Rachel Caldecott

Rachel Caldecott · Feb 11, 2022

A lady claiming to be "well-known in the industry" posted on FB that she helps new authors find agents. I messaged her and said I was interested (curious actually). She offered to read my m/s for 20$ and advise me which agents to send it to. I asked for more info about her because I was reluctant to send it off to a stranger. She then sent me a very disgruntled reply. So that's that. No short cuts to fame for 20$

Rachel Caldecott · Feb 3, 2022

Thanks somehow to Litopia, I've been contacted by an old family friend, the wonderful writer, John Elkington, who spearheaded the green movement. John Elkington (business author) - Wikipedia Funny how life works, isn't it?

Rachel Caldecott · Jan 27, 2022

Very happily reading our own VEH Master's book The Castilians. Loving it. Will be writing a review asap.

Rachel Caldecott · Jan 25, 2022

Grappling with a dodgy ticker. I shall be making some radical lifestyle changes. (As I don't smoke, drink or do drugs, I'm reduced to writing less and walking more. Darn it!)

Rachel Caldecott · Jan 8, 2022

Just crawled into our little freezing hovel in France. Too late/exhausted to Huddle tonight. 'Travelling in times of Covid' is an experience and a half. Happy New Year to you all. Pete, I hope your lovely partner is home and making a full recovery. Hannah, sorry I didn't make it up to see you in Roslin. I only got as far as the Wall where I was fleeced by the National Trust more effectively than the Night Watch.

Rachel Caldecott · Dec 30, 2021

Happy New Year, Litopia!
Currently very happy in Cumbria with my 2 kids. Not looking forward to returning to France without them. But, achieved a lifelong ambition to see Hadrian's Wall. (Villa Adriano was always my favourite place to go near Rome).

Rachel Caldecott · Dec 12, 2021

Feeling gob-smacked. On the strength of his wife's recommendation, a chap has just bought 17 copies of my memoir to give to his team of workers in California. He wanted something from the Languedoc and decided this year for Xmas his staff would be getting my book. (So I'm dancing a little jig!

Rachel Caldecott · Dec 5, 2021

What do I have to do to be able to see the craft chats?

Rachel Caldecott · Dec 4, 2021

Just realised a small press liked my Pitmad tweet... and want to see query, synopsis and 3 chapters.

Rachel Caldecott · Nov 30, 2021

It is midday, and the temperature in our living room (where I work) is 8°c. I'm dressed like an old bag lady with layers of jumpers and scarves, but I can't type with gloves on, and my hands are so cold they hurt. Wishing we had double glazing at the very least.

Rachel Caldecott · Nov 26, 2021

In between composing Tweets for #PitMad, and making a publicity poster for a shop stocking my memoir, then remembering my brother would have been 68 today had he not died in 2014 (and feeling bad I'd forgotten his birthday), I found a slug on the kitchen work surface. Thinking I'd leave it for Chris to admire, I promptly forgot about it. It disappeared. I've just found it again, in the washing up.

Rachel Caldecott · Nov 24, 2021

Any Litopians out there planning to do #pitmad on 2 Dec? Fancy supporting each other?

Rachel Caldecott · Nov 22, 2021

As if writing a book, a query letter and a synopsis weren't bad enough, I now find myself trying to compose pithy tweets for December's pitch war.

Rachel Caldecott · Nov 16, 2021

"I've always been alone, so I don't feel the lack. It's all I've ever known . . .
I've never experienced loss because I've never had a loved one to lose . . .
But what is grief, if not love persevering?"
Quote from Wandavision. (Who says Marvel isn't deep?).

Rachel Caldecott · Oct 31, 2021

After every Saturday evening Huddle, I spend Sunday being grateful for the awesomeness of Litopians.

Rachel Caldecott · Oct 22, 2021

Following on from writers trapped by wasps. I have a slug problem. Chris gathered firewood in the forest and left some branches next to the fireplace. I now have slug trails all over the carpet, the armchair and even in the laundry I took off the line but hadn't put away. Honestly, slug trail in your knickers is not a good look. Luckily so far the ants he also collected have stayed in our car.

Rachel Caldecott · Oct 22, 2021

My son took a great photo of my daughter, and now an artist wants to use it for a painting. He sells his work between €1k-8k. Do you think it would be reasonable for the kids to ask for payment given they are impoverished students? Ideas please.

Rachel Caldecott · Oct 4, 2021

Facebook and other social media sites have all gone off line. Glad I heard it on the news because I thought I'd done it by trying to delete so much

Rachel Caldecott · Oct 4, 2021

Deleting all references to a particular book on social media is an impossible task

Rachel Caldecott · Sep 28, 2021

I am developing a bit of a girl crush on Hannah Faoilean. Awesome Litopian.

Rachel Caldecott · Sep 16, 2021

Having one of those days when I just feel like giving up. Writing is fine, it's the selling that I can't seem to crack.

Rachel Caldecott · Sep 4, 2021

My lovely sister in law has paid for me to take a course on writing fiction by/with the writer, William Ryan. I start on Monday! Quite excited and hoping she's not wasting her money.

Rachel Caldecott · Sep 1, 2021

I've been interviewed for an Aussie online publication. I sincerely hope I don't sound like a twit. They chopped it about a bit. But all publicity is good publicity. French memoir Blown Out of Proportion by author Rachel Caldecott

Rachel Caldecott · Aug 26, 2021

The Goodreads Vegan Book Club have selected my book, The Panopticon Experiment, as their book to read in September. By October I'll either be very happy or considering a career change. Could it be due to the plug Litopia's Short Story Hunters gave me? That would be nice.

Rachel Caldecott · Aug 24, 2021

Excited to have received permission to review Leonora's 'Black Drop' for NetGalley!!

Rachel Caldecott · Aug 23, 2021

Thank you. I'm aware that even good intentions can go horribly wrong. I think this might have been one of those occasions.

Rachel Caldecott · Aug 23, 2021

Re: my idea to raise funds for refugees. I can't see how I can make it work with so little time and no budget. I'd wanted to include maps and pictures, but the costs add up. And while I don't mind the Victorian style writing, I think Pete is probably right, modern audiences won't have the patience for it. Just as I don't have the patience to rewrite the whole thing. Thanks anyway.

Rachel Caldecott · Aug 15, 2021

Sorry about last night's Huddle. I'd so wanted to come. But I'd been working outside in 38°C heat and I was completely pooped. (I'm way too old for this . . . )

Rachel Caldecott · Aug 9, 2021

So Flo's saga continues. She gets to Paris, and finds hotel. Takes dog for a walk. Man approaches to ask for rolling papers. Next, he says, "Are you staying at that hotel? Can I stay in your room? My key doesn't work and I have a flight tomorrow." . . . Seriously?
FYI the reason she didn't travel 2 weeks ago, is that she tested positive for covid. Rebooking everything cost a pretty penny.

Rachel Caldecott · Aug 7, 2021

Yet again won't be able to join in the huddle today. Trying (again) to get daughter and dog to uk. Theoretically she leaves here tomorrow (Sunday) and will arrive in Carlisle on Tuesday, £1000 poorer. Have fun people!