The last month or so has been unexpectedly busy, as evidenced by the way I dropped off the planet here.
Still, things have finally quietened down, and I seem to be getting back on course.
It's always hard to get back into the habit of writing when I haven't for a while, so I've been building this up slowly, with a nice, leisurely plan, and I'm back on course for finishing The Fairytale Way by the end of August.
And then I have all sorts of interesting new things to start in on...
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Wicked
We were down in London at the weekend visiting some friends. Had a lovely time, but felt very old by the end of it; we were in bed by 1am and not at all hungover the next day. We then spent Sunday visiting garden centres.
It's all over.
But we did go see Wicked on Saturday night. It was so great! Simon bought me the soundtrack, which I think he might be regretting a little bit now he'd had to listen to it for forty eight hours straight...
It's all over.
But we did go see Wicked on Saturday night. It was so great! Simon bought me the soundtrack, which I think he might be regretting a little bit now he'd had to listen to it for forty eight hours straight...
Friday, June 22, 2007
I Am Returned
Had an excellent time in Wales, despite a variety of injuries and illnesses inflicted upon me and the husband. Still, we got to go swimming in the sea, which is the important thing. (Even if our most outdoory friend texted later to say 'But the sea's at its coldest at this time of year!')
Back now, and back to work. Took a bit of a break from the writing while I was on holiday - more thinking than actual writing on the current WIP, but I did get to do some fabulous research for something I hope to write next...
Anyway, some photos from our trip:
The beach outside our apartment
Kings Quoit, Manobier
One of a colony of around 200 Grey Atlantic seals on Caldey Island
Back now, and back to work. Took a bit of a break from the writing while I was on holiday - more thinking than actual writing on the current WIP, but I did get to do some fabulous research for something I hope to write next...
Anyway, some photos from our trip:
The beach outside our apartment
Kings Quoit, Manobier
One of a colony of around 200 Grey Atlantic seals on Caldey Island
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Tenby! Wales!
We're off on our hols today - to a world without the internet (or, at least, a flat without).
See you in a couple of weeks...
See you in a couple of weeks...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Family Achievements
I might not have mentioned this, but I have the best family ever.
They're wonderful; supportive, fun, loving and intelligent. We also sing a lot. Often in public.
There are plenty of us - I have eight cousins, a variety of aunts and uncles, and only relatively recently lost two of my beloved grandparents.
I am truly blessed and fortunate to have grown up with such a crowd.
The only downside, if you can call it that, is that they all are, and always have been, highly successful and brilliant.
Living up to my elder cousins' achievements has always been hard; whether it was exam results, university acceptances, roles in plays, careers, even boyfriends and husbands. It's just lucky that they're all so nice, and that I love them so dearly.
At twenty seven, I'm finally having to deal with living up to my younger cousins' achievements, too.
Which is by way of saying, look out for David Whitley's new Children's Fantasy novel, The Midnight Charter, sold to publishers across the world, and due in stores in early 2009.
For more information on Davey, here's his agent's website: http://www.mvagency.com/davidwhitley.html
They're wonderful; supportive, fun, loving and intelligent. We also sing a lot. Often in public.
There are plenty of us - I have eight cousins, a variety of aunts and uncles, and only relatively recently lost two of my beloved grandparents.
I am truly blessed and fortunate to have grown up with such a crowd.
The only downside, if you can call it that, is that they all are, and always have been, highly successful and brilliant.
Living up to my elder cousins' achievements has always been hard; whether it was exam results, university acceptances, roles in plays, careers, even boyfriends and husbands. It's just lucky that they're all so nice, and that I love them so dearly.
At twenty seven, I'm finally having to deal with living up to my younger cousins' achievements, too.
Which is by way of saying, look out for David Whitley's new Children's Fantasy novel, The Midnight Charter, sold to publishers across the world, and due in stores in early 2009.
For more information on Davey, here's his agent's website: http://www.mvagency.com/davidwhitley.html
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Eighteen
I'm at home in Wales this long weekend for my baby brother's eighteenth birthday. He's nine years younger than me, so it's been a long time coming. He's off to university in Warwick this October, and we're all terribly proud of him.
Anyway, so I'm curled up in my Grandparents old armchair by the French windows in my parent's lounge, listening to my family bustle about their day. We've had the traditional boiled eggs for breakfast, and any time now I have to start making a chocolate & coconut birthday cake.
In the brief meantime, I'm going to try and ignore distractions and get some words down.
Anyway, so I'm curled up in my Grandparents old armchair by the French windows in my parent's lounge, listening to my family bustle about their day. We've had the traditional boiled eggs for breakfast, and any time now I have to start making a chocolate & coconut birthday cake.
In the brief meantime, I'm going to try and ignore distractions and get some words down.
Monday, May 21, 2007
The Swing of Things
So, I've re-instigated the word counter on the right hand side of the page; I always feel better if I can see myself making progress.
Of course, progress is a little thin on the ground at the moment, but I've written one scene today, and that's better than nothing.
Spent the weekend hunting triffids in the back garden, and causing snail Armageddon. Much fun, but I ache today.
Back to the words...
Of course, progress is a little thin on the ground at the moment, but I've written one scene today, and that's better than nothing.
Spent the weekend hunting triffids in the back garden, and causing snail Armageddon. Much fun, but I ache today.
Back to the words...
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Playing Tag
Bonnie tagged me, as she is wont to do.
Eight Random Facts About KJ
Eight Random Facts About KJ
- I talk to myself a lot. Not usually when there are other people around, but still.
- I count my steps whenever I’m walking somewhere.
- I make my husband watch 80s brat pack movies, even though he hates them. His least favourite so far is St Elmo’s fire, which just happens to be the one that I love best.
- I call my mother almost every evening, even when neither of us has anything much to say.
- I’m much more useful in the mornings that the afternoons or evenings. If only I would get out of bed earlier I’d be unstoppable.
- I recently bought a pink laptop, even though I probably really shouldn’t have.
- I love local folklore and mysteries. I have many books on the subject and delight in telling people all about them, even though they don’t care. Sometimes I make them visit sites of extreme interest with me, and they wonder why a piece of wood at the side of the road is in any way interesting. Then I tell them, and they still don’t care.
- I’m never really satisfied with the seasons. My favourite is always which ever it isn’t right now. I always think that Autumn is my favourite, but actually, since it doesn’t have Christmas, my birthday, or pretty flowers, I’m not so sure.
I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to do it, feel free.
Monday, May 07, 2007
What I'm working on right now
After a few weeks off to mess around with some edits and some submissions and stuff, I'm finally getting back to working on the book I started writing for Michelle's Write On Redux.
I've already got just over 30k, and some reasonable background and character work.
More importantly, I just finished the collage that's been hanging, half done, over my desk for the last few months. I'm hoping that its completion will help spur me on to finish the book itself; certainly it's helped get my head back into the story. You probably can't make out much from the picture, except teapots and jampots, but obviously they're the most important features.... Not really. It's a story about fortune, fable and falling in love. But most of all, it’s about families; what we do for them, to them and because of them.
Recent submissions of my previous Write On Novel have started to get replies - so far all declines, but some very nice, personal ones, and requests to see whatever I write next, which I'm taking as a good sign. It's one of the reasons I want to get this finished, so I can send it out. I really love this story, and have high hopes for it. If it turns out on paper the way it is in my head...
I also have my soundtrack almost finalised. Just a few more tweaks when something jars - sadly I have to actually write the words to notice this. Which means it's time to get back to work!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Mary Elizabeth Reeves
My cousin Mary is getting married this year; we're all traipsing down to London for her hen night next weekend. This is why I'll be spending my six month anniversary having dinner with various relatives, assigned to my house for the weekend, while my husband runs screaming as far away north as he can get.
For the actual do on Saturday, one of Mary's best friends has asked us all to email her a memory or story about Mary, like the first time we met her, that she can put together into a book for the bride-to-be.
I had some problems narrowing down my memories, so at the moment what I plan to send is this:
Mary Elizabeth Reeves
I don’t remember meeting Mary for the first time; she’s simply always been a part of my life.
I do remember the excitement of a visit to Wrexham, back when we still lived in Surrey, because it meant we’d be at HQ on a Sunday, and I’d get to see the cousins. It meant I’d get to play with Mary. When we moved to Wrexham it was even better. I was nine, Mary was eleven, and we got to see each other every single Sunday.
We had endless games we could play at HQ; climbing the walls on the landing (before they were repapered); seeing who could jump off the swing at its highest point; searching for fairies in the fairy ring (although we never found any); weaving designs into the seat of the garden swing with red and orange twine; playing Scooby Doo (although Mary was always Daphne. I had to be Velma); hunting for Narnia behind the wardrobe in the Brown Room, or for the cuckoo clock anywhere else in the house.
There would always be egg sandwiches, or cheesy scrambled eggs, on offer for when we got hungry. And if we were lucky enough to be staying over (top and tail in the Pink Room, whispering secrets until the Spar sign across the road went out), the sweet fairies would come and fill the tin on the dresser with goodies for us.
Then there were the holidays; weeks and weeks of sunshine and swimming in France, or of squalls and seagulls in Porthmadog, where we filled our days with boule runs, Jimbo planes and tuppenny falls. Or cycling round Center Parcs, listening to Bryan Adams and drinking non-alcoholic cocktails named after characters in the Robin Hood stories.
Later, we found ourselves buying the same clothes; a throwback to the days when our mothers dressed us as twins. We’d bump into each other in the Golden Lion (Mary was present the first time I ever kissed my husband), then later in Marks and Spencer in Wimbledon. Living just down the road from each other in London for two years, we met often with Emma in the Weatherspoons to drink Lindemans Bin 65 and eat Chicken Pasta Alfredo with garlic bread.
I live further away now, but we still get together often; she’s always up for a visit to Stevenage if Simon’s making bread and butter pudding. And we’re still there, as often as possible, for family Sunday lunches, usually with our heads together, whispering.
So, no. I don’t remember meeting Mary for the first time; but I think that’s probably the only thing that I don’t remember.
For the actual do on Saturday, one of Mary's best friends has asked us all to email her a memory or story about Mary, like the first time we met her, that she can put together into a book for the bride-to-be.
I had some problems narrowing down my memories, so at the moment what I plan to send is this:
Mary Elizabeth Reeves
I don’t remember meeting Mary for the first time; she’s simply always been a part of my life.
I do remember the excitement of a visit to Wrexham, back when we still lived in Surrey, because it meant we’d be at HQ on a Sunday, and I’d get to see the cousins. It meant I’d get to play with Mary. When we moved to Wrexham it was even better. I was nine, Mary was eleven, and we got to see each other every single Sunday.
We had endless games we could play at HQ; climbing the walls on the landing (before they were repapered); seeing who could jump off the swing at its highest point; searching for fairies in the fairy ring (although we never found any); weaving designs into the seat of the garden swing with red and orange twine; playing Scooby Doo (although Mary was always Daphne. I had to be Velma); hunting for Narnia behind the wardrobe in the Brown Room, or for the cuckoo clock anywhere else in the house.
There would always be egg sandwiches, or cheesy scrambled eggs, on offer for when we got hungry. And if we were lucky enough to be staying over (top and tail in the Pink Room, whispering secrets until the Spar sign across the road went out), the sweet fairies would come and fill the tin on the dresser with goodies for us.
Then there were the holidays; weeks and weeks of sunshine and swimming in France, or of squalls and seagulls in Porthmadog, where we filled our days with boule runs, Jimbo planes and tuppenny falls. Or cycling round Center Parcs, listening to Bryan Adams and drinking non-alcoholic cocktails named after characters in the Robin Hood stories.
Later, we found ourselves buying the same clothes; a throwback to the days when our mothers dressed us as twins. We’d bump into each other in the Golden Lion (Mary was present the first time I ever kissed my husband), then later in Marks and Spencer in Wimbledon. Living just down the road from each other in London for two years, we met often with Emma in the Weatherspoons to drink Lindemans Bin 65 and eat Chicken Pasta Alfredo with garlic bread.
I live further away now, but we still get together often; she’s always up for a visit to Stevenage if Simon’s making bread and butter pudding. And we’re still there, as often as possible, for family Sunday lunches, usually with our heads together, whispering.
So, no. I don’t remember meeting Mary for the first time; but I think that’s probably the only thing that I don’t remember.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Write On Redux - Day Ten
Another good day yesterday:
Stats for Day Ten:
Day Ten Word Count: 5,131
Day Ten Page Count: 20
Overall Word Count: 30,216
Overall Page Count: 112
Fun scene coming up next!
Stats for Day Ten:
Day Ten Word Count: 5,131
Day Ten Page Count: 20
Overall Word Count: 30,216
Overall Page Count: 112
Fun scene coming up next!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Write On Redux - Day Nine
Now, this is more like it:
Yes indeedy. That means that the stats for today are:
Day Nine Word Count: 7,005
Day Nine Page Count: 26
Overall Word Count: 25,085
Overall Page Count: 92
Today also brought me to the first major turning point for my heroine, and the first up close and personal scene with the hero.
Such, such fun!
Yes indeedy. That means that the stats for today are:
Day Nine Word Count: 7,005
Day Nine Page Count: 26
Overall Word Count: 25,085
Overall Page Count: 92
Today also brought me to the first major turning point for my heroine, and the first up close and personal scene with the hero.
Such, such fun!
Write On Redux - Days Six, Seven and Eight
Let's just say that it's a good job Michelle gave us that extra week.
Day Nine going better, though.
Day Nine going better, though.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Write On Redux - Days Four and Five
Sucked.
Variety of reasons, but since this is a no excuses kind of deal, I won't go into them.
Anyway, as Michelle has graciously granted us an extra week, I'm just writing the days off and continuing from here. Although, I'm off to Cambridge in a second to do some shopping, so I'll have to write hard this evening.
Tomorrow is entirely dedicated to writing, and other writing related activities.
Latest numbers:
That's 66 pages, for anyone who's counting.
Variety of reasons, but since this is a no excuses kind of deal, I won't go into them.
Anyway, as Michelle has graciously granted us an extra week, I'm just writing the days off and continuing from here. Although, I'm off to Cambridge in a second to do some shopping, so I'll have to write hard this evening.
Tomorrow is entirely dedicated to writing, and other writing related activities.
Latest numbers:
That's 66 pages, for anyone who's counting.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Write On Redux - Day Three
Late posting again, but still.
Excellent progress on day three - 23 pages / 5705 words
Day four going less well...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Write On Redux - Day Two
I forgot to post this last night - far too tired. It was harder going on Day 2 than Day 1, and I think the page count only came out at 17, but that was a hair over 5000 words, so I'm not going to complain too much.
Went back to sleep after the alarm for the first time in ages this morning. It's now almost seven am, and I'm just getting stuck into Day Three.
This is tough.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Write On Redux - Day One
Not a bad start. It worked out at just under 20 full pages, but the words are there. And the story... oh, the story is flowing like a beautiful thing. It makes me very happy.
Sadly, I have used all my words for the day. See you tomorrow.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Black Cat Hollow
And it’s finished. Ugh.
6,000 words yesterday brought me to the, really quite gruesome, end. I was actually surprised by how gory it got. I’m going to have to consider, in the rewrite, if this might not be better as a YA story.
Anyway, for now I’m forgetting about it, and working on other things instead. Had a lie in this morning, then got up to tidy up an article I need to send out this evening, then came to work.
Tonight, I’ll finish printing out the Making the News first draft for editing on the long, long train ride to Scotland tomorrow, and the even longer trip back on Monday.
Also on the to do list – outlining for the Write-On Redux challenge, starting a week on Monday. I am surprisingly excited about it, even though it will mean getting up even earlier than normal.
6,000 words yesterday brought me to the, really quite gruesome, end. I was actually surprised by how gory it got. I’m going to have to consider, in the rewrite, if this might not be better as a YA story.
Anyway, for now I’m forgetting about it, and working on other things instead. Had a lie in this morning, then got up to tidy up an article I need to send out this evening, then came to work.
Tonight, I’ll finish printing out the Making the News first draft for editing on the long, long train ride to Scotland tomorrow, and the even longer trip back on Monday.
Also on the to do list – outlining for the Write-On Redux challenge, starting a week on Monday. I am surprisingly excited about it, even though it will mean getting up even earlier than normal.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Home stretch
I'm into the penultimate chapter now - just another 8000 or so words to go. My main characters are separated in the forest at night, and one of them is just about to get captured by the bad guys... it's fun stuff to write.
The only problem is that I have a very low threshold for frightening things, and I keep spooking myself silly if I write in the house on my own in the evening!
Anyway, whole thing should be done and dusted, in first draft at least, by the end of the week.
Woohoo!
The only problem is that I have a very low threshold for frightening things, and I keep spooking myself silly if I write in the house on my own in the evening!
Anyway, whole thing should be done and dusted, in first draft at least, by the end of the week.
Woohoo!
Friday, March 02, 2007
Half Way House
Last night I hit the half way point of my current novel.
I've been working on this story only since January, when the idea first came to me. It was a direct result of a Christmas present that my husband bought me; the dictionary of superstition. It's fab.
Anyway, I've really stepped up the pace this last week - averaging 2,000 to 3,000 words a day - and I'm steaming ahead.
And I was delighted to discover as I hit the midpoint, that the story just got deeper, more understandable, and that things are going to get very messy, very soon for my main characters. On the other hand, they're both going to get some answers, now that they're asking the right questions.
I like this story. It's not quite like anything else I've written, but it's really flowing. I'm working with a fairly vague outline - just a sentence or two for each chapter, and there's only ten chapters - so I'm still discovering new things as I go. If I can keep the output up at the level I've been working at this week, I can get the whole 40k rough first draft finished by next Friday. Which would be great, as I'm taking the train up to Scotland on Friday and plan to use the six hours of peace and quiet to start write in edits on Making the News.
Chances are, though, that I'll be finishing this off once I get back. Which is fine - as long as its done by March 18th. Then I'll ignore it for a fortnight while I write something else!
I've been working on this story only since January, when the idea first came to me. It was a direct result of a Christmas present that my husband bought me; the dictionary of superstition. It's fab.
Anyway, I've really stepped up the pace this last week - averaging 2,000 to 3,000 words a day - and I'm steaming ahead.
And I was delighted to discover as I hit the midpoint, that the story just got deeper, more understandable, and that things are going to get very messy, very soon for my main characters. On the other hand, they're both going to get some answers, now that they're asking the right questions.
I like this story. It's not quite like anything else I've written, but it's really flowing. I'm working with a fairly vague outline - just a sentence or two for each chapter, and there's only ten chapters - so I'm still discovering new things as I go. If I can keep the output up at the level I've been working at this week, I can get the whole 40k rough first draft finished by next Friday. Which would be great, as I'm taking the train up to Scotland on Friday and plan to use the six hours of peace and quiet to start write in edits on Making the News.
Chances are, though, that I'll be finishing this off once I get back. Which is fine - as long as its done by March 18th. Then I'll ignore it for a fortnight while I write something else!
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