Spreading the bloggy love

// June 26th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // 29 Gifts, Blogs, Cape Town, travelling

Another reason I’ve been so quiet on the bloggy front lately (aside from, oh, I don’t know, one of the greatest sporting tournaments EVER being held in my country) is that I’m spreading my bloggy wings.

You’ll now find me, once a week, over at Travelstart Street, writing about a few of my favourite things (because blogging is one of those favourites, don’t you know). And remember Just the Planet? The lovely folks who made sure my man and I didn’t sleep in airports while we were travelling all over the world? I’ll be blogging from there, too, about Cape Town and travel and some beyootiful places to spend the night.

So head on over to Travelstart Street – http://www.travelstart.com/street/
And the Just the Planet blog – http://blog.justtheplanet.com/
if you’re in the mood for something a little different.

Never fear, though, with my birthday fast approaching (one week today wooohoooo!) I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and unknotting a couple of thoughts I’d like to chat to you about… For now, though, I have a stew bubbling on the stove, a man in need of one big hug (he doesn’t know it yet, but he needs it) and another soccer game to watch!

Have you been following the World Cup at all? Or is it just me who feels as if life now revolves around the results of two teams of strangers trying to shoot a ball into a net?

How diabetes changed my life:

// June 22nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Diabetes, Inspiration, Life (and the living of it), Writing, travelling

That’s the theme of the story I wrote for Real Simple magazine in July last year. It was called ‘Sugar Rush’ and it was about how being diagnosed with diabetes made me reassess my definition of success, and start living the life of my dreams.

And… It just won the South African leg of the Novo Nordisk 2009 Diabetes Media Prize! Which is a huge honour. And makes me very happy because it means it’s going through to the international leg of the competition, and so am I! They’re flying me to Vienna in September for a 4 days diabetes conference. Fantastic!

I’m going to try and copy the article below (let’s see how web-savvy I really am – turns out, not that web savvy! You can click on it and download it, but not too sure how to make it a PDF in the blog post). I just read it for the first time in almost a year, and I have to say I’m rather pleased with it. I managed to capture the mood of how I feel about this subject, and I think that’s all any writer can ask for…

Sugar Rush

Aisha: a podcast from Strange Nervous Laughter

// May 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Downloads, Strange Nervous Laughter, Writing, podcast

Would you like to meet Aisha?

She’s a beautiful, dreamy soul, walking around with her head in the clouds…

“The fourth chapter from Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty, in which we meet Aisha, a girl wrapped up in her dreams who chooses not to face reality…”

[podcast]http://www.bridgetmcnulty.com/podcast/Aisha.mp3[/podcast]

Aisha from Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty

“Some seriously good loot.”

// May 14th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Reviews, Strange Nervous Laughter

That’s what Strange Nervous Laughter has been called in Daily Candy, a website in Atlanta all about Arts and Culture, Lifestyle, Fashion, and other delightful things.

Here’s the whole review, or you can read it online on their website.

People Are Strange

“Strange Nervous Laughter,” by Bridget McNulty

Nothing like a South African grocery store robbery to bring people together.

There. Got your attention.

Bet it’ll take a lot more to keep it. Like, say, Bridget McNulty’s Durban-based debut novel, Strange Nervous Laughter.

The whackadoo characters go something like this: garbageman with funny smell, hopelessly levitating romantic, girl who lives in her daydreams, overmothered undertaker, and whale whispering introvert. Of course, there’s also an angry man-hater. (Yah. She’s socially awkward, too.)

The story unfolds as near death brings out the best (and quirkiest) in all of them. But in McNulty’s hands, their love affairs, tiny triumphs, and secret heartbreaks are shockingly normal, hilariously meta, and delightfully sweet.

Making this some seriously good loot.

Available online at amazon.com or at your local bookstore.

You are most cordially invited…

// May 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // Strange Nervous Laughter, book launch

… to A Reading in Central Park, should you happen to be in New York City on the 13th of June 2009 (one month today).

The Blog Tour continues!

// May 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blogs, Links, Reviews, Strange Nervous Laughter, Writing, book launch

Yip, today I’ve trotted over to Book Patrol, a haven for book culture, on the second stop of my Blog Tour. Check it out at http://www.bookpatrol.net/ where you’ll find out all about capturing the essence of Durban in Strange Nervous Laughter.

Book Patrol is a fabulous site for anyone interested in books and bookish things… why not make yourself a cup of tea and settle in for some quality reading?

As if the Powers That Be on the Internet knew that today was the day my book officially hits bookshelves in the USA (or virtual bookshelves on Amazon.com – check it out!) Strange Nervous Laughter is also making guest appearances in a couple of other places today…

* The Portfolio Travel Blog has written a fabulous book review on Strange Nervous Laughter, all about how it’s a good idea to judge books by their covers (I love it!)

* The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has featured Book Patrol’s article on Strange Nervous Laughter (yes, you read right, the Post-Intelligencer online newspaper!)

* The Arizona Central website has listed Strange Nervous Laughter as one of their Fiction Books to help turn pages of Summer 2009. Great stuff!

Aaaand next month I’m going to be appearing on this lovely blog, in France! http://lafeecoriandre.blogspot.com/

YAY! What a lovely way to celebrate…

Let the Blog Tour begin!

// May 11th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Blogs, Strange Nervous Laughter, book launch

Strange Nervous Laughter is coming out in the USA tomorrow, have I mentioned that? Have I mentioned that my novel, Strange Nervous Laughter, is going to be released in the USA tomorrow, May 12th? Is it starting to get irritating yet?

As part of the celebrations for said release in said USA this week, I’m going on a Blog Tour this week! How exciting.

Here’s the schedule, please pop by these lovely bloggy people and read my guest posts and say hi:

Monday 11th May 2009: Naturally Nina – http://www.naturallynina.com/

Tuesday 12th May 2009: Book Patrol – http://www.bookpatrol.net/

Wednesday 13th May 2009: This Ordinary Day – http://www.thisordinaryday.com/

Thursday 14th May 2009: Fiction Writers Review – http://fictionwritersreview.com/category/blog

Friday 15th May 2009: International First Love Day (various blogs, all over the blogosphere, all over the world. Read all about it here.)

Today’s post, over at the wonderful Naturally Nina’s blog (which is really rather inspiring and should be on your recommended reading list every day) is all about Growing in Love – about how our relationships make us into better people, by challenging us in ways we could never imagine. Go and check it out! (You can also win a copy of Strange Nervous Laughter by leaving a comment on Naturally Nina’s blog!)

International First Love Day – this Friday!

// May 11th, 2009 // 8 Comments » // Blogs, Love, Strange Nervous Laughter, book launch

Are you a blogger? Have you ever been in love? Do you want to take part in International First Love Day this Friday, the 15th of May?

You might not know it, but this Friday is International First Love Day.
As part of the celebrations surrounding Strange Nervous Laughter being released in the USA (tomorrow!) I thought it was time we had a First Love Day. Strange Nervous Laughter is a book about love, you see. About what love does to us, and how we are changed by being in love, out of love, or on the brink between the two. So I thought it was time we talked about love a little.

This Friday is the first official International First Love Day. It’s a chance for all of us, together, to tell about our first loves, in words or pictures or images or photos. It’s a day to commemorate first loves.
And there’s a logo to go with it! (Isn’t it pretty?)

If you’re interested in taking part in International First Love Day, please RSVP (either in the comments or by email)  with your name and blog address, so that I can compile a list of the blogs who are involved, and post it for all to see (on my blog / Facebook / Twitter etc). If you have any friends you think might like to get involved – forward this to them! International First Love Day is a day for everyone.

And make sure you check back on Friday to see the list of International First Love Day participants!

Mdu: a podcast from Strange Nervous Laughter

// May 8th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Strange Nervous Laughter, podcast

In the mood to meet a rather hunky chap with an overachieving streak and a penchant for speaking to whales? Let me introduce you to Mdu, the third in a merry band of six characters from Strange Nervous Laughter.

“The third chapter of Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty, in which we meet Mdu, a man with an unusual voice that lets him speak to whales, and a sense of hearing that allows him to hear the words behind people’s words…”

[podcast]http://www.bridgetmcnulty.com/podcast/Mdu.mp3[/podcast]

Mdu from Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty

Pravesh: a podcast from Strange Nervous Laughter

// May 1st, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Strange Nervous Laughter, podcast

It’s Friday, so that means it’s podcast day… Hurray!

Today we meet Pravesh, a rather curious chappy with a thing for toenails and a deep respect for his career as an undertaker.

“The second chapter from Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty, in which we are introduced to Pravesh, an undertaker with a highly developed death radar…”

[podcast]http://www.bridgetmcnulty.com/podcast/Pravesh.mp3[/podcast]

Pravesh from Strange Nervous Laughter, a novel by Bridget McNulty