Category: Blog

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Questions for Jill Pennington

27/9/2012

Hello, all! This week, I thought I'd continue the bookish themes from previous weeks and give you another glimpse into the creative mind of an indie writer. This time around, I've interviewed my new friend Jill Pennington, author of the slightly unusual ex-pat memoir The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad.

So, here are:

Thirteen Questions for Author Jill Pennington

Jill hard at work on her home in the Apennines.

1) First, please tell us a little about yourself.

I am a ‘Britalian’ Originally from Yorkshire (England) I have been living in Italy for 8 years, I have three teenage children and far too many animals. We live in the Apennine mountains and love it.

2) Could you sum up your book in one sentence for us?

An expat story with a difference.

3) Had you ever considered being/Were you a writer prior to writing this?

I have always written about my life and observations since childhood. I thought everyone did it but apparently not.

4) What was the hardest thing about writing the book?

Re-living the hard times.

5) Since The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad is a memoir, did you have to resist the urge to fictionalize any of it?

Oh no, the material just piled up in a corner, in fact there is still so much that I didn’t capture. My friends say that more things happen to me in a week than happen to most people in a year!

6) Have you considered writing fiction? Why/Why not?

Yes, I am currently considering this idea.

7) Is this book traditionally published or self-published?

I self-published.

8) Why did you choose that route to publication?

It appears in the current publishing climate, that unless you are a celebrity or already published there is very little chance of being taken on by a traditional publisher, so I decided to try going it alone.

9) What has been the most challenging part of publication for you?

Marketing, the hard work starts after you publish.

10) Are you considering writing another book yet?

Yes, I hope to write many more.

Hey, guys - over here!

11) What will it be about?

Probably a sequel to the first but I have other ideas to explore as well.

12) What is your favorite book you've read this year?

Ooh I would have to say ‘Ask Me if I’m Happy’ by Kimberly Menozzi (sorry I am biased due to living in Bella Italia)

13) What is your favorite book ever?

Stig of the Dump by Clive King –My favourite book as a child, I read it over and over, then got the chance to enjoy it again as a parent.

Digging up an old well for 'free' water.

To order Jill's book, click on the image above!

Or use the following links:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Paperback
You can also follow Jill on Twitter (@jillipen) and Facebook. Her promo for the book can be found on Youtube.

I hope you've enjoyed this conversation with Jill, and that you'll consider having a look at her book.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, as it's an entertaining and sometimes enlightening look at life in Italy.

In the meantime, I offer you a chance to reminisce about last summer's Olympic events.

Why? I hear you ask.

Do you really need a reason?

Filippo Magnini - Italian Swimmer

Ciao for now! :)

20 Comments

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Things Which Have Been Keeping Me Busy

20/9/2012

24 Comments

Hello, everyone! I've been away for a long while, it's true, and haven't posted much until the last couple of weeks. Well, I'm back, and hope to get "back in the saddle" again now I'm in Italy once more.

I thought I'd take advantage of this week's Thursday Thirteen post to share what I've been up to lately, so if you'll permit me, here are

Thirteen Things Which Have
Been Keeping Me Busy!

1) Recovering from Jetlag. After four months in the US (from April to the end of August), it's hard to get back into my normal schedule in Italy. I'm still not quite completely adjusted (if my plans allowed it, I could easily stay up until four a.m. with no problem), but I can get up in the a.m. without wanting to hurt myself or somebody else, so I'm doing as well as can be expected.

When I'm awake, I have, of course, been reading. It feels great to get some reading in, as I've been too distracted and busy all summer to just settle in with a good book. Here are the last three books I've read - all since I've been home.

2) Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Danny Gillan

Some aspiring musicians wait a lifetime for that elusive record deal. Bryan Rivers waited a lifetime plus three days. As if dealing with the suicide of her clinically depressed husband wasn't difficult enough, to Claire Rivers' amazement one of the biggest record companies in the country suddenly wants to offer him a contract. When his status is viewed as only a minor inconvenience, she begins to wonder if someone, somewhere, is playing a very distasteful joke on her. Will You Love Me Tomorrow is a comedy about death, depression, grief, loss, friendship, family, haircuts and the music business.

3) Conversations with S. Teri O'Type -
Christopher Allen

Curt Child is a man who just can't seem to get gay, so he's enlisted the help of his oldest--and gayest--friend S. Teri O'Type to drag him a few inches down The Road to Greater Gayness.

(Some of you might remember this title from last week's Thursday Thirteen where I interviewed the author - I'm currently reading the book and am laughing with every page.)

4) The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad - Jill Pennington

When Jill and her family moved to Italy she expected life to change but she had no idea how massive that change would be. Shortly after the move, she discovered her husband had been having an affair and had no intentions of staying in Italy.

Despite being in a foreign country with no income, limited language skills, a house that needed rebuilding and three young children to care for, she never once considered returning to the UK. With strength and determination she accepted any challenge, dismantling a derelict house to ground level, digging out a three metre deep well with her hands to get free water and overcoming her fear of the chainsaw to cut the winter wood. When there was very little money for food she made risotto with nettles collected from the roadside. She overcame many problems, learned new skills and discovered that money is not important, the only things in life that matter are health, happiness and her children.

Jill's story is delivered with an ever present hint of humour because, as she says, 'Without laughter life wouldn't be funny'.

5) I built a bookshelf - at least, that's what I'm calling it. Yes, it's from IKEA. Yes, the kitty seems to approve.

6) In addition to the bookshelf, I've also built two IKEA chairs for the kitchen. Unfortunately, they're a tad wobbly. (Uh-oh.) I'll see if I can sort that out, shortly.

7) I've watched several episodes of Big Bang Theory - including a few I didn't see while in the US!

8) Since the hubby had the chance to stay home and use up some vacation time the first week we were back from the US, we got some serious housework done. As suspected, I needed some good, strong muscle to get it all taken care of. There's more to do (Autumn cleaning?), but the place is looking better all the time!

9) As mentioned above, there was a spur-of-the-moment trip to IKEA.
I maintained control, much to my own astonishment, and walked out having purchased ONLY WHAT I'D GONE IN FOR!!!!! I should have written that day down in my diary...

10) I did another voiceover job. As before, it was fun to do, and Paolo, who does the recording on a professional-grade video camera (no, I'm not filmed, we just tape the audio), is a really sweet guy. Luckily, my hubby was home this time to keep tabs on the kitty and make sure she didn't get into mischief which would have ruined the recording.

11) I renewed my Italian I.D. card. Belatedly.
Very belatedly.
As in, one year late.
Oops.
Upon my return home, I found this snail on my sidewalk.
Et tu, Snail?

12) I started sketching out ideas for my next project(s). Included among them are The Off Season (a sequel to 27 Stages) and an untitled novel (a sequel to Ask Me if I'm Happy)

13) Due to my efforts over the summer on my mother's exercise bike, my hubby and I decided to purchase a bike for me when we got home. We selected this one.
Unfortunately we've had some mechanical issues with it, so were trying to get those sorted out. Once we have, I'm hoping to get back to my twenty- and thirty-mile rides again.

Wish me luck!

And there you have them: Thirteen Things Which Have Been Keeping Me Busy!

I'm willing to bet we have some of these in common, right?

Because I know just about every one of you is a busy, busy bee.

And I know the reason most of you normally stop by here.

It's been a long summer, but I haven't forgotten. No way!

And as summer fades into autumn...

How about a little musical interlude?

Yeah, it's good to be back.

Ciao for now!

24 Comments

A quick re-cap of recent(ish) events

12/9/2011

0 Comments

Whew! What a long summer! It seems to be getting longer and longer, too, what with this extended warmth into September. Ugh! Enough already!

Anyway, I just thought I'd write and share some of the experiences of this summer with my readers since you were decidedly shortchanged in recent weeks (nay, months!) while I was in the US.

For a start, there was jetlag (isn't there always?), but I still found myself driving after just a couple of days. Obviously I survived, so that's okay. Immediately upon arrival, I found my "proof" copies of my novels waiting for me, and I had a look at them before I approved them for printing.

Maybe that wasn't such a good idea, what with jetlag and all...? Hmmm...

Anyway, a short while after I arrived, I was delighted to find that the Versus channel would be showing both the Tour of Switzerland and the International Criterium. O, delight! O, joy!

And I duly plonked my butt down in front of the TV and watched all the coverage I could, making notes all the while.

I got some writing done.

I did an interview with the local newspaper.

Then I did two book events in Newport, TN, which were both a lot of fun.

Books and newspaper article, on display at the signing at Comfort Inn of Newport.

I wonder if this will ever get "old"? I kinda doubt it.

It was a real treat to sit and chat with people who were interested in my work, and it was equally rewarding to do this with people who really, truly want to see the book succeed and for me to do well in this career. The amount of satisfaction I got from doing these events was just incredible.

Some of the attendees of the Comfort Inn event in July.

The hubby on holiday. He's even got his towel. He's a really hoopy frood!

Then my hubby arrived from Italy in August and I found myself behind the wheel more than ever, as we traveled from Tennessee to Kentucky to Virginia to North Carolina and back again. We visited friends and family, and found a little time just for the two of us, too. We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway and took a walk in Cades Cove, ate delicious chocolate and unique vegetarian food, slept and shopped and watched TV.

In other words, for the first time in ages I think I had an actual VACATION.

Then we boarded the plane at the beginning of September and flew home.

Over the course of the last few months, I've made more paperback sales - both out of hand and online - and e-book sales have continued at a reasonably steady pace. Stephen King and J.K. Rowling aren't exactly shaking in their shoes or anything, but it's enough to keep me modestly happy and eternally hopeful.

Not to mention: motivated.

Another thing which kept - and keeps - me motivated: fan mail! I got my first fan mail messages this summer, and it was the most surreal, wonderful feeling ever.

Without motivation, I look something like this, most days.

And this brings me to: now.

I'm still jetlagged (West-to-East is harder than East-to-West, in my experience). It's hotter than normal, so I'm having trouble sleeping at night. I'm trying to get and stay motivated, so I'm not in the aforementioned condition, modelled above by Abel the kitty. I'm also trying to eat right/better so I can lose some weight and feel better all round. You know, like most folks do at New Year's?

And above all, I'm trying to write. I have chapters to crit, and my own writing to do. I have blogs to complete for other sites and reviews to write. I have artwork to prepare and photos to upload.

It's the glamour of a writer's life, don'cha know?

0 Comments

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Questions for Jill Pennington

Thirteen Questions for Author Jill Pennington

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Things Which Have Been Keeping Me Busy

Thirteen Things Which Have
Been Keeping Me Busy!

A quick re-cap of recent(ish) events

Kimberly Menozzi

Please note: Thanks to an increase in spam comments, I'll be approving the comments before they post. Sorry!

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