Just subbed to The Future Bookshelf

That's the submission done and dusted.  If you're subbing to them too, I wish you luck!

In the UK? Unagented? Write for YA?

If you answered "yes!" to all those questions in the title up there 👆👆 then you'll be wanting to know about a publishing house that is looking for under-represented authors who write for YA and above.

The URL you need tomorrow is this one - go get 'em!

Book review: Manners fit for the Queen by Anne Wan

⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

This is a great book for the older end of picture book listeners, but some of the word choices (Etiquette, improve, disgusting, nervously, expecting, elegantly, delicious, splendid) may not be understood by toddlers and even the older picture book listeners would prolly struggle too.  It's a good way to start discussions about what the words mean and to encourage good table manners (the mirror is an awesome idea!) but I'm knocking off the fifth star purely because of the word choices.

Which are you?

Just seen this on Facebook.

I tend to flick between "True Plantser" and "Neutral Plotter" but I used to be a die-hard "Lawful Pantser" until the end of my first NaNo and haven't looked back since!

Which one or even two are you?

Book review: Bridge of Lies: Adventures of Letty Parker by Misha Herwin

⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

I have to be honest and say that I wasn’t impressed with the first couple of chapters or with the swearing (f**ts was written in full and uncensored several times which I wouldn’t want a 10 year old to read and ask what it meant) but when the author got into her writing it really flowed and I didn’t want to stop reading it!

If you’re a parent who is looking to start a discussion on swearing in fiction then maybe you won’t mind, but it’s aimed at pure, innocent, 10-12 year old children rather than adults who already know the word and maybe I’m being too fussy about it, but the swearing spoilt it for me unfortunately.  That’s why I’m knocking a star off.

If you can look past the swearing and you want an easy read with a mature-for-her-age (I started out thinking she was in her 20’s) main character then definitely get this book, but parents, please give it a read through yourselves first before just handing it over to your child.

Some of the phrases used, especially at the start of the book, were a bit tough to latch on to because they were laid on so thick and seemingly all at once but again, when the author got into the flow of her writing it just got written so fluidly and naturally!

Keep writing, Misha… you’ve got a wonderful way with words when you get into the head of your characters!