About Me

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Hi, welcome to my blog, I am a writer of short stories, children's and YA novels . An acceptance from People's Friend finally made me a published writer! Yeah, happy days! I have since had stories published in The Weekly News and The Last Laugh anthology. My main love is writing children's/YA novels...I'm now enduring a fruitless search for an agent... I also draw and paint, I like to draw animals (usually my adorable crazy cats!)Occasionally famous people and motorcycles.

Thursday 28 October 2010

Children's Poem

I've just heard that my children's poem, 'Fairy Dreams' will be in the 'happily ever after' anthology by Forward Press.
Forward Press is considered a 'vanity publisher' I have been told, and that I'd be forced to buy copies.
However, as this poem was entered in a competition, entrants are not expected to purchase copies in order to be published at all, so I didn't see the harm in that, and there was the chance of having a collection of stories published for the winner. Which, I know isn't the same as 'mainstream publication' but I think it's always nice to see your work in print.
As a runner up in the Spikethecat comp, I wasn't actually paid, but it was still fabulous to receive the book, which I mentioned earlier. I think. A few times. hehe.
So, I'm looking forward to seeing 'Fairy Dreams', yay!

Anyone else had experience of Forward Press? :)



Nothing whatsoever to do with publishing or fairies, but Millie rarely poses for a photo, so I thought I'd make the most of it. She's so superior, always looks unimpressed with us! 'Just feed me, fools!'

Thursday 21 October 2010

Happy Face

Thank you all for your kind comments! I am happy to say I have finished my whinging (for now) and have started on that re-write.

While searching for a 'happy' image for the post I came accross 'Theridian grallator' a tiny spider from Hawaii

(apologies to anyone with spider phobias) But isn't it strange?

So do you see a happy face, or just a shudder-worthy spidi?

Sunday 17 October 2010

In need of inspiration

Yes. I am. It's been over two weeks since I wrote anything new. That was a competition entry for 'Time and Space' which is something I've never tried before, a bit of space travel and such. So perhaps I've just been all out of ideas. That's not really true, I have lots of ideas but I'm a bit downhearted. I've had a story back from a magazine, that I've re written six times! I still don't feel able to give up on it, but I'm not quite sure where to go with it.

I'm wondering whether to try something different (different for me). I am just reading 'Relics of the dead' by Ariana Franklin. A historical novel set in 1176, which I'm thoroughly enjoying. It turns out this is the 3rd story about the character, anatomist, Adeila Aguilar, so I think I'll have to read the previous two.





Anyway, I have to admire the amount of research that goes into a historical novel, where facts and fiction are intertwined so wonderfully. At the same time, feeling a little envious of the writer's ability. I have written a young adult book in which the main character has come from the early thirteenth century and has to get back there. My novel, I now feel, fails miserably in any historical accuracy, I tried to get around this by making it a fantasy reality, but I'm not happy. I know what needs to be done. Some research!
Which leads me back to my first sentence.
I know. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, woman, and get on with it!

Thank you all for your comments on my favourite books, It's good to know some of us share similar tastes. I happened to come across a copy of 'First term at Malory Towers' by Enid Blyton, at a charity shop. I had to buy it for nostalgia's sake! That wasn't on my list, but I loved those books!