JILL BARRY: Love on the Menu

Jill Barry talks to us about the RNA, the NWS and her onward journey

I’ve been fortunate enough to submit several scripts to the New Writers’ Scheme. Why do I say that? Because, the critiques I received helped me reach a level of writing more likely to produce that longed for submission acceptance. Back in the early ‘noughties’ when I first gained success with short stories for women’s magazines, I think I had this hazy kind of feeling that this, plus my insatiable appetite for reading anything I could lay eyes on, would help push me further up the slush pile. What a mistake to make! I don’t think I had any idea of the RNA’s existence then, although my late mother must have read countless romantic novels written by members.

There are contrasting views, of course, on whether a creative writing degree course is helpful. Someone encouraged me to enrol on one and I benefited from being able to compare my own efforts with those of other would-be authors, plus learning to hop to it in order to meet deadlines. My qualification gave me the confidence and credibility to run creative writing workshops, something I enjoy and still do, although it’s online these days.

It’s significant how, while taking that MA course at Carmarthen, I met Hazel Cushion, well known in the industry. Our paths crossed a couple more times until, at Caerleon 2011, Hazel gave a talk and I chatted with her afterwards and pitched my erotic romance, set in the late Victorian era. This resulted in a contract after which I was accepted into the RNA as a full member. I went on to have many more acceptances and, after a period of writing as Toni Sands, took advice from a couple of savvy friends and adopted a new pseudonym for future (non-erotic) romantic fiction. Jill Barry’s first effort was begun while following an online course, run by Sally Quilford, on writing for the pocket novel market.

Two other NWS submissions still sat on my pc. And it’s one of these I’d like to tell you about. Originally entitled Mrs Robinson, the novel explores the ups and downs of life after becoming suddenly single. I’d faced that situation myself but my heroine’s life style is entirely different from mine, though I did live for a while in the city of Bath where my story is set. The iconic name is an integral part of the plot but Endeavour Press have, with good reason, changed my original title to Love on the Menu. There are cakes and kittens and wine. There’s laughter and tears. And it’s a far better read than the original A4 bundle that went to my lovely reader. She knows who she is. Thank you so much.

Links

Amazon

Facebook Author Page

Twitter: @barry_jill

Thank you for visiting the blog, Jill.

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Kendra Smith: To the Antipodes and Back

We are delighted to welcome Kendra Smith.

Exciting times for you, Kendra. Your debut novel, Jacaranda Wife, has recently been published. Can you tell us a little about it?

VERY exciting! Well, London-loving Katie finds herself on a plane to Australia as her husband’s company has sent him there to save their financial bacon. Katie’s heat rash starts just thinking about going quite so far outside the M25 to rectify their debt, but she reckons it might be wise. Why? To distance herself from her best friend’s husband whom she had an encounter with… When she gets there, it’s a bump-a-minute journey of discovery about her new country, her new friends and her marriage! I hope people enjoy my heroine’s escapades and the best bit: you can travel 10,000 miles sitting in the comfort of your living room! I’ve had some lovely reviews already, some comparing my writing to the Australian best-seller Liane Moriarty, which is so lovely.

Your heroine ups sticks and crosses the globe. I believe you’ve done the same and are now living back in the UK. Town or country?

Yes, the word ‘boomerang’ comes to mind! We now live in leafy Surrey, but I have lived for nearly 8 years in Sydney and 10 in London.

Your roots are in magazine journalism. How much of a help, or indeed a hindrance, was this when writing your book?

Bit of both, really. Writing isn’t new to me and I enjoy capturing events and feelings on paper. However, writing fiction seemed like writing in free-fall, without any ropes – quite scary after journalism!

Is there a certain type of scene that's always harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?

Action scenes need to be done well and not sound clunky. I have a dive scene in my book that (hopefully!) creates tension. However, you have to make sure it’s technically accurate. I ran it by a dive master to make sure. It did help, though, that I have dived myself and can remember some of the feelings.

How did you set about finding a publisher?

Ah, now pull up a chair, this could take a while… Getting published is never easy (trust me, I have read EVERY blog on the subject!) and can testify to this myself. I started this book around seven years ago, and each stage has required extreme patience! But would you believe, it was at an RNA event that I bumped into the lovely people at Endeavour Press who turned my book into a reality.

So the Romantic Novelists’ Association has once again aided an author in her push to get on the ladder. Tell us how you see your relationship with the RNA.

I’m very proud to be a member and so far it has introduced me to some wonderful people. I am very much looking forward to carrying on my learning, networking, and attending as many events as I can as part of my new ‘family.’ I’m also keen to visit my local Chapter meetings, a wonderful added bonus to membership.

We’d like you to share with us a random fact about yourself

Can’t open a book, new or old, without inhaling the scent of it first…

So what’s next?

Book Number Two! The word count reminds me I am a third of the way through… once the little darlings are back at school and I am not dodging bullets from BB Gun wars, I shall be notching up a few more. I can’t wait!

About Jacaranda Wife

Katie and Tom’s marriage is in trouble. As is their bank account. 

Is going to Australia really the solution? Find out how Katie copes with an absent husband, deadly spiders, a new friend who might not be all she seems… and a rather sweaty school run. Does the trip Downunder provide the spark her marriage needs, or send the whole thing up in smoke?

About Kendra Smith

Kendra has been a journalist, wife, mother, aerobics teacher, qualified diver and very bad cake baker. She started her career in Sydney selling advertising space but quickly moved to editorial, working on several national women’s magazines in both Sydney and London including Cosmopolitan and OK! Magazine. With dual Australian-British nationality, she currently lives in Surrey with her husband and three children. Jacaranda Wife is her first novel.

Links:

Website

Twitter @KendraAuthor.

Facebook

Amazon UK

Good luck with your Jacaranda Wife, Kendra, and thank you for joining us today.

The RNA Blog is brought to you by

Elaine Everest and Natalie Kleinman.

If you would like to appear on the Blog please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com

Gwyneth Williams - Onwards and Upwards

Gwyneth Williams shares her journey through the New Writers' Scheme and out the other side.

Gwyneth works full time as a Scientific Officer in the University of Leicester’s medical school and writes in her lunch breaks. She is inspired to write about places she knows and loves, and her first novel, Echoes in the Sand, is set mainly on the Greek island of Zakynthos. She lives in Leicester with her husband and daughter when she’s home from university, and two stray cats who moved in one day and refused to leave.

Securing a place on the New Writers' Scheme has certainly been a pivotal moment in my writing career, and I have to thank my fellow members of the Leicester Chapter for encouraging me to join. My journey began in 2011 and despite suffering from a terrible post-Christmas cold, something made me fill in that form and send it off with fingers firmly crossed. Receiving that confirmation email made me whoop with delight - it doesn't take much!

I worked on my novel from January to July – I was only two thirds of the way through but knew it needed cutting – and sent it off as a partial typescript. My first reader's report was forthright and honest and gave me the kick I needed to tackle a particular problem with my main character. I finished the novel and sent off a full typescript the following year, and was astonished and delighted to have it put forward for a second read.

The reader's report had my cheeks glowing at the praise – a total contrast to the previous year, but proof that my original reader had been right – thank you, whoever you are. The second reader felt it needed more work, but again the comments I received were invaluable and I set about editing the novel before sending it out to agents.

At the 2012 Winter party I prepared to pitch to anyone who would listen, whilst trying to hide my nerves behind a smile. Agents ARE human and very nice too as I have discovered, and I received some great feedback and one even suggested I added a snappy prologue – which I did and sent it out again. I received several nice rejections, but rejections all the same.

Then at the 2013 Summer party I met my agent – although neither of us knew it at the time! I spied Kate Burke from Diane Banks Associates from across the room and duly sent off my submission. Ten days later Kate emailed asking to see the whole typescript and after several nervous weeks of waiting, she emailed again asking to speak with me to discuss it. As soon as I heard her voice I knew she was the agent for me and although she wanted several changes – including a different title – I felt confident we could work together.

And we did. Nine months later we had a novel we were both happy with and then followed several more weeks of anxiety as we waited to hear back from editors. My book deal moment was quite exceptional as I was in Cyprus on the last day of my holiday when Kate emailed, saying that a Serbian publisher wanted to buy foreign rights. It's unusual to sell foreign rights before UK rights, but a week later she sold English digital rights to Endeavour Press and I had my UK publisher.

Graduating from the NWS and becoming a full member of the RNA was just as exciting as my book deal moments. It was the result of four years hard work and proves that it can happen to anyone!

Links:

Amazon UK 

Amazon US  

Facebook:

Your excitement shines through, Gwyneth.Thank you for sharing and, I am sure, inspiring our readers.

The RNA Blog is brought to you by

Elaine Everest and Natalie Kleinman.

If you would like to write about the craft of writing or perhaps be interviewed about your writing life please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com