Tag Archives: Mandy Baggot

Jera’s Jamboree : Stationery Love with Mandy Baggot (aka Lady B)

learn_stationery_03_vector_154907

 

My guest today on Stationery Love is Mandy Baggot.

WELCOME!

Having read all the fantastic and sometimes weird stationery obsessions people have, I thought this spot wasn’t for me. What did I have to contribute? Me, with my plain black BIC biro (missing lid) and a Tesco Value A5 pad. However, that’s OK and even qualifies me to be on Stationery Love. Apparently it counts as a stationery fetish! How very 50 Shades, Mr Grey!

I have to admit, I love a freebie and what better freebie than a pen? I’m particulary fond of my purple erotic pen I picked up at the Festival of Romance in 2011 and my Principal Hayley hotel pen that smells really nice (?!). I’m also embarrassed to admit that I keep all those free pens that come through the post. But, when I actually thought about it properly, I do have a love for ‘proper’ stationery it’s just my time to indulge has diminished.

Stationery Love

We had a great stationery stall at school and my products of choice were anything made by Staedtler. The erasers (notice I didn’t call them rubbers!) were the best, but it was the pens that stole my heart. Nothing quite tops the shape of the shaft of a Staedtler pen – medium tip! Goodness, that sounded almost pornographic!

So, on that note, now that Stationery Love has reignited my lust for German writing instruments, I’m off to play with my new ten pack!

Ahem … what can I say :)  

Actually, I had a look at the Staedtler website and found this amazing DIGITAL pen!

digital pen

http://www.staedtler.co.uk/digital_pen_uk.Staedtler

 

Mandy Baggot brings you award-winning fiction! In 2012 she won the coveted Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance. Her novel Strings Attached was also short listed for Best Author Published Read!MandyBaggot

 

Mandy writes strong contemporary romance and characters you’ll fall in love with. Previously self-published, she was signed by US publishing house Sapphire Star Publishing in January 2012. Shortly afterwards she became a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

 

Mandy is a self-confessed Twitter addict who also likes to show off her singing talents on You Tube – check out Lady Gaga! She has auditioned for X Factor, appeared on ITV1s Who Dares Sings and longs to duet with Bryan Adams. She also has a fondness for white wine, mashed potato, country music and World’s Strongest Man.

 

Mandy lives near Salisbury in Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and two cats called Kravitz and Springsteen.

 

You can find out more on Mandy’s website http://mandybaggot.com or check out her author page at Sapphire Star Publishing

http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/mandybaggot

 

 

Jera’s Jamboree : Guest Author Mandy Baggot

I’d like to welcome award winning author, Mandy Baggot to Jera’s Jamboree today.

Photo courtesy of author

Photo courtesy of author

Nathan Regan – are you safe?

My new romantic suspense novel, Security, launches on 4 April 2013! It’s not long! A matter of days! So, I thought I ought to do the decent thing and introduce you to the hero, Nathan Regan.

Photo courtesy of author

Photo courtesy of author

Nathan is an ex-Special Forces soldier who is retained by MI5 to do those awkward jobs that need doing under the radar. Due to owing someone a favour he’s been given the role of bodyguard for pop princess, Autumn Raine. He isn’t at all happy about this because when he meets Autumn he thinks she’s a stuck-up cow. He’s also concerned about the information he’s been given about Autumn’s mother, the British Foreign Secretary.

Nathan isn’t a team player. He likes to be in charge. This is because he trusts no one. He’s had his fair share of tragedy in his life and these events have tainted his life and led him to question everything.

He’s brash. He says what he thinks but he’s also loyal, trustworthy and as brave as they come. He will see a job through no matter what the cost to himself. He believes in truth and justice and it’s this moral code that drives him forward when the chips are down.

He’s also extremely sexy! Just look at him! But he’s a little bit oblivious to it because he doesn’t really take pride in his appearance. It doesn’t bother him at all. He doesn’t spend time preening and perfecting. He pulls on a pair of combat trousers and a vest, grabs his gun and he’s good to go.

But inside this gung-ho hero is a broken man. He’s emotionally vulnerable and not really fit for active duty. Can he work through these demons? Is he going to protect Autumn or want to throttle her himself? What secrets is he hiding? You’ll have to read Security and find out!

 Thank you Mandy!  Nathan Regan can pull on his clothes and grab his gun …

Works for me!

Security_600

Pubished by Sapphire Star Publishing

Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.

Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?

As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?

Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?

Security is touring with Fiction Addiction Book Tours

security

Follow the virtual tour to read some interesting interviews, guest posts and of course reviews.

Tour Hosts are offering an e-copy of Security as a giveaway so don’t forget to follow their instructions for the chance to grab a copy for yourself!

Date Tour Host
8th April 2013 Shaz’s Book Blog
9th April 2013 I Heart Books!
10th April 2013 Cosmochicklitan
11th April 2013 Love Reading Love Books
12th April 2013 Room for Reading
15th April 2013 Me, My Books and I
16th April 2013 Victoria’s Pages of Romance
17th April 2013 Kim the Bookworm
18th April 2013 Eve’s Chick Lit Reviews
19th April 2013 Rea Book Review

Jera’s Jamboree : Cover Reveal! Mandy Baggot – Security plus Giveaway!

Before Bond, meet Regan…Nathan Regan

The new Bond film, Skyfall launches tomorrow – but why wait until then for a military intelligence hottie? Let me introduce you to the lead male in Mandy Baggot’s new romantic thriller, Security and reveal the eye-catching 007-style book cover!

Nathan Regan … HOT!!!
Photo courtesy of author

Lies hurt, but the truth can get you killed

Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.

 

Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?

 

As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?

 

Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?

 

Security is coming from Sapphire Star Publishing on 4 April 2013! If you can’t wait until then to find out more here is the teasing trailer!

 

Find out more about Mandy’s books at www.mandybaggot.webs.com or check out her author page with Sapphire Star Publishing http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/mandybaggot

Photo courtesy of author

 

 

Collect the Bond film titles and WIN a signed paperback copy of Strings Attached!

FIVE paperback copies of Mandy’s novel Strings Attached are up for grabs! All you have to do is collect the Bond films. On each of the websites featuring the Security cover reveal there will be a Bond film mentioned (NOT Skyfall). Once you have all the titles, drop Mandy an email mandybaggot@sapphirestarpublishing.com and you will go into the draw for one of the books! Easy! The giveaway closes 1st November 2012. Here are the website links you need!

Mandy Baggot http://mandybaggot.webs.com/apps/blog/

Kim Nash http://kimthebookworm.blogspot.co.uk/

Stephanie Keyes http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/the-blog/

Melanie Robertson-King http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/

Nicky Wells http://nickywellsklippert.wordpress.com/

Sharon Goodwin (Jera’s Jamboree) You Only Live Twice

Rachel Lyndhurst http://www.rachellyndhurst.com/

Carol (Dizzy C’s Little Book Blog)http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Sheryl Browne http://sheryls-ramblings.blogspot.co.uk/

Bonnie Trachtenberg http://www.bonnietrachtenberg.com/bonnies-blog

Richard Holmes http://richardfholmes.org/

Kate (Me, My Books and I) http://memybooksandi.wordpress.com/

Sue Fortin (Love Reading, Love Books) http://lovereadinglovebooks.wordpress.com/

Lindsay Gentles (TTP Book Reviews) http://www.turningthepages.ca/

Eve Chong (Eve’s Chicklit Reviews) http://www.chicklitevexx.blogspot.co.uk/

Pauline Barclay http://paulinembarclay.blogspot.co.uk/

A L Jackson http://aljacksonbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Loveahappyending http://loveahappyending.com

Louise Graham http://lougrahamiiblog.wordpress.com

Trashionista http://www.trashionista.com

Good Luck!

Jera’s Jamboree reviews: Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot

Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot

Paperback

Publication: May 3rd 2012

Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing

ISBN13  9781938404023

Is going back Robyn’s only way forward? 

American-born Robyn Matthers is going home. With her dad in hospital, his roadhouse in ruins and the ice hockey team slipping down the league, she needs to take charge. But does she have the strength to do it?

Cole Ryan is a hockey player on a personal mission. He’s tall, dark, hot and Robyn’s noticed! But can she trust her feelings – or his? And what will Cole do when he finds out the truth about her?

With an ill father, a trailer trash step-mom and ex-boyfriend Brad desperate for another chance, does Robyn have time to contemplate a relationship? Can she start again? Does she really want to? And can two people really fall in love in three days?

 

Taking Charge begins with our female lead Robyn in Chicago.  She’s at the airport waiting for a connection to Kalamazoo, Michigan.  She’s not looking her best after all those hours of travelling from England!  Her backpack breaks … enter male lead Cole Ryan who offers to help.  They’re both on their way to Portage.

The story that follows takes the reader through Robyn facing the issues she’d left home for and Cole coming to terms with his past.  They’re both trying to find a place to belong being driven by childhood issues and emotional wounds.  Alongside this runs the sub-plot of best friend Sarah and her romance  (as well as Robyn taking charge of the roadhouse and ice-hockey team).

Straight away Robyn comes across as a very sassy character.  She is bossy, feisty, upfront and tells it as it is.  This is a complete departure from the other stories I’ve read from this author where I’ve seen the female lead grow and evolve.  For me, Robyn over-shadowed Cole and I didn’t feel their attraction as I have in past stories.  I did enjoy watching the growing relationship with Robyn and her father Eddie and his partner Nancy.  I’m always drawn to the dynamics in family relationships and this was quite a strong theme in Taking Charge.

Written in the third person, this allows the reader to see everyone’s point of view in the story.  With Robyn’s character being a strong one, this does allow the reader to identify with Cole’s point of view and reasoning.

My predictions about the character responsible for causing Robyn to leave home were correct.  This character was delineated brilliantly and the desperation was palpable.

The author’s writing style of dialogue is easy to read and the story moves at a fast pace which holds the reader’s attention.  The most tension-filled moment for me was during an ice-hockey game.  I also loved the team camaraderie!

In the ARC there are ice-hockey terms and a suggested music playlist at the beginning.  I didn’t need to refer to the terms although I thought it was an added extra that they were there if I needed them.

Taking Charge for me was more about family dynamics than the relationship between Robyn and Cole but I can’t finish my review without saying that the timescale of their romance I found believable as we all are carried along on Robyn’s personality and the ending did leave a tear in my eye!

Buy it and spread the word

I would like to thank the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Taking Charge is available to purchase:

Amazon Kindle format £2.52

Amazon Paperback £9.87

The Book Depository Paperback £9.86

You can find out more about Mandy Baggot on her website.  Mandy tweets and she is on Facebook.

Blog tour: Celebrating the release of Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot

Today, Jera’s Jamboree would like to welcome back Mandy Baggot.  Having always been an avid supporter of Mandy, I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for her latest novel, Taking Charge, which is published by Sapphire Star Publishing (3rd May 2012).  Mandy’s publishers have also kindly agreed to supply an e-copy to one of Jera’s Jamboree readers.  Read to the end to find out how you can enter the International giveaway.

Here’s the cover (what do you think? gorgeous isn’t it!) and synopsis:

Is going back Robyn’s only way forward?

 

American-born Robyn Matthers is going home. With her dad in hospital, his roadhouse in ruins and the ice hockey team slipping down the league, she needs to take charge. But does she have the strength to do it?

 

Cole Ryan is a hockey player on a personal mission. He’s tall, dark, hot and Robyn’s noticed! But can she trust her feelings – or his? And what will Cole do when he finds out the truth about her?

 

With an ill father, a trailer trash step-mom and ex-boyfriend Brad desperate for another chance, does Robyn have time to contemplate a relationship? Can she start again? Does she really want to? And can two people really fall in love in three days?

Thank you so much for taking part in the Taking Charge blog tour Shaz! It’s so nice to be on your fantastic website again.

Well, when my lead female character Robyn arrives back in the US, one of the tasks she has to undertake is managing the local ice hockey team the Portage Panthers. Now, despite there being some excellent ice hockey teams in the UK, it isn’t exactly a mainstream sport over here. So, to help my UK readers and those readers who might know of the sport but know nothing about it, Taking Charge has a glossary of terms, giving you a crash course in the main points of the game. But, in addition to that, I will now give you Mandy Baggot’s Official Guide to Watching Ice Hockey.

Outfit

Now these boys need all over protection when they play. We’re talking body armour, gloves and a helmet. Ice hockey matches are not the place to sport your best designer clothes or killer heels. You will actually look out of place in anything other than a replica shirt in the team of your choice – I recommend the home team of whatever stadium you are at.

 

Mascot

There will be someone dressed up in an oversized animal outfit who will be trying to entertain the children. This person will annoy you and you will want to get into a fist fight with him or her because of it. Remember this is a family occasion, take a deep breath and feel lucky that you aren’t the one dressed as a giant, green duck.

 

Food

Food is everywhere. You can even get ticket deals where food is included. Think foot long hot-dogs, fries and Coke. Practise is needed to balance food on your lap, cheer when your team hit the back of the net and wave your special edition towel in the air.

 

Enforcer

This is the guy whose job it is to hurt people. He’s the biggest player and probably the ugliest. Think of him as a pantomime villain. He brings the good old-fashioned scrap to the rink. Do not underestimate how fun this is to watch.

 

Music

You will be treated to a mixture of hurdy gurdy organ music and Eighties rock. Think Van Halen mixed with something that might accompany a fairground carousel. It is compulsory to sing along when you hear a track you know.

 

Seating

Choose well my friends! Right behind the Perspex in mid-rink is probably your best bet. That puck, flying through the air packs a mighty punch and you don’t want to be in its path. If it’s heading your way, quickly get intimate with the mascot – see above.

 

Hot men

Finally, most ice hockey players look hot from your position behind the Perspex. It’s amazing what a helmet, body armour and a gum shield can mask. Sit back and enjoy their physical prowess. These boys are fit!

 

So, ice hockey is fast and furious, there’s full contact, fisticuffs and face offs. What are you waiting for? Read Taking Charge, feel what it’s all about and GET IT ON! 

Please take time to visit all the participants in the blog tour.  Links below.

Thursday 3 May Louise Graham http://lougrahamiiblog.wordpress.com/
Friday 4 May Sharon Goodwin http://jerasjamboree.wordpress.com/
Saturday 5 May Elle Symonds (Trashionista) http://trashionista.com/
Monday 7 May Silvana http://books-are-my-life-silvy.blogspot.com/
Tuesday 8 May Sue Fortin http://lovereadinglovebooks.wordpress.com/
Wednesday 9 May Ananda http://books-to-remember.blogspot.com/
Thursday 10 May Lindsay Gentles http://www.turningthepages.ca/
Friday 11 May Rea Sinfield http://reabookreview.blogspot.com/
Monday 14 May Carol K (Dizzy C’s Little Book Blog) http://dizzycslittleblookblog.blogspot.com
Tuesday 15 May Sarah Broadhurst http://sbroadhurstreviews.blogspot.com/
Jessica (Peace Loves Books) http://readingwithstyle.blogspot.com
Angela Scavone http://angelascavone.com/
Wednesday 16 May Janice Horton http://www.janicehortonwriter.blogspot.com/
Thursday 17 May Anjana Vasan http://www.kindleandme.com/
Melissa Amster (Chick Lit Central) http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspot.com
Friday 18 May Chloe Spooner (Chick Lit Chloe) http://www.chicklitchloe.blogspot.com/
Erin (Hook of a Book) http://hookofabook.wordpress.com
Saturday 19 May Liv (Livvie’s Outlook) http://livbet.webs.com/
Angela Scavone http://angelascavone.com/
Monday 21 May Jessica (Peace Loves Books) http://readingwithstyle.blogspot.com
Tuesday 22 May Kim Nash (Kim the Bookworm) http://kimthebookworm.blogspot.co.uk/
Wednesday 23 May Erin (Hook of a Book) http://hookofabook.wordpress.com
Friday 25 May Nikki http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogpsot.com
Monday 28 May Mandy (Twimom101) http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com
Tuesday 29 May Mandy (Twimom101) http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com

To enter the International giveaway of an e-copy of Taking Charge, please leave a pick me comment below and Mandy Baggot will choose a winner.  The giveaway closes midnight 11th May 2012.

Good luck

Shaz

Jera’s Jamboree: Monthly round-up

Welcome to April’s monthly round-up.

The most popular post in April was Celebrating the launch of Thicker than Blood for local indie author Shalini Boland.  If you missed the post, Thicker than Blood is Book Two in the Marchwood Vampire Series and was published 17th April in Kindle format with the paperback due out soon.  Great to see all the support for Shalini.  Thank you!

I blogged reviews for seven books and two of those were ‘keepers’ for me:

Secrets of the Tides by Hannah Richell

(click above for review)

Without a Mask: Discovering Your Authentic Self by Avikal Costantino

(click above for review)

The three most popular reviews with readers were:

The Sugar Girls – Duncan Barratt & Nuala Calvi

(click above for review)

Secrets of the Tides by Hannah Richell

The Greatest Love Story of All Time … by Lucy Robinson

(click above for review)

I feel quite sad in saying that the four Shaz’ Stars this month were the last in this feature.  It’s been great fun being resident Astrologer  … getting to know the authors and associate readers in the Loveahappyending team.  Huge thanks from me to them all for letting me question them on how their sun signs may have influenced their writing/reading habits! (There may be some specials in the future, never say never).

 

Coming up in May:

Jera’s Jamboree is excited about the blog tours coming up this month and also a guest post!

4th May I’ll be welcoming back Mandy Baggot.  Mandy’s new contemporary romance, Taking Charge (published by Sapphire Star Publishing) is released on 3rd May.  Some of you may have noticed my profile picture on my personal Facebook in support of Team Baggot!  Mandy’s blog tour lasts for the month of May and I hear there are some fun and interesting posts along the way.  Look out for the giveaways of Taking Charge.  My review of Taking Charge is scheduled on my blog for 23rd May.

9th May I’ll be welcoming back Daniela Sacerdoti.  Daniela’s new novel is the start of an exciting YA trilogy, Sarah Midnight (published by Black & White Publishing).  The first in the series is called Dreams and is released on 17th May.   I hear from Janne at Black & White Publishing that translation rights have already been sold to Brazil and there’s an offer from Poland.  World domination :)  My review will be up on the blog 14th May.  Below is the tour badge that my 16 yo son designed/created.

11th May Donna Trinder will be guesting on my blog.  An inspiring lady, watch out for a giveaway linked to Donna’s post.

25th May I’m honoured to be welcoming Carole Matthews.  Summer Daydreams is Carole’s 20th novel (published by Sphere, Little, Brown).  Having been a fan of Carole’s since well before my blogging days, this is an exciting opportunity for me!  My review will be up on my blog very soon.  Listen to Carole telling readers more about Summer Daydreams and the inspiration behind the story:

Summer Daydreams is released on 24th May.

Books up for review in May are:

The Storyteller – Antonia Michaelis

Taking Charge – Mandy Baggot

Dreams (Sarah Midnight Trilogy) – Daniela Sacerdoti

Summer Daydreams – Carole Matthews

Black Heart Blue – Louisa Reid

Heart-Shaped Bruise – Tanya Byrne

Talisman of El - Alecia Stone

Thank you for all the support I receive from other book bloggers, authors and publishers.  Whether you read my reviews (thank you for all the inspiring comments I receive!), buy the book or spread the news on Twitter/Facebook – it’s all very much appreciated.

Hoping that love, light and laughter are by your side through May.

Secret Squirrel: Have you heard …

 

Secret Squirrel has THE most AMAZING exclusive news to share with readers …

Earlier today, in Wiltshire, Secret Squirrel was following author Mandy Baggot at a discrete distance. Mandy was clearing out her handbag and Secret Squirrel saw something stuck to the empty packet of Smash in the trash.  A mistake for Mandy but not for SS!

… not able to resist snooping, well, need I say more!

*Mandy Baggot has been signed by new US publishing house Sapphire Star Publishing! Mandy’s novel Taking Charge will be published in May 2012*

Secret Squirrel knows you will all join in wishing Mandy the 

she deserves.

Yesterday, cheerfulchic commented on my blog in reference to Mandy  “she’s gone from strength to strength and she’s like a whirlwind!“

Congratulations Mandy :)

 

 

 

Shaz Stars interviews author Mandy Baggot

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:
 MANDY BAGGOT
Hello Mandy, thank you for letting us have a peek behind thescenes.  Your sun sign is ARIES.

  • Aries is the first of the zodiacal signs and as such represents new beginnings and action.  Despite this desire to be the ‘front-runner’, boredom can set in quickly.  Writing is a long creative journey.  Do you lose interest quickly in writing projects?  Does there need to be something specific to hold your interest?

Wow – that’s a good first question. I never seem to lose interest in any writing projects completely, because I don’t like not seeing things through to an end. But, having said that I have developed a habit of having several projects on the go at the same time all fighting for a place on the computer screen. There are four at the moment, all jostling for position. What helps me hold interest in a subject is some physical inspiration, for example one of my male leads is an ex-soldier turned bodyguard and I find watching ‘Strike Back’ with the gorgeous Richard Armitage definitely gets the creative juices flowing.


  • Enthusiasm and confidence are a part of the Arian energy.  Would you consider this to be a strength in your writing?

I’m deeply enthusiastic about my writing and writing in general but if I’m honest I lack inner confidence. No one would think that but it’s true! Luckily I am quite good at projecting confidence (I think!). I would say I’m determined rather than confident and definitely persistent. Once I get an idea in my head I run with it and order everyone to follow me! I’m bolstered by the support of a lovely network of people, my husband Mr Big, my close friends and the wonderful friends I have made on social networking sites. Their encouragement and belief does help when you want to strangle the postman for bringing you yet another rejection letter.


  • It is said that there is no new thought or action in the world that hasn’t been thought of or tried before.  Arians are pioneers in thoughts and action.  Do you agree with this statement?

I wouldn’t say I was a pioneer because there are so many wonderful writers out there writing in the same genre. What I would say though is my stories are different because they are so dialogue led. When I’m writing its like I’m watching a film with my two main characters on screen. I try and set the scene and tell the story all with dialogue and as little description as I can get away with. I like the partnership to shine through and I find sometimes telling readers how autumnal the tree leaves are holds things up. 


I do like putting things instories that I wish I could say to people. Most of my characters are braverthan me!

  • Arians can tap into an immense amount of energy.  Would you say this has an effect on your writing schedule?

I’m not sure I have lots of energy; I always seem to be tired! But maybe that’s because I try and cram 101 things into my life. I love being busy, go crazy when I haven’t got a project to plan and usually end up burning the candle at both ends a lot of the time. At the moment I write mostly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when my youngest daughter is at preschool but I also have to fit in exercise, meetings, shopping and housework into those days too. I’m lucky if I manage a couple of hours a day writing but then again I can usually be found at the computer at 9.00pm doing more and not even really realising it. Writing is definitely not a 9-5 job and that has up and down sides.

  • Objectivity is a word common in the Arian vocabulary.  How do you get into the soul of your characters to give them depth, make them come alive ……… so your readers believe in them?

The only way you can make your readers believe your characters is if you can put yourself right into your character’s shoes. For me you have to forget how you would react to situations and become them, you have to think like them, do things they would do, react to things the way the character would etc. That isn’t to say that I walk around the house dressed in different clothes and pinning my husband to the bed every five seconds (although he might like that!) but I do tend to almost live my life as the character when I’m heavily into a story. Samantha in Breaking the Ice was my favourite character to empathise with because anything that happened to her was a disaster. There was lots of sighing and crying and bewailing everyday ups and downs with her.


  •             One of the negative Arian traits is an irritation at slowness.  When you experience a lull in ideas,something is taking longer than planned or is just not working out to yoursatisfaction, how do you deal with that?

I never have a lull in ideas! I’ve always got loadsof those and never enough time to get on with them! I am a bit of a whirlwindand if something is getting a bit bogged down that’s when my determinationkicks in. I don’t like to leave a job half done so I just persevere until it’sfinished. I get irritated when other people are slow but I understand peoplehave their own timescales on things and it’s always a lot slower than mine! I’mvery impatient but not in a stressy way, in an excited ‘I want things to happennow!’ way.

 


  • To progress and grow in any sphere of life it’s important that we take note of other people’s advice.  Arians are loathe to do this, especially if they disagree.  Do you take note of anyone’s advice in relation to your writing, or do you disregard it?

Hmmm yes, taking advice, what’s that? No, just kidding. I found it really really hard to take advice about my writing at the beginning. That isn’t to say I thought my novels were the best thing since sliced bread and couldn’t be improved I think it probably was the Arian in me that feels a bit weird about being scrutinised. I have got much better at it though and now I welcome advice. I am always asking my readers and website members what they think about things and this is because I really want to know. I like honest opinions because they’re the only ones worth listening to.


But you do have to listen to yourgut too and assess whether the advice is right for you. I disregarded someadvice given to me by a professional who critiqued ‘Strings Attached’. Shewanted me to consider changing the male lead from a pop star to a reclusivenovelist. It just didn’t do it for me. Quinn (my character) was someone I hadspent almost a year with and he just wasn’t a reclusive novelist, he’s ashowman, a brooding hottie everyone fancies, yes it might not be quite asoriginal but at the end of the day I created him. We will have to see whetherthat was a right or wrong decision!

Thank you for your honesty Mandy.

Mandy is a showcased author with Loveahappyending which is an interactive reader/author website.  Visit Loveahappyending to find out more about this brilliant project and how you, as a reader, can support them.

Author Biogrophy:
Mandy Baggot lives in Wiltshire with her husband and twodaughters. She is currently unrepresented and publishes under Youwriteon.comwho are supported by The Arts Council. She has three books in the marketplaceExcess All Areas, Breaking the Ice and Knowing Me Knowing You. Mandy writes inthe contemporary/commercial romantic fiction genre.
Author weblinks:

http://www.mandybaggot.webs.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/mandybaggot


When the going gets tough Freya Johnson gets going! Humiliated by her boyfriend the day she turns 30, Freya boards a last minute flight to Corfu to visit her best friend Emma. Little does she know that this holiday will change her life forever. Enter Hollywood film star Nicholas Kaden whose entourage is stirring up the village of Kassiopi while filming his new movie.

Caught up in a media frenzy, feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable in Nicholas’ movie world, Freya battles with the ghosts of her past and the uncertainty of her future. Can she help Emma? Can she keep her own big secret? And can she find out what Nicholas is hiding before she feels the urge to run away again?



  • Paperback: 482 pages
  • Publisher: New Generation Publishing; 1st edition (1 April 2010)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1907461272
  • ISBN-13: 978-1907461279
When routine driven box office assistant Samantha Smith meets the stars of ‘Skating on Broadway’ her life is turned upside down. Immediately attracted to the infamous lead skater Jimmy Lloyd, Samantha does her best to deny her feelings. But when all you can do is burst out laughing and hyperventilate every time you’re under pressure, keeping things under wraps is a hard task. When the future of her beloved Civic Hall is threatened Samantha must rise to the challenge to ensure its survival. Constantly scrutinised and criticised by her zany sister Cleo and her brogue wearing boyfriend Jeremy, can Samantha save her job, save the Civic Hall and stop her panic attacks just long enough to give her away her heart?


  • Paperback: 394 pages
  • Publisher: YouWriteOn.com (11 Feb 2011)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1908147601
  • ISBN-13: 978-1908147608

KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU – BRING ON THE LOVE! Recently single mother Kate is struggling. Clinging on to a career and bringing up her 2 year old daughter leads to nights alone drowning her sorrows in the cheapest white wine she can find. Forced to employ Joel, a male escort, to accompany her to a professionals’ dinner, Kate somehow ends up in the middle of a relationship contest, competing for a £100,000 prize alongside someone she barely knows. With her boss, the Lady Dragon Miranda, desperate for Kate to flounder, her tarot card reading child-minder trying to match-make and her ex-husband making her life a misery, can Kate keep her life on an even keel? And more importantly can she put her trust in a serial dater who used to be an underwear model?


Due for publication 1st November 2011

Caterer George Fraser has a mission. She’s going to prove everyone wrong. Ambitious owner of catering firm Finger Food and black sheep of her family, she’s determined to succeed in business where she’s so far failed in her personal life. Asked to cater for gorgeous rock star Quinn Blake’s after-show party her life suddenly takes a turn for the dramatic. 

Magnetically drawn together, George and Quinn embark on a relationship that no one must know about. But is Quinn everything he seems or is there more to his star life than he’s telling her? 
Things hot up when George is invited to the wedding of the millennium and her integrity very soon becomes compromised. 

With celebrity obsessed colleague Marisa in the mix and her beloved Adam spending more time in her life can George keep her secrets and hold on to her ambition, or will love finally get in the way? 



My Top 10 Fiction Reads of 2011

Before I do my top reads, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the authors in the world for sharing their creativity enabling me to experience lives and journeys without leaving my chair … and also to my readers and the blogging community who are supportive and make book blogging fun.  Without any of you there would be no book blog!

So without further ado … here are my top 10 reads of 2011 (in no particular order):

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – pure heaven for me – magic, historical, folklore/myth, DNA … and  Matthew and Diana are amazing leads.  (I have had Shadow of Night – the second in the All Souls Trilogy – on pre-order for ages).

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy 1)

Being Billy by Phil Earle – a YA novel that made me cry – very well written and just made me want to mother Billy!  A story that takes you out of your comfort zone.  Highlights that there’s always a reason behind certain behaviours and we need to look beyond that.

Being Billy

Hurry Up and Wait by Isabel Ashdown – based in the 80′s, a book I couldn’t put down.  Inference and sub-plots kept my interest.

Hurry Up and Wait

Caligula by Douglas Jackson.  Historical.  Caligula took me on a trip to the past and involved me in lives that felt real!

Caligula (Roman Trilogy 1)

The Secrets Between Us by Louise Douglas.  Passion, tension.  Again inference.  The psychological mind games had the hairs bristling on the back of my neck and I had goosebumps.

The Secrets Between Us

December Moon by Suzy Turner.  YA novel, the second in the Raven trilogy.  Another magical world that is populated with brilliant characters.  I couldn’t stop reading – the action and tension builds all the time so that half-way through we have a major crises and the consequences of that cause major rumbles throughout the rest of the story.  (I am eagerly awaiting The Lost Soul Mar 2012)

December Moon (The Raven Saga)

Strings Attached by Mandy Baggot.  Chick lit at its finest.  Plot surprises I didn’t see coming.  Could believe I was there in the UK and Spain.  Also, the best male lead this year for me is Quinn.

Strings Attached

Tears & Laughter & Happy Ever After – anthology.  Not usually a fan of short stories in one book, I was so engrossed I even read at the dinner table!  These twenty-six short stories had me thinking about life.  Loved the ‘meaning’ behind each one.

Tears and Laughter and Happy Ever After

Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris.  Chick Lit. Loved the transformation of Evie taking place alongside the transformation of Hardy’s.  LOVED ‘the wardrobe’.  Male leads gorgeous.  The scenes inside Hardy’s just took my breath away.  If this was a movie, I would be watching again and again and …

Miracle on Regent Street

Watch Over Me by Daniela Sacerdoti.  Beautiful and fluid writing.  Poignant love story, traditions, family and belonging.  The difference in this love story is the extra help from ‘beyond the grave.’  One of the best debut novels I’ve read.

Watch Over Me

Secret Squirrel has been following …

….. the sound of music – yep, that’s right, music.  Well, singing to be more specific.

The dulcet tones of author Mandy Baggot led Secret Squirrel to the exciting news that Lady Baggot is joining indie author group Famous Five Plus.  




Famous Five Plus is a new blog designed for Indie Authors to join or follow and visit from time to time.  It’s not just about authors showcasing their books but also talking about the journey that started from a concept and grew to a published novel.  

Secret Squirrel also found out that readers and reviewers are also welcome as guests to talk about their thoughts on reading indie books!  How fab is that!

Shhhhh … Secret Squirrel has it on good authority that the world should be watching this talented band of people and will herself be following their success very closely.

You won’t hide, Secret Squirrel will find you and put you under the flashlight …


What are you waiting for?  Head over to the Famous Five Plus blog and see for yourself.


Until next time …