Friday 21 August 2015

Haworth, a place like no other.



Hi, friends

Recently I visited a beautiful place called Haworth, which isn’t very far from where I live in Yorkshire. I remember the exact moment I fell in love with the place. It happened during one of my English Literature classes when my lovely teacher who so encouraged me to write, gave me a copy of Wuthering Heights.

I took the book home and read it. My teacher had given me an incredible gift. It was a piece of literary treasure which has stayed with me since. She opened up a world to me which I had never imagined or experienced before.

I developed an intense passion and love for Haworth, Wuthering Heights and an admiration and awe for everything Bronte. I would and still do, drink in anything about Haworth or Emily Bronte.

During a school visit to Haworth, it felt amazing. I remember walking up the cobbled path and taking in the beautiful view but I never went up onto the moors. 

This time when I went to Haworth, I felt an even greater affinity with the place. It has such an incredible atmosphere. After looking in some wonderful vintage shops I went to the place I have always had a yearning to visit, the moors.

I don’t think it is possible to put into words how beautiful the moors are. The beauty of certain places can’t be described, it has to be felt. I stood and looked out at the breathtaking view before me and felt such a calm. I imagined Emily Bronte, sat up on the moors, writing her book. I imagined Heathcliff and Cathy, the characters from the book.

From where I was stood, I could see, Top Withens. 

I felt incredibly emotional. It was such an overwhelmingly moving experience for me.

Everything felt truly magical.

Not only are the people so warm and very kind, but Haworth is such a beautiful and inspiring place. For me it is a place like no other. Although I love so many other places and countries, Haworth is very special to me.

“I wish that all of nature’s magnificence, the emotion of the land, the living energy of a place could be photographed.” ~ A. Leibovitz.

I don't own the image below. Had to borrow it off the internet because none of my photo's reflect just how beautiful Haworth is. 


Thank you for visiting, dear friends.
Happy Writing!

Monday 8 June 2015

The Beauty of Rejections



Hi, friends

For a writer, getting a rejection is one of the hardest things to deal with. It is one of the worst feelings in the world, receiving a letter or an e-mail from publishers telling you, thanks but no thanks.
Speaking from my own experiences of getting that dreaded ‘R’, a feeling of worthlessness as a writer invades you. Your grip on positives starts slipping real fast and without even realising it, you are cloaked in doubts about your abilities as a writer.

You don’t feel like cooking or cleaning (well maybe not cleaning, I don’t like doing that on most days anyway!) and all you feel like doing is eating and wallowing over how your writing is not worthy of publication. 

You go on a hunt for food. You reach for the twenty four variety pack of crisps, any flavour will do because the thing inside of you that needs feeding isn’t bothered about flavour or taste, it just needs to be fed. You crave chocolates and plenty of it! 

After an episode of manic eating you slump down on the sofa and mull over why your work wasn’t accepted and you tell yourself that thinking you could become a writer was and is wishful thinking.

I say, allow yourself to feel miserable, let it out, there’s nothing wrong with allowing yourself to feel.

After a while, maybe days, something incredible begins to happen. You might be watching your favourite movie or any movie, you might have just read a book, or read a quote or even actively researched authors who too, have had rejections before becoming successful. Slowly you start to snap out of this cloak of doubt you’ve been wearing, a cloak which you thought would never come off again, begins to lift. 

A fire in your belly becomes ignited and a feeling of, “I am not going to give up!” starts to filter in. “I can do this!”  You tell yourself. Gradually you put yourself back on the path you were walking before, of trying to realise your dream. You pick yourself up, brush yourself off and you start on your journey of achieving what your heart is set on.

Write that best seller or that Oscar winning play, because it’s there inside of you. Don’t be afraid to show your own true voice. Write the way which inspires you, write from your heart. Allow your essence as a writer to shine. You are unique.

Do whatever you have to do to reach your goal because it is there, right in front of you waiting to be reached.

The flames of passion for what you love doing most may wane sometimes, but they will never go out.

The beauty of a rejection is that it makes the taste of success that much sweeter.

Happy writing, my friends.

Happy Writing


Saturday 16 August 2014

Feeling Inspired...



Hello friends! :)
Long time no see!

I have been writing my second book for my wonderful publisher, Crimson Frost Books and am in the process of editing it. 

Recently I have been feeling a wonderful surge of inspiration for writing poetry. I love poetry. It fills me with a warmth and joy which is indescribable. 

Sometimes I feel so inspired by poems or by art, now that is another one of my great loves, art, I feel a rush to write my own poetry. My attempts are alright and sometimes it’s one of those “What were you thinking!” moments. :)  But I can’t help myself, I love dabbling with words and putting them together and seeing what effect they have. :)

The Poetry Society held an event to celebrate Edward Thomas’ ‘Adlestrop’ and asked people to submit their own poems inspired by, ‘Aldestrop’. After reading ‘Adlestrop’, I fell in love with it. So I took pen to paper and poured out my feelings about a place I adore, Haworth. I am from Yorkshire and absolutely love everything about it! :)

My poem ‘Haworth’, alongside many other poems was posted by The Poetry Society on their website.

So here it is, my attempt at writing a poem about a place I love. :)


HAWORTH

‘Twas  one sunny afternoon
When I happened to meet with my love.
By sheer chance ‘twas,
And had nothing to do with me.
The driver had blown his whistle
And the chugging had come to a halt.
That’s when she caught my eye,
Did my grand majestic beaut.
I stared in awe, beside myself with love
As I drank in all her splendour.
Her skirts of silken green, adorned the hills,
And cobbles paved the streets.
Steam swirled around the throng of people,
A sign that I was to leave.
I felt a sudden ache in my heart
As the whistle shrieked
And the train began to pull away.
I shall see thee again someday I vowed,
Craning my neck to catch one last glimpse.
I shall see thee, I said again
As she slowly grew out of sight.

Thank you for visiting and Happy writing, beautiful friends! :)

Wednesday 21 May 2014

A Very Warm Welcome To Dani-Lyn Alexander



Hi friends!

Visiting my blog today is a wonderful fellow Crimson Frost Books author, Dani-Lynn Alexander.
Before we talk about Dani-Lynn’s amazing new book, let’s find out a little bit about the very talented author.

Dani-Lynn lives on Long Island with her husband, three children and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family at the beach, playground, or just about anywhere.

In her spare time, which is very rare, Dani-Lynn enjoys reading and shopping.

Some of Dani-Lynn’s favourite things are Bernese dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets.

She is an incurable insomniac with an addiction to chocolate.

Now the moment we’ve been waiting for, the book!
This is the blurb for Dani-Lynn’s new book, Ghost.

After a head injury, Jess begins to see things she can’t explain. She starts to wonder if she’s hallucinating, losing her mind completely...or if something far worse might be happening.



Here is the link to where Ghost can be bought.


If you would like to get in touch with Dani-Lynn Alexander, then here are ways in which you can...





Thank you so much Dani-Lynn for being a wonderful guest.

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Release Day For Chara's Song



Dear lovely friends

Today is such a special day for me. It is today that my wonderful publishers, Crimson Frost Books helped me realise my dream of becoming a published writer. My debut novel Chara’s Song is now available to buy!

I have waited for this moment since the age of twelve. I am EXCITED, SCARED and very emotional. The moment I have waited for so long, is happening. I am now a published author! 

Chara’s Song is my debut novel. There is so much I still need to learn as a writer and I will keep trying to become a better writer so that readers can enjoy my books.

Thank you so much to the wonderful Crimson Frost Books and to all my family and friends for their kind and generous support.  
  
Happy writing!

If you’d like to buy Chara’s Song, here is the link... 



Wednesday 12 March 2014

The Awesome Blog Content Award

                                  




Thank you so much, FABULOUS Tracey Rogers, for nominating me for this incredible award! 

The rules for receiving this award are as follows: post the logo and link back to the person who nominated you then say something about yourself starting with a word beginning with each letter of the alphabet. 

Here is a little something about me...

A – is for AMAZING AUTHORS!!! Thank you for the fantastic reads!

B – is for Beautiful sunny days. They always fill me with a feeling of, wow!

C – is for CHOCOLATES which is sooo much better than s.. sandwiches! ;) 

D – is for Determination.

E – is for ENRIQUEEEEEE!!!! The best singer in the world!!!!

F – is for Family and friends. LOVE them all.

G – is for Great books which I love to read again and again.

H – is for Happiness! I wish it for everyone!

I – is for Inspiration. Love the rush I get when feeling inspired.

J – is for jokes! I love telling them and being told them!

K – is for Kindness. Kindness is such a wonderful thing.

L – is Laughter! 

M – is for Music, which I absolutely love!

N – is for Naughty.Those moments when you know you shouldn’t laugh but can’t stop

yourself! Especially in libraries

O – is for Optimism. 

P – is for staying Positive when doubts try to set in.

Q – is for Quite extraordinary people who inspire others.

R – is for ROMANCE!!! Love it!!!! 

S – is for SMILES!

T – is for a big THANK YOU to everyone. You’re all AMAZING! 

U – is for Ukulele. Love that word! 

V – is for Variety! 

W – is for Why not? Go for it! 

X – is for Xanthous. Found it and liked it when was looking up words which began with, X. 

Y – is for Yodelling. Am fascinated by it. 

Z – is for Zest! Not the lemony sort! But enthusiasm, passion and excitement! 

I really enjoyed doing that!  I would now like to introduce you to the wonderful Mary-Anne Smith.