Find out how my novel-writing is going. Or not…
Up and down week. The ups were: getting a five star Amazon review for One Scheme of Happiness – I’ve no idea who it was, but when things aren’t easy (lockdown isolation) the idea that someone out there has read and enjoyed my book gives me a little glow! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on … More Writing update
When One Scheme of Happiness, my debut novel, was published at the end of February there was time for two launches – one in my daughter’s cafe The English Rose in Victoria, then a second one in Ealing where I live at a lovely independent bookshop The Pitshanger Bookshop. I was planning so much more… … More Writing update
One week tomorrow my debut novel will be published. It’s been a long wait, but finally the day is nearly here – Thursday February 27th. I can’t believe how great an experience it has been with Retreat West Books who’ve supported me all the way from first meeting to discuss the book through the whole … More Writing update: One Scheme of Happiness
Well… it’s a long time since I’ve posted anything here. Mainly because I’ve been in the middle of moving house… downsizing from a massive Edwardian semi with far too many bedrooms and bathrooms to a cosy 2 bed flat. Two weeks before Christmas is an extremely mad time of the year to move, and … More Writing update: One Scheme of Happiness
Counting down to next February 2020 when my book One Scheme of Happiness is due to be published… Only four months and not so long ago it was 18 months and felt so far in the future it would almost never happen. Like a small child waiting for Christmas, the days and weeks stretched ahead … More Writing update
This editing malarkey is a fascinating process. My lovely publisher has given me an editorial report so I know what needs to go, what needs to be improved and what (gulp!) extra chapters need to be written… But it’s not the straightforward process I was imagining (call me naive or what). Really it’s more: add … More Writing update
Amanda Saint founder of Retreat West Books writes: Ali Thurm signed for debut novel Thrilled to have signed the debut novel from Ali Thurm for Retreat West Books. One Scheme of Happiness is a story of desire, obsession and delusion and just how far you will go to get what you think you want. It … More Writing update: exciting news!
Sometimes you need to go back to a piece of writing you thought was finished. I completed the nth draft of my first novel about 18 months ago, and my lovely agent sent it out. Some positive comments but no takers. So I worked on my second novel, and then the third. But a couple … More Writing update
Illness and holidays get in the way of blogging, but bring a much-needed new perspective on life. I’m still reading and writing as much as I can, but not too much. Which was why I was ill in February and had to take to my sofa/bed like a neurasthenic Victorian heroine to rest. Ah the … More Writing update – when routine becomes a rut
Aha! Finally made the leap from sofa + notebook to office chair + my pc. I even opened a new folder and wrote the date + working title (very pretentious so I’m not going to tell you what it is). Strange to think that all these notes and random thoughts might be a novel after … More Writing update
