Sleeping Beauty Wakes Up

I feel like I've woken up, and I'm kind of mad at myself. I hadn't realised I'd fallen asleep. I started this blog because I love to write. It's my happy place. Yet after a while it became a place of apology, excuses why I wasn't the writer I thought I should be. Word count …

A World of Backstory

As a budding fantasy writer I remember rushing off to George R. R. Martin's blog to glean some advice from a master. As luck would have it the very first questions on the FAQ page was: 'I want to be a writer. Can you give me any advice?' I devoured his response: Read widely young …

The Best Writing Advice Ever

I know I've succumbed to hyperbole with this title - but I promise I'm not selling anything. *checks pockets* Nope all out of snake oil. But I would like to offer you a story today. A story - one of many that have been told around the tables of Cafe Novella during the course of …

A New Leaf

A weekly blog hopwhere writers get togetherto discuss what inspires them. I might have well and truly missed Thursday this week, but hey - if we're sticking with the rhyme I quite like the sound of Friday's child too! Inspiration, at least has been all around me. The big flowering cherry at the front of …

Kindness: Thursday’s Children

A weekly blog hopwhere writers get together to talk about what inspires them. Someone once asked me what I hoped for my children; what parental dreams and aspirations I had for them? Did I want them to be clever, funny, sporty or creative? They're great kids, and as any parent will tell you I want …

Is Your Plot Bunny Leading You on a Wild Goose Chase?

A weekly blog hop where writers get togetherto talk about what inspires them.This week I'm inspired by plot bunnies. Those marvellous story ideas that turn up at the most inopportune moments, dazzle you with their clever brilliance, and then bound off at speed, so you have no choice but to follow and see where they …

Seasons of Change: Thursday’s Children

A weekly blog hop where writers come together to share what inspires them.We all know everything changes and nothing stays the same - but it doesn't mean it's always easy. Today I had to farewell a close friend, who is moving away. She's returning home (to the States), into a new and exciting phase of …

Home Comforts – Thursday’s Children

A weekly blog hop where writers get together to share their inspiration.  This week I've been revisiting an old character I love dearly, but who has really been through the wringer. He's the guy that saw danger coming and couldn't get anyone to listen to him. He's lost a lot and as the world literally …

Making Good Art – Thursday’s Children

A weekly blog hopwhere writers come together to discuss whatever inspires them.It's been a tough old week - where keeping this blog ticking over is all I've been able to manage on the writing front. Like the title of this blog, I've been dreaming of other realms, but have had little time to sit down …

Show Some Love – Thursday’s Children

A weekly blog hop wherewriters come together to talk about what inspires them.Join us! Given it's Valentine's Day, it's only fitting this week's inspiration is about love. As a writer of epic fantasy I enjoy writing about strange magical worlds, conflict, and intrigue - but every so often my characters fall in love. And these …