While seeking advice from a relative of mine, who has some experience in the publishing world, it was suggested that I think about writing some shorter stories/novellas connected to the main novel to create a bit of a buzz for the eventual release of Far From the Tree. I like the idea a lot, and… Continue reading Of prequels, songs and romance rules
Writing Process Blog Hop
A great idea whereby you get an insight into how and what makes writers write. I jumped on the bandwagon after the lovely Jessica Bloczynski did a post on her blog, which you can find here: http://maniacmarmoset.wordpress.com/ Anyone who'd like to be tagged to do this, please let me know 🙂 What am I working on? Currently, I'm… Continue reading Writing Process Blog Hop
Fantasy launch party…
Perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but after reading Ali Harris' account of the very enjoyable sounding launch of her latest novel Written in the Stars, I couldn't help but turn my mind to the possibility of a book launch party, if and when Far From the Tree gets published. I'm lucky to live in… Continue reading Fantasy launch party…
Of best laid plans and subplots…
In every other piece of writing I've done, essays, short stories, longer pieces, articles, I've always planned first. Indeed, in my professional life as an English teacher, I spend my time encouraging my students to plan first, be that a series of bullet points, a concept map or a spider diagram. And it works. Or… Continue reading Of best laid plans and subplots…
Fantasy Casting 3: Matthew Carter
I suppose it's because I've developed into quite a visual thinker over the years, but I'm still finding it much more straightforward to write this novel when I can clearly visualise scenes and characters. Although the Matthew Carter in my head is more of a composite of several tall, dark haired men, I'm eternally on… Continue reading Fantasy Casting 3: Matthew Carter
Literary influences: Jilly Cooper
I can still vividly remember the first time I read a Jilly Cooper novel. It was 1989 or thereabouts. I was twelve years old. It was Riders, the first in the now ubiquitous Rutshire Chronicles series. And although a lot of the literary and sexual references went straight over my head, I loved every single last… Continue reading Literary influences: Jilly Cooper
Musical influences
While I don't tend to listen to music when I write, as I find it distracting, I do tend to associate certain songs with characters in my stories, or scenes I've written. I think it's probably because I've become quite a visual thinker over the years, and fanvids were something I really enjoyed making. Now… Continue reading Musical influences
Fantasy Casting Contenders: Paul McGann (again!)
This is not helping my obsessions with: a) the main character in my novel Far From the Tree b) Paul McGann in general. I don’t care if Paul’s not 6’3” - he’s got the hair, the brooding looks and the Land Rover, for goodness’ sake. It’s him or Armitage.
Fantasy Casting Contenders: Paul McGann
(Via misschanandlermbong) A glorious picture of one of the contenders for the role of Matthew Carter in my novel Far From the Tree.
Pretending I’m actually famous enough to be interviewed…;)
I found this list of questions on http://www.publishing-hub.com/2013/11/words-with-writers-20-fantastic.html and I thought it might be fun to answer some of them, to give people a flavour of what I'm like as a writer. So here goes! -What does your writing process look like? Process...hmmm. Well, at the moment, it's five minutes here and there during the day,… Continue reading Pretending I’m actually famous enough to be interviewed…;)