Simon Rose's Blog, page 49

Cassa Playwriting Workshop

I’ve been working on playwriting workshops with Cassa Musical Arts for quite a few years now. The pandemic has certainly presented considerable challenges, but on April 30, we’re once again offering the online workshop, featuring a fun-filled, intensive journey into the world of creating your own play. In the morning, students will gather ideas and work together to bring ideas to the table. I spend the break writing, and there will be a performance in the afternoon.

Registration is available here on the Cassa website.

The post Cassa Playwriting Workshop appeared first on Simon Rose.

An interview with Mandy Eve-Barnett

Mandy Eve-Barnett is a multi-genre author writing children’s, YA, and adult books full of adventure and surprising twists in plot and genre. Her passion for writing emerged later in life and she is making up for lost time. With nine books published since 2011, she indulges her muse in creative fiction as well as freelance writing, which you can learn more about at https://tailoredthemedtosuit.wordpress.com/

Mandy regularly blogs at www.mandyevebarnett.com and is a writing community advocate. As secretary of her local writers’ group, the Writers Foundation of Strathcona County, and past secretary of the Alberta Authors Cooperative, as well as past-president of the Arts & Culture Council, she lives her creative life to the fullest. She hosts the WFSC monthly writing meetings and also creates writing prompts for their website. She has presented on various writing topics at conferences and seminars. Originally from England, Mandy now resides in Alberta, Canada. You can find Mandy across social media and her books through all the online purchasing sites and her publisher, Dream Write Publishing.

What genres do you write in?

I write multiple genres, as I follow the story rather than a genre when I write. As the characters and story develop it becomes clear which audience and genre the narrative fits into. This is a personal approach, as I have to feel my way through a story rather than conform to a structure.

Tell us a little about your work for adults

I use my life experience and interests to give my writing authenticity even though it may not seem evident within the story itself. For example, my novella series, The Rython Kindom and Rython Legacy are set in medieval England. I regularly visited historical sites when I lived in England so can draw from those experiences and learnt history. Another novel, Life

 in Slake Patch, is a speculative fiction story set in an alternative future with a matriarchal society. The seed of the novel idea came from a heated discussion on the perceived place of a woman in our patriarchal society. I feel these themes not only draw in but allow my readers to relate to the story’s basic theme even if they are not consciously aware of them.

What about your books for children?

I have always been fascinated with the magical and mysterious – fairies, dragons, fantastic creatures, as well as the natural world. These two themes are the foundation of my children’s and young adults’ stories. I want my younger readers to love the world they live in, to cherish the flora and fauna within it and to experience a sense of magic. No matter the setting of the story, or the characters within it, there is always companionship, and the message to be true to yourself and those around you.

What are your sources of inspiration?

Goodness, as I have said earlier, everything and anything. It might be a conversation, a photo, something I read or interests I want to explore within a narrative. Dreams also give me ideas or topics, or even a scene I can use within a story. I keep my mind open to influences around me.

Are you involved with your local writing community?

Very much so, physically (when we could!) and virtually. I am the current secretary of my local writers’ group, the Writers Foundation of Strathcona County. We host three monthly (currently virtual) meetings – writing circle, kids creative writing workshop and Poets in the Park. I host the circle meetings, create the Saturday Writing Prompts on the website, and assist with the planning and organization of our two main annual events. Our Spring Writers Conference and our Fall Words in the Park – author and artisan sale and promotion, in conjunction with Alberta Cultural Days. Within this group I found my people, so to speak. I am also a writing community advocate on social media supporting and encouraging other writers. I am happy to share my experiences and knowledge to help others.

What are you currently working on?

I am in the midst of a detective trilogy, The Delphic Murders. I have book one in third draft and am writing book two. Most of my writing is free flow but with this current project I learnt to become a plotter planning separate and multiple arcs, which has been an enlightening exercise. The trilogy spans three Canadian cities and a elusive killer.

You also offer a variety of writing services, don’t you? Can you tell us a little about those?

I am versatile freelance writer drawing from a wide-ranging life experience from twenty-six years as a business owner, working within the medical field, parenting and relationships, extensive travel, and beginning a new life on another continent. I am able to communicate ideas, notions and information on a wide and unlimited range of subjects to ensure I deliver clear, creative, and compelling communications for my clients. It has been a pleasure to create projects for my clients from a magazine article to ghost writing a hybrid marketing book.

So where can people find out more about you and your books?

My blog is the best place to find everything about me and my writing: www.mandyevebarnett.com. I am also across multiple social media sites so I’m easy to find.

The post An interview with Mandy Eve-Barnett appeared first on Simon Rose.

Cassa Playwriting Workshop

I’ve been working on playwriting workshops with Cassa Musical Arts for quite a few years now. The pandemic has certainly presented considerable challenges, but on April 30, we’re once again offering the online workshop, featuring a fun-filled, intensive journey into the world of creating your own play. In the morning, students will gather ideas and work together to bring ideas to the table. I spend the break writing, and there will be a performance in the afternoon.

Registration is available here on the Cassa website.

The post Cassa Playwriting Workshop appeared first on Simon Rose.

Page Turner Awards

Get published with Page Turner Awards!

Enter your completed, unpublished fiction or non-fiction manuscript for our panel of literary agents to judge your work

One writer is guaranteed a publishing deal! There is also a £20K prize fund to be won

Entries are now open for a limited time!

For full details and entry, go to the Page Turner Awards: https://pageturnerawards.com/2022-writing-award

The post Page Turner Awards appeared first on Simon Rose.

Page Turner Awards

Get published with Page Turner Awards!

Enter your completed, unpublished fiction or non-fiction manuscript for our panel of literary agents to judge your work

One writer is guaranteed a publishing deal! There is also a £20K prize fund to be won

Entries are now open for a limited time!

For full details and entry, go to the Page Turner Awards: https://pageturnerawards.com/2022-writing-award

The post Page Turner Awards appeared first on Simon Rose.

Cassa Playwriting Workshop

I’ve been working on playwriting workshops with Cassa Musical Arts for quite a few years now. The pandemic has certainly presented considerable challenges, but on April 30, we’re once again offering the online workshop, featuring a fun-filled, intensive journey into the world of creating your own play. In the morning, students will gather ideas and work together to bring ideas to the table. I spend the break writing, and there will be a performance in the afternoon.

Registration is available here on the Cassa website.

The post Cassa Playwriting Workshop appeared first on Simon Rose.

An interview with Nina Munteanu on the New Audiobook Release of The Splintered Universe Trilogy

I had the pleasure recently of talking with Canadian author Nina Munteanu about the new release of her audiobook set The Splintered Universe Trilogy. Nina is a scientist (limnologist) who also writes science fiction and fantasy with a focus on eco-fiction and climate fiction. She has nine novels and five non-fiction books published, including “Water Is…”, recommended by Margaret Atwood as her #1 choice in the New York Times ‘Year in Reading’ in 2016.

The Splintered Universe Trilogy follows the thrilling adventures of Galactic Guardian Rhea Hawke, human detective who must save a world she hardly understands. It’s full of exciting planets, space travel, tall secrets, intrigue and even some romance. I interviewed Nina in 2019 about the trilogy when the three formats first became available and we talked about her world building, Rhea Hawke’s cool arsenal of gadgets and weapons, and concepts of metaphysics, existentialism and identity. So, let’s find out what’s happening with all that now.

So, tell us about these new releases.

You’re right, Simon, the audiobooks of the trilogy did all come out in 2019, completing the three formats of print, ebook and audiobook. I was over the moon. What we’ve done recently is remaster the audiobooks and we’re now selling them as a package through the new publishers, Spoken Realms (first two audiobooks) and Pixl Press (third audiobook).

Briefly, the trilogy follows our intrepid (if not slightly misguided) detective Rhea Hawke as she tries to solve the genocide of a spiritual sect on some backwater planet. She bungles her mission by killing her only lead and instead discovers a conspiracy to exterminate humanity by an alien race only she thinks exists. It goes downhill for her from there. She gets fired and her sentient ship—her only friend—is impounded. Her whole life comes apart. Her only chance to rebuild it is to prove that her discovery is true. That leads her down a rabbit hole into a dangerous world of intrigue, full of unsavory shape-shifting characters, dust smuggling, giant flying crustaceans, amorous toxic plants, and portals into mirror universes.

Rhea’s inventiveness gets her into even more trouble. She gained some notoriety with her created weapon, the MEC (short for Magnetic-Electro-Concussion) pistol, a versatile wave-weapon that can target DNA signatures and do almost anything you want with a single sweep. Her proprietary MEC design—coveted by shady crime syndicates and her own Guardians alike—becomes the centre piece to a universal war.

The first two audiobooks (Outer Diverse and Inner Diverse) are out on pre-order with Audible. The third book of the trilogy Metaverse is currently on order on Audible.

What makes these new audiobooks so special?

What makes these audiobooks special lies ultimately in their narration. When the original audiobook publisher took on the books as audiobooks, they provided me with three voice artists to audition. I chose Dawn Harvey because I could visualize my main character through her voice. Given that the entire trilogy is told in the first person, the narrator’s voice had to be just right. Dawn’s voice is dark and sultry like coffee. It is sexy and irreverent with a hidden vulnerability and sensitivity that perfectly captured the main character, Detective Rhea Hawke. What I didn’t realize then was how well Harvey would represent the thirty-odd other characters, mostly aliens—one who spoke through several mouths.

Tell us about this narration process of the audiobooks.

Dawn is a dedicated professional. Working with her was an absolute pleasure. She created unique and consistent voices for the books many characters. She ensured that each character had the appropriate vernacular, tone, accent and cadence. She did proofs and confirmed them with me. She also tackled the “alien” vocabulary; many are made-up words. Dawn literally breathed life into Rhea Hawke and all the other characters. When I first listened to the Outer Diverse audiobook in the car on my way to Nova Scotia, I lost myself in her storytelling and forgot that I’d written it.

Here’s what one Amazon review said: “Dawn Harvey breathed incredible life into the lead character, Rhea Hawke—both sarcastic and vulnerable at the same time; a detective with a cynical edge, and sultry voice tinged with wiry sarcasm. The story unfolded through Rhea’s narrative like an old film noir as she unraveled mysteries that led to the greatest one: her own.”

Martha’s Bookshelf wrote: “Ms. Harvey manages to enthuse the personality of the characters into each voice. The wise, gentle Ka has a soft, strong sound that reminds you of a wise old bird. Shlsh She She, a slippery, slimy creature has a slurry, garbled voice like a mouthful of mushy, wet food. Dawn’s reading conveys the loneliness in Rhea, the sexiness of Serge, the frustrated friendliness of Bas, and the faithful coziness of Benny. She is able to bring emphasis to the action or romance, weariness or fear elements of the story. The narration never takes over the story; but rather enhances it.”

What has been the reception to the audiobooks so far?

The reception has been wonderful and overwhelming.

Dab of Darkness says: “There’s so much I have enjoyed about this series so far. Rhea is a fascinating character from the start and she continues to grow throughout the tale. There’s her AI ship, Benny, her sentient great coat, her special made gun, and her own hidden shapeshifting abilities. Then there’s a cast of interesting characters, good guys and bad guys. I love that I don’t know how things will turn out; the plot keeps me guessing.”

One Goodreads review wrote: “Rhea Hawke is a Galactic Guardian, and I love to say her name. Her name alone lets you know that there is a bad ass super hero of a woman on site. I can picture her boots, her great coat, and her side arms. I want to be her when I grow up.”

Where can people buy The Splintered Universe Trilogy?

The trilogy can be purchased at most of the usual places in print and ebook formats. These include Amazon all over the world, Kobo, iBooks, Barnes and Noble and other quality retailers.

The audiobooks of the trilogy are available through Audible. The links on Audible for the three audio books are as follows: Outer Diverse, Inner Diverse, Metaverse.

 

Thanks Nina, for being my guest here today and the very best of luck with The Splintered Universe Trilogy. I hope the trilogy sells thousands of copies in the coming weeks and months.

You can learn more about Nina and her work on her websites: www.ninamunteanu.ca; www.ninamunteanu.me; and www.TheMeaningOfWater.com.

 

 

The post An interview with Nina Munteanu on the New Audiobook Release of The Splintered Universe Trilogy appeared first on Simon Rose.

Great tips and advice for authors

I was recently sent a great link to some wonderful resources for new and aspiring authors by a young writer that’s currently enrolled in a writing course at her local community college.

Many people dream of becoming an author or writer, but for those just starting out it can be tough to know where to even start. Should you find an agent, submit your work to publishers independently, or self-publish through places such as Amazon? Is it expensive to do things yourself? How do you go about finding an illustrator if you’re writing picture books for children? How do you find a cover artist if you’re writing novels?

The page has lots of tips and advice, as well as links to other places online where you can learn about book awards and prizes, grant programs, scholarships, writing classes and courses, the writing and editing process, and much more.

You can check out the page and all the links right here.

 

The post Great tips and advice for authors appeared first on Simon Rose.

Page Turner Awards

Get published with Page Turner Awards!

Enter your completed, unpublished fiction or non-fiction manuscript for our panel of literary agents to judge your work

One writer is guaranteed a publishing deal! There is also a £20K prize fund to be won

Entries are now open for a limited time!

For full details and entry, go to the Page Turner Awards: https://pageturnerawards.com/2022-writing-award

The post Page Turner Awards appeared first on Simon Rose.

What’s it all about? An excerpt from The Children’s Writer’s Guide

“This is by far the best book I have picked up to help me kick start my writing!”

Chapter Four: Where Do Ideas Come From

One of the most common questions asked of authors, whether from children during school visits or in interviews, is “Where do you get your ideas?” In so many ways, ideas are all around us – in newspapers, magazines, pictures, photographs, other books whether fiction or non-fiction, television, movies, even video games. History can be a constant source of inspiration for writers, but so are personal experiences, family vacations, family, friends, or pets. Many writers have had ideas come to them in dreams – often not the entire novel, but at least a significant enough piece of the puzzle to set them on their way to crafting the actual story. My own ideas come from anywhere and everywhere: when out walking the dog, in the car, something in a conversa
tion, a newspaper story, a billboard, an item on the evening news, TV, movies, books of all kinds, song lyrics, historical events, ancient mysteries, long-lost civilizations, the supernatural, ghost stories, the paranormal or something completely out of the blue. Sometimes the challenge is to stop having ideas. I’ve been known to get ten ideas at once, which amazes my school audiences, but I also have to point out that I can go for six months with no ideas at all. Some of the concepts may never be used or may be only part of a story or a title. The ideas could even feature a character or a piece of dialogue and you aren’t sure where they come from. However, I do try to record as many ideas as I can, since I never know when they might fit in with a story I’m writing. Even ideas that don’t seem to work right away may prove useful one day.

As a writer, I often find myself wondering “what if?” This can in itself lead to many story ideas, some of which may end up being more developed than others. What if you received a letter informing you of your acceptance into a school for wizards? Or discovered a door into another universe at the back of your bedroom closet? Or a flying boy dressed all in green appeared at your bedroom window, inviting you to take a journey to a magical land? Perhaps you followed a rabbit down a hole and ended up in a bizarre underground universe. What if you met someone who’d been imprisoned inside a painting for over three hundred years? If you could travel back in time, where would you go? What would you do if you had a clone for the day? Whether this is how Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, The Alchemist’s Portrait, or The Clone Conspiracy first came about isn’t the point. It’s more about how this type of thinking sets the thought process in motion.

You might even want to conduct your own personal “what if” exercises with a few story starter ideas. For example, what kind of a story might you able to conjure up from some of these random sentences? “He turned the corner and couldn’t believe it when he saw …” “I went to collect the mail and saw a letter from …” “Behind the bookcase was a small mysterious door …” “In the attic was an old dusty box …” “I found an old-fashioned ring in the cupboard and when I tried it on …” Even if you have an idea for a story, sometimes it’s still tough to know where to start, and although these sentences might not lead you to create a classic of children’s literature, they can help with your inspiration.

The Children’s Writer’s Guide is available as an ebook and as a paperback on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Smashwords and many other locations.

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