Sharon Maria Bidwell's Blog, page 34

A Sense of Foreboding

Nice start to the year — a very good review for A Fistful of Dust. At first, I was a bit concerned by the reviewer’s comments re: the relationship of the characters and being introduced to so many, but then later the reviewer made it clear this was because she hadn’t realised it was one book in a linked series. Although it can be read as standalone if a reader didn’t know anything about the background behind the story I can see where it might be a little confusing. I love how she stresses the ‘sense of foreboding’ and subtle foreshadowing.

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/uncategorized/a-fistful-of-dust-by-sharon-bidwell/

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As I was lapse leaving a Christmas message last week (I was away with relatives and time just got away from me before I left), this week’s blog is about one of my favourite Christmas films: http://aonia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-bishops-wife.html

Ten Memorable Titles

I was tagged the other week on Facebook. The way the game works is: you list 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. They don’t have to be the ‘right’ books, and you shouldn’t think about it too long — just 10 that have touched you and stayed with you. Then you nominate 10 more people to play the game. I’m playing a variation on a theme and at the end of this blog will tag another writer.

My problem was sticking to ten, and sticking to the ‘stayed with you in some way’, which isn’t necessarily the same thing as favourite books and authors.

Here, I’m including the list but with explanations. Slight cheat — the first is two by one author, and there are a couple of trilogies.

In no particular order:

The Happy Prince/Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Happy Prince — read as a child, and I cried my eyes out. Well, not literally and that would be gross, but yes, I sobbed. Hey, I was like nine or younger, and the first time I heard the story someone else read it to me. It would probably still make my lips tremble. It has everything: morality, romance, heart wrenching pain. A Picture of Dorian Gray is just one of those stories that’s never forgotten. As is often the case, my first awareness of this tale was the old black and white film. I didn’t get to read the book until my teens, but it’s an undeniable classic.

Gormenghast (trilogy/first two books) by Mervyn Peake

Not only a story that has touched and stayed with me, it’s one of my favourites, if not ‘the’ favourite owing to the scope of imagination, the names given to the characters, but most of all the richness of the language used, something sadly lacking in most books today.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

I adore this ‘other world’ below London in this urban fantasy. For Doctor Who fans, it may be of interest to know that Peter Capaldi played The Angel Islington in the 1996 television series, but it is the novelisation that stayed with me. Again, I love the names given to the characters, and the idea of an ordinary man dragged into an extraordinary world, one right under London as well.

Wraeththu (trilogy) by Storm Constantine

This is possibly the author’s most well-known and outstanding work. A futuristic fantasy of post-apocalyptic proportions told through the eyes of three characters (one per book). The story follows Wreaththu — hermaphrodite beings who are skillful with forms of magic — and their interaction with humans. At times romantic, but questioning perceptions of sexuality and mankind’s humanity/inhumanity to each other, there’s more going on here to those with an open mind.

Snowflake by Paul Gallico

A child’s book that I’ve never seen anywhere since. I last tried searching for it about five years ago, but it wasn’t available, and I think I only found one listing for it. I have no need of an actual replacement, although mine is so old and well-read it’s now lacking a cover and is just a very thin volume of aged yellowing pages. In short, Snowflake is born, goes on many adventures, falling in love with Raindrop and then at the dramatic conclusion returns to the sky. It had everything for a child — adventure, romance, and even self-sacrifice. I loved (and kept) so many of my childhood books, but this is my favourite.

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

My first ‘adventure’ for an older reader, and I’ve chosen it because it’s linked to the one good clear memory I have of my mother. She read it to me long before I was able to read it myself. She must have read it, at my request, about three times before I was able to take over. I still have the little burgundy covered book that she gave me. Owing to her ill health, I don’t have many memories like that so her reading Tom Sawyer is priceless.

Knowledge of Angels by Jill Paton Walsh

Only read once, but I loved this book and remember it well. Some might see it as an argument against religion, but I think more than that it illustrates what man is capable of doing to each other, using religion as an excuse. I especially like the story behind the book, that it was turned down by everyone, so Jill Paton Walsh self-published at a time when it was much harder to do than now. It went on to win a Booker prize — before they changed the rules to disallow self-published titles.

The Incredible Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson

It was a close call between this and I Am Legend, but this just pips it for me. My first memory of the story was once again the old black and white movie. Who can forget the battle with the giant spider? Some love spiders, some hate; some have this strange love/hate affinity with them. I think their webs are beautiful and amazing. I think the spider is incredible. I just don’t want to come across one unexpectedly. In short, my early recollections were of that chill down one’s spine at the thought of battling a giant spider. I hadn’t read the book until two years ago, and likely had a preconceived notion of what to expect. The book, though in many ways accurate to the film, differs vastly in that it’s more emotional. I didn’t expect to experience so many emotions including such sadness interwoven with sympathy for the main character, in what many assume is a horror story.

Nocturnes by John Connolly

I like John Connolly’s work. I’m often perplexed with how he seems to break so many ‘rules’, particularly with his Charlie Parker novels — including both first and third person viewpoints, and even telling the story in an omnipresent way when relating something that happened in the past. Not all writers can even manage a point of view changes successfully, but it seems to suit his style, his ‘voice’. I chose to include Nocturnes because I was surprised to come across a collection of short stories with gothic influences. They are both olde-worlde and new.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Best known for writing One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and the sequel The Starlight Barking — oh, yes, 101 had a sequel, and I have both books. Has one of the best opening sentences. As John Steinbeck’s end to Of Mice and Men is startling, the most memorable thing about Dodie Smith’s first novel for adults has always been the line that begins, “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.”

I’m tagging my co-writer and editor, Andy Frankham-Allen to continue this Ten Memorable Titles.

Rust Bucket

My piece of flash fiction in 75 words at Paragraph Planet is a weird moment of synchronicity as a friend of mine has just learned she may have to say farewell to a beloved car. I know some will roll their eyes, but some inanimate objects are linked to very special memories:

http://www.paragraphplanet.com

Rust Bucket at Paragraph Planet

The site of the 75 words flash fiction. Out this Wednesday, 11th December, my short personal reminiscence: Rust Bucket.

Only to be read on the day; thereafter, will appear in the archives for several months at the end of the year. Hope you enjoy.

http://www.paragraphplanet.com/

Red Velvet Christmas from Changeling

I don’t have any books lined up with Changeling at present, but they’ve got some ‘Red Velvet’ promotions and releases, and the writers want to wish everyone Merry Christmas.

Update November 2013

I’ve finally had word from Musa Publishing and can therefore give everyone an update on Hard Pressed. In short there has been some changes, people leaving , a subsequent reshuffle, so that I will have a new editor. I can expect edits before the end of the year, and right now the book is scheduled for release sometime in February.

This one has been an extraordinary long time in coming. I’m hoping this was a rare incident and that things will now get back on track.

I’ve nothing else lined up at present though am working on various projects (delayed somewhat by life issues and ill-health), and have had a couple of queries involving works I’m considering. In the meantime I’ve been involved with quite a bit of promo, which has included giving some books away. Congrats to my lucky winners. I’ll be choosing one at Amber Kell’s when her Birthday Bash finishes as the end of the month — the event can still be found on my event calendar.

More soon.

Another chance to win!

Stop by Amber Kell’s Birthday Bash to be in with a chance to win a copy of Seduced by a Legend. I’ll be choosing a winner at the end of the month so there’s time, but don’t forget to comment!

http://amberkell.wordpress.com/2013/1...

Join me at the Snarkology blog

Bit of a late posting on my part — got overlooked owing to my being unwell. Do pop along to Melissa Snark’s blog to read this Q&A, and a big thank you to Melissa for a fabulous review of ‘Seduced by a Legend’.

The questions were fun. Thanks, Melissa.

Author Spotlight

Join me this weekend where I answer some questions at Melissa Snark’s ‘Snarkology’ blog.

I’ll be back with the link when it goes live. Watch this space!