A J Linney

The Five Novels That I Could Work On Next After Bitter Pill

Which One Would You Love to Read?

So, What’s Next?

Well, a good long sleep, I think! 

But seriously, writing a book is no simple task and Bitter Pill has taken me years to complete. I can’t believe it is an actual book instead of folders of research, scribbles in note books, post-it notes on my office wall (as well a huge roll of yellow paper I had stuck to the wall above my desk, containing dates, characters profiles and more — it did nothing for the decor I hasten to add). 


And, this was aside from the files on my desktop and laptop — I dread counting them! 

Then when I finally typed The End, it was only the beginning! My fictional creation was simply a skeletal frame to add the actual work to. I had to put flesh on those bones. 

Back to the beginning then … 

So, with the help of a tool called Scrivener, I began the proper work. It didn’t help that I had to learn how to use this then, relatively new computer programme, especially as I’m no tech pro, but learn I did. Hours of learning in fact, until I never wanted to use a computer again! I’m a creative, not a techy, I kept thinking. Well, I had a rude awakening, because there were many new skills I had to learn, starting with Editing and redrafting.

This of course meant more courses, webinars, and books — don’t ask to see my bookshelves ... OK, I’ll show you a couple in just one of my many bookcases, but don’t ask to see how many notebooks I have!

Procrastination you wonder? I prefer to think of it as my development as a writer. I won’t show you the bookshelves containing my fiction selection!
Talking about procrastination, you can read more in my first blog post here 

So, you see, no one can say I do not do any research! Or is it just because I love books?

Incidentally, I have a short story published in one of those books, Cherish the Love, in the Travellers Belle Amour (fourth book to the right of the red book, Story Genius). It was published many moons ago when I was a teeny bit younger. My first acceptance letter is below. See, I told you it was many moons ago!

Back to the topic in hand. Yes, I digress at times, as you can see from the diverse topics of reading material on my bookshelves.

The journey of Bitter Pill continued for many years and several drafts later, I sent it to a professional editor and then began the long journey to publication. And here we are to date.

Which brings me on to the topic of … 

What I’m Writing Next

Aside from writing this blog, and planning my book launch, my focus will be on a non-fiction book, Homeopathy At Home where I will give helpful first aid tips using homeopathy. My aim is to reach out to families and introduce the use of some of the most basic remedies. Most people have heard of Arnica, for instance, a remedy used for bruising and sprains (but its use goes far beyond physical injuries). I will go into more detail about this book in a later post. 

Another one of my projects is my memoir, Lyrical Gypsy. It’s all work in progress:)

Besides these, I am redrafting — dare I say, another novel (I have four more awaiting my attention). A snippet about these novels appears below.

Pinky and The White Man (the one I am redrafting) is a story about Keisha, a Jamaican student who falls for her teacher. Their attempts to avoid a relationship are in vain and they fall in love, before she must return to her homeland of Jamaica. Together, they battle the immigration policy, racial discrimination, class, family backgrounds and their own conflict.

Bucket Man (working title) is about Bethany, who discovers on her mother’s deathbed, she has a father whom she believed was dead. But her mother harboured a secret that Bethany will learn in her quest to find him, starting with a man she finds, whose wrists are slashed and are bleeding into two buckets (hence the working title).

Polyamorous Rose - A story about a middle-class couple who live the ‘perfect life’ until Rose discovers her husband is seeking his pleasure elsewhere. Rose embarks upon a very different journey of self-discovery. A journey to positively shock her, and those around her.

The Reunion is - you’ve got it, about a reunion. Thirty years after their school days, a class of friends decide to meet and spend the weekend in an idyllic venue in Devon. Things take a drastic turn when one of them is discovered dead.

Finding Me is the story about the battle of two cancer patients. The unlikely pair, a young girl and a man years her senior, decide to break the shackles of their treatment regimes and abscond.

And these are only the stories requiring my attention, never mind the ones percolating in my thoughts! Let’s hope these novels don’t take another ten years. Hopefully not, because I now know what I am doing; some have reached the drafting stage at least, so onwards and upwards.

So dear readers, which one should I finish first? Leave a comment below to tell me which sounds most intriguing to you. Or if you prefer, send me an email to [email protected]

You tell me?

Bitter Pill is now available to pre-order on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/1NcJG7i

I’ll see you in the next post!