This Week Only! ***BOOK TOUR***
10th November 2023
This week I’ve enjoyed a mini online book tour answering questions set by authors up and down the UK as I celebrate the release of ‘I’ve Got A Pen and I’m Not Afraid To Use It: A Writing Companion’.
Today I’m sharing a selection of those questions. I’ve Got A Pen and I’m Not Afraid To Use It – A Writing Companion is available through www.loveofbooks.co.uk or Amazon (Click here)
On Monday, Julia Stone asked: Who will benefit most from reading your book?
It was written primarily for those people who want to write but find all kinds of reasons not to. Sometimes this is about procrastination, other times it’s about wanting instant perfection, or maybe a lack of confidence. I want those and others to realise that perfection is subjective, and until they give it a go, they won’t know what they can achieve. Maybe their words will change their lives, or someone else’s life? This book is also a reminder for established writers too. When we fall in love with a new project, we tend to forget things along the way.
On Tuesday, Philippa East asked: What is your proudest achievement as a writer?
Almost certainly my proudest writing-related moment was gaining a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. I signed up for the degree to prove to myself I had a brain, something that had troubled me since my school days. The book goes into detail in this respect, but my lack of confidence had turned into a kind of chip on my shoulder that could be removed with this degree. With the help and support of my family, I graduated in 2020 as a mature student. Although that’s my proudest moment, it doesn’t hurt knowing I’ve published thirteen books to date including non-fiction and novels! 😉
On Wednesday, Philippa Hawley asked: How important is the title, the presentation, cover and formatting of any book you produce? Is it something you like to take control of yourself?
The title gives a big hint to the tone of the book. Empowerment. It’s the reader telling the world they’ve got the tools they need to write, and nothing will stop them putting them to use. The cover is hugely important. Repackaging the book with a fresher look that’s both vivacious and upbeat highlights the content. It was designed by the same person who designed my last two novels, Livin’ and Lovin’ in Texas, and Dream State, Jessica Bell Design. www.jessicabelldesign.com
You can talk about creative writing a hundred different ways, but when you’re imparting information, the content needs to open eyes and keep attention. This is why I write non-fiction in a chatty style because, in my experience, cracking a few jokes, being friendly, and treating the reader as an equal will engage on a more personal level and they’ll remember the information. It’s also a big part of me. There are no airs and graces, it’s down-to-earth and real. It’s how I speak, so sharing this information would be how I’d tell others.
The title, I believe, and the font/colours/size all fall into this eye-catching idea, and the content is formatted in a way that – creating white spaces between text – means readers consume in smaller, bite-sized chunks. This means it’s accessible for people (like me) who can both lose interest quickly and forget what’s being said when faced with massive blocks of text that can intimidate or bore.
On Thursday, Rosie Sandler asked: What drives you to write?
That’s an interesting question. I’m compelled to express myself through the medium of words and, when possible, the creation of a book. I love to create characters and situations, but I also really enjoy creating factual content too. I enjoy words, their origins, and how they evolve, and their meanings, so using them to express myself makes perfect sense. So, I suppose the answer is, an intense enjoyment and need for expression.
Massive thanks to all the authors, and thank YOU for taking the time to read the Q&A each day. You can find out more about the services I offer and other books I’ve written via For The Love of Books www.loveofbooks.co.uk
Today I’m sharing a selection of those questions. I’ve Got A Pen and I’m Not Afraid To Use It – A Writing Companion is available through www.loveofbooks.co.uk or Amazon (Click here)
On Monday, Julia Stone asked: Who will benefit most from reading your book?
It was written primarily for those people who want to write but find all kinds of reasons not to. Sometimes this is about procrastination, other times it’s about wanting instant perfection, or maybe a lack of confidence. I want those and others to realise that perfection is subjective, and until they give it a go, they won’t know what they can achieve. Maybe their words will change their lives, or someone else’s life? This book is also a reminder for established writers too. When we fall in love with a new project, we tend to forget things along the way.
On Tuesday, Philippa East asked: What is your proudest achievement as a writer?
Almost certainly my proudest writing-related moment was gaining a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. I signed up for the degree to prove to myself I had a brain, something that had troubled me since my school days. The book goes into detail in this respect, but my lack of confidence had turned into a kind of chip on my shoulder that could be removed with this degree. With the help and support of my family, I graduated in 2020 as a mature student. Although that’s my proudest moment, it doesn’t hurt knowing I’ve published thirteen books to date including non-fiction and novels! 😉
On Wednesday, Philippa Hawley asked: How important is the title, the presentation, cover and formatting of any book you produce? Is it something you like to take control of yourself?
The title gives a big hint to the tone of the book. Empowerment. It’s the reader telling the world they’ve got the tools they need to write, and nothing will stop them putting them to use. The cover is hugely important. Repackaging the book with a fresher look that’s both vivacious and upbeat highlights the content. It was designed by the same person who designed my last two novels, Livin’ and Lovin’ in Texas, and Dream State, Jessica Bell Design. www.jessicabelldesign.com
You can talk about creative writing a hundred different ways, but when you’re imparting information, the content needs to open eyes and keep attention. This is why I write non-fiction in a chatty style because, in my experience, cracking a few jokes, being friendly, and treating the reader as an equal will engage on a more personal level and they’ll remember the information. It’s also a big part of me. There are no airs and graces, it’s down-to-earth and real. It’s how I speak, so sharing this information would be how I’d tell others.
The title, I believe, and the font/colours/size all fall into this eye-catching idea, and the content is formatted in a way that – creating white spaces between text – means readers consume in smaller, bite-sized chunks. This means it’s accessible for people (like me) who can both lose interest quickly and forget what’s being said when faced with massive blocks of text that can intimidate or bore.
On Thursday, Rosie Sandler asked: What drives you to write?
That’s an interesting question. I’m compelled to express myself through the medium of words and, when possible, the creation of a book. I love to create characters and situations, but I also really enjoy creating factual content too. I enjoy words, their origins, and how they evolve, and their meanings, so using them to express myself makes perfect sense. So, I suppose the answer is, an intense enjoyment and need for expression.
Massive thanks to all the authors, and thank YOU for taking the time to read the Q&A each day. You can find out more about the services I offer and other books I’ve written via For The Love of Books www.loveofbooks.co.uk