My Reading and Writing Confessions
By Kirsty Greenwood
I don’t write every day
I don’t even write every weekday. I write in fits and starts. Some weeks I’ll write 3000 or 4000 words a day (and night) hooked up to the computer in a frenzied blast of typing. Other weeks I’ll be lucky if I can get 100 words on the page. I try and try to get a more measured routine going, but it never lasts beyond a month.
I struggle with punctuation
I am shamefully bad with punctuation. I have no clue of the difference between an En-dash, an Em-dash and a hyphen. I also love a comma, I use them so much, I just like my sentences to run on and on and never end, I really need to try and curb the habit.
My books get messy
I read in the bath, I carry books around in my handbag, I sometimes leave them on the floor next to my bed, I dog ear the pages instead of using a bookmark, I read in the sun (and then the glue comes off), I crease the spines and I write notes and highlights in the pages. Sometimes my coffee spills and stains the covers. I know a lot of people who think that books should be pristine. I don’t. I think they should be cosy and creased and well thumbed and read.
I’ve never written a synopsis
I feel like a little bit like I have cheated death. I am a published author who has never, ever written a full synopsis. I was signed by my agent Hannah based on an excerpt of my work she saw on Novelicious. My deal with Pan Macmillan was signed based on the success of Yours Truly, and a succession of short ‘blurb’ style outline/loglines for The Vintage Guide series. I hope to never have to write a full synopsis. It sounds terrible and I’m glad I have escaped it so far.
I’ve read the book ‘Wish Upon a Star’ by Olivia Goldsmith over 15 times
I’ve actually lost count! It’s odd because it’s not even my favourite book. I love it, but I love other books more. There’s just something about it I find incredibly relaxing and soothing. Almost in the same way that bedtime stories made you feel as a child. I love reading about London through the eyes of gentle Claire from Staten Island. Aaah. Just thinking about the book is making me want to read it again right now…
Jessica Beam is a girl who knows how to party. Only lately she’s been forgetting to turn up for work on time. Or in clean clothes. Down on her luck, out of a job and homeless, Jess seeks the help of her long-lost grandmother.
Things aren’t going well for Matilda Beam, either. Her 1950s Good Woman guide books are out of print, her mortgage repayments are staggering and her granddaughter wears neon Wonderbras.
When a lifeline from a London publisher arrives, the pair have an opportunity to secure the roof over their heads – by invigorating the Good Woman guides and transforming modern, rebellious Jess into a demure vintage lady.
The true test of their make-over will be to capture the heart of notorious London playboy Leo Frost and prove that Matilda’s guides still work. It’s going to take commitment, nerves of steel and one seriously pointy bra to pull this off . . .
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A huge thank you to Kirsty for writing this fabulous post and to Lucie at Pan Macmillan. ♥ Don’t forget to check out all of the other gorgeous blogs taking part in the official blog tour.
Kirsty Greenwood was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester in 1982. She is founding editor-in-chief of Novelicious.com.
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