Thanks to the way I write and publish my books (no plotting or planning, and publishing each one as I write them) the sequence of the books and the way they fit together is quite interesting. To explain this, I created this graphic:
But to try to make things a little clearer, I have created the video below, explaining the sequence of the books in the series. Enjoy!
Finally! I have been waiting for ages for Michelle to be too busy to blog and for her to ask me to write one! She keeps saying about creating a blog just for me, but has she done it yet? No! Of course, she’s just too busy. Humph.
Oh, yeah, by the way, it’s Aria. I’m a Faerie. Yep. You read that right. I have dragonfly wings and everything. And I’m a super fast flier. Just ask Linen. If you don’t know who Linen is, and want to know more about just how awesome I am, then you should read Michelle’s book – The Earth Angel Training Academy. I’m one of the main characters, and I have all the best lines. Cos, well, you know. I’m awesome.
So anyway, Michelle is busy editing the new book in the Earth Angel series (which I’m not in, which totally sucks!) and so I said I would take over, though I have no idea what to say, really.
It seems like the weather in the UK is a little messed up at the moment, with far too much rain for summertime, which means that lots of mushrooms have started growing in the woods, which I kind of like, actually. Here’s some cool photos of them, in case you were curious.
Michelle has started doing a card a day mini readings on Instagram, where she’s also posting lots of funky photos, if you want to follow her, hop on over there. Personally I think she likes Instagram too much, and spends too much time on there that could be spent building my blog, but nevermind. One day, eh?
Until then, I’ll just take over her blog every now and then, though next time, I promise I’ll have something more interesting to say. Maybe. Hopefully. Anyway, have a great day, and don’t forget to say hi to the Faeries when you’re outside. Okay. Love you! Bye!
PS. Let the grass grow!!!
Last weekend, I was very excited to spend a whole day filming a series of videos, titled The Stories Behind the Stories. There were so many tales to tell about the writing and publishing of my novels, about all the weird and wonderful synchronicities that have occurred that I wanted to share them all with you in video format.
Cue a fabulous photographer and videographer called Philip James. We met at a Film Networking event in Brighton, and after reading The Earth Angel Training Academy, Philip got in touch to say he would love to do some videos about the story.
So we met up on Saturday, and took over Tim’s front room. (Tim is actually one of the characters in the Earth Angel series, I met him several years after writing the first book!). We filmed all day, and I haven’t seen much of the footage yet, but it should be fun to watch (I hope!)
And Action!
Tim messing about with a clapperboard
Just wanted to post some pictures and a short clip of Tim having fun with the clapper-board!
I don’t know about any other writers out there, but I know that for me, writing needs to be as fun as possible, otherwise things like washing up and cleaning become more interesting and therefore take priority over getting any writing done.
But how fun can you make it? Well, when I wrote my first novel, The Earth Angel Training Academy, it was immediately after reading No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty, a book that I have told many people about, because without it, I may never have got started. I’m currently participating in Camp Nanowrimo to get my latest novel written. Chris is a master at making writing a fun thing to do. He encourages writers to set crazy deadlines, eat far too many snacks, wear crazy hats as writing totems and then printing out the manuscript and diving into the paper with wild abandon.
Unfortunately, most of my writing time is really not very exciting, and consists of me being hunched over my iPad with some music playing. Fun or novel it is not. Until that is, I discovered the Hanx Writer.
For some time now, I have been hankering over getting an old typewriter. I remember having one as a child and loving doing my homework on it, and it seems like every movie author has one, and quite frankly, I just love the way they look and sound. But practical? Not really. To write my books, I really need a normal keyboard, and one that’s connected to something digital. So when I read about the Querky Writer, I was really excited. It was a typewriter-style keyboard you can attach to your keyboard. Genius! When I first found it, it was on KickStarter and was in pre-production stage. Now that I’ve seen the final product, I don’t find it does much for me.
Then while looking at the Querky Writer, I found this site, which sells actual typewriters that have been modified so they link directly to your computer or iPad. Now this was much more exciting, though if I were going to spend that much money, I would buy a Mac laptop, as my PC is terribly slow and I need a new one.
Then, my wanderings on Google led me to the Hanx Writer. Designed by Tom Hanks, who is a collector of typewriters (who knew??) the Hanx Writer is an app for iPad and iPhone that basically turns it into a typewriter. You can use the basic version for free, but I bought the upgrade and I have to say it’s fab. I have used it for the last two days, and weirdly, I think it’s made me a faster and more productive writer. All because I love the way the words appear on the paper and the clacking sounds of the keys.
Yes I’m on Chapter Eleven of the latest novel in the Earth Angel Series!
It’s definitely put the novelty back into novel-writing, and in a weird way, makes me feel like a real writer. One day, I may still get a modified typewriter, but for now, the Hanx Writer ticks all the boxes!
Now back to the clack-clacking.
Last week, while trying to declutter, I discovered a half-finished bear from my bear-making days. I looked into the seed bead eyes of this limb-less creature, and I felt a deep need to finish it, and bring it to life, after it had been stuck in a bag in the loft for the last seven years.
Once she was properly ‘alive’ I found I just couldn’t stop. In the last week, I have created several new bears, and have also designed new wings, as I decided to restock my empty etsy shop with ‘Earth Angel Bears’.
I started making bears when I was a teenager, and my very first bear was a sad little creature called Doddle. I blogged about Doddle a while back. He took me a whole week to make, and though I felt a sense of satisfaction at actually finishing him, he really didn’t look quite right! But after several years of making bears, creating my own patterns, honing and much practice, my bears finally started looking like real bears.
Over the course of 7 years, I made nearly 100 bears, and sold many of them, giving others away as gifts. I kept very few of them, three of which are the Old Souls I have listed on etsy – Mulberry, Robert and Gwri.
Just before I went into retirement, I had started to make hand-felted faerie wings for my bears, because I wanted them to fly. I sold a few, including Floyd, a bright pink bear with purple wings who went to live in New York. Then for some reason, somehow, I stopped making bears. Right in the middle of creating one, who I have now called Leilani. She is an incarnated Faerie bear, and I think she’s rather lovely:
The biggest thing I have realised this week, is that I have really missed creating physical things. I’ve painted a few cards in the last few months, and done the odd creative project, but creating these little characters is something different entirely. It has given me a sense of accomplishment to see them lined up, ready to go to their new homes where they will be loved and where they will help people to Awaken! It makes me feel like Velvet, creating her Earth Angel army to send to Earth to help bring about the Golden Age! (If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out my first book 😉 )
I feel like my life is almost entirely digital, and it’s not unusual for me to spend 12 hours or more a day staring at some kind of screen. Which make me feel a little bit sad. So it’s been a complete joy to set the screens aside and create beautiful little ones. I do hope you fall in love with them too! I have created a Facebook page, and I would love for you to check them out on etsy and to share them with your friends.
Here’s a picture of Honesty and Larry, named in honour of Aria and her ladybug friend from The Earth Angel Training Academy.
One of my readers in the US contacted me a little while back and said that she loved my Earth Angel books so much, that she wanted to write an essay about her interpretation of them. Of course I said to go ahead, I was really curious to see the books from someone else’s perspective, as reviews only really say how much people enjoy the books – they don’t really analyse the content.
Well, Rosa sent me the links to both her essay, and a video of her reading and discussing the essay, and I have to say, I was really surprised at the things that she got from the text and the books. She focused on Velvet, and on her conflict between surrendering and attachment. I have never personally delved into Velvet’s mind in this way, but I think that Rosa is definitely onto something!
I really enjoyed watching her video and reading the essay, it certainly had me thinking about the characters in a different way afterwards, and I really think that my readers will gain something from watching the video. Especially anyone who is having trouble with their Twin Flame union, because Rosa discusses this, and I think she makes some very good points.
You can read the essay on her website here, and watch the video below.
[youtube http://youtu.be/XlbhtZ0mp34]
Rosa also recorded a review video, which you can view below.
[youtube http://youtu.be/dkoD2asn2gw]
I just want to express my gratitude to Rosa for looking more deeply into my books, as I hope that others do too. I am certain that there are more messages and ideas within them than even I am aware of! If you want to share your thoughts on my books in any way, please do so in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.
Happy New Year Everyone!
2014 was a weird year, both a long and a short one, a happy and a sad one. Just thought I would write a summary of the year, in order to acknowledge and release the old, to make way for the new that 2015 will bring. It’s a long post, so grab a cuppa!
I started the year with an amazing Harry Potter themed birthday party. I had mixed feelings about turning 30. Part of me was more than ready to say goodbye to my twenties, and another part of me was listing all of the things I had hoped to have done by this time but hadn’t. In truth, as I near my 31st birthday, I don’t really feel all that different, and when I tell people my age, it feels merely like a random number, than something that has any significance.
Also in January, I began my ‘Ask an Angel’ Oracle readings on my YouTube channel, inviting people to ask Aria, Amethyst or Velvet a question which I would then answer with their oracle cards. In 2014, I recorded twenty readings, and half of those were questions about Twin Flames, which is what inspired me to write more on the subject, as you can see from the many posts now on my blog.
My most popular blog post in January was my views on how to deal with criticism, after becoming the subject of derision in someone else’s blog.
In February, I embarked on the Man Brain Box Experiment, and though I only did it for a week, it did remind me that in fact, having a single focus make you far more productive than if you are to multi-task. I think it’s increasingly difficult, in this age of the internet and social media, to retain a single focus on anything, with so many demands for our attention (she says, surrounded by her phone, iPad and open tabs on her laptop) it can be difficult to shut out all the distractions and get on with something, and put everything you have into it. But I do think it’s worth it.
In March, I finally finished writing I’m Here, which I had started and stopped writing two Novembers previously and seemed to be stuck on. I was so happy to finally finish it, and when coming up with cover ideas, I had the inspiration to change the covers of three of my previous books, and bring them together into a collection. With the help of my awesome sister, I then set to work on getting the new covers of the Visionary Collection sorted out, and I released the whole collection, including the new book, in May. The paperbacks were delayed by technical issues, but finally came out by August.
In March I also had a few realisations on my plans, and on whose advice to listen to, and when to take it with a pinch of salt. I also discovered the wondrous joy of Scapple and had a go at using the Chronodex to organise my life.
In April I celebrated the 5 year anniversary of the birth of the first few words of the The Earth Angel Training Academy, and reviewed the journey with the book so far. I took part in the Wellness Symposium in Cirencester, I was nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award, and I revealed the new covers for the Visionary Collection for the first time.
In May I embarked on the I’m Here Book Tour, to celebrate the release of the new book, by giving away little cards all around the world, that contained a QR code allowing you to download a free PDF copy of the book. I had so much fun with this idea, and was really pleased with how it went. You can see the map of where the book was downloaded, and the link will remain active, so if you haven’t yet read I’m Here and would like to, please click here to download your free copy! If you have read it, and you enjoyed it, please do leave me a review on Amazon, I’d really appreciate it.
The tour continued with gusto throughout June, and in that month I teamed up with Sarah Vine, founder of the Earth Angel Sanctuary, to offer her members a free copy of The Earth Angel Training Academy, and I also wrote a letter to all Twin Flames, after seeing so many beautiful souls searching for answers on the subject.
In July, I attended the Healing Weekend, and had an amazing time, I recorded the first chapter of The Elphite as an audiobook, I recorded a video of some crazy deer in the garden, which went viral on YouTube (over 26k hits now!), I did a talk and sold books at the MBS Psychic Fayre in Newport, and I relaxed and went with the flow when things seemed to be going very wrong.
In August, the paperback editions of the Visionary Collection became available on Amazon, I was interviewed by Sarah Vine, and I embarked on a new adventure to the vibrant city of Brighton. I began to write more about Twin Flames, and at the very end of August, I started writing my latest book, The Twin Flame Reunion. I met one of my fans, Chip Jenkins, who is now one of my closest friends.
September was my quietest blogging month of 2014, due to my full time job, doing 50 hour weeks left me with little energy to write. I blogged about listening to your own intuition, and then at the end of the month, about knowing your own worth and not settling for less. The highlight of the month came in the form of a beautiful letter from a man who had decided that his life was worth living after reading The Earth Angel Training Academy.
In October, I took part in the Writer’s Blog Tour, I finished writing The Twin Flame Reunion and I started offering guidance sessions to fellow Earth Angels.
In November I released the cover for the Reunion, I blogged about the idea of changing our own fate, I started writing the next book in the Earth Angel series – The Twin Flame Retreat – and completed it in two weeks, and I released the Visionary Collection Kindle Boxset.
Okay, one month left!
In December, I celebrated winning Nanowrimo, even though I didn’t join in until the 16th November, I released the Earth Angel Series Boxset on Kindle, I started my Adventure with Astrid, and I decided to spend my Christmas in London, taking part in the Basket Brigade and volunteering for Crisis for Christmas. I also packed up and left Brighton, and am currently figuring out my next move.
So to sum up – a pretty busy year, lots of changes, challenges, high and low points, and I feel like 2015 will be the year where everything comes together and begins to make more sense. Or at least, that’s the hope!
I can see now that I achieved quite a few things, and I feel that in 2014 I created some very important connections that will make 2015 far more spectacular.
Happy New Year!
I have been struggling lately to find the time and energy to write my latest novel, which I have decided to call – The Twin Flame Reunion. Usually when I have trouble writing, it’s not just a case of lack of time or energy, but an underlying reason, that until I sort it out, it just doesn’t happen. This time, I think it is simply that this book is really important. It’s important to me, to my readers, and to everyone who is in the position where they have met their Flame, or are waiting to meet their Flame. There is so much that I want to include in the book, to bring comfort to the Earth Angels I know are hurting, that the pressure of getting it right then makes me freeze up.
Which is when I remind myself that I must trust. Trust that my angels, my guides will help me to write exactly what is needed. They have not let me down yet, and so I need to just let go of the pressure I feel and just allow the words to flow. The structure of the book is becoming more defined daily, and the stories of the Flames are intertwining beautifully. Although I will be cutting it fine (and asking a lot of my editors, beta readers and cover designer) I do plan to release the book by Christmas, and plan to set up the pre-ordering system on Amazon from the 1st November. I am also releasing two Kindle boxsets, one of the four books in the Visionary Collection, and then the first three books in the Earth Angel series.
I have other projects in the works too, including getting The Earth Angel Training Academy recorded as an audiobook and also translated into other languages. As I am doing it all myself (the joys of being an Indie!) these things will take a bit of time but I am confident that now the ball is rolling, things will start to happen.
I have been asked a question for the oracle cards, so I plan to record the reading this week and post it on youtube, I will keep you all posted of new developments!
Here’s a quote photo with a quote from my new book to keep you going in the meantime.
There are times when I feel like giving up. When I don’t see the point in writing another book, because as an Indie Author, it costs me money to publish, and as yet, I can honestly say I have not made that money back, and I am certainly not making a living from it. I have also wanted to give up on life. I know that depression and suicide is a hot topic at the moment, in light of recent events, and I know that some people really get it, really understand why some souls wish to leave this planet, and there are others who don’t get it at all.
I get it.
I have been there. When all seems lost, pointless, and hopeless. I haven’t been there just once, but several times. Throughout my life. I have never sought any help for these feelings, and I have never been on medication. Instead, I have my own form of therapy.
I write.
I weave my feelings, my despair, my heartbreak, my loneliness and my anguish into my stories. My characters do things that I wish I could, but can’t. Because when it comes right down to it, I know that I cannot leave yet. That I came here with a mission, and I have not completed it yet. Usually, when I have one of my moments of giving up writing, giving up publishing my books, I get a beautiful email, or message from a reader who tells me how much my words have helped them, and I am reminded of why I continue to do what I do.
Yesterday, I received an email that I know will prevent me from ever having one of these moments again. Because I plan on posting it on the wall as a daily reminder of why I write, and why I am here.
The email came from Janine, a beautiful lady I met last year who runs the Freedom Inside, Books for Prisoners program. I donated some copies of The Earth Angel Training Academy to the program, and when prisoners like the book, they write letters to Janine, and she passes them onto me. The one I received yesterday was from a prisoner who had decided he wanted to give up. That he’d had enough, and it was time to go. But he had a copy of my book in his room, which he said kept calling to him. And finally, he decided to delay his end in order to read it. I have posted some excerpts from his letter below.
To know that because of my words, one soul decided to stay on this planet, rather than leave, makes everything worth it. And I will be writing to him to let him know just how grateful I am, for his beautiful words too.
I was recently interviewed by the beautiful Sarah Vine, founder of the Earth Angel Sanctuary. Sarah and I met through an acquaintance on Facebook, and from our very first (three-hour) conversation, we have become very good friends. I have no doubt that we attended the Earth Angel Training Academy together! Sarah read the Earth Angel series, and fell in love with the books. I am a proud member of the Earth Angel Sanctuary, a wonderful site online where you can watch very useful videos and interviews to help you with your Earthly missions. As an extra bonus for being a member, you can also download a free copy of The Earth Angel Training Academy.
To watch the interview, just click on the video below. I will soon be interviewing Sarah, to find out more about how she started the Sanctuary and her mission here on Earth.
[youtube http://youtu.be/UsG00OstHTE]
Twin Flame Blog 