Book 2 has been published!

I know...and I haven't even finished the last few edits yet...

Huh?

What the hell am I on about?

The GERMAN version of book 2 has been published, that's what. And here's a sneak peek:


So...(you're possibly thinking)...how is that possible? How are you still tweaking your second novel when it's already out in Germany?

Well.....long story short...

The reason why I've been working on book 2 FOREVER is because there are two versions! Both books feature characters called Matt and Beth and both books are set in Brighton but the German version has a supernatural twist that the UK version doesn't have!

Why?

That's an even longer story but basically it's to do with markets. While supernatural chicklit sells by the bucket load in Germany and is hugely popular the same market doesn't really exist in the UK.

'Heaven Can Wait' did well when it was published at the end of 2009 but, since then, the supernatural chicklit market hasn't really taken off (even Sophie Kinsella had mixed reviews for her ghostly rom-com, 'Twenties Girl') while 'straight' chicklit is as popular as ever.

Yep, it's an unusual set up - two different versions of the same book - but if both publishers are happy then so am I.

That said...

I'd quite like to go back to just one version for book 3. It's much less stressful! ;)

And the winner of 'Tiger Hills' is....

Colin Firth!

Well, sort of. I had no idea he was so popular! Julesy, Womag and Karen all chose him as the one person they'd most like to have their photo taken with. Hmmm...why am I picturing him in a wet shirt beside a lake?

Anyhoo...

Colin Firth isn't the real winner of the book (I don't know his address for one thing). The real winner of the book was chosen by www.random.org (rather than me cutting up bits of paper and putting them in a mug). Unfortunately Joanna and Karen entered after the closing date so there were 8 entries in all and I numbered them in the order they were posted in the comments.

So the winner was....


Comment Number 1 - Scott from Devon!

Congratulations Scott! Please get in touch to let me know your address and I'll pop the book in the post.

Orion author party and a book giveaway!

Last night was the annual Orion author party. What a fantastic evening! I met up with fellow Orion authors - Lesley Lokko, Veronica Henry, Kate Harrison, Ilana Fox, Meg Sanders, Katie Agnew, Ruth Saberton and Jean Fullerton - at Tuttens in Covent Garden beforehand for a catch up and pre-party drinks and then we all headed over to the Royal Opera House at 6.30pm for two hours of champagne, canopes and networking. (It's a hard life!)

As per the last two Orion parties I totally chickened out of speaking to/having my photo taken with Michael Palin and the Hairy Bikers (though Ruth and Illana didn't!) but I had a fabulous time chatting to fellow authors, Orion staff, agents and scouts. I bumped into my agent - Maddie - too (I had no idea she was going) and we had a really good catch up. I told her all about Project B and my idea for my third chicklit book and she was really encouraging. Hooray!

Normally at the end of an Orion party you get a lovely goody bag full of books and audio CDs but by 9.30pm last night they'd all disappeared. I spotted a couple of books lying around and, with a little bit of blagging, managed to grab one for myself and one to giveaway to you, dear blog readers!

This is the book:

Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna - a fabulous book that has been selected to be part of the TV Book Club 2011.

Here's the blurb:

"When a flock of herons wheeled overhead at the moment of Devi's birth, it seemed that her life would be touched by fate... As a child, Devi befriends a young boy whose mother has died in tragic circumstances. Over the years, Devi and Devanna become inseparable as they go to school together and learn more about the extended family that surrounds them.

However things change when Devi meets Muthi, a young man who has killed a tiger and is feted as a hero. Although she is still a child and Muthi is a man, Devi vows that one day she will marry him. It is this love that will gradually drive a wedge between her and her friend Devanna, who has been taken under the wing of a local missionary. For Devi is blind to the fact that Devanna himself has fallen for her. Devanna leaves the village to study medicine, in the hope that when he returns Devi will see his worth and return his love, but then a tragedy changes the fate of all three, with far-reaching consequences for the generations to come. "

For your chance to win it (UK entrants only sorry, it's pretty heavy to post) just leave a comment letting me know who you'd most like to have your photo taken with! (alive or dead)

Closing date for entries is midnight Sunday 20th. I'll put all your names in a cup and draw one out at random.

The Macedonian version has been published!

For me the excitement of a new foreign deal isn't about the money (which is just as well!) it's all about knowing that people in different countries will get to read my novel.

And the cover.

When 'Heaven Can Wait' was snapped up by Orion I was all of a tizzy when I was sent the cover artwork and I've re-lived that excitement with every cover since.

I love seeing how each publisher interprets the story. Spain went for a wedding dress and stars. Germany went for an angelic looking girl on a cloud and China chose a beautiful futuristic looking cover.



Today I was sent the artwork for the Macedonian cover and it's pretty much a blend of the Spanish and German covers - very pretty and girly. What do you think?

'Heaven Can Wait' goes digital!

Thanks for all your lovely words of encouragement and congratulations in response to my last blog post. I've made 5 chapters worth of progress and am planning on doing a whole lot more this weekend.

In other news...

I just typed my name into Amazon.co.uk (as you do) and TA DAAAA! 'Heaven Can Wait' is now available as an ebook! It's available on Amazon.com too.

How exciting. Now everyone who was given a Kindle for Christmas, or can't get hold of the paperback version, can read my novel! You don't even need an ereader to read the digital version - apparently you can just download the Amazon app and read it on your computer. Oooh the power of technology 'eh!

The downside to going digital is, of course, is that the people who google 'Heaven Can Wait by Cally Taylor free download' (thanks Google alerts!) will start ripping it off but... *sigh* that's a blog post for another time. Right now I'm just excited that I've got an ebook out so I can join in the....er...ebook party that all the authors have been at for ages!