Novelicious - The Female Fiction and Chick Lit Blog

Novelicious Undiscovered 2012 is Live!

Now you get to see why team Novelicious have been a bit giddy these past few weeks. Click on the picture to get all the juicy details about The Novelicious Undiscovered 2012 Competition!

Novelicious Chats To...Miranda Dickinson

INTERVIEW BY CESCA MARTIN

Could you briefly tell us about your book 'It Started with a Kiss'?

 It Started With a Kiss is all about following your heart. It’s the story of Romily Parker, a jingle writer for a local radio station, who sings with her friends in a wedding band at weekends. On the last Saturday before Christmas, she has a brief encounter with a handsome stranger (shortly after disastrously declaring her love to her best friend Charlie). He kisses her and then disappears – so Romily pledges to spend the next twelve months searching for him…

Where did the inspiration for 'It Started with a Kiss' come from?

I wanted to write about ‘what-if’ moments and see what could happen if someone decided to pursue them rather than letting them pass. My favourite quote is from Emily Dickinson (no relation!): ‘I dwell in possibility’ – which I’ve actually included at the start of the novel – and I wanted to write about chasing possibilities in life. Romily is a sane individual, but the magical encounter with the handsome stranger at a time when she least expected it is enough to make her embark on a crazy quest to try to find him again. At the same time, Charlie, the guy she has been secretly in love with for three years, then begins to see her in a different light because she’s looking in a different direction (typical men!).

You have been vlogging your journey to publication, what has been the best moment so far?

There have been so many! What I’ve loved about vlogging this year is how involved everyone has been with it – asking brilliant questions and really deciding where I go and what I talk about for each episode. I think the big highlight for me was when I was asked to give an author talk at Kingswinford Library. If you know my books, you’ll know that my writing dream began at the age of five to write a story that would be good enough to grace my small local library’s shelves. It was probably my most emotional vlog – not least because the last thing they asked me to do that night was sign the library’s copies of Fairytale of New York and Welcome to My World. It was amazing to finally fulfill a lifelong ambition! 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? 

Just write. Don’t worry about whether you’re allowed to, or whether anybody will want to read it, or sabotage your efforts with self-doubt. Write because you love it and write stories that entertain you. I wrote Fairytale of New York completely for me and never thought anyone else would ever read it – but when I uploaded the manuscript to Authonomy.com it was noticed by my publisher and now it’s my career. I honestly believe that if I’d tried to write to a formula, or write what I thought a publisher wanted to read, my book wouldn’t have been picked up. Listen to advice from other writers about how they do it, then find your own way that works for you. And whenever those pesky doubts creep in (which they will), repeat this mantra: I am good enough, I can write and my stories are worth reading!

What is your typical writing day? 

I don’t have one! I would love to be the kind of writer who gets up early, works a nine-to-five writing day and then reclines with a glass of wine. But my brain doesn’t work like that, unfortunately! I work three days a week for a food research company, so for two days a week, plus evenings and weekends, I write. Frustratingly, I always seem to hit my stride after 9pm, so even on my two writing days I’ll invariably not be productive until then and end up writing late at night (or sometimes right through, if there’s a deadline looming). But then some of the scenes I’m most proud of (like Harri’s Kefalonia scenes with Blanche and the big final scene in Welcome to My World) have been written at some ungodly hour in the morning, so it obviously works for me! 

Do you read when you write and, if so, who? 

It’s always a tricky one about whether to read when I’m writing. I’m always scared that, (a) the great idea I have for my book has already been written by someone else; or, (b) I’ll unwittingly end up assimilating someone else’s great ideas into my novel because I’ve just read them! For that reason I never read chick-lit or romantic comedies when I’m writing, but I might read something by Jasper Fforde (whose wonderful, artfully constructed books I’m completely in love with) or Sir Terry Pratchett (who is the master of comedic timing, so great inspiration). I’ve also just discovered Ben Aaronovitch, who is fast becoming a favourite author. And I watch Gilmore Girls – a lot – because the pace of its script is brilliant and great inspiration for when I’m writing dialogue (that’s my excuse, anyway!)

What are you expecting later at your launch party? 

You know, I have no idea! I’ve only ever had one launch party before, which I organised myself for Welcome to My World’s launch last year. It was brilliant but a lot of hard work because I was signing books, checking that all the guests were having a good time and keeping an eye on the catering all at once! The best thing about the launch party this year is that I’ve been able to invite thirty people who watch my vlogs, follow me on twitter and facebook and receive my newsletter, so it will be a fantastic way for me to thank them in person for all their support which means so much to me through the year. 

What can you tell us about your next novel? 

My fourth novel will be called When I Fall in Love and features a motley crew of characters in a choir, rivalry, romance and the last item on a very important list. There may also be the odd jazz hand thrown in for good measure, too… I’m going to be vlogging about it (after my vlog viewers demanded I continue next year), so I’ll be sharing exclusive excerpts along the way.

Thanks for speaking to Novelicious Miranda! 

My pleasure, thank you so much for having me! x

It Started With A Kiss is published TODAY and you can find out more about Miranda from her  Coffee & Roses blog, website and follow her on Twitter @wurdsmyth  

To celebrate the publication of this fabulous novel, we have not one, but two giveaways! To be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of It Started With A Kiss & a signed copy of Miranda's album, please leave a comment telling us about your most memorable kiss.

If that wasn't enough, we're giving you a second chance to win a signed copy of both Miranda's book and album and all you have to do for this is re-tweet this interview. (Winners to both will be announced next Thursday).

You can buy, It Started With a Kiss at Amazon UK, Waterstones, The Book Depository (shipped worldwide), Play.com.

Miranda's other novels: Welcome to My World: The Book Depository & Fairytale of New York Amazon

Winner - Festival of Romance Ticket

The prize of a full day ticket to the Festival of Romance, including access to all events, refreshments and a scrummy two-course lunch on either Friday 21 October or Saturday 22 October is...

                        CATHERINE MILLER

Congratulations to Catherine, who said... I'm going to say secure. I think it's the one thing heroes have in common and the one thing I always want to find. He can have a crooked nose, funny quirks or bad taste in jokes but all can be forgiven if he's there for the heroine at the point that she needs him. That's what makes me heart go, 'Awww!' And in life I think we all want a sense of security in a relationship.
So I'll forfeit tall, dark and handsome for a hero is there when the heroine needs him. But if he's TDH as well, I really won't complain. ;-)

Catherine, please email your address and contact details to cescareviewsbooks@hotmail.co.uk

The full Festival programme is on the website: www.festivalofromance.co.uk so do go and check it out.

There are some fantastic Highlights during the two day event include talks by the wonderful author Carole Matthews, a selection of Mills and Boon authors, Choc tasting with Choc Lit, a Romance writing workshop with Sue Moorcroft, Author panels, competitions and the Saturday night ball.

 

Novelicious Chats To...Jenny Barden About The Festival of Romance

INTERVIEW BY CESCA MARTIN

Hi Cesca, and  big wave to all Novelicious followers. It's lovely to be here to talk about the Festival of Romance (www.festivalofromance.co.uk)

What is your role?

I'm the moderator of the Reader Awards for the Festival - in effect I'm the 'overseer' for these. I've been primarily responsible for setting up the Reader Awards, establishing and briefing a splendid panel of experienced readers, and collating their scores and opinions regarding the novels submitted. In the final stages of the selection process, I'll be making sure that all panel readers have read all the shortlisted books, and that the winners of the Festival Awards for Best Romantic Read and Best Historical Read are those that are fairly adjudged best by the panel according to the criteria set out in the rules.  I'll also be chairing a panel session on 'Love in War and Peace' featuring Jean Fullerton, Christina Courtenay and Kate Allan discussing historical set romantic fiction, (and doubtless I'll be helping the conversation flow in the bar as well!).

What was the inspiration behind this event?
The Festival of Romance is the initiative of Kate Allan, and I expect her experience in organising events such as the York Festival of Writing gave her the confidence to put her dream of an American-style convention devoted to romantic fiction into practice over here.  I think there's an increasing demand for literary events that bring all those involved with books and their enjoyment together - and that includes readers as well as authors and new writers, publishers and other industry professionals. Given how popular romantic fiction conventions are in the States (the annual conference of the Romance Writers of America attracted over 2000 this year), there's every reason to suppose that the Festival of Romance will grow and grow.

Why is the Festival of Romance one of a kind?
There's really nothing quite like it in the UK that I can think of. Here is a Festival that is pitched at welcoming everyone with a love of the genre, and the establishment of the online forum is a master-stroke for establishing an online community devoted to just that: www.festivalofromanceonline.ning.com Anyone can register and there are already over 300 members.

What are you most excited about?
Oo - the ball, the buzz and the chocolate! - meeting interesting people and making new friends. It's going to be a great event, and it's really energising to be involved at the start of a bold new initiative like this. Readers now are wanting so much more; they're embracing new technology very fast - they want ebooks for their ereaders, but they also want to engage with authors directly, both online, through blogs and social networks, and in more conventional ways. They want to meet authors and interact with them, hear them speak and know their future projects. They want to be in on the latest news about the kind of fiction they like. That's where events like the Festival of Romance come into their own - as an interface for bringing those involved with romantic fiction together from all manner of backgrounds. But what's going to be really exciting for me is the judges' dinner and finding out which novels the reader panel selects as overall Award winners. I can tell already that it's going to be a hard-fought contest; we've had some really excellent entries. Seeing the culmination of all the hard work the reader panel has put into assessing the novels submitted will be immensely fascinating and enjoyable. I'm sure there'll be some tough decisions to make; then we'll have the incredibly difficult task of not revealing anything until the Saturday ball - but it should make for a toe-tingling occasion! I'm greatly looking forward to that.

More about Jenny Barden and her novel just finished can be found at: www.jennybarden.com She tweets as @jennywilldoit and welcomes new friends on Facebook.

The Festival of Romance takes place at Hunton Park, near Watford, on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 October. There are still places available for as little as £55 for a day ticket: www.festivalofromance.co.uk

Don't forget our competition from last week's Women's Fiction Thursday (22nd September) for a chance to win a ticket to attend the festival. Winners will be announced next Thursday.

 

Calling All Romantics - Win a Fabulous Prize!

BY CESCA MARTIN

Calling all writers of romance.  The annual Festival of Romance is back and Novelicious has teamed up to bring you a fantastic competition!   

The prize on offer is a full day ticket to the Festival of Romance.  A day ticket includes access to all events, refreshments and a scrummy two-course lunch. The winner can choose which day they would like to attend - Friday 21 October or Saturday 22 October.

The full Festival programme is on the website: www.festivalofromance.co.uk so do go and check it out.

There are some fantastic Highlights during the two day event include talks by the wonderful author Carole Matthews, a selection of Mills and Boon authors, Choc tasting with Choc Lit, a Romance writing workshop with Sue Moorcroft, Author panels, competitions and the Saturday night ball.

So how do you win this fabulous prize?  It is very simple.  We want to hear what you think makes a true romantic hero.  Is he tall, dark, handsome?  Or something more.  Leave your comments below and the winner will be selected by Novelicious/Festival of Romance and announced on the site.

Author Talli Roland explains why she is attending the Festival of Romance this year, “If the god(dess) of novels created the perfect conference for me, it would be The Festival of Romance. I like nothing more than talking about books, books and… books! So that’s what I’m looking forward to most, apart from drinking wine and eating chocolate, of course. I can’t wait to meet lots of other romance lovers, too. Lovers of romance. You know what I mean! I’ll also be taking part in a chick-lit panel along with Sue Moorcroft and Juliet Archer, two wonderful authors. And, somehow, I’ve agreed to appear in my Marilyn Monroe costume in the Authors’ Fashion Show. I may live to regret that decision. The Festival of Romance is a great opportunity to meet other readers in a fantastic venue, and interact with some fantastic authors like Carole Matthews. I can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend.

You can follow Talli Roland on Twitter @talliroland

Review - Persuade Me by Juliet Archer

REVIEWED BY DEBS CARR

 

Rick Wentworth is a gorgeous, wealthy, marine biologist living with his supermodel girlfriend in Australia. He's on his way to England for his book tour to publicise his novel, Sex in the Sea and the tabloids go into overdrive when soon after his arrival his girlfriend dumps him and he's single once again.

He's spent ten years trying to forget his first love, Anna Elliott, who he fell for during a hot summer when they were both working in France before going to university. He'd asked her to follow him to Australia, but her father and godmother persuaded her to take up her place in Cambridge and continue on the path her dead mother had always planned for her. He hasn't forgiven her for listening to her family and rejecting a future with him.

Dr Anna Elliot lectures in Russian Studies at Bath & Western University and lives in a flat in a converted house owned by her best friend and work colleague, Jenny and her disabled husband in Bath. She's independent and happy, but has never forgotten Rick and the time they spent together. She still misses her mother, but finds her pompous father, Sir Walter Elliot very trying. He can never resist the chance to mention he's also 8th Baronet of Kellynch. Her two sisters are also very different from Anna. Lisa is shallow and vain and very much like her father, and Mona who despite having two lovely little boys, spends her time feeling sorry for herself and bemoaning her lack of wealth and closeness in her marriage to Charles. 

Rick's sister and brother-in-law are about to open a garden centre in Kellynch and are neighbours to Mona's in-laws, the Musgroves. The two families meet up when Rick is staying with his sister and they're invited to a party at the Musgrove family's large home. Charles has two beautiful young sisters, Henrietta and Louisa, who take one look at Rick and decide to compete for his attentions. When out walking one day, Anna over hears Rick talking to Lou about her and begins to realize there is very little chance of him ever wanting to be with her again.

Slowly though they discover they still have feelings towards each other, but Rick is impulsive, hurt and unable to forget Anna's decision not to follow him all those years before. He resents that she was so easily persuaded to give him up by her family. She never bothered with him once he left England ten years before and he has no intention of allowing himself to get close to her again.   

This book is a wonderful contemporary adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, Persuasion and Juliet Archer cleverly manages to bring the original characters back to life in a believable and entertaining way. I thoroughly enjoyed not only the main characters, but also the minor ones, such as Cleopatra Cle, Mrs Clay in the original novel, and her association with Sir Walter.

Persuade Me is the second book in Juliet Archer's Darcy & Friends series where she re-tells Jane Austen's Persuasion and whether you know the original Jane Austen novel, or not, this is a wonderful book with yet another delicious Choc Lit hero at its core.

To celebrate the publication of Persuade Me (out now) and to be in with a chance to win a copy of this delightful book, please leave 'pick me' comment below. A winner will be chosen and announced next Thursday. 

You can find out more about Juliet Archer and her books here and you can follow her on Twitter @julietarcher

9/10

GIVEAWAY! 5 Copies of Unlike a Virgin by Lucy-Anne Holmes

We reviewed this fantastically fresh and sparkly novel earlier this week, and now we have five copies to give out to some of our lovely readers.

You can enter by doing any of the following:

Leave a comment on this very blog post

or

follow @novelicious and RT the competition tweet which will be...

Enter to win one of 5 copies of Unlike a Virgin by Lucy-Anne Holmes (UK/Ireland) by following @novelicious and RTing this tweet!

The contest is UK and Ireland only and is open until Friday 16th September.

Good Luck!

Find out more about UNLIKE A VIRGIN

 

Mills and Boon New Voices Competition 2011

On the 13^th September 2011 Leading romance publisher Mills & Boon will launch a global search for a talented new author to join their portfolio of romantic fiction stars!

This sounds good doesn't it? 

"New Voices is a celebration of romantic fiction and romance. Hosted at www.romanceisnotdead.com aspiring authors are asked to submit the first chapter of their Mills & Boon novel by 10^th October, to be in with the chance of winning the ultimate prize of seeing their book published by Mills & Boon, and an editor for a year.

The winner will be chosen by public vote and a panel of judges, including lifelong Mills & Boon fan and celebrity judge Jodie Prenger. "

 

The contest will launch on the 13th September 2011.

If you enter this one, best of luck and let us know how you get on!

 

FIVE Copies of Claudia Carroll's Latest Novel to Giveaway!

Morning!

Yes indeed. We have 5 copies of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow up for grabs!

This book was recently reviewed by Jules, who gave it a hearty 9/10.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder…doesn’t it?

What happens when two people decide to give themselves the year off…from each other?

Annie and Dan were the perfect couple. But now the not-so-newly weds feel more like flatmates than soul mates and wonder where all the fun and fireworks went …

When Annie lands her big break in a smash-hit show that’s heading for the bright lights of Broadway, she’s over the moon. Goodbye remote Irish village of Stickens, hello fabulous Big Apple! But with their relationship already on the rocks, how will Annie and Dan survive the distance?

They’re hitting the pause button on their marriage. One year off from each other – no strings attached, except a date to meet in twelve months at the Rockefeller Centre to decide their fate.

Will they both turn up? Or is it too late for love?

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment below, telling us why you'd like a copy of this book.

UK and Ireland only

Comp Closes on Wednesday 7th September

MORE ABOUT WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW

Winners - The Woman He Loved Before by Dorothy Koomson

  
The winners of the four copies of The Woman He Loved Before, Dorothy Koomson's brilliant new book are as follows:

Review post winner- Andrea Harrison

Novelicious Chats To... post winner - Zoe

My Writing Room post  winner - Mummy V

All 56 comment names into the hat winner - Mel Butcher

Please email your address to me at: debs (dot) carr (at) jerseymail (dot) co (dot) uk and I'll pop your copies in the post.

Congratulations and thank you for entering.

Review - The Woman He Loved Before by Dorothy Koomson

REVIEWED BY DEBS CARR  

Libby is in love with her handsome husband Jack. It wasn't love at first sight though when they first met at the car showroom, but they're together now, and happy. Or they are until they're involved in a car crash and Jack, who was driving and far less severely hurt than Libby, did something he can't forgive himself for. He has something to hide and knows that by telling Libby the truth, he's probably going ruin what they have together.

Libby is aware that Jack is still in love with his dead wife, Eve, and having seen a picture of their wedding day at his parent's home, she can understand why. He doesn't like speaking about Eve and Libby tries not to broach the subject, but when she's at home convalescing after the accident, she discovers Eve's diaries and as she secretly reads them, she learns the truth behind the woman who haunts their marriage.

All is not as it seems, Libby discovers, and as she reads on, she finds that she has far more to be worried about than the insinuations of the embittered policewoman who interviews her after her crash, and who had also been the investigating officer at Eve's untimely death several years before. Libby has to decide her best course of action, but it isn't easy when she's not sure exactly who she can trust.

This incredible story kept me spellbound from start to finish, and I know it's often written that something is 'unputdownable', but in the case of this book it really is. The twists and turns in the storyline had me gasping in surprise a couple of times and the ending made me cry.

It's a brilliant book and I'm thrilled that we have four copies to offer as a giveaway here at Novelicious. A definite 10\10 for me. Don't forget to leave a 'pick me' comment below to be in with a chance of winning one of the copies.

Novelicious Chats to... Dorothy Koomson

INTERVIEW BY DEBS CARR

Dorothy Koomson is one of our favourite authors and she's kindly answered a few questions I put to her.

1. The Woman He Loved Before is your seventh novel, can you tell us something about your road to publication?

I’ve been published for eight years now, so it feels a long time ago! I’ve been making up stories since I was about 13. I loved drama and fiction, so read and watched a lot of television from around then. (I’m tempted to dig out my old notebooks and give those early stories a read again soon.) When I got older, I thought more about trying to get my stories published. I sent out a couple out to agents and I’m really grateful that they didn’t get taken up because my writing has moved on so much from then, I’d probably cringe at the thought of some of them being ‘out there’.

 In 2002, I was working on the book that would become The Chocolate Run when I went to visit a friend in Leeds. Whilst I was there, I had the idea for The Cupid Effect. When I returned to London I sat down and wrote it. Because I could see the story so clearly in my mind, it was pretty easy to write. Originally I sent out the first three chapters to quite a few agents who all basically told me to go away. So I finished the book - I could do so without being too disheartened because I believed in the story. (That’s one of my biggest tips to unpublished authors – write a story you love and believe in because it’ll keep you going.) When I finished, I sent it out to agents again and got the same response: ‘Go Away!’

 So I sent it to a publisher. It landed on their slush pile and I heard from them three months later. I’d been considering giving up the whole writing thing by that point but my friend Janet (who is very much like Jess in The Cupid Effect) reminded me that I couldn’t actually do that. I write because I love it.

The day my life changed, I remember laying in bed, thinking: ‘I need a sign or something that tells me I shouldn’t give up trying to get published’. A few minutes later, the postman rang my buzzer and had a letter offering me a two-book deal! My life as a published author began at that moment.

2. When you begin a new novel do you start with the plot or with the characters?

I love writing about people so when I write a book I often start with the basic premise of the relationships and characters in the book and the detail of the plot grows from there.

For example, with The Woman He Loved Before, I originally wanted to write about a woman who feels second-best in her marriage and how a traumatic experience forces her to re-evaluate her whole life and her relationsip. As I planned out the novel, the idea of telling the first wife’s tale grew. This also involved unravelling what was going on in the first wife’s life that influenced her husband so deeply that he found it hard to get over her. When I hit upon the first wife’s big secret, I knew I’d found one of the core elements of the book. I find, when I’m writing, as soon as I find one of the core elements, the story pretty much reveals itself to me.

3. How long does it take you to write a book and can you tell us about your typical writing day?

It takes between nine months and a year to get all the text down on the page for a book, but longer in terms of researching, coming up with the idea, sitting with it, exploring it and then finally writing it. I do a lot of pre-story work in terms of mulling over the story to see if it’ll work as a novel. A lot of stories are a great idea and plot, but can’t be sustained as a novel – yet. I sometimes revisit themes and ideas to see if they’re ready to become novels if that makes sense?

I don’t have a typical writing day. I know some authors are very regimented and good about doing a set number of words and/or hours a day. I’m more disciplined in that I will sit down and write but not in any set way.

If I’m not actively writing a book, I’m usually reading and researching and working through the story. I manage my time like this: I wake up, mentally go over my ‘to do’ list at the top of which is usually ‘write next book’ and by the time I go to bed I find I’ve generally done the things that people have nagged me for the most. In between that I squeeze in research or writing scenes that have popped into my head. The nearer I get to deadline, the more writing I try to squeeze into the day, which usually spills over into night. When deadline looms I will cancel virtually everything and concentrate – night and day – on finishing, then editing and rewriting the book.

It’s not very organised in the traditional sense, but it works for me.  And that’s important for anyone who wants to become a writer, to find a system that works for them.

 

My Writing Room – Dorothy Koomson

POSTED BY DEBS CARR

We asked Dorothy Koomson to tell us a bit about her writing space and she very kindly agreed to do so.

Crikey! I feel a complete fraud doing this piece because I don’t have – and never really have had - a writing room. Or even a specific place I write. Apart from my bed. I write a lot in bed.

I didn’t stop working full-time as a journalist/Deputy Editor until after my fourth book, Marshmallows For Breakfast, was published, so I had to squeeze in writing whenever and wherever I could. That meant getting on the train, elbowing people aside to commandeer a corner seat to write on my 20-minute journey into London or even sitting in during my lunch-break wherever I was freelancing writing in my notebook.

I’m lucky in that I don’t need a special place to write. Ideally I’d be able to sit down, but if not, writing long-hand - as I often do – means I can still write if I’m standing up. If I’m in my bedroom or the kitchen or the living room, I’ll very often have the television on because I’m a complete television addict. (I was going to say I was committed to research, but that wouldn’t be the entire story.)

Win! Two Copies of Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel *Worldwide*

Those generous folks at Transworld have kindly given us two brand new shiny copies of Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel to give away. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling us why you'd like a copy.

This contest is open for worldwide entries and closes on Friday 15th July. Good Luck!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY by Danielle Steel

Time to blow out the candles, say goodbye to the past, and make a wish for the future…

 For April Wyatt, turning thirty is not what she had expected. She’s single, with no interest in changing that in the foreseeable future. Her popular, successful restaurant in downtown New York – where she is chef and owner – consumes every ounce of her passion, attention and energy. Ready or not, though, April’s life is about to change, in a tumultuous discovery on the morning of her milestone birthday.

 April’s mother Valerie is a popular TV personality and the queen of gracious living. Since her divorce long-ago, she has worked tirelessly to reach the pinnacle of her career and to create a camera-ready life in her Fifth Avenue penthouse. But she’s having trouble equating her age with how she feels, and all the hours with her personal trainer, the careful work of top hairdressers and her natural good looks can’t hide the fact that she is turning sixty, and the whole world discovers it on her birthday.

 It is also Jack Adams’ birthday – the most charismatic sports personality on TV, a man who has his pick of desirable younger women. But he fears his age may finally be catching up with him when he wakes up on his fiftieth birthday needing an emergency visit to the chiropractor…

 A terrifying act of violence, an out-of-the-blue blessing, and two very unlikely love affairs soon turn lives inside out and upside down. As these three very different people celebrate their birthdays, they discover that life itself is a celebration – and that its greatest gifts are always a surprise…