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Nicola J Rowley

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This Week…

by Nicola Jane Rowley

These last few days have been peppered with some of the loveliest messages from my Beta Readers who are now starting to receive their copies of their Middle-Grade books.

Tales of how they are taking my instructions very seriously and squirrelling their copies away in their rooms, through to the children who are now reading the book as one of their class texts.

Each and every one of these messages is incredibly special, as it just shows how far I’ve come and what I’ve managed to achieve in a relatively short space of time.

And then there are the photos I’m being sent of my lovely readers with their copies of the book. It’s such a lovely thing to see. I’m really looking forward to hearing their thoughts on the story – warts and all and hope that they will be really forthcoming with any feedback.

You see, by putting yourself out there, things do come back in a really special way.

From getting to experience magical moments during school visits, or being able to make a difference to a child one book at a time, it’s such a privilege. And one for which I’m truly grateful.

It would of course been very easy to have skipped this stage, but then I would have been none the wiser about any improvements that could be made,

So if you’re thinking about starting a new project or taking on a task that scares you, please remember this. What is it they say, fortune favours the brave? Don’t you owe it to yourself to give your dreams a chance, one small step at a time? x

Taking That First Step

by Nicola Jane Rowley

Taking that first step…

Now that my second book has been published, I get approached all the time by aspiring authors who want to know how I have done and achieved what I have.

What is the magic formula for being able to sell books, to promote them and to be able to reap the rewards?

One of the hardest things for me was to actually get started.

Let’s face it, there were moments in my life where I had time, but instead, I chose to fill them by doing something else when I could and arguably should have concentrated on my writing.

There were also times when I had ideas for books, and even on one or two occasions started them, but then somehow never really saw anything through and thought better of it.

And it was only when J came along, many many years later, that everything started to click into place.

I believe that we all have a purpose and that is often borne out by what you’re most talented at and what lights you up.

It’s this thing that we should be concentrating on more than anything else.

But it’s also the getting started, and taking that action in the right direction that can be tricky.

But you will find, as I have done, that once you do start, then everything somehow feels right. It’s not necessarily easy, but things definitely feel as if you’re not wading through treacle all the time either. And the more you put yourself out there, the more you’re likely to get back too.

So if this is you and you’re thinking about writing a book, or would like to get started remember that everything begins and finishes with you. If you choose to get out of your own way to make something happen and take that initial leap – who knows what could happen?

I’m willing to bet that exciting things are just around the corner for you when you do… x

An Odd Week

by Nicola Jane Rowley

I’m sure for many of you who are UK based in particular, it’s been a bit of a strange week with snow days and juggling childcare and the like.

At this end it has been no different, but it’s also been a defining week in terms of me knowing exactly what I don’t want.

You see on one of the days that nursery was shut, there was a point where J told me, “Mummy I don’t love you any more…”

It’s not exactly the kind of thing you want to hear on any level. But he’s three and while it broke my heart, I completely understood where he was coming from.

In his defence, I was knee-deep in work, which couldn’t just be switched off or put down, and he just wanted some quality time with me, which at that point I couldn’t give him. It didn’t help that his Dad was also knee-deep in work, and also couldn’t just stop what he was doing.

And so more now than ever it makes me want to get to the place that I need to be, because whilst I’m sure those words will come from him when he’s a teenager or as part of an argument somewhere further down the line, it stung just that little bit more, because we’re usually so close.

It’s been a reminder too that my dreams are sitting there waiting for me to take action and make them happen. If I allow myself to procrastinate and not get anywhere then I only have myself to blame.

Moving forward, one step at a time, no matter how slowly is vital if I’m to keep the momentum going.

And so I sat down last night and I made a start on an outline of a new book. A new story this time for 7-9-year-old’s. The main character is incredibly special but I already really like him, and the world that he is surrounded by, even if he’s unsure about it all right now.

Most importantly, it’s a step in the right direction.

And after I’d sat and written that outline and the first chapter – almost 1,000 words were written. I may well look at it again and think better of it, but it’s a story I’ve been thinking about for a while, and if you have an idea no matter how small, you never know where it can take you.

So I’m back to writing another chapter book. Because I know where this one ends – that was the easy part. Now I just need to work out all the rest in between as the story unfolds.

And so from a somewhat odd week, has come something new and exciting. A 9-year-old boy just imagined, is helping me to get to where I need to be.

Keep moving forward, whatever you do – one step at a time. Amazing things will happen when you least expect them to… x

Announcing My Second Book – James and the Birthday Balloon…

by Nicola Jane Rowley

I’m really excited to share with you the front cover of my new book James and the Birthday Balloon.

As you can see from the writing in the balloon, the other piece of news is that I’ve teamed up with the fabulous TV’s Dr Ranj (CBeebies Get Well Soon and ITV’s This Morning) who’s recorded an audio version of the story for me. 

A FREE copy of the audio book will be available with every purchase of the book.

James and the Birthday Balloon is due to be published on 1st November.

And as I did with James and the Amazing Gift, I’ve teamed up with another wonderful charity – this time Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Here’s a special video filmed on the day we completed the recording…

http://bit.ly/2t69ZYK

 

 

 

 

My New Year’s Resolution That Has Reaped Rewards

by Nicola Jane Rowley

At the start of 2016, I made a New Year’s resolution to be kind to others.

As with all resolutions, I fully intended to follow it through, and I’m glad to say that in doing so, it has led me down a path, which 12 months ago I never could have imagined.

Whilst I was on maternity leave, I wrote a children’s picture book, but then thought nothing more of it. I saved it on my computer, looked at it occasionally, tweaking the odd word here and there, but for the most part it stayed untouched. 

Then it occurred to me one day that as my New Year’s resolution was to be kind to others – wouldn’t it make sense to pay it forward?  The best way I thought I could do this, was to team up with a charity, with some of the proceeds from sales of the book going to them. It would help raise awareness about their work too.

I looked at the themes of the story, and the loneliness of elderly people was the obvious one for me to focus on. It’s an issue that’s close to my heart, and I hoped I could make a real difference.

The book is primarily aimed at 3-7 year-old’s, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense in terms of raising awareness across all age groups. After getting the book as near to completion as I could through self-publishing, I reached out to Contact the Elderly.

I’d discovered them when they staged a tea party at my workplace for some of their beneficiaries. Seeing the impact they were having on the elderly people involved, helped me take action. I’m delighted to say that they too loved the premise of the book, and we agreed then and there to form a partnership. For every copy sold, £1 is going to them to help raise vital funds for the work they do.

Being kind to others has also extended into other areas of my life. I must admit, that before my involvement with the charity, I too was one of those people who kept my head down and carried on with my own life. Now if I pass someone in the street, I make a point of saying “good morning”, and smiling. Knowing how much the impact of a smile can have on others is a huge motivating factor in this. I also want to set the best example I can, for my little boy.

If we are to encourage younger generations to also display acts of kindness, then it has to come from us, the parents, leading by example. My two year-old is at the stage where he often repeats things that I say. With this in mind, how he sees me interacting and treating others is hugely important. I hope by watching me, he will understand that acts of kindness, not matter how small, should be part of his everyday life.

As for the book, James and the Amazing Gift, is delighting older and younger readers alike; spreading happiness, one smile at a time.

Never did I think that my New Year’s resolution would help me fulfil one of my lifelong dreams; to become a published author. And this is where New Year’s resolutions, or at least the ones we stick with, can be the best thing we do.

And if you find yourself abandoning them by the end of January, ask yourself this. Why did you want to set yourself that goal in the first place? If the bigger goal seems scary, take small steps, one at a time. At least you’re heading in the right direction. And who knows what you can achieve if you set your mind to it?

 

 

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