Jump to content

LucyD

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    71

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by LucyD

  1. LucyD
    I'm reading this at the moment - it's good. I don't think I've read anything set in this particular period before, so it's really interesting on an 'educational' front as well as engaging me with the plot and characters too.
  2. LucyD
    Well, I know I said I was going to wait for the paperback... but then saw it in the library at the weekend and just couldn't wait any longer! I absolutely loved it - I thought it was great, and so cleverly put together. I love how she manages to be so so funny, yet write incredibly movingly at other times. I guess Lola was definitely love or hate - I found the style of writing a bit jarring at first but then got into it and really enjoyed her bits of the story. The book's had some really mixed reviews on Amazon, lots of people saying they couldn't finish it etc, so I guess it's one of those polarising novels. But I'm definitely in the Loved It camp! PS Rachel's Holiday still Marian Keyes's best though, I reckon
  3. LucyD
    The first time I saw a negative comment about one of my books online, I felt physically sick. I was so upset I actually couldn't bring myself to read any further (it was a bad review on Amazon) and I had to close down the browser before I could see any more. So I definitely DID take that one to heart and agonised over it for a while. Since then, there have been a few other negative remarks/reviews but I have found it easier to shrug them off and remind myself that everyone has different tastes etc. Besides which, I've also had far more really lovely, positive reviews and emails from people about my books, which make up for the occasional less-than-nice one.
  4. LucyD
    I've just got this one too - am looking forward to it.
  5. LucyD
    Yes, I've got a google alert set up so that I can find reviews or comments about my books - it's quite nerve-racking, but I can't resist looking!
  6. LucyD
    The Damned United by David Peace is meant to be brilliant - a novel about Brian Clough. It had fantastic reviews (and is quite cheap on Amazon too at the moment, I've just seen!) Let us know how you get on!
  7. LucyD
    Wow, sounds great, will definitely look out for it. It's on the new Richard and Judy list, I think.
  8. LucyD
    Great question. Those 'misery memoirs'... no, no, no. I just don't get the appeal!
  9. LucyD
    Hi everyone, I've just read The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald which I have to say I found a bit disappointing - very strange (set in 19th century Germany with lots and lots of place names/characters to remember and not exactly a page-turner of a plot). I just felt I must have missed something, as it had absolutely rave reviews - in fact, the reason I bought it in the first place was because I read a big newspaper article about all the Booker Prize winners over the years and this title came up a number of times as one which should have won but didn't. (Sorry about that horrendously long sentence ) She wrote a lot of other books, two of which DID win the Booker (Offshore, I think one was called, can't remember the other off the top of my head) and I was just wondering if any of you had read any of her other books and, if so, what did you think of them? I do think she's a skilled writer - there were some beautiful pieces of description and a wonderful dry sense of humour throughout - so would be interested to try another book by her, even if TBF wasn't my cup of tea. Any recommendations? Cheers
  10. LucyD

    Hi Stephanie, thanks for your nice message - I am so pleased you liked AWYWM - hope you enjoy Over You too. And what a brilliant question as well... I love thinking about such things! Okay, so for the film version of Any Way You Want Me, I'd want Sarah Parrish as my heroine (Sadie) as I think she's fab and only a British actress would do! For the men... hmmm... I'd quite like to see brooding Colin Firth (wouldn't we all) as sleazy Mark or maybe David Morrissey (I'd watch him in anything, frankly). As for nice-guy Alex... maybe the very lovely David Tennant?? Or John Simm? Ooh, decisions decisions... Now I'm in a quandary!

    Did any faces spring to your mind when you read it? I'd love to know!

    Thanks again for your nice message anyway! xxx

  11. LucyD

    Thank you for your message! The wedding was fab - the happiest day of my life. I am still smiling in a rather stupid way about it!

    (Sorry for delay in replying - I have been on holiday!)

  12. LucyD
    How brilliant! That sounds such a fantastic morning. And what an interesting selection of books! I will definitely ramp up the hinting for my own Christmas voucher now!
  13. LucyD

    Hi again and thanks so much for buying my book - twice!

    We've seen a lot of the pigs by now too - didn't get a holiday this summer so I took the kids on quite a few pig-hunts around town for something to do, and we've been ticking them off our map. I think all the pigs are going to be on display together in Queen Square one weekend in October before the auction - I've got the 18th in my head but could be wrong. It's going to be quite a sight, all those porkers in one place!

  14. LucyD

    Have only just seen your message - sorry not to have replied before. The wedding was fab, thank you! I am really enjoying being married. :)

    Love your new pig avatar by the way - I will miss those pigs when they get auctioned off next month!

  15. LucyD
    I thought the TV adaptation was fab too - I thought the actress playing Tess was excellent. I haven't read the book for a while but it seemed to follow the book pretty faithfully from what I could remember. Looking forward to the next instalment!
  16. LucyD
    Thanks for your nice wishes - I'm getting married on Sunday so there are still a couple of days to get through!
  17. LucyD
    Thanks very much!
  18. LucyD
    Have a lovely time - sounds wonderful. Please tell us what they come up with! I live in Bath myself so will definitely be joining the hinters when it gets nearer Christmas!
  19. LucyD
    Thanks, both of you! I am really excited... although also getting a bit obsessed with checking weather forecasts... and writing lists... and worrying!
  20. LucyD

    Thank you so much!

  21. LucyD
    Oh, what a lovely message! Thank you Sapphire, I am so glad you are enjoying Over You - and I'm really chuffed that you've been inspired by it to write yourself! Cheers! I'm glad to say it's not a true story (in fact, in real life I'm getting married this weekend, so it's the opposite, really!). Josie's character is fairly similar to mine, so I just had to use my imagination to put myself in her situation and write about how I think I would feel, if that makes sense. It did make me feel quite sad when I was writing it, because I could imagine how tough it would be for her, and I felt angry too, because she didn't deserve to be treated so badly! Thanks again for your message, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the book.
  22. LucyD
    I don't know! I know sporting books/tie-ins etc can be turned around and rushed out very quickly when need be, but on the whole, the process seems to take about a year in all, from when the cover is briefed, and the first draft is with the editor, to when the boks hit the shops. I guess you have to factor in the time it can take for a second draft, especially with a longer, or more complex novel, plus publishers often produce advance 'proofs' of novels which they circulate to booksellers/reviewers etc a month of two before publication to try to create a buzz about a book before it's officially out. Also, there are a number of editorial processes to go through: a book will be edited for style/content, then copy-edited, for close attention to punctuation, grammar etc. Then it's proofread again by various people - all these things take time and add up...
  23. LucyD
    Hi Kate Well, my third novel is scheduled to be published in summer 09 (I think), so for the fourth, I guess we're talking 2010! It is a slow old business, publishing...
  24. LucyD
    When I wrote my first novel, Any Way You Want Me, I just wrote the story without really thinking too much about word counting, although I did have in my head that most novels of this type are between 80-100,000 words long. I think that one came in at around 100,000 words, as did Over You (although I did so much last-minute cutting with Over You, it might well be a few thousand words less!) The third novel, which I've just finished, is slightly shorter, at around 92,000 words. I had very roughly mapped out the story to stretch over 100,000 words in 20 chapters of 5,000-ish words each, but it wrapped itself up quicker than I'd anticipated. I'm just starting my fourth book now and will aim for 100,000 words again - if it comes in under that, it's quite a nice bonus, to be honest!
  25. LucyD
    Mmmmm.... Tunnocks teacakes, now you're talking! Sorry, got a bit distracted by your pic there, Inver. Leisure time... Hmm, I remember that, used to be great... Sadly I don't get very much leisure time with three young children keeping me busy although I do like going to my book group, Wednesday pub nights and a romantic dinner now and then with my other half. I have been a bit of a gym bunny this year, in an attempt to squeeze into a slinky wedding dress, so I've been pounding along on the treadmill quite often (although the novelty has worn off by now, I've got to say - I am definitely not a natural athlete!) Other than, I like reading, watching TV (Lost, Heroes and X-Factor are my faves), and, when I'm feeling very virtuous, trying to control my garden (the garden is winning so far). My favourite book... such a tricky question. I was asked this recently by my local book shop as part of a display they were running and the first answer that leapt from me was 'The Magus' by John Fowles. I have recently reread it and loved it all over again. I'm just rereading My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier at the moment and really enjoying it. I haven't read it for years and can't remember how it ends, so I am intrigued!
×
×
  • Create New...