Famous Five Plus: Happy New Year

Famous Five Plus: Happy New Year: Unbelievable as it may seem, it is the end of not just another month, but another year. It hardly seems a moment ago that we raised our...

Thank you Ruby White for a lovely 5* Review

5.0 out of 5 stars A good read-recommended, 20 Dec 2013

By 

Ruby White - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?)

This review is from: Foxden Acres (Kindle Edition)

A well written interesting story about life for an educated, country girl during the second world war. Through the eyes of the lead character Bess it covers many aspects of the social changes the war had both personally and on her communities. You come to care about Bess and what's happening in her life, family, friends, work and the challenges war brings.

This is not a genre of book I would normally read but this one was recommended. I am happy to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it and I look forward to reading about the sisters of Bess in the sequel books. Foxden Acres

 

 

Foxden Acres in Hunt's Independent Book Shop.

 

 

Hunt's Independent Book Shop

9 High Street, Rugby (next door to Country Casuals)

 

hunts.books@gmail.com

  

 

               Having a laugh with Kelvin

Foxden Acres prominently displayed in 

 

Hunt's Independent Book Shop 

                                                                   

 

Kelvin and author of, The Forgiving Sand

my friend,Theresa Le Flem

 

 

 

After all that fun we needed to relax with coffee

  

 

Cheers Theresa! 

Theresa and me in Summersaults Restaurant.  

 

What fun we had. We are both up to our eyes in our current novels, so it was great to compared notes and bounce ideas off each other.  For me, after a really full-on couple of months of rewriting and editing, it was wonderful to take a little time out and relax.  And, as my friend Theresa said, "The lonely hours we both spend typing away…as well as reading, researching, editing…is enough to give anyone the appetite for a delicious cappuccino and cherry scone or two!"

 

Afterwards I did a little retail therapy and

 by the time I got home, I felt as if I'd had a weekend away. 

 

 

Other photographs taken that morning

 

 

Theresa buying a copy of Foxden Acres

  

 

Theresa with her novel, The Forgiving Sand

         

Theresa Le Flem  author of,   "The Sea Inside His Head"  and 

         "The Forgiving Sand"  both published by Robert Hale Ltd  

         Website: http://theresaleflem.wordpress.com

         Member of the Romantic Novelists' Assoc. & The Society of Authors

         

 

 

The BookStop Cafe, Lincoln, has just sold another copy of Foxden Acres!

Today November 11th 2013.

Joff Gainey mentioned you in a post in BookStop Cafe - Lincoln
Joff Gainey on 11 November 13:09

Just sold a copy of Madalyn Morgans Foxden Acres! 

"More copies of you book required at BookStop Cafe.

If you are able to post six more that would be great."

 

It would be my pleasure.  They're in the post.

Famous Five Plus: HUG A BOOK - Foxden Acres with Madalyn Morgan

Famous Five Plus: HUG A BOOK with Madalyn Morgan: Hug A Book  is sponsored by Volkan-Watches It’s HUG A BOOK and this weekend it’s with  Madalyn Morgan And You could win a...

5 stars "Impressive debut" from Roger Wood, 29 Oct 2013

My sincere thanks to Roger Wood for a wonderful review.  Roger not only enjoyed Foxden Acres, he understood me as a writer.  He talks about the right amount of dialogue and prose, research being stitched into the narrative so it doesn't spoil the reading experience, and not seeing the final twist at the end.  All that, and he didn't give the game away.   

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive debut, 29 Oct 2013

By 

R. Wood - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

 

This review is from: Foxden Acres (Kindle Edition)

An impressive first novel. The dialogue struck the right note and the prose slipped smoothly along. With debut period novels I often find the research remains obvious rather than being stitched in to the narrative. Madalyn Morgan avoided that trap. The research is there, so you can read with confidence, but it doesn't stick out and disrupt the reading experience. I liked the story and didn't see the final twist coming. Recommended.

Excerpt - Foxden Acres

An excerpt from Chapter One

 

In the worst case, Bess wouldn’t find the missing book and would have to take a later train. In the best case, she’d find it and see James Foxden. Then to hell with the train, she laughed. As she neared the Hall, her heart began to beat faster.
     To her relief she found the book immediately. It had slipped between the seat-cushion and the backrest of the window-seat on New Year’s Eve. She had finished reading it and put it down to look out of the window, as she was doing now, and – her stomach turned a somersault – James was in the courtyard standing by his car.
     She scrambled onto the seat and watched him walk from the car to the house. Within seconds, he was back carrying an assortment of cases, which he strapped on the back of his car. He returned to the house as a young maid came out carrying a tartan blanket. The maid went to the passenger door of the car, opened it and, leaning in, wrapped the blanket around someone’s legs. Bess leaned closer to the window. It was James’ beautiful dance partner, from the New Year party.
     ‘Caught you,’ James said, looking over her shoulder to see what it was that had captured her attention so fully.
     Bess shrieked.
     ‘Sorry if I made you jump but I wanted to catch you before I left. I’m driving Annabel home to Kent but I’ll be in London tomorrow and I was thinking that, since we're both down there, perhaps we could meet up… I could telephone you and…?’
     Bess opened her mouth, but couldn’t speak. There was no public telephone at her lodgings and Mrs McAllister, her landlady, didn’t allow her tenants to make or accept calls on her private telephone unless it was an emergency. Nor did she approve of them having gentlemen friends.
     ‘But if you would rather I didn’t call,’ James said.
     ‘No, it isn’t that-- It’s my landlady,’ she said feeling an utter innocent and a fool.
     ‘Then I’ll give you my card and if you have a free evening you can call me. We could meet in town, see a show and have a bite of supper. Go to a dance at the Lyceum or the Trocadero.’
     Bess accepted the small card. ‘I’d like that.’
     ‘See you in London, then!’ Smiling, James offered Bess his hand.
     ‘Yes… London,’ she said, taking his hand.
     ‘Goodbye.’
     By the time she’d formulated the word ‘goodbye’, James had left. She heard his car start up. She ran to the window overlooking the drive as the small green sports car, enveloped in a cloud of exhaust smoke, disappeared down the drive.
     Bess stood in the empty library for some minutes. Did James Foxden invite her, Bess Dudley, to supper in London? Did he, or did she imagine that he held her hand for a little longer than was necessary when he said goodbye? Well, maybe she did imagine that, but one thing she did not imagine was the small white business card with James’s name and telephone number, which she was holding in her hand.
     Before she burst with excitement, Bess put the card between the pages of her book and ran home.

Famous Five Plus Author Showcase Video - September 2013

Madalyn Morgan's Writing Blog: An article celebrating Dr Martin Luther King's fam...

Madalyn Morgan's Writing Blog: An article celebrating Dr Martin Luther King's fam...: St Peter’s Review – Autumn 2013 Edition – Page 8  www.stpeters-streatham.org   FIFTY YEARS AGO MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SAID “I HAVE A ...

Foxden Acres by Madalyn Morgan

Foxden Acres Ranked 76 in Historical Romance & 82 in Family Sagas.

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,822 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

• #76 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance
• #82 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Family Saga
• #85 in Books > Fiction > Romance > Sagas

Foxden Acres. A 30 second book trailer while procrastinating

Sleepless nights and procrastinating instead of writing. 

Why do we do it?  I'm currently learning a couple of sketches of Joyce Grenfell's to perform at the Lutterworth WI annual dinner in ten days time.  Scary.  I've been a guest speaker at the WI, talking about my acting and writing career.  But I haven't had to learn someone else's dialogue, or perform it, since I worked on a couple of Chanel Five children series 8 years ago.  And television is very different, anyway.  If you forget, or fluff a line, you can shoot it again.  Not that I ever would.  I used to have sleepless nights in those days too.  Was it worth it?  You bet.

Last night I had one of those 'I can't do this!' nights.  Nothing on the television, so I started to read the blogs I follow.  And I'm pleased I did.  Morgen Bailey's blog is fantastic (You could spend a month reading it.) I remembered a post about a short free book trailer site, and decided to looked into it. 

Click the link below to see my first attempt at a book trailer with  http://animoto.com

 

  Foxden Acres

Famous Five Plus: HUG A BOOK with Madalyn Morgan

Famous Five Plus: HUG A BOOK with Madalyn Morgan:

Hug A Book is sponsored by Volkan-Watches It’s HUG A BOOK and this weekend it’s with Madalyn Morgan And You could win...

An excerpt from Foxden Acres, by Madalyn Morgan                                                                      

 In the worst case, Bess wouldn’t find the missing book and would have to take a later train.  In the best case, she’d find it and see James Foxden.  Then to hell with the train, she laughed.  As she neared the Hall, her heart began to beat faster.

      To her relief she found the book immediately.  It had slipped between the seat-cushion and the backrest of the window-seat on New Year’s Eve.  She had finished reading it and put it down to look out of the window, as she was doing now, and – her stomach turned a somersault – James was in the courtyard standing by his car. 
      She scrambled onto the seat and watched him walk from the car to the house.  Within seconds, he was back carrying an assortment of cases, which he strapped on the back of his car.  He returned to the house as a young maid came out carrying a tartan blanket.  The maid went to the passenger door of the car, opened it and, leaning in, wrapped the blanket around someone’s legs.  Bess leaned closer to the window.  It was James’ beautiful dance partner, from the New Year party.
      ‘Caught you,’ James said, looking over her shoulder to see what it was that had captured her attention so fully.   
      Bess shrieked. 
      ‘Sorry if I made you jump but I wanted to catch you before I left.  I’m driving Annabel home to Kent but I’ll be in London tomorrow and I was thinking that, since we're both down there, perhaps we could meet up…  I could telephone you and…?’
      Bess opened her mouth, but couldn’t speak.  There was no public telephone at her lodgings and Mrs McAllister, her landlady, didn’t allow her tenants to make or accept calls on her private telephone unless it was an emergency.  Nor did she approve of them having gentlemen friends. 
      ‘But if you would rather I didn’t call,’ James said.
      ‘No, it isn’t that-- It’s my landlady,’ she said feeling an utter innocent and a fool.
      ‘Then I’ll give you my card and if you have a free evening you can call me.  We could meet in town, see a show and have a bite of supper.  Go to a dance at the Lyceum or the Trocadero.’
      Bess accepted the small card.  ‘I’d like that.’
      ‘See you in London, then!’  Smiling, James offered Bess his hand.
      ‘Yes…  London,’ she said, taking his hand. 
      ‘Goodbye.’
      By the time she’d formulated the word ‘goodbye’, James had left.  She heard his car start up.  She ran to the window overlooking the drive as the small green sports car, enveloped in a cloud of exhaust smoke, disappeared down the drive.
      Bess stood in the empty library for some minutes.  Did James Foxden invite her, Bess Dudley, to supper in London?  Did he, or did she imagine that he held her hand for a little longer than was necessary when he said goodbye?  Well, maybe she did imagine that, but one thing she did not imagine was the small white business card with James’s name and telephone number, which she was holding in her hand.
      Before she burst with excitement, Bess put the card between the pages of her book and ran home.

 

Famous Five Plus Author Showcase

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Published on 19 Sep 2013
Showcasing the talented authors of Famous Five Plus!
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Sometimes It Happens by Pauline Barclay: 5* Rich mix of entertaining characters

.

Rich mix of entertaining characters17 Sep 2013

 

The 'rich' mix of characters had me intrigued from the first page. From Doreen, the Cockney Sparra who wasn't used to being rich, to snooty Sheila who took her wealth for granted - and all the lovely characters in between - took me back to the fun of Majorca and Ibiza in the 1970s and 80s. I laughed from the beginning. It isn't only a rags to riches story, it's also one where everyone get's something out of their time at Villas Bonitas. I don't want to give the game away, but all the ends are tied up perfectly, and all the residents get what they deserve!! A very enjoyable read.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0050K7NVE/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

 

 

"Literature, love and insights" Thank you, Georgina Shaw. You saw in Foxden Acres everything I hoped the reader would see.

4 out of 5 stars Literature, love and insights, 16 Sep 2013

By 

Georgina Shaw - See all my reviews

This review is from: Foxden Acres (Kindle Edition)

Not my usual reading material so I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed the story of Bess and her experiences during WW11.

Initially, I thought this was going to be just a love story of poor girl and rich boy but there are elements of Jewish persecution, post traumatic stress disorder, the land girls and so much more which twists and turns through London and the Midlands.

A story which gives an intersting glimpse into life during the second world war with a happy ending, but not the one expected.

Another 5 Star Review for Foxden Acres. Thank you, R.L.B.

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic Story. 2 Sep 2013

               R L B - See all my reviews

Kindle download only £1.53

 

This review is from: Foxden Acres (Kindle Edition)

This is the first time I have read a book by this author and I was not disappointed. The story was very realistic in places, it wasn't all sweetness and light, it was, I think true to life, I read it in two days.
I will certainly read Madalyn Morgan's other books.

Famous Five Plus: Reviewed: Foxden Acres by Madalyn Morgan

Famous Five Plus: Reviewed: Foxden Acres by Madalyn Morgan:

 “If you love war time drama, you will love Foxden Acres by Madalyn Morgan ,” says Pauline Barclay . Foxden Acres is not only well written, but a beautiful story. Set during the Second World War it brings to life changes that affected everyone during those terrible times, be they living in the cities or the country. Lives change forever and nothing will be the same again.

I can not wait for more from this talented author.



Poster designed by Pauline Barclay #FFPGroup

 

Famous Five Plus: Welcome Madalyn Morgan

Famous Five Plus: Welcome Madalyn Morgan:

My fabulous welcome to Famous Five Plus.

http://www.famousfiveplus.com/2013/08/welcome-madalyn-morgan.html?spref=fb

 

"Today we extend another warm welcome to our latest member to Famous Five Plus , the wonderfully talented , Madalyn Morgan , a histor... "

Proud to be a member of the Famous Five Plus

Proud to be a member of the Famous Five Plus with some of the best Indie authors in the UK.

 

 

http://www.famousfiveplus.com/

The 'Magic of Swanwick'

 The Writers’ Summer School is held at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick

 August 10th - 16th, 2013

 

 WORK IN PROGRESS.  MORE INFO AND PICS TO COME

 

 

  

Writers, published and unpublished, have been going to The Writers’ Summer School, at Swanwick, for 65 years. It is thought to be the oldest residential writers’ school in the world. 

 

The 'magic of Swanwick' is legendary.  Every August, over 200 writers across all genres gather together to renew old friendships and forge new ones.

 

*

 

On Saturday August 10th, at 3.30 in the afternoon, I arrived at Swanwick.  After parking my car I went to The Alan Booth Centre to meet my good friends, and fellow writers, Jayne Curtis and Vikki Thompson.  As stewards they arranged a room for me (I'd slipped through the net because I had only booked for three days.)  Before going to my room I went up to the main house, met lovely Lois Maddox who's in charge of the book room, and made a display of thirteen copies of Foxden Acres. I also put a framed poster of FA on the mantle-shelf in the information room along with a dozen postcards and book marks. 

 

Saturday night speaker.  TV and film script writer
James Moran

  



 

                                          

 

Fabulous Guest Speaker on Sunday 
Author Syd Moore  

Syd Moore is the author of The Drowning Pool and Witch Hunt.  She takes facts and turns them into hauntingly frightening novels.  Her course, Fashioning Fiction From Fact, was amazing.  Syd split us into groups of six.  Then she gave each group four non-connected facts, which we had to write into a story.  We all contributed with the storyline, which was incredible, and Lorraine wrote it down.  After lunch two people from each group read the stories. I read out the facts and Lorraine read the story.  Then we moved to different groups.  We each wrote a description of one of the characters - and had to do a fast Q & A session.  It was brilliant.  I described the priest, who will appear in the third novel of my quartet about the Dudley sisters, China Blue.

*

My first Short Course was, Business Skills for writers, with Kate McCormick. Part one of the course covered tools and techniques that can be used by writers to sharpen business skills, take the pain out of paperwork and free up more time for writing.  The second part took a look at finance systems from simple to complex and how to choose the most appropriate.  Excellent for newly published authors.  It taught me new things and reminded what I need to do before the Tax Man sees my accounts.



Left to right: Me, Kate McCormick, Jayne Curtis and Lorraine Hall

*

My Specialist Course was Literary Novels with Alexa Radcliffe-Hart. I didn't really want to go but it was the only course for novelists.  I don't always enjoyed reading literary fiction.  I sometimes find it snooty.  As if the writer thinks he, or she, is a cut above the rest of us.  I've occasionally been in awe, as literary writers are considered to be wordsmiths in a high-brow sense, but I've often found it self indulgent.  However, am I glad I went!  The exercises were fantastic. I loved writing in the literary style, and what I wrote wasn't bad - according to others.  But the best is, I can use what I wrote in Applause, the second story of the Dudley sisters, which I am currently writing.

 *



Monday night's After Dinner Speaker was, retired Chief Constable and writer

Michael O'Byrne 

 

 

The Vinery
The perfect room to relax and write 

 

 

Vikki Thompson took this photograph.
All the sweets and puddings were this rich - and fattening.

My bedroom was very spacious. But the twin beds were quite narrow.
I'm used to a double and twice I turned over and almost fell out

The lake in the grounds at Swanwick. 
Lovely first thing in the morning - lovely anytime.

 

FRIENDSHIPS MADE AND RENEWED

Fabulous writer friends, Jayne Curtis, Lorraine Hall and Vikki Thompson
Missing them already

 

 

             Katie and Jayne                                                                                   Maddie and Lorraine

   

 



Fun in the Swanwick Bar  

 

Later at Buskers Night

 

 

 The Poetry Open Mic Night was fantastic too. 

I am only sorry I wasn't able to take any photographs.

  

 

Collecting unsold copies of Foxden Acres and receiving a cheque for sales from Lois Maddox (Right) in the book room

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Swanwick until August 2014

 

 

The last Writers' Holiday at Caerleon July 2013

 

The main University Building. Photograph taken by Mike White

View of the University from my room on campus

It was 11 o'clock on Sunday July 28th when I arrived at Caerleon. The first thing I did was sign in with Gerry who, with his lovely wife Ann, sets up and hosts the amazing Writers' Holiday.  Gerry was in the main hall, which is also the book room.  I wanted to get a good spot to display my novel, Foxden Acres, so I lugged them along with me. I set the stand up and was pleased with the result. I sold 8 books in five days, which I was very pleased about, because some of the books on sale had been written by much more experienced writers them me.  Oh, and I bought 8 books.  Bonus! 



Foxden Acres in the Book Room

 

 Friends and fellow writers that I had met at Caerleon last year, 2012 -
and new friends that I met this year, 2013





Lovely lady, Francesca Reccomini, buying Foxden Acres







Fiona McFadzean and me



                   

          Kevin, Me, Della and Sandy in the bar 

     

Pulling a pint with the lovely barmen.  We had a lock-in that night. Shush.... 
       I was bought up in in a pub, so I was quite at home.  You know what they say?
You can take the girl out of the pub, but you can't take the pub out of the girl.

        The Cwmbach Male Voice Choir           
     

                                                       

The Cwmbach male choir usually perform on the last night of the Writers' Holiday, in the main hall.  This year they were going to Brittany, so came to us a day early.  But they still stayed afterwards for drinks.  They were fantastic.  They work their socks off performing, and then afterwards they sing for pleasure in the bar.  Each has a favourite song that they sing. 

 

It was such fun.



   

                                                                       Choir member singing to lovely Maria.


On the last night at Caerleon, the talented poetry students performed poems that they had written during the week.  Some were funny, some were sad, but they were all good.


 

   

                                                                      Six Poets who shall be named anon                                                             
 

   

                                               Viv Hampshire(right), and friends from her writing group





Let's get serious
 

My main course was, Advanced Novel Writing with Lesley Horton. I didn't get chance to take a photograph of Lesley, or of Jane Pollard (Jackson).  Both author's had given me help and encouragement last year at Caerleon.  However, I did give them each a copy of Foxden Acres.  ((Blushes))  Looking back, I wonder how I dare, they are such brilliant writers.

In May of this year I sent the synopsis, and the first and last chapter of Applause, to Lesley Horton.   She wrote lot's of brilliantly helpful notes, which we discussed in a one-to-one session.  She was also kind enough to read and critique the prologue and a chapter in the middle of the novel.  That particular chapter is one of the most important, because it's where something major happens. I'm not going to talk about it now.   Suffice to say, Lesley was very helpful and very encouraging.

My second course was,Writing Romantic Fiction, with author of 61 romantic novels
Kate Walker.  

As my third novel, China Blue, is a love story (set in WWII).  I'll be doing Kate's course on the Writers' Holiday at Fishguard in 2014.  I'm already waking up with ideas for China Blue buzzing around in my head.  They don't want to go away, but they really have to until I've finished writing Applause.  So I put them in the drawer with the notes and hand-outs that Kate gave us. 

When Applause is written and published, which I hope will be at the end of this year, I'll let the characters of China Blue out of the drawer.

 

The hotel at Fishguard where the 28th Writers' Holiday will be held in 2014

WORK IN PROGRESS

 

MORE TO ADD TO THIS POST LATER

Scribbles!: The Hippie Shake with Madalyn Morgan

Scribbles!: The Hippie Shake with Madalyn Morgan: As my latest book,  Storm Clouds Gathering  is set in 1965 I thought it would be great fun to take a peek at that amazing era. This week...

Pauline Barclay interviews Madalyn Morgan about the 1960s

The link below will take you to Pauline Barclay's Fabulous Blog, Scribbles
http://paulinembarclay.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/the-hippie-shake-with-madalyn-morgan.html

Saw the Rolling Stones in Rugby in 1964, The Beatles in Leicester in 1965 and paid a whopping £2.10s to see Cliff Richard. It's The Hippie Shake with writer, actor, journalist and radio presenter. Madalyn Morgan

 

 

Scribbles!: The Hippie Shake with Madalyn Morgan

paulinembarclay.blogspot.com.es

Madalyn Morgan's Writing Blog: Foxden Acres

Madalyn Morgan's Writing Blog: Foxden Acres:                                      Foxden Acres on Amazon Kindle 

Signed copies of Foxden Acres at, Oh Lovely, Lutterworth

As a local author I was delighted when Amy MacBean Dennis, owner of Oh Lovely ... 
in Lutterworth, said she would stock Foxden Acres in her beautiful shop.



Oh Lovely - Church Street, Lutterworth



 Foxden Acres in the Book Corner 

 

 

Each copy of Foxden Acres is signed and has a bookmark inside. 

A small gift to say 'thank you' for buying my debut novel.  

 

 *

Today I went into, Oh Lovely, to buy a small purse.  I'm going to Spain with my friend who has an apartment out there.  She doesn't do waiting for cases, so we roll on and roll off - perfect!  So, instead of carting my Billy Bag wallet, I wanted a purse.  There's a great range in Oh Lovely.  I chose a red polka-dot and it's FAB.  Anyway, I saw a guy buying a copy of Foxden Acres.  'Can I take your photograph?' I asked.  When he turned and smiled I recognised him.  I knew in the 1970s.  He was buying Foxden Acres as a birthday present for his wife - who I also knew, and who is lovely

                                                                                           Adding 'Happy Birthday Ann'

                                                                                        to a signed copy of Foxden Acres         

 

I am grateful to Amy and the staff of, Oh Lovely.  They have sold a lot of copies of Foxden Acres,.  However, this is the first photograph.  Barbara, who works at Oh Lovely, and who took the photograph of Rod and me, wrapped Foxden Acres beautifully and Rod left.  I am  delighted at last, to have a photograph of someone buying my novel. 

 

My thanks to Rod and Barbara for allowing me to put their photograph on my blog. 

but most of all to And, for having a birthday today. xxx