Brand new blog

I've decided to combine my two blogs into one new and improved blog called Nuts and Crisps at http://nutsandcrisps.wordpress.com/ I want to thank all my followers and contributors and invite you to pop over, pull up a stool and have a snack!

Jumping June!

Been very busy with Once Removed in the last few months. If you haven't heard of it pop over to http://www.kbw-onceremoved.blogspot.co.uk/ for more details. But June is all about A Life Less Lost. On Tuesday June 12th, I'll be giving a talk for Tuesday Break at Slough Baptist Church. This will be my fourth invitation to speak and the most challenging title ~ How to cope with a death in the family. On Saturday June 16th I'll be running a Writing From Life workshop in Wensleydale. Then the following Saturday, after helping with an ACW writers' day, I'll be reading from Gardens, Gifts and Grace at Holmfirth Methodist Church.

Dreams really can come true!

It's taken a week for the shock to wear off but it's true, Crooked {Cat} Publishing have actually offered me a contract for my novel, Once Removed. I'm busy working on blurbs and author bio while Steph is doing the first edits. Watch this space!

Fantastic news!

Steph, from Crooked {Cat} publishing has asked to see the rest of my novel!!! This is a quote from her email:
"Thank you for your recent partial submission of Once Removed. I found the chapters engaging, witty, and thought-provoking at the same time. Your story has a very timely topic, and the way you approach it is cleverly done." Even if they don't offer me a contract, someone I don't know, in the publishing business, likes my work.

Yikes!

Lots to catch up on since August...
Great ACW weekend at Scargill in September. I only managed to attend on Saturday but was inspired (as always) by Adrian & Bridget Plass, as well as Nick Page and all the other lovely people who were there.

Spoke to the Shepley Mother's Union on Wednesday 14th Sept. A lovely group of women doing good work in their community. Met a mother whose son, like James, had cancer in his youth but survived and is in his thirties now. He has also suffered post traumatic stress symptoms. Made me more determined then ever to raise awareness and support for research into Cancer Surviorship.

Spoke to the Rastrick Mother's Union on the 20th September. This was a bit different, as we had a short service in the church before the meeting/talk got underway in the Sunday school building. They could just about hear me over the roar of the scouts in the next room. Met a woman called Shirley who is joining ACW after telling me she was interested in writing, too.

In October, Howard and I enjoyed a few days with family in Slough before speaking to the Tuesday Break group at Slough Baptist Church. This was my third engagement with this group. The title of my talk was God promises His peace. I had some interesting questions and some very good feedback.

On October 20th, I gave a talk to the Thursday Fellowship group at Linthwaite Methodist Church. It was lovely to be introduced by my friend Margaret. Afterwards a man came up to tell me his neck had been broken in a hit and run accident when he was on his bike. He whispered that he also suffered post traumatic stress symptoms and seemed grateful that I'd talked about the subject.

Beverley Writers' Day

Last Saturday the roads were quiet and my journey to Beverley easy and straight-forward. The fifteen people who met in Toll Gavel Church in the heart of the city were lovely and keen to get busy. The two hour workshop resulted in some fine stories from the participants' school days. A delicious selection of tea-time treats were the, well, icing on the cake!

Gainsborough Event

I had a great time at the ACW event in Gainsborough on Saturday. There were lots of lovely people and some delicious food. Best of all, Joe Story, of Unboring Books, lead an excellent workshop on how to get published, which was very helpful now that I'm busily submitting Once Removed to agents. Joe described himself as the Del Boy of the Christian world and was very down-to-earth, practical, funny and inspiring.

Unboring Books is a newish venture trying to bridge the conventional publishing and the self-publishing worlds. They offer to read and assess your manuscript and if they feel it has merit will recommend it to Christian bookshops. This is something self-publishers need, a kind of kite mark of excellence to lift you above the stigma.