News
EVENTS - click here to see where I'm reading and when.
19.7.10 I've added a few gift sessions to my Planting Seeds coaching site, for you to give to a friend or family in need of some loving attention, or yourself! If you'd like to win one of three free sessions (you can choose between telephone and email coaching), email me with 'gift session' as the title before the 12th of September.
12.7.10 The time keeps doing that disappearing thing. I'm re-launching my coaching business at Planting Seeds, so if you'd like to improve your work-life balance, start or complete a creative project, or finally make changes you've been thinking about for a while, then go have a peek. You could treat yourself to a one-off session which includes a free copy of A Year of Questions, or buy a session as a gift for a friend. I'm also re-launching my weekly Monday newsletter - there's an example here - if you'd some inspiration in your in-box every Monday then put your email in the box and then tick 'Planting Seeds'.
28.5.10 Whatever happened to March, April and May? The free serialisation of my novel Thaw is nearly at an end - catch up here. I'm really pleased that the blog is still getting 80 hits a day - all those people have nearly read a whole novel online. I've re-published an article on the sweet simple things, and I'm running a competition to win one of my novels - email me with the name of the novel you'd like to win as the title (The Letters, The Blue Handbag or Thaw). It closes at the end of June. Happy summer, people!
9.3.10 Well, we made a big splash. There are now 167 members at the Facebook page and the blog is getting more than 100 hits a day. Thank you for all my blogsplashers, and for everyone else supporting the project. Yay.
28.2.10 My Blogsplash is happening tomorrow! If you'd like to read Thaw online, go see, and do join my Facebook page and follow on Twitter. Wish me luck!
20.1.10 I have a new article on the site about surviving rejection - something most of us need to negotiate at certain points in our life. If you're a writer you'll definitely know what I'm talking about!
18.1.10 Thaw is out now! Here's a gentle hint for you. I'm settling into my new cottage nicely and Fatty and Silver are even venturing into the garden. Tonight I shall be watching Wallander.
2.1.10 A lot has changed in my life... but I'm installed in my new cottage (with cats) and ready for 2010. Will I make my Blogsplash target? 230 blogs have signed up, but I've got a very long way to go... The new novel is nearly finished...
3.12.09 Only 60 days to go until Thaw is published. I don't really have any news, but I wanted to say hello.
26.11.09 161 blogsplashers and counting. Will I make it? Have you joined me yet? I've also found a new name for my next novel - 'The Most Beautiful Thing' - what do you think? I have fan pages on Facebook now for Fiona Robyn (that's me) and Thaw - come join.
9.11.09 Where does the time go? I've got 123 Blogsplashers signed up, but I'm wondering if I'm going to make 1000 before the 1st of March - what do you think? I also won a competition to have my short story published in Tonto's most recent collection - I'll let you know when it's available. Cool cover, eh?
23.10 09 A new article on slowing down, and a new competition to win three signed hardbacks of Thaw - just email me (fiona@fionarobyn.com) with 'Thaw' as the title. Nearly 100 Blogsplashers....
19.10.09 My first review of Thaw - thank you Sharon. "I couldn't put this one down. Ruth is so real and tragic she made my heart hurt. Some books stay in your head and heart forever, and this is one of them. Profound. (5 stars)" 86 Blogsplashers, I'd like some more please... if you're on Twitter could you help me by Tweeting this? 914 Bloggers needed: Blogsplash on 1st March next year. RTs gratefully received! http://bit.ly/JxqFs
2.10.09 OK, I'm getting serious now. I want to get ONE THOUSAND BLOGS to join in with my Blogsplash. I may be mad, as that means I need 100 new blogs every month between now and March. Can you help? If you're a Twitterer, here's the little url for the Blogsplash invite page: bit.ly/14jvqV. If you're a blogger, help me spread the word like these lovely people (Red Bird, Angie, Juxtabook, Jessica, The Plumber's Wife...) And email me if you're not on the list yet! Let's see if we can do it...
24.9.09 My box of Thaws has arrived! And they are very beautiful. The hardbacks are on offer at £10.99 on Amazon UK - get yours now before everyone else!
20.9.09 21 blogs signed up for the Blogsplash...let's see how quickly I can get to 100! Come join us...
17.9.09 Ten new homes for my little widget. Have you come and said hello to me on Facebook yet?
15.9.09 There are already ten blogs signed up for the Blogsplash - here they are. Are you on the list yet? Do you have any other ideas to help me get the word out? Get in touch!
13.9.09 The summer is slipping away... I've got some new Blue Handbag reviews here, and I'm also starting to plan the blogging of my entire next novel, Thaw, here. If you're a blogger and you'd like to help me out with the Blogsplash it'd be great to hear from you - you'll have pride of place here!
31.8.09 There are now 37 blogs across the world with the 'a handful of stones' widget - get yours now. I'm back from my summer break and am ready to get back to my fourth novel, Joe in Amsterdam - I hope to have it polished by the end of the year. Not much else, except that my tomatoes are all ripening.
4.8.09 It's out! On publication day I had three emails from people who'd enjoyed The Letters - perfect timing. In the UK The Blue Handbag should now be available in Waterstones and WHSmiths, but if you spot it anywhere else let me know. If you're not in the UK then the good old Book Depository is your best bet. Don't forget the competition to win ten free books if you review the book anywhere online before the end of September.
28.7.09 Well, the official publication date isn't until the 3rd of August, but you can get my new mystery novel The Blue Handbag online now... Yay! Here's an exclusive chance to read the whole first chapter online, and then pop over to The Book Depository or Amazon UK to read more! The interviews with readers of the book continue at 100 Readers - once you've read the book this could be you...
There are now 30 blogs with the a handful of stones widget - have a look at the list here and let me know if you need to be added.
10.7.09 I'm starting to get excited about the publication of The Blue Handbag - I can't wait for you to meet Leonard. The Book Depository (who do free worldwide delivery) seem to have some early for just over six quid - go here! More people are adding the widget to their blog - here's the list. My courgettes are ready - yellow, green and spherical. Yum.
1.7.09 The a handful of stones widget is going down well - here are 21 blogs who are already proudly sporting it. My Goodreads competition is over - 1478 entries, not bad. Make sure you're signed up to my newsletter (put your email in the box) for the next giveaway in a few weeks time.
25.6.09 OK, I'm very excited about this. Gary Wilson from Writing Dramatica has very kindly and cleverly written me my very own a handful of stones widget. If you put it on the side-bar of your blog, it will automatically update itself every day with a brand new shiny stone. It's very beautiful - have a look at it and read more about it, or get your own here. Let me know if you put it on your blog!
21.6.09 I've just written a rainbow blogroll and was horrified to count more than eighty blogs when I was done - it's a wonder I'm getting any work done! If you link to any of my blogs (Planting Words or a small stone or a handful of stones or 100 Readers) email me and I'll add you to the rainbow.
18.6.09 There are a few more interviews up at 100 Readers, and I'm starting to get a little bit excited about The Blue Handbag coming out on the 1st of August. 44 days to go! I might harvest the garlic this weekend...
1.6.09 The competition to win signed copies of The Blue Handbag is over - well done Wayne, Suzana and Michael. 113 entries - not bad. There are more interviews up with handbag readers at 100 Readers. You can still enter the Library Thing comp below if you're in the UK, and there's also one to win three The Blue Handbags on Goodreads running until the 1st of July (if you live in the UK or US). Gorgeous weather here - ate the first new potatoes from the garden last night, yum.
15.5.09 Another place you can win a few copies of The Blue Handbag - on Library Thing, here, and you can win a few copies of The Letters at Good Reads here. You have to be in it to win it...
13.5.09 I've posted another article - this one about the magic of networking. There are two more interviews up at 100 Readers - meet Geoff Sawers and Patrick Andrews. It's a drizzly day today, but at least the garden is getting a good soaking...
8.5.09 The first interview with Michelle McGrane, the first of my 100 Readers is now up at the blog. There's a Facebook group here - do come and say hello. Also I didn't realise that The Book Depository (who asked me what my ten favourite books are - see here) do free delivery worldwide - if you're not in the UK and you'd like a cheap copy of The Letters, go here!
28.4.09 My next novel The Blue Handbag is out in hardback on the 4th of May. Win one of three signed hardbacks by emailing 'handbag' to fiona@fionarobyn.com - the closing date is 31st of May. I've written a new article on slowing down in honour of my central character, Leonard - read it here. The veg are all doing nicely!
16.4.09 I'm about to send out preview copies of The Blue Handbag to ten people who will be taking part in 100 Readers, my new project - you can read more information about it here. I've planted my potatoes, and have lots of seedlings in my porch - courgettes, parsnips, tomatoes, sweet peppers, leeks, celeriac, lettuces... let the veg patch weeding commence!
31.3.09 My blog tour is now over : ( Catch up here, and do let me know if you bought the book as a result of the tour. I'm already planning something fun for my next book The Blue Handbag, which you can pre-order on Amazon UK or from Snowbooks direct. I'll be doing a signing in Waterstones in Reading, Berkshire this Saturday (4th April) between 11 and 2pm - maybe see you there?
10.3.09 Read about my publication day and see me grinning like an idiot here. My blog tour is on the road - follow the little red bus here. And an interview I'm rather pleased with here. You can forgive a newly-published author a smigeon of smugness, can't you?
22.2.09 The Letters will be in the shops a week tomorrow... arrrghgh. Join me in a 90 day Look-After-Yourself challenge. I'm on Twitter now in various forms - you can follow the blogs at Planting Words, a small stone or a handful of stones, and me here. There's still time to hop on my tour bus if you'd like to be involved - for more information get in touch.
18.2.09 I'm sending out weekly emails again - my favourite
Planting Words post from the
week on Mondays, my favourite small stone
on Tuesdays, and my favourite stone from
a handful of stones on
Wednesdays. If you'd like to give any of these a try put your email in below
and tick the boxes. Also I'll be signing copies of The Letters on Saturday
the 4th of April in Waterstones in Reading -
more info here.
11.2.09 A reminder if you live in the UK anywhere near Portsmouth or Reading that I've got a couple of readings coming up - click on EVENTS above. Two and a half weeks until publication date...and counting.
2.2.09 Find out who won the ten copies of my debut novel at Planting Words. The Letters will be in the shops four weeks today. Lots of snow here today - I'm about to venture out in my little car, wish me luck!
14.1.09 There's still time to enter my free prize draw to win one of ten free copies of The Letters - leave a comment at my blog here or email me with 'The Letters' as the title. My March blog tour is starting to shape up - here's the schedule so far. Still frosty here, the birds are very much appreciating their nuts and niger seeds. I hope your year has got off to a good start.