Tuesday 5 February 2013

Very Inspiring Blogger Award



Jane Risdon very kindly nominated me for this award. Jane is an up and coming writer with an excellent record of short stories published: for instance, The Look in

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Woman-Anthology-Anthologies-ebook/dp/B00817P8DI




and, sadly no longer available, a book supporting a hospice:


Telling Tales Anthology 

which featured two of her stories
The Debt Collector and 
The Ghost in the Privy.

Jane also has a book in progress which sounds like just my sort of crime story – set in a village, with a 'Miss Marple ' or Jessica Fletcher' type detective, Ms Birdsong Investigates. Ms Birdsong – what a name! Wow!

The link to her blog is:

http://janerisdon.wordpress.com/

Check it out!


So now I have to tell you 7 (until now) private things about myself. Hey! – do I really want to? Well, okay! Anything for publicity!



1.

I wrote a play at the age of 9 which was acted by my classmates, under the teacher's supervision/ production.  But I didn't get to play the Princess – disgraceful!  Since then I've written 3 more plays (as an adult) which were performed by various amateur dramatic groups.

2.

I had a (holiday) job at Butlin's at age 18 as a bar waitress. The tips were great! They paid for a hitch-hiking holiday with my (female) friend in the South of France! (Came back with a fabulous tan, but it was cold weather at home by then, so no one saw it under my winter woollies!)

3.

I won an undergraduate scholarship (extra money each year) at the end of my first year at Queen's University Belfast, which came in useful by paying for the flights to Athens for my honeymoon.

4.

Although English has always been my subject, I later trained and qualified as an accountant – purely for the money!  (Just noticed the last 3 items in this post all end up with money mentioned – I'm not mercenary, honest!)

5.

I've been married twice – my first husband, sadly, died very young. One of the worst things that ever happened to me. But I'm very happy now with my second husband, the handsome and intelligent (and sexy!) Raymond!

6.

I have two sons and two daughters – 2 per husband, which seems reasonable, as I often say.

7.

I am currently toying with the idea of writing a play based on my bestselling debut novel, Belfast Girls. After all, if I've written plays before, why not now?


And now here are the people I want to nominate for this award. All their blogs are very well worth a visit!


1.  Melanie Dent: author of the Lynchcliffe series. If you like Downton Abbey, you'll love these!  here are some links to them.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eye-The-Storm-Lynchcliffe-ebook/dp/B007CXXW76

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Loyalties-Lynchcliffes-Lynchcliffe-Prequels-ebook/dp/B0069VV5TO


And please check out, and join, Mel's blogs

http://lynchcliffe.wordpress.com/about/

and:

http://writerswithvision.wordpress.com/




2. Tricia Dramah, author of The Claiming Words,

http://www.amazon.com/The-Claiming-Words-ebook/dp/B009LXGE3E

Tricia's blog:

 http://blog.triciadrammeh.com/ Please have a look at it and join it!


3. Vic Watson, whose short story collection got this comment in an Amazon review,

'Not for the faint-hearted. Victoria Watson has written a collection of short stories that bring murder, madness and paranoia together in one place, and these tales are just the right size for a glimpse into the murky darkness. Each tale uses different characters to explore a variety of emotions, and each one begins with a hook that draws you through to its twisted conclusion. And what kind of short story doesn't have a really good twist? Not always having time to read as much as I would like, I enjoyed dipping in and out of Watson's stories and would recommend them to anyone with a few minutes to spare.'

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letting-Go-ebook/dp/B007A6VAVA

Vic has another short story in this anthology;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Home-Tomorrow-ebook/dp/B005LW2A3C

Vic's excellent blog is at:

http://elementaryvwatson.wordpress.com/

Another one you should click over to and join!

4. And last but certainly not least, the great Soooz Burke, author  under the name Stacy Danson of Empty Chairs and Faint Echoes  of Laughter

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Empty-Chairs-ebook/dp/B004K6MJJK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faint-Echoes-of-Laughter-ebook/dp/B006X17HGK

and more recently, under her own name Suzannah Burke, of the hilarious romance Dudes Down Under.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007VIWXF4

Soooz's blog, Soooz Says Stuff, can be found here:

http://sooozsaysstuff.blogspot.co.uk/

You really shouldn't miss it!


And by the way, have you checked out Laurence O'Bryan's blog yet, to read the latest 2 guest writers? Do! here's a link.

http://lpobryan.com/category/guest-posts/

It'll be my turn to guest there soon!

And while you're here, why not have a look at ( or even buy!) some of my own books?

Belfast Girls





Danger Danger





Angel in Flight: An Angel Murphy Thriller


The Seanachie: Tales of Old Seamus






 
Lady Molly and The Snapper: A YA Time Travel Adventure set in Ireland and on the High Seas





People seem to like them!

See you soon!

18 comments:

  1. So happy that you accepted my nomination Gerry and thank you so much for your very kind words. I will do my best to live up to your expectations. Love your books as you know and a play of Belfast Girls would be wonderful...do consider seriously. I don't think you are mercenary, we all need money but how funny you mentioned it three times. Three wishes for a happy, successful and long life from me. Vic Watson put together I Am Woman anthology vol 1 which you mentioned...small world. I shall visit your other nominees asap. Meantime I have enjoyed learning a little more about you and thank you for accepting this nomination. You thoroughly deserve it. Have a fun time. Congratulations to all your nominees.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for the nomination, Gerry. It is truly an honor. I enjoyed reading your seven facts about yourself. I found myself laughing at number four because I worked in accounting as well, and did it strictly because it was a stable job, certainly not for any love of accounting. Congratulations on an award well-deserved!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Belfast Girls would make a great play! Fabulous idea.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jane, thanks again for inviting me to this. By the way, I didn't really think anyone would get the idea I was mercenary – that was just a joke!
    And thanks for your encouragement about the play idea. I really am thinking of it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tricia, I'm glad you enjoyed the 7 facts. You and I seem to have things in common!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anne, thanks for dropping in. So now two people think Belfast Girls would make a good play – there must be something in this idea!
    Actually, quite a few people have suggested it, which is why I'm beginning to take the project seriously.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Interesting blog Gerry and we learn a little more about the writer in you.

    Always loved Belfast Girls.

    Write the play - Broadway awaits.

    Take care

    Ron S

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ron. It's strange how much writers (and others!) are prepared to tell about themselves on the Internet – sometimes things they wouldn't tell their friends!
      Broadway? Well – maybe a local Belfast theatre? Who knows?

      Delete
  8. Congrats on your blogger award! That's fab!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for sharing the books. That’s a awesome books you posted. I found the post very useful as well as interesting. I will come back to read some more.The Equation

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks, Henry. Glad you enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So, make the play happen....and I knew it was a joke.....I just can't help it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. How are things? Did the play happen? Hope you are selling piles of books. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jane, I'm just staggering back onto my feet after horrendous bronchitis – so, no, the play didn't happen, and before it does I've a long list of writing stuff to catch up on! But thanks for asking!

    ReplyDelete