Underrated Treasures

Today I am taking part in Alex's blogfest. Click this link for the sign up list and go find lots of underrated treasures.

It seemed like a good idea to sign up for this, but I have a problem. It often feels like everyone has heard of everything I like - I'll find something amazing and want to share it with people, and they all look at me, with pity, and say "Yeah, we all knew about that last year."

So, this is a challenge...

Um....

Er....

Okay, here goes... a lot of you have heard/read Suzannah Dunn's historical fiction, yes? If no, my job is done, go and read...

Venus Flaring

If yes, did you know she wrote contemporary fiction first, and that her first book, Darker Days Than Usual was the book that convinced me I might be able to make a living out of writing? (Okay, I'm still waiting to make my living.) Unfortunately, I can't grab a decent picture of Darker Days Than Usual, and I don't own a copy, so here are a few others to check out.

Past Caring is another book that doesn't seem to have an image available - it's about reincarnation, though, and pretty good.

Blood Sugar

Quite Contrary

Have you heard of Dunn? Is the contemporary part of her career a surprise to you? Have I just proved my original statement?

I'm off to hop around and see what underrated gems I've been missing out on!

IWSG - I'm a co-host!

It's the first Wednesday of the month, and you all know what that means by now. Even if you don't take part yourself, you'll have seen this badge all over blogs you visit.

It's a huge honour to be selected to co-host this month's IWSG alongside Julie and Elise.

And co-hosting actually fits in very well with my insecurity this month...

Do I do enough to support my fellow bloggers/writers?

Alex does... everything. Arlee Bird founded the A-Z Challenge that many of you are taking part in - and he has many co-hosts helping, and this year the co-hosts have minions (love that word!), so there are many 70 or so people helping out there. Misha Gericke has her Paying Forward awards, and some fantastic people offering prizes for the winners. Livia Peterson bounced into bloggyland relatively recently and blasted through it all (and she's co-hosting the A-Z Challenge in her very first year of taking part). So many more of you constantly host cover reveals and blog hops and book launches and tours, as well as beta reading for each other and giving random shout outs and book reviews.

I've been on the receiving end of so much good will over the life of my blog, especially once I started having my books published. But I wonder whether I give enough back. Could I do more? 

To everyone who has ever helped me out, let me visit their blog, revealed a cover, interviewed me and reviewed my books...

Thank You - you are awesome, and I'll try harder!

(PS. Before I go I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who visited my interview on Dan O'Brien's blog. I had a glance down at the other interviews he's done, and they maybe garner one or two comments, or sometimes none at all. You guys have left 13 - as of Tuesday morning, when I wrote this! That's awesome, and completely proves that I belong to the most supportive group of writers/bloggers!)

The post that keeps changing name

Apologies for being MIA during the Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest on Monday. I had my post up, then released no one could see my pictures, then - because I was already... erm, in a less than jolly mood - I pulled the post, sulked and didn't comment on any more posts.

Just so you know, I'm aware how lame that sounds.

I am so sorry. I feel like a teenager. All I needed was a pot of black paint and I'd have been in my element, and Hubby would have been left trying to wipe black paint off our ceilings.

So to make up for it, I'm taking part now. But - and this is REALLY IMPORTANT - I don't want you to comment. Because I sulked and didn't comment on yours - I did read them though! - you shouldn't comment on mine. Deal? In fact, to make sure you don't, I'm turning off comments.

Also, I've learnt my lesson, and I've taken off the pictures I attached the first time around. Without further ado, my films in no order at all are...

Love Actually Hugh Grant dancing, Emma Thompson listening to 'Both Sides Now' by Joni Mitchell, the seen at the wedding when the band start playing - there are so many scenes in this film that I love. It's the perfect Christmas film too - around about September, when I'm feeling Christmassy, I watch this film. And then I watch it on a monthly basis until Christmas, when it gets promoted to twice during Christmas week (it does help that as a gigging musician, Hubby is quite busy at that time of the year!)

Fight Club When I tell people I love this film, they assume it's because of Brad Pitt, but actually... no. Does no one get how awesome an actor Edward Norton is? Does no one love Helena Bonham-Carter as much as I do? This film grabs you from the opening!

Reservoir Dogs My favourite Tarantino film without a doubt. Magnificent soundtrack, brilliant dialogue, and - honestly - who hasn't mimicked the walk at one time or another? I first watched it with a group of friends when we were 17 - I was the only one to get the humour, everyone else sat in shock. They later caught up! While checking out the spelling of Tarantino (one R or two... simple stuff) I found these fun facts: George Clooney, David Dachovny and Samuel L Jackson all auditioned. It was a much bigger hit in the UK than the US, due to almost no promotion in the States.

It's a Wonderful Life Yes, I cry at this one too. I watch it every year. It used to be shown on TV, but one year when it wasn't, I went out and bought a copy. I love James Stewart, simple as that! The one scene that always bristles with me is when we see the spinster Mary - apparently if beautiful women don't marry at the right time, they turn into dowdy librarians who need to wear glasses and are scared when a man merely looks in their direction!

Shallow Grave Two years before Trainspotting, Danny Boyle made this film, a story of three flatmates who interview for a fourth. Any thing more than that would be a spoiler, if you haven't seen it - but I really recommend checking it out. It's very funny and dark. Boyle's father considers this to be his best work, according to a Top Gear interview I saw once (and then several times more, courtesy of Dave!)

The Usual Suspects Kevin Spacey is amazing. That's all. Again, great humour and banter between the characters - dialogue is hard to write well, and that's even more obviously when you find a film where it's so very well done. I'm still completely astounded by people who don't get the ending... apparently, there are quite a few in the UK, and I know most of them. Head. Wall. Bang.

Fiddler on the Roof I think I've written about this film before. Long story short - my maternal grandparent's were Ukrainian - although not Jewish - but would have grown up in a similar village, albeit with less singing. As a result, my mum used to watch this film a lot, which meant I used to watch it a lot, so it's seeped into my psyche. Topol was made for the role of Tevye (fun fact: he was only in his thirties when he played the part).

Sliding Doors This is a film/book/story I wish I'd written. It actually encompasses my beliefs that our destiny is written (within reason), but our journey is our choice. I love John Hannah in this film... oh okay, I love John Hannah in any film.

Dogma Another film with fantastic dialogue, courtesy of Kevin Smith who also plays Silent Bob. Alan Rickman is perfect as the sarcastic voice of God. It's been a while since I watched this, so I can't make a full-on argument for this film. After listening to other people talking about this film, I realise you either love it or hate it.

10 Things I Hate About You There were several contenders for a Heath Ledger film (because he had to be included). My other favourite is A Knight's Tale... but - but - what swings in this film's favour is Ledger singing Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, and the look in his eye when he's sitting with Kat on the swing. And the awesome soundtrack. And, okay, I cry at the end of this one too.

There. I'm done. I hope we're friends again!
Normal blogging will resume soon.

Back From The Future Blog Party

If you're here for the Bloghop of Joy click here.


M Pax, Suze of Subliminal Coffee and Nicki Elson are teaming up for the Back from the Future Blogfest. 

You're up before dawn on a Saturday when the doorbell rings. You haven't brewed your coffee so you wonder if you imagined the sound. Plonking the half-filled carafe in the sink, you go to the front door and cautiously swing it open. No one there. As you cast your eyes to the ground, you see a parcel addressed to you ... from you.

You scoop it up and haul it inside, sensing something legitimate despite the extreme oddness of the situation. Carefully, you pry it open. Inside is a shoebox -- sent from ten years in the future -- and it's filled with items you have sent yourself.

What's in it?

• Well, obviously my Booker prize, and the book that won it
• Proof that the polar ice caps still exist
• A hoverboard, obviously
• A Tom-Daley-as-the-15th-Doctor-Who doll
• A letter from my Martian pen-pal

Okay, after the first two I kind of got stuck... this was harder than I thought it would be. You couldn't tell though, could you? I'm off a-visiting!

"And you are...?" bloghop

Tammy and Emily are hosting a bloghop!

To find out what the dickens this is all about, click this link here and all will be revealed. I signed up a long time ago and I have turned my brain to jelly taking part in NaNoWriMo, but basically - I think - I have to answer the questions below. There might be more to it, but one step at a time...

1. How many speeding tickets have you gotten? None, I can't drive, and I'd have to run pretty fast to get a ticket!

2. Can you pitch a tent? No, but I can watch one being put up, usually whilst entertaining kids who've been cooped up in a car for hours. I play Frisbee instead.

3. What was your worst vacation ever? That would have to be camping holiday in the rain... I can't choose which one, because there have been several, but we keep going back for more...

4. What was the last thing you bought over $100? As I'm in the UK, I'm going to change that to £100... but actually, I can't think of the last thing I bought for that amount - I imagine the water bill doesn't count?

5. We're handing you the keys to what? My new house - it's detached, about 100 years old, large fireplaces, large rooms, a modern kitchen and a view of the sea. Thank you very much!

6. What was the last meal cooked that made even you sick? About 7 years ago I gave myself full-on food poisoning by cooking some fish I found in the freezer. Usually Hubby cooks, but he was out - I was cooking sausages for the kids, but there weren't enough for me so I had the fish... BIG mistake!

7. Fill in the blank: Oh my gosh! Becky, look at her butt! It is so big. She looks like _____? Sorry, I can't answer this, I wouldn't say anything like that.

8. What was your first car? Although my answer to question 1 was I can't drive, I did buy myself a car when I was attempting to learn. It was a Ford Fiesta, I owned it for about six months. I even bought it a Manchester City air freshener tag.

9. Your best friend falls and gets hurt. Do you ask if he/she's okay or laugh first? I'd always check she was okay first, then laugh.

10. What's the worst song ever? Far, far too many to list... currently, Gangnam Style and Candy by Robbie Williams. I usually don't remember bad songs, my head is too full of great songs.

You can find the other participants here!

Thank you!

Random picture - Looe, Cornwall - March 2012

I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who commented on my last post. And it got me thinking...

When I first started this blog, that was the direction I assumed I'd take. I'd have an opinion about something, and then lots of people would have their opinions too - agreeing and disagreeing, and generally having a solid debate.

But I got a bit distracted by blogfests and tags and hops.

These blogfests and tags go in waves, so that there are weeks when that's all I seem to be posting. Although I love taking part in them, it feels as though I'm losing the roots of the blog. They are a great way of keeping in touch with those bloggers I follow, but don't necessarily visit regularly. The more blogs I follow, the less I can keep up with them... which is such a lame excuse when I look at the numbers of people some of you follow!

The A-Z Challenge in April was a great experience, but I found I could barely string two written words together for about a month afterwards. It was my first time, though, so perhaps I just didn't plan it properly.

I don't think too many things will change, but just be prepared for some more opinions!

Has your blog morphed since it began?

Have you embraced the change?

Genre Favourites?

It's just occurred to me that I haven't posted all week - I've just moved from one blogfest to another - and I really hadn't noticed! I'll try hard to rectify this over the next few weeks, and hopefully visit a lot more of your blogs than I've managed recently. I've been using my marketing head on Cat and The Dreamer, and getting a couple more short stories ready for submission, and (still) decorating. 

From the curious mind of Alex J Cavanaugh comes:

One blogfest, four favourites!

List your favorite genre of:

Movie

Music

Books

And a guilty pleasure genre from any of the three categories!

So here goes:

Movie Genre: So hard,because I tend to watch films by who's in them. Favourite actors include Johnny Depp, Brad Bitt, Morgan Freeman, Adam Sandler, Tim Roth, Samuel L Jackson (apart from Snakes on a Plane). These are actors that span different genres, and I'm pretty happy to follow them anywhere they want to go.
Special Mention: British films. I know it's not a genre, but I love the variety of films that we produce, and I try hard to see them preferably in the cinema - although that hasn't been possible recently.

Music Genre: Rock/heavy rock/stadium rock... I'm not going to name them, because my choices are pretty old now, and it would date me and seem very lame!
Special Mention: Glam Rock... I know, I know... but think how many incredible acts were spawned from the glam period.... T Rex, David Bowie, Queen... they were all on the cusp of that genre and they should be proud.

Book Genre: Literary fiction. Stories that don't follow a formula, that surprise, that make you think. I'm not keen on literary fiction that's trying to be literary (and those books and authors are so obvious), but I like the ones that simply don't conform to other genres, and whose prose takes the story to another level.

Guilty Pleasure: Rom Coms, including 10 Things I Hate About You, 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer - all those films you can curl up with on a lonely Saturday night (and as the wife of a gigging musician, I have plenty of those) and guarantee a tear or two by the end.

Click here for the list of participants. Are you taking part? If so, I'll be popping along later!

Look!! And a short story announcement

The lovely Kyra Lennon tagged me in this meme, so I thought I'd give it a go. To take part, you need to search your WIP for the first usage of the word Look and post the surrounding paragraph. Firstly, working out which WIP to use was difficult - I have several projects on the go, one of which isn't on my computer yet (so I discounted that one). I've decided to use the MS that I found out will be my next-to-be-published-book... but sorry, no details yet, I don't want to jinx it by announcing too early. 

In this excerpt, the MC is three, or maybe four...

I cry out by accident, then hold my hands over my mouth and wait for the monster to crawl out. Almost straight away Mummy and Daddy are standing over me; the light from the landing pours in and makes my bedroom look almost normal again, like it does in the day time.

As usual, I'm being lazy and not tagging people - consider yourself tagged, if you want to take part. And if anyone knows why the word look was used, I'd love to know. I occurred to me that any word could work... although maybe not the or antidisestablishmentarianism!


In other news:
I'm hugely excited by the following blogfests. Have you heard of these? Have you signed up? I've got the chocolate one sorted, but - boy! - am I finding my favourite genres difficult... I like everything! 

Click here to sign up!

Click here to sign up!

And finally:
My short story Jacob's Wife is now available at Alfie Dog Fiction!

Sally is trapped in her marriage after marrying too young and for the wrong reasons. She's let her true love slip through her fingers once - but when Tom arrives back in her life stirring up old memories, will she let him leave again?

So, what's your news on this lovely Wednesday?

First Loves Blogfest

Welcome to the first day of my new schedule! As you might notice, I'm already breaking it... sort of. Although - as Alex pointed out - I'm mentioning a film, a book and a song (and a man), so you can take these as today's recommendations, a three-for-one bonus offer on my first day!
 

Click here for the Linky List!

So, here it is, a blogfest I've been really looking forward to, straight out of the head of Ninja Captain Alex - the First Loves Blogfest, where he invites us to post our first loves – first movie, first song/band, first book, and first person. Four loves, one blogfest! How great!


First Movie: An easy one to start - Fiddler on the Roof. My mum loved this film, not least because her parents were Ukrainian - they moved to England before she was born, and as a result she had no connection with her heritage. She loved watching this film and pointing out to us kids how similiar things would have been for them. It feels like we watched it every couple of months. I'm sure it wasn't that often - but it was a regular occurrence. (This video is 7:30 minutes long - so I don't expect you to watch it all - especially as the song will get stuck in your head!)



First Song/Band: There are two. From a very young age I used to rifle through my parents music collection. They had eclectic tastes, to say the least. Please let me add, both of these songs are much older than me :-)  The first band are The Beatles, which for a first love is quite cool, isn't it? This song was my school leaving song when I finished GCSEs (Year 11... or 5th Year as it was for me then) which is why I've chosen it above all their other amazing Beatles songs.



The second band were Boney M - not quite so cool, and I warned you my parents were eclectic!





First Book: The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart. And I'm afraid that's where I have to leave it, because although this was my favourite book, and I read it a lot, I cannot remember a single thing about it. If anyone loves this book as much as I did, please remind me why!

First Person: I don't know whether the intention of this blogfest is to embarrass myself by telling you about my first crush on a classmate/neighbour... but no! The first person I remember loving (well, in a very innocent way, because I was about 6) is David Essex. Perhaps that's more embarrassing, I don't know! I first saw him on The Cannon and Ball Show which probably won't mean much if you're outside the UK. It was a comedy sketch show, that's all you need to know. I couldn't find the right clip on YouTube, but the gist of the sketch was David Essex has a lisp, and they were taking the mickey out of him for not being able to say certain words properly. I felt sorry for him, because I couldn't understand why they were being so mean - I didn't get that it was supposed to be funny!

So, just for me, here's a great song! I still love that smile...




Anyone want to share their first loves with me? Are you taking part in the blogfest yourself?

Origins blogfest

Click the logo to find out about Origins and join up!

When did my writing dream begin?

Um... a long, long time ago. In fact, I can't remember a time when I didn't write, or want to be a writer. I know, I know... everyone says that - I am a cliche monster!

But did it begin with my re-telling of Snow White and Rose Red, aged about 7? Or the way I interpretted a primary school project to mean 'write a fictional account of life as a Victorian scullery maid'.

Or with my first 'novel' about a girl who discovers that her cousin is the lead singer of a boy band, when I was about 14?

Or with the first cheque, for £10, that arrived in the post, along with the magazine my short story was published in? (I reproduced that story here, if you're interested.)

All I know for certain is, I couldn't not write. I remember spending quite a lot of my time lying on my bed and writing. In the days of the tape player, I had a copied tape with Guns n' Roses on one side and Poison on the other. When it finished, I'd just turn it over. For months, that's all I listened too. Then it changed to Meatloaf and Alice Cooper.

I wish I'd kept these early stories, but I went through periods - every year or so - of throwing them out. I wasn't embarrassed by writing, but I understood that it wasn't something any of my friends did... it wasn't cool.

When I was 14, having just finished the above mentioned boy band novel whose title I can't remember, I told my careers adviser I wanted to be a writer. She started talking about journalism, and when I said, "No, a fiction writer", she said that wasn't a proper job. Which, though she may deny it now, was something my mum said too.

I'm glad I didn't listen.

I'll tumble 4 ya blogfest

Click here to find out all about it

So, this blogfest asks: who was your 80s crush? Click the link under the logo to find out about it and/or scroll down to the bottom of this post to join in. Or you could just leave a comment below and tell just me... I won't tell anyone else, honest!



To be honest, there were a few pin ups on my bedroom wall in the 80s. Johnny Depp (who would be still there, if I wasn't married - can't see Hubby wanting to wake up to Mr Depp every morning), River Phoenix, that guy from Curiosity Killed the Cat.




But my major, all-encompassing and absolute crush was...
 
the incredible and very beautiful Morten Harket



For the purposes of this blogfest, I'm supposed to justify why, but - really - do I have to? Look at him. He's gorgeous. His hair, his eyes, his voice  his tasteful selection of scarves. I thought he was perfect then, and I still do now.

I'm not allowed to embed the video I wanted to, but it's here: The Sun Always Shines on TV. This was the very first time I'd seen a-ha - they were on Top of the Pops,  and the next day at school everyone was talking about them.

Sadly, Wham! became more popular amongst my friends, but I was loyal until the end. I'd forgotten how beautiful their videos were - a true band, probably a bit overlooked, and one of the best things to come out of the 80s.



Here's Hunting High and Low, and Stay On These Roads, just because I want to.

I think this has been my favourite post EVER!!

So, now, who was your 80s crush?

Here's the Linky to all the other participants. Please go and check them out.