the-incredible-sulk

This book offers a bittersweet saga of conflict and heartache set in the 1930s from this popular Welsh author. Gillian Finch and Dorothy Prosser are firm friends as well as cousins. For four years they have kept their friendship secret in the face of the bitter feud that has broken out between their respective families over the will of the family matriarch, Rose Prosser. Siblings, Henry Prosser and Vera Finch are at loggerheads over it and Vera is convinced that Henry has cheated her.It is not the only secret. When Gillian and Dorothy fall head over heels for the same man, Ronnie Knox, Henry's young business partner, a fierce clash ensues as to which one will get him. The repercussions of this quarrel lead to other secrets being exposed. Everyone, it seems has something to hide.

Hardback out in July 2008.

Here is a place for authors and readers to get together.

Two new editions of Mother and Daughters have come out this year.

In February the Large Print edition was issued and in March the novel came out in paperback.

Review From Booklist
Lucy Chandler knows that there will be changes now that her father has died, but she never could have imagined what actually happens to her middle-class family in Edwardian England. It turns out that her father was never legally married to her mother, enabling his first wife to take possession of their belongings, leaving her family homeless and penniless. The elder daughter, Lucy takes charge of her mother and her feckless teenage sister Eva. While she and her mother find menial employment, Eva schemes for a better life. Unfamiliar with financial matters, Lucy's mother borrows money from Stan, a ruthless loan shark. When she quickly falls in arrears, he threatens the family. Stan covets Lucy, and Eva covets the life Stan can provide for her, causing a rift in the family that threatens their very survival. Madoc gives readers an engrossing story that sheds light on the perilous lives endured by Edwardian women in a sexist society that also shuns families of limited means.

Update on her current writing project

    I am delighted to say that the hardback edition of my current novel  KEEPING SECRETS  is due for release in July 2008 in the UK (probably in the Fall for US). It is already offered for pre-publication purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Here is a short blurb about the story:

Swansea 1931.
Teenagers Gillian Finch and Dorothy Prosser are firm friends as well as cousins. For four years they have kept their friendship secret in the face of the bitter feud which has broken out between their respective families over the last will and testament of the family matriarch, Rose Prosser.

Siblings, Henry Prosser and Vera Finch are at loggerheads with each other over the share-out of Rose's estate, and the ownership of the family business; with Vera convinced that Henry has cheated her.

But the friendly association of the girls is not the only secret in the families of the Prossers and the Finches. When Gillian and Dorothy fall head over heels for the same man, Ronnie Knox, Henry's young business partner, a fierce clash ensues as to which girl will get him, and their friendship is broken irrevocably.

The repercussions of this quarrel lead to other secrets being exposed. Everyone, it seems, has something to hide - from forbidden friendships to robbery with violence and a secret illegitimate child.

There is conflict and heartache aplenty.

As soon as the book jacket of KEEPING SECRETS has been designed I will post an image.

Meanwhile, I am busy still, working out the plot of my next book.

More news soon

Well, that didn't last long after all.  Fascinating as Second Life is, I found it interferred with my writing time and I can't have that. Very soon, within the next few weeks I will be preparing for my next book.
 
I need time to ponder on characters and the plot so I can't be distracted with anything else.  Being professional about one's writing means committment.  Being passionate about one's writing means dedication.

First Life is distracting enough. I don't need Second Life filling up my valuable time.

In the meantime, while I am waiting for my subconscious to plot the book for me, I am turning my hand to painting in acrylics - I have no talent - but what the heck! It's fun and so relaxing.

    Bye for now.