2016-03-03 10:19
As part of my involvement with SCBWI-BI, I host a series called the Debut Author Interviews over on Words and Pictures, the region's blogzine. This month's interview is with Olivia Lev… Read More
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Absolute Vanilla Blog
absolutevanilla.blogspot.com
Witterings and warblings from here and there... A writing blog, sort of..., hmm, a creative blog, maybe... ...occasionally hijacked by an alien chicken with attitude called Atyllah...
2016-02-04 14:01
Of all the author interviews I’ve done over the years, none will be dearer to my heart than this one. Kathryn Evans has been a friend and critique partner for many years, and I h… Read More
2015-11-26 11:57
Several years ago I attended an SCBWI-BI conference at which Marcus Sedgwick was a keynote speaker. In one of his talks he spoke about creating a sense of place, and using place as cha… Read More
2015-08-29 09:12
The Catchpole Agency (@peachjamcloset) recently tweeted Maile Meloy’s article in the New York Times, entitled, “Whose Side Are You On?”. Meloy’s article discuss… Read More
2015-06-28 10:13
I know, I know, you thought I’d died and gone to join the choir invisible. I don’t blame you. Even I can’t believe it has been that long since I last posted.&nb&hell…Read More
2014-06-17 09:17
Since writing a series of blog posts on self-publishing in 2011, I have followed the debate with interest. Three years later, self-publishing remains a hot topic - driven by a publishi… Read More
2014-04-07 13:59
Several weeks ago I was approached by Chitra Soundar, asking me if I’d like to participate in the Writing Process Blog Tour – at the time I said “no” as I was sufferi… Read More
2014-03-05 13:52
Spending time with other writers is always a huge thrill for me especially given I live far too far away from most to meet up regularly. (Yes, I know, thank goodness for social media!)… Read More
2014-01-21 17:11
Funny how things sometimes converge and you have that “EUREKA!” moment. Happened to me this morning – but through a slow process of bits slowly drifting together befo… Read More
2014-01-10 17:52
Sometime back in May last year, I started work on a new manuscript. It’s a story that may well have been brewing for most of my life. It also happens to be the first story… Read More
2013-12-12 08:32
Control vs FreedomFollowing on last week’s interview with YA author, Nicola Morgan, this week I speak to Nicola about Sleepwalking, the second story in her double ebook.150 years in th… Read More
2013-12-05 08:05
Redemption or Retribution?Award-winning author and professional speaker, Nicola Morgan, has recently released two of her earlier Young Adult novels – Sleepwalking and The Passion Flowe… Read More
2013-10-29 18:03
Following on a recent lunch date with a group of women, all mothers of young adults, I started really wondering about the ongoing debate of YA fiction being too dark and unsuitable for its i… Read More
2013-08-18 18:03
To date, market dictates being what they are, I’ve not set any of my stories in South Africa. Instead I’ve traveled down Welsh country roads in the Google car, trundled up… Read More
2013-07-09 16:56
Two weeks ago I posted about social media and how the business of building a platform, when you don’t have a book to market, is an exercise in play and procrastination.To take this fur… Read More
2013-07-08 16:19
"What’s a brand? A singular idea or concept that you own inside the mind of the prospect." Al Ries, Marketing Consultant, Chairman of Ries & RiesIn the previous post, I looked at t… Read More
2013-07-08 15:24
As some of you will know I’ve been writing features for SCBW-BI’s Words & Pictures, including a marketing series. However, life being what it is, I’ve had to step… Read More
2013-06-19 16:15
As some of you may know, I’m writing, amongst other things, a marketing series for the newly re-launched SCBWI-BI blogzine, Words & Pictures. The first article on the basics of mar… Read More
2013-06-19 15:44
I know, you probably think I fell of the edge of the world, crossed the Styx and am now communing with the multitude of cosmic particles in the Great Out There. Actually, sometimes it… Read More
2013-04-05 12:43
I’ve been pondering the notion of success, styles of writing and brands recently, and it’s caused me some concern.Most writers long and strive for success – many hoping to… Read More
2013-02-27 15:20
How doth the little writerImprove each shining wordwhen hounded by a blighterno better than a turd.See how cheerfully she seems to tryTo indulge her creativityWhen all she’d rather do… Read More
2013-01-18 13:16
Most "normal" people - and by that I mean people who aren't writers... - seem to think that writing is all about sitting down with a mug of coffee, a bar of chocolate and sploshing words ont… Read More
2013-01-07 11:01
Living on the flip side of the planet I don’t get to connect much with other children’s and YA writers, but this past weekend has been a blast. There is, I have to say, a l… Read More
2013-01-07 11:00
I aten’t dead.Well, I nearly was, but I’m still here. Fortunately, however, 2012 will shortly not be here. Which, I think, means “I won.” Or at leas… Read More
2012-09-05 07:53
I hereby confirm that the crocodile still hasn’t got me and the rampaging rhinoceros hasn’t managed to charge me over the edge of a cliff (see post below) – though I have t… Read More
2012-06-23 17:28
I haven't been eaten by a crocodile, I promise. Nor have I been chased over the edge of cliff by a rampaging rhinocerous. Though, to be honest, at times it does feel just like th… Read More
2012-05-17 10:37
... AND open to all, two copies of Ruth Eastham's midgrade novel, The Messenger Bird, to give away! Nathan’s father has been arrested. He works for the Ministry of Defence and is… Read More
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