Diary
Date: 2nd June 2010
The People's Book Prize
Wannabe a Writer? is one of the finalists in the non-fiction category of The People's Book Prize. If you enjoyed this book, I would be immensely grateful if you could vote for it. There are fiction and children's categories too.See www.peoplesbookprize.com/finalist.php
Voting is open until 21st July.
thanks so much xx
Date: 8th May 2010
post-election and pre-deadline fatigue
It has been pointed out to me by My-mate-Mike (always quick off the mark) that this "What's New" page is woefully out of date. So in a brief round up of latest happenings, I shall hereby share wth you that I am on my knees through lack of sleep (can't stay up all night quite like I used to ) after attending the Thanet count, and getting up at successive dawns in an attempt of get the latest book finished. (Wannbe a Writer We've Heard Of? is published in October - if you haven't heard of me in a while by then, I've died of exhaustion.) Am out and about a bit this summer. Speaking at the Winchester Writers' Conference and the RNA shindig and am going to the PEN summer party. Oh and there's another Wannabe Lunch planned - see http://wannameetup.blogspot.com if you're interested in coming along. More later... gotta book to write... jxxDate: 4th February 2010
Writing Tips on Twitter
For daily writing tips - daft/serious according to whim - follow
http://twitter.com/UWannabeawriter
For me drivelling on about nothing very much, see
Date: 19th January 2010
speaking dates
I am doing a couple of talks in March. First up is Loughborough College on 24th, billed as:
"An outstanding evening of fine food and entertainment. Attendance includes a champagne reception, a three course meal, tea and coffee and a special presentation by Jane Wenham-Jones, author of the best selling 'Wannabe A Writer' and 'One Glass Is Never Enough'. Commencing at 6.30p.m. at The Radmoor Centre at
or telephone The Radmoor Centre on 0845 1662959"
Sounds an absolute bargain - almost feel like booking a ticket myself :-)
Next is a "public lecture" (sadly no mention of champagne this time but it is free) on 30th March in Folkestone, entitled "Is there a book in you?" (Answer: possibly, and maybe it should stay there :-)) For details see http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/events/public-lectures/2010-lectures/jane-wenham.asp
Seriously folks, I shall be talking about how to go about getting published if that's your dream (and how to stay vaguely sane while you're about it).
Be good to see you!
Date: 29th December 2009
Festive Frivolities
Date: 7th October 2009
Guildford Book Festival
The brochure is out! For your copy visit www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk
I am hosting Girls' Night again - Adele Parks, Lisa Jewell, Jenny Cogan and Jill Mansell in the first half - fab line up eh? And the marvellous Joanne Harris, Joan Smith and Kathy Lette in the second. For tickets see the website or call 01483 444334/444789
Date: 12th September 2009
Have succumbed! Can see it will be very time-consuming. Worse than emails...
Fun tho!
am janewenhamjones if you wannna come follow me.... :-)
Date: 15th August 2009
People's Book Prize
I've just found out that Wannabe a Writer? has been been included in the nominations for a small award. It's one of those where the public have to vote, so if you liked this book, would you please, please click on www.peoplesbookprize.com before the end of August and have a look at the non-fiction section? I'm afraid it's a bit of a faff to vote - you have to be sent a password and do one of those verification thingys - but you'll get that warm glow of knowing that I'll love you for ever :-)
Thank you!!! jxxx
Date: June 30th 2009
Fab new play opens tomorrow
A great new play by my friend Todd - come along and see it if you can -
NEW PLAY PUTS
Audience Will Vote On Evolution
A provocative new play which gives you a chance to vote on the origins of life itself will premiere in Broadstairs on July 1st.
Produced one hundred and fifty years after the publication of
The play, written by "Mr Ace Books", which tells the story of a man arrested for teaching Darwinism to his pupils, was inspired by the infamous Scopes Monkey trial in the
At a time when creationism – the literal belief in the biblical account of how life came about – is on the rise, the play will spark lively debate among all who see it.
Mr Books has produced and written some of the most popular new dramas in Thanet in recent years, including “Handsome Jack’s Folly”, “The Klister Sisters” and “I Blame Eve”.
The play will run from July 1st to July 4th at 7.30 pm at the Red Hall,
Date: June 2009
Event in Notting Hill 16th July 09
I am doing an "in conversation" with the lovely Judy Astley and Victoria Connelly at WATERSTONE'S NOTTING HILL GATE on Thursday, 16 July 2009, 7:00PM - 9:00PM. Tickets £3, redeemable against the price of the book on the night. As the blurb goes: all things romance as bestselling author Judy Astley and first-time author, Victoria Connelly are in conversation with Jane Wenham-Jones about the new book 'Molly's Millions'. (Signed copies of Wannabe a Writer? will also be available, natch :-))
Further details: 0207 229 9444
Date: 12th March 2009
Plain Jane on line
My weekly column for the Isle of Thanet Gazette is now on line.
Visit http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/thanetcolumn and do feel free to add your comments. They don't have to be polite... :-)
Date: 12th March 2009
Catching up at last
It has been pointed out to me by kind visitors to this site that it's an awfully long time since I wrote anything here. You're quite right - it's been on my to-do list since Christmas! Not going to write that much now either cos STILL got a book to finish but in answer to enquiries about where I'm speaking this year, this is what I have in the diary so far:
Writers' Conference in Winchester www.writersconference.co.uk.
Writers' Holiday www.writersholiday.net
Writers' Summer School at Swanwick http://www.wss.org.uk/
Guildford Book Festival www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk
And I'm still open to offers :-) Particularly if anyone is organising a writers' retreat on a sun-drenched caribbean island....
More details soon...
jx
Date: 20th October 2008
Waterstone's Thanet 25th October
And next Saturday I will in Waterstone's at Westwood Cross signing books and dispensing advice on getting published, should anyone want any. I'll be there from 10am. Do come along and say hello - I'll feel a prune if I'm there all on my own...
Date: 20th October 2008
In conversation with Richard
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. Be great to see you.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..... :-)