I was invited by the brilliant, best-selling novelist Dorothy Koomson to share my essential reads and writing tips on her website.  Click here to read all about it. While you're there, check out her new book: The Ice Cream Girls.  As thought-provoking, warm and insightful as her other books, this is sure to be a huge hit.  Here's what the blurb has to say: As teenagers Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were the only witnesses to a tragic event. Amid heated public debate, the two seemingly glamorous teens were dubbed ‘The Ice Cream Girls’ by the press and were dealt with by the courts. Years later, having led very different lives, Poppy is keen to set the record straight about what really happened, while married mother-of-two Serena wants no one in her present to find out about her past. But some secrets will not stay buried – and if theirs is revealed, everything will become a living hell all over again . . . Gripping, thought-provoking and heart-warming, The Ice Cream Girls will make you wonder if you can ever truly know the people you love

Of all the weird and wonderful New Year emails I received there was one I really liked.  Print it out, stick it up by your computer and read it when it all gets too much... The Optimist's Creed by Christian Larson Promise Yourself ... To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness, and proseprity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet. To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds. To live in the ...

Just did a book signing at Waterstone's Maidenhead with the force of nature that is Mark Robson. There's a brilliant team at Maidenhead and they not only know about the books on their shelves they clearly care that their customers go away happy. Here's a pic of Mark and I comparing remaining stock at around 2.30pm. I'm trying not to look too smug...

The Bookseller leads with a headline today on age guidance for children's books. It's a subject I feel passionately about - so much so I was moved to comment on Caroline Horn's piece which you can read here: Including age guidance on books does a great disservice to the group who should matter most - young readers. Already divided by an industry that decrees girls should read books with pink, sparkly covers while boys manfully cope with rearing beasts, they are now segregated into age groups which are meaningless. As any educationalist will tell you, biological age has little to do with reading age. My 8 year old daughter reads four to five years above her age and adores those beasty books meant for boys. Surely this is about knowing the individual child and feeding their reading needs accordingly? And to help those confused adults buying books as Christmas presents, nothing can replace a well-informed bookseller. There are any number of them to be found up and down the country running independent bookstores, sharing their wealth of knowledge with customers and providing the type of service supermarkets and faceless chains simply cannot match...

Authors don't just write. There are any number of peripheral activities essential to success. And I'm not talking about research or reappointing the writing 'shed' (invariably nothing of the sort). I'm referring to the round of events which many of us are asked to attend and which we would be insane to pass up. I've done a lot recently - which is why this blog has suffered from neglect - and enjoyed every minute. I know there are authors out there who hate the very idea of meeting their readers. Solitary creatures by nature, they would rather impale themselves upon their pens than have to deal with the public. Me - I love it. But that's because I come from an acting background and positively thrive on interaction. OK, I admit it. I'm a sucker for applause. Some of the most genuine comes from the kids I encounter when out and about. After all, if kids hate you, you soon know about it. They tend to give you that dead-eyed stare. My most recent event bears that out - I had the pleasure for the second year running of attending the Kids Lit ...

Here's my latest video - the Biker Goddess stock signing tour to promote Kumari. I spent a day whizzing round the major Central London book stores on the back of a Triumph Bonneville clad only in a sari, a pair of Raybans and a dodgy leather jacket. Move over Isadora Duncan...

Yes folks - here I am in a marvellous centre spread feature by journalist Kate Youde which you can read here. The five page special focuses on what it flatteringly describes as the 'best local writers.' Not sure how Hanif Kureishi feels about being left out but there you are. In case you missed it, there was another piece a couple of weeks ago about my forthcoming event at the shiny new Shepherd's Bush Library. You can read that one here.

Here's me talking about my writing life at the Thoroughly Modern Heroines event which took place at Waterstone's in Notting Hill - beside me are fellow authors Josa Young http://oneappletasted.com and Kate Morris http://katemorris.co.uk. Click on this entry to see the video and for more check out my Youtube channel AmandaLeesTube...

I've just taken part in the first ever Chiswick Book Festival, sitting on a panel chaired by the brilliant author and lecturer Celia Brayfield debating the perfect book group book.  Like many of you out there I ostensibly belong to a book group.  I say ostensibly because I hardly ever manage to make it along. This is not because of any lack of love of books but rather the result of an intense burst of writing that has seen me publish a trilogy and start two completely new projects in a short space of time.  Compared to the other members of the panel and the audience, however, I classify as a wimp.  In one small area of West London there are eleven known book groups and probably many more beavering away anonymously.  Judging by the discussion that ensued, they are well-read, positively keen to overlook hyped up bestsellers and hungry for excellent writing both classic and new. The debate bore out the old adage that you should never underestimate your audience.  Publishers sometimes make the mistake of thinking that dumbed down sells.  Maybe in Dan Brown's case but then he is an exception to every rule.  What was apparent is that people everywhere, from ...

From time to time I emerge blinking from behind my keyboard to meet up with readers and fellow writers.  If you can make it along, it would be lovely to see you there. Here are a few dates for your diaries: Sunday 27th September, 3pm,  I'll be at the first ever Chiswick Book Festival to talk about the perfect Book Club Book along with Celia Brayfield - sadly I won't be able to make the Saturday Children's events as (happily) my best friend is getting married (aaaaaah): http://chiswickbookfestival.org Wednesday 30th September, 7 - 9pm, Waterstones Notting Hill - I'll be talking about Thoroughly Modern Heroines alongside fellow authors Josa Young and Kate Morris: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=101979982767&ref=mf Saturday 17th October, 2.30pm, Shepherds Bush Library - I'll be talking about the Kumari trilogy and giving some writing tips http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Leisure_and_Culture/Libraries/Shepherds_Bush_library/14295_Libraries_Shepherds_Bush.asp