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

Literary Love Letters: Dear Anne Tyler, From Natalie Meg Evans

Have you ever been so inspired by an author’s work that you wish you could tell them exactly how much they have impacted your life? In this series, Literary Love Letters, we do just that – share open love letters to inspiring authors. Today, The Dress Thief author Natalie Meg Evans writes to A Spool of Blue Thread author Anne Tyler.

Dear Anne Tyler,

We were introduced thanks to a glossy magazine. Long before the digital era, monthly titles like Cosmo, Honey and Over 21 sometimes appeared on the stands with a paperback inside their cellophane wrappers. I can’t remember which of them packaged you, but the book was Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant and it must have been about 1983.

To be honest? I didn’t like the cover and I hadn’t heard of you. I consumed escapist fiction back then and was taking a long sabbatical from the classics that had dominated my school reading. I was also depressed, unemployed and suffering exam burnout. I’m not sure I knew it, but I was lonely and isolated in London, trying to make it as an actress. The last thing I looked for in my downtime was anything unpredictable. What made me push aside the pile of pastel-jacketed library books and open Homesick Restaurant? I can’t recall but your first line got me.

Sarah Pekkanen's Writing Room

Writing books at a desk feels far too formal for me. I prefer a gentle, soft space where I can daydream about my characters, which is why I write on a bed instead of in an office. I'm surrounded by bookshelves and one entire shelf is devoted to books on writing. I turn to these again and again, especially Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell and On Writing by Stephen King, for inspiration when the right words won't turn up on my page.

I write in snatches and spurts – with three kids, I can also be found writing on the sidelines of the soccer field or in a chair at karate practice with little tykes all around me screaming, "Kai-ya!". But when I get a nice stretch of time, or when I wake up early in the morning (which is the BEST writing time of all, because my brain feels fresh and clear), you can find me on my daybed. On the walls are a few framed posters of my books covers, as well as an original painting created by my friend Greg, and pictures of my kids are on the nightstand.

The Secret Dreamworld of an Aspiring Author – My Go-To Sub-Plot

by Anna Bell

As a writer do you ever dislike a book you’re reading because it reminds you of the writing problem you’re having at the time? Well, that’s what happened to me this week when I cried and swore off writing and reading chick lit for two days.

I was reading a chick lit book by an author I love. It was really funny and most of the way through I was enjoying it, but when it came to the ending I sighed at its predictability and I fell out with chick lit. It wasn’t really about the book, or the genre, it was because that same predictability was what I was struggling with in my own writing.

I’ve written on many occasions that I like the predictability of chick lit. I love the fact that you are guaranteed a happy ending and their rocky road on the path to true love that I enjoy. Yet, unfortunately, that’s often not enough of a story. There usually has to be some other disaster in the protagonist’s life to hold the reader's attention, and so often in chick lit it tends to be a woman’s career. I guess it makes sense, as next to love it’s probably the most major investment of time and energy in a woman’s life. The career storyline usually pops up in the guise of starting a new business (let’s be honest – it’s usually food, craft or event related), or they’re a downtrodden employee who either averts a disaster or causes one resulting in either promotion or firing accordingly.

Novelicious Investigates...How To Start A Podcast

Podcasting is a lot of fun and it's surprisingly cheap and easy to set one up. I started The Worried Writer in January with absolutely zero experience, and if I can do it, anybody can!

I did, however, follow guidance from excellent established podcasters. In particular, I found this series of tutorial videos from online entrepreneur, Pat Flynn, absolutely invaluable. Thanks, Pat!

I also got advice from friends who know about recording and broadcasting sound, who were kind enough to pass on their top tips and answer my questions.

So, here's what I found out in a handy quick-start guide!

Equipment:

I'm assuming you already have a computer of some kind, so the only thing you must acquire is a microphone.

I got a few recommendations and went with a RODE NT-USB microphone. It comes with a stand, making it a cost-effective option. 

I'd recommend you invest in some headphones, too. The big kind which fully enclose your ears. They make a massive difference when editing your audio – if your show sounds good through your headphones, you can feel pretty secure it's going to sound good to your listeners (who will probably be using computer speakers or less-sensitive headphones).

Next you want to think about the environment in which you're recording. Lots of hard surfaces make sound very echo-y and 'hard'. My garden office has blinds and a laminate floor, so I hung up some material along the back wall to soften the sound. 

Software:

If you want to interview guests on your podcast, then I recommend you use Skype for the interview and call-recorder software (I use Ecamm). 

Once you've recorded your show, you will need editing software to tidy it up. I use Audacity, which is both easy to learn and free.

Ten Books We're Taking to the Beach

Hurrah! It is summer. A time when it becomes so hot you just can't do anything but lie down and read. Perfect for book nerds!

In that vein, this week we thought we'd let you know what we'll be reading on the beach this summer.

1. Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot – I've been waiting for this book for years and years so cannot wait to read it whilst lazing on the beach. Or by the pool, I'm not picky. Princess Mia (yes, she of the Princess Diaries series of books) is organising her wedding to Michael when the paparazzi uncovers she has a long lost younger sister, Olivia Grace.

2. The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop by Abby Clements – Zarina is looking forward to immersing herself in this sequel to Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop. We return to sisters Anna and Imogen but now there's an Italian element.

3. The Little Flower Shop by the Sea by Ali McNamara – The first of two books Jennifer will be reading this summer. Poppy has inherited a flower shop from her grandmother, which has forced her to return to Cornwall. She struggles with the responsibility, life becomes complicated by romance and she's very tempted to just run away.

4. The Cherry Tree Cafe by Heidi Swain – Jennifer's second choice is about cupcakes, crafting and love. Forced to return home, Lizzie gets involved with her friend's new cafe. 

5. Sunshine and Spaniels by Cressida Mclaughlin – One for Kirsty to read this summer, this is the second novella in the Primrose Terrace series. We once more join Cat Palmer whose dog walking business is starting to take off with a little help from her friends.

Dear Julie – How Long Should My Book Be?

Welcome to our 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, Julie tackles word counts.

Dear Julie,

I need help with length and structure! How many words should my manuscript be? It’s a women’s fiction book with a dash of romance. How many words should I be aiming for total? How many words per chapter? How many chapters? So many questions!

Sarah

Dear Sarah,

The answer to so many writing questions is so often ‘Well, it depends.’ It’s nice to have a question with a definite answer, for once.

Well, almost definite.

The length of most mainstream published women’s commercial fiction novels is between 80,000 and 100,000 words. Occasionally you might see a longer one; very rarely a shorter. If you aim for about 90,000 words you won’t go far wrong, and you’ll have room to expand or cut, as is necessary. Maybe even both.

Epublishers and self-published writers may have books which are shorter than this. The guidelines here are much more fluid, maybe because a book that would look frustratingly slim on a physical shelf actually looks like a perfect short read on an e-reader. You can check the publisher’s requirements. I’d say that 50-60,000 words is minimum for a short novel – any shorter would be a novella. But individual publishers may have their own word count guidelines.

As far as chapter length and number of chapters goes: this is really up to you. In my mind, a chapter should feel like a rounded unit, but it should also leave enough hanging so that the reader wants to keep reading at the end. A chapter should be, in my opinion, about as long as it needs to be. If a chapter feels too long to you and there’s a good place to break it, go ahead; if it feels too short and you like how it combines with another chapter, go ahead with that too.

Review – Dietland by Sarai Walker

Reviewed by Kelly Allen

Plum Kettle is fat. She hates the word, the world and all the people who stare at her for not fitting into the realms of super-skinny-supermodel. Plum works as an agony aunt for teenage girls, answering their emails about angst, self-harm and relationships. Working from home (well mostly in the local café), she uses the voice and appearance of Kitty, a thin pretty woman who has all the right answers.

Plum dreams of a future after her weight loss surgery. She dreams about who she will be and what she will look like in her new form of Alicia. She buys and hoards clothes in sizes too small ready for the ‘thin’ girl of her future, when her life will really begin.

One day Plum thinks she is being followed by a woman in combat boots and bright tights. Once this incident occurs her world begins to change around her and she is forced to confront what she really wants and has in life, as well as what may be if she follows through with the surgery.

With the help of Verena, Plum is welcomed into Calliope House, the home of women also challenging society’s shallow concepts of how women should ‘look’. Meanwhile, there is another group exacting revenge on those who have mistreated women, and Plum is caught in the middle of it all whilst, at the same time, undertaking a series of difficult challenges set out by Verena.

As the story unfolds, Plum finally confronts the real world of beauty and what sacrifices women make to fit this mould carved out by a media frenzied world.

My Book Deal Moment by Ella Griffin

Getting a book deal is like winning the lottery. You don’t believe that it will ever really happen but you still lie awake at night wondering what it would be like anyway.  And, for some reason, you always picture yourself getting the news somewhere lovely looking fabulous or somewhere fabulous looking lovely.

The reality turned out to be a little different – as reality usually does!

It started well though. My lovely friend Marian Keyes (yes I know just how lucky I am to have her as a friend) read my rambling, 164,000-word draft and told me to send it to her agent, Jonathan Lloyd. When he called, weeks later to say he would take me on, Neil and I were on the Amalfi coast celebrating my birthday.

We had walked up the winding hill to Ravello to explore the garden In the Villa Cimbrone. There was a long avenue of wisteria that had rolled out a carpet of lavender petals onto the path below. A walkway called The Terrace of Infinity, perched it seemed, between land and sky overlooking the glittering Adriatic Sea. We were sitting in the sunshine in the rose garden when my phone rang.

Friday Book Giveaway! We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman

Happy Friday, book nerds! Before you all head off for the weekend, we have one copy of We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman up for grabs …

Stella Carey exists in a world of night. Married to a soldier who has returned from Afghanistan injured in body and mind, she leaves the house every evening as Vincent locks himself away, along with the secrets he brought home from the war.

During her nursing shifts, Stella writes letters for her patients to their loved ones – some full of humour, love and practical advice, others steeped in regret or pain – and promises to post these messages after their deaths.

Review - The Silent Hours by Cesca Major

Reviewed by Debs Carr

This story is based on a true, shocking story that happened in France in WWII. Set in the countryside in a village that remained unoccupied, it is told from several perspectives and begins with Adeline, a mute woman living in a nunnery in the early fifties. She can’t recall what happened to her or where she comes from and as a reader you suspect that this is because the truth of her past is too unbearable for her to accept. Despite help and care from the nuns is unable to speak.

The book also tells the story of Tristan, a little boy whose family has moved from Paris to live in the village. He makes new friends and likes his teacher, but he is unaware of the cruelty in the world around him. We also meet Isabelle. She loves teaching, but misses her brother Paul who is away serving his country and eventually gets caught, becoming a prisoner of war. Isabelle meets a local man, Sebastian, whose family were once wealthy bankers, but he is also a Jew and his life has changed greatly from how it once was.

As Adeline tries to recall who she is and Tristan wonders about the other new boy at school, Isabelle and Sebastian fall in love and they all struggle to cope with their ever-changing lives. Their stories unfold with a vividness that kept be entranced as I became drawn deeper into their daily lives and fears. The book quickly moved from one character’s story to the next, taking me on an emotional ride. The tension built leading to the shocking climax, which days later still haunts me and reduced me to tears, twice.

This beautifully written debut is a heart-breaking story about love, terrible loss and being exposed to unimaginable horror. I loved it.

10/10

MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK

My Book Deal Moment by Julia Kelly

I had written just three chapters of my debut novel, With My Lazy Eye, when I sent them away to a handful of Irish publishers and literary agents. I’d spent months labouring over those opening chapters so they were quite polished and tight and I was hungry for some feedback. I also had almost no idea of what the rest of the novel would be about, was utterly lacking in self confidence and discipline and I was lazy. 

To my amazement (and terror) the editor-in-chief of a renowned Irish publishers phoned me three days later to say that he loved what I’d submitted and asked if he could see the rest of it. He was quite disappointed when I confessed that the rest of it didn’t yet exist but he offered me a small advance and it was his belief and the pure pressure of a deadline that made the difference between my finishing my first novel and never having the courage or discipline to do so.

I took unpaid leave from my job in the civil service to get it finished and went through endless internal battles and self doubt while I worked on it.

Some people struggle through their lives trying to prove to the world that they can do something that people say they can’t. I had the opposite problem — the weight of expectation from family and friends who believed in me and were endlessly supportive and who I couldn’t bare to disappoint.

With My Lazy Eye went on to win a large prize, Newcomer of the Year at the Irish Book Awards and was shortlisted as one of the books of the decade. It resulted in my getting a two book deal with Quercus in London which meant that I could take a career break and write full time for the first time in my life.

The Playground by Julia Kelly is out now.

Review – Nightingales at War by Donna Douglas

Reviewed by Verity Wilde

It’s 1940 and the Nightingale Hospital is playing its part in the war effort. Dora’s nursing again – leaving her twins at home – because she wants to help with the war effort. Miss Fox is trying to keep the hospital running, with Miss Hanley disapproving of war-enforced changes along the way. And helping out on the wards are the VADs – Jennifer and Cissy, who are hoping to mop the brows of handsome soldiers and Eve, who is trying to get away from her overbearing aunt. But nursing is never easy, and the Blitz is coming.

This is the sixth Nightingale Nurses book, and although I haven’t read any of the others, I was soon into the swing of this series. It is warm and fairly cozy – the front cover says that fans of Call the Midwife will enjoy it and I’d agree with that, but add that if you like Helen Forrester’s war novels and memoirs this will suit you. The realities of the war are there, but in a slightly fuzzy soft focus way – there are casualties (some of them fairly major) but there are no graphic details. The characters are recognisable types – with hearts of gold, stiff upper lips, spivs and religious fanatics all popping up.

This is World War Two through slightly rosy specs – which is exactly what the cover suggests. My Granny would have loved it – and I mean that in a totally good way – it would have been on her library book list alongside her Barbara Taylor Bradford sagas and Catherine Cooksons (and the Mills and Boon hospital romances). It’s not my usual sort of book and it’s not going to change the world, but I enjoyed it while I was reading it and I think it is a very good example of its genre. I know that there are a lot of people who love this sort of book who will be totally engrossed in the trials and tribulations of the Nightingale Nurses during the Blitz.

8/10

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Novelicious Chats To...Katharine Swartz

Katharine Swartz has penned over 25 romance books for Mills & Boon. The Lost Garden is her second novel for Lion Fiction. The story is set in a small vicarage in a remote village in Cumbria, and jumps between 1919 and the present day. Today she tells us a little bit about her writing process and journey to publication.

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

After the rush of getting children off to school, I try to write for about three hours in the mornings, while I have childcare. Then the afternoons are free for my kids and their needs.

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

I prefer not to base my characters on real people, because I think it can become confusing. And after awhile they feel so real to me I can’t imagine basing them on anyone but themselves!

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

It might be classed more as literary fiction than women’s fiction, but Small Wars by Sadie Jones is one of my favourite books. She writes about the minutiae of a woman’s life with such sensitivity and detail, and the story of a marriage in trouble is intensely moving without being melodramatic. 

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

I try to plan a little bit; I like to know what the general arc of the story is going to be, although I also discover things along the way.

Review – A Spell In Provence by Marie Laval

Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce

After being made redundant, Amy Carter decides to pack up and move from Manchester to a small, remote French village where she sinks her savings into a gorgeous house steeped in history.

Amy has renovated the house and restored it to its former beauty and plans to turn it into a guest house. On her first evening at the house, Amy meets Fabien Coste, the handsome but arrogant owner of the nearby hotel and its land.

As sparks fly between the pair, mysterious events happen at the house. Could somebody be trying to destroy Amy’s business? Or is something much darker happening?

To begin with, I thought A Spell In Provence was going to be a rather predictable read; girl meets boy, they hate each other, they fall in love. But it quickly became clear that there was more to this story as the mystery of Amy’s house and its connection with Fabien’s family begin to emerge. I do wish that the mystery wasn’t quite so easy to solve as it’s pretty clear who is responsible from very early on.

There’s quite a nice flow to the book and I liked the French setting (and it never hurts to have a handsome French hero).