22nd September 2013
Was the Beatles song that inspired the title of this post really released as far back as 1967? It sounds prehistoric and yet the lyrics and the sentiments behind them are as relevant today as they were back then. We all want someone to love, and we all want – or at least appreciate – a little help from our friends.
I released my second novel Meeting Miss Mollie last year, and up until this point it hasn’t had any publicity, any fanfare, or shouting. The novel is the story of Annabelle Smithson, a young career writer from London. Annabelle’s the Agony Aunt who has it all. Except for one small problem – her life is a disaster.
A Gift For You – Meeting Miss Mollie
Annabelle is a hard nosed writer with a good marriage, a nice flat, a thriving career at Adorn magazine and a busy social life. She has only one ambition – to be the best known Agony Aunt in the UK. When her world is turned upside down by her husband’s infidelity she strikes out on her own and goes flatting with a jet setting businessman. But things in her new house aren’t quite what they seem and her problems mount. Through her ups and downs, Annabelle forges a relationship with the strangest of friends and discovers the best things in life are those she always avoided.
Check out my Pinterest Board for Meeting Miss Mollie
This novel about Annabelle offering advice to her readers (a little help to her friends) has reaffirmed for me how even people you don’t know are eager to provide help and advice. I’ve had a little help from my own friends, some of whom are people I’ve never met. Early reviews of this novel were good, but I began to realise it could be significantly improved, and this was mainly through those same reviews. It’s heartening for a budding author that people will take the time and trouble to leave reviews on Amazon, and I take every review seriously, whether they’re good or bad. While most readers loved the character of Mollie, some readers felt that the ending needed to be stronger. With the advantages of publishing on Amazon Kindle, this was possible, so I’ve recently added a number of new chapters to the original story. I’d like to thank those who took the time and trouble to review the book for me on Amazon, because without their help I wouldn’t have had a clear idea of how I could improve this book, and how I could tighten up on subsequent books.
I can’t personally thank those who’ve reviewed by book, because I don’t know who you are, but there are some other friends without whose help I couldn’t have done this book. Ami Smithson of Cabin London designed a wonderful cover for me. Ami’s very talented and I’m very grateful that she’d helped me build my brand. Stef Mcdaid of Write IntoPrint did a beautiful job of formatting the novel , as well as providing advice on stylistic issues, and Louise Darvid painstakingly proofed the novel for me.
As well, numerous people have helped me promote my books. The Twitterverse is a place of great generosity and many of my Twitter friends have retweeted by books. There are too many of you to mention here, but you know who are, so many thanks for giving your friend a little help.
Yes, the generosity of friends is overwhelming and encourages me to continue on the writing journey. I’d like to pay it back, so for the next three days, I’m offering Meeting Miss Mollie for free on Amazon. I hope you’ll download and read this book, perhaps leave me a review, but most of all, I hope you enjoy it.
A Gift For You – Meeting Miss Mollie
is available free as a Kindle download on Amazon through 23rd to 25th September only.
The promotion starts at midnight Pacific Standard time on the 23rd, and ends at the same time on the 25th.
