Chapter 1 of My New Book!

UPDATE: You missed it! Check back here again tomorrow evening, just in case I have more surprises. :)

Launch Week Surprise 1? I gave away a Parker pen.
Launch Week Surprise 2 ... I'm giving away the first chapter of my new book.

Click here and type in the pass phrase, which is ... Word Nerd Preview (type it as it appears - with spaces and caps) I've taken it down now. Well done if you got it! Feel free to leave a comment below if you pick one up. If I get lots of comments, I might even be inspired to give away some more stuff. :)

Hope you like it.

Book Launch Week!

It is here! You thought I'd forgotten, didn't you? Come on ... be honest. Ha! I didn't forget. Just thought I'd leave it late today, to see if you were paying attention. You were. Well done! Here is your prize.

To celebrate the week in which my book will be launched (at some point between now and the 6th, inclusive) I'm giving away a writerly pressie. Behold ...

When I wrote my post about pens, I noticed that the name 'Parker' came up often. I also noticed that gel pens were much spoken about. People got quite excited about the idea of pens. I even received emails on the subject. It only seemed right that I should combine the elements of 'Parker' and 'gel' and buy you a Parker Gel pen to thank you for your support, so I did.

How can you win it?

1. Follow this blog - visibly - by clicking the follow button and/or subscribe by putting your details in the box to the right, or at the top. 
2. Leave a comment below this post saying whether you followed, subscribed, or both. 
3. One of the characters in Palaces & Calluses is a dog. He's a Border Collie called Pebble, but everyone calls him 'Rock'. In your comment, tell me something about a dog you've known. It can be something funny, lovely, or annoying. I'll pick a short-list of five, throw the names in a hat, and whichever name I draw... gets the pen!

The more comments there are, the more likely I am to give away even more prizes, so tell your chums, and ... good luck!

5 Steps to Writing a Novel

Some time ago, I made this little video. It has been shared by many people, on Twitter and elsewhere, and caused much hilarity. It is not, however, the most optimistic perspective if you are just starting out on your journey as a writer.

To balance it up a little, I've written '5 Steps to Writing a Novel' for Groupon's blog. Have a look at both (don't forget to 'like' it on Groupon's blog. Love to see those numbers go up), then come back here, and post your thoughts below.

Once you have your book, of course, you need to market it. For that, you must put together a book marketing funnel. Pick up this month's Writing Magazine (April Issue) while it's still available. The new one comes in on 6th April, so scurry out and grab this one as soon as you can. I've written a step-by-step guide to marketing your book for you. Laminate it.

Don't forget ... my Book Launch Week is 31st March until 6th April! UPDATE: IT'S OUT! CLICK HERE.

Best wishes,

Authors For Japan - LOADS of Goodies

UPDATE: AUCTION CLOSED. We raised ... £10,962.25 / $17,803.79!! 

Hi Everyone,

A bunch of authors have pulled together to bring you WONDERFUL things, and help Japan. There is an auction going on right now. I've donated a book trailer. Whether you are trying to schlep around your manuscript to agents, or you just want readers to be aware of it, you do need one of these. The cost for professional videos can be ridiculous. This is going to go for a total steal, but the money will  go towards helping the people of Japan. Click on the banner to check out how to bid for a book trailer like this:

Shall I Elope, Or Do The Big Event Thing?

I'm serious. The provisional date for my book launch is the 21st of March, and I just realised that's only five sleeps away! What in the? So now I have to decide whether the provisional date becomes The Date, or whether I pick a date in a couple of weeks and make a big 'do' out of it.

It's not a question of commitment. I'm absolutely committed to my book. We've lived together since 2007, for goodness' sake. We've had rows, of course we have. What writer and Novel-To-Be don't have rows, late at night, over a split infinitive? Exactly! We're both on the same page. Well ... it is on several pages, but I've been on each of them, so that gives me the right to an opinion. My opinion is that the time to tie the knot is finally upon us, but we need to choose whether to glam it up, or elope. 

At the moment, I'm eloping. I planned to sneak this book out under the radar. Only those in the know would - well - know. Now I'm wondering, as many an eloping bride must, whether I'm cheating people out of an event, if I scurry off into the sunset with my book, without so much as a slice of cake, a tearful bridesmaid, or a thrown bouquet. Am I? 

Blushing regards,