A Smile In The Sky

Although most of my creative writing is set amongst woodland habitats, my favourite environment by far is the coastline.  (I have, in fact, written one novella that is based on the sea and that particular book, Lore, was the most enjoyable of my books to write.) I find a real spiritual need to be near the sea and would find myself unhappy if I had to live more than a moderate walk's distance from a beach. There is something uniquely invigorating, both physically and mentally, about the sight of a vast seascape, the sound of roaring waves and the scent of salt laden. I find my senses expand when at the seaside and my thoughts broaden creatively. Visiting a beach lifts the spirit and can reset a mood that is starting to dip.

And so it was this evening when, despite the physical tiredness of having just completed a full day's work, I felt the call of the and headed down to the nearby coast for a picnic with my wife.

The sun was still shining and warm when we arrived a little after 7p.m., the breeze just a gentle stirring of air, and we found ourselves a lovely quiet little spot on the clifftop overlooking the sea. The birds sang excitedly abound us and the sound of the rolling waves. some fair distance beneath us, was gentle and edifying. I was looking forward to sitting back, taking in the surroundings and generally mellowing out as I watched the sea hopefully for a rare sighting of a dolphin or two. 

Not quite as tasty as it looks. Expected a lot more fizz despite its warning

A nice spot to sit and chill and watch the setting sun

But, just as I lowered myself to the ground to settle for the next hour or so, I noticed something in the sky I had never seen before in my fifty-three years of life - an upside down rainbow! From that moment, the coast became a background ambience to the spectacle in the sky above us.

A circumzenithal arc

This upside down rainbow, a smile in the sky, was quite startling to the eye, especially as I was not even aware of the existence of such thing. The technical name for them, I discovered after a quick Google search, are
Circumzenithal arcs and they are formed by the presence ice crystals in the clouds. They are especially prevalent when Sundogs are also on display, as indeed they were this evening 😊

Sundogs framing the setting sun

It was a beautiful evening, spent in the best of company, nourishment for the soul. And, already, I can feel the call of the sea stirring in blood again...

Betty Church Woods

Here is another photograph from my upcoming book on the local faery folklore in my neck of the woods. This is a photo of Betty Church woods (named after the woman who made her home amongst the trees here). The woods were in deep shade when a shaft of evening sunshine suddenly hit this tree and turned the scene into something rather magical :)

Betty Church Woods

Cwm Ivy

This is one of Gower's quietest spots - Cwm Ivy. Here, a man out walking the marshland fringe, happened upon a group of dancing Verry Volk beneath the large outcrop of limestone rock. The Fae were none too pleased when the man, enchanted by their sweet music, joined them in their merriment... 

Verry Volk Sunset

Over the next few posts, I thought I would share a few of the images that I will be using to illustrate my next book - The Verry Volk. This is a guidebook that features the faery folklore of the locales I inhabited and explored as a child. The main text is already written and is currently being typed up, although I do have to write an introduction to the work, which I have yet to start :( 

First up, here is a photograph of the sun setting behind the dunes on one of my favourite beaches - Broughton:

I did toy with the idea of having this photograph as the cover image for the book, but I am still quite fond of the last design I made for the guide. I am definitely going to use it as a promotional image for book though:

Promo for The Verry Volk

The image will appear on the rear cover of the The Verry Volk, however. Here is how it is looking this evening:

Rear cover design for The Verry Volk

https://land2.leeds.ac.uk/people/lawrence/

Cracking On With The Verry Volk

A Green Man Door Knocker For My Writing Shed

My daughter spotted this fantastic Green Man door knocker in a shop closing down sale in Norwich. It now guards my writing shed door here in Wales :)

What Wild Worlds Are Created Behind This Door?

What wild worlds are created behind this door?

Click here to discover.

Hay Fever!

I would formally like to thank Piriton for allowing me to sit out in the garden to do a bit of reading this morning :)

Introducing The Cover Design of The Verry Volk

Here it is, the cover design for The Verry Volk. The writing for this short guide is now complete, but I am still working on the photographic content of the book. I am hoping it will be published and available for purchase sometime this autumn...

Out In The Garden

With the first draft of Berserk! put to bed, I am taking a few days break from that title to concentrate on a smaller project I need to catch up on - a brief guide to my local faery lore:

Very Few Things Beat Reading In The Sunshine

With the first draft of my fifth book completed, I  am now taking a hard-earned break in the garden with this great Stephen King novel:

Very few things beat reading in the sunshine

Berserk! Draft One Complete :)

The first draft of my fifth novella, Berserk!, has now been completed. And I am quietly happy with its mad denouement :)

Berserk! Story-boarding Chapter 12

Berserk! Cover Design

With the end of the first draft of Berserk! in sight, I have started work on the cover design for the book:

My original photograph of one of my local woods

Work in progress on the book cover for Berserk!

Epsom Salts and Nag Champa

Having a nice long epsom salt bath in the hope that it eases my continuing back pain. Burning some nag champa incense to soothe my soul...

Berserk! 2 More Chapters Needed!

Well, it looks like I need another two chapters to finish off the first draft of Berserk. This news has surprised me!

Story-boarding Chapter 11

Summer Solstice Writing

I sat out in the garden this Summer Solstice afternoon to do a bit of writing. By a fluke of timing, the chapter of Berserk! I was working on was set on Summer Solstice and details a Summer Solstice ritual. I love coincidences like this :)

A Misumena vatia Spider

I will conclude today's celebration of Summer Solstice with these two pics featuring a Peacock Lily and something rather curious I found lucking within its petals:

A Flowering Acidanthera Peacock Orchid

Misumena vatia spiders are curious little creatures which actually change their colour to camouflage themselves. The spider hiding in my Peacock Orchid was as white as the driven snow but this species can take on the most spectacular colours in their bid to surprise their insect-prey. I am no real fan of bugs, arachnids and other such critters, but sometimes the creatures you find amongst the garden flowers you grow can be just as fascinating as the plants themselves.

A Misumena vatia Spider with it's Breakfast :o/

Bee Resting On Arum Lily

It is not just flowers that flouring during Summer. Insects do too. Here is a shot of a bee taking a little rest on an Arum Lily in my garden :)