Had a wonderful time at my local writers' group last night... the Coventry Writers' Group - see our forum at coventrywritersgroup.myfastforum.org/
We ran our own competition - the idea being that each of us write something (poem, short story, flash fiction) that could be called a Coventry tale. We put our entries (all anonymous) into a pile on the table and volunteers read each piece aloud. We then awarded marks out of ten to each (giving a ten to ourselves to eliminate cheating!) and the mathematical minds among us went away to count the votes.
It was great fun trying to guess who had written which piece. One or two were fairly obvious to me, though no less enjoyable for that. On the whole though, I guessed wrong, and was astonished when the authors were revealed.
And no, we didn't use AV to decide on the winners. I'm not sure quite how the eventual system worked, but everyone seemed happy with the results and, I'm very pleased to say, neither Nick Clegg's nor David Cameron's entries won! And yours truly got third place and a book token and so was very chuffed.
Look out for the book - we're thinking of publishing and marketing it as Coventry Tales.
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Writing about depression
For much of my adult life I have suffered from recurrent episodes of depression. I'm very lucky, though - with the help of my GP I've found a medication that seems to work. Mind you, every time I begin to feel myself going down, I have a flash of fear that it won't work this time. Up to now, I'm glad to say, it always has, though it can take time.
Although I've been writing seriously now for over 5 years, I still haven't tackled the subject of depression head on in any of my novels. In Alexa's Song (not yet published) I wrote about a character who is bipolar, but I never really described his depressive epsiodes. Perhaps there are good reasons for that. Depression is notoriously difficult to write about. And it's not something you necessarily want to think about while you're feeling well.
I'm now writing a science fiction novel and, oddly enough, depression has crept up on me, not in life, but in my writing. I'm describing the experience of... well, let's just say a disembodied brain... and as I write, I realise just what it is I'm writing about. Perhaps...
This is a first draft and I don't like to talk too much about my first drafts in case they melt away like dreams. So I'll stop now.
I'll be interested if anyone reading this has managed to write about depression - please comment, if you have. Or if you've read any novels that you feel capture it well.
Although I've been writing seriously now for over 5 years, I still haven't tackled the subject of depression head on in any of my novels. In Alexa's Song (not yet published) I wrote about a character who is bipolar, but I never really described his depressive epsiodes. Perhaps there are good reasons for that. Depression is notoriously difficult to write about. And it's not something you necessarily want to think about while you're feeling well.
I'm now writing a science fiction novel and, oddly enough, depression has crept up on me, not in life, but in my writing. I'm describing the experience of... well, let's just say a disembodied brain... and as I write, I realise just what it is I'm writing about. Perhaps...
This is a first draft and I don't like to talk too much about my first drafts in case they melt away like dreams. So I'll stop now.
I'll be interested if anyone reading this has managed to write about depression - please comment, if you have. Or if you've read any novels that you feel capture it well.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
New blog for 8-14 year old girl readers - Girls Heart Books!
I'm part of a wonderful new blog aimed at girl readers aged 8 to mid-teens - and I'm so thrilled! I had no idea when I asked to join that I'd be in the company of so many well-known and wonderful writers (or I'd never have dared to ask). Just take a look at some of the names, under 'Authors':
http://girlsheartbooks.com/
There will be a new post every day and we'll all be taking our turn. I'll be doing mine sometime towards the end of May and I'm sure by then there'll be some hard acts to follow. All our books are featured too, and there'll be competitions and other exciting stuff going on.
So if you have a daughter of that age or know anyone else who might be interested, please pass the message on. Our aim is to encourage girls who already love books and get some new ones reading, too.
http://girlsheartbooks.com/
There will be a new post every day and we'll all be taking our turn. I'll be doing mine sometime towards the end of May and I'm sure by then there'll be some hard acts to follow. All our books are featured too, and there'll be competitions and other exciting stuff going on.
So if you have a daughter of that age or know anyone else who might be interested, please pass the message on. Our aim is to encourage girls who already love books and get some new ones reading, too.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
My dad is 88 - and he needs cheques!
No, I don't mean he's short of money, though I'm sure if anyone felt like sending him a cheque he wouldn't say no!
What I mean is, he needs cheques in order to pay his bills. And, with his characteristic generosity, to remember his relatives' birthdays. To conduct his everyday financial affairs, in other words. He can barely leave the house and finds it difficult to get to the bank. He doesn't have a credit card, or a debit card, and doesn't want one. His mind is as sharp as ever and he reads books on everything from cosmology to the internet, but he doesn't see why he should have to get to grips with new technology. He doesn't have a computer and doesn't want one.
He's going to be seriously inconvenienced and not at all happy if the government gets rid of cheques.
One last thing about my dad. He was a rear gunner in the RAF in WW2. Joined up in 1942 when he was 18. Flew on over 130 missions. It's thanks to brave young men (and women) like my dad that we live in a free country, and a free Europe, today.
Is this how we repay people like him? Many of them already suffer poor health and some live in poverty. And now we are going to make their lives that bit harder by denying them the convenience of paying by cheque.
If we wait another 10 or 15 years, people like my dad will (sadly) all be dead. Then we can get rid of our cheques - and enjoy the freedom (?) it gives us.
What I mean is, he needs cheques in order to pay his bills. And, with his characteristic generosity, to remember his relatives' birthdays. To conduct his everyday financial affairs, in other words. He can barely leave the house and finds it difficult to get to the bank. He doesn't have a credit card, or a debit card, and doesn't want one. His mind is as sharp as ever and he reads books on everything from cosmology to the internet, but he doesn't see why he should have to get to grips with new technology. He doesn't have a computer and doesn't want one.
He's going to be seriously inconvenienced and not at all happy if the government gets rid of cheques.
One last thing about my dad. He was a rear gunner in the RAF in WW2. Joined up in 1942 when he was 18. Flew on over 130 missions. It's thanks to brave young men (and women) like my dad that we live in a free country, and a free Europe, today.
Is this how we repay people like him? Many of them already suffer poor health and some live in poverty. And now we are going to make their lives that bit harder by denying them the convenience of paying by cheque.
If we wait another 10 or 15 years, people like my dad will (sadly) all be dead. Then we can get rid of our cheques - and enjoy the freedom (?) it gives us.
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Dear Ms Sue Doe Nym
Just received an invitation to an event for writers, addressed as follows:
Dear Dr Glasbey and Ms Warren
We would like to invite both of you to.....
I should explain that both of these people are me - I am Sheila Glasbey in real life and Rosalie Warren is my pen-name (can't remember why I decided to use one - would have been an awful lot simpler just to stick to my real name!)
Anyway, question is, do I pretend to be two people and take advantage of two lots of nibbles and wine? We could even be identical twins (oh no!)
Dear Dr Glasbey and Ms Warren
We would like to invite both of you to.....
I should explain that both of these people are me - I am Sheila Glasbey in real life and Rosalie Warren is my pen-name (can't remember why I decided to use one - would have been an awful lot simpler just to stick to my real name!)
Anyway, question is, do I pretend to be two people and take advantage of two lots of nibbles and wine? We could even be identical twins (oh no!)
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Identity theft? It's officially OK with Twitter (allegedly)!
I'd begun to think I was making too much of the fact that someone has stolen my profile on Twitter. Well, copied it, to be precise, into her profile, to make it look as though she has written my book, owns my blog, etc.
Or perhaps she hasn't. Maybe it was a mistake, on her part or Twitter's. That's why I haven't named her - I'm not interested in making any unwarranted accusations. I've tweeted her politely several times and asked her to desist. And I sent a formal complaint to Twitter several days ago.
Now Twitter have replied - and apparently it's fine to nick someone's profile and pretend you have written their books, own their website, etc. For her to claim to be me, in fact, intentional or not. I just need to 'keep an eye on things' and report back if they get 'any worse'.
Hmm. So now all I have to do is to get it confirmed in writing from Twitter that I'm allowed to claim I wrote 'Harry Potter'. Or Ulysses, perhaps. No, I'll go for Madame Bovary. Or Revolutionary Road. Or Room...
Dicey, you'd think. I don't really want to pay a huge fine or go to gaol. But given what they said to me, I don't see how they can object.
Of course, someone else might. There is such a thing as identity theft. Anyone know any lawyers?
Or perhaps she hasn't. Maybe it was a mistake, on her part or Twitter's. That's why I haven't named her - I'm not interested in making any unwarranted accusations. I've tweeted her politely several times and asked her to desist. And I sent a formal complaint to Twitter several days ago.
Now Twitter have replied - and apparently it's fine to nick someone's profile and pretend you have written their books, own their website, etc. For her to claim to be me, in fact, intentional or not. I just need to 'keep an eye on things' and report back if they get 'any worse'.
Hmm. So now all I have to do is to get it confirmed in writing from Twitter that I'm allowed to claim I wrote 'Harry Potter'. Or Ulysses, perhaps. No, I'll go for Madame Bovary. Or Revolutionary Road. Or Room...
Dicey, you'd think. I don't really want to pay a huge fine or go to gaol. But given what they said to me, I don't see how they can object.
Of course, someone else might. There is such a thing as identity theft. Anyone know any lawyers?
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Lyra and the Adventure of the Flying Fish - a book review
Lyra and W Rabbit have just joined my list of favourite characters of all time. They are up there with Just William and the Moomins, as far as I'm concerned, and I can't say more than that.
This book is utterly delightful. It was inspired, we are told, by a premature baby girl called Lyra whose companion from birth is a cuddly white rabbit called, appropriately enough, W Rabbit. Disaster strikes when W Rabbit is carried off by a schol of flying fish. But with the help of various aquatic companions, including an aristocratic turtle called Timothy, Lyra manages to track him down. W Rabbit is top of the class at the flying school, but he happily gives up his career to rejoin his beloved Lyra.
At the end, we see the real Lyra, now big enough no longer to need the special breathing apparatus that looked like a snorkel and inspired the story.
The language is delightful; the illustrations are out of this world. Together they make magical music.
Young, old or somewhere in-between, you'll love this book.
Book details:
Lyra and the Adventure of the Flying Fish
Author: Peter Emina
Illustrator: Alice Ridley
Published by Phoenix Yard Books, London
Age: 7-9
RRP: £11.99
ISBN: 978-1-907912-01-6
Publication Date: 28-03-2011
See on the publishers' website at:
http://www.phoenixyardbooks.com/view_book.php?id=13
Buy on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1907912010/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
This book is utterly delightful. It was inspired, we are told, by a premature baby girl called Lyra whose companion from birth is a cuddly white rabbit called, appropriately enough, W Rabbit. Disaster strikes when W Rabbit is carried off by a schol of flying fish. But with the help of various aquatic companions, including an aristocratic turtle called Timothy, Lyra manages to track him down. W Rabbit is top of the class at the flying school, but he happily gives up his career to rejoin his beloved Lyra.
At the end, we see the real Lyra, now big enough no longer to need the special breathing apparatus that looked like a snorkel and inspired the story.
The language is delightful; the illustrations are out of this world. Together they make magical music.
Young, old or somewhere in-between, you'll love this book.
Book details:
Lyra and the Adventure of the Flying Fish
Author: Peter Emina
Illustrator: Alice Ridley
Published by Phoenix Yard Books, London
Age: 7-9
RRP: £11.99
ISBN: 978-1-907912-01-6
Publication Date: 28-03-2011
See on the publishers' website at:
http://www.phoenixyardbooks.com/view_book.php?id=13
Buy on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1907912010/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
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