Image Credits:-
All images from Pixabay/Pexels unless otherwise stated with many created in Book Brush. Book cover images from Chapeltown Books and Bridge House Publishing. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. MANY THANKS TO ADRIAN SYMES FOR FILMING ME OPENING MY COPIES OF SEEING THE OTHER SIDE – SEE BELOW.
Hope you have had a good week so far. Cracking one here. My copies of Seeing The Other Side are now with me and look wonderful. Have had to switch to a hot weather schedule for Lady again (and will probably have to do so again next week).
Facebook – General and Chandler’s Ford Today
Delighted to share Marketing and Writing on Chandler’s Ford Today this week.
I look at balancing writing and marketing time, which is never easy to get right. I look at marketing you can enjoy (honest!) and share tips about writing about the book you have written, which can seem such a strange thing to have to do.
Hope you find the post useful. Am very much writing about what I know right now!
Many thanks for the lovely responses to my sharing of the “author opening box of books” video I posted yesterday. See below. Much appreciated, folks.
Am continuing to keep Lady out of the heat. She’s doing fine but loathes this temperature. I’m no fan either.
Writing wise, I’m sharing Marketing and Writing on Chandler’s Ford Today this week, both topics being at the top of my agenda right now. Link up tomorrow. I’ll be sharing tips which I hope will prove useful. See above.
There could only be one post on this page from me today and I’m glad to share my news via my YouTube channel. A huge thanks to Adrian Symes for filming this. It’s the kind of marketing which is difficult to do on your own!
Am delighted to share the classic “author receiving their new books” video. This has been a long time in coming but am so glad to share this now. Says it all!
A huge thank you to Gill James and all at Bridge House/Chapeltown Books. I know I’m biased but I think Seeing The Other Side looks fabulous and it is a joy to have my copies to hand. Now to start organising events (and I will have news to share on the Swanwick one soon too).
Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again
Another hot day here and Lady remains on the hot weather schedule. She’s doing fine. Have come across a few stories about dogs dying from heatstroke. Am not taking the risk. Pleased to say she’s sensible and, unlike my other two collies, I don’t have to persuade Lady to drink water. She’s pretty good on that.
Writing wise, I’ll be doing various bits and pieces over the weekend including marketing work, which given my Chandler’s Ford Today post this week is called Marketing and Writing is apt! Have also added a copy of my Seeing The Other Side to the shelf where I keep my works, the anthologies I have work in, and books written and signed for me by friends.
Also pleased to report I will have another super interview coming up on Chandler’s Ford Today in due course. More news on that nearer the time.
Hope today has gone well. Appreciated my swim today! Another hot one here.
I now have details of my book launch at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick for my Seeing The Other Side but I’ll share further details firstly in my author newsletter on 1st August and then here after that. It makes sense to me to share the news in the week running up to it happening! Am glad it is all set up though and am looking forward to this a lot.
I also hope to share a few stories from the book at the launch and at the Open Prose Mic Night Swanwick runs, assuming my name is drawn out of the box. There can be a waiting list. Mind you, the Prose Night is something I try not to miss, whether I’m taking part or not, because it is fabulous listening to a selection of works by other writers and there is something wonderful about being read to by someone else for your entertainment.
Great day here – I now have my copies of Seeing The Other Side. So pleased about that. Will have news soon about launches, both the one planned to be held at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, and one which Bridge House Publishing will do online.
It is such a joy to hold my author copy and see my work in print once again. That buzz never leaves you, no matter how few or many books or other publication credits you have.
It is great to see work come to fruition when all is said and done.
Fairytales With Bite – Fairy Godmother = Acrostic
F = Fantasy figure, usually has a heart of gold but not always.
A = Always has a magic wand or several to hand.
I = Imaginative in many ways, likes old school traditions in others.
R = Respects those who try to be kind, curses those who are not.
Y = You cross this figure at your own risk.
G = Granny like sometimes, attractive young woman at others but don’t be fooled by appearances.
O = Old magic as well as new is like drawing breath to her and she uses both types at will.
D = Drawn to helping those deserving of help, drawn to teaching the arrogant a lesson the hard way.
M = Magic used with the right motivations behind it is what keeps her going.
O = Opponents are soon shown the error of the ways; where she can’t beat them, she’ll neutralise what they do.
T = Threats are no deterrent and she never makes any herself unless she knows she will carry them out.
H = Hotheads are soon made to cool down with her aptly chosen spell.
E = Endings, where she is involved, are usually on the happy side, unless you are her opponent.
R = Remember her powers, remember respect, all will be well.
Allison Symes – 8th July 2026
This World and Others – Bending The Rules
I’ve long had a soft spot for characters who bend the rules, especially when they’re doing so to help someone else and there is no other obvious way forward. I’ve written characters like this myself.
But what makes a character even think about doing that in the first place? They must know deep down that, given certain circumstances, this is what they would do.
Often with my fairy godmother kind of character, they’ve long had issues with some of the petty rules and regulations they have to follow. Now sometimes with my characters, those rules really are petty. Sometimes they’re not and it is my character who is the problem. Both kinds of attitude are fun to write up into stories.
But knowing what motivates your character here is vital. It won’t be convincing if they seem to break the rules or bend them for no apparent reason. There will be a reason somewhere and it doesn’t have to be one you or your readers agree with but it has to be one they can understand your character having.
