Every year I go to Fishguard - well, I go twice a year actually. Every February and July. I go for the wonderful conferences run bu fabulous Writers' Holidays - a weekend in February and a week in the summer, in July. I always look forward to it so much.
It's by the sea for one thing - what's not to like about waking up every morning with the sound of the sea lapping against the beach outside my window? And then there are the people I meet there - the students - and of course fantastic Gerry and Anne who run the holidays each time.
And then there are my fellow tutors - a great bunch of people who have become dear and special friends over the year. They're all great writers too - very successful in their own fields. I try not to envy them but there's one lady I have to admit I do feel envious of! And that's Della - I know her as Della - but she's recently have a name change - check out the rest of this blog for details.
I envy her because of her ability to write and sell short stories. You'd think that having published 65 books, I might be able to manage a short story or two - but the thing is that writing short is a very special skill. I find my ideas naturally grow and fill a novel - I have sold precisely 3 short stories in my writing life. Della recently sold . . . her 1500th short story!!
Yes that's right - 1500th!
Perhaps I should go on Della's short story course at Fishguard - but there's just one small problem - I'm usually teaching my own course when she'd teaching! But I know how much everyone who does attend any course of hers enjoys it - and how much they learn from Della in her own area of expertise.
And now Della is branching out. She's become Della Parker - and she's writing something new too - a series of novellas called . . .but no, I'll let Della tell you all about them -
Welcome to my blog, Della . . .Parker or Galton - whichever you are!
My New Name – Della Parker
2016 was the year I changed my name to Della Parker! Or rather my new publisher did. A new name for my new series of novellas, which is called The Reading Group. I have had the best fun writing them and the first few are now out so Kate has kindly agreed to me coming along to her blog to talk about them. Thank you so much, Kate.
My New Novellas - The Reading Group.
The Reading Group focuses on five women who meet monthly to drink wine, have nibbles, gossip and – oh yes – discuss the classics.
In December they are reading A Christmas Carol and Grace’s life seems to be taking a curious parallel to Dickens’ classic story! Spooky!
In January they are reading Jane Austen’s Emma – and this time it’s Anne Marie who’s the focus of the story. Like Emma, Anne Marie fancies giving Cupid a run for his money. But matchmaking isn’t really her forte!
In February they are reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Oh and Kate has a handsome gamekeeper (I mean builder) in renovating her kitchen. Hold on to your hats, ladies.
In March, Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca is the book of the month. Jojo has a new man in her life. She is starting to worry that there may be certain parallels between her life and Daphne Du Maurier’s heroine. Age gap romance and ancestral homes spring to mind.
The Reading Group series is published by Quercus Books.
January, February and March are out now. They are novellas and are 99p each (ebook only)
December, which is a short story, is free for your kindle. I would be eternally grateful if you would download it. I’m hoping that lots of downloads will catapult me to writing fame and fortune! I’ll report back on this at some later date, possibly from a Hawaiian beach!
But seriously... Having the chance to write a contemporary version of these classics has been an absolute privilege and a joy.
Della
Galton
If you fancy coming on any of Della's short story courses at Fishguard - then check out Writers' Holiday for more details of the courses there in February and July
5 comments:
Thank you, lovely Kate. Am so looking forward to seeing you at Fishguard :)
I loved Della Galton and I love Della Parker too. I am immensely enjoying The Reading Group - I am currently on No. 4. Lovely, easy to read, writing, with beautiful language and perfect grammar (I hate bad grammar).
Thank you Della.
I have just been given a secondhand smart phone (my first ever), and the first thing I did was to get the Kindle app so that I could go on reading No. 4.
Tina J.
You're welcome, Della! See you soon.
Hi Tina and thank you for visiting my blog - and thanks for the recommendations for The Reading Group. I don't think I've ever been recommended a book because it had perfect grammar before! Enjoy using that smart phone - I can't manage without mine.
An impressive number!!!!
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