Tuesday 10 October 2017

Progress report on my new novel

My new novel is well under way and will eventually be my twelfth published book. 
I started it, rather tentatively I must admit, at the beginning of May and now, after more than five months -- interrupted by surgery and convalescence --I can report that I have at last typed THE END. That's not THE end end but it does mean I have brain-dumped the whole story and now have to spend months adding new material -- I'm having to do a lot of research for this book -- as well as editing, polishing and all that stuff that takes ages but is very satisfying and makes it all worthwhile. I have also settled on a title: On Making God Laugh
When will it be available? I'm guessing early in the new year. 

Don't Kiwis know about Goodreads?

I love Goodreads. It's a great place to find out about books and readers, what people all over the world are reading, and what they think. It's also a great place for writers to promote their books with the Goodreads Giveaway programme.
I use Goodreads Giveaways a lot in the UK, the US and Australia and usually get a great response. But not so from New Zealand. Even taking account of the population size it seems that Kiwis either don't know about Goodreads or, if they do, they don't bother entering the Goodreads Giveaway promotions. I wonder why. It's completely free and painless and you stand the chance of winning a free book directly from the author. 
I've got a New Zealand only promotion on now. I'm making five copies of my book The Collected Short Stories... available to New Zealand readers but I must admit that so far there are very few entries. If you're interested you can enter here until 21 October. 

Monday 2 October 2017

My Marian Year': Wonderful feedback from an Australian reader: '...one of the best books I have read in my life...'

I receive a lot of feedback about my books but My Marian Year generates more than most.
And today I received a wonderful message from an Australian reader which I am happy to reproduce here in full. It reads:
‘I just want to let you know how much I have enjoyed your book ‘My Marian Year’. It was on my son-in-law’s bedside table and I just picked it up thinking it would be a light read, perhaps not so interesting as I do not know a lot about New Zealand's past, but what a treasure trove of memories I found! Although not raised in a Catholic school I converted and taught in Catholic schools for many years. The stories of the sisters were so real as was the devotion of so many parents - so intense. So many rules!! I loved the games the children played, jacks, chasie and French cricket. I loved the Rawleighs man (one used to visit us on the farm). I loved the visits to the city and the cinemas. It was like a repeat of my life. Perhaps saddest yet loveliest story was of your mum and dad’s marriage and working so hard to make it work after having spent so many years apart and becoming such different people, yet obviously creating a magical life for you! I cannot explain how I felt about the Epilogue. Tears of joy and sadness, such beautiful words, so beautifully expressed. I think I have just completed one of the best books I have read in my life and I am an insatiable reader. Thank you so much.'
With much respect.
Jackie