![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.elainespires.co.uk\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/image2-e1444896100155.jpg\")
<\/a>The charismatic, talented Martina Cole<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a>Me and Martina – having a chat.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Like me, Martina is a Dagenham girl, and one who’s never forgotten her roots. \u00a0I really look forward to the interview and hearing what she has to say, especially as I’m deeply emerged in Dagenham back in the 50s at the moment with writing The Banjo. \u00a0And as you can see from the photos – don’t get me wrong I was grateful she helped – but the security lady wasn’t the best photographer in the world. \u00a0She didn’t get the nice shot where Martina was looking at the camera. \u00a0Still, meeting her was great and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the interview!<\/p>\n
It’s been a funny old time. \u00a0I missed out on two acting jobs in the last two weeks – one, as Mrs Christmas in a Christmas theme park, I really didn’t care about – but was very disappointed not to have got the other one after reaching final recall. \u00a0It was for the English Theatre of Hamburg; a comedy role for 12 weeks that really appealed. \u00a0Never mind! \u00a0It wasn’t meant to be. \u00a0That’s showbiz – onwards and upwards and ‘break a leg’ to the actress who got it!<\/p>\n
I had a fab and long-overdue catch-up with my lovely friend V, one of my oldest and closest over a three and a half-hour lunch. \u00a0Great to see her; she is one of the few people I can really open up to and be honest with and just chatting to her resulted in a mood up-lift and a return of my positive attitude. \u00a0Thanks, V!!<\/p>\n
Another disappointment has been not getting Single All the Way accepted for promotion by BookBub. \u00a0I think one of the reasons is that I haven’t got all that many Amazon reviews. \u00a0Any tips on how to raise your Amazon profile greatly received! \u00a0Three months ago I promoted Singles’ Holiday on Amazon – 600 people took advantage of that. \u00a0TWO have given a review. \u00a0TWO OUT OF SIX HUNDRED. \u00a0It takes a minute to write a quick review and it means a lot to a writer. \u00a0I’m going to keep on applying to BookBub – nothing venture and all that – but if it’s true that they go by Amazon review numbers it’ll be 2035 before they accept one of my books \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n
Today is the Daughter’s birthday! \u00a0Happy birthday, my darling girl!! \u00a0We are having a family lunch at the Chiltern Firehouse, which I’m very much looking forward to. \u00a0I’ve just been looking on Facebook and some of her friends have written truly warming, lovely birthday tributes to her. \u00a0I’ve always said, that the best compliment I could ever pay her is to say that I love her because I’m her mum, but I really LIKE her because she’s a lovely person. \u00a0And I take full credit for that! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I was thrilled and honoured to meet the charismatic, talented Martina Cole at a book-signing last weekend. \u00a0She was so lovely, chatty and helpful. \u00a0I asked her about an interview and she said to give my card to her son … Continue reading