I'm on holiday from school but as Eugene Ionesco said, "A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing." That sounds fair enough to me. So in the first week of my 'holiday' I've signed CUT SHORT and ROAD CLOSED at Waterstones in Norwich, given a a talk about my writing to a lovely book group at Kenton Library, tomorrow I'm going to Central London to be interviewed about ROAD CLOSED for BFK Books, the following day I'm going to Heffers in Cambridge for their annual Bodies in the Bookshop event, and my book week ends with signing on Saturday at a Mystery Women event at LFCC in Earls Court. Next week begins with a talk about ROAD CLOSED to Watford Writers Circle, then I'm giving a talk at Yiewsley Library, paying a visit to Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Festival in Harrogate and signing at WH Smith's in Harrow. And so it goes on.
I haven't forgotten about my writing... today I sent my first draft of DEAD END to my publisher (for publication 2011) and I'm already working on the synopsis for the following book. Its title is currently under wraps!
I know I ought to slow down. This is hardly a dignified life for a middle-aged woman, but... I'm having such fun! Ain't no stopping me now.
Seriously, I will be taking a break soon. I'm going on holiday. But you can be sure I'll be packing a few notebooks and pens... and I must finish my synopsis before I go...
And to finish off, here's a photo with some of the book group at Kenton Library, taken by one of the librarians.
21 comments:
I'm supposed to be on vacation right now too, which for me means having time to write.
Well done to you, Leigh. You've done very well in the last two years, getting yourself and books out there. I just saw your update on my blog and decided to give you a visit. It's been a long time...
I gave my aunt (her name is Geraldine) a copy of Road Closed for her birthday and she was thrilled as she'd loved Cut Short.
Have a good holiday, Charles. Time to write... precious! But do you ever really stop? Even when I'm not writing, my plots and characters are rattling around inside my head.
Hi Anne. CUT SHORT only came out a year ago - at the end of June 2009 - so I've been out and about for a year now and certainly busy! Lovely to hear from you. I still visit your blog from time to time to see how you're getting on.
How wonderful to have a fan called Geraldine. Thank you, Debs. I'm so your aunt enjoyed CUT SHORT.
You'll have earned that holiday when you get it. I'm tired just thinking about it.
Thanks, Colette. Holidays are always good!
I actually played in Ionesco's Rhinoceros (turned into a rhino at the second act). Great writer. I think writers are often at work when other people are on vacation.
Yes, Guillaume. I think it must be the same for visual artists, constantly absorbing and noticing what they see, really looking.
As for you turning into a rhino... not sure what to say about that but it sounds like fun!
It was great fun and a challenging role in a challenging play.
I think that's the thing about inspiration: until it is put into form, it is running wild and you catch it when you can.
I'm on holiday from work for the next 10 days myself, and plan to complete 3 stories which are all at different stages. Sometimes I feel I work harder when I'm not at work than when I am!
How fantastic that you are getting so many book-signing opportunities.
Thanks for visiting my blog. x
Your blog is fantastic!!! I am fully with you too, as a writer your work is never done, the good thing about it is that writing is fun and as writers we couldn't imagine a life without at least one character talking to us could we?
I love having time to write and vacation gives me exactly that!
Hi Charles - have a great holiday and good writing!
Hi Guillaume - inspiration is tricky, isn't it? I think the trick is to catch it and run wild with it...
Hi Joanne - 3 stories in 10 days! We writers do work hard, don't we? Except that, like me, you probably don't regard writing as work. Have a great holiday.
The trouble is, Jen, I want to be free to write ALL the time... One day...
Good luck with the synopsis. I don't enjoy writing them.
Thanks, Pat. I think I'm getting there. I've reached the point where, suddenly, having tried a few different tacks, everything seems to be falling into place. I'm just waiting to hear back from my agent... I hope he likes what I've come up with because I am SO excited about my idea...
I have to say it's so much easier making changes now, rather than when I've written the MS. I'm living and learning... still haven't learned the art of being patient though. I'm itching to get writing!
Hi Leigh my name is Aaron Chinn, you meet my parents a couple of weeks ago at book signing in London. They brought a couple of each of you're books. That night I read Cut Short. I finished it within 5 days reading it only at night. I thought it was great. I dont read, I never read in fact, last time I probably read was in primary school and it was the hungry caterpilla. But seriously I loved your book and Im about to startthe other one.
You said I could maybe right your book into a script. I would love if you would still like me to. I'm first gonna read your other book. I look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Aaron - Thank you very much for letting me know that CUT SHORT is the first book you've enjoyed reading since primary school. That's such a great compliment!
I hope you enjoy ROAD CLOSED and go on to read DEAD END when it comes out next year.
If CUT SHORT is ever made into a film, I'll be rooting for you to write the screen play. Who knows, we might see both our names up on the big screen one day. Here's hoping we're both lucky enough for that to happen!
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