Looking Hopeful

So what is there to be hopeful about? Where do we go from here? 2021 is our big chance to not only reset things but also, importantly, to move forward positively. Easier said than done. Having had time to get my thoughts together, I have decided there are two things that are really motivating me this year. One is writing, as I certainly haven’t lost the bug. The other is sharing the love for our wonderful planet and helping to promote ways to reverse climate change. Both of these things are markedly optimistic and require effort.

Having studied geography for my degree and finding it fascinating, it is something that really gathers my attention and travelling to see natural wonders of the planet such as the glaciers of Scandinavia, I have seen for myself just how fragile our world really is. I also know that each one of us is responsible for climate degradation and shrinking ecosystems. I hope that my blogging about this topic can keep it fresh in my readers’ attentions. Perhaps there is a possibility that my writing can reflect the magical nature of our wildlife and scenery and help to get people thinking about just how fragile those incredible elements can be.

Without a doubt I love fiction. Especially contemporary fiction. This year I shall be publishing my very first full novel, which will be in a YA format and explores a range of issues, within a setting of a pair of teenagers who are tormented by a spooky old farm house. The story explores the modern family dynamic and the angst of friendship alongside mental health issues, loss and the impact dementia has on older loved ones. I really hope that my readership are drawn into this story with its layers of struggle, romance and adventure.

Alongside this, I have been writing on Wattpad over the Christmas period about a TV extra who got into a pickle whilst filming a festive movie on the beach in summer, dressed as an elf. This reminded me of my own experience as an Extra, something that I hope to return to in my spare time, after lockdown subsides.

On a departure from this, I have been slowly writing a crime drama set in a Yorkshire village where corruption sits uncomfortably alongside a seemingly laid back community where, in fact, ruptures are gradually occurring and retaliations are definitely ready to unfold.

I hope that everyone can find a positive way forward in these peculiar times. Join me in a world of fiction and share my journey into new genres and narratives that are meant to distract, entertain and make you smirk.

Book Review – The Lollipop Shoes

I decided that it was time I restarted my blog and began to review some of the books that I have recently been reading. There is no better place to start than with a Joanne Harris book.

Following on from ‘Chocolat’ which was an incredibly successful novel set in rural France, published in 1999, this intriguing book was not just your average sequel. It utilised some of the main characters from the original narrative and it took them on a journey into Paris where Vianne was able to once again work in a little chocolate shop. This time she wasn’t the owner but she was able to reinvigorate her love of confectionary and talent for enticing passers by to sample her treats and get to the bottom of their worries.

A significant character who currently goes by the name Zozie, blows into town and befriends the whole family, bringing her own mischief, quirkiness and a touch of magic. Her well meaning sprucing up of the shop is not the only contribution she makes to the story. Keep an eye out for the colour she brings to everyone’s lives.

With a refreshing storyline and complex characters who you cannot help but root for, ‘The Lollipop Shoes’ entertains, indulges and tugs at your heart strings.

For a story bursting with twists and turns, unpredictable happenings and chapters written from the point of view of three of the main characters, look no further.

This book is definitely a 5 star publication. Go and have a look at a sample and you will rapidly be hooked.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0552773158/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_-h3kEb1TT3FWV

Bag of nerves

As my ebook is published,

I sit by myself,

Wondering if anyone,

Will put it on their kindle shelf.

As my ebook is published,

I bite on my nails,

Thinking what to do next,

Hoping that I don’t fail.

As my ebook is published,

I drink lots of coffee,

Have sleepless nights

And snack on a toffee.

As my ebook is published,

I dream of reviews,

Writing is the future,

That I will now choose.