Great joy and rejoicing today as the lovely Ann Somerville has reviewed Maloney's Law at the Unique Logophilos site and you can find the whole review here (see full post for all links). Many thanks indeed, Ann - I really appreciate that! Always good to make readers cry - in the nicest possible way of course ...


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I've spent considerable time looking like this, over the past week. Headphones on, listening back to the stories I'm working on.
Reading your stories aloud is a terrific help when editing - you are forced to read what's actually there on the page, rather than what you think you've written. It's also, in my opinion, one of the most useful pieces of advice I've received and given. But recording what you read, and listening to it back, can be just as valuable, from a point of view of flow, rhythm, structure, imagery (probably everything); again you 'see' the story in totally different medium

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Lovely to see Maloney’s Law (see full post for all links here!) on both Amazon Canada and Barnes & Noble in the States today. Well, gosh. And PD Publishing have asked me to make a list of places/people who would be willing to review the book, so that’s my main task tonight. Ooh and at work the lovely Stuart in Marketing has put Maloney on the University intranet – what a star. He even mentioned the book’s shortlisting for the Harry Bowling Novel Prize. Cheque’s in the post, Stuart!...

Also nice to see that A Stranger’s Table on Lulu UK now has a sales rating on it. I am Number 117,489, which for me is pretty good, I must say. My work here is done, Carruthers, time to retire …


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I think my psychic ability - very prevalent in my mis-spent youth - has come back full force. I saw a man in a green jumper this morning who wasn't there the next second; but he was definitely there, standing in a neighbour's garden. He was in his fifties, quite tall with a full head of grey hair and quite distinguished features - as if he'd been a high-rank officer in the army. He watched me walk by. I didn't know him, didn't recognise him (in my little neighbourhood we all know each-other's faces even if we don't know each other's names) but thought I'd nod at him to acknowledge his presence - then he just wasn't there, anymore. I thought to myself 'I wonder who that was?' and carried on walking, as if ex-army officers in green jumpers just pop up out of nowhere every day of the week! Then there's Sam.


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Up while the nightingales were still around today – and what a glorious day it is, weather-wise – and into work early due to my morning appointment at the Surrey Park Clinic. This time they’re taking the tumour marker blood test (oh joy) so here’s hoping they don’t find anything drastic. Though if they discover my old school tie, that would be very useful, as I was never entirely sure where that went … Apparently too I should start taking more of the oestrogen HRT just to see if I balance out a bit. Little does the poor doctor know that a state of utter imbalance is actually normal for me. Ah well ...


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Got in this morning to at least six zillion emails. What is wrong with people? Why do they want to communicate so much? Honestly, anyone would think they had nothing better to do … That said, most of it is my fault for sending out so much stuff last week which needed a quick response, mainly in the catering area. So I am hoist by my own petard. Ooh, I do love a good petard.

I think I got most of it under control by lunchtime though – so I could lie back and enjoy my reflexology session with a clear conscience. In fact, I was so relaxed that I drifted off towards the end and woke myself up by snoring. How unpleasant for poor Emily! Still at least the rest of her week will be easy. Getting my session over on a Monday is no doubt a good thing for her ...


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First up, good news. I notice that my story, Martha's Dance, is now up over at Serendipity. I hope you like it. I do. And I am thrilled to be on there, it is a top, top, top place to be.

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Selling my book is very much on my mind right now. Following on from my previous post, an interesting article in Forbes magazine called Web Savvy Authors Reap Fame and Fortune caught my eye - unsurprisingly. About a first time author who decides to self-publish her "historical fiction tome" when she can't find a publisher:.......

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go on, be nosy, you know you want to. i've got a slide show.

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