Meet best-selling author of 30 novels Katie Fforde & get involved in NaNoWriMo
Plus latest news, events, opportunities & jobs for writers and journalists
My fellow wordsmiths,
How many words have you written this week? If the answer is zero and you have, perchance, started binge-watching the new Interview with a vampire series (Ok, that’s me - but I’m not linking it you’ll never write anything) then this is your cue to put aside two hours and make it happen. You’re welcome. If you need further motivation I would also suggest signing up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which spans November. All the details are in the news and opportunities section at the bottom of this newsletter.
If you are looking for a book recommendation, I’ve just finished the latest from last week’s guest Milly Johnson - The Happiest ever after. Admittedly this is not actually available just yet (it’s available on pre-order and it is so good) but I urge you to pick up any of her books and you will come away feeling satisfied yet motivated to make change in your life. I personally recommend I wish it could be Christmas every day if you are looking for a pre-festive season read - honestly, this has the tears, the smiles, the twists and all the mince pies; it’s absolutely magical and my personal favourite of all her novels.
This week another top female author is our guest on WRITE REJECT REPEAT and she is absolute writer goals. With 30-odd novels under her belt, and a whole gamut of awards, Katie Fforde is a writer worth listening to very carefully for nuggets of advice and experience. We share a love of stationery (who doesn’t love a good notepad) and homeware and she lives in the beautiful Cotswolds - where I’d like a second home (in my dreams). Formerly chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association, Katie knows her stuff.
Meanwhile, here in somewhat soggy northern England we escaped the worst of the storm Babet but as I manage editors - including the Sheffield Star - I’m more than aware how awful it’s been. I hope you are all OK. In country-dweller news I can report that the moles are not even slightly scared by the mole-scarers or the storm and continue to excavate the garden. I’m told they are less active in winter (aren’t we all) - choosing to sit underground and plot their network of molehills for next year no doubt. I’ve also learned they don’t actually hibernate which it’s a myth apparently. Who knew! The mole-scarers do however, seem to have scared off the pheasants and the hares (sigh).
It’s been a busy week as always in journalism land. I don’t get to write much these days as my role is mainly leadership and strategy - but I did write this feature which went across our northern titles talking about the resurgence - or not - of the literary north which you may be interested in. Here it is in Yorkshire Evening Post. And next week I have an exciting invitation in London, I will share all!
Anyway, I’m keen to hear how you are all getting on. I want Write Reject Repeat to be a friendly community. So if you have any friends who you think may be interested - please encourage them to sign up! Though I have now introduced optional pledges, this newsletter remains entirely free - just tick No Pledge.
Meet Katie Fforde..
The phrase best-selling seems inadequate for Katie who has written more than 30 books from her countryside base in the beautiful Cotswolds - she likes nothing better than a story with a happy ending and a notepad and even has her own homeware and stationery range. Wimbledon-born Katie has been published since 1995 but only started writing after the birth of her three children. Her novels have been adapted into a series of German TV films, shot in the US.
Her latest novel, One Enchanted Evening, is published in paperback on 9th November
What gives me most joy are the rare writing days when the words flow and you love your story. Sadly, they are rare!!
Katie Fforde
Tell us about you and your books.
I’m a writer of some 30 novels, short stories, etc. I write books with happy endings that I once described as books for ‘intelligent women who silly or are tired’ i.e., easy to read but not silly.
How did you first develop an interest in writing?
I had wanted to write Mills and Boon novels (nice and short!) in my later twenties but didn’t get going until I was 32. My mother gave me a writing kit for Christmas and it was the spur I needed. My youngest child was two. I gave myself an hour a day which, when I realised how much I love writing, quickly stretched when it could. (My husband was away at sea half the time.) It took me eight years to be published and it wasn’t a Mills and Boon!
What do you consider your biggest achievement so far?
I think my biggest achievement is still being published into my 70’s. I would have thought I’d have run out of ideas but somehow they keep coming.
Who is your writing hero?
I think my biggest hero must be Georgette Heyer. I discovered her when quite young and devoured her books. I discovered how much pleasure reading could give you. But I also admire the dozens of Mills and Boon writers I devoured when older (and very much tired!)
5. What gives you the most joy?
What gives me most joy are the rare writing days when the words flow and you love your story. Sadly, they are rare!!
What would be your dream career high?
I think my career high would be to be top of the charts again. The book industry is so much fuller now. In the past I had a few number ones, but I have to be happier lower down the scale now. Although to be honest, as long as people buy the books, I am happy.
Top writing advice and tips?
My top tip is persevere. Also, carve out an hour a day and just start. You soon find you’re thinking about your book the whole time and when your hour comes around your fingers fly. Read a lot. You learn so much from what you read.
Thanks so much Katie!
LATEST: News, events and opportunities
NaNoWriMo: It’s almost November so we know what that means! National Novel Writing Month began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel in thirty days. Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write on the stroke of midnight, determined to end the month with a first draft. Get involved -it’s incredibly motivating and it’s free. There is also a young writers programme.
Cambridge Literary Festival: The winter edition of the Cambridge Literary Festival has some high-profile headliners including Theresa May, Timothy West, Lemn Sissay, David Reynolds and Andrew Marr, Polly Toynbee, Rick Stein, and Grace Dent.
Caroline Mitchell courses: Caroline, ex-police detective and best selling thriller author of over a million books, is offering new writing courses which will focus heavily on author motivation and helping authors get the book done and empower them to create, believe and succeed. She is including motivational podcasts, freebies, writing templates and courses to suit every pocket. You can sign up for the waiting list and get more information via her website.
The So Close Sessions: Los Angeles-based literary agent Hannah Sheppard at HS-LA is opening applications for her Zoom pitch sessions targeted at writers who have been querying for a while or placing in writing competitions but never quite getting that offer of representation. Submissions via an application form on the website.
Drama and Theatre magazine: Editor Hattie Fisk is extending the magazine’s pool of freelance writers — particularly those with identities and backgrounds currently under-represented in the arts. Pitch her at hattie.fisk@markallengroup.com
Journalist jobs at National World: National World (where I work for day job), is publisher of more than a hundred regional titles from The Scotsman, Yorkshire Evening Post to London World. A number of roles are up for grabs. They include:
Have a lovely week - and fab Halloween! See you next Thursday - but I love to hear from you! Nx