Diary
Date: 16th May 2008
Out and About
Am embracing the speaking circuit with gusto this summer. I will be at the Southern Writers Conference followed by the Writers Conference in Winchester www.writersconference.co.uk. Then there's the RNA conference the in July - www.rna-uk.org - and Writers' Holiday (see www.writersholiday.net). Later in the year I shall be at the Guildford Book Festival www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk and in Warwick for the Way With Words festival. More details in due course.
Date: 4th May 2008
The next lunch
The next Wannabe lunch date has been set for 10th June but the venue is still to be confirmed. If you’d like to come along please email Kevin Machin on kev_machin@blueyonder.co.uk or visit his blog – specially set up for the occasion – on http://wannameetup.blogspot.com and RSVP there.
It would be great to see you.
All best and Happy Writing
janexxx
www.wannabeawriter.co.uk
Date: 23rd January 2008
Lunch?
Just a last reminder that if anyone would like to join me and other wannabe site members for lunch next Wednesday 30th January, there’s still time. We’re meeting at The Queen's Larder pub in
It would be great to see you.
All best and Happy Writing
janexxx
www.wannabeawriter.co.uk
Date: 31st October
My talk in Hastings 2nd November
I now have a few more details. I will be giving the talk - Wannabe a Writer? and answering questions on how to get published etc at 2pm on 2nd November. The venue is the Hastings Trust, Hastings Trust, 35 Robertson Street, Hastings, which, I am told is between Debenhams and the Seafront.
For more information call Rosemary on 01424 442471 or email her on hastingswritersgroup@googlemail.com or email me through this site.
Would be lovely to see you there
janex
Date: 6th October 2007
Guildford Update
I am still giving a talk at Waterstones, Guildford High Street, on 18th October but if you happen to be coming to see me - thank you! - then please note it now starts at 12.30pm not one o'clock.
More details of the festival on www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk Would be great to see you at any of the events
janex
Date: 27th August 07
Fancy a chat?
We have started having live "chats" through the wannabe website so do join the site and join in if you fancy it. Next Sunday - 2nd September - is just informal wittering about anything you fancy. Sunday 16th September is on a theme - "Writing a Synopsis - what a nightmare!"
To join in - join the wannabe website - very simple www.wannabeawriter.co.uk and then members area and follow the instructions - and then come online at 10.30am on the day and click on chatroom.
Hope to get to hear from you!
janexx
Date: 20th August 2007
Talk in Hastings
Hastings Writers' Group have booked me to give a talk and hold a question and answer session on Frdiay 2nd November from 2-4.30pm somewhere in the town centre - address to follow. If you are interested in coming along, please email Rosemary on hastingswritersgroup@googlemail.com and I'll post more details here too when I have them. Cheers for now janexxDate: 20th August 2007
Guildford Book Festival again
This year I'm doing no fewer than FOUR events at the Guildford Book Festival and I cannot wait. For Girls' Night this year it is Julian Clary (! :-)) in the first half - very exciting! - followed by the actress Helen Lederer, Guardian columnist Lucy Mangan and the second honorory girly of the evening - extremely-funny writer Mil Millington. That's on 17th October. The next day I am giving a talk of my own - Wannabe a Writer - talking about the new book, of course - and that evening I am on stage again with Amanda Ross - the producer of Richard & Judy and the brains behind the Richard & Judy Bookclub, together with R&J picks Victoria Hislop, Martin Davies and Kate Mosse and one of the winners of the Richard & Judy How to Get Published competition, Alison Penton-Harper. Saturday 20th October is Readers' Day your chance to meet best-selling authors such as Erica James, Isabel Wolff, Judy Astley, Jane Gardam and Simon Scarrow. All sorts of other great names are appearing over the course of the two-week festival. Visit www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk to get yourself a programme. Would be great to see you there...Date: 27th June
Getting back to normal. Gradually...
Once again, there’s been rather a long gap since I last wrote anything here. Life’s been a tad manic since Wannabe a Writer? came out, with a veritable feast of signings, radio interviews and talks in distant places (Devon's been the furthest away so far - thank you Matthew and Sarah of the Torbay Book Shop) and I’m still working my way through the to-do list I wrote before Christmas. But I’m not complaining, of course. I’ve had lots of positive feedback on the book and some great reviews. If you haven’t yet visited www.wannabeawriter.co.uk please do. And if you join up, you can post on the message board – your own news and views are very welcome – and receive emails on the latest events, what’s happening with the competition etc.
I am off to the Winchester Writers’ Conference www.writersconference.co.uk next weekend (Sat 30th June) - if you're there too, please come and say hello - and then onto the joy that is Writers’
jxx
Date: 25th February 2007
Wannabe a Writer?
Gosh, haven't written anything here for a long time. Mainly because I've had head down, writing elsewhere. I feel like I've been living in a cave for the last couple of months but now at last it's finished. My fourth book Wannabe a Writer? will be published in May (see it on amazon already). It is being indexed, as we speak, by Julia Goddard who as well as doing clever things like indexing (I wouldn't have known where to start) is preparing to climb Kilimanjaro for a very good cause (check out www.justgiving.com/juliagoddard and if you can spare her a couple of quid please do). I will have a new Wannabe page on my website with all the details just as soon as I get organised. In the meantime, a huge thank you to all the authors, agents, publishers, journalists and others who contributed their wisdom to Wannabe a Writer? If you wannabe one or know anyone else who does (mad fools) there are all sorts of great tips in here... :-) jxxx
Date: 18th September 2006
Girls Night
Girls Night at the Guildford Book Festival is now set for 18th October and I can't wait. I'm hosting two panels again in the Electric Theatre. The first half will be with Katie Fforde, Sarah Harrison (both of whom I've met before and love to bits) and Erica James, who I'm really looking forward to meeting. Part two of the evening is with Harriet Evans, Kate Harrison, Kate Long and Amanda Brookfield. Am looking forward hugely to seeing them all. Earlier in the afternoon I shall be chairing a discussion between Barbara Eskine and Barbara Ewing - "Combining History and Fiction" which should be fascinating. For details of these and all other events ( there are some great names going this year - personally I can't wait to clap eyes on Terry Wogan ) visit www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk and grab yourself a programme.Date: 9th May 2006
Short Story Competition
I am taking part in the Guildford Book Festival again this year (16th -28th October) and will be involved with the SHORT STORY COMPETITION with the lovely Elizabeth Buchan. It's a good one - First prize £250, shortlisted stories showcased on BBC Southern Counties Radio - to be voted on by the listeners. For more details visit:
http://www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14
Date: 15th March 06
BookTime
Date: 14th November
Signing at Westwood Cross
I will be signing copies of One Glass Is Never Enough in whs at Westwood Cross from 11am on Saturday 17th December. Still wondering what to get everyone for Christmas? What better than a novel set in Thanet, personally signed by the author...:-) But, if you're around, do come and say hello anyway - I'll feel a prune if I'd stood there all on my own....Date: 29th November
Wine and Sign
Date: 11th November 2005
Cardiff WHS
I shall be there - tomorrow - 12th November from 1pm signing copies of One Glass is Never Enough (tho it will have to be as I'm driving) and the new Sexy Shorts book - Saucy Shorts For Chefs - in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign. If you are in the vicinity do come and say hello... (not to mention buy a book.... :-)) 1pm onwards....Date: October 5th 2005
Book Launch
The launch of One Glass Is Never Enough will be held at The Broadstairs Pavilion from 8pm on 3rd November 2005. A fun-packed evening of personally-signed books, extracts performed, cash bar and live music from Surfdudegrandad...
Do come along and solve all your Christmas present problems in one glorious go. (Eeek! Who mentioned the C word already...?)
jx :-)
Date: August 14th 2005
Dates for your diary
One Glass is Never Enough is published on 3rd October. (Hurrah!) See relevant page on website for more details.
To pre-order (you know you want to) see "shop" or if you'd like a signed copy contact the Albion Bookshop in Broadstairs on 01843 862876. Ideal Christmas Gift. Inscriptions to Auntie Gladys available on request.... :-)
Date: August 9th 2005
Something new
I suppose if you have a page on your website called "What's New" you should occasionally find something fresh to put on it. So I'll tell you about the exciting new fund-raising Celebrity Cookbook - YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE (brilliant title eh?) - featuring recipes from everyone you've ever heard of ... AND ME! It's published on 31st October - find it on Amazon very soon! Read the list of contributers and spot the one that will make them say: WHO??? :-)Date: July 2005
And another thing...
Date: May 05
Don't forget
Writers' Holiday at Caerleon
23rd - 28th July 2006
This is a fantastic week - check it out on www.writersholiday.net I've been an evening speaker for the last four years so they're making me do a course next time. "Novel Writing - where do I start" (damn good question! :-)If you fancy it, we can struggle along together. The food is fab and the booze cheap and if you've never seen a male voice choir in action, well now's your chance..... :-)