tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2497105513091302332024-03-15T00:02:57.361+13:00The Dragon's PenThe blog of Ruth Peoples (aka Penelope Gryffin), writer and aspiring author, about writing (YA fiction, fantasy, science-fiction, historical fiction and short stories). Including writing tips, book reviews, querying agents and getting published.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-46704282954698066802013-11-30T15:44:00.000+13:002013-11-30T16:00:21.966+13:00Inspiration. Where does it come from?<br />
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Inspiration.<br />
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What is it? Where does it come from?<br />
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Firstly, what is inspiration?<br />
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At thefreedictionary.com inspiration is described as being:<br />
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<b>1. </b><b>a. </b>Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.<br />
<b>b. </b>The condition of being so stimulated.<b><br /></b><b>2. </b>An agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention.<b><br /></b><b>3. </b>Something, such as a sudden creative act or idea, that is inspired.<b><br /></b><b>4. </b>The quality of inspiring or exalting: <span class="illustration" style="color: #226699; font-style: italic;">a painting full of inspiration.</span><b><br /></b><b>5. </b>Divine guidance or influence exerted directly on the mind and soul of humankind.<b><br /></b><b>6. </b>The act of drawing in, especially the inhalation of air into the lungs.</blockquote>
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So what sorts of things inspire you to write?<br />
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Where do you find the inspirational trigger that gets your mind humming and your imaginative juices flowing?<br />
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I am a very visual person, so the majority of my inspiration comes from something I have seen. And it is usually comes in the form of can be similarly inspired by a face, a name, a place, a garment or a picture. Inspiration can strike me anywhere and sometimes does at the oddest of times.<br />
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A few weeks ago, I was driving to work and I'd stopped at red light. A couple a guys were crossing the road, they were dressed in business suits, one of them looked quite dapper in a nicely tailored grey suit and scarf. Ordinarily I would have taken little notice but there was something about this guy, the way he held himself, the way the grey of his suit contrasted with his hair that made my eyes follow him as he crossed the road in front of me.<br />
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Now I don't know if non-writers get this, but there was nothing sexual or untoward in my watching this guy, I was simply downloading my IMPRESSION of him into my memory bank of potential characters.<br />
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Something about him INSPIRED my imagination.<br />
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Who know if I will every use this impression, or what sort of form his eventual character might take. He might morph into a medieval prince, or a tattoo artist come biker dude, or a 1940s war hero.... or a murderous ex.... or a tormented superhero .... the possibilities are almost endless.<br />
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I don't only find this inspiration in men. A dark haired baby named Tremorgan inspired the character in my YA novel, about a girl of seventeen.<br />
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Sometimes though, inspiration comes in the form of something a throw away comment someone makes or something another person has written, whether it is an historical article, or a scene or crisis in a story someone had written.<br />
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Lately, I find myself increasingly vastly inspired by all things Regency and Victorian, which has inevitably led to the writing of a Victorian novel, which I am co-writing with a very dear and talented writer friend. More on that later.<br />
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The fashions, the lifestyles and social expectations of the various classes, all of it so fascinating! I find myself quite inspired...<br />
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Where did you find the inspiration for the character or story you are working on now???<br />
<br />Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-42955941320497996782013-11-29T18:52:00.000+13:002013-11-29T18:54:35.662+13:00There and Back Again<br />
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WOW!<br />
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It has been a <i>very</i> long time since I last blogged at the Dragon's Pen. Much too long in fact.<br />
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Life interfered and the writing was forced to take a back seat to family and work; though I continued to be busy with the Dunedin Writer's Workshop and my critique group.<br />
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And while I might not have been putting pen to paper or fingers to the computer keys, I continued to read mountains of other people's books, fell in love with a host of authors I'd never read before, and learnt much about writing. I hope to share some of these pearls with you in the very near future.<br />
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Early this year I moved from Dunedin and took up residence with my family in Windy Wellington, our fair country's quaint capital (see pic above). It takes time to settle in a new place. New city. New schools. New church. New job. New connections....<br />
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I found a job I enjoy. And I am following my long held dream of being a volunteer medic. But most importantly, after almost a year, I have found the inspiration and time to start writing again. But more on that later!<br />
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It is fabulous to be back.<br />
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I look forward to catching up and sharing more of the highs and lows of following the writer's dream.<br />
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Much love<br />
Pen<br />
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<br />Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-81101296552749548142011-11-13T22:21:00.018+13:002011-11-13T23:33:03.383+13:00Cottage of Dreams<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWFpLQnYqyPEeDA3kUcbFpmOo_3BD19wazihJnKrGk5Z-lTF8MJNYIaquldXMJL0uA-0cUVZMBpjxtwrxguzaVU2c9Tjgvx0gNeE34OvnRuUMvOR7e1pR_09dsYyf2C719WvMx3YvJdB9/s1600/6a00d8341bf77f53ef01156f8c29e8970c-800wi.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWFpLQnYqyPEeDA3kUcbFpmOo_3BD19wazihJnKrGk5Z-lTF8MJNYIaquldXMJL0uA-0cUVZMBpjxtwrxguzaVU2c9Tjgvx0gNeE34OvnRuUMvOR7e1pR_09dsYyf2C719WvMx3YvJdB9/s400/6a00d8341bf77f53ef01156f8c29e8970c-800wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674412493383133042" border="0" /></a>For the first time in far too long my friend Sue and I managed to escape our everyday lives and retreat to a small seaside crib (batch) for some much needed rest and relaxation.<br /><br />For approximately three years we have made it a habit to go on a weekend writing retreat every six months or so, but due to bad health, family stresses, work and moving house we haven't managed to get away for over a year.<br /><br />We had no plans to write this time around. Both of us were just hanging out for the chance to have some down time. We excaped to the Karitane, a little place just 30 minutes drive from Dunedin. There we watched the entire first season of Downton Abbey, went for walks, had coffee with a friend and visited the village of Palmerston. We talked about out books but didn't write a word. It was fabulous!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDJqm0Ce4dy67JS1ztDMJIO43RQVZMwuJ6FTZvibNdLS-xCcONGClRoFD14dLtQYM_oyAcKjxwrUulGvTL6_e708m25k8qnjcoR1ecCCJFp6olRG0leAZoZ5n2s24IE5rlL_pl9S_RUUB/s1600/cottage101-green-kitchen-l.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDJqm0Ce4dy67JS1ztDMJIO43RQVZMwuJ6FTZvibNdLS-xCcONGClRoFD14dLtQYM_oyAcKjxwrUulGvTL6_e708m25k8qnjcoR1ecCCJFp6olRG0leAZoZ5n2s24IE5rlL_pl9S_RUUB/s400/cottage101-green-kitchen-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674423903376070482" border="0" /></a><br />We could see the sea, and hear its muted roar from our porch. The rain pattered on the tin roof as we curled up in the gloom, sung and warm with our hot cups of tea and chocolate biscuits.<br /><br />I came away longing for the simple quiet life, free of the rush and bustle, with time to day dream and write and read to my heart's content. I've fallen madly in love with the idea of living in a small tin cottage remincent of a bygone era - with a few of the modern conviences, of course.<br /><br />It would have lead light windows, tongue and grove walls, a coal range, shelves of glass jars full of all manner of foods on display, cozy quilts, a sand-scrubbed table and worn wooden chairs, a kerosene lamp on the mantle piece and a deep claw-foot bath in the bathroom. Up a narrow stair there'd be a loft bedroom with a steep pitched ceiling and pasley feather quilts on the beds, like Granny used to have.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSTimqHyqBaZpn5D9f0Y_Q-A5PYPx3DNoF28yyVTeZJfr12F84bjUMz0S3JSsp4S9FCCWwyTm_szOs9dgRGXnB8_SoNBC6aCXZpiwXPBdFTEd864yTr1mMTgEv9z7zR5PvN3WU5seviDh/s1600/5806043082_f7fb984cc2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSTimqHyqBaZpn5D9f0Y_Q-A5PYPx3DNoF28yyVTeZJfr12F84bjUMz0S3JSsp4S9FCCWwyTm_szOs9dgRGXnB8_SoNBC6aCXZpiwXPBdFTEd864yTr1mMTgEv9z7zR5PvN3WU5seviDh/s400/5806043082_f7fb984cc2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674423484309446194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The sun would spill cross the floor boards, honey gold, and I'd watch the dust motes dance like fairies on beams of light. I'd stand at the door, feel the breeze kiss my lips, taste the changing seasons and perfume of growing things. Sitting before the fire, flame heat warming my toes, my fingers would play over the keyboard turning inspiration into words. Ah, sigh. Dreams are free aren't they?Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-11716497580711899792011-10-22T19:07:00.011+13:002011-10-22T19:59:12.791+13:00A BEASTLY ReadI've been reading a lot of REALLY good books recently, so I thought over the next couple of weeks I'd share a few of them with you all. Though, I have to confess, some books which may have been on shelves overseas for some time do take a while to reach our fair shores so you may be fimilar with some of them already.<br /><br />BEAST<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixd_GJOZPFMPWd2HOeoCG76mzauit0fMCQrAa8zDVCGlKETLue9-_82W9efLWp8Pp3R0OsRn75Zlnc8txec0T1So02nePK9EJ1Uebor55KJc8tUjkXfgEsYynPzqcocgFVO2RR4ks5hpnA/s1600/0060874163beastly.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixd_GJOZPFMPWd2HOeoCG76mzauit0fMCQrAa8zDVCGlKETLue9-_82W9efLWp8Pp3R0OsRn75Zlnc8txec0T1So02nePK9EJ1Uebor55KJc8tUjkXfgEsYynPzqcocgFVO2RR4ks5hpnA/s400/0060874163beastly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666205421042438818" border="0" /></a>LY by Alex Flinn is a take off of Beauty and the Beast which manages to capture the magic of the old fairytale and the bloom of young love, and meld it seamlessly into a modern setting to create a story that mirrors the old while still being unique.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><br />A beast. Not quite wolf or gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature with fangs, claws, and hair springing from every pore. I am a walking monster.<br /><br />You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. And I'll stay this way forever - unless I can break the spell.<br /><br />Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, the perfect girl, and the perfect life. And then I'll tell you how I became perfectly ... beastly.</blockquote><br />It is a sweet, refreshing, love story. Once I started reading I couldn't but it down. Now my daughter is reading it and I've promised her that once she's finished we'll watch the movie. Yes! Beastly is now out on video. Though if the trailer is anything to go by some artistic licence has been taken with the the beast's appearence. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Neo6W1f7hyY">You can watch the trailer here</a>.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-12191135218858165782011-08-17T09:31:00.015+12:002011-08-17T11:11:17.253+12:00Write Me: Pimp that Fairytale!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_9h00SwotmkMwdoKAJEU8EEj5U4YpBxdD_W6XAVjTXprcV-r5W3_c9wYAqd9NgEgufBJUSIDZQWu1KB-sv0KnmGGzEPeMcXkeQEP3AM1aCfrhH47nDe7ICZtTI_1dsSV6_IjEPepkIHr/s1600/fairy-tales.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_9h00SwotmkMwdoKAJEU8EEj5U4YpBxdD_W6XAVjTXprcV-r5W3_c9wYAqd9NgEgufBJUSIDZQWu1KB-sv0KnmGGzEPeMcXkeQEP3AM1aCfrhH47nDe7ICZtTI_1dsSV6_IjEPepkIHr/s400/fairy-tales.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641594253972551170" border="0" /></a>I thought it might be fun to occasionally put up a writing exercise that might challenge and inspire you. It's amazing how trying your hand at something a little different can improve your writing, help you to pick up on weaknesses, tone your strengths and open your eyes to the various aspects of the craft.
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<br />I've been thinking a lot recently about fairy tales, about the magic quality they have that seems to appeal though all the generations. People have been telling fairy and folk tales for thousands of years, and we've never grown tired of them. So how can we as writers capture that illusive magic for ourselves. Why not start with the fairy tale?
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<br />The first myth we have to dispel is that fairy tales are for children. This simply isn't true. While we may consider fairy tales children's stories this is a merely modern thinking - Walt Disney has had a big role in perpetuating this myth. You only have to open a book of Grimm's fairy tales to see how dark and brutal the old tales were.
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<br />When you pimp a car you strip it down to the essentials, the frame work. You then re-model, re-vamp and re-build the car into something super awesome. We can do the same thing with a fairytale. Strip it down to the basic plot arch ... or take it further still, down to the <a href="http://thedragonspen.blogspot.com/2011/08/fantasy-thinking-outside-square.html">basic essential elements of a fairytale.</a> Then rebuild. This requires some serious "thinking outside the square."
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<br />Lets be honest this isn't a new concept. People have been reworking fairy tales in novels and on the big screen for a few years now, and that's good. It means we have a sources to study. So let's explore a few examples.
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<br />The first one that springs to mind is <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Red Riding Hood</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hoodwinked</span> came out a number of years ago and is a great example of a pimped fairytale. The wolf is a jaded reporter trying to catch a break on a story, the Grandma is supergran-meets-superwoman in disguise, and the evil villain is a cute bunny. More recently <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM8V3cHdSC4">Red Riding Hood</a> is dark fantasy where a werewolf prowls the night - definitely not for children.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shrek</span> is another great example. Though the story leans more heavily towards a retelling of Sleeping Beauty it also has undertones of Beauty and the Beast. Fiona is a beast herself, as well as being a not-so-helpless beauty awaiting her Prince Charming. Shrek is a not-so Charming hero, he's a beast, but he's a better man than Charming. The moral of the story? Sometimes true love doesn't wear the face we expect, but when we find it, it's worth every sacrifice to keep it.
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<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyOyBVXDJ9Q"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tangled</span></a> is the latest contribution to a growing fairytale collection. A retelling of Rapunzel where the Hero is no prince, but is in fact a theif. The wicked witch's motivations for taking the child have been changed and are, personally, much more interesting. And Rapunzel is ... delightful.
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<br />Okay, so we've looked at a few examples to get our imagination limbered up. (If you can think of any others do mention them in the comments). Now lets consider some of the aspects of the tale we can fiddle with.
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Characters</span>
<br />Change their gender, ethnicity, age, or "kind" - maybe to some form of mythological or paranormal creature perhaps. Change the number of characters. Maybe there are ten little pigs instead of three; maybe Cinderella only has one step sister and she's sweet and kind instead of a horrid bully; maybe Beauty is a guy and the Beast is a ghost girl.
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Motivations</span>
<br />Change the character's reasons for the things they do and how they do them. Maybe Rapunzel is a vampire and that's why she voluntarily locks herself away in a remote tower. Maybe the Beast is a werewolf or a shape shifter, or maybe he wasn't cursed, but has a horribly disfiguring disease and that's why his family hides him away from the world.
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Setting</span>
<br />Generally fairy tales have an old time feel, a gothic or medieval setting, but what if you put Snow White in a future time and gave it a Science Fiction setting? What if the Frog Prince was set in Victorian London or in a Steampunk world?
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Quest</span>
<br />Change the quest or the reasons for it. Maybe Sleeping Beauty's prince is a conman and a thief, maybe he only broke into the castle for all the gold and jewels he could steal. Perhaps he steals a quick kiss from a comatose broad and is really annoyed when he finds himself caught red-handed with all the loot he's carrying away.
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Conclusion</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0LcL1ceuvP-PZwrQIjIYFjCsRuVMyqBha5IlE_33drIi3qKl26TRU38QkPFSQw7jX8415EAFPX4-lyWMDhllqv-KGgPGth80cZmpnAXok35HzeUbhJlnMqbWshknAMbUGTyxnlXjY5Wj/s1600/hanselandgretel.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0LcL1ceuvP-PZwrQIjIYFjCsRuVMyqBha5IlE_33drIi3qKl26TRU38QkPFSQw7jX8415EAFPX4-lyWMDhllqv-KGgPGth80cZmpnAXok35HzeUbhJlnMqbWshknAMbUGTyxnlXjY5Wj/s400/hanselandgretel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641593800461343058" border="0" /></a>
<br />Change the conclusion, theme or the lesson learned. Maybe Hansel and Gretel never go home maybe the witch is kind and good and makes a good home for them. Or maybe not, perhaps the witch lives in a grand castle and after she's dead they take over the kingdom and rule in her place. Maybe Snow White never wakes and the prince grows old and bitter or dies of grief.
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<br />The possibilities for change are endless and it can be a lot of fun to throw different ideas around. Feel free to mash different tales together and re-work them. I encourage you to have a go at pimping a fairytale. What crazy ideas can you come up with?
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<br />Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-21585352604898986752011-08-15T16:22:00.008+12:002011-08-15T16:50:46.624+12:00Observation and Translation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fhcBZnqCkI4c9cnE7TKNzvOLPNskYaFT-F4i0K3otoExObaq6sOrjsC5MUpj9aXxFHz7kR6EfvqQoL9JqfonzipJz6Th76bsnD42e5vrdMsSFbv28Pq9sMKm-xVXW6u7Bk21nTbf7_Y1/s1600/digit-art-stuff-gothic-fallen-angels-dark-goth-fantasy_large%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fhcBZnqCkI4c9cnE7TKNzvOLPNskYaFT-F4i0K3otoExObaq6sOrjsC5MUpj9aXxFHz7kR6EfvqQoL9JqfonzipJz6Th76bsnD42e5vrdMsSFbv28Pq9sMKm-xVXW6u7Bk21nTbf7_Y1/s400/digit-art-stuff-gothic-fallen-angels-dark-goth-fantasy_large%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640939683169705938" border="0" /></a>Today's observation:
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<br />Sometimes getting the images out of my head and on to the paper is REALLY hard.
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<br />I can see the characters and the scenes so clearly in my imagination but translating them into words is no easy task.
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<br />I'm writing a kind of fantasy I never imagined I'd pen, a genre I never thought to dabble in, and it ain't easy.
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<br />Can't say more now. I have to keep my cards close to my chest. This is for a competition after all. But, boy oh boy, the sweat and tears I'm shedding over every single word!
<br />Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-86954713462771879372011-08-12T14:35:00.013+12:002011-08-23T20:03:08.963+12:00Fantasy: Thinking outside the Square.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSryNyAM92hRB9vvugrvlUBL-AYKOJjLSL5knsmEH4KjP5qdqkiIWRw88grcK-dvfXbowMIx6A9fEwXXLfbSjnjohYg7xwR8sDKiF9CvxC4vqJu2yWDzmn-0HedbADHxG6_5eroB7iIJ7K/s1600/Vampire_666.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSryNyAM92hRB9vvugrvlUBL-AYKOJjLSL5knsmEH4KjP5qdqkiIWRw88grcK-dvfXbowMIx6A9fEwXXLfbSjnjohYg7xwR8sDKiF9CvxC4vqJu2yWDzmn-0HedbADHxG6_5eroB7iIJ7K/s400/Vampire_666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639803213167725714" border="0" /></a>As secretary for the Dunedin writer's workshop, it was my turn to take the short lesson at last week's meeting. Our next competition in October will be judged by the fabulous<a href="http://banquosson.blogspot.com/"> Tania Roxborogh</a> and the theme is Speculative Fiction. Many of our members have never written fantasy or Science fiction and were feeling a little out of their depth with the subject. So our lesson for Wednesday was: "Speculative Fiction - what is it?"
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<br />I wrote up a basic definition; <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> </p><blockquote><span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >"Speculative fiction is the umbrella term for all of the fiction genres that embrace the “other”, by this I mean stories and novels that are a bit outside the square in terms of the “real world”." </span></span></blockquote> And listed a few genres that come under this wonderful umbrella term including elements or themes that are often an important part of each genre. I have restricted myself to Science fiction, Fantasy, Gothic fiction, Paranormal and Fairy tales.
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<br />Note, my lists are very simplistic. If we wanted to be<span style="font-style: italic;"> really</span> technical each other these genres can be split up into scores of sub-genres - but we won't go there. The whole point behind this was to introduce Speculative fiction novices to the genres of the fantastical genres, to help them understand what makes each one different to it's fellows and to make them feel that writing something so outside their comfort zone <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> possible and can be FUN!
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<br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" ><u><b>Science Fiction</b></u></span></span></p> <ul><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >other worlds; other civilisations; other universes. </span></span> </p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often futuristic; often</span></span><span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" > involves space or space travel.</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >may involve magic, but usually uses futuristic technologies</span></span></p> </li></ul> <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB">
<br /></p> <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" ><u><b>Fantasy</b></u></span></span></p> <ul><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often “other” lands, sometimes other worlds</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often (but not always) in a historical setting</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >sometimes a futuristic or alternative twist on a historical culture (ie: steampunk)</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >usually has quests and hero</span></span><span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >es who save the world, the land, the princess, etc</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >magic is an important element, but the form of the magic varies</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >sometimes magic and technology are mixed </span></span> </p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often magical items are involved (ie: the ring in Lord of the Rings)</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >sometimes old fashioned technologies with a futuristic twist (ie: steampunk)</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often characters are connected to royalty … or from among the lower classes</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often mythical creatures are used; giants, ogres, dragons, flying horses, unicorns, genies and talking creatures, etc.</span></span></p> </li></ul> <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB">
<br /></p> <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" ><u><b>Paranormal</b></u></span></span></p> <ul><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >usual set in the real world, cities and towns as we know them</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >may involve the faerie, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, angels, demons, zombies, shape shifters or other creatures of myth who are <u>semi-human</u>.</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often involves a journey of self-discovery; a love story which must overcome extreme “paranormal” obstacles; a mystery to be solved.</span></span></p> </li></ul> <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" ><u><b>Gothic</b></u></span></span></p> <ul><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >elements of horror / terror </span></span> </p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >elements of romance</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >elements of mystery and suspense</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >historical setting</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >prominent features are: supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses, gothic architecture, darkness, death, madness and transgressions, persecuted females, secrets and hereditary curses.</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >may also involve vampires, werewolves, monster, demons, fallen angels, skeletons and ghosts, maniacs, bandits and villains.</span></span></p> </li></ul> <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB">
<br /></p> <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" ><u><b>Fairy tales and Folktales</b></u></span></span></p> <ul><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often (but not always) in a historical setting</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often teaches the reader something about human character, mostly folktales do this</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >may involve magic or magical items, sometimes quests or tasks must be undertaken</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >evil vs good is a common theme (ie: Rapunzel and Snow White)</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >often mythical creatures are used; giants, ogres, dragons, flying horses, genies, talking creatures, etc. (ie: George and Dragon) </span></span> </p> </li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"> <span style="font-family:Aparajita, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;font-size:130%;" >sometimes uses bewitched creatures/people (ie: Rose Red and Rose White)</span></span></p> </li></ul>
<br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none" align="LEFT" lang="en-GB"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJdlihWcbGNyIw4I8dl-pST6BSuohS2q3B5OJAy7OTSmW0CPX64_nzMpTR5eJBTvQ4ZN-1sRcq9WbxGPsS_7MtaUR8ZaFls-_oy_JHKXJrhWWg7Ua6QZQTzGAqPFAhtbjCDRSMQqfAraj/s1600/lord+of+the+rings.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJdlihWcbGNyIw4I8dl-pST6BSuohS2q3B5OJAy7OTSmW0CPX64_nzMpTR5eJBTvQ4ZN-1sRcq9WbxGPsS_7MtaUR8ZaFls-_oy_JHKXJrhWWg7Ua6QZQTzGAqPFAhtbjCDRSMQqfAraj/s400/lord+of+the+rings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639802785121997090" border="0" /></a></p> Of course not every story in these genres will have every one of these things is them, but most stories will have one or more of these elements. So for those of you who are new to the fantasy genres I hope this helps you gain an insight into the crazy worlds we write. Perhaps it may even inspire you to try your hand at writing something "other." I hope so.
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<br />Enjoy dabbing. Mix things up. Play around with different ideas. Most importantly have FUN with it.
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<br />If you're in Dunedin and you're interested in dropping by the Dunedin Writer's Workshop we meet every Second Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm. If you'd like to learn more feel free to email me (you can find my details on the "Who am I?" page at this blog).
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<br />In other news: I'm proud to say I've finally finished editing my latest fairytale, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bittersweet</span>. It's nice to have it done and dusted, and looking pretty on my flash drive.
<br />I guess that means it's time to get writing something else.
<br />Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-37755909786114042542011-08-08T19:24:00.011+12:002011-08-08T20:34:49.943+12:00When Writing is damn Hard: Unclogging the Creative Plughole<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_pr554o4w_zfnJ0eFx0pkKPnEsONIn4WdEwk5kxMossfTDJURVf6DXyiQAtU0L98RniSlACnbZ8YXt7gyEhrgTngI6lopofMzYdO1U0PuLdloX-0emEbzJqv5vJTenstNKjVxg6Pd7Yl/s1600/abhishekb-4S22MEjXDA0-hd.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_pr554o4w_zfnJ0eFx0pkKPnEsONIn4WdEwk5kxMossfTDJURVf6DXyiQAtU0L98RniSlACnbZ8YXt7gyEhrgTngI6lopofMzYdO1U0PuLdloX-0emEbzJqv5vJTenstNKjVxg6Pd7Yl/s400/abhishekb-4S22MEjXDA0-hd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638400069307993714" border="0" /></a>In my last post I talked about how life had, once again, conspired to distract me from my writing. After a few days of great productivity, I hit a brick wall as circumstances drained all my time and energy and pumped me full of stress and angst. This left me with nothing to put into my writing. It's fair to say I ground to a screeching halt.
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<br />Now that all those stresses are gradually fading into horrors of the past I'm wanting to get back into the writing. However, like a sink where the plughole has become clogged with all kinds of unmentionable gunk, my ability to funnel my ideas on to the paper - or to even access them in the first place - is being hampered by stress. At times like this, getting back into the swing of writing and getting the creative juices flowing again can be <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> hard.
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<br />I feel constipated! There's an uncomfortable blockage in my creativity.
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<br />The ideas are building up behind a locked door. I don't have the key. I can't access them.
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<br />The frustration builds and can become quite debilitating if it takes me too long to get the ideas flowing again. I become a bit like a caffine addict who has been without their morning hit for five days in a row! It's not pretty. In fact, it can be down right frightening, let me tell you.
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<br />So how do I go about unclogging the drain, or finding that magical key?
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<br />Editing. Yes, <span style="font-style: italic;">editing</span>.
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<br />Editing is methodical. It is deliberate. It requires creativity from me, but not too much.
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<br />Picking up a piece of writing that needs to be edited and dealing with it helps me to slowly work me way back into a creative mind set. It picks away at the scum, allowing a trickle of ideas to quickly become a torrent. Ta-da! the blockage is gone, destroyed by the editing process.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr1SEB7xP4w_aWVUnYUpY4vSLqSOvK8b54SN9_iBpamiAbEUSewEpu-UptJnO8S-iwtTdbvL6e6ugDh1fgVqYdW1D-YmCGmjj2F7onOf5JzwEhJYiiCmS8AzKInilrEyhq7yBxBiW3qJX/s1600/8057293-antique-keys.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr1SEB7xP4w_aWVUnYUpY4vSLqSOvK8b54SN9_iBpamiAbEUSewEpu-UptJnO8S-iwtTdbvL6e6ugDh1fgVqYdW1D-YmCGmjj2F7onOf5JzwEhJYiiCmS8AzKInilrEyhq7yBxBiW3qJX/s400/8057293-antique-keys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638399562224524994" border="0" /></a>
<br />When I edit I'm able to push back the worries and the issues of daily life aside and to re-train myself to focus of my writing. Once I'm back in that world - the "other" world of my writing - it becomes easier to slip back into putting words on the page and before I know it I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">writing</span> again.
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<br />This is one key in my arsenal that I use to get though those hard patches. It works for me, maybe it'll work for you too.
<br />Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-25834747820550390732011-08-04T20:13:00.006+12:002011-08-04T20:50:24.066+12:00Distracted?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsUaB3N4xF1iAYbSG4xkS2v9oZPaptYKCwQ3sdAHkDYZ1fRy_C8AWOW-_bMdylUgRpTSAhobKZ6FNX7UqY1pjjsZX4dDObOGcdAIKyH73xhN7nKuxpeIeEbDjWdabVmvvDWt-fliv_Rak/s1600/6a01156fd16a08970c0133ec753a44970b-800wi.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsUaB3N4xF1iAYbSG4xkS2v9oZPaptYKCwQ3sdAHkDYZ1fRy_C8AWOW-_bMdylUgRpTSAhobKZ6FNX7UqY1pjjsZX4dDObOGcdAIKyH73xhN7nKuxpeIeEbDjWdabVmvvDWt-fliv_Rak/s400/6a01156fd16a08970c0133ec753a44970b-800wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636916103987365378" border="0" /></a>Are you suffering from distraction?<br /><br />After two very productive days I've had two unproductive ones. Actually they have been VERY busy but no writing has been done. None what so ever (aside from the blog, but I'm not counting this). Life - as it is want to do - has interfered once more.<br /><br />On one hand I'm desperate to get back to the writing, on the other hand I'm so exhausted I'm having trouble remembering my name and where I put ...<br /><br />We are changing our children's schools and so I've been running about visiting various schools talking to teachers, touring schools, listening to philosophies and briefs of what the schools are about; how they can best grow my kids and meet their educational needs. Signing papers and finding old reports and birth certs, buying uniform, and helping my teenage son choose his subjects. So all in all, my head has been rather full of <span style="font-style: italic;">other</span> stuff.<br /><br />I'd been feeling a bit guilty about my inability to write, in the small moments I've had to think about anything un-school related. Just when I was feeling very glum about it all I read Nathan Bransford blog on <a href="http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2011/08/on-distractions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NathanBransford+%28Nathan+Bransford%2C+Author%29">Distractions.</a> It was exactly what I needed to hear.<br /><br />Life will settle back to normal soon. Hubby comes back from his trip away on Saturday and the kids will head off the their new schools next week. Hopefully then I can curl up with my laptop and get the creative juices flowing again.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-42702145172383168772011-08-02T22:29:00.008+12:002011-08-02T23:07:15.937+12:00The Dragon Tattoo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZrzUgbotZi57XqV0r3I27gOvpsxSDup9wBA-iDjejBVQy1vblIYkFUlZTEDZgmM5qq3cIS2dxHXgF3ztwMOoRkigoX0b7ciCzrcz1IdYYl85XF_lzUOpLRXzTdrAdzLJwVp3ySvhf4u4/s1600/black+dragon+tattoo+on+the+backk.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZrzUgbotZi57XqV0r3I27gOvpsxSDup9wBA-iDjejBVQy1vblIYkFUlZTEDZgmM5qq3cIS2dxHXgF3ztwMOoRkigoX0b7ciCzrcz1IdYYl85XF_lzUOpLRXzTdrAdzLJwVp3ySvhf4u4/s400/black+dragon+tattoo+on+the+backk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636212361273730994" border="0" /></a>I finished writing <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bitterheart </span>yesterday, my writing buddy was impressed - in spite of the many typos. (Poor girl, the things I put her though!)<br /><br />I also began a new story. It's going to be a bit longer than my usual short stories, maybe around the 5000 word mark, maybe longer. It is a modern fantasy - urban fantasy I guess, though not quite paranormal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dragon Stone</span> is the story of a girl with a very different kind of tattoo. A tattoo that can unlock the secrets of her past.<br /><br />I've never written anything quite like it but I'm really enjoying the way the characters are leaping off the page. The voice of the piece is very unique for me. I'm excited.<br /><br />The last two days I have done really well in terms of sticking to my goal of writing a min. of 1000 words. I've managed to average about 1500 a day.<br /><br />Today my total was zilch.<br /><br />But I guess we need a down day. Of course I have very good excuses for why it didn't happen today; lots of appointments and visiting, kids and their homework and after all that I'm shattered.<br /><br />I plan to get back into it tomorrow and aim to write another nice chunk of The Dragon Stone. Hopefully life will co-operate.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-18894745654051413532011-07-31T23:20:00.005+12:002011-07-31T23:42:15.634+12:00A Bittersweet Draft<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjet3VgzToPomuGIqT9orN3X7-2-ed9aUxKutegqNkqs6Mjw2X3DsrlrYxit5C7Q7Qb32Z2KMxPSuzmc5xiBQ_iplI56fsDEd3xQfANd0n4901K6qc2K1loTgGp0JSG3acPKkPuBhjkps5C/s1600/PegasusLanding.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjet3VgzToPomuGIqT9orN3X7-2-ed9aUxKutegqNkqs6Mjw2X3DsrlrYxit5C7Q7Qb32Z2KMxPSuzmc5xiBQ_iplI56fsDEd3xQfANd0n4901K6qc2K1loTgGp0JSG3acPKkPuBhjkps5C/s400/PegasusLanding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635477399234021906" border="0" /></a>Just a quick note before I go and fall into bed.<br /><br />It is the final night of the holidays so no more lazy mornings for me. I have to be up bright and early (but not too early) to get the kids off to school in the morning. No doubt there will be a mad scramble to find uniforms, school shoes and school bags - all of which should have been organised tonight.<br /><br />Once they are gone I'll hit the computer and finish off this fairytale. It is coming along really well. I managed to write 1800 words tonight so I'm fairly pleased with myself.<br /><br />The story - as they often do - took on a mind of it's own and the result is a much more rounded tale than what I had foreseen. So I'm happy. Admittedly it still needs a bit of work, but it is a <span style="font-style: italic;">very rare</span> story that doesn't need some careful fine tuning beyond the first draft phase.<br /><br />And yes, a unicorn and a pegasus managed to work themselves into the threads of the story. I can't wait to see what stumbles, glides, leaps or slithers on to the page tomorrow. I've titled the tale Bittersweet.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-51621422630457858562011-07-30T20:11:00.009+12:002011-07-30T23:11:03.405+12:00A Wake up Call. A Kick in the Pants. Call it what you Will.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNEFV3YAK82WsFJPcDGQRJ8PkV9qsO_3aAxwwMwlm6I7dIAcXJMpzupgD-1sbeXqBHdGZpRkhezenlOQbFs1P95Wvc7T5UwCTEP5Ah8CDbwG4Qt1f3UeEJdnlN_yakLrjhWL01pZjWac_/s1600/read_books_that_you_enjoy1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNEFV3YAK82WsFJPcDGQRJ8PkV9qsO_3aAxwwMwlm6I7dIAcXJMpzupgD-1sbeXqBHdGZpRkhezenlOQbFs1P95Wvc7T5UwCTEP5Ah8CDbwG4Qt1f3UeEJdnlN_yakLrjhWL01pZjWac_/s400/read_books_that_you_enjoy1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635069804166998418" border="0" /></a>Tonight while I was cruising the internet reading other people's blogs I had a bit of a wake up call.<br /><br />This year my health has been something of a major challenge, an obstacle to my writing and life in general. However, after my operation at the end of March I felt so much better I decide I wanted to pursue an old dream - to become an ambulance officer. I threw myself into this with everything I had and was working towards the goals I needed to achieve in order to apply, but about a month ago I hit a brick wall - the brick wall of total exhaustion.<br /><br />Now time is winding down fast, deadlines are rushing towards me and due to physical and financial challenges it doesn't look like this dream will come true for me, at least not this year. It is a hard thing to accept but sometimes you have to be realistic. I am what I am, my body is what it is and my health is a challenge I have to live with.<br /><br />As with most dreams: when the door closes on one, the door to another opens a crack. Then comes the choice. Will you change direction and push open that other door to see where it takes you?<br /><br />I'm standing on the threshold of that second door.<br /><br />The sign of the door says AUTHOR.<br /><br />Am I really brave enough to step through it?<br /><br />So I have to ask myself how badly do I want this?<br /><br />I've stood here before, somehow I wandered away ... over time we lose sight of dreams we were striving for. Discovering one has a life changing condition can do that. And that's okay. In the big picture of things putting dreams like a writing career on hold is understandable, even expected.<br /><br />But I realised tonight that if I want this, if I want to be able to say "Yes, I'm an AUTHOR" then I need to take this side of my life seriously. I need to get disciplined again. I need to set goals for myself and WORK hard to meet them.<br /><br />If I <span style="font-weight: bold;">really</span> want this I need to take my writing back out of the "<span style="font-style: italic;">hobby"</span> basket and put it back into the <span style="font-style: italic;">"this is what I am"</span> basket.<br /><br />Last year I was very disciplined with my writing and was averaging 1000 words most days. I wrote a novel in six-seven months. I need to get back to that.<br /><br />My head is alive with dreams and plans and ideas for my writing. I need to take hold of them with both hands and dive into those deep, shark infested waters. Let's be honest, it's scary out there. It's hard. It takes guts, sweat, tears and patience and perseverance ... and that's just the writing!<br /><br />I have to be honest the whole publishing thing is frightening. I'm excited and terrified by turns!<br />One moment I'm trilled by my work, buzzing from the enthusiasm of others, ready to take on the world and the next I'm a quivering mess of self doubt!<br /><br />It's true, there will be people out there who don't like my work, some may despise it even (though I hope not) and I have to be prepared for that. But there'll be people out there who like it too, they may even love it! (I hope so).<br /><br />So do I want to step through this door and take on whatever I find on the other side?<br /><br />I think so...<br /><br />I<span style="font-style: italic;"> know</span> so...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Absolutely definitely!</span><br /><br />I want to see my name on a book.<br /><br />I want to hear about how my work captured my dear readers and dragged them deep into the world of my imagination.<br /><br />I do WANT this!<br /><br />Do you...?Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-24000432280637565502011-07-29T11:52:00.005+12:002011-07-29T13:06:52.629+12:00Tales with a Twist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMocHp8yG5PHusCYrYcAmv0U5yxqMnLLT4kR_xXiXHjTiLs3EiuhSOcOkIBLnpHP69ktXlhM029T6hoWgR-TMEcUSnA9inFF0enhez8kCo0tS9wopJoNbt4A7-DAKXXefC102rKTRzaTRM/s1600/kissing-a-frog.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMocHp8yG5PHusCYrYcAmv0U5yxqMnLLT4kR_xXiXHjTiLs3EiuhSOcOkIBLnpHP69ktXlhM029T6hoWgR-TMEcUSnA9inFF0enhez8kCo0tS9wopJoNbt4A7-DAKXXefC102rKTRzaTRM/s400/kissing-a-frog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634566630520943794" border="0" /></a>The Dunedin Writer's Workshop has another competition coming up, the theme: Speculative Fiction. A broad theme to encompass Sci Fi, Fantasy, fairytales and folktales.<br /><br />With this is mind, I'm working on a series of fairy tales. Some are takes on old tales that I've twisted and reworked in order to make them more original.<br /><br />Others are original stories written in the style of traditional folk and fairytales. One is about a banished faerie and another about a dragon tattoo.<br /><br />This is really exciting for me. I've always loved fairytales. As a child I spent hours reading (over and over) Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Rose White and Rose Red, the Nutcracker, the Princess and the Frog, Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel, among others.<br /><br />As an adult I've collected books of old tales, Scottish, Scandinavian, Irish, Greek and Roman, and take as much pleasure in them as I did as a child.<br /><br />Reading them with adult eyes is a very different experience, you see the underlying lesson with much more clarity, a lesson which is often overlooked by youthful readers. For them the magic is in the tale of love, in the vanquishing of the monsters, in the "other world" experience of the tale itself.<br /><br />For myself that magic still has power over my imagination and shows in the shape of the tales I write. Many fairytales, especially the traditional ones, have <span style="font-style: italic;">un</span>happy endings. Grimm's fairytales are classic for this. These stories always made me feel sad and being a child of vivid imagination those feelings often lingered with me for a long time. As a result my stories always seem to have a happy ending, even if it's somewhat tempered by difficult circumstances.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In other exciting news:</span> I have an audio book - what I'm referring to as eAudio - coming out in a few months. The story is an original fairytale about a courageous maid and three fierce dragons. I'll tell you more about it closer to the release date.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-70021494438171620152011-07-16T00:02:00.006+12:002011-07-16T00:14:44.916+12:00Tickling the Keys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplo2HxIl1hxGi9V4d0SLW50yD8sN-4fECe5W05eaq_Yz1Ttuvr_2-sPXOj76JCvDySx7VMNFxDrzSm2UzxikCbOw49tsufTrja97gvqGm4S2Uzmswn1vEZa8MdCIfYFgc6u5Xh7rtZtFQ/s1600/k6153003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplo2HxIl1hxGi9V4d0SLW50yD8sN-4fECe5W05eaq_Yz1Ttuvr_2-sPXOj76JCvDySx7VMNFxDrzSm2UzxikCbOw49tsufTrja97gvqGm4S2Uzmswn1vEZa8MdCIfYFgc6u5Xh7rtZtFQ/s400/k6153003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629551123641103618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm back writing<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Mercy Me</span> and I have to say, it feels FABULOUS.<br /><br />I didn't realise how much I missed it; the clattering on the keys as my fingers dance across the keyboard; the colourful flow of ideas as they rush through my head, through my fingers and on to the page; the satifaction of seeing my story come to life on the screen.<br /><br />Ahh, it's magic!Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-82950708267735919072011-07-13T13:58:00.008+12:002011-07-13T14:25:36.645+12:00Over Active Muse!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOqUSgP1gPR0kxEU0YnKNIWzF-ojSP38UMnoywWVje6poSkjUrAtcc44rHkhWRH62bm63I77F853-ol1DYT2ZzMC0LUfSGiLYQ2-087YfFH4K4YMpdsFeAejg4Px8Xshxa10n-aAFU0qw/s1600/dragon%252Csomething-5a8a408d7fc18b09d86151d8ab61249d_h.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 356px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOqUSgP1gPR0kxEU0YnKNIWzF-ojSP38UMnoywWVje6poSkjUrAtcc44rHkhWRH62bm63I77F853-ol1DYT2ZzMC0LUfSGiLYQ2-087YfFH4K4YMpdsFeAejg4Px8Xshxa10n-aAFU0qw/s400/dragon%252Csomething-5a8a408d7fc18b09d86151d8ab61249d_h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628653730709830946" border="0" /></a>I said a few days ago that Muse was busy playing with the plots of Mercy Me and Tremorgan's story.<br /><br />Well, this morning he got a little<span style="font-style: italic;"> over excited</span> and dropped <span style="font-style: italic;">another</span> story in my lap. One that is screaming to be written.<br /><br />Maybe he's been at the coffee again. Sigh. It looks like the drought is well and truly over for the moment!<br /><br />So what's the new story you ask?<br /><br />Well this blog isn't called TheDragon'sPen for nothing. I love dragons, there is something about the mystical magnificence, the power, grace and wisdom married to the beast-nature that makes it such a fabulous creature of myth.<br /><br />The story is fantasy (surprise, surprise) and has to do with dragons and magic and ... stuff.<br /><br />I don't want to give away to much yet, but it's going to be awesome.<br />Most likely it'll be another YA novel.<br /><br />I will be finishing <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mercy Me</span> first. Then, and only then, I'll begin this dragon novel and work on restructuring <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tremorgan's Gift</span>.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-63533230905071726452011-07-09T16:59:00.009+12:002011-07-12T12:11:31.789+12:00The Inspiration of TwoFirst off, I would like to say a big thanks to those readers who have emailed me recently saying how much you liked the blog (though it has been quiet here lately). It has been really encouraging and, as you can see, has succeeded in getting me back in the bloggers seat. So THANKS!<br /><br />My health has been up and down over the last few months which has markedly slowed the progress of Mercy Me. I am making progress though. I have now mapped the last half of the novel giving me a definite direction or plotted path to follow which should help things move ahead fairly quickly once I get back into it.<br /><br />I'm so loving writing Mercy Me and I can't wait to get back into it, but assignments and health issues are seriously cramping my style. It's hugely frustrating.<br /><br />So far feed back on the Steampunk novel is really encouraging. While I haven't actually been writing the novel my Muse has been busy at work, shaping the plot and build scenes in my head. I've mapped out the final half of the novel and I'm excited to announce that I just have to write the thing now. But of course, that's the hard part!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIyloTJC1w1hIR7Stc0Lfgc72Sg3LKlHgF-CsS-yQ55UXSzzsC13gw2Wu7m9YGl3VW9047vyAx8GbK5Xm7zD27oMe695ZFEhgxFsd7p180UAIuT7UMls8t7ZesLVgnSJR9pw98V_TEeFM/s1600/asian%252Ccg%252Cdigital%252Cart%252Cfantasy%252Cillustration%252Cjapanese-e57a1738bfc29abac2af8ebcc4fd71e6_h.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIyloTJC1w1hIR7Stc0Lfgc72Sg3LKlHgF-CsS-yQ55UXSzzsC13gw2Wu7m9YGl3VW9047vyAx8GbK5Xm7zD27oMe695ZFEhgxFsd7p180UAIuT7UMls8t7ZesLVgnSJR9pw98V_TEeFM/s400/asian%252Ccg%252Cdigital%252Cart%252Cfantasy%252Cillustration%252Cjapanese-e57a1738bfc29abac2af8ebcc4fd71e6_h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628251311226314434" border="0" /></a><br />My Muse has also been dabbling with issues in my YA fantasy novel. I'm seriously contemplating breaking down the planned plots of the first two books and putting them together in one brilliant stand alone novel. It looks wonderful in my head, hopefully it'll be just as great on paper.<br /><br />I'm making notes of my ideas and the strongest short scenes I have so I can free up some creative room in my head. After my initial attack on the Tremorgan's story (the YA fantasy I wrote last year), I'm determined not to touch until I've finished Mercy's (steampunk novel), but at the way things are going resisting the temptation to dabble may take more self control than I possess!<br /><br />So that is where I'm at. My head is buzzing with ideas and story lines. Now I just need to find the time to write!! Anyone have a gadget to slow time???Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-75917784529181886872011-05-17T15:53:00.009+12:002011-07-31T15:14:11.124+12:00Considering an E-venture<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBGH_cuixUIKpwvuX85NB3P7cySd-_O8rcvv_KHXsHc3pVEKLYTaOjAv6iBO96WVoqyGaBpq_SBlYA0aV7kFwods3NSi6rUwOmCTTIyeyFBkofiL2OBTBoKq9eTcnn6lJdYUKu6qn3wXQ/s1600/1940s-engagement-canada-1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBGH_cuixUIKpwvuX85NB3P7cySd-_O8rcvv_KHXsHc3pVEKLYTaOjAv6iBO96WVoqyGaBpq_SBlYA0aV7kFwods3NSi6rUwOmCTTIyeyFBkofiL2OBTBoKq9eTcnn6lJdYUKu6qn3wXQ/s400/1940s-engagement-canada-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607540961050583634" border="0" /></a>It's been ages since I have blogged here, or at least it feels like ages ago.<br /><br />As I have slowly recovered from my surgery I've been picking up the pace with my writing related activities. I won't just say writing, because I don't know if I have done all that much <span style="font-style: italic;">actual </span>writing.<br /><br />My friend Sue (aka JT Webster) and I lead our first meeting as the new President and Secretary of the Dunedin Writer's Workshop this month. We've both been attending there for close to three years and it was interesting to sit on the other side of the bench. The feedback we had was positive at any rate.<br /><br />It took me this long, but I think I've finally cottoned on to the fact that when people tell you to write what you love it's a big, fat LIE!<br /><br />I mean, sure go ahead and write what you like<span style="font-style: italic;"> if</span> what you love and write are exactly what publishers are looking for, otherwise you're more or less just writing for yourself and your friends (if they like it too). However, if what you REALLY want is to be published you'd better love and write the kind of novel a publisher <span style="font-style: italic;">wants</span> to publish.<br /><br />I spent almost 15 months working on my YA fantasy only to finally figure out that it is too much like the old school fantasy which is 'so last year'. I wrote it because I love this sort of story. The feed back I got on it was good, people loved it, but that isn't enough. In it's present form it's not what publishers are publishing right now.<br /><br />So I figured I'd got two choices.<br /><br />1) Stuff it in a drawer and wait until high fantasy is cool again<br />or<br />2) re-write it<br /><br />My choice? I decided to re-write.<br /><br />I started working on it two days ago. I've tweaked the first two chapters, re-written the fourth and totally scrapped about <span style="font-style: italic;">eight</span>. More will join the heap I'm sure. The middle will be tweaked, but it will more or less remain as is (that's the plan at this stage), while the end will be expanded and added on to.<br /><br />The result? A different sort of fantasy novel, one I'm hoping will be more 'the thing' and one publishers will <span style="font-weight: bold;">want</span> to publish.<br /><br />I've also decided to focus on making the book a lot more self contained rather than it <span style="font-style: italic;">having</span> to be a trilogy.<br /><br />In addition to working on this, I'm still writing my Steampunk story. I'm enjoying writing it, even if it's progressing in fits and starts.<br /><br />I'm also working on an anthology of short stories set in the 1930-50's and I've had good feed back on those compiled so far. (Isn't the photo above just charming? Hat tip to Michele Dyson)<br /><br />I'm also seriously considering an E-venture - an adventure in e-publishing!<br /><br />This is not something I ever thought I'd do, but recently the opportunity has come up. It's a children's story in the tone of a medieval fairytale. A wonderful graphic designer who worked at <a href="http://www.wetanz.com/weta-workshop-services/">Weta </a>will create the cover art and illustrations. I'm really excited about this publishing adventure and the possibility that it might lead to other similar - or <span style="font-style: italic;">bigger - </span>publishing opportunities.<br /><br />So there's lots going on in my little writing corner of the world. How are about you? What adventures of the literary kind are you embarking on?Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-89445292838593668082011-04-17T19:47:00.011+12:002011-04-17T23:02:18.825+12:00Steampunk SecretsI've had a few days off, doing assignments and other stuff. It is amazing how much simply having the holidays start (even though it is still only the first weekend) can disrupt the usual rhythms and routines of life.<br /><br />I've been picking away at the Steampunk MS today and have added another thousand words.<br /><br />The scene is set now. I've introduced all the family members and built up the sense of mystery around this secretive family.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Now Mercy must undergo a Test. Will she pass? </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />How can she pass if she doesn't know what she is being tested FOR? </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />And if she does what then? </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />What is her father working on and why is it a secret?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Why is there so much mystery surrounding her family and why won't anyone tell her what it is all about until AFTERWARDS?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />And who's side is The Duchess on anyway?</span><br /><br />Can you tell I'm having fun with this...?<br /><br />In other news:<br />I placed Second in a local writing competion and received two Highly Compendeds as well.<br />At our most recent meeting of the Dunedin Writer's Workshop I was nominated and voted into the position of Secretary. Yay!Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-42569040389340385272011-04-11T15:59:00.013+12:002011-04-24T22:46:31.534+12:00Clockpunk meets Steampunk: Inspiration Abounds!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZcFQVjxj4mUCoPGtnAXpdgaUJXTj63zXW0Gq2aW-ejRyfzhlfZyhW4Lwo0pyCporM9wRC5_SPUbOc-aAYscRWe_g8Vuj4Bp7ai_e25r049BDlZLk3hYvfbUcj4LBSNlWUSqkjfX6nYDu/s1600/ring-gun5.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZcFQVjxj4mUCoPGtnAXpdgaUJXTj63zXW0Gq2aW-ejRyfzhlfZyhW4Lwo0pyCporM9wRC5_SPUbOc-aAYscRWe_g8Vuj4Bp7ai_e25r049BDlZLk3hYvfbUcj4LBSNlWUSqkjfX6nYDu/s400/ring-gun5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594176067499753762" border="0" /></a>Steampunk. Clockpunk. Clogpunk. Cogpunk. Oooo the inspiration!<br /><br />I have started writing again.<br /><br />I spent much of yesterday re-immersing myself in the world of my Steampunk novel, drawing up a family tree for the Von Lovenstein family and writing short profiles for the main characters. I'm having heaps of fun with the names and eccentric personalities of my characters.<br /><br />I'm all inspired and really enjoying the freedom of the Clockpunk/Steampunk genre. Being able to add a dash of magic to my Victorianesque wor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB3t8_fsXNvph5l3pk4H_TKviUEq04RUNb5Gp1PP-p48WgLItG6Q6axrjhdVYX65tORLvNFhmaq5Gt7N5je4hEpW3tVMSIhH9F4Bm5KPDcq6dYcOYmXD3S8erfCnzgkvRIjlgTnHi3gZf/s1600/blunderbuss.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB3t8_fsXNvph5l3pk4H_TKviUEq04RUNb5Gp1PP-p48WgLItG6Q6axrjhdVYX65tORLvNFhmaq5Gt7N5je4hEpW3tVMSIhH9F4Bm5KPDcq6dYcOYmXD3S8erfCnzgkvRIjlgTnHi3gZf/s400/blunderbuss.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594176563275219138" border="0" /></a>ld is an added bonus.<br /><br />The plot is slowly ironing itself out and taking on more shape as I get my head around the characters. I still haven't quite decided what form the mysterious contraption is going to take (the theft of which throws everything into choas) but I do know what plot points lead us to this point and - vaguely - what needs to happen to get it back.<br /><br />I also been having fun Googling antique guns. I found a couple of wonderful specimens. The above is a genuine ring pistol. To the right is an antique blunderbuss. Aren't they great?!<br /><br />I love, love, love writing!Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-50310617386262553912011-04-09T14:34:00.009+12:002011-04-09T15:58:05.793+12:00Post Op Inspiration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKssE547CuAe2akTVvaEWlpNfP-XwMZg_u4G4qOzbFmqE3JSS0coywdz9PohTkGgr4WTPhld3LxeCi3j67StbvxVZisnLGKNt2qO5rVu1igPHnXZ31eUh1L871IB6yWWLkwA20DdWX0r_/s1600/Foucault%2527s_gyroscope.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKssE547CuAe2akTVvaEWlpNfP-XwMZg_u4G4qOzbFmqE3JSS0coywdz9PohTkGgr4WTPhld3LxeCi3j67StbvxVZisnLGKNt2qO5rVu1igPHnXZ31eUh1L871IB6yWWLkwA20DdWX0r_/s400/Foucault%2527s_gyroscope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593413375523268914" border="0" /></a>I've had my operation and I'm slowly regaining my strength, though given the nasty twinges in my side I might have over done things over the last few days. Naughty me! So I'm more or less keeping to my comfy chair today and it seemed the perfect opportunity to blog again.<br /><br />My muse has crawled out of whatever corner he's been hiding in while I was feeling rotten. He's back, sporting a waistcoat, cravat and a top hat at a jaunty angle. He leans on his dragonheaded cane. Every so often takes out his sliver pocket watch, flicks the lid with a kidskin encased finger and raises an eyebrow in my direction. His expression clearly says "haven't you started writing yet?"<br /><br />No, I haven't but I will ... very soon.<br /><br />I'm feeling all inspired. My hubby makes music and has been working on a piece for a Steampunk movie. The piece he has put together is great. Listening to it over and over got my creative juices flowing again.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhkXhrvoQvYyKyN9rmkX2GNyNJfVC_oNknCugX2d2uID3eOdYzQfo2UvZhwv7V9ilLIvaXgkBi_-moS1JrNg2UmK988MLo8YHQQhRrsi7tu_McJUugNw6HIMwmL6b9gdipsEkMNg3nmu6/s1600/Moving_Hand_Clockpunk_Necklace_by_SteamSociety.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhkXhrvoQvYyKyN9rmkX2GNyNJfVC_oNknCugX2d2uID3eOdYzQfo2UvZhwv7V9ilLIvaXgkBi_-moS1JrNg2UmK988MLo8YHQQhRrsi7tu_McJUugNw6HIMwmL6b9gdipsEkMNg3nmu6/s400/Moving_Hand_Clockpunk_Necklace_by_SteamSociety.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593413899161481554" border="0" /></a><br />Did you know there is a sub genre of Steampunk called <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ClockPunk">Clockpunk</a>? I didn't, but it totally fits with my story <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mercy Me</span>. The novel is Steampunk with a lot of windup gearwork etc and is a more Gothic or Regency-esk rather than Steampunk's traditional Victorian type setting. I guess I want the best of both worlds. :D And now that I know Clockpunk exists I feel like I can legitimately go where the winds of inspiration take me.<br /><br />I spent some time this morning trolling the internet looking at Clockpunk images and feeding the muse with ideas. I'm very excited, inspired and looking forward to getting back to writing some more of Mercy's story.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-38800721647036392892011-03-27T13:19:00.003+13:002011-03-27T21:25:25.379+13:00Popping InThis month seems to have gone so fast. It seems only a few days ago that I was facing the reality of having to have surgery in a bid to try to fix a medical condition that reared its ugly head last October. My parents arrive this afternoon and tomorrow is the big day.<br /><br />I've been really busy working, with assignments for the work related Certificate I'm doing, with competitions and editing for Mad Scribblers (my crit group) and life in general (read: trying to get the house sorted so my Mum won't be walking into a disaster zone!) so I've hardly had time to give the up coming op any really serious consideration, which is probably a good thing. I've<br /><br />Post-op I have six weeks off work so I'm hoping get back into my writing again. It has been much too long, but with everything going on my head has just not been in the right place. Still I've been reading and the imaginative juices are flowing slowing once more.<br /><br />I've decided to take a little break from editing Tremorgan's Gift. I've been over it and over it and think it's time to give it a little space before going back at hack at it once more. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and the editor's eye sharper - or so they say. So I'm going to have another go at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mercy Me</span> (my Nano Steampunk novel).<br /><br />I'm happily reading Operation Typhoon Shore, the second in Joshua Mowell's series. I recently read the first, Operation Red Jericho, for the second time. They're great and really inspiring my muse. Thanks to a bunch of thoughtful friends I have a big stack of books to read while I convalesce, including a few more of Bernard Cornwall's books among others.<br /><br />In the meantime, keep writing and reading, and let me know what you've been delving into.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-65978129763357015802011-03-09T21:28:00.005+13:002011-03-09T21:54:12.425+13:00Crawling Back<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO_4LVnwfFGdD-qx2dKOVp7NNLAD1T1W99N3iy_5NZE1Ptaj1SIRwATtIxf1oDTojhGfx7BfLLwdU00n7iDx9YgJk09Oe7U01JJf-lq53mycP5AUaENlMeXh0rp4nLIhA79ZAEgMpaDA7/s1600/bernard-cornwell-14-audiobooks-inc-agincourt-74859.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO_4LVnwfFGdD-qx2dKOVp7NNLAD1T1W99N3iy_5NZE1Ptaj1SIRwATtIxf1oDTojhGfx7BfLLwdU00n7iDx9YgJk09Oe7U01JJf-lq53mycP5AUaENlMeXh0rp4nLIhA79ZAEgMpaDA7/s400/bernard-cornwell-14-audiobooks-inc-agincourt-74859.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582000431138501538" border="0" /></a>I feels like it has been ages, but I'm finally, slowly, dragging step by dragging step, getting back into the writing.<br /><br />My medical issues, looming surgery and the earthquake that shook Christchurch last month really shook me out of my writing zone. Meanwhile the Muse escaped out the back door and has refused to return, which hasn't helped matters. It is frustrating, but my head just hasn't been in the right place to write.<br /><br />My critique group met again last week which forced me to face the MS and tackled the next chapter for submission.<br /><br />This week the other writing group I attend is holding one of their three annual competitions. I haven't had time to write anything new and the Muse is stubbornly hiding somewhere, so I dusted off, tweaked and re-worked a couple of stories I'd written awhile ago and submitted those. It can't hurt and I have to confess they needed the work.<br /><br />It's amazing what time can do for a piece of writing. It does wonders to show up glaring typos and generally ugly sentences that were simply "hidden" before.<br /><br />I've been doing a bit of reading and have been enjoying the pace and taste of a couple of historical novels.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prophecy</span> by M K Hume, which I really liked. My friend reviewed the book for our local newspaper and passed it on to me. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for the next books in the trilogy and for her Arthurian series.<br /><br />Bernard Cornwell's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Harlequin</span>, which I'm reading and devouring on the recommendation of another friend. I'm really like the brisk, quick, detailed action of the story.<br /><br />Have you read any good books lately?Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-26789150703345813232011-02-16T21:41:00.002+13:002011-02-16T21:53:16.246+13:00Off on another TangentI haven't been doing much fiction writing lately. No. Let's be honest, I haven't done any.<br /><br />My health has deteriorated over the last couple of weeks. My medical condition has come back to bite me on the bum ... and when we were doing so well too.<br /><br />So I've not been writing stories or working on my novels or even doing any editing at all. Instead I've been working on a new and totally unrelated blog about my health and medical journey. If you're interested you can view it <a href="http://mystory-livingwithitp.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />In light of all this disruption I might not be blogging here as much as I usually would. Though even if I'm not writing I'm still reading and will, no doubt, have a few words to say about the latest literary treasures I'll be hiding in while all the medical nastiness unfolds around me.Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-55900220506582126672011-02-08T21:05:00.008+13:002011-02-08T21:52:40.613+13:00BOUND<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3hb9XdCWX8gLQ8Ok0Aii-9I-eK81mcCsLTi3jarHphAedWO1uK5vUt4EJu0HQkOqRIZx77Z9AnH4JclW3qnUA7V4U04sZgPUinv_u0OAUGlvLTGBChhOHIfvZdTYqJpUO-tLQmC2eeAJ/s1600/bound.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3hb9XdCWX8gLQ8Ok0Aii-9I-eK81mcCsLTi3jarHphAedWO1uK5vUt4EJu0HQkOqRIZx77Z9AnH4JclW3qnUA7V4U04sZgPUinv_u0OAUGlvLTGBChhOHIfvZdTYqJpUO-tLQmC2eeAJ/s400/bound.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571236401419012754" border="0" /></a>Last Wednesday night I had the privilege to attend Vanda Symon's book launch for her fourth Sam Shepard detective novel, BOUND. It was a lovely evening out, hosted by Dunedin's own fabulous University bookshop.<br /><br />Many of the reveiws I'd read said how un-put-downable this latest edition was and how they'd stayed up until the wee small hours because they just had to keep reading. So in spite of the fact that I was dying to read my new book, I decided to put it away until I had a few days off work which I could devote to Sam's latest adventure.<br /><br />That day was today.<br /><br />I shooed my kids out the door, ate breakfast, checked my email then curled up in my comfy chair with my feet up and opened the book. I took my nose out from between the pages only long enough to eat, do a bit of house work, help kids with homework, chat to a friend who stopped by, do some shopping and cook tea.<br /><br />I finished BOUND this evening.<br /><br />Evidently I was immersed!<br /><br />Bound was a very enjoyable read. I was hooked from the first page and loved the twists and turns that complicated the plot.<br /><br />I'm something of a fan of Vanda's (I now have all four of her books and all sighed by her. lol!). It has been fun watching Sam's character grow and mature and also to see Vanda's talent increase with each new book she has written.<br /><br />Bound was a effortless, exciting read. The characters are so well drawn; genuine, flawed people. And of course, as ever, Dickhead Johns is fun to hate. Sam's feisty personality leaps off the page and her love of Dunedin is wonderfully evident.<br /><br />I've no doubt that fans will in time come to Dunedin simply to visit the places that Vanda's characters go. The Fix for coffee. The Nova cafe. The Chinese Gardens. Marlow Park (the park by the beach, which my kids affectionately call "the Dinosaur Park"). Maybe even the police stations ...?<br /><br />Here's the blurb for Bound:<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">A home invasion shocks the nation.<br /><br />A man is murdered, his wife bound, gagged and left to watch.<br /><br />But when Detective Sam Shephard scratches the surface, the victim, a successful businessman, is not all he seems to be. And when the evidence points to two of Dunedin's most hated criminals, the case seems cut and dried ... until the body count starts to rise.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Sam is in big trouble again ...</blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbpVFy77f325SQiipbW1lAG44N_v-GWtPNoFgTLFjlNUi0IVhh0kEAJXBT1vZYMb4r63HYP4Nf7WV4XDbUEPcwZbaJGZxIbZkmSTz_6q0CRToqdGRDSpuURE6wkmWa_ZPvP5Nh0pr44bz/s1600/vanda.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbpVFy77f325SQiipbW1lAG44N_v-GWtPNoFgTLFjlNUi0IVhh0kEAJXBT1vZYMb4r63HYP4Nf7WV4XDbUEPcwZbaJGZxIbZkmSTz_6q0CRToqdGRDSpuURE6wkmWa_ZPvP5Nh0pr44bz/s400/vanda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571236537926403186" border="0" /></a><br />So what next? Vanda is taking a break from Sam's adventures to write a dark thriller set in Auckland which is set to come out next year. So while I can't wait to read this new book, I hope maybe one day we'll get to see more of Sam.<br /><br />If you haven't read Vanda's books, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overkill, The Ringmaster, Containment</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bound,</span> I urge you to give them a go.<br /><br />If you have, what do you think and which one is your favourite thus far?Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249710551309130233.post-86013937779929622922011-01-28T15:39:00.005+13:002011-01-28T16:27:05.112+13:00Wicked Lovely<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pVu8nXZGKon5rR405KxJ-XgFSs4FgtpkLYohIQMubGAnlDP68UHgKBHdZxiuJn-vvSa-gmooBk5o18LYjEBByJSSKo3RPcq0gk25UKFhpUsPB4seih0prVm3vhpsCgBnQxx8eEZlqSLM/s1600/wicked+lovely.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pVu8nXZGKon5rR405KxJ-XgFSs4FgtpkLYohIQMubGAnlDP68UHgKBHdZxiuJn-vvSa-gmooBk5o18LYjEBByJSSKo3RPcq0gk25UKFhpUsPB4seih0prVm3vhpsCgBnQxx8eEZlqSLM/s400/wicked+lovely.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567068829014129106" border="0" /></a>As I mentioned in my last post I've been doing a fair bit of reading recently.<br /><br />I just have to tell you about this author I've discovered. Melissa Marr.<br /><br />She's a little ... alternative, I guess that's the right word ... and it comes through in her writing. Her characters are fresh and interesting with their body piercings and tattoos. She paints the teenage angst and the awkwardness of new love so well.<br /><br />She weaves the modern world with the dark and dangerous world of the fey so convincingly you might believe for a time that it could be true after all - that they're really there, we mortals just don't see them.<br /><br /><p></p><blockquote><p style="font-style: italic;">Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.</p></blockquote><p></p><br />It's a gritty, sexy, edge of your seat, page turning read.<br /><br />Do hunt out a copy and so you don't panic when you've read that last page, the series continues with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ink Exchange</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fragile Eternity</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Radiant Shadows </span>(all very cool titles).<br /><br />There's a detailed and very good review of Wicked Lovely at <a href="http://teenbookreview.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/review-wicked-lovely-by-melissa-marr/">Teenbookreview</a>.<br /><br />You can find out more about Melissa Marr and her books by visiting her <a href="http://www.wickedlovely.com/">fan site</a>.<br /><br />If you are into ebooks you can buy Melissa's books <a href="http://www.harperteen.com/feature/StoppingTime/?WT.mc_id=REFL_TWT_MARREBK_031510">here.</a>Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.com0