Two Nations Divided by a Common Language

I recently received the first edits back for the book. I downloaded the file with nervous anticipation, expecting it to be mauled with angry red lines and a must do better report at the end. I was pleasantly surprised to find the text relatively intact. My editor is a talented young man from across the pond called Kilian Kröll. Kilian’s day job is treading the boards as an eminent life coach. He’s also a superb writer and is moonlighting as editor at the request of my publisher, Jo Parfitt. Jo gave him the specific remit to check the text for British idioms and cultural references that might fly over the heads of our Yankee cousins. Kilian is well-qualified for the job and is doing sterling work – meticulous and professional. His interventions have been smart, literate and illuminating. Striking the right balance between keeping the essentially British feel of Perking the Pansies and appealing to the greatest possible audience is going to be tough. Cor blimey, mate.

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Turkey, a Land for All Seasons

The parade of storms that recently rolled into town was a reminder (if one was needed) that Turkey is a land that enjoys proper, melodramatic seasons. Here on the Aegean coast we spend six months too hot or too cold and six months just about right. My partner, Liam, and I first arrived in Turkey to find our new foster home bathed in a glorious Indian summer and we were lulled us into a false sense of meteorological security. Within a month, the pitiless winter was upon us and we were woefully unprepared. Liam and I were mugged by a posse of violent electric storms that rolled across the horizon, a savage spectacle that crashed ashore and trapped us inside for days at a time.

Turkish winters mean business. Prodigious pulses of horizontal rain cluster-bomb every crack and cranny. Water sneaks through every window frame and beneath every threshold. Towels are requisitioned and old cushions commandeered to ebb the relentless biblical flow. Staying warm is a challenge. Think pre-central heating childhood days when the bed was too cold to get into at night and too warm to get out of in the morning. We sprint to the loo for a morning pee, wear sexless layers and revert to copulating under cover. They don’t mention that in the guide books.

We survive the onslaught and the short sharp winter gradually gives way to a wonderful warm renaissance. Spring in Turkey is a magical time of the year, nature-wise. The hills seem to blossom overnight with a riot of flamboyant and exotic flora blanketing the usually arid scrub. We awake from our enforced hibernation, dust down our flip flops and freshen our speedos. Smiles get broader as trousers get shorter. It’s a brief respite before the unforgiving sun burns the landscape back to its usual two-tone hue of dull green and ochre. As the mercury marches inevitably upwards, summer slaps us about the face like a merciless sweaty flannel. By August, varnish peels off the window sills, the upper floor of our house becomes a fan assisted oven and sofas radiate heat like embers from a dying grate. We move slowly, a pair of camp vampires only venturing out between the hours of sunset and dawn. This too passes and falling temperatures herald our favourite time of the year. At last, the wilting wilts and we retake possession of our town to watch the hordes of tourists jump aboard the last flight home. In autumn, Bodrum is in an easy, relaxed mood. Hassle from the press gangs reduces to bearable levels and itinerant workers join the long caravans travelling to their winter pastures back east. Beware, though. Nothing lasts. Winter waits menacingly just out to sea and the cycle begins again.

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Stand Up and Be Counted

I'd like to share a touching video that brought a small tear to my eye, something which is quite hard to do in this cynical old goat these days. I think this should be shown in all schools. Alas, Hell will probably freeze over before this ever happens in Turkey.

More on Perking the Pansies

Publish and Be Damned

It’s done and dusted. We’ve done our best to spice up the speech, vacuum the grammar and pep up the punctuation. We can do no more. Thank you to Liam. We didn’t row too much about the pace, pathos and plot. Thank you to Jessica who did a marvellous job of proof-reading. Thank you to the emigreys who handed me a story on a plate (or was it a poisoned chalice?). Perking the Pansies and Surviving the Expats in Turkey has gone off to the publisher by carrier pigeon to be savaged by the editor. Booker prize here I come. As if.

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Polari Literary Review

I’m really excited to announce that Paul Burston, award winning author, LGBT Editor of Time Out London and one of Blighty’s leading commentators on LGBT life, has invited me to speak at the Polari Literary Salon in February. Paul created Polari to showcase new gay and lesbian writers. Since its launch in 2007, Polari has established an enviable reputation as a centre of excellence for promoting new talent. I’ll be reading passages from my book, Perking the Pansies and Surviving the Expats in Turkey and taking questions. I’m completely terrified. Paul assures me it's a warm and easy crowd. I will have to dig deep into my past to resurrect the orator in me. I'll be trolling down to Soho to ask the literati omis, palones and palone-omis to vada my bona book*. I hope this pansy will still be perking by the end of it. What shall I wear?

*For a quick lesson in Polari slang check out Trolling on the Net.

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The Shepherdess of Dreams

The talented Linda A Janssens at Adventures in Expatland asked me to participate in a virtual blog tour. I jumped at the chance. I love this new-fangled virtual excursion lark. You can promote a masterwork without changing out of your jimjams. The book is an anthology called Turning Points: 25 Inspiring Stories from Women Entrepreneurs Who Have Turned Their Lives Around. It does exactly what it says on the tin. It's inspirational.

I'd like to start by thanking Jack for welcoming me back as part of my 'virtual book tour' for Turning Points. It's a collection of stories from women from all over the world, all working in various jobs and professions and living very different lives. Yet each experiences a pivotal moment or series of events that drives home the need to make significant changes in her life.

The book is edited by Kate Cobb, a women's business and executive coach (www.movingforwardyourway.com). As with Jack and I, Kate is an expatriate making her home in a country other than where she was born and grew up. In Kate's case she's a Brit now residing in France; I'm an American living in The Netherlands.

When Kate asked me to contribute my story to the Turning Points project, I will admit that I was thrilled, flattered and absolutely terrified. I had only an inkling of what it took to publish a book, and I worried and fretted about what lay in store. The entire process is a long one, and has taken the better part of a year. In many ways it has seemed surreal, as if it's happening to someone else.

That is, until yesterday.

Launch Day.

I have to say the response has been both overwhelming and humbling. I am not exaggerating when I say that it is a dream come true.

When I first started putting together my blog tour, the first person I thought of was Jack. Not merely because he has been such a great supporter (although he has) or because Perking the Pansies is such a great site (which it certainly is).

Jack was my first thought because we share an editor in the savvy and experienced Jo Parfitt. Jo (www.joparfitt.com) is an accomplished author of 28 books; she is also a journalist, speaker, writing instructor and long-time publisher. She runs Summertime Publishing, a niche publishing company that focuses on bringing to print fiction and non-fiction books written by expats, internationals, serial travelers and global wanderers such as ourselves.

When a writer opens up and shares their innermost thoughts and feelings, it is an intimidating thing. Jo has calmly and gently shepherded Kate and the rest of us along the editing and publishing path, explaining myriad steps and key details, and helping to demystify the process. Along the way, we've gained confidence in ourselves and our book.

Jack's many followers know that he has finished his manuscript of his own book, Perking the Pansies, and sent it off to Jo's capable hands. In just a few weeks, he will be preparing for his own launch day.
Before he knows it, he will be holding a copy of his book in his hands, stroking its cover and marveling that his dream has come to pass.

I came here today to tell Jack to enjoy the ride. He needn't worry. He is in excellent hands with Jo, the Shepherdess of Dreams.

If you're interested in learning more about our book, please take a look at the website   www.theturningpointsbook.com, or follow along on Facebook's The Turning Points Book page or on Twitter @Turning_Points. A portion of all sales will benefit www.seedsfordevelopment.org.

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