Sunday, 29 July 2018
I took a trip to London today. With the second draft of Lore now completed (I still need to do a quick third draft before I send it to the publishers), I made use of some of my down time to do a bit more planning on one of my future novels - Pixie-Led. This particular tale is a faery story that I originally intended to be aimed at younger readers. I am now minded to alter and darken the story somewhat and raise the target audience to an adult readership. As well as a bit of planning, I also managed to get the first page of text written for the novel, although that page contains only one line of text lol...
Whilst in London, I visited this lovely pub:
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| Yours Trully Enjoying a Drink at The Spaniards Inn |
Sunday, 05 August 2018
Monday, 06 August 2018
Working on Chapter Two of Pixie-Led:
Thursday, 16 August 2018
I am only a couple of chapters into my new novel but I am already quite happy with this image design for its published cover:
Early days yet though as I don't plan on publishing this, my fourth novel, until sometime in 2019...
Sunday, 19 August 2018
I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember. My earliest stories were about a dog called Charlie who, in one adventure, saved the moon when it accidentally split in two by throwing a javelin up into the sky. The javelin shot right through the moons two halves, which had the effect of pinning them together, thus saving the day. Later, when I was around the age of nine or ten, I started writing what was planned to be a series of books detailing the adventures of two children - Michelle and Tom Norkett. The original tale in this series, and one which I never really got past writing the first couple of chapters of, was Michelle, Tom and the Skull of Terror. Dramatic, eh? Lol.
Anyway, about ten years ago or so, when my daughter was small, I thought about bringing Michelle and Tom back to life in a story called Michelle, Tom and the Witch's Cat. Again, I never got past writing the first few chapters of this story, although its premise now lives on in my writing project Pixie-Led. My daughter loved drawing back in those days and was keen to help me in my writing endeavours. Getting out my old notes from that project to rework them into my current story, I found this illustration she produced for me. I don't really want to go into too much detail about how this new tale opens, but you will get a fair idea from her drawing:
The tale of Pixie-Led is a lot darker than Michelle, Tom and the Witch's Cat and not aimed at the young audience the original was to be targeted at. I am therefor unable to use my daughter's drawing for the new book. I have however, been able to produce my own 2018 version of the illustration for the Pixie-Led ~ a tale of smoke and mirrors. It was based on a photograph of one of my cats but I have darkened the image and transformed her tabby appearance into a rough and wild cat that really does not like to me messed around with:
Whilst I am already working on the third chapter of this new novel, I am still working on the details of the story and am still unsure of exactly what direction the story will take. So, realistically, I am looking at some time post Spring 2019 as a publication date for the book, which will be my fourth published novel...
Monday, 20 August 2018
I am now 5,000 words into my fourth novel, Pixie-Led :)
Wednesday, 22 August 2018
Monday, 27 August 2018
I completed Chapter Five of Pixie-Led this morning, under this gaze of this furry girl:
I am now 10,000 words into the story but have, unfortunately, hit a bit of a brick wall with the storyline. Only vague ideas and the odd scene or two exist in my head about where I want this tale to head. Time, I think, to let Pixie-Led ferment in my mind for a while before committing further words to paper or my wordprocessor...
Thursday, 30 August 2018
After a few days of writer's block, I forced myself back into the world of Pixie-Led this morning. I am happy to report the return of my muse and that I managed to get a further 2,000 words into the weird faery tale. The plot has also opened itself up to me to some degree as well. Hopefully, there will be some plain sailing ahead now. Finger's crossed :)
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| "No more writing today. Time to give me attention." |
Friday, 31 August 2018
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| Working on Chapter 8 of Pixie-Led |
Saturday, 01 September 2018
Started writing Chapter Nine of Pixie-Led this morning. The chapter is the centre-piece of the novel and is devoted to the point of view of a cat!
Saturday, 08 September 2018
Catching up on a little note taking whilst spending the weekend in Birmingham.
Thursday, 20 September 2018
Catching up on my writing as and when I can:
Tuesday, 25 September 2018
Chapter 11. Draft 1.
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Saturday, 29 September 2018
I am away down in Cornwall for the next week, staying in a cottage overlooking the picturesque Mawgan Porth beach. The weather is being very kind to me and the bright sunny mornings, as well as the gorgeous coastal view, is really getting my creative juices flowing.
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Really enjoyed this morning, sat in our Cornish cottage (which we have possession of for the next week, writing). I could happily settle here for the rest of my life.
Monday, 01 October 2018
The Cornish weather is really spoiling us. And the thought of spending time out in this room, with such magnificent views and the atmospheric pounding of the Atlantic beneath me is really making me want to rise early so that I can spend time writing here in the mornings. I am finding that I can devote a good couple of hours to writing here each morning and I have been cracking on quite nicely with Pixie-Led. Draft 1 of Chapter 12 is now completed.
Tuesday, 02 October 2018
Wednesday, 03 October 2018
Thursday, 04 October 2018
My last full day in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall. Starting work on Chapter 13.
Thursday, 11 October 2018
Tom explores the first hallway mirror and the secret world contained within it...
Saturday, 13 October 2018
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| 19k words into Pixie-Led, despite this furry girl |
Saturday, 27 October 2018
Despite a little light discouragement from this little furry girl, my morning and afternoon writing session has finally got me past the tricky section I have been struggling with on this novel for the past couple of weeks. I am happy to report that the first draft of Chapter 15 of Pixie-Led is finally complete. Phew (wipes sweat from brow).
Friday, 09 November 2018
Making a quick revision of the opening few chapters of Pixie-Led to take into account the darker storyline the book seems determined to follow...
Saturday, 10 November 2018
Up early whilst holidaying in Pembrokeshire to finish the first draught of Chapter 17 :)
Friday, 16 November 2018
Putting the final touches to the first draft of Chapter 18
Saturday, 17 November 2018
Starting work on the first draft of Chapter 19...
Wednesday, 21 November 2018
The first draft of Pixie-Led is finally complete:)
Saturday, 24 November 2018
Work on draft 2 begins...
Tuesday, 27 November 2018
Chapter 2. Draft 2.
Thursday, 13 December 2018
Chapter 5. Draft 2.
Sunday, 23 December 2018
A quarter way through the 2nd draft of my 4th novel, it is time to start thinking of designing a cover for the book.
Thursday, 27 December 2018
Although I still love my first cover design for the book, that image was made before I had fully fledged out the story line of the novel. Since then, the plot of the book shifted and took numerous new turns. Unfortunately, that older design no longer represents the contents of the book and so a new design is needed...
This is the final design I have worked up for my 4th novel, Pixie-Led. Given that the title of the book might invoke whimsical notions of elves and fairies and the like, I thought it best to dispel such impressions immediately by having a dark Satanic symbol taking a bold centre-stage position on the cover.
I still do not want to unveil too much information about the content of the book quite yet. But I can mention that the story concerns a coven of witches. Needing to escape police investigation into their brutal ritual killings, they take refuge within the secret worlds hidden within the mirrors of an old countryside cottage.
I hope to get the book published sometime in May 2019, so not too long to wait now...
Monday, 07 January 2019
Putting Chapter 6, draft 2 to bed.
Monday, 14 January 2019
Chapter 7, draft 2 now complete :)
Friday, 18 January 2019
I have had to write at every spare opportunity these past few days to catch up with my tight writing schedule.
I am delighted to say that I have now caught up again. Chapter 8, draft 2, is now complete :)
Saturday, 19 January 2019
Tuesday, 22 January 2019
It is not easy typing up the second draft of Chapter 10 with this one right in my face:
Thursday, 24 January 2019
Completing Chapter 12, draft 2:
Sunday, 27 January 2019
Completing the second draft of chapter 15.
3/4 of the way through the second draft of Pixie-Led now. Nearly 5 weeks ahead of schedule :)
Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Pixie-Led. Chapter 16. Draft 2. Complete.
Wednesday, 06 February 2019
Finally completed the second draft of Pixie-Led. :) I am happy with the story line, characters etc. Time for the third and final draft to commence...
Saturday, 09 February 2019
Starting work on the final draft of my next book :)
Friday, 15 February 2019
Sunday, 03 March 2019
Completing the third and final draft of Chapter 13 on the Isle of Skye:
Monday, 04 March 2019
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| Editing Pixie-Led. Chapter 14 |
Tuesday, 05 March 2019
Getting lazy. Editing my novel in bed this morning.
Thursday, 07 March 2019
Friday, 08 March 2019
Making the final edits to Chapter 15 in Skye:
Friday, 15 March 2019
My furry girl staring me out as I write:
Thursday, 28 March 2019
I have been working hard on this since last August, but this morning I finally completed my 4th novella. I just have to format it now ready for publishing sometime in April.
Saturday, 06 April 2019
Fin.
Wednesday, 18 April 2019
Well here it is - Pixie-Led ~ a devilish tale of smoke and mirrors. After all the hard work I have put into this over the past 10 month, it is a wonderful feeling seeing the finalised physical book in all its glory :)
Sunday, 01 March 2020
Working into the small hours of the morning on the new cover design for Pixie-Led, ready for the relaunch of the title:
and here is the final product :)
