I’m Pushing the Boat Out and Jumping Onboard!

Taken by Jarmara while out walking by the North Sea.

Okay, okay.... I’m the first to put up my hand and say I was wrong. Though, I’m not making excuses either, but I truly believe in freewill; it up to the individual to make up their own choice.

I’m hoping to buy a Kindle soon as I’m getting my novel ready to upload on to Amazon Kindle. Okay, yes, I’m doing it for the money too.

Things are starting to really bite back here as it is just over a year now since I gave up working fulltime to write. The price of petrol is making a hell of a difference to everything from fuel to food so money is getting tight here.  My dear husband doesn’t want me to give up on my dream and is working hard to keep me at home writing, but it makes me sad when he comes home from work and tells me he has been thinking it might be a good idea to cut back on our holidays for the rest of this year.

I know the old saying about not writing for money, and if you do make some, you’re lucky, but it’s rare to make a living from it.

Sometimes, I think you need to push the boat out and jump onboard to see where it might take you.

So all that leaves me to say is: 

‘All aboard!  Hang on tight! Bumpy ride ahead! We’re heading into white water rapids!'

Hope to see you all  safe, sound and not too wet on the other side.

Jarmara

Whitby Goth Festival

 At the weekend, my much beloved and I are off to the Whitby Goth Festival. We hope the weather is kind to us as we look forward to meeting up with our Goth festival friends.

Now for some good news, Robin Gibb has come out of his coma and is talking to his family, which is wonderful news.

My editing is going very well and I'm hope by the end of May I shall be ready to send my MS off to be proofread before I post it up on Kindle.

Have a great week,

Jarmara

God Speed Robin Gibb

I have just heard that Robin Gibb isn't very well at the moment. I've always loved the brothers' music. It's sad time for their mother Barbara after she already lost two of her sons and now Robin is very ill.

I wish the family well at this very sad time.

Jarmara

What Price Beauty for Men?

If you are feeling down and want something to make you smile then read the reviews for a hair remover for men

Be aware there is some strong language.

And to think ladies, we go to all extremes to look good for our men, Well, I never thought I would read what men go through to make themselves look their best.

It's enough to make you weep... Well, it did make them weep too.


Busy editing my novel... and hanging about on Amazon now and again.

Jarmara

The Right to Reply.... Writer's Boot Camp!

If anyone is interested I've had a visit on my blog from Stephanie J Hale founder of the Millionaire BootCamp for Authors after reading my posting Writer's Bootcamp, Whatever next  Please read what she has to say and leave a comment in answer to her comments, if you wish.

Without me needing to say, but I will so you know I have. Be kind to her, please.
You can, of course read my views on her company's Bootcamps which will make it clear that my blog is not free advertising for her or her company.

I'm just giving her the right to answer my points in my posting.

Busy Editing my novel,
Jarmara

Going through the right channels to get results

Sometimes its right to question something you have been told.

As you know I made and uploaded three slideshows to do with the Essex Book Festival. Within a week of me posting them up on the net I received a phone call telling me that I had to remove them. The person who phoned me told me bluntly that if I didn’t remove them I would receive a letter from Essex Libraries because they weren’t happy about the slideshows and because of them notices would be placed in all Essex Libraries saying that no photographs could be taken within their buildings.

I was very disappointed and upset by the phone call, because I had sought permission at each event my husband and I went to from everyone involved from the staff members to the people I took photographs of, including the authors themselves.

About two weeks ago, I decided to phone Essex Country Council and find out what their policy was about taking photographs at the Essex Book Festival events.  After chatting to a gentleman, who said he’d never been asked that sort of question before.  He then asked my name and what event I would like to take photographs at, which I told him.

As I waited for him to get back to me, I thought any minute now he would return and tell me I had already told that I wasn’t allow to take photographs in Essex Libraries and certainly not turn them into slideshows to promote the Essex Book Festivals.

When he came back online, he told me I had to phone Dunmow Library and talk to them about what their guidelines were about taking photographs at their event. I phoned them and once again, I was put on hold. Then after asking for my phone number I received a very interesting phone call from a lovely lady who goes by the title of  ‘Reader Services Development Manager’ and with her help and guidelines I’ve put together a new slideshow which she has seen and is happy with, so I can now share it with you and the rest of the internet knowing I won’t have to remove it.

I hope you enjoy seeing just what happens at an Essex Book Festival’s Event.

Jarmara  

One very happy fan of the Essex Book Festival

Hosepipes at Dawn!

What are people complaining about? The time to start complaining is when you have to get all your water from a stand pipe in the street, or have to walk for miles to get a glass of water to drink.

 While I still have water to wash my clothes, use for cooking and drinking, I'm not complaining. I can still water my homegrown veggies and plants but all I must do is a little extra work with a watering can.

 If these so call gardeners had any sense, their gardens would have been full of water butts.... I have six dotted around my gadren all collecting rainwater as and when they run out then I will have to pay extra, but I'm on a meter and paid for what I use.
Nothing is for free, but I thank God I live in Britain, this green and pleasant land where it does rains.... at least sometimes. And I bet you by the end of this year all those moaning people will be complaining because we didn't have a summer because it did nothing, but rain. We have been told it needs to rain every day and night for the next six weeks to bring water levels back up to where they should be.... Imagine six weeks of rain... Guess who would be complaining then, everyone. Vegetables rotting in the ground etc. Why do people complain about everything?

I think about those poor people who live in Africa & India who have to walk miles to get clean drinking water and have done it for years. I say we all should be working together on this otherwise it will be stand pipes in the street for us all.

Thank you for listening to my moan, I'm off to make myself a cup of tea.

Jarmara

Novel X Factor & Win a Chance to Meet an Agent

Find out whether your novel has got what it takes to be top of its class in the Pulp Idol.
the 16 April is the deadline to entry Pulp Idol, annual unpublished novel competition, which is part of the Writing On the Wall Festival in Liverpool each May.

Entry is Free: Entrants read out an excerpt from their novel in a series of heats around Merseyside in front of an audience and panel of judges.

The winner gets to meet a publisher, agent, or an editor. For further details: www.writingonthewall.org.uk

Want to win a chance to meet an agent? Then this is a competiton for you!
The Writing Magazine is running a competition, so pick up a copy at your local newsagents or visit there site(link is above)

How to Enter: You have to send in your synopsis and opening chapter of your novel (maximum of 5,000 words)

Make sure your entry stands out as they will be judged by Harry Bingham and his team of professional editors.  The overall winner will receive the exclusive opportunity to meet an editor or agent at York Festival of Writing at the University Of York  7-9 Sept 2012.

Good Luck to you all.

Jarmara