Egg-Free Easter

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I wasn’t sure how easy – or rather how difficult – Easter and its build up was going to be for me given that I’m a recovering chocoholic.  I do not say that in jest, or lightly, as I know from experience that giving up sugar for someone like me is as hard as an alcoholic getting on the wagon.  An alcoholic will have their favourite tipple and a sugar addict their favourite food.  And mine took the form of chocolate, preferably dark chocolate, my all-time favourite being Lindor dark chocolates and eggs.  But, like an alcoholic at their rock … Read the rest »

Nicola May

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The subject of today’s Hot Holidays! Is the amazing author Nicola May.

Nicola is the author of six bestselling romantic comedies. She lives in Ascot with Stanley, the very badly behaved cat. Apart from holidays her favourite things are drinks full of bubbles, flapjacks and Leonard di Caprio. She is proof that successful self -publishing is possible, and offers a consultancy service to budding authors to guide them through not only getting a book on the shelves but also how to market with results.  for any would-be writers reading this, I personally cannot recommend Nicola highly enough.  Her knowledge help … Read the rest »

Nurse Elaine Knows Best

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Recently moving meant I’ve had to change GP and consequently a new-patient check-up with the practice nurse, a very pleasant woman called, Debbie.  She decided that it would be a good idea to send me for a blood test to get an overall picture of my health, especially as I had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year.  My previous GP had said I was a borderline diabetic and had put me on Metaformin.  However, I was unhappy at this, thinking that as I was borderline I could perhaps keep it under control by diet changes and so for … Read the rest »

I Hate To Say ‘I Told You So’

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Easter is almost upon us.  And bringing with it the usual press and media contradictions, know what I mean?  You open any paper or women’s magazine and half of it is dedicated to seasonal supermarket ads for Easter eggs and hot cross buns and recipes for Easter cakes while the other half flags up dire warnings of growing obesity and tells us that sugar is the new fat.

I’ve been saying that for years!

It’s no secret that my first novel, What’s Eating Me, is semi-autobiographical in that I’ve struggled with my over-eating compulsion all my life.  And I knew … Read the rest »

Kim Nash

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Hello, Kim! Welcome to Hot Holidays and thank you for agreeing to be my first interviewee! Before we talk holidays and travel, tell us a bit about yourself, please.

“I have run my successful book blog ‘Kim the Bookworm’ for nearly four years, and have read and reviewed thousands of books for publishers and authors and also have been fortunate to interview authors too.

After working in sales and marketing for a number of years, which I thoroughly enjoyed I have finally realised that working with books and helping authors is what I love to do best and using my … Read the rest »

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I am very pleased to announce that starting tomorrow there will be a new weekly addition to my blog: Hot Holidays!

Each week someone very interesting will be telling us all their holiday and travel tips and secrets and I’m delighted to say that our first guest is going to be……drum roll…..Kim Nash!  Yes, the wonderful Kim the Bookworm!

I can’t wait!… Read the rest »

MeandSimonAreAsCloseAsThis

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Wow!  Where has the time gone?  The days all roll into one and suddenly I haven’t blogged for ages.  How very remiss of me!

There’s been loads going on, not least of all the everyday busyness of looking after Aunty. Added to that, seeing the Younger Nephew in Dahling! You Were Marvellous!, Quiz Night on Monday for the Older Nephew’s Fundraising Week, fabulous Mother’s Day lunch with the even more fabulous Daughter at the Gaucho and Mother’s Day visit to my own Mum’s grave to take her some flowers With the Sister.  Then there’s my drama classes at Stages Studios … Read the rest »

Time for Raspberries Among the Spice

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It’s been a while since my last Retailer’s Raspberry, but today I’m going to award one to the Murco Service Station in Upper Rainham Road Elm Park.  Twice I’ve been in there recently and both times the whole transaction has taken place without the assistant even looking at me, other than to glance to see that I’m holding a card to pay with, while he continues his conversation in a foreign language with his colleague.  How rude!  On the second occasion I actually just looked at him and didn’t insert my card into the machine until, after a considerable time, … Read the rest »

Didn’t We Have a Luvverly Time?

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Well!  What a day Friday 14th was!  My birthday, of course, along with the Younger Nephew who was 15 (I was slightly older) and I thank everyone for the beautiful cards, presents, messages, flowers which made me feel loved and cherished.  I had a great lunch with the Sister and the Daughter; lovely to spend time with my two favourite ladies!

But it was also THE LAUNCH PARTY!  In case you didn’t hear: the Kindle launch of SINGLES AND SPICE, my fourth novel. And we had a ball!  The wonderful Kim Nash was the organiser and a fabulous job she … Read the rest »

We Have Lift-off!

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Yay!  I am beyond thrilled to announce that my fourth novel, Singles and Spice, the second of the Singles’ Trilogy, is available as of tomorrow, 14th March, in Kindle version.  Here is the link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Singles-Spice-Trilogy-Elaine-Spires-ebook/dp/B00IWZ60MW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1394746137&sr=1-1&keywords=Singles+and+spice

The paperback version will be out on 4th April.

For several chances to win a signed copy of the paperback, join the launch party on my Facebook page from 9am tomorrow!

Thanks for your continued support!… Read the rest »