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:

Facebook

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

Sally Clements and the RUNAWAY GROOM – GIVEAWAY

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Irish romance author Sally Clements to MBB today. Sally has been published by the Wild Rose Press and she has also self-published.  She has a book out with Entangled Publishing at the end of this year.   She’s here to tell us a little about her new release, RUNAWAY GROOM.


SALLY ON THE WEB:

 Website/Blog         Facebook     Twitter






Sally, what made you become a writer?
Ever since I was a child I’ve loved reading and writing, and I started my first novel thirty years ago. Needless to say, this first manuscript remains unfinished, and long abandoned, but the urge to write has always been a driving force for me. In 2000 I did National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo), a challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days for the first time, and managed to complete an entire novel in 30 days. I’ve done NaNoWriMo a total of ten or eleven times altogether, and it taught me that I could start and finish a book – which was the first lesson that I needed to learn in my path to publication.

What was your first published piece?
My first published piece was a short romantic story for Love Stories Magazine. The day I held the magazine in my hand with my name on the cover and my story (with illustrations!) in the inside was a very proud one for me. My first published novel, Catch Me A Catch was published initially by The Wild Rose Press and was a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award from The Romantic Novelists Association.

Can you tell us a little bit about your main characters in RUNAWAY GROOM and maybe give us a summary of the novel in a Tweet sized sentence?
Matthew Logan has put a long-ago broken engagement behind him, and is focused on nailing a big contract for his advertising agency, Logan Advertising. The last thing he wants or needs is a reminder of the past, but when his ex-fiancée’s sister arrives on his doorstep, he can’t avoid the attraction that flares between them.

Fledgling dress-designer April Leigh is just about to launch her very first collection when disaster strikes. Her only option is to accept help from Matthew, the man who broke her older sister’s heart. She doesn’t want to like him, or learn his side of the story, but to her dismay, she can’t resist!

Tweet sized sentence: Does a runaway groom ever deserve a second chance?

What’s your daily writing target? Do you have to write a certain amount of words per day?
I try for at least 2,000 words every day, and am happy if I get 1,000, and jump around on the rare days that I top 2,000!

What’s next for you?
I have a ‘flirt’ coming out with Entangled Publishing at the end of the year, and I’m currently working on a new story which is a departure from my usual work in that it’s a New Adult romance with Paranormal elements written in alternate first person. I’m really enjoying writing this book! After that, I’m writing a book featuring Matthew’s brother…then another featuring his sister… luckily there are lots of Logans!


RUNAWAY GROOM

Seven years ago, Matthew Logan ran out on his wedding to June Leigh. Life is good for fledgling dress-designer April Leigh. She couldn’t be happier that her sister has found a new love, and is excited about her veryfirst commission, June’s wedding dress.
On learning June has invited runaway groom Matthew Logan to the wedding, April has to intervene. Matthew’s presence will ruin everything – her father hates him, and just the sight of him in the church might give her mother a heart attack.

Matthew Logan has no intention of going to June’s wedding, but intriguing April’s arrival on his doorstep sparks his interest and he can’t resist getting to know her better. When a disaster forces them together neither can denythe passion that combusts into a red-hot affair. Discovering the truth about the past shifts April’s feelings from lust to love, but bitter experience has taught Matthew to guard his heart.

When it looks as though Matthew will lose her forever, will he fight or flee?

Get it here:  Amazon  Amazon UK

Sally has very kindly agreed to give either a signed paperback copy or an ecopy of RUNAWAY GROOM, so please leave a comment before you go!