I have some reading for you today. Writing about the old Waterstone’s in Stratford-upon-Avon has made me nostalgic, and so, in honour of that old shop that doesn’t exist anymore, I publish this extract from Have You Got that Book..? and dedicate it to all the people I worked with. Apart from tidying up someContinue reading “Have You Got that Book…?”
Author Archives: mjschofieldauthor
The Bookshop
My novel Have You Got That Book..? is set in a bookshop called Phoenix Books, but I will absolutely admit that it was based on the bookshop I was working in. While Phoenix books was located in a fictional suburb on the far outskirts of London, my bookshop was Waterstone’s in Stratford-upon-Avon, and I liftedContinue reading “The Bookshop”
Summer Reading
Summer is a time for reading. At least, that is what the literary types would have us believe, with their lists of best summer reads in the press and summer reading special offers in the shops. Happily, I concur – one of the best things about summer holidays is having time to read. Before weContinue reading “Summer Reading”
My Earliest Reading Memories
In my newspaper of choice, the literary review section includes a Q&A Interview with famous authors, asking about their favourite/worst/most moving/most influential books. It includes a question about the author’s earliest reading memories. Reading the interview this weekend made me wonder about my earliest reading memories, and I realised that I had a few thatContinue reading “My Earliest Reading Memories”
In the Garden
Now that the weather has improved and Spring is starting to feel like Spring again, I have been out working in the garden. Nothing impressive, I hasten to add – our suburban garden is usually a mess, and it is my husband who coaxes it into just enough order to grow vegetables. But we doContinue reading “In the Garden”
Losers
One of my favourite films is Little Miss Sunshine. Its story of an odd-ball, dysfunctional family driving across America so the young daughter can take part in a beauty pageant is so funny that it makes me shriek with laughter – Uncle Frank’s running, the inappropriate dancing, the manhandling of Grandpa out of the hospitalContinue reading “Losers”
Things I will never have to worry about if I don’t get published!
This time last year, I was busy using Lockdown to write a new novel and getting on really well. This year, Lockdown 3 has been very different. I have been in school almost full time, working with those students who were entitled to keep coming in. I also volunteered to be on the Test andContinue reading “Things I will never have to worry about if I don’t get published!”
The submission process – a story within a story within a story…
So, I have made a start on submitting to agents. While it’s far too early to comment on the results of that (because there are no results!) I can write about the process in practice, and the things I have learnt so far. Because, to my surprise, it has been the proverbial steep learning curve.Continue reading “The submission process – a story within a story within a story…”
2021 – Phase Two
Phase Two – getting my novels into bookshops!
The Art of Christmas Stories
Merry Christmas Eve. I hope that those of you who downloaded an Advent Story have enjoyed it – have you read the last episode yet or saving it for later on? As promised, I’m writing this blog to let you know which was the most popular story this year, but first, I’ve been giving someContinue reading “The Art of Christmas Stories”
