What Makes You Smile?

A few days ago, I got an email asking if I'd like to take part in The Science Museum's latest project, Who Am I?

Since The Science Museum was one of the first museums in London to stock my book, 24 Hours London (followed by the British Museum and the London Museum of Transport, yay!) I was definitely keen to help return the favour in my own small way.

More details of the project here, on their Facebook page or on Twitter.

Just leave a comment on my blog or send them a tweet (@sciencemuseum; hashtag #smwhoami) telling them what makes you smile.

What makes me smile? A nice long bubble bath at the end of a productive writing day. And wine.

Your turn!

On Yer Bike!

Ping-pong aside, it's now my turn to be excited! Because finally, London's Cycle Hire Scheme is about to begin! And even more thrilling, one of the rental docks is just around the corner from where we live.

The empty rental docks in Kensington.

I haven't had a bike since my uni days (and I'm not going to say how long ago that was). Although I've contemplated several times buying a bike in London to glide through the pathways of the park, I've always come up against a typical London problem: storage. But now -- starting on Friday -- I can round the corner, pop in some change, and cycle my rented bike all the way from Kensington Gardens to Hyde Park and beyond!

The cycle hire sign, ready for its debut this Friday.

Since I'm terrified of traffic, I definitely won't be going on-road. But come next Friday, if you see a blonde streaking past you (not that kind of streaking!) in the park, I'm finally on my bike!

As Promised: Ping Pong!

The Serpentine Pavilion in Kensington Gardens.

Who knew the potential of playing ping-pong could be so exciting? Certainly not I, but when The Man found out the new Serpentine Pavilion featured ping-pong tables he was practically salivating. Having grown up playing the game, he was now itching to put his skills to the test again.

The beautiful game.

Desperate to stop his bragging at just how good he really was, on a hot and sunny day we marched through the park and over to the tables. The two of us playing any game is usually a recipe for disaster -- we'll practically kill each other to win -- but we'd be in public so I was confident we could control ourselves. That, and we'd sipped a glass or two of wine while waiting in the shade for our turn at the tables.

Thankfully we were both a bit out of practice and the only thing heating up was our bodies under the beating sun. We soon retreated back to our shady patch, wine in hand... until the next match!

Parks, Ping-Pong and Paris

I had an exciting post planned today -- all about my ping-pong exploits in Kensington Gardens -- but a technology fail means they'll have to wait until another day, sadly!

However, three very nice things happened over the weekend:

1. My article on surviving jet-lag in Paris appeared on Bonjour Paris, which has already boosted Kindle sales of 24 Hours Paris;

2. Polly-Vous Francais did a great review of 24 Hours Paris, listing 24 reasons why she likes the book! You really can't get a better review than that! and

3. I had this lovely blog post pop up on my Google alerts!

Oh, how I love nice surprises.

Coming soon, when technology decides to co-operate: ping-pong in the park!

To Prom -- Or Not to Prom

Me and my dearly departing Canadian friend at the opening night of the Proms last night.

It's my favourite time of year: Prom time!

No, it’s not a graduation dance for freedom-drunk teens – it’s one of the biggest classical music events of the year. Started in 1895 with the goal of bringing classical music to the masses, the BBC Proms is an annual eight-week series of concerts by symphonies and orchestras from around the world.

Short for Promenade Concerts, Proms refers to the walking or strolling some audience members used to do inside the hall. Now, it refers to the standing areas in the hall, where you can buy a ticket on the day for only £5. Queue up for access to the Gallery – where you can lounge on the cement floor high above the Royal Albert Hall. Or, you can stay standing at ground level in the Arena. Either way, you can’t get better music at a better price. (Extract from 24 Hours London)

With yet another expat friend heading back to Canada after a three-year stint in London, we decided to mark her departure with a final dose of British culture at the Proms. I've been to loads of Proms -- and the final night at Hyde Park, which has an atmosphere all its own -- but I've never been to the opening night. Due to broken trains, though, we didn't join the queue until around 6:45 pm, by which time it stretched outside the Royal Albert Hall, down a small side street, and back again.

The queue outside the Royal Albert Hall.

Sadly, we didn't get in -- we weren't even close! Still, we managed to drown our sorrows with a final pit-stop in Soho, so all wasn't lost.

The ornate facade of the Royal College of Organists.


The side of the Royal Albert Hall.

The Albert Memorial and the top of the Royal Albert Hall.

Surviving a Conference!

Happy Bastille Day! 24 Hours Paris was just named a hot July read by Girls' Guide to Paris, so I'm having my own little celebration! If you're on Twitter, tweet me any time before 9 pm GMT today to be entered in a draw to win a copy of 24 Hours Paris.

As you know from my previous post, I've just returned from the wonderful Romantic Novelists' Association Conference. It was my first writing conference and I thought I'd share a few tips for survival!

1. Don't wear high heels. Seriously. I attempted to do so on the first day and I paid the price, big time. It was the hottest day of the year, my feet were swollen, and several lovely little blisters quickly sprouted. Just... don't.

2. Take Nurofen, just in case. The first day of the conference (and the second, but that was due to, ahem, too much champagne) I had a brutal headache. Honestly, if I didn't have my trusty Nurofen, I'm sure my head would have exploded.

3. When there's food, eat it! Due to nerves and the heat, I wasn't really that hungry during the day which meant by around 4 pm, I was almost ready to fall over! While eating usually isn't a problem for me, I would have been able to concentrate better if I'd chowed down when I could.

4. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to people. I'm usually the sort who slips off into the corners when faced with a large group of people I don't know -- particularly if that involves big-name authors, editors and agents. But if you're friendly and don't interrupt them mid-conversation then they're usually very open and friendly themselves!

5. Take business cards/ promotional postcards, etc. I had some postcards done up for The Hating Game just in time for the conference, and I'm glad I did. It was great to be able to hand people something so hopefully they'll remember me when the book comes out.

All in all, it was a fantastic conference and I'm so glad I went. Next time: no high heels, lots of chowing down, and boatloads of Nurofen!

Hidden London: The Old Royal Naval College

While you could hardly say it's 'hidden', this collection of Baroque buildings is a world away from the hustle and bustle of maritime Greenwich. I've been to Greenwich several times but never had I thought about wandering into the campus of the Old Royal Naval College, just a five-minute walk from the Cutty Sark DLR.

Last weekend, I attended the Romantic Novelists' Association Conference held within the grounds of the College. As nervous as I was, as I approached the building where the conference was being held I couldn't help but look around me in awe. Every building loomed over me with perfect proportions; it was almost like wandering around the Vatican!

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren as a hospital for pensioners, the College took over the buildings after the hospital closed in 1869. Admission is free and you can take a wander around the grounds -- including the chapel and the Painted Hall -- anytime between 10 am and 7 pm. For information, go here.

If you want to here more about the conference and see a few extra photos, head over to my Talli Roland blog.

Happy Monday!

Summer in the City: What to Do?

This year -- for the first time in many -- we're having a proper summer. By 'proper summer', I mean that it's not raining every day of the week, the temperature's above 15 C, and you don't need to head out swathed in scarves to brave the elements. (I'm not joking. One year, I didn't even unpack my summer clothes.)

So to celebrate, this post will be all about my favourite summer things! (Apologies to followers of my Talli Roland blog for the duplicate, but I thought this post worked well for both my blogs!)

1. Pimms. Pimms is a yummy liqueur that you mix with lemonade, cucumbers, strawberries and gin. I know it sounds strange but it can actually be very refreshing. And lethal. A friend of mine once streaked through Richmond after consuming too much Pimms.

2. Proms. Every night from mid-July to mid-September, you can attend wonderful classical music concerts at the Royal Albert Hall for only £4!

3. The Serpentine Pavilion. Each summer, a new architect is commissioned to design a pavilion in Kensington Gardens. It's up for about two months and then they dismantle it.

4. Stripy deck chairs in Hyde Park. Plop one down by the lake, lean back, and watch the trees sway above your head. Bliss!

5. Regent's Park Open-Air Theatre. The only permanent professional outdoor theatre in Britain, Regent’s Park Open-Air Theatre holds over a thousand people. With its pitched seats, though, you’ll feel like you can practically touch the actors on stage. Founded in 1932, the resident company is the New Shakespeare Company. At least two Shakespeare plays are performed each summer – one of them usually A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which lends itself perfectly to the park’s leafy environment.

6. Swimming in the ponds at Hampstead Heath. Bizarre but true - if you fancy a dip in a secluded pond, head up north to the Heath. There's a men's pond, a women's pond and a mixed pond.

7. Opera Holland Park. Every summer, a massive open-air opera stage is constructed in Holland Park. Tickets range from £10 to £57 and if you're a young person (not me...) then you can get free tickets here.

8. Pavement Cafés. Being able to sit on the street and eat probably doesn't seem that exciting, but when you live in a country where the sun rarely makes an appearance then it's downright intoxicating (in more ways than one).

9. South Bank Stroll. I may have mentioned several thousand times that The Man proposed and we got married on the South Bank, so it's no surprise strolling along the Thames when the sky is brilliantly blue is on my top 10 list.

10. Sun. SUN! SUUNNNN! Although technically, I'm not sure sun can really be classified as part of a British summer, when it does make an appearance we appreciate it that much more!

Guest Post and Giveaway!

Happy Monday!

Today, I'm over at Hell or High Water talking about how I attempt to juggle fiction with non-fiction!

And if you're in the UK and you'd like a chance to win a copy of 24 Hours Paris, head here to enter.

Happy Fourth of July to all my Amerian friends! Hope you're all enjoying the long weekend.

Canada Day!

It's July 1, the one day Canadians feel it's actually OK to show we're proud to be Canadian. So what is Canadian?

I have pondered this question several times during my six years living in the UK, and my two years in Poland. What is it that makes us so different from our unforgettable neighbours to the south? And are we really that different?

I'm often mistaken for an American, due to my accent. I'm always quick to point out that I am, in fact, from a completely different country. But when people ask me what's the difference, I'm at pains to answer succinctly. Is it that we like hockey? No, Americans have that passion (obsession, some might say) as well. Tim Horton's? Nope, it's spread across the States. Crazy cold winters and lots of snow? Again, it's like that in the US, too. Perhaps it's the way we say 'about' (I've never understood that one, but apparently it's different!).

I'm not sure Canadian is something that can be defined. Perhaps it's in the way we react to events that find their way through to our little peaceful piece of the world. Like the 9-11 tragedy, when the people of Gander, Newfoundland -- a town of only 9,900 people -- took in 39 trans-Atlantic flights forced to land there, with over 6,600 passengers and crew, opening up their own homes and even organizing sight-seeing outings for those stranded.

Or, indeed, in the referendum of 1995, when the Quebecois voted on the possibility of Quebec independence. Over 100,000 Canadians from across the country travelled to Montreal to show their desire for Quebec to stay Canadian. And it did, with a narrow majority voting to remain in the country.

I don't know what it is but I do know this: I'm proud to be Canadian! And many thanks to Lynn for making this Canada Day particularly special by mentioning me on her Great Reads by Canadians post! I'm so honoured and thrilled to be in such great company.

Have E-Book, Will Travel

24 Hours Paris is now available as an e-book for Kindle and is coming soon to all good ePub formats near you! :) It's great if you're travelling and don't want to carry your travel books with you. 24 Hours London is next in line.

And in other news, 24 Hours Paris just got another great review, courtesy of Nayu's Reading Corner! Check it out here.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday?!

Crikey (yes, I've just said crikey; it's my new favourite word), I can't believe a week has gone by since I've last posted here! Time flies -- and I've been busy working on lots of projects.

I've just finished the second draft (a complete rewrite!) of The Hating Game, my novel due out next year under pen name Talli Roland. While the basic elements are the same, I've made several plot changes which had a fairly major cascading effect, necessitating a lot of plunder and rewriting. I started the third draft today and while there is still a lot of work to be done, it's coming along! (You can add it to Goodreads here, or preorder from Amazon here.)

I've also started giving some thought to my next novel, and I've been hard at work writing a short story for a competition being held next week at the Romantic Novelists' Association Conference, which I'm looking forward to attending! The topic is anniversary, and let's just say my story has to do with an anniversary of a rather non-traditional kind... It's been ages since I've written a short story and I have to say, as fun as it was, it was also very difficult to get a whole story arc into 1400 words!

All that, and 24 Hours Paris will soon be available as a ebook via Amazon and Smashwords.

And that's basically where my week went! It's a scorcher here in London today and I may go curl up under a tree in the park. So much for productivity...

The State of Publishing and What We Can Do

On her wonderful blog, author Nicola Morgan recently wrote about the difficulties facing the writers these days. Good writers are being dropped from their contracts if there aren't enough sales, and what was already a tough industry is getting even tougher.

Before I was published, I didn't understand just how important it was to support an author. Small things like Amazon reviews, asking for the book in your local bookshop, or even pre-ordering can help authors immensely.

India Drummond wrote a fabulous post on how people can help authors, and vice versa. Take a read to see what you can do to support your favourite author!

Friday Interviews!

I can't believe it's Friday already - the week seems barely to have begun!

Today, I'm over at The Literary Project where the lovely Gemma Noon interviews me on pen names, travel research and so much more!

And on my Talli Roland blog, I interview short-story author Nik Perring, who has recently published a brilliant collection of short stories.

Happy Friday!

In with the Big Guns

Two very nice surprise reviews this week: one for 24 Hours London on Lost & Found in London (in French! thank you so much, Fabienne!) and one on the lovely Catherine Ryan Howard's blog for 24 Hours Paris!

Both reviews compare and contrast the 24 Hours books with other big guides and travel books, and it's so great to see that my book stacks up!

Over on my Talli Roland blog today, I speak about how I'm suffering from sleepyitis.

(Photo by Fabienne. Can you spot my book?)

Hidden London: Debenham House

As readers of my Talli Roland blog know, I recently did a photo shoot at the lovely Debenham House, just outside of Holland Park. One of the things I love about Holland Park is all the gigantic houses scattered about, popping up behind fences and rearing over walls, taking you by surprise.

Just off of Addison Road, Debenham House is definitely one of those. In the early-evening light, the glazed blue and green tiles sparkles like jewels, looking oddly out of the place amidst the rather dull stucco exteriors of its neighbours.

Built in 1906 for the chairman of the famous department store chain Debenham's, the house is now worth around £30 million -- and it's up for sale, if you have the dosh!

Here's what the estate agent has to say about it:

The house is a mixture of the Arts and Crafts movement, neo-classical and Byzantine styles. Glazed tiles are used extensively inside this ten-bedroom, five-bathroom house. Some depict peacocks, eagles, flowers, galleons and mythical beasts. Many may have come from an assignment originally commissioned for the Russian czar's yacht Livadia, built in the 1870's. In addition, there is a covered walkway from the road, a front garden laid out in a formal Dutch style and an Orangery in the back garden, where there is also a croquet lawn and a coach house with two-bedroom suites.

Go on, treat yourself!

Paris Porn

Ahem. Did that get your attention?

Today, I'm at the HiP Paris blog, talking about some of my favourite Paris places alongside some stunning photos of Paris! If you don't follow the HiP Paris blog, you're missing out on some truly great Paris photo porn.

If I haven't excited you too much, hop over to read more!

Where I'm At

Just a quick one to say I'm over at author Nik Perring's blog, talking about why writing 400+ travel-guide listings isn't boring!

And on my Talli Roland blog, I ask: if you had the choice, would you write full-time?

Happy Wednesday!

To Kiss or Not to Kiss

Something has been bothering me for the past six years. I'm really hoping for some answers!

You know when you meet someone for the first time, and there's that awkward moment? They lean forward and in one split second, you must decide: to kiss or not to kiss?

Since I moved over here, it's a constant conundrum. Some people shake hands. Some kiss on one cheek, some on both. What to do?

So someone, please, tell me: how do you know to kiss or not to kiss?

24 Hours Paris - Reader Reviews!

Only two weeks after the launch of 24 Hours Paris and reader reviews are starting to roll in! Here's a few of the notes we've received. Thanks to everyone who's bought a copy and reviewed it!

And I've broken over 100 followers (Jen was my 100th)! Thank you all for reading and following along over the past year and a bit -- I really appreciate it.

Received the book within five days and have read it cover to cover twice. Highlighted everything I want to do. That would take extending our travels however! But my list is certainly looking different than it was a few days ago. I'm sure this trip to Paris will be so distinct from my previous visits because of you. I will be back to you upon my return and report. Thanks so much for all your research. I will certainly recommend your books to anyone I know traveling to London and Paris.
-- Marcy Eisenberg, USA

What a fun, intriguing book! I've been to Paris only once. However, I shall return. Soon. I'll have 24 Hours Paris with me.
-- Rosemary Henley

Whether you are passing through, staying awhile or starting a new life, there are some books about Paris that are a must and this is one of them. You may have been before, you have searched online as what to do, you have asked friends, STOP. This book offers the alternatives to the regular "things to do in ......" Yes, it still offers the best places to eat, drink and see but it also offers a quirkier side to this amazing city. This book will take you that little bit further under the skin of this great city. 24 hours is never enough in Paris, but if that's all you have, then what a 24hrs you will have. Already in the bag for the next visit. A great book for every type of visitor.
-- Mr MJ Blades, New York

Paris is, unfortunately, a city I seem to end up in while 'just passing through'. Be it on the way to the Disney resort, or stranded there while waiting for a connecting flight to India. On both occasions, we just 'did the sights' I wish I had this book back then. Pocket sized (essential!) and easy to flip through and set out in sections relating to the time of day, you simply turn to the hour you're in and voila, instant suggestions for places to visit and eat. Most of them are quirky, interesting and different, there are plenty of places to visit for the whole family during the day-light hours along with more unusual haunts for the more adventurous (sewers and sex shops anyone?). In short this book allows you to get the most out of a city at any hour of the day, perfect if you're passing through or spending a long weekend. Looking forwards to seeing what city Marsha tackles next!
-- Fenschwing, UK

Author India Drummond to Be Published!

I am so thrilled to have an interview today with friend and writer India Drummond, who has just signed a contract to have her novel Ordinary Angels published!

India and I 'met' through our blogs and Twitter -- over a year-and-a-half ago now! Through phone calls and emails, we've shared the pain of trying to get published, lots of laughs and a little (OK, quite a bit) of snark, too. India gives the best critiques ever, and she's been so helpful to me in my own journey to get published. I've read Ordinary Angels and I think she has a hit on her hands!

Here's the blurb:

Most of Zoë’s friends are dead, but she doesn’t mind because they died long before she met them. Then one Tuesday night an angel takes her salsa dancing and turns her world upside down. Grim reality closes in when she discovers a body in her company’s boiler room and Higher Angels accuse her best ghost friend of murder. Knowing she’s the only one who can stand against them, Zoë resorts to lying, stealing and summoning. In the end, getting blood on her hands forces Zoë to question herself.

You’re an American living in Scotland writing about angels. Tell us more about how you got to Scotland and the paranormal!

I moved to Scotland nine years ago after marrying a Certain Highlander. We'd met a few years before when we had been working at an American company on their Y2K project (remember those?) and became good friends. A few years later we got back in touch, found we were both single, and he said the single most romantic thing I've ever heard uttered: "I can't let you go again." (Awww!) Actually, the kernel of the idea of Ordinary Angels came from him. He was saying to me one morning after a rambunctious bout of mischief (you have to watch those Highlanders... very mischievous), "What?!?! I'm a perfect angel!" And I replied something along the lines, "Yeah, some kinda crackhead angel you would make." This silly moment made me think about what angels would be like if they were real. The story unfolded naturally from there.


You’re going to have your first book published. What was the process to get there, and what’s it about?

The road to publication has been fraught, as it is for most authors! I had my share of rejection from agents, and then I started doing the math. I realised that most agents want celebrities, people with huge platforms, or experts in a field because they need a book to be a super-seller before they can make much money. Remember they're making 15% of a paperback's 5-10% royalty. That's why a debut author with no sales record is such a risk. So after banging my head against that wall with requests for partials and even fulls that would get "almost, but not quite" replies, I decided to look at smaller presses that would take submissions without agents. This year I sent to three publishers, one of which was Lyrical Press. They offered me a great contract, their authors love them, and their standards are really high (judging from their books I have purchased and read for myself), so I know I made the right choice!


What’s the one thing you found most frustrating about the journey to publication? And what’s the best thing once you have a signed contract?

The biggest frustration by far is the uncertainty. Is my work any good? Am I wasting my time? I felt like the school dork asking the class president to the prom... over and over every day! I can't tell you how great it felt to get a "Yes!" The best thing about having that contract is the surge in confidence it gave me. Making it over that first hurdle told me I could jump all the ones to come. Since receiving that contract, I've really been feeling energised and inspired on my current works-in-progress.

Describe your writing space.

I have a PC in a home office I share with a Certain Highlander. I tend to get up early in the mornings, so I have a couple hours to myself before he comes in and starts bothering me. (I swear it's what he lives for!) Recently, though, I did get a new laptop, and I've enjoyed the mobility. Now I sometimes write in the living room or the bedroom. I'm not as pernickety about these things as I used to be. The more I write, the more naturally it comes... no matter where I am.

What are you working on now? An epic on sheep farming in the Scottish Highlands?

Sorry! No sheep in this one. Will have to work some into a story sometime. I have to admit, I love the sheep. So adorable! I have a few projects that I've been tinkering with, but the one that is getting the most attention is a romantic sci-fi called Wildings. The blurb will go something like this (although it's still rough, I admit): The Overlords have captured Avid, a rogue human, and discovered he has a psychic ability which makes him incredibly valuable in their society. They send him to be trained by Rain, a telepathic slave who is both repulsed and fascinated by the Outland barbarian. He must somehow convince her to give up everything she's ever known and to help him escape before it's too late.

And finally, a question of utmost important: cupcakes or donuts?

Ooh, that's a tough one! I'm such a tart for pastries. (I know... bad pun. Sorry!) I'd say I'd take either, as long as it came with sprinkles.

Thank you, India, and CONGRATULATIONS! If you can, please hop over to India's blog to say hi!

Arts Mentoring: Launch Party!

I'm in an utter disbelief that it's actually June! And for once, London weather seems to be co-operating. After a week or so of being plunged back into winter, we've emerged into the light: pale, blinking and stunned. The sun is shining, people are going crazy with shorts... I hope it lasts!

This Saturday night, The Man and I will be putting on our finery (if I can find some) and heading down to Westbourne Grove for the launch party of the Arts Mentoring Charity. I can't wait -- it's going be a blast and it's for a great cause; who could ask for more? If you're in London and want to get a ticket, go here.

Here's some more information on the charity:

Arts Mentoring is a new charity set up by 3 Notting Hill residents who wanted to bring the joy of the arts to children around the world who have not had the chances we’ve had. We decided to do something about this and Arts Mentoring is the outcome. We will be raising funds and recruiting artists to spend time in orphanages bringing their own talents and enthusiasms to those children.
By ‘arts’ we mean everyone involved in artistic expression from singers, to actors, to painters, photographers, musicians but not limited to these at all!

At Artsmentoring we know we have had the luxury of personal experience in the arts and have always been keen supporters but we know that these experiences are not typical for millions of children around the world and in the UK and it was time to help change this. Children whose lives are hard can find joy through the arts as they see another side to life, have a chance to express themselves and learn skills that may change their lives.

See you there!

WAG: The Unexpected

I've missed out on the past two-ish WAGs due to, well, a basic lack of organisation... but I'm back! This will be short and sweet, though, as I've just written 3000 words and I'm brain-dead!

Today's WAG topic:
“Unexpected”. Surprise is the hardest thing to fake (in real life and in fiction), but something essential to a well-written story. So observe (or imagine) someone who is experiencing something they didn’t see coming. It can be something big or small. Sometimes the smallest surprises have the biggest impact!

She sat down at her desk and, as always, looked out the window to the street outside. But something was not quite right.

Where was it?

Her eyes scanned the pavement, searching frantically back and forth. Her mouth formed a silent O and she rose with disbelief.

This could not be happening. She blinked, but when her eyes opened nothing had changed.

The rubbish bin was gone. GONE! Disappeared into the night, along with its hidden treasures so frequently searched for by those who sought she knew not what. Now, she would never know. Now, she'd have to do more work instead of indulging in free rubbish-bin entertainment.

Now, life would never be the same.

(Yes, I miss my RUBBISH BIN! RIP, rubbish bin.)

For this week's other WAG participants, follow the links below:

Bank Holiday Catch-Up

The past few weeks have been a bit of a blur, with the 24 Hours Paris launch, my parents visiting, and my citizenship! I've spent this long weekend trying to catch up on all my emails and updating my website (if you have a chance to take a look, I've completely redesigned it)! With rain, wind, and the random bit of sun thrown in, it's actually been a good time to delve into the pile of work awaiting and start hammering away at it.

With edits of my novel The Hating Game well underway, I've also added the book on Goodreads -- and it's now available for pre-order on Amazon! I don't know how this happened, but people must be pre-ordering because earlier today it was at 22,000 (better than it sounds!) in the salesrank! Roll on 2011!

Now I need to really get my head down and focus on my novel edits. I'm about one-third of the way through and doing some major rewrites, but it's much stronger already and I'm starting to get really excited (and nervous) about releasing it to the general public. There's something so anxiety-inducing about knowing your work will be seen and judged (hopefully in a good way!).

Happy Bank Holiday weekend, everyone!

A Picture's Worth a Million Words

Still basking in the glow of my new citizenship, but what better way to remind me of how great my fellow expat countrywomen are than by seeing this on Within Ireland's blog?

Thank you so much -- you made my day!

I'm In!

Thank you for all for the congratulatory messages yesterday! I'm happy to report that I'm now officially a British citizen!

The ceremony, held in Kensington Town Hall, was lovely and surprisingly ceremonial.

I've been to one or two of such ceremonies back in Canada, and (although it may be slightly unpatriotic to say this), I have to say this one was better.

Maybe it's because I was taking an active part, but the individual oaths that we had to take, the Alderman in his ceremonial dress and the music that played throughout the ceremony certainly put a tear in my slightly jaded eye.

Afterwards, we had tea and biscuits with the ceremony officials, where we learned that Kensingon is one of three Royal Boroughs in the country (the other two are Kingston and Windsor).

And then The Man and I took off to the nearby pub for a celebratory Pimms in the sun.

What better way to celebrate being British?

My Brit Birthday!

With about two hours to go until my Citizenship Ceremony this afternoon and my wardrobe all decided thanks to the help of some friends on Twitter, I've decided to make this post a tribute to my adopted homeland! I'll try to drop by later to upload some photos from the ceremony.

So here's England's most patriotic anthem, based on Blake's poem Jerusalem:


And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon Englands mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green and pleasant Land.

Wales!

A great few days in Wales! Here are a few photos - enjoy! Drop back tomorrow when I BECOME A BRITISH CITIZEN! Yay!

Chepstow Castle.

Tintern Abbey.

Isolated graveyard on the Gospel Pass, Black Mountains.

On top of the Black Mountains.

The Wye River, Hay-on-Wye.

The largest second-hand bookstore in the world, Hay-on-Wye.

The Olde Ferrie Inne, Symonds Yat.

On Little London

I'm back from an amazing trip to Wales and Hay-on-Wye (pictures to come!), but I just wanted to post a link to my interview on Little London Observationist. Take a peek if you've got the time!

Hit the Hay

Just a quick one to say that my parents are in town and tomorrow we're heading off to the wonderful world of Wales -- in particular, Hay-on-Wye! I am so exicted because if you like books, this is paradise. The town has over 30 bookshops!

And here's where we'll be staying...

It's all French to Me...

Just came across this wonderful poem by Irish writer Niamh Boyce, which scored her a copy of 24 Hours Paris from Me and My Big Mouth (Niamh, hope you don't mind me stealing it to post here...).

Pour Marianne
À l'âge de 37,
j'avais enfin plaisir à Paris,
parce que j'ai gagné livre de Marsha
sur le site de bouche grande fantastique...
Donc je laisse le téléphone sonne de la conserver,
comme je sat y twittering doucement à tous mes amis à la maison,
debout sur les fours électriques...

Head over to the comments section on her blog to see the translation! Thanks, Niamh!

Six Years in London

In all the excitement of last week, the six-year anniversary of my arrival in London slipped right by! This year more than ever, I really feel like London is my home. When I first landed here, I barely knew anyone; I was about to embark on a career in teaching; and I didn't know much about the city. Now, I'm married, I'm a full-time writer and I've written a book about London (and Paris, too)! And I'm going to have a novel published... set in London, of course. What a difference six years can make!

After the wedding ceremony at Dali Universe.

London has played such an important role in my life. The Man and I met on the South Bank and despite both of us being from other countries, we knew it was where we wanted to get married. With our ceremony practically under the London Eye and our reception on the Thames, our wedding felt like a celebration of London, too.

The Millennium Bridge from our boat on the Thames.

Career-wise, London was very helpful in quickly giving me guidance that I really did not want to teach here -- long-term, anyway (thanks, London... I think). It provided the subject matter for my first book, 24 Hours London, which taught me so much about the publishing process, promotion and lots of other details I'd naively thought would magically take care of themselves. Now, with my first novel set to be launched next year, I feel even more grateful. If I hadn't been living here, I never would have met the publisher who helped set my publishing career in motion.

The latest cover design for my new novel, under pen-name Talli Roland.

So... here's to six years in London! I hope the next six will be as brilliant.

The Winners!

It's the day after launch and everything went well! Thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments here and on Twitter. I'm over at writer India Drummond's blog today with the top five Paris places for writers. Thanks, India, for hosting me!

And now for the winners of 24 Hours Paris and 24 Hours London!

24 Hours London goes to... Gemma Noon, who prefers London! Here's her reason:
Paris has effortless chic and is, I think, the more refined and grown up of the two cities. London is the more daring. It gets things wrong. it also gets them oh so right. Culturally it is more willing to embrace those that give it a go than its posh neighbour.Paris is chic. London is cool.Hell, I'm still in my twenties. I vote for cool :-)

24 Hours Paris goes to... Virtual Onion, who prefers Paris! Here's the reason:
Hard choice but I'd have to say Paris. It is a city of romance, beauty, 1920s writers and existential debates in little cafes. It inspires and refreshes. It feeds the body and the soul.

If you could both please email me your postal addresses (marshawrites AT gmail.com), I'll get the books out to you! Congratulations!

If you haven't won, don't worry! You can still win a copy of 24 Hours Paris on Me and My Big Mouth. All you need to do is write something in French (hello, Google Translator!) in the comments section and he'll choose the winners on the weekend!

24 Hours Paris Launch Day

It's finally launch day (and I'll stop harping on about it soon, I promise!).

Lots of exciting stuff going on! The 24-Hour Tweetathon is in full swing -- starting from this morning at 12 a.m., every hour for 24 hours, I'm tweeting top tips from 24 Hours Paris. You can follow along here.

On his brilliant book blog Me and My Big Mouth, Scott Pack will be giving away 5 copies of the book. All you need to do is write something in French (hello, Google Translator!) in the comments section and he'll choose the winners on the weekend.

And you can still enter to win a copy of 24 Hours Paris or 24 Hours London. Just click here and write in the comments section which city you prefer: London or Paris. You don't need to have been to either; just use your imagination! I will make the draw tomorrow and post the results then.

Oh, yes, and to buy the book you can go here or to Prospera Publishing. Thank you all for putting up with my plethora of Paris posts and if you do read the book, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

24-Hour Tweetathon!

Well, two reasons to celebrate: it looks like Britain may finally have a government! That, and the 24-Hour Tweetathon starts tonight at 12 a.m.! Every hour for 24 hours, I'll tweet top tips from 24 Hours Paris. You can follow along here.

And for anyone with some spare time on their hands, here's the link to my BlogTalk interview with Sean Barry of Casting Couch.

24 Hours Paris Launch Week!

It's launch week and I'm busy getting all my ducks in a row for Wednesday! I've got my hot little hands (cold little hands, actually, the weather's freezing) on ten copies of 24 Hours Paris and I've even signed one already for a Canadian friend!

Tonight, the wonderful Sean Berry of BlogTalk Radio's The Casting Couch will be interviewing me about my Paris book; you can listen along at 6 p.m. EST, or I'll post the link tomorrow. Having spoken with Sean back in November, I'm less nervous this time around. I just hope I can stay awake until 11 p.m. my time!

And you can still enter to win a copy of 24 Hours Paris or 24 Hours London. Just click here and write in the comments section which city you prefer: London or Paris. You don't have to have been to either; just use your imagination!

Election Day!

So it's finally Election Day here in the UK! Polling stations have been open since 7 a.m. this morning, and the whole country (well, at least 20 per cent) is eagerly awaiting the results of what the media is claiming to be 'the most exciting election of the last 50 years'. Will it or won't it be a hung parliament? Will Nick Clegg (otherwise known as the White Obama -- no, I'm not kidding -- come out on top in a triumph for change?

Although I'm not yet quite a British citizen (two more weeks!), as a member of the Commonwealth I am allowed to cast my vote. So bright and early, I trotted down to the nearby library to have a go at exercising my civic duty. The polling station was quite small compared to the one at home, but manned by four smiling faces who located me on the voter registry and handed me two papers: one white, one green. Gah?

Pretending I knew what I was doing, I was pointed to a nearby cubicle where I learned that green was for council elections and white was for the general election. Scanning the lengthy list for the general election, I had to giggle: where else on earth would you have a 'Lady Catherine' running (for the UKIP, naturally)? I made my X (oddly, there was no box to make the X in -- and I can assure you the X was not made by a Conservative name), then put my ballot in the box.

Will a change be coming? Either way, I've done my part for the politics of my adopted nation!

24 Hours Paris Launches One Week from Today!

Yet more excitement! Can you handle it? I'm certainly trying to stay sane!

Time has flown and 24 Hours Paris launches one week from today! We have a snazzy new cover and some great reviews. To get a taste of the book and to see how to win free copies, head over to the 24 Hours Paris blog. But wait!

Because you can win your very own 24 Hours Paris book right here (gosh, I sound like a TV advert) or a copy of 24 Hours London. All you need to do is either write in the comments section or email marshawrites AT gmail.com with the answer to this question:

Which city do you like more -- London or Paris -- and why?
(Note: nation bashing does not count as a reason!).

Let's see if we can reignite the great English-French battles, shall we? I'll be giving away one copy of 24 Hours Paris and one copy of 24 Hours London to the two best (or most interesting) answers.

The contest is open until launch day -- May 12, 2010. I'll post the winners on that day. Also on launch day, I'll be doing a 24 Hour Tweetathon on Twitter, where every hour from 12 a.m. on May 12th until 11 p.m. that same day, I'll be posting tips from the book. Follow along here.

Right. Now where's my coffee? I need more caffeine...

WAG: First Time

This week's WAG theme is 'First Time':

Everything we’ve ever done had a ‘first time’. Think of an activity (either of your own or something you observe of someone else) and write about the first time of that experience, and perhaps even compare it to subsequent experiences. Maybe even pick a moment that might have looked mundane from the outside, but made a significant change to the person experiencing it. Not a lot of rules, as usual… just let your imagination flow!

My eyes bulged and I gasped, mouth open like a panting dog. I flapped my hands in the air, trying to summon the Arctic winds to quell the volcano erupting inside of me. Streams of lava seared my throat and flowed through to my stomach, bubbling gleefully inside me. My tongue darted out to wet my lips, setting them on fire. The was one thought, and one thought only my frantic brain could form. I would never, ever eat Scotch Bonnet peppers again.

Here's what others have posted:

How to Join the Writing Adventure Group
Sue O’Shields
Caroline Dickie (Follow Caroline on Twitter)
Melanie Trevelyan (Follow Melanie on Twitter)
Kate McIntire (Follow Kate on Twitter)
Marsha Moore (Follow Marsha on Twitter)
Miss G (Follow Miss G on Twitter)
JM Strother (Follow JM on Twitter)
India Drummond (Follow India on Twitter)
Mickey Hoffman

The Writing Adventure Group is on Facebook. Join us there too, and get weekly reminders so you never miss an adventure.

There is now a Writing Adventure Group list on Twitter! Follow the list and never miss a WAGger tweet! I’m working on adding some past WAGgers too… if I’ve missed you, please drop me an @mention and I’ll add you!

Win a Copy of 24 Hours Paris from Francophilia!

The wonderful weather joy of the Bank Holiday weekend has climaxed with hail (yes, hail!). But if you fancy dreaming about somewhere other than London, you can win a copy of 24 Hours Paris over at Francophilia. Just enter before the end of May!

Happy Monday!

Lucy Luck, Lorella Belli and Juliet Pickering: Agent Round-Up

Last week I went to a great talk by agent Lucy Luck at the London Writers' Club (if you're in the London area, you should check the club out; it's a great way to network with other writers and industry professionals). Over the past year, I've also been to talks by agents Juliet Pickering of AP Watt and Lorella Belli, so I thought I'd do a round-up here of all their great advice!

Lucy Luck, April 2010

• The publishing industry has always been tough; it hasn't really got any tougher
• Writers generally sign with the agent, not the agency
• Translation rights, American rights and film rights are the most important things for writers to hang onto, to maximise later
• There is a real disparity between the 'branded' authors and new authors in terms of what publishers are prepared to take risks on
• What makes her commit to a book? If she reads the first bit, then puts it away and still remembers it after a few weeks and wants to read more, then she'll take another look. For her, it's all about cadence and voice
• She works closely with authors to edit their MS but will usually only do three rounds of MS edits with them
• DON'T begin your MS with a character waking up from a hang-over -- clichéd and she sees this loads of times
• First person and present tense are incredibly hard to pull off
• You have to practise writing. You wouldn't expect a concert pianist etc to be great right away. You must write because you enjoy it, not just to get published.
• Personalise your approach to agents. Do research on their websites.
• Online presence and promotional skills are good (like the icing on the cake), but what's really important is the writing!

For more notes from the session, click here (if you scroll down, you can also read my guest post on organising your writing day).

Juliet Pickering, January 2010

• It's better to approach in hard copy than email (for her, anyway), as email is easily dismissed.
• As more editors are taking on more and more work (due to cuts etc), agents are increasingly acting as editors
• Agents in the UK typically take 15% commission
• Advances are usually split in three instalments: first instalment after the contract signed; second instalment upon delivery of MS; third instalment upon publication
• Ultimately, promotion is the publisher's responsibility, not the agent's
• Book launches happening less frequently now due to economic conditions
• Royalties generally paid twice a year
• If your book sold averagely, you can expect to see a return on sales within 12 to 18 months (must earn out your advance first)
• Most books are not published in hardback anymore: published first in trade paperback then paperback
• Publishing is changing rapidly due to eBooks - uncertainty as to how publishers are dealing with electronic rights

Lorella Belli, February 2009

• There are now more than 120,000 new titles published a year.
• Choosing to become a professional writer is a bit like starting a business and should be approached the same way.
• There are over 150 literary agents in the UK.
• Commission charges are pretty standard in the industry: 15% (UK sales); 20% (US sales)
• Lorella Belli Agency is interested in non fiction, women's fiction - strong memorable characters, original storyline, pace and good story-telling.
• Reading a novel is like watching a film: when you start watching it, if you think it's boring, you change the channel. That's what agents and publishers do if your work isn't strong enough to engage them

WAG: The Results

Just want to say thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments here and on my Talli blog! The blogs will stay separate, so feel free to check back at both to see what I'm up to.

A lot of people have asked me about the pen-name. It's mainly because I'm with the same publisher for my fiction and non-fiction work, so a pen-name is an easy way to draw a clear line between the two. I'd love to say it's because of smutty content in my fiction... but while there are a lot of crazy happenings and characters, there's not a whole lot of smut!

Without further ado, here are the results of last week's WAG!

WAG #19 Results and WAG #20 instructions below. All are welcome to join next week’s adventure!

The theme for the Writing Adventure Group 19 was “Pick a Pocket”: Pick someone out of a crowd and describe what (you imagine) is in their pockets (Unless you want to be brave and ask them!) Give us both meaning and physical details, and don’t forget to let yourself be surprised.

————————–
How to Join the Writing Adventure Group
Isaac Liljedahl (New to WAG!)
Caroline Dickey (New to WAG!)
Melanie Trevelyan
Peter Spalton
Miss G (Follow Miss G on Twitter!)
Marsha Moore (Follow Marsha on Twitter!)
Sue O’Shields
Gunnar Helliesen (Follow Gunnar on Twitter!)
India Drummond (Follow India on Twitter!)
JM Strother

The Writing Adventure Group is on Facebook. Join us there too, and get weekly reminders so you never miss an adventure.

Next Week: The First Time
Everything we’ve ever done had a ‘first time’. Think of an activity (either of your own or something you observe of someone else) and write about the first time of that experience, and perhaps even compare it to subsequent experiences. Maybe even pick a moment that might have looked mundane from the outside, but made a significant change to the person experiencing it. Not a lot of rules, as usual… just let your imagination flow!

I'm Going to be a Published Fiction Writer!

Yesterday, I hinted at some news that has been in the works for awhile. It's just been announced in the Prospera Publishing newsletter (sign up for some great publishing tips!), so now I can let out my breath and share!

I'm going to be a published fiction writer, under the pen-name Talli Roland! While I feel incredibly lucky to have my non-fiction published, of course, anyone who's been reading this blog for the past little bit knows that fiction is my real passion. I love travel writing and will continue to work on the 24 Hours series but I've always wanted to have my fiction out there in the world! This is the sixth novel I've written and while it still needs a lot of work before it sees the light of day (my editor is peppering me with great suggestions!), words really cannot explain how excited I am!

So what's it all about? Called The Hating Game, here's a brief blurb:

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy.

After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £50,000 prize?

Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

Who will win The Hating Game? Find out in early 2011.

Thank you all for helping me along this jouney so far!

New Look, New Book!

In honour of the upcoming 24 Hours Paris launch (well, not really -- I just got tired of the blue background), I have decided to go with a cleaner look for my blog. Hope you find it easier to read.

In other news, I recently wrote an article for BonjourParis.com about my Parisian explorations beyond the Eiffel Tower. You can read more here.

And in even more news, my alter-ego Talli Roland (my pen-name for fiction) might have some good news to share soon about a fiction project! Stay tuned or watch out for Prospera Publishing's bi-monthly newsletter for more details coming soon. I'd love it if you'd join me over at my fiction blog where I promise I am much better at returning comments and follows (I've been very lame here, I know!). If you tweet, you can also follow me as Talli there, too!

Why the pen name? There's no element of secrecy; it's just to draw a line between my work as a travel writer and a fiction writer. I'll still be updating this blog regularly with London and travel news, as well as tidbits from my daily life (exciting, I know), but my fiction blog is more focused on all the delightful things writers struggle with, including writer's arse. It's lighter and fluffier and loads of fun to write and I'm really enjoying all the interaction with other bloggers from around the world.

Thanks to everyone for continuing to follow me along on this roller-coaster journey (especially those who know me -- or follow me -- as both Marsha and Talli)! Fingers crossed for future developments!

WAG: Pick a Pocket

This week's WAG is "Pick a Pocket": Pick someone out of a crowd and describe what (you imagine) is in their pockets.

Every day at 7:30 am, there's a woman who waits at the bus-stop across the street. She's been there each week-day morning since I can remember -- for at least five years now. Stout with a serious mask on her fleshy face, I imagine her sensible denim pockets are stuffed full of practical bits and bobs for the day ahead as a cleaner of Kensington's posh mansions. A band to tie pack her shoulder-length no-nonsense bob; enough change for a packet of crisps for her morning snack. Her mobile makes the pocket bulge, so she transfers it to her jacket, its grey chunky casing so unlike the sleek phones of the City bankers waiting with her. She shoves it away quickly before they can see -- not that she cares what those poncy blokes think of her, anyway. She sighs and pulls out her bus-pass as the red monster lunges up the street towards her. Another day begins.

London Marathon

It's a muggy rainy day here in London, yet the city is buzzing. The London Marathon is on! Most of the top runners have crossed the line now, and the crowds are about half-way through. Although I love to marvel at how anyone can run so quickly for so long, what really gets me is watching the 'regular' athletes struggle through.

The Marathon is a huge fundraising event for British charities and many people run on behalf of charities, donning a variety of costumes to do so. I've seen The Angel of the North (how anyone could run with such a sculpture on them is beyond me), a UK Mail parcel, and a rhino. You have to applaud the sheer bravery of someone willing to draw a rhino costume along London streets!

I'd love to run the Marathon. I even applied a few years ago, but it's super hard to get in. One day!

WAG: The Results!

The theme for the Writing Adventure Group 18 was “Invisible Object” Look around your workspace, favourite chair, back yard, etc. and notice the objects around you. Choose one that is so familiar that you no longer notice it, even though it’s right next to you. Describe it as though you’re seeing it for the first time and particularly any feelings you have about it, past or present. Would you miss it if it was gone?

And the participants:

How to Join the Writing Adventure Group
Peter Spalding
Melanie Trevelyan
Mickey Hoffman
Kate McIntire
JM Strother
Marsha Moore
Miss G
India Drummond

Next Week:
“WAG #19: Pick a Pocket”

Let’s do some stalking people-watching for this one! Pick someone out of a crowd and describe what (you imagine) is in their pockets (Unless you want to be brave and ask them!) Give us both meaning and physical details, and don’t forget to let yourself be surprised. (This week’s topic inspired by my son Bear.)

How to be added to the “results” post next week:
*Write whatever you like based on the theme suggested
*Post the results on your blog
*Email THE DIRECT LINK TO YOUR WAG POST (not just your blog) to India AT IndiaDrummond DOT com (or use the handy-dandy web form). This way I can link back to you in the next post! Please include the word WAG in your subject heading. Please include the title of the post (if any) and your name as you want it to appear on the listing. If you do not do this, I will use the name as it appears on your email.

To get more people involved, please use Twitter, FB status, myspace, your blog, etc to tell your writer friends about the group and talk about your own writing adventure!

All are welcome to join, so spread the word!

WAG! Invisible Object

The lovely India Drummond has resurrected the Writing Adventure Group! Anyone is welcome to get involved; just email India to participate (her email is below. Here are this week's instructions:

“WAG #18: Invisible Object” Look around your workspace, favourite chair, back yard, etc, and notice the objects around you. Choose one that is so familiar that you no longer notice it, even though it’s right next to you. Describe it as though you’re seeing it for the first time and particularly any feelings you have about it, past or present. Would you miss it if it was gone? No rules! Just write! Post the results on your blog.

After you post your results, email THE LINK TO YOUR POST (not just your blog) to India@IndiaDrummond.com This way I can link back to you in the next post! Please include the word WAG#18 in your subject heading so I don't miss it! (I get a lot of email) Please include the title of the blog/post (if any) and your name as you want it to appear on the listing. If you do not do this, I will use the name as it appears on your email.

And my 'Invisible Object':

Dusty and slumped, it sits under my desk like an abandoned dog. I can almost imagine it casting reproachful looks my way. How could you do this to me? You used to like me!

It's true. There was a time I loved the rough feel of the leather, the large stitches holding its patch-work together, the way the strap sat just so on my shoulder. I'd even brought it with me half-way around the world, from Europe to Canada and back again. But now... I gave it a kick as I stretched out my legs. Now, it was just one more annoying object stuffed underfoot.

To Quote a Few...

Time flies -- and so does volcanic ash, apparently! In the past few days, I've been finishing up a draft of a fiction project and running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get some last-minute quotes for 24 Hours Paris before our press deadline. I might have mentioned once (or several!) times how hard it is to ask people (experts!) to review your book. Well, throw a deadline into the mix and I've found it's much easier to bite the bullet and go for it!

This time around, I did find it easier to get over the cringe factor. Not only did I have 24 Hours London behind me, but I'd done it before and had some sucess (thanks Toni and Mike and everyone else who reviewed my last book!).

A big thank you everyone who looked at the ARC and got back to me with such brilliant quotes -- I appreciate it so much and I can't wait to hold a hard copy of the book in my hands!

Here's what the Paris experts said about 24 Hours Paris! (I realise I'm blowing my own horn here, but I'm proud of the book!)

"Marsha Moore steers us away from tired postcard imaginings of Paris and provides good ideas for encountering the city in its authentic, contemporary and un-shiny complexity."
Courtney Traub, Guide to About.com Paris Travel

“From pissoirs to parrots – Marsha Moore’s new guidebook 24 Hours Paris by Prospera UK is an absolutely original guide to Paris, chock full of unusual ideas for touring hidden areas and attractions in the City of Light. Bravo to Marsha for coming up with a totally new and creative way to see my favorite town.”
Doni Belau, Founder, www.girlsguidetoparis.com

“This incredible guidebook offers an hour-by-hour roadmap for exploring the hidden wonders of this remarkable city, making it a must-have ... even for people who think they know Paris.” Linda Donahue, Editor-in-chief, ParisienSalon.com

“Moore’s guide to Paris is a real encyclopaedia of the hip and the quirky, full of insider facts and trivia, that will banish all thoughts of ennui for much longer than the stated 24 hours.”
Duncan Rhodes, Editor, Urbantravelblog.com

“In spite of the fact I’ve lived in Paris for 22 years, this book is a real eye-opener and I’m keeping it next to my bed in case I awaken at 3 a.m. and want to go out. I’ve read so many guidebooks but this one has different take on the City of Light. It’s fun in addition to being illuminating. Marsha, thank you for making Paris even more exciting."
Karen Fawcett, President, Paris New Media, LLC, www.bonjourparis.com

"24 Hours Paris takes up where the conventional guide books leave off, with fresh and sassy bite-sized tips on Paris."
Pamela Poole, The Francophilia Gazette

"It's like having a Parisian in your pocket 24/7."
Craig McGinty, This French Life

I Need an Obama!

It's that time of year here in the UK: Election Time! Coming up in a few weeks' time, the country will vote on who they want to be their leader. Do we want hang-dog Gordo, who looks as if he's been hit in the face with a pot, or do we want Cameron whose 'Power to the People' included such gems as 'Hug a Hoodie'? Or do we want... um, the other guy, whose name no-one can ever remember?

Is there even any difference between them? The Conservatives have become Liberal, the Liberals Conservative, and the Liberal Democrats -- well, who really knows what the heck the stand for. And the UKIP and BNP aren't exactly viable options. I joked the other day that I may vote BNP and, as an immigrant, offer to kick myself out to help them achieve their party platform of getting rid of non-natives (I'm putting it crudely, yes, but they put it rather crudely, too).

What we need in this country is a British-style Obama. Someone to inspire us, to draw us out of our apathy and get us out to vote. But sadly, that's not going to happen this time around.

Someone give me a coin to toss...!

Soulmates!

Thank you to the very supportive Deniz Bevan at the Girdle of Melian, who was so kind as to pass on the Soulmates award to me!



The rules for this award are:

1. Choose five followers/commenters that 'get' you
2. Write something fake (preferably not too mean) about them
3. Link to them, and link back to this post to comment your receipt of the award


In the spirit of generosity (and, let's be honest, laziness), I'm going to offer this up to every single person who reads my blog! I really appreciate it and a big thanks goes out to all of you!

Can it Finally Be Spring?

This winter has been long and hard (by UK standards, anyway). Snow, snow, ice, cold... it's almost like Canada all over again! And if there's one thing I'm not so fond of, it's snow and cold. I don't know what it is, but I just can't stand piling on all that winter gear and hoping - praying - you'll be able to stop shivering at some point.


But those days are behind me now, because spring has finally sprung in London. The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, the trees are coming out... people are even BBQing!


This summer is supposed to be the hottest summer on record (again - they say that every year!). But maybe, just maybe, it might be true!


Fingers crossed!

I Love Paris in the Springtime...

Phew! I have just finished three exhausting days of proofing 24 Hours Paris in preparation for its coming launch on 12th May! It's amazing how many finicky errors can slip through, and I'm sure there are many lingering. Still, it gives me a great feeling when I look back through all the research, all the writing and, yes, all the wonderful eating!

Starting on Monday, I'll be updating the 24 Hours Paris blog with hour by hour tips, right up until launch day. There are already a few bits and bobs on there; feel free to have nose around!

And here's a little blurb about the book:

In a city like Paris, it’s tempting to stick to the beautiful but beaten paths leading straight to the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Champs Elysée. But Paris is so much more than a collection of clichés; it’s bursting with life, from early morning markets to midnight movies. But how can you know where – and when – to get the best of what’s beneath the city’s gilded surface? The only thing for it is to break down the day, hour by hour, and make your choice from Paris’ top picks. That’s exactly what 24 Hours Paris does. From weaving tapestries to jazz in an underground torture chamber, you’ll see the best of what’s on offer city-wide at any moment in time.

Now, with the rare sun streaming in my London window and my work done for the day, I actually do feel in a spring-like mood!

Hyde Park Easter Sunday

With gusting winds and a little bit of sun peeping through, The Man and I took a stroll yesterday through Hyde Park, stopping for a cheeky glass of wine by the Serpentine Lake. The wind was a bit fresh (i.e., cold) but the flowers were gorgeous.



Happy Easter!

Easter in London

Happy Easter everyone! I'm spending a quiet weekend with The Man, working away on last-minute Paris stuff and generally trying to corral my life into some kind of order! But for those of you who are out and about -- or just want to know what to do over the Easter weekend -- here are a few suggestions (with modified text from 24 Hours London: because I'm just that lazy!).

For the few seconds it's not actually raining, the parks are always a hit on Easter weekend. Stroll around, see some birds or even take a dip if you're brave enough.

Hampstead Heath

In North London, the ancient parkland that is Hampstead Heath provides a great spot to work off the Easter chocolate. London’s largest park covers 790 acres of grassy fields and woodlands and is one the highest points in London. If you work up a sweat, take a dip in one of the three outdoor ponds. They are open all year, and were originally used to provide refreshment for the River Fleet.
Tube: Hampstead. www.hampsteadheath.net.


Kensington Gardens

You’re spoiled for choice with Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. These interconnected parks offer a wide variety of jogging routes. Or, you can take a plunge in the Serpentine Lake. Enter the park from High Street Kensington. You’ll see Kensington Palace straight ahead. Saunter by the former home of Princess Diana and past the black railings where mountains of flowers were heaped when she died in 1997.

Run by the man-made Round Pound, taking in the ornate Albert Memorial through the trees to your right, and go down to the Serpentine Lake. So-named for its snake-like shape, the lake is actually a river that was dammed by order of Queen Caroline as part of the redevelopment of Hyde Park. As you jog by the long arm of the lake, take in the oval-shaped Diana Memorial to your right, then cool off by braving the water at the roped-off swimming area at the Lido.
Tube: High Street Kensington or Bayswater. For opening hours go to www.royalparks.org.uk.

Holland Park

One of the most romantic – and smallest – parks in London, Holland Park is a mix of secluded trails, open fields and romantic courtyards filled with blossoming flowers. Situated on the grounds of former Jacobean mansion Holland House, the park has everything from squirrels to peacocks, plus an up-to-the-minute playpark for kids up to 14. Relax in the Kyoto Japanese Garden built for the 1991 London Festival of Japan, grab coffee or a sandwich at the café, or have a spot of tea at The Belvedere, located in the Summer Ballroom of Holland House. Or perhaps become an opera buff – in the summer, the park is the site of the open-air Opera Holland Park.
Tube: Holland Park

St James's Park

If you’re full but want to watch others enjoy their food, go to St James’s Park. The first royal park to be opened to the public, it’s home to five greedy pelicans – one from Louisiana
and four from Eastern Europe. The park’s pelican tradition was first introduced in 1664 when the Russian ambassador presented Charles II with the birds. They’re fed 12 pounds of fish – along with a vitamin supplement – every day at around 2:30 pm.
Tube: St James's Park.

Something for Sunday - Take a walk through town or check out a market.

London Walks offers a selection of walks on Easter Sunday. Check out www.walks.com for more information.

Spitalfields Market and the cacophony that is Brick Lane buzzes as usual on Easter Sunday. Head down around lunchtime to really take advantage of the atmosphere. Tube: Liverpool Street.

Have a great long weekend!

Getting Published

Just a quick one today to say that my publisher Prospera Publishing has launched a new blog which will host the content for its ongoing newsletter, Getting Published. You can read there or sign up to receive the instalments via email!

Happy Thursday!

Me and my eBook Reader

Last Wednesday was my birthday -- smack in the middle of the week, not that it makes a whole lot of difference for me! The Man surprised me with a wonderful Ibsen play, Ghosts, then dinner at a nearby Aldwych 1 restaurant. It was a great night.

But the best bit was when we got home and he unveiled... a Sony eReader!

I've read so much about these darn things I could barely believe it was right there, in front of my eyes. The future of publishing. The end of publishing. The killer of books. And there it was, nestled in its purple leather case, staring unblinkingly up at me.

I shivered with trepidation. The I reached out, touched it, and...

I fell in love. The 100 free classic books! The ease of choosing a book I wanted and having it... within seconds! And the best bit of all: the fact that my lovely Kensington and Chelsea has a digital library with a wonderful selection of books to choose from! It's amazingly easy: you put in your library card number, select the book you want to download... and voila. You have a limited time to read the eBook before it reverts back to the library (I think; I haven't fully investigated the 'return' of library ebooks yet).

I'm not saying the eBook Reader will take the place of other books in my life. But it is certainly handy to carry around with you to use when you're in that 'I need something to read, now!' state. A little anecdote: last Monday night I was stuck in a Tube tunnel for about 30 minutes on the 'new and improved' Circle Line. I'd finished reading one book already. In my former world, I would have sat there and been forced to listen to the annoying bloke beside me braying about how he forgot to set two places for invited guests during his wedding reception (yes, really). But with my eBook Reader, I simply opened another book I had downloaded, and let him fade away into oblivion.

If only real life could be so easy...