What’s Up Wednesday!

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in reading, What's Up Wednesday, writing

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6b1d8-buttonsmallnoborderWhat’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up.

It’s hosted by Jaime Marrow and Erin L Funk.

What I’m Reading

I’ve nearly finished MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I absolutely loved the first half of this book, it was brilliant. The second half isn’t quite so good, but I’m very invested in seeing what happens to all the characters.

Next Up THE MOON AND MORE by Sarah Dessen.

What I’m Writing

Ready, Set, WRITE starts today. You can sign up HERE.

My goals for this week are to dive into my new story and write 500 words a day for the next 7 days.

What’s Inspiring Me

This post by Kristen Cashore on beginnings.

All the positive energy surrounding Ready, Set, WRITE. Good luck with your goals everyone!

What Else I’ve Been Up Too

I met one of my best friends for a cream tea river cruise, on the Thames. Despite the gloomy weather (summer where are you?) we had a lovely time.

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I’m going to be away from my computer for a while, so I’m trying out blogging from my phone. I hope all links etc work. Sorry if they don’t, hopefully I’ll get used to it.

So what’s up with you?

What’s Up Wednesday

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in What's Up Wednesday

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6b1d8-buttonsmallnoborderWhat’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up.

It’s hosted by Jaime Marrow and Erin L Funk.

 

 

What I’m Reading

I’m just beginning MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick, which I think I am going to adore.

What I’m Writing

Nothing!

I finished my first draft a couple of weeks back and I’m on a break. I am planning on joining in Ready, Set, WRITE hosted by Alison Miller, Elodie Nowodazkij, Erin Funk, Jaime Morrow. More info on all their blogs.

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It starts on the 11th June and runs for two months! So I have a few more days to rest my fingers and my brain!

What Inspires me Right now

All the excitement and positivity in the comments section of the Ready, Set, WRITE posts. So many people following their dreams! It makes me happy.

What Else I’ve Been Up To

My darling son turned four on Monday, so we had a weekend of celebrations. There was Panda cake, there was pizza, there was barbecue, there was cocktail sausages, there was more cake, and after the kiddo’s bed time there was a glass of wine for Mummy! Children’s birthdays are exhausting, but SO much fun. Still how is he four? It feels like I was just learning how to change a nappy and obsessing about the weaning!

Five Things on Friday

17 Friday May 2013

Posted by in Friday Five, photos, reading

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1) I Love this Tweet and this word!

I think there should also be a word for the gloom that descends when a book you’re desperate to read comes out in another country, but isn’t available in your’s for 5 more months – I’m looking at you HAZE!

2) The best blog post I read this week was The Transformative Power of Pain and Kindness  on The Kindness Project.

I haven’t quite found the words yet to express how much this got to me, but Do Good Anyway is something I need to remember, and this is a post everyone should read.

3) I just downloaded The Chocolate Kiss, the sequel to the amazing The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand. Sassy ladies, swoon-worthy french men and chocolate, what more can you want in a book?

4) The Sapphires arrived today from Love Film, right in time for the weekend – yay!

5) On the radio today I heard two men discussing why anyone would post photos of food on Instagram and why anyone would look at them. To which I say I LOVE photos of food and I love looking at them. Hope you do too, because here a few from this week!

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Have a great weekend, I hope the sun shines on you wherever you are.

What’s Up Wednesday

15 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in photos, reading, Uncategorized, What's Up Wednesday, writing

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What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up.

It’s hosted by Jaime Marrow and Erin L Funk.

 

 

What I’m Reading

I’m dipping in and out of Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen, which is gorgeously written and I’ve also just started The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, which my husband recommend and seems to be getting a lot of love in the book world.

What I’m Writing

Still marching slowly forward with my WIP, another 1048 words and I shall hit 40,000 – YAY!

What Inspires Me Right Now

The blog, Marc and Angel Hack Life. There is so much inspiring stuff on there about living the life you want, being happy, staying positive. I love starting the day with a Marc and Angel post. This is my current favourite 60 Tiny Love Stories To Make You Smile.

What Else I’ve Been Up To

  • Visiting secret gardens.

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  • Instagram still. My photo of the week

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What’s Up Wednesday

08 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in Books, What's Up Wednesday, writing

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What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up.

It’s hosted by Jaime Marrow and Erin L Funk.

 

 

Hi again! So I’ve been seeing What’s Up Wednesday on few blogs and it seemed a great way back into blogging.

What I’m Reading

I’ve just finished the amazing The Chocolate Thief by Lauren Florand and I’m about to start Bittersweet  by Sarah Ockler.

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What I’m Writing

I’m making progress on my first draft. I’m at 34,334 words and hoping to finish by the end of May.

What Inspires Me Right Now

This quote

You are what you do today, not what you say you’ll do tomorrow.

So I’m trying to write every single day.

What Else I’ve Been Up To

I’m loving looking at the CoverFlip book covers on Tumblr. Inspired by the amazing Maureen Johnson and her article, The Gender Cover Up, in The Huffington Post. It’s fascinating.

I am also seriously addicted to Instagram (follow me at http://instagram.com/alexabarry). I’m taking part in Fat Mum Slim’s Photo a Day and the Estellagram photo a day, as well as posting what ever else I think is great.

The Next Big Thing

25 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized, writing

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My lovely friend, Kim Harris Thacker, tagged me for The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. You can read her answers here, her WIP sounds amazing. I’m kind of terrified to talk about my WIP, but here we go.

What’s the working title of your book?

True North

Where did the idea for the book come from?

Gosh that’s hard. It’s a mis-mash of two old ideas. It’s also heavily influenced by my move home from the USA to the UK.

What genre does your book fall under?

YA Contemporary

What actors would you choose to play characters in your movies rendition?

Oooh wouldn’t a movie be lovely! I don’t actually picture my characters as actors. I have more of a sense of them. So instead of actors here are some locations.

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Covent Garden, London

 

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King’s College, Cambridge

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Museum, Cambridge

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Big Ben, London

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Madison Caulfield has her future planned, but a summer spent in Cambridge, England changes everything.

Will you book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Fingers crossed it will be represented.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’m working on it right now. I hope to be done by May 1st.

What other book would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’m hoping it will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins – shoot for the stars, right?

What else about your book might pique the readers interest?

A dangerously good looking boy!

New friendships.

Lots of swooning :D

Bike rides around Cambridge.

A complicated father/daughter relationship.

I have tagged my lovely friend, Caroline Richmond. I’m looking forward to reading her answers.

Small Joys

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by in Books, Happiness, Small Joys

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What a couple of weeks! Between the head cold that would not leave, the miserable weather, and the dishwasher breaking down I definitely need to remind myself of the little things making me happy. So here are my small joys -

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My darling boy, of course he makes is a huge joy, but his new raincoat is making us both very happy. He’s a little burst of sunshine in the drab day. Plus we ended this walk with cake and apple juice

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Not perhaps the most artistic arrangement, but getting the labels off these bottles made me very happy indeed.

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Dr Who and A Game of Thrones return to TV very soon.

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There’s been a lot of love (including a review by John Green in the New York Times) for one of my favourite reads of last year Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. This makes me so happy! This book stole my heart.

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Lemon Cake for lunch.

What’s been making you smile this week?

Small Joys

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by in Happiness, Small Joys

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As Spring seems to have come and gone in a day, here are some other little things bringing me joy.

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Daffodils – Such a happy flower. It’s like bringing sunshine inside. This one is especially joyful as my son planted it at Nursery. It’s no taller than a 30 cm ruler. I’m wondering if we’re going to be able to climb it to the giants castle soon!

IMG_4289 At least this weather is perfect for Hot Chocolate and marshmallows! And this drink always reminds me of one of my oldest and bestest friends.IMG_4260 Complete disregard for signs! I couldn’t help but smile at this. If you can’t read it, it says “Please do not chain your bikes to these railings or they will be removed”

 

 

What small joys are you grateful for today?

RTW – Quarterly Check In

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in reading, Road Trip Wednesday, writing

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uEulMpRoad Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

THIS WEEKS TOPIC: Quarterly check-ins! We’re already 1/4 of the way through the year–where are you on your reading and writing goals?

Firstly, How is it March already?

Secondly, I’m not where I hoped to be, but I’m in a good place.

On Writing

I wanted to have most a new draft done by now, and I started well, but got lost. So I spent February wrestling with a synopsis.

Gosh it was HARD, but after 28 days of thinking and crossing out and lovely AHA moments I have a synopsis. I’ve also become a fan of synopsis :)

I’ve started drafting and I do love this story, although I have pangs that it is too quiet.

On Reading

I didn’t set any reading goals this year. Although I did resolve to stop reading if I wasn’t enjoying a book, instead of slogging on. I have done this, although it was quite a challenge the first few times. I feel so guilty quitting on a book, anyone else feel that way?

The best books I’ve read this year are A CORNER OF WHITE by Jaclyn Moriarty, WHERE’D YOU GO BERNADETTE by Maria Sample and THE GOVERNESS AFFAIR by Courtney Milan

Hopefully at the half year check in I can report I have a shiny first draft!

How are your goals going in 2013?

Spring!

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Life, writing

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Spring has finally arrived in England. Winter seems to have gone on forever this year. Or maybe it just seems longer when you have a very active three year old. Either way it was a relief to be able to stay at the park for a couple of hours today and not return home with numb fingers, toes, and noses.

Life is bursting back into the land. Everywhere the green shoots of flowers have broken through the soil, and are quivering like ballerinas before the opening bars, ready to dance in the spring and show off their colours.

Even my writing has been galvanised. After slogging through a synopsis during the dark days of February I’ve finally begun. So far the words are flowing and I’m hoping to have 20,000 by the 1st April – fingers (tightly) crossed.

I hope wherever you are Spring has arrived too.

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