Missing Door, Lock and Key

When a writer sits at their desk and starts writing, he/she gets lost into their fictional realm. Sights and sounds all around them disappear as the focus is plotting a story to be shared.

I am a writer...well, professing to be one. Winter is my season to write as I love hiding in my room, listening to the rain as the background soundtrack to the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. However, lately, people keep finding me when I am trying to emerge myself into my story. My child will find a reason to stand like a statue next to me, breaking my concentration. One of my parents will find a reason to ask a question, make a statement or just walk in to see what I am up to.

I try to be loving and patient with them because they can't understand my need to "disappear" for a few hours on my own in solace.

I now understand why writers say go into your office or writing space and lock yourself in, shut the outside out and be free. It is the only way to get any writing done.

When I start writing, I get so excited that I get lost into the story, as I visualise my story, walking in the shoes of each character as they journey and it cuts me off completely, making me lose my mojo when distractions appear out of nowhere and seemingly always when I'm in the middle of a conflict.

People who don't write, don't often understand why you are writing and why you need isolation. Cutting off from our life to write is one of the much needed things a writer needs to do. A writer needs their creative, safe space to bring out their weirdness, their imagination and their ability to see life differently.

As I pondered this, I realised that my solution to this "big" problem is very simple. I am missing three essential things...a door, a lock and a key.....

My writing space is in a little alcove off my room which is still open. So....I pray for a door to close off my space, a working lock and a key to lock me in, to create, to get lost and spend time with my characters.

What is holding you back to finish that burning story on your soul?
Is there a simple solution to the problem?

Don't let a solvable problem stop you from being the best writer you can be.....find your door to hide behind, your key to lock it to free you in your creativity.

Maybe you have managed to find your perfect spot - well done and keep writing!

Consider the small things

As a writer, we often ask ourselves "Should we include this detail or emotion? Does this sentence make the scene seem boring?" but how often do we ask ourselves or remind ourselves to "consider the small things".

Why are the "small things" important? Well, a small thing could show the reader what your character is wearing. It could show the reader how the character is feeling or what they are doing. A small thing could end off the scene perfectly.

At my past writing workshop, we learnt that what we often think is boring might not be boring to the next person, our reader, the ones we are actually writing for. We discovered that what we find a daily task boring and uneventful, actually was interesting to another. The other person enjoyed hearing how we, the writers, handle that boring task, how we are feeling about doing it and how we perceive it to be tedious and boring.

Aspiring writers, I urge you to once in a while consider the small things. Never assume that the boring to us, is boring to others. We all think our lives are boring but our boring could make another laugh, shed a tear or be inspired.

I encourage you to try the exercise we did in our workshop. Think of something that you find boring in your daily life and write either a paragraph or for about ten minutes, post it in the comments below. Consider sending it to a friend to read for feedback. You might be surprised! I would love to read yours.

Here is my paragraph to give you an idea:

I never thought finding a pair of shoes could be an adventure until I reached my thirties. Shop assistants trying not to laugh as I ask if they have ladies shoes in a size 1 or 2. Wide-eyed assistants gently directing me to the children’s department and shocked helpers shaking their heads with no hope for me. My Mother rolling her eyes as we’ve reached the fifth shop with no luck. I tire quickly in my worn shoes as I try to smile positively, looking down at the glitter and flowery shoes that fit.

As I consider them, I wonder how long my pants have to be to hide most of it, still trying to laugh at my shortcomings. Hunched shoulders and feeling slight despair, I take them off and glance at the price. In an instant, the warmth of sun fills me and my smile spreads as I finally realise that this long, darkened adventure has brought me into the light at half price. 

 

Until, next time, happy writing!

 

Book Review: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

This May I joined an online book club so thought I would share my thoughts on our first book namely The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.

Lo Blacklock is a journalist who is trying to make her mark in the industry. She gets a "career-changing" offer and takes it, determined to succeed. How can she refuse spending time on a luxury liner with the rich and known?

Trauma, alcohol and lack of sleep starts her trip off on a "bad" foot as she realises she is a fish out of water on this trip. Lo has no idea how "out of water" she really is when she sees who lives in Cabin 10 and hears a splash in the middle of the night, noticing a blood smear on the glass next door.

Worried, confused and under the influence, Lo looks for help and answers as she wants to know what happened. Where is the girl from Cabin 10? How does she just disappear being surrounded by water?

Hot chocolate, pyjamas and a quiet Sunday afternoon is the best setting for reading this book. I enjoyed this book however it took to grip me and for me to get into the story. A few twists and turns kept me reading but was a little disappointed with the ending.  Overall, still worth reading.

To purchase a copy, please click on: The Woman in Cabin 10


Until next month my Bookworms, stay warm and keep reading!

With love,
The Bookworm Buddy

Book Review: Two True Classics!

I was so excited when I could finally take both these books out at once from the library, especially since the second one is a "recent" book. As you know, it is quite seldom that you manage to get a "recent" book at the library.

So, I raced home with them and went to my favourite reading chair and got lost in the world of a town called Maycomb County. Firstly, I met some young children named Jean Louise and Jem Finch. Then I got the pleasure of meeting their friend Dill. Life through the eyes of Jean Louise or "Scout" never disappoints as our young lady likes to play like a tomboy, has an enquiring mind and seems to find trouble often.

Life for the innocents change as their gentle, well-liked father and the town's lawyer, Atticus decides to take on a difficult criminal case. Racial issues, poverty and lifestyles clash. Who will win? Why did Atticus take this case?  Oh and to end it off, who is Boo Radley?

To Kill A Mockingbird is a must read for everyone from young to old. I encourage everyone to read this book at least once in their lifetime. Harper Lee doesn't tell you but shows you how to walk in another person's shoes and how ordinary life is extraordinary. She shows how to see different viewpoints and see the drama unfolding from different sides of the street.

As I finished this one, I looked forward to meeting with "Scout" again in Go Set A Watchman. I am so glad that this book was eventually published and shared.

We return to Maycomb County with "Scout", now a 26 year old adult. She returns to visit Atticus, 72 years old only to learn a hard, life lesson she wasn't expecting. Scout still has a tomboy spirit but has learnt to act like a young lady as much as can be expected. She still finds trouble and loves it, especially to aggravate her Aunt. Scout has a man waiting at her feet but is she ready for a lifelong commitment? What life lesson has hurt her and changed her viewpoint about her father? Can she accept what she now sees?

Harper Lee puts our feet, once again, in Scout's shoes and we journey with her as an adult, facing adult issues as well as personal ones. Harper Lee doesn't disappoint in this book as she continues to show us and not tell us how the old has been replaced with new, how Scout still loves and hates her small town, and how we all change as we grow up.

I thoroughly enjoyed both books and I strongly recommend to everyone that you read one after the other. Life, laughter and lessons fill both these books. One is a classic and the other is becoming a classic in our time!

All Aboard!

It’s a Saturday and their little faces are squished against the glass, wishing Mommy would take them out into the sun to play. If only they could go where James has been?

“All aboard” can be heard as Mommy gathers her troop, armed with a blanket, a picnic basket and their favourite story.

Screams of glee echoes through the car as Mommy stops outside…..

THE CHOO CHOO PARK

 

 By Heather Davidson

As Mommy reads the story about all the things James gets to do at the Choo Choo Park, their toes start to wriggle with excitement as they can do them too!

Allow your children to journey with James on the big red train, using their imagination to visit faraway places. Journey with your children as they whizz down the slide and make Mommy dizzy on the roundabout.

The Choo Choo Park is simply a delightful book about visiting a local park and all the fun the whole family can have, spending time together. This story allows young children to relate with James, just another child like them wanting to play and pretend.

The bright colourful illustrations by Celeste Beckerling add to the adventure of the imagination, creating the joy of the story.

Heather Davidson shares a story created for her son, James who loved the Choo Choo Park. Parents bring this wonderful story alive by visiting the actual Choo Choo Park which is situated in Belvedere Road, Claremont. The big red train can be seen from the road.

The language is easy for children to understand and ideal for children aged between 2 and 5. The book does have one or two grammar errors but this does not affect the story at all. I love the fact that this is truly a South African book, written and illustrated by Capetonians.

 So, take my advice, grab a copy of the Choo Choo Park and show your children how stories can come alive by using their imagination.

Grab your copy at the Book Lounge, 71 Roeland Street, Cape Town from January 2017. Alternatively, please contact the author, Heather Davidson via e-mail: Stories By Heather

Would you like to get know Heather and Celeste better?

Visit their websites: Stories By Heather / Celeste Beckerling

Enter the CRYPT

 

Sitting in my library is a lonely affair so I thought I would do what I love, reading, while I wait. In my bookworm world, books are shared by passing on to others to read. I was given this one recently - CRYPT: The Gallow's Curse by Andrew Hammond. 

Jud Lester is not Jud Lester but yet, he is. Jud is an agent for C.R.Y.P.T., a secret agency employed to investigate and stop paranormal activity in England. New recruits arrive and things get interesting. What does Jud's true identity have to do with all of this?


People terrified and killed by those who click with their mouths and in the distance a bell can be heard. Ghosts become visible and can be touched and felt. As activities increase, the public is scared and the reports label it "Ghost Hauntings".

Chief Inspector Khan hates the idea of allowing teenagers to do their job, especially when there is a ridiculous idea of ghosts committing crimes all around. 

The C.R.Y.P.T's job becomes difficult as their secrecy and ability to be invisible is compromised and the possibility of being shutdown becomes a reality.

What are they going to do?

If you have a teenager who is interested in the paranormal, get them this book and maybe the other four currently in the series to keep them up at night and allow their imagination to run wild. The imagery and graphic description is good. Unfortunately, the few spell check "misses" can disturb the eye when trying to understand the sentence but still an interesting read.

Another great stocking filler for Christmas to keep them busy during the holidays.

Introducing......Heather Davidson

 

Have you ever read a book to your children, wishing you had actually seen or visited the place it describes?

Ever wondered if you could actually take your children to that place?

Well, now you can with Heather Davidson's

THE CHOO CHOO PARK

The Choo Choo Park is a picture book for children aged between two and four. What's so special about this book? The fact that you can actually visit the Choo Choo Park mentioned in the book. This particular park is in Claremont.

I have the immense pleasure of knowing Heather personally and I got to ask her a few questions about the process of following her dream of seeing her book published and shared.

So...without further ado I introduce to you, new children's author........HEATHER DAVIDSON.

 

BW: Where did the idea for this book come from?
HD: When my son, James was little he used to love going to the Choo Choo Park and "driving"me to different places. So I wrote the story for him at that time.

BW: What made you decide to publish this book now?
HD: I wasn't confident enough to submit my story to any publishers and I'd never heard of  self-publishing at that time. About two years ago, I made the decision to get back into writing and committed to spending time on achieving my writing goals. Shortly after that, I came across James's old copy of the Choo Choo Park and decided that I really liked the story and would like to do something with it. I submitted it to two publishers who weren't interested and later decided to publish it myself.

BW: What has been your favourite and least favourite part of the editing and publishing process and why?
HD: Favourite part - seeing each illustration as it was completed. It's been incredibly exciting seeing my story coming to life. Least favourite - getting my book onto Amazon

BW: Did you find it difficult to find a suitable illustrator?
HD: Not at all. I meet and got to know Celeste (Beckerling) at a couple of workshops and talks held by the Society for Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators. I loved her illustrations and decided to approach her about illustrating my book.

BW: Have you given any thought on writing more children's books?
HD: I definitely plan to write more children's books. My next project is to write a chapter book for (and about) a friend's 9 year old daughter. At the moment, I'm reading a whole lot of books for that age group as research on the type of language to use as well as what 9 year olds like to read about. I'm considering writing the book as part of Nanowrimo in November.

BW: What advice, if any, can you give to aspiring writers who are considering publishing their own books?
HD: Self publishing your book is a very achievable goal. The process is quite straight forward and there are many resources available; from online courses to in-person workshops as well as many freelancers to help with layout and formatting if you would like to put your book on Amazon. So just GO FOR IT!

Unfortunately, I have to wait like everyone else to read and review this book but I have ordered my copies and can't wait to receive them!

For more information on Heather, please visit her website: Stories by Heather

And to order your own copy of her book as well as help her achieve her publishing dream, please visit: The Choo Choo Park Project