Libertine will be making her first public appearance at the Verulam Writers’ Circle’s Open Mic Night on Thursday 25th November 2010. We will be at The Goat in St Albans from 7pm, readings starting at 7.30pm.http://www.goatinn.co.uk/default.aspxThis event is part of the National Short Story week, to find other events, check out the website.http://www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk/See you there!
Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category
The soldiers I never knew
Sunday, November 14th, 2010I have not suffered a personal loss through war. So why do I shed so many tears for the soldiers I never knew?
Let me tell you.
Every day we are bombarded with images of new atrocities and old.
The holocaust; Al Queda; Tiananmen Square; Rwanda; Kosovo; Burma
Each and every one of these should be in our minds every time we make a free choice in our lives. For thousands of people affected by the situations listed and countless others not listed such free choice was not readily available as it is to us.
Every time I speak out for the environment, every time I open up my laptop and use my freedom to write, every time I shop and reel at the price of anything; all these things I can do because soldiers I never met and will never meet fought for me to be able to.
Many gave their lives. I thank them. Today I honour them, like I do and will always do throughout the year every time I speak my mind and every time I use my freedom to walk through a field where poppies grow.
God bless them all.
On love, life and Libertine
Monday, March 1st, 2010Ok, I might have lied about the love bit. Well, I definitely lied about the love bit but the rest…
I am a serial volunteer. For some reason I’m always offering to do stuff. For free. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing it, after all what’s not to like. It’s a brilliant way to get to know new people, learn new things, network and all those other great things. For instance, I just helped out with Get Writing 2010 (Brought to you by the wonderful people at Verulam Writers’ Circle) and am dead chuffed to be able to say I’ve been promoted to Operations Manager for this year. (#GetWriting2011 or #GW11 on twitter).
I’m currently helping to judge a short story competition too, which is proving challenging as they’re all good!
Add to that all the wildlife volunteering I’ve got lined up over the summer and you are starting to see the ‘life’ picture.
‘But!’ I hear you cry, ‘where does that leave Libertine? (And, of course, the other backburner novel you keep teasing us with)’
You’re right too. I’m almost done with the judging bit, the wildlife stuff fits into a schedule (which I am planning) and Get Writing 2011 is just starting out. So I’ve made a decision.
I am not going to volunteer for anything new until Libertine is complete.
No, really, I mean it.
I am fully committed to the jobs I’ve taken on, as everyone knows I’m a multi-tasking grafter.
But.
For once in my life I’m putting my project at the top of the list. Let’s face it, Libertine’s got wings so if I don’t do it she’ll probably fly there anyway.
So, if I haven’t already said I’ll do it, well, I won’t do it. Honest.
Inspiration, networking and friendship at Get Writing 2010
Sunday, February 21st, 2010After such meticulous planning and high hopes Get Writing 2010 proved to be a sparkling success! All day long smiling faces and hearty conversation were plain evidence that everyone was having a great time, surely the best any organisers can hope for.
Two glowing reports from Helen J Beal, a delegate and Vanessa Gebbie, who ran a workshop summarise the day beautifully:
http://www.helenjbeal.com/?p=1042
http://vanessagebbiesnews.blogspot.com/2010/02/reading-writing-arithmetic-poets-on.html
There is no greater kick than seeing people enjoy something you have helped to organise, I’m proud to say that I was part of it. Even better, I will be a bigger part of it next year, (oh yes, we are starting to discuss it already!) as I’ve been asked to adopt the role of Operations Manager. Exciting but scary at the same time!
Meanwhile, I’m happy to report that one of the questions asked was ‘What is the next big thing in fiction?’ The answer? Angels! Go Libertine!
So, if you are a writer and seek inspiration, information, instruction, networking, the company of similar minds, or just a cracking day out with a tasty lunch book early for Get Writing 2011. I’ll keep you posted on when bookings open…
A whirlwind couple of months!
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010Phew! What a busy couple of months I’ve had. After the great response to the VWC tree at the Festival of Trees I was invited to help out with the organisation of the group’s Get Writing 2010 conference. Naturally I jumped at the chance.
The event is on Saturday February 20th, just a couple of days away now, and promises to be a fantastic day. We have several guest speakers, ranging from published writers such as Adele Geras (with over 90 titles to her name!), to editors and agents. There will be a range of workshops for delegates to nurture their skills, some delegates will be pitching their work to the editors and agents and there will even be a book signing area at lunch time. I can’t wait, it’s going to be hard work but great fun.
Meanwhile I have started some badger surveying, sadly delayed due to the snow. We found a fantastic sett which is so perfect that I will be using it to train the Stevenage Tree Wardens on how to identify badger signs. The site will also be used as a Field Studies Centre so I will be helping out with some other survey work soon.
Talking of the Tree Wardens, I will be starting the Whomerley and Monks Wood survey in the next couple of weeks, which I am very excited about. There will also be a Big Bio Event in June which I will be getting involved with, watch out for more details about that soon!
The big personal news was my graduation. I will get the photo’s downloaded soon, but what a fabulous day I had. All my life had built to that moment, and I honestly thought at one stage that it wasn’t going to happen but I kept fighting. The author Philip Pullman was awarded an honorary degree at the ceremony and gave a very inspiring speech. Me being me, whilst I was on stage I went up to him and shook his hand, I feel very proud to be able to say I graduated on that day.
So, what about the writing? Well, Libertine is coming along beautifully and proving very popular. I have written up to chapter 12 and am now rewriting those first chapters, to get them absolutely right before I press on. The plot is planned and I have researched several locations. I will be getting a personal behind the scenes tour very soon at Forty Hall in Enfield, which I’m really looking forward to.
As well as Libertine I have decided to rewrite Alex’s story completely. The theme will be similar, Alex will be getting a new name and the setting will be very Steampunk. There’s a lot of research to be done, but I’m starting to get my teeth into it and I have written an opening scene, starting to get to know my new female lead and male support character. It will be very different to Libertine, that much is certain!
Just this week I had a new idea which is developing nicely, but I’m not giving anything away on that one for now.
I think that sums things up for now, I should be able to blog more often again, having got the busy period out of the way!
My thoughts on the trend of libraries and bookshops closing
Saturday, September 12th, 2009I heard that Philadelphia are to close all their libraries. Book shops are also closing all over the place. Here’s what I think:
http://blog.verulamwriterscircle.org.uk/?p=581
Use your library, otherwise when you do want it, it might not be there.
So this is Libertine
Saturday, September 5th, 2009I’ve now added a picture of Libertine to the Novels page of my website, my twitter page and my facebook homepage. Just for the record, I drew her myself so copyright is, as with everything on my website, mine.
Interestingly, I’ve just seen a clip from The Culture Show with Denise Mina, Iain Rankin and Neil Gaiman discussing the rise in popularity of graphic novels. This is great news as I firmly believe that Libertine’s story would translate to graphics very nicely, so, any budding artists (or accomplished one’s) interested in a collaboration, please do get in touch I’m really quite contactable you know!