HAPPY 2014

Wishing you all 

peace, blessings, happiness 

for 2014.

We are recovering from nasty throat/ cold bugs in our household at the moment... even the cats seem to be suffering with ailments at the moment!

Tiz More Blessed Giveaway

Hop over to Milo James Fowler's blogsite to see his Tiz More Blessed Giveaway hop.

I have a copy of my Ultimate Sacrifice short story Up for Grabs. It has a little romance, though it is a gritty story about a young woman and her soldier boyfriend and how she copes with others; reactions around her when he is badly injured.

Just leave a comment and I will endeavour to send the winner a copy via email. Closing time for entries Friday 13th December. Lucky for some ;O)

Apologies that I've been swamped, so had to put blogging in snooze mode for a while.

A Write Edit Publish Topic ~Sharing

Here's a topic to get your creative juices flowing from Denise's monthly blog hop challenge:

Sharing: the joint use of a resource or space. 
What will your characters share?

Will you choose prose or poetry to describe the scene in which your characters weave their tale?

Sign up to the Linky at Write Edit Publish and post your entry on 22nd November 2013 and get some great feedback and writing practice.

Showing Well

Before I go into my post, I would just like to say I have missed you all.

I came back (in my last post) and then my Dad needed me, because his nursing home had begun to neglect him badly, which meant a lot of phone calls and travelling and anxiety and heartache.  I also  got migraines from all the tension and so had to stay away from the computer til today. Now my father has finally moved a few miles away from me to a new home, but he's extremely frail and so for however long we have together, I shall do my best to make him know how loved and special he is to me.

My latest read is Brick Lane by Monica Ali and I just had to share these excellent showing excerpts:

1. Razia lit up and light grey trails from her nose mingled with the fibrous tendrils of her hair. 

You can just see it can't you?

2. "Yes, then he wants a Year Off!" She spoke the words as if they were two turds dangling from the end of a stick.

Now doesn't that capture the mood and the tone of the words well?

Returning to Normal

Hugs to everyone who left such lovely, supportive comments and wishes during my recent horribulus two months. VERY Much appreciated. Bless you!

I have been re-reading Stephen Kuusisto's Planet of the Blind. It's not often I re-read novels and the second time has been as enjoyable and rewarding as the first. A wealth of description and showing which is a real treat.


My mother is now in a nursing home 200 miles away from me and I, it seems, must learn to let go. 
It's a chance for me to get back to my life and get on with things again. It has been a very tumultuous time for so many reasons, but I keep reminding myself that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

I hope the past two months have made you all stronger.

An Update

Bless you all 

for your kind supportive words and prayers.

Things continue to be tough at the moment, for a number of reasons and take up almost all our time, but we are soldiering on.

My husband's father died peacefully with family around his beside yesterday morning.
My mother is making slow progress in some areas and obviously a cause for concern in others. My father continues to deteriorate.
Sleepless nights and poor appetites are the order of the day.

I recommend this book. It's excellent:
A Time to Care by Emily Ackerman.

God Bless.

Triple Whammy

Sorry that I have been away for my own Blogfest and from my blog. 

My husband and I are currently coping with a triple whammy family crisis that involves all three of our remaining parents being terminally ill. Two with dementia with other health complications and one with a heart deterioration.

I would like to thank all my loyal supporters and also Misha for helping host my Blogfest, while I have been away.

I'm hoping to get back on track sometime soon, but please know I am missing you all. I look forward to a time when I can return to the heady days of care-free cyber socialisation, perhaps!

I am currently reading 
A Time To Care by Emily Ackerman which is already helping.

On a happier note, I have more haiku published in this month's scifaikuest 

 

Novel Films II #3

DAY 3: Have you read any novels where you have yet to see the films/ TV adaptations? Or seen any films where you are keen to read the original novel? 

I have done a lot of catching up since Novel Films Blogfest 1 in 2011, such as reading The Rotters Club; Adjustment Bureau; The Firm; Stormbrfeaker; About A Boy.

While I found I couldn't get into Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg and The Other Boelyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

I have seen The Hobbit; Never Let Me Go; Neverwhere
 
but I have yet to see the film of The Handmaid's Tale or read:
The Blindside by Michael Lewis
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
Brick Lane by by Monica Ali
K-Pax by Gene Brewer
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
Matilda by Roald Dahl

Oh and discovered I have read and seen Anna of the Five Towns by Alan Bennett, though sadly this is not available on DVD

How about you? 

I'd like to thank everyone who has supported this 3 day Blogfest.  

Bless you all and of course

Misha for co-hosting during my family crises.  

 

Novel Films II #2

DAY 2: Which novels that so far haven’t yet been made into films/ TV adaptations would you like to see and why?

Now this is a question I often pose myself when I am reading and now wish I had kept a comprehensive list. For the sake of this Blogfest, I'll throw a few suggestions into the mix of those that I recall crossing my mind as having Film/ animation/ TV dramatisation potential:

 

The Gervase Phinn books would make a great series like those of James Herriot 

 The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness 

Cosmic by Frank Cotterill Boyce

The Vanishing Act of Esmé Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

Blackberry Wine by Joanna Harris

Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Before I Go to Sleep by S J Watson

Creepy Hollow Series by Rachel Morgan

Novel Films II #1 Novel Don'ts

Day 1 ~ Are there any novels you have seen as films/ TV adaptations in which the novel left you cold? OR vice versa?

I have consumed a vast collection of novels and related films, equally of which I adore. However, there are a few novels for which I confess enjoying the films/ TV adaptations, but just couldn't get into the novels...

I'm sure there are plenty who would disagree and I appreciate they likely have different tastes and expectations to mine.

I guess since film/ TV and writing are separate/diverse media it is understandable that this can happen, when reading and viewing preferences/appetites differ.

 How about you?

Novel Films II Co-host

I am delighted to say that the wonderful 

Misha Gericke of Five Year Project 

has agreed to co-host our Novel Films II Bloghop, as both my parents and my father-in-law are currently quite unwell, so I may not be as active online as I had planned.

My HUGE THANKS to her.

Like last time, it will be a three day fest and on each day there will be something different: However, you can choose to post on just one day if you prefer.

Thank you for supporting this Bloghop and for all your prayers and kind wishes.

and have fun!

SIGN UP TO THE LINKY BELOW:

Vacation ~ Flash Fiction entry ~ Write Edit Publish~ IWSG

Monthly Blog-hop hosted by Denise

I have chosen to do a Flash Fiction Slice of Life piece. 
Please note this is not the beginning of a story it is FLASH FICTION

The Vacation by Madeleine Sara             © Madeleine Sara Maddocks August 2013
Kate’s daughter had pronounced that she would never agree to a vacation. Then, on a whim, Kate decided to enter a competition, sitting between the boxes piled ceiling-high with her precious possessions, laptop on her knees. As she pressed the submit link on the web page, pure elation filled her cheeks like rosy helium balloons. ‘First prize: a holiday break for two in Mauritius’.

        Her rainbow smile rapidly deflated, as the late, spring sunshine made its way through the smallest chink of unobscured window. What if she won? What would she take? Could she find her swimming costume? Where was her passport and was it up to date? After all it was now some years since she had come to live in the UK. She closed her laptop and slowly squeezed out of the little nook; edging past stacks of novels she didn’t need to read. She reserved this space, because it was near to power and telephone sockets, but one day it might also be needed for more of her ‘finds’.
        Like a narrow cat trail in a lawn, she followed the strip of carpet she had left, along the landing and down the staircase. Between piles of papers, bags and stacked-up things she had found on her various forays into charity shops; she could just glimpse her front door at the end of the corridor. She couldn’t get into the living-room anymore and she had long since stopped cooking for herself, now that the kitchen appliances were no longer accessible.  Somewhere a letter from the council lurked; filed away in one of her precious piles. The dust, stale, musty smell and lack of space didn’t bother her, so much as when others tried to make her give up her precious possessions or suggest taking them away. A panic attack threatened to rack her body. NO she could not part with any of her things. She began to gasp uncontrollably.
          The doorbell rang, startling Kate. A welcome distraction from her anxieties and her breathing began to calm. She hurried to let her daughter, a regular visitor, inside, but it wasn't Claire.
    “Mrs. O’Donnell?” the official, suited woman asked, standing beside an official, suited man, with briefcase in hand.
     “Yes” Kate said swallowing the lemon drop of shock and disappointment.
    “We are from The Council” the woman began. “We arranged an appointment for this morning to visit you regarding 45, Bay View. I trust you received the letter?” a pause “As stated, failure to comply with the terms and conditions of your lease require you to vacate this property in fourteen days. May we come in?”
   Knowing how right her daughter had been about vacation, Kate hurried to shut the door against them. Predictably, it jammed; always hard to close these days with the hoards of belongings she had amassed. She looked down to see what could be causing the obstruction this time, when the official man thrust the eviction notice at her, his shiny shoe, wedged in the doorway.

(500 words)

Check out this link for more information about  compulsive hoarding. 

On a personal note: 
Please pray for my 84 yr old MOTHER, who has fractured her spine, has arthritis and an infection. So I will be offline a lot I'm afraid. Thanks
If anyone feels able to co-host my Novel Films II Bloghop, I would be very grateful
Thank you! 

Novel Films II ~ Have you signed up yet? Co-host appreciated

Thanks to Milo for the wonderful interview.

Hello to all my lovely followers.

There's still time to sign up to my  Novel Films II Blogfest 

Any questions or observations, please comment below.

Like last time,  Novel Films Blogfest I, it will be a three day fest and on each day there will be something different:

However, you can choose to post on just one day if you prefer.

Oh and do please shout out about this Blogfest and add the button to your own blogs. Thank you

On a personal note:  Please pray for my 84 yr old mother, who has fractured her spine, has arthritis and an infection. So I will be offline a lot I'm afraid. Thanks
If anyone feels able to co-host my Novel Films II Bloghop, I would be very grateful
Thank you! 

SIGN UP TO THE LINKY BELOW:

Social Media links~Author Interview#3 ~ MiloJamesFowler

 

Kindle

AmazonUK

B&N

Smashwords
iBooks/iTunes
Website

Twitter

Facebook

Many thanks Milo for agreeing to this interview
it has been great hearing about his impressive journey.

And please, pretty please, don't forget to sign up for Novel Films II blogfest< HERE  

Oh and a quick Welcome to my new followers
and Hi to my existing followers

Writing Dates and Covers ~Author Interview#2 ~ MiloJamesFowler

Kindle
AmazonUK

B&N
Smashwords
iBooks/iTunes
Website

What a wonderful idea; writing dates in coffee shops!

You and me both, I enjoy design as much as writing.

 Does anyone else go on writing dates or enjoy designing their own covers?

And please, pretty please, don't forget to sign up for Novel Films II blogfest< HERE 

I started writing when ~ Author Interview#1 ~ MiloJamesFowler

In Medias Res

What made you start writing?
And please, pretty please, don't forget to sign up for Novel Films II blogfest< HERE 

Author Interview Announcement and Excerpt ~ MiloJamesFowler

Speculative Fictioneer and Blogger, Milo James Fowler, of In Medias Res 

will be interviewed here at scribbleandedit 

over three consecutive days from Monday 12th - Wednesday 14th August 2013.

Here's the opening to Milo's novella, Immaterial Evidence:

Excerpt Immaterial Evidence © Milo James Fowler

They say no good deed goes unpunished. I had two bullet holes in me to prove it.

 My tale of woe, like so many others before and since, starts with a girl. But this one was just a kid—snatched off the street while out for an evening stroll with her parents. I should have known better than to take the case, considering how little I had to go on, but times were tough, and I needed the money.

 I couldn’t have known how much it would cost me in the end—or how special that girl truly was.

 “They’re here.” Wanda Wood, my part-time secretary and full-time confidant, let the drapes fall back in place on her front window. “You sure about this, Charlie? Leaving town? Ain’t like you.”

 “Can’t stay here. Not with Ivan gunning for me.” I winced, adjusting the sling that held my right arm. I glanced around Wanda’s apartment—a nice place, but not nearly big enough for the both of us. Had it been a week already? “As much as I’ve appreciated it.”

 “I wouldn’t let anybody come after you.” She sat down beside me on the sofa.

 “My own personal bodyguard.” I chucked her under the chin.

 She shook her head, blonde curls bobbing. “You save that little girl’s life, and you’re the one who pays for it. Office burned to the ground, your friend killed—” Just as her eyes started to glisten with tears, she turned away from me. “Life really ain’t fair sometimes.”

 “Hey.” I touched her cheek, and she fixed me with her pair of shining sapphires.

“The mayor’s office is a real step up, don’t you think?”

 “I liked working for you.”

 “And you will again.” I stood. “Soon as I get my detective agency up and running in Little Tokyo, I’ll send for you. It’ll be just like old times. You’ll see.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “Unless you don’t like the idea.”

 “Oh, I like it fine.” She took the crooked arm I extended toward her—like I was the one escorting her to the door and not the other way around. “I’m just afraid I’ll never see you again.”

 “You should be so lucky.”

 She gave me a playful shove. I gave her a peck on the cheek.

 “You’re a hero, Charlie. Don’t let anybody tell you different, not even your own self.”

Here's Milo's original typed MS for the character and story:

 

Have any of you kept your original MS's from years back in your earliest writing days, like Milo?