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Feasting on Romantic Comedy – Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream with a Warm Salted Caramel Sauce from The Foster Husband

If the heroine goes out for a meal in the novel I'm reading, I need to know what she's eating. It is not enough to say starter, main or pudding. I need detail. Food descriptions are an incredible way of transferring the reader from her settee (or next to the smelly man on the tube), right bang slap into the middle of the novel. Not only can we see and hear what the heroine is doing, but we can also taste what she tastes. And it feels good.

The Foster Husband opens with Kate, a woman who is trying to escape her recent past by running away to Lyme Regis, her childhood town. The first thing she does is to visit the bakery and eat a warm, buttery croissant. A croissant that becomes stuck in her throat when she realises the two old, gossiping women are actually talking about her. The woman who walked out on her marriage.

Kate makes herself busy by walking her dog, decorating her late Granny's bungalow and, secretly, training her sister's soon to be husband. She also meets up with Dready Eddy, her childhood friend. When Kate enters a restaurant to have a meal with Eddy, I'm thinking: Oooh, this sounds like a lovely restaurant. I wonder what they're going to eat? I am food obsessed, as you might have guessed. Fortunately, the book's author, Pippa Wright, does not disappoint.

For their main meal, they have fish with a buttery samphire that has tiny pink shrimp in the branches. I had to look samphire up – it is a plant that grows on rocks and cliffs around the sea. For pudding, they share a bowl of vanilla ice cream with a warm, salted caramel sauce. Kate enjoyed this so much, she expected to see it again in her dreams. It all sounds delicious and, in that moment, I was deeply envious of Kate for eating such a delicious meal. 

But, in true Feasting on Romantic Comedy style, I can recreate the meal. Not sure about the samphire; I'll leave that to someone who knows what they're doing, but homemade vanilla ice cream? I can do that.  

The Bookish Style List: Brilliant Book Stuff We're Coveting This Week

 

1. Harry Potter house cushions. £60 on Etsy.

2. Quotable chocolate. £4.75 from The Literary Gift Company.

Novelicious Chats To...Kat Black

Kat Black's debut novel, Melting Ms Frost, hit the shelves last month. Here, she stops by to talk Frankenstein-ing characters, colour-coding her sock drawer (plus other favourite procrastination methods) and offers her best advice for aspiring novelists.

Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?

I’m very disciplined. I’m always up at the crack of dawn and bashing away non-stop at my keyboard until dusk. Well, in my good intentioned dreams at any rate. In reality, the breakdown would work out at roughly 50% of the time staring out of the window; 49% displacement activities/onlining/eating chocolate and 1% actual keyboard bashing time. Which I believe is not untypical amongst writers.

When you are writing, do you use any famous people or people you know as inspiration?

Absolutely. In rather creepy Dr Frankenstein fashion I harvest bits from here and pieces from there to stitch together and breathe life into my new, entirely unique (but hopefully not too monstrous) creations.

What is your favourite Women’s Fiction book of all time and why?

As hard as I try, I’m afraid I find this an impossible question to answer. The same with films. I wrack my brains until I think I’ve got ‘the one’ pinned down, only to find the merits of another instantly turning my head. The fact is, there are just too many stories that speak to me, and all for slightly different reasons. How is it possible, for example, to choose between one book that felt like a warm ray of hope during a dark patch, and another that instills fire and passion for adventure in your blood? Between one much loved character, who can have tears of laughter streaming down your face, and another who wrenches sobs of anguish right from your soul?

Review – The Dead Wife’s Handbook by Hannah Beckerman

Reviewed by Susan Lobban

Life can change in a heartbeat.

One minute Rachel is celebrating her husband’s job promotion, the next she is dead.

Life must go on.

While Max and daughter Ellie come to terms with being a family of two, Rachel is able to watch on from the afterlife. A cruel twist of fate, however, means that she can only gain short glimpses, which she has no control over.

Time heals.

Max and Ellie are helping each other through the five stages of grief, but Rachel is alone while dealing with the same emotions. She is always one step behind her loved ones and life is moving a lot faster than she hoped in her absence.

Being dead is not the end of Rachel’s problems – it is just the beginning.

It is with much trepidation that I started this book, as I usually shy away from books dealing with mothers dying. However, what could have been a maudlin and hard to read story was actually poignant and very touching. I did cry (which is a rarity for me), as seven year old Ellie yearned for her mother, but Max’s heartfelt reassurances to his daughter were just right and managed to ease Rachel’s worries about leaving her family too soon.

Agent Wishlist Week – Madeleine Milburn

This afternoon, we're welcoming Madeleine Milburn to Novelicious to share her manuscript wishlist. The Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency is a boutique, London-based agency, with a reputation for finding and launching new writers. Representing a wide range of fiction from literary, crime and thrillers, psychological suspense, horror, women’s, historical, new adult and young adult, to middle grade and children’s books, Madeleine’s current clients include Victoria Fox, C. L. Taylor, Anouska Knight and C. J. Daugherty. Madeleine is actively seeking new clients (including self-published authors), so get those submissions in quick!

People often ask me what I’m looking for. It’s always a hard one to answer. But, in short, I’m looking for anything and everything that will make me fall in love with it.

In the genre categories, I am always on the lookout for crime & thrillers, YA, memoirs, romantic, historical, and accessible literary fiction. At the moment, I’m particularly looking for Richard and Judy style reading club books: anything with a captivating premise and a strong, unique voice. Books I’ve devoured recently include The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

I’d love to find a really powerful piece of historical fiction: something that surprises me, or challenges what I assumed to be true about the period whilst immersing me entirely in this past world. I’m fascinated by war literature, and would love to find a fresh, contemporary voice on the subject: books like The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne and Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels.

In the crime & thriller category, I’m looking for something that has an edge to it – a unique protagonist or element to the story/setting that subverts the genre and makes it really stand out. I love books by Tana French, Donna Tartt, Harlan Coben, Lee Child, Jo Nesbo and Gillian Flynn.

It’s also my small wish to find the next big horror writer. This is such a difficult area to write in – it takes a lot more to scare readers today – so, again, I’m looking for a new angle that makes the book very chilling and compelling to read. My assistant, Cara, also has a penchant for zombies: things that are as gripping as The Walking Dead, World War Z and The Passage Trilogy. She’s keen to find me a new take on the zombie apocalypse!

My Bedside Table by Leah of Chick Lit Reviews and News

Pass the tanning lotion, we’re in sunny Tenerife visiting the lovely Leah of popular book blog Chick Lit Reviews and News, to see what she keeps on her bedside table. Take it away, Leah. We'll be outside catching some rays. 

When I was asked to take part in Novelicious’ My Bedside Table feature I couldn't wait, but now that I'm writing my post, I feel like a bit of a fraud because I don't actually have books on my bedside table. I fear I may be about to be struck down for being a bad book lover. In my defence, my bookshelf is right next to the bedside table (you can see it overflowing with books and trying to squeeze into the corner of the photo), so I see no reason to have my books on my bedside table when I can have them on my bookshelf. Am I forgiven? In the second picture of my room (below), you'll get a sneak peek of my to be read bookshelf. It has fairy lights around it and you'll see just a small fraction of the books I have to read. The second shelf down is all my must-read books, starting with the fascinating-sounding Ruby Slippers by Keir Alexander.

Kat Black's Top Five Writing Tips

As unqualified as I am to be giving tips, I’d like to share some observations I’ve made from my own experiences, which hopefully might prove helpful to others.

1. It seems almost too obvious to say, but the single most important thing to do is to sit down and write. Not think about it. Not talk about it. Not plan it. Do it. No writing journey can begin until that first step has been taken to put the words on the page.

2. Write your first draft as though just for yourself. Let the story come instinctively, from the heart. Getting the head too involved at this stage can stifle creativity.

3. When you’ve completed that first draft, give yourself a well-earned pat on the back, pour yourself a celebratory drink, then put the manuscript away and ignore it for as long as you can bear – a week, a month, three. The distance will allow you to tackle edits with a fresh pair of eyes and a clear mind.

4. Create a separate document for each draft. A good edit requires ruthless action and it makes it immeasurably easier to hit the delete button if you know you have the option to reinstate something from an earlier document.

Agent Wishlist Week – Laura Longrigg of MBA Literary and Script Agents

Continuing Agent Wishlist Week with another literary agent's manuscript wants, we’re joined by Laura Longrigg today. Laura is joint Managing Director of the long-established MBA Literary and Script Agents based in Central London. Previously, she worked as an editor for several publishers including Penguin and HarperCollins, and founded a prize for unpublished fiction, The Harry Bowling Prize, now in its seventh year. Here's what Laura's after.

I would like to have discovered John Green whose YA novel, The Fault in Our Stars, I am currently crying buckets over. I can’t wish for particular authors because they already have wonderful agents, but if someone could clone Andrea Levy, Maggie O’Farrell and Curtis Sittenfeld, I would push to the head of the agenting queue.  

A more realistic wishlist is for some non fiction authors: nostalgia (Jennifer Worth), investigative (Philomena), historical (Juliet Nicholson). I would love to find anyone like them on our slushpile!  

Also writers who can mix several genres – script writers who also write novels, science fiction aficionados who can turn their hand to crime and romance (yes, I do have a client who does that already so I know it is possible). Readers like to mix and match their genres and I am sure authors prefer to spread their writing wings and not be typecast in a particular genre.

Reckon you have just the thing tucked away in a drawer? You can find Laura's submission details here. Best of luck!

My Writing Room by Rowan Coleman

My writing room is a bit whimsical I suppose, because I live in a very modern house, which isn’t yet five years old. And yet, when I finally got my own writing room, I just decided to make it the room that I wanted, my space for me. So I painted it dark red, added some over the top baroque wallpaper, a claret crystal chandelier, red silk curtains and an antique chaise longue to match! The walls are lined with books and photos of my family, and over my desk hangs a painting I bought a few years ago, by artist Yvonne Coomber, which I never get bored of looking at.

The Secret Dreamworld of An Aspiring Author – Saying Goodbye

By Anna Bell

With both my published and self-published writing, I write books in series. This year, however, I'll be writing the final instalment for both. It's going to be really sad to say goodbye to my characters, and I'm wondering if I'll feel lost without them. Is it normal to think of your characters as long lost friends?

Last week I started book three in my Don't Tell the… series. I had planned it roughly before I started, and sent the synopsis to my agent and editor for comment, so I already had a good idea of where it was going. I sat down on day one and wrote the first chapter really quickly, pleased to be back in Penny's world. The best thing about writing a series is that you know your characters inside out. You know where they've come from, what makes them tick. They're firmly established in your mind, and you know how they think, which means I can get right into the action, without having to soul-search new characters.

News – First Living Author Portrait Goes on Display at The British Library

Today Hilary Mantel, the award-winning novelist, has become the only living author to have a portrait on display at the British Library.

The double Man Booker Prize winner is the subject of a new work by 25-year-old artist Nick Lord, who was awarded the commission after being crowned Sky Portrait Artist of the Year in 2013.

Mantel is said to be thrilled with the completed piece and told the Daily Telegraph she wanted the finished portrait to "have a bit of force behind it".

"I didn't want to look as if I was just sitting, contemplating the daffodils, but as though I might have an impact in the world.”

The Book That Changed My Life: Sarah Painter Chooses On Writing by Stephen King

Sarah Painter is a writer and a columnist for Novelicious, giving writers fantastic advice in the 'Write your novel' series. Her first novel, The Language of Spells, was released in May of 2013 with its sequel, The Secrets of Ghosts, set to be released this week. Sarah has picked Stephen King's On Writing, as the book that changed her life. Here, she tells us why. 

Like most writers, I've been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. Books have been my comfort, my escape, my friends and my education.

Trying to single out one book was difficult (like picking a favourite child!), and finding one which had literally changed my life was even harder. Until I remembered On Writing by Stephen King.

At the age of twenty nine, I'd pushed my dream of writing fiction firmly to one side in the name of being a grown up, freelance work as a journalist, and motherhood.

Ten Books...We're Really Looking Forward to Reading

When one of your favourite authors announces they have a new book coming out soon, there is always a ripple of excitement. The book is highly anticipated and you either pounce on the novel as soon as it's released, or leave for a while, savouring the knowledge that it's still in your to be read pile. Here are ten books that we're looking forward to immensely.

1. The Accident by C L Taylor – Believe it or not, this arrived through my letterbox as I was writing this post and I just couldn't help myself. I stopped writing and was immediately sucked into the first three chapters. Sue's daughter steps out in front of a bus and is in a coma. She then reads an entry in her daughter's diary and is  forced to face the darkness from her own past. The Accident is out on 10 April. (And yes, I've now finished it – this post is being written very close to the deadline because of it. Spooky but immensely compelling. I couldn't help myself.)

2. Who is Tom Ditto? by Danny Wallace – Cesca, a major fan of Danny Wallace, is very much looking forward to his new novel out at the end of April. Tom finds out his girlfriend has not left him. But she has gone. So Tom tries to track her down...

3. The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes – Published this week on Thursday, our reviewer Susan cannot wait to read it. One single mum, one chaotic family, one handsome stranger and one unexpected love story.

4. The Dead Wife's Handbook by Hannah Beckerman – Recently released, this is the story of Rachel who has been dead for a year. She has left behind her daughter, Ellie, and her husband, Max.

5. It Felt Like A Kiss by Sarra Manning – I'm a big fan of Unsticky and You Don't Have to Say You Love Me – Sarra's previous novels, so It Felt Like A Kiss will be going straight to the top of my to be read pile when it arrives. Released last month, Ellie Cohen is living the dream, except for her rock star father who refuses to acknowledge her and her various challenging boyfriends. One of whom sells Ellie out to the press. Along comes David Gold to manage the media crisis...

Agent Wishlist Week – Kate Burke of Diane Banks Associates

Welcome to Agent Wishlist Week! Every day at different times, we’ll be publishing the wishlists of leading literary agents – details of the manuscripts they’re hoping to stumble across in their slush piles, plus information on how to submit. Be sure to check back often as we’ll occasonally be posting more than one wishlist a day.

Today we’re kicking things off with Kate Burke’s manuscript wants. Kate is a literary agent at Diane Banks Associates, a hugely successful agency which handles book, TV and film rights for fiction and non-fiction clients. Kate’s primary focus is to build up the fiction side of the agency. She is actively taking on new writers and has recently sold two debut novelists in multi-publisher auctions, to major publishers in the UK (Penguin and HarperCollins) as well as abroad for six-figure deals. Over to you, Kate!

Psychological suspense: My top priority in 2014 is to find and take on new suspense writers, particularly female writers with female protagonists, but I really don’t mean to discriminate so male writers are welcome too! I adore this genre – contemporary suspense novels which have a crime element, but are not necessarily a detective-chasing-a-killer story (though the presence of a detective is fine!). They often have a female character at their core and the story centres around a crime, which they are either involved in or which affects their life. These novels are often about an ordinary woman with an ordinary life when something dark, unexpected and unsettling happens out of the blue. It could be a stalker, an affair that goes wrong, a missing child, a spouse who disappears – I really don’t mind as long as there’s some sort of unexpected crime event, which turns her life upside down. There has to be a strong sense of pace, suspense and atmosphere, and what’s absolutely key is that it has that gripping, keep-the-reader-guessing quality and that it delivers a strong twist. I’m looking for novels, which will sit on the shelf alongside SJ Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep, Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty and The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty.