tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86696019643899871652024-02-20T09:54:07.660+00:00Annalisa Crawford - Wake up, eat, write, sleepAnnalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.comBlogger535125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-26815467786286238512016-12-12T14:28:00.001+00:002016-12-12T14:28:08.796+00:00New home!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've moved to a new home</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annalisacrawford.wordpress.com/">https://annalisacrawford.wordpress.com/</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The post on the new blog explains it all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope to see you there!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
At the moment this is an experiment, but I know other people have moved to WordPress and liked it. To fill it up with content, I might go back and find some old posts to revisit, but there will be lots of new stuff too. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The new blog can also be accessed through my <a href="http://www.annalisacrawford.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. Comments have been disabled here, for obvious reasons.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*stops for one last look around, and to scoop up the random mug that didn't get packed*</div>
Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-45318150658528891932016-11-28T08:03:00.001+00:002016-11-28T08:03:45.712+00:00Pantsing, planning and NaNoWriMo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx49zIAtKU82WQn7r72MjRAD3yeCX7RD3O0JDdvEUwx4DAyQF4mf4RSHEDrAUFOzhgzlbYhghZdNf7Js6IJPnp-iTflKFJbUZC8svJIghsseXq6POODoj-7JPuRHPWqunLkf3uj8TeG8/s1600/WP_20150211_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx49zIAtKU82WQn7r72MjRAD3yeCX7RD3O0JDdvEUwx4DAyQF4mf4RSHEDrAUFOzhgzlbYhghZdNf7Js6IJPnp-iTflKFJbUZC8svJIghsseXq6POODoj-7JPuRHPWqunLkf3uj8TeG8/s320/WP_20150211_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is how I feel, two days before the end of NaNoWriMo.<br />
<br />
It's been a challenge, and I'm 12,500 words from the end. I probably won't win, but I'm okay with that. I have a new story that probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't taken part - I'd have been stuck in a never-ending rewriting/editing rut.<br />
<br />
I'm posting today for a bit of a rant... a rant against myself!<br />
<br />
I'm a pantser. Always have been. It's not the best way to write, I amble around and spend three years trying to figure out the story I'm telling. Pah. Rubbish. Especially as I then spend another three years rewriting, then giving up and hiding it in a drawer, then pulling it out again.<br />
<br />
One new novel every ten years is slow, to say the least.<br />
<br />
When I decided to do NaNo this year, I had a week to prepare and thought I might do a bit of plotting. In itself, it didn't go too badly, although the story keeps shifting, new characters are appearing and others have vanished off the page. The beach has been a constant feature, my MC's failing art career has stuck too - although she's still nameless - and there's a shadowy character that might be a dead sister, memory of her mother or a childhood imaginary friend.<br />
<br />
And then there's X - the real subject of my rant.<br />
<br />
X is also nameless. He started off as my MCs female flatmate, turned into her male fiance and - as of the very early hours of this morning - is her student lodger who bakes chocolate cake. At one point he/she was going to accompany MC on a lengthy road trip, but now the trip has taken a backseat and might just be one night in a Premier Inn to break up the trip to the beach. So much for planning!<br />
<br />
It was a good experiment, though - I've realised I can neither pants or plot effectively, so I guess I'll just bumble along as I always have, but with the knowledge that bumbling really is the best way forward 😔<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>How is/was NaNoWriMo for you?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Are you a regular participant, or was this your first time?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What advice would you offer to me?</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-24550079713142290912016-11-13T12:23:00.001+00:002016-11-13T12:23:37.820+00:00A few changes, maybeI've had a busy week - I think this is the longest I've managed to sit down since last Sunday, so I'm making the most of it by catching up on blog reading.<br />
<br />
A work colleague broke his nose last weekend, so I covered a few extra hours which threw out my gym training completely; and I met up with a couple of different friends for a hot chocolate, so I've severely overdosed on sugar and feeling a bit jittery.<br />
<br />
However, I kept to schedule on my NaNoWriMo writing, although I might be a little behind now because of some other tasks I've set myself. Yesterday I felt I was just putting random words down, feeling completely bored with the story, and not knowing where it was going. All the ideas I had where either too similar to something I've written before, or too similar to something I've read recently.<br />
<br />
But then last night, as I was falling asleep (oh, my writing muse really picks her time!), I had a bit of an epiphany, which I'll attempt to map out this afternoon.<br />
<br />
On top of all that, on Friday I had a chat with a consultant-type person about online marketing and promotion. The good news is that what I do is pretty good. The bad news is... all the stuff I don't yet do. So, that's my latest job,<br />
<br />
It may mean some changes to my blog, but I don't know yet.<br />
<br />
It may mean some changes to how I present myself, but I don't fully know that either yet.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-1291159456761999832016-10-30T10:58:00.002+00:002016-10-30T10:58:37.598+00:00How to Get Published conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8AsHFtqztFQ-2M_FkRsDkIXhsLsmlnbvYPjnEq00ATtGtG3UKNHoponfsF5yNzLf37hYO5nvjfEAbNTkC_JTnIBmyakcJPpEfq7mPvcA_O2UpUgtuNLwuuWWHeS331k4ruFvc9BwJrY/s1600/Writer%2527s+%2526+Artists+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8AsHFtqztFQ-2M_FkRsDkIXhsLsmlnbvYPjnEq00ATtGtG3UKNHoponfsF5yNzLf37hYO5nvjfEAbNTkC_JTnIBmyakcJPpEfq7mPvcA_O2UpUgtuNLwuuWWHeS331k4ruFvc9BwJrY/s320/Writer%2527s+%2526+Artists+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Yesterday, I went to a writing conference. For various reasons, I've written about it on my website, so rather than repeat it, click<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.annalisacrawford.com/latest-news/mixing-with-other-writers" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to read all about it, and see yet another dodgy photo of me. Feel free to comment over there, or pop back and comment here. Or not at all... You know, being Sunday and all, you might be way too relaxed...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-21751353243902506302016-10-23T16:10:00.002+01:002016-10-23T16:10:42.555+01:00Well, that's that, then... (A NaNo confession)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpN7JnQlzg_6MbeMlId__DuIqZm4oDhtWNhwuTZ83xzCy2qvlQHwgxnuqSNfn1uZey8SXDViL_BwGm-YOXGeDcKyRLfQfsqQmRm0FoqVRI63d6alc0f9gHSIkJhngEmSaf-5tgzcrVSM/s1600/crest-05e1a637392425b4d5225780797e5a76.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpN7JnQlzg_6MbeMlId__DuIqZm4oDhtWNhwuTZ83xzCy2qvlQHwgxnuqSNfn1uZey8SXDViL_BwGm-YOXGeDcKyRLfQfsqQmRm0FoqVRI63d6alc0f9gHSIkJhngEmSaf-5tgzcrVSM/s1600/crest-05e1a637392425b4d5225780797e5a76.png" /></a>I've just signed up to this year's NaNoWriMo event.<br />
<br />
It's possible I've gone completely mad!<br />
<br />
I'm not sure what happened. I came home from work this afternoon, made a cup of tea, checked my emails, signed up.<br />
<br />
Okay, that's not strictly true - I've been considering it for a while, but coming up with some really very good reasons not to: I've got a two day course to go on for work in November, the kids will need me to be available for specific reasons in November, I'm already booking up my days off with hot chocolate dates with friends, I'm going to be an aunt and will want to see lots of the new baby.<br />
<br />
But, there are some compelling reasons to give it a go:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I'm staring at a novel that's just been rejected and wondering what to do with it - I'm not happy with it, but it's been through so many incarnations at this point, I've forgotten what the original point was.</li>
<li>Because I've been working on the same novel for most of the year, I think I've forgotten how to write something new. I have no ideas, no characters, nothing even remotely like a plan, plot or vision.</li>
<li>I've recently turned my 2012 attempt into a short story that's out on submission - even if I don't win, I might be able to salvage something useful.</li>
<li>It's a really good excuse to be lavished with chocolate. I don't drink coffee, so I have to get my caffeine from somewhere, don't I?</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>So, who's with me? Who's already signed up? Who's thinking about it?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Is chocolate a good enough reason?<br />Do you have any advice for me?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-45634989158559045532016-10-19T10:36:00.002+01:002016-10-19T10:36:59.534+01:00Another musical guest postI'm really excited to be featured on Roz Morris's <a href="https://mymemoriesofafuturelife.com/2016/10/19/the-undercover-soundtrack-annalisa-crawford/" target="_blank">Undercover Soundtrack</a> today. It's a fantastic series looking at how music has influenced the way a writer approaches their novel.<br />
<br />
Being different, and <i>not </i>the author of a published novel yet, my post features the songs that inspired my short stories - each of my books gets a mention, so they don't feel left out.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy reading more about me. I suggest making yourself a hot chocolate to drink while you read it, that's what I'm going to do!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRTbkXE6xMAdCjmBx7kpULPBj-o-DC5uWEaBb4IaA3AEwlbLgARmBOfRGEWP38-phlW6b6U1kMcESlQjsfpVDmFC1uD9Of9JE58ufA_gdZW9P5OIwF8batAX_r5iFIMDGUXWe0ShYlhQ/s1600/WP_20150702_10_11_14_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRTbkXE6xMAdCjmBx7kpULPBj-o-DC5uWEaBb4IaA3AEwlbLgARmBOfRGEWP38-phlW6b6U1kMcESlQjsfpVDmFC1uD9Of9JE58ufA_gdZW9P5OIwF8batAX_r5iFIMDGUXWe0ShYlhQ/s320/WP_20150702_10_11_14_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-63358592660241996252016-10-12T13:41:00.000+01:002016-10-12T13:41:09.240+01:00My 5 Reasons guest post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P2f-zHWeyh3CQrlBFK7UDGNFuaaR2-7xFCayvp5kZj6qMEGo8uEQS5yCSGvyKcEg3eoFuO2W-U_IvyVsiZ9HIRmyACfTrKbTmrJ_h6fL5sidskhOyY-O_FlgwyyblJw-vxSbYDVxIfk/s1600/Sunrise+over+Plymouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P2f-zHWeyh3CQrlBFK7UDGNFuaaR2-7xFCayvp5kZj6qMEGo8uEQS5yCSGvyKcEg3eoFuO2W-U_IvyVsiZ9HIRmyACfTrKbTmrJ_h6fL5sidskhOyY-O_FlgwyyblJw-vxSbYDVxIfk/s400/Sunrise+over+Plymouth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This is the scene I was greeted with as I rounded the hedge from one field to the next on Monday morning.<br />
<br />
It was cold, and I'm starting to wonder where I put my gloves at the end of last winter. But, so glorious. Artoo doesn't like me to linger for too long - apparently, walking means just that to him!<br />
<br />
I thought it was too nice a photo not to share.<br />
<br />
<br />
Today I'm guest posting on Tyrean Martinson's blog, sharing my <a href="http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/2016/10/annalisa-crawfords-5-reasons-to-write.html" target="_blank">5 Reasons to Write to Music</a>. I hope you'll pop over and see what my reasons are.<br />
<br />
I've got another music-based guest post on the cards next week. Details to follow.<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-48400043305369726162016-10-02T10:15:00.000+01:002016-10-02T10:15:03.985+01:00Puts down pen and sighs...... looks up and sees that it's October!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuKdRv30Xw43rrE6huC-YQCZV_G02XqjmANJLOYv1xncl1cbaYyYSQSkyyQCsadH_9rft0eMAFzQhjaYD0Gr-yxQeJ3oCfAr9QQHh2YNlB8UnNhpRXMEC0WXokTb0JBk7bbMzYDLGr0o/s1600/Oct+16+Artoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuKdRv30Xw43rrE6huC-YQCZV_G02XqjmANJLOYv1xncl1cbaYyYSQSkyyQCsadH_9rft0eMAFzQhjaYD0Gr-yxQeJ3oCfAr9QQHh2YNlB8UnNhpRXMEC0WXokTb0JBk7bbMzYDLGr0o/s200/Oct+16+Artoo.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPhvTbJGeZ0x5sJu28eunSxGt1Zonk6fbq-AqentKumSEcmrRZ4RXl8vlDxu_1otSxBD2gEDgHHxY0VgcJQRyCq5Vy95kPsI3c3kT_y1kEu3gRkxfUynot3tkD9DuLqplrg652eX5Mto/s1600/Oct+2016+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPhvTbJGeZ0x5sJu28eunSxGt1Zonk6fbq-AqentKumSEcmrRZ4RXl8vlDxu_1otSxBD2gEDgHHxY0VgcJQRyCq5Vy95kPsI3c3kT_y1kEu3gRkxfUynot3tkD9DuLqplrg652eX5Mto/s200/Oct+2016+1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fso8sTKeiZxwcqwnnOrz6q2DoZqmdss9gvEf5AMOPsd7EGtS_H60hw-TyxPjqhxZbdI0gMaqXFaCX3xgVw-eAofo6MBdHjbF54fY1VQYU3t24SBPPkAFFgzEcXMxrOXBLVu_J_QLbS8/s1600/Oct+16+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fso8sTKeiZxwcqwnnOrz6q2DoZqmdss9gvEf5AMOPsd7EGtS_H60hw-TyxPjqhxZbdI0gMaqXFaCX3xgVw-eAofo6MBdHjbF54fY1VQYU3t24SBPPkAFFgzEcXMxrOXBLVu_J_QLbS8/s200/Oct+16+trees.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(I'm cheating with the photos - Hubby's just taken them for me on his walk with Artoo, while I write this, still in my dressing gown!)</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
About a month ago, I started writing and revising four stories for four very different short story competitions - one flash, one with a huge first prize, one with awesome additional publicity benefits and one with huge prestige.<br />
<br />
It was brilliant to work on such a variety of different projects, and a relief to finish one and start the next. The flash was so hard because it was only 300 hundred words, and then I immediately set out to turn a 50,000 word NaNo project from years ago into a 5,000 word short story. I think it worked. I hope it did.<br />
<br />
I love sending out submissions. I like the blank space that remains when the email has vanished. I sit and stare for a second, then I gather up all the notes and drafts for that project and file them away - and swap in the next thing.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I wrote a to-do list!</span></h3>
<div>
I don't do it often, but in August I wrote a to-do list, and last week I found it. Are you interested? Okay, here it is...</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><u><b>Re-start my mailing list</b></u>. It may surprise some of you to know that you're signed up to my mailing list, because I don't actually ever send it out. My goal was to resurrect it and make it fun. I have not done this... yet.</li>
<li><u><b>Write or redraft two stories</b></u>. Boom - wrote four!</li>
<li><u><b>Work through all my old stories to submit them by the end of the year</b></u>. Obviously, this is a follow-on from the previous point, but it makes sense, because I have a lot hanging around, and it's fun to re-work something to give it new life.</li>
<li><u><b>Buy more bloggers books and review them</b></u>. I realised that I love finding new reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, and figured my blogger friends love it too. So I've been doing this - slowly, but hopefully more when I get into the swing of it.</li>
<li><u><b>Figure out what to do with my novel</b></u>. I've submitted a particular novel to many agents, and no one likes it. I love it. Some beta readers said very nice things about it. I'm not going to give up on it, but I haven't figured out my next move yet.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Do you have a to-do list? How's it looking?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Are you getting prepared for autumn?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-22325008498101305162016-09-12T14:00:00.000+01:002016-09-12T14:00:19.493+01:00Cover reveal: Timeless by Crystal Collier<i>Who-hoo! I'm so happy to be taking part in the delightful Crystal's cover reveal today. Isn't it gorgeous?</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">TIMELESS (#3 Maiden of Time) by Crystal Collier #CoverReveal</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlT3mYTGtIXBsbcUWPKtzf5DsEH0Y-WIISXEy0yJiVb9qQQPOOa5ncjN3PDAzomlfWZeJE6sXHQCULs28ZItDEVrw1Qsc8f9NXRg5SvL8ZpBN83GpbcAYAqvbUb9sTSwLiEvF5TDi3nw/s1600/Cover+reveal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlT3mYTGtIXBsbcUWPKtzf5DsEH0Y-WIISXEy0yJiVb9qQQPOOa5ncjN3PDAzomlfWZeJE6sXHQCULs28ZItDEVrw1Qsc8f9NXRg5SvL8ZpBN83GpbcAYAqvbUb9sTSwLiEvF5TDi3nw/s320/Cover+reveal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFMN-fFK7Day8710YsbPi5BQvPBaY3p6RN6VOWtjuQd2KkGcYWhJoGF9GL6VJzlfdSbInM7cV_XaKlYZDBIgg-pMHTm_gEUtaFpnVf2PDuXoe3Z7fkdWDx3Vd6E7PShCN5fti585p3yw/s1600/Timeless+Web.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFMN-fFK7Day8710YsbPi5BQvPBaY3p6RN6VOWtjuQd2KkGcYWhJoGF9GL6VJzlfdSbInM7cV_XaKlYZDBIgg-pMHTm_gEUtaFpnVf2PDuXoe3Z7fkdWDx3Vd6E7PShCN5fti585p3yw/s1600/Timeless+Web.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Book Title: TIMELESS (Maiden of Time #3)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Crystal Collier</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Genre: YA Paranormal Historical</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Release Date: November 1, 2016</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28963102-timeless"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyn6EgahdlnRkHNic2KSx21D9Y7gMA9xENC3qGR2Z2urIQXyKDhlu1W-nua4wxGE3aXYP5wf9UOiIDA_y4kiL5ld66MiAMOhVUugTRrYnKtJ82QGE1WhLvrwR13W55EsRp51eCp_L2Zw/s1600/Goodreads+button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNZJzhqKfCRpKMMw9stsGG2jDuE_Y_lXprkVpzJqdtlhpEmsFcNtQ6qfskEGRPXuSkqe5lEvdJRCzURGvw9lF7o-bRJ-wLWkeLjpmHaBUJ3aUOuy4WD_c9JMLNAynzWskQY9S3izVjAU/s1600/The+Blurb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNZJzhqKfCRpKMMw9stsGG2jDuE_Y_lXprkVpzJqdtlhpEmsFcNtQ6qfskEGRPXuSkqe5lEvdJRCzURGvw9lF7o-bRJ-wLWkeLjpmHaBUJ3aUOuy4WD_c9JMLNAynzWskQY9S3izVjAU/s1600/The+Blurb.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">TIME IS THE ENEMY</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 1771, Alexia had everything: the man of her dreams, reconciliation with her father, even a child on the way. But she was never meant to stay. It broke her heart, but Alexia heeded destiny and traveled five hundred years back to stop the Soulless from becoming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the thirteenth century, the Holy Roman Church has ordered the Knights Templar to exterminate the Passionate, her bloodline. As Alexia fights this new threat—along with an unfathomable evil and her own heart—the Soulless genesis nears. But none of her hard-won battles may matter if she dies in childbirth before completing her mission.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can Alexia escape her own clock?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAAtiP9Z1YimqsLPR81kaU4V4KclpBNgb63YGYCYejjX3u3GKYuJ2ZC4A17S8_Pz18osOpDuNMeq9u72_gnYWDlmet4gTFcdXQGwMcAB4q86RXX4oqA8UkocPXkPBM8xUDNzI9Mnv5hw/s1600/TimelessPrint.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAAtiP9Z1YimqsLPR81kaU4V4KclpBNgb63YGYCYejjX3u3GKYuJ2ZC4A17S8_Pz18osOpDuNMeq9u72_gnYWDlmet4gTFcdXQGwMcAB4q86RXX4oqA8UkocPXkPBM8xUDNzI9Mnv5hw/s640/TimelessPrint.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrWp7_uycl-VSoj1RsNNsnx1vc6HRveZ5rpRc48E9NEgl4jPFpXkZBq8HbJJoCQZFloW9_ThtRlRs6GugRIWrNMPa5wXHOB0g5PTGJTg8tuKzuSWEhOy9w23upcsnB1_Xz-4bVdasnRQ/s1600/The+Giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrWp7_uycl-VSoj1RsNNsnx1vc6HRveZ5rpRc48E9NEgl4jPFpXkZBq8HbJJoCQZFloW9_ThtRlRs6GugRIWrNMPa5wXHOB0g5PTGJTg8tuKzuSWEhOy9w23upcsnB1_Xz-4bVdasnRQ/s1600/The+Giveaway.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="159c7dfd14" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/159c7dfd14/" id="rcwidget_azjkdwkp" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd3ZRKlDkvpPubXiSL-yL-p7zY0NN0vSV9Uej3ShEYKfd5n9fFxO8IT0QAovAljC-D1oAv3luA0YCoDZGEOfbJMYnlj6nbEHq0fAFsSSoXr96JukONtgKlRK0pmYMlNYpE8c-8UseZHY/s1600/Meet+the+Author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd3ZRKlDkvpPubXiSL-yL-p7zY0NN0vSV9Uej3ShEYKfd5n9fFxO8IT0QAovAljC-D1oAv3luA0YCoDZGEOfbJMYnlj6nbEHq0fAFsSSoXr96JukONtgKlRK0pmYMlNYpE8c-8UseZHY/s1600/Meet+the+Author.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHR5XBnu9hiMJIv3XHt5PsJ6waBhlImQDw7IvoQ7I9-3YS6UVeJXAfIflz9ZHz9RxhC_bFi5enWqyM0JFJd3RKOdcjbi8OXlCSPEe1A-mXr8HyQ6QAM04bmxCx1jv13BmQr1B3Cs-5wg/s1600/Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHR5XBnu9hiMJIv3XHt5PsJ6waBhlImQDw7IvoQ7I9-3YS6UVeJXAfIflz9ZHz9RxhC_bFi5enWqyM0JFJd3RKOdcjbi8OXlCSPEe1A-mXr8HyQ6QAM04bmxCx1jv13BmQr1B3Cs-5wg/s320/Cropped.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Crystal Collier is an eclectic author who pens clean fantasy/sci-fi, historical, and romance stories with the occasional touch of humor, horror, or inspiration. She practices her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and “friend†(a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.5333px;">You can find her on her </span><a href="http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.5333px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Blog</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.5333px;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/crystalcollierauthor" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.5333px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.5333px;">, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7073992.Crystal_Collier" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>, or follow her on </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/crystalcollier1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.5333px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Twitter</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.5333px;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.5333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.5333px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Want the first chapter free? Sign up </span><a href="http://crystal-collier.com/newsletter/" style="font-size: xx-large;">HERE</a><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.5333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
ra</div>
Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-75487187170261402142016-09-08T12:00:00.000+01:002016-09-08T12:00:00.165+01:00Baby Moo's Great Escape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2uocSP0TeSsvVNxUpgeS4h-pPWmEbnHvfFHjklV_GW2xRApbU26mDAwFtbV-Bb4oqpfCR44wJk1HFRR6Z4KMwalwkbeIvavldH-UUw5BIe1HfE4e1DQO-IUdps2QmxGjr8tBWDvqzqc/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2uocSP0TeSsvVNxUpgeS4h-pPWmEbnHvfFHjklV_GW2xRApbU26mDAwFtbV-Bb4oqpfCR44wJk1HFRR6Z4KMwalwkbeIvavldH-UUw5BIe1HfE4e1DQO-IUdps2QmxGjr8tBWDvqzqc/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Something a little bit different today, meet this little cuite, Baby Moo...<br />
<br />
<br />
Book blurb:<br />
<br />
Baby Moo has a dream. He wants to travel the world and sing on the stage of the Sydney Opera House! While he loves his home at Sunrise Sanctuary, it hasn’t been the same since a piglet named Nathan showed up and stole all the attention away from Moo. Jealous of the new baby, Moo decides now is the time to make his escape and pursue his dream.<br />
But the world outside the sanctuary gates is not quite the fun and exciting place Moo imagined, and he quickly finds himself in big trouble. Moo's friends Missy the dog and Ruthie the cat rush to help him, and land in some trouble of their own.<br />
Lost and frightened, Moo and his friends must rely on each other to find their way back home. Will they ever see Sunrise again?<br />
<br />
Release date: September 8, 2016 from Native Ink Press<br />
<a href="https://julieflanders.blogspot.com/p/baby-moos-great-escape.html" target="_blank">Check out Julie's blog for the list of places to buy</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31701061-baby-moo-s-great-escape" target="_blank">add on Goodreads</a><br />
<br />
Julie Flanders will donate $1 to Sunrise Sanctuary, home to Baby Moo and numerous other rescued animals, for each copy sold in September.<br />
<br />
Share the news by Tweeting:<br />
Baby Moo's Great Escape by @JulesFlanders is here! $1 will be donated to @sunrise_ohio for each copy sold in Sept. http://tinyurl.com/gpuomwm<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-28891159952578427862016-09-07T15:05:00.000+01:002016-09-07T15:05:06.291+01:00Just a quick note...... to say that my internet connection is very poor at the moment. I've just had 48 hours without it, and it's randomly come back on. This means I can't visit blogs very successfully - on the few and far between moments I have it, I need to internet bank and send emails with attachments, and all the other things I've come to take for granted.<br />
<br />
I've turned comments off, because I probably won't be able to do much with them at the moment. Hopefully it'll be resolved soon - I've tried wishing on eyelashes and crossing my fingers... the next step is to contact a computer guy!Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-78353159929239055512016-08-26T17:52:00.000+01:002016-08-26T17:52:22.461+01:00Writers are yellow carsEvery so often, I have a wobble - you've probably been witness to it once or twice: I wonder why I'm even a writer. Because <i>everyone </i>seems to be a writer. Is there really any room for me? I talk to people online, and discover they're writing a book. Or I'll meet someone new in real life, and - guess what? - they're a writer too.<br />
<br />
In fact, there seems to be far more writers than readers these days.<br />
<br />
#2 son is a budding actor. Today he was telling me about his friends, and they all seem to be part of one acting group or another. As a child, he's drawn to the people who have the same interests, of course - and perhaps acting groups are more prolific for kids these days than when I was at school. None of my friends were actors, and I didn't want to be one - I can't recall <i>any </i>of my non-friends who were actors either.<br />
<br />
My husband's first car was a yellow Metro, and I knew how easy it would be to find that car in a multi-storey car park... it would sparkle like a star from a bed of really dull-coloured cars. Until every car seemed to be yellow. Ugh! They weren't all yellow the day before, when we didn't have a yellow car. They were many colours.<br />
<br />
Many years later we had an import car - this time, when we met other drivers of the same car on the road, we'd give them a wave. We seemed to be waving an awful lot!<br />
<br />
So, perhaps there aren't a limitless numbers of writers oozing out of gaps in the walls or cracks in the pavement. Perhaps, by being a writer, I just notice them more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>This post is brought to you from a really boring bus journey this morning</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-51854861968387252016-08-20T10:58:00.000+01:002016-08-20T10:58:09.962+01:00No story goes to waste<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14039880_10154508749125774_4628635210547224609_n.jpg?oh=b45cf7f8ad22c67cb138ae6e2d5da536&oe=5859FC12" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14039880_10154508749125774_4628635210547224609_n.jpg?oh=b45cf7f8ad22c67cb138ae6e2d5da536&oe=5859FC12" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun on Seaton Beach, Cornwall with Artoo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After working hard on <i>You. I. Us. </i>and turning a novella into a novel for most of this year, I'm now looking back at some of my older stories and wondering if I can create something amazing out of them.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I do this on a fairly regular basis, with various levels of success. One of the stories from <i>You. I. Us. - </i>Redemption - was based on a story I wrote around 1997. The actual story bore no resemblance by the end of the re-write, but it kick-started me, and allowed me to tell the story I'd wanted to initially. Sometimes I find my own improvements as a writer enable past stories to be revitalised in a way that I could never imagine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm currently attempting this process with two stories at the same time. One is basically a piece of description that I'm hoping to squeeze a plot out of, and the other is the first part of my 2012 NaNoWriMo novel.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I'm going through the whole spectrum of writing within one page. I'll write a sentence I think is perfect, then another which is rubbish, then I'll decide the whole idea is a waste of time, then I'll sweep right back to writing something brilliant again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This makes it really hard to know if I'm actually writing anything that's any good. In fact, the original title of this post was "How do you know if you're writing a good story?" but that sounded like I was going to give advice and actually explain, rather than appeal for help myself.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you'll know giving advice isn't my forte!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As far as I can tell, from my own experience, you know when you get that gut-feeling. I've had it many times, and I'm usually right. Which should mean that when I don't have that feeling I should give up, right?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I won't. Because I'm stubborn.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>How do you decide which projects are worth the effort?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Have you ever shelved a story and gone back to it?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>___________________________________________________________</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-euX2D67N02LFQ-AHuVjb8Riwp4YA4pBfaVTrv9Nb6pJOl0jOcj-8qIOPU9QqeUiwD9oqgmiviof-IkoUNqkFjQMVMgVwhCOx6aU-gj4YNN5xI-EGZxMuQb0R5zjJuOM4DfT2m-TS9w/s1600/You-I-Us-eB-cov_for-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-euX2D67N02LFQ-AHuVjb8Riwp4YA4pBfaVTrv9Nb6pJOl0jOcj-8qIOPU9QqeUiwD9oqgmiviof-IkoUNqkFjQMVMgVwhCOx6aU-gj4YNN5xI-EGZxMuQb0R5zjJuOM4DfT2m-TS9w/s320/You-I-Us-eB-cov_for-web.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In other news, <i>You. I. Us. </i>has been getting some really great reviews recently. Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to leave a review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29494786-you-i-us" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>or <a href="http://getbook.at/You-I-Us" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Whenever I get a good review, I treat myself to some chocolate - and you should know how much I like chocolate by now, so I really appreciate it on a whole new level.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-22414808645777838512016-08-05T21:24:00.001+01:002016-08-05T21:24:43.355+01:00Me and the DoctorI've been quiet this week, because I've been away. First we stopped off at a very normal and grown-up National Trust property, then we went to the <a href="http://www.doctorwho.tv/events/doctor-who-experience/" target="_blank">Doctor Who Experience</a> in Cardiff. If you're ever in Cardiff, it's well worth a visit. We spent almost three hours there.<br />
<br />
I thought I'd share some photos, because I know some of you are just as big a fan as I am! (Some of these are blurred, and I'm in a few of them... sorry, on both counts.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgm2dxQWJVHI0MsZ3R6h7_SnuF-uQgY9dl4BC0UAVjHXznNn3bvM01j-qdqN-xaUUjVJ5zJLnUxiSbtTPY5of096ihtdd-xOyw0_gFJxUrtQbyYmDqhEFW8IAVVtGreLzxsZC4S1c3P8/s1600/Clara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgm2dxQWJVHI0MsZ3R6h7_SnuF-uQgY9dl4BC0UAVjHXznNn3bvM01j-qdqN-xaUUjVJ5zJLnUxiSbtTPY5of096ihtdd-xOyw0_gFJxUrtQbyYmDqhEFW8IAVVtGreLzxsZC4S1c3P8/s320/Clara.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clara's display and TARDIS tribute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7X8Rwcg05sxF9uQSeWsXzSVthU_Ea3zZc7OkEA8uC-k0EMgYveN88BaWWGUjKtPtp-C8yVWjXGFun53a4_76wa8BzzN5SEUPf1TSejXEKj0DZUiSnSVY-GBZdZAgoDq55bvNMvrqTOM/s1600/Davros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7X8Rwcg05sxF9uQSeWsXzSVthU_Ea3zZc7OkEA8uC-k0EMgYveN88BaWWGUjKtPtp-C8yVWjXGFun53a4_76wa8BzzN5SEUPf1TSejXEKj0DZUiSnSVY-GBZdZAgoDq55bvNMvrqTOM/s400/Davros.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Davros</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI89o6gUW0vn6vKDtBZPGBq_j9JGLJG4hJ_-WE0heGnp_az6dEP8UN_oSBa7iY-W3oiuTmAPzGMJunWgqDHD2nBe2mq8nQNKa2UH55UYHGqOLbgaXbiR87AKBcHdlFEWOFA7u2V22_i8Q/s1600/Five%2527s+TARDIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI89o6gUW0vn6vKDtBZPGBq_j9JGLJG4hJ_-WE0heGnp_az6dEP8UN_oSBa7iY-W3oiuTmAPzGMJunWgqDHD2nBe2mq8nQNKa2UH55UYHGqOLbgaXbiR87AKBcHdlFEWOFA7u2V22_i8Q/s320/Five%2527s+TARDIS.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The TARDIS from the 70s and 80s -<br />with the all-important hat stand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3ofvB8c-VaApoF8KJ_ookSbpr99IzKd81Wu-e34hTtxd8FgYPIxoJ2JxC4XrZHDnzRT4cxZENF71RkycW4lTJ0maUvl8uSOZAYqdOn9_sFZOXf5weof1ZxtVaPW3VlegqpSTXUV898Y/s1600/Lots+of+Silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3ofvB8c-VaApoF8KJ_ookSbpr99IzKd81Wu-e34hTtxd8FgYPIxoJ2JxC4XrZHDnzRT4cxZENF71RkycW4lTJ0maUvl8uSOZAYqdOn9_sFZOXf5weof1ZxtVaPW3VlegqpSTXUV898Y/s320/Lots+of+Silence.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Silence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhEIujEmDq73fmHayWo-sVdMT2fIaPvGj9zq5CdnBLhZPDEW6pwRaw3hGGMDlawKOLy4gsEWdH4GbgTzBPnsBcBmiF3pbF3ztVpo8OXcW_GcaDMft47qBwBh3QiRXhRbXrmEeuxIpJwg/s1600/Me+n+Eleven+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhEIujEmDq73fmHayWo-sVdMT2fIaPvGj9zq5CdnBLhZPDEW6pwRaw3hGGMDlawKOLy4gsEWdH4GbgTzBPnsBcBmiF3pbF3ztVpo8OXcW_GcaDMft47qBwBh3QiRXhRbXrmEeuxIpJwg/s320/Me+n+Eleven+again.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with Eleven, kinda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJyjLW_geTYSpK11HZH0Ul-Qydbq0CoUCAPv-yPUppCN4nwhxQgz0T1Vxc8iwwL5Qmv_EL52GxX8aXu1ZrvvK12GMYkP6KTCaBQ7nQBGe6Lnut2w5Iphodfbn15N4ArGuluBycB9Dzg0/s1600/New+TARDIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJyjLW_geTYSpK11HZH0Ul-Qydbq0CoUCAPv-yPUppCN4nwhxQgz0T1Vxc8iwwL5Qmv_EL52GxX8aXu1ZrvvK12GMYkP6KTCaBQ7nQBGe6Lnut2w5Iphodfbn15N4ArGuluBycB9Dzg0/s320/New+TARDIS.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The TARDIS of Nine and Ten</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu512eumKXEOwt_NeXkkKb5B22B0Bdmr5ouDjRH5OvAJyqQ2XYryWzAVl0v2AUkDDzDgxbPR4AEWxkfdt7RvIhfT3QHPnrDz78mpih4LaeKMatb_vb6YHbayvZ7nuPYQoezWFIM5GwdaE/s1600/Random+Baddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu512eumKXEOwt_NeXkkKb5B22B0Bdmr5ouDjRH5OvAJyqQ2XYryWzAVl0v2AUkDDzDgxbPR4AEWxkfdt7RvIhfT3QHPnrDz78mpih4LaeKMatb_vb6YHbayvZ7nuPYQoezWFIM5GwdaE/s320/Random+Baddies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some random baddies and the Face of Bo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_a2ulgYHC_JNLp7keCvsLA7tKjNrHiJkhPBaOX_MF87xQ7T1Thqh7fEvhBx8UAm5cgOj3aSe7WRxUJ0hLaGimddin5oj0KyYGT0_WaWhvlo1Ax9vqfIyNJEKZEALmgJLbET4cP01uOA/s1600/The+Silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_a2ulgYHC_JNLp7keCvsLA7tKjNrHiJkhPBaOX_MF87xQ7T1Thqh7fEvhBx8UAm5cgOj3aSe7WRxUJ0hLaGimddin5oj0KyYGT0_WaWhvlo1Ax9vqfIyNJEKZEALmgJLbET4cP01uOA/s200/The+Silence.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really thought I was acting<br />nonchalant here. Turns out I was<br />just smiling a lot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggrYts-VIghFjE1cswAIiZIKZgAiXhiwk4uWU8VrgBVZzNf5JQsyKcynI0QoiPzrvzjGXsFzKvvbJ_GGt-fUnqQrbQvXes1EyTgDZ0K0abECMRJrzeckSGfxtHYfBpK5bIR88wYDIZkE/s1600/River+Song%2527s+outfits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggrYts-VIghFjE1cswAIiZIKZgAiXhiwk4uWU8VrgBVZzNf5JQsyKcynI0QoiPzrvzjGXsFzKvvbJ_GGt-fUnqQrbQvXes1EyTgDZ0K0abECMRJrzeckSGfxtHYfBpK5bIR88wYDIZkE/s320/River+Song%2527s+outfits.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Song's outfits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-62219124660421894752016-07-27T19:06:00.000+01:002016-07-27T19:06:25.670+01:00Man Booker time again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1452962553l/28580659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1452962553l/28580659.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
It's <a href="http://themanbookerprize.com/fiction" target="_blank">Man Booker longlist</a> time again, and it looks like a good one.<br />
<br />
I was a little uninspired by last year's list, but this year I already had some of the books on my TBR list, so I spent time today adding a couple more.<br />
<br />
I hadn't realised it was being announced today until one of my friends on Facebook - the owner of Salt - shared the news that another of his authors had been included, Wyl Menmuir for his book The Many. I wrote about Salt's story in 2012 when Alison Moore made it to the shortlist. You can read my post <a href="https://annalisacrawford.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-salt-book-on-booker-longlist.html" target="_blank">here</a> - it's an inspiring story in itself.<br />
<br />
I love the Man Booker Prize, because I'll be winning it when I'm 56 (it's been a long standing conviction since I was 17, I might have mentioned it once or twice).<br />
<br />
Every year, when the prize rolls around, it makes me super focused on my writing. I've been a bit aimless (again... *sigh*) since I finished my WIP at the end of last month, so today I started re-reading a novel I've been submitting to agents, and decided to refresh it. None of the agents have been interested, so it's probably a good time to have another go at it. Beta readers have given it thumbs up, so it might be just a case of jiggling with it and trying again.<br />
<br />
It can't hurt, right?<br />
<br />
At the moment, I have chopped up/taped back together scenes strewn all over my floor, and I'm fending Artoo off with my foot. So, it's probably time to get back to work.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What have you been up to?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What gets you motivated to write? Do you even <i>need </i>motivating as much as I do?</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-59723722330779674312016-07-20T13:00:00.000+01:002016-07-20T13:00:09.705+01:00Visiting CrystalI'm over on Crystal Collier's blog today, taking part in her <a href="http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com/2016/07/how-not-to-accomplish-goals-in-5-easy.html" target="_blank">Writerly Wednesday</a> feature. Decide which of my facts is a lie for a chance to win a signed copy of You. I. Us.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other news, it's hot. The UK is sweltering under a heatwave - although it might already be over by the time you read this. At least I work in an air conditioned gym!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-72103480426789031962016-07-13T07:51:00.000+01:002016-07-13T07:51:01.348+01:00Laptop woes and holidaysGood morning! It's good to be back. You might not have noticed my absence, but I have been very aware of the lacking of blogging, networking and laptop in my life over the past week.<br />
<br />
Such a long week...<br />
<br />
<h3>
Laptop woes</h3>
I had grand plans when I finished my blog tour of visiting all the people who'd commented on my blog and replying... But my laptop went away to be serviced. I waved it goodbye last Monday evening and waited. Then I vacuumed, and cleaned the bathroom, and washed the windows, and gave the box of <i>You. I. Us's</i> a proper home.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Holidays</h3>
Then I went away for the weekend.... Yay! I went on a trip with my dad and sister to <a href="http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a>, the Duxford Air Show and <a href="https://hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk/milestones-museum" target="_blank">Milestones Museum</a> in Basingstoke. I promised myself I'd take lots of photos, and then didn't. So, to illustrate my weekend away here I am, looking very scared, in front of the bar used in The Imitation Game, in a display at Bletchley... Ready?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z6x8_F7S4ejh_t7x1Zbo5t0WW4R70VoYktr0Rvu8BmpHNS4O4ySq9TtU_0EeSHp_spIQujEdzxyhY9gOpemJF6A6iz0V8aVnzuhTE_EVKIgNqvGUZt4nHLvU8_yXVym172sbQ2jX9CI/s1600/WP_20160708_11_52_16_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z6x8_F7S4ejh_t7x1Zbo5t0WW4R70VoYktr0Rvu8BmpHNS4O4ySq9TtU_0EeSHp_spIQujEdzxyhY9gOpemJF6A6iz0V8aVnzuhTE_EVKIgNqvGUZt4nHLvU8_yXVym172sbQ2jX9CI/s320/WP_20160708_11_52_16_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Even though my New Year's Resolution was to take a selfie a day for the year, I'm obviously still very bad at taking them.<br />
<br />
But this is one of the better photos I took, apart from this one, from the air show... Taking photos of planes is really hard. You should have seen the calamity of me trying to catch the F-22 fighter jet!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTfnbw_6xpeIwYsnpgg7nEeRa2zXcZrgHO3CWgd-BIfJiFDQMMI78eJ4cWbiGewrvrLJzTmveSs2vS-wOl4XvK05L0ztbYX07Uwta9oIZ-1HSo_vJQkQk5keX-ZERZwKKNhedIyyW0qI/s1600/WP_20160709_15_41_48_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTfnbw_6xpeIwYsnpgg7nEeRa2zXcZrgHO3CWgd-BIfJiFDQMMI78eJ4cWbiGewrvrLJzTmveSs2vS-wOl4XvK05L0ztbYX07Uwta9oIZ-1HSo_vJQkQk5keX-ZERZwKKNhedIyyW0qI/s320/WP_20160709_15_41_48_Pro.jpg" width="209" /></a>More laptop woes</h3>
We came home on Sunday evening, and I was still without my laptop. On Monday, I wandered the house, watched telly, read a book, wrote some notes for a new flash fiction, and went down into town to buy a mop. <br />
<br />
Reader, there was no mop! I bought a duster instead.<br />
<br />
My laptop didn't come home until late yesterday - Tuesday - evening. It was a harsh eight days (and I was away for four of them!)<br />
<br />
But, I'm back!<br />
<br />
And because I've done very little marketing in the past eight days, I'll just leave this here...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkPQKPYAziy5vj__h8vUm6qvBvu2SEb-m59qhByjgb8AyDZ20WuD0Ykmd5haLcCC1avr9zvCCScBZpV_4bW50nd4fZx4DH7sW8wrQPUvoCg6D5YFEs0Qsxng7bBtdekLAK5ZzgUup28U/s1600/You-I-Us-eB-cov_for-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkPQKPYAziy5vj__h8vUm6qvBvu2SEb-m59qhByjgb8AyDZ20WuD0Ykmd5haLcCC1avr9zvCCScBZpV_4bW50nd4fZx4DH7sW8wrQPUvoCg6D5YFEs0Qsxng7bBtdekLAK5ZzgUup28U/s200/You-I-Us-eB-cov_for-web.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
Find the book in all these places:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://getbook.at/You-I-Us" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazon</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> // </span></b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-i-us-annalisa-crawford/1123776961" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Barnes & Noble</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> // </span></b><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/You-I-Us-Annalis-Crawford/9781925417173" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Book Depository</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> // </span></b><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/you-i-us" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Kobo </span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;">// </span></b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gr/book/you.-i.-us./id1118133329" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">iBooks</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> // </span></b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-i-us-annalisa-crawford/1123776961?ean=9781925417142" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Nook</span></b></a><br />
<br />
And add to your TBR list: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29494786-you-i-us" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Goodreads</span></b></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTfnbw_6xpeIwYsnpgg7nEeRa2zXcZrgHO3CWgd-BIfJiFDQMMI78eJ4cWbiGewrvrLJzTmveSs2vS-wOl4XvK05L0ztbYX07Uwta9oIZ-1HSo_vJQkQk5keX-ZERZwKKNhedIyyW0qI/s1600/WP_20160709_15_41_48_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-12817486309514866192016-07-01T12:00:00.000+01:002016-07-01T12:48:55.742+01:00Blog Tour: Day 15, finishing with Christine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50ih_jNGD8DsqoBJ14zLD_q44K-CNB6F4OqcLKqOe_M27sre08dR1CU2KoUHa93HV3tBtq9utzHNhiE9V6ggsnpxQCRm4TEQ-BmEW-rzdbLfQNWB1Q-yeW46rA36aL-XfLmdqk7NXIRY/s1600/WP_20160616_15_34_01_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50ih_jNGD8DsqoBJ14zLD_q44K-CNB6F4OqcLKqOe_M27sre08dR1CU2KoUHa93HV3tBtq9utzHNhiE9V6ggsnpxQCRm4TEQ-BmEW-rzdbLfQNWB1Q-yeW46rA36aL-XfLmdqk7NXIRY/s320/WP_20160616_15_34_01_Pro.jpg" width="180" /></a>It's been three weeks, ladies and gents, fifteen blog posts and countless comments, (plus three hot chocolate dates with friends and family - including one today!- and a completed round of edits for my WIP) and I've finally reached the end of my tour. Thank you all so much for sticking with me. I've enjoyed every second.<br />
<br />
Huge thanks go out to the fifteen bloggers who made the tour a success with their fascinating and thought-provoking questions.<br />
<br />
I'm heading to <a href="http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/you-i-us-tour-guest-post-by-annalisa.html" target="_blank">Christine Rain's blog</a> today to discuss the most important element of a short story.<br />
<br />
I'll leave you with one final picture of Artoo, and my leg - this is the view I had for most of the England v Wales game (the game we won during our Euro campaign) when he couldn't understand why I was watching telly instead of taking him for a walk.<br />
<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-64247076332917270462016-06-30T12:00:00.000+01:002016-06-30T15:59:56.940+01:00Blog Tour: Day 14, shipwrecked with Stacey Bryan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGJRpzDsCX1z0aDzLKKvlKco9thI3LH09cjYQ-xFsOxTGi7-J9eTR7P3dFTnCJYnicorcfejeUfRYUWF0ghlyZdP2vSdhNPJIeZJWPYsE5IPuU_vp-bngP9FIZ13x0nqoAmHPrM4XOIg/s1600/WP_20130721_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGJRpzDsCX1z0aDzLKKvlKco9thI3LH09cjYQ-xFsOxTGi7-J9eTR7P3dFTnCJYnicorcfejeUfRYUWF0ghlyZdP2vSdhNPJIeZJWPYsE5IPuU_vp-bngP9FIZ13x0nqoAmHPrM4XOIg/s320/WP_20130721_001.jpg" width="320" /></a>It's been a busy day for me today - not only has <a href="https://staceyebryan.wordpress.com/2016/06/29/annalisa-crawford-outwits-a-maniac/" target="_blank">Stacey Bryan</a> shipwrecked me on a deserted island with a villain, I've been signing books at my local library.<br />
<br />
In fact, as you read this, I'm still there, probably packing up. There will be photos to follow, probably next week when I've had a chance to breathe.<br />
<br />
I couldn't find a picture of the library or a deserted island -funnily enough, I've never taken a photo of either! Here's a picture of St Michael's Mount just off the Cornish coast. Quite an easy place to escape from, due to being able to walk there and back during low tide.<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-15991320422873487702016-06-29T12:00:00.000+01:002016-06-29T12:00:18.758+01:00Blog Tour: Day 13, being arty with Nicola <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvw00zFNEKPoalu_eu6MxluFPLj_jlltmXs42xzVDgkdHrRYnvD6tcxUvzXYBZfzcsa6CktQwNXEZ67dosVzuSRCmup5DT68hyphenhyphenBMSqHU5_CgabsNFtzCZFhydy1TSI5WFZDMr0zjxFT4/s1600/WP_20141010_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvw00zFNEKPoalu_eu6MxluFPLj_jlltmXs42xzVDgkdHrRYnvD6tcxUvzXYBZfzcsa6CktQwNXEZ67dosVzuSRCmup5DT68hyphenhyphenBMSqHU5_CgabsNFtzCZFhydy1TSI5WFZDMr0zjxFT4/s320/WP_20141010_001.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
It's raining today. I had plans to go to the gym and be really busy, but I've woken up with really sore wrists and a headache. So I think I might take a relaxed day and read a book that I want to review for one of my author buddies.<br />
<br />
While I hide from our weather, my blog tour is heading to Germany to visit <a href="http://njburggraf.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/a-picture-paints-thousand-words.html" target="_blank">Nicola Burgraff's Blog</a> to talk about art.<br />
<br />
This is a sunny photo to combat the rain. I'm not sure why I took this photo - it's just the end of my road - but apparently <i>all </i>photos can be useful eventually.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's another shout out for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/annalisacrawford.writer/" target="_blank">My Facebook Page</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29494786-you-i-us" target="_blank">You. I. Us. Goodreads Page</a>.</div>
Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-38213194460119826972016-06-28T12:00:00.000+01:002016-06-28T12:00:06.748+01:00Blog Tour: Day 12, marketing with Sandra<u></u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBp25hUzq2bok-ysHBJxw4z4XPpIjBpVpkacR7YBc_54mKgEsC1EnmqHGcyTAmLXT5D-baU3KKrOW2edHLZ5_AEIHXHjKXrs3X4uGEtPUYcShtp5iQmDbJ7J7QqSr6ZLfJ475y5oxTEI/s1600/20160127_081652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBp25hUzq2bok-ysHBJxw4z4XPpIjBpVpkacR7YBc_54mKgEsC1EnmqHGcyTAmLXT5D-baU3KKrOW2edHLZ5_AEIHXHjKXrs3X4uGEtPUYcShtp5iQmDbJ7J7QqSr6ZLfJ475y5oxTEI/s320/20160127_081652.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
Good effort, Iceland...<br />
<br />
<br />
And moving on, today I'm with <a href="http://sandracox.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/youius.html" target="_blank">Sandra Cox</a>, talking marketing, or lack thereof. This is a topic that always makes me shudder, because I never know the best way to do it... Like revising for exams - I used to spend more time on the revision timetable than the actual revising!<br />
<br />
Today's photo is of me, dazed and confused, after the Costa Award ceremony. Coincidentally, dazed and confused is how I approach marketing...<br />
<br />
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-38887469156252682732016-06-27T12:00:00.000+01:002016-06-28T10:49:40.716+01:00Blog Tour: Day 11, sharing wine with SuzanneHi guys, are you still with me? It's the final week of my tour!<br />
<br />
I hope you had a great weekend. Mine was spent mostly reading lots of newspapers trying to get to the truth about what's going to happen to my country next. As far as I can tell, not much for the moment. But that hasn't stopped a lot of people calling a lot of other people some nasty names, and all the political parties seem to be in turmoil. I think we've broken the political system...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Fg-bl86WGIdTxyu2QdQoca0t0OjZrv9wODrk_jZBMhEOfOflfNn6PQeuZbyy3aRQHCLtK6DmdDJHj0TZdyu8rmm5ImdlyDISBmrnwawSqXmJIUIuAJa8E4I2JU-8itonxDvW7tcMuPY/s1600/WP_20150612_15_29_02_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Fg-bl86WGIdTxyu2QdQoca0t0OjZrv9wODrk_jZBMhEOfOflfNn6PQeuZbyy3aRQHCLtK6DmdDJHj0TZdyu8rmm5ImdlyDISBmrnwawSqXmJIUIuAJa8E4I2JU-8itonxDvW7tcMuPY/s320/WP_20150612_15_29_02_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In need of a cut?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(Yes, there's a reason why I'm not a political blogger!)<br />
<br />
Today I'm telling <a href="http://suzannefurness.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/youius-by-annalisa-crawford.html" target="_blank">Suzanne Furness</a> all about my dream place to write, and simultaneously having my hair cut.<br />
<br />
Tonight, England play Iceland in the first of their knockout rounds. On past experience, they only really need one!<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-83230861658934068752016-06-24T12:00:00.000+01:002016-06-24T13:29:54.038+01:00Blog Tour: Day 10, with queen Elizabeth Seckman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopQWJuQD_oRvQbN4Rws8Xu7ioZ9PJHlbm22btPIelIqCVtp2XBq7sfLKWrQK8wXk9xFLtzYgT7eoDACFrMBCDKf-99pLPVI3VyMCfwfFoEVq7v-7Prh0au1qetxQKkLo7niKOlEPkvaY/s1600/monarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopQWJuQD_oRvQbN4Rws8Xu7ioZ9PJHlbm22btPIelIqCVtp2XBq7sfLKWrQK8wXk9xFLtzYgT7eoDACFrMBCDKf-99pLPVI3VyMCfwfFoEVq7v-7Prh0au1qetxQKkLo7niKOlEPkvaY/s1600/monarch.jpg" /></a>Yesterday, Britain voted in the EU referendum.<br />
<br />
(I'm actually writing this last night, just as the polls are closing, so I have no idea of the result - all I know is we've been left with a deeply divided country which will take a long time to heal.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's as political as I'm ever going to get on this blog. There's no football talk today, either, because no one played last night - it was weird not to have a match to watch mid-afternoon.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eseckman.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/it-good-to-be-queen.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Seckman's blog</a> is today's stop, talking about my favourite monarch... any guesses?<br />
<br />
No, it's not this guy, although a long time ago - when I worked in a library and had a desk in an office, Alastair Mackenzie was definitely one of my pin-ups!<br />
<br />
<br />
I've given up (um, did I start?) replying to the comments on this blog for the time being. Keeping up with the tour posts, drinking hot chocolate with all my friends and relations, working, and editing my WIP (two chapters to go!) has been challenging. My plan is to go back over all the comments at the end, and go visiting.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have you liked <a href="https://www.facebook.com/annalisacrawford.writer/" target="_blank">My Facebook Page</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29494786-you-i-us" target="_blank">You. I. Us. Goodreads Page</a> yet?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-26969655546069876412016-06-23T12:00:00.000+01:002016-06-23T13:33:14.667+01:00Blog Tour: Day 9, being literary with MacEuro 2016 update (coz I know you're all really interested now... I'm making you love European football, aren't I... aren't I??): England weren't playing yesterday because they played on Monday night, but the results of two games were important because one of those teams will be our opponents next Monday. For a long time it looked like Iceland, then it switched to Portugal (argh! no!), then in the very last seconds it switched back to Iceland when they won their game. Who-hoo!<br />
<br />
Ahem... a now for some book stuff. Today, I'm on <a href="http://rmacwheeler.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/visiting-author-annalisa-crawford.html" target="_blank">R Mac Wheeler's blog</a> discussing the importance of a variety of literary elements.<br />
<br />
I love Mac's blog because he posts some fantastic pictures of wildlife, his dogs and all nice things. As a picture-a-day has become an established part of this blog tour, I felt the pressure. So, here's a photo I took the other day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4tzWfYXABzw3KZhthdnWYsXw_xyufmtqy5bxobWM9DU63wMwSzb0pBf939pGmliEcZ4E92T62QfAJSLiOeJ54xK9mqsNQQWP4z2Af-Ds3-oisupVV4UXTts8zuY49756FdAFd8dtsdE/s1600/WP_20160601_13_55_27_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4tzWfYXABzw3KZhthdnWYsXw_xyufmtqy5bxobWM9DU63wMwSzb0pBf939pGmliEcZ4E92T62QfAJSLiOeJ54xK9mqsNQQWP4z2Af-Ds3-oisupVV4UXTts8zuY49756FdAFd8dtsdE/s320/WP_20160601_13_55_27_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was on purpose, even though it looks like an accident. I was struck by the number of different tiles on the floor, and because my current WIP is set in the area, I thought I'd take the photo to remind me.Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669601964389987165.post-28733875816363654392016-06-22T12:00:00.000+01:002016-06-22T12:00:09.883+01:00Blog Tour: Day 8, talking films with LibbyAh, the half-way stage of the tour, but no slacking from me! Apart from the fact that I'm out for hot chocolate again, this time with my sister (yes, the shadow from Monday's post). And yes, there may be a little more shopping. <br />
<br />
Today, I'm on <a href="https://libbyheily.com/blog/" target="_blank">Libby Heily's blog</a>, talking about turning stories into films. As you'll know from Joanne Faries question the other day, my eldest is a budding film-maker, so perhaps I can ask persuade him to help me out...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_bpZ8ArkdLO8Gc6wXKCS225SngevrN1P7EVcJwD2gIJ_-J0gCFlmp3iGy8MkSWomDcypVBk3xQGYocfJvlBa7kZ_CnJlctUrb2erT2ZcU8fc-fWaF0ll80zLHm17wjoeypob9XJ_euM/s1600/WP_20140928_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_bpZ8ArkdLO8Gc6wXKCS225SngevrN1P7EVcJwD2gIJ_-J0gCFlmp3iGy8MkSWomDcypVBk3xQGYocfJvlBa7kZ_CnJlctUrb2erT2ZcU8fc-fWaF0ll80zLHm17wjoeypob9XJ_euM/s320/WP_20140928_007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I searched through my photo albums to find a good picture for this post, and stumbled across this one. This is the very notebook where all of the stories in You. I. Us. were conceived. In that beer garden, while listening to Hubby's lazy afternoon gig, I wrote two of the stories, one of which is In The Beer Garden...<br />
<br />
The cider was nice too!Annalisa Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.com3