Lorraine's blog

The ABC Checklist for New Writers is available from Amazon and at more than 150 Waterstone’s Branches across the UK. We have had brilliant reviews from Simon Whaley, Writing Magazine and many others, including Sue Kendrick and David Robinson, all of which which can be read here. If you want to know what subjects the book covers then go to the contents page on my website.

To all of our members who voted for Vlad the Inhaler on Authonomy I’d like to say a huge thank you. My children’s book finished at number two on the Editor’s Desk over there, which means it will be read by an editor at Harper Collins. I’ll let you know what they say.

Lorraine

Vlad the Inhaler has managed to cling on to the number two spot on Authonomy and there are only five days left before the month end. If my book is still there when the clock ticks over on the last day of September then Vlad will be read by editors in both the UK and the USA.

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It can be a nasty cold place out in Authonomy Land. Vitriol is flying on the forums at all and sundry. The successful fear those climbing the charts. The unsuccessful blame their lack of success on cheating by others and a determination on their part not to ask friends and family for votes.

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This article first appeared in Writing Queensland.

Reading Between the Whines
Like most writers, I dream of being so successful that bookstore chains clamour for me to appear at book signings. You know the type of thing, store managers falling over themselves to attend to my every whim. A friend of mine has reached those dizzy heights.

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I thought it would be fun to report on how Vlad the Inhaler is doing over on Authonomy, but the ups and downs, with so much at stake (excuse the pun) are not good for my heart.

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Hi, my children's novel, Vlad the Inhaler is currently at number four on the editor's desk on Authonomy, the website run by Harper Collins. If it finishes in the top five at the end of the month the publishers will read the manuscript with a view to possible publication.

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The following article is reproduced with the kind permission of Writing Magazine

Home Language
Living abroad, it’s natural to find oneself searching for the right word to express a desire or emotion. What I’d never expected, so it came as a shock the first time it happened, was to search in vain for the word or phrase in English.

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Bufflehead Sisters follows the lives of two girls from childhood through to adulthood. The story is told through the eyes of Janet, a girl desperate for a sister. Along comes Sophie, totally unlike Janet in every way and from a damaged family background. A friendship is formed that seems unbreakable.

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Simon Whaley’s excellent book, Running a Writers’ Circle, takes the stress out of setting up and running a writers’ group. Using his considerable experience as chairman of a writers’ circle, Simon has set out everything a prospective group needs to consider.

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The following article is reproduced with the kind permission of Writing Magazine

Return to Sender

Expatriate writers have problems not experienced by our stay at home cousins, not least the difficulty of supplying stamped addressed envelopes for replies to our precious submissions.

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