Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Pedalo Pandemonium by Amanda Paull. It's a contemporary romcom about a chaotic family and relatives who don't understand boundaries.
My name is Amanda Paull. Well, that's my pen name, not my real one, which helps to keep my writing separate from my day job.
I grew up in the North East of England and couldn't wait to move away. However, after studying and then living both in England and abroad, I returned to the North East and wouldn't dream of living anywhere else now.
Going to Grammar school in the days when teachers wore black caps and gowns, and walloped at will, wasn't much fun for a shy, quiet child like myself. So, I just kept my head down, did my homework and tried to stay invisible.
I used to love daydreaming and making up stories in my head, but I never thought about writing them down. In those days, writing wasn't an enjoyable pursuit, it was more of a time to tow the line and avoid being hit by a flying blackboard rubber. I was the type of pupil who would have been mortified to have 'made' a teacher launch one at me, so I would have shown respect by not ducking.
A short career in teaching was a revelation, to put it mildly. After going back to University, I settled into my current post in the public sector, where I am very happy.
It was Jim, a work colleague, who suggested around 12 years ago that I write a book. Apparently, my contribution to coffee break conversations always seemed to be either tragic or hilarious. But to me it was just normal stuff. No-one would want to read about that.
Then, a couple of years later, while sunbathing in Mallorca with my boyfriend, who is now my husband, and a glass of Cava, the idea of writing a humorous fiction novel came to me. I didn't need to make it all up though as I had a plentiful supply of funny real life snippets.
To get started, I studied creative writing through the Open University, which fitted nicely around my job and, to my delight, was absolutely nothing like school. The Scott Family Short Stories started out as an assignment for this course. A Christmas Day Kerfuffle was the result of the fictional account of the first Christmas brunch my husband spent with my family. Of all the short stories, this one has more true snippets in it than the others. The taxi driver and bike box scene in Pedalo Pandemonium was pretty true to life, too. The driver looked different, but the airport to hotel transfer only required slight embellishment.
I also write Women’s Fiction. Pictures in the Sky was my debut novel, and I am currently writing my second, Painting Bananas.
About the book
Laura and Ben are still together, against all the odds. Laura's Family the Scotts are adorable - but they wreak havoc wherever they go. The couple have survived first date silicon dog poo, Christmas mayhem and even dodgy marshmallows.
Their future together may have looked doomed on more than one occasion, but here they are at the airport – eating bacon sandwiches and watching planes take off, as they wait to board their flight to Mallorca.
A whole week in an idyllic Spanish fishing village. Just the two of them. Away from their families and the usual chaos. Wonderful.
What could possibly go wrong...?
This is a novella length story and part of a series of short stories about the Scott family.
Can love conquer all? Can it conquer and overcome the fact the two families couldn't be more different. When I say different I am talking about one family believing they are better than the other. A higher social class than the Scott family, because they are just a normal family. They are also chaotic, unpredictable and often a pain in the behind.
If I were Laura I would cut my losses, dump Ben and find someone who doesn't sneer at my habits or my family. The pink-tinted glasses of first love won't last forever. When it does fade away they will be left with the things they don't have in common and the people they disagree about. Then it wont be so easy to just gloss over the obstacles in their relationship.
These are amusing short stories, quick reads for any spare time, for relaxing and they are the perfect holiday read. It's a contemporary romcom about a chaotic family and relatives who don't understand boundaries. It doesn't purport to be anything other than a fun and entertaining read.
Buy Pedalo Pandemonium at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at books2read
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