#blurb – just playing with words for Peace Lily

Writing the blurb for a book is by far the hardest part. Writing the synopsis is hard enough! Condensing your paintstakingly crafted 90k words into a mere 100 takes a lot of brain strain.
Here\’s what I\’ve come up with for Peace Lily so far:

(Title:)

Peace Lily

by

Alex Martin


(Strap line:)
Although the war is over, its aftermath is anything but peaceful.
(Blurb:)

Peace lily takes up the story of three of the characters in \’Daffodils\’, after their return home from World War One.
Cassandra Smythe has fallen deeply in love with Douglas Flintock, an American officer she met while driving ambulances at the Front. How can she persuade this modern American to adapt to her English country way of life, and all the duties that come with inheriting Cheadle Manor? When Douglas returns to Boston, unsure of his feelings, Cassandra crosses the ocean, determined to lure him back.
Katy trained as a mechanic during the war and cannot bear to return to the life of drudgery she left behind. A trip to America provides the dream ticket she has always craved and an opportunity to escape the strait-jacket of her working class roots. She jumps at the chance, little realising that it will change her life forever, but not in the way she\’d hoped.
Jem lost not only an arm in the war, but also his livelihood, and with it, his self esteem. How can he keep restless Katy at home and provide for his wife? He puts his life at risk a second time, attempting to secure their future and prove his love for her.
After the appalling losses suffered during World War One, these three fighters long for peace, unaware that its aftermath will bring different, but still daunting, challenges.
In Peace Lily, Cassandra, Jem and Katy struggle to carve new lives and their stories interweave,impacting on each other in unforeseen ways.




 Tell me, readers, would you be tempted to read on?

#Winchester Writer\'s Festival – Verdict!

Winchester was FAB!
It was great to meet other nutters obsessed with the written word. Conversation was effortless and seamless, if only a snatched moment with a stranger through a doorway or earnest conflabs over a glass of wine. The weather was heavenly, just as midsummer should be. The teaching was impressive too and Joanne Harris\’s keynote speech was fluent, fascinating, funny and inspiring. Judith Henegen was a delightful and gentle host who took the trouble to make everyone feel important and welcome.
I can\’t recommend the event more highly. Next time I shall stay for the whole weekend.
My one regret is not swopping contact details with Mel – if you read this Mel, get in touch!
Writing is a lonely old business but at Winchester I found my tribe.

Nearly there…

Made a drastic decision today.
Cut 15,000 words from the end of Peace Lily.
They are now destined to form the beginning of Speedwell.
Had to keep the dramatic tension up until the last page and maybe… even into the next book!
Should be able to wrap up the second draft tomorrow, ready to take to the Winchester Writer\’s Festival on Friday.
Thursday is earmarked for a bit of collapsing on the sofa inbetween these two events!

Peace Lilies

Library surprise

Had a major shock when my husband came home from the local DIY shop to tell me that the lovely lady who works there had just read my books and she\’d got them both from the local library! I didn\’t even know they were listed there! So, I checked it out and hey presto there are 6 books altogether, spread out over 5 libraries across the county. Sadly, they are all first editions (I\’ve revised and re-edited them both) so I\’d better alert the authorities that there\’s new and improved versions available.
And the best bit was… they are out being borrowed … and read!
Well chuffed.

#BARGAIN! http://amzn.to/19iDLtI only #.99 cents for 24 hours! featured on #booksends today

Free and Bargain Kindle Books Sent to Your Email! http://www.booksends.com

#http://amzn.to/19iDLtI
Daffodils featured here today and at a bargain price of #.99 cents!
One day only folks!

Don\’t forget – that sequel will be out this year so if you want to know about the characters – now\’s your chance to get them at a bargain price and be ahead of the story. Peace Lily is almost ready and you can then find out what happens in the aftermath of World War One to Katy and Jem, and Cassandra and Douglas. One thing\’s for sure – life was never the same again for any of them, whatever the war brought and whichever side of the Atlantic they end up on.

Here\’s the latest review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daffodils, May 30, 2014
Verified Purchase(What\’s this?)
This review is from: Daffodils (Kindle Edition)
5 star rating for Daffodils and kept as a favorite on my Kindle Fire. This story depicts so many aspects of
areas of life with great insight. Stayed up into the wee hours reading this \”couldn\’t put it down book\”.