Having spent most of the last year writing, at least in part, about a business that turns on the premise of having a good crop of apples, it seemed a timely moment to share some of the pictures I took last week. My parents' house was built in what was an orchard, and there still… Continue reading Autumnal musings
All in the name of research…
Over the summer, when I was deep in the throes of writing the first draft of Far From the Tree, I was lucky enough to be given a guided tour of the site of the local cider producer, Thatchers Cider. This is a business that remains in the family, and is into its fourth generation; a business… Continue reading All in the name of research…
Editing and other pleasures.
At the risk of repeating myself, I'm not a 'precious' writer. While I believe I write well, I'm not someone who worries about being brutal with my work to make it better. I don't suffer agonies of self doubt about chopping words, sentences and even whole paragraphs from my writing, if the end result is… Continue reading Editing and other pleasures.
Musical Musings
I don't write to music. Can't do it. I don't know if it's the result of what I rather grandly call 'classical training' (I played the flute regularly from 9-18 and got to Grade 8) but I tend to get distracted by lyrics and harmonies and forget that I'm trying to write! I can write… Continue reading Musical Musings
Embarking on Book Two…
Over the past few months, after hanging out on various writing forums, I have taken on board the very sound advice that, while you're putting your first project to bed, it's always useful to have an open eye and mind for the next one. As I'm currently waiting to pick up the hard copy of… Continue reading Embarking on Book Two…
A post in praise of fanfiction.
One of the most exciting things about creating the Little Somerby universe has been the endless possibilities that have occurred to me since its inception. From the day that Matthew Carter walked into my head (January 15th, 2014, to be precise), I've been wallowing in the creation of characters, places, relationships and events that are… Continue reading A post in praise of fanfiction.
I think I’ve been left-handed again…and written this book series backwards!
Being a south paw has always had its own peculiar challenges; pens in banks that are on the wrong side, bumping wrists with fellow students in the classroom, now that I'm a teacher no student being able to read my handwriting, ticking 'backwards', turning the page at a right angle, having the bowler shout 'left… Continue reading I think I’ve been left-handed again…and written this book series backwards!
The Crucible, The Old Vic, 20th August 2014
I’ve just got back from a blissfully child free twenty four hours spent with The Husband in London, where we went to see Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at The Old Vic. Now, plenty of people far more erudite than me have written reviews of the play, and it would be tedious to repeat what many have… Continue reading The Crucible, The Old Vic, 20th August 2014
Letting it go…the end of the beginning.
This afternoon I came to the end of the first draft of Far From the Tree. After six months and 28 days of near-solid writing, and close to 125, 500 words (not including the rigorous chopping along route), I think I can finally say it's finished. Not finished in the 'done and ready to send off'… Continue reading Letting it go…the end of the beginning.
Writing, the ‘old fashioned’ way!
I've been on holiday for the past week, and apart from the obvious security implications of taking a laptop to a tent, I decided just to take my most recent paper notebook with me. I also decided that, for the first time in eight months, I wasn't going to work on Far From the Tree, but… Continue reading Writing, the ‘old fashioned’ way!
Fay Keenan 