For most of last month, I was on a blog tour to promote You. I. Us. I asked fifteen bloggers to ask me a single question to make up a complete, and very random, interview!

Misha Gericke: Do you like listening to music while working on your stories? 

Murees Dupe: How do you stay motivated to exercise regularly, live healthy and still manage to write and have a family? Seriously, you're Superwoman.
 
Julie Flanders: Even those of us who love dogs and puppies know they can be destructive little monsters if they get the chance. What's the worse thing Artoo has done since he became part of your family?
 
Joanne Faries: You and your husband have careers in the arts. Your boys have seen the fickle nature of the business. Every career has its trials, however do you see them following footsteps into writing and/or music? Or choosing something deemed more steady and reliable?
 
Chrys Fey: If you could be any Harry Potter character (good or bad), who would you be and why?
 
Yolanda Renee: What scene in your writing has made you laugh the hardest or cry the most?
 
M.J. Fifield: Obviously, all of our manuscripts eventually end up typed, but what is your preferred writing method? Are you 'old-school' and like to use pen (or whatever writing utensil of your choice) and paper, or do you trend toward more modern methods of writing (i.e., Scrivener, voice dictation programs, or other things I can't think of because I like pen and paper)?
  
Libby Heily: I've heard directors say it is easier to make a short story into a film than a novel. My hunch is because a short story can be fleshed out while a novel must be pared down. Which of your short stories, in this collection or no, would make the most intriguing film and how would you suggest the director explore the themes visually?
 
R. Mac Wheeler: Rate the importance/emphasis of these literary elements in your writing, (1 being meh, 10 orgasmic): setting, character, plot, action, description
 
Elizabeth Seckman: Best British Monarch past or present, and why?
 
Suzanne Furness: If you could choose anywhere to write where would it be and why (real or fictional)?
 
Sandra Cox: What have you found to be your most successful means of marketing?
 
Nicola Burgraff: In your collection “You.I.Us” the artist character puts his heart into his latest sketch. If you sketched or painted your life’s most special moments what would your picture look like?
 
Stacey Bryan: If you were shipwrecked on an island with another person, how would you deal with their "challenging" personality while attempting to also survive day by day?
(Choose from Heathcliff, Jack Torrance from The Shining, Moriarty, The Marquis de Sade, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (a two-fer!), Voldemort, Cruella de Vil, The Wicked Witch of the West, Rasputin, John McEnroe, Vlad the Impaler)
  
Christine Rains: What is one element that every good short story needs and why?
 

I'm having a slightly technological nightmare today. I've already written this update once, and lost it, so I'm taking a deep breath and starting again.

​I realised after yesterday's first tour post that I've shared the link to my website (this one), but not my writing blog - where I discuss the daily issues of writing and publishing, and share guest posts and book release information from other authors.

​So, if that's what you were expecting to see when you clicked the link, please go to  my blog.

​I also omitted to include my Facebook page, and the You. I. Us. Goodreads page, so that's done, too :-)

​However, while you're here, I hope you'll take a look around to find out more about me and my books.

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Today I was at a local book fair. I was the token author among four other stalls selling second hand books. I should have taken photos of everyone, I guess, but I didn't. You'll just have to take my word for it :-) It was relatively quiet, because it took place on Regatta day, so a lot of townsfolk were down on the river. But a good smattering of people stopped by.

​Next on the agenda is a three week long blog tour, in which fifteen bloggers have asked me a single interview question each. I'm looking forward to sharing my answers and 'meeting' lots of new people.

​But first, it's England's opening Euro 2016 football match against Russia, so I'll be opening a cider, and cheering on the team. Have a good weekend!

You. I. Us. is now available to pre-order on Amazon. Just follow this link to go to your local Amazon site.
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​Don't forget to show your interest on Goodreads too, it makes me happy when I see the stats rising.

​I'm currently sorting out the final arrangements for a signing at my local bookshop, The Bookshelf. It's a lovely shop that makes a great hot chocolate, and is very supportive of local authors, jewellery makers and artists. If you're ever passing over the Tamar Bridge, take a detour into Saltash, and check it out.
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It's the last day of March, and it's beautiful!

​One of the downsides of having a dog and not driving is that I end up at the same place almost every day. One of the upsides is that it is an amazing place, full of wonderful dogs and their humans, and the view always takes my breath away. Each and every time. And I'm talking literally here, not figuratively - sometimes I gasp!

I'm currently between writing projects, again. (It seems to happen quite a lot, I really should be more organised.) My aim to take the whole of March to redraft and edit my novella halted abruptly when I finished on the 20th and immediately queried it. I'm now waiting to hear back.

​My next tasks are to start on preparations for launching ​You. I. Us. ​in June. I have two signings already set up - and guess what? One's in a speciality hot chocolate cafe! Yum yum yum...

I am proud and excited to be able to share the cover for my upcoming short story collection, You. I. Us.

​It has been designed by Jessica Bell, my publisher at Vine Leaves Press. If you check out the Vine Leaves website, you'll see how amazingly talented she is.