B is for Books

Uh-oh! Only the second day, and I'm cheating already. The theme of my challenge is to highlight the authors and books that have inspired me, and I've come up with books!

However, books in themselves have inspired me. When I was young, I had a book that I loved - although I sadly can't remember the title or the author. But, for the purposes of this post, it doesn't matter.

You see, I only read the book once or twice. What I really loved about the book was the pure white pages, slightly thicker and smoother than the paper in other books I had at the time. I'd hold that book, feel the weight of it, flip through the pages, and I imagine my own words between the hardback, fabric cover. Just the feel of something so beautiful made me want to write, and not just write... it made me want to write something worthwhile, something mind-blowingly brilliant. Not just any story would be printed on these pages. They were reserved for something special.

I'm not sure I've written anything worthy, yet. But in the back of my mind, those pages of that book keeps me striving to be better.

A is for Margaret Atwood

I assume you've heard of the Blogging from A - Z Challenge - I've introduced my theme for the month here. Please take a look if you're unfamiliar with this challenge.

Link to Margaret Atwood's Goodreads Page

 The first Margaret Atwood book I read was The Edible Woman. I loved the prose and the rhythm, something that I enjoy within most of Atwood's books. Looking back, I see it as a feminst novel, although Atwood descibes it as protofeminist. I was under sixteen when I read it, so neither term would have meant much to me. I just saw the possibility of creating wonderful and challenging images with words.

One of the descriptions I remember vividly is that sponge cake reminded Marian of human lungs. It was probably the first novel I read that dealt with themes and the internal dialogue of the character - before that, I'd read a lot of children's novels and quite a lot of 1960s romance that my mum was given and passed on to me.

I was hooked. And I read a lot more Atwood. My favourite is probably Cat's Eyes (which, I realised as I was taking the photo above, I don't actually own) and a short story collection called Wilderness Tips (the third book down - phew, I own that one).

What I most admire about her is that she isn't pinned into a genre. She's written contemporary, dystopian, speculative and historical. Each book seems to be wildly different from the last, although I believe it's mostly the speculative fiction that she enjoys the most - The Handmaid's Tale being the most famous. And I'm so excited because a new collection of short stories is due out this year!

Introducing the Blogging from A - Z Challenge

The A - Z Challenge starts in a couple of days time, so I thought I'd introduce the theme I've decided to blog about. If you haven't heard about the challenge before, or you want to know more, click the logo above and you'll be transported to the answers. You'll be able to sign up until the 1st April.

So, my theme... (I really wish I had a drum-roll here, I feel like it needs one...)

I will be blogging about the books and authors (and possibly the music when I need a cheat) that have inspired me and my writing - which sounds simple enough, doesn't it? These posts are not designed to be book reviews, so I'm choosing to resist re-reading them, or even glancing at the blurb. This challenge will be why I liked these books, and how they helped me.

I've been productive, and currently have all but five letters determined. I just have to figure out how much I'm going to allow myself to cheat!
This is my first time doing this challenge. I only actually found out about it in December, so I don't even have the luxury of having read the posts from last year's challenge. I can only hope that I'm doing it right!

So, that's my theme. I hope you enjoy reading, and I hope I have been inspired alphabetically, otherwise I'll have twenty-seven entries for C and nothing for the rest!

Here's the list of fellow participants - please check some of them out, even if you're not participating yourself. You never know who/what you might find!

It's Spring!!

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, I've got my windows wide open and the sky is blue.

I've even done a bit of spring-cleaning around the blog. Please check out my new About Me page.

Here's a great summery song, just because it's been bouncing around my head all morning!

B.A.D

Being at home during the day - writing and working very hard, obviously! - I sometimes catch the BBC daytime soap Doctors. It's a bit silly, and the acting can be a bit dodgy, but you can tell the writers have had a great time - I imagine them sitting around saying, "they'll never let us get away with this," and invariably, they do. (Today they even managed to squeeze in quite a rude joke by cutting away at the final word of the punchline!)

A current storyline is about a doctor called Freya who has a blog. But, worse than that, one of her nurse colleagues has decided Freya has Blogging Addiction Disorder (B.A.D). I found this very funny - not least because they dipicted how out of hand Freya's blogging was becoming by having her blog about a meeting she was currently in!

I found this even more than funny; in fact, I thought it was made up - and this post was going to ask: is anyone out there B.A.D?

But then, I casually googled the term, and discovered it's real! Uh, I thought, how about that? It had never occurred to me that blogging could be an addiction, let alone be a recognised addiction.

So, is anyone out there B.A.D?

Don't forget - nine days until the A-Z Challenge? Are you ready? Have you signed up yet? Click the logo below! (Hmmm, blogging every day for 26 days... anyone feeling a little addicted? lol)

My interview with Patsy Collins

Today I'd like to welcome Patsy Collins to my blog. Patsy's novel is being published on the 30th March, and she is my first ever interviewee!  

Congratulations! Escape to the Country is not only being published, it won a competition with over 600 entrants - have you calmed down yet?

Have you been watching that video? 

http://youtu.be/0CS2eQoYTdk

No, I wouldn't say I'm totally calm yet. 

I love that video - I'm sure it's what most of us do when we receive an acceptance, but possibly not with so much style!

Where did the idea for this novel come from?

That's really hard to answer as I rarely know exactly what prompted me to write a story. I suppose it was at least partly a desire to use some of my research material.

How much research did you need to do?

26 years. Well, that's how long I lived on a farm. At the time I had no idea I'd use the experience in this way.

Did you find writing the novel easy, or were there many drafts and redrafts?

Yes and yes. There were a lot of drafts and edits, but all I had to do was make stuff up, tap away on my keyboard and then fiddle about with it a lot. There are much harder jobs than that.

What does your writing day look like?

There isn't a typical writing day. I have a full time day job and am a keen gardener so I fit in the writing during lunch breaks, when it's raining or dark and when Gary and I go away in our campervan - which we like to do as often as possible.

Cheeky question: would you choose Adam or Duncan?

Duncan. Although Adam is quite a charmer ...

What are you working on at the moment?

I'm working on a romantic novel about a couple who go away in a campervan. I'll have to do a lot of research!

And, finally, where will we be able to find Escape to the Country?

Amazon, Waterstones online, some 'real' bookshops including my local independent and I'm hoping to get it into libraries too. There will also be an ebook version.

You can read the first chapter for free here -

 http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing//tposts/escape-to-the-country-by-patsy-collins---free-sample-chapter---published-30th-march-please-rt-109.php

You can also follow Patsy's blog here and like Patsy on Facebook here.

Thanks so much for popping over today, Patsy. I'd like to wish you every success with your novel!

Help!

It's been a while since I've had a blank post to fill. Over the past month, I've had posts telling you to visit other blogs, I've been tagged to share information about myself and excerpts from my WIP... I almost  feel like I've forgotten how to write a post!

But lo! - there is something I'd like to take your advice on. Please read on...

I've just about completed my WIP, a collection of stories which I'm suddenly scared to submit. Yesterday, I realised that my publisher doesn't actually publish collections. 

I'm currently torn between abandoning the project and writing something else, or writing a killer query that will explain why I think these stories work together. (If my publisher is reading, I am so, so sorry - I'm usually very good at reading and obeying submission guidelines!)

I really believe in this WIP. I've been working on it for a long time, and I still get goosebumps when I reach the final pages of the final story.

My options are:

1. Sending off the query. In doing this, I'll be fulfilling the obligations of my current contract which asks for first refusal on similar works. If rejected, I can then consider another publisher or - gulp! - going it alone.
2. In my killer query as it stands, I've explained that these stories could be standalone novelettes, thereby showing that I do understand the guidelines, but blatantly pointing out that I've chosen to ignore them, and risking my publisher's ire.
3. Not sending this WIP to my publisher, or to anyone else. If I send it to someone else, I'll be ignoring the obligations of my contract and annoying my publisher who's been fantastic. However, by not submitting this WIP, I'll have to start something from scratch, and currently I have nothing in reserve.

I see so many pros and cons with all the options that my head is spinning. So I really want to know...

What would you do?