Pages

Friday 28 June 2013

Friday Celebrations! - 28th June


                  *****************************************

This post is part of the 'Celebrate the Small Things' blog hop hosted by VikLit, and is for celebrating even the smallest of victories during the week. Head on over to her blog to check out more people taking part in this hop, and to sign up yourself too.

                    *****************************************




This week I'm celebrating:

  • My parents have just picked my daughter up and have her until Sunday. Woohoo! We have a wedding tomorrow and so are enjoying a child-free weekend. Don't get me wrong, I love her to bits, but it is nice to have some time off!
  • I managed to sit for a solid hour yesterday and get some planning done for my Camp NaNo project. I don't know quite how I managed it, but I'm hoping I'll be able to do it again.
  • I managed to write half of a short story while sitting through a three hour science seminar (ssshh, don't tell anyone ;-)). I didn't think I'd get any time to start it, but now it's progressing I'll push to get it finished this weekend.

How about you? How has your week been?

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday 26 June 2013

What's Up Wednesday!

                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to tell the bloggy world what you're up to, in both reading and writing and anything else that's going on for you.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              


                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


What I'm reading:


Picture courtesy of http://www.amazon.co.uk

A Game of Thrones - George R R Martin. I've been itching to get on with reading these books for months. So many people I know have been raving about the television series, and as I've started watching it I've really enjoyed it too. I'm currently half way through the second series, so quite a way behind, but I need to catch up before someone spoils it for me.
I usually prefer to read the book(s) before watching the film/series, so I'm going to crack on with the books even after I've caught up. 
I shall have the upper hand over those who wish to spoil it for me, mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!




What I'm writing:


Ready, Set, Write! goals, week 1:

  1. To outline and produce a first draft of a short story for a competition deadline in July.
I didn't think I was going to get around to doing any of this, I'd write one plan but then     change my mind, then rejig it back to the first one, etc. This indecision was putting me off. However, a three-hour meeting today at work gave me the opportunity to think a lot about it and I actually managed 900 of the 1500 words for a first draft, so I'm half done with this goal. 

    2. To begin planning for a project I want to do as part of Camp NaNoWriMo in July. 

I have started planning for this project, although I haven't done as much as I would have liked. Still, a start is a start, and more than I've done before. I realise from what I have done, that I'm going to need plenty more if I'm to make a good start with this next week. Only a few days left, eek!

     3. Write and post something for this weeks Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.

Done! This was the first post on my new, fiction-based blog over on WordPress. If you haven't been over yet, you can check it out here
Thank you to everyone who has already visited, I hope you enjoy more stories to come.


Goals for week 2:
  1. Finish first draft and do first revisions for short story competition in July.
  2. Continue more thorough planning and make a good start on Camp NaNo project.
  3. Write and post something again for the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.
  4. Do 30mins free writing every day.
 
What else I've been up to:

My spare time has mostly been spent catching up with Game of Thrones, both reading and watching. I have also been trying out yoga classes, and I'm surprised at how satisfying to have a proper stretch of muscles I didn't even know I had. I'm looking forward to my next class.

What inspires me right now:

I've been reading an article in the latest issue of Writing Magazine about Elizabeth George, who created the Inspector Linley crime novels. I was surprised to read that she was 39 when she had her first novel published, proving that it's never too late to get on with your writing. I'm only 31 now so there's hope for me yet!


                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday 24 June 2013

Express Yourself - Music of your life

                    
                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Express Yourself meme is a weekly jaunt brought to you by Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books. At the beginning of the month the girls will post a gadget with a list of topics, something different for each week. Make sure to head on over to either of these blogs to check out the details more fully and see who else is taking part.

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





This weeks topic of conversation:  What band, singer or group would be featured most in your  WIP/life?


This is quite a toughy really. I enjoy music and the kind of stuff I listened to when growing up was the likes of The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dire Straits, Queen.

I then moved onto Skid Row, Metallica, Megadeth, but my favourite that has remained throughout is Bon Jovi.
Picture courtesy of
www.mcfc.co.uk

By the way, I'm going to see them in two weeks.  Woohoo!!!!!!

How about you? What music has sustained your life?

                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday 23 June 2013

WWBH has moved!

For me anyway!

Today I have posted my first story on my brand new blog. It's been created using WordPress and will be used for fiction pieces only.

I'd love it if you went on over to check it out and here is the link:



Please let me know what you think, feedback is always useful. If I'm heading in the right direction then great, but if not then a gentle nudge is appreciated.

                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday 22 June 2013

Camp NaNoWriMo 2013 - Are you signed up yet?

Picture courtesy of http://campnanowrimo.org



Now, I don't know if I'll regret this decision but I'm going to have a go at Camp NaNoWriMo this July.

I've tried the usual NaNoWriMo that runs in November twice, and I have failed pitifully on both occasions. I know where I went wrong though, and it was all down to my lack of planning. I know many writers can write by the seat of their pants, with the story coming to them as they go, but if there's one thing I've learnt (and so far, this may be the only thing I've learnt), it's that I'm a planner.

So this time around I've made time to sit and make notes, planning the basic outline of the story I want to tell. It's a story that I've been carrying around with me for over a year, so it's going to be nice to finally get down to doing something with it. 

The beauty of Camp NaNo this year is that you can actually set your own word target. When I've done NaNoWriMo before the aim has always been 50,000 words, which equates to about 1667 words a day. This just hasn't been possible for me, and it was a bit like throwing myself right in at the deep end. While this isn't always a bad thing, it was for me as I floundered quickly and sank without a trace.

In July my target is going to be 25,000, which means a more manageable 800 words a day. If I go over this, then great, but it's a more realistic target for my circumstances.

I'll keep you updated on how I get on, but in the meantime it's back to planning.

If you fancy having a go at Camp NaNoWriMo or to get more information, head over to the website to sign up. Enjoy!!!

                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Belated Friday Celebrations - 22nd June

                   
                    *****************************************

This post is part of the 'Celebrate the Small Things' blog hop hosted by VikLit, and is for celebrating even the smallest of victories during the week. Head on over to her blog to check out more people taking part in this hop, and to sign up yourself too.

                    *****************************************



First of all,  I apologise for the lateness of this post. It seems I've been busy doing too many things to stop and blog over the last few days, but if you asked me what I've been doing I probably couldn't tell you.

This week though, I'm celebrating:

  • the freedom of not having to study. I'm starting to feel relaxed about it now, rather than lost and not knowing what to do with myself. 
  • after weeks of not going, I managed to get a half mile swim in. I didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, but I mustn't go so long until the next time again.
  • I've finally started on my Game of Thrones books. Yippee! I've been saving them for the last six months while I studied, and they are my reward for getting through it. I had to get through another book that I've borrowed from a friend (I've had it ages!) first, but now it's all about the Thrones.

How has your week been?  Enjoy the weekend!

                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday 19 June 2013

What's Up Wednesday and Ready, Set, Write!


                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow . It's a brilliant way to overcome those times when you're at a loss regarding blogging topics.

It's broken down into four headings:

                    1. What I'm reading
                    2. What I'm writing
                    3. What else I've been up to
                    4. What inspires me right now
 
This should make it easier to manage new posts on a weekly basis.

What are you waiting for? Head on over to join in!
                                              


                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


There is also a little twist to the usual What's Up Wednesday, and this new component is running from 11th June to 28th August 2013. Now, I realise I'm a week late with signing up for this but I had so many things getting in the way and I really wanted to do it. I just hope the hosts will forgive my tardiness.


The new part is called Ready, Set, Write! and he idea is to set yourself  some writing goals to work to, which can be as reserved or as ambitious as you fancy, and then during the What's Up Wednesday meme you can update on your progress and any new goals you may want to set.




Running through the summer it should provide a boost and incentive to get your projects started or moving, depending on where you are in your process.

To find out more information and get signed up, just head on over to the girls above and get yourself started!



So, now for What's Up Wednesday:



Picture courtesy of http://www.jkrowling.co.uk

What I'm reading:

I have just started The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling. I started this early on in the year but my OU studies took over quite a lot and I left it for so long I lost where I was in the story. Now my studies are finishing I'm starting it again.


I'm about halfway through now but I'm not sure what I make of it. The story flows well enough but I'm not sure I can really do with all the swearing in it. Hmm, we'll have to see how it goes.



What I'm writing:

So this is where to feature my Ready, Set, Write! goals. 

My writing output hasn't been very good over the last few months, but I'm not dwelling on it too much, I've had a lot of other things going on.

Now I plan to change all that and this is the perfect vehicle for helping to focus my work.

My writing goals for the coming week are:


  1. To outline and produce a first draft of a short story for a competition deadline in July.
  2. To begin planning for a project I want to do as part of Camp NaNoWriMo in July.
  3. Write and post something for this weeks Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.
I'll post an update on these goals next week.


What else I've been up to:

The last few weeks I've been debating with myself over whether or not to start a second blog. I've finally decided to stop procrastinating about it and just get on with it. I have set up a new blog using WordPress and I will be using it solely for posting fiction. 

I will still have this one for rambling about the writing process and joining in with all the blog hopping fun, and I hope you will check out my new blog when it's up and running.

My Writer Wednesday Blog Hop will be moving over to my new blog, and will be the only hop featured there (for now at least) as it is flash fiction based.The first one will go up this Sunday so I hope you'll check it out.



What inspires me right now:

I've recently finished reading the autobiography of Miranda Hart, who is a British comedian and actress. I find her very funny, and her book followed suit. It took her a little while to admit even to herself that she wanted a career in comedy, and endured many office jobs before finally taking the plunge.
This is inspiring for me, currently in a job that I enjoy but I'd still rather be forging my way in life through writing. Some words from the book that I'm carrying around with me at the moment are:

'If you're making efforts to pursue your dream, however small, then you're moving in the right direction.'


Until next week folks!

                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Men of Foxwick is here!

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=582b76abc2&view=att&th=13f2f2e5e1fa8158&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=f_hhry3a3f1&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P8LbTfdZ1oA3OPrr8tc58ak&sadet=1371578498973&sads=7rLxYsFHnwsxcBNoWPhHkgUOnfQ 


Men of Foxwick by Cherie Reich is now available! This fantasy short story collection features five men from the Kingdom of Foxwick.

A blind teen seeks a place in the kingdom. A dragon seer journeys to Wintermill to spy on the queen. A sword master’s worst fear comes true when he fails to protect the royal family. A king falls in love with an herb witch, but will she feel the same way? A hunter will rise to the challenge to hunt down a man-eating monster.

Short stories in this collection: Blind Scribe, Dragon Spy, Sword Master, Courting Magic, and Monster Hunter

An Excerpt from “Blind Scribe” in Men of Foxwick

Dallan counted his steps as his mama and he weaved through the busy streets of Foxwick. Twenty-six, twenty-seven. They’d passed the fruit stand and were now farther into Foxwick than he’d ever been in his fifteen summers. People, just moving shadows, brushed against his shoulder. He scrunched toward Mama to make his lanky frame smaller. The odor of sweat and manure combated the more pleasant scents of flowers and baking bread. A bead of sweat trickled into his hairline, and he longed for the comfort of their small house.

“Keep up, Dallan.” Mama’s skirts brushed against his pants’ legs.

“Where are you taking me?” He clung to her arm and dragged his feet. They’d gone too far. The shadows darkened, as if the sun had slipped behind the horizon, and he had no clue where he was now.

She halted mid-step before yanking him forward. “I do not wish to do this, but we have little c-choice.”

“Do what, Mama?” He wanted to dig his heels into the pavement and halt their progress. Had she decided he was more trouble than he was worth? Times were tough, and he was such little help. He tried to plow straight—despite counting his steps and placing one foot in front of the other—but he often tripped over the rocky soil. He tried cooking, but he couldn’t even boil water without scorching it. Though he wasn’t too bad as a tailor because he could count stitches and feel where he needed to go, he still needed guidance.

She pulled him closer. Rough stone rubbed against his arm through his thin shirt. A sob hitched in Mama’s throat as she emitted a mouse-like squeak. She embraced him tightly and then smoothed his damp hair from his face. “My sweet boy, I’m so, so sorry.”

“What’s wrong?” His heart pounded like a horse galloping across an open field, each hoof beating the ground in a frantic rhythm.

To purchase: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords / Kobo / Nook

Click here to add on Goodreads.

CherieReichAuthorPicture.jpg 
About the Author: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and a fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms.

Her debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn, book one in The Fate Challenges, will be released on May 23, 2014.

For more information, please visit Cherie’s website and blog.

Also, Cherie has a special announcement for her email newsletter subscribers. Click here to sign up for her updates and receive a coupon for a free copy of Women of Foxwick.


                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday 17 June 2013

Collaboration Challenge!



The Collaboration Challenge does just what the name suggests. A group of writers get together, one starts the story and passes it on to the next, who continues before passing it on again, and so on and so forth.

This is a great idea, one I've been wanting to get involved in for a long time. It was founded by Carrie Sorenson at Chasing Revery, and she has kick-started this latest edition.



There are six of us altogether and I hope you enjoy what we manage to conjure up between us.

Part One:  Carrie Sorenson at Chasing Revery

Part Two:  Nicole Pyles at World of My Imagination

Part Three:  Tena Carr at Jottings and Writings


Come back next week for the next installment!


                                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Express Yourself - Questions, questions

                    
                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Express Yourself meme is a weekly jaunt brought to you by Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books. At the beginning of the month the girls will post a gadget with a list of topics, something different for each week. Make sure to head on over to either of these blogs to check out the details more fully and see who else is taking part.

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





This weeks topic of conversation:  What are some questions that you get asked time and time again?


My husband and I will be celebrating our first wedding anniversary next month, and before we were married my name would cause some amusement to people that I would meet.

My maiden name is Heather McCartney, and I lost count of the amount of times people would ask things like:

  • ooh, I bet you don't have to wait long to get into places do you?
  • how's Paul doing since you left?
  • so which one is your wooden leg then?

My husband even had to phone up to arrange something in both of our names, and when they asked my name and he told them their reply was 'no, seriously. What's your girlfriends name?'

Honestly! 
 
An added advantage to getting married was changing my name. Now it's short, sweet and simple. (I am only two of these things, by the way, and I shouldn't have to tell you which!)
 
What questions are you continually asked? Does it annoy or amuse you?
 
                                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday 14 June 2013

Friday Celebrations - 14th June

         
                  *****************************************

This post is part of the 'Celebrate the Small Things' blog hop hosted by VikLit, and is for celebrating even the smallest of victories during the week. Head on over to her blog to check out more people taking part in this hop, and to sign up yourself too.

                    *****************************************




This week I only have one thing to celebrate, which is this: I managed to get through my exam!!! Whoop whoop! *runs around the room cheering*

The last few weeks have all been building up to this point, which means I haven't had a lot of time or brain space for much else. Walking around trying to keep five texts in my head has been quite tiring too.

I'm so pleased to have come out the other side intact, there were definitely some times when I thought about deferring. In the end I actually enjoyed the exam (I know, weird right?), and now find myself wandering about not knowing what to do with myself. Where's the guilt? Last night I simply watched a dvd, drank a beer and there was no guilt. It's a strange feeling.

I'm going to enjoy it though for a couple of days, and then my plan is to get right back into my blog and my writing. I have a lovely new diary and notebook and I can't wait to get into full writing mode.

Oh, and there's a little matter of over 100 blog posts to catch up on ... guilt free!

Here's to a wonderful weekend folks! Cheers! xxx


                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday 10 June 2013

Express Yourself - Movies

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Express Yourself meme is a weekly jaunt brought to you by Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books. At the beginning of the month the girls will post a gadget with a list of topics, something different for each week. Make sure to head on over to either of these blogs to check out the details more fully and see who else is taking part.

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



This weeks topic of conversation:  What are the last two movies you saw?


Picture courtesy of collider.com






If this means at the cinema, the last two times I've been I saw the same film, Star Trek Into Darkness. I was so pumped the first time I just had to see it again. (I'm seriously considering going a third time too. Is that wrong?)











Before that I think the last thing I saw was The Hobbit. Another brilliant film and I can't wait for the next installment, although I think three helpings is perhaps a bit excessive.
Picture courtesy of
www.pocketmanchester.com

The last DVDs I watched were Superman's I and II. I'm gearing up for the Man of Steel out later this month. It'd better be good, it's got a lot to live up to!
Picture courtesy of www.thecomicking.net

Picture courtesy of
www.mjjcommunity.com
 

What films have you been watching lately?

                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Friday 7 June 2013

Friday Celebrations!

                  *****************************************

This post is part of the 'Celebrate the Small Things' blog hop hosted by VikLit, and is for celebrating even the smallest of victories during the week. Head on over to her blog to check out more people taking part in this hop, and to sign up yourself too.

                    *****************************************



 This week I'm celebrating:

  • The sun has been shining all week! Wonderful!
  • I've managed to keep on top of all my bloggy tasks this week. I especially enjoyed the Heroes and Villains blogfest yesterday, thanks to Dani and Jackie for being such great hosts.
  • I managed to make a full tank of petrol last for two weeks and two days! With the prices always going up I was pretty pleased with this. Plus, it means stopping to refill less often, which I find a necessary but arduous task.

What are you celebrating this week?

Have a great weekend whatever you're up to!

                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday 6 June 2013

Heroes and Villains Blogfest - it's here!

We all love to have a good hero to root for when it seems like all hope is lost. And you can't really have a hero without a villain to test them to their limits.


This bloghop is to celebrate our favourite heroes and villains from films, tv, books or whatever you like. The hosts of the hop are Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books, so make sure you check them both out and the others taking part on the linky list.

I have three categories for my heroes and villains:


TV series:

Picture from buffy.wikia.com

Buffy Summers is by far my favourite hero from TV. Being summoned to her calling while still in high school meant she had to grow up pretty fast, often having to leave the enjoyments of normal life to everybody else. Even going out on a date is fraught with peril for this poor girl.

She has so much thrown at her, including demon boyfriends, homework, growing pains and parental woes, and she still manages to kick ass and save the world over and over.

She has died twice to save the world, and finally made it to heaven where she could be at peace, before being ripped out again and forced to live back on Earth. Through all of this she keeps the battle going.

She is a tough, strong young woman struggling to get through each day the same as the rest of us, just with added stuff on top.



Picture from www.fanpop.com


Gabriel Gray, more well known of course as Sylar, was truly a villain to fear. Stalking all those he could find with a 'gift' so that he could take it and add to his collection, how could anyone stop someone with such an arsenal of powers. When I first started watching Heroes I wondered just who would be strong enough to defeat him.
Trying as he did in the later series to turn himself around to the good side, he still couldn't completely resist the urge to kill and keep new powers for himself.
Coupled with the struggle over whether he is a brother of the Petrelli's, he was always going to be unpredictable, no matter who he was dealing with.
This is one of the reasons I loved his character so much, you never new what he was going to do next.

Who'd have thought he'd be such a great Spock?





Film:


Picture courtesy of www.fanpop.com

Harry Stamper - Armageddon (1998)

This film may not tick everyone's boxes but I loved it when it came out. I liked the cast and enjoyed the story too. 
It may not have been all that scientifically accurate and the chances of an oil rig crew actually being trained by NASA are pretty slim but hey, it was a good adventure and provided a good distraction for a couple of hours. 

Harry was the protective father sent on the mission with his soon-to-be son-in-law and there was obvious tension to begin with. But at the end when he pushes AJ into the lift, knowing he won't be returning from the mission I couldn't contain the tears. His last lines, telling AJ he would be proud to have him as a son sealed it, and I was blubbing all over the place.

He saved the world, making the ultimate sacrifice in the process. You can't get much more heroic than that. Plus, come one. It's Bruce Willis ...






Annie Wilkes - Misery (1990)
Picture courtesy of depthsofcinema.blogspot.com

A seemingly calm and caring nurse comes across her favourite writer, stranded and injured in the snowy wilderness.
We'd all like that to happen to us, right?

I'm not sure though that we'd go to the same extremes to keep them in our house or resurrect our favourite characters that they have just killed off. I'm right on this, right? Right?

Annie turned out to be a complete head case, as we all know, and I've only ever been able to watch 'that' scene with the sledgehammer once. Every time since I have to close my eyes like a baby.


Books:


Picture courtesy of www.dailymail.co.uk

Harry Flashman - created by George MacDonald Fraser


Harry Flashman is a reluctant hero, falling into situations mostly by accident or in the pursuit of some selfish deeds to suit himself. Somehow though he ends up coming out of it as a hero, and enjoying all the benefits and status that go with it.

He usually gets himself into a scrape in the pursuit of money or, more often, women. His attention is focused so much on these things he doesn't realise the situations he is getting into.
What is actually some act of cowardice on his part to save his own skin usually comes across as some act of bravery, which he doesn't bother to correct.

It's fun seeing just how he manages to get out of the next escapade.






Picture courtesy of twitgoo.com -





Heathcliff - created by Emily Bronte


I have recently read Wuthering Heights for the second time, and I find it hard to find any good or nice characters in it. At some point, they all behave in ways detrimental to their companions. The only exception would perhaps be Nelly Dean, and at a push Hareton Earnshaw.

Heathcliff is a true villain though, plotting at length to get his revenge on Hindley Earnshaw and Edgar Linton. He seems to plan in advance, manipulating everyone to work to his own ends. Even using his own, frail, whimpering son to get the rights and access to his enemy's land and property.

I could feel the relief alongside the other characters when he finally went mad and met his maker. He cast a very dark shadow over everything that happened throughout the story.



I thought I'd feature Tom Hardy's Heathcliff for all the ladies, ;-)


Who are your favourite heroes and villains?

                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Two blogs or not two blogs? - an IWSG post



This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group. A great place for sharing all those insecurities we writers have, and for offering advice and support for our fellows. To join in head over to Alex J Cavanaugh's blog, you can check out what other people are posting about and sign up yourself too. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


At the moment I'm feeling a little insecure about my blogging. Well, maybe insecure is a bit strong, let's just say I'm a bit unsure.
I'm really happy with how this blog is going now, I'm getting into a rhythm with it and I'm just about keeping up with posts and hops and things. I'm improving with my commenting too, and responding when someone comments on a post of mine. I can feel my networking coming along nicely.

I've been debating with myself for a little while as to whether I should start another blog or not. I have a page set up on Wordpress which is pretty empty right now and is waiting for me to do something with it properly. I like the look of Wordpress and I'm finding my way around now, but I need to have a think about what it would be for.

I've heard some horror stories about peoples Blogger accounts being randomly deleted, losing everything they'd posted and their followers. This makes me think about transferring everything from this blog over to the Wordpress one, for security. There is a risk though that not all my followers will come, and I'll be taking a step back in that sense.

I've also wondered about having it alongside this one, perhaps purely for fiction and keeping this one for all the blog hopping fun. I'm not sure if I could keep up with posting for two blogs though, I've only just got myself on track with this one.

I have times, when I'm feeling more positive, when I just think 'yeah, it's a great idea let's just do it!' But then another part creeps in saying, 'why do you need another one? This one is perfectly fine.'
I realise I'm probably overthinking too much about the whole thing and should just get on with it, but I want to be sure before committing I suppose.

Do many of you have multiple blogs? How do you find managing them?

Happy IWSG Day!

                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday 3 June 2013

Express Yourself Monday - and it's Monday!

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Express Yourself meme is a weekly jaunt brought to you by Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books. At the beginning of the month the girls will post a gadget with a list of topics, something different for each week. Make sure to head on over to either of these blogs to check out the details more fully and see who else is taking part.

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



This weeks topic of conversation:  What could you eat every day and not grow tired of?


Hmm, this is a toughy for me as I am quite a foodie. I could definitely eat a Galaxy chocolate bar everyday, they are simply heaven in a wrapper.

Cheese and onion Hula Hoops are also on the top of my list.

I feel I need something healthy too, so it'd probably be cherry tomatoes. I eat a few of those every time I go in the fridge for something, and they're all the better if you've grown them yourself. Plus you have a good supply!

Lemon meringue pie.

Apple pie.

Custard.

I really should stop now.

Jam on toast.

What food could you eat every day?

Salt and vinegar Discos

Weetos drenched in cold milk

Bacon and banana toasties

                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     

Sunday 2 June 2013

Encounters - a WWBH post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This story is part of the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop,
a wonderful weekly hop created by Nicole and Carrie to
stretch those creative muscles. Along with their co-hosts Tena and Leanne each week they provide the writing prompts for you to create what you can.

The rules are simple:
  • there is one photo and five words, all of which must be incorporated
  • there is a maximum limit of 500 words
  • you have until the following Tuesday to write your post and link up to one of the hosts
  • have fun!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's been a couple of weeks but I'm back (hopefully) in the Writing Blog Hop saddle. I hope you enjoy this weeks contribution.


The picture:
 Eerie Night 

The words:                                  carriage, gym, poster, north, bar


The story:
Encounters

'What are we watching this place for?' groaned Stuart. 'Nobody's been here for decades.'
'All posts need to be covered,' replied his partner. 'They could be running to any one of their hideouts. This was on the list.'
'We get the best jobs.' Resuming his position at the window, Stuart tried to keep alert as he stared at the building.
'Keep watch,' he heard his partner say, 'I'm going to the little boys room'.
Staring across at the boarded up windows, he became mesmerised by the single lamp and his mind began to wander. He was thinking about the girl he'd met last night in his local.
She'd been standing at the bar, all alone and somehow they'd got to chatting. Stuart didn't know what had come over him, he didn't usually go straight up to a strange and beautiful woman, but they'd spent most of the evening in conversation. She had a slight accent, he wasn't sure where but somewhere north he guessed. She'd only been in town a couple of weeks and was still getting a feel for the place, so he'd offered to show her around if she fancied it. He almost fell off his chair when she said yes. He just had to get through tonight and then he'd be free for the weekend.
He could have done without this though. He wanted to get down the gym for a workout before he saw her again, give himself a boost.
He drew his gaze from the street light and stared around the room, giving his eyes a rest from the glare. He hadn't taken much notice when they'd set up, the sparse furniture dotted about and the posters covering the walls.
Turning back to the window he suddenly sat bolt upright. The front door of the building was wide open, with a car parked on the road. He hadn't heard a single thing, but it was there nonetheless. The car was a rusting hulk, most of it's paintwork had peeled away and the exhaust hung down from the undercarriage. Stuart was baffled by it's silent arrival.
As he stared, waiting for the next movement, he realised his partner had been gone a long time. He was torn now, wanting to go and check on him but not daring to leave his post in case he missed something else.
'Dan?' he called, as loudly as he dared. 'You alright, mate?' With his eyes still on the car he heard movement through the door, coming to stand beside him.
'You've got to see this, Dan. I don't know where it came from.'
An ice cold hand laid across his neck, chilling him within as well as without. 'Dan's a little indisposed at the moment. What have you found?' He knew the female voice well now. He'd spent long enough talking to her last night. He looked out the window and saw three burly figures surrounding the car, staring right at him.

Word count: 493

                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Don't forget to download a copy of the free Flash 500 anniversary ebook!

Flash 500