Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Justine's Journal #12
52 Weeks 500 Words
This is how it began: Justine (not her real
name) decided to write 500 words (or as near as), anything goes, per week for 52
weeks. She would then submit it for anonymous posting, via me, her friend.
Perhaps a pattern will emerge from her words, but at this stage it’s more an
experiment I have agreed to share in. I’ll attempt to draw conclusions at the
end of this. Stay tuned if this resonates with you.
Week 12
Well, as I sit here to pen my weekly unload (virtually, of
course!), I find myself giving thought to family dynamics. I do this mostly
because a friend was in tears to me earlier, having had a run-in with her son.
I have no family. I am actually alone in the world. My
parents have passed on, and I have no children. While I am still ‘young’ enough
to do so, I don’t think it will come to pass, and this is largely based on my
own selfishness … or a feeling of desperation. I can barely afford to keep
myself, how can I do even think of being responsible for a child? I guess if I
meet a man able to take care of me and our child, or children, that might
change, but I don’t see it happening. I do not trust easily and I may sabotage
most relationships to avoid that kind of responsibility. I know this about
myself. I admit it.
However, from conversations and eye-witnessing, I realise
families come with inherent issues. Maybe it’s genetics, for it seems to me
often there are personalities very much alike in one microcosm unit. For
instance, father and son. They may be so alike, without ever admitting it to
each other, that they are at constant loggerheads. While mom ends up in the
background wondering just what the hell she did wrong. Or sometimes right. Mother
and daughter may also be so similar that they end up arch enemies because they
do not see themselves in each other.
Having viewed multiple family relationships, I have come to
this conclusion. We are all too selfish to admit we are wrong, and this leads
to those family issues that never seem to be resolved. For instance, a friend
just phoned me earlier and told me she has just realised that her oldest son is
a younger version of his father, and that means he is as judgemental as they
come. She was in tears, and all I could say to her was that they are both grown
men and they have to accept responsibility for themselves. As much as it may
hurt her, it isn’t her duty to fix them. All she can do is guide and offer
advice…when they are in a frame of mind to listen.
Having heard this latest snippet of agony, I am more
convinced than ever that my decision to date has been the right one. I hope,
though, I don’t die lonely and bitter, because I didn’t see the bigger picture.
The one about immortality
through the generations. The one about love despite all the issues. Does love
make the world go round? I hope so, for my friend’s sake.'
From a fan and friend - The Nemisin Star
Don't you love it when this happens? My book in another's hands! Thank you, Monique!
xxx
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Writer's Wednesday: Chatting to Wendy Steele
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Today we are fortunate enough to chat with Wendy Steele, the lady from Wales!
Wendy Steele lives on a hillside in Wales. She can see the
mountains from a place on her land where one day, she'll build a straw bale
writing room.
She worked in the City, BC (Before Children) but since
1999 has indulged her creative side, training in natural therapies, belly dance
and writing. Publication of dance articles led to writing courses, and summer
school, producing her first novel 'Destiny of Angels - First book in the Lilith
Trilogy.'
In 2012 she published her first non-fiction title ' Wendy
Woo's Year - A Pocketful of Smiles', as well as two short story anthologies and
an erotic accompaniment to the Lilith Trilogy 'Too Hot for Angels'. In June
2014, the second book in the Lilith Trilogy, Wrath of Angels hit the
bookshelves and in November 2014, The Standing Stone – Home for Christmas was
published, her first book inspired by her life in the Welsh countryside.
Wendy lives with her partner, Mike, and four cats and
spends her days renovating her house, clearing her land and, when time and
weather allows, sitting on her riverbank, breathing in the beauty of nature.
Read more about Wendy here!
Welcome Wendy!
- What
sparked your interest in writing? Your proverbial light-bulb moment?
Writing about my experiences has been normal for me for as
long as I can remember. Committing my experiences to paper enforces a memory,
sometimes reminding me of a special moment, painting a picture of the world
from my perspective.
I wrote many stories as a child, seemingly from pure
imagination but, looking back, the memory of a person or place definitely
sparked my need to write.
Stories have always been my friends, there for me on my
shelf, or now on my kindle, whenever I feel alone and need a boost so, what
better job could there be that allows me to share my stories with others and be
a friend on someone else's book shelf.
- Which
genre are you most comfortable writing in?
I began writing women's fiction but this soon developed into
paranormal occult fiction, as I have a love of magic and the witches Qabalah.
My most recent work, The Standing Stone – Home for Christmas, inspired by my
first months in Wales, has broadened my writing horizons further as this book
is set in the present, past and future. I adored writing about the Bronze Age
and taking my first steps into science fiction.
- Would
you say you draw most often from your own knowledge base when writing or
do you research for fresh material?
Even if I'm using my own knowledge, I research every book I
write to some extent.
- Tell
us a bit about your work. How, for instance, do you choose your titles?
Most of my writing begins with 'what if?' and I allow the
ideas to bounce around in my head for many months before I commit even notes to
paper. My book titles are chosen from a word or phrase that is the over riding
key to what the book is about. If I'm choosing a book from the shelf, I like to
be told what I will be reading about!
- We
love to read excerpts. Share with us your favourite bit of writing from
you latest book.
This is an excerpt from The Standing Stone – Home for
Christmas:
Candy grabbed the band
and thrust it up her arm and waited. Nothing happened. Breathing heavily, she
leant back against the wall, trying to count beats that would still her
pounding heart. Nothing happened. As sweat ran down her body, Candy slid down
the wall and sat shaking on the floor. She licked her lips as her panic
subsided. How much guard training did they give Paul? They must have told him
about the wrist bands, how they needed to remain in human contact and that the
heat from their bodies kept them working. And the security device, the security
device on the wristbands. She remembered the training, she heard the voice on
the Screen.
“To prevent interception of the wrist band by intruders,
for example to be used to sound the alarm and summon the armies of the Dome
into an ambush, each wrist band contains a security device that is
automatically activated if the transfer of band from guard to guard is not deemed
swift. The device will explode the wristband and shatter all PDs in the
vicinity.”
Candy rose shakily to her feet and took up her guard
position. Scared and confused she watched the needle as it crept towards the
red segment.
Within the Comfort Cubicle, as light warmed her and
lifted her mood and water trickled freely into her mouth, Candy began to laugh
as a weird euphoria rippled through her body. Acceptance of the Lessons was the
key requirement within the Dome and so, to maintain acceptance there could be
no questions and therefore, no talking, no discussion, no dissent. Her
apartment was aptly named for that's what it did, kept her apart. With every
One obliged to carry out their duty for the good of All, who would dissent,
even if they could? What would be the consequence, not just to One but to All?
But the security band had been bereft of human contact yet remained in tact. No
PDs were shattered.
Candy scrabbled with the hoses as the light began to dim,
reattaching her PD as she walked through the door but, this time, she didn't
click her visor down but stuck out her tongue and tasted as a faint wisp of air
brushed her tongue and caressed her sweaty cheek. She held her breath, torn
between clicking her visor down and breathing more of the sweet clean air. She
decided that if the air were poisoned or polluted, it was too late now, and
began to take deeper breaths. She watched her exhalations billowing from her
lips.
- That's awesome! Who
do you identify with most in your work? And why?
Angel Parsons, the main character in the Lilith Trilogy, has
lived with me for four years now and I know her the best of all my characters.
I love that she wears a mask, playing her part in a world that she has created
for herself. I admire her determination, courage and strength and that there is
so much more to her than the sleek, well-groomed persona she portrays.
- If
you could choose who would play Angel Parsons in the
movie or series made from your work, who would it be?
When I created Angel, I had Salma Hayek in mind so she would
be my choice to play her in a movie.
- Which
four words would you use to describe yourself?
Wow, that's difficult! Positive, creative, focussed and
loving, at least that's what I aspire to be.
- Which
four words would you use to describe your work?
Even harder! Inspiring, spiritual, thought provoking,
contemporary.
- I
have to throw this in! That list of favourites we’re all interested in!
Favourite book: A Hatful of Sky by Terry Pratchett
Favourite movie: The Blues Brothers
Favourite TV series: QI
Favourite colour: purple
Favourite food: pineapple
Favourite drink: rooibos
Favourite pet: cat
Favourite season: Spring
Favourite place: My riverbank
- Often
personal fame and prominence for your work go together, but frequently
authors prefer remaining in the background while hoping their work will
assume the limelight. Is this true for you, or don’t you mind a bit of
fame?
Honestly, I would prefer to remain in the background but, as
an Indie writer, that option is not possible. I understand a reader's desire to
get to know the author of the book they love and, as there is so much of 'me'
in every book I write, I'm happy to share more with my readers. Before I began
working with social media, I decided to be myself so, I hope that if readers
meet me 'in real life' they will feel they already know me from my blogs, posts
and tweets.
- That's a healthy way to go about it! Tell
us about your next book (we love to know what to look forward to!).
My next book is the sequel to The Standing Stone – Home for
Christmas entitled, The Standing Stone – Silence is Broken. The ending of Home
for Christmas gives the three women the opportunity to follow a different path
and Silence is Broken tells the story of their choices.
- And we'd love to showcase it here as well! What
comes next, besides a new book project? A holiday, an event?
When we moved to Wales in August 2013, pitched our tent in
the field of the house we were buying and waited ten weeks for the purchase to
go through, we knew we had a lot of work to do on our dilapidated farmhouse and
byre but the storms in February this year took a massive toll on the buildings
so, our aim for the following few months is to get a temporary roof on the cow
byre and begin rebuilding the stone walls. Both the house and byre are Grade II
listed, adding to the difficulties with planning and approval but we're at the
building regulations stage now so can proceed to get work under way.
- Loads of luck, we'll hold thumbs for you. And
finally, if you could choose one person, living or dead, you would like to
meet, who would it be and what would you ask of that person?
I would like to meet the Dalai Lama and ask him how he would
change the world to make it the compassionate, loving world I believe it could
be.
We wish Wendy every success with her latest book:
Rachel arrives in Wales to begin a new life but will Marcus
jeopardise their future together before it's begun?
Candy knows the punishment for leaving Station 23 unguarded.
Will she succeed in convincing Paul to obey the Lesson?
Fern loves her life in the village but when the Tall Folk
arrive with metal working skills, will her peace be shattered forever?
Though distanced by time and space, three women find the
Standing Stone and the teachings of the Great Mother, Binah.
Wendy's other works:
FICTION
The Lilith Trilogy:
Destiny of Angels
Wrath of Angels
Short story anthologies:
Into the flames
Turn down the heat
Too hot for Angels
The Standing Stone – Home for Christmas
NON FICTION
Wendy Woo's Year – A Pocketful of Smiles – 101 ideas
for a happy year and a happy you
Connect with Wendy:
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Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Justine's Journal #11
52 Weeks 500 Words
This is how it began: Justine (not her real
name) decided to write 500 words (or as near as), anything goes, per week for 52
weeks. She would then submit it for anonymous posting, via me, her friend.
Perhaps a pattern will emerge from her words, but at this stage it’s more an
experiment I have agreed to share in. I’ll attempt to draw conclusions at the
end of this. Stay tuned if this resonates with you.
Week 11
'I filled my week with many tasks. This was a way to distract
myself from the events I told you about last week. Did it work? Amazingly, yes.
I found large slices of time flying by not having thought about that idiot
once.
Still, with hindsight, I begin to understand while that is
fine at the time distraction is needed, knowing while you’re doing it that it
is no more than a coping mechanism, it is also a killer of creativity. It slowly
erodes your ability to imagine. I made myself so ‘busy’ I had no time to think-
the point, yes- but I also had no time to write or sketch. I sketch J
and no, I’m not showing you!
Right now, I’m finding it hard to write even this. It feels
like a dry recording of thoughts; this doesn’t really feel like insight at all.
In fact, it is as if I’m dragging insight from words on paper, not actual
feelings. Has that happened to you? You’re so busy, and someone asks how you
are feeling. Your answer is a rote response, because you believe that is what
is expected of you, this is how you should feel, you suppose. That feeling. It is outside of self. It
is trying to be real when you are in fact totally numb.
In a way, then, these are answers. By recognising a state of
un-involvement, I am in truth revealing to myself my state of mind, my state of
soul, therefore this is an insight. I hope so. Maybe when I read this again in
couple of weeks, it will trigger something fresh. It will definitely tell me
how I numb I was at this point, I think. One can work with that and try and
avoid a similar situation developing in the future. I guess, then, this remains
a beneficial exercise.
A killer of creativity is killer of self. If I am numb,
acting by rote, then how am I able to open my imagination? On the flipside,
imagination will unlock this dead response to everything around me. Now that back
and forth of triggers can mess with your mind, and what do you then do? You get
busy. The fridge needs defrosting. The weeds need pulling. That pile of ironing
needs doing. A friends needs handwritten pages typed up. And so forth.
And here is that strange little addendum that suddenly has
me sitting up and frowning at my computer.
Those tasks I mentioned (read whatever it is you do to keep ‘busy’)?
They are mindless. Usually when you’re about them, that is when you think the
most … or should think the most. I recall many hours spent on my knees weeding-
my hands pull, my eyes seek the next weed, my body shuffles along on its knees
to the next patch- but my mind roams into and about subjects far and wide.
This did not happen this week while I was so very busy. I find
that scares me.'
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