A Chat With Hettie Barton

Apart from running my book blog, reviewing books, editing and writing, I am, of course, a housewife.  I love being a wife and a mother and all that goes with that role, but I have to confess that while I like certain creative aspects of homemaking like cooking and knitting, I’m not exactly a paragon of housewifely virtue.  You will NEVER find me on my knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor, for the third time that day.  Or fretting over my whiter than white washing.  Or freaking out over my packet of washing powder lasting less than a week. Housework, for me, is a necessary evil.  Of course I like a clean home and I have to have the work fairly under control before I become Maria-the-blogger-editor-writer or whatever.  But apart from that…..forget it!  That’s why I loved the little book by Hettie Barton, HANDY HINTS FOR AN EASIER LIFE.  It’s just what I love.  A guide on how to cut to the chase, get the work out of the way and head for the really interesting bits.  I loved this book so much, that I couldn’t resist inviting the author on to the blog for a chat.  Hettie Barton is one author who could never be accused of shameless self promotion.  She’s a simple housewife who prefers to let her work do the talking.  But she did agree to answer my questions….

HETTIE BARTON ON THE WEB:

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Who is Hettie Barton?
I’m just an ordinary woman. I have a family and a home. And I try to fit everything in around running my own business. Like most, I find there aren’t enough hours in the day. And I often don’t accomplish everything I try to achieve.

Are you an expert in home science?
I’m an expert in doing what needs to be done with as little time and effort as possible. I’m no fifties housewife and I wouldn’t wish to be. And I’m also an expert in germs – where they congretate, how they spread – and how they can be minimised in a domestic setting.

What is your favourite household chore?
As far as I’m concerned, there, no such thing as a favourite household chore. I hate them all equally. Though some are important and need to be done – and I’d alway make it a priority to do such things such as ensuring high-germ spots, such as taps and door knobs, are clean.

What gave you the idea to publish your household hints?
Over the years I’ve picked up a number of hints and tricks to make life easier – and I wrote my guide to try to pass these on. Some I’ve submitted and seen published in various UK women’s magazines. With fewer markets for these fillers I decided a good way to share these ideas would be to self-publish a collection on Amazon.

Is there a follow up in the pipeline?
I do have more handy hints in mind – probably enough to make up a second collection. However, before I get that together, I plan to publish Hettie Barton’s Guide to Happiness and also Hettie Barton’s Guide Making Extra Money. These are both subjects dear to my heart and things I feel I know a lot about – things I hope others might benefit from and be interested in.

What’s your favourite tip for anyone publishing a non-fiction book on Kindle?
Just one favourite tip? Okay. I would say that, to write a non-fiction book, you need to share something that will add value to people’s lives. It’s no good thinking anything will do – people will not be fooled. When they part with money for a non-fiction book they’re looking for information and if you don’t provide it they will not be best pleased.

I loved reading your answers Hettie and I look forward to seeing more of your books on Amazon.  Keep up the good work!!!!

And now, the book:

HANDY HINTS FOR AN EASER LIFE  by Hettie Barton

Do you find life difficult to manage?Not enough time to do anything properly?This book might be able to help.Hettie Barton’s Handy Hints for an Easier Life contains 181 ways to make your life that little bit less difficult.

Hettie Barton lives a busy life. And she’s picked up a number of hints and tips for getting the most out of that life with as little effort on her part as possible. She shares her favourites here in an attempt to help you have an easier time of it, too. 

From ways to keep healthy, to time saving laundry advice, to ways of keeping cool on a hot day – you’re bound to find something useful here.

Get this book here:  Amazon  Amazon UK  Amazon India

Giveaway and Interview – Valerie Parv on Love Among Aliens

ANNOUNCEMENT:  The winner of  Valerie’s contest is Teresa Ashby.  Congratulations Teresa.

Please welcome Valerie Parv to the blog today.  Valerie has come to talk to us about her new novel BIRTHRIGHT.  This is a romance novel with a difference – set in outer space

Romance is all about the characters

According to international best-selling author, Valerie Parv, the framework of any romance novel is so basic it’s often mistaken for a formula. Man meets woman. They’re powerfully attracted to each other but a major problem keeps them apart. Solving the problem while getting to know each other leads to their happy ever after. Valerie says what makes every story unique is who these people are and how they solve the problem to earn their HEA (that’s  authorspeak for ‘happy ever after’, in case you didn’t know).

Valerie, you’re primarily known as a contemporary romance novelist.  Why have you written a romance novel about space and aliens this time? 
This story has taken me to the stars, but it’s really not that big a stretch. I’ve always followed the space program, enjoyed science fiction, and been a Trekkie since forever. I have a big “thing” for David Tennant, the only Doctor Who that matters! And don’t get me started on Torchwood’s John Barrowman, the sexiest, most fascinating character in SF for years. They have all the qualities a hero needs.

So you’re big into science fiction?  I see.  I know about Star Trek and Doctor Who, they’ve been around forever, though I haven’t seen them in years.  Totally out of  the loop that way.  I had to Google Torchwood and John Barrowman, they’re a bit too recent to come in the area of my scant knowledge of all thing sci-fi. Yes, Barrowman is hero material for sure. Tell me something, Valerie.  Space and aliens – how do they fit into romance? 
As long as two…beings…are attracted to each other, and have a problem to solve before they can be together, it doesn’t matter whether they’re humans, vampires, werewolves or aliens. Modern romance has room for many different stories and characters, in my case, gorgeous foundling and resident genius, Adam Desai and sexy SF writer, Garrett Luken. Then there’s Elaine Lovell, a media psychic who tells everyone she’s an alien, although no-one believes her. While writing, I could see Charlize Theron playing her in a movie.

Your imagination is obviously fired by science fiction characters.  If you could be any science fiction character, which would you choose?
I’d probably be Amy Pond who gets the best of both worlds – to marry her hero, Rory, and have adventures with The Doctor in the Tardis who like the characters in Birthright gets the best of both worlds. What’s not to love?

The companion to the most recent incarnation of Doctor Who?  Fantastic serial.  I haven’t been able to get it in years, though I used to be a fan many moons ago. Yes, I get your point.  Thank you Valerie.

VALERIE ON THE WEB:

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About BIRTHRIGHT

Former police officer turned deputy governor, Shana Akers, is used to handling high-stakes situations. But after learning that a space shuttle mission about to be launched from her island home may have a shocking secret agenda, she must turn for answers to the man who has challenged her mind and emotions for years.

Scientific genius and space center director, Adam Desai, is a truly self-made man. Found adrift at sea as a baby, he knows nothing about his origins until two VIPs attending the launch force him to confront the truth about his past, changing everything Adam has ever believed about himself.

Faced with a danger that threatens the entire world, can Adam and Shana find the strength to trust not only each other, but the mysterious VIPs whose unusual abilities defy logical thinking? Especially when it becomes clear that they’ll need all of their combined resources to reclaim humanity’s…BIRTHRIGHT.

Birthright a near-future romantic suspense available now on Amazon http://amzn.to/WDRPdW 
Reviewed:http://rbhfantasy.blogspotcom.au/2012/12/birthright-by-valerie–parv.html?spref=tw


Valerie has very kindly agreed to give away a copy of Birthright for Kindle, personally authorgraphed, to one lucky commenter.