I love writing. And stationery. And the smell of new books. I sometimes sing, but mostly, I write.
I am a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and one eighth of The Romaniacs.
It's all about the passion.
I love writing. And stationery. And the smell of new books. I sometimes sing, but mostly, I write.
I am a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and one eighth of The Romaniacs.
It's all about the passion.
Yesterday was the first day of spring. A time of renewal.
Today is the first anniversary of the loss of my mother.
Not much has changed, and yet, everything has.
I’m still vulnerable to attacks of naivety, anxiety, and concerns I might have said or done the wrong thing, but I’m the end of the line. There is no more ‘I’ll hear what Mum has to say about it’. That doesn’t stop me wondering. The advice and guidance she offered throughout our life together is drawn upon every day. ‘This time will pass’, features often.
As a family, we have moved forward, and we’ve taken my mum with us.
What would I do without my lovely, local writing group, Off The Cuff?
We quite literally write off the cuff. We enter the library with no clue as to what the task will be and settle down to twenty minutes of writing. This may be inspiration taken from a line in a book, or ideas gathered from the roll of a set of story dice, or one person’s suggestion, prepared especially for the session.
Our meetings are split into two, refuelling with coffee at the break. The second half is shorter than the first and can consist of flash fiction, or poetry, amongst other styles, and this is when I experiment with different forms of expression. We’ve even tried writing a twenty-six line story, each sentence, or each word beginning with the next letter of the alphabet, but an observation was made today that, whilst this certainly stretches the creative muscle, most stories end with someone having an x-ray or playing a xylophone in yonder zoo.
Andrew Began Counting Daffodils. Each Flower Grew Higher…Whilst X-raying Yonder Zoo.
See?
Not daffs, but yellow.
I love Off The Cuff for many reasons, the first being the wonderful friendship offered. I am looked after and nurtured by writers with greater knowledge and understanding than I, and I am in awe of these wonderful friends and their skills. And how different we all are. Give seven of us the same title, the same subject, and we will produce seven different projects.
It’s a fantastic way to get the brain kick-started, and with a notebook full of OTC tasks, I have a collection of ideas and stories waiting to be developed.
At our latest gathering, we were given the title ‘Speak of the Devil’.
On Friday, I removed my birthday notification from my Facebook page. It was a selfish act, I realise that now, but at the time, I was facing my very first birthday without my mother, having lost her at the end of March last year. The week leading up to my birthday was tough, as the corresponding days twelve months ago were when I took Mum to hospital for the operation from which she did not return. I wanted my birthday to pass by unnoticed.
At least, that’s what I thought until, on Saturday morning, a long-standing and very good friend posted birthday wishes on my timeline. Other notifications followed, and I also received texts and private messages. I was touched and teary, but most of all, moved by the warmth and kindness of friends and family. I give you my heart-felt thanks for your wishes and support, and I promise not to be so difficult next year.
And, as all writers know, one day, I might use the experience in a book.
It was a busy day, and a hectic weekend. Here’s my birthday, and Mother’s Day in pictures.
Take care.
Laura x
Birthday gifts from my children
Carol Hedges and Laura meet…Big Bros presentCarol Hedges signing my daughter’s copies of Carol’s ‘Spy Girl’ booksRNA author spotting in Smiths.Wonderful Mother’s Day gifts and cards
On the last day of the half-term holidays, whilst the children chill out in preparation for Monday, I’m hopping across to The Romanaics blog and discussing the stories that move me.
Please join me here. I’d love to know which songs, films, poems and books get right beneath your skin, and stay with you.
On Tuesday 5th February 2013, I took a jaunt to the Portsmouth Guildhall to watch Paloma Faith in her ‘Fall To Grace’ tour. She was outstanding not only with her stage craft and voice, but with her sense of style and her balletic moves. This photo in no way captures Paloma’s being, in the same way it cannot deliver her voice, but she was spectacular.
I’ve listened to both her albums, Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?, and Fall To Grace, pretty much back-to-back for months. I’d reverted to being my younger, teenage self, desperate to absorb every word and hang onto every note of every song.
Yes. I used to do that – the artists were different then, but the feeling was the same as it is now.
Black and Blue, the third track on the current Faith album, was playing when I resolved a plot issue in ‘Truth or Dare?’ I am truly inspired by her lyrics and admire her ability to tell a story musically, and with such depth of feeling. It’s quite an art.
The title of the second album, and the track Agony, brought to mind a poem I wrote in June 1987, entitled Grace.
I could easily go down,
So easily fall from grace,
You tease and touch and tempt me,
As you tenderly trace the depths and hollows
Of the places
Where I could easily go down.
*
In the softly scented room,
Where I could easily go down,
Your silent shadows soothe me,
And the secretive sound of your falling clothes,
As you ungown,
Say I will fall from grace.
*
I could easily go down
As you brush against my back,
You breathe and blow and blind me,
As you so deftly touch the depths and hollows
Within my soul,
As I so easily go down.
*
Tonight, I’ll fall from grace,
As you steal my shame away,
As together,
We go down.
Paloma Faith
Laura x
Click here for a link to my friend Sue’s account of the gig.
I have a sudden urge to learn Italian. Now, I don’t know if this is a ‘start of a new year’ thing, or a result of a comment I made to a friend I’ve met online, who runs Arte Umbria. As I mentioned in my last post, I’ll be spending a week here in the summer, improving my writing skills, and, although Italian is not required, I keep thinking how lovely it would be to converse in, or at the very least understand the language.
Arte Umbria
Surely learning a second language, particularly one from which many of our english words stem, can only improve my use of the written word. What do you think?
I’m reading Sue Moorcroft’s ‘Dream A Little Dream’, a romance where narcolepsy is central to the story. I will review the book once I’ve read it in it’s entirety, but will say I am thoroughly enjoying it. That’s no surprise to me, as I rate the author, both as a writer and a tutor. In July, I’m leaving Gajitman here to hold the fort, whilst I jet off to Italy for a week-long course at Arte Umbria, to be taught by Sue.
The reason for posting today is that ‘Dream A Little Dream‘, with its theme of narcolepsy, is a timely read for me. The hero, Dominic, is dealing with a recent diagnosis of the disorder. This not only includes coming to terms with a life-long medical issue, but taking on board all the other areas of his life that are affected by the sleep disorder. He is unable to continue with his job, not allowed to drive, and is concerned the diagnosis ended his previous relationship.
Why is this timely?
Last week, a close member of my family was diagnosed with epilepsy. Whilst I had reached this conclusion myself, it still winded me to hear the words spoken by the specialist. It’s early days, and, as a family, we are busy researching and learning about the condition, appreciating knowledge is power. I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis since I was eighteen. It can be frustrating at times, but I’ve had long enough to work out my limitations, and know to focus on the positives; what I can achieve, not what I cannot. It’s important that I retain my independence, but ask for help when necessary. But that’s life, isn’t it?
I don’t know how Dominic’s story will pan out, but his journey has been so well researched, thought out and portrayed, I have found comfort in reading it and relating it to my family circumstances. I think it is wonderful that well-written fiction can help people understand and deal with real problems.
Which authors and books have helped you make sense of the world?
Happy New Year. I hope Christmas and your entry into 2013 was everything you wished it to be.
Christmas Day was different without my mother here, but I focused on the children and their excitement carried me through the day. We broke with tradition the next day and went to The Big Shops, to look for high beds, and had lunch at a certain pizza house. Our usual Boxing Day lunch consists of home made chips, cold pickles, and meat/vegetarian alternatives. It was right to do something a little different.
We had a great New Year’s Eve, which we spent with some good friends, and the children stayed up to see in 2013. It felt right. It felt as if it was time to consider moving on. Memories are portable.
13 is a great number. Our daughter was born on the 13th of the month, and in another year, I won a singing competition as number 13. I have high hopes for 2013. I have a writing course to attend in Italy, a day’s course in Reading, the RNA Conference and Summer and Winter parties, a work-in-progress to complete, friends to hug, and a family to nurture.
Jubilee street party
I have an entire year in which to create new memories.
This time last week, just after a working lunch, I and my fellow Romaniacs were preparing to present our twenty-five minute panel at the Festival of Romance. We had organised a talk on how well an online writing support group can work. We had tee-shirts, a pop-up banner and pompoms. It went well – especially the cheer-leading display.
This was just one of the many events on a packed itinerary. The night before, we ran a Romanical quiz and the night before that our Celia J Anderson won a contract with Piatkus Entice. I’ll repeat that so Celia catches it…Celia J Anderson won a contract with Piatkus Entice. The table erupted with joy. It was outstanding and we were upstanding.
It was an exhausting but fun and thoroughly enjoyable weekend. I returned home Sunday evening, happy with a positive pitch for ‘Follow Me’, pleased to have spent time with some good friends, and ready for bed.
By Wednesday, I was on a train heading to London for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Winter Party. Another excellent evening of socialising and spending time with wonderfully warm writerly folk.
Now it’s time to get my head down and complete my work in progress ready for early submission to the New Writers’ Scheme, and maybe write a few more short stories.
I’m happy to say my short story, ‘Telling Tales’, achieved runner-up in Choc Lit’s Summer competition . Congratulations to Tracy Fells for her winning entry, ‘Phoenix and Marilyn’.
Yesterday was the first day of spring. A time of renewal.
