lifebeyond

2012 Writing Goals

2012-01-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

OK, I know I'm horribly late with my first post of this year, but better late than never.

To be honest, it's taken me until now to catch up after the Christmas break. After a few failed starts, I'm spinning out a new story - or rather, re-working an old one. I'm also trying not to think about my completed novel, Breakwater, while it dips a tentative toe into the world of publishing Early days, but very exciting so far.

So what about the goals? Usually, my first instinct is to throw in as many benchmarks as possible, but this year I've decided to take a more measured approach and set five only:

1) Craft the new manuscript with patience, care and dedication. Make it my best work to-date.
I always thought I worked hard enough until I read Laini Taylor's amazing collection of essays about her approach to writing - Not for Robots. I might not follow all her methods, but I'm definitely going to try lots of them, particularly paying attention to the hard work & revisions section.

2) Write 3 short stories.
I don't usually write short stories, but I had some success with one of my pieces last year when it was shortlisted for the Frome Short Story Competition. I'd like to set aside some time to try a few more - a ghost story, a sci-fi and maybe a fairytale retelling.

3) Attend 5 events that improve my writing skills.
As a member of SCBWI, I've been lucky enough to attend some amazing talks and workshops, but I'm keen to absorb even more! I've signed up for the SCBWI North-West events this year, and I'd love to visit a literary festival.

4) Support the UK YA Publishing industry.
This deserves a place here because the more I read, the better I write!

5) Get Taken On by a Fabulous Agent
I've saved the biggest (and hardest) until last, but like every aspiring writer, I'd love to be represented. I can't think of anything better than being able to collaborate with an industry professional and take my work to the next level.

So there they are - short and and relatively sweet. Let's find out what 2012 brings.

How Many Lives Can You Live?

2011-12-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

As a writer, I'm rarely satisfied with my work. There's always room for improvement - chapters to delete, sentences to cut. And even when I think I'm almost there, I'll invariably return within months and see glaring errors that should never have made it past the save button. It's the same with life too. I continually question myself. Why did I write/say/not say that? Why didn't I take the chance when I had it? Why didn't I make time?

But after discovering this amazing talk by Sarah Kay on the Ted Talks website, I've started to see it all from a different perspective. Yes, we tell stories because we want to lead many different lives, but it's also OK to accept that those stories are snapshots in time. They don't have to be perfect. They can be re-written over and over again. We can give ourselves license to let go once in a while.

You can find Sarah Kay's website here.

Book Recommendation: Grub's Pups (Ruby and Grub)

2011-11-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to go to the launch of the wonderful picture book, Grub's Pups - written by Abi Burlingham and illustrated by Sarah Warburton.

The tale is told by Grub's owner, Ruby, who follows her boisterous dog as he comes to terms with parenthood. At first Grub can't understand why his friend Tilly doesn't want to play, but then one day, after lots of suspense, five pups emerge and life becomes fun again.

This is a gentle tale that presents pregnancy in a light-hearted, sensitive way. The story is engaging and warm and the pictures are full of humour, making the book an ideal Christmas present for children aged 2-5.

You can buy Grub's Pups here and find Abi Burlingham's lovely website here.

Longlisted!

2011-10-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

I received the best news this week. I've been longlisted as one of the 2012 Undiscovered Voices authors along with 24 other writers and 8 illustrators. This accolade means a lot to me because the competition is run by the amazing SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), an organisation that's really encouraged my interest in writing teen fiction. The nomination is also special because the entries have been chosen by a panel of children's book publishing experts who really know their stuff.

The finalists will be announced 5th December and the twelve winning extracts will be published in an anthology that will be distributed to UK editors and agents in January 2012. It would be a dream come true to make it through to the anthology, but in the meantime, I'd like to offer my congratulations to my fellow nominees:

Rosie Best, Jan Carr, Veronica Cossanteli, Liz de Jager, Julienne Durber, Sandra Greaves, Jane Hardstaff, Deborah Hewitt, Jennifer Hicks, David Hofmeyr & Zoe Crookes, Sharon Jones, Rachel J. Latham, Maureen Lynas, Michael Marett-Crosby, Richard Masson, Stephanie McGregor, Anne Mitchell, Chantel Marie Napier, Sally-Jayne Poyton, Melissa Rogerson, Joanna Sargent, Lara Williamson, Rachel Wolfreys, and Jo Wyton.

Kim Geyer, Jennifer Graham, Julia Groves, Amber Hsu, Heather Kilgour, Shana Nieburg-Suschitzky, Nicola Patten, and Rachel Quarry.

Wishing you all the best of luck!

Second Campaigner Challenge - The Imago Test

2011-09-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed having a go at the last Campaigner Challenge so thought I'd try this one too. Here's the brief:

Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc.

The blog post should:

include the word "imago" in the title
include the following 4 random words: "miasma," "lacuna," "oscitate," "synchronicity,"

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post.

For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!

Pretty difficult, but I couldn't resist a challenge. Here's my entry:

The Imago Test

I take my place alongside the other initiates so that the tips of my toes overhang the ledge. The chasm oscitates ahead, a wide lacuna between two promontories, each studded with a black obelix. Stiffening, I turn to look at Marlo. He catches my eye and manages a weak smile. “We’ll be fine. We’re the chosen,” he whispers, but fear surrounds him like a thick miasma. How are we supposed to survive this?

The horn blows and Martha jumps. I watch as she plummets towards the sea, my heart racing, but then something explodes from her back - wings that reflect the pale sunlight like mirrors. I inhale sharply as she catches the wind and soars to the other side of the abyss, raising her hand in triumph. Why has no one told us what we might become?

Marlo’s next, but this time I can’t look. I close my eyes. When I open them, there’s no sign of him.

The priest stands beside me, his face bone-white against purple robes. “Time to take flight, daughter.”

Empty, I gaze up at the clouds just as a butterfly crosses the sky, a silverwing. Marlo’s favourite. In that moment of synchronicity, I fall.

Seven Random Things About Me

2011-09-17T03:37:00.000-07:00

I was mightly chuffed to receive a Versatile Blogger Award from Kristina Fugate over at KayKay's Corner and Jani Grey at Life Debatable today. To obtain my shiny badge, however, I have to complete three different tasks:

1.) Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

2.) Share 7 things about yourself.
3.) Pass this Award along to 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know about it.

So here goes number two. Seven things about me:

1. I've lived in 26 different dwellings (including a old mill and a tent) during my 30-something years. Unsurprisingly, change holds very little fear for me now.

2. I have an intense dislike of cut flowers - almost a phobia. A bouquet is the worst thing that anyone could ever buy me. Plants are OK, trees are even better.

3. My first story was published in the Puffin Post when I was 12 years old. It was called 'The Sandals and The Unsuspecting Witch'.

4. I like Hayao Miyazaki's work so much (see last post) that I decided to pay a special visit to the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo a couple of years ago.

5. I eat at least one banana every day - sometimes two.

6. I've never used my dishwasher even though I have lived in my current house for nearly four years.

7. My hiking boots are twenty-two years old and still going strong. They've made contact with five continents, completed two long-distance trails and climbed countless hills.

Now to pass this on. I'd like to give this award to the following bloggers:

Claire Robyns
Read in Between the Lines
Imagination to Publication
Belief Suspenders
Life Debatable
Thoughts from the Hearthfire
The Scribbling Sea Serpent
In Somnis Veritas
Medeia Sharif
The Eagle's Aerial Perspective

And thanks once again to Kristina and Jani for passing this award to me in the first place!

If I Could Be Anyone, I'd Be...

2011-09-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

As part of the celebrations for the launch of Watching Willow Watts by Talli Roland, I'm joining in with her 'If I Could Be Anyone, I'd Be' party.

I've spent all day racking my brains, but have finally decided that I'd like to be Princess Nausicaa from Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Not only is she a skilled fighter and glider pilot, she’s also wise and compassionate with a soft-spot for giant insects. I love the way that she steers her own path in the face of overwhelming odds, saving a whole race of Ohms (misunderstood caterpillar-like creatures) from extinction when everyone else fears them. She’s also the Chosen One – the person destined to restore the earth’s natural cycle. With credentials like these, I definitely swap places with this character for a short time, although maybe not forever.

And now onto the real reason for this post - Talli's new book - Watching Willow Watts:

For twenty-five-year-old Willow Watts, life has settled into a predictably dull routine: days behind the counter at her father's antique shop; nights watching fuzzy telly whilst the elderly residents of Britain's Ugliest Village bed down for yet another early night. But everything changes when Willow's epically embarrassing Marilyn Monroe impersonation is uploaded to YouTube. A canny viewer spots Marilyn's ghostly image hidden in the film and Willow becomes an international sensation. Her dire little town is suddenly overrun with fans proclaiming her to be the 'new Marilyn'. Egged on by the villagers - whose shops and businesses are cashing in - Willow eagerly embraces her new identity, dying her hair platinum and scoffing cakes to achieve Marilyn's legendary curves. But when the only man she has ever truly loved returns, seeking the old Willow, it's decision time. Should she risk stardom and the village's new-found fortune on love? Or is being Marilyn Willow's real ticket to happiness

You can buy a UK copy of the book here and a US Kindle copy here.

Flash Fiction: Infinite Doors

2011-09-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week, but I thought I'd have a stab at the first challenge for the Third Writers' Platform-Building Campaign, which is hosted over at Rachael Harrie's blog. The rules are as follows:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Infinite Doorways

The door swung open.

Jay gasped. The corridor that lay in front of her stretched so far into the distance that she couldn’t see its end point. Hundreds of wooden doors studded the pale walls, each one was marked with a shining bronze plaque. Her future.

“So this is it then,” said David, his voice low, cracked. “You’d better go. They’ll be here soon.”

Unable to move, she took a deep breath. Finally, she was free. She could do anything she wanted, go anywhere she pleased, but suddenly it all seemed too much. What would she find out there, hidden behind those infinite doorways?

She turned to him and studied his face for one last time. The large mouth and those muted blue eyes, wise and utterly sad. Funny how he’d changed, but then she had too. “Will I see you again?” she asked softly.

He opened his mouth to answer her, but just as he was about to speak, the floor rippled with a faint green cast. Her heart rate accelerated. The others had breached the gate.

“Go!” he said. “I’ll find you, I promise.”

She swallowed hard and stepped into the endless passageway.

The door swung shut.

If you enjoyed this piece, it would be great if you could vote for me by clicking on my linky image (at bottom of page)

Third Writers' Platform-Building Campaign

2011-08-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

Blogger and author, Rachael Harrie, has recently launched the Third Writers' Platform-Building Campaign. The campaign provides an opportunity for writers and bloggers to connect with one another. In Rachael's own words:

'Basically, the Campaign is a way to link those of us in the writing community together with the aim of helping to build our online platforms. The Campaigners are all bloggers in a similar position, who genuinely want to pay it forward, make connections and friends within the writing community, and help build each others' online platforms while at the same time building theirs.'

The Campaign will run from August 22nd to October 31st, but sign-up ends 31st August. You can find out everything you need to join here.

Amazing Animated Trailer: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-08-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

The blog's been trailer-heavy recently, but I had to post Maggie Stiefvater's latest production. As usual, it's a homegrown project - Maggie and her sister created both the music and animation - and the result is highly original.

I haven't read the novel yet, but I love the visuals. The book cover has an old school feel and so does the trailer. The story sounds excellent too - in Maggie's own words, "it's about a deadly horse race run at the base of chalk cliffs, and it is all about siblings, repressed love, and revenge."

US residents can enter a contest to win an ARC here. Maggie will send international winners 'something else cool' if they don't have a proxy US address.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Creepiest Trailer Ever?

2011-08-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

I've just received a beautiful hardback copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children through the post. I was about to put it to one side - and then I watched the clip below.

I think this has to be one of the most accomplished book trailers I've ever watched. Filmed in Europe by the author Ransom Riggs, and peppered with real vintage photos that he sourced before he wrote the book, the video is both tantalising and deeply unsettling.

Unsurprisingly, the film rights have already been sold to 20th Century Fox and if you enjoyed this, you might also be interested in the following clip too, which shows how the author sourced the location for the film (including a freaky place with its own cave/bar).

Based on the above, I can't wait to read the book, although I'm already preparing myself for a few sleepless nights!

Fab Book Trailer and Competition: Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton

2011-07-31T01:51:00.000-07:00

I was very excited when I stumbled across this trailer. I'm going to New York for the first time in November so this was a serendipitous find. I love the colours and the visuals in this clip, lots of pale pink and blue against a dark background. Even better, it also mentions that you can win a trip to New York at the end of the mini-movie. Check out the website for more information. You can buy the book here.

Trailer: Soul Beach

2011-07-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

As I may have mentioned before, I generally miss trailers, but it just so happens that I've spotted a bunch of great ones over the last week, which I just have to post here. Rather than inflict video-overload on the world, I'm going to blog about these one by one over the next couple of days so that they get the airtime they deserve.

The first one is for Soul Beach by Kate Harrison. The trailer only debuted yesterday, but I heard about the book a few months ago. I can't wait to read the novel because it's totally different from the usual YA fare - combining technology with supernatural elements. Here's the blurb to give you an idea:

When Alice Forster receives an email from her dead sister she assumes it must be a sick practical joke. Then an invitation arrives to the virtual world of Soul Beach, an idyllic online paradise of sun, sea and sand where Alice can finally talk to her sister again - and discover a new world of friendships, secrets and maybe even love . . . . But why is Soul Beach only inhabited by the young, the beautiful and the dead? Who really murdered Megan Forster? And could Alice be next?

And here's the trailer:

I really love the use of the magenta and turquoise against the black - the perfect holiday undercut with darkness. This one is definitely on my Autumn reading list.

Review: Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

2011-07-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

As one the Merry Sisters of Fate, a writing supergroup that also includes Maggie Stiefvater and Brenna Yovanoff, Tessa Gratton has a lot to live up to. Happily, Tessa has entered their ranks with flying colours. Her debut novel, Blood Magic, held my interest from the very first page. It's a well-crafted book with a cracking story and enough depth to make it stand out from similar YA titles. You can read a more detailed review at Chicklish.

ABBA Online Lit Fest

2011-06-26T01:05:00.000-07:00

I've been reading An Awfully Big Blog Adventure (ABBA), run by the Scattered Authors' Society for while now, so was hugely excited to find out that they were holding an online literary festival 9 & 10 July.

I've never been to an online festival, but I love the concept. Firstly it's free, and secondly, anyone can attend without leaving the comfort of their own home. This one's particularly special because it's run entirely by a group of talented children's authors. Throughout the day, they'll be popping in to share insights, tips, book news and giveaways. The schedule looks amazing:

Saturday 9th July

9.30am Anne Cassidy Post: To Blog or Not To Blog?
10.00am Jo Cotterill
10.30am Anne Rooney & Mary Hoffman Video: Italian Inspiration
11.00am Celia Rees Post: Scattered Authors, the Beginning
11.30am Elen Caldecott Competition: Win 'Operation Eiffel Tower'
12 NOON Sally Nicholls
12.30pm Gillian Phillip Competition: Win 'Bloodstone' and 'Firebrand'
1.00pm Liz Kessler Competition: Win 'A Year Without Autumn'
1.30pm Sam Mills Video: Interview with Tyger Drew-Honey
2.00pm Adele Geras
2.30pm Jane Eagland Post: The Ups and Downs of Research
3.00pm Enid Richemont
3.30pm Malcolm Rose Post: Reader Gregor Kelly questions Malcolm Rose over Forbidden Island
4.00pm Lucy Coats Video and Competition: The Hero Dog Story
4.30pm Susan Price & Katherine Roberts Post: Kindles and Kids Books
5.00pm Wendy Meddour Post: On Not Being a Famous Actress
5.30pm Miriam Halahmy & Savita Kalhan Video drama and discussion about Edgy Fiction
6.00pm Catherine Johnson Post: Rastamouse, the Moomins and Me
6.30pm Penny Dolan
7.00pm Linda Newbery & Julia Jarman
7.30pm Andrew Strong

Sunday 10th July

10.30am Emma Barnes
11.00 am Dianne Hofmeyr & Miriam Moss
11.30am Kath Langrish Post: Secret Rooms in Children's Fiction
12 NOON Nicola Morgan Competition: Win 'Write to be Published' and a crabbit bag.
12.30pm Julie Sykes Post and Competition: My Favourite Bears
1.00pm Leila Rasheed Competition: Win a critique
1.30pm Joan Lennon Post: The Flamingo and the Writer
2.00pm Hilary McKay Competition: Win 'Caddy's World'
2.30pm Fiona Dunbar & Keren David Video: In Conversation
3.00pm Josh Lacey Competition: Win 'Island of Thieves'
3.30pm Marie-Louise Jensen & David Calcutt
4.00pm Candy Gourlay Video: Creating a Legend
4.30pm Karen Ball Competition: An Inspiring Giveaway
5.00pm Linda Strachan & Cathy MacPhail Video: In Conversation
5.30pm Malachy Doyle Post: The Happy Book
6.00pm Michelle Lovric Competition: Win 'The Undrowned Child'
6.30pm Sue Purkiss Post: What the Dickens?
7.00pm Julie Day
7.30pm Lynne Garner

There are loads of ways to get involved in the fun. You can join the dedicated ABBA Online Litfest Facebook Event Page to receive updates and follow @AwfullyBigBlog on Twitter, tweeting your thoughts using the hashtag #ABBAlitfest.

See you there, Pimm's in one hand, mouse in the other!

The Revision Process

2011-06-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with revisions. I'm definitely not a one-pass person and admire those who can write something perfect first time. My story-writing journey tends to be a more complicated affair - starting with a mad-dash first draft and then going through several cycles of correction until I'm happy with the final result. It's a bit like whittling pebbles down to sand and there's no way of really knowing how long this process will take. I revised my first novel ten times and it still isn't finished. I'm hoping that my second novel will be ready in fewer cycles, but quality will dictate.

I've approached the revisions for my second novel from a completely different perspective, working through Novel Metamorphosis by Darcy Pattison, and then drawing up an outline. Although the structured exercises might not be to everyone's taste, they definitely worked for me. Darcy Pattison asks the author to reflect on each aspect of their novel - plot, character, language - and then refine these using various techniques and strategies. I'm now re-shaping the novel to fit the new outline, although being a pantser at heart, I'm not finding it that easy! It's also becoming clear that this won't be a simple quick fix for the novel. The plot might be tighter, but with each rewrite, the characters are still revealing their personalities and motivations - rich material that I can't overlook. I expect that there'll be at least another two drafts, maybe more.

So how do you revise your novels? Do you strive to get it right first time or do you redo it until you're happy? Do you use workbooks or rely on your own judgement? I'd love to hear how other authors sharpen up their stories.

Inspired by...Pagan Mysteries

2011-06-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

Following on from the latest blog entry by Fiona Dunbar on Notes from the Slushpile, I've put together a list of my inspirations for my WIP, The Moonlocket. I've mentioned some of these before in this blog, but thought it might be fun to briefly list some of my other influences:

1) The Wicker Man
It might be slightly dated, but for me, this film really captures the dark underbelly of British tradition and the ancient customs that exist in remote communities. Some of this stuff still happens in Derbyshire, honest! The ending is truly horrific. Drama, death, fire and damnation!

2) A Year of Wonders - Geraldine Brooks
I'd already written a few drafts of The Moonlocket when I read A Year of Wonders. It's a fictionalised account based on the real-life story of Eyam, a Derbyshire village ravaged by plague in the 17th century. I'm not hugely into historical novels, but Geraldine Brooks' interpretation of events is both beautifully written and mesmerising.

3) The Watcher in the Woods
Ruined chapels, ghostly reflections and cryptic messages - this definitely wasn't your standard Disney flick and I remember being terrified by it when I was younger (I avoided looking into mirrors for days afterwards). Nowadays the film doesn't have the same fear factor, but it still manages to capture that unsettling sensation of being watched.

4) A Warning to the Curious
A dark tale of curiosity gone bad. I'm a massive fan of M.R. James' work and particularly like the creepy BBC film adaptations (you can watch a clip below). Many of the stories involve cursed artifacts - a much-used theme, but scary nonetheless.

Hope you've enjoyed this round-up of pagan oddities and entertainment. If you have a liking for all things weird and wonderful then you might also want to check out Atlas Obscura.

Ten Things from the 2011 SCBWI Retreat

2011-05-30T04:03:00.000-07:00

I returned from my first SCBWI Retreat yesterday, having consumed approximately 20 biscuits, 5 delicious cakes (thanks Teri and Jo) and 10 glasses of wine, written 850 words, walked 1 mile (cheers for the navigation Anne Marie), learned a lot about the realities of marketing (ta, Nick), received some great advice (grats, Janetta) and laughed innumerable times (special mentions to Tommy and Candy).

Once again, we packed a lot into a short time, but here are the top ten points that stuck in my mind (in no particular order):

Published authors need good websites
Bloggers like it when you comment on their posts (yes we do!)
Are your characters explaining their world? If so, you might need to create a new scene to show, rather than tell
Develop a clear sense of your story world's rules and limitations
Boys prefer to read about older boys and kick-ass girls
Reluctant readers respond to short sentences, short chapters of roughly equal length and a solid quest
Frances Lincoln are open to submissions and are looking at all types of children's and teen fiction
Frances Lincoln would like more people to send entries to the Diverse Voices competition
People love The Hunger Games series, especially the first book. Neal Shusterman's novels also very popular.
I need to remember to take photos (apologies for the lack of visuals!)

But mainly, I discovered, once again, that SCBWI members are very nice people indeed. Thanks for being such good company and good luck with the writing and illustrating!

Review: My So-Called Afterlife by Tamsyn Murray

2011-05-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

Fifteen-year-old Lucy Shaw is a ghost. She haunts the men's toilets on Carnaby Street and she's been stuck there ever since she was murdered on the way home from a party. Her dull afterlife finally perks up when a lighting engineer called Jeremy happens to walk in - and he can see and hear her! Slowly and with Jeremy's help, Lucy's existence starts to change. She manages to leave the toilets and meet other ghosts, including the super-cute Ryan and the troubled Hep. She also starts to uncover the truth about her death...

My So-Called Afterlife is one of those effortless reads that whips you away from everyday life and transports you into another world as soon as you open the first page. The novel follows the story of Lucy Shaw, a teenage ghost who becomes trapped in public toilets after she’s murdered by a serial killer. At first, she thinks she’s destined to remain there, alone forever, but then Jeremy, a dorky geography teacher starts talking to her. It turns out that he can both see and hear spirits. Despite their differences, they begin to work together to free Lucy from her supernatural shackles.

As the title implies, this book is pretty darn funny. Lucy has a kick-ass attitude and this leads to some great one-liners. She’s able to look after herself and doesn’t suffer fools gladly, especially rubbish ghost hunters! Although the novel is sad and scary in places, Lucy’s dry sense of humour shines through. She’s able to learn too. I found her (platonic) relationship with Jeremy particularly moving as she matures from critical teenager to supportive friend.

I also loved the depiction of the afterlife. I’ve not come across that many ghosts in teen fiction so I really enjoyed finding out about the spirit world and its rules of engagement, some familiar, some brand new. The author describes it in such detail that you completely believe in Lucy’s experiences.

So, all-in-all, a fab debut from Tamsyn Murray with enough action and comedy to satisfy the most reluctant reader. Even better, I’m slightly behind publication with this review, so Tamsyn’s other supernatural novels - My So-Called Haunting and My So-Called Phantom Lovelife - are already lined up and ready to read.

Just by chance, Nicky Schmidt posted a marvellous interview with Tamsyn today. You can find this over at Absolute Vanilla.

Mslexia 2011 Women's Novel Competition

2011-05-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

As part of my ongoing quest to find writing competitions for YA authors, I've discovered this contest for unpublished women writers. The first prize is £5000 and it's open to novelists writing in any genre for adults, including young adult fiction. Mslexia can't guarantee that the winner will secure an agent or a deal, but they do promise that agents and editors will be falling over themselves for a first read of the winning manuscript.

Although the entry fee is high, Mslexia are aiming at a wide range of authors, including new writers and women who have struggled to find an agent in the past. They'll also accept self-published novels.

The brief submission guidelines are as follows:

Closing date: 30 September

Entry fee: £25
Send up to 5,000 words – which must be the first 5,000 words of your novel. Please make sure you have finished the novel (at least 50,000 words) before you send your entry.

You can find more information on the Mslexia novel competition page.

Review: Split by a Kiss by Luisa Plaja

2011-05-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

Jo has just moved to America with her mum. She's always been a fairly average girl - not a nerd but certainly never one of the popular kids. But on her first day in her new school, she seems to be adopted by the It girls - and is invited to one of their parties. There, she meets Jake Matthews, officially the hottest boy in school, and when they begin to play the kissing-in-the-closet game, Seven Minutes in Heaven, amazingly Jake picks Jo join him in the closet! She can't believe her luck. But the reality of being kissed and groped by Jake is not quite as great as the fantasy... Jo has a choice to make: should she carry on, kiss Jake and secure her position in the It crowd - or should she tell him where to get off and risk relegation back to the land of the ordinary . . . ? At this moment - Jo splits. She's Josie the Cool - girlfriend of Jake, member of the It crowd. She's also Jo the Nerd - rejected by the It crowd, single . . . Will her two halves ever come back together again? Is Jake the guy she's meant to be with or could some of the other people she meets along her journey - Rachel the scary goth, David the misfit or Albie the rocker - be the answer? A fabulously inventive, heartwarming and funny take on the Sliding Doors idea, for teen readers.

I’ve been waiting for a book like Split by a Kiss for a while - something funny, yet insightful - a change from the usual YA doom and gloom. The novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old Jo, as she travels to Boston from England to start a new life with her mum. While there, she catches the eye of both the cool clique and the geeky crowd. Jo’s unsure who to hang out with, but after a kiss with the local hot boy, Jake, she becomes even more confused - so much so that she splits into two personalities - Josie the Cool and Jo the Nerd. From here, we follow the adventures of both halves as they come to terms with their new lives - making friends and mistakes along the way.

The narrative takes on an unusual structure at this point as both Cool Josie and Nerdy Jo tell their stories in alternate chapters. This works extremely well. It’s a bit like watching a soap opera - you become addicted to finding out what’s going to happen next. Who fancies Jo? Who can she trust? Can she rely on her own judgement? I love the way that the same characters - Chelsea, Tori, David, Rachel, Albie -appear in both accounts, but from different angles depending on the point of view. This really shows how subjective personality can be and how important it is to be true to yourself.

On the face of it, the book is pure comedy with lots of dry observations, but it goes deeper than chicklit. Some of Jo’s experiences are really moving, and cruel. I think most people will find something to relate to here. I especially like the ending. It’s uplifting without being too slushy. There’s also has a great little section at the back summarising what happens to the characters afterwards. I could easily read this all over again! Highly recommended.

Book Trailer: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-05-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

I'm not the greatest at remembering to plug book trailers, but Maggie Stiefvater's beautiful stop motion videos always catch my eye. She not only designed and filmed this piece herself, she also composed and played the accompanying track.

If you want to be ahead of the crowd, you can buy signed copies of Forever here.

Highland Fling

2011-05-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

My recent holiday included 16 hours of train travel, 9 different overnight stays, 5 full breakfasts, 10 Mars Bars and 95 miles of hiking. And luckily 0 midgies. Yep - I finally managed to walk the West Highland Way, a classic long-distance hike from Milngavie (just outside Glasgow) to Fort William that runs along Loch Lomond, over Rannoch Moor then descends in the shadow of Ben Nevis.

It was an epic journey - great weather and lovely accommodation. We also decided to have our luggage transported for us, which was one of the best decisions we could have made. Firstly, it avoided heavy lugging on those Scottish hills and secondly, it meant that I could take as many books as I liked.

As usual, the majority of the novels were YA, but I decided to add a token adult option in too for good measure.

Siren by Tricia Rayburn
Split by a Kiss by Luisa Plaja
My So-Called Afterlife by Tamsyn Murray
Room by Emma Donaghue
Brilliant Coaching by Julie Starr

It was an absolute treat to read all of these, but I enjoyed Split by a Kiss and My So-Called Afterlife the most. Both hilarious, but coming from completely different angles. I'll be following up with glowing reviews over the coming weeks while starting on my next TBR pile.

Review: The Pain Merchants by Janice Hardy

2011-04-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

A long overdue read and review for this great fantasy novel from Janice Hardy. I love the title, and it pretty much sums up the main theme within the book. Nya, the main character, lives in a world where pain can be transferred, bought and sold. It's an original concept that the author explores in rich depth, weaving this strange commodity into an exotic world full of intrigue and politics. A welcome new addition to the fantasy genre.

Undiscovered Voices 2012

2011-04-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

SCBWI British Isles launched the 3rd Undiscovered Voices competition last night. It's a chance for unpublished and unagented writers to submit 4000 words to a panel of top judges including Julia Churchill and Rachel Boden. For an in-depth recap of the launch event, please see Liz De Jager's blog here.

12 lucky winners will have their work published in an anthology, designed to catch the eye of agents and publishers. So far, 13 out of 28 authors selected, are now under contract or have had their work published so this is a great opportunity to get noticed. The deadline for entries is 1 June 2011. Please click here for all the submission rules.

Five 2011 Writing Competitions

2011-03-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

I've made a resolution to enter writing competitions for the last few years, but by the time I get myself in gear, the deadlines have usually whizzed by. This year I've vowed that I'll try for at least five, maybe more if I can spot them in time. As a prompt, I've listed some of my top picks here - including deadlines and links where possible:

April 2011
Swanwick Writers Summer School Competition (short story and writing for children) - closes 30 April 2011.

May 2011
Arvon Postcard Competition - closes 21 May 2011
Frome Festival Short Story Competition - closes 31 May 2011

June 2011
Winchester Writers' Conference Writing Competitions 2011 (including Writing for Children) - closes 3 June 2011
Undiscovered Voices 2012 (to be launched April 5 - previous competitions have closed in June). I'll update this link as soon as the competition goes live.

I'm always on the lookout for quality competitions (ideally writing for children) so please feel free to contact me or post a comment if you have any other suggestions that I've missed.

Authors for Japan

2011-03-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

If you want to help out Japan, then click on the logo to check out the Authors for Japan auction site set up by Keris Stainton. There's an amazing range of goodies on offer including manuscript assessments, signed books, dedications and illustrations.

The auction will open at 8am GMT tomorrow (Tuesday 15th March) and close at 8pm on Sunday (the 20th).To bid, you’ll need to leave a comment (with the amount of your bid) in the relevant comments box. At the conclusion of the auction the bidder who has made the highest bid in UK Pounds will be deemed the winner. Winning bidders will be notified by email and instructed to make their donations to the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal.

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

2011-03-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war.

Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa is an intriguing new YA fantasy. Set between our world and the faery domain, it tells the story of Meghan Chase as she learns about the mysterious iron fey while coming to terms with her birthright as a faery princess.

The novel is a blend of both old favourites and new ideas. Readers will recognise that Meghan's quest includes characters and themes from many literary influences such as Peter Pan, Labyrinth, The NeverEnding Story and in particular, A Midsummer Night's Dream. But alongside this familar thread, there's also the exciting introduction of the iron fey, a new race of faery born from techology and deadly to the existing members of the Seelie and Unseelie Court. The combination of tradition and modernity, past and present makes for a strangely familiar, yet unsettling read as the different sides war against one another. I'm really keen to see how the author develops this conflict in The Iron Daughter - due to be published by Mira Ink in April 2011. I'm also excited to announce that Julie Kagawa will be answering some questions about the book on my blog later this week as part of her UK blog tour.

New Children's Books Website - The Guardian

2011-03-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

I'm not young enough to be a contributor to the Guardian's new children's books website, but I wish I was.

Launched on World Book Day, the brand new Guardian children's books site has been designed and curated with the help of a dedicated editorial panel of 100 children and teens from around the world. You can read reviews, follow discussions, and watch and listen to the questions that the panel have put to top authors, from Jacqueline Wilson to Malorie Blackman, Michelle Paver to Charlie Higson. A welcome addition to the world of children's fiction.

Swanwick Writing School

2011-02-26T01:37:00.000-08:00

I was really surprised to discover Swanwick Writers' Summer School recently. Not only is it a mere 30 miles from my hometown of Buxton,but it's also where most of my family live. Why didn't I know about this before?!

The Writing School takes place between 13th and 19th August. The programme of events is amazing - extremely varied with some great workshops and speakers. This year's rundown includes a Science Fiction for Beginners course led by Iain Banks, a Writing Horror Workshop by agent, John Jarrold, a talk by MBA agent, Meg Davis and a Writing for Children Course by SCBWI's, Benjamin Scott. And that's only a small selection.

With so much to choose from, I can see why people choose the residential option and decide to stay at the conference centre, but it's also possible to book as a day visitor. Booking information can be found here. In addition to this, Swanwick also run a couple of writing competitions (short story and writing for children) - first prize for both is a free week at the school.

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

2011-02-22T07:39:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to read Paranormalcy for a long time. Firstly, I'm a big fan of Kiersten White's hilarious blog and secondly, who could resist a book with such an amazing cover?

Luckily the book pretty much lived up to my expectations, although I'm afraid that my inner interpretation of the main character, Evie, didn't match the girl on the book at all! In fact, the whole image suits a much moodier book. Paranormalcy has it's dark moments, but in general, it felt fairly light-hearted and that's a hard balance to maintain. It'll be fascinating to find out how the author balances comedy with sinister in the follow up, Supernaturally. You can read the full review on Chicklish.

Reading Round Up (February 2011)

2011-02-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

I've just started to make my way through the lovely pile of books on my coffee table. Virtually all of these are due for review so I'll be posting my thoughts over the next few weeks:

Paranormalcy - Kiersten White
The Pain Merchants - Janice Hardy
Siren - Tricia Rayburn
The Winter Ghosts - Kate Mosse
The Iron King - Julie Kagawa
The Hare with Amber Eyes - Edmund de Waal

Also, although this isn't one of my 'official' review books, I HAVE to recommend Firebrand by Gillian Philip. I'd heard this novel was good, but it totally blew me away and I'm not massively into the faerie/sithe thing. Philip gets everything right - the characters, the plotting, the mythology. She's taken old ideas and made them new again. I understand why the first print run ran out so quickly. If I have a chance, I'll post a more detailed review here at some point.

World Book Night

2011-02-12T13:43:00.000-08:00

It's taken a while to make it to the blog, but I'm proud to post that I've been accepted as a giver for World Book Night, which is due to take place 5 March 2011. It took me ages to choose the book that I wanted to give - the list includes many of my favourites including Northern Lights, the Blind Assassin, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Life of Pi, but in the end, I decided to select Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

This is one of my all time favourites because of the narrative structure. I'm a sucker for interlocking stories, especially amazingly-written ones that contain more than one genre. I know this isn't necessarily the most accessible novel in the world, but I hope that some of the 48 readers receiving a free copy will enjoy reading the book. All being well, I'll be posting a couple of comments here after the event.

Review: Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

2011-01-30T13:42:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for a MG/YA read with a difference, then I can highly recommend Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel.

The book tells the story of 13-year-old Ben who becomes a 'half-brother' to a baby chimp, Zan, when his research scientist parents decide to embark on a cutting-edge experiment in a new town. It's an original and thought- provoking novel with lots of emotional content. My full review can be found here.

The Second Book

2011-01-26T13:44:00.000-08:00

My blogging has been rubbish recently, but in my defence, I've a) returned to a mega-stressful time at work and b) am currently steaming ahead with my next book.

Writing the second book feels easier than the first - so far. I typed most of the first draft as part of the NaNoWriMo challenge and finished it off during the Christmas break. The process spanned 2 months and I knew that the finished item was way off perfect, but the framework was there. It took me six months to reach this stage with my first novel.

I've tackled the revision process completely differently this time too. I devoted the whole of January to planning and re-outlining, using the initial draft as a brainstorming tool, rather than a definitive guide. It's too early to judge whether this has been successful, but again, it's been much faster this time round. I estimate that it took me about 15 months to get to this point with my previous book (with a six month break in the middle). I'll share some the resources I used in a later post.

If all goes to schedule, the actual re-writing will start at the beginning of February and continue all month. This is my favourite bit of the process.

Then I sit on it for a while...

Review: The Dark by David Gatward

2011-01-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

Apologies in advance for the very scary image, but I recently reviewed The Dark, the sequel to The Dead (review on Chicklish) and the insides of the book match the cover. Gore isn't my thing so I've been surprised at how much I've enjoyed the series so far. Somehow the grisly bits feel like an necessary part of the novel, rather than random buckets of entrail and there's a story too - a pretty good one. It'll be interesting to see how David Gatward ties the tale up in The Damned (due for release April 2011).

My Top 5 Books for 2010

2010-12-31T06:39:00.000-08:00

Looking back at my earliest posts on this blog makes me wince - all those book lists and good intentions. In my defence, my path has swerved somewhat unexpectedly since becoming a reviewer. Rather than choose specifics, I've opened up my reading tastes and have tried different kinds of stories. Overall, this has been enjoyable experience, although it has seriously deepened my TBR pile. At this point in time, I have at least 10 books waiting for my undivided attention! I'm not exactly how many novels I've read in 2010, but I'm pretty certain that it's more than usual so I've found it tricky to pick out 5, but I've finally done it, so here they are:

Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
I've made no secret of the fact that this has been my favourite book all year. It was so much richer than I expected, full of surprises and interwoven threads. A bit of something for everyone. I'm looking forward to Candy's next creation.

Pink by Lili Wilkinson
To be honest, I wouldn't have picked this up if it hadn't been sent to me for review. Contemporary isn't my usual choice, but I absolutely loved it. Lili Wilkinson pulls off the difficult trick of balancing readability with complex ideas. Great ending too.

The Lost City of Z by David Grann
This was another book that took me on a journey from my usual path. Well-written and thrilling. In this case, the truth really was stranger than fiction. Indiana Jones for realists.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
This is the kind of book I'd like to be able to write. I admire Catherine Fisher's imagination and writing style. Incarceron combined everything that I enjoy about fantasy - interlocking worlds, mysteries within mysteries, new mythologies.

Dark Matter - Michelle Paver
Michelle Paver has pulled off the very difficult trick of creating a new ghost story that's incredibly scary. I woke up about a week after reading this in a cold sweat. I had to include it in my top five for that reason alone.

With a successful 2010 reading year almost finished, I've decided not to make any lists for 2011. I'm keeping an open mind for the year ahead. Happy New Year to all the booklovers out there!

Unspoken Rules of Writing Forums

2010-12-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

I'm keeping it short and sweet today, but thought I'd briefly post about forum etiquette as it's fresh in my mind. I referred to a number of essential websites for writers in one of my earliest posts and these still hold true. However, when it comes to forums, I've picked up a couple of crucial tips over the last year and thought I'd share these with any newbies looking for pointers:

Participate in online chat before you post your first thread. Today, I read that 50 posts should be your minimum before you request help (not sure if this is tongue-in-cheek, but suspect it has a ring of truth).
Avoid posting your question in the wrong section. Read through the potential sub-groups first.
Ask your question once. Don't keep re-posting in different sub-groups in the hope that more people will respond.
Be as positive as possible. Negative behaviour gets picked up very quickly.
Find out whether the website has a hidden scoring system for comments given. If it has, try and master it because long-term users will definitely reference it before offering assistance.
Don't boast about your writing talents - especially if you don't have an agent or a deal.

Of course, the above guidelines don't apply to every single forum. Each site has it's own flavour, but it's definitely worth getting a feel for the general tone before you launch in.

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

2010-12-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to get my hands on Matched ever since I read the blurb earlier this year so I was really pleased when Write Away sent over a review copy. I'd been expecting good things, but the book was even better than predicted. Fresh writing, a nice premise and complex ideas. I know that some readers have criticized the characters for being too sketchy, but I didn't find this at all. I also didn't mind Cassia's early naivety. Although I didn't mention this in my main review, I thought her journey demonstrated the transition from childhood to adulthood quite believably, especially as she lives an extremely sheltered life. It'll be interesting to see how Ally Condie develops the sequel.

Cartwheels and Handstands!

2010-11-29T13:58:00.000-08:00

I received an email from Chicken House today to say that the Times Online were considering posting an extract from my novel, The Moonlocket, as part of their 'promising entries' showcase. They couldn't guarantee publication on the website, or a place on the shortlist, but wanted to let me know that the novel had caught their eye.

I've been trying to concentrate on other things all day, but I had one quick check tonight, and to my surprise, it's there! Even better, they've chosen one of my favourite extracts! To say I'm pleased is somewhat of an understatement. Frankly, I don't think I'll sleep tonight at all.

Can't imagine what will happen from here. The other pieces of work are amazing so I'm not holding out for the next round, just absolutely thrilled that I've got this far.

Literary Gift Ideas

2010-11-28T03:31:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the hunt for present ideas, especially with a bookish theme (my husband and mum love books too) so I thought I'd share some of my recent findings here.

The Literary Gift Company
I was quite astounded about the amount of bookish paraphenalia that's available on this website. I'm particularly liking the t-shirts, especially the the 'Careful or you'll end up in my next novel' version. Be warned!

Art Meets Print

You can order prints of iconic book covers (Faber and Penguin) here. There's an option to print either on paper or canvas. Not a huge range, but there are some nice designs on offer.

Vintage Ladybird

Fancy a trip down memory lane? There's loads of Ladybird stuff to choose from these days - pouches, journals, even plasters (the mind boggles)! Good for stocking fillers.

Right - off to do some shopping now! Please feel free to leave comment if you have any other suggestions and I'll add them to this post.

Review: Flood and Fire by Emily Diamand

2010-11-23T23:38:00.000-08:00

Flood and Fire was one of those books that hooked me in straightaway. Lilly's voice is so strong and funny. I can see why Emily Diamand won the The Times/Chicken House competition in 2008. She has a style all of her own. I didn't mention this in the review, but the content is slightly reminiscent of Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines series - so fans might want to check out this book too. You can read the full review on Chicklish.

Wrack Line - Inspiration #1

2010-11-21T01:54:00.000-08:00

I've loved this song for years. It sums up everything about an out-of-season seaside town and is the lead tune for the novel I'm working on at the moment. I'd never seen the video before today though - somewhat cheesy to say the least!

How Many Personalities Do You Have?

2010-11-19T11:54:00.000-08:00

The Social Networking session at the recent SCBWI conference set me thinking. I've been posting online for over five years now, but I've never really stopped to consider my virtual identity. You see, I don't have just one or two digital personalities, I have six or seven!

Two are anonymous and four are open, and I use them in completely different ways. I post personal thoughts and goals on my anonymous blogs without fear of connection with the 'real' world. These act both as motivators and journals. Then there's this blog and the associated Facebook account, which are primarily writing and book-related. I also have my professional digital identity at work and a business page on an affiliate sales website, plus various other placeholders which I rarely use.

Very few of these were pre-meditated. I simply started them because they served a specific need - a desire to track personal progress, a wish to share ideas with like-minded people, a hankering to experiment with different forms of communication. I enjoy posting on all of them, and they all operate on completely separate levels - various facets of me, I suppose.

But what's the norm? How many virtual personalities do most people have? One or two? Five? Ten? Are they all open or are some anonymous? Am I a complete weirdo? I'd love to hear how other bloggers/facebookers operate out there.

10 Things I Learned at the SCBWI Conference

2010-11-15T06:19:00.000-08:00

I've just returned from the SCBWI BI Conference and I'm still buzzing. The experience was exciting, scary, inspirational and exhausting - everything I'd hoped for and a little bit more. I met some wonderful people and learned some important skills. My only regret was that my camera packed up after the very first session so I didn't manage to take any photos. It's nigh on impossible to sum up everything in ten points here because I had a hell of a lot to learn, but I'll do my best! So here goes - in no particular order...

You can't pick up everything at a conference or speak to every person - no matter how much you prepare.
Grow every single plot seed that you sow.
When pitching to an agent or editor, pretend that you're bigging up someone else's book to increase your confidence.
Don't worry about whether you're a planner or a pantser. Great writers do both and still achieve amazing results (Marcus Sedgwick and Ellen Renner have completely different approaches).
Vampires are still big in the UK. Angels and dystopian fantasy are hot property right now. Crime and sci-fi are increasing in popularity, but publishers will acquire any genre if the book blows their socks off (views from a panel that included Rebecca Hill - Usborne, Bella Pearson - David Fickling Books, Sarah Lilly - Orchard, Brenda Gardner - Piccadilly Press).
You can make a free website at Jimdo.
Make sure that every character, however minor, is considered with precision - make their presence count.
SCBWI BI has 400 members.
If you're going on your own, you will make friends. It's impossible not to!
You will leave with a sense that your writing world has expanded exponentially, just perhaps not in a way that you predicted.

Phew! Off to do some writing now before I return to work tomorrow. I'd be happy to answer any questions about the conference if you weren't able to attend so please either leave a comment here or email me directly and I'll get back to you.

Reading Round-Up (November)

2010-11-10T13:47:00.000-08:00

I missed October's round up, but I'm back on track for November with lots of lovely books lined up for those dark nights.

Reading:
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

To read:
Matched by Ally Condie
The Dark by David Gatward
Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

I'm a relatively slow reader compared with other reviewers so this is my absolute maximum for a month unless I manage to take a day or two off work. NaNo is also supping my powers of concentration at the moment so I can only seem to be able to read a few pages before I fall asleep. Only 20 days to go...

Countdown to the SCBWI Conference!

2010-11-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

My writing world feels very exciting at the moment. Not only I am 12K words into my new novel, but there are now only a few days until I attend my very first writing conference!

This is a landmark year for SCBWI British Isles as it's their tenth anniversary so there's not only going to be lots of mini-events during the two days, but also a swanky celebration party for agents, publishers and members on the Saturday night.

I'm aiming to attend most of the major talks, and am also booked onto some fantastic sessions - including a talk by Marcus Sedgwick about sense of place. Not at all sure what to expect, but I'm looking forward to finding out. I'll be posting about my experiences next week.

NaNo Blog Hop - Day 4

2010-11-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

I'm getting really into NaNoWriMo this year so I couldn't resist joining Brandi's Nano-inspired Blog Hop to share my current grand total of 6727 words (just exceeded the 'official' day 4 target of 6668). I'm absolutely astounded by some of the word counts out there though. One of my writing buddies has already totalled at 43K+ words! Unbelievable.

So far, my story is going surprisingly well. No major plot holes yet, although I know it's early days. I hope that I can manage to keep those pages turning over the next 26 (eek) days.

Good luck to everyone who's working on a novel on this month. I'd love to hear from anyone who's interested in participating in a NaNoCriMo (National Novel Critique Month) in either December or January.

Happy National Non-Fiction Day!

2010-11-04T00:23:00.000-07:00

National Non-Fiction Day is an annual celebration, initiated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups in partnership with Scholastic Children’s Books. It aims to celebrate all that is brilliant about non fiction and show that it’s not just fiction that can be read and enjoyed for pleasure.

Check out the website to find out about non-fiction books and authors. There's also a link to lots of great free resources. I was a massive fan of non-fiction when I was at school, and loved reading up on amazing facts and figures (I was a bit of a swot!) so this celebration is long-overdue.

Review: The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

2010-11-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

My review of The Demon's Covenant has been posted on Chicklish today. I jumped directly to the sequel on this occasion, which made for interesting reading. Usually, I wouldn't invest in a series unless the first book had captured my imagination so it was fascinating to see how successfully Rees Brennan managed to draw me in with her second offering. Check out my review to see how she fared!

Across the Universe Competition

2010-11-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

I'm not someone who enters every giveaway out there, but I do like to exercise my puzzle muscles now and again, especially if there's a great prize on offer. So I was hooked as soon as Beth Revis announced her Across the World Tour and Contest. The aim is to first find the secret page on Beth's website, then discover a three word password from the letters posted during the November blog tour. The password unlocks a whole host of extra information about the novel (due to be released in the US 11 January 2011, and 03 March 2011 in the UK). Prizes include:

A signed, personalized, doodled copy of the Across the Universe ARC
A limited edition collection of three pin-buttons featuring Across the Universe
A collection of star-related swag
A mystery gift that's so mysterious even Beth doesn't know what it is
A soon-to-be-revealed awesome prize

Personally, I'd be quite happy wth the copy - just look at the cover!

Monster Mash Blogfest

2010-10-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I tried a short story, so I thought I'd sign up to Roh Morgan's Monster Mash blogfest. I'll confess that I've not included a 'monster' as such, more an unseen force, perhaps a demon or a god.

My fingers tremble with hatred as I scroll down the screen. 41,900,000 results. 41,900,900 ways to get revenge. I read with greedy eyes, skipping the ones that warn against excess, sipping from a glass of sour wine. Forget leniency, I want the works. He deserves it for all those lies, all the times he’d ring me in the office, pretending to be at home, when he was with her. I run the scenes through my head again, savouring the sharp ache in my heart until I’ve seen enough.

Back to the screen, I skate through page after page, drinking glass after glass until my tongue is swollen with purple grape, but nothing is extreme enough, painful enough. My anger cuts like salt on a sore.And there it is. The Veive Agency.

It’s not the name that catches my attention though, it’s the words underneath.

Revenge is too easy. Retribution too quick. If you want to inflict slow, insidious unease and lasting mental torture, contact The Veive Agency.

My gnawed fingernails hover over the keyboard for a second. But then I see his lie-smeared face again. I press down.

Pure darkness. At first I think the link is broken and then the cursor flashes white, a message streams out of nowhere.

What do you want? 

I fill the page with jagged letters, with my crooked thoughts, things I daren’t tell anyone else. I can see my pale face reflected behind the lines of script, eyes like holes, mouth dark from wine. I know I’m ill, but I don’t care. I ask for the worst. I want him back. I want her dead. I finish, exhausted.

Do you want to go ahead?

I decide to play along. How much will it cost?

The answer comes quickly. One kiss

Laughingly, I accept. After all, it’s only a website, isn’t it?

The next day starts like all the others. Head over the toilet bowl, stomach muscles cramping. I’m rinsing out my raw mouth when the phone rings.

“Hello?”

“Lucy, it’s me, Janet.”

Her voice is so familiar, the same accent as his. Years of family celebrations, gossip, shared stories - none of it mine now. My head pounds.

“What is it, Janet?” I ask, my voice chipped.

“It’s Richard.”

She speaks slowly, as if she’s trying to pronounce a difficult phrase.

“What about Richard?” I snap.

“There’s been an accident.”

Joy breaks first, then tips into confusion. Something happened last night, something bad.

The memory returns in the shower, before the picture of him in a bodybag, and after the vision of her dead in the road. I wrap myself in a towel and switch on the computer. The screen is as dark as night, the white characters appear like tiny skeletons.

It is done

My skin peppers with cold air. Co-incidence. The person doesn’t even know my name. I lean to switch off the monitor, but the ghost in the machine beats me to it.

Your wish has been granted, Lucy

Bile coats my throat. If it knows my name, what else does it know? I pull the towel tight as an image appears on the laptop, distorted at first. I don’t want to look, but I have to. It’s my house, the BMW’s in the driveway. There’s a flash of the computer in the window, outlining my silhouette like an aura. Honing in, I notice that my shoulders are bare in the picture, my hair heavy, wet-looking. My neck tenses as horror barbs in my gullet. It’s been watching me, taking pictures. On reflex, I twist, straining to make out shapes beneath the streetlamps, but there is nothing, only the neighbour’s house.

I reach for the phone with shivering hands and block a scream as I catch sight of the screen again. It’s changed. A shape bends right next to the window, my bay tree, except it’s too thin and too tall. Strangely, it reminds me of Richard’s figure. This time, I don’t turn.

Waiting. Every sound is magnified. Occasionally, I think I can hear movements outside. I check the laptop until my eyes sting.

The form is still there, but it looks more like a shadow now, blurred against the dawn light. Cars pass in front of the house. I’m unable to hold one thought for too long, although I know I should prepare for the worst. He’s dead and the police will come soon - once they find out about him and her, us. I brush my hair from my face, practising shock, dismay, everything associated with death.

The knock. They’re here, but the screen doesn’t show them. I take a long breath and walk to the door. I could stall if I wanted to, but what’s the point? I twist, cold metal against my dry palm, and open.

But it’s not them. It’s not them at all. It’s him.

I try to push the door shut, checking the laptop over one shoulder, hoping this is a sick dream, but he’s there too. Skull sunken, eyes full of joyous hate, smashed lips closing in. Mine forever.

On My Wishlist

2010-10-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Book Chick City runs the 'On My Wishlist' blog event every Saturday. It's dangerous for me to list all the books I'd like every week, but I plan to post my wishlist each month. Here are my choices for November:

A Web of Air by Philip Reeve
Two years ago, Fever Crumb escaped the war-torn city of London in a travelling theatre. Now she arrives in the extraordinary craer city of Mayda, where buildings ascend the cliffs on funicular rails, and a mysterious recluse is building a machine that can fly. Fever is the engineer he needs - but ruthless enemies will kill to possess their secrets. The fabulous sixth book in the Mortal Engines series, from the brilliant and award-winning Philip Reeve. (from Amazon.co.uk)

Scatterheart by Lili Wilkinson
It's 1814 and Hannah Cheshire leads a privileged life in London, with fine clothes, servants and a handsome tutor. Then one day her father disappears and she is left to fend for herself. Not equipped for the real world she ends up penniless, and sentenced to transportation for a crime she didn't commit. (from Amazon.co.uk)

White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick
It's summer. Rebecca is an unwilling visitor to Winterfold - taken from the buzz of London and her friends and what she thinks is the start of a promising romance. Ferelith already lives in Winterfold - it's a place that doesn't like to let you go, and she knows it inside out - the beach, the crumbling cliff paths, the village streets, the woods, the deserted churches and ruined graveyards, year by year being swallowed by the sea. Against her better judgement, Rebecca and Ferelith become friends, and during that long, hot, claustrophobic summer they discover more about each other and about Winterfold than either of them really want to, uncovering frightening secrets that would be best left long forgotten. Interwoven with Rebecca and Ferelith's stories is that of the seventeenth century Rector and Dr Barrieux, master of Winterfold Hall, whose bizarre and bloody experiments into the after-life might make angels weep, and the devil crow. (from Amazon.co.uk)

Review: The Lost City of Z by David Grann

2010-10-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Lost City of Z is a non-fiction book by journalist, David Grann. It's a quest adventure, a biography and a detective story rolled into one - a fast-paced and fascinating read.

It tells the true-life tale of Percy Fawcett, an eccentric British explorer who disappeared in 1925 while searching for a fabled lost city in the Amazon. Since his disappearance, many have tried to discover what happened to him, and whether the ancient civilisation ever existed, but the puzzle still remained unsolved when David Grann picked up the trail. The book narrates Grann's journey as he uncovers the truth - both about Fawcett and the lost city, Z.

I was initially drawn to the story because of the lost city, but I soon became intrigued by the character of Percy Fawcett. Grann paints a picture of an extraordinary man - brave, driven, yet blind to risk - who existed in a time when huge areas of the world still lay untouched. Alongside this, the author successfully creates a page-turning experience. I was desperate to know what happened, and wasn't at all disappointed by the eventual outcome (no spoilers here!).

Overall, a great non-fiction title that's light on the pace, but heavy in meaning. I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in ancient civilisations, exploration and history.

NaNoWriMo Challenge 2010

2010-10-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

Today I signed up for NaNoWriMo. This will be the second time I've tackled the 50K word challenge and I'm looking forward to the buzz.

The hardest part for me is picking my project. I have three ideas in the wings - a gritty seaside tale involving merpeople, an Aladdin-style MG fantasy and a twisted tale where girl-meets-magician boy. I've been juggling these projects in my head all year so I have a pretty clear idea of where I want to take them, but the big problem has been my indecision. Which one should I tackle first? I love all of them so I'd welcome feedback from anyone reading this blog. Which one would you prefer to read?

And if anyone wants to buddy up, I'm registered as MCR on the NaNo website.

The Times/Chicken House Children's Competition 2011 - 19 Days Left!

2010-10-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

I wasn't in a position to enter this competition last year, so I was determined to submit a completed novel in 2010. The WIP has been through countless revisions since I first started typing two years ago and the story's all the better for it. I wouldn't say that I feel confident, but I definitely don't feel unprepared!

Most of the elements are ready, apart from the plot plan so I've been working on this today. I also need to tweak my letter slightly. I'm going to keep the framework from my latest submission letter because it's been working well. I've had multiple requests for fulls on the strength of this package. It would be a dream come true to win, but I know the competition is going to be stiff. All I can do is try my best.

Friday Blog Hop

2010-10-07T23:33:00.000-07:00

I'm running my third and final blog hop for this year. I have to say that the hop has been great for me - I've found some excellent blogs that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

If you would like to join in, go to Parajunkee.com , add your name to list and remember to leave a comment here if you've stopped by on the hop! Hope to see you soon.

Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-10-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

And another one.

This time from the prolific Maggie Stiefvater. You can read the review here.

As an extra note, I also wanted to mention the differences between the US (top) and UK covers. For me, the US version is much more representative of the story - green for Spring, the image of Grace.

I like the paw print in the UK cover, but the whole black, red, white contrast has been done to death. I suspect that this is supposed to subliminally influence Twilight readers (check out the UK spines of Shiver and Twilight for instance - very similar), but in this instance the mix is too heavy. It'll be interesting to see what the designers create for Forever. At the moment, the US publisher is circulating a cover of browns/oranges.

Review: Reckless by Cornelia Funke

2010-10-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day, but just by chance, Chicklish also posted my review of Reckless today. I'm a massive fan of Cornelia Funke's and The Thief Lord is one of my favourite books so I was expecting great things from Reckless. I was both right and wrong in my assumptions.

At first I was really disappointed with the novel. The opening was confusing and slightly hackneyed, but then it suddenly flowered into something else - a dark, glittering fairytale. I've read since that she did have problems with the beginning chapters, and this is a shame because the lack of clarity might put some readers off. I urge people to persist!

Review: Pink by Lili Wilkinson

2010-10-04T00:03:00.000-07:00

I received this book courtesy of Writeaway, a website that focuses on the best books for home and school, and I finished it in one day. I don't usually choose contemporary YA, but Pink has made me change my mind. It's funny, feisty and compelling with a deceptively simple cover (look more closely and you'll realise that not everything on the cover is stereotypically pink). You can read my review here. I'm now desperate to get my hands on Lili Wilkinson's other books, especially Scatterheart.

Reading Round-Up (September)

2010-09-27T23:55:00.000-07:00

It's been a good month for books. Here's where I'm at:

Books read:
Reckless by Cornelia Funke
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Spy Glass by Maria V Snyder

Reading:
Pink by Lili Wilkinson

To read:

Flood & Fire by Emily Diamand

The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

I'm reviewing all of these for a couple of websites, which is great because it means I need to flex my writing skills too. I'm particularly interested in how the sequels on my list stand up. I haven't read any of the earlier books so I'll be judging the authors on the standalone quality and mentioning this in my reviews

Make Your Own Book Cover

2010-09-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling creative recently so when I came across the old post - Create Your Own Book Cover at the weekend, I decided to try a cover for myself. As I already have a book title, I decided to side-step the word generators (although mine was 'forbid' - quite like it") and make a cover for my story =>

OK - so it's early days, but I can highly recommend Picnik. The basic features are free and it's really easy to use. I really liked the correction tools (which cost a bit of extra money), especially as I have a camera that produces weird little smudges occasionally - not me, honest! The standard fonts are also pretty imaginative. I'd love to check out home-made covers that other authors have made, but I don't often see them online. Does anyone have any images they'd like to share?

Carry On Regardless

2010-09-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Maggie Stiefvater's blog and am in the process of querying so this post resonated with me this week. Trying to get published is a mindset. It takes strength and belief to push past the negatives. It's also important to remember that the process is subjective. Timing, taste and mood all impact on decisions. When I worked in publishing, I saw companies reject books that went on to become huge bestsellers - many of these didn't fit the mould, but they broke through. Passion and determination are absolute musts in this game.

Life Takes Over

2010-09-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

The writing's been on hold lately due to the day job. I have a plot, characters and backstory - only the words are missing and somehow, I just can't squeeze them out after a full day at the desk. On top of this, I have my usual season-jump insomnia (seems as if everyone is having problems adjusting at the moment), which has made me feel particularly light-headed.

On the bright-side, I'm reading two great books - Linger by Maggie Stiefvater and Reckless by Cornelia Funke (supplied by Chicklish). I'm also feeling the call of the dark so predict that my imagination will stir again very soon....

Dark Matter - Michelle Paver

2010-08-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

Chicklish posted my review of Dark Matter on the website today. It's a haunting story that played on my mind long after I'd finished it. The perfect read for those long autumnal nights.

Tips for Starting a Novel

2010-08-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Getting a novel off the ground is hard work, even if you love your idea. We've all been there, and many of us have already finished at least one story so why is it so difficult to get going?

I don't about you, but I always find that advice from other authors helps to motivate at this stage. Fellow writers understand where you're at, and sometimes it only takes few shared words of wisdom to help break through the procrastination barrier. I thought it might be useful if I summarised some of my favourite motivational posts here for people to check out. I find these invaluable. Hope you do too!

First, some no-nonsense talk from the high priestess of dedication herself, Maggie Stiefvater - The Giant Butt-Kicking How to Write a Novel Post.

I was going to chose one post on motivation from the fab writers over at YA Highway, but they were all so fantastic that I've included a link to the whole selection.

Janice Hardy has tons of great advice about writing on her blog, but this post about plotting and outlining summarises some key points that could get you out of a thought hole.

Finally, if you're at the beginning of a new book and would like to be part of a writing challenge, head over to Emma Michaels' Project to Published Challenge which started yesterday.

I'm always on the lookout for new hints and tips so if you have a post or a recommendation that you'd like to share, please feel free to leave a comment.

Team Peeta

2010-08-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

I've just pre-ordered Mockingjay because I can't bear the thought of finding out what happens to Katniss, Peeta and Gale before reading the book. I've already had a sneaky peek at the Amazon.com website, but luckily everyone seems to be respecting Suzanne Collins' wishes and keeping schtum. Most of the comments appear to be speculative - how's it all going to pan out? Who will Katniss end up with? Will one of them die? Personally, I hope there's a massive twist that no one guesses. Suzanne Collins is more than up to the challenge and I reckon she'll surprise everyone.

As for the love-interest though - I make no secret of the fact that I'm siding with Peeta - at the moment. So far, he's demonstrated deep love and devotion towards Katniss. He's kind, brave, considerate. Yes- she has a long-standing bond with Gale, but he's never been tested in the same way. We've seen Peeta make sacrifices. So definitely, Peeta - for the moment, but I reserve my final judgement until next week.

Friday Blog Hop

2010-08-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I did the blog hop so I thought I'd join in again this week.

Click on Parajunkee.com if you'd like to add your name to list and remember to leave a comment here if you've stopped by on the hop!

Mockingjay Competition

2010-08-15T23:46:00.000-07:00

Don't know about you, but I'm majorly excited about the upcoming release of Mockingjay. I loved The Hunger Games and Catching Fire and am desperate to know what's going to happen to Katniss. Luckily there's not much longer to wait and if you enter the competition over at Beth's blog, you might be one of the enviable people who gets to read the book before it's released. She's giving away a copy of the novel and a covetable Mockingjay pin. Get over there!

One Day - David Nicholls

2010-08-15T00:48:00.000-07:00

'I can imagine you at forty,' she said, a hint of malice in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.' He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.' 15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY.

I always follow-through on recommendations, especially if they come from several sources so I had to read One Day. The story is Hornby-esque in it's appeal - a structured romance, often thwarted, sometimes consumated. There's banter a-plenty, with lots of tragic material to offset the sarcasm. But Nicholls' real gift is his ability to capture the thoughts of the middle-class everyman, describing the grey area that lies between hope and reality as the main characters play out their lives.

Although I didn't love the novel, I had to remind myself that it wasn't real once I'd finished it. The protagonists were full-bodied, and their experiences were believable, but I wonder if it was this overwhelming sense of realism that prevented me from fully enjoying the experience. I felt as if I'd been there, done it. I wanted a revelation, and instead, I found mundanity. There's no doubt that Nicholls is a talented writer, but I'm hoping that he can reach beyond the normal next time.

Reading Heaven

2010-08-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

Three packets of Werthers Originals, five cream teas and four walks (much needed) later and I'm back in Derbyshire. Aldeburgh was everything that we'd hoped for - magnificent skies, delicious fooderies - even sunshine! It felt as if time had been stretched so far that we managed to fit in loads of adventures and still had time to put our feet up.

I managed to devour three books and have nearly finished the fourth. The pattern slightly deviated from my planned list after I decided to buy One Day by David Nicholls from the Aldeburgh Bookshop on the strength of several recommendations from friends. I also couldn't resist picking up a copy of Fludd by Hilary Mantel from the second-hand bookshop at Sutton Hoo. I'll be posting reviews on the website over the next few weeks, and two (Dark Matter and Dark Life) will be published on Chicklish in September.

Holiday Reading

2010-08-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm still planning to read all the books I listed earlier this summer, but I haven't managed to buy them all yet. In fact, the only one that I have finished is Tall Story, which I reviewed for Chicklish (loved it btw!).

So, due to a number of reasons - I have a completely different selection for my holiday - all equally as interesting:

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver (supplied by Chicklish)
Dark Life by Kat Falls (supplied by Chicklish)
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Wondrous Reads giveaway)
The Lost City of Z by David Grann (bought)

I doubt I'll get through more than this in a week. If I add another to the pile, it will have to be A Web of Air by Philip Reeve. I'll be posting reviews for all of these, either on this site or on Chicklish.

One of the Very Many Reasons that I Love Writing

2010-07-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

Today I went on a treasure hunt in search of material for my novel and found something that I'd lost and hadn't been able to find for a long time. I could hear the tune in my head, but couldn't remember the band name. Masks led to Mummers led right back to the amazing tune below. Serendipity.

2010 SCBWI Writers' and Illustrators' Conference announced!

2010-07-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited because I have definitely decided to attend the SCBWI Conference this year. It's being held 13-14 November and details can be found here.

The keynote author is the marvellous Marcus Sedgwick, and a host of other fab UK writers will be supporting - including Ellen Renner, Keren David and Candy Gourlay. It's the 3rd conference, but the 10th year of British SCBWI so there'll be big celebrations!

Hope to see some of you there.

The Moonlocket - Druidstones

2010-07-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

There are lots of stone circles in the Peak District - some are well-known such as the Nine Ladies Stone Circle on Stanton Moor, and others such as Nine Stones Close (to the far-left of the image) are found in more obscure places. On dark days, it's easy to mistake the rocks for people.

The druids have been associated with Derbyshire for many years, especially in the more remote regions of the county. It's thought that they used these sites as places of worship, but no one really knows their true purpose.

The stones don't play a part in the my main novel, but they have a role in the backstory, which is slowly turning into a book in itself!

Guilty Pleasures

2010-07-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

It's been an unproductive few weeks and I blame it completely on Escape to the Country and Celebrity Masterchef. I'm lucky enough to get home at 5.30pm most nights, which means that I sit down for tea just in time for a double bill of comfort TV. First, I'm off viewing dream homes around the UK with the lovely Jules and Alistair, followed by desperate celebs serving up fancy cuisine. An unbeatable combination, n'est pas?

Problem is that by the time the programmes have come to an end, it's 7.30pm and my energy reserves have usually dwindelled to a mere trickle. It takes a superhuman effort to crank my brain into action after all that soporific entertainment, let alone come up with words that form sentences.

Luckily, Masterchef finishes this week so I'll only be left with ETTC, and back to my usual 7pm writing start. Unless, of course, Come Dine with Me happens to be on the other side.

The Moonlocket - Inside the Dale

2010-07-03T00:09:00.000-07:00

I love the landscapes that exist within dales. Smooth grassy valleys close into dark tunnels. Sometimes a spring breaks through from a hillside, pooling against a mossy wall. This photo was taken in one of the lesser-known dales where there's no real path so only determined hikers tackle the route. I'm particularly excited by the glowing object to the centre left of the image. It's probably a seed or a fly, but I think it adds to the mystery of the place. Anything could exist in these secluded valleys.

The Owl Killers - Karen Maitland

2010-06-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

England, 1321. Deep in the heart of countryside lies an isolated village governed by a sinister regime of Owl Masters - theirs is a pagan world of terror and blackmail, where neighbour denounces neighbour and sin is punishable by murder. This dark status quo is disturbed by the arrival of a house of religious women, who establish a community outside the village. Why do their crops succeed when village crops fail; their cattle survive despite the plague? But petty jealousy turns deadly when the women give refuge to a young martyr. For she dies a gruesome death after spitting the sacramental host into flames that can't burn it - what magic is this? Or is the martyr now a saint and the host a holy relic? Accusations of witchcraft and heresy run rife while the Owl Masters rain down hellfire and torment on the women, who must look to their faith to save them from the lengthening shadow of Evil ... a shadow with predatory, terrifying talons.

I'm not sure why it's taken me over two months to post this review because this is a great book - one of my favourites this year (in what has already been an exceptional reading year). Once again, I was seduced by the cover and the blurb, and their promise of dark pagan happenings. Historical novels don't usually do it for me, but the medieval setting and the feminist angle made this sound interesting.

And it was interesting. Not only because of the theme, but also because the author writes the tale from the first-person perspective of five different characters in the village - the beguine leader Servant Martha, the bitter Beatrice and the outcast Agatha, Father Ulfrid the priest, and Pisspuddle, a local child. The writing is fast-paced, switching from one story to another. This creates a rounded sense of life in the community - a bit like a historical soap opera and the narrative covers the usual meaty topics - abortion, class, homosexuality. This isn't a musty novel at all - the characters live and breathe. I really felt as if I was experiencing their world.

The Owlman strand was developed well, but without giving too much away, it leans more towards magical realism than fantasy. There were enough questions unanswered at the end for the mystery to linger after the book finished, which I liked. I prefer it when the author leaves a couple of loose ends and I very much hope that this means that Karen Maitland is considering a sequel.

Karen Maitland Official Website
Crowgyrls - interview with Karen Maitland
The Big Thrill - interview with Karen Maitland

Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta

2010-06-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

Taylor Markham is not a popular choice. She is erratic, has no people skills and never turns up to meetings. Not to mention the incident when she ran off in search of her mother and only got halfway there. But she's lived at Jellicoe School most of her life and as leader of the boarders that's her greatest asset. Especially now the cadets, led by the infamous Jonah Griggs, have arrived. The territory wars between the boarders, townies and cadets are about to recommence.

But Taylor has other things on her mind: a prayer tree, the hermit who whispered in her ear, and a vaguely familiar drawing in the local police station. Taylor wants to understand the mystery of her own past. But Hannah, the woman who found her, has suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but an unfinished manuscript about five kids whose lives entwined twenty years ago on the Jellicoe Road.

I don't read YA Contemporary that often, but I am so glad that I decided to buy Jellicoe Road. As the blurb says, it tells the story of Taylor Markham as she learns about family, love and friendship over the course of one summer.

One of the main reasons that I enjoyed this book so much is because of it's intricacy. There's so much detail in the novel that it could easily be read many times over. The story weaves together two narratives - Taylor's commentary, and Hannah's manuscript, until eventually - without giving too much away - they both start to connect in wonderful and tragic ways. It kept me guessing all the way through. Some clues I picked up, others I didn't.

I loved the voices in this book too. Taylor is such an amazing character. Funny, pragmatic, sometimes infuriating, but so believable. Her realism contrasts nicely with the manuscript's idealistic, almost dreamy tone. The supporting cast also hold their own, especially Jonah, Raff and Webb - all contributing towards the messy, beautiful world that Melina Marchetta has created.

Really, I have nothing negative to write about this book at all. It's sad, hilarious, deep and wide. It's perfect for young teens and older readers (although be warned that you'll need your hankie). Go buy or borrow it!

Summer Reading Wishlist

2010-06-20T00:36:00.000-07:00

I'm massively excited about the summer, especially as I'll be spending a week in Aldeburgh in August. Much as I love the Peak District, it's great to get away and have a change of scenery now and again. It's also going to be fab to have an excuse to do nothing apart from eat ice cream, go for leisurely walks and of course, read lots of books.

To get myself into the holiday mood, I've been compiling a list of my top picks, including catch-up reads from 2009. So far it includes some amazing novels by UK and US authors, mostly YA with a token adult entry thrown in (although I might add to this in the interests of diversity!). I'm already itching to go and buy these...

Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
A Web of Air by Philip Reeve
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
The Pain Merchants by Janice Hardy (great title!)
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Dark Goddess by Sarwat Chadda

I'm also hoping to add a few more to the pile. In the meantime, I've just started Mortlock by Jon Mayhew. Can't beat creepy stuff on a nice warm day!

Blog Hop

2010-06-19T05:19:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty new to blogging so hadn't heard of a blog hop until I came across this on Parajunkee's site. It's a great way to find and follow new blogs. The link to the original blog hop and the rules are below:

Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

Looking forward to following and finding out lots more about YA!

Incarceron - Catherine Fisher

2010-06-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

Incarceron – a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology – a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber – chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here.

In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison – a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device – a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn’s escape is born ...

I was so relieved that this book lived up to my expectations. I was optimistic that Catherine Fisher would deliver, but you can never be sure with fantasy. This one was exactly what I'd hoped for.

The story takes place in two worlds - Finn's and Claudia's, one poverty-stricken, the other luxurious, both dangerous. The action switches between the different POVs, often cutting at the most exciting moments, making the book a real page-turner. I had to hold myself back from finishing it in a single afternoon.

The characters were distinctive, but I got the most enjoyment out of the world-building. The settings are satisfyingly complex and fresh. There's also a mild philosophical slant, which adds to the intricacy and ties in with a nice twist at the end. I must admit that I guessed this quite early on, but it didn't reduce my reading experience at all. I'm now desperate to read the sequel, Sapphique.

The Moonlocket - Inspiration#1

2010-06-10T03:47:00.000-07:00

As a new set of posts, I thought I'd share some places that inspired my current novel - The Moonlocket.

My initial ideas came from time spent walking in my local area - the Peak District. Many of the dales are hidden from sight and it made me wonder what they could conceal. The photo to the left is one of the more accessible dales, but it's still typical of the landscape in the book. The river is visible in this valley, yet many of the tributaries in the area disappear underground into limestone caverns, only surfacing at certain points. It's very possible that objects could be lost and then found again after long periods of time - like the Moonlocket.

Summer Time

2010-06-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

There's no two ways about it. I find it harder to write in the summer time.

It's light outside, it's warm - I could be in the park, or at the pub, or throwing some kebabs on the BBQ. Don't get me wrong, I'm not your typical sun workshipper, I just do more work when it's cold and dark, when there's nothing to tempt me from my imagination.

But write, I will. I have one whole week dedicated to storytelling next week and I intend to use it.

Now onto my third small cake of the day...

Pride and Joy

2010-05-31T01:42:00.000-07:00

I used to stay with a French pen pal when I was younger and I remember being in awe of a bookshelf unit that took up the whole of one huge wall. Multicoloured spines squeezed together, fat shiny tomes waiting to be read. My parents had books, but they were scattered, dusty things - hidden in corners, unloved.

So I vowed to myself that one day I would have a wall of my own. This isn't the only bookcase in the house, but it's the main one - shared with my husband. It gives us a lot of pleasure.

The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters (TwentyTen Challenge)

2010-05-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

This was my first Sarah Waters' novel and not necessarily my last.

The mammoth publicity drive certainly contributed towards my desire to read the book, but I was also attracted by other elements of the story. I'm a sucker for gothic ghost tales, especially ones written by reputable writers so it was inevitable that I'd end up buying it eventually.

The best compliment that I can give Waters is that the novel did lead to uneasy nights. Not screaming horror or cold sweat uneasy - just unsettled. I experienced a faint sense of decay after closing the pages - so much so that I didn't take the book on holiday even though I was halfway through (I finished it when I came back). The sickening combination of evil, sex and class-divide reminded me of the The Turn of the Screw.

I liked Faraday's character too. Dull, yet privately and possibly, unconsciously - ambitious. He changed throughout the story, as Waters stripped him bit by bit. Very effective.

But unfortunately, there were flaws too. The plot was too drawn out. I know that she was trying to layer the suspense and character development, but at points the pace became unbearably slow. I nearly put the book down several times out of sheer boredom (luckily the hook was stronger than the editing). I also became frustrated with the Ayres family. Yes - I know that it was a matter of pride, but WHY did they stay in the house?? Sorry, but it didn't ring true.

I'm still sitting on the fence about this one. In many ways, it's close to being a classic, but I'm not sure whether it's tight enough. Only time will tell.

The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness (Twenty Ten Challenge)

2010-05-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

I'm so behind in my reviews this year, despite having read a good few books on the original list so thought I'd get back on the train by sharing my thoughts about The Knife of Never Letting Go (inspired by the review at Bart's Bookshelf)

The first word that springs to mind is exhausting - in the best possible way. This book is relentless.

Set in a future world on a colonised planet, it tells the story of thirteen-year-old Todd as he runs from his disfunctional male-only town with his dog Manchee, chased by a gang of ruthless men for an unknown reason.

Sounds cryptic? Well it is, but the truth begins to dawn piece by piece as the hunt unfolds - revealing the horrific secret about the town and about Todd's destiny.

Like the majority of readers out there, I thought that the book was superb. Ness has a distinctive writing style that's immediate and vibrant. He's a master of voice. You feel as if you know the characters intimately, including the loyal Manchee (who has to be one of the most beautiful animal characters ever created). I laughed, cried, held my breath right until the shocking cliffhanger at the end. I've not bought the other two books in the trilogy yet, but they're high on my list. Ness is a gifted writer.

YA Highway Giveaway

2010-05-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

I've been checking in at the YA Highway website since it launched a year ago. I love the fact that it's written by a collective of majorly talented YA writers and the weekly YA news round-ups on Field Trip Fridays are essential reading. Now to top it all, they're running an amazing three days of giveaways.

Today's giveaway (Day Two) - celebrating the one-year anniversary - is for those who write and is open to international fans. The prizes are pretty special - agent and writer critiques from some of the top names in the business. Get in there!

Turning the Cube

2010-05-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

I have lots of evolving ideas for my next novel, but it hasn't quite fit together yet. I'm turning the form around in my head constantly to get an angle, to see where the weight drops into place.

This concept of the turn has intrigued me recently, especially after reading the summary of Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (a book top of my wishlist right now). Without giving too much away, some of elements of the novel are similar to a draft that I wrote last year (to be revised), but her premise blows mine out of the water. And so obvious, so simple! Why didn't I think of that? Why not, indeed. Because it's bloomin' difficult, that's why. The talent to mould the story and capture a unique slant is pure craft.

So I'm focusing on this aspect until I get it as near as possible. Spinning 360 degrees.

YA Hiatus

2010-05-22T04:28:00.000-07:00

I've had a break from reading YA recently. Actually, that's a lie because I did manage to fit Corbenic into my bookpile (and I'm glad that I did - it was great - lots of shadowy crossovers between myth and reality).

Aside from that though, I decided to go back to adult fiction for a few months to see what was happening over there. As usual, I went straight for the creepier titles - The Little Stranger, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and my favourite of the three, The Owl Killers, which I'd been wanting to read for ages. I enjoyed them all, but I couldn't help making comparisons with YA.

The first, most obvious difference was the length of the narrative. The adult authors gave themselves licence to explore characters and situation in detail - sometimes in too much detail. There were times when I wanted the author to cut to the chase, to edit. The second variance was that society seemed to make much more of an impact on the lives of the characters. They were constrained by expectation, wealth, habit and accepted this to a large degree. It was as if they had already chosen their box.

It was this second observation that led me to understand why I love YA so much. The characters are still in the process of consciously choosing their path. They are free to a certain extent, evolving and that gives them power, an openess that many older people have lost. Not to say that adults can't change, it's just that they've usually funnelled their desires down by the time they appear in a book.

Linger Trailer

2010-05-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

Maggie Stiefvater's trailers are just as lovely as her books...

Happy Birthday Puffin!

2010-05-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

I am very much enjoying Puffin's 70th birthday party website. It's very pretty and full of fun things to do. There's even a quiz for grown-ups, although I'm ashamed to admit that I can't answer most of the questions.

Like most dedicated readers, I have happy memories of stashing Puffin books under my bed - ready to read by torchlight as soon as Mum was out of earshot. I've saved those dog-eared copies from countless binbags over the years and they're still on my bookshelves today.

I also have to thank Puffin for my first public appearance as a writer (hoping that they'll give me another opportunity one day!). I made the pages of the Derbyshire Times in 1985 when Puffin Post published my short story "The Sandals and the Unsuspected Witch". The story was pretty good, although I'd rather forget the photograph (me with grey elastic headband and cheesy grin). Good days.

Is it love or just infatuation?

2010-05-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

I think I'm in love. I can't stop thinking about my story. My life feels kind of empty when I'm not working on it.

I soooo want this to be the real thing, but I'm scared. What if it doesn't work out? What if I invest in something that's not meant to be? I could potentially gamble three, six, twelve months of my life on a futile quest.

But on the other hand, I could hit jackpot. This could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

This could be the one.

Taking IT Seriously

2010-05-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

The one question that I ask myself repeatedly is "am I taking this seriously enough?"

I've been writing hard for about a year and a half now. One revised novel, and one first draft, one professional editorial report, three beta readers, a critique group and a blog. I'm definitely committed, but I always feel as if I can do more. What about the conferences, the competitions? Where are the short stories, the teasers? I haven't even enrolled on a creative writing course yet!

How far do I have to push myself? Is there any such thing as enough?

I don't think so.

While I'm Waiting

2010-04-06T02:53:00.000-07:00

I plan to keep busy while I'm sending my novel out to agents. Luckily, life isn't giving me many chances to sit around. I've had two work-related projects to complete recently so these have taken up lots of my spare time. I've also been playing around with ideas for my next novel. At the moment, I have three and I LOVE one of them - think sea and singing. The only thing holding me back is the tiny suspicion that a really big US author might be writing something similar so I'll probably write a short before I dive right in and commit myself.

Another writing option would be to go back to the 1st draft of the sci-fi that I wrote last year to beef it up as a fun submission over the summer. The idea was pretty fresh...and then Caprica came out. My story is no way identical, but it has obvious similarities. Now I'm wondering whether to spend the time revising it. I suspect that it will need a lot of work - maybe too much.

Still, I'm glad that I have so many possibilities lined up. I've been writing seriously for a year and a half now and I feel as if I'm improving all the time. I feel that writing is the one thing that I really want to do.

A World Beyond Narnia

2010-03-22T00:17:00.000-07:00

BBC Radio 3 broadcast a programme about Young Adult Fiction last night, which included conversation with authors such as Meg Rosoff and Patrick Ness. UK listeners will be able to access this for another seven days.

Ten rules for writing fiction

2010-02-20T01:53:00.000-08:00

I've been a Guardian reader for 16 yeaars - ever since a schoolfriend introduced me to the paper. Since then I've read it every week, apart from a few brief episodes where I flirted with other newspapers and it's probably informed my tastes more than I'd like to admit. I love the intelligent reporting and good design, but I also keep on buying it because occasionally it produces features that align perfectly with my mindset (circle back to above).

And today, it did just that.

4 whole pages filled with the top ten writing tips from superstar authors. Great timing just as I'm about to send out my reworked novel and start my next. Looking forward to a detailed re-read when I get back from visiting a friend today.

I Love Spreadsheets

2010-02-13T03:41:00.000-08:00

Yes - it's sad, but it's true.

If I need to track anything, I usually create a spreadsheet. So that's what I'm doing now, before I start submitting. It's a multi-tab affair - one tab per book, with a agents on the vertical and dates, notes, requests (optimistic, I know!) on the horizontal. I have looked at submission tracking databases such as AuthorAdvance, but I can include a lot more info on my own version, and cut the data as I choose.

Once I've completed the grid, I'm aiming to share some of my listings on the blog, particularly information about UK literary agents that accept email submissions.

Changing the Format

2010-02-07T23:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I took the next step towards submission. I changed my font from Calibri to Times New Roman, indented my paragraphs, upscaled to 12pt and added double line spacing.

I expected this to be a simple formatting exercise, which it was, but I also found myself being unexpectedly catapulted into another stage of revision. What had been hidden before, suddenly jumped out at me in a startling way. Word repetition, broken flow, incorrect spacing. It was as if I'd put the manuscript under a microscope.

So now I'm going to go over the whole novel again, altering the finer detail, reading aloud to make sure that the rhythm is right. I don't want to leave any page unturned.

The Crowfield Curse - Pat Walsh

2010-02-06T03:09:00.000-08:00

It's 1347 and fifteen-year-old Will, an orphan boy, lives at Crowfield Abbey. Sent into the forest to gather wood, he rescues instead, a creature from a trap - a hob, who shares with Will a terrible secret. Somewhere in the forest behind the abbey where he lives,is a grave. And buried deep in the snow is an angel. But how can an angel die? What has it to do with the monks of the Abbey? When two hooded strangers arrive at Crowfield asking questions about the angel's grave. Will is drawn into a world of dangerous Old Magic.

As soon as I read the blurb above, I knew that I had to buy this book. The mix of angels, old magic and monasteries was too tempting to miss.

And happily, I can confirm that on the whole, The Crowfield Curse lived up to expectations. This is a great debut from Pat Walsh. She takes a historical setting and threads it with fantasy, teasing the magic through gently so that it creeps into the story piece by piece, making the crossover between worlds realistic.

The characters are well-drawn, and varied with lots of tetchy personalities to offset the goodness of Will, Brother Snail and the Hob. At times, I found Will, the main character, slightly too perfect, but the author just about gets away with this. I hope we get to see more of his dark side in the sequel.

Story-wise, it worked. Without going into detail, the ending was satisfying, especially as there was a twist at the end that I hadn't anticipated. I'll definitely be buying the next installment.