Friday 17 January 2014

Update!

Ooops, I'm slacking!

Forgive me readers for I have sinned! It has been eight days since my last confession post.


So what has been happening in the wonderful world of...ME?


I have received some wonderful feedback from my beta readers, for "Silver Lining." I was truly expecting to get totally slated, being as this was my first attempt at anything like this. But, other that a few minor suggestions, I'm not being advised I need to re-write the whole thing. Phew!


It is with an editor at the moment, who has unfortunately been ill with flu this week, which has delayed her getting it back to me. Hope you and the family are better soon K!


With little more I can do on "Silver Lining," until I get it back, I decided I needed to make a start on the sequel, "Silver Dove."


The ideas and rough plan are there in principle, and chapter 1 & 2 have been drafted and sent of for review. One thing I have found about my writing style though, is that I don;t always stick to a plan. I listen to my characters in my head, and visualise the scene and just let it flow. It will be interesting to see where "Silver Dove" takes us.


Right, that is all for now. I've been suffering with some sort of flu/virus type thing the last couple of days, so I'm going to sign off now.


Happy ... whatever it is you do/are doing!

Thursday 9 January 2014

In Loving memory

Sorry, not really book related but just wanted to share.

Tough day for me today!

"I thought of you with love today but that is nothing new
I thought about you yesterday and days before that too,

I think of you in silence I often speak your name
All I have are memories and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake with which I'll never part
God has you in His keeping I have you in my heart."

In loving memory of my lovely mum who was taken from us, a year ago today.

Love you and miss you mum.


This past twelve months has been a bit of a gut wrench and rather than face my grief I buried myself in books. It was easier to escape to others people's dramas, and their high's and low's, than deal with my own.


In September, I believe mum told me enough was enough and planted the seed for "Silver Lining". I honestly believe she is the driving force behind my perseverance to get on with it. Also with the whirlwind that has been my life since Friday when I happened to check Facebook and saw a post about beta readers. Since then I have met new people, okay only cyberly (not a real word I know, but it should be ;) ). They have been supportive and encouraging and I am so grateful to them. I believe in fate and what is meant to be will be, and mum, if you are listening, I'm sure you had a helping hand in it, knowing I was fretting about what to do next.


So Jennifer, Kendra, Jessica x 2, Kay and Ashley - Thank You! You guys are awesome and I haven't been able to keep the smile off my face all week.


Those that have had a chance to sneak peek Silver Lining will see snippets through the book dedicated to mum. Especially a certain scene on a football/soccer field that was drawn from the incident that lead my mum and dad to first meeting. More about that another time maybe.

Saturday 4 January 2014

Wow what a day!

Wow, what a day. Thanks to some wonderful sharing people on the Beta Babes and Critique Cronies Facebook I now have a team of beta readers to slag off ... I mean critique my wonderful work of art. They can only but help me make it better. 

I've also had my cover sent to me and it is BEAUTIFUL. I love, love, love it. 


Eeeep, this is all so surreal. When I had that idea in the shower at the beginning of September I certainly didn't see it becoming THIS! WOW.


And guess what! While soaking in the bath today the rough plot for the sequel came to me. I'm beginning to think I should live like a prune and stay in the bath/shower all the time. Then again I couldn't do the actual getting it down on paper thing. lol

Thursday 2 January 2014

Thought Processes

Does anyone else do their best thinking in the shower or is it just me?  Picture this is you will ... actually no don't it’s not a pretty sight.

So anyways, whilst lathering up my hair this very morning I did some pretty damn impressive thinking in a short space of time. So as a way to get this blog off and running I thought why not share those thoughts with you all.

This past 12 months has been a difficult time for me. Last January my lovely mum left us for the lush new pastures of heaven leaving me somewhat at a loss. I miss her everyday but still can’t comprehend that she has gone. I through myself into reading more and more to block out everyday life and lost myself in the dramas and highs of some wonderful fictional characters. In September when the idea of Silver Lining came into my head – yes I was in the shower – I never truly believed it would become what it did. I thought I’d get down the first paragraph and that would be that. But the more I typed, the more I got into the story and when I typed the words “The End” on 7th December I couldn't believe it, I laughed, I cried and I couldn't get rid of the stupid grin off my face for days. It’s all thanks to the encouragement of some amazing friends and the support of my neglected partner and son that I persevered and finished with a 94k word novel. I also believe mum was watching down on me encouraging me along when things went slow and I went a couple of weeks without typing a word, so thank you mum. I will be dedicating the book to her and in fact a scene in the book is inspired by the events that lead to my mum and dad first getting together. I’ll let that little secret out of the bag soon.

So on to thought 2.

I have been told that I have changed. Apparently I am no longer the timid, meek little mouse I was just over a year ago. I’m in a job I hate but yet apparently I am a stronger and more confident person. I can only put that down to reading about so many sassy characters, I guess after a while their ways rub off on you. I also think that maybe I am finally trying to discover who the real me is. Hmmm may or may not ring a bell if/when you read Silver Lining. So it dawned on me this morning that with this new persona of mine in place I need to truly discover who she is and make her the best person she can be. So as of today (I know, I know I say it every year) I am determined to shift the extra few *ahem* pounds and become “Emma the Author” – why did I have some superhero announcers voice running through my head when I typed that? So anyway, wish me luck and if you see me with a choc bar in my hands please yell at me to back away.

Finally

I already have the story plotted out in my head for “Silver Forever” the sequel to “Silver Lining” and just need to start writing. I have also had 2 other stories rumbling about in the old grey matter that I am eager to start too. Anyway this morning, like a light bulb moment, I realised how my third book, which I am contemplating calling “Near To You”, fits into the Silver stories and so can be a spin off from those. It also gives me another chance for a bit more Craig and Amber. They really are my babies.

I also thought about my next steps to getting Silver Lining out there in the stratosphere so today I will be looking at getting the cover done so I can, hopefully, do a big reveal and also send the manuscript off to an editor to tidy up for me. As my first I am sure there are lots of errors and stuff that needs working on, but everyone has to start somewhere right? I can only but learn from my mistakes and that will hopefully make Silver Forever that much better.

Okay this is turning into a novel in its own right so I shall leave it there for now.



My thought for the day: Live for today, you don’t know what tomorrow holds.

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Happy New Year

New year new start...

Wow, I am really doing this. 

In September I had an idea, that idea manifested itself into a full blown novel that I am putting the final touches to before it goes off to an editor. I know I have a long way to go before it hits the Kindle shelves but I am so excited. Never have I seen something through like this so to say I am proud of my accomplishments is a huge understatement.

So anyway Silver Lining the love story of Craig and Amber will hopefully be gracing our e-readers in the not too distant future.

I'll be posting the cover and teasers as soon as they are ready.

If you are already reading this, Thank You, your support means so much.

Happy New Year xxx