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Hi,

I'm author Fran Clark
AKA Rosa Temple
Thank you for visiting!

New For 2022!

2/5/2022

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Throughout the pandemic I've been glued to my laptop. I wrote a book in my pen name and it's about to published by Simon & Schuster UK! I'm so excited about this. Publication is close - 26th May 2022 - and I can't wait. The book is called The Slow Lane Walkers Club and it's available at all your favourite retailers in paperback, audio and ebook.
Meanwhile, back to my own author name, my agent has another book I've been editing out on submission. So I'm keeping everything crossed that In A Perfect World will find a home and will be published one day ...
During the pandemic I also wrote another book. It's called Lovers and I've submitted it to a writing competition, The SI Leeds Literary Prize Yet another thing I'm keeping my fingers crossed for in 2022!
On the horizon, there is more writing ahead for me. I have a new book idea and I've started a new novel in my pen name. 
But I still find time to walk each day. And who can blame me when I have such gorgeous surroundings :)
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Writing Into 2021

4/1/2021

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Photo by Dan Counsell on Unsplash
2020 has to go down in recent history as one of the worst years, for reasons we all know. Despite all the doom and gloom in the world, the endless months of hardship and uncertainty, people got inventive. They found new ways to work and socialise. Some took the opportunity to learn a new skill or hobby, or to revisit long forgotten ones. For me, it was a time to pull myself together and not let the depression sink in. After all, my main sources of income had been snatched away and I was left with the sinking feeling that I would never be able to make ends meet.
Though it is by no means a main source of income for me (at the moment) writing seems to take up the majority of my time. At least it did in 2020. With no choir to run, no singing students and no gigs, I found myself constantly at my laptop, either writing or editing. Needless to say, the year went by in a frenzy of words, typos, documents, editing, files, folders and submissions.
By the end of the year, I had self-published a book I'd previously written in my pen name, Rosa Temple (Dear...Anybody? came out in digital format in the spring), had finished editing the next Rosa Temple book and had written a women's fiction novel in my own name. Also by the end of the year I managed to get back the copyright of my debut novel, Holding Paradise. After an edit of that book, it is now with my agent who hopes to submit it to publishers this year. Then there are the two manuscripts I submitted to independent publishers. One submission was a novella and the other a full length novel - both written a few years ago.
That's an awful lot of irons in the fire.
I do have high hopes for my writing going forward in 2021. I'm of the opinion that things are only going to get better and I that I should be hoping for and expecting a brighter year.
Next on the agenda, I plan to re-visit another novel I wrote back in 2015. That in itself will be a huge undertaking. I envisage myself 'killing my darlings' for the next few months and hoping I have an improved novel as a result.
My hope for my writing in 2021 is that I have success; submissions accepted, amazing book sales, even a best seller!
I'm dreaming big for 2021, sending out the positive vibes and knuckling down to some more writing.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

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The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex - Book Review

23/12/2020

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The LamplightersThe Lamplighters by Emma Stonex
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is probably my top read for 2020! I was carried away by the intrigue surrounding this story, the way in which the author developed her characters and the way it was paced. The settings and drama were so compelling, at times I felt a chill when reading and was absorbed by the narrative from start to finish. I absolutely recommend this novel to anyone who likes twists, a great use of descriptive language and a story that will stay with you for a long time after the closing lines.

View all my reviews
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Deadly Sacrifice by Stella Oni - Book Review

5/11/2020

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Two firsts for me; listening to my first audio book and discovering the writing talent of Stella Oni!

In Deadly Sacrifice, Oni creates a world of intrigue, crime and ritual sacrifice. And if that isn't thrilling enough, how about discovering traditional Nigerian customs and delving into the world of human trafficking.

The protagonist, DC Toks Ade, a British-Nigerian woman stops at nothing to unravel the truth when a child's severed hand is found and we learn that a young child has been reported missing.

I found this a chilling and well paced debut. We follow Ade's investigations and begin to learn more about her as person. The supporting characters, such as her partner and author friend, also have stories that weave into the main narrative and add the mystery.

As debuts go, I found this well written and absorbing. All of Oni's characters have depth and completely jump off the page at you. Because I listened to this on audio I had to focus, because a lot happens and I didn't want to miss a beat. I like to try to guess 'whodunnit' when I'm reading a crime novel, but this one certainly had me guessing until the end.

A highly recommended read and I'll be looking out for the follow up!
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The Power Of Positive Thinking

20/10/2020

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Photo by Mert Talay on Unsplash
A long time ago, I read something about positive affirmations. The book I was reading was all about detoxing, but it wasn't one of those crazy fad diet books that everyone was into at one point. You know the ones I mean? Cabbage diets, cucumber diets, apple diets. Crazy stuff that people stick to for about a morning and then get bored and give up. This book took an holistic approach to detoxing because it encouraged you to detox your mind as well as your body.

That might be a little far-fetched and crazy to some, at first, but if you continue reading, I'll tell you why it wasn't. At least, not for me.

When I first started taking my writing, made the mistake of telling people I was writing a book and automatically gave myself pressure I didn't need.  So, I was writing a book? Who cares? No one, until the book is written and you need to prove to yourself that this book is a significant piece of work and that it matters.

The only way I knew of making my book matter was to get it published. Writing a novel isn't a selfish act. As writers we want to get our stories out there. In the beginning, for me, the publishing industry was scary, it was vast and, at times, unfathomable. I researched my socks off and found various directions I could take; get an agent, submit to publishing houses, self- publish (a minefield in itself).

As I began the process I faltered many times. I backed out of writing query letters, I made lists of agents and then cast them aside, I read success stories and yet I still felt lost and uncertain. I was convinced that editors and agents would laugh my query letter into the nearest bin and that someone would click DELETE after reading the first line of my novel. I was so insecure about my writing you wouldn't believe.

Then I remembered that book. Especially the section that spoke of positive affirmations and self-belief. Without self-belief and positive thinking how was I going to convince anyone to take me seriously?

The book spoke of positive affirmations. And if you don't know what they are, a positive affirmation is a statement or phrase that affirms a positive message, eliminating negative doubts. For example: I am a good writer who has a good story to tell. Now fill in your own positive affirmation. It doesn't have to be about writing, of course. Positive thinking can be applied to most situations in you life.

We all have doubts and we're human, they will come up again and again in our lives. In order for me to overcome them I look at the things that are blocking my way forward; the negative doubts, and I form a statement that blurs them and takes them away.

Of course affirmations are not magic. They won't win you the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction but how will you come anywhere close if you don't believe in yourself?
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10 Ways To Stay Motivated & Finish Writing Your Novel

17/10/2020

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Photo by Garrhet Sampson on Unsplash

It is a rare person who starts an artistic project and keeps on going until they know they have completed their work. I say this because I like to think I'm in the majority, that I am one of these people who tend to procrastinate n the middle of a project, lose my  way or lose confidence. Please tell me I'm not alone!
If you're a writer like me who started a new book, hit the ground running and then came to a brick wall, then these ten tips are for you, if you want to get over or around that wall and want to finish writing your manuscript.

1. Remember why this book was important to you in the first place. What did you want to say and what made you switch on your laptop and type the words: Chapter 1?
2. Have a chat with your characters. Either, literally, like call out to them while you’re taking a shower or making the bed. Or you could open your laptop and write about your characters, describe them, ask yourself how this character will change during the course of the novel and what motivates them. Even write out some of the typical things they might say.
3. Decide how the story will end and note down how you will get from where you are now in your story to your ending. What has to happen before you resolve the situation you have created?
4. Turn off the distractions. You know what they are. Maybe try background music for a change or burn incense in your writing room. Change anything that might be holding you back.
5. Take a break from your manuscript and write something else. A short story, a blog, a letter to your Grandma. By keeping your writing chops going you won’t feel so bad about not getting to your manuscript and eventually you’ll want to jump straight back into it.
6. Read your manuscript from the beginning, don’t edit it but take important notes about the plot. Read your notes and decide if something was missing that needs to be addressed. It could be the thing that has blocked you. Resolve this glitch and get going again.
7. Don’t give yourself a hard time. Don’t demand that you write a particular number of words a day. We can’t always achieve these goals and it might make you doubt your abilities as a writer. Remember: one word at a time.
8. Don’t be put off by a writer friend who knocks out a book a month. You are your own person so don’t try to measure up to anyone else. Just be yourself.
9. Spend time away from writing altogether and engage in some other creative or leisure pursuit. Something you’ve perhaps put off for a while, like learning how to make bread. Your manuscript isn’t going anywhere and you’ll be amazed at how doing something against the norm can spark off ideas!
10. Cover your writing area with motivational posters or slogans: You’ve Got This! Believe in you ability! Dare to dream! You know what words motivate you the most so use them, trust them and go with them!

In writing this list I found I could keep on going with the motivational tips. maybe that's another thing you could try. Imagine you are telling someone else how to keep motivated and apply it to yourself. I think that might be number 11.

Whatever you do, stay positive and Good Luck!

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