Just for a change I thought I would write about me and what I've been up to. Well apart from the new haircut, botox, boob job, liposuction and general body shrink with the gastric band, nuffin much. Or I could be lying about all of the above of course.
Who in a sane mind would go through all of the above just to preserve the "I'm in denial of my age look".
Get over it - we are what we are and if others don't like it - tough.
My haircut came about because I had a hissy fit whilst drying my long flowing tresses.
I'm thinking about adding a bit of pink/purple/green/copper just for fun though.

Gerry McCullough author of Belfast Girls

Gerry McCullough and I have been following each other for a while now around the writing circuits.
Gerry hails from Ireland my most favourite place in the world after my beloved Cornwall.
It's so great to hear that her book Belfast Girls is to be published in October by my publisher http://nightpublishing.com/.
In the interim Don Booker of The Writing Life and Other Absurdities caught up with her and grabbed the opportunity to talk to her about her book.
Below is the interview.....


Friday, August 20, 2010 Author In The Zone ~ Gerry McCullough.


Gerry McCullough, born and brought up in North Belfast, has been writing since childhood. Belfast Girls, which will be brought out by Night Publishing in September or October, will be her first full length novel to be actually published. Gerry has had over forty short stories published to date, both in magazines and in anthologies, as well as two broadcast on Radio Ulster, including several prize winners. Gerry is married to singer/songwriter and Media Producer Raymond McCullough, and has four children, so when she’s not writing she loves spending time with her family and friends.

Hi Gerry. Is Belfast Girl your first book?

Belfast Girls is not the first book I’ve written, but it’s the first to be accepted by a publisher, and I’m really thrilled about it.

How long did you spend writing it?

How long is a piece of string? The book was written over a period of about six months, but then it was edited, revised, and, after a break, completely rewritten. I’ve continued to edit it until quite recently. So the answer is six months, or several years, depending on how you look at it.

Can you tell us a little about the book?

Belfast Girls is the story of the lives and loves of three girls from different religious backgrounds, who become friends as children, and remain so. They experience the last years of the troubles as children, and then, as adults, the new, emerging Belfast of money, drugs, and gang warfare. The plot contains a kidnapping, a drug overdose, a prison sentence, a shooting, the life of one of the girls as a fashion model, and much more. It’s not just a romance, by any means.

Tell us about your route to publication?

About nine months ago I put my book up on the Harper Collins site, Authonomy.com. I wasn’t offered a publishing deal by Harper Collins, but several other publishers saw the book on site, liked it, and offered to publish it. I thought Night Publishing was the best of these, and am very happy to have signed a contract with them.

Have you an agent or tried to secure the services of one?

I have had an agent for several years, Bill Jeffrey of the Wordsmith’s Forge. It was on Bill’s advice that I put Belfast Girls on Authonomy.com, so I owe my present success to him, and I’m very grateful for that. Bill is an enthusiastic and supportive agent, and has encouraged me consistently.

Who else, if anyone, has helped you along the way?

I owe a lot to my husband, Raymond. Raymond set up and maintains my website, put me on Facebook and set up a group page for me there, reads and edits almost everything I write, and has been a constant support and help; all this, while living his own very busy life, producing, among other things, Celtic Roots Radio. I don’t know where I’d be without him!

How will you market your book?

My book will be marketed by my publishers, although I’ll do everything I can to help. Night Publishing is one of the new ‘indie’ - independent - publishing houses, and they sell online, and market online. As I’m sure you know, more books have been sold through the Internet than over the counter in conventional bookshops, during the last decade, so this is certainly the way of the future. Just as iTunes gave an enormous boost to ‘indie’ musicians, so online sales are creating a great move forward for 'indie' publishers, allowing them to operate outside the major publishing houses. Night Publishing will be producing an actual paperback book, not just an ebook, but it will be sold on Amazon.com, etc.

Do you write everyday?

I aim to write every day, when it’s feasible. When my daughter got married last week, I certainly didn’t write on that particular day! My strategy is to reread and edit the work done on the previous day. This is an easy way in and works against ‘writer’s block.’ Then I move on from where I left off, feeling close to the book again by now, and write about another thousand words.


What's the last book you read?

I’m currently rereading Agatha Christie, one of my favourite authors. I read a lot of detective stories, although not the blood and guts type usually. I also love Barbara Pym, P.G. Wodehouse, Jane Austin, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien - the list is endless, but perhaps that gives you some idea.


When is the book released?

The book will be released and available for purchase by sometime in October. I don’t have an actual date yet. I’d be happy to let you know at the time! As I said above, it’ll be on Amazon.com, and probably on other outlets.


Where do you see your writing career in ten years?

I hope in ten years to have published lots more books, but who knows? And to be known worldwide would be nice. Selling through the Internet means that I can reach people in America as easily as here. I know from the comments left on my book by American readers on Authonomy.com that Belfast Girls, and indeed anything about Ireland, is likely to be popular in America.


What advice have you for new writers?

My advice to new writers is, ‘Keep writing! And don’t let people put you down. Every writer gets hundreds of rejections to one acceptance. It’s important not to give up. You’ll get there in the end.

Thanks Gerry. That was very insightful, especially the little twist of fate that got you found on Authonomy. It must have been a great feeling. Hopefully you'll speak with us again in the future and let us know how Belfast Girls is going.

Thanks, and all the best.

Posted by Don Booker

So on a different note i've been on the  radio.
My local radio station KMFM on Sundays do a 'tell us about yourself ' programme. This is a brand new 'slot' and by coincidence I happened to be the very first to ring in. (I also got to know the DJ quite well).

They were very interested in the Eye of Erasmus and have been reading passages out on air from a  copy of the book I left in the studio. They are also promoting my publishers at every opportunity.
I have also now been featured on the infamous Adam Dowling KMFM blog.

This link is Emma the producer reading an excerpt. (The death of Agastines' sister Drendell the witch.) Unfortunately Adam the DJ - a notorious giggler - played Fleetwood Macs' Albatross as a background to it. He completely lost it and cracked up when Emma hesitated before continuing with the fatal words, but she bravely carried on.
I have listened to it twice now and I must admit I also cracked up.

When you click on the link it will take you to Adams' blog. Scroll down to the 'previous/next' button and click on previous. This will take you to 1st August blog. Where you see "Emma on the box" click the left button and it will play for you.

http://www.kmfm.co.uk/goto.php?sess=+A5B5346555957+F1D421317445C511D1D58+E+C57+9+95C55415F4B571B1254511D1758&id=229&blogcount=26&blogno=10#blogs

I gave them a signed copy each. No money for me but publicity all over Kent makes up for it. AND of course NP.

Strike two .... Kathleen McKenna gave me a wonderful review on Amazon stating she read the book in one sitting and compared me to Jean Auel the American author !!

I have also seen another pr-e-tt-y fair review which is coming up soon, along with an interview, from a new online reviewing site. As I understand it they also have a PR company that has joined forces with them. Once they are off the ground and they post it I will put the links in place.

OK so you twisted my arm. This is the sneak preview of the review then.
The review is by http://www.all-review.co.uk/ on my book The Eye of Erasmus
I will post the interview they did with me later.


.............. Eye of Erasmus by Teresa Geering.   Genre - Fantasy.

The author cleverly tells the story of Erasmus and follows his enchanted life. His birth had been foretold and his fate had been predetermined. Erasmus would develop through this tale into a handsome, clever, powerful, man, who could choose any woman he desired. In turn he was arrogant and saw others as beneath him. From a young age Erasmus had been gifted. He studied the stars forming his own charts, becoming an expert in his field and from early on his mother Agastine knew that he was a special child. He was her long awaited son after six daughters and she knew that he was destined to meet a woman of similar abilities.
His destiny was set and although he possessed magical powers, there were things he could not control. When Shasta came to him in a vision, he realises his future and using his powers, leaves his own time to be with her. In his new time Erasmus ` life completely changes. He finds love, something he has never felt before. His fate was being realised and life could not be better for him.
Shasta was the woman that Erasmus was predestined to meet. A kind hearted young, beautiful woman, who prior to meeting Erasmus, had taken in Hesperus, a young orphan boy who was crippled in an accident which had led to the demise of his parents. The child seems troubled but had made an instant rapport with Merlin, Shasta`s recently adopted kitten.
Now Erasmus has found love, he becomes loyal to Shasta and even treats Hesperus as his own son. But the relationship with him, does not seem so harmonious and Hesperus never seems to take to the new man in Shasta`s life.

The story, set in a time long ago; unfolds with imaginative turns. It quickly moves onto the next topic and does not dwell on the current subject keeping the reader enthralled.
The Eye of Erasmus is the first of a quartet and after reading this instalment, the reader will immediately want to follow on with the second.
In summary, Teresa Geering has written an enthralling story with incentive to continue reading the series. The Eye of Erasmus will appeal to all ages alike. It is a book that you will read on more than one occasion and I would recommend this book to all readers.

                                                ~~~~~~~*********************~~~~~~~~

Recently I attended the Goddess Festival in Canterbury. Very close by is the well known Canterbury Cathedral. It started off with a parade of dressed up look alike Gods and Goddess's. You name it and they were there. A friend and I ran a stall just for the day of fun, with bits and pieces that we make in our spare time. (When i'm not writing of course). I also took along a couple of my books - The Eye of Erasmus - and made a killing. I have been astounded by the fantastic feedback i'm receiving and several of the reviews are on Amazon with promises of others to come. So many likeminded people attended the parade and the stalls. It was great to see the spiritual side of people and bon hommie that we can generate if we just give ourselves the chance.

                                                       These are just a couple of pics of the products we had on our stall.

                                                       The candles are all scented with oils of different kinds and the armoa was perfect.

White Rabbits ...... Just Look At The Time !!!!!

So then I've been a bit remiss of late. I've had nearly three weeks off and it has just flown by.
So a couple of bits for you to look at and think about.

Staurt Aken has interviewed Kathleen McKenna about her book 'The Wedding Gift' I haven't got round to reading it yet but I understand it's well worth a lookee. So what are you waiting for? If you nip along to http://stuartaken.blogspot.com/ you can read all about it.

Catherine Chisnalls' novel Descending is also getting rave reviews. You can take a look at her blog http://www.catherinechisnall.co.uk/ which is well worth a visit or you can see her review at http://crazy-bookworm.blogspot.com/.

At the same blogspot you can also read a review of my book The Eye of Erasmus (Pretty damn good it is to if I do say so.) I also did a guest blog there for Mandy, under my name of course.

So Richard Grayling of Struggling Authors is now able to offer a service to anyone without a blog, who would like one. He has built many over a period of time for our writing community. The only thing he charges for is his time. At the moment, until the end of August he is charging a mere paultry £20 (roughly about $39 I think but don't quote me).
Mine is a typical example of his work along with my website http://www.teresageering.co.uk/
However a completely different style can be viewed at Reg Jones Blog  go to http://divisionofthedamned.blogspot.com/ and see what you think.


   ..............Up and Coming ...............
 I will be telling you about a brand spanking new state of the art website for writers shortly. Watch this space.