Hi everyone! Welcome to my website

Messages from Sophie

Do you live in Oxfordshire? Then listen out for my new series on Oxford Radio called 'Diary of a Modern Mum'. It's on every afternoon at 3.45 for the next six weeks.

HEAR AND SEE IT!

Want to know more about my books? You can hear and see me talking about them on the following links. They were done by a clever firm called Meet The Author although I do feel a bit awkward when watching them. Do you feel the same when you see a picture of yourself? Somehow, we have a different image of ourselves in our head, don’t we? Anyway, here they are!

http://www.meettheauthor.co.uk/bookbites/1819.html

http://www.meettheauthor.co.uk/bookbites/1820.html

COMPETITIONS GALORE!

WIN A TWO NIGHT STAY AT CHAMPNEYS FOR YOURSELF AND A FRIEND! Worth £650! This competition will start on April 2nd. Simply log onto www.goodtoknow.co.uk/coffee-break and follow the links.

To win a free advance copy of THE WEDDING PARTY, email me about a memorable wedding you’ve been to recently – and why! - janebidder@btinternet.com

WANT TO WRITE YOUR LIFE STORY?

Listen out for my new series on THREE COUNTIES RADIO every Monday afternoon at 3.30pm. It’s full of ideas on how to write your life story.

Here are some guidelines below to get you started. You could also log on to www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties

WHY BOTHER?
It’s a record of your life and funny stories (as well as sad) to pass down to family and friends. After all, they might forget the tales you tell them about your youth and then wish, too late, that they’d remembered them. How often have you wished you’d remembered things that your parents told you at an age when you weren’t really bothered.

Writing about your life can also help you see the present in perspective. It can remind you of things that were important to you – and which you might like to pick up on again. It can also show you that although you had some tough issues to face, you got through them. And this can give you strength to cope with today’s challenges.

HOW CAN I START?
The simplest way is to do it chronologically. This means thinking about your life from the beginning and doing it stage by stage. You’re probably unable to recall each year so it’s a good idea to do it in chunks. For example; My Early Childhood. Or Birth to Five.
Then think of the first thing you can remember. In other words, your earliest memory. Personally, I can recall being in my cot in a dark room (my parents’ bedroom) and pretending to be asleep because I wanted to be alone. I have no idea how old I was but because I was in a cot (and I remember the bars which actually felt very secure), I presume I was under four at the outside.
I can also remember the day I saw my baby sister for the first time. And I can remember getting our cat Tigger when I was six. Then there was the day I looked out of the window and saw a garden swing – something I’d always wanted! My Godmother had given it to my for a birthday present and somehow my parents had managed to put it up in the garden without me spotting it!
Hopefully, some of these stories might be getting you thinking now. Make a list of events which are coming into your head. Then, next to them, write down the feelings that come with them. They might not all be good but write them down anyway.

NOW WHAT?
Keep going! Make a list of other events that you remember as you got older. This might be:

• Going To School
  
• Birth of a brother or sister
  
• Anything to do with your parents
  
• Holidays
  
• Birthdays
  
• Friends
  
• Family occasions eg weddings/christenings/funerals
  
• Special treat eg going to the zoo
  

TIP: If you can’t remember much about the first five years, you could extend this section to Birth To Ten.

ARE YOU A WEDDING PLANNER?

You could win a copy of each one of my novels by emailing me about your job. Tell me about the most challenging client you’ve had – and how you coped!

ARE YOU A BRIDE TO BE?

Write and tell us about the proposal! You could win a very special prize - janebidder@btinternet.com.

GETTING MARRIED? OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS? On May 26th, I’ll be doing a live web question/answer session for You and Your Wedding magazine. Log onto www.youandyourwedding.co.uk for help and advice.

LOVE READING? Check out the website www.lovereading.co.uk. I’m so excited because I’m going to be guest editor of the site in April. So please log on and find out what’s going on in the world of reading.

SIGNINGS & TALKS & WRITING HOLIDAYS

Do come and meet me at the following events I'll be giving tips on how to write short stories and novels as well as signing books.

FANCY A WRITING HOLIDAY IN THE SUN?

SOPHIE KING AND SHORT STORY RADIO

Do you want to get your story onto radio? Or do you want to download stories? Click onto

www.shortstoryradio.com/sophie_king.htm

OTHER NOVELS

Do look out for my other novels:

- THE SCHOOL RUN about different characters on the same route to school
- MUMS@HOME about parents who get addicted to a web site
- SECOND TIME LUCKY about neighbours starting life after divorce and other life changes
- THE SUPPER CLUB about four friends who meet regularly at each others' houses. But what happens when an old flame turns up? And will Lucy still marry Mike after what happens in the kitchen?

REVIEWS FOR 'THE SUPPER CLUB'

FICTION FEAST

"Have your own microwave meals at the ready - this is one you won't want to put down."

THE DAILY MIRROR

Three stars.

"Lucy, a middle-aged single mum of three - now dating the lovely Mike - is part of the titular club which meets at a different house each month. However, havoc sues when the group of mostly newly-single or at least newly-divorced friends, meets for supper at Lucy's place. Plenty of footsie ensues over the course of the next year."

HEAT. In the top ten (September 6 - 12)

CLOSER. (Hot Picks; Books to bury your head in)

"Tasty!"

OTHER REVIEWS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS

'A lovely debut - warm and engaging' - Catherine Alliott

‘irresistibly funny . . . This is a brilliantly observed book about how life’s routines can be interrupted at any moment by tragedy, a hilarious incident or a new love coming into your life with a wallop’ - V Magazine

Funny and moving . . . captures the love, pain, humour and guilt of being a parent. - Bella

Entertaining' - Closer

'Well-told, with a journalist's eye for detail.' - Choice

'Over one eventful summer, four people make friends, share each other's pain and fall in love in this light-hearted read.' - Heat

WATERSTONES AND FOYLES

You can find my books at Amazon - Click here for my Sophie King novels and click here for my 'How to Write Short Stories for Magazines and Get Them Published!' book.

Also at Foyles bookshop: www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=6209658

WEEKLY EVENING COURSES

I run regular weekly evening and day courses from Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire – just half an hour from Euston. Each course is made up of four modules, covering characterisation, dialogue, ideas, plot and viewpoint. Cost: £99. For more details, email me on janebidder@btinternet.com .

ONLINE COURSES

NEW! Online tutorial course now available for both short stories and novels, covering characterisation, dialogue, viewpoint and ideas etc. The course consists of eight modules and can be taken over eight months. £200 (which includes marking).

I also give individual advice on manuscripts (both full and partial).

For more information, email janebidder@btinternet.com

AND ONE MORE COMPETITION!

Send me your email and I will enter you into a draw for one of my novels every month. email janebidder@btinternet.com and write SOPHIE KING COMPETITION in the subject section.

CLICK HERE TO READ MY COLUMN IN THE 'HEMEL TODAY' NEWSPAPER

WRITERSWORLD is a leading book publisher in self-publishing, print-on-demand books and book reprints in the United Kingdom that also issues the ISBN number in the author's name, pays the author 100% of the royalties and supplies the author with copies of their books at print cost. www.writersworld.co.uk