'STILETTOS & STUBBLE' is released!

WOO HOO!  Today’s the day!!!

Wednesday 28^th November is the official release date for my new romcom, ‘Stilettos & Stubble’.  It can be downloaded straight to your kindle for just £1.97 here at Amazon UK or here for the States, Australia and India.  You can also bag yourself a paperback copy at Lulu.

For those of you who haven’t read the blurb yet, here goes:

All her life Persephone’s

been branded a

‘Big Girl’.

Criticised by her outwardly perfect mother,

dearly loved by her father, she’s the

‘Queen of Low Self Esteem’.

Finding herself suddenly

immersed in a world of

glitz and glamour,

where nothing is quite as it seems,

will she finally realise

‘It’s what’s inside that counts’?

You can also go to Amazon and click on ‘Look Inside’ (this feature will kick in soon) to read the first few pages and see if it’s the book for you - if you like a few giggles, some gorgeously camp men and a sprinkle of romance, I’m sure it will be!

Releasing a book is draining, so tonight will be spent checking my sales figures and sipping bubbly with my hubbie - the official launch will be on 8^th December with a couple of close friends who have supported my writing journey.  It will, no doubt, be a raucous affair - watch this space for the blog and photos.

But as I recover from one release, I'll be preparing for another.  My novella, ‘Christmas Deliverance’ will be on sale from Saturday 1^st December - also at Amazon and Lulu.

Want to see the cover?

Drum roll …

And to whet your appetite, here’s the blurb for that one:

It’s that time of year again and the

Willoughby family think they’ve

got everything wrapped up.

Each concealing their own issues, they

return to widowed mum Maggie

to play at happy families.

But an unexpected delivery

challenges their perceptions of one other

- and of themselves.

Grab a mulled wine, snuggle up by the fire

and share a family Christmas with a difference.

Because Christmas doesn’t always deliver what you want

- but sometimes it might be just what you need.

Hope that’s left you wanting more and feeling just a tiny bubble of festive spirit.

Right, I’m off to check my sales!  I leave you with the acknowledgements for ‘Stilettos & Stubble’ as they appear in the book and, as I’m in a party mood, the song which I associate most with my ‘new baby’.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I had such fun writing this book

and just as much fun researching it.

Drag queens and gay guys love to talk

so I had no problem gaining the info I needed!

I really hope I haven’t forgotten anyone here as

I know they’d have my guts for garters!

So huge thanks go to:

My dear friends Geoffers and Eddie

Barbara Bush

Titti La Camp

Wilma Ballsdrop

David Somerset Barnes

Steve Phillips (Stella)

Ian Tink

And for giving me leads to drag queens:

Mireille Eustace

Alison Stockley

Thank you ladies.

 With love to a new friend Jackie Martin

who has been a huge supporter of my books

and wants to be my PA!

As always for my lovely Mum, Robes and Ben.

The Next Big Thing

This past week has seen both the Mummy Misfit books in the Top 50 (UK) in PAID humour for Kindle on Amazon!  My free promo days seemed to raise my profile and I’ve been selling more books than ever before!

Good, huh?

So it seems rather appropriate that I should have been tagged by my Indie buddy, Michelle Betham, to introduce to you ‘The Next Big Thing’.

This is where I have the opportunity to answer questions on my current work in progress.  You can read Michelle’s here.

So, here goes. 

What is the working title of your book?

Book Four will be called, ‘Stilettos and Stubble’ ©.  You heard it here first.  The title is mine and no one can pinch it, OK? 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The world of drag clubs has always fascinated me and I’m a massive fag hag so, once the seed of a plot popped into my head, I grabbed it and ran with it.  I also wanted a less than perfect heroine and watching Miranda Hart one night gave me the perfect inspiration. 

What genre does your book fall under? 

‘Stilettos and Stubble’ will be a rom-com. 

Which actors would you choose to play your characters on screen?

My lead, Persephone (or Percy as she prefers to be called!) would be played by Miranda Hart.  She needs to be larger than life, a little ungainly and an expert at putting herself down. 

You may be surprised to see such a glam picture of Miranda but it needed to be this one for a reason.  Much of the production would see her looking as polished as this - but of course we’d also get to see the scruffy Miranda we’ve grown to know and love!

As for the ‘love interest’ that’s a bit tricky because he needs to be taller than Miranda and strikingly good looking.  Research was fun though and if the lovely Gerard Butler could bulk himself up just a tad more, he’s got the job!

Another vital character in the book is the owner of the drag club, Annie Vestite.  Oh such an easy decision here.  I bring you the fantabulosa Julian Clary.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

‘It’s what’s inside that counts.’ 

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I'll remain an Indie writer unless I’m snapped up by an agent I have complete faith in. 

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I started work in May and I plan to have the first draft finished by mid-October.  The book will be launched at the beginning of December. 

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Hmm, not sure about that one.  I’d like to think it has the humour of Jill Mansell and Sophie Kinsella but it’s something that really hasn’t been done before so, … well … who knows? 

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Back to Miranda Hart again!  So many books seem to have perfectly petite heroines with high flying careers and men dropping at their feet.  I wanted a ‘real’ woman with failed dreams and ‘issues’. 

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

What’s not to love?  Glitz, glamour, humour, bitching, love and friendship all rolled into one.

So watch this space.  ‘Stilettos and Stubble’ will hit the Amazon and Lulu shelves in December.  And remember, it’s what’s inside that counts!

I now tag two fellow authors and Twitter pals. 

Jamie Dougan - you can find his three books here and currently all proceeds are going to Cancer Research. 

Robert Daws - introducing the 2^nd in his Sullivan and Broderick Mysteries with ‘Poisoned Rock’.  The first in the series is called ‘The Rock’ and can be found here. 

Currently all three of my books are available to buy at Amazon UK and Amazon.com for Kindle.  Also in paperback at Lulu.