Having been very busy for the last few weeks, I thought that it was time to restart blogging, at least once a week. I find the process of writing about books, mental health and the media in general very therapeutic. I also like a good old catch-up. I hope you will come along for the ride.
Recently I wrote about three intriguing books that I enjoyed and learned a lot from. Carrying on my reading journey, I am exploring one of Joanne Harris’ early books, ‘Sleep, Pale Sister’ and Matt Haig’s ‘The Humans’, alongside ‘Let it Snow’ (mainly because of my obsession with winter. All are brilliant so far and very different, yet all have strong characters and plots that carry messages which mean they are relatable and page-turners.
Looking around at what is going on in the news it is distressing to see the conflict that has arisen over the Royal family, and especially the issue of mental health. We could definitely do with more love in the world right now. However, it seems that love doesn’t sell quite so well. The most successful stories and movies and TV shows are those involving conflict, controversy and promote debate.
Having said that, of course, everybody loves a good drama. I find that when I write something dramatic, it is really important to show varying perspectives of the unfolding story. For me, multiple characters tend to present their angles on things. In my first novella, ‘The Fathers, the Sons and the Anxious Ghost‘, I told a tale of devastation from the point of view of a husband, a friendship group and the children of the original characters. It was my aim to consider the impact of suicide on a group of individuals, and especially to talk about the long term implications of this upon the children.
My next book is a YA mystery which is all about one guy (Drew) and his close friend and will take the reader on an adventure through his eyes only. It is not my usual approach but in this case it felt right to follow events from his perspective and to lock onto the elements that came into play, as they emerged. A peculiar house in the countryside is constantly covered in black birds who seem to be watching everything that Drew and Siobhan do. Since a chance encounter with it, the house begins to play a massive role in their lives. Drew is trying to pass exams, deal with bereavement, care for a grandparent and protect his friends from a threat that looms in the background.
As the spring begins, I am getting back into my writing and, as well as editing this novel, I am writing smaller narratives on Wattpad and have got about a third of the way into a crime story. This is going to be a rollercoaster of emotions. I hope that I can do it justice.
As lockdown ends and the sun starts to shine, I hope that everyone is feeling optimistic about the new year. More to come from me. Please consider following and trying one of my short stories.
