Want to get published and raise money for charity?

The very talented Caroline Smailes is giving writers, published and unpublished, the chance to submit a 100 word piece of flash fiction (based on a YouTube video of their choice) to be featured in an ebook for the charity One in Four.

For more details go here:
http://www.carolinesmailes.co.uk/a-challenge-and-the-chance-to-see-your-story-in-print

I've already entered. What are you waiting for?!


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The trouble with Kindles...

...is that it's so bloody easy to download books that I'm swiftly building an electronic 'to be read' pile that is starting to rival its paperback counterpart (though it takes up a hell of a lot less space!).

Last year I read (by which I mean FINISHED) a woefully low number of books (and several were graphic novels) and considering I need to write a new chicklit book this year AND look after the Spudling I can only see that figure becoming even smaller. That saddens me because I've always loved reading, there are so many amazing books and writers out there and it's important for authors to continue to read widely BUT I've come up with a solution! Audiobooks! I take the Spudling for a walk in the pram for an hour or two each day and now I'm the happy owner of a 160GB iPod (thanks Mr Metal!) I've got an mp3 player with lots of free space and a couple of hours a day in which to listen to it.

Perfect! Apart from one thing - while I was out walking yesterday, listening to 'Before I Sleep' by SJ Watson, I started thinking about my next chicklit novel (I wrote the synopsis before Christmas and am trying to write the first 3 chapters so Maddy, my agent, can approach Orion about getting me another book deal) and it turns out that it's impossible to think about one novel whilst listening to another! In the end I had to turn the iPod off so I didn't miss any of the story. But then my head was all full of dialogue for novel 3 & with no way of writing it down I had to dictate it into my mobile (which wasn't hugely successful as it turned out. When I played it back later it was hard to make out what I was saying above the noise of traffic) and then type it into google docs via my iPad when I got home. Could I possibly use any more technology?!

Anyway, that's my plan for 2012. Write a new novel, 'read' more books and bring up my baby, all without my head exploding (and on very little sleep). How about you?

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Merry Christmas!

Sorry I haven't blogged recently - it's been all go recently with baby wrangling, book promoting and Christmas present buying (for 15 people and a dog this year!) and I still have to write a synopsis & 3 chapters of a new chicklit book by the New Year! That said I'm officially on holiday now - from writing not child wrangling! - and I'm going to enjoy it. Bring on the mulled wine and mince pies!

Happy Christmas to you all!

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The curious case of the lesser spotted novel

Actually 'Home for Christmas' has been spotted loads! In ASDA, Sainsbury and WHSmiths everywhere from Brighton to Rochdale, Exmouth to Manchester, Cambridge to Northumberland, Poole to Bristol - pretty much everywhere it seems! I went in search of it with Spudling the other day and was delighted to find it at #18 in the local (Bristol) Sainsbury's branch and out of the 10 copies that should have been on the shelf only 3 were left. Result! (Am assuming the other 7 weren't shoplifted!).

I even heard it was sold out in the Brighton Marina branch of ASDA and that a campaign was set up to email the branch to demand more copies! Well, it IS set in Brighton...

I absolutely LOVE it when people send me photos of their spottings, particularly when there are other people in them! Here's a selection. If you spot it anywhere do snap a pic, I'd love to see it (email to calistrowriter@googlemail.com).

And the winners are...

The Kindle comp winner is....

Catherine Miller

The runner up is....

MamaJ Hearts

The Swarovski crystal necklace winner is...

@MakeShiftMummy

The runner up is..

@Nathalie_Green

Congratulations to you all!

Could you please email me your postal addresses & I will arrange for your prizes to be sent to you (if you would like the dedication in your copy of Home For Christmas to be dedicated to someone other than yourself do let me know).

Thanks to everyone who entered.

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Second novel syndrome and sensible shoes...

Want to find out more? Check out my interview with Mel over on High Heels and Book Deals...

http://highheelsandbookdeals.blogspot.com/2011/11/chat-with-cally-taylor.html


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Is bringing out a book like bringing up baby?

People often refer to their novels as their 'babies' and compare writing a book with pregnancy and publication day with giving birth. Having done both recently I thought I'd write a post for Strictly Writing, comparing the two...

http://strictlywriting.blogspot.com/2011/11/birthing-book-guest-post-by-cally.html


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The transition from short stories to novels...

Featured on the fabulous womagwriter's blog today - an updated version of an article Helen M Hunt wrote for Writers Forum when 'Heaven Can Wait' came out. It's about my experience of writing short stories then turning my hand to novels, and what I learned.

http://womagwriter.blogspot.com/2011/11/guest-post-by-cally-taylor.html


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