Novel Racer - Chris

Here's the profile of the newest addition to the Novel Racers - Chris, http://homethoughtsweekly.blogspot.com/:

'I knew that I wanted to be writer when I won a tin of chocolates in a competition at school so what did I do about it? Well, I went to UEA but didn’t do the prestigious creative writing course, I went into a so-called proper job because I needed the money and along the way I sold a couple of articles. All this time I was writing books in my head and, except for a couple of failed Mills & Boons, that’s pretty much where they stayed even when I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

After a family bereavement I finally woke up to the fact that unless I took a professional approach to my writing I’d end up living half a life, always wondering what might have been. Last June I picked up the twenty thousand words of a typescript that I’d been mucking about with for years and sat down to finish it. In February I sent it to Hilary Johnson, who I’d met through the Romantic Novelists Association, for an appraisal by her Authors’ Advisory Service.
Hilary passed the book to an agent and I’m nervously waiting for that outcome. Slight understatement – I’m nearly climbing the walls – so the novel racers are just what I need to make me get on with Novel 2.

In the meantime I’ve had non-fiction work published by Honno in an anthology, ‘Strange Days Indeed’ and now know the thrill of holding a proper book, to which I’ve contributed, in my hand! '

I'm still smiling from the launch of Wanna Be A Writer on Saturday. I haven't finished the book but I have already decided it would be required reading for anyone contemplating this crazy life!!! Jane Wenham-Jones lays it all on the table with such humour you are given a true picture. God, help I am still continuing!!!! By the way I skipped to the back and she's running a great contest there - go check it out ;-)

On the writing front, my fingers have hit the keys again. I have thought August Rock through and have started the re-write. As I mentioned my goal is to have this rewrite complete in time for the Daily Mail Novel of the Year contest. With all that is currently going on in my life this may be unrealistic. Their deadline is 2nd July. I am moving house on the 10th July and before that I have half term, my best friend's wedding in the states and a dirty weekend with my dh in Venice plus the RNA Conference in Leicester! However I'm going for it as I have lose to lose but my sanity.

Over the course of this week along with the few profiles I have left (hint hint). I will be sharing the feedback on August Rock that I have had - the good, the bad and the ugly. In some cases I will show you have I have learned from this feedback and finally what I am doing now to kick this baby into shape. Hopefully by doing this it will cement it all in my mind. So rewrite number 5 is in full swing!!

Wannabe A Writer

Some days I love being a writer - even if I'm unpublished and today's was one of them. I went to the book launch for Jane Wenham-Jones' Wannabe a Writer. It was at Borders on Charing Cross Rd and it was a blast. I arrived and spotted some friends, Bernardine Kennedy and Katie Fforde. While scoffing a glass of wine I met Amanda Brookfield and had a brilliant chat about writing and plot twists. Her book Relative Love is now added to my tbr pile.

While chatting with her Kate Walker arrived looking lovely and we had a great chance to catch up. I finally met Kate Harrison! I now have a signed copy of her latest book The Self-Preservation Society and it has a bumpy cover :-)

Lesley Cookman arrived and Margaret Kaine plus Judy Astley. As Jane had interviewed so many writers it was amazing to see Helen Lederer, Erica James, Maria McCarthy, Jane Bidder/Sophie King, Sue Moorcraft, Daniel Blythe, Karen Howeld, Victoria Connelly and Adele Parks. I know I missed a few. Then there were the wanna be's there Pia Tapper-Fenton, Henriette Gyland, and Biddy Coady. It was wonderful fun and the book is great. I was killing myself laughing as i read it on the way home on the tube! Now I know why writers are such fun :-)