Plotting for Beginners

By Sue Hepworth and Jane Linfoot

Sally Howe plans to spend her husband-free years trying her hand at becoming a wildly successful author. But she's beset by distractions - the first being a queue of local lotharios, led by Mr... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1905005121
• ISBN13: 9781905005123
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Snowbooks
• Length: 351 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

A charmer!

Sally Howe is one of the most likable characters I've met up with in ages. She's plodding away (while plotting), and the author provides just enough obstacles to make Sally's peaceful writing environment realistic, as well as to bring her sense of humor and kindness into relief. I discovered the book in a South Florida bookstore; the cover looked so appealing, and the story vastly exceeded my expectations. The characters are all delightfully nutty, and Sally's struggles are amusing, enlightening, and presented with great joie de vivre while not insulting the reader. There's plenty to come away with here. A delightful read, even if you're not a wife, mother or struggling writer, and I look forward to the sequel. There had better be a sequel.

Too good to be true

If you are a writer of any sort, especially unpublished, you will find this book to be a kindred spirit. Witty. Self-depracating (don't you wish more fiction WAS?) Congenial. I can't wait to read her next book.

A delightful book.

Picked up a copy of 'Plotting for Beginners' when we were in London last fall. The cover immediately caught my eye when I saw it at the bookshop. And the rest of the title: 'A Novel for New Beginnings.' Turned it over and the excerpt at the top did it: 'Women reach fifty and think they're on the verge of liberation and excitement, and their broken-down men just want to stay home and fart. Or in my case, go and live in a cabin in the Rockies and fart.' What's not to like? No way it was staying at the bookshop. It came home with us. Sally's husband, Gus, wants to be like Thoreau and go live in a cabin in the woods for a year. With one small difference, though. A cabin in the Rocky Mountains. Keep in mind that Sally and Gus live in the Peak District in England. Their oldest son, Daniel, lives in Denver so there will be transition assistance for Gus. This leaves Sally at home with a year of peace, quiet and time to write and become a best selling author. Except, her brother moves in as his wife has left him and they've sold their house leaving no where else for him to go. Her son, Sam, comes home for college break and decides he doesn't want to go back to school. Richard's good friend, Iain, visits and finds Sally very attractive. Then there's the writer's group, Richard's home repairs, and hot flashes. Along with all the distractions and challenges, Sally actually does get her writing done and several articles published. As you have probably guessed Plotting for Beginners lives up to both its cover and its title. A delightful read both funny and wise. I only wish it were longer as it was great fun spending a year with Sally and Gus. I didn't want it to end. Highly recommended.