Tag: books

Just Write, Right?

I don’t often give out writing advice, mainly because I feel more like an eternal learner, but then again, maybe that’s the point. That and the fact I was thinking about how writing, how stories, are a form of communication, and then comes the importance of reading. In a complex world we want our words to hit home, to reflect, to challenge, to inspire… And so we must be open, to grow, to learn… and to read.

Read and learn from what you read, about language, plot, character, and overall flow. Think about the good, the not so good, and those stories that pull you in and keep you there in every beat, engrossed to the final page. What flow, what depth, keeps you turning the page? What do you look for? What do you want to produce?

Write. Read your work out loud, to yourself, to another, to a roomful of others. Stretch and test yourself, until the words sound like music to your ears. Then write, revise, edit, produce more. We’re always striving, always learning, always growing. And when it comes to seeking publishing, always keeping on going. Live with the rejections, keep submitting, and in the meantime write some more, rest, refresh, revisit with clarity and the courage to keep producing, revising, transforming into unique pieces of something new.

You may have inspiration. You may have that elusive talent. The good news is that writing depends on neither. Hard work can produce talent. Engaging in the process can produce inspiration.

Octavia Butler said, “Forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is perseverance in practice.”

So form the habit. Create routines. Write, explore and flex the imagination muscle. Stay determined to develop and grow and produce work to the best that it can be. Listen to the response. Adapt, learn, grow, and persist.

Read. Write. Persist.

And once your book is produced, you have the pleasure of spotting it on a bookshop bookshelf, as I spotted mine last week when visiting Tiverton’s lovely Liznojan bookshop.

Keep writing. Keep reading. Love Books.

Have a great week!

Happy New Year 2023!!!

With each new year comes a brand new book with blank pages just waiting to be filled, and I wonder what the new year will bring. In many ways, 2022 has been bursting with creativity, and it has been fun looking back on some of the highlights.

Most recently, it’s been wonderful to see my piece, Desert Flower, exhibited with Art Show International.

I often think that the process of creating my intricate, hand-painted mosaics, is as much a part of the art as the end result, and this one holds particular personal significance, as it was painted while staying with my dad when he was ill. The patience involved in the painstaking process of painting mosaic effect is something I know he would have appreciated. Art is significant, in all its forms. The smallest book can be the greatest gift. A painting can hold a world. Desert Flower was inspired by the deserts of Sudan, which I maintain great fondness for, from when I lived there many years ago. It’s a place that inspired another painting, Tuti Island. Deserts and the life I found there, also find their way into my stories:

‘The line of the horizon transformed into great mountainous peaks, cloaked in shades of orange with the setting of the sun. It was almost dark by the time we reached the first slopes on a path that abruptly grew steep. In the shadow of splintering crags and sheer cliff faces we meandered narrow paths, the soft thumps of the camels’ padded feet, and occasional whip cracks echoing around deep canyons. Like the desert, this was a barren landscape. I thought of the stories I had grown up with, thought of the picture my great grandmother had painted, and imagined a time when people had climbed these same mountain passes on a pilgrimage, imagined their footsteps still echoing where camels now trod.’ Return of the Mantra

My life is also enriched by the creative endeavours of others, in all its artforms, which in turn inspires me to continue finding routes to share my own. My re-kindled passion for poetry saw me invited to be featured poet for the night at a local favourite open mic event, which was great fun.

And of course it has been great to get out and about with my books, Blood Gift Chronicles, either in person, or online (thank you Covid!). And, as is customary, the new year will begin with scheduling for more, so plenty to look forward to.

In contrast, it’s always good to take the time for some R&R and a breath of fresh air. I’ll leave you with some photos of a recent trip to Haldon forest, where scores of real-life Xmas trees live, watched over by a robin or two.

Wishing Everyone a Happy, Healthy & Peaceful New Year…

xxx

Jolabokaflod 2022

In celebration of Iceland’s very wonderful Christmas Eve tradition, Jolabokaflod, I bring to you my own ‘Christmas book flood’: a 12 day book advent of my personal favourite reads from 2022. From fantasy and sci-fi, to short collections, to biography, steampunk, and epic historical fiction, it is a wonderful and eclectic collection brought to you in no particular order.

Enjoy!

Day 1 – Book of Fire by Michelle Kenney: feral people, a wild girl, hidden forests and so much more. A perfect blend of imagination, mythology, and plausible science to describe a possible future dystopia.

Day 2 – The Second Bell by Gabriela Houston – the intimate heartfelt story of Salka, a girl born with two hearts. An unforgettable MC, courageous in the face of harsh laws that test her demon heart.

Day 3 – The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi – and just WOW what a read! Epic, deeply personal, and a testament to the true and lasting connections between history, tradition, the present day… and the immense power of stories.

Day 4 – Coalescence by Tim King – an extraordinary and dynamic collection of rhyming memoir, storytelling verse, rants, raves and revelations that reflect the clear light of day, told with grace, sparkling humour, punchy frankness and expert simplicity.

Day 5 – The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri – evocative fantasy with sapphic romance, lush world building, and forbidden tales of origin and magic folklore. Loved the feminist edge, unafraid of tackling issues of independence and empire pertinent to the world as we know it.

Day 6 – Everfair by Nisi Shawl – alternate history of Belgium’s colonization of Congo, exploring an outcome if indigenous people had had their own steam tech. Loved the inventiveness that blends perfectly with the African backdrop.

Day 7 – Broken Places and Outer Spaces by Nnedi Okorafor – biographical read from star athlete with lifelong scoliosis, to a paralysed patient following routine back surgery; how the transformative power of imagination ignited her passion for storytelling.

Day 8 – Noor by Nnedi Okorafor – biotechnology, cybernetics, destiny, and a kick-ass MC, AO, disabled from birth, determined, independent and powerful. ‘There are times when you either save yourself or you don’t.’

Day 9 – There – a wonderful poetry collection from Exeter’s Slam Champion Poet 2022, Clare Morris, in collaboration with artist, Nigel Bird. Word and art woven together, oozing with soul, that makes you want to saviour the moment.

Day 10 – The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey – on an imaginary Caribbean island, the love between man and mermaid felt as real as a blackbird’s song. Tantalising blend of the mythical woven into visceral realism of everyday life. A wonderful read.

Day 11 – The Iron Brooch by Yvonne Hendrie – a magical, dual-timeline novel, with captivating depth that delves into the preternatural. Brigid is forced to navigate a world where the veil grows thin, revealing the dangerous and mysterious Celtic fae. Spellbinding.

Day 12 – The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg – Uiziya’s journey becoming a great weaver: tantalising magic woven from wind, sand, song and bone. A brooding, sinister and colourful backdrop, with thought-provoking gender politics. Loved the trans MC. And magic carpets! Wonderful read.

***

In turn, it was wonderful to see my own Blood Gift Chronicles make several advents this year, including Stairwell Books.

Now back to my Xmas Eve read…

Wishing everyone a wonderful festive season!

Winter Hues

Winter has arrived, crisp, cold, and muted blue/grey skies with a strange white sheen that makes you wonder, is there snow on the horizon?

Either way, it’s time to hunker down, and hibernate with a good read, and a manuscript in progress. And I have to say, I’m loving the magic of Blood Gift Chronicles Book 3, a book that slips into different time periods, with overlapping lives as we move towards answers to the big question… I love a good origin story, and I love magic, so here goes. And with new societies and landscapes there’s much to get my teeth into. Finally, I get up close and personal with the elusive Evren, a woman who doesn’t fit, but who lives dangerously unapologetically.

Read more →

Heroes & Villains in SFF

I’m engrossed in the re-writes of Blood Gift Chronicles Book 3, with characters spanning the good, the bad, and the morally grey, in this far-reaching world where ‘reap what you sow’ takes on a whole new meaning. In a recent scene with a particularly dastardly character, it got me thinking about what makes a good villain.

Read more →

For the Love of Books #18

Thinking along the lines of complex characters, non-conforming women with agency, and sapphic romance in the fantasy genre, I thought I’d stop by with a recent read:

The Jasmine Throne; by Tasha Suri

Read more →

The Warder Celebration & BGC Art

June 2022 was the month for finally getting together to celebrate last year’s release, The Warder. The event was set to go ahead here in Exeter, and preparations were going swimmingly…

but alas, we were thwarted by Covid. Life can be as unpredictable as the twists and turns of our stories, and so came a last-minute shift onto zoom.

Hosted by my publishers, the lovely folks of Stairwell Books, and joined by local guest readers bringing more fantasy, folklore, poetry and rhyme, it was lovely to spend time in the company of other writers, as well as readers of my series so far. And onto my readings.

With a brief intro. to Book One, Return of the Mantra, I was reminded of intrepid Suni and her search for justice and her own identity. Thrust into some stark environments, she discovers what she’s really made of, in contrast to the mountaintop view where her worldview is forever changed. And of course, when you’re up against tyranny and fighting for the natural world, it takes more than one voice. Onto Book 2, The Warder, where we get to know more of our heroines and heroes.

With three main characters in The Warder, three scenes jumped out at me to share.

Wanda, an eighteen-year-old young man, gifted but also cursed by a shadow bound to him. One of his opening scenes is a favourite, looking out over the grasslands, searching for respite from his curse.

Ten-year-old Luna, troubled by strange visions, experiences her own personal breaking high in the mountains.

And, perhaps holding it all together, Suni returns, working to restore harmony to her hometown, while using her gift to watch out over her young friend.

The dominoes are falling, squeezing characters and revealing timeless bonds. All set in a world with new lands revealed, where old and new, the mundane and the fantastical, coexist. Prepare to be cast away to an archipelago of islands in the far western reaches, with the musty air of the cavernous temple and the sound of footsteps crossing the mosaic-tiled floor; in contrast to the warm desert winds of Shendi, carrying spells and curses that touch all those with the gift to hear…

With themes of wildlife and the environment, social justice and marginalisation, magic, animism, being true to oneself, and dragons… Not to mention a diverse range of character arcs revealing love in all its forms.

Prior to the event, I set myself a project to imagine what my characters might look like. Of course, it’s ultimately for readers to draw their own conclusion, but I’ll leave you with the result of the project: a series of portraits, my own artistic interpretation of my beloved characters that span the series, Blood Gift Chronicles.

Happy Reading!

 

For the Love of Books #14

In this book post I thought I would give a nod to our younger characters, in two wonderful YA books that, like all books of this genre, are for readers of all ages. The first of my recommendations is inspired by the fact that it is LGBTQ+ history month.

The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen

The Magic Fish is a wonderfully unique story that carries powerful messages about identity, acceptance and love. It’s a long time since I read a graphic story, and this re-introduction was a great reminder of the power of graphics. The animations are beautifully descriptive and require few words to illustrate what is a complex journey for our main character, Tien. From the outset, it may appear like a small story, but this is the story of a boy living in social margins, an immigrant story among others things, and one that offers astonishing depth.

Tien has a story to tell his parents, but communication is difficult: they are refugees struggling to learn English, while Tien doesn’t know the words in Vietnamese to come out to them as gay. The answer lies in fairy tales – a language that Tien and his parents share. With the help of fairy tales, family and friends, Tien discovers how to tell his story to those close to him, how to accept himself and ultimately navigate the world. It is a novel told with interlinking storylines weaving between reality and fairy tales, so sweet and poignant and with an ending that is utterly heart-warming.

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman, By Robin Gregory

Born in 1892, a baby boy is found tucked inside a wooden fishing basket by the nuns of San Miguel de las Gaviotas. So begins Moojie Littleman’s journey of fantasy, magical realism, and miracles that are as real as the visiting extraterrestrials.

“He arrived on the heels of an earthquake. A minor hiccup as disasters go, the murmur rippling undersea, causing dories in the bay to bob and spider crabs to flood the beach like a ghostly pink tide.”

Moojie ends up in the care of his hard-hearted grandpappy. It’s an unsympathetic home for a biracial and partially-disabled boy with unique and tender magical gifts, and an innate empathy for humans, animals and nature. Until he answers the call of the wild, and discovers kindred spirits. So begins a series of trials as Moojie is called to a great destiny. But can he survive one last terrifying trial?

It is a magical tale of love, belonging, and pilgrimage, unique and inspiring and creatively told, with prose that comes alive on the page, lyrical and enchanting. It is a story that oozes with optimism, speaks of possibilities, and has you believing that miracles really do exist.

What are you reading?

 

 

For the Love of Books #13

I have a real treat in store for this episode of For the Love of Books: two titles with themes of the natural world, albeit it an extraordinary natural world. The first was one of my favourite reads of 2021.

The Water Bailiff’s Daughter by Yvonne Hendrie

The Water Bailiff’s Daughter is such an unusual read and one I adored. Set against the atmospheric shores of Loch Duie on the western coast, Scottish folklore is woven into the extraordinary tale of Helena Hailstanes, part witch, part otter, part human. It’s a story of self-discovery, as Helena comes to terms with her connection to the ancient race of shape-shifting otters, a connection she shares with her father, Sam.

The extraordinary is also very much rooted in the mundane, bringing to life all the complexities of family. The writing flows with ease, concise in its descriptions that brings the place alive on the page. The dialogue draws you in to characters that left me rooting for each member of this messy, complex family that learns to pull together against the odds. Love, loyalty and mutual respect flourish and grow in this place so tangible I can almost feel the cold waters of the loch and smell the fishy aroma of an otter’s favourite meal.

Each character is on their own path of self-discovery. Sam, a man intimately connected to his otter side, chooses loyalty, forgoing natural instincts to conform for those he grows to love. Through Rose, Sam’s wife, we see the reality of a woman’s place and what she must overcome to be permitted a respectable place in the community. And the main character, Helena, is forced to navigate adolescence: destined to live a small life hidden from the wider world, she yearns for more. All this while discovering her true heritage, her otter instincts, and the truth that overshadows all else. With destinies entwined, there is a reason Helena is closely watched over by the sea witch, Megan. But nothing is predictable in the world of this extraordinary heroine.

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

A Victorian woman, Lady Isabella Trent, defies societal conventions with her love of books, natural history and dragons. The book reads as a historical memoir, in the style of classical literature, themed around a wildlife adventure; indigenous wildlife being dragons. Reading like a travel log, written in the first person, the character voice and perspective of Lady Trent was consistent, believable, and provided a new angle that felt unique and fresh.

We first meet Isabella as a girl who collects sparklings, is a voracious reader and loves dragons. She marries a man who accepts her unconventional interests, and at 19 years old, Lady Trent ventures out on her first expedition: dragon spotting on the mountains of Vystrana.

The story is character driven and includes some interesting analogies. This is a woman who comes face to face with dragons, yet on a night of wakefulness, wandering the streets, it is men and an ‘outrage upon my honour’ she fears most. The general context of stifling sexism is well placed for the era, and dragons are Lady Trent’s escape. Her adventures perfectly depict that moment of awe when rounding a corner or emerging atop a summit, and being faced with the extraordinary sight of a dragon full flight, or stretched out across a gentle slope. These sightings, together with scientific discoveries and an in-depth analysis of dragon anatomy, were my favourite parts, in a read where dragons have never felt so real.

What are you reading?