Dear All,
It’s hard to believe my book baby is over a month old now. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster and I’d be lying if I said things were as easy out there in Book World as Instagram might make it look. In summary: reviews have been great, sales have been slow! Perhaps it’s this sweltering weather or maybe everyone else’s June has been as mad as mine… I remain hopeful that the continuing promotional work I’m doing will mean it picks up as the holidays hit and people are looking for that ‘perfect summer read’. I like to think Kiss, Marry, Murder is ideal for a lazy day by the pool!
This month has been, as previously mentioned, quite mad. Between family, school, sport and social obligations, authoring has taken a bit of a back seat. However, I haven’t completely rested on my laurels. I squeezed in a brunch with my fellow Comedy Women in Print authors Kathleen Whyman and Nancy Peach, where we all brought our books and I didn’t get the memo about dressing to match your front cover. Earlier in the month, I also guested on the Write and Wrong podcast, talking about the choice to go ‘hybrid’, writing and my publishing journey. I love doing these sorts of things, I think I always learn a little bit about myself by doing them. If you’d like to learn a bit about me too, you can listen to that chat here.
As well as book promotion, last week I was fortunate enough to be part of the King’s Arts Festival in Wimbledon, where I ran creative writing workshops for three groups of Lower Sixth formers – six hours of workshopping with around 30 teenagers – not for the fainthearted! The workshop was ‘Humour in Writing’ and it was a part-discussion, part-writing, part-improvisation workshop that was a real joy to facilitate. I hope the students enjoyed it as much as I did – although I’m pretty sure they weren’t as knackered as I was by the end!
In the same vein, I’m also delighted to announce that I’m now a manuscript reviewer for the Professional Writing Academy. It’s a come-full-circle moment for me. Many moons ago I got my first manuscript reviewed by PWA, in order to ready myself for agent submissions. I don’t think I could have done it without them and so it’s really exciting to imagine I might help someone else on that journey, too.
It would be remiss of me not to remind you that Kiss, Marry, Murder is on sale via Amazon and also to order through most bookshops across the UK, North America and beyond. If you do read it and particularly if you enjoy it, please leave a review on whatever platform you are comfortable with. It makes an enormous difference to the visibility of the book and is much appreciated.
Happy summer! Fx
WHAT I’M READING THIS MONTH I had a sneaky two nights away in Portugal with the girls earlier this month and BLESS THEM they all brought Kiss, Marry, Murder to read! I have to say it was really fun listening to them compare notes as they reached various points, screeching ‘no spoilers!’ at each other! I had intended to get stuck into my own summer read while I was away but I forgot my prescription sunglasses so couldn’t even read a menu. I ended up listening to a spot of Marian Keyes instead. Not my go-to genre but I’ve listened to another of Marian’s books before and I like her narration even though I’d probably never pick one up to read. My Favourite Mistake is, in essence, a romance but also a wonderful coming-of-middle-age story (is this a genre? It probably should be). It had some great characters but a bit drawn out at the end for my tastes! Enjoyable none the less.
WHAT I’M WATCHING THIS MONTH This time of year is pretty terrible for TV (you know it’s bad when you’re waiting for the next episode of And Just Like That to torture you) but I enjoyed Dept Q from Netflix enough to give it a mention here. Some dark humour, interesting characters, I wasn’t in love with the plot – tbh I thought it was an overly complicated backstory while the main plot lacked suspense (perhaps because of all the time-jumping?). I dunno, there was just something about it that didn’t quite make it as gripping as Slow Horses (although made in very much the same vein), but if it’s picked up for a second series I’ll be interested to see how the team dynamics work out, as there’s a lot of good chemistry there.
WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS MONTH Setting my bum down on a sunlounger for a few weeks! But before then, I’ll be dropping in on the Breakfast Show at Riverside Radio on Thursday 3rd July, and gearing up for a 99p Kindle Deal starting on 5th. Do watch out for my summer promo video and tell your friends and family to head over to Amazon to get themselves a bargain!
Finally, the announcement of the longlist for this year’s Comedy Women in Print Prize is happening on 16th July. The very best of luck to everyone who entered and I can’t wait to add you to my TBR pile in the future!
AND FINALLY … I’m now taking bookings for book club nights, blogs, podcast and workshop opportunities in autumn. If you would like me to come along and talk about my books, writing mid-life female characters, writing through play, or generally about life, the menopause and everything, please get in touch at fayebrannwriter@gmail.com. If you’re part of a bookclub, visit my ‘books’ pages on the website and download a bookclub pack for either Kiss, Marry, Murder or Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy. They contain some discussion questions about the book, a short essay from me and MOST importantly, a cocktail recipe!
Have a wonderful summer!
Faye x
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