Rereading Jane Eyre

#IWSG Translating Self-Published Novels?

This post was written in response to The Insecure Writers Support Group, which posts on the first Wednesday of every month.

As many of you know, I live and work in Spain, although I write novels in English. Some of my readers are other English-speaking people who live in Spain, or Spanish speakers whose English is good enough to read fiction, for example English teachers. However, most of my readers come from the United States and United Kingdom, although there are also some in Canada and Australia, too.

My numerous Spanish friends are constantly asking me to translate my novel into Spanish so that they can read it. Although I love my Spanish friends, I’m also aware that there are 399 million Spanish speakers in the world, who are potential readers. So, I’ve been thinking it’s a good idea for some time. I even contacted a fellow blogger and virtual friend, who is also a translator, but prices for professional literary translators are high, and I’m still struggling to get my English editions noticed, so I can’t cope with that extra expense right now.

Technically, I’m bilingual. I’m a very strange type of bilingual. My written English is better than my written Spanish, probably because I almost always read and write in English. On the other hand, my spoken Spanish is sometimes more fluent than my spoken English, probably because I live in Spain, and it’s the language I speak most of the time.

I couldn’t translate my novels on my own due to lack of time and expertise, on the other hand, the cost of a professional translator plus proofreading, editing, formatting, and promotion, adds a great deal of expense for an indie author!

However, I still want to translate my novels. I’ve found a way out, I think.

First let’s tackle the obstacles. My two greatest setbacks are time and money. Time, I can’t make, but I can plan and space it out. My novel has 33 chapters, plus an epilogue. If I take care of one chapter a week, that gives me about eight months to gradually get it done. I started in November, which means it should be ready to publish some time next summer. That’s my deadline, and I’m happy with it.

So, I’ve solved the question of lack of time, by being organized, systematic, and patient. Now my next obstacle, which is really the most serious: lack of expertise.

I’ve read almost all (and I’m not exaggerating too much) of the Victorian authors, but I’ve read very few 19th century novels in Spanish. I think about four, and I only liked one or two, By Benito Pérez Galdós. So, I just haven’t got the language needed for this type of literature to be at its best, and quite honestly, I’ve seen to many terrible translations into Spanish, and I don’t want that to happen to my novel.

I’ve found a complex way around that, too. I’ve found a relatively inexpensive translator on Fiverr, and as the payment is being spread over eight months, that makes it much easier to afford. However, I’m not 100% happy with the translations (will I ever be!?) so, I’m working with a team.

This is what’s happening. First I go through the initial, Fiverr translation and make suggestions on the text. Secondly, I go though it again with a Spanish ex-colleague and retired professor of English at the university of Córdoba. Thirdly I’m giving chapters out to various Spanish teachers and professors of Spanish, as well as readers, who do not speak English, at all (so their Spanish is not ‘contaminated’ by English!). At least two of them will be reading the whole book, others will just be looking at some chapters. Fourthly, I’ll take their suggestions and make the final decisions. Finally it will go to a professional Spanish editor.

I’ve no idea how this project will trun out. I’ll let you know how it goes next summer!

Have any of you had any experiences of translating your work?

I’ve found a couple of recent and interesting articles on the subject:

http://annerallen.blogspot.com.es/2015/09/how-to-get-your-indie-book-translated.html by Anne R. Allen.
Another at the Creative Pen: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2015/11/19/translation-profanacion-spanish/

Check out what some of the other Insecure Writers are concerned about here!

Carrot Ranch #FlashFiction Challenge November 18: Dance

This week Charlie Mills at Carrot Ranch has asked us to write 99 words about ‘dance’.

I remembered a wonderful wedding I have recently witnessed where a beautiful hymn was sung. Most of you will recognise it woven into my flash.

Weddings are stressful moments. Bride and groom make a lifelong commitment to each other. Both have their pasts to deal with and a future to forge together. Can we come to terms with our past? Can we be sure we are making the right choice?

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The Lord of the Dance

The wedding began.

I danced in the morning when the world was young.

The choir sang.

I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun.

I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth.

‘I can’t,’ whispered the groom running into the snowstorm.

Dance, dance, wherever you may be.

‘She’d want you to be happy,’ pleaded the bride holding his hand.

I am the lord of the dance, said he.

And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,

‘Take me back to the altar.’

And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

****

November 18, 2015 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write dance into your story. Twirl your characters round and round or stomp your plot onto the page. Use dance in any way that comes to mind. Be specific or free, tango or disco.

EXTENDED DEADLINE! Respond by December 1, 2015 to be included in the weekly compilation. Rules are here. All writers are welcome!

Thanks for the prompt Charlie! If you want to read some of the other entries or take part, here’s the link!

Nanthology – Forging Ahead

Geoff Le Pard is a great writer and blogger who has taken on the daunting task of writing a 1,600+ word short story every day for November Nanowrimo. He’s been inspired/encouraged by prompts from some of his blogging friends. I’m proud and honoured to be one of them. Here’s where my picture prompt took him. To a chilling, mysterious and suspenseful place. I wonder why….! Read this great story and check out all the others he’s written. You’ll love them.

THE LOST GIRL BY LIZ HARRIS @BrookCottageBks #BookTour

Today I’d like to welcome Liz Harris and her novel The Lost Girl on my blog, as part of a Book Tour organised by Brook Cottage Books.

Genre: Historical Romantic Fiction
Release Date: 16th October, 2015
Publisher: Choc Lit

Blurb:

What if you were trapped between two cultures?

Life is tough in 1870s Wyoming. But it’s tougher still when you’re a girl who looks Chinese but speaks like an American.

Orphaned as a baby and taken in by an American family, Charity Walker knows this only too well. The mounting tensions between the new Chinese immigrants and the locals in the mining town of Carter see her shunned by both communities.

When Charity’s one friend, Joe, leaves town, she finds herself isolated. However, in his absence, a new friendship with the only other Chinese girl in Carter makes her feel like she finally belongs somewhere.

But, for a lost girl like Charity, finding a place to call home was never going to be that easy …

BUY LINKS
AMAZON UK
AMAZON US

ABOUT LIZ HARRIS

Liz Harris lives south of Oxford. Her debut novel was THE ROAD BACK (US Coffee Time & Romance Book of 2012), followed by A BARGAIN STRUCK (shortlisted for the RoNA Historical 2013), EVIE UNDERCOVER, THE ART OF DECEPTION and A WESTERN HEART. All of her novels, which are published by Choc Lit, have been shortlisted in their categories in the Festival of Romantic Fiction. In addition, Liz has had several short stories published in anthologies. Her interests are theatre, travelling, reading, cinema and cryptic crosswords.

Social media links:

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
WEBSITE
GOODREADS

Enter Giveaway to win One Copy of the Ebook!

Happy Second #Blogiversary To Me! And #Giveaway

I received a message from WordPress today reminding me that I’ve been blogging for two years.

Doesn’t time fly? When I started blogging two years ago, I never imagined the fun I’d be having, and the other bloggers I’d be meeting along the way.

Blogging has helped me in my writing process, especially through my participation in Flash Fiction challenges, which have made me question every single word’s place in a sentence, and in a story.

I’ve learnt about aspects such as formatting, editing, writing routines, blurbs, marketing, and all sorts of practical advice for independent authors.

I’ve met extraordinary writers and read great books, which I’ve shared with my readers and fellow bloggers.

I’ve also met generous reviewers and beta readers, who are prepared to give help, motivation, advice, and their time to writers.

To celebrate my second blogiversary, as I’m gradually falling into the Christmas spirit of organizing parties, festivities, shopping, and gifting, I’ve decided to launch a Blogiversary Giveaway of signed paperback editions: one of All Hallows at Eyre Hall and another of Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall on my very first Rafflecopter (enter below).

The Rafflecopter starts today 25th of November and finishes in a month’s time on 25th December. There are four easy stages to participation:
1- Follow me on twitter (5 points)
2- Tweet a message (This can be done one a day to get more points. 2 points each time you tweet)
3- Visit my Facebook. It’s not compulsory, but it would be nice if you liked my page and some of my posts (5 points).
4- Finally you can leave a comment on this blog post, telling me why you’d like to win one of my paperbacks. If you don’t follow, it would be nice if you followed, too (5 points).

And that’s it!

The more points you have, the better chances you have of winning, but it’s a raffle, so you can win with one minimum two point participation, although I’m sure statistically, the more you participate, the luckier you’ll be!

I’m posting on my Facebook and Twitter, too.

Feel free to help spread the word by sharing or tweeting this post, but most of all take part!

Snow all hallows — **Click on the image to enter Giveaway!**

Is Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall a Standalone #Novel or The Second Volume of a Trilogy?

I’d like to start by answering a previous question. Many people ask me if it’s necessary to have read Jane Eyre or Wide Sargasso Sea before reading the novels in the Eyre Hall Trilogy, and I always tell them it isn’t necessary.

It’s true that some of the characters in my novels originally appeared in Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. However, many other characters are original to The Eyre Hall Trilogy, never having appeared in Jane Eyre.

Similarly, some of the plot lines are taken from ‘the spaces’ which Charlotte Bronte and Jean Rhys left in Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea, but most of the suspense and intrigue has been devised by my own overactive imagination.

The original plots and characters in both novels are partly present in my own, but there is enough back story by means of flashbacks and conversations to enable readers to remember or be acquainted with the characters and stories.

Some readers have said they read or reread Jane Eyre after reading All Hallows at Eyre Hall, and I love hearing it, but that’s purely a matter of choice. I personally believe authentic Victorian fiction, with its relatively slow pace, heavy reliance on telling instead of showing, and detailed descriptions, is often hard going for contemporary readers.

You may like to read my post on prequels, sequels, reinterpretations, rewriting and writing back, for more information about how I have combined both Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea, making both novels the backstory to The Eyre Hall Trilogy.

Coming back to our original question, is Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall a standalone or part of a trilogy? Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall is both a standalone novel and part of a trilogy.

I hope it will be read by readers who have already read All Hallows at Eyre Hall, but it can also be read without having read the first volume. I actually gave it to several beta readers, who had not read All Hallows, and they told me they considered it as a complete novel on its own.

That said, readers of Twelfth Night who have not read All Hallows may want to read the backstory with more detail and decide to read it afterwards. That’s fine, too, but again, not necessary.

Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall has various plot lines, which start in Chapter I and end in Chapter XXXIII. Some of these events have their origin in All Hallows, others in Jane Eyre, or Wide Sargasso Sea, and others are unique to Twelfth Night. In any case, there is sufficient information for the reader to have a complete reading experience.

Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall is a novel for readers who enjoy historical novels including adventure, mystery, and romance. The novel starts during a storm on the Atlantic Ocean in November, and moves back to Eyre Hall, the country estate where the extended Eyre-Rochester family live, for Christmas. Part of the action will also take us to Victorian London, and finally across the ocean once more to Jamaica. A myriad of diverse characters will entertain the reader with their unique first person accounts of events. There are several unconventional romances, murders, kidnappings, and lots of suspense, right up to the last page!

Some of the characters first appear in Jane Eyre, and others are unique to Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall. I have included the folowing ‘Cast of Characters’ at the beginning of Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall, to enhance the reading experience.

Meet the Cast in Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall

Characters initially in Jane Eyre:
Jane Eyre, Richard Mason, Leah, Admiral Fitzjames (he was captain in Jane Eyre), Mrs. Diana Fitzjames (who was Miss Diana Rivers in Jane Eyre), Celine and Adele Varens, Mr. Briggs, Dr. Carter, Bertha Mason, and Mr. Rochester.

Characters of my own creation in Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall:
John Eyre Rochester, Michael and Susan Kirkpatrick, Annette Mason, ‘young’ Dr. Carter, Captain Carrington, Mr. William Greenwood, Dante Greenwood, Mr. Smythe, Nell Rosset, Jenny Rosset, Phoebe, Simon, Beth, Daisy, Fred, Cook, Joseph, Christy, and Isaac das Junot.

Character sketches

Jane Eyre is no longer a nineteen-year-old, penniless governess. She is a wealthy woman in her early forties, who promotes education and social welfare, writes novels, and manages the Rochester estate. She was married to Mr. Rochester for 21 years and has one son, John Eyre Rochester, although she had several miscarriages and a stillborn daughter. After her husband’s death, Jane was blackmailed into marrying Mr. Mason and abandoned by the man she loved.

Richard Mason was Mr. Rochester’s brother-in-law. His sister, Bertha Mason, was Rochester’s first mad wife.

Annette Mason was born in Thornfield Hall while her mother, Bertha Mason, was married to Edward Rochester and locked in his attic. Her uncle, Richard Mason, took Annette back with him to Jamaica, where she was brought up in a convent, as an orphan, supervised by her uncle. She returned to England to claim her birthright when Mr. Rochester was on his deathbed. She is now living at Eyre Hall as Jane’s ward.

Michael Kirkpatrick used to be Jane’s valet, but he left Eyre Hall and joined the Royal Navy when Jane accepted Mr. Mason’s proposal.

Captain Carrington is Michael’s captain on board the HMS Princess Helena. He was also captain to Admiral Fitzjames, who is married to Jane’s cousin, Diana.

Adele Varens was Mr. Rochester’s ward. Jane Eyre was first employed at Thornfield Hall as her governess. Her mother, Céline Varens, was Mr. Rochester’s mistress in France. Adele is engaged to the widowed poet, Mr. Greenwood. They have been living in Venice for the past year with Mr. Greenwood’s son, Dante. Susan Kirkpatrick, Michael’s sister, has accompanied Adele as her maid and companion.

Mr. Briggs was a solicitor who had been dealing with the Eyre-Rochester family’s affairs, and Mr. Smythe is his new employee.

‘Young’ Dr. Carter is Dr. Carter’s son. He has taken over his father’s practice in the area.

Mrs. Leah is the housekeeper at Eyre Hall. She used to work as a maid at Thornfield Hall before Jane Eyre arrived.

Nell is a ten-year-old girl who is Jane’s companion throughout her illness. Her mother, Jenny Rosset, is a seamstress at Eyre Hall.

Simon, Beth, Daisy, Christy, Fred, Cook and Joseph are also servants at Eyre Hall.

Isaac das Junot is a sin-eater. He is a sinister character who appears when there is a death at Eyre Hall.

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I hope readers who have read All Hallows and/or Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall will be interested enough in the extended Eyre-Mason-Rochester family, to want to read Midsummer at Eyre Hall (due in spring 2016), which will end this trilogy, because it will mark the end of an era at Eyre Hall. However, ends also lead to new beginnings, and Midsummer at Eyre Hall will open the door to the start of another stage in this family saga.

Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall is on a Kindle Countdown Deal at a special reduced price 0.99 until the 26th of November. It’s also free to download on KindleUnlimited

#Author Spotlight Helen J. Rolfe & #BookReview ‘What Rosie Found Next’ for @BrookCottageBooks

This Book Review and Author Spotlight is part of a Blog Tour of ‘What Rosie Found Next’ by Helen J. Rolfe, organised by Brook Cottage Books.

Blurb: What Rosie Found Next
Genre: Romantic fiction / Women’s fiction
Release Date: 3rd November 2015

A shaky upbringing has left Rosie Stevens craving safety and security. She thinks she knows exactly what she needs to make her life complete – the stable job and perfect house-sit she’s just found in Magnolia Creek. The only thing she wants now is for her long-term boyfriend, Adam, to leave his overseas job and come home for good.

Owen Harrison is notoriously nomadic, and he roars into town on his Ducati for one reason and one reason only – to search his parents’ house while they’re away to find out what they’ve been hiding from him his entire life. When he meets Rosie, who refuses to quit the house-sit in his parents’ home, sparks fly.

Secrets are unearthed, promises are broken, friendships are put to the test and the real risk of bushfires under the hot Australian sun threatens to undo Rosie once and for all.

Will Rosie and Owen find what they want or what they really need?

BUY LINKS:
AMAZON UK
AMAZON US

My Review of What Rosie Found Next by Helen J. Rolfe

Now and again you read a wonderful book that’s like taking a holiday. No stress, no fussing, just relaxation and enjoyment. That’s exactly how I felt when I read What Rosie Found Next by Helen Rolfe. It’s no spoiler to say that there’s a happy ending, and that’s something the reader senses right from the start, but how to keep the reader interested? It’s not an easy task to convince the reader to keep turning the pages, but Helen Rolfe succeeds delightfully. What’s her recipe? She makes sure we’re interested in the characters and the plot. I was really interested in Rosie and her life, which was at an emotional and professional crossroads, and of course, I was also interested in Owen’s family secret. It was fun to watch their interaction, from his first unexpected intrusion, moving on to friendship, and more. There were also some ups and downs to the romance and twists in the plot, mainly due to a love triangle, including Rosie’s boyfriend, and Owen’s family secret.

I loved the setting in Magnolia Creek, in Australia, including various visits to nearby beaches. It was also interesting to read about how the population prepares for and deals with bushfires. I’m impatiently looking forward to reading more books in this series.

I’d like to thank the author & Brook Cottage Books for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

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I’ve asked Helen to answer some questions about her novel and her writing process, so let’s find out more about this talented writer.

1. What would you say to a reader to convince him/her to buy your book?

My books are an escape with the beautiful settings and love stories about characters and lives that aren’t necessarily easy. My characters in The Friendship Tree, Handle Me with Care and What Rosie Found Next all have challenges that readers will relate to I’m sure, and the books deal with heavy issues in a way that leaves you feeling uplifted. If you enjoy romance, family stories and blossoming friendships, you’ll enjoy my books.

2. What inspired you to write What Rosie Found Next?

That’s a tough question and I can’t actually remember what triggered the initial idea although I remember when I thought of it I was living in Australia and it was the height of summer. So I guess perhaps the news of bushfires in Victoria may have given me the foundations for my characters and the setting of Magnolia Creek. My ideas often start as small as that and then the characters come to life in my mind and I write a bit of a CV for each of them. This was the first book in the Magnolia Creek Series too so I did spend some time thinking about the town, sketching out where people lived, thinking of characters who may have stories of their own in later books.

3. Can you tell us about your writing routine?

I write Monday to Friday and sometimes a bit on the weekends although I have young children and so weekends are all about family time whether it’s cooking together, playing board games or going to the park or for a walk.

When I write I work during school hours which is great. The house is quiet! I generally answer emails and go onto Social Media first and then with a clear mind I can get on with my Work In Progress.

Like many other writers I do procrastinate – who doesn’t – but try to discipline myself as much as I can.

4. What are you working on now?

I’m writing the second book of the Magnolia Creek Series but I can’t say much else for now… I’ve finished the first draft and am now working my way through editing. It’s quite daunting! I can’t wait to share it with readers sometime in 2016.
Thank you for answering my questions, Helen, and I’m impatiently waiting for book two!

MORE ABOUT HELEN J ROLFE

Helen J Rolfe writes contemporary women’s fiction. She enjoys weaving stories about family, relationships, friendships, love, and characters who face challenges and fight to overcome them.

Born and raised in the UK, Helen spent fourteen years living in Australia before returning home. She now lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.

You can find out more or contact Helen on the following social media:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/helenjrolfe
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hjrolfe
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/helenjrolfe

Giveaway
£10 /$15 Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be03017116/

#SoCS Nov. 14/15 Indescribable

This post was written in (belated) response to Linda G. Hill’s prompt Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “indescribable.” Use the actual word in your post or just base your post on something that defies description. My suggestion on this one; think about something that you’re passionate about and just start writing. Have fun!

There are millions of words in the English language, and yet some things are indescribable, but of course, that doesn’t deter us, stubborn bloggers and writers, we just write on and try desperately to describe the indescribable!

Things we can touch or see are usually easy to describe, but most indescribable things are also intangible, so instead of describing we use metaphors, similes, or personification in order to make them physical and describable.

Love for example becomes a budding rose, plant, or garden, or a throbbing heart, which can be red and robust or wilting and broken. It can be as bright as a star, as vast as the sea, or as striking as lightning. We can describe these things, because we can see them with our eyes and often feel them with our hands.

Is it even possible to describe love or heartache, happiness or distress, without making them tangible? Are all the words in the world insufficient?

Can you describe the colours you see at dawn or the smile on your child’s face?

Can you describe the sorrow and impotence you feel when Friday night at the disco or the stadium becomes a collective nightmare?

Is it even necessary to describe everything?

No wonder a picture paints a hundred words.

This beautiful song I heard when I was a teenager reminds me of the difficulties writers and artists can have describing feelings.

On days like today, I just want to bury myself in the sound of music and forget the hate.

Hope you’re lucky enough to be having a wonderful Sunday.

#Author Spotlight Mandy Lee & #BookReview of her Novel ‘You Don’t Know Me’

You all know why I love Romantic novels and Byronic heroes. If you don’t remember, check this post!

To sum up, they simply are tantalising, because the reader knows that this disgusting frog will become an irresistible prince, with the heroine’s invaluable help, by the time the novel / trilogy is concluded. To quote myself:

‘Byronic heroes are brooding, darkly handsome, and they have a secret, hidden past, which makes them behave antisocially. They are usually worldly, rich, cynical, destructive, and resentful. They have difficulties identifying and even expressing their emotions, and women find them extremely alluring. They are idealized yet flawed characters, who need to be recovered and repaired by the perfect heroine.’

But what are the heroines like? What kind of a woman can fall in love and transform this semi-monster into a cuddly teddy bear?

Answer: A feisty, intelligent, strong-willed, generous and loving spirit, who also has issues of her own to deal with, just like Maya.

I loved ‘You Don’t Know Me’ right from page one. It is a well-written, well-plotted, fun and enjoyable, romantic and erotic read. When I started reading I thought, ‘This is the novel I’ve been waiting to read for months.’ I love romance, and I also enjoy an erotic twist, if the characters and plot are enticing enough, and Maya and Dan are an enthralling couple to follow.

Our heroine, Maya Scotton, is an artist with a severe case of painter’s block, who takes on an office job at a construction company in order to pay the bills. She meets the seemingly heartless and mysterious owner of the company, and they both embark on a steamy and complex relationship, which will keep you turning pages impatiently.

Maya is a friendly, funny and loveable young woman, who is denying her artistic talent, by running away from herself. She desperately needs the love, reassurance and security that Dan offers.

Yet Dan has dark demands and a shocking secret. Dan is not who he seems. You don’t know me ends with a revealing cliffhanger, and I’m impatiently waiting for book two.

There is suspense as well as romance, building up to a final shocking secret, which both links them painfully yet threatens to keeps them apart forever.

I love character driven novels, and all the characters in You Don’t Know Me are so well-crafted that I felt as if I could see and hear every one of them. Everyone who appears is valuable to the reader, because they have a specific role in the plot, which moves on with every page.

The big plus, at least for me, is that it takes place in London, mainly around the South Bank, which happens to be one of my favourite places! I’ve walked near and around GabrieI’s Wharf many times, but now I can’t wait to go back and have a coffee there, Dan’s favourite place! There are many more places to look out for. Mandy Lee has drawn me into the characters’ fictional world, and I loved it!

76709-640x360-houses-of-parliament-and-london-eye-on-thames-from-above-640 — **Dan and Maya’s London**

One of the great things about being a writer, being a reader and reviewer, and having a blog in the 21st century is that you can meet and speak to other writers on Social Media. I ‘met’ Mandy on Twitter, by chance. I’m always interested in debut authors and romance, so I decided to give her book a go a few weeks ago. I was so impressed that as soon I finished reading it, I contacted her for an author interview and spotlight on my blog. I’m also telling everyone I know to give it a try. For less than the price of a coffee you get to meet a lovely young painter, fall in love, and visit London!

Here’s the interview:

Your author profile on Amazon says you work in the field of education. This means you have a full time, demanding job. I know first-hand because I’m a teacher! How did you manage to find time to write at the same time and what’s your writing routine?

Teaching is a demanding job and it’s been tough trying to fit it all in. When I get home from work, I generally take an hour or so to wind down, walk the dog, and get the dinner ready. Then I switch on the laptop and write for as long as I can. At the weekends, I do about six hours a day. In the holidays, it’s the same. I’m looking forward to giving up the full time job at Christmas, after which I’ll be taking five months off to finish the trilogy. After that, I’ll do a little supply to help pay the bills, but I’ll be able to focus a lot more on writing. I’m lucky. My family are very supportive.

What would you say to a reader to convince them to read your novel?

If you love a good story, then you won’t be disappointed! I’ve been told more than once that it’s a real page turner. Readers also tell me that they love the steamy sex scenes, and that they get thoroughly involved with the characters. It’s also pretty funny in places!

You don’t know me has romance and suspense, right to the end. You could have written a more traditional type of romance with a similar storyline, why did you decide to write an erotic instead of a more traditional type of romance?

I’m a big fan of erotic romance. I started off by reading the 50 Shades trilogy because all of my friends were reading it. I really didn’t think I’d enjoy it but I was hooked! I then went on to read other erotic romances. In particular, I loved Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series and I also lapped up the This Man trilogy by Jodi Ellen Malpas. I guess I just enjoy a good sex scene. On that level, it’s pure escapism. But the additional challenge with erotic romance is to weave the sex into the storyline so that it’s absolutely essential. I started You Don’t Know Me as an experiment to see if I could do it. Along the way, I think I finally found my genre!

Your novel has been compared to 50 Shades of Grey, I know you don’t mind this comparison, but in what ways would you say it’s similar and/or different to 50 Shades?

I’ve read quite a few erotic romances and there are similarities between all of them, the most obvious being the idea of the rich but damaged alpha male who’s unexpectedly brought to his knees by a woman. There’s nothing new in this. I think Charlotte Bronte might have got in there first with Jane Eyre, only without the sex! Having said that, I consciously worked to make my book different to 50 Shades. For example, my heroine isn’t an innocent ingénue. Maya’s a little older, definitely sexually experienced and she’s got demons of her own to deal with. She’s more than capable of giving Dan a run for his money, and while she’s willing to give him control in everything sexual, she won’t let him walk all over her outside of the bedroom. I wanted my male lead to be different too. Yes, he’s an alpha male with a shady past and kinky sexual preferences, but he wants to leave behind the hard core BDSM. Although it’s partly about the need for control, his interest in BDSM is more about escaping from who he really is. He doesn’t want that escape any more. As you get to know him, you also discover that he’s not a power-hungry control freak at all: there’s a much softer side trying to get out. And as I was creating my ideal man, he also needed a damn good sense of humour!

You say in your biography that you are in the shadows and prefer not to share an author picture due to your job. I presume that if your wrote a more mainstream type of fiction, you wouldn’t be in the shadows. Why do you think there’s a stigma in being an author of erotica?

If I weren’t a teacher, I’d be more than willing to share a picture! In fact, I’d love nothing more. Generally speaking, I don’t think that there is a stigma attached to writing erotica, not any more. In my case, it’s just that some parents might have an issue with their children being taught by someone who writes explicit sex scenes. And more than that, I’m pretty sure that if the students found out, some of them would end up reading it, and that could cause all sorts of difficult situations!

What are you writing at the moment and what are your plans for the future?

At the minute, I’m working on True Colours, the sequel to You Don’t Know Me. The second draft is done and I’m now editing and revising. It should be ready for publication just after Christmas. Then I’ll be finishing the trilogy. Before I wrote You Don’t Know Me, I wrote a comedy trilogy set in the world of education. An agent showed interest in it at one point, but couldn’t offer representation. I’m having that edited at the minute and I’ll be self-publishing it under another pen name in the New Year. But the plan is to continue with erotic romance. I have notebooks full of ideas for future stories!

How can readers find out more or contact you?
Twitter – @mandylee2015
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Mandy-Lee-424286884398779/?ref=hl
Website (including blog) – http://www.mandy-lee.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14125711.Mandy_Lee

Where can readers buy your book?
Amazon UK

Amazon US

#3linethursday: #Farewell

This poem was written in response to the Three Line Thursday photo prompt. Thirty words maximum, three lines.

Here’s my take:

Farewell

Day dawns onto my dying eyes. Farewell

Tears pour into the depth of divine despair. Love

Sinks with the last glimmer of the kiss of Death.

****

Want to read some of the others or join in? Follow this link

I’ve made a daring and comparatively weak attempt to emulate the sound of Old English in my flash poem. The repetition of the ‘d’ and ‘k’ sound gives the flash poem force and unity. Curiously, few of the words in my poem have Latin origin. The acoustic power of Old Norse strikes through.

800px-Alfred_Tennyson. — **Older Tennyson**

You all know how the Victorians inspire me to the point of frenzy. Tennyson’s poems especially drive me almost into a trance. I’m not exaggerating if I say that after Shakespeare, he taught me, still teaches me, all I need to know about the power of words.

Tennyson recovered awareness of the strength of Old English, which had been softened by the influence of Latin, (mainly through the imposition of French after the Norman invasion of 1066), and reminded us of the power of alliteration (repetition of consonant sounds), and assonance (repetition of vowel sounds), kennings (Old English type of metaphor), imagery, and symbolism to shock our brains into understanding intangible, ethereal feelings.

I had always loved Tennyson’s poems, but it was not until I had the privilege of teaching Old English poetry at the University of Córdoba for a time, using mostly Tennyson’s translations into modern English, that I fully understood his masterful use of the English language.

He recovered Medieval tales in poems like the Lady of Shallot, and The Holy Grail. He also translated many Old English Poems into Modern English, leading to a renewed interest in the core of the English Language.

Tennyson reminded us of the power of our roots and the essence of the English Language.

This is one of his most well known short poems, and one of my favourites. You could call it a Flash Poem!

The Eagle

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.

It’s a Riddle, a kenning, and it contains the dramatic use of assonance and alliteration, which is so representative of Old English / Anglo-Saxon poetry. 6 lines and 39 words were never so full of powerful language and literary history. I bow to My Master.

Hear Andrew Motion read some of his poems.

StatueOfTennyson — **Statue of Lord Tennyson in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge.**

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