Tag Archives: Avon HarperCollins

Miranda Writes 37 – The Importance of Daydreaming

All this year, I’m vlogging about writing and publishing my seventh novel, A Parcel For Anna Browne. This week, why being a daydreamer is crucial if you’re a writer and I answer more of your lovely questions!

At school, all of my reports said I would do better if I ‘did less daydreaming’. But today I’m proud to daydream for a living… In this week’s vlog I’ll explain why I think you have to be a daydreamer if you want to write and why, right now, I’m in my ‘daydreaming stage’.

Also this week, I have fantastic questions on the influence of childhood on my writing (from Simona Elena of Sky’s Book Corner blog) and my first three steps to writing a novel (from Katie Marsh). If you would like to ask me a question, leave a comment below this vlog, email me at: mirandawurdy@gmail.com, tweet me @wurdsmyth, or visit my author page on Facebook

Enjoy!

p.s. This week’s YouTube-inspired freeze-frame is entitled, ‘The Chin Rub of Thoughtfulness…’

Miranda Writes 34 – My vlog is BACK!

All this year, I am keeping a video diary about writing and publishing my seventh novel, A Parcel For Anna Browne. This week, my vlog returns after quite a long break…

I’ve been editing A Parcel for Anna Browne and I’m really pleased with the result. It turned out to be a huge edit – the equivalent of a structural edit (getting all the key themes and scenes in the right places) and line edit (going through the book with a fine toothed-comb, making sure story arcs are complete and the flow is right) combined. It’s been interesting finding out how my new publisher, Pan Macmillan, works differently to my previous publisher, Avon HarperCollins and, like any new job, there’s been a steep learning curve. But it all helps me to understand what kinds of things Pan Macmillan are looking for in the stories I write.

So, have I seen the cover yet? You’ll have to watch the vlog to find out!

What would you like to know about my books, writing in general or anything else? Ask me a question and I’ll answer it in the next vlog! Just leave a comment below, email me at: mirandawurdy@gmail.com or tweet me @wurdsmyth.

Enjoy, lovelies!

p.s. This week’s You Tube-nominated freeze-frame is entitled, ‘Cheesy Grins R Us’…

It’s Here! I’ll Take New York heads into the world…

START SPREADING THE NEWS…

I’ll Take New York is published TODAY – and I’m over the moon to share my sixth book with you!

ITNY P-Day cover You can buy your sparkly paperback, ebook and audio editions from:

Waterstones
Amazon
The Book Depository
Hive.co.uk
Tesco.com
Sainsbury’s

It’s the story of Brooklyn bookshop owner Bea James and Manhattan psychiatrist Jake Steinmann, who meet at an engagement party as the only two singles and swear a Pact to avoid relationships for ever. Instead, they share their love of the City That Never Sleeps with each other, swapping their favourite places in New York as their friendship grows.

But will the magic of New York City weaken their resolve…?

If you’ve read my first novel, Fairytale of New York, there will be some familiar faces to welcome back: Rosie, Marnie, Ed, Celia, Stewart and Zac are all here, playing their part in Bea and Jake’s tale. It’s my way of writing an ‘almost-sequel’ – letting you know what happens to the original cast of characters without breaking anyone up (or killing anyone off!) Also, if you loved my second novel, Welcome to My World, you’ll meet Harri again and find out what happened next for her! I love the idea that old friends are popping up to join the party and I hope you like discovering their new stories in I’ll Take New York!

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It’s a very strange feeling for me this year as I’ll Take New York hits the shelves. This is my last book for Avon (HarperCollins) and it feels like the end of an era. It’s partly why I wanted to return to New York and revisit the Kowalski’s gang from my first novel, a kind of full-circle journey that represents the last six years of my life. During that time everything in my life has changed: I was discovered on Authonomy.com at the end of 2008 and signed a three-book deal with Avon in 2009, followed by another three-book deal in 2010. I’ve become a Sunday Times Bestseller five times over! My books have gone around the world, to date being bestsellers in four countries and translated into seven languages. My total sales number just below three-quarters of a million books worldwide – which is absolutely amazing! I got engaged in 2011, married Bob in 2012 and we welcomed our gorgeous daughter, Florence Wren, into the world this year. In September last year I finally achieved my dream and became a full-time published author after writing with the day job for five years. And next year, I move to embark a whole new chapter of my writing adventure with PanMacmillan…

Most importantly, more than five people in the world have read (and are reading!) my stories – something I secretly dreamed of from being very little. I never thought I would be able to say that, so having readers around the world is the biggest dream come true for me. If you’ve read my books, thank you. You’re amazing. If you’ve yet to read my books, I hope you enjoy my stories.

So much has changed, so much awaits – so, as I celebrate my sixth novel heading out into the big, wide world today, I’m so utterly grateful for everything that has happened. I really hope I’ll Take New York is a fitting tribute to everyone who has been involved, from my lovely Twitter and Facebook followers who had so much fun suggesting things for the book, to my fantastic agent Hannah Ferguson, who has been the biggest, brightest supporter of my work for years, to the lovelies at Avon and my editor, Katy Loftus – who is an absolute sweetheart and a dream to work with – and to everyone who picks up a sparkly paperback, nestles my book in their e-reader library or snuggles up with the audiobook.

Happy P-Day, I’ll Take New York!

Miranda Writes 25 – hear an EXCLUSIVE extract from I’ll Take New York

All year I’m making vlogs to chart the life of my sixth novel, I’ll Take New York. This week, I have a bit of a treat for you – an exclusive extract from the book!

I’ve been promising to share a sneaky snippet of Bea and Jake’s story with you for some time, so I thought it was about time I did it! Below is just a snippet – but watch the vlog to see much more:

…For as long as she could remember, Bea had dreamed of one day owning her own bookstore.

She had loved books all her life. Real books, not electronic ones. Books you could carry in your bag and read on the subway. Books you could pretend to read in neighbourhood coffee shops while people-watching. Books you could snuggle up with and lose yourself in. Books you could fill your apartment with – packed onto shelves, propping up tables and piled up reassuringly by the side of your bed. If she left home without a book, Bea felt naked, bereft. But then, working in a bookshop meant there were always new friends to make and take home. 

Friends who never let her down. Friends she could trust…

I also answer your questions on my favourite characters and whether I have more stories to tell about them after my books are published. Plus, find out which of my characters will be returning in I’ll Take New York – here’s a clue: one of them comes from another of my novels…

Let me know what you think – I’d love to know if the extract I read in the vlog whets your appetite for more! Or ask me a question for next week… Leave a comment below, tweet me @wurdsmyth or email me at mirandawurdy@gmail.com.

Enjoy! xx

 

 

Breaking News! The next big chapter…

It’s finally time to share my amazing news with you, after two months of keeping it to myself…

I’ve signed a THREE-BOOK DEAL with PAN MACMILLAN!

Miranda Dickinson 2013

After six great years with the lovely team at Avon HarperCollins, I’m moving on to the next big chapter of my writing life – and I’m so excited! The decision wasn’t an easy one to make: Avon gave me my big break and believed in me, which I will always be grateful for. I’ve worked hard to create books that reward their faith in me as a writer and I’ve grown so much during the past six years working with the fantastic team. Over half a million book sales worldwide later,  I’ll Take New York is the culmination of what I’ve learned and I know Avon is so excited to share it with you when it comes out on 30th September in eBook and 4th December in gorgeously sparkly paperback…

MOVING ON

I never thought I would ever be able to write books for a living, so I’m blown away that my writing dream – which was my dearest secret for so long – is still coming true and taking me to new places I could never have dared imagine.

I will be working with the super-fab Caroline Hogg and the Pan Macmillan team, who are all bursting with enthusiasm about my writing. I can’t wait to begin work with Caroline and the team on my first book for Pan Macmillan – my seventh published novel! I’ve already started writing it and I know you’re going to love it…

I’m excited about the stories I’ll be able to share with you and the new roads we can wander down together. There are so many new things I want to accomplish with my writing and I’m over the moon to have the opportunity to explore them in my new publishing home!

Miranda Writes 23 – Inspiration, fab fonts and beating doubts

All year I’m making vlogs to chart the life of my sixth novel, I’ll Take New York. This week I’m answering your questions about writing including where I get my inspiration from for characters and stories, how to turn an initial idea into a full-blown novel and overcoming writer doubts!

Thanks for all your fabulous questions! Don’t worry if I don’t answer your question this week – I had so many fab questions on Twitter and Facebook that I’ll be answering them all over the next few vlogs.

This week I’ll tell you where I’m at with my writing, hint at something very exciting that’s coming up and talk about where to start with a novel, where my inspiration for characters and stories comes from and what my favourite fonts are for writing. I’ll  also talk about beating writer doubts (a constant battle for every writer) and how my WriteFoxy! philosophy is helping me overcome mine.

I’m running two more WriteFoxy! Writers’ Inspiration Days and would love you to come! Part writers’ conference, part writing retreat, these days will reconnect you to your love of writing and encourage you to write better, braver books:

Here’s the vlog – enjoy!

M xx

Miranda Writes 22 – plotting, writing advice and Flo!

It’s here, finally! The vlog is back after a brief sabbatical during which I had my lovely baby girl Florence Wren and had to replace my poor old video camera after it finally bit the dust…

So, what’s it like being a full-time writer and full-time mum? Where am I at with work on my sixth novel, I’ll Take New York? I answer these questions in the vlog, together with cracking questions from you on everything from the dialogue and description balance in short stories, how to tighten up a flagging scene (ooh, can be nasty, that…), how I plot my novels, finding a cracking opening scene to what essentials I can’t write without. Oh, and watch out for Flo’s very first vlog cameo!

Let me know what you think! And what would you like me to talk about next week? Leave a comment below or email me at mirandawurdy@gmail.com.

Enjoy!

M xx

p.s. This week’s YouTube-nominated freeze-frame is entitled, ‘What’s that coming over the hill…?’

p.s. As this is a new video camera the picture isn’t quite as good as I wanted it to be, but bear with me and I’ll have it fixed for next week.