourly tips and even giving away prizes!  I stayed on until 11pm (with a brief break for a few cheeky fat frogs).  Jurgen will be running another one in around a month or so, in the meantime you can sign up here for more information.

Winners!!

The 2 winners of ‘Rachel's Holiday' by Marian Keyes Keyes are:




The lovely Debs and Sangu.




Congratulations! Please do email me (address on my profile) your addresses and I’ll arrange for a signed copy to be sent out to each of you.

Free Book Giveaway - Marian Keyes

While I haven't been stuffing my face gleefully with pancakes today, I have been busy distributing the rest of my World Book Night books. I chose Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes and so far they have been greatly received by friends and strangers. As a special treat I have saved 2 copies of the special edition copies to give away here.

Synopsis:
'How did it end up like this? Twenty-seven, unemployed, mistaken for a drug addict, in a treatment centre in the back arse of nowhere with an empty Valium bottle in my knickers'. Meet Rachel Walsh. She has a pair of size 8 feet and such a fondness for recreational drugs that her family has forked out the cash for a spell in Cloisters - Dublin's answer to the Betty Ford Clinic. She's only agreed to her incarceration because she's heard that rehab is wall-to-wall jacuzzis, gymnasiums and rock stars going tepid turkey - and it's about time she had a holiday. But what Rachel doesn't count on are the toe-curling embarrassments heaped on her by family and group therapy, the dearth of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll - and missing Luke, her ex. What kind of a new start in life is this?

This is an oldie but a goody and I want to share them with you.


All you have to do is leave a 'pick me' comment by 8pm Sunday 13th and a copy shall wing its way to the 2 names I pick out of a hat.

This competition is open to all.

Back on

So my relationship with dusty old novel was rekindled (FINALLY I hear you cry) last week.  It truly is a very rough piece of work and pre OU and writing group Lily had a lot to learn.  I'm loving rewriting it though but feeling quite depressed at having to spend all my time earning a crust when I just want to spend all my time canoodling with my characters.  I've taken a little break from Womag2Weekly and shall be heading over to Chaper2Weekly for some much needed novel critiquing.  I do believe we are in need of some members so if your interested do shout.  2 more rejections happened upon my door step on Saturday so I had an excuse to drown my sorrows and internal organs in Sauvignon Blanc in Prezzo on Saturday night.  Yesterday was spend knitting, eating chocolate and feeding the obsession that is Colin Firth.  I watched Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (again!) and A Single Man (truly beautiful and let me indulge in my currently sombre mood). 

This weekend will be a quiet one as I spend some quality time with my rewrite - just the two of us (and Colin probably). 

A good deal for those who can't read enough!!

http://www.kgbdeals.co.uk/national/deals/11919/pound30-audio-book-voucher---weread4you---national