Category: Writing

Posted in Writing

TUESDAY TALK CATCHES UP WITH JERA’S JAMBOREE’S SHARON GOODWIN

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

Jera's Jamboree header

Tuesday Talk chats to  blogger Sharon Goodwin about work, writing and Michael Fassbender’s moves…

Good morning Shaz and welcome to Tuesday Talk.  Can I start by asking you to tell us a little bit about you…

Hi Jo, even though my boys are grown up my family is still the foundation from where I get to explore life and feel centered and grounded.  Working as an Inclusion Lead (with hardly time to breath most days), weekends and holidays keep me sane IMG_0797-001🙂

What is a typical day for you?

I’m fortunate that where I work isn’t far from where I live so my commute doesn’t take long and for most of the journey, minimum traffic.  So my day starts quite relaxed (and ends relaxed too)!

Although some of my time during the day might be ringfenced for meetings and other priority tasks, I’m responding to what is happening within our school community.  As you can imagine, no two days are the same and I love the variety!  One thing for sure, you have to be flexible and think on your feet.

We have a drop in at break times and lunch (emotional needs); injured children spend breaks in our room too as well as sick children waiting to be collected.  We’re very busy at the moment.  The summer holidays seem to have been an accident prone time for some of our children …

Yesterday I was scrutinising data and identifying children for interventions and liaising with Teaching Assistants who lead the programmes.  Today I have been in meetings all morning and with a cancelled meeting this afternoon I have used my time to write referrals and catch up with some of our SEN children.  Monday I am off site all morning at a meeting and I must make time to ensure the process for upcoming Annual Reviews are completed.

There is no typical day during term time Jo … but once I get home I can guarantee the laptop will go on and I’ll start catching up with other blogger’s posts and sharing on social media.  I’ll be blogging for JJ and answering emails.  There are some fabulous articles linked on social media too and I can often get distracted when my mind goes off in spirals!  After dinner we’ll be out for a dog walk (to restore balance) and I’ll spend time chatting to my family.  I’ll log on to my work emails and respond (so that the start to my day is less chaotic).  My evening ALWAYS finishes with reading.  No matter how late I pick up my current read or how exciting a book might be, I’m always relaxed and ready to slip into sleep after about an hour or so of reading (which is usually past midnight).

You live in Dorset which is a beautiful county.  Have you been there long?  What is best about living there?

I was born here Jo although my father was a Londoner and my mother a Devon lass.  I am grateful they settled in Dorset, as you say, there is so much beauty in and surrounding the county.  We have so much variety on our doorstep with leisure activities/eating out but the best bit is being so close to the coast!  We’re on the beach whatever the weather or season and it has the effect of stilling the mind and putting any negatives into perspective.  I couldn’t imagine being away from the sea for any length of time.

Jera’s Jamboree: when did you start your blog and how do you go about selecting books for review? 

I started blogging about books on JJ 5th Feb 2011.  The blog has been through many transformations since then and you may have noticed that I’ve combined my lifestyle blog (The Rose Petals) with JJ recently.

Books I choose to read can be because I’ve seen a review on social media, a recommendation from a friend, an email from a publicist, a browse on Netgalley or an author I’ve read in the past and they’ve become a favourite.  They all have in common the potential to hook in my emotions and provide an escape from everyday life; to make me believe that I’m living the life of the characters and that this is my world; to increase my pulse rate, make me laugh and make me cry 🙂

I don’t have as much time to read these days (oh how I long for a Saturday afternoon curled up with my book) so I am blessed to be able to choose the books I know I will enjoy.

You review a very wide range of books, do you have a favourite genre?

I don’t have a favourite (although I’ve read some really awesome fantasy books lately!).  I like to choose a genre that suits my mood and what’s happening in my life.  Books have the ability to lift your spirits and prompt deeper thoughts – or instead of buoying you up take you to the depths.  I guess reading for me is like someone else listening to music (although I love listening to music too!).  It’s not so much about the genre but the world you inhabit while you’re reading J

If you were planning to write a book which genre would you choose and why?

Well I have started writing two books (which will probably never see the light of day).  One after a workshop with Della Galton one Easter.  It started off as a romance but further planning it’s more like a romantic suspense (issue driven).  The characters still play as a movie in my sleep so I guess I need to get them out onto paper 🙂   I didn’t choose, the characters chose the direction Jo.

When we first arrived at our holiday cottage in Devon last month, I put pen to paper (with the first cup of tea!) inspired by the sight and sounds of the estuary.  It’s children’s fiction with a time travel theme looking at how the world has changed.  Perhaps the water inspired this gateway to another time!

 If you were holding a party which famous people would you ask and why?

I’d invite Jack Dee as I love his dry humour.  Eddie Izzard is interesting – there would be no quiet moments with him around!  Rita Ora would bring a bit of glamour and feminism.  Amy Schumer (besides being one of the most influential people – anyone who can fall on purpose on a red carpet has got to be a riot at a party) and finally, Michael Fassbender http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01yf7r4 as my moves would look awesome compared to his!

 

YOU CAN CATCH UP WITH SHARON ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: 

Jera’s Jamboree

 

JJ FB page

 

Twitter @shazjera

 

Pinterest

 

Google+

 

LinkedIn

 

Instagram

 

Goodreads

 

Bloglovin

 

 

 

Posted in Favourite Authors, Writing

TUESDAY TALK MEETS WRITER MADALYN MORGAN, A LADY OF MANY TALENTS…

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

MadalynToday I’m delighted to welcome Madalyn Morgan to Tuesday Talk. Welcome Madalyn, firstly can you tell us a little bit about you…

I’d love to. Thank you for inviting me to chat on your blog.

I have been an actress for more than thirty years working in repertory theatre, the West End, film and television. I am also a radio presenter and journalist, writing articles for newspapers and magazines. However, these days, I write fewer articles as my time is taken up with writing a saga of five novels set in WWII.

I was brought up in a busy working class pub in Leicestershire. The pub was a great place for an aspiring actress and writer to live. There were so many wonderful characters to study and accents learn. At twenty-four, I gave up a successful hairdressing salon in Rugby, and a wig-hire business providing wigs for The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, and the Palace Theatre, Watford to go to East 15 Drama College. While working at The Belgrade, I met Patricia Phoenix, aka Elsie Tanner from Coronation Street. I told her that I had auditioned for E15, and a couple of weeks later I was offered a place. At the same time, Pat and her actor husband, Alan Browning, were going on tour to Australia and New Zealand with, Gas Light. She offered me the part of the maid and an Equity card to go on tour with them. However, I had dreamed of going to Drama College for years, so I turned Pat down. It would have been an exciting rollercoaster ride, but I have no regrets.

I sold my salon and wig hire business, went to drama college and had a fairly good career. Theatres where I have worked includ, The University Theatre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, The Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow, Duke’s Playhouse, Lancaster, to name but a few. I spent a year doing Shakespeare at The Young Vic in London, and I did my share of commercials, a couple of small parts in films and some television including, Angels and, The Bill. I have worked with some great actors. The one I leaned the most from was, Vanessa Redgrave who played Cleopatra in, Antony and Cleopatra, at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket.

Madalyn acting

(L – R) Madalyn Morgan (Iras), Vanessa Redgrave (Cleopatra), Timothy Dalton (Antony),
In Antony and Cleopatra, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London

I gave up acting for love. I was forty and thought it was probably my last chance to settle down.  I signed a two-year contract with a company I had previously temped for, and became one of the millions who travelled into the city of London on the Northern Line every day.

When my partner left, a friend said, if I had not given up my acting career for him, I might have been a star by now. I replied, “And I might not!”

At that time there was little, or no, work for older actresses. And, having been out of the business for ten years, I’d have had to start again. Would I go back now? In a heartbeat. But only for the challenge of it. A couple of episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders or Coronation Street, would be fun. I have no desire to go back into the business. I am a writer now and I love it.

Anyway, after a couple of years working in an accounts office, I was desperate to do something artistic, so I completed a two-year correspondence course with The Writer’s Bureau, taught myself to touch type, and began writing articles. In 2010, having lived in London for thirty-six years, I returned to the Midlands, swapping two window boxes and a mortgage, for a garden and the freedom to write my first novel, Foxden Acres. Applause followed, and then China Blue. I am now researching my fourth novel, The 9:45 Train To Bletchley, which I hope to publish in 2016.

Madalyn's books

The Dudley Sisters Saga is about the lives of four very different sisters during WWII. The first three novels, Foxden Acres, Applause, and China Blue, are available on Amazon – eBook and paperback – and in several independent and High Street bookshops.

Foxden Acres: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BCX59LE/

Applause: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00J7Y5LCW/

China Blue: http://www.amazon.co.uk/China-Blue/dp/B00XD85NQW/

 

 What led you to choose an acting career?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be an actress. I auditioned for a television series in Birmingham when I was fifteen called, Crossroads, and was offered the part of the Motel owner’s niece. However, even though I would have been chaperoned, my parents wouldn’t let me live in Birmingham during the week. I always had the lead role in the school plays and when I left school, I joined the local armature dramatic society, but it wasn’t enough. So, when I had done what my parents wanted, I sold my businesses and did what I wanted.  At 24, I went to Drama College.

 

Do you find that your experience as an actress has helped you with your writing?

Yes, having been an actress helps massively. I was a method actress. I believed I was the characters I played. Characters are not born when the curtain goes up, or when a book is opened.  They have had however many years of life before that. It is what has happened to them before, that makes them who they are, and makes them react to situations the way they do. It is exactly   the same in my writing. Every character has a history.  I like to think I can walk in their shoes.

Would you ever consider script writing for TV drama or a movie?

No, I have no intention of diversifying further. I am busy enough researching and writing novels and articles – and looking after my house and garden. My readers often tell me that, The Dudley Sisters’ Saga would make a good television series. I think China Blue, being a wartime love story with an English WAAF and a Canadian pilot who are recruited by the SOE, and parachuted behind enemy lines to work with the French Resistance, would make a terrific tele-film. It is something I shall look into when the saga is finished.

When you get time to read, who are your favourite authors?

There’s a question. The first part is easy, I read in bed. The second part is difficult. When I’m writing, I read in the genre. I have to read a lot of research books. My next novel visits Bletchley Park, so I am currently reading, Enigma. I shall read Sinclair McKay’s books about Bletchley, and Tessa Dunlop’s book, giving accounts of women who were at Bletchley. I have just finished, The Dandelion Years, by Erica James, which was terrific. I have Robert Harris in my Bletchley reading pile, Ben Macintyre and a couple of Penny Grubb’s novels, because besides loving her female detective, Annie Raymond, Ena, the youngest Dudley sister has to become a bit of an armature sleuth to clear her name when information goes missing that she is responsible for. I do my best to read novels written by friends, but not when I am doing research. The last book in the Dudley saga brings the four sisters and many of characters in their stories together. It’s a murder mystery and for novel I shall be re-reading the fabulous, Lesley Horton’s crime series.

What is your favourite holiday destination and why?

Again a difficult question, there are so many. The most interesting holiday was on an Indian Reservation in Granite Falls, Minnesota, USA.

In the summer of 1961, aged eleven, my parents sent me to visit my aunt who married a Native American and had moved to the US to live. I spent six weeks on the reservation in Granite Falls, Minnesota, with my uncle’s parents who I called grandma and grandpa. Grandma, a direct descendant of five Great Sioux Chiefs and the Elder of the community, threw a big summer Pow-wow for me and adopted me into the Dakota Sioux tribe. The above photograph was taken in February 1992. Grandma gave me my Dakota Sioux name during a small family dinner. It is, Wacantkiya Win, and means the charitable girl.

Madalyn America

This photograph represents an important and wonderful time in my life. In the wheelchair is my adoptive, Native American Grandma, Elsie Cavender. Behind her is her daughter, Lorraine Cavender, who saved my life when I almost drowned in The Yellow Medicine River.

Now a Desert Island Discs moment – if you could pick four tracks to take with you onto a desert island what would they be and why?

What a question to ask a radio DJ.  I have dozens of Albums, hundreds of 45s, and over 5000 CDs.

After a lot of thought, can I give you five, please?

Mocking Bird – Dusty Springfield.   Mocking Bird was one of the first tracks I played on my radio show, 15 years ago. I played a live recording of Dusty singing, Mocking Bird at the BBC. It was her first live television performance, and she was amazing.

Blowin’ In The Wind – Bob Dylan.  I love the protest songs of the 1960s. Bob Dylan sang, Blowin’ in the Wind, during Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s historic march on Washington in August 1963, when Dr King said those immortal words, “I have a dream.” On the 50th anniversary of the march, I was commissioned to write an article about Martin Luther King Jr. It was a privilege to be asked, but a greater privilege to learn about the man who risked everything to fight for change and freedom.

Tumbling Dice – Rolling Stones.  A great song and as so often happens, our lives appears to change when we’re not looking, as if on a roll of the dic

Yesterday – Beatles.  Not only a beautiful arrangement, but the lyrics remind me of some wonderful people who I have been lucky enough to know, and love, who are no longer with us.

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen.   Because it is, Brilliant.

Want to know more about Madalyn?  Her social media links are listed below.

Fiction Blog: http://madalynmorgansfiction.blogspot.co.uk/

Articles Blog: http://madalynmorgan.blogspot.co.uk/ Website: http://www.madalynmorgan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madalyn.morgan1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ActScribblerDJ

Posted in Writing

BLOG PROMO: SPINSTER WEDDING BY NIKKI MAHOOD

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

IMG_0049Today I’m pleased to welcome writer Nikki Mahood, whose latest book in the Spinster Novella series – Spinster Wedding – has just been published.

ABOUT NIKKI…

Nikki Mahood was born in Dublin, moving to the UK in the late eighties as a child, she has resided in North Yorkshire ever since.  Distance didn’t just make her heart grow fonder, it made her mind grow too, her grandmother provided the stationary, usually adorned with Ponies of some sort and they wrote to each other regularly.  So began her writing career, starting with silly poems to send her family and nurtured by a love of reading, her overactive imagination and an obsession with Josephine March of Little Women.

Without setting out to write a book, a taster course for The Open University brought Fallon Magee into Nikki’s imagination, followed shortly by one Abner Hagarth-Smythe and suddenly what started as a character exercise became a novel.

In 2013 as a contributor to Merry Chicklit a charity anthology in aid of Rocking The Road to a Cure, Nikki dreamt up Cara Smith and Ronan Higgins, long lost childhood friends thrown together at in ‘Spinster Christmas’. Merry Chicklit was a massive success and in 2014 Nikki published Spinster Christmas as a kindle novella, following up with Spinster Valentine and Spinster Wedding in 2015 soon to be followed by the fourth and last book in this Spinster Novella series.

Nikki works full time and writes whenever possible, watches far too many movies and dedicates a good hour a day to scrolling through Pinterest…

AUTHOR LINKS

Twitter: @nikkimahood

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/nikkimahood

Blog: nikkimahood.wordpress.com

BOOKS

Spinster Christmas – http://mybook.to/SpinsterChristmas

Spinster Valentine –  http://mybook.to/SpinsterValentine

Spinster Wedding – http://mybook.to/SpinsterWedding

IMG_0050ABOUT SPINSTER WEDDING

The wedding is on its way, thanks to the meddling mothers in ‘Spinster Christmas’ and ‘Spinster Valentine’. Can Cara and Ronan plan their special day to suit the whole wedding party, or more specifically the mothers?

PREVIEW

“It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do. Hey baby, I think I wanna marry yoooooouuuuuu” He rolls his eyes from the bed as he watches me dancing around the bedroom, I carry on my cabaret and his face cracks into a bright smile.

“I adore the sentiment, I do, it’s the delivery that’s lacking something” He knows I wont punch him, because we both know I can’t sing, instead I collapse down beside him on the bed and fold myself against him. Slightly out of breath from the exertion of dancing.

“You’re lucky I love you” I tell him before rewarding him with a loving peck to his jaw.

“I am very lucky that you love me. Are you still hyper or ready for dinner?”

“Do we really have to?”

“Yes, we really do. There are so many decisions to make still and your mother keeps calling me to enquire.” And by enquire he means nag. I am very lucky to have someone who understands my mother’s brand of nagging. She does it in such a way that you really can’t get mad at her, although I do, it’s insidious.

“Ok, what do we have ahead of us tonight then?” The fabulous part of marrying a man with ‘tendencies’ as our mothers call it, or ‘taste’ as I call it, is that he’s more than happy to organise major wedding details. In fact, he insisted on a lot of counts, because of his connections in the glamorous world of Magazines, he can get discount on everything from table settings to my dress. I’ve mostly picked colours and showed him my Pinterest boards on the subject. Of course our mothers are interfering to Olympic standards.

“So the restaurant is doing the menu for us, then our mothers would like to make the final decision on the table settings”

“Because it’s their wedding right?”

“Of course” he grins and puts his laptop down on the bed.  We are in Yorkshire for the weekend, and he cleverly booked us into the country hotel that is going to play host to our wedding. In only 3 months, I can’t believe how fast the last year and a bit has gone.

Posted in Writing

FRENCH KISSING BY LYNNE SHELBY

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

Today I’m with Lynne Shelby chatting about her publishing journey and her debut novel French Kissing.

Lynne Shelby with her debut novel French KissingWelcome Lynne, first of all tell us a little about yourself

I write contemporary romance. My debut romantic novel ‘French Kissing’ has just been published by Accent Press . I’m a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.  I love travelling, and my writing is often inspired by the cities I visit, camera and writer’s notebook in hand. I live in north London, with my OH and a lot of books.

How did your writing journey begin?

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing. I first submitted a ms (a children’s adventure story) to a publisher when I was fourteen. They didn’t publish it, but sent me a lovely letter encouraging me to keep writing – which I did.

Earlier this year you won the Accent Press and Woman Writing Competition.  What made you decide to enter?

I’ve always enjoyed entering writing competitions and have found writing to a competition’s deadline and word count a good way to hone my craft as a writer. When I saw that Accent Press and Woman magazine had a competition for a new contemporary women’s fiction writer, and  that the incredible prize was a publishing contract and a writing holiday at writers’ retreat in the south of France, I didn’t hesitate to send off my entry. I was so thrilled when I got the call to say I’d won! I’m still pinching myself

Are you enjoying life as a published author?

I’m finding it hugely enjoyable – it really is a lifetime’s dream come true. It’s wonderful to think that people are reading a book that I wrote.

You love travel – cities are your preferred destination. Which has been your favourite and why?

That is a really difficult question to answer as the cities I’ve visited have all been fascinating for different reasons. I love Paris because it is so romantic, New York for its energy, Rome for its history … I really can’t choose!

Your camera travels with you on vacation.  Are you someone who takes their time and is selective when taking shots or do you tend to take loads and delete what you don’t want when you get home?

I take hundreds of photos – which is why I’m so glad digital cameras were invented! I actually very rarely delete any photos, but I’m very selective when it comes to printing them and putting them in an album.

Your debut novel, French Kissing, has just been published and is set in London and Paris.  Are you planning to keep to this theme, using cities as backdrops, for future projects?

At the moment all my ideas for future novels are set in cities. My current WIP is set in London and I have an idea for a book set in several Italian cities that is simmering away nicely!

What three essentials could you not be without if you were stranded on a desert island?

Pen, paper and a very long book.

FRENCH KISSING by LYNNE SHELBY

4

Anna Mitchel has been writing letters to her French penfriend, Alexandre Tourville, for fifteen years, but hasn’t seen him since they met as children on a school exchange trip.  When Paris-based Alex, now a successful professional photographer, comes to work in London, Anna fails to recognise him.  Instead of the small, geeky boy she remembers, he is tall, broad-shouldered and gorgeous.

Anna’s female friends are soon swooning over Alex’s Gallic charm, and Anna’s boyfriend, Nick, is becoming increasingly jealous of their friendship.

When Alex has to return to Paris to oversee the hanging of his photographs in an exhibition, he invites Anna to accompany him so that he can show her the city he adores …

Lynne’s Links:

French Kissing is available as a paperback or e-book from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/French-Kissing-Lynne-Shelby-ebook/dp/B00YH4N2D2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440623096&sr=1-1&keywords=lynne+shelby+french+kissing

Website: www.lynneshelby.com

Blog: Shelby Writes: https://lynneshelbywrites.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynneShelbyWriter?ref=hl

Twitter: @LynneB1

Posted in Writing

TUESDAY TALK CROSSES THE ATLANTIC TO TALK TO THE TALENTED CATHY HELMS

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

2015-Avalon-Graphics-A5-WebTell us a little about yourself.

I live with my husband of twenty three years in Troutman, North Carolina, USA. I earned a degree in Advertising and Graphic Design in 2008 as what I call my own personal midlife crisis – attempting to embark on a career in a creative field after spending over twenty years working in customer service and billing (which felt like a slow death to me). I grew up with a healthy interest in anything related to the Arthurian legends – thus the inspiration for naming my design business ‘Avalon Graphics’. Fantasizing about castles, knights in shining armour and all that frivolity were (and still are!) my favourite pastime. Also, I have always been fascinated with British history; in particular the Dark Ages. I regularly attend local Renaissance Festivals here in North Carolina, and plan to travel to the UK to explore all of the history there whenever possible. I am also a fervent digital photographer and often use my own photography in my design work. I grew up with dreams of becoming a filmmaker, or a singer, or an artist, and so I’ve always considered myself a creative soul. As a teenager, I sang in my school’s choir, played the trumpet, and was student director of many school stage productions. I graduated with the distinction of being named Drama Student of the Year in 1985. But it wasn’t until much later in my life that I returned to my creative roots. Fresh out of high school, I failed to follow those creative dreams. Instead, I followed the job market earning a steady income for the first twenty two years of my professional life working in dull cubicles crunching numbers. Besides all things ‘Arthurian’, I also fell in love with Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings novels while still working in the drab office environment. And when Peter Jackson produced the stunning films back in 2001, I found my muse again for imaginative pursuits. I began writing poetry and dabbling in fan fiction writing. And I wanted to create my own computer desktop wallpapers based on the Lord of the Rings and other fandoms. So after some research into how these digital wallpapers were created I discovered a computer software program called Adobe Photoshop! Years before I went to college to gain a formal education in the medium I taught myself how to create graphics for the web and print media with Photoshop. What my formal education gave me was the technical skills that I would need in order to apply my creative skills in the field of Advertising and Graphic Design. Most importantly, I learned how to prepare digital designs for print and quickly discovered a particular love for book cover design. Today, I am a member of the Historical Novel Society, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, and an associate of the New Writers UK and indie B.R.A.G. 

When did Avalon Graphics begin and why did you decide to start your own business?

I established Avalon Graphics LLC in 2009 after graduating from college with a degree in Advertising and Graphic Design. I struggled to find a job working for a traditional design firm locally, so I decided to strike out on my own. I was uncertain what would become my niche or path in design, but as fate would have it: while perusing the fiction section at my local bookstore I spotted ‘The Kingmaking’ by Helen Hollick. I wrote to her with a letter of praise for her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy (which is still one of my favourite Arthur-centric novels of all time), and that initial contact led to her hiring me to re-design the cover for her pirate novel ‘Sea Witch’….she just happened to be in the process of switching over to have all six of her novels re-printed through a new publisher (assisted publishing) – so she gave me a chance. And she loved my concept so much that she hired me! I’ve been her personal designer ever since! I’ve also designed all of her marketing material, numerous book trailers and all of the graphics for her website. My association with Helen also led to several other UK authors hiring me to re-design their book jackets, so I have many more stories just like that that I could share too. But the one about Helen is my favourite and I consider her the person responsible for me becoming a book cover designer.

What other services do you offer beside book cover design?

I also design marketing material, such as Facebook/Twitter banners, post cards, bookmarks, book trailer videos, and posters.

Is there any particular style of cover you enjoy designing?

I will always love any job where I get to play with a sword, castle and knights on a cover. So I would say Historical Fantasy is my favourite – the style being vintage/grunge.

What is the strangest request you have had from an author regarding their cover?

This is actually a tough one, while nothing specific comes to mind, I usually find it quite unusual when an author requests elements that are not suitable for their own book. Things such as styles or items that do not fit the time period of their manuscript for example. Although being asked to create elephant footprints in the frozen river was interesting, as were little children playing in dancing flames (which actually worked!). Most of the time I have to explain to clients why they don’t need to clutter a book cover with a thousand different elements and colours. So it isn’t so much the strange requests as it is reigning them in to develop the ‘right’ design for their book.

You and I met through our common love of Arthurian legend and being fans of Santiago Cabrera who played Launcelot in the Merlin TV series.  What was it about this medieval world that attracted you?

Lancelot-Merlin-2013I think the mere simplicity of that age (as compared to today’s astronomical challenges) – also the pure escapism of immersing myself into another place and time for a while will always appeal to me. I love reading about who Arthur might have been, what Dark Age Britain might have been like, and I cannot resist any story about a legendary sword either. I’ve always been interested in world history most particularly that of Britain since my own family’s genealogy is rooted in the British Isles too. Pity most modern day men are not half as chivalrous as those knights in shining armour in the old legends. But then again, women had zero rights back in those days. *laughs*When you have some chill out time, what kind of books do you read? I enjoy historical fiction/fantasy with a side of apocalyptic drama. I have read most any Arthurian books that I have come across over the years. I am a long-time fan of Tolkien, and in more recent years, I inhaled George R.R. Martin’s ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ novels.

And lastly, you’re hosting a dinner party.  If you could invite five famous people who would they be and why? 

1. Lucius Artorius Castus (Roman Commander who lived 140-197): He led a legion of Roman soldiers based at Ribchester against the Caledonii tribe during a large campaign to push the enemy back north of Hadrian’s Wall in his time. I think the man would give me a fantastic insight to life along the Wall…whether or not his campaign was in part the basis for the Arthurian Legends…well that is anyone’s guess. But he’s high on my own personal list of contenders for the real Arthur. And any man of that calibre I’d love a long chat with over a strong wine and in front of a roaring fire.

2. Steven Spielberg (director, producer, screenwriter, etc): my idol filmmaker since I first saw his films back in the early 80’s. Fascinating man. I would ask him about his inspirations and whole creative process. And why exactly did Indiana Jones hate snakes so much?

3. Tom Burke (director, actor, screenwriter, etc) : Another actor that I discovered through watching a television series (The cathelms-Athos-blue-cityMusketeers). This man, much like Santiago Cabrera, seems so different than the typical movie star. He’s impressed me with his ability to delve deep into his roles and his true grasp of his profession as an actor. He is eclectic, artistic and shy – I’d love to chat for hours on the virtues of good tea and good books with this extremely intelligent, thoughtful young man.

4. George R.R. Martin (writer, producer, etc): While I don’t want to keep Mr. Martin from working on his next highly anticipated novel, The Winds of Winter, I would love to pick his brain on how he developed that wildly intricate world in which ‘Game of Thrones’ (A Song of Ice and Fire series) exists. Talk about world building, he gives Tolkien a run for his money! And what are you doing to Jon Snow??? So what is this man’s favourite drink? Favourite past time other than writing? What drives that imagination? I think Mr. Martin could teach Caesar a thing or two about warfare. *laughs* 5. Gaius Julius Caesar (probably most famous Roman Emperor..er…Caesar of them all / 100BC to 44BC): I’ve always been fascinated with this man’s life story – what we know of it at any rate. I’d love to hear all about it in first person. What was the Roman Empire truly like day in and day out? And how much did he truly trust Brutus?

Links:

Main Website: http://www.avalongraphics.org

On Facebook: Avalon-Graphics https://www.facebook.com/AvalonGraphics

On Twitter: Avalon_Graphics https://twitter.com/Avalon_Graphics

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/avalongraphics

Contact: chelms@avalongraphics.org

Personal Home Page: http://www.cathyspage.com/

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Posted in Writing

JO LAMBERT BOOKS WELCOMES SPECIAL GUEST LYNDA RENHAM

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

 

lyndaTell us a little about yourself.

I wish there was little of me. But alas. Well, I was born in Essex, so I’m a real Essex girl, although no one believes me. I think the accent got knocked out of me. I use to teach but writing was always my first love. I’ve been writing since I was seven. So when I was able to write full time that was a dream come true. My second husband rekindled the writing bug in me.

 What is your happiest childhood memory?

Trips to Club Row in London with my Dad. It’s a market and they used to sell lots of puppies and kittens. I would spend hours playing with the animals and asking if we could take them home. We never did but they may have had something to do with the fact we already had three cats at home!

When did your writing career begin? What made you decide to write Rom Coms? 

I’ve been writing for many years and published serious novels but they didn’t do very well. One day I had a really bad migraine and I watched ‘The Holiday’ and it occurred to me that maybe people would like a rom com book. A novel that would make you feel good while reading it and also make you laugh. So I had a go and I haven’t looked back.

Where do you get your inspiration from? Is there any other genre which appeals to you as a writer?

I would like to write erotica at some point but not right now as there just isn’t enough time. The honest truth is I don’t really know. The ideas often come to me while in bed and I have to grab my phone and make notes right away. Other times in the car or while chatting to my husband but at other times I could struggle for ideas. So I have learnt to wait until they flow on their own.

You have just returned from holiday.  Is there any part of the world which you haven’t been to and which you would include on your ‘bucket list?’

Yes, there are loads of places. I still want to visit Singapore and Malaysia. Plus I am interested in all places Asian. I love the culture and the people.  I would like to go to Prague at some point and Vietnam which is on the cards for next year I believe. There are just too many places aren’t there?

When you have some chill out time, what kind of books do you read?

I usually read psychological thrillers. I’ve just finished ‘The Mistress’s Revenge’ by Tamar Cohen which was very addictive. It’s the only genre I really enjoy. I have read some crime but I don’t really enjoy them. I like the classics too. I never ever read romantic comedy as it can affect my own writing. And the truth is I don’t really enjoy romances. I always think that rather funny considering I love writing them.

And lastly, you’re hosting a dinner party.  If you could invite five famous people who would they be and why?

Ricky Gervais, because he is so interesting, outspoken and honest. Paul O Grady but as his alter ego Lily Savage as he is so raw and funny and down to earth. Julian Clary because he is just so camp and funny. Salman Rushdie, simply because he is a genius and is so interesting and finally Iris Murdoch, because she is or was the greatest British writer ever and a brilliant philosopher. I knew her husband and was always saddened never to have met her.

LYNDA’S LATEST BOOK, FIFTY SHADES OF ROXY BROWN IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON   http://amzn.to/1hmtw0e

FiftyShadesOfRoxieBrown

Bag yourself a great read on Amazon – currently two of Lynda’s e-books -Fifty Shades of Roxy Brown and Pink Wellies and Flat Caps are only  99p

LYNDA’S LINKS:

Facebook author page: http://on.fb.me/1ba7mmf

Twitter: http://bit.ly/1E1jbRu

Webpage www.renham.co.uk

Amazon page: http://amzn.to/IxzzMY

Posted in Favourite Authors, Holidays, Writing

TUESDAY TALK CATCHES UP WITH BOOK BLOGGER RACHEL GILBEY

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

Today I’m hosting Rachel Gilbey talking about her favourite authors, book blogging and holiday destinations…

Tell us a little bit about you… Rachel Illusionarium

I’m 31 years old and having had various jobs in the past, including working as a Children’s rep for a top holiday company for a few summers, in Mallorca and Zante. I am currently working part-time for a trading card game dealer, mainly sorting out cards and trying to create a role for myself where I’m irreplaceable!

In my free time I have three main hobbies. The first is obvious, which is reading, I love reading, have done since I was very young, and have a habit of buying more books than I can ever have the time to read. My other hobbies are far more expensive, one is going on holiday, I try to take at least 2 holidays a year when I can, if not more. And my last hobby is going to the theatre, mainly to musicals in London’s West End. I am very lucky that I live in London, and thus can get to shows quite regularly.

How long have you been blogging and what made you decide to start a book blog?

I have only been blogging since April, so around 4 months, although I can barely remember what life was like without my blog now.

I’ve always been an avid and fast reader, and can usually be found with a book in my hand, or in my bag. I was originally just reviewing the odd book that I was able to get from Netgalley (a fabulous source for bloggers), and then at the start of 2015, I was getting more involved with bloggers on twitter, and started to take part in a review challenge that some bloggers were running, and got into the habit of reviewing almost every book that I read.

From that I was invited to Rebecca Raisin’s launch party, and after meeting her and a whole bunch of friendly bloggers, the seed of should I join in was sown. After a few weeks, when I was asked a few more times, the couple of reasons I had for not blogging, no longer seemed important, and Rachel’s Random Reads was born.

Who is your favourite author and why?

How can you ask a book blogger to just name one favourite author. As much I have enjoyed The Other Side of Morning, Joanna, I am very sorry to say you aren’t my favourite author (yet!).

I have been reading both Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews’ books for as long as I can remember, definitely throughout my adulthood, and am always excited to see new releases by both of them, so they are definitely two of my absolute favourite authors.

I do though feel that for different sorts of books I have other favourite authors, Dorothy Koomson always comes to mind for a favourite of books with a more serious feel to them, Victoria Fox, Tasmina Perry and Nigel May are amongst my favourites for bonkbuster style books. I love Nicky Pellegrino for books based in Italy.

As you can see I am incredibly indecisive, and there is a very large list of authors that I would happily read every single release of as they are released.

If you were planning to write a book which genre would you choose and why?

I have no intention of writing a book, but if I had to, since they say write what you know, it would probably have a travel theme to it, possibly based on holiday reps, and would probably be a chick lit book – although I have no idea if I could be funny enough to cut it.

Where has your favourite holiday destination been and what it is that has made it so special?

There are two destinations or holidays that really stand out to me..

Last year for my 30th Birthday I went on my first ever cruise, and since then I am hooked on cruises. I can’t wait for Saturday when I am off on another one! Last year, I went to the Caribbean, and on my 30th I spent the day in Cozumel, Mexico, swimming with Dolphins, which has always been on my bucket list. And to top the holiday off, the following day, while on board, I won a Caribbean Cruise for 2, which I took later in the year.

My absolute favourite destination, is the Hotel Playa Pesquero in Cuba. It’s an all inclusive hotel that to me is paradise on earth. It meets everything I want in a hotel and so much more. The staff are always friendly (and remember you from previous visits),  the climate is brilliant, and I’ve had some of my best holidays in that hotel. Unfortunately as I love the hotel so much I can’t really comment on the outer resort, or the country as a whole.. but since everyone wants different things from their holidays, and I can spend the days there reading on a sun lounger, while staring at gorgeous men working in the entertainment team, getting cocktails from the swim up pool bar, and then spending the evenings watching some shows in the hotel’s stage before being dragged into the nightclub, I find the destination my favourite and hope to go back there again soon.

If you were holding a dinner party and could invite four guests, who would they be and why?

I think this may be the toughest question you have asked..

.. I’m thinking I would need to invite Jamie Oliver, as my cooking skills are awful, so would definitely need a fabulous chef. I would also invite Neil Patrick Harris (Barney in How I Met Your Mother), as he seems to be very entertaining, and is a star of musical theatre, which is a love of mine too. I would also invite Take That, as they are my favourite group of all time. I have been a fan since the early 90s so a chance to meet them would be brilliant.

Since I am counting the 3 members of Take That as 1 guest.. I think I get to invite one more person to this dinner party, but I am not sure who to invite. Thinking logically I feel a female is needed to balance the numbers, and since I love books, I think I would like to invite you, Joanna, to my completely fictional dinner party, as I think we would probably get on quite well and we could talk books (and you can give me all the gossip about your fellow authors!).

 

Rachel’s Random Reads – http://rachelsrandomreads.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/gilbster1000

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/rachelgilbey1/rachels-random-reads/

Google + – https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RachelGilbey/posts

Posted in Writing

TUESDAY TALK WELCOMES AUTHOR JENNIFER BOHNET

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

Today we are crossing the Channel to France to chat to Jennifer Bohnet  whose latest book, The Little Kiosk by the Sea, has just been published.unnamed

Tell us a little about yourself

First, thank you Jo for inviting me. I’ve lived in France for 16 years now. Five years ago we moved from the south to a quirky little cottage in rural Brittany. I love living in the countryside but miss the sea, I eat too much chocolate, spend far too much money on dvds and I love having visitors. I really hate curry.

How did your writing career start?

I’ve always scribbled from a very young age. My mother won £500 pounds in a competition when I was about 17 and bought me my first typewriter, a brother, and that was when I started seriously. I remember typing away up in my room for hours, making stories up and trying to write features. Of course it took me years to get anything published – my first success was a short feature in a motoring magazine about a moped. (Don’t ask how that happened!)

You live in France, have you never been tempted to write something similar to Peter Mayle, about your life there?

The only time I considered doing something similar was after we finished cycling from Roscoff via the canal paths down to the south but at that time I couldn’t interest a publisher. Maybe now’s the time to think about it again! But I do prefer the freedom writing fiction gives me and besides there’s only one Peter Mayle. Love his books.

You had your own newspaper column for several years in Devon, tell us something about that.

Oh that was fun. It was a lifestyle column for our local paper in Dartmouth where we lived at the time and I was given carte blanche to write about anything. Children, mothers-in-law, education, boats, local characters, holidaymakers, weddings,, weather forecasting, favourite things – I just had to provide 500 words of copy. It was a real thrill seeing my name in the paper every week for nearly three years.

Who are your favourite authors and why?

That’s a hard question Jo. There are so many authors out there I enjoy reading, but there are a few whose new books I look forward to and buy without hesitation. Veronica Henry, Erica James, Marcia Willett, Jill Mansell are four writers I admire hugely. They draw you in from the first page, their characters are superbly drawn and their stories just flow.

If you weren’t a romance writer, is there any other genre you would be interested in?

I don’t really consider myself as a romance writer at all, as to me a romance book focuses mainly on the love affair between the hero and the heroine. There is a romantic element in my books but it’s not the dominating focus of my stories. I hope I write women’s contemporary fiction with a love interest in the storyline.

Last question, if you were stranded on a desert island, what four things would you like to have with you, and why? –

Number one and most important would be my husband Richard. I wouldn’t survive long without him. He’s made of sterner stuff than me and that would have him building a cabin, fishing and foraging for food and probably ignoring any sightings of a rescue ship because he likes the challenging life! Number two – a box of matches to light a fire to cook on and also hopefully to be seen by the rescue helicopter that will surely circle overhead because I really don’t do desert islands! Number three – a good supply of notebooks and pens – unless they’ve invented a solar laptop by then, in which case I’ll have that. Number four – a camera to record the scenery and to jog my memory when we’re safely back home and I’m writing about the experience.

Jennie's cover

THE LITTLE KIOSK BY THE SEA

One summer they’ll never forget…

Meet Sabine, desperately fighting to save her little kiosk from closure whilst turning down her friend Owen’s proposals, time and time again.

Cue Harriet, returning to Dartmouth after thirty years, haunted by the scandal that drove her away and shocked by a legacy that threatens her relationship with her journalist daughter.

Enter Rachel, the mysterious newcomer who has an unexpected chemistry with a local widower, and who sets in motion a chain of events she could never have predicted…

One thing’s for sure, as the autumn tide turns, there’ll be more than one secret laid bare!

Author FB page:  goo.gl/6hsfZw

Amazon link   goo.gl/MwMFa0

Website (is currently being updated. I’m hoping it will be up and running soon!)

http://www.jenniferbohnet.com/

 

Posted in Writing

FACT OR FICTION?

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

Tuesday Talk will be back next week.  To fill the gap this week (yes I know it’s Wednesday)  I’ve decided to slip in this post, posing the question ‘How much does real life influence your writing?’

DSCF2883 (640x480)From my personal viewpoint the answer is quite considerably. All my books have had a rural backdrop and writing about country life has been easy for me as until the age of 12 I lived in a small Wiltshire village.  Remote and sitting on the edge of Salisbury Plain, a heavy fall of winter snow could cut us off for a week.  With no buses able to run and without a shop, this meant the local farmer had to take his tractor and trailer across the field to collect basic food supplies from the next village.  This was before town dwellers were looking to escape to the country; when several generations of the same family lived in close proximity to each other. For years little had changed.  Seen through my young eyes it was a peaceful, idyllic way of life. Winters could be harsh but that was more than compensated for by summer months where grass, wheat and barley fields formed a glorious patchwork across the landscape.  There were also rolling hills,  and sheep and cattle dotted everywhere. The most wonderful place for a child to grow up.

When beginning to put the components together for my very first book, therefore,  it was very much an environment I knew I could create P1040137 (640x480)and feel comfortable setting my characters in. So I set about taking pieces reality and incorporating into my fictitious landscape. I love woods too (what would a village be without local woods?) and those across the valley from where I live were the inspiration for ‘Hundred Acre’ which sits above Meridan Cross.

he village pub in  my latest book, – The Black Bull – is in fact, based on a local in a village a few miles away. My previous OH actually grew up there and as an adult played for the pub’s cricket team.  Like the Black Bull it now has a great restaurant while still retaining a traditional bar with flag stone floors.

Google Maps are another really useful tool.  In one of my books I had to ‘walk’ one character around Verona.  Not having been there for many years, I could visualise the Arena – the Roman amphitheatre where concerts are held.  I also remembered visiting Juliette’s Balcony.  In order to bring some realism into my character’s visit, however, I needed to be able to describe where she was walking and what she was seeing. So I simply toured Verona’s streets via Google Map – perfect!

Talking of characters, a few of mine have been ‘borrowed’ from real life too’.  I guess the most important one of all from that first trio of books was the owner of Little Court Manor, Laura Kendrick. She was based on a lady called Marjorie Welsh, who lived in the manor house when I was a child.  A lady of mature years, married with grown up children, she had been a debutant in the days when they were presented at court. Very much the local benefactress, upon arrival she automatically took responsibility for the villagers – running the elderly to hospital appointments, having them all up for tea and cake on occcasions and even wheeling a barrow full of logs through the snow to a young couple whose baby was imminent. There was absolutely nothing patronising about her. A very genuine public spirited lady. Later as an adult, if I was visiting my grandparents I’d drop in and see her.  On one occasion I found the whole family in the kitchen preparing food for a dinner party that evening.  She’d deliberately given the kitchen staff the evening off, wanting them to do all the food prep themselves. The villagers who worked their had the greatest respect for her, all agreeing she was a fair and generous employer.  A unique and lovely lady, her character was absolutely perfect for Laura.

Another village character I borrowed was Tom Stone or ‘Brusher’ as the locals called him.  This was on account of the very heavy black moustache which hung over his top lip.  He worked on the railways and owned this very large black and white dog called Toby who could bark for England. It almost seemed the animal ran on batteries – he never shut up!  When creating characters for my first book I borrowed Brusher and turned him into the local poacher, ‘Doggie’ Barker, whose faithful friend was – yes – Toby.  The real Toby was a ‘Heinz 57’ as my grandfather used to refer to him, a dog of indeterminate breed.  Fictitious Toby, however, was to have the elevated status of a Border Collie.

By book four I was moving my backdrop abroad.  The Costa Del Sol, a place where we’d spent quite a bit of time before mass urbanization overtook that part of the coast, seemed ideal. Orlando Flynn, an enigmatic character central to the plot, lived there and had a small dark moustachioed Spanish ‘gofer’ called Elvira.  When asked how the two of them had met, Flynn, as he was referred to, said he’d rescued him from a life on the streets being paid by drivers for moving industrial waste bins to free up parking places.  Does this sound far fetched?  Well in fact it wasn’t.   While wandering the streets of Seville, believe it or not, I actually saw this happening.

So do any of you writers out there use fact to help you create fiction?  For me it works well – would be interested to hear your thoughts on the subject though.

Posted in Writing

THE WAY WE WERE…

Posted on by Jo Lambert - Author

Unless you are posting on a dedicated blog, coming up with a new idea usually involves a lot of hard thought, note scribbling and lots of discarded pieces of paper before it eventually comes to life on the screen.

As often is the case, though, inspiration comes in very mysterious ways. Last week we drove down to Christchurch in Dorset for a few days on the coast to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Our journey took us through the Wiltshire town of Melksham, about 13 miles away from where we currently live. One of the town’s biggest employers, Avon Rubber Company (now Cooper Tires after an American buy out) was where I had my very first taste of full time employment. As we got nearer, lots of forgotten memories came flooding back and suddenly I thought…yes, that’s it.

Finishing college at 18 with good shorthand and typing speeds and a business diploma, I successfully  landed myself a secretarial job at Avon. In those days they were considered one of the best local employers around with excellent pay and conditions. On my first morning I arrived, signed in at the security desk and was shown up to the large first floor reception area to wait for someone from HR to collect me. In those days the company pooled their intake of ‘freshers’ from college and a decision on exactly where they would be placed was taken nearer to their start date. So you can imagine as I sat there I was wondering where I would eventually end up. Sales maybe? Or Finance? Once I’d completed the necessary paperwork in HR, all was revealed. I was to be the new secretary to the Technical Manager and his team.

Avon Factory, Melksham way back when
Avon Factory, Melksham way back when

The department was situated in a huge first floor former store with dark stone floors and high ceilings. As you can imagine it was cold in the winter and hot in the summer and when it rained, yes you’ve guessed it, the roof leaked! Today, of course, no way would anyone be expected to work in those conditions. Back then, however, it was what it was and people simply accepted  it. Technical employed over forty staff, and only seven of them, including me, were female. A bit of a baptism of fire for a girl whose only experience had been in predominantly female environments – as a Woolworth Saturday girl, a waitress and a six weeks summer holiday stint at the local Ross food factory on the packing line. I needn’t have worried though, all the guys in the department were amazing; really supportive, great fun and incredibly kind to the newbie in their midst.

My boss was David Hartley, who was related to the Hartley jam family. He was around forty; a larger than life character with unruly dark hair he always seemed to be pushing out of his eyes. You could hear his loud footfalls echoing down the corridor as he returned from lunch in the Manager’s Dining Room.  He was always calm and never appeared to be fazed by anything.

David had responsibility for six other sections – Tyre Design, Product Performance, Quality, Tyre Test and two laboratories which worked on creating new tread compounds. I shared a small corner office with Diane, the department’s copy typist who was five years older than me. We became close friends and still have a regular lunch meet a couple of times a year. She warned me my office chair was known as the ‘Fertility Chair’ because those who occupied it left the job pregnant. I believe I was the first to buck that trend. The other five female members of staff were Ruby and Maureen in the Patents section, Sandy and Annie who provided the admin support to the two laboratories and Sarah who was a tracer. She worked with the department’s draughtsman Geoff Baines – now, of course, technology has come on leaps and bounds and it’s all done by CAD.

That first Monday David held his usual department heads meeting where, before they started, he introduced me to all of them. The next morning he called me in to dictate the minutes which he felt was much easier than me trying to take dictation a room full of people all talking at once – his meetings, I discovered, were pretty informal and quite noisy!  At college, as you can probably guess we had simple dictation like ‘Dear Mr Smith, Thank you for your letter of…’ On that second morning I became acquainted with a whole new language. Words like sipes and squeegees, Bag-o-Matics and polybutadiene were added to my vocabulary.  It threw me for a while but I eventually got used to it and writing these new shorthand outlines soon became second nature. There was a large amount of copy typing which Di covered, although I helped out if I wasn’t busy.  I took general dictation from David and also the Tyre Design Manager and there were occasions when we had to put submissions together for people like Ford and Jaguar. It was a very busy office and quiet days were rare. We had 15 minute refreshment breaks morning and afternoon when a  trolley arrived from the canteen with coffee, tea and snacks.  If David had a meeting or visitors I would have to collect trays from the main canteen – a bit of a juggling act sometimes given the weight of the tray in the hands of one small secretary!

Occasionally David needed to make an international call, usually to someone in Goodyear Tires in Akron, Ohio. When I think  today we simply pick up a phone and dial, what we had to do back then must now seem quite Fred Flintstone in comparison. The call had to be booked first thing in the morning, usually for three in the afternoon because of the time difference in the US. Switchboard would then ring me back at the agreed time and put the call through.

Everyone, apart from managers, got paid weekly in cash. Every Friday after lunch I would go down to the payroll office and collect the pay packets. Returning to the department I’d then distribute these small brown envelopes to each member of staff. Having actual money in your hand at the end of the week was, in those days, simply the way people expected to be paid.  Three years after I joined the company they announced changes.  Everyone over 21 would have their money paid directly into their bank account each month.  Only those working on the factory floor would still receive weekly pay packets . As there were nearly 2,500 people working for the company, paying everyone by cash was not only a labour  intensive job, having that much money on site was also a high security risk.

The next most important thing to pay, of course, were holidays.  What did we get? Well actually it was two weeks  – Managers got three.  Now I know above I said above that Avon offered excellent pay and conditions and you might well be thinking – that’s not very good, but actually anyone having more than two weeks’ holiday in those days was unheard of.  Also at the time, New Year’s Day was treated as a normal working day for everyone and it wasn’t until. eight years after I started work that it became a Bank Holiday and we could all go out and party properly!

5873426888_ff3cd7572f_zAs tyre production could be a highly combustible process the company retained its own on-site tender together with trained volunteers. The picture on the left is very similar to the vehicle they used. It was usual to hear the claxon sound half a dozen times a day and see the vehicle accelerating between the buildings with its bell ringing loudly. I’d been there about six weeks when late one afternoon there was a fire alert. We had a new apprentice start in the department that day and he looked absolutely panic stricken. ‘Don’t worry,’ one of the guys reassured him, ‘this happens all the time.’ Well, yes it did, apart from the fact, on this occasion it was a really bad fire. One which burnt down the Finished Goods store and badly damaged several of the houses in Scotland Road just behind the factory. Several brigades ended up attending.  My then boyfriend had the day off, helping his brother with harvesting nine miles away high on the edge of Salisbury Plain and the the smoke could clearly be seen from there.1118068

Two and a half years later I decided it was time to move on. Although I had loved working in the department things had changed. Not only had Di had left to have her first baby, David had too – being promoted to Original Equipment Sales Manager. I eventually  got a job in HR in training. I didn’t forget them all though, I’d still  made a point of calling in to see them occasionally during my lunch hour (usually with cake) to catch up on all the news.

Looking back, HR could not have given me a better job to start my working life.  I still treasure fabulous memories of this amazing group of guys (and girls)!