Friday 26 October 2012

'Look' Here...!

Playwright, Michael Sands, has tagged me in this blog game which involves searching my current WIP (Work in Progress) for the word ‘look’, with a view to posting the surrounding paragraphs.
 
Now, this couldn't have come at a better time considering I'm in the process of writing the very last chapter of my latest offering, giving me the opportunity to give you a little taste of what's to come.
 
So, without further ado, here's a sneak peak excerpt from Little White Lies and Butterflies...
 
A throng of unfamiliar voices tried to work their way into my head, but my brain had different ideas and refused to acknowledge them.   However, the voices kept on coming irrespective, compelling me to come sufficiently enough to, so I could at least try and survey my surroundings.  I smacked my lips in an attempt to overcome the dryness of my mouth, at the same time putting my sunglasses back where they belonged – on my nose instead of resting on my cheek.  And lazily lifting my head expecting to find myself enveloped by a frolicking crowd of mere mortals, alternatively I found myself surrounded by an abundance of perfectly toned, tanned and attractive bodies.  Obviously I’d died and gone to Greek God and Goddess Heaven, I deduced and happy to be there, I focused my attentions on not one but quite a few of the Adonis’ in my midst. 
Then I realised I hadn’t died at all.  I’d simply woken up!
I bolted upright and in a bid to tidy myself up a bit it very quickly became apparent that either A) I’d awakened to find myself slap bang in the middle of some glamorous photo shoot – one that I would, no doubt, be airbrushed out of thanks to my somewhat slovenly display; or that B) upon my arrival I’d accidentally chosen a section of the beach solely reserved for the islands ‘beautiful people’.  But whichever of the two it was, I was convinced someone was going to come along any second now, tap me on the shoulder and tell me to move on to the area set aside for the ‘uglies’.
I looked about me, just in case, much to my disappointment clocking that the climbers had, at last, descended from their great heights.  “Speaking of which,” I said, watching them somewhat raucously partaking in a game of football over to the left.  “At least they know their place!”  Not that I had any intentions of joining Team Ugly.  After all, I might’ve been a little curvier than all these other women, but my curves were in all the right places.  “Oh yes,” I maintained.  “I can carry a bikini off as well as the best of them.  So just let anyone try and say any different.”
I thought about all the time and money I’d spent over the years, turning myself into the ideal woman for when I did happen to chance upon the man of my dreams.  What with beauty products, waxing, exercising and dieting – the latter not exactly an easy task for a woman who loves her food…  “And let’s not forget the elocution lesson,” I reminded myself, something which I doubted any of these Ladies would deign to put themselves through.  “And surely it’s time these efforts were rewarded somehow,” I told myself.  “Even if the prize is only to stake my claim on a bleeding sunbed!”  Although I knew I stood a better chance of not being booted off if I actually looked the part, which needless to say called for a cool, calm and collected composure.
I began the process of arranging myself into a model-esque type pose, a position that felt a lot more precarious than they’d made it out to be on one of those modelling TV shows.  However, if I could just perfect my balance I was sure I’d be okay… 
“Ouch!” I screamed  A searing sting suddenly swiped my face as something ricocheted off it, catapulting me, legs akimbo, off my much coveted sun lounger. 
 
So, everyone, what do you think? x
 

Wednesday 17 October 2012

The Next Big Thing!


Thanks to the lovely historical fiction author, Sue Millard, it’s now my turn to take part in The Next Big Thing!

So here goes, the answers to ten questions about Little White Lies and Butterflies:

 1.      What is the working title of your book?

Little White Lies and Butterflies.

 2.      Where did the idea for the book come from?

Years ago, I remember reading something somewhere about a woman who’d gone on holiday on her own for the first time.  Whilst there, she re-invented herself, making up a job, a personal life etc.  I thought what if someone found out?  What if someone realised she was fabricating a whole life story?  And so the initial idea was born…

 3.      What genre does your work fall under?

Chick Lit, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Humour – yes, definitely Humour!

 4.      Which actors would you choose to play your characters?

Lydia is quite a curvy, gorgeously confident, fuller figured woman so I’m thinking someone like Jennifer Neala Page would be perfect – as long as she wouldn’t mind dying her hair black.  Then there’s Sam, tall with an athletic build, so an actor like Darren Boyd would be great.     
 
 5.      What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When you’re digging yourself into a hole, stop digging.

 6.      Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

As I don’t have an agent at the moment, it’ll be sent direct to publishers and I’ll take it from there.

7.      How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Taking everything into consideration and including the planning stage which I absolutely love, probably about four or five months. 

 8.      What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Because the book is primarily set in Greece, it would be easy to think along the lines of a Shirley Valentine, Mama Mia or My Big Fat Greek Wedding storyline.  But apart from the setting and the comedy element they don’t really compare.  This story is something different.

 9.      Who or what inspired you to write this book?

You could say my inspiration came from a variety of sources.  I’ve already mentioned the piece I read about a woman re-inventing herself.  But add to that my home here in Greece, the Hellenic way of life, alongside the most colourful of characters and attitudes… there’s so much to draw upon for any writer.

 10.  What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Greece, climbing, cooking and characters – now that is an interesting combination!
 
So, those are the answers for the next Suzie Tullett novel.  All that remains now is for me to introduce the writers who'll be picking up the mantel next Wednesday.  These lovely authors will be sharing information about their up and coming releases and introducing yet more writers taking part in The Next Big Thing:
 
http://www.emilyharvale.com/blog  Emily writes about love, fun, friendships, drama, sex and romance.
http://www.lizzielamb.co.uk/ Lizzie writes contemporary romance and her novel Tall, Dark and Kilted is due for an Autumn release.
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.gr/ Celia Yeary is an author of romance and every story she writes, be it long or short, is based in her native home of Texas, the state she knows so well.
http://catherinegreenauthor.blogspot.com Catherine is a British paranormal romance author and a writer of occult non-fiction.

http://thefearlesspen.wordpress.com/ Fran and Caro, who juggle life as mums and that gnawing need to write.
 
Thanks for stopping by, everyone, and I hope you're looking forward to reading Little White Lies and Butterflies as much as I've enjoyed writing it x