Introducing the RNA Blog team

As many regular blog readers will know, we have a great team of members who organise the fantastic content you read on the blog every week. As we go into the New Year, we thought it was time to give them a chance to introduce themselves properly so you can see who to contact if you'd like to contribute to the blog or to be featured on it during the coming year. So, without further ado...

Sheila Riley - New Releases and Hints and Tips for Newer Writers

Sheila joined the RNA in 2004 as a new writer. Since then she has written best-selling sagas as Annie Groves. She's a member of the North West Chapter of the RNA and loves to catch up with writer friends at the regular Southport lunches.

Sheila is also starting a new feature this year called Hints and Tips for Newer Writers. 

The new email address for monthly publications is: 

releases@romanticnovelistsassociation.org.

Ellie Holmes - Interviews with Book Bloggers, Reviewers, Editors

Ellie Holmes writes commercial women’s fiction with her heart in the town and her soul in the country. Ellie’s debut release was The Flower Seller. A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Alliance of Independent Authors, Ellie’s latest book, White Lies is out now.

Amazon

Twitter

Website

Facebook

Francesca Capaldi Burgess - Competition Monthly

Francesca Capaldi Burgess has been placed or shortlisted in a number of competitions including Winchester Writers' Conference, Retreat West, Meridian Writing, Wells Festival and Writing Magazine. She's had stories and a serial published in magazines worldwide and in three anthologies, including Diamonds and Pearls and 100 Stories for Haiti. She is a member of the RNA New Writers' Scheme and the Society for Women Writers and Journalists.

Twitter

Write Minds Blog

Lisa Hill - Author Interviews and Guest Posts

Lisa writes contemporary romance with a light-hearted tone.  What interests her most is people, their interactions, emotions and relationships.  It’s probably why her career to date has been based in property; she confesses herself that she is ‘naturally curious’. Her first encounter with a romance author was chats over the garden wall between her father, Godfrey, and Mrs Cooper from the neighbouring village of Bisley.  It came as quite a surprise in later life to find that Mrs Cooper was in fact Jilly Cooper!  Lisa’s writing inspiration now comes from other Cotswolds' authors including Jill Mansell and Katie Fforde. 

Lisa is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme and attributes this supportive and informative scheme to her winning the Choc Lit Search for a Star competition 2016 with her debut novel Meet Me at Number Five.

www.lisahillwriter.wordpress.com

Julie Stock - News items and everything else!

Julie writes and indie publishes contemporary romance novels, novellas and short stories from around the world. To date, she has published two novels, and has two novellas and another novel planned for this year.

She is now a full member of the RNA, The Society of Authors, and The Alliance of Independent Authors. Julie recently took over as RNA Social Media Co-ordinator and is looking forward to working with the team to keep the blog sparkling in the months to come.

Twitter

Facebook

Website

Amazon

Thanks for all your support for the blog. We look forward to working with many of you once again in 2018!

Philip Whiteley: A Romantic at Heart

Philip Whitely tells us about his love of Romantic Comedy.

I believe you are a fairly new member of the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA). What prompted you to join and can you tell us a little of your experiences so far?

I’m an experienced writer, but Close of Play is my first novel. I wanted to join an association as I find talking with other writers to be so rewarding, so I just Googled something like “UK association for romantic novelists” – of course the RNA came top of the search list! My experiences so far have been very positive: lots of encouragement, and a great first event – Eloisa James on 7 March.

It isn’t unheard of but it’s more unusual for a man to write a romantic novel than for a woman. What made you choose this genre?

It was more by accidental evolution than conscious design! I began Close of Play many years ago. Originally it was going to be a more ambitious, philosophical work. That was beyond me, though maybe there are some more thoughtful elements that have been retained. I realized that, by making the male lead more verbally clumsy, more fearful of loneliness and in need of rescue by the love of a good woman, it could become a romantic comedy. So I focused on making it more heartfelt and with more sweet moments.

Has writing always been part of your life? When did you begin ‘putting pen to paper’?

I’ve always had a little commentary running in my head about things. So I’m always ‘writing’ in a sense; but I only began doing so as part of my work in my early 20s when I did some press work for the charity I was working for. I quickly realized that this was my real calling and I’ve been full-time as a journalist and author since the 1980s.

Today is publication day for your debut novel, Close of Play. I’m wondering if you struggled with choosing point of view. Do we read through the eyes of a hero or a heroine?

Brian ‘Colin’ Clarke (there’s a story behind the nickname) is the central character and it’s written in the first person, but he’s quite an eccentric character and I imagine the reader will often view his actions through the eyes of the female lead Elizabeth, who’s more rounded and in touch with the modern world, but also rather troubled in a different way.

Writing is a pretty time-consuming occupation. Are you otherwise ‘gainfully employed’ and, if so, how do you fit writing into your day – or night?

I earn my living full-time as an author, journalist and ghost-writer. I’ve written eight books on business management. It may seem a world away from romantic fiction, but there are some common points around how our beliefs affect our decisions. Close of Play was a hobby for many years, so I had to prioritize fee-paying commissions and fit my fiction work around them.

We’ve all heard the expression ‘Oh, that’s a girl’s film’. Would this prevent you going to see one?

Absolutely not! I love romantic comedies, and I think the last action movie I saw was Jaws in 1976, which I hated. I have a sentimental heart and one of my favourite movies is Serendipity, with the lovely Kate Beckinsale. I’m fascinated by the excitement of a new love affair as two people struggle to understand one another. I do struggle to empathize with our heroine if she’s drinking red wine and eating chocolates (what a ghastly combination) but overall I prefer relationships to car chases. Ideally there is some humour. Bad Teacher was funny.

Finally, did your novel involve much research and is this an aspect of your writing that you enjoy?

I’m firmly of the ‘University of Life’ school. There are things I need to check, but I mostly draw on my own experiences, without (intentionally) basing a character on a real person. It helps that I’ve studied personality types for management books; also that I’ve had an eventful life, involving travel and having my heart broken. I write about the world that I know about. I focus more on strength of emotion than detail of place. You can have both, but I’d prioritize listening to a Joan Armatrading song like The Weakness in Me over studying the Ordnance Survey maps of the novel’s location.

Close of Play by PJ Whiteley, published Urbane Publications April 2015

Brian Clarke has a life of weekend cricket and careful interaction with those around him. Then he meets Elizabeth, a caring soul who breathes hope into his heart. Dare he risk falling in love? Close of Play is a thoughtful, funny tale of missed opportunities and a chance at redemption. 

About Philip

PJ Whiteley becomes a first-time novelist in April 2015 with the publication of Close of Play, a romantic comedy. As Philip Whiteley, he is an experienced journalist and author of business books. He is a member of the Society of Authors and of the Romantic Novelists' Association.

Links:

Blog:

Twitter: @felipewh

Facebook:

Amazon UK: 

Thank you for joining us today, Philip, and good luck with Close of Play

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

Lin Treadgold going Dutch

Lin Treadgold was born in Saltburn by the Sea, on the east coast of England. She a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and The Society of Authors. In 2001 she moved to The Netherlands. Her romance novel, 'Goodbye, Henrietta Street' was launched on 1st July 2013.

‘Goodbye, Henrietta Street’, is a poignant romance novel based on the Isles of Scilly and Yorkshire. Pippa Lambton leaves home for the beautiful Isles of Scilly, for a chance to rediscover herself. She meets Norwegian, Sven Jorgensen. Is this the eternal nature holiday or just a passing wave on the beach?

What gave you the idea for your book and how long did it take to write?

A place to which I have always returned are The Isles of Scilly in Cornwall. Its very special to me and fulfils all those dreams of paradise and warm conversation. Life is caring and provides an appreciation of all the things we take for granted on the mainland and the wildlife is a pleasure to watch with puffins, seals, and wonderful flowers.   

I wanted to provide the rest of the world with information about this lovely part of the UK, through a romance novel and I wrote Goodbye, Henrietta Street with my heart in the writing.

I went to Scilly with a friend who had cancer and he encouraged me to write the book. ‘You never know until you try.’ he’d said.  ‘Life is too short.’ Six months later he passed away. It was his words that made me want to see it through. 

How did you find your publisher?

I made twenty or so submissions and was accepted by two publishers but I turned them down, as their contracts were not to my needs.  I eventually found Safkhet Publishing who offered me everything I required for a first novel and I accepted their offer.

When did you decide to become a writer and how did you start this new part of your life?

I have always loved writing stories but I never got around to being serious about it until I moved to Holland. I opened a journal on my daily routine in early 2001.  After reading through the proposed book, written in longhand, I started to type it out on the computer.  I searched for a creative writing tutor. Jacqui Lofthouse who gave me all the right information on how to write and what to look for. http://thewritingcoach.co.uk/ . I had previously undertaken a creative writing course with Leeds University in the late 1980’s so I was able to get out my notes and start the whole process again.

What is next in your writing life?

Try to stop me writing and it would be like having my teeth pulled.  No sooner had I launched my first novel, I wrote the second one. To quote my editor at Cornerstones Literary Consultancy,‘The Tanglewood Affair’ has all the ingredients of a gripping and absorbing novel: an array of colourful and interesting characters, an unusual setting, sinister goings-on and a central love story. It makes for a really engaging read.’ I hope very soon it will be ready for submission. I am now making the final changes to the text.

To have a consultant and bounce ideas is worth a lot to me, providing me with a very professional report. I also have Sue Moorcroft to thank for her input. It is up to the author to set up a presence with book signings and so on and build a rapport with readers. My previous life experiences showed me how to do this. 

The third novel has the first seven chapters written with a working title of Harold, The Good Soldier.  The story is very real and poignant inspired by original World War II letters from a prison camp in Italy.  So watch this space. I enjoy working on two books at the same time.  I also have a novella in progress.

Website: www.itslinhere.wordpress.com

Safkhet Publishing: Goodbye, Henrietta Street

Amazon.co.uk: Goodbye, Henrietta Street

Thank you for joining us today, Lin.

Brought to you by the blogging team of Elaine Everest and Natalie Kleinman

If you wish to be featured on the RNA blog or would like to submit a craft article please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com