I've been asked by Pam Burkes, who writes novels together with her sister and are known as The Chicklit Sisters, to take part in this fun blog hop. I can thoroughly recommend their books, they are light, fun and so true to life: How to Survive Your Sisters, was particularly so as I am one of three!
I have to choose a number of favourite or desired items I'd put in a swag bag for a significant birthday including: a book, beauty product, snack food, music album and 'my choice'. So here we go...
Book: I have struggle to name only one book that I would take so I've settle for two. The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, because it is such a fantastic read and Lorna Doone by R D Blackmore, a book I've read several time since I was about eleven and never tired of the romance.
Beauty Product: As I rarely buy beauty products I would really like a luxury hamper full of luxurious body creams and unctions (to protect me from the results of weather and age), a nail care set (gardening and nails do not live well together) and a large tub of hair gel (I'm wearing my hair very short as it's easy to manage, but need to make it look a bit more 'funky'). As a hamper would be too large to fit in the bag, a voucher for one would do nicely.
Snack Food: I'm a very big fan of Maltesers but can't get them over here in Italy, so definitely a bag (or two). To balance this into a healthy snack food, I'd sneak in a tub of home-made hummus and some veggie sticks.
Music Album: Now, I don't like listening to one album full of songs by the same artist so it would definitely have to be an MP3 player (or whatever modern equivalent) with a bit of: John Legend, Jake Bugg, Caro Emerald, the Puppini Sisters, Paolo Nutini and a bit of classical.
And Finally, my own choice. Now this is not difficult. A new posh journal, preferrably hard backed A4 with a pretty cover and fresh, lined paper. And an instrument to write with, a fountain pen. Perhaps a Mont Blanc? This one is particularly pretty...
So that's my swag bag full to the brim!
I've tagged a fellow WA member, Angela Williams, to share her swag bag on Monday 7 July. Angela regular blogs over at her site the Amsterdam Oriole.
Until Later,
I've been tagged by Dianne Ascroft to take part in this blog hop about main characters in our latest work in progress. Dianne is a fellow member of Writers Abroad and has self published a novel set in World War II - Hitler and Mars Bars.
I'm currently working on a fantasy novel but do have other historical works in progress, so I shall showcase one of those. However, there is no reason why the characters for the blog hop can't be from any genre as you will discover from my tagged authors below. Makes things a little more interesting...
1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
There are two strong female characters in this project, Eve Lacey and Isabella Bloomfield. Neither of them are based on any particular person—more they are a mix of women I have read about in my research around World War II, particularly about the ATA girls. When I lived in the UK, I met and interviewed an old lady, Pat Brandon, who had nursed in London during the war and she also inspired me to write about this time.
2) When and where is the story set?
The story is set during the years of World War II and starts with Eve and Isobel meeting in a field hospital in France. They continue their friendship when Isobel joins the ATA and Eve is posted back to England.
3) What should we know about him/her?
The two friends couldn’t be more different. Eve is from the country and ran away from her cruel aunt after her father died. Isobel is a wealthy debutante who it seems has everything she could wish for. The women, however, share a birthday and from the first time they meet, their lives run along parallel lines.
4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?
Eve and Isobel fall in love with the same man, Jack Wallace, an ace fighter pilot. Eve has a brief liaison with him and falls head over heels in love but never sees him again. Isobel is pursued by Jack and eventually agrees to marry him. Soon after, Jack is killed in combat and Eve reveals the consequences of her liaison.
5) What is the personal goal of the character?
Both women want to live life in the moment as dictated by circumstances out of their control. However ultimately they both want to be loved and seek to secure their future.
6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
The working title at the moment is All Will Be Well but it has been known as The Flying Angels as it features quite a bit about the ATA girls.
7) When can we expect the book to be published?
This was the first full length work in progress I penned. Having self-published The Duke’s Shadow, on March 1 this year it has given me the confidence to rewrite all my works in progress. Hopefully, 2015. You can find news updates on my website Louise Charles.
The two authors I have tagged are:
Vesna McMaster - a fellow member of Writers Abroad and
Pam Burkes, who writes with her sister as the author, Ellie Campbell. Together they have published four novels, How to Survive Your Sisters, When Friends Go Bad, Looking for La La and To Catch a Creeper.
