Step-by-Step to Writing a Novel
Valerie Blumenthal, successful novelist, runs workshops on a one-to-one basis, or for groups, from her lovely thatched cottage near Thame, Oxfordshire. From plot development to characterisation, all the important elements of fiction writing are covered according to your needs or work-in-progress. Spend a day – or come and stay for the weekend. All levels welcome.
For further information please email Valerie at: Valerieblu@novel.fslife.co.uk.
Or telephone: 07786 057904.
Testimonials:
‘…The weekend went very well and I was delighted. Thank you so much for producing such a sparkling and rewarding two days. I’m sure your tidings will be spread and hope you will welcome that…’
Christine H. Oxford
‘…Many thanks for the excellent writing weekend I thoroughly enjoyed myself and found your talks, exercises and critiques very helpful…’
Neil H. Abingdon.
‘Your help was invaluable. It has given me plenty to think about…’
Helen W. Hants.
Valerie Blumenthal – Biography
Valerie is the author of 8 critically acclaimed novels published by Harper Collins and Sceptre/Hodder & Stoughton. Several of which have been translated and have enjoyed considerable success, particularly in France and Germany where they have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Saturday’s Child was taken up by Readers Digest’s ‘Of Love and Life’ condensed books series. Her 9th novel, Moth in Amber, is due out in Europe next year.
Valerie has also written short stories for YOU Magazine (Mail on Sunday), the most recent published on the 13th January, 2003. She has also written numerous features for the Oxford Times magazine, Limited Edition, for which she also produced the Step-by-Step-to-Writing-a-Novel series.
Valerie teaches creative writing, lectures extensively and runs courses and workshops. For a number of years she taught creative writing at a high security men’s prison.
Reviews of ‘Saturday’s Child’s:
“Valerie Blumenthal explores her protagonist’s dilemma with sympathy and tact, producing a very readable novel which makes some thoughtful points about the nature of maternal love”.
The Times
“A sensitive portrayal of a woman struck down by love.”
Good Housekeeping magazine
“…Brings humanity to an imaginary case of child abduction…Valerie Blumenthal’s morality play on mother love, abuse and abandonment is as touching as it’s topical.”
She magazine
“Unputdownable”.
Essentials magazine
Reviews of ‘Kempton’s Journey’:
“The honesty and humour Blumenthal brings to her subject and her hero’s essentially likeable character make this more than just another chronicle of midlife angst. This is a book about ordinary people in everyday situations, described with a sympathetic insight, which makes even the most mundane events seem compelling.”
The Times
“…is a wise novel…shrewdly observed and lit by comic compassion.”
She magazine (‘Novels of the Month’)
“…A finely wrought work…Valerie Blumenthal’s careful handling of characters and plot give events in the novel a wonderful emotional resonance.”
Edinburgh Evening News