Tag: Chapeltown Books

HAPPY EVER AFTER? MAYBE NOT…

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In Happy Ever After? Maybe Not...  I list 10 examples where there definitely wasn’t a happy ever after ending for characters.  From the boiled wolf in The Three Little Pigs (can you imagine the horrendous stink of that incidentally?!) to Cinderella’s stepmother and sisters, you can guarantee to find someone who didn’t like the way the traditional tale ended!  Okay, a lot of these characters brought this on themselves but I do have a sneaking sympathy for those unfortunate souls trying to sell spinning wheels in Sleeping Beauty’s kingdom.  They’d have got short shrift from the girl’s parents at best!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Setting Goals looks at those targets characters might set themselves.  Do they achieve them?  Even if they do, do they find the happiness or whatever it was they expected on attaining their goals?  This thought came to mind as one of my long-term goals has always been to have a book on my shelves with my name on the front cover.  The publication of From Light to Dark and Back Again by Chapeltown Books achieves that, though I hope it will be book 1 in a series of books.  Later this week, I hope to share news of my interview with fellow author, Jacci Gooding, who put some searching questions to me.  My goal?  To answer them!

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I talk about how seeing certain books when I visit my dad always remind me of my late mum.  Books can be very evocative after all.

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Heaven on earth? Image via Pixabay (of the library at Leeds Castle)

Heaven on earth? Image via Pixabay (of the library at Leeds Castle)

 

 

Images from the magical world... Image via Pixabay

FURTHER FAIRYTALE MEMOS AND PROMISING ENDINGS

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

As promised yesterday, I share some Further Fairytale Memos that definitely would have changed the course of the traditional story concerned as we know it.  I also continue to add to my book page (and am delighted to say From Light to Dark and Back Again  – Chapeltown Books – is now up on Amazon in paperback).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Promising Endings follows on from yesterday’s post which looked at the start to stories.  Here I look at endings and, in particular with my flash fiction, I aim for my stories to end up with a “punch” or with a twist.

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I discuss why this week has been an excellent writing week.

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Back cover of From Light to Dark and Back Again

Back cover of From Light to Dark and Back Again

 

Says it all really. Image via Pixabay.

LIGHT READING

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Light Reading discusses what your characters might read when they want to escape their cares for a while or are just after literary entertainment.  There is very much a place for books and stories that tackle issues but also one for those that “just” entertain.  Does your fictional world reflect that?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Creating Images discusses how writers create images. This topic came about as the image for my book cover for From Light to Dark and Back Again, my debut flash fiction collection, came through from Chapeltown Books.  Naturally, I take the opportunity to share that too!  Hope you like the cover.  I know I’m biased but I think it’s fabulous!

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Well, my big news is the book cover so I talk about that more here.  It has taken me a long time to get to this point in my writing so this is very special.

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My debut flash fiction collection from Chapeltown Books

My debut flash fiction collection from Chapeltown Books

 

The magic of stories. Image via Pixabay

FURTHER FAIRYTALE HEADLINES

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Further Fairytale Headlines is another lighthearted post, following on from yesterday’s one.  See what Santa and Cinderella, amongst others, might have to say to the press.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Decisions, Decisions looks at how one decision by a character should be the pivot for the whole story.  See Frodo Baggins’s example of deciding he would go to Elrond’s house with the Ring of Power in The Lord of the Rings.  Okay having the Ringwraiths sent after Frodo did help speed up the decision making process here, but it is the one vital choice Frodo made and it led to consequences for others, especially Sam.  So what vital decisions are your characters making?

BOOK NEWS – FROM LIGHT TO DARK AND BACK AGAIN

And talking of decisions, I am in the middle of working out with my publisher the kind of launch I would like for my debut flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again (Chapeltown Books).  Last week I had the great joy of choosing my book cover (which looks fab and yes I know I’m biased, but I look forward to being able to share the image at a later date).  It is an exciting journey as it has taken a very long time for me to get to this point.  More details later…  am currently building a book page on my websites as well.

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And away from the written word (a bit), I discuss the joys of swimming.  I had thought I would use the time in the pool to mentally work out plots, characters and so on but it hasn’t worked out like that.

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After a swim, I'm soon back at the keyboard. Image via Pixabay.

After a swim, I’m soon back at the keyboard. Image via Pixabay.

 

 

Where stories emerge these days... Image via Pixabay

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Under the Influence asks who influences your characters and whether they break away from that or not.  Plenty of story ideas there.  I also go on to suggest who some of my favourite fairytale and other characters were influenced by.  For example, Humpty Dumpty was clearly influenced by the Acrobatic Society who told him it was feasible for an egg to be balanced on a wall and, more importantly, stay balanced.  There are times when you can’t be more wrong!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Making an Impact looks at what impact your stories and characters have on you and your readers.  Is it the impact you intended?  Is there more beneath the surface than you at first realized with your tale (generally that is a good thing)?  And I share a tip I’ve found useful in putting your work aside for a while before re-reading it.  Does the story have the same impact on you as it did when you read it the first time?

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I share an amusing incident today with regard to one of my darker tales in From Light to Dark and Back Again, my forthcoming flash fiction collection (Chapeltown Books).

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ideas-the-spark-for-writing-competitions-image-via-pixabay

Ideas are wonderful but are your stories making the impact you intended?  Image via Pixabay

 

 

 

Says it all really. Image via Pixabay.

WHAT FAIRYTALES GIVE US

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

What Fairytales Give Us could easily have been called My Ten Reasons for Loving Fairytales. In my list, I include my love of the fact that in fairy stories, justice and truth will always win in the end (so unlike life!) and that background doesn’t matter when it comes to there being a hero/heroine in the story.  Think of Cinderella, of the miller’s son in Puss and Boots, then up to royalty for the prince transformed into a beast in Beauty and the Beast.  Can you add to my list?  Comments welcome!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Working Methods takes a look at some of my writing methods but also asks about how your characters work.  Is it all done by manual labour, magic, machinery or any combination of these?  I also share why I start my characters off by looking at their main trait and worry about the physical description later.

FACEBOOK PAGE – AND BOOK NEWS!

My first volume of flash fiction stories, From Light to Dark and Back Again, is currently in production by independent press, Chapeltown Books.  I share some further news about this on my Facebook page and will share more as and when I have it but, as you can imagine, I am thrilled about this.  Chapeltown will be bringing out a series of books with their own branding and mine is going to be the first of them.  Very much ongoing news story here!

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Books make wonderful gifts. Image via Pixabay.

Books are wonderful – whether in print or electronic, whether as audio stories or told by a storyteller. Image via Pixabay.

 

The world of the imagination should play a role in your stories. I can't imagine any world without some form of the arts. Image via Pixabay.

FAIRYTALES IN A FLASH

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Fairytales in a Flash shares my love of flash fiction and fairytales.  One lovely thing about flash is it is very flexible when it comes to genre.  In my upcoming book, From Light to Dark and Back Again (Chapeltown Books), I have stories which are borderline horror, others are crime tales, while the majority are fairytales with bite.  So have fun with the form – I have (and am now working on another flash fiction collection so intend to keep on having fun with it!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

What Not to Say to a Writer is one of those posts that could attract lots of additional points to the ones I’ve made (feel free!).  I’ve listed the “where do you get your ideas?” and the “I’d write if I had more time” line but what can you come up with here?  For novelists, I’d add in something like “you’ve written one novel – is that all?”.  For all writers, why are there misunderstandings about how long it can take to produce a good story (and a good novel takes even longer)?  Has film and TV made everyone expect stories instantly?  (False premise if so, it takes ages to produce something that’s ready for broadcast).

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Today (5th December) was my 29th wedding anniversary.  Had a lovely day out with better half and the dog.  None of us can believe where the time has gone!  (Okay Mabel has only been with  us for 4 years out of that 29 but she can’t believe where that time has gone!).  Managed to catch up with some reading tonight as well which was great.  And I put in a plug for flash fiction again – I won’t bother to pretend I’m not biased.  I am!

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Do your characters know in which direction they're going? (Border collie is optional!). Image via Pixabay.

Mabel. Image taken by me.

 

Where stories emerge these days... Image via Pixabay

TOP 10 TRAITS FOR FAIRY GODMOTHERS

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I list my Top 10 Traits for Fairy Godmothers tonight.  At least they’re the traits you would want  your fairy godmother to have if you were fortunate enough to have one turn up on your doorstep announcing they’re there to help you!

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Revealing Opening Lines gives some examples of opening lines that give a lot of information in a few words.  Two of them I’ve invented for this post.  One is the start of a flash fiction piece, George ChangesMind Mind, which will appear in my flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again (Chapeltown Books – (UK)).

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I discuss Argentina’s winning of the Davis Cup (am so pleased for Del Potro) and share one of my favourite memories relating to my late mum and Andy Murray’s first Wimbledon win.

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Where stories used to start... image via Pixabay.

Where stories used to start… image via Pixabay.

 

 

STORIES BITING BACK

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Stories Biting Back shares my thoughts on flash fiction and how they must pack a punch.  I also share a link with Chapeltown Books, who have a blog page up about the flash fiction collections they are currently producing.  The three authors selected so far are Neil Campbell, Gill James and myself.  The link shares samples of work from Neil and myself.  My flash sample is A Kind of Hell.  Hope you like it.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Creating Worlds again shares the link with Chapeltown Books but also discusses one major thing I love about stories and books in general.  That is:  each story or book, regardless of length, takes you into its own world and there is no limit to how many worlds you can visit.  The more you read, the more worlds you visit so happy travelling!

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Again I share links with Chapeltown Books.  On this link there are also Amazon connections to The Best of Cafelit series.   I have work in Best of 4 and 5 and reviewed 3!  No surprises here but I’m all for supporting the independent presses!!

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All books are gateways to other worlds, fantasy and science fiction especially I think. Image via Pixabay.

All books are gateways to other worlds, fantasy and science fiction especially I think. Image via Pixabay.