The Next Nigerian Lottery?!

We all have to start somewhere. And when you do your name is barely noticeable on a book cover. But as your books become more popular your name gets bigger and eventually its your name that sells attracts the reader to the book.

Case and point: I don't even know what the latest title is by Bella Andre. But its everywhere!

To an author "Your Name" is everything. Its your brand. A side from your novels your name is how your readers perceive you. So you try to do anything to protect your "Brand" as you grow your author platform.

Last week! I received a concerning email. An urgent email from China informing me that a company wanted to register my brand name as their own and register domain names. They'd carried out a search and discovered I was using this brand name and had I authorized the use of my brand to the company. I have 7 working days to reply.

The first thing I did was turn to big brother Google. I looked up this company wanting to use my brand. Google threw up nothing. Not even an address and telephone number. I thought this was odd. So I turned to the company contacting me. They had a website with some high profile clients. However their website doesn't work properly and to me what their email claims they do compared to what the website claims they do it doesn't tie up. I'm suspicious. But the email looks official so if its a scam then these people know what they're doing. They're pretty sophisticated. So I emailed them back on Friday and advised I hadn't authorized the use of my brand.

I received a reply today. Now my spider senses started tingling. The poorly written English, says they've already started the process because I was late replying and they've gone into their default phase to register the brand and if I wanted to protect my brand I had to tell them immediately.

I replied informing them I'd replied within the 7 working days and would seek further advice. I got on to the IWU Facebook group, I'm not overly active here, between my crazy uni, work and writing triple life I don't have time to be active in every group I'm a member of. But the other writers here are wonderfully helpful and better than any encyclopedia you'd find anywhere and instantly they were screaming scam!

One person suggested to contact the FBI.gov to report the cyber crime. (http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/) But because both parties are outside the US I can't. I did however report them to the UK action force as a fraud attempt. (www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud)

A friend suggested I should protect my brand by registering the domain name myself. Of course, once you own the domain name if they want it they have to buy it from you, which could be their game. To register the .com domain name and then try to sell it back to me for some exorbitant price. So now I've beat them to it.

I guess my instincts are not off base. I knew something was fishy about this email. I don't talk openly about the fact that Erin Cawood is a pen name. That I use it because there are too many questionable characters out there and when you live most of your professional life online, without the benefit of all five senses you never really know if what your getting is real, you have to feel as though you can protect you personal life from the immoral antics of others.

But when you spend so much time and effort building a reputation and a brand, in my case, years before I released my first novel Of course you become protective of it, and there's a little part of me that wonders what if its genuine? How do I protect my brand in future? If it wasn't for my friends and acquaintances in the IWU, people in the online writing community all around me this could have been the equivalent to winning the Nigerian Lottery!

Apparently, I'm not the first to receive this email so I definitely won't be the last which means there are the same dangers out there for us as writers as there are for any other web user. I have no doubt the next step - had I have said yes I want to protect my brand - would be to hand over all of my personal details as well as my bank details!!! So I've shared the correspondence between myself and the company. Here's my warning.

Be vigilant my friends and I urge you to spread the word.


Erin

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

---

From: "SZ"

Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:28:55 +0800

To: erin<erin@erincawood.co.uk>

Cc: info<info@pecnetwork.org>

Subject: Re: Re: Re: URGENT:"erincawood" Brand Name and domain name registration

Dear Erin Cawood,

Because your late reply, we defaulted that you had authorized,we are preparing for the registeration of that company now.If you want to register and protect those domain names,please let me know in time.

Best Regards,

SZ

Regional Manager

AnHui Office:
Phone: +86-551 XXXX XXXX
    Fax: +86-551 XXXX XXXX
Postal Code:23XXXX---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----

From: erin

To: SZ

Date: 2013-03-25, 19:18:38

Subject: Re: Re: URGENT:"erincawood" Brand Name and domain name registration

Dear Ms Z,

I believe you asked me to reply within 7 working days and according to the time stamps of the emails I replied within 7 calendar days.

I'm afraid I will have to seek further advice before I can discuss this matter with you.

I will reply as soon as I can.

Kind Regards

Erin Cawood

Sent from my BlackBerry　 wireless device

---

From: "SZ"

Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:46:52 +0800

To: Erin<erin@erincawood.co.uk>

Cc: info<info@pecnetwork.org>

Subject: Re: Re: URGENT:"erincawood" Brand Name and domain name registration

Dear Erin Cawood,

Excuse me,we were at rest last two days,so we reply late.Because your late reply, we defaulted that you had authorized,we are preparing for the registeration of that company now.If you want to register and protect those domain names,please let me know in time.

Brand Name:

Erincawood

Domain Name:
erincawood.com
erincawood.cn
erincawood.com.cn
erincawood.hk
erincawood.net.cn

Best Regards,

SZ

Regional Manager
AnHui Office:
Phone: +86-551 XXXX XXXX
    Fax: +86-551 XXXX XXXX
Postal Code:23XXXX

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----

From: Erin

To: SZ

Date: 2013-03-22, 22:08:34

Subject: Re: URGENT:"erincawood" Brand Name and domain name registration

Dear Ms Z,

　

Sorry, for the delayed reply.

　

There has not been any approach by any companies to use the "erincawood" brand and therefore I have not authorised their use of my brand name. This matter is of great concern to me as an author I have used the brand name Erin Cawood for many years and have established a reputation with this brand.

　

Kind Regards

　

Erin Cawood

On 15 March 2013 at 08:03 SZ wrote:

(Mail to the brand holder, thanks)

Dear Brand Holder,
We are the department of Asian Domain Registration Service in China. I have something to confirm with you. We formally received an application on March 15, 2013 that a company which self-styled "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" were applying to register "erincawood" as their Brand Name and some domain names through our firm.

　

Now we are handling this registration, and after our initial checking, we found the name were similar to your company's, so we need to check with you whether your company has authorized that company to register these names. If you authorized this, we will finish the registration at once. If you did not authorize, please let us know within 7 workdays, so that we will handle this issue better. Out of the time limit we will unconditionally finish the registration for "FuYun International Co.,Ltd". Looking forward to your prompt reply.

　

Best Regards,

　

SZ

Regional Manager
AnHui Office:
Phone: +86-551 XXXX XXXX
    Fax: +86-551 XXXX XXXX
Postal Code:23XXXX
　

The Books that have Changed My Life

As part of the Tainted Love book tour, I was hosted over at Author's Friend last week where I wrote about the books which have changed my life.

I've read some fantastic books and I wish I could include all of them but there are some that have really stood out as pivotal moments in my writing, and reading, career. I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at the book that made me want to be an author.

The Gift by Danielle Steele

On a June day, a young woman in a summer dress steps off a Chicago-bound bus into a small midwestern town. She doesn’t intend to stay. She is just passing through. Yet her stopping here has a reason and it is part of a story that you will never forget.

The time is the 1950s, when life was simpler, people still believed in dreams, and family was, very nearly, everything. The place is a small midwestern town with a high school and a downtown, a skating pond and a movie house. And on a tree-lined street in the heartland of America, an extraordinary set of events begins to unfold. And gradually what seems serendipitous is tinged with purpose. A happy home is shattered by a child’s senseless death. A loving marriage starts to unravel. And a stranger arrives–a young woman who will touch many lives before she moves on. She and a young man will meet and fall in love. Their love, so innocent and full of hope, helps to restore a family’s dreams. And all of their lives will be changed forever by the precious gift she leaves them.

The Gift, Danielle Steel’s thirty-third best-selling work, is a magical story told with stunning simplicity and power. It reveals a relationship so moving it will take your breath away. And it tells a haunting and beautiful truth about the unpredictability–and the wonder–of life.

My eldest sister lent me her copy of The Gift on a train ride when I was fourteen and I have to say Maribeth and Tommy are possibly my favourite characters of all time. It opens with a tragedy for Tommy and I was already lost in the 50’s when Steele swept me away from Tommy's heartbreak and into Maribeth story. She’s abandoned by her family for something we shrug at today. Believe me or not, I have three copies of this book on my book shelf! Their romance and their journey will forever hold a special place in my heart. I finished reading The Gift and I knew I was going to be a published author. It was my calling.


Read the full post at Author's Friend

Erin

Schedule Madness!

I've been rather quiet this past week and for this I apologise. It's that time of year again when the Uni deadlines go super crazy for a couple of weeks and everyone, and I mean everyone wants their first assignment. So, I'm up to my neck in New Media and Digital Communications. Don't ask me why I do this to myself because right now I really couldn't tell you... but ... I love it!

If you don't follow me on Twitter and your not friends with me on Facebook, or haven't liked my Facebook Page, or you don't have me in your circles on Google+ hint hint!

Then here's what you missed last week.

• I gave an interview to Mummy Adventures on Sunday, 


• I talked about going from 4 years to write my first novel to just 2 weeks to write Tainted Love over at Bunny's Review on Monday, 


• I gave an interview to Blog-A-Licious Authors on Tuesday,


• Tainted Love's Faith McKenzie made a special appearance over at Patti Larsen.com on Tuesday


• I guest posted on the booked that have changed my life on Friday at Author's Friend, who also wrote an awesome 5 star review of Tainted Love.


• Eden Baylee interviewed me on Friday with the popular Get Inside the Mind of @erincawood 


• I gave an interview to Tribute Books on Saturday, 

Erin

Posts You May Have Missed

Why Can't You Write A Novel?

I wrote this post a few days after I finished the 1st draft of my 1st ever novel, Life's A Ball? I've written 4 other novels in the last 28 months before my life was taken over by Valentina Secrets in at the beginning of the year.

I've grown as both a writer and a reader. But I thought I'd re-post this because I stand by these words as much today as I did 2 1/2 years ago. 

 One day I'll Write A Novel - 29th April 2010

Imagine you're standing in front of a mirror. C'mon indulge me for a second ... you'll see where I'm going with this soon enough... I would tell you to close your eyes but there's an obvious problem here... you can't read this with your eyes closed, hahaha!

So where was I? ...Oh yes! You're standing in front of a floor length mirror. Imagine you're wearing your favourite outfit, your hair is perfect, you're skin is radiating with the natural glow of summer, imagine how you're feeling in that moment.

Now imagine you've left the room and you literally run into someone who can only be described as a divine specimen of the human race. In that moment as your shoulders clash and the force of the blow, mixed with your parents insistence that you will grow up with manners, you twist around to apologise... in that one second when your eyes meet and you whisper a few courteous words... you realise that Mr/Mrs "Sex on Legs" has completely, totally and utterly just undressed you with their eyes. I want you to imagine how incredible that feels.

Hold on to that feeling while l bring you to my point ...

"They", whoever they are, say everyone has a book in them. There are many people who say they would love to write a novel. When I tell people I'm writing a novel the admiration, respect and support from people whom I least expected it is sometimes overwhelming. It amazes me so few of us actually do it. Why?

When taking on this challenge, no matter what is promised by others, there are no cheats in this industry. There are no quick fixes or magic formulae. There are, however, people who can tweak the recipe, people who can teach, and also people who may not teach, but you can learn from anyway.

There is a vast encyclopedia out there ready to help you turn your problem potion into to a magic spell just ready to be cast. You can touch the world with your written words. But ultimately its you, sitting in a lonely room, typing away and creating a fictional world and hoping people will enjoy it.

The deeper you travel in your imaginary world, the more you'll want to be there. The more your characters come to life the more intricate everything will become. Even the most outrageous fantasies need to be realistic and believable. Suddenly, what was once an enjoyable hobby is a time consuming, thought provoking, tears and tantrums creating war against the dream of becoming a published writer. Sounds like hard work, doesn't it?

Maybe this is why people don't write novels. Maybe this is why people make  excuses and never get around to writing. Well, I have something to say to all those who say they'd love to write a book, but never do.

1) Forget about the planning, forget about the characteristics, and forget about what everyone else tells you about how you should write.

2) Sit yourself down, somewhere you're alone and without distractions - maybe a little chill out tracks playing at a low volume, if that works for you - and don't forget that all important something to write with.

3) Just let go. I mean it, forget everything you've ever been told about everything. JUST LET IT ALL FLOAT AWAY AND FREE YOUR MIND.

Now put pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard and let your inspiration go for a walk into fictionworld.

This is your imagination, you can go wherever, whenever, however, with whoever and do whatever you want to... If you want to jump off the Eiffel Tower without a parachute and survive you can... (please do not try that in the real world ... its not recommended!) But if you can come up with a plausible explanation, lets say your character has the power to burst into rain and reform unharmed from the puddle the water droplets he or she makes. Then surely, anything is possible?

I'm not going to profess that I have all the answers in the world of writing, I'm no JK, William, or even a published writer, but I don't need to be to tell you that despite all of the nightclubs, theme parks and extreme sports in this world, and no matter how many times the god-like divine specimen undresses you with their eyes... do you still remember how that feels after all this time? No...? Well it feels like your floating on air and can accomplish anything.

I don't think you'll find another adrenaline pumping, thrill seeking confidence building emotional rollercoaster better than the one you can create with your mind.

As for the rest of it...? Well, you can worry about later.

Go on ... I challenge you to release the writer within ... if you dare!.

I do have a few things to add to my optimistic and possibly naive self ... firstly, don't let anyone tell you, you can't. They aren't the ones pouring their heart and soul into the words and worlds of imaginary people who will become as dear to you as your friends. If you're prepared to invest the time and energy and emotion into them then don't listen to anyone who is going to tell you your not capable of doing it. And believe me, there is a whole world full of fellow writers online just waiting to cheer you on and help you achieve your goal because they all know exactly what's it like to be in your shoes. 

Secondly, don't write for money, for glory, for fame, fortune, to be the next XXX with movie rights, merchandise etc ... write for the sheer pleasure of writing. I say this from a monumental shift I experienced in my thought process this year. I stopped concentrating solely on writing that internationally best selling novel. I write for the fun of writing and when my beta readers tell me they loved my books theres no feeling in the world like it. I'm no longer chasing the stars, I just want my readers to be happy when my first book is released. And I'm a much better, much faster and much happier writer for it.

And lastly, thousands of novels go unpublished everyday. I have 5 of them sitting on my shelf, which I keep saying I'll get around to redrafting (And none of these are the Valentina Secrets Series that I've written this year). Just because you've written it, it doesn't mean you have to publish it if you don't want to. The very fact that you've written a novel is an amazing achievement in itself. But if you do want to publish then ...  welcome to a whole different and crazily exciting universe beyond the words 'the end'.

 Erin

Your Character vs Your Genre??

 There's hot debate in my world at the moment about the messages we writers are sending and while I am greatly opinionated to one side of the debate I'm going to save that for another day.

But it's really got me thinking about what we're doing with our craft.

You spend time with your character. You build their world, their hopes and their dreams. You then go and turn it upside-down and then leave it... how?? Well, that depends on your genre.

Everyone knows the first rule in romance is we all live happily ever after ...

em,well, no we don't actually.

And there's nothing more annoying than reading a fantastic novel with an excellent character-driven plot to reach a point where the character JUST WOULD NOT DO THAT!!! whatever "that" maybe, especially at the end.  Ergo, Book meet Wall ! ! !

When I was writing Life's A Ball? and when I created my main characters - commitment phobic Elle and her long time secret admirer Adam - THEY wrote their romance to the point where he convinced her their love was the real deal. Yes, of course, I shattered their happiness into a thousand tiny shards of glass because I'm evil like that. But when it came to bringing them back together... Adam would but would Elle? And I'm not going to tell you how I ended their story, like I said I'm evil... mwahahaha!

My point is just because the genre dictates a certain stereotype, You know your character, You're their best friend... would THEY do what you're expecting them to do? Besides who says you can't be different? who says you can't break the mould? I find if listen to my characters its always my best work.

Erin

Never Say Never

Last summer I bought three books by the same author. They weren't my usual romance sub-genre but the back blurbs sold them really well. However I never finish the first chapter of the first book. There was nothing wrong with writing and I can still remember the detail and the scenes fairly well. But the main character drove me up the wall. I hate 1st person prose! Seriously, it drives me nuts. And if the characters too whiny, or too over the top then you've got no chance at getting me passed the first chapter. They were all 1st person prose so I gave them away.

Its one of the reasons I don't read real life stories, those books found on the shelves marked 'painful lives'. Although my reading world is full of hearts and flowers. Where prince charming gallops up on his valiant steed, he sweeps the heroine of her feet and together they ride off into the horizon towards the far away land of happy ever after. So I admit I couldn't face anything THAT real.

I also have an aversion to biographies. Maybe I'd have more interest in them if the market wasn't littered with the current trend where every celebrity young or old thinks its necessary to tell their life story. The teenage singing sensation? But you're 16? How can you have filled an entire book? Those famous for being famous you're everywhere what can you tell me that I possibly don't already know? Yes, I do stop. Breath. Then remember that what is presented to us in the media is not everything. But these books are sold like chapters and it really hacks me off! Yes its your life and I'm sure you think its fascinating but please don't be offended when I don't waste my money!

Any hoo...

If you've read my previous posts, I've been talking about growing up as a writer. To grow as a writer you have to spread your reading wings and do things you may not like. The strangest of things is... I discover an author who wrote a character in 1st prose that I really really loved. Suddenly I can read 1st person and its rare does it drive me nuts. 

One of my own character's back story took a me into a rescue a mission found in one of the real life stories. Now I have not one but at least a dozen stories to tell. They're not all dark and twisted. But I did have to research and face those 'painful lives'. (Gawd, I hate this phrase! Whatever category it falls under its still abuse!)

I was recently recommended a biography.... Stephen King's On Writing. I think its the only one I'd have ever touched...well, is it really a bio when he's giving a master class in writing? It's a delight to read, laugh out loud funny, with lots of tips for the aspiring- ha! for ANY author. I know I'll read it more than once. 

So yes, I've fledged from the safety of my contemporary romance nest, and I am enjoying the new experiences this flight has brought. Romance is who I am and who I will continue to be ... although I'll never say never again.

Erin

Workin 9 to 5 (just a way my make my livin!)

I have a 9-5 ... correction 9 to 5:30 (or other some variation of 7&1/2 hours and in one pattern or another working 5/7 days). This job comes with targets and a decent renumeration package should those targets be hit. My perma-migraine decided to make my life hell last month and now I feel on top of the world again I've been cramming in the hours at work to ensure I hit target. 10 days without a day off isn't easy in a demanding outbound sales environment in the middle of a big summer promotion.

So there I was, totally exhausted and ready for a nice long lie in on my first day off and what happens? I wake up at 6:30am

So I thought I'd say good mornin' and get on with tweaking with my website, I've a read through of Life's A Ball? to do and a few household chores that need my attention.

Erin

This Year Has to Better Than Last Year

Happy New Years!

I hope you all had a fantabulous evening. I ended up in a pub in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. There was barely anyone there and the comedian was quite rubbish. I felt sorry for the poor guy because he kept building up a bit of a chuckle and then dying time and time again. Once it was over it was karaoke disco! I haven't sung in public since I was Corfu 09 but I did and unfortunately I sounded rubbish, very unlike me but I couldn't hear myself very well and the track was in the wrong key. We (Paul, Mum, Dad, Aunt Ros and Uncle Rob) counted down and welcomed in the New Year on the dance floor amongst thirty or so strangers and we all crossed arms, linked hands and sung Olde Lang Syne. Very traditional.  

Fortunately for me I don't drink so I get to enjoy this lovely day. I get to enjoy the breaking of a New Year, a new era, a new chapter in my life without the hangover. But it also means I'm alert and alive enough to reflect on the year gone by and everything I said I would achieve but haven't.  

Things that happened in 2010

• Mamma died in January - (Grandma)
• I staretd suffering with severe migraines.
• I entered my first competition - The Brit Writers Award and made it down to the final 1500 of 22,000 entries.
• I ended up being admitted to the medical assessment ward after I started suffering with a reduced sensation down my right side and diagnosed with Migraine with Aura in March.
• My father-in-law passed away of a sudden heartattack.
• I spent a week in hospital after a particularly bad migraine attack.
• I learned they were closing my department and despite being nominated and short listed for a coveted annual award I was not kept on for the final twelve months and was made redundant after 81/2 years.  
• My cat got really sick and I had to let the vet put her to sleep.
• I got a new job, and started 6 days after leaving the last one.
• I went to Cuba ! ! !
• Someone very dear to me has brain aneuryisms and we're awaiting the consultants decision.
• My sister's AVM has gone.

Broken New Years Resolutions

• To find a publisher for Life's A Ball - I have to finish it first.
• To start writing and submitting my short stories for publication.
• To keep on top of my blog entries and social networking and internet marketing. They're important. 
• To find more readers and get more feedback for my work.

New Year's resolutions 2011

•  See above!

2010 has been one of the toughest I've ever had to go through. It seem that when I was just reaching the crest of one mountain something tripped me up and I was tumbling to the bottom of the other side and without any time to breath I was staring up at the next one. There were times when it felt like the world was crumbling under my feet and I was running and running and running just to stay on stable ground.


No the year hasn't been all bad. But I really do hope that 2011 is much better.

Erin

Have You Seen My Christmas Tree?

My beloved little angels, niece and twin nephews, had a decorate a christmas cake competition this year. It was for a fundraising event that got cancelled in the recent really bad weather. But the cakes were all sold and this is their entry.

Erin

Read the poem Fighting A Losing Battle and more Poems written by Erin Cawood at erincawood.co.uk.

And They Wonder Why I Want to Write? - Burrrrr!

So here in the UK, where experience yet another really poor winter. Last year's winter was really bad with tempretures plummeting around the country for weeks on end. This year they're predicting the same. This snow is just going to keep coming.

So let me tell you a little bit more about how inconvenient this bout of snow is.

Remember how I had a cake to make and get to school for my niece and nephews? Well, I was called into work early because the buses were stopping running due to the ridiculous conditions. Traffic had come to a complete standstill and taxi services had completely stopped operating. I don't blame them. But I had to walk 2 mile in calf high snow that was only getting deeper to school carrying a cake then a further mile to work. And they closed the school on the day of the fair!

And they wonder why I'd rather be a writer, so I can work in my toasty warm home office and choose when I want to experience this weather. My God! My hair was frozen by the time I got to work it was that bloody freezing out there... Burrr!

Erin

A Review of Nanowrimo 2010

My followers told me about NaNoWriMo in 2009. Its 30 days and 30 nights of literary abandonment. Anything goes as long as you hit a target of 50,000 words. Last years event bore the fruits of Devine Intervention, which has now developed in the last twelve months into a series. If I thought achieving this goal with a temporary promotion, additional responsibilities and very sick grandmother was easy in 2009 then surely 2010 was going to be a walk in the park. 

Far from it. 2010's attempt at National Novel Writing Month hadn't even entered my head until the middle of October. I'd finished my redraft of Life's A Ball? and listening to a line in I think it was a Saturdays song and suddenly I had an idea for a character who worked the night shift and All Night Long was born. But I was days away from flying to Cuba and had decided to leave my netbook at home just incase I had any problems with the Cuban authorities.

I began All Night Long with nothing more than an idea for a character who worked the night shift in an airport bookstore and she was going to fall for a customer. Last year I learned that Freemind is the essential planning tool for something as crazy as writing a novel in 30 days. The month started well, I was fully rested from the holiday and had evening and weekends to myself I was well ahead of scheduled. But as we went into the second week I began working shifts and then suffered a migraines. Suddenly I was struggling to hit my daily target. The migraine set me back not only in terms of nanowrimo but also I don't get sick pay, and my performance against my targets are affected. I needed to put in the extra hours to catch up at work, earn back the loss of income... nano was becoming lower and lower on the list. by day 29 I'd suffered a second migraine and was 5,000 words off target. That's when I remembered I'd promised my niece and nephews a cake for their school fair.

Day 30, I'm up and I'm writing, a cool 2,000 words before I head to work for a 9pm finish, the first part of my lunch break was spent heading to the buy the ingrediants for both a christmas cake and a sponge cake. I still have know idea what I'm going to do until I'm standing at the cake and nut supplier in the market. That's when it hit me. I'm going to make a Christmas Tree. I get home at 9:10pm whip together the fruit cake ingrediants and almost die when I see it takes 4hours to cook. By now I have just over two and half hours to write 3,000 words. I've done it before I tell myself. 11:55pm: I update my status on the Nanowrimo website. My breath catches as I await the word calculator: I sigh with relief 50,033 words. But there's now rest for the wicked.... I've a sponge cake to bake, decorate and get to school by 12:00 noon tomorrow.

I got less than 5 hours sleep that night but I loved it! Bring on Nanowrimo 2011

Erin

Read the poem Fighting A Losing Battle and more Poems written by Erin Cawood at erincawood.co.uk.

R & R Cuba - 2010

After what I'd describe as probably one of the toughest years I've ever experienced Paul and I spent a huge chunk of my redundancy package on a much needed All Inclusive break in Varadero.

Now Paul and I booked a holiday in Cuba years ago. The long and short of it all is that after rescheduling it three times, there was a problem with the hotel just two week before we were flying and we ended up cancelling and spending New Year in Mexico instead. So when the last minute chance of a holiday in Cuba was handed to us on a plate. That's where we wanted to go... even if it was only for a week.

The ten hour flight was gruelling and it wasn't as immediately settling as either Mexico or Corfu, but still it was a million miles away from the world we live in and everything we've experienced in the past year.

Cuba itself is lovely, its surrounded by beautiful warm blue waters and actually white sand. But I have to say I was a little disappointed by Varadero. Its been built specifically for the tourists. They have this tourist buses that you can buy a hop-on/hop-off ticket for the day and believe me, you need it. The main stretch of Varadero centre is broken up over a very long distance and you could walk, but expect an early start and a late finish if you want to cover the whole stretch in one day. As for the night life, Varadero doesn't really wake up until about 10pm.

My holiday was relaxing and just what I needed to recharge my batteries and catch up on a lot of reading I've missed out on this year. And I do think that there is an element of high expectations from such a long awaited destination. So we've decided to go back to Cuba one day. But maybe not to Varadero.

Erin

Posts you may have missed

R & R Corfu 2009

Kiara Only Has One Eye

Kiara and I go way back. Way before I met Paul. I was sixteen when we met. It was after my granddad had passed away, only the second experience of death I'd ever had and within a year of losing my grandma too.

So there I was at my Dad's house playing with all the little kittens from a new litter. I don't remember how old they were at the time but they weren't old enough to leave their mum yet. And there she was. The most cutest thing I'd ever seen. She was all white and ginger and we connected instantly.

Kiara is my first pet, and by first pet I mean mine. Not the one my parents would ultimately end up looking after once the novelty wore off. But the one who would move house with me, and snuggle up with me, and make me feel better when I'm feeling down. She is mine. And soon Sasha, my tortishell and white cat, followed to keep her company.

So I'm going to fast forward through the next twelve years ...... where Kiara only ever snuggles up with me to sit between Paul and I on the sofa, or she wonders off during the summer and the only time I see her is when she wants food. Not to mention this annoying little habit she has of only ever wanting in or out of the house when we we're eating... why on earth I haven't buought a cat flap I will never know..... oh and nicking my brand new fluffy slippers, you know the ankle boots that have been all the rage this past winter, and carrying them around like babies ....and I'm bringing you to only a few weeks ago. 

Kiara couldn't move her back legs, Paul rushed her to the vets and she had a clot in the main artery of her spine. They managed to sort her out but she's got a heart condition which means she's living on borrow time. If it ever happened again... the kindest thing to do would be to let her go.

Yesterday I couldn't find her. She was hiding in the shelving unit sleeping on my suede knee high boots with the five and a half inch heels, at least someone found them comfortable. She looked up at me, she meowed and then she went to get up, except she could move her back legs. She yelped when I picked her up. And I knew... today was the day she'd get her other eye back. Today was the day she went to kitty heaven.

Erin

Does Anyone Else Have a Permanent Case of the Munchies?

I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear about my two month long attack of the munchies. But because my blog is about what a creative writer does when they're not creative writing, well I thought I'd share.

I am permanently eating!

I'm used to sitting at my desk all day with eating patterns that range from one end of the spectrum to the other. Some days I am so absorbed into fictionworld that if my lovely other half didnt make food for me then I'd never eat. Other days, while still completely absorbed I can munch my way through an entire pack of Rich Tea, Walker's Thai Sweet Chilli crisps (share size), a family bag of Cadbury's chocolate eclaires, Wine Gums, Fruit Bon Bons and I have been known to eat a 200g bar of Galaxy Chocolate with Caramelised Hazelnut faster than a normal 50g bar.... Mmm .... caramelised hazelnut ! ! ! and on occasions I can do ALL OF THIS this in just one day. Oooh, for those of you looking at the previous list and cringing at the fat content, I also munch away on Cherries, Grapes, Strawberries, Dried fruit... I love banana chips and dried mango, and I adore fresh pinapple chunks.

So I short ... I permanently have the munchies!

Erin

Read Poetry, Short Stories and Free Novel Extracts by Erin Cawood Online Now!

Post you may have missed...

Inside My Writing Space - Free E Book - April 2010

Maybe Fairytales Don't Come True - March 2010

Check Out My New Look!   - February 2010

CHECK OUT MY NEW LOOK ! ! !

What do you get if you cross an author, photosensitivity, and an absent muse?

A new website!

On the morning of Feb 1st I woke up with the most excruciating migraine I've ever experienced in my life! My attempt to attend the 9-5 ended at 8:55 when I walk into the office, turned around and walked back out! For the next 3 weeks my symtoms kept me away from the real world.

Week1 ... except for the visit to the doc, was spent in bed and contact with the outside world was made though the wonderful technology supplied by Blackberry internet.

Week2 ... spent hidding in a darkened room, without TV, Music, or noise in general. Thankfully I had my computer and my social networks to stop me from going insane without human contact. (Thank you to all who helped) 

Week3 ... Although I attempted a return to work. I was still too ill to survive there and ended up back in the darkened silent room for another week ... except by this time my muse had chosen to escape the boredom and abandoned me in hope of finding something more entertaining.

Oh woe was me! I'm not a person who does boredom very well ... I'm a watching TV while surfing the web and reading a book kind of girl ... hence I usually spend my free time writing. Without my inspiration I am lost. So ...out with the old and in with the new....

erincawood.co.uk has been given a fabulous makeover and I'd love to know your thoughts ! ! !

Erin

Climbing Up a Steep Hill Wearing Roller Skates

As an unpublished author I find that touching the world with the written word is sometimes like climbing up a steep hill while wearing rollerskates.

Constructive criticism is what helps a good writer to grow into a fantastic writer and getting feedback from readers is hard work, no one wants to hurt your feelings. I love my friends and family and wouldn't be able to do what I do without their love and support. But for every 1 reader who will ask a question or give me a reason why they don't like it, there are 25 more who will either say they loved it or won't say anything at all. I have a small following at the moment and finding new readers is hard work.

I joined a fan page on Facebook a few months, and to be honest I didnt pay much attention at all. It's called Premium Promotional Tips for Writers and it promotes a book of the same name written by Jo-Anne Vandermeulen. Well, the fan page posted something yesterday that caught my eye and off I went, sidetracked from writing Life's A Ball yet again, to read the sneak peek.

I was surprised to find in such a short extract 3 points that A; I never thought of myself and B; I could actually do myself.

So now I find myself on a mission to find new readers with 3 new strategies in my tool kit. The book itself is on my wishlist until payday, when I look forward to discovering more ways of promoting my writing and finding new readers.

Erin