2015 – My Year in photos #2
Posted by Lizzie Lamb
With three novels under my belt we headed to Bonnie Scotland in July to research number four. No rest for the wicked, eh? Having just watched the Outlander Series (based on the novels by Diane Gabaldon), I was interested to visit some of the locations where filming had taken place.
Then it was on to Ballachulish and a tour of Castle Stalker by the owner. The castle in my next novel, Castle Tèarmannair, is loosely based on Castle Stalker (see below). Check out the fabulous tour buses designed by Gary Walker.
In September Bongo Man was 65 and we celebrated in style.
We are real nerds and the highlight of that summer was having a pair of Jays take up residence in our garden. They disappeared from September until November but have now returned to delight us every morning with their antics and are becoming much tamer.
In October managed a week away in the Cotswolds and I was able to give a copy of Scotch on the Rocks to Maggie. We’ve been friends since 1978 when we met at an Open University summer school and the book is dedicated to her. Her only complaint about my writing is that there aren’t enough murders in my books. No wonder the Kelpie is laughing.
In October I became a member of Carole Matthew’s Chocolate Lovers’ Club team and hosted an evening with my girlfriends to celebrate the launch of her latest book – the Chocolate Lovers’ Christmas. I received free copies which I distributed to my book club, a tiara, chocs and an advent calendar. I also received an advance copy of The Chocolate Lover’s Wedding – Carole knows how to do things in style. #myguru
Tall Dark and Kilted received its 100th review in December and I felt that was worthy of celebration. And, out of the blue, I had a wonderful shout out in the Scottish Daily Record – the icing on the cake this year. I’ll be writing a blog post about that in 2016.
Looking back over the second half of the year I realise that I’ve been promoting more than I’ve been writing and I’ll have to rectify that. But it hasn’t all been about books and writing . . . I’ve also spent time with my family, have welcomed a great nephew – Leonidas Daniel Alexander – into the world and had a wonderful Christmas with Bongo Man and Jasper.
In between doing all of the above I have managed to find time to create a newsletter! Do subscribe to it while you’re on this page . . . I hope to host giveaways, sneak previews of my new novel – including cover reveals – and the odd chapter or two. I’d love you to be part of it.
So, what does 2016 hold for me?
I’ve been asked to give a talk on self-publishing to third year creative writing students at De Montfort University and I’m very thrilled about that.
I’m also co-hosting two charity events with Adrienne Vaughan: one in February and another in June And, of course, I have a novel to write – I’m currently on 12k words; only another 90k to go. Simples.
Do let me know how 2015 panned out for you and what 2016 holds in store. Be Healthy and Happy and – as they say in Scotland – LANG MAY YER LUM REEK.
About Lizzie Lamb
I write contemporary women's fiction mostly based in Scotland with hot heroes, feisty heroines and always a happy ending. Along with three other authors - Adrienne Vaughan, June Kearns and Margaret Cullingford - I formed the New Romantics Press under which our books are published. I have published seven novels since 2012, the latest being Dark Highland Skies. I am currently working on #8 which I hope to publish in 2024. In the meantime, do check out my Amazon page: viewAuthor.at/LizzieLamb and click 'FOLLOW' to keep up to date with my news.Posted on January 9, 2016, in Lizzie's Scribbles and tagged #amwriting, author, blogger, Carole Matthews, Castle Stalker, newsletter, romance, Scotch on the Rocks, Scotland, The Daily Record, Year In Review. Bookmark the permalink. 17 Comments.
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Fantastic second part of your writing journey, Lizzie. I love that photo of Bongo Man, bless him! You’ve achieved so much and continue to be an inspiration to us all. Here’s to another exciting successful year for you 🙂 Xx
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Thanks for commenting Jan. 2015 was a great year for you with the launch of your debut novel which I am currently reading, and enjoying. Let’s hope 2016 is justice productive and we can meet up soon.
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Oh, what a year! Thank you for sharing so many wonderful memories with us. Here’s to a fantastic 2016! xx
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How quickly the year has gone and you have packed it with lots of hard work as well as entertaining your friends. Looking forward to a healthy and fun filled 2016. x
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Thanks JOAN, we do rather seem to pack a lot into our year, don’t we? I hope we can find somewhere in the busy calendar when we can all returned to Norfolk and visit the old haunts.
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Hi Isabella, yes 2015 was quite some year. So something to look forward to and to keep us busy. I hope 2016 is the year when you and I can meet up again.
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Reblogged this on New Romantics Press and commented:
Part Two of my Year in Review. I hope you enjoy it !!
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What a wonderful year, Lizzie! Lovely posts – and I love the tour bus!!! x
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Thanks Terry. I saw the idea somewhere else and had it adapted fur my novels.
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Lovely memories here, Lizzie – plus that gorgeous, never-before-seen photo of BM!! (There’s one for the new book cover.)
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Thanks June, I’ll bear it in mind. LOL.
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What a busy year. You are an inspiration to others and very generous with your time. Happy 2016 writing year.
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Thank you Linda, i’m so thrilled that you got in to the NWS 👍
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Amazing year Lizzie, and thoroughly enjoyed being part of lots of it! Already planning, dreaming and scheming for 2016, and our charity ‘gigs’ are something we never considered before we became recognised authors … that’s a win, win isn’t it? Bring it on!
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Yes, Adrienne, we have some great things planned for 2016. Now all we have to do is stay healthy and well enough to carry them out!
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Wow what an amazing year you had! Here’s hoping 2016 will be even better, if that’s possible. Looking forward to the next book 🙂
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Fingers cxxx, Sarah 😊
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