May 28 2011

The end is nigh….

The wait is nearly over! In just a few weeks my novel will finally be available to buy! I am on the last edit, and the over is nearly done, will be ordering my proof copy soon! Then the real hard work begins…

I’m launching my novel at the Heart of the Dragon Festival in Newcastle Emlyn, West Wales, on th 2nd July 2011. It’s going to be a great event, I can’t wait to take my dragon there!

I’d better get back to the editing, just wanted to post a quick update, here’s the link to the dragon festival website if you want more info:

http://www.heartofthedragonwales.org/

See you there!

Jan 23 2011

Haiku!

I should be writing

But my mind is a blank page

And I am broken

Hmm, can you tell I was given a Haiku writing set for my birthday?? I’m going Haiku mad now, and will try to fit a few of them into my novels somehow, I think! I don’t think I’ve ever written any before, but they’re quite a good exercise, and as my book says, can be quite helpful on the spiritual journey. Expressing thoughts and feelings in such a tight, concise way, is actually quite liberating, because you have to be so brief and to the point. I’ve been incorporating them into my scrapbooking layouts (another hobby of mine!) and also as verses in cards!

Spent yesterday with my Spiritual Sisters, who have inspired the characters in the sequel to The Earth Angel Training Academy, and they have given me many more ideas for the sequel… I think I may have to do a bit of work on it. It’s calling to me quite urgently now. But I’ve tried to be strict with myself and focus on the editing of the first novel… we’ll see.

It is calling me

My focus is wavering

But I will be strong

Oh dear, I better go before the Haiku’s take over!

Jan 20 2011

Long time no blog!

I know, I know, I promised to update the blog as often as possible, but the thing is, you can’t blog about self-publishing if you haven’t actually done anything in the area for a while! But I have done some editing this week, I have changed on the digital copy all the errors I found in my boyfriend’s copy, though there are a few storyline things that need sorting. My boyfriend finished reading it yesterday, and gave me the best compliment I could ask for : “It would make a great movie.” Aside from books, I have always been a huge movie fan, I absolutely love losing myself in a good romance, drama, comedy, action, fantasy – any film, actually apart from horror or period drama! Well, there may be a few exceptions to the period dramas, there are a couple I like. I’ve fantasised about having my books made into movies, because when I write them, I see them in my mind as a movie. And I would love for everyone to see what I see. But I would propbably be quite an annoying writer, because I would want to be involved in the film-making process, and I think I would insist that the actors playing the characters actually have the personality traits of the Earth Angels… oh dear, I’m not sure who would be brave enough to take me on!

Well, I’m afraid this post is going to be brief, because I’m in the middle of scrapbooking a page for my birthday, which is today! I’m attempting to capture who I am in this moment, by writing down my likes, loves and passions. I think it will be interesting to look back at in a few years time!

I will write more soon, but until then, make sure you smile at strangers, you never know, you might just make their day 🙂

Jan 6 2011

Posture Problems…

Went to see a physio today, I’ve had pain in my right shoulder blade for months now, and apparently the problem is my neck, more than likely caused by sitting on the settee, hunched over my netbook while watching TV… Of course, as I write this, I am absolutely NOT sat on the settee hunched over my netbook while watching TV………… yeah, okay, I’m lying. So writing does have its drawbacks. Neck problems, back problems, RSI…. obviously, it’s worth it… well, at least it will be when I’m making my millions and I’m able to get a massage every day!

So, a new plan of action is in place, which involves a trip to Ikea! I’m getting myself a table and some bookshelves, and will be using my netbook primarily while sitting properly at the table in my room… well that’s the idea anyway, I’ll let you know if it actually happens! I’ve promised myself that I will do my best to please the physio lady – I think she could be quite scary if she wanted to be! Besides, I’m tired of the back pain too, so it should be worth it. I also love any excuse to go to Ikea!

Well, in an effort to change my posture, I’ll sign off here, and hopefully get my first early night in a while!

Jan 3 2011

A brief creative break…

After some editing this morning, well, actually, early this afternoon, I took a break to make something for my very, very good friend Anne, which I will be sending her soon 🙂 We’ve set each other a creative challenge, which you can see on my other blog: http://theamethystangel.wordpress.com/

It’s still amazing me just how many more errors I am finding in my novel, and I’ve also found a scene that doesn’t work within the era it’s set… I sense quite an overhaul of my novel coming on, which is a dramatic change to my original plan of “having a quick read-through to catch any minor errors” !! I hope that it will be quite polished by the time I’ve finished this not-so-quick read through!

As a taster, here is a small excerpt of the novel, where Aria, a Faerie, and her roommate, Amethyst (an Angel) go to their room for the first time.

“Wow! It’s so beautiful!”

Amethyst and the little green Faerie gazed around their room in awe. The spacious room was bright and airy. There were three huge beds dotted around, draped in beautiful linens. There was a notice board on the wall that had a large sign on it.

“Welcome new students! I hope your room is everything that you desire. To change the décor, simply touch the item and state your desire. To manifest anything, just speak your request out loud, three times. If there are any problems, questions or concerns, write them down on this board and they will be dealt with. We will be reconvening in the main hall later on today. See you there! Velvet.”

The Faerie’s eyes widened. “We just touch things, and they change? I’ve gotta try this!” She flew over to the nearest bed and touched the sheets. “Green!” Instantly, the sheets turned the colour of spring grass. The Faerie squealed in delight, and started zooming around the room, touching things and yelling out colours and patterns, until the room looked like the inside of a kaleidoscope.

Amethyst looked around, amusement showing on her face. “Hmm,” she said. “I may just change a few things around my bed, if that’s okay with you?”

The Faerie was bouncing up and down on her bed. “Okay!”

The Angel went to the bed opposite and touched the sheets. “Amethyst,” she said. Instantly the sheets turned a shimmering lilac colour. The Angel nodded happily. She touched the wall behind her and said: “A meadow on a breezy summer’s day.” The wall took on the appearance of a meadow, with a bright blue sky, lazy clouds drifting along, wildflowers in bright colours and the long grass swaying in an unfelt breeze.

“Ooh!” the Faerie said. “That’s so beautiful! I’m going to try!” She flew to her wall and touched it. “A lawn from a Faerie’s point of view.” Giant blades of grass appeared, a huge ladybug crawled slowly up one of them, and a massive ant ambled past. The Faerie flew around in circles. “It’s so life-like! It feels like I’m back home again!” She stroked the moving image of the ladybug. “I wonder how Larry is,” she muttered to herself.

Happy New Year Everyone!