Celine Kiernan's Blog, page 31

And we're off

If only I could type with my feet.

Despite the fact of only having one small brain, I find myself once again overloaded with awesome things to do.

Firstly, I'm delighted to say that Irish edits have begun on the Ghost Book (hoorah!) I had a meeting with my new ed yesterday during which much coffee was sipped, and apple tart nibbled. We talked long and hard and decide where we're going with my protagonists, Pat and Dom, and the darkness in which they find themselves. I'm very happy with New Ed's suggestions ( and quite surprised a how little has to be done) I came home rubbing my hands with glee, ready to get down to it.

But I'm at a very strong section of the current novel right now, and so the next couple of days my focus will be on getting that section finished. There's a pretty major change of tone after this bit and I won't feel too bad laying it aside for a couple of weeks, but I feel it would be a big mistake to walk away from my characters right at this moment. No-one wants to be left lying underground in the dark with only half a dress on. It just don't feel right. So Pat and Dom will have to wait 'til I'm finished with Tina and Joe, and then full steam ahead with Ghostbook.

Tomorrow I'm heading up for a photoshoot in Glasnevin Cemetery ( the photo will illustrate an article I wrote for You magazine) so fingers crossed it stops drizzling and the clouds part for some of that glorious Autumn gold we had last week.

Friday I'll be on the Tom Dunne Show again. He'd better not ask me anything to do with numbers. He'll be well within reach of my slapping hand this time and I'm not afraid to use it!

And with that - I'm diving into work. Got to get Tina off the damp ground and into some proper clothes before she catches her death.

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Favourite Quotes

While I was in Clare a very nice woman called Theresa (Teresa?) asked me for my favourite Moorehawke quotes. I did my best under the rather rushed circumstances, but I'm fairly certain I misquoted myself. So Theresa (Teresa) here are the quotes in full and as written ( I added a few more. As you requested I stuck ( mostly) to character dialogue, but it was too difficult for me to chose just one per book : ) ):

The Poison Throne

Lorcan: They are looking for someone to blame, baby-girl. A reason for their trouble. They think if they can find that one reason, and deal with it, then their troubles will end.'

Wynter: There is nothing you can do for me here, Christopher, that I cannot do for myself.

Christopher: It's the hope of things lasting that does us in ain't it? If only we could shake that stupid illusion, the belief that this time we'll be able to stay - this time, things will last - then we'd all be much happier.

The Crowded Shadows

Wynter: Do not worry, Razi. You are not alone. You and me and Christopher - together we can fix everything.

Christopher:  Adapt. It is the only way. The word will not always stay the same just to suit you.

Razi: It is a man's duty to protect the ones he loves. Not to spill their blood in the hope that it will make his life easier.

The Rebel Prince

Razi: Am I never to have one single, honest feeling? Will it always be one betrayal weighed against another?

Oliver: We are small and vulnerable, and your father's vision of the world makes us a thorn in the side of everyone but God! And I don't care what the priests told us when we were young, God lends no hand to the weak in this world, though he may love them in the next. In this world we must make ourselves strong that we may battle the wicked and protect the good.

Useless? My God. When had she ever judged Razi by his uses to her?

Wynter: I cannot help but feel that had you allowed you heir speak thus to you, much of this kingdom's problems may have been forestalled. It seems a little more talk and a little less rage may well have calmed this storm before it even began.

Off to Clare

I'm running running running as usual! All flustered and slightly disorganised. It's off to the Clare Children's Book Festival where I will be reading from Moorehawke, and chatting away to my hearts content. Can't wait!

Should be back Friday. See you then. Until then you can find me here,

Tuesday 12th

Scariff Library at 11.15

Killaloe Library at 2.15

Wednesday 13th

Kilrush Library at 11am.

Kildysart Library at 2pm.

Writing and Writer's Workshops

The dog ate my homework.

I have a writer's workshop coming up soon, so I've been going through my notes and reminding myself of what it is I wish to convey and how to best go about communicating it to my students. I can't stand waffling and hot air, so I tend to give very short very concentrated workshops. They last a week maximum ( sometimes in the case of workshops given to schools, the week is spread out in little pieces over a month or more) I don't tend to focus on 'voice' or 'finding your story' or any of the other more esoteric subjects. My aim is simply to bring the participants back to the basics and to have them build themselves up from that base level, a piece at a time, until they've explored what it is they are writing and how they are writing it.

Often folks turn up with their own work in hand ( sometimes entire novels) thinking that they are joining a critique group. I hate to see the disappointment in their faces when they realise that they are not going to have the chance to share their baby with the class. It's a very understandable disappointment. Writing is possibly the loneliest job in the world and sometimes the need to share is so bad it hurts. READ THE REST

More Reader Art

Look at these, aren't they adorable? They were sent to me by an Australian reader called Madelyn who made them using an online avatar site! I just love them. They look so like Razi, Wyn and Chris - even their personalities shine through!

Thank you Madelyn!

Wynter Moorehawke (Protector Lady Wynter Moorehawke)

Wynter

Razi Kingsson (al-Sayyid Razi ibn-Jon Malik al-fadl)

Razi

Christopher Garron (Coinín Garron mac Aiden an Filid)

Christopher

Thank you Hayden and Laura

Guys, I'm so sorry for the sporadic nature of my blogging right now, and also for the rake of reader's letters and newletter sign ups I've yet to acknowledge. I am deep into the final fifth ( approx) of my latest WIP progress and so my head is right up where the sun never shines. I'm also quite literally swamped with promotional work which, thought fun beyond belief, takes up a serious amount of my not-so-considerable brain power

All of which is by way of apologising to two very important folks, the lovely Ms Laura Bailey and the irrepressible Mr Hayden Smith both of who made a huge effort to be at the Irish launch of the Rebel Prince last month. If you read the blog much you'll know that Laura and Hayden are possibly the youngest folks to have read the trilogy, and both have become firm favourites of mine over the years.

I thought it would be nice ( now that the trilogy was over) to recognise how much I've enjoyed Laura and Hayden's correspondence over the past few years since The Poison Throne first came out. So I had a little surprise waiting for them when they turned up to the final launch. You know that I did a limited edition print run of Moorehawke artwork of which  Orbit are giving away six signed copies, right? Well, guess who I was saving two of the prints for? Bet you can't

Laura and Hayden and me

It gets better. Believe it.

It's so difficult when you are a teen ( gay, straight or otherwise) to forget that there will be life after school.

Believe me, there will be life after school. It will be amazing. Dan Savage and his husband Terry can attest to this. Listen to them.

Many thanks to leewind.org for this .

Narrating Audio Books by Katie Rudd

Hi guys, I asked the lovely Kate Rudd to write me a guest post as to what it was like recording an audio book. I love this. Enjoy.

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Kate at work in the studio.

True story: a few days ago I had oral surgery, and as I emerged from the heavy fog of sedation, one of my very first delirious utterances was, "I love my job…" There were other odd moments soon to follow ("What if I took off all my clothes? Would that be fffunnny? and, personal fave, to old man entering surgery clinic, shouted...

Moorehawke Trilogy top 50 kids books 2010

Dymocks have listed Moorehawke as one of the top 50 kids books of 2010.
It's up there on a list with 'Where the Wild Things Are' 'Peter Pan' Dark Materials Trilogy' 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Alice in Wonderland'! To say I'm chuffed to be in such incredible company would be an understatement of criminal proportions.

I'll be smiling through my radio interview today.

Radio interviews and Skype Readings

hello? Hello, Ireland calling...

I'm very much looking forward to my interview with Daire Nelson on LMFM radio tomorrow. I should be on air at 11.15 or so, yammering way like a hyperactive chipmonk as usual. So if you aren't sick of my incessent blather yet, tune in or listen live over the interwebs.

On Friday I'll be on the Skype, chatting to 50 US highschool students in thier classroom  in Columbus Ohio! How techno is that? The pupils are part of the Honours 10 English class in Hilliard...