Everydog reckons they’re gonna write a book one day…

…they come up to you at parties and say:
“When I’ve got nothing better to do,
when I’ve got time to play –
I’m gonna write a book – just like you.”
 
“Everyone has a book in them,” gleefully they shout.
 
You must grit your teeth, smile, and NOT say:
“I wonder how it got there – from within
– or from without?”

You have to keep your face straight

when they go on: “But I have important stuff to do,
so listen well as my brilliant tale I dictate;
then you gussy it up a bit, and I’ll give half the profits to you.”

“That’s more than generous!” they cry

as you try really hard not to curse.
Just say a polite, smiley goodbye
as you scuttle away in rapid reverse.

Maybe it’s true that everyone has a book in them,

but maybe it’s not a book for public display.

Even if it’s true that everyone has a book in them –

maybe that’s where it should stay...

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Pantster or Planner Extraordinaire??? A thought for NaNoWriMo

No way is the wrong way

  

For some pups it’s an enormous thrill

to set out on this wild ride

with no inkling how they’re gonna fill

even just one side…

…of paper, let alone a whole ream.

But somehow they take all the bits and cook

them up into a tumbling stream

of words that make up a whole book!

Others plan with mathematical precision,

with calculators and spreadsheets

and never need any revision

and reckon their method beats

any other.

Cos they’d ruther

swear by their own way,

than say

that this way, nor that way either

is the right way

nor that way neither.

Pantster or planner?
Excerpt from 'Woofs of Wisdom on Writing'

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Click here for my website on which you can read about the Awesomeness that is Jeff-Dog - with pics

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'Paws 4 Thawt' or 'Dog Gone' - which, oh which book for next week's meeting? Corgi dilemma

They couldn't decide on next week's book - should it be 'Paws 4 Thawt' or should it be 'Dog Gone'???

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Lesley Cookman, cosy crime writer extraordinaire, pays Monty and Rosie a visit on their blog!

Lesley Cookman:

First of all, thank you to Susan for allowing me on to her blog - a great honour.

Susan illustrated me (at least, that’s what I tell her):

However - although she has shown me as a slim, smoking, wine-drinking young thing with exquisite taste in scarves, writing with pen on paper in an attic - not ALL of that is quite true - no - I actually write directly onto a computer, more like this:

My heroine, Libby, lives in Steeple Martin where my books are set:

This map, especially created for me by Susan, appears in all the books and on my website.

Susan and I have been known to do joint book signings - here’s one at the Cotswold Bookstore with - from left to right: Susan Alison (map creator and co-signer of books) Gilli Allan (author of 'Torn' for Kindle), Adrian Magson (crime writer), Katie Fforde (romantic comedy writer and President of the Romantic Novelists' Association), her sister Jane Gordon-Cumming, and publisher Hazel Cushion of Accent Press (feisty, independent publishing):

 
Rosie: *snort-woof* Look - Susan’s taking a quick nap while all the lovely people are looking at the camera!

Monty: Quite right too! It’s the most noble of pastimes… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Lesley: My latest book is called Murder At The Manor and comes out on November 7th in paperback and for Kindle so it's in everyone's favorite format.

Murder at the Manor is the ninth in the Libby Sarjeant series, and features nearly all the regular characters, including Sidney, Libby’s grumpy silver tabby cat, and her friend Fran’s Balzac, a long haired black and white. The books are 'Cosy Mysteries', which means they’re more Rosemary and Thyme

 

 

than Spooks.









Libby and Fran are both former actors, and keep their association with the stage by being involved with the Oast Theatre in Steeple Martin.

It’s all very jolly and quite good fun - apart from the odd body - but I do try and keep the stories relevant to today, so have some very serious underlying themes.

I do hope fans of Susan’s art will like the books, and thank you once again, Susan, for all the pictures.


Rosie: *woof-cough* - actually, it's our blog! But, you’re very welcome, Lesley, and you can come back anytime. Well… for as long as you keep bringing the gravy-soaked biscuits, that is...

Monty: It’s been lovely getting to know you, Lesley. Am wide awake now and I’ll be sure to be there with my Kindle on November 7th ready to do the one-claw-clickety-click dance.

Yay for Lesley Cookman, cosy crime writer extraordinaire - Yayyyyy!!!!!!!!!!bark!!!!!!!!!

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Non-smoking Border Collie takes to the keyboard... (We try to please)

As per Lesley Cookman's (cosy crime writer extraordinaire) request - It's a Writer's Life

She so loved a Happy Ending greeting cards

She so loved a Happy Ending - designed for RNA conf 2010 goodie bag

It's a writer's life - whippet postcard in RNA conference 2010 goodie bag

Crowella's memoirs proved to be heavy-going - a Susan Alison writerly reflection