Monthly Archives: July 2011

Thanks + Someone Else’s Story

29 Friday Jul 2011

Posted by in short stories, Teresa Stenson, The Guardian

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First of all – a big thank you to all who sent me birthday wishes. Between here and Twitter and Facebook and email and the telephone, I received a lot – far more than I could have expected. So, yeah – thank you all, very, very much.

***

And back to writing things. I meant to mention this earlier but never seemed to have the time. Long time friend of the blog, Teresa Stenson is in The Guardian Summer Short Story Special, with her story, ‘Things Which Are Not True’. It’s a top story and Teresa’s a top writer and very nice lady, so I’m thrilled for her. Go read.

30 – 1 day

25 Monday Jul 2011

Posted by in 30

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Tomorrow, I turn thirty. And, yes – haven’t I done well in not moaning about it? I’ve surprised even myself.

And I’m at a bit of a loss as to what I should say here to mark the event which, to me, is quite a big one.

I could talk about my highs and lows so far. I could talk about successes and failures. I could talk about great people I’ve known and those who’ve treated me badly. I could talk about lost loves, missed opportunities, or those wonderful memories I’ll keep with me forever. Or perhaps the wonderful books I’ve read, the things that have happened that have shaped me, that have made me, me.

But really, none of those things matter too much at the moment (though I am grateful for them and I’m proud to carry them forward with me). There are times for reflection and I’m sure they’ll come.

What matters is I’m still here.What matters is what’s ahead. What’s behind me has helped me get to this stage, the important bits are yet to come. And I’m looking forward to them.

***

And despite not being a man of the world myself, I still think this is very, very beautiful…

On Taking Things For Granted: A Suggestion

23 Saturday Jul 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

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I’ve been thinking a lot over these past few days about the decision to cut the number of short stories broadcast on Radio 4 from three a week to one. Obviously, it’s not a great thing. But there must be some sort of reasoning behind the decision.

And this is what I think.
Much has been made of this in the short story world. Petitions have been set up and signed, it’s had coverage in mainstream media, there have been numerous blog posts, loads about in on Facebook and Twitter. In fact, it’s pretty fair to say it’s been everywhere, certainly in the short story world.
And here’s the thing. Before the announcement was made, hardly anyone mentioned it. Before the announcement was made, I seldom saw anyone singing Radio 4’s praises in relation to them broadcasting short stories, I saw hardly anyone saying what a great thing the station was doing, I hardly saw anyone linking to the show or even mentioning any of the three stories a week that were broadcast there. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a criticism – I’m guilty of it too (and I’ll happily admit to hardly ever listening to them) – but it does make me wonder if we’d have mentioned it half as much while it was going, and spread the word, celebrated it, as we’re doing now – would the stories have been cut? 
There are loads and loads of excellent outlets for the form and I think it might be a useful thing to appreciate them, to support them, and to spread the word about them, for what they’re doing NOW, instead of missing them once they disappear.
Do you think it’s time we maybe made more of an effort? After all, no-one likes being taken for granted.

Essie Fox Interview

21 Thursday Jul 2011

Posted by in Essie Fox, interview, The Somnambulist

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Another day, another interview.

I’ve known (virtually) Essie Fox for a good old while now, and I can tell you she’s very lovely indeed (her blog’s cool too). What’s more, her debut novel, The Somnambulist  (Orion) is out now and it sounds brilliant. So it’s a real pleasure to have her here today, to talk about it, and writing. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you Essie Fox…


Welcome to the blog, Essie. Thrilled to have you here. Now, I’ve yet to read ‘The Somnambulist’ (it’s only a matter of time!) – could you tell us a little about it please? Who’s it for and what’s it about?
Hello Nik – thank you so much for having me!
The Somnambulist is a Victorian gothic mystery that follows the physical and emotional journey made by a young woman as she discovers the truth about her life. It’s a story about love, loss, guilt and deception which starts off in the Victorian music halls and then moves on to another ‘conventional Victorian setting’ – a sprawling gothic country house that may or may not be haunted.

Selfishly, I suppose it was written for me, in that I think any author really writes the book they would like to read. I’ve always loved Victorian literature, whether in the original versions or in some of today’s better historical novels.

I think that sales and marketing would probably say it’s a ‘big woman’s read’ but that’s probably because the main narrator is female. Several men have contacted me to say how much they’ve liked it, and there are many male characters who play a big part in the plot.


The title is wonderful. I think ‘somnambulist’ may be my new favourite word. For those who might not have come across it before, could you tell us what it means, and also, what it means in relation to the novel?
A somnambulist is a sleepwalker. In the novel the main character is sleepwalking her way through life, unaware of what’s real and what is deception. There are lots of twists and turns, but there is one major ‘revelation’ that I actually intend the reader to guess from the start (the clues are all there) so that they might engage with the narrator’s plight more forcefully – while she still has her eyes firmly closed to the ‘truth’.
The title comes from a painting by Millais which is featured in the plot. It shows a young woman sleepwalking along the edge of a cliff and was said to have been inspired by Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White and also a popular Victorian opera – Bellini’s La Sonnambula – both of which deal with cases of sleepwalking. At a time of suppressed sexuality, and also one of enormous interest in the occult, sleepwalking was a very evocative symbol.
The novel is set in Victorian England and I’m well aware that that’s a period that interests you – could you tell us why?
It’s strange but I’ve always loved that era – so much so that I regularly blog about it. All those scientific, industrial and medical developments that still have an influence on our current lives.
And then, there were those old black and white ‘crinoline’ films that I watched as a child on wet Sunday afternoons – and also my early library visits, when I was strongly drawn to the traditional Victorian fairy tales, and books like The Water Babies, and Black Beauty.

As I grew older I really enjoyed studying the era at university – something very alluring about gothic, simmering, complex plots, and so often with women ‘in peril’ – placed in situations that you might find it hard to justify morally with any modern day heroine.

But what really draws me to that time, rather than earlier historical periods, is the use of photography which was developed then. We can actually ‘see’ people from that era, in all the truth of light and shade, rather than simply through works of art. I find that very exciting – to look at a face and wonder exactly what sort of life that man or woman lived.

This photograph of Robert Cornelius is thought to be one of the earliest self portraits. It was made in 1839 but I defy anyone to look at that photograph and not feel that you could ‘know’ that young man as well as any other who passes you by on the street today. In fact, I’ll confess that he might just have inspired one of my novel’s characters.




Now it’s done and written and published and being read and enjoyed, do you find yourself missing any of the characters, or that process of creating the story?
I loved every moment of writing The Somnambulist and yes, I do miss the characters – especially Phoebe and Nathaniel.

And, as far as the writing process goes, as I had no idea if that novel would ever be published, there was something very liberating about totally indulging myself in its world.


How did you write it? What was your routine? (And any tips you might like to give to others who hope to be published?)
My routine was, and is, simply to wake up and make some coffee, then to come back to bed where my laptop sits on a little breakfast table. It sounds very lazy and decadent, but sitting at a desk makes my back ache – and if I’m not ‘up and dressed’ then I’m not tempted to pop out and do other things. Thank goodness for the dog, and having to take her out for walks, or I might never leave my bed at all!

The only tip I can think of is something I touched on right at the start which is to write the book you want to read, something that really inspires you…and then write it as well as you possibly can. And read. Read the best in your genre. In fact, read as much as you can – the best of everything.


What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?

Don’t be too impatient. It takes as long as it takes…marry in haste, repent at leisure applies just as much to writing as it does to real life. 


What’s next for you?
I have a two book deal with Orion, so I’m currently working on another Victorian mystery. It’s going to be called Elijah’s Mermaid, and the central theme is based on an artist obsessed with painting his muse as a mermaid. I think it’s going to be quite dark – and a big fairy tale influence too!



Essie Fox’s debut novel, The Somnambulist, is a Victorian gothic mystery which will be published by Orion Books in May 2011. 

Before taking up writing, Essie worked as an illustrator – designing greetings cards, gift wrap, and decorative ceramics. Before that she worked in a Dickensian office in Bloomsbury’s Museum Street, employed as an editorial assistant by the publishers, George Allen & Unwin. So, in a way, it almost feels as if she has come full circle, returning to her very first love which is the world of books. 

Essie is currently researching her second Victorian novel. She also writes the popular blog, The Virtual Victorian. 

Born and raised in Herefordshire, Essie now divides her time between Bow in east London and Windsor. She is married with one daughter.

Rowan Coleman Interview

19 Tuesday Jul 2011

Posted by in interview, Rowan Coleman

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It’s been AGES since I’ve interviewed anyone on here, mostly down to being too busy doing other things (like being interviewed myself, or writing, or editing. The list goes on…) but that changes today.

So, without further ado, let’s chat with splendid novelist (and better mathematician than me) Rowan Coleman, shall we…
Rowan, welcome! It’s great to have you here.
Hello, very pleased to be here, thank you for having me.
It’s a pleasure! So, your latest novel, ‘Lessons in Laughing Out Loud’ is out. Could you tell us a little about it? Who’s it for? What’s it about?
‘Lessons…’ is about Willow, one of a set of identical twins, who’s life took a very different turn from her sister’s because of a dark secret from their childhood.  Now in her late thirties Willow looks back on her life, her failed marriage and bitter divorce, her estranged step-daughter, her amoral boss and hopelessly unrequited love for a male friend, and realises that if she is to have any chance of a future, she must finally face her past.


What drew you to writing about identical twins?
I always wanted to be a twin, but actually it wasn’t the twins that came first, it was Willow and her story. Willow always had a sister, but about of a third of the way into writing the book, I found myself wondering what if her sister was also her twin, it seemed to make the contrast between their experiences of childhood all the more poignant.
And why did you put them in this situation?
I’ve been reflecting on my own past recently, and trying to work out how its impacted on the person I am now. I wanted to write a book about a person who had been through the very worst and was struggling to let herself become a whole person, despite it all.  That makes it sound a bit depressing, any one who’s read any of my books will know there is quite a bit of humour in there too. not to mention kissing and in this book a very fine pair of shoes.
This is (according to my questionable maths!) your tenth book. Does writing them get any easier?
Actually if you count my teen books, I’m up to about nineteen! (Nik looks embarrassed and skulks off to find his abacus…)
No. No, if anything it gets harder, it’s not coming up with ideas, I’ve got loads of those – but the ideas that I do have tend to stretch me much more as a writer, technically in terms of plot and structure and also finding the balance of light and dark. But I wouldn’t want to be writing books that were a walk in park, I suppose if I feel challenged, I feel like I’m doing a good job!
Has your writing process changed?
Not really, I am one of those people who starts at the beginning and then slogs it all the way through to the end, editing as I go so that the finished first draft it pretty near to the final thing. I do plan a little more now than I used to, but not too much. I don’t want to avoid the possibility of killing the spontaneity!
What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?
Honestly, and this might sound a bit silly, but when I was writing my first novel my editor told me that I didn’t have to describe every little detail in order to one character from scene to the next, for example, putting on her shoes and coat and getting the bus etc etc. ‘Pop in a line break,’ she said. It seems obvious, obviously – but I seriously needed someone to point it out to me, and it’s amazing how many writers I’ve shared that tip with since, and literally seen the light bulb come on over their heads! Sometimes we’re just two caught up in the process to be practical.
What do you think a story needs to have in order for it to be great?
Honest, relatable, very well developed characters, an intriguing, though not necessarily pacey plot, and most of all, it needs to make the reader care what happens next.
What’s next for you?
A small nervous breakdown and a large gin. And them lots more writing, for as long as they will let me.
Anything you’d like to add?
Er…..have I said thank you for having me? My mother would be proud. And also please buy my book, if you don’t mind. A-hem.

***



Rowan Coleman grew up in Hertfordshire secretly longing to be a writer despite battling with dyslexia.  After graduating from university she worked in bookselling and publishing for seven years before winning Company Magazine Young Writer of the Year in 2001.  Her first novel ‘Growing Up Twice’ was published in 2002.
Rowan has gone on to write eleven novels for women including the bestseller ‘The Accidental Mother, The Baby Group’ and ‘The Accidental Wife‘ and eight novels for children and teens including the paranormal adventure novels Nearly Departed and Immortal Remains under the name Rook Hasting. Her books are published around the world. She now lives in Hertfordshire with her family.
***
And a little more about the book…

-Have you ever wondered what might have been…?


Willow and Holly are identical twins. They are everything to each other. Holly calls Willow her rock, her soulmate, her other half. And Willow feels the same about Holly. They are alike in every respect but one – Willow is afraid on the inside. And all because of a secret – one that binds the sisters closely together and yet has meant their lives have taken two very different paths.

Willow often feels there are large parts of her missing, qualities she only knows she’s lacking because she sees them in her sister. For a very long time Willow has felt separated from Holly by one terrible moment in time – a moment that meant Willow’s life was never the same again. And when the past catches up with her, Willow realises its finally time for her to face her fears, and – with Holly’s help – learn to laugh out loud once more.

Better

18 Monday Jul 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

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So, it’s a little before half past eleven on an evening which has followed a decidedly grey and rainy day. In a moment or two I’ll turn off my computer. And the reason for this? I have been catching up with everything I didn’t get to do over the past fortnight, when I was ill and working at half-speed (if I was lucky).

I am better now. I am mended and fixed and bloody glad about it, mostly as it lasted far longer than I’d thought it would.

If anyone’s still waiting for things from me (and, yes, I know you are) then bear (bare?) with me. You will all have your things very soon. I promise.

Night, night.

Virtually Me

18 Monday Jul 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

I’ve just been tinkering with my website (only minor tweaks, here is still the best place to come to for news) and thought, while I was thinking of it, that now would be a reasonably good time to mention on here my other online hang outs. If you’re interested in joining me at any of them, pop across. Don’t be shy!

I’m on Facebook here.

I’m on Twitter here.

Here is where I offer short story and editing help.

This is my Goodreads page.

And here is my website.

Hopefully see some of you over there. And there. And there…

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