Spotlight on Alison May – Midsummer Dreams

Today is the e-launch day for my friend Alison May’s brand new romantic comedy, Midsummer Dreams. She asked a few of us to post about dreams in celebration and gave us three questions to answer.

I had a dream…

I had a dream when I was a teenager that I would one day have a book published. I wrote my first novel when I was fourteen and although I haven’t achieved publication yet, I'm working very hard towards it. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s scheme for new writers, I get to send off one novel each year for a critique by a published writer. As I type, I am 93% through my final read of this year’s novel and hope to post it off today or tomorrow. An event both exciting and scary – will the reader think it is any good, or is it back to the drawing board?

I wonder how many people reading a novel even think about how many hours go into the production of the book they are holding? I’ve been working on my novel “Who is Harry Dixon?” since the beginning of November. Wish me luck with it, as I wish Alison luck with her new release.

I had a nightmare…

The nightmare is to put in all of this work and never be published, but then I think I will get to the point where I self publish if that happens. So, I won't allow my nightmare to happen, or be scared by it.

My dream for the future…

As for most writers, I guess my dream for the future is to write books that people want to read. A best seller would be wonderful, but right now I’d settle for my work in print with good reviews.

I’m sure Alison May would like a few good reviews too. You can download the kindle edition of Midsummer Dreams here: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00XJOEJTM

About Midsummer Dreams

Four people. Four messy lives. One party that changes everything …

Emily is obsessed with ending her father’s new relationship – but is blind to the fact that her own is far from perfect. 
Dominic has spent so long making other people happy that he’s hardly noticed he’s not happy himself. 
Helen has loved the same man, unrequitedly, for ten years. Now she may have to face up to the fact that he will never be hers. 
Alex has always played the field. But when he finally meets a girl he wants to commit to, she is just out of his reach. 
At a midsummer wedding party, the bonds that tie the four friends together begin to unravel and show them that, sometimes, the sensible choice is not always the right one.

Those blogging today, if you want to check out their answers to the questions, include:-

Jane Lovering http://www.janelovering.co.uk/

Rhoda Baxter http://rhodabaxter.com/

Sheryl Browne http://sherylbrowne.com/

Laura James http://www.lauraejames.co.uk/ or https://theromaniacgroup.wordpress.com/

Sally Malcolm http://sallymalcolm.blogspot.co.uk/

Chris Stovell http://homethoughtsweekly.blogspot.co.uk/

Clare Chase http://clarechase.com/

Janet Gover http://janetgover.com/

Evonne Wareham http://evonneonwednesday.blogspot.co.uk/

Henriette Gyland https://henriettegyland.wordpress.com/

Ann Evans http://annsawriter.blogspot.co.uk/

Georgia Hill http://www.georgiahill.co.uk/

Christina Hollis http://christinahollis.blogspot.co.uk

Kathryn Freeman http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk/

Bernadette O’Dwyer http://secretwriter1.blogspot.co.uk/

Debbie Flint http://www.debbieflint.co.uk/read-it-write-it-sell-it

Julia Ibbotson http://www.juliaibbotsonauthor.com

Anne Stenhouse https://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/

Janice Preston http://janicepreston.co.uk/

Linn B Halton http://linnbhalton.co.uk/

http://linnbhalton.co.uk/midsummer-dreams-and-psychic-nightmares/

Helena Fairfax http://helenafairfax.com/

Heather King http://regencywriter-hking.blogspot.co.uk/

Alison May www.alison-may.co.uk

Join in with discussions on Twitter with the hashtag #MidsummerDreams and on Facebook.

Good luck with the book, Alison. The cover is lovely.

If you’d like to share your responses to the three questions, please post them below.

Spotlight on Janice Preston - From Wallflower to Countess

This blog post focusses on my friend and writing buddy, Janice Preston. We both joined the Romantic Novelists’ New Writers’ Scheme in January 2012 and since we met at our first Birmingham chapter meeting, we have been friends.

Jan achieved publication success in 2014 with Mills and Boon. Her debut novel, Mary and the Marquis is shortlisted for the RNA’s Joan Hessayon prize 2015. I’m going to the award ceremony in London with her in May. Exciting!

Her second novel, From Wallflower to Countess is in the shops and available on Kindle now. This book is particularly dear to my heart as Jan dedicated the novel to me. Look out for her third and fourth novels soon. It is so wonderful having a friend who has achieved the goal of publication.

Jan gave me permission to reproduce the piece below she wrote for her own blog:

I first met the hero, Richard, the Earl of Stanton, many years ago when he was a drop dead gorgeous secondary character in my first ever attempt at writing a Regency romance. That attempt has not yet seen the light of day, but I always knew Richard would have his own story one day. I had no idea which lucky lady would share his journey until, one day, he ran up the stairs in his shirtsleeves and came face-to-face with an unprepossessing but sparky spinster who had absolutely no intention of ever getting married.

One year on from that meeting, Lady Felicity Weston’s fear of unrequited love is as strong as ever, but her circumstances have changed. She begs her mother to find her a quiet, unremarkable gentleman with whom she might be content, little realising she will end up with Society’s most eligible bachelor.

Here is an excerpt:

‘This is ridiculous. You are right. If we are to wed, we need to understand one another. And, I admit I have doubts. Not about you. Well, that is…’ She paused, her brows drawn together in a frown. ‘No, that is untrue. It is about you, but it is about me, also. You and me. Together. You see, I hadn’t thought…I never presumed to be presented with such a…such a…catch, if you do not object to my calling you that?’

Richard bit back a smile. He had been called a catch many times, he was aware, but never to his face before. And never by an earnest-faced female who appeared to believe herself unworthy of a ‘catch’ such as he.

‘You may call me what you will,’ he said, ‘as long as you promise not to use such insultingly offensive terms that I shall be forced to take umbrage.’

She laughed, revealing a glimpse of white teeth. ‘Umbrage? I always thought that to be a state applied to elderly dowagers. Do you sporting gentlemen consider it a fittingly masculine trait, my lord?’

This was better. The spirited girl he remembered from last year had surfaced, her face alive with laughter, her eyes bright.

‘Perhaps umbrage does not quite convey the precise meaning I hoped to convey,’ he conceded. ‘Which word, in your opinion, should I have used, if I am to portray a suitably manly image to my future wife?’

Disquiet skimmed her expression, then vanished. Had he imagined it? Was it the bald reminder that she would be his wife that had disturbed her? Her countenance was now neutral, but her eyes remained watchful and she made no attempt to answer him.

‘Would you have preferred me to use “offence” perhaps, or “exception”?’ He leaned closer to her, and said, ‘I do not, you notice, suggest “outrage” for that, I fear, would not meet with your approval any more than “umbrage”. It is too synonymous with spinsters, would you not—?’

Felicity stiffened. ‘Do not make fun of me, sir. I may be a spinster and, therefore, in your eyes, a poor, undesired thing, but I have feelings and I have pride.’

‘Felicity, I promise I intended no slight. The thought never crossed my mind that you might think I was making fun of you. I was…I was… Oh, confound it! Come here.’

He had run out of words. He clasped her shoulders and drew her close. A finger beneath her chin tilted her face to his. He searched her eyes. They were shuttered. She was rigid in his arms. Was she scared? Had she never known a man’s kiss? The thought, strangely, pleased him: knowing his wife had never experienced another man’s touch. But he must take care not to frighten her. He lowered his head, slowly, and put his lips to hers.

He almost recoiled in shock. He had expected ice. What he felt was fire.

The Prologue and Chapter 1 can be read on Jan’s blog at http://janicepreston.co.uk/2015/03/23/from-wallflower-to-countess-is-out-now/

Do you get excited when your friends find success?

We survived!

Dog diary two weeks in…

I've settled well in my new home. Mummy hasn’t a clue about doggie things, but she's doing okay. Daddy and the boy seem to like me too.

They took me to the vet’s the day after I arrived and it was a very embarrassing experience. I was being so good and didn't even flinch as I was examined and injected. The boy, on the other hand, fainted and was sick three times on the consulting room floor.

I've got a socialisation plan and seem to have visitors all the time. Mummy has ticked off elderly people and men with beards. Who’s idea was the puppy party? Nightmare! What was the vet thinking? Why would I want to meet dogs four times bigger than me? There was a Staffie and a Springer – they just went for each other's throats. The Labrador, Major was nice, but not interested in a little thing like me. I shook and hid my head in mummy's arms. I was proud to be chosen as the demonstration puppy for the veterinary nurse to show owners how to health check their pups and stood very still, mainly in case the bigger dogs thought I was dinner! I had my teeth cleaned with poultry flavoured toothpaste – yum. We even got a party bag, but the frisbee they gave me was so big, I'm using it as a seat.

Whoo hoo, my owners gave up on puppy pads and take me outside on an annoying lead. I can wander around, wee where I like and try to eat weeds, sticks and moss if the owners aren't watching. I love the wind in my long hair and run as fast as a whippet.

Life is good. I'm fed, watered and played with. I've got loads of toys. I've even worked out how to get treats by sitting on command, touching my nose to a hand and sometimes fetching a ball. Ten weeks old already and I think I'm going to like it here.

Will Life Ever Be The Same?

I'm scared and excited.

In unknown territory.

We are having a puppy! A Maltese.

Lily will be joining us later this month. We have half term to puppify the house.

All advice and tips welcome. I am a first time dog owner. Writing may suffer. May be the subject of many blog and Facebook posts. Help!