WOW! X Factor's Mary

Wow! Did you hear Mary sing on X Factor tonight? What a fabulous voice. I predict that lady's going somewhere and it's not Tescos! May much, much, good luck go her way. I admire her tremendously; to go for your dream when you have low self-esteem and less confidence and when you're fifty... That takes a special someone. And Mary is SPECIAL and yes, I'm shouting. I wish I'd taped X Factor now 'cos I want to listen to her again. Now. Her voice is that compelling. Move over Susan Boyle!

Amazon's Kindle ebooks

I've decided to make some of my older, out-of-print, novels available on amazon's kindle ebooks. This is the first, but not the first in the series. I really wanted to put Dead Before Morning up first, but I can't find the (Amstrad!) disc, so I'll have to have the book scanned. I like the cover and think it's quite striking. What do you think?

Just started collecting ideas for new book

Just started gathering ideas for my next Rafferty & Llewellyn crime novel (that will be number fifteen, after my latest published, Death Dance, and the follow-up, Deadly Reunion). No title yet. No murderer yet. But I've got a few ideas for characters and motives. Will update as I get further along. Meanwhile, I've attached the jacket of Death Dance, which comes out on Thursday 26 August 2010.

Article on Writing

I've just written this short article on writing for one of crime author, Pauline Rowson's, blogs (advice for writers). Perhaps you'll find it helpful, also, if you've written a book that has received nothing but rejections. Check it out below:

Start Counting the Money, Honey
by
Geraldine Evans
Author of the Humorous Rafferty & Llewellyn and Casey & Catt crime series


Del Boy of Only Fools and Horses fame, always said: ‘By this time next year, we’ll be millionaires’. Perhaps that’s your belief, too – if only you could get someone to read your book. Maybe it’ll happen, too. After all, you’ve done all the usual things. You’ve penned the Letters to the Editor, subscribed to writers’ magazines, joned the local Writers’ Circle and received your first rejection letter. Or maybe more than one...

Perhaps it’s time to consider having your work professionally criticized?

Yes, I know it’s expensive. I know the critique might be wounding to your ego, but so are all those rejections. It could well be the step forward you need. I doubt if I would have got published but for the advice I received after finishing Dead Before Morning, the first novel in what went on to become a series (Rafferty & Llewellyn). I’m currently fourteen books into the series, having just finished Deadly Reunion. It’s possible I would still be that forlorn and struggling wannabe without their help.

Unfortunately, the criticism service I used seems to have vanished off the radar, but if you check the Links Page on my website (www.geraldineevans.com), you’ll find the names of two reputable firms. And if you buy the latest writers’ bibles (Writers’ Handbook and Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook), you’ll find a lot more.

Yes, I know, you can get a critique from your friends at your writing circle, but I don’t think that’s the most suitable area for a book critique. Think about it. It could take a year (or two) for you to read out the entire book and by the time the last monthly critique meeting comes by, the other members will have forgotten most of the first half of it.

So, if you’re frustrated and yearn to have your book read in pretty quick fashion by someone in the know, think about having that professional critique. As Del Boy would say: ‘You know it makes sense’.

ends

Facebook Link

Just put a Facebook Link to my page.

Size doesn't matter

But we all know that it does. I'm still getting to grips with this blogging business. At the moment, reducing the size of my photo is defeating me. Two kind people, Helen Ginger and Johnny Ray, have both spent time trying to set me right, but I'm obviously wayward (or dim, whichever you prefer). I wouldn't mind so much, but I'm of an age where smaller photos are the way to go. Bear with me. I'll get there eventually. Meanwhile, you can have a laugh or two at my expense, while counting my wrinkles.

Latest Rafferty & Llewellyn crime novel

This is the jacket of my latest crime novel. Published 26 August 2010. I've just heard that it's also going to be published by Soundings on audio - that will be sometime in 2011. Great news. Can't wait.

Welcome!

This is my second attempt to welcome you to my blog and my first attempt at a proper blog, so please bear with me. I'm already making a hash of it. Could I upload my photo? No I could not! Thick or what?!

Never mind. I suppose I'll get the hang of it eventually. Anyway, I expect I'll be posting about writing, books I've read, marketing and associated stuff as well as anything else that occurs to me.

I'll keep this short in case I get chucked out again (I've already written this once - see what I mean?).

So that's it for now. Regards to anyone/everyone who chooses to read these musings.