Down the Rabbit Hole

Isn't it's mind-boggling trying to find things on the internet? The amount of information out there is so monumentous that it's actually daunting and sometimes very scary. You want the best advice, the best service but you're bamboozled with hundred of websites that will take you down that rabbit hole, straight into a warren that you may never get out of. 

So a few years ago I came out of my cave, realised if I wanted more success with my writing I needed help and so I went in search. As I predicted there were so many individuals and companies that promised to edit my work perfectly, if I would just send on my manuscript and the required fee. After endless hours of searching and scrutinising I chose a reputable company. The feedback that came back was good and helped me clarify where I was, what I needed to do...but there was something missing, something that I just couldn't put my finger on so when I was ready to get more feedback I went searching again. The second company I went with was even more reputable...well they charged higher prices and only took on the projects they believed had potential (or so they said). So I went with it, paid my money, asked for a specific editor to look at a particular book I had completed. The company wrote back suggesting a different editor, one who had written and published a YA novel, just as I had, but who didn't seem to have any experience in this new area that I was experimenting in. I was annoyed. E-mailed back, suggested two different editors. Neither were available. The talents of their chosen editor was repeated. She was indeed a talented lady but not in the area I was looking at. So I said no. 

I was feeling pretty dejected as I rode off into the sunset, dreading the thought of hours on the internet again and another possible dead end. But you know what they say, third time always lucky, and so within a very short time I had clicked on Jericho Writers 

This website grabbed my attention immediately, it was so unlike the other organisations that just offered editorial services it was actually a community of writers that I could be part of. (As a mother of eight young kids I don't have a lot of time to be part of a writer's group so this online group was perfect for me.) It also offered sooooo much advice,  along with their editors room which has an impressive list of editors, writers, illustrators and industry people, to help with your project they also host events, give tutored courses, video courses, masterclasses, interviews and a whole lot more. Some of this information is free to all, the rest is for a small monthly fee. I'm sure if you check out Jericho Writers you'll see the value, as I did, in joining.  

What a relief to be part of a community of like-minded people, to be part of an organisation that's not just after your money but actually care about you, wants to teach and advise and guide and nurture you. What a relief to be part of an organisation that gives so much so freely. What a relief to be home. 

Jericho Writers had offered free writing advice to people who gave feedback on their services. I don't have a lot of 'me' time and what I have is very precious, but I'm happy to do this as I believe it is a fantastic community and an excellent organisation. Why not pop on over and see for yourself? 

A SMOOTH SEA NEVER MADE A SKILLFUL SAILOR

I was part of a great workshop earlier this year and the writer in residence, Mia Gallagher, was brilliant. Throughout the course she gave me a lot of advice and feedback and then some more... some of which I didn't really want to hear. You know when you think what you've written is perfect just the way it is. In this case ignorance was bliss. I was sailing along thinking everything was great and then suddenly this huge wave comes along, smacks right into me, disorientates me for a few minutes. But I got through it, carried on, forgot about the wobble and what caused it. Then smack another one, then another, they kept coming stronger and faster till I was in the middle of a storm of doubt and fear. Till my boat was creaking and groaning under the strain. I wanted to give up then and there, cover my head, pretend I didn't care. But the more I ignored the storm swirling around me the worse it got and the worst I felt. It's hard to hear the truth sometimes, harder still to get back up, change things and start again. But once I took that first step every step after that was a little easier. So I jettisoned a lot of words and a dear character, I've changed a few essentials in my story, patched up the boat. I've gotten through this storm, am sailing onwards again and my story is all the better for it. No doubt there'll be more storms ahead. But as Franklin D. Roosevelt so brilliantly said 'A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.' I'm not sure I'll be looking forward to the storms ahead or will be ready for the next one when it comes but now I know what to do. I'll learn from it. I'll get stronger. I'll get better and I'll keep sailing forward. So here's to the challenges and the bumpy roads and the stormy seas, may each one make you a more skilful sailor. 

The Wild Atlantic Way

I've had a very bumpy year, with many twists and turns along this ever winding road and now it has brought me and my family here, to Galway, to the beautiful west coast of Ireland, to the Wild Atlantic Way. I guess every tunnel, no matter how dark, has a light at the end of it. As Zig Ziglar so often said, 'difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations.' It's only through discomfort that we grow. Our journey has brought us far and although there are still challenges we've taken more than a few steps in the right direction. 

My writing has had a bumpy year too. Trying to move eight kids and two adults and all our belongings has been a challenge, to say the least, and has taken a lot of time. So now back to business. As Richard Bach says: 

"A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”

         

So let the work begin...continue...improve! 

Hope you are enjoying the journey wherever you are. And if you find yourself in that dark tunnel keep walking, one step at a time, you will reach the light that shining at the end of it. 

HOW TO HOOK A KID ON A BOOK

1. Read to your children. It’s such an enjoyable experience. The earlier the better. But if your children are middle grade they will still love to sit down and hear Mam or Dad or whomever read a good book. With older children get them interested in reading snippets from the paper or from magazines. Highlight a news feature they are interested in or that’s topical or controversial, it will make it easier.  
2. A good trick I had was to read to the younger kids in front of the older ones. I found the older ones would soon get drawn into the story and would come to look over my shoulder and listen to what I had to say. 
3. Get older siblings to read to the younger kids. It does wonders for their confidence and their reading skills not to mention their relationship with one another.
4. Buy/download/borrow a book and cd so the children can listen to a story while following the words on the page. They’ll come on in leaps and bounds. 
5. Model the behaviour you want them to pick up on. It works and there’s nothing better than a guilt free rest with a good book, magazine or paper. 
6. Explain to kids that they don’t have to know every word in a book. They can still get the general meaning without knowing every word. Sometimes when I’m reading I stop and ask the kids if they know what a certain word I’m stuck on is. I then ask one of them to look it up online or in the dictionary for me. (I do actually know the words…well most of the time!)
7. Electronic bookmark dictionaries are an excellent present. Kids love using gadgets and this one ticks all the boxes!
8.  Bribe them or bargain with them. Ten minutes reading equals ten minutes on your gadget or whatever works well for you. Once they get hooked on a book they’ll forget about gadgets (most of the time) and you won’t even have to bargain. Seriously.
9. Start off slowly. Don’t expect them to read a lot at the beginning. Five minutes here or there works wonders and isn’t too daunting. Or take turns in reading a paragraph or page each.
10.  Hide the gadgets and switch off the TV or limit them to a few minutes a day.    

PERSPECTIVES!

'Tom began - hesitantly at first, but, as he warmed to his subject, his words flowed more and more easily; in a little while every sound ceased but his own voice; every eye fixed itself upon him; with parted lips and bated breath the audience hung upon his words, taking no note of time, rapt in the ghastly fascinations of the tale.'

It's funny how it happens, we hear a story...or a perspective of a story and we're pulled under...maybe we just sink in. It's easy. The tale is a good one, there's an obvious villain...an unlikely hero. No-body needs to twist our arm, we're on their side, totally convinced. 
But then she rings. He calls. They tell you a story. One that sounds familiar but isn't. One that you've heard before...but haven't.You crease your brow while you nod your head. Unconvinced. 
      'But I thought-'
      
The laugh silences you. You press your lips tight together while your mind whirls like a merry go round and you listen to a different story, a new tale, where the hero is destroyed and the villain wins the day. 
And then you wonder if there ever was a hero...if there ever can be a hero? 
Time helps to soften the blow, it blurs the image and blunts the edges. There's always a hero, someone will always save the day.  
You sigh and smile. There's a niggling worry that you ignore, a fleeting thought that you don't try to catch. 
Just be careful who you choose to be your hero.
Who you choose to save the day.

HABITS!

They say it takes about 30 days to form a habit, good or bad. Not long in the grand scheme of things really.But it's not just the doing, it's the keeping at something that's the hard part. Tony Robins says that in order to create a habit our shoulds become our musts! So I've decided to grab the bull by the horns and jump on. Yes, whether you want to or not you'll be hearing a lot more from me from now on.So while I'm here I'd like to congratulate all those shortlisted for the CBI Awards, it's going to be a tough call with so many fantastic books to choose from!! I don't envy the judges. Hope today's journey isn't too steep a climb. 

Shortlist 2015

Ten Books have been shortlisted for the 201 CBI Book of the Year Awards:

When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan

Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan

Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton

Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers

The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

Daideo by Áine Ní Ghlinn

Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill

Haiku Más é do thoil é! by Gabriel Rosenstock illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald

Primperfect by Deirdre Sullivan

Beyond the Stars compiled by Sarah Webb

Been Away Too Long!!

Yes, I've finally let go of my book and sent it off into the wilds of agents and editors and publishers! So while I'm twiddling my thumbs and considering my next project I thought I'd blog about all the amazing things going on in the world of Children's Literature.
The Prestigious CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals announce their long list for the first time!! So delighted for PJ Lynch who has done an amazing job, as always, in illustrating the Mysterious Traveller. There are other really great books included so don't forget to check them out.
Also if you haven't had the chance to do it yet make sure you get nominating for the next Laureate Na n-Óg. For the first time the nominations are open to all, especially schools and children! So you can download the nomination form here. You have until Saturday the 15th February at 5pm to send in the forms.
Finally thought you might like this, it's 9 Life Lessons Everyone Can Learn From These Classic Children's Books!!
Hope you're still enjoying the journey even if it is pretty wet and miserable out there!

Ooops!

If by any chance anyone is passing this page and happens to realize that I haven't posted a blog in quite a while please forgive me. It is very remiss of me but I do have some (what I believe are excellent) excuses to hand which I hope you will accept:

A) I am finishing a novel! The good news is that I am at the editing phase! Yeah. The bad news is I am way past my deadline so any spare minute I get goes into editing and rewriting.

B) My seven unruly children keep distracting me and insisting on having my full attention. The good news is there is lots of brilliant us time, the bad news is there is very little me time!

C) I am expecting another beautiful baby in May! The good news is that everything is going great and I'm soooo excited, the bad news is that the first three or four months is unbelievably tiring so I tend to fall asleep within minutes of my children going to sleep, usually over my laptop, which doesn't really give me much time for anything.

I could give more reasons about boring housework and tasty-ish dinners and exciting creative writing classes and more exciting school visits but I think you get the message. So hence my poor blog,  Facebook my twitter account (which for some crazy reason I have joined) are all suffering. I know you are too so please accept my humblest apologies, I will be back in the land of the living soon. For all you writers out there I hope you keep moving forward on your winding road. I will be adding more videos to my Creative Writing Series once my beloved book has flown the coop. Until then enjoy the journey.

"So much time and so little to do!"

"Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it." Yes, like good old Willie Wonka I've been snowed under a bit lately and my poor blog has suffered. On Friday the 13th of September I missed out on telling you about Roald Dahl Day and the 50 Scrumdiddlyumptious Ways you can Celebrate the fantastic books of this great author. Go on take a peek, make today your Roald Dahl Day.

It was also so sad to hear about the death of one of our own greats, Seamus Heaney. Paul Muldoon wrote a lovely eulogy on this great and gifted man. My favourite of his poems is Digging:
"Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests.
I'll dig with it."
How genius to be able to say and make people feel so much in so few words.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam usual.

On a happier note my debut novel Flick has been shortlisted for the RAI (Reading Association of Ireland) Children's Book Awards 2013. I'm very chuffed about it all, especially as I'm among the following great short-listees:

Suzi Eszhertas with her book An Goraille


Sarah Garland with her book Azzi Idir Dhá Stól

Sheena Wilkinson with her book Grounded

Celine Kiernan with her book Into the Grey

Caitríona Hastings and Andrew Whitson with their book  Ó Chrann go Crann

Finally my next video will be up in the next week. Until then happy writing!

One Busy Day!

Yes believe it or not it's me again! I have just uploaded my Creative Writing Tips 3 to YouTube (finally) Apologies for the delay but we've had the most amazing time away and I'm only getting re-acquainted with my broadband now, six weeks later! So yes I'm having a busy day. Kids I hear you ask? What kids? Ha, let's just say thank God for hubbies.
In Creative Writing Tips 3 I talk about character profiles. I've decided to put a rough draft of a character profile here in the hope that it will develop your characters. It is short but using the headings try to make your character profile as broad as possible. I'm sure there are other headings that I've missed out on so feel free to extend this. Happy Writing!!
     
                                    Character Profile

Character's name/s:
Nickname:

Character's Age:
Star sign:

Physical Description:
Hair color:
Hair Style:
Eye color:
Does s/he wear glasses? contacts?
Height:
Weight:

Physical disabilities
Distinguishing Marks

Family
What role have they in the family
Mother/father/siblings/extended family
If older is s/he in a relationship?
Have their own apartment/house/partner/car etc
Plan out a family tree (even a short one)

Home
Where do they live? Country/County/ village/ City
Somewhere fantastical


Employment
School/College/Job/retired/unemployed/unable to work

Religion
What religion if any are they?
How does this impeach on their lives?

Hobbies

Characteristics
Good and bad
Why have they these characteristics? Hereditary/Learned/Brought on from a specific event

Friends/Enemies
Type of people they hang around with. Why?
Why they have enemies?

CONGRATULATIONS!

Children's Books Ireland are all highs and lows at the moment, or lows and highs to be more precise! On the one hand they are saying a heartbreaking goodbye to their AMAZING Director Mags Walsh but on the other they are welcoming the equally amazing Elaina O Neill as their new Director. I have the privilege of saying that I was Chairperson of Children's Book's Ireland when we employed Mags, initially as Programme Manager and later as Director. I have to say I think it was the best decision that Children's Books Ireland ever made. She was and still is an amazingly charismatic, friendly, outgoing, clever, brilliant, creative, hard-working director and manager. CBI has grown considerably under her care and management and that of her team. I wish her every success and good wish and know she will make as marvelous an impact in her next endeavor as she did in this! 

I have also had the pleasure to know and work with Elaina O Neill as she is the Managing Editor of Little Island, whom I am published with. I know that Elaina is an excellent choice for CBI's next stage. She is another amazingly talented, charismatic, hard-working and generally superb person. I have absolutely no concerns for the future of this great organization and I know it will grow and thrive in the capable hands of Elaina and her team. Well done to CBI on choosing such a worthy person to follow in Mag's footsteps. Wishing both Mags and Elaina every success and happiness in their new roles.  

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY...

Today is a great day for the ducks! Yesterday was too and the forecast for tomorrow is looking pretty dodgy but for the most part July has been one fantastic month. I got to enjoy the beautiful weather in the even more beautiful County Clare, so apologies for my lack of blogging but  I had no internet for the month! I definitely suffered withdrawal symptoms for the first few days but I recovery quickly and have coped rather well.

So now that I'm back I wanted to tell about a brilliant competition for all you budding writers out there A.M.Heath Literary Agency are looking for New Irish Talent and it could be you. So check it out now.
My next video on Creative Writing will be up in the next week too so until then happy writing!

Say it with Pride!

Yes love, live and be proud is the theme for this year's Dublin Pride Festival, the fun has already started but there are events going on all day as well as a few tomorrow so if you're around Dublin get down there now! Love this photo that my friend sent on Facebook! Happy Pride Everyone!

Just found that link. Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll: Controversial Themes in Young Adult Literature

The Journey Continues...

You might be glad to know that I'm improving at this old technology malarky! It has taken me hours rather than days to figure it out. OK yes I did start trying to download or upload this morning which I know is approximately thirteen hours ago BUT in my defense there was the small matter of seven kids, school, tidying, dinner, homework, more tidying, swimming, tea, bedtime still more tidying and a few tantrums thrown in for good measure (not all mine, I promise) On top of that my phone died but I won't bore you or frustrate myself more with those details, let's just say AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!
So where was I? Oh yes, my   Creative Writing Tips 1! I'm not sure if you got to see them or what you thought of them but if you're interested here's Creative Writing Tips 2! I'd love to get some feedback on the videos, so please leave a comment (I'll ignore the bad ones, ha!) and if you've any suggestions or areas you'd like me to focus on I'd be happy to do so.
I'm also extremely excited about IBBY Ireland's Event next Wednesday night (26th June) upstairs in the Workman's Club. It'll be a discussion on Controversial Themes in YA Literature. OK yes I am honoured to be one of the speakers but the other speakers include, Sheena Wilkinson multi award winner for her books Taking Flight and Grounded, Siobhan Parkinson, writer, editor, publisher whom I am constantly in awe of and award winning author Anna Carey, who I'm dying to meet. Sine Quinn, a children's Book Editor and one of my favourite people will be chairing the meeting. So if you're around we'd love to see you!

I know it's been a while since I've written and I've rounded a few bends on this winding road since then. I've also picked up another passenger, yes our seventh baby Cúán arrived safely some months ago. While away I've written a lot but I've also had the opportunity to visit lots of schools and groups around the country so I've decided to do a series of videos full of creative writing tips which I've picked up along my way. I hope that they motivate, inspire, educate, help you on your journey (or at the very least make you laugh!)
Four days later. . . Aaagghhh! So I'm still technically challenged! And my video wouldn't upload. Apologies for the delay but you can find it here at Creative Writing Tips!

 Video two will be up in the next ten days! Enjoy!

My New New Year's Resolution!

I know, I know it's only November, for once I'm ahead of myself but I'm sure you'll be delighted to hear that any future blogs will be very short and will have some sort of media attatched (once I figure out how to add them) and hopefully won't be all about me (Yippee!)

You must admit though that last blog made up for all the months of waiting (word wise anyway) I'm sure you've had enough of me for another few months!

No Media attatched. That resolution only starts from when I post this one.

PS A very early good morning (it's 1.08) and an even earlier Happy New Year

Guess Who?

Bet you thought I'd up and left for good? Sorry you're not so lucky because yes I'm back all over again. I wasn't wasn't supposed to be writing this because I am supposed to be doing the legitimate writing whenever I get a minute but I had written a piece regarding a discussion on YA Lit I was part of and thought I would share it. So here it is...

 I got an invite some weeks ago to partake in a discussion on Young Adult Literature, with the award winning and controversial Melvin Burgess and the award winning Celine Kiernan, what an honour! It all happened on Monday the 17th of October in Pearse Street library, organised by the brilliant Aoife in Children’s Books Ireland, thanks Aoife. It was a bonus that our chair for the evening is one of my favourite people, Niall McMonagle, even if he does ask difficult questions… well maybe not difficult as much as insightful and thought provoking, which made for an interesting chat. It was great to listen to different authors discuss their craft, it’s amazing how much it varies for us all.


I have to apologise that I was stumped when Niall asked about YA authors that we admired. I know, I know, how the hell could I not name anyone? When there are so many brilliant writers out there. My answer is two-fold, firstly because of my fantastically crazy kids, six in total, I get very little time to myself so any moment I have free I write. Reading books is a luxury I’ve had to sacrifice (along with tv, magazines, surfing the web etc) to become an author. I’m sure this will change…someday. Secondly in those rare few moments before sleep or when I cannot sleep I do have a book on creative visualisation and other books on positive motivation, which I dip in and out of, they really help to re-focus and re-energise me when I need it.

The discussion ended all too soon and just in that last moment a lady from the audience posed a very interesting question, ‘were we, the authors, concerned that our books, which all deal with the issue of being gay to different degrees, would prompt people to become gay, even as a passing phase, because it’s fashionable?’ Celine became a tad irate and reminded the woman that there’s nothing wrong with being gay, Melvin laughed and hoped they’d become gay for longer than five minutes, he thought they might even enjoy it and want to be gay for longer. Me, well I didn’t get the chance to answer…until now!!! I think well done to the lady for posing the question, it’s a difficult thing to do in this day and age, especially when we’re supposed to be so PC, considerate, diplomatic, inclusive, inoffensive, liberal, multicultural, non-discriminatory, non-racist, non-sexist, respectful, sensitive etc. We have to remember that the catholic doctrine still believes that it is wrong to be gay and for generations now the Catholic Church has had a lot of power over its many followers, like all religions it doesn’t allow people to question, you accept the teaching of the church and that’s it. It is only in recent years that people have begun to question and stand up to the church. So I don’t think it is the fault of people, who have been forced to believe for years, albeit wrongly, that it is wrong to be gay. But asking and expecting them to suddenly accept the complete opposite is unfair, especially if we are expecting them to accept it without raising their concerns or questions. It is only through reasonable discussion and talking openly about being gay that people will come to understand and accept that love is love regardless of whether it is two girls, two boys or a boy and a girl.

So what do you think? Interesting? It's about to chime midnight so I'm off to my leaba before I turn into a pumkin or something, or was that the coach?
 
PS Hi Juliette and thanks for looking me up.

No Excuses!

I've run out of excuses, so lets just skip over the whys of why I haven't written in ages and just get down to the important stuff like did you know that magnetic north has shifted and north really isn't north any more??? Interesting eh? Or that Jupiter's magnetic field is so massive that it pours billions of Watts into Earths magnetic field every day? Or that BROADWAY'S NOT JUST FOR GAYS ANYMORE ?

Did you miss me?

Yes, I know it's been a while but I've had a good excuse, I've been to the west, Lahinch in Co. Clare to be more specific. We set out very (very) late last Wednesday and arrived in Lahinch very early on Thursday morning (sorry Johnny). But boy did we get the best of the weather. Brings me back to the good old days? Wasn't there a Summer or two in the 80's that was really fab?? I remember having to go to Gaeltacht with college and we had three weeks of the most fabulous weather, and spent the whole time (well maybe not the whole time, but most of it) ag ol agus ag ra, 'A Dhia, nach bhfuil se chomh te?' (All with the appropriate fadas in the right places of course)(I told you I'm not a techie...nor a great speller but I could have worse bad habits...and I do but lets not go there now). Anyway with the fab weather and the beautiful Burren and a sea to surf in what more would anyone need? Oh yes food, that was great too, and the deoch...perfect, even chilled! So that's my excuse I've been living it up. But I'm sure you're not too worried considering you're not even there or here to be more precise, you're not here or there are you? ...I thought not, so really I've nothing to worry about you haven't even missed me!