Novelicious.com | The Women's Fiction Blog for Readers and Writers

Andrea Gillies' Top 5 Writing Tips

1. When it comes to the first draft, be bold and rapid. Don’t overthink it. Keep going, and only read back when you’ve written THE END. If you write too slowly, and begin to rework your first pages, overly-elaborate language and plot will begin to creep in and things will begin to feel stilted. Keep a first draft immediate and vivid. You can go back and add and refine later. Some of the stuff that seemed whimsical as you were writing it will turn out to be the heart of the book.

2. Don’t worry about going off at tangents. Don’t stop to wonder if they’re relevant to the story. Not yet. Keep going. There will always be unproductive dead ends. Some will be cut in the next draft, but others will lead to fresh ideas. And on that subject…

3. Don’t have too fixed an idea of where you’re going, when you start. A rough idea of storyline is all that’s needed. Plot will appear out of character, and as your brain gets to work on the problem of how to develop the story. You’ll start to describe someone, or something that happened to them, and you’ll realise something new is being woven in that improves the texture of the novel. Let the subconscious do its job.

Review – Indiscretion by Hannah Fielding

Reviewed by Debs Carr

Set in 1950, Alexandra de Falla, a half-English, half-Spanish, romantic novelist escapes her dull though privileged life in London with her aunt to bask in the sunshine of her father’s family home in Andalucia. He has been a distant father, but she decides it’s time to discover more about her estranged Spanish family. Setting her latest novel in Spain, Alexandra resolves to make the most of her stay by researching its people, history and traditions. However, she soon learns there’s much more to this place and to her family members than she could have ever expected and discovers a passion she’d never experienced before when she falls in love with Salvador, an arrogant Count who’s as handsome as he’s troubled.

Alexandra learns the hard way that the differences between her father’s homeland and her mother’s British one are more than just the blistering sunshine and vibrancy of the place. She witnesses cruelty, beauty and intrigue, where rivals physically oppose each other and where some people will stoop to depths she could never have envisaged. Despite her love for Salvador, he resists his obvious attraction for her and Alexandra has to decide if this brooding, difficult man is worth fighting for, or if she should leave this troubled place and return to the safety and familiarity of her home and life in England.

Novelicious Chats To...Marie Laval

At this time of year we're all looking forward to long, hot summer days. Marie Laval's book, A Spell in Provence, has a perfect setting and today she's chatting to Debs about her writing process and her journey to becoming a published author.

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

I work as a full-time teacher so during term-time writing has to wait until I come home and look after my family, then finish my lesson planning and marking. By the time I sit at the computer I am usually very tired! When I am on holiday however, I love to get up really early before anybody else is up in the house, write in complete silence and drink lots of cups of tea. It's heaven!

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

Not usually, although I do sometimes try and find photos of actors or sportsmen to inspire me as I write the story.

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

I think it would have to be the Claudine series of novels by French writer Colette, which were published in the early twentieth century. These were the very first 'grown up' novels I read and I absolutely loved Colette's style and the setting of the Belle Epoque in France.

What is your writing process? Do you plan first or dive in? How many drafts do you do?

I am guilty of diving head first with only a very vague idea of the plot and subplots. I always have a strong feel for the main characters, their motivation and personality, and for the setting of the story but the rest I make up as I go along. That's why it takes me so long to complete a project. I often have to backtrack and delete whole chapters, characters or storylines.

Review – Glorious Angels by Justina Robson

Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce

Tralane Hutingore is an engineer in the city of Glimshard. It is Tralane’s task to source and analyse old abandoned scraps of technology to gain knowledge that has been lost over the years. The city is under threat from the Karoo, an alien species that they are at war with and the whole Empire is at risk.

When the novel begins, we meet Zharazin Mazhd, who is set the task of spying on a plane and its occupants as it arrives in the city, but when he sees that it is Tralane at the helm, he isn’t sure what he should do with the information.

I really struggled with the beginning of the book as I didn’t know who or what Zharazin was staking out – or indeed who Zharazin himself was – so didn’t feel invested in his mission. Because of this initial difficulty, I found the book hard to get into.

It’s such a hefty book and I found a lot of the content was too complicated and wasn’t explained very clearly at all.

Perhaps this is simply because the fantasy genre isn’t one that I am overly familiar with, but I just failed to get my head around most of the plot!

Feasting on Romantic Comedy – Genoa Cake from Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey

Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey is, quite simply, gorgeous.

The novel is a dual time-frame novel and focuses on the Second World War and the present(ish) day. It is romantic, heartbreaking and full of wonderful, well-drawn characters.

Dan and Stella meet during the Second World War and fall desperately in love. It's a really bad idea. Not just because Stella is married, but because Dan is an American B-17 bomber pilot, whose chance of surviving all of his 25 missions is just one in five.

But he does survive. And now, in the present, time is running out for him. He's desperate to find Stella, his true love, and sends a letter to the last address he had for her. It is found by Jess who is running away from a troubled relationship and sheltering at the house. She's compelled to help Dan out, and, in doing so, begins a love story of her own.

Iona beautifully weaves in food to evoke the time of the novel. And, as is the case for Stella cooking during the Second World War, where she is trying to stretch the food as far as she can, it is also the lack of food that gives you a real sense of the time period.

I chose Genoa cake because it's an old-fashioned cake you don't hear about much nowadays, and the inclusion of it in the novel gives it, amongst many other wartime food mentions, that taste of what it must have been like during wartime London.

It isn't just the Genoa cake, though. Iona also weaves in Woolten Pie, eggless sponge, the joy of tinned peaches, bloater paste ... With food, Iona has captured a fascinating time in our history in such mouthwatering detail.

Well, except for the bloater paste.

Dates For Your Diary – May 2015

by Zarina de Ruiter

It’s May you guys, which means an abundance of spring flowers, actual rays of sunshine peaking through the clouds and the start of sizzling summer novels popping up in the book shops.

It’s one of the best times of the year for women’s fiction releases and before you pack your suitcase full of cosy reads to accompany you on your holiday, you have the opportunity to meet many of the lovely authors who wrote the books as they will be making appearances across the UK to celebrate their new novels!

4-16 May – London doesn’t have all of the fun, as the Swindon Festival of Literature brings thirteen days of literary frolics to North Wiltshire, including Writing Motherhood with C.L. Taylor, Rowan Coleman and Carolyn Jess-Cooke (£7), and Finding Truths in Fiction with Patrick Gale and Eve McBride (£8).

8-16 May – Famous for the fantastic I Heart and About a Girl series, Lindsey Kelk has a new stand-alone novel coming out this month, Always The Bridesmaid, and she’s holding pen parties (aka signings) at various locations across the UK to celebrate! So if you are in or near London, Southampton, Guildford, Manchester, Gateshead or Glasgow, be sure to read all about the pen parties on Lindsey’s website.

8-24 May – Norfolk & Norwich Festival is the place to be in East England this month for a host of exciting arts activities. For book lovers there are many fun events scheduled, such as Writing Families with Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry (£12), a day course in Nature Writing by the Sea (£120), and a talk titled Do It Like a Woman … Change the World. (£8).

Review – A Time for Friends by Patricia Scanlan

Reviewed by Susan Lobban

Looking back to her childhood, Hilary Hammond does not have fond memories of Colette O’Mahony. Being forced to include the snobby girl in her games was not something she relished. However, that same superficial girl actually became her best friend as the years passed and they grew up together. Now with families of their own, they no longer live in each other’s pockets, but their friendship has lasted despite the miles that separate them.

Colette is used to just dropping in to see Hilary when it suits her, so she is in for surprise when, one night, she flies in from London and her best friend is as thick as thieves with someone else. Jonathan and Colette instantly rub one another up the wrong way and Hilary is caught in the middle. She may have only known her new friend a few hours, but both are certain that they will be life long buddies.

It turns out that setting up a business with Jonathan is the ideal fit and both their professional and personal relationship goes from strength to strength. Colette, meanwhile, may seem to be in a totally different league from Hilary, but everything is not all as it seems. No matter what else you have in your life, it means nothing without true friendship.

As much as I love Patricia Scanlan books, when her latest thudded through the post I was a bit daunted by the size of it. However, I needn’t have worried as from the minute I started the pages just turned themselves and in no time at all I was halfway through!

Wendy Holden's Top 5 Writing Tips

1. TELL NO-ONE! You put yourself under a lot of pressure when you try to write your first novel. You don’t need other people constantly asking you how it is going. There is also the possibility – remote, I know – that these other people might not want you to succeed!

2. Get up early and write with a fresh mind, before you go to work, as it’s very difficult in the evening when you are tired. Plus, if you do it in the morning you feel incredibly virtuous all day!

3. Don’t drink when you are writing. I know the likes of Dylan Thomas and Evelyn Waugh just got better with booze. But ordinary mortals just feel sleepy and write rubbish!

My Writing Room by Kate Forster

My writing room is where I do all the plotting, the planning and the editing at the end of the process.

I write the guts of my novels wherever the mood takes me. I might work on the sofa in another room, in bed, in a café or even in a library, but this room is for structure.

I have an old round table as a desk, and a fantastic Aeron chair. I can’t do this chair justice by stating that it’s comfortable, instead, imagine an angel cradling you as you work, then you will have an idea of what sitting in this chair feels like.

The Secret Dreamworld of an Aspiring Author – Ever Decreasing Writing Time

by Anna Bell

I’m very excited to announce that I’m expecting another baby. When I first found out the news I was ecstatic, and then, once the news sank in, I started to panic. When would I find time to write my books?

One of the things I’ve learnt over my writing career is that you can fit writing into the tiniest of time frames. Yes, it was glorious when I was a full-time writer for a magical four or five months. I wrote whatever hours I wanted to, staying up into the wee hours if the mood took me, or keeping office hours if I wanted to feel more normal. Before that magical time I had to fit my writing around my day job, and the full-time writing didn’t last as long as hoped thanks to the house renovations and then Baby Bell. Now, I simply have to make the most of every opportunity I get to write. Be gone Buzzfeed quizzes and Pinterest lusting – there’s now no room for procrastination.

I’ve got myself into a pretty good writing routine. I write intensively three mornings a week when Baby Bell is at nursery. That’s when I get the bulk of my work done. I then squeeze other sessions into his nap times and, if I’m feeling very conscientious, I write in the evenings, but that’s a rare occurrence these days. I’m really intrigued as to how the new baby is going to fit into my writing plans, but I learnt just how unpredictable and different babies can be when I had Baby Bell. I’ve just got to go with it, and reassure myself that it will work, but until it happens I won’t be able to plan how.

Novelicious Picks...Psychological Thrillers

As much as we love a good romantic comedy here at Novelicious, we can’t resist the occasional psychological thriller. Here, Helen picks five exciting new titles in the genre. Have you read any good thrillers lately? We’d love to hear your recommendations!

by Helen Redfern

1. Disclaimer by Renée Knight – What if you pick up a book from your bedside table and realise the story is about you? Catherine is shocked and sickened when she realises this book, a book she has no recollection of buying, is going to reveal her darkest secret.

2. The Lie by C L Taylor – Jane Hughes has a loving partner, a job in an animal sanctuary and a tiny cottage in rural Wales. She’s happier than she’s ever been, but her life is a lie. For Jane Hughes doesn’t really exist. She’s the product of a supposed trip of a lifetime taken by Emma, Daisy, Leanne and Al five years ago. But only two of the girls made it back alive. Someone out there knows the truth about what happened, and will stop at nothing to exact revenge.

3. The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson – The Day We Disappeared is about two young women, Annie and Kate, who are running away from their past. But what is Annie's secret? And why has Kate run away? This novel is described as romantic tinged with dark secrets.

4. I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh – This novel is about Jenna Gray whose world is tragically turned upside down. She moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast in order to start afresh, but is haunted by grief, fears and memories. Slowly she begins to see a chink of light in her future. Little does she know, the past is about to catch up with her.

Dear Julie – Do I Need a Literary Agent?

Welcome to our new writing advice column, where you'll find bestselling author Julie Cohen answering reader questions! Hit a roadblock or have a writing-related query? Drop them in the comments or email kerry@novelicious.com and keep your eyes peeled for Julie’s response in later columns. This week, does an author really need a literary agent?

Dear Julie,

So few people get taken on by literary agents these days is there any point trying to find one?

Michele

Dear Michele,

Every author and every career is so different, it’s hard to say if you, personally, should try to find an agent. Some authors have very successful careers without agents, particularly those who are self-published, or who publish with small or mainly electronic publishing houses, or who write for publishers with boilerplate (non-negotiable) contracts. It used to be that writers had slim to no chance of getting a novel published without the help of an agent; that’s not the case anymore, as there are many more opportunities for authors who want to go it alone.

But if you ask me (and you have asked me, so I get to tell you, hooray!), I think that it’s a really good idea to try to find an agent. I, personally, know that I would not have the career I’ve had without my agent. I would have got published, but there’s more to a writing career than getting published. A writing career is strategic and focused. And that’s where an agent is uniquely placed to help you.

A good agent does more than just get you a publishing deal, or negotiate contracts. She’ll discuss your work with you, give you advice, introduce you to the right people, talk you through the steps you need to take to reach your goals.

Review – The Grand Reopening of Dandelion Cafe by Jenny Oliver

Reviewed by Susan Lobban

As soon as Annie steps foot in the Dandelion Cafe she is transported back to the days when she would sit at one of the tables with her dad chatting over a plate of infamous Cherry Pie. Unfortunately, those days have long gone and now that she has made a life for herself in London, she has had no reason to come back to Cherry Pie Island – until now.

Enid, the manager her Dad left in charge, has died and now the cafe’s legacy is in Annie’s hands. Looking around, it’s plain to see that not much has changed since Annie was last there and that is not a good thing. She had no intention of running the cafe, but at the same time she is set against her brother’s money-fuelled plans to build on the land. Her dad must have left his beloved cafe to her for some reason, but in amongst the chipped formica and dirty walls, Annie is finding it hard to what that reason may be.

This book is the first in a brand new series set on Cherry Pie Island, however, rather than being full-length, each part of the story will be published seperately as a novella. Personally, I am not a big fan of splitting books into parts and would prefer to wait for the full novel. However, as I loved Jenny Oliver’s previous books so much I was willing to give this a try. And with the other parts following on fairly quickly – they are set to be published every month – it’s almost like taking continuous breaks from the one book.

Length aside, I did enjoy the premise of Annie returning to take over the cafe that holds such fond family memories for her. Injecting new life into a rundown family business never gets old for me and, in this case, I found that the side stories held just as much, if not more, of my interest. Although, as predicted, just as I was wanted to delve further into certain characters – especially Matt and River – the book ended. It does give you a small taster of what is to come and I could see which characters would play a part further down the line.

Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction Giveaway: 5 Copies of The Bees by Laline Paull

Those generous book geeks at the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction were kind enough to send out a copy of The Bees to Novelicious HQ last week. We're reading it right now and it is completely living up to the hype. We're pleased to be giving away five copies to you lot.

THE BLURB

Born into the lowest class of her society, Flora 717 is a sanitation bee, only fit to clean her orchard hive. Living to accept, obey and serve, she is prepared to sacrifice everything for her beloved holy mother, the Queen.

Yet Flora has talents that are not typical of her kin. And while mutant bees are usually instantly destroyed, Flora is reassigned to feed the newborns, before becoming a forager, collecting pollen on the wing. Then she finds her way into the Queen’s inner sanctum, where she discovers secrets both sublime and ominous.

Enemies roam everywhere, from the fearsome fertility police to the high priestesses who jealously guard the Hive Mind. But Flora cannot help but break the most sacred law of all, and her instinct to serve is overshadowed by a desire, as overwhelming as it is forbidden…

TO ENTER

Please leave a comment letting us know which of the Baileys Prize Shortlist you are most looking forward to reading, or have most enjoyed reading.

We will pick a winner at 12pm (UK Time) on May 4th 2015. This competition is open to UK and Ireland entrants only.

Good luck!