Hi Everyone

For overseas readers, we've just finished a bank holiday weekend here in England - and it was a fabulously sunny one in our part of the country. Hope yours was too wherever you are.

Have had a bit of a mixed month. Sustained a sporting injury while training for our trip to Peru to do the Inca Trail later in the year. Managed to fall off my treadmill and sprain my ankle - think that there was a bit more watching The Paul O'Grady Show going on than focussing on my running.

My ankle had recovered enough to go for a long walk at the weekend and we took a very pleasant stroll in some bluebell woods in Ashridge forest. Ashridge house was once one of Henry VIII's hunting lodges and is now a management college where I used to work as a secretary. It's very lovely up there and one of my favourite places to visit. Click on the image to view a bigger picture.

We spent most of Saturday and Sunday working in our newly created garden - it's gone from a gorgeous, traditional cottage style to a modern concoction of steel planters and shingle. Think this looks better, but I hope the previous owners of the house never come back to visit and see that we've ripped out all of their lovely plants and trees! It's much more manageable than it was and, hopefully, we'll be able to maintain it a little better. Will put some pics up on myspace when it's properly finished.

Then on monday, fell downstairs at home in spectacular style - tea up the walls, etc - Lovely Kev gave me nine out of ten for artistic impression, but only four out of ten for skill... Now have the most enormous black bruise on my bottom. Had to lay down all day with ice packs on it to try to stop the swelling! Modesty prevents me from putting a photograph of my bottom in the newsletter, but I really wish you could see it - it's quite impressive. Looks like I've got a third buttock.

So, back to work today - sitting very ginerly - and I'm trying to finish the first draft of my next book before we go off to South Africa for a short book tour out there. Twelve hours on a plane, sitting on my bruise! Oh, no.

Think that's it for this month. Hope you don't mind the new format of having to click through to access the newsletter - but it's making life a lot easier for us until our techie people can sort out the problem.

Welcome To The Real World

Welcome To The Real World is published in the USA in paperback this month - with one of the world's most hideous covers! Yikes. My lovely publisher, Red Dress Ink, must have had a bit of a taste bypass on this one. Still, the contents are fab - even though I say it myself!

Seriously, I thought Welcome To The Real Worldwas one of my best books, but it's one that seemed to pass everyone by in the UK even though it was shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year award. If you haven't read this one, then go and track it down! You'll love it, I'm sure.

'I've been eagerly awaiting Carole Matthews' tenth book, Welcome To The Real World, and it must be the best so far! The Observer

'Carole Matthews shines once again in this witty, lighthearted tale. Pick up Welcome To The Real World for a treat that's sure to entertain.' Romance Reviews Today

'A cracking book that'll keep you guessing.' More Magazine

It's a Kind of Magic

It's a Kind of Magic is still selling well and the paperback will be out later this year in August. Thanks for all your kind comments! This is going to be the fabby new cover - a sneak preview for you.

'If Disney did chick lit, it would probably turn out like this...'
The Telegraph

Start the New Year with a sparkling new book from Carole Matthews. This talented author manages to combine a witty social commentary with a touch of old-fashioned magic. It will make you laugh, believe in the unbelievable, and having you wishing for your own fairy wand. Carole Matthews is one of our favourite authors and we loved it. It's a satisfying, feel-good fabulous read, perfect for curling up with on a cold winter's afternoon' Hot Brands, Cool Place

'This is a fabulous romantic comedy and would make a great movie... we are thinking Reece Witherspoon and David Arquette. We couldn't put this one down. Carole Matthews is a wonderful writer, she creates characters who you can immediately identify with.' Betty Bookmark

'This is a great read both in the magical and literal term, so don't miss it.' The Observer

Emma and Leo have been together - off and on - for ever. But their relationship seems to have lost its spark - it's as though the magic has gone.

When Leo turns up at Emma's thirtieth birthday dinner unforgivably late and horribly drunk, embarrassing her in front of her family, she can't help wishing things were different. In fact, she wishes Leo was different. She loves him very much but if someone could wave a magic wand and turn him into a reliable, considerate boyfriend it would certainly save her a lot of trouble.

When Leo's path crosses with a decidedly sparkly wisp of a girl called Isobel, he falls under her magic spell and Emma sees him altering before her very eyes. Soon she regrets wishing for a 'new' Leo at all. And, surely, Isobel can't be for real? One thing's clear, if Emma's going to win him back, she'll need to do some changing of her own...

Out now!
Click on the image to order from Amazon

Out and About

On 7 May there's a pamper night at my local school, Gilesbrook in Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes, organised by my friend Ali, so I've been press ganged into going there to sign some books. There'll be lots of different therapists there too and stalls selling jewellery, smellies and stuff. Plus my friend Ayesha will be doing massage. Tickets are just £2.50 and that includes a glass of wine! How can you refuse? Just in case you're dithering, there's chocolate cake too! Come along and support the school and get your books signed while you're at it. Tickets are available on the door and it starts at 7 o'clock.

Next month - on 6 June (my birthday!) Della Galton will be speaking at the writers' group that I go along to in Milton Keynes . Della is the writer of many hundreds of short stories, featured in just about any women's magazine that you can think of. She's a very entertaining speaker and we can promise you a warm welcome if you'd like to come along and listen to her. Just contact me for details at cmatthewsmail@aol.com.

We're off to South Africa for a book tour this month - visiting both Johannesburg and Cape Town. I'll be popping up in the local press and on radio stations and hope to meet some of my South African readers while I'm out there. Am also paying a visit to my cousin who lives out there in Jo'burg - haven't seen her in years, so that will be a nice bonus.

Later in the month, I'll also be up in Newcastle upon Tyne. Haven't been there in years, but used to have family up there so, at one time, it was a regular haunt. I think it's a lovely and much underrated part of the country. Lovely Kev has never been at all, so I'm looking forward to showing him some of the sights.

Struggling Authors

Did an interview for the lovely people at Struggling Authors a couple of weeks ago which is now available online. It's a great resource and support group for... guess what?... struggling authors! If you're interested in my words of wisdom on how to get published, etc, then pop along there.

Prize Draw

The winners of the Lucy Mangan book - Hopscotch and Handbags – The Essential Guide to Being a Girl - are Jane Guthrie-Tate, Jane Rayment, Tracey Steadman and Becky Dore. Happy reading, ladies!

The Chocolate Lovers' Club WOW mugs are also going out to Melissa Turner and Christine Norton. Enjoy!

The closing date is the last day of May and the winner will be the first random email drawn.

Spelling It Out

Going to leave this one up again as I've been so busy I haven't had time to write a new story! Sorry!

So - this month's short story first appeared in Woman's Realm and, like
It's a Kind of Magic, is a tale about what happens when you experiment with a little bit of magic...
Click here to read it

Myspace and Facebook

Thanks to everyone who's dropped by to say hello to me on these two networking sites. It you want to chat or comment or whatever then it would be lovely to see you there! (Is it me or does Facebook never work properly??)
myspace.com/carolematthews
www.facebook.com

Hope everyone has a fab summer! Catch you next month.
Love and best wishes...

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