Freya J Morris

The Lucky Seven Meme

2012-03-06T17:09:00.002Z

I was tagged by the fab Tracey J to take part in Jaycee's Lucky 7 Meme.

The rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines - sentences or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. No cheating
4. Tag 7 authors
5. Let them know

_______________

“Not even Pete.”

“Well I’m not doing this then. I thought Pete could come with us.”

“But he’s cursed, Rose.”

“Yeah and according to you, it’s all my fault. The only reason I’m doing this is to find out a way that we can save him.”

Rose stared at David, waiting for an answer.

“Fine, but you must be careful.”

_______________

WOW - was very lucky with these lines I think. Lucky Seven!

Now I'm going to tag the following:

1. Angela Cothran
2. Deana Barnhart
3. Laura B
4. Martin Willoughby
5. Chloe Banks
6. Nancy Thompson
7. Leigh Covington

I'm assured by Jaycee that this is all in the name of fun, so no pressure.

Origins - It started with a bang

2012-02-13T13:05:00.011Z

The Origin's blogfest has begun! As part of this mega-blogfest I am going to flick through the books, dig deep into the cupboard and uncover the mystery of how my writing career started.

Now, I wasn’t one of those kids aspiring to be a writer. I wrote poems, but for the sake of it – not because I wanted to be in print. The beginnings of my scribblings, much like the universe, started with a bang (well, a lot of bangs).

My eldest brother has epilepsy, so he often falls with a great big bang and the whole family has been trained to jump up – arms at the ready, spinning into their capes to save the day. He’s had some very unfortunate moments on buses, roads, libraries (and so many more), but remarkably has come away with only surface injuries. Since the age of ten, we’ve been watching him, calling to him in the dark, but it only got worse.

His medication was poisonous, clouding his personality and health, and not giving him a fit-free life either. So they decided to try something new. Unfortunately for my brother this hospitalised him – he wasn’t coming around from his fits and his life was in mortal danger. In the icy cold wards, amongst the confused electric pulses in his head – failing to connect synapses – my brother lost his grip on reality.

He was convinced he was being watched (Big Brother stylie), that characters from the telly were on the ward with him, and that TV crews, led by his friend, came to visit (well, the latter was true, although we didn’t initially believe him – haha). One day, he saw something - he said that he had seen Satan.

We all knew this couldn't be true, but I still asked the question: “How do we know he didn’t see Satan? How do we know he didn’t see some sort of... manifestation of evil?”

My novel had been born. Out of the ashes a spark glimmered on my fingers tips and I started to write. Such a simple idea that I wanted to write; I had to write. When I had come to the end of the final chapter (by no means the final edit), my mum said something that pinned down exactly why I needed this book to succeed:

“Somehow, it would make that time worth it. It will suddenly make sense.”

She's right. Sometimes writing is about the love of writing and storytelling, but for me, it's about making sense of something senseless - to make a bigger beautiful picture from the disaster. Without that first spark of an idea from such a terrible moment, I wouldn't have put my mind to writing a book. So seize the day (haha, sorry that's a terrible pun joke) and get writing, make sense of it.

So why did you begin writing? Don't forget to check out the other blogfest peeps!

Added next day after comments: I guess I forgot to say that my brother got through it and went on to finish his masters at University (amazing). Thanks for all the concern!

A brand new look to my blog

2012-02-07T17:17:00.003Z

I've been sniffing, spitting, complaining and.... creating. Along with this cold of mine, I've managed to settle on a new blog design. A cleaner, fresher, youthful looking blog, which (I hope) still keeps a bit of a magical element to it.

With all the fiddling, I've somehow managed to have my template repeating posts! It's soooo annoying and I can't get rid of it. There's no option to delete it and I can't work out the HTML (CSS) stuff, where it is to delete. So sorry all if this annoys you - I'm trrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyying my best to get rid of it. Any advice would be gratefully received.

However, in the meantime enjoy my revamped site and my slightly altered "About me" page too.

What you think!? Anything I'm missing or not quite working?

The Kreativ Blogger award

2012-01-30T17:07:00.005Z

A ma-hu-sive thank you to the ever so lovely Sharon for the Kreativ blogger award! She’s fab on so many levels – so head over there now if you don’t already follow her. According to the looooong tradition, I’m supposed to share 10 random things about me (which I don’t really do on this blog) and by the looks of Sharon’s facts, they look like they have to be juicy too. So in order to do this terrifying thing, I'm going to creep into a cupboard and tell you through the door. So here it goes…. tell me if you can't hear me.

1. I used to have my nose pierced. My parent’s tried to put me off with pig jokes, but as they brought me up to be a stubborn “Morris”, I refused to give in. About a year or two ago, I got bored of it and took it out.

2. I was cripplingly shy for most of my teenage years resulting in my first kiss being delayed until I was 17. Yes, 17! *cringes* It wasn’t particularly romantic either. Not my most shining moment.

3. When I was 14, instead of hanging out on street corners and the like, my best friend and I would hang out around our local pond and fish out tadpoles in hope that they would stay in our own ponds. To this day, I still chase after toads or rescue them off roads. I loves them.

4. I have a very old brass microscope up in the cupboard, which I hope to have on display when the husband finally lets me. Perhaps when I secretly train up as a scientist (I haven’t decided yet what field to go into yet).

5. I LIVE in my dressing gown.

6. I have watched Beauty and the Beast too many times to recall. Although, I love it, this shames me LOADS! I have three brothers and I’m pretty sure I’d get a thump from each of them for admitting this. Which brings me onto my next fact…

7. I do some girly things, but I’m not a girl. I’ve tried, I really have. But when you grow up with three brothers then it’s in your nature to banter, say crude things, or insult people you like. Girls definitely do not like this. I have to be very careful with all my female friends and apologise (usually by text) at anything I could have said.

8. I'm planning a redesign of my blog, but I just can't get it right.

9. I once dated someone who is now gay. I think because of point 7, it was a good go-between for him before he came out. I'm glad he's out, he wasn't fooling anyone. Well maybe me for a little while : )

10. My brother’s epilepsy defined me and my family in ways unimaginable. This is something that I will go into on Feb 13^th as part of the blogfest Origins. So be sure to come back for that one.

*Bursts out of cupboard* OK, so some of those weren't so bad. I may have held back a little as who knows who could come across this in the future! Right – so onto the creative blog awards!

Martin Willoughby does an ingenious (and brilliantly creative) weekly sum up on all things hilarious and inspirational.

Melodie Wright bursts at the seams with a whole range of content and I find myself going back week after week.

I love Angie and Sara. There are no other words needed. I wished they lived in Britain, so I could visit them.
Nicole Pyles has a great looking blog and I love the multimedia and million ways of getting a piece of Nicole. Everyone wants a piece of Nicole.

Emily King is huuugely popular and we all know why! I'm not sure if she's had this award, but just incase... here it is!

Congrats to all!

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz

2012-01-23T12:29:00.008Z

Okay, so I was over ambitions on running two blogs every week. So I'm going to be posting alternative weeks at both blogs. So today, I'm here... obviously, with a review on the first instalment of The Power of Five series... Raven's Gate.

Book description:

“He always knew he was different. First there were the dreams. Then the deaths began. When Matt Freeman gets into trouble with the police, he's sent to be fostered in Yorkshire. It's not long before he senses there's something wrong with his guardian: with the whole village. Then Matt learns about the Old Ones and begins to understand just how he is different. "

Bits I liked...

I love the fact that this book begins with Matt being led astray and committing a crime. Despite his troubles, Horowitz makes Matt a completely realistic and likeable teenager who's grown up with his aunt and uncle. Yep, bit of a HP orphaned echo here, but with Matt, it explains his unlawful actions. I love the village that he can never escape from, it reminds me of Royston Vasey from The League of Gentlemen *quivers*. The battle scene in the Natural History Museum is a great location and brilliantly described, remaining still vivid in my head now.

Themes

I would say this book is more about action and plot that it is about themes. I remember when I was thirteen, I was intrigued in hearing about secret societies such as The Masons etc. Horowitz taps into this curiosity, by presenting us with a Satanic Occult and a secret society trying to stop them. The Old Ones (occult) is presented as the oldest, purest evil with no excuses - these people are not presented as humans at all, but as demons. One main theme I can recognise is "the child as the saver of humanity" and the "child sacrifice" but in this book, we don't find out why. Why are the gatekeepers children? Why is Matt the sacrifice? Hopefully this is answered later in the series.

Conclusion

Horowitz writes with clarity and ease. It takes a great writer to achieve this simplicity, yet present to us a complex world mixed with reality and the supernatural. It's intertwined with history and reality, and the LEAF project, which means Matt doesn't go to prison is a brilliantly believable as a government initiative.

Have you ever read the series? What did you make of Raven's Gate?

Out of office and into a bubble of country

2011-12-28T17:01:00.001Z

My adopted writing corner

I’ve been writing somewhere new. With a two week hiatus from the online screen bleaching my face, I travelled to my parents in Slad Valley for a few days in hope of some inspiration.

My brother, a graphic designer, has enlisted me to help him with a Christmas blog next year and I thought what better time to write about it! So I constructed a haven in my parent’s kitchen, watching the woodpeckers, the goldfinches, the nuthatches scoffing their faces at the bird feeder on the country hills, and waited.

With all the S’s, I wrote a poem about snow and like a summoning spell we had a small blizzard only hours later. It didn’t last, and I tried some hill running, which proved a bit treacherous. I also had some great expectations for my book, but it would seem my Nan is more chatty then she makes out to be : ) Work had to cease.

The week following was reserved for Christmas only; food, family, friends, carols, fires, Articulate, (violent) pass-the-parcel, stockings and the best music ever! Sometimes, we must live our lives, in order to write about it and if that happens to be around Christmas time – even better.

The Blizzard:

What is it about the smell of books?

2011-12-10T17:19:00.003Z

Christmas presents have started to eject themselves onto my doormat and there’s nothing better than an order of new books. Yum! There’s something food like about it for some – the touch, the smell, the devouring of words.

But to me it seems to be quite an odd thing, that when a book comes through the door that, basically, I sexually harass my book: grabbing, fondling, and breathing it in, scoffing with excitement. The beautifully wrapped hardbacks, smooth to the touch. There are so many other comparisons I could make but I’ve decided it’s probably a bit X rated. Plus, the comparisons have scared me a little.

So what do you like to do with your books (or in my case at the moment, to be other people’s books)?

Don't forget my Cult's in fiction blog where this week I discuss how politicians and their advisers are exploiting advances in neuroscience to influence the public.

A blog to top all blogs

2011-11-25T20:59:00.002Z

I have a new blog! No – I’m not getting rid of this blog and moving elsewhere. So no need to unfollow and re-follow – just follow!

A few things had geared me towards this new blogging venture. I had read a post (lost to me where) about giving readers something new. I thought that my blog isn’t really original, it’s not offering you guys anything interesting or new. Then I read Laura B’s post, which had confirmed a few more ideas that I had thought about why this writing blog could be problematic.

Finally, I sat in front of agent Madeleine Buston from the Darley Anderson Literary agency and she asked me: “What will make your book sell more than any other.”

I surprised myself when I said: “The Cult”. It's the most exciting (and "the new thing") about my book, which I have delved into alot of research for. I thought, that's it! That's the new thing that I can offer you guys! Cults don’t often grace our fiction so blatantly but usually in disguise. Many stories combine cult-like behaviours in their antagonists. Plus, there is very little examination into what makes these common cult-like traits so powerful in writing.

So check out my new blog called Cults in Fiction.

I hope you'll be as fascinated and intrigued about it, as I am. My first post is looking at Mind Control – Harry Potter and the Imperious Curse. I would love to see you there and hear what you think.

In this blog I will be looking at cults portrayed in fiction and real life. So what is a cult? Google says:

A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.
A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.

This is a huge scope. The term "cult" is still largely undefined. So I'll be exploring the subject and blogging on it weekly.

Week One
Mind -control series - looking at Mind control in fiction.

Week Two
Studying real life cults.

Week Three
A philosophical look into the term and its represenation in society/fiction.

Week Four
Examining the purpose and results of Cults in fiction.

Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones

2011-11-23T20:53:00.000Z

It’s week two – so that means book review! (sorry for the rhyme) I love Diana Wynne Jones, and I’m grieved to hear of her recent death. She is also the author of my favourite film (book first) Howl’s Moving Castle. Enchanted Glass is a classic British fantasy – vibrant, filled with romanticism and wonder. I read this book on my honeymoon last year and all the way over in Sri Lanka it made me long for home.

If you’re a children’s fantasy writer, any Diana books are a must.

Book description:

"When the magician Jocelyn Brandon Hope died he bequeathed Melstone House to his grandson Andrew. He also left his ‘field of care’: an area of strangeness surrounding the land around the house, whose boundary Andrew must walk in order to preserve its power. Andrew had always loved the house, but he finds owning it a lot more complicated, aside from all the magic. There is Mrs Stock, the tyrannical housekeeper who won’t let him move the furniture and punishes him with her terrible cooking. Just as bad is the obsessive gardener who will only grow giant inedible vegetables. To add to his troubles, twelve year old orphan Aidan Cain suddenly arrives on the doorstep begging protection from magical stalkers, and Andrew’s sinister rich neighbour, Mr Brown, begins to encroach on the ‘field of care’.”

Bits I liked...

This book for me is all about the characters. They are so full of life, unique and lovable. Whilst you read it you feel as if you’ve become part of a family and by the end of it you don’t want to say goodbye. They are truly remarkable creations and I’ve not come across such characters since.

There are two protagonists in this novel, Adian, a young orphan boy and Andrew, the professor trying to make sense of his inheritance. They are a great duo and their relationship echoes the warm fuzzy relationship between Miss Honey and Matilda in Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

Themes

Jones makes parallels between her characters and those from Shakespeare, English folklore and Renaissance mythology: Oberon, Titania and Puck. There is also the theme of “a journey of self-discovery”. In finding each other, they find themselves. I know, cheesy right? But it so works!

Conclusion

In an age where plots are going at the speed of light, filled with tension and fast moving plots, this book is a blissful change. A gentle plot, up to the elbows in nostalgia, village life and mystery. Go read it!

Are you a fan of Diana Wynne Jones? Do you wish you could have her success (author of over 40 novels)?

Meeting with an agent

2011-11-16T16:35:00.000Z

Madeleine Buston

The Writers & Artists Yearbook were piloting a ‘Beat the Rejection’ Clinic – an opportunity for a one-to-one with an agent to discuss your submission. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted everything to be perfect before sending it out to agents.

So on Monday, still clogged up with a cold, I climbed up onto the Megabus at 10am and made my way into foggy London (it was foggy everywhere actually). I had no idea what to expect and I was in the band camp of – don’t get your hopes up because they are very busy people, and might not have had much time. How wrong I was! I’ve clearly been spending too much time with academics.

The agent, Madeleine Buston from the Darley Anderson Literary agency was a-mazing. The advice and attention to detail was incredible. As I sat there, shamefully not as prepared as I should have been and wondering why I had left my glass of water in reception, I realised I had pigeonholed agents. My experience of agents had been watching them online, critiquing and offering advice in a way I had come to accept.

However, Madeleine loved reading query letters. Did you hear that? Loves it! She was an artist and master at critiquing. The positives came first and then she weaved in the suggestions of where I could improve. If only I could get her to come work for the University and be my boss! She could teach them a thing or two - critiquing is truly an art form. I came away inspired, enthused and more importantly… ready.

Have you had any experiences with agents? What?

The importance of humour - The Aardman passion

2011-11-01T15:46:00.004Z

Aardman have created some of the best films and shows for children (and adults), ever. A few of my favourites are all Wallace and Gromit’s, Chicken Run, Creature Comforts and A matter of loaf and death. So what makes them so popular for adults and children?

Humour. They are oozing with fabulous characters, adventure, excitement, high-stakes but what really makes Aardman stand out is its humour, it’s very British humour.

Shameless puns

These are everywhere: A matter of loaf and death,“crackers about cheese”, “24 carrot gold” carrot-shaped trophy, etc etc.

Innuendos

My favourite one that I can remember is from W+G: Curse of the Wererabbit, when one of the characters (I think it's Wallace) is stripped of his clothes, wearing a barrel to cover him. The label on the barrel reads: ‘May contain nuts.’

Their work is thick with innuendos and puns, which makes watching them over and over again like a new adventure each time. New levels and layers of understanding emerge and ultimately, have you laughing your socks off.

I love ‘em. They’re a company I can get on board with and that's why I’m going to shamelessly promote them right now. They have the Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, which raises money for Bristol’s Children’s hospital. Their most recent appeal involves some of the greatest talents in the world from the Animation and Television Industry, who have come together to donate unique artwork and signed memorabilia for an online auction. The range is amazing.

Also, I’m very excited to for their next show Arthur Christmas – eeek! It’s due to be released at the end of November. Check out the trailer here:

So what's your favourite inudeno or pun? Got a favourite Aardman? Have you thought about humour in your stories?

What gets your juices going?

2011-10-25T20:22:00.000+01:00

Sometimes, great and amazing ideas are hard to come by. Sitting in the same old spot, in front of the same screen giving you square-eyes, is not going to get those creative juices flowing.

My best ideas come when I’m travelling. This can be walking, taking the bus or train… anything, as long as I’m not the one driving. It’s a bit of problem trying to write when you’re holding the wheel. Just look at that picture there - the view on the Welsh Black Mountains - how could you not be inspired? There’s something about the variation of scenery, the space to think, that gets my ideas rolling and my plot holes fixed. Throw a bit of music in there and I’m away – I’ve escaped into my nostalgic, fantastical world.

So where are you when you get your ideas? In the shower? Doing the washing up? Perhaps it’s just before you go to bed? That reminds me; I had an idea last night before bed and didn’t write it down. Damn, I’ve forgotten it now.

One problem about getting ideas on the move – is that I have a very full MemoPad on my Blackberry. When I worked in a supermarket, I used to carry a pen around my neck and a tiny notebook in my pocket. Perhaps, I ought to move back to this – there’s something magical about the pen itself. Don’t you think?

The face of God

2011-10-18T09:37:00.004+01:00

Ever wondered what God would be like?

Bristol is having its first festival of literature called Unputadownable. The festival is publishing stories on their website.

A more humerous flash fiction piece from me. Please check it out and leave a comment on the website if possible. Always looks good if comments spread far and wide, eh? : )

The story is called: Roundabout

I hadn't realised that this post had gone up - so sorry for the late posting of it. Enjoy!

Reading out loud

2011-10-10T12:40:00.002+01:00

Mystic Morris -

Continuing on from last week's post about storytelling, I was inspired by Mark Noce to celebrate US National Book Month by reading out loud to my husband. I've tried this before - with the Rudyard Kipling's Just so Stories. It was fun but James wasn't jumping all over it, and we never finished a story.

Then it occurred to me that I was reading aloud a book that I wanted to read, and not James. We have completely different tastes. So I picked up his recent book, A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, and began to read it aloud. I had an unfortunate chapter full of jargon, but I championed on - voices and all! Luckily, I had seen the programme and knew the characters already, as James was already half way through the 864-paged book.

It was a roaring success, I'm glad to say. There is so much fun and joy to be had in reading to each other. It also brings about the music in language that we often fail to hear when we read internally. Now, I just need to find a book for James to read to me. Although, I fear I may not be very good at sitting still and just listening. I even have problems with the radio! We'll have to see...

So do you ever read out aloud? What do you get from reading to your partner or kids?

The legacy of storytelling

2011-10-03T11:08:00.004+01:00

My Dad - storytelling

First and foremost, writing is an act of storytelling. Back when writing was for the rich, stories were mainly passed down by word of mouth. So how does this century long legacy effect our writing today?

Telling the story:

Storytelling is not dead. It commands the stage, childrens' bedtimes, the television, films and our very dreams. But as writers, we deal with the page. Words are the only vehicle in which we can convey the story.

Now I’ve often heard agents say that 'the writing' is more important than 'the story'. They mentioned that the story can easily be fixed, but the writing voice, can’t. Now, I wholeheartedly disagree. It’s perfectly OK for the agent to think like this, but not the writer. The writing and voice is vital - it is our only vehicle to tell the story. But as the legacy of storytelling demonstrates, our focus should be on the story.Telling the story is our aim, and telling it best is the game.

Accessibility:

Before I was able to read, I remember my father taking a small carved wooden box out from the bathroom. He would open it up to reveal an assortment of different shaped soaps, roses mostly. Whichever soap we picked, revealed a new and exciting story. Another great aspect of storytelling is that it is accessible to all. The story can reach us regardless of education. This is why I love to write children’s stories and not high literature, because it’s for everyone.

Our desire for fame:

Fame for the author goes beyond vanity and money. The storytelling legacy means that when the story has been spread far and wide - our job is done. These days, money and fame are our measuring tool for the success of our story, which is our ultimate aim. No?

So what’s your earliest memory of storytelling? How has it impacted or inspired your writing today? Do you think people get too caught up in words?

Just a quick one...

2011-09-22T19:05:00.000+01:00

I am loving these book trailers. Great one here for Patrick Ness’ new A Monster Calls.

Pick n' Mix genres - Fantasy or Science Fiction?

2011-09-20T11:42:00.001+01:00

Pertwee - My favourite doctor : )

There was really no contest between whether I was going to write a fantasy or “reality” YA novel. It was the story I was writing and not the genre. But it did have some Science Fiction qualities, so what should I label it?

A looooong time ago, or so it feels, I wrote a dissertation on CS Lewis’ Cosmic Triliogy and asked the question, is it Science Fiction or Fantasy? I cannot even begin to tell you how many books I read on the subject of Science Fiction.

Apparently, people can get quite upset if you class a fantasy novel a Sci Fi, and they have spent hours calculating formulas that novels have to adhere by before they can even come close to achieving the label. Now, one reason why I love fantasy is because you have no formula to worry about:

WIKI explanation: Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common.

Now, BOTH genres use “imaginary worlds”; both can appear to be magical and can seem supernatural. However, the thing that classifies a Sci Fi from fantasy is that is uses SCIENCE (or at least “Pseudoscience”).

“all science fiction is to some extent fantastic…” but science and technology make the fantastic appear possible. Robert Scholes.

Doctor Who doesn’t really use science these days but it does use technological devices, which in “formula speak” is described as the NOVA. These can be spaceships, sonic screwdrivers, time machines and so forth. These are the things that bridge the gap from reality to possibility.

Now, I have a few of these sprinkled in but only towards the end. I predominantly don’t bridge this gap at all. I did this on purpose because (although I love Science Fiction) you can often get caught up with science, with the justification of it, that you lose the point of the story. This happened a lot with Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne – he interrupts the whole thing and bogs it down with pages and pages of intricate science.

So I freed myself, and the reader. Although, I cannot promise that I won’t write a Science Fiction novel some day...

So why did you choose your genre? Ever tempted to venture into the unknown with science?

Top Ten Villains (or things to give you the Heebie jeebies) in Children’s fiction.

2011-09-12T12:02:00.000+01:00

So what makes a super villain – super? Is it; evilness, desire to take over the world, eat/kill children, violence, weirdness, wearing black..?? Or is it just those characters that give you the heebie jeebies?

OK so here is my top 10 fear-inducing villains...

10. The Spiders of Mirkwood in The Hobbit.

Ewwww – giant spiders! Hundreds of them coming to spin you into their web. Was so glad Bilbo escaped because it seemed hopeless at the time.

9. The Witch in Sleeping Beauty.

Just mean, creepy, wears black and has a crow. She'll stop at nothing and ticks all the boxes. Plus, doesn't she turn into a dragon or something at the end?

8. Everything in Pinocchio

Just scared me half to death – even to this day I have never seen the whole film.

7. The Grand High Witch -

The Witches by Roald Dahl.

I only saw this recently and I am in no doubt... this is terrifying. Look at that face.

6. Captain Hook

He was scarriest to me in the film 'Hook' when he put someone into a box with scorpions. Yikes! I had to look away on that bit too.

5. The Spirit from Care Bears

Again, it was just creepy. I can't put my finger on what it was. The voice? The suspended face? No hair?

4. Dementors - Harry Potter.

Not too dissimilar from the Ringwraiths but way more scary than Voldemort. Sucking all happiness from you? Talk about hell on earth.

3. Ringwraiths in The Lord of the Rings

Just look at them – need I say more?

2. Queen Mombi

(the one with all the different heads)

The Return to Oz.

Just crrrreeeeeepppppy and terrifying. My husband agrees.

1. Maurgrim (the wolf minion)

BBC: The The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.

I used to run out of the room when he first appeared and still have to close my eyes and clutch a cushion. Even this picture is scaring me right now… *grabs cushion*

OK - I know this isn't most people's top villain but he is definately mine. I think its the human-wolf hybrid face that does it.

One thing I've noticed is that not many of these frightening characters are from books. Why is that I wonder?Perhaps I just have a poor memory...

So what's the most frightening villian for you? Anyone vital I've missed?

Over and Out?

2011-09-06T16:31:00.000+01:00

It appears I am suffering with “Writer’s Pity” whilst also in my pit of despair. What a terrible combination. I apologise that I am writing this post despite my rules about not writing in the dark.

Unfortunately, my own advice seems so far away and I see very little hope. I’m even thinking about packing it in altogether. *Can hear sharp intakes of breaths surround her.* I know, I know, this is a taboo thing to say in the writer’s world but I do know that most of us have these days. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t.

Why is wanting to quit such a taboo? Are there days when you wonder if your writing cuts the mustard?

The Changeover by Margaret Mahy

2011-08-30T14:27:00.007+01:00

Another short but sweet review on a favourite of mine... The Changeover.

Book description:

“From the moment Laura sees the face in the mirror, she knows it’s an omen. It isn’t the first time she’s had a premonition. The sinister shopkeeper Carmody Braque touches and brands her little brother. As he fights for his life, Laura seeks out the one person who might be able to help. But the path she is about to take will change her forever."

Bits I liked...

I studied this book in my degree for our Children’s literature unit and it’s brilliant. The characters are unique and quirky, but lovable. Mahy knows how to bring a story to life and describe the magical in an original and vivid way. The imagery of the stamp (the branding) on her brother’s hand and his ordeal has amazed and stayed with me for years.

Themes

Despite having been written in the 1980’s, Mahy touches upon those all important YA topics of sexuality and growth. It’s a book overflowing with symbolism. When Laura takes that step to become a witch, we see her developing into a woman and experiencing sexuality. Also in the disturbing character of Carmody (who is literally sucking the life out of her brother) she overlaps evil magic with undertones of paedophilia.

Conclusion

Mahy is a fantastic writer and brilliant story teller. She connects and understands teens perfectly, but what I like most is that the teen issues are not the main plot. I’ve kept this book for so many years and it’s just occurred to me that I haven’t read anymore of Mahy’s novels! Shocking. Fear not, I will correct this with a trip to the Amazon.

I'm flashing you.

2011-08-23T10:21:00.004+01:00

It’s true, I’m interrupting my normal broadcasting to flash you some of my flash fiction at The Pygmy Giant. It’s called Swinging On.

I’m so glad that they liked it and published it on their website and it is very short. I love flash fiction and it’s a great website with some wonderful writing on it. I’m sorry if the piece is a little sad, but please do go check it out and let me know what you think of it.

Are you stuck with a writer?

2011-08-16T10:19:00.002+01:00

Me writing on our honeymoon : S

There have been so many occasions when my demands about writing, to me, seem perfectly logical, reasonable and sane. I am too good at rhetoric. I can argue my corner with outstanding logic and back it up with reels of evidence. It's posts like these that remind me that I might be wrong (it's a must read by the way):

Tips for a Writer Wrangler: Advice for Family and Friends of Writers by Notes from the Slushpile

Firstly, thank you to the Slushpile blog as it was a very funny few minutes and my husband got a real kick out of it too. For all the times he’s had to watch the back of my laptop, hear me throw ideas at him and have his thrown back, he really needed this post.

On a more reflective note, this post made me realise that although this was maybe the norm for “writers” perhaps it was not the best practice in behaviour. There is some truth in the jest that it is a disease, and I will definitely be more sympathetic to my dear husband for having to put up with a woman so afflicted and who is too good at arguing him into thinking that her habits should be expected, embraced and even loved.

So what’s the most outrageous argument you’ve ever used to justify your writerly ways?

Mine: I was a writer when you married me. : )

Harry Potter Films - Stealing our Imaginations?

2011-08-06T14:41:00.005+01:00


Leaving do - Harry Potter cake (the sorting hat)

It’s week four on my blog, so that means I'm going to be looking at Children’s fantasy fiction in film. What's better than the recent Harry Potters!

Inspired by Tara (who looked way cooler I'd like to say), I also succumbed to my inner Luna and dressed up for the recent Harry Potter film: The Deathly Hallows. By far it is one of my favourite books and we all know that it would be impossible for the films to carry the entirety of awesomeness that the books had.

I was annoyed at a few points, such as the random boat house that replaces another setting used in the book, seemed a bit pointless to me. Another, was when Voldemort dies with only Harry watching. Nonetheless, it was good to see the actors at a good stage and committing to the scenes well.


Luna hard at work, wand resting in her lap

Finally, it’s a unique and a strange phenomenon that we have been influenced by these films in more ways than we can imagine. In the final few books, I was no longer reading the characters I had imagined, but watching Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson running about in my mind. Our vision of the books had been completely shaped and changed by the films that were coming out.

Is this a good thing? Were we stripped of our original imaginations? In reading, how important is an independent imagination and visualisation?

Pass on the love – The Liebster Blog Award

2011-08-02T21:49:00.009+01:00

Thank you Nicole Mclaughlin for awarding me with the up-and-coming blog award, The Liebster. I found Nicole’s blog through the Blogfest recently and she’s fab so check her out!

The goal of this award is to spotlight up and coming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers.

Rules

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

(tick)
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

(see below)
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

   (I am so proud that I’ve put the button right under my name!)
         4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
   (Always..)

5. And most of all - have bloggity-blog fun!
(Fun? Gladly, but I think I’ll need to get me some streamers.)

and the awards go to....

1. Lora Rivera is a writer and editor. I loved her entry in the blogfest and think her blog looks great. She also digs the awesome genre that is Children’s fiction.

2. Laura at I am Lil is an illustrator! She does the most beautiful, magical pictures ever. I know some of you will be thinking, what does this have to do with writing? Well, just imagine that you’ve got a publishing contract for that newly finished book that you’ve spent years writing but you don’t have any illustrations. Who you going to call??

3. Eve at her Westcoastings blog is a writer who has just ventured from Bristol out into the world of self-sustaining in Scotland. I love the look and feel of her blog, and I can’t get enough.

4. Nick Perring is an AUTHOR. I love reading his blog and seeing where he’s at with is writing. He likes to share nougats of interest and introduce me to new films etc, which I love.

5. Andrea at That’s Another Story is another fellow blogfest discovery in the world of children’s fiction. There’s a mix of some advice, writing and a touch of something personal. This is another professional looking blog to dive into.

Phew - that took AGES! Thanks to all and happy blogging!

Getting a Nine-year-old's Opinion

2011-07-30T14:51:00.004+01:00

I’ve never been more afraid of a nine-year-old’s opinion in all of my life. Just over a week ago, I gave my novel to a girl called Belle, the daughter of a colleague of mine.

Little did her mother know that I had been watching her silence closely for the past few days. I was convinced that it could only have meant bad things. I had originally discussed with her that I was in need of a 9 year old to see if this age was too young for my novel. She offered up her daughter (a keen reader), for the experiment.

This Thursday my colleague came to the door of office with a girl in her shadows. “This is Belle,” she said and introduced me to her as the “lady whose book you’re reading.” Needless to say, I was more awkward than I have ever been with a child before. So many things were going on in my head that sociability shrivelled-up along with my mouth. Moisture soon returned when the cutest girl I’ve met in ages, swung her foot back and forth and said three little words: “it’s really good.”

She was only on chapter three, so she still has time to change her mind but I have to say I am relieved. Hopefully she’ll enjoy the rest of it but I will definitely be more relaxed now. I know there is more work to be done on it, but I had been worrying about the story itself!

The only question left, is whether the cutest girl in the world is too young for it? Who can say? I’ll have to quiz the mother too. Sorry Jo.

Have you had the right audience trialling your writing? Did it help? Did you change anything as a result?

The Crowfield Demon by Pat Walsh

2011-07-25T15:53:00.004+01:00

Another review to guide your wallet...

Book description:

“What lies beneath? Things are not right at Crowfield Abbey. The Building has begun to crumble and what Will finds beneath the floor is truly terrifying. Is this the end of Crowfield forever?"

Bits I liked...

I devoured this in a day and a half. A thrilling, tense plot, which begs you to read on. There is nothing predictable about this book and Walsh brings fresh and vivid new descriptions to the novel, bringing it to life and touching all the senses.

I loved the drawn map at the beginning and although the weather is terrible in this book, it made me long to live in this simpler lifestyle. It's been a while since I've truely been horrified by a demon in a book - and the imagery of this one was terrifying.

Themes

Walsh tackles themes about religion, God and demons, lightness and darkness in a very measured way. Right or wrong, you empathise with most of the monks viewpoints because they’ve been put into an impossible situation. Although, set in 1348, there is nothing outdated about this novel.

There is also the theme of the “other”, which is brought about in the previous book. Who do you trust? How can you make decisions on creatures you never knew existed? Walsh makes it clear that you can’t.

Conclusion

I loved the Crowfield Curse (the first book in the series) and this book maintained all the great stuff Walsh had established and more. Go out and get this book – it’s ridiculously cheap! I will definitely be passing this one on to my Dad to read whilst he’s off for the summer holidays. If only I had kids because I'd love to read this to them in candle light.

You can’t write? Really…?

2011-07-09T13:51:00.000+01:00

I’ve never suffered with writer’s block. Well… not what’s commonly regarded as writer’s block, but I do suffer with “writer’s pity”. This is a form of writer’s block when I cannot seem to write anything good or unrelated to myself.

The words I write are consumed with my own situations. I can’t seem to write something that isn’t trite and worthless. I fail to get excited about any ideas I think up, so I never get beyond a few sentences before I cast it to the bin. Worse still, I begin to re-read short stories that I’ve written and start to hack away at it. Suddenly they appear no better than how I feel.

This is the most dangerous form of writer’s block. I was happy with those stories and so were other people but suddenly the “writer’s pity” turns me against myself. Creativity has jumped out of the window and I feel incredibly frustrated, inadequate.

This happened to me last week. The next day I went and sat in a café with a notepad, thinking about the rest of the series to accompany my first novel, The Light of Emet. Before I knew it, I was excited, thrilled and grinning from ear to ear.

This made me realise that I had been trying to write the wrong things. I was trying for high art instead of writing about the things I love.

Do you suffer from "writer's pity"? If so, how do you get out of it?

The Knife of Never Letting Go

2011-07-02T18:58:00.001+01:00

By Patrick Ness.

When I went to Mr B's bookshop, I realised how in need I was for recommendations from people with a simlar taste in books. With this in mind, I'm going to review and recommend books whenever I get a damn good one, like today!

This book was a nail bitter – or in my case a lip shredder. I have a tendency to bite my lip when I am stressed and this book left me with barely a bottom lip.

Book description:

“Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown. But Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secret. Or are there? Unexpectedly, Todd finds a spot of complete silence. Which is impossible. Prentisstown has been lying to him and now he’s going to have to run…”

Bits I liked...

An action packed, on the run, chase story, which is hard to put down. With a subtle touch of fantasy and Sci-Fi, Ness brings this New World to life and describes it brilliantly. He also created such loveable characters, that you really do get attached to.

Todd, the main character tells the story as he is going along, narrating to us with his thoughts, his “noise”. I love the way I got absorbed into his narration and then, every now and again, a character would comment on what he’s just told me, reminding me that they can hear his thoughts also. It’s seamless and very well done.

Themes

Ness also tackled “themes” about hate, death, women and religion, in the same way, seamless and subtle. Although the main hunter chasing them was a priest, I was glad to see Ness separate God from religion.

Conclusion

I highly recommend this book to people (Mr B's recommended it to me) – and with the end like it is, I can see why people are so driven to read the whole series. Although, I may need to give it a couple of weeks to wait for my lips to heal until I read the next one, THE ASK AND THE ANSWER. Perhaps if Manchee, the talking dog, was with me I could do it.

Anybody else read this one? or going to?

Published?

2011-06-28T20:02:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago (or months, I’ve lost track…) I entered a piece of flash fiction to be included in the book “66 six-sentence stories”.

I was lucky to find that I had been included in the book, which has been sent to print and available to buy here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2282837

It may not have its own ISBN but it’s going to raise money for two great causes: the National Literacy Trust and University of Bristol Alumni foundation.

The design is great! I’ve ordered my book and I’ll let you know how good the book is in due course and maybe post the short story that the flash fiction piece was born from.

So I guess I'm kind of published... or is it just a matter of opinion?
Take a preview flick through the book yourself and let me know what you think.

Sixty-Six Six Sentence Stories

Writing in the Dark

2011-06-20T17:12:00.000+01:00

So what do you do when life throws yet ANOTHER dramatic episode into your life? Write about it? No. Contrary to most advice, sometimes it’s best to stay away from the pen and that keyboard. As much as I like to delve into self-pity, it has not been helpful or wanted.

Sometimes you can’t do anything when life throws you another smack in the face. After two tough years, I was thinking it’s about time life cut me and my family a break. Unfortunately, it hasn’t and I’ve had to accept that this is life, it’s tough.

During these times, I may thrive in what I call the pit of despair. I even relish in it, in a strange way. But it only makes those feelings worse. I don’t feel empowered, only exhausted. Although some good writing may occur in these pits of despair, unfortunately NOBODY wants to read that. It may help in capturing a moment in time, but it’s personal and should stay personal. If the shoe were on the other foot, the last thing I need to read is someone else’s writings from their deep pit of despair – we have our own to deal with, thanks!

So what do I think you should do?

Change. When life starts changing, we have to too. This is part of the reason I’ve revamped my blog. Change is in the air. We may not know what’s happening or where we are going, and it may be terrifying, but we can embrace it and let us change for the better.

Be inspired. What people want to hear about is the inspiration that helped you through. When you hit your pit of despair, write about the things that troubled you but contrasted with the things that kept you going.

Write about that hope still shining in the dark.

The Write Kind of Weather

2011-06-12T13:35:00.000+01:00

The wind is howling, the rain is firing down and the streets are deserted. To me, this is the perfect day for writing.

On days like this, I have a cup of tea, which fills up like the magic porridge pot whilst my feet are stuffed away in my furry slippers. I have warm, glowing lamps bringing sun to corners of darkness in my flat. I wrap myself in clothes that engulf me, warm me, cosy me.

Then I sit down to the keys on my laptop, tapping away and watching the raging weather outside.

There’s something magical in the way the wind shakes the trees. How the rain makes the colours of nature bolder, clearer, like looking through a lens. The bark on trees are soaked black, pools of water sit on the saturated tarmac and the beads of rain glisten on the tops of cars.

There’s magic in the water.

The possibilities in my mind begin to swim, my writing is unleashed and I feel like a kid again, excited. Thrilled.

So what’s your writing weather ideal?

Hitting the not-so-ripe age of 25

2011-05-15T10:07:00.000+01:00

With a touch of sadness, I turned 25 on Friday 13^th May. Now, I can hear most of you moaning already; “you’re only 25!?”

Yes, I am 25. There are many reasons for this being a tough date for me. For one, I have just left my old job in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, to work in the Campaigns and Alumni office as a Communications Officer. This was my first week in that new job, and although a massive step-up in my career as a writer (being paid to write content is very peculiar) – I’m having withdrawal symptoms from the department.

Secondly, this date was the deadline I gave myself for many of my goals; the most important being, having published my book by now. A few years back, when my mind was in the marketing spin, I knew that being under the age of 25 and publishing a book would have been a great marketing opportunity. It’s also a great time to get kids on board with the book, as they are more likely to relate to someone closer to their age and in their technological world. Will I begin to start loosing touch with the kids?

So it is with sadness that I reach the not-so-ripe age of 25, without having reached this goal and with a sense of loss through change. However, I am married and doing a job I have always dreamed of doing, and have gained some pretty awesome “rock – loving” friends.

The Critique – getting chop happy!

2011-04-12T19:24:00.000+01:00

It’s a Wednesday, two weeks after I sent my manuscript away for a word from the wise. Nervous, I ripped open my packet and dug into the report.

So what exactly is a critique?

Critique: “A critical review or

commentary”

Critical: 1. inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily.

2. occupied with or skilled in criticism.

3. involving skilful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.; judicial: a critical

analysis.

Well it definitely does exactly what it says on the tin. I guess after looking at this definition, I could only expect to get back a critique which meant more work. Perhaps, there was a part of me somewhere, in hope, that it was perfect. What was I thinking?

There were a lot of good comments too, which helped with my ego. Annoyingly, many of the comments were things I had stupidly cut out. Doh! What a fool I was.

It would seem that for most people, they struggle with cutting, whereas I get chop happy! In a desperate attempt to encourage pace in my novel, I took the shears to my novel and hacked away to the spine of my book.

I guess my family didn’t call me frey chops and choppy for nothing.

Ruined!

2011-04-06T14:18:00.000+01:00

Sunk into the sun coming through my office window, I’m enthralled by the first few pages of The Trial by Franz Kafta. I’m excited, but frustrated that my lunch break is only an hour. I want to read more!

A thought popped into my head. I wonder when he wrote this book? I know! I’ll look at the first few lines of the preface; it’s always usually in there.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Why did I read the forward? Ruined, the book has been ruined. In less than a hundred words, the preface had told me the entire plot of the book and its ending. If you haven’t read this book or ever want to read it, stop reading now, as I may give it away.

I’ve picked the book up about five times since S-Day (spoiler day) but to no avail. Can I really go on, knowing that the main character NEVER finds out why he is being put on trial? Surely, part of the driving force of the narrative is that as a reader you want to find out more. How can I go on, knowing that he dies at the end!

It has angered me so much, that I know I will never forget it either. I will never come back in ten years time and wonder why I never read this book. I know. I will always know.

Has anybody been able to forget a spoiler after time?

In Pursuit of Pain?

2011-02-21T21:06:00.000Z

My eyes are raw from staring at the computer screen, my ego bruised from rejections, my fingers have seized up from typing, writing and editing. All the while, I’m striving for perfection, to be the best that there is because in order to get published, this is all that I can be.

Mediocre doesn’t cut the mustard. In today’s world, we have to be at the top of our game: great thinkers, great writers, great marketers, great sellers, great editors, great socialites, bloggers and so on.

However, within the desire for perfection is one small problem, we are human. This is something I have to tell myself often. There will be typos, mistakes and often cringe worthy comments to bloggers/publishers/agents. I kick myself every time that I didn’t spot them or wait longer before pressing the enter button.

I’m learning, slowly but surely, the best way for me to safeguard myself from these mistakes for the future but who knows what damage they may have caused me. I can only learn and move on.

Sometimes I wonder how damaging all this striving for perfection is? If, like Nina in the Black Swan, the only way to reach perfection is to hurt yourself and others in order to reach it. Is glory worth death?

What have you regrettably done whilst striving for perfection or glory?