A Measure of Madness on the Pages

Bloggersphere, I understand that I've spoken quite often of my writing, but never really spoken of what exactly it is I write.
Considering my writing blog posts tend to get a fair few views, I feel it's only fair that you all know exactly what you're reading about.

Since I was a teenager I've loved to read and write Young Adult fiction. It hasn't been around long but has caused controversy often. It gives writers the opportunity to tackle new subjects - such as fantasy worlds and even illnesses - through the eyes of the younger generation.

My previous focus in writing has been on the magical side - I have a particular soft spot for Dystopian and Fantasy. My shelves are filled with books such as Divergent, Mortal Instruments and Shatter Me. My writing, as most authors, reflects my books and I have a collection of unpublished novels on my memory stick filled with those types of genres.
However, after writing my Dystopian novel, The Divide, which unfortunately went unpublished due to an overcrowded market, I realised I needed to take a new approach on writing. I needed to pick something I felt connected to and something that was yet to be touched on.

My shelves are also filled with YA issue-led fiction - The Fault in our Stars and Noughts and Crosses - and I knew that was what I wanted to write next.

I suffer from a chronic back condition that a lot of people don't understand because it's not a pain that you can see or really understand. Similarly, my mum suffers from a kidney disease that long went undiagnosed and misunderstood because it's so rare. Based on our struggles and the need for recognition in the current market, I decided to write a novel that was centered on the struggles felt in illness in both a physical and mental way.

I chose mental illness because, not only is it interesting to write, but it is also one that is commonly misunderstood. So many people suffer from various mental illness diseases and are ignored and unrecognised. It may be the words of a doctor noting it as a passing sadness, a misdiagnosis or even a parents denial.

So, my kind readers, I introduce you to Ana.
She is my main protagonist in my novel and she suffers from a mental illness herself that her parents and doctors diagnose as Depression when in fact it is Borderline Personality Disorder. She is alone in this illness, but she finds some form of companionship in 4 ill teenagers that she meets in therapy, all with their own illness - ranging from Parkinson's to PTSD. In the scene she has been depicted here, she is forced to go to a party in a dress her boyfriend gives her to wear. I wanted to express the troubles that young teenagers go through in a world that may not understand them. The extent of Ana's troubles may be more than the average teenager - with neglectful parents and bloody accidents - but my point remains the same: sometimes people just need to be listened to. Sometimes they need a little help, even if they don't say so.

My wonderful and artistic friend, Ashling Larkin, drew this concept of Ana for me. She's a wonderfully talented girl who deserves so much recognition. The link to her site is here - http://ashlingdraws.portfoliobox.me/ - and I urge you all to go and look at her art and be amazed!

Thank you for reading people and if you have any questions for me, don't be afraid to ask! Until next time!

The Bells Are Ringing Out for The Fall of the Doctor..

Christmas is just around the corner, Bloggersphere!

I love Christmas. It's the time of year when family differences are put aside and everyone comes together for a nice day of food and laughter. It's the one day where there's no work, no rushing around or necessity to go outside and run errands. For one day every year everything is calm. It's nice when you think about it like that.

I've been away from home the past few months so coming back here is nice. Seeing my family is the biggest plus point of being back and I adore having their company again. The sound of their voices has been sorely missed. I've also missed the small vicinity of my Hometown. I didn't think I would, I left it for that reason after all. But being able to walk everywhere in a matter of 10 minutes, of having my friends basically around the corner, the beach in viewing distance of my window, is a comfort I'd never really thought of before.

However, Christmas not only brings presents and mountains of food - it also brings the Christmas Special of Doctor Who. A tradition in my house every year is to watch the Who special and every year we wait to see if the current Doctor will make it for another trip in the Tardis.

I've been a Whovian for a few years now, a follower of Eccelston through Smith. When Matt Smith was first brought in as the Doctor I was adamant not to like him. After David Tennant's 'I don't want to go', I didn't want him to go either and with tears in my eyes I committed myself to disliking the big-nosed new guy who was imitating my Doctor.

But as time has passed Smith has proved to be a worthy Doctor Who. Tennant will always be the man that pulls on my heartstrings with his range of emotional acting, but Smith has made me laugh, made me understand the Doctor that little bit more, and has become my friend. He never had a relationship with his companion - which was a necessary relief - instead introduced to us River and Amy and Rory who have all become as much family to us viewers as the Doctor himself.

I will be sad to see Matt Smith go. He's been a fun and troubled version of the Doctor that I have thoroughly enjoyed watching. With his cool bow ties and extravagant hand-talking he's been amusing, acting more like a child than previous Doctor's. Fez's off to Moffat for the story lines too - albeit confusing, they were thought provoking and a took a different twist to the usual Who plots.

Now to see how Clara develops as a companion to the new Doctor in the New Year. So far she's one of my favourite companions and I hope that her story continues. And let's hope Peter Capaldi can keep that sharp tongue of his bitten for the new child audience he's being introduced to...

The Life of a Writer

It's been a while Bloggersphere. I'm guilty of this crime, I admit, but it's been a busy few months.

And I'm scared as hell, but here I am, wanting you - no, wait. That's Grey's Anatomy. Sorry.

Anyway, a quick update for anyone who bothers to read this page. Maybe in your spare time, maybe when you're procrastinating over your essays or maybe because you do like me just a little bit.

In the time that I've been away I've been writing. I know this is no big surprise, considering this blog is primarily about books and that lark, but this time the writing has been for a good reason. In the July month of this year, I sent out one of my novels to a handful of agents with the hopes that one of them would love it as much as me. Though many of them took a liking to the characters and the world, none of them became as attached as this crazy lady over here. However, one agent was particularly interested in me. But not in a weird, 'Collector' way. She told me, quote "you write very well - the world you've created is vivid and your narrative voice is strong" unquote. I was thrilled when she asked if in the future I had any other work to send it to her for consideration. At the time I had another novel idea in progress and decided to try my luck by sending her the premise. She was really interested and asked for the first 3 chapters. My task then was to actually write the thing. And now, as December rolls in, she has the full manuscript and is currently considering becoming my agent.

This is a huge deal for me, Bloggersphere. It's the one thing I've been working toward for all the years I've been writing. The process of getting here was long and frustrating about 92% of the time, but I loved every minute of it. Because I believe, as I told another writer the other day, if it's not difficult then it's not work. If you find it hard then it means you're onto something great. That's usually what I find anyway. And what I like to tell myself to stop me closing the laptop and throwing it from the window in the times of Writer's Block. I love writing, it's everything I'm good at and everything I want to share with the world. The characters I create become my family, my friends, my children. And I'd love to have the world read and experience them with me.

Everything is crossed that she comes back with something positive and that she comes back soon. The waiting is killing me!


In the last few months I've also joined the life of University-goers. After almost a year of procrastinating and debating internally, I decided that the best course for me would be Creative Writing. I know it sounds obvious now, but before I have always been a Literature Lover. I came to the difficult conclusion that English, however, would not be my strongest subject to study. I discovered that Creative Writing would not only further my writing ability, but it would also help me to break into the Publishing Industry.

University has been a big change for me. It's something I will probably be posting on here about for a long time. It's introduced me to some wonderful new friends and some like-minded people. It's encouraged me to grow up and live like an adult. It's given me the time and opportunity to realise exactly who I am, what I want and how I'm going to get it.

My first semester here is drawing to a close and it's been a ride, that's for sure. There's been drama, laughs, birthday's and panic about deadlines.
But what I've also learnt this semester is not only how much my Other Half (boyfriend) means through all of this and how much he's helped me, but I've learnt that maybe I can do this whole adult thing. Maybe I can get the life I want.

And maybe I'll be just fine after all.

Books on the Big Screen

Books are today’s fashion. They capture your imagination for hours and steal away an entire day without you realising what’s happened. Movies continue to stand the test of time, bringing a simple story to life before your eyes with explosive CGI and incredible settings. As of late combining these two medias to create a box office hit appears to be ‘the next big thing’ those conglomerate moguls have stumbled upon. Developments of a vet’s story in a circus to young adult zombies who fall in love have been a great success in the box office lately and the adaptations just keep coming; ‘The Mortal Instruments’, ‘The Host’, ‘The Great Gatsby’ – there are even talks of a ‘50 Shades of Grey’ motion picture in the near future.

My question is what is it exactly that makes for such a huge success in a literary adaptation? Is it the ease of not having to develop a whole new original story that doesn’t, ironically, imitate an already written piece? Or perhaps the instant audience the film will have before it has even started post production? Everywhere you look nowadays there is a poster for a movie that has a book behind its name. Even movies like Apocalypse Now took its inspiration from Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’!

I, personally, am loving these adaptations. As a huge book-nerd myself – and proud to admit it – it’s my dream to see novels come to life. These adaptations take your favourite characters and bring them to life in front of your eyes. Sometimes they are wrong, yes – they have the wrong hair colour or the wrong colour Converse – but ultimately those directors have reached into your mind and slapped onto the screen your dreams for you to adore and display forever on your shelf.

My current favourite adaptations that I am awaiting the release of are ‘The Host’ by Stephenie Meyer, ‘The Mortal Instruments’ and ‘Warm Bodies’. Now yes, I am well aware that all these ring the a similar bell of being Young Adult novels, but Young Adult is on the rise in book charts and statistically 18-25 year olds are the biggest movie goers around! All have interesting premises; one about aliens invading earth, the other Demon Hunters – even Zombies falling in love features in the last! But what makes me look forward to them most is how they will be transferred from screen to book. Creating an alien that resembles a glowing centipede appear realistic is one that I am highly intrigued by.

Books are apparently not the only things being adapted though. Lately there have been rumours of ‘Halo’ and ‘Assassin’s Creed’ movies in pre-production. These games are encrypted with not only hours of entertainment, but back stories worth paying attention to. The popularity of the product appears to increase the likelihood of its success in other fields. So get creative people, you never know who could be next…

Music and the Movies

Everywhere I look fabulous looking movies are being advertised. Whether it be through TV spots or YouTube adverts or Facebook pages.

Literary adaptations seem to be most popular lately, in particular, Young Adult. With The Host coming out, The Mortal Instruments and Warm Bodies just to name a few, I can say I am in every way excited! 

Another thing I have particularly noticed is the use of popular music on these such trailers. Beautiful Creatures use the wonderful Florence and the Machine 'Seven Devils', one of my favourite songs off of her latest albums to create the moody atmosphere that accompanies the book about Witchcraft in a small southern town. This is most probably a ploy to draw in a wider audience to their film and entice their current audience by showing they're 'with the times'. But what I love is the popularity it is giving bands. Every time that advert is played, the song plays with it and people here the tune and hum along, listen to the lyrics and decide they like the sound of it, google it, buy the album. And music that deserves to be heard, is.

What I also love is how many smaller scale bands are being thrust deservedly into the lime light :) Bands like The Black Keys are being featured on the Warm Bodies trailer and though they are veritably well known for their wonderful, dark music, having been featured on the radio and accumulating their own following, they are now featured everywhere, with a whole new audience listening to them who may have never discovered them before.

I personally have discovered an amazing new band through adverts and trailers recently and I suggest everyone go listen to them. They are Imagine Dragons. Their song 'Radioactive' first featured on the Assassin's Creed advert, which is where I heard it and YouTubed it myself. It was then taken by The Host and used in their first, brand-spanking new trailer. (This film looks amazing by the way!) Practically unheard of before, Imagine Dragons now has an official video for 'Radioactive', seen here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU - which I have seen appear on TV music channels! Movie  trailers have not made this band, they do that themselves with their incredible talent, but they have certainly giving them that push toward popularity :)

Like Jaws, I think if you took away the music from trailers, it would be boring and uninteresting. Music creates an atmosphere, sets a scene, terrifies you and even turns you to blubbering mess. To prove my point, if a soundtrack weren't included in a movie, would we ever have had musicals?

Singing off x

One Huge Step For - Well, Me.

So bloggersphere, I haven't been very kind to you lately. I have abandoned you somewhat and for that I am sorry. But I have my reasons! Or excuses, whatever you will call them.

I have been working non-stop over the Christmas period - and when I mean non-stop I mean 44 hour weeks non-stop, so I haven't really had time to sit down for a cup of tea, let alone think of something witty and readable for this blog. I also have been revising for my retake exam that I took this morning. Eek! Plus I got a new boyfriend so I've been all smitten and loved up, much to the disgust of those around me :P

But now I am back and I promise to grace you with my presence a lot more often!

So what's been happening with me? Well I finally applied for University. Which was scary and stressful and chaotic. Everything I expected it to be really. If anyone ever tells you the process is easy, then, well, they've never gone through the process. I rewrote my personal statement about three times, got sent back my application by college about seven times and am currently trying to iron out one of the mistakes that my college made. But it's done. I'm going to an open day in two weeks to check out the University I desperately want to go to and their Creative Writing course. University is a massive step. It means being grown up and independent and that's scary. I mean, I can't even use a washing machine! But I guess that's the adventure really, doing things you've never done before and learning that you're not actually that bad at being an adult.

I also retook my A2 Literature exam today. It wasn't a matter of needing to, I already have the points I need to get into University. It was more pride than anything. I couldn't stand to have that low grade beside my name for the rest of my life. I'm stubborn and determined and I wanted to be able to say my grade with pride. I think this mental attitude comes from a great upbringing by my parents. They always supported me in what I did and pushed me with the right amount in the right direction. I can never thank them enough because their support is why I'm going to university in the first place.

Well that's the boring part of what's been going on with my life out of the way. Next blog will be filled with book reviews, music rants and raves and all that exciting stuff! :D

Signing off x