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Chapter Preview & Writing Prompt: Grab Your Passport We’re Going to Cuba… #amwriting #romance #chapterpreview #romancereaders

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Passport

In response to the WordPress daily writing prompt “passport” join me on a trip to Cuba! Grab your passport, hold on no need here’s a chapter preview to take you there…

Today I had to make a trip to the passport office in London, to renew my own passport ready for my summer travels. There was a long wait I was prepared, I went  along to central London with my laptop. I sat and started to work on my current romance novella Havana Heat. Here is a preview from a chapter, things are heating up over in Cuba’s capital Havana for my hero Detective Sebastian Garcia and my heroine Melinda Jones….

CHAPTER SIX: HAVANA HEAT

 

 

Sebastian takes Melinda’s hand as they leave the crowded dance floor of Casa De Amigos. They weave their way in and out of the crowds. During their time spent in the bar the crowd has built up. The bar is now busy with local Cubans and tourists enjoying the ambience of the bar’s cheap local cocktails and beers, wide screen TV showing an international soccer game and couples dancing to salsa on the small dancefloor.

As they exit the bar into the late afternoon sunshine, the humid heat does nothing to cool down their perspiring bodies hot from all their dancing.

“Sebastian, which way from here? I have no idea where I’m going.”

Sebastian looks down at Melinda fanning herself with one hand. With the sunshine on her smooth brown skin, Sebastian can’t deny to himself the attraction he feels toward her. His eyes sweep up and down her curvy body as he admires her sundress and wedge heels.

“Hmm, let’s try this direction.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

The pair take off in a direction away from where they came from when they left their hotel and stumbled on Casa De Amigos bar. Walking along the hot pavement they admire the colourful array of buildings and downtown hotels they pass as they walk deeper into the town.  Local youths pass them on moped bikes zooming down the main road. Within a ten minute walk the sea comes into view in the distance.

“Well, look what we’ve found.” Smiling Melinda tugs at Sebastian’s arm.

“C’mon let’s go check out the beach, we have time to have a stroll before heading back.”

“What about food?”

“That’s what the hotel’s for.” Melinda calls over her shoulder as she takes off jogging toward the beach. Sebastian smiles, then ups his pace to keep up with her.

“Wow, this looks like some kind of paradise.”

Melinda kicks off her wedge heels as she steps onto the warm sand. Sebastian joins her removing his comfortable plimsols.

“Sure does, the water is so blue.”

The pair walk farther onto the beach toward the water’s shore to allow the water to wash over their feet as they walk along.  Melinda and Sebastian take in the ambience of the beach. Palm trees slightly lean to one side as they sway in the light sea breeze. The sand is  clean with a bright off white colour. The beach is calm but busy with sun worshipers stretched out on their beach loungers and groups of friends playing volley ball. A few teenagers splash around in the sea making fun of each other. Taken back by all of  Santa Maria del Mar beach’s beauty the pair lower their shades, as they walk along the coastline with warm sea water washing over their feet at a leisurely pace. As they walk farther up the coastline a secluded area of rockery comes into view, the pair head over and settle themselves on the sand.

“So tell me a bit more about yourself Sebastian, other than work how do you spend your time?”

Sebastian thinks for a moment, of late his free time has been consumed with thoughts of his late girlfriend Anna and morning over her absence, and what he could have done to ensure Anna felt needed and valued as his partner. A vision of Anna appears in his mind’s eye as he stares out into the crystal clear aqua water. Sebastian rubs the back of his neck and tries to push his vision of Anna’s face to one side.

“Ah, to be honest … not much. I guess I’m kinda boring.”

Melinda let’s out a small laugh and looks up at Sebastian.

“I’m sure you’re not, seriously you have no hobbies or interests?”

“Hmm, I like music— a lot, and to work out I guess, books interest me too.”

“What kind of music and books? I love them both.”

“I listen to a lot of classical, flamenco and modern music. When it comes to books obviously, crime is my thing.”

“Of course, Mr. Detective. And …”

“And that’s about it Melinda I never realised how boring I am until you asked me that question.”

The pair crack up laughing.

“No girlfriend back in London either?”

Sebastian looks down at Melinda sitting by his side, his reflection in her large oversized sunglasses stare back at him. Damn she looks hot in those shades runs through his mind. suddenly he feels overwhelmed and confused. He loves Anna and is still not quite over her loss, but at the same time his attraction to Melinda is becoming more obvious to him. Her style, beauty, rhythm to a salsa beat, and bubbly sense of humour appeal to him in a major way.

“Did I say something wrong Sebastian? You’re looking at me like I’m some kind of alien.”

Sebastian snaps out of his weird trance of heartache and confusion over his late girlfriend and lust over the ebony skinned beauty, with great potential by his side.

“No sorry… I don’t have a girlfriend as such no.”

“As such? What does that mean?”

“It’s complicated—I”

With disappointment Melinda cuts Sebastian off as she gazes out at the deep aqua sea.

“Hmm, it always is with you men isn’t it.”

Thoughts of all the wasted dates she had been on over the last year run through her mind.

“No, I mean it’s complicated as she… she died almost one year ago.”

Melinda looks up at Sebastian as he stares off into the sea again.

“Oh, my Sebastian I’m sorry I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay, honestly by now I should be coming to terms with my loss. Well at least that’s what my shrink tells me.”

“You see a doctor?”

“Yeah, I have been for a while now, he helps but I know that the main bulk of the work to deal with my grief is down to me.”

“It’s hard, grieving is different for everyone.”

Melinda places a sympathetic hand on Sebastian’s upper shoulder for comfort. The comfort comes as a surprise to him. He takes her hand in his and squeezes it, before he knows what’s come over him he places a light kiss on her hand, then slowly makes his way farther up her arm with gentle kisses. Melinda does not resist him as he leans in farther and places a light kiss on her collar bone. The warm light breeze, aqua sea, lazy palm trees mixed with too much Tequila and beer arouses them both. Without hesitation, the pair lock lips in a deep passionate kiss. Sebastian takes full control as he explores Melinda’s mouth with his tongue while running his hand up her right thigh. Her skin feels smooth and clammy to touch as he raises the hem of her sundress and parts her thighs. As his hand travels farther up her thigh she hesitates for a moment conscious of where they are sitting, under a palm tree fully exposed to passers-by, even though they are sitting in a much more secluded area of the beach, they left the crowds behind. Melinda breaks away from his kiss, not because she wants to but more for the sake of embarrassment should a passer-by see them. Sebastian’s kisses are soft and gentle. It feels very much to Melinda like one of the sincerest kisses she has had in a long time.

“Let’s go for a swim.”

Sebastian laughs out loud.

“A swim? With no bathing suits?”

Melinda give him a cheeky smile as she lowers the straps of her sundress, then stands up and steps out of it. She reveals a matching lime green bra and panties set, the colour emphasises her smooth chocolate skin tone.

“Who needs bathing suits, there’s no one here and this could pass for a bikini did you see what those other girls were wearing back there?”

Melinda points back toward the direction they came from and laughs.

“No shit, those bikinis were out there.”

“C’mon last one in pays for the taxi home.”

Sebastian gets on his feet and removes his cotton shirt and shorts as quick as he can. Glancing around nervously he dumps his clothing and Rolex watch next to Melinda’s sundress and races down to the shore. He catches up to Melinda and scoops her up from behind and runs with her down farther toward the shore and into the warm aqua sea. She playfully screams and shouts protesting to be put down, secretly the thrill makes her heart race. Melinda can’t remember the last time she let herself go and had some fun, done something crazy and completely let go. Today, almost five thousand miles from her west London home is the day she let go. With a total stranger. It occurs to her that her safety could have been at risk by wandering off with a strange man on an island. She looks on the flip side, then again Sebastian is a Detective, from her home town in London too. He’s  there to serve and protect the public— you can’t get more safe than that.

Playfully launching Melinda into the water Sebastian dives in and picks her up again by her legs this time. Playful screams escape Melinda as she holds onto him as tight as she can and looks down at him, she wraps her legs around his body as he cradles her with a firm grip on her behind.

“You are crazy Sebastian!”

“Me crazy? What do you call going for a swim with no bathing suit, in broad day light?”

The pair crack up laughing as Sebastian lowers her into the water to her feet, they stand face to face in the warm sea with slight waves crashing around them. Sebastian’s six-foot-three well- built frame towers over Melinda’s five- foot-six height. Melinda looks up into Sebastian’s large brown eyes and for the millionth time she takes in the handsome Spaniard’s face with sharp features, his low cut hair and great body, large brown eyes, tanned olive skin now even more golden from the strong Caribbean sun.  Taking a deep breath to regulate her heartbeat she melts at the sight of him, standing in front of her with the strong sunlight behind him. Melinda’s senses are awakened by his playful side and the paradise surrounding them. Her lust over the gorgeous Spaniard kicks in. Taking the lead starting from his elbows placed at his side under the water, she runs her palms upwards over his strong toned arms, toward his shoulders, as she stops at his shoulders she takes a step forward in the water into Sebastian’s personal space. Without removing her eyes from his intense gaze staring down at her she slowly continues to move her palms over his chest area, her heart flips at the curves which define his toned torso. Sebastian responds as her hands settle on his both sides of his equally toned waist. Leaning toward her into her personal space farther he gently bends down and blesses her with another one of his gentle loving kisses. They embrace in a passionate hug in the water with Melinda’s arms wrapped around his neck and Sebastian holding her at her waist. Sebastian is not sure if it’s the warmth of the Caribbean sea and strong hot sun on his back or Melinda’s curves he explores under the water that bring him to a complete arousal, his need to feel her more intimately take over as he slowly moves both of his hands from her curvy waist line then stops under her ample bust line. With ease, he lifts the underneath section of her lime green bra now soaked and fully exposing the outline of her erect nipples as the thin material clings to her breast…. TO BE CONTINUED.

RELEASE DATE: 18TH May 2017

Woah! who is in the mood to head to Cuba? I am 🙂

 

Havana-Heat-Cover-Master

 

 

Eight Random Questions…

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I came across a cute blog http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/ as I started reading, I noticed “eight random questions” left for readers, kinda like a small writing prompt. A great way to get to know one another here’s my response. Take a look at the blog and maybe add yours.

1.What do/did you call your grandparents? If it’s something unusual tell us the story behind the name. If you’re a grandparent what do your grands call you? Who chose your moniker?

I called my grandparents mama and poppa when they were alive. My gran died when I was fourteen, and my granddad when I was about twenty nine.

2. Ever taken a road trip along the California Coast? If so what was the highlight of your trek? If not, any desire to do so? What’s one tourist attraction along the coast you’d add to your must-see list?

I’ve never been to California, the only place in the USA I’ve been to is Las Vegas. It was AMAZING! I’d love to see more of the USA, New York especially.

3.What are three things you don’t know how to do?

Play the piano or any instrument, I’d love to be able to. Paint my nails on my right hand as good as my left it takes me longer, drive on the right hand side of the road. Well I’ve not tried yet, but I think I should some day.

4.Tom Peters is quoted as saying, ‘Celebrate what you want to see more of.‘ If that’s true, what and how will you celebrate?

Who?.. Anyway  I’d like to more intolerance in the world, more tolerance of other faiths and races.  Especially toward black/ Hispanic males, I have a son to raise in a tough world, that’s not that tolerant towards “his kind”.  In the UK it’s pretty OK and here he’s safe but then I hear all the stories from #blacklivesmatter from the USA and how many young Hispanic, or African-American males are killed, and how bad their relationship can be (on TV) with the police and it’s heart breaking. So I’d like to celebrate more tolerance and less stereotyping of any religion or race.

5. Thursday (February 16) is National Almond Day. Do you like almonds? Which would you prefer-an Almond Joy or a macaron? What’s something you make that calls for almonds?

Eh,neither I don’t like  almonds at all… how about Cashew Nut Day instead??

6. What does Saturday morning look like at your house?

Ha! Oh boy, well I’m jumped on, have my eyes kissed and poked open about 8:00a.m the usual greeting from my son, then we get up, I make coffee and he watches some TV … Then I decide what the plan is for the day if we don’t already have plans as a family. Normally, Saturday morning is food shopping day also. Saturday morning is quite lively in my house.
7. Share with us a favourite book you’ve read this winter.

Gosh, wow, I have spent most of my time writing, but I have dipped in to “Voyage en France” also a young adult book written in French I’m reading to help improve my French comprehension.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

“Why the hell does it rain so much in London … I’ve got to head out in the next hour!”

 

 

 

 

 

Ah! The Ups & Downs of Writing- Has This Happened To You Writers? #amwriting #learning

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Today has been a very productive day for me writing wise, it’s just 3:00 p.m London time and already I have one complete chapter done! But let me tell you, it did not start out like this. First, last night I left off writing thinking okay tomorrow, I’ll come back and w,x ,y,z is  the focus. Previously, I had wrote  about four chapters  of my current thriller, then I ripped it to shreds (a year later late 2016).  But I kept my vision and story line,  I was not a fan of how I wrote “the vision.” So anyway, I started out again. Last night I was  so so so sure I kept the old version … somewhere, I just had to have it, right? Of course somewhere.

Today I thought I’d  go back to it, as I’m  writing a scene that now fits with what I wrote before  a lot better. I went back to my external hard drive the most logical place to look- it wasn’t there, I searched my whole lap top- it wasn’t there. I started to panic, no panic is not the word I started to curse loudly, in a very un lady like way LOL (thank God my son’s at nursery he’s now at the tender age of three, and he repeats EVERYTHING he hears this is how he picks up his vocabulary).

For about five mins, I just sat behind the lap top staring out the window at the rain, then back at my lap top, then at the hard drive in a foul mood. I wanted to pick everything up off the table and chuck it out the window onto the main road and curse  and let a car run over everything! But that would not have helped… so I didn’t  🙂 I  questioned myself, where did I save my old work? Did I really delete it off my external hard drive, once I rewrote the story ? What  have I done with it, I’ve lost at least four  fucking chapters!!  Was all that went through my head.

Then I turned the house upside down, looking for my old USBs  from a few years ago, hoping to God I found them. There it was … all 20,000 words of my old manuscript ahhh sighs of relief, break out the violins please.  I swear I could literally feel the happy hormones taking over my body again 🙂 all I had to do now was hope to God, what I was looking for was  saved on this particular USB I found.

THANK THE HEAVENS! There it was, OMG one chapter down, go Kim *high five.* *Shake it around the living room like Beyonce would* I got my happy dance on y’all 🙂

What I learned today, is NEVER ever move your work (no matter how old) from the main place you save it to another, never ever delete anything as you never know you may want to go back to it, as I did today, rewrite it, change it, add it to another story whatever. The point is save,save,save no matter how rubbish you think it is. Which is how I felt when I started to rewrite the chapters and clearly moved it off my external hard drive. I thought it was a pile of shit to be honest what I had wrote. But obviously not crap enough to delete completely, just crap enough to move from my current work and published work. Why the hell I did it, I honestly don’t know.

Writers has this ever happened to you? Have you ever lost work? Or re found it and got your happy dance on?  Have you deleted something and then tried your hardest to recover it? Tell me your story! Drop me a comment.

 

 

Writing Prompt Challenge week 7: Music to Write By #amwriting #MFRWauthor #writerslife

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It’s week seven of the romance authors fifty two week writing prompt  challenge, this week it’s music we write to. Oh boy! Where oh where do I even start with this. My musical taste is so diverse ( just how I like my characters in my stories). I listen to pretty much anything but heavy metal, mainly as I can’t dance to that- who can? Show me how?!

I Like

  • 50s-70s soul and motown.
  • Modern music from today.
  • Hip hop ( old stuff)
  • French soul and hip hop
  • 90’s stuff
  • Pop
  • Soft rock ( like P!ink)
  • Classical
  • Jazz
  • Everything!

When I write it depends on the mood I’m in and what scene I’m writing, I’ll be honest and say as a romance writer I don’t actually listen to love songs when I write ( weirdly). When I wrote A Stranger in France I listened to a lot of French soul singers, motown, soul and classical piano music. Music really features in the book. When I wrote Not Just for Christmas it was actually summer! No where near Christmas and I remember listening to a lot of upbeat summer music from the modern times, mainly the radio. For Code Redhead- A Serial Novel, my contribution story I wrote  mainly while I listened to the sound track from Fifty Shades of Grey * wink, I had fun with that story!

When I’m behind schedule, like maybe I’m in a panic that I won’t meet a deadline agreed with a publisher, or I just have not focused myself well for whatever reason. I don’t suffer writer’s block I’ve found a way to beat it, you can find out how I have done that by clicking here, but sometimes I sit down to write and I “faaf” around reading other blogs, watching Youtube or just browsing the internet,  looking at God knows what, and before I know it, it’s time for bed. When that happens and I fall behind my target, I need to listen to classical music as it will focus me, mainly piano classical does the job really well. I found a sound track on Spotify Player that really focuses me.

When I’m on track and feeling good, I go with the flow I just load up Spotify and let it do it’s thing, but I always write with music, I find it hard not to.

 

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Daily Writing Prompt: Lovingly Does It #motherhood

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Lovingly

Today’s WordPress writing prompt word lovingly, describes exactly how I went about my day today.  It was filled with love. I recently reduced my working hours in my day job from full time to part time, so I can spend more quality time with my son, and of course write more novels. Today is  our day off work and nursery. This morning, I told myself I’m not  a writer, teacher, or anything else today but a busy mum, trying not to get lost as I navigate my way through  central London’s traffic, to get to London Zoo, with a  three year old strapped in the backseat, clapping his hands and singing Old Mcdonald a had a farm at the top of his voice.

We had a great time! He has a love for all animals  but he is crazy about wild animals like lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants and hippos etc. Basically any wild animal you’d find on safari in Africa, rather than farm animals. Today for the second time  he saw  real wild animals up close  from different parts of Africa, at a different zoo. Of course he freaked out with happiness when he saw them. I even had a tantrum on my hands when it was time to leave the hippos, he did not want to leave LOL. But he lovingly made up for his mini tantrum when we had lunch, he gave me the biggest, wettest toddler kiss and hug ever. I assume  to show his enjoyment, and thanks for the day out to see the animals.  So today’s writing prompt response for lovingly  is dedicated to my beautiful son Blake and the day filled with love we’ve had at London Zoo.

 

Little boy blue, mama loves all of you! Your

Oval face, and big brown eyes. To see you smile makes mama’s heart go wild,now you’re starting to speak to hear your little

Voice is such a treat, it makes mama feel warm

Inside a feeling  she  just can’t hide,

No regrets at all, now I have you, I feel like I have it all,

God blessed me with you, so I ‘ll do my very best to raise you, I’ll always take care of  all of you, from the tips of the curly hairs on your head to your little hands and feet, to mama you are  such a gorgeous  treat!

Now I will  lovingly prepare one of his favourite dishes he loves, sausage pasta bake  🙂

I hope everyone’s day is filled with love, and  you have lovingly carried out something good today.

Daily One Word Writing Prompt: When I am Fluent – Then I am Successful #learning

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Successful

As the title suggests in response to today’s WordPress writing prompt, the one thing burning within me that I would like to achieve, and then I’ll feel  like a success, is to move from conversational/intermediate level in my reading,writing and general comprehension of the French language to  somewhat fluent.

For about two to three years I’ve studied the language, and some might say by now I should be fluent. Maybe so, but I’ve never really been in a rush to be perfect, it’s always been just a general interest of mine. That changed in 2016, something shifted in me and I have a new level of motivation. It could be  as  I have three French  exams in May speaking,listening,reading and writing! I need to pass if I want my language certification, and to feel some kind of success, no one sits an exam and wants to fail or gain a poor grade.

If you’ve ever tried to master a new language you may be able to relate to how I feel, when learning a language for me personally one skill always outweighs my ability to do another. For example my problem is I can read and write so much more better in French. (Well, my French speaking girlfriend and penpal in Paris may disagree with me, she may  laugh her head off at my bad  French in my letters). But I feel that my confidence in the language is via reading and writing, more so than listening to spoken French. It might be all the years of practice I’ve had via writing letters  in French why my skill is better in this area. If someone speaks to me in French quite slowly, I’ll pick up most of it and understand, but maybe not straight away depending on what they say. But if you write it down I will understand straight away. To back this point up even more, I have downloaded some French easy to read young adult books from Amazon and I understand, but when I listen to the audio I have to pause and go back and listen again and so forth. So I have really started to work on my speaking and listening skills. I’ve started to watch some TV shows in French I’ve found on Netflix and You Tube. 

So as they say, slow and steady wins the race right? OK well here I go, I’m preserving with my learning and spending a lot more time on Skype talking  with language partners and listening to French by having general conversations with others, rather than hiding behind my pen and paper to practice. This new way of language mastering is  in hope that by May I can say yes I am successful, I have moved up a notch in my fluency, and no longer need to say  as often” ah can you repeat that for me again, please” so many times, before I understand ! Once this has reduced, I can then say yep I feel much more a success in my language skills.

Have you ever tried to learn a language or new skill? What did you do to master the language? And feel successful in your learning attempts?

 

Writing Prompt: Sweet Sixteen #amwriting #writingprompt

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Taken from the 365 Days of Writing Prompts book, under today’s date this is the prompt.

When you were 16,what  did you think your life would look like? Does it look like that? Is that a good thing?

No, my life looks nothing like I imagined it at sixteen. At sixteen I was just leaving school I gained good grades, I went down the traditional route to do academic study at A-Level I started to study sociology, English and media studies. I dropped out! The only real subject I really worked hard in was English. I really enjoyed sociology. But as a typical sixteen year old girl I had other ideas and got distracted. I dropped out and went to beauty school instead. I ended up finishing a make-up, hair, nail and beauty course. The creative person in me was born outside of writing, I have always loved fashion and beauty.

Back then, my idea of how my working life would be was to  become some kind of creative person working within make-up /fashion. I worked for a few years in salons and kept up the dream. Drooled over Vogue magazine and the like. Played around with make-up like there was no tomorrow. But life changed and I needed to earn a better living so I fell into an office role, kept working, loved what I was doing for so long and then started my degree worked, then did a teaching degree and started teaching, I kept writing… Then became an author.

I’m  thirty- four next month, the sixteen year old me would look at my “day job” now and say no way! A teacher??? You messed up! You should be doing make -up on every super model, TV- presenter, singer, song writer  out there by now.  A sixteen year old me would look at my job as a writer and be like wow, I never saw that coming. But maybe if you did not drop out of college to go to beauty school you may have done this earlier … 

At sixteen I imagined, I’d be living a much more glam life than I do now by the time I reached thirty- four LOL. I imagined I be flying all over the world working on projects, the main make-up artist for London fashion week each year, maybe even my own make-up range  and drinking an endless supply of Cosmopolitan cocktails. In reality  I’m a content and very happy  mum, writer,lover of make-up, fashion and beauty who indulges on You-Tube in her passion or sews the odd dress or skirt at home in the privacy of my living room. Is that a good thing? That my life is not one of  the most high flying, make-up artists or fashion designers out there earning mega bucks? Well, in a way yes as I probably would not be a very happy and content mum, writer and to be honest that’s fine with me as life feels about right. In my thirties I’ve felt the best I’ve ever felt, like fine wine life gets sweeter the older I get.

What were your dreams at sixteen??

‘Tis The Season to be Jolly.. #amwriting #christmas #november

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It has been forever since I sat down and blogged something creative, if you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know writing prompts, poems, word challenges and short stories are my thing. The last month has been crazy busy for me, writing offline, reading and just the hustle and bustle of life in general. I have missed creative blogging, and reading other blogs too.

 I just wrote the date down on  something I have to send off, and I was like wow is that November over already? In my part of the world  the 25th November  arrives in under an hour. The year has flown, and we are well and truly on our way to Christmas.

Christmas is my favourite time of year, so it is probably no surprise my last book had this kind of backdrop theme.I don’t celebrate thanksgiving but if I was American,it would surly be a holiday I’d really enjoy too. So today I’d like to share what I love about Christmas . Send me a comment let me know what you love about Christmas?

Firstly, it’s the quality time with family that makes Christmas so special for me. I don’t know about you, but for me as a mum, writer, employee sister, aunt, friend etc  life can be a bit crazy and go a million miles an hour. At Christmas that’s when I do two things 1. shut down,and focus on my family and organising our special time together 2. reflect and plan for the new year. I love the whole sit down meal, treats, three full courses for dinner and chit chat. I find it so heart-warming to spend that time over the holiday with family. When I say family, I also mean friends of mine, I class my close friends as family and I love time with them too. Either on the phone, skype, text or even letter – as you may know my love for writing means  I have old fashioned snail mail penpals,overseas and in the UK. My most distant  is in Australia! The other side of the world.

 I also love spoiling special “little people.'”This year, I’m super prepared gift wise,I’m done with gift shopping.I don’t believe in gifting to receive,in fact I don’t actually want them personally. My son has just turned three and today I ordered him a toy washing machine and CD player that plays nursery rhymes.  ( To add to the mountain of gifts  hidden in my wardrobe from him). What? Don’t give me that face YES I got him a washing machine as a gift- my son is soooooo domesticated he loads up the machine himself, as soon as  he takes off his clothes. He listens for the click when a wash is done, opens the machine then pulls out all the clothes. My sister has bought him a toy hoover also he loves to help me sweep, mop and hoover the floors LOL.  I feel proud, any woman he lives with will have a very house proud husband. 

I love the whole slowing down at this time of year, when school ends for the two week holiday and all students have some head space and rest, us teachers do also! Trust me we need it,as when we return the focus is preping students for their exams- tough work. Love that this time of year, the best “slow down” movies are on. I remember watching Singing in the Rain, Bambi and 101 Dalmations with my little man and the family.

Food! I love to cook, something I  am not ashamed to say I’m good at and blow my own trumpet. I love preparing a three course meal for my family and extended family/friends. Often I buy so much food for days we are eating Christmas supplies. I find myself creating different meals with left over cuts of meat.I’m not much of a turkey fan, today my older sister called me and said ” sis I’ve just bought us a turkey crown” I tried to sound as pleased as I could lol but I’ll cook it. My choice is Lamb over turkey can’t beat it when it is well seasoned and cooked. Every year, I make a Caribbean traditional rum cake.  I’ve tried to master it, it never tastes as good as my mum’s.  She emigrated to the UK over forty years ago,but can make it taste so great!  I follow her instructions well and  soak the fruits in rum for two days, and bake it Christmas eve and hope maybe it will be as good as mum’s.

This time a year, I look back, see what I’ve learned, should have learned, would like to learn, focus and plan. Short term, med term and long term. I’ve always been a list and plan person. I think this is the best time of year to do it not 1st January. I personally feel by the 1st January I should know where I’m going or what I am working on. I have a few lists do you?

 This time of year, at Christmas I think London is so pretty the way it’s lit up in celebration for the festive season. I’d say I notice that most Londoners are happier, full of joy  generally. I like the different vibe the festive season brings to London.  I enjoy walking around London, and taking note of what all the tourist do in central London. Things I’d take for granted as I’ve seen them a million times over.

So these are a few things I enjoy about the festive season. I am getting jolly! And smiling at the thought of unwrapping gifts with my little man  and family on the big day. I am also smiling at the thought of my current dining table/desk piled high with food and drinks rather than books, flowers, notepads and writing supplies. I am looking forward to posting off my overseas Christmas cards and final letters for 2016,to pals and wishing them and theirs a successful, healthy and happy 2017.

Tell me what do you love about Christmas and the festive season ?

 

Book Tour: Author Interview! #author #booktours

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Morning,

Still wet and rainy here in London. I planned to go to the zoo today, with my little boy as a treat for his third birthday last week. I think we’ll stay indoors in our pyjamas, and play with his farm and jungle animals instead.

In the mean time I have another author interview published, as part of my current book tour over at T’s stuff you can view it here.

Have a lovely relaxing Sunday.

What’s Going On?…. #amwriting #writerslife

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No, I don’t mean the lyrics to Marvin Gaye’s classic song I mean with me? I know, I know  it has been a while since I’ve logged into WordPress, but here I am. Firstly thank you and welcome to all new followers… I see you, thanks for keeping me company.

Well, it is freezing here in London, but I’ve done enough running up and down  this week to keep warm(ish). Last week my book tour for A Stranger in France kicked off, and I’ve done a couple of interviews as part of the tour. There’s also a  giveaway on Goodreads too. I will blog the interview links this week coming, when they are published. They were fun to do.

Friday night, I did a  once over/last minute edits  on my next book published next week I believe it will be, or the latest the week after (Not Just for Christmas). You can, read the first  2.5 chapters for free by clicking here. It’s a feel good romantic novella set in my home town London. Two characters that oppose each other wind up  in love, set on the back drop of Christmas- very heartwarming. I hope you enjoy. I will of course let you know the exact date it will drop on Amazon.

The short story I’ve wrote for a serial novel, along side nineteen other authors, to feature in a book called  Code Redhead, is complete. I enjoyed writing that story, it’s a bit of a erotic romance story I guess, a little steamy. I called it One Night in London. You can find out more about that writing project by clicking here. The book will be published in February 2017.

My progress with Novel Writing Month started if you read that blog. The challenge is two chapters per week from next week as a goal to complete. I have agreed a date to submit my work to a publisher who requested to see the full manuscript. I’m super proud of myself and excited, to have a positive response after they read the first three chapters. I need to get my ass into gear though. I will also post a chapter preview of this third book, a romantic thriller soon. This is my current focus writing wise.

Personally, last week I made some life changing decisions. I’m a full- time working mum, my son turns three next week, and to be honest I think life will be more manageable if I worked part- time. Don’t take this as I’m rolling in money far from it, but I weighed up a few things. Any woman out there who is a mum knows what I am talking about, when I say I’d love more time with my boy and a better work life balance. On top of this I have a number of personal reasons that part-time working would be better for us. So I put in a request to my boss  to reduce my working hours late last night. I mulled over my decisions and e-mail to the boss after doing the maths. After  a bottle of red wine ( yes a bottle!)  I am convinced this is the way forward. On the flip side, it  means more time to write! And purse my real dream, as well as things working out for the better of my family. I hope he sees my points and allows the reduction.

So that’s why I have been absent, I’ve been writing, doing some interviews, working my ass off in the day job, and trying to keep warm.  I will be back next week with some writing prompts and short stories. I have withdrawal symptoms LOL,  it’s been a week since I’ve participated.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend, and you’re  refreshed ready for the new working week.

Enjoy the last few hours of Sunday.