The blog of rom-com writer (Cally Taylor) turned psychological suspense author (CL Taylor).
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Errrrrrr....
"I think you should start writing it anyway," my agent replied, "as they do like the idea."
Great, I thought, I can get started!
So why do I feel like my fingers (and brain) have suddenly frozen? Urrrgh.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
On wonderful things...

That's how I felt last night - song after song after song - when I went to The Swell Season at the Royal Albert Hall. The Swell Season are Glen Hansard from Irish band The Frames and Marketa Irglova. They both appeared in a film called Once
I bought the soundtrack to Once not long after seeing the film and when I heard about The Swell Season I snapped that up too. I can't even begin to estimate how many times I've listened to those albums (click here if you want to hear a few Swell Season songs on myspace) and when I heard they were touring I was determined to snap up a ticket, no matter what the cost.
I wasn't disappointed. It was one of the best gigs I've ever been too (and I've been to a lot) and, song after song, the hairs went up on my arms and I felt...well I can't really describe how I felt. Emotional, that's for sure.
And, for a evening, I fell in love with Glen...
...and Mar
(apologies for dodgy youtube quality in both vids. Couldn't find any footage of last night so had to
Actually I'm still a bit in love with them both...
*ahem*
Onto other wonderful things...
1) I found out last week when I'll be meeting my editor/publishers. Middle of December. And I've even got something to wear. Result.
2) My book is listed on Amazon.co.uk
Ever since I first discovered Amazon I've SO wanted to have my book listed on it (even before I wrote the thing!) and now it's there, for the whole world to see (which is simultaneously exciting and terrifying).
So yes, there's no cover but there is a title, a description (and you'll see what a bizarre idea for a novel it truly is!) ...and a publication date!
And my real name (you didn't really think my parents were cruel enough to christen me Calistro did you?). Ssssshhh!
Monday, 17 November 2008
Want to write stories for women's magazines?
If there was a Royal Family of women's magazine fiction then Della Galton would undoubtedly be the Queen! Hundreds of her stories have appeared in magazines like Take a Break, Woman's Weekly, My Weekly and The People's Friend and if there's one person who knows what it takes to crack this market it's Della.
Earlier this year I travelled across the country to attend one of Della's workshops and when I heard that she was bringing out a 'how to' book I couldn't WAIT for it to come out.
Last week my copy finally arrived - and I wasn't disappointed. This is the book I wish had been published when I first started subbing to the women's magazine (womag) market back in 2005. If you're a complete beginner and haven't got the first idea:
a) what to write
b) where to submit it
b) how to submit it
then this is the book for you. Della tells you, in no uncertain terms, what types of stories work (and which don't) and how you should format them for the magazine editors. Like most books on short story writing she also covers:
- finding ideas and inspiration
- turning your idea into a workable plot line
- writing effective dialogue
- creating believable and sympathetic characters
- settings
- flashback and time span
- using a theme
- structure and pace
but what I particularly enjoyed about this book was the way Della asked (and answered!) questions that we all find ourselves asking at some point like - 'What to do if your plot doesn't work' and 'How much physical description should you use?' She uses examples from her own stories to illustrate her points and also includes extracts of fiction by other authors to show what she admires. Oh, and each chapter ends with 'Tips from the experts' - other published writers - including our very own womagwriter.
Even if you're not a complete beginner when it comes to womag stories there's still lots to learn from Della's book and I've got a feeling mine will become very well thumbed over the next couple of months. Highly recommended!
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Win a FREE edit/critique of your novel!

Have you written a novel? Want a free critique/edit in time for Christmas? Check out the fantastic competition below (the company running it, Bubblecow, was set up by one of my writer friends Caroline Smailes so I can vouch for the quality of the critique/edit you could win).
Here's what Caroline says on her site:
"In honour of the credit crunching times and to wish those who are often faithful seasonal joy, BubbleCow is offering a free in-depth edit and report to one lucky individual, drawn randomly (but always fairly) from the BubbleCow-Christmas-stocking.
On December 01 2008, one entry will be drawn from the BubbleCow-Christmas-stocking and an in-depth edit of a manuscript (up to 100,000 words) (worth £500) will be completed before Christmas.
This edit and report will be free of charge and is BubbleCow's way of spreading the Christmas love.
To enter the stocking draw for the free edit:
1. Simply email IloveChristmas@bubblecow.co.uk by midnight GMT November 30 2008.
2. To avoid being spam, the subject line of your email should read ‘I love Christmas'.
3. Within the email, confirm your name, your manuscript’s final word count and title.
4. The winner will be announced on December 01 2008 and informed by email.
5. The winner then has five days to email the manuscript to BubbleCow.
6. The in-depth edit and report will be completed before Christmas.
7. The rules and details can be found HERE.
8. It is all rather simple.
And, in case you’re currently making a list of all the things that you’d like for Christmas, check out the BubbleCow Christmas gift ideas for writers."
I so LOVE these badges (and if I ever get to do a book signing I'm so wearing "I'm a writer" and "Please buy my book" because, from what I've read of most book signings, the book browsers just tend to stare at you like you've just beamed down from outer space!)

Further proof that I have no sense of direction...




Breaking news...
...my novel has been sold to Germany! My German publisher has also published Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding and I am utterly, utterly delighted!
My agent rang me to tell me the news while I was on the train back from London last night and it was all I could do not to squeal (I always talk very, very quietly when talking on my mobile on the train but it's VERY hard to do that when you're very excited!). I nearly nearly shared my news with the guy sitting next to me but he seemed very engrossed in his novel and besides, I'm far too British to do something like that!
I still feel like I'm living in a dream.
There's a part of me that feels like, at any second, someone is going to shake me hard, pop a pill in my mouth and tell me that I'm actually sitting in a psychiatric hospital having delusions about becoming a published author!
"Now don't be so silly, Miss Calistro," they'd say. "None of it is real. It's all in your head."
But it's not.
In other news I finally got to speak to my UK editor! It was a really, really short phone call (under 2 minutes) as she was on her way to a meeting but she said lots of lovely things - like how she was very happy to be my editor and that she was very much looking to meeting me! A couple of hours later she sent me an email saying more lovely things and now it's official...later this month, we (my agent and I) are going to my publisher's offices to meeting the team, drink champagne (!!!), have a quick meeting and then we'll be taken out to lunch.
I'm scared and excited. I'm nervous and delighted. I'm definitely more than a bit wobbly. But the one thing that's playing on my mind more than anything else is...
...what the hell do I wear?!
Friday, 7 November 2008
Fire!
As always it was a brilliant night and the procession was as noisy and magical as ever (though I didn't really understand the Health and Safety effigy. Anyone who lives in East Sussex care to explain?).
Talking of fire - my guardian angel is most definitely looking out for me. After saving me from a melting computer a year or so ago it protected me from a smouldering set top box last night!
I'd been out of the flat for a few hours and tried to get 'Strictly Come Dancing - It Take Two' to play on the On Demand service when I returned. It didn't work so I unplugged the set top box, counted to ten, then plugged it back in. I was just about to leave the room to let it boot up when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a plume of grey smoke snaking out of the top of the set top box and a chemical burning smell filled the room. Aaagggggh! I unplugged the set top box, tapped it tentatively to see if it was hot, then hauled it up off my TV, carried it across the hallway and chucked it onto my balcony.
At first I was miffed that I had an evening of no TV and, more importantly, no broadband in front of me but gradually realised how lucky I'd been. If the set top box had started to smoulder while I was out of the house the entire flat might have burned down by the time I got home!
I rang Virgin Media and when the Indian call worker asked me, "What is the nature of the problem?" I amused myself by replying "My set top box is on fire". I could actually hear his sharp intake of breath. "Have you unplugged it madam?" he asked. Good job I had - during the 5 minutes or so it took to listen to the squillion options and press 100 different buttons my living room curtains would have been up in flames!
Anyway, good ol' Virgin. They had 2 engineers out first thing this morning to replace the set top box and I have broadband again. Hoorah!
Here are some photos I took in Lewes with my mobile phone (click on them to see a bigger version):





