Want to hear about my next book? It's a middle-grade fiction story for 9-11 year olds, like my first book, but that's where the similarity ends. This one is the first in a series that centres on four children, a school, the events that have occurred during its 100...
Wonder is a story of strength, courage and bravery, of overcoming obstacles and not letting your fears stand in your way. It reminds us not to judge people based on how they look. Wonder is a story every child should read. My eight year old is one of my reluctant...
Did your child come home with a recommended reading list for the summer holidays? Mine did and it's always met with a rather large sigh, already too much for her to cope with just by looking at it. For some children, reading is a challenge and because of that, they...
I have a number of four and five star reviews for my children's fiction book. This is what some of my readers have to say: "I am 10 and I usually love adventure stories. The front cover of this book appealed to me .... as did the idea of a mystery! I have laughed at...
After getting my hands on a few copies of my debut novel from the publisher, as well as setting the stage with props and prompts from the book, the day of the launch party finally rolled around. Pink fizz and conversation flowed, amidst sampling of my homemade gluten...
There is much excitement in my household at the moment as we prepare for this weekend's book launch. Harnessing my creative side, and that of my children (the girls in particular), we've been busy creating props and displays for the party. Called 'The Mystery of the...
Baby X is a clever debut by Rebecca Ann Smith that asks so many questions about the ethics of modern science as it delves into the world of IVF. Dr Alex Mansfield, a pioneer in the world of reproductive research, known as IVG, has gestated a fetus in an artificial...
My troublesome YA novel has been put firmly to one side whilst I've been concentrating on my middle grade books. However, it's always on my mind and now and again, I go back to it to continue formulating a plan of how I'm going to tackle it. Things got even...
I think it's so useful to get advice from other authors and I will absorb all the information I can get my hands on to help navigate through this complex business. Back in July, author Karen Inglis shared her writing process in an interview I did with her. Today it's...
Writing a story is the fun part. If I have a story idea, it burns a hole in my head until I can get it out. Fingers connect to keyboard and the circuit is complete to let those words flow through. Then I get to the end and congratulate myself on a job well done....
I have exciting news from Nikki Young Writes and I've been bursting to share it. My first book is going to be published soon! Many of you who follow this blog will know I spent a lot of last year working on my young adult manuscript. I finished a second draft and...
Oy is a waif. Except he doesn't know it. He doesn't know anything about who he is or where he came from. Hiding out in the back alley of a bakery is all he has ever known, until he is captured. When the waif-snatchers ensnare him in their net and deliver him into the...
I love meeting other authors. For me, it's very inspiring and gives me hope that I will one day be in a similar position. It's incredibly hard work though and takes a lot of dedication, as my guest today will tell you. Karen Inglis is a children’s author living in...
I’ve been quiet on the blogging front recently. Sometimes, I feel as though I could quite easily spend all my time blogging and never get anything else done. I have to pull myself away from it every now in then so I can concentrate on other projects. That means I’ve...
Read January was so busy and full of illness, that it left me with little energy or enthusiasm for reading. That said, I have an extensive list of books I've read over Christmas. These include: Boston Terrier (Smart Owner's Guide) - As we picked up our Boston Terrier...
After the whirlwind that was November, I haven't done any writing since. It didn't feel right to jump straight in to editing and I decided to take a step back and take stock of what I have been doing and where I want to go with the novels. I'm reading a book called...
I spent last week in Italy and that meant plenty of relaxing and reading time. My holiday book of choice was Here We Lie, by Sophie McKenzie. It's a murder mystery that I would thoroughly recommend as it kept me guessing right until the end. This is one of those...
The blurb on this book tells of the discovery of a skeleton on the roof of a derelict building in Edinburgh and of a vigilante seeking vengeance for past crimes. What it doesn't tell you is that this story links to the time of the Balkan's wars and the terrible...
When the children go back to school, it feels like the start of a new year. It's the beginning of a new phase and a great time to get back on track with anything that you've gotten out of the habit of doing over the summer months. For me, that means working on my...
If you like action thrillers or mysteries, The Boston Girl isn't the book for you, but for an easy read and a feel good tale, you will definitely find that with this story. Telling the story of her life, is octogenarian Addie Baum and it's a tale of growing up in the...