Sunday, 27 May 2012

Things are looking up

It was a glorious weekend!  I'm happy to tell you that summer has finally arrived.  Yay! I have been basking in the sunshine with my family.  Ahhhhhh, beautiful.  Let's hope it lasts.

Ahhhh! Sunshine!!!
Coffee and a slice of lemon drizzle cake made my day!
Anyhoo, wherever you are in the world, I hope you are all well.

Things are definitely looking up at my side of the world.  The last one item on my list - my driving theory test, yes that one that gobbled up most of my spare time reading, memorising, worrying and freaking out then reading and memorising again until I was sick of it - is finally out of the way now that I've passed! Keep your fingers crossed for me for my upcoming practical test!  The battle is not over yet. Hmp! But, I passed the first test, didn't I?

Also, I've just finished revising my story for the Tiny Dancer anthology! Another Yay!  So now, I've finally returned to my current manuscript, after five long months of sitting on it.  I'm reacquainting myself with my characters.

This coming week, although chock a block with appointments and all, and constantly on-call in case of any event happening with my son at school, still smells of good writing days ahead.  I'm so glad to finally write again.  It doesn't matter if it's fifty, five hundred or five thousand words in a day as long as I write something.

So, my lovelies, this weekend I don't have any movie/film feature but I will be posting on the books I've read so far and some personal secrets will be revealed in the days to come...so stay tuned!

Tell me about your weekend!

What are you reading?  


Or movie that you've enjoyed watching?

Monday, 21 May 2012

Fabric by Author Jessica Bell

Fabric
Today I'm celebrating the release of 
Jessica Bell's new poetry collection, 
Fabric...


Wait! Please don't close the tab at the the mention of poetry! Trust me, just read a little note from the author herself before deciding to disappear...


Jessica says:


My poetry will not baffle you with phrasing that scholars award for academic genius and that can only be understood by those who wrote it. My poetry is for the everyday reader. In fact, it is even for those who don’t like to read poetry at all. Because it is real, stark and simple.


The poems in Fabric are no different. They explore specific moments in different people’s lives that are significant to whom they have become, the choices they’ve made. It’s about how they perceive the world around them, and how each and every one of their thoughts and actions contributes to the fabric of society. Perhaps you will even learn something new about yourself.


So, even if you do not usually read poetry, I urge you to give this one a go. Not because I want sales (though, they are fun!), but because I want more people to understand that not all poetry is scary and complex. Not all poetry is going to take you back to high school English, and not all poetry is going make you feel “stupid”.


You can still say to people that you don’t read poetry … I really don’t mind. Because if you read Fabric, you’re not reading poetry, you’re reading about people. And that’s what reading is about, yes? Living the lives of others?

Please support the life of poetry today by spreading the news about Fabric. Hey, perhaps you might even like to purchase a copy for yourself? The e-book is only $1.99 and the paperback $5.50.

Here are the links:

Let's keep poetry alive! Because not all poetry is "dead" boring ...

About Jessica Bell:

If Jessica Bell could choose only one creative mentor, she’d give the role to Euterpe, the Greek muse of music and lyrics. And not because she currently lives in Greece, either. The Australian-native author, poet and singer/songwriter/guitarist has her roots firmly planted in music, and admits inspiration often stems from lyrics she’s written.


She is the Co-Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and co-hosts the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop on the Greek Isle of Ithaca, with Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest.


For more information about Jessica Bell, please visit:


Website
String Bridge (a novel) 
Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop 
Blog 
Vine Leaves
Facebook
Twitter

*****
My review
Very vivid, lyrical, well-woven words to describe scenes, feelings and emotions. I always get engrossed reading Jessica's poems..I get lost in her world, that I don't stop. Her first poetry book, Twisted Velvet Chains does the same to me each time I open it on my Kindle. Yes, I still read it, over and over.

Jessica's poetry always inspires. This one in particular is very engaging. Each page gets into different points in people's lives, making it so different from any other poetry books I've read so far. This is a book for people who love not just poems, but words, beautiful, lyrical, descriptive words about life. It's a book full of heart and requires to be read.


See other people's reviews!


Goodreads
Amazon UK

Sunday, 13 May 2012

Movie choice for the weekend - Bridesmaids

I was quite ill on the night of my birthday so didn't do much.  On Friday night - which is of course the beginning of the weekend, I began to feel better but preferred to stay home yet do something to cheer me up so husband got me a DVD, Bridesmaids.  Well, what can I say?  It definitely did not disappoint!

I find the beginning of the film a little bit slow but after about 15-20 minutes, it began to get interesting.  Most of the actors/actresses are faces I haven't seen before which means I should go out more! There are two familiar faces, however - one is Melissa McCarthy who plays the role of Sookie St. James in the series, Gilmore Girls and two, Rose Byrne (how can one forget the lady who made love with Brad Pitt in the film, Troy?).

Quite interestingly, the looks of the women aren't overly glamourised which makes it very easy for me to relate to them.  There are exaggerated scenes which I find to be completely over-the-top...and yet so interesting I carried on watching!  Nobody behaves the way some of the characters behaved in this movie but then it is a movie, isn't it?  I guess that's what makes it a dynamite, the unbelievably chaotic scenes which I can only describe as mental.  Yes, very.


Overall, I have no complaints.  It is absolutely hilarious!  It really did crack me up.  I would definitely watch it again.  In fact, I've been thinking of watching it again tonight, with a box of yummy chocolates!

A birthday treat from a friend!

How did you spend your weekend? 


Disclaimer:  This is not an advertisement.  I purchased the DVD and watched it in my own home.  I was not compensated for this review.

Thursday, 10 May 2012

Winter makes a comeback and so do I!

Winter has definitely returned.  Our summer days here in the UK seem to have been replaced by rain and wintry winds and it's been going on continuously for days now! Acckk!  I've just put my ever-so-comfortable open sandals back in the shoe cabinet...and you guess it right, am now wearing boots again!  (At this rate, I should be getting welly boots!)
The sun keeps hiding :(
But I shouldn't be complaining because cold nights mean sitting by the fire, (er, we don't have a fireplace - so I'm sitting next to the radiator instead) while sipping a mug of hot choco all wrapped up in a 30tog duvet, ha!  And of course writing in my notepad.  It also means more time indoors - therefore, more time to read, blog and stalk my favourite bloggers on line.  So, what is there to moan about, right?  Right.

I've missed lots of blog excitement in the last two months.  Apologies for not being able to comment at all on your posts during the A-Z Challenge.  I've read some of them and you are all amazing!  How could you all do that, post each day?  I can't even manage to post once a week!  To all your awesomeness, I take my hat off.

Speaking of being unable to post enough.  I've recently found another book that's just a champion!  It's Laura Bambrey's 100 Blog Prompts.  Have you heard of it?  You haven't?  Oh dear, you are missing something really good.  Here's the link, go have a look...! But come back to me after!

PLEASE CLICK HERE 

With a frazzled brain like mine these days, I badly need this.  So, thank you, Laura, for this!

Do you run out of blog ideas, too?  
How often do you post on your blog?  
Where do you get your ideas?

Monday, 7 May 2012

Ripper, My Love by Author Glynis Smy

Today writer/poet, Glynis Smy adds author/novelist to her name. Her debut novel; Ripper, My Love, is launched in ebook format and paperback. The genre for this love story falls into the one of Historical Romance Suspense.

I am so excited for Glynis.  She's worked so hard on this project and now that it's finally out, I just can't help but rejoice for her.  I feel honoured to have read this beautiful story before its publication.  I will be posting a review very soon!

And - I must not forget to mention, I love the cover!
Congratulations, Glynis!

Growing up in late nineteenth century East London,
Kitty Harper’s life is filled with danger and death – from her mother, her
beloved 
neighbour and the working women
of the streets.

With her ever-watchful father and living surrogate
family though, Kitty feels protected from harm. In fact, she feels so safe that
while Whitechapel cowers under the cloud of a fearsome murderer, she strikes
out on her own, moving into new premises to accommodate her sewing business.

But danger is closer than she thinks. In truth, it
has burrowed itself right into her heart in the form of a handsome yet troubled
bachelor, threatening everything she holds dear. Will Kitty fall prey to lust –
and death – herself, or can she find the strength inside to fight for her
business, sanity and her future? And who is the man terrifying the streets of
East London?

Who is Glynis Smy?

Glynis was born and raised in England, in the coastal town of Dovercourt, near the port of Harwich (where the captain of the Mayflower lived). After qualifying as a nurse, she married her school friend, and they produced three children. During her rare quiet moments, she wrote poetry and articles for magazines. In 2005 she and her husband emigrated to Cyprus for a new life in the sun. It was here that Glynis lay down her cross stitch and started making writing friends on the Internet. With their support and encouragement she shared her poetry, and was successful in a few contests. She shared a short story with a friend, who wrote back telling her it was worthy of becoming a novel, and not to waste the premise upon a brief plot. The story is the one being launched today. Glynis found her love of writing 19th Century, historical romances and her second novel, Maggie's Child, will be published at the end of 2012.

Aside from writing and Cross stitch, Glynis enjoys creating greetings cards, and sells them to raise funds for a small hospice in Cyprus. One of her pleasures is to sit on the back porch with a glass of wine, and reflect upon her good life. She can often be heard chatting to new characters urging her forward.

Her desire to pay back those who had supported her is realised in a blog designed specifically to promote the books of others: New Book Blogger http://newbookblogger.blogspot.com/. You can find her personal writing blog at www.glynissmy.com. Glynis finds the community spirit of writers on Facebook a valuable one.

Want to purchase a copy?  Launch day price for the Kindle is 99c/77p!