Why Don't Authors Like Parents?

Greetings Everyone!

First of all, thank you for the wonderful and warm welcome back to Blogland. I am more inspired than ever to rise early and sit up well into the night writing and writing. I'm half way through a romantic short story, The Woodland Wedding; my current WIP set on a luxury yacht in the Med is beginning to flourish and....I believe (at last) that I am ready to grow my NaNoWriMo 2010 novel, The Case For Saucers, into the thumping romp it should be!

Apart from that, I have been pondering....

Why don't authors like parents?

Like many aspiring novelists, I read and read - a lot. What I've been noticing in so many stories, across several genres, is that the main character's parents have been killed off. Honestly, once I homed in on this phenomenon, I saw it everywhere. More often than not they've been killed off together, how convenient! But why? Is it to convey more of a sense of isolation for the protagonist? Or is it just easy to have Mum and Dad out of the way of the story so as not to interfere like they may do in 'real life'?

I love that in Talli Roland's, The Hating Game, there is the prejudiced voice of a mother colouring the FMC's thoughts and beliefs. She doesn't have any more presence in the book but it is very powerful.

Maybe it's because I really have lost both parents that I enjoy popping in the older generation. They don't have to take up much space if you don't want their characters to be integral to the plot. They don't have to be likeable but they are a useful and sometimes sly little view on the world. Alternatively, they could be glamorous silver foxes, sipping Martinis and cruising. They don't have to be dead, do they?

Til next time x

Catch Fire Blog Party!

Greetings everyone!


Today is the Catch Fire Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour. See Alex’s site for details.



The blog tour runs from February 27th until March 9th so visit his blog, stalk him over Blogland and comment as you go! If you wish to follow the party on Twitter you'll find it at #CatchFire.

Alex is a blogger extraordinaire, runs awesome blogfests and gives us all the lowdowns on latest movie releases. He finds time to write too! I enjoyed CassaStar and am looking forward to reading the sequel.

Here's the blurb for CassaFire:

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…


Available today!

Science fiction - space opera/adventure

Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 240 pages

EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats



Join me in wishing Alex an awesome blog tour and every success with CassaFire x

Creeping back...

Greetings everyone!

I cannot believe my last missive was posted in October last year! What a tumultuous few months it has been. Blogging, writing and anything remotely ceative has had to take a back seat until life resumed some kind of normality.

We moved house, which happened in a speedier way than expected. No major crisis there until a one-time friend turned into a monster and made our lives (and those of others) a nighmare. Oh boy - are they going to be a source for a future character! I felt frozen to anything apart from just getting on with the move.

Anyway, we're in a lovely new place, back in the South East (where we're both from) and I am so in love with writing I am bursting with new ideas and projects. I'm working on some short stories plus my romantic, glamorous novel set on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean.

I missed the first anniversary of this blog as well as the warm interaction I had with the community. I've also joined Twitter and am connected with many of you there too (never thought it would happen to me, but fun and supportive nonetheless!)

I need to spend as much time as I can writing so this won't be the busiest blog every week and I can't wait to visit everyone to say hi.

I will be part of the extravaganza that is the promotion for 'Catch Fire' - Alex J Cavanaugh's new release, a promise is a promise after all!

Now, off to see what you've all been up to.... x

A Debonnaire Haiku

Greetings everyone!



This week's theme is Debonnaire do click on the banner for more haiku over at Jenn's blog.



Silk suits tailor made
Dedicated follower
Perfected panache



The spy who loved me
Martini shaken, not stirred
Welcome Mr Bond

Have a wonderful Wednesday - see you lovelies on Friday x

Romantic Friday Writers - First Love

Greetings Everyone!

We've had a fabulous few days with rellies visiting us in deepest darkest Devon.
Quoting the delightful Caitlin, aged 8.

Caitlin - "Auntie Marg..."
Me - "Yes, darling..."
C - "You're weird."
Me - "Oh?"
C - "In a good way."
Me - .....(speechless!)

Bless!

Onto RFWs...



Every week a group of us, brought together by the awesome talents of Denise at L'Aussie Writing and Francine at Romancing The Blog provides a story, poem or an excerpt up to 400 words on a chosen theme. To read more wonderful romance clicky here

Here's my First Love in 350 words NCCO (no critique,comments only)

Fedelma stood at the edge of the black lake. As still as an ancient oak, she waited. The water lapped over her feet, freezing and unkind, but she didn't move. Not yet. A night fish plopped some distance away; a tired bough shifted and settled. Woodland scents drifted around her, moving her heart to remember everything about him. A smile rose within her.

She had dis-robed in the forest and now prepared herself for the joining.

She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the full moon, letting the icy light infuse into her mind. 'Robin, my Robin. My first and only love, stolen from me. Know that I am here. Know that I come to you!'

She lifted the silver chain from around her neck and let the pendant swing in the moonlight. The ivy leaf, cast when their love was born, shone with enduring light. Fidelma threw it high into the night and watched it fall, penetrating the surface of the water. The ripples spread like fissures across the surface of an obsidian mirror. She stood still once more, waiting for the water to calm. The blessings of the moon drew peace from the tides and quieted the beating of her heart.

She stepped fully into the lake. The cold, seductive and compelling, enveloped her body, drawing her into a well of darkness. Each step opened more and more memories. Robin's golden body, his kisses, his love for her. Memories of the sunshine years. She imagined she could see his eyes dancing in the water. Laughing kindness. Her skin remembered longing for him, loving in the labyrinth, rolling together in the mysterious spirals. Their souls as one. First promises. She heard his voice rising up from the deep. Words of devotion lifting from the waves.

Tears fell at the memory of the boat with the black sails. The storm heaving the vessel against the rocks. Crushing life.

She felt her heart lose the pulse of love as the water reached her shoulders. The ache of desire frozen in her last breath. Her head slipped below the surface.

************************************************************************************

Can you believe I've written something with no food?

Have a fabulous Friday x

Rare Haiku

Greetings everyone!



Short post today due to the arrival of rellies! This week's Haiku theme is Rare Do click on the banner for more haiku over at Jenn's blog.

My own Mr B
One in a million men
How lucky am I?

A prodigious gift
Talents discovered early
Unique fulfilment

Have a great Wednesday x

Romantic Friday Writers - Rock Candy

Greetings everyone!

Every week a group of us, brought together by the awesome talents of Denise at L'Aussie Writing and Francine at Romancing The Blog provides a story, poem or an excerpt up to 400 words on a chosen theme. To read more wonderful romance clicky here

You already know mine will include food....400 words NCCO (no critique, comments only - yes, I'm a wimp)


Ned whistled to himself and watched the sugar and glucose bubble. After forty-odd years as a Master Sugar Boiler, he didn't need the fancy thermometer to tell him when the mixture reached three hundred degrees. He heard the rumble from the copper pot, a soft seductive purr, he knew.

“Charlie!”

Ned was as proud as a father could be watching Charlie march towards him. His son was a dedicated sugar man and Ned's happiness in handing over the reigns of Shapiro's Sweet Emporium made his heart swell. Charlie's lovely wife, Helen, reminded Ned of his own Susie, wrapping the sticks of rock in sparkling cellophane, finishing each end with a tight twist. Ned remembered how Susie's hips gave a enticing wiggle each time she completed the wrap. He had to force his mind back to the task in hand as he and Charlie lifted the huge pot of scorching toffee and poured it over the cooling table.

He left Charlie to divide the toffee into separate hills for the psychedelic colours to be mixed and went to the lettering table. Here he squashed and folded the soft confection that made up the inside of the stick – the magic! This party batch wasn't for the usual corporate do or wedding celebration. This was to surprise his Susie on the day of their retirement. To celebrate a small sweet factory in their seaside town, becoming the successful enterprise it was today.

His beautiful Susie! They had met in the summer of 1967, when she came to work at the factory where he was the apprentice boiler. Ned was smitten from the moment he saw her. Every evening after work, she would release her long straight hair from the hygiene bonnet and paint flowers on her face. She wore dresses who's patterns inspired the rock sticks of the day. Later they used every penny they had buying the place when old Mr Shapiro died. Their sweet dream.

It was Susie who saw the potential in moving into the bespoke business. She designed sticks of rock for local companies and Ned worked his talents in making logos appear down the centres. They were a hit!

Ned handed Susie a stick from his final batch. He held his breath as her eyes shone at the crazy swirls of coloured toffee. She read Ned's words, crafted for the last time.
My Rock
My Love


Have a fabulous Friday x