S.C. Skillman's Blog, page 42
September 26, 2017
Forging Our Own Paths and Surviving the Internet Sirens
On 1st September at the beginning of my Mystical Circles blog tour, author and blogger Sacha Black hosted a guest post from me on her blog. [image error]
In my next few posts I shall be re-blogging my posts and auhor interviews on that blog tour. So today’s post is the article Sacha first published, called “How To Survive the Internet Sirens.”
I’ve just returned from ScotsWrite, a Society of Authors Conference in Scotland. And one of the speakers at the conference was a lady who I might include under the category of internet sirens though I will admit she said some very interesting things and I will be taking up some of her ideas! So there’s always a few exceptions to a general rule…
How To Survive the Internet Sirens
In the writing and publishing world these days we are often told that it is no longer sufficient to be just an author. No, you have to be a promoter as well, and a self-publicist, and a PR specialist. You have to master the art of the press release, learn how to write appealing advertising copy, know how to pitch yourself to someone in a single sentence in a lift, and master numerous pieces of software in order to orchestrate them all skilfully with one end in mind – to sell your product, i.e. your new book.
This all begs the question of how you should manage your time so you can actually fit in writing the next book.
One way of going about it is to be a multi-tasker. Accomplish several different tasks a day by juggling them all and keeping them all in the air. Or if you are a list person, try to achieve a sense of control over your life by surrounding yourself with typed-up To Do Lists. Or perhaps you might work with a noticeboard covered with Post It Notes.
Lest we forget, what started all this was a desire to create fiction, to bring people to life who never existed, to dream up worlds for them to inhabit, and sometimes to find that ‘they come alive. They are capable of the surprising act or word. They stand outside the plot, unconditioned by it’. And then there are other characters ‘who have to be pushed around…. have the obstinacy of nonexistence…..are inextricably bound to the plot… whose only importance is to… help to furnish the scene in which a living character moves and speaks,” as Graham Greene explained so eloquently in his novel The End of the Affair.One thing’s for sure; you will need to try to [image error]hold onto your sanity, so you may need your drug of choice – whether that be herbal calming tablets, or numerous infusions of caffeine, or glasses of wine, or, probably the least advisable substance of all, cakes and biscuits, to keep you going. For you will also have to master how to put out Facebook ads, and how to drive people to your mailing list sign-up forms, and monitor the response you get, and adjust your ads accordingly.
In this quote, Graham Greene expresses the strange feeling authors can sometimes get about their characters, when the lines blur between the real world and the fictional world of their own creation. Sometimes we do indeed feel like characters forced here and there by an unseen hand, without any free will. I fear that in today’s climate we as authors can feel like that, when voices ‘out there’ are constantly telling us what to do to make ourselves visible, to get readers to pay attention to us, to direct the searchlight of attention upon us, notice our books, and buy them.
It feels as if we are drifting, boats upon the current, into that region of the ocean where we may hear siren voices luring us onto the rocks. Maybe the only answer is to do as Odysseus did in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, during his voyage home after the Trojan War, when he tied himself to the mast, and stopped up all the ears of the sailors on the ship, so they might sail safely past and out of the range of the siren voices.
Surely this isn’t the way it should be for creative people?
And yet, perhaps I have misunderstood; for when we study the biographies of past authors, we cannot help noticing that they had their own struggles, though maybe slightly different, conditioned by the culture of their time. Were we ever intended to exist in an ivory tower, as we write our books?
I think of a wonderful quote from JK Rowling, who said in a 2003 interview with Jeremy Paxman: ‘I imagined being a famous writer would be like being Jane Austen. Being able to sit at home in the parsonage and your books would be very famous and occasionally you would correspond with the Prince of Wales’ secretary. You know I didn’t think they’d rake through my bins, I didn’t expect to be photographed on the beach through long lenses.’
Every individual creative person has their own struggles, though I grant that JK Rowling’s struggles at that point were probably different from ours right now, as we try to make some kind of impact upon the world with our stories.
Each novel that we write has to some extent emerged from our own lives, our own personal experiences, our own take upon the world, and so it feels as if we are giving from deep within ourselves. That is certainly the case with my novel Mystical Circles (out in a new edition on 5 September). Much of the novel has arisen from my own personal experience.
But I feel we can take heart from these words of Sir Winston Churchill who although he eventually became such an iconic figure, suffered many setbacks and failures in his life. He was addressing an audience of school pupils who had gathered to hear words of wisdom from the great man. He said, “I only have 5 words to give you. They are Never, never, never give up.”
The links for my recently
re-released novel Mystical Circles may be found here:
Book Blurb:
“Hi, you in crowded, stressed old London from me in the peaceful, perfect Cotswolds. Massive change of plan. I’m in love. Craig’s gorgeous, sexy, intelligent. Paradise here. Staying forever.”
Juliet, concerned that her younger sister has fallen in love with the charismatic Craig, leader of the Wheel of Love, sets off for the Cotswolds to investigate, fearful that Zoe has become entangled with a religious cult.
She arrives at Craig’s community hoping to rescue Zoe. But intrigues, liaisons and relationships flare and flourish or fizzle out quickly within this close circle, and despite her reservations, Juliet is drawn into the Wheel of Love… with completely unforeseen consequences.
Filed under: About Books I love, Authors I love, book reviews, Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing, literature, musings, Mystical Circles, New psychological thriller fiction, paranormal thriller fiction, Perilous Path, positive thinking, psychological suspense fiction, psychology, SC Skillman, SC Skillman Author, thoughts, UK, Writing Tagged: authors, creative, Graham Greene, Homer's Odyssey, JK Rowling, mystical circles, publishing, SC Skillman author, Sir Winston Churchill, writing
September 19, 2017
…And Back to the Writing Again….
For novelists these days there comes a time when, having devoted our time to promoting the novels we have already written, and having listened to the alluring voices of the internet sirens [image error]( see here for my post on this subject) we return to our raison d’etre again: writing.
Having finished the first draft of my WIP in June I’ve now printed it out and this afternoon will read it through ready to make revisions for a second draft.
This is always an exciting and a nerve-wracking time, and it’s a time I love because during the first read-through I usually find all sorts of new thoughts and questions and connections popping up, which I scribble on the manuscript; often things that never occurred to me during the time of writing. I’m reading it as if it was written by a different person.
Right now it feels as if I’m getting back to the purpose for all this; the joy of connecting again with my main protagonist and with all her issues and challenges, and taking her through her story again, with all the other characters who will test her to the utmost, in their many different ways.
To those who ask “What’s the book about?” here’s the one-sentence storyline:
It’s a psychological suspense / modern gothic novel set in London, about a young actress who finds herself trapped with a troubled priest in a house haunted by a family curse.
I’ll have to leave it again on Friday as I’m going to a writers conference for the weekend. But I’ll have the chance to test it out on Saturday during a chat with a London agent and with the publishing direcor of Picador.
So see you next week when I’ll be able to report back from my weekend at ScotsWrite, a Society of Authors Conference in Scotland.
Filed under: Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing, inspiration, London, love, modern Gothic fiction, New psychological thriller fiction, paranormal thriller fiction, psychological suspense fiction, SC Skillman, SC Skillman Author, UK, Writing Tagged: book WIP, modern Gothic, psychological suspense, SC Skillman author, second draft, writers conference, writing
September 11, 2017
The New Luminarie Editions of Mystical Circles and Perilous Path Are Out Now
I’m pleased to announce my two new books are on sale now. [image error] They can be found online through the links below and also, of course, to order through all good bookshops.
You can download my psychological suspense novel Mystical Circles here, and you can buy the paperback here.
My inspirational writer’s guide Perilous Path can be downloaded here, or ordered as a paperback here.
There are many ways to help an author besides buying the books! [image error]You can get the word out by sharing, recommending and reviewing online. And in the real world you can recommend titles to your own book club for discussion; or order the books through your local library to increase their awareness and encourage them to order copies for their stock.
It all helps. And if you do support me in any one of the above ways, thank you very much!
Filed under: book reviews, Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing, inspiration, literature, Mystical Circles, New psychological thriller fiction, paranormal thriller fiction, Perilous Path, SC Skillman, SC Skillman Author, UK, Writing Tagged: book, inspiration, inspirational, mystical circles, novel, Perilous Path, psychological suspense, reviews, SC Skillman, writer's guide, writing
September 5, 2017
Luminarie editions of Mystical Circles and Perilous Path Out Today!
Today is publication day for my two new Luminarie editions Mystical Circles (psychological suspense novel) and Perilous Path (inspirational writer’s guide).
[image error]Cover Design for Mystical Circles by SC Skillman – psychological suspense pub Luminarie 5 Sep 2017
Both are widely available through online retailers, or to order from bricks-and-mortar bookstores.
They are available both as ebooks and as paperbacks.
And from 8 September both books will be on Goodreads giveaway to UK readers. Yes – I have 10 paperback copies of each book to give away to the lucky winners!
The giveaway will last for one month. If you live in the UK and you’re a Goodreads member why not hop over there and enter the giveaway.
[image error]And if you do win, and you read the books, please do remember, we authors always love Amazon reviews, no matter how many stars, and whatever you choose to say in an honest review.
And that’s not all my news. Today (5th September 2017) is also Day 5 of my Blog Tour. Today I’m on Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo and the title of my guest post is “Inside a spiritual hothouse.” Hope to see you over there!
Filed under: a passionate spirit, book reviews, Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing, inspiration, life, literature, Mystical Circles, New psychological thriller fiction, paranormal thriller fiction, Perilous Path, psychological suspense fiction, SC Skillman, SC Skillman Author, spirituality, UK, Writing Tagged: blog, blogging, Guest post, inspiration, mystical circles, new editions, Perilous Path, SC Skillman, writing
August 29, 2017
Follow the new Mystical Circles Blog Tour 1-9 September 2017
Mystical Circles will be released by Luminarie both as a paperback and as an ebook with a new cover design on 5 September. To celebrate, I’m doing a Blog Tour [image error]which will see me stop off at nine blogs, each with a unique guest post.
Do take a look at each blog post if you have time – there will be other opportunities to read them here on my blog later if you miss them on the tour!
Over the course of the 9 stops on this tour, I write on the following subjects:
A guide for authors – how to survive the siren voices of the internet
Genre – what is it exactly?
On the art and inexact science of a good ending to a novel
Psychology, spirituality and family relationships – a volatile mix
Inside a spiritual hothouse
An author interview by Shelley Wilson
Inspiration, motivation and keeping to the path
Intense relationships in closed communities, and the stress and tension of life
An author interview by Linda
I do hope you can stop by the blogs to read more about the source of my ideas for the characters and story of Mystical Circles and also to find some personal inspiration and motivation along the way!
Filed under: Books, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing, inspiration, interpersonal relationships, literature, Mystical Circles, New psychological thriller fiction, news, paranormal thriller fiction, SC Skillman, SC Skillman Author, UK, Writing Tagged: blog, blog tour, blogging, Guest post, inspiration, life, mystical circles, new edition, SC Skillman
August 22, 2017
‘The Curse of Time’: A Guest Post by M.J. Mallon, Author of ‘The Curse of Time, Book 1- Bloodstone’
I’m delighted to welcome M.J. Mallon to this blog today, to promote her new YA/Middle Grade fantasy novel The Curse of Time, due out on 26th August. I’m very interested in magical realism and this is the subject of the guest post featured today. I was also intrigued by some of the author’s inspirations including the amazing art installation “The Light Pours Out of Me” and also the work of the inventor Dr John C. Taylor, to whom the author is indebted for the image of his Corpus Chronophage used on her book cover. Find links to their websites below; they are well worth browsing.
Published by Kyrosmagica Publishing, ‘The Curse of Time’ is available for purchase here.
On Amelina Scott’s thirteenth birthday, her father disappears under mysterious circumstances. Saddened by this traumatic event, she pieces together details of a curse that has stricken the heart and soul of her family.
Amelina longs for someone to confide in. Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had. The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina’s house.
Dreams and a puzzling invitation convince Amelina the answer to her family’s troubles lies within the walls of the illusive Crystal Cottage. Undaunted by her mother’s warnings, Amelina searches for the cottage on an isolated Cambridgeshire pathway where she encounters a charismatic young man, named Ryder. At the right moment, he steps out of the shadows, rescuing her from the unwanted attention of two male troublemakers.
With the help of an enchanted paint set, Amelina meets the eccentric owner of the cottage, Leanne, who instructs her in the art of crystal magic. In time, she earns the right to use three wizard stones. The first awakens her spirit to discover a time of legends, and later, leads her to the Bloodstone, the supreme cleansing crystal which has the power to restore the balance of time. Will Amelina find the power to set her family free?
A YA/middle grade fantasy set in Cambridge, England exploring various themes/aspects: Light, darkness, time, shadows, a curse, magic, deception, crystals, art, poetry, friendships, teen relationships, eating disorders, self-harm, anxiety, depression, family, puzzles, mystery, a black cat, music, a mix of sadness, counterbalanced by a touch of humour.
The Curse of Time: Book 1 – Bloodstone
A Guest Post by M.J. Mallon
Thank you to Sheila for inviting me to talk about my book. The Curse of Time, Book 1–Bloodstone, a YA urban fantasy set in Cambridge, England.
There are many themes in the novel as you can see in this graphic:
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Did I plan this? No, not at all, if anything my writing evolved in a haphazard way with little structural planning. I’m not sure I would suggest this is the best approach to follow as it leads to numerous frustrating edits and re-edits. But in its favour it taps into unhampered creativity which is of enormous benefit.
I’d say that The Curse of Time sits in the framework of Magical Realism and Urban Fantasy as the setting is real – Cambridge. There are many places and tourist attractions that I mention in the book that exist: The Round Church, St John’s College, Hardy’s Sweet Shop, Patisserie Valerie, The Grand Arcade, Grantchester, the river pathway and most importantly The Corpus Chronopage on Kings Parade, (which features on the book cover:
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Image Courtesy of the inventor of the Corpus Chronophage, Dr J C Taylor, OBE
One location, Clowns coffee shop has recently closed down, an independent coffee shop in Cambridge, but it is forever immortalised in my novel!
Crystals feature in the novel, inspired by my visit to The Light Pours Out of Me, by Anya Gallacio at Juniper Artland.
The Bloodstone photograph below is courtesy of my lovely blogging friend, Samantha Murdoch who blogs here.
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I prefer writing magical realism to high fantasy; it grounds the fantasy making it real and more accessible and marketable too!
Please celebrate with me at my online kindle launch party on 26th August which will be held on my blog, Facebook and social media:
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I expect that The Curse of Time, Book 1, Bloodstone, will appeal to bright youngsters, teenagers and older people too. I believe there is something for everyone, (and food for thought too,) whether you are eleven or 99. If you are a fan of fantasy, I expect and hope you will enjoy it!
About M.J. Mallon
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I am a debut author who has been blogging for three years. My interests include writing, photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. I write Fantasy YA, middle grade fiction and micro poetry – haiku and tanka. I love to read and have written over 100 reviews.
My alter ego is MJ – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheros! I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit,) second child and only daughter to my proud parents Paula and Ronald. I grew up in a mountainous court in the Peak District in Hong Kong with my elder brother Donald. My parents dragged me away from my exotic childhood and my much loved dog Topsy to the frozen wastelands of Scotland. In bonnie Edinburgh I mastered Scottish country dancing, and a whole new Och Aye lingo.
As a teenager I travelled to many far-flung destinations to visit my abacus wielding wayfarer dad. It’s rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six foot hunk of a Rock God husband, and my two enchanted daughters. After such an upbringing my author’s mind has taken total leave of its senses! When I’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practise Tai Chi. If the mood takes me I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.
My blog – for information about new releases, photos of main characters/character interviews, book reviews and inspiration: https://mjmallon.com
My New Facebook Group #ABRSC: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook:
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and Twitter: @curseof_time
Facebook: Facebook: m j mallon author
Tumblr: Tumblr: mjmallonauthor
I have devoted the past few years to writing over 100 reviews on My Goodreads Review Account, and on my blog to help support traditional and indie writers.
Filed under: Books, British, creative writing, culture, design, dreams and dreaming, inspiration, life, literature, SC Skillman, UK, Writing Tagged: blogging, design, Guest post, inspiration, M.J. Mallon, magical realism, The Curse of Time, writing, YA fantasy
August 14, 2017
Mountains, Castles and Inspiration in Bavaria
We are just back from Bavaria where we were inspired[image error][image error]
by King Ludwig II’s castles,
delighted by glorious mountain views, [image error][image error]enjoyed delicious apple strudels
and slipped into Austria where we had a lot of fun on the Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg.[image error]
But the most outstanding feature of our holiday was our discovery of a truly intriguing character: King Ludwig II. Ludwig was a dreamer and visionary whose image is now ever-present in Bavaria.[image error]
Whilst visiting his three castles – the castle on an island in a lake, Herrenchiemzee, the fairy-tale like apparition high on a mountain crag, Neuschwanstein, and the exquisite vision in a valley, Linderhof, I was fascinated by his romantic idealism, his passionate devotion to the idea of being “an absolute king” dwelling in Castle Perilous, his love of immensely rich and precious interior decoration, his total disregard of the practical implications of his various passions, and his intense relationship with the great composer Richard Wagner. His story was often tragic, and his end terribly sad – he was declared mad and killed – yet Bavaria thrives on his legacy today.
There were several aspects of Ludwig which inspired me for a major character in my WIP. So this visit to Bavaria came at just the right time as I’m about to embark on the second draft. With such a complex character, I cannot be entirely sure whether his passion, intensity and commitment to a world of the imagination will infuse my villain, hero or anti-hero. That is yet to be determined…
Filed under: architecture, Art, buildings, classical music, creative writing, design, dreams and dreaming, history, inspiration, life, music, musings, people of inspiration, places of inspiration, SC Skillman, SC Skillman Author, thoughts, travel, Writing Tagged: Bavaria, character, imagination, inspiration, King Ludwig, music, SC Skillman, writing
July 31, 2017
BOOK COVER REVEAL: NEW LUMINARIE EDITION OF MYSTICAL CIRCLES, THE PREQUEL TO A PASSIONATE SPIRIT
I’m delighted to announce that I can now show you the Cover Reveal for my new Luminarie edition of Mystical Circles![image error]
It’s been a long and sometimes fraught journey with the cover designers but I’m very excited with the final result!
Read two reviews here from young adult authors:
Intense Psychological Drama in a Beautiful Setting
First of all, I fell in love with the beautiful house where the story is set, and wanted to go there immediately! Against this backdrop, a tense and intriguing psychological drama is worked out, with new twists and revelations every day. The complex and often damaged characters gathered together react and interact more often than not in ways that surprise and sometimes shock, and you are kept guessing about the outcomes of some of the relationships until the very end. This was an intense and compelling story with many twists and turns in the plot to keep you reading. (Eleanor Watkins, YA author )
Psychological Suspense That Doesn’t Disappoint
The scene is an idyllic Cotswold farmhouse, where a mixed bag of needy people live in a community. Enter journalist Juliet, seeking to save her younger sister from the clutches of what she considers a cult, with its charismatic and enigmatic leader, Craig. Like Juliet, we are drawn into the claustrophobic lives of the characters in this “Wheel of Love” and find ourselves unable to leave. As the emotional and psychological tensions crackle and ignite against each other, it’s like watching a slow-motion train crash of the conflicting personalities, desires, jealousies and hurts. If you like your drama filled with psychological suspense, with a hint of the paranormal, then you won’t be disappointed. I’m pleased to see there’s a sequel, A Passionate Spirit. (Philip S Davies, YA author)
So without more ado here is the book cover for Mystical Circles.
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Blurb:
“Hi, you in crowded, stressed old London from me in the peaceful, perfect Cotswolds. Massive change of plan. I’m in love. Craig’s gorgeous, sexy, intelligent. Paradise here. Staying forever.”
Juliet, concerned that her younger sister has fallen in love with the charismatic Craig, leader of the Wheel of Love, sets off for the Cotswolds to investigate, fearful that Zoe has become entangled with a religious cult.
She arrives at Craig’s community hoping to rescue Zoe. But intrigues, liaisons and relationships flare and flourish or fizzle out quickly within this close circle, and despite her reservations, Juliet is drawn into the Wheel of Love… with completely unforeseen consequences.
The new Luminarie edition of Mystical Circles is available as from 5 September 2017. It will be available online and in all good bookstores.
And I am doing a special promotion for a limited period for UK readers of this blog. Copies of the paperback can be pre-ordered direct from me via the Contact Me section of this blog, at 20% discount from the RRP of £8.99, and free of p& p. There will be 10 copies of the book available through this promotion to the first 10 purchasers, and all I ask is that you post your review on Amazon as soon as you’ve read the book!
Filed under: book reviews, Books, British, creative writing, inspiration, life, literature, love, modern Gothic fiction, Mystical Circles, New psychological thriller fiction, paranormal thriller fiction, people of inspiration, psychological suspense fiction, psychology, SC Skillman, SC Skillman Author, spirituality, UK, Writing Tagged: book reviews, books, cover reveal, discount on pre-orders, new edition, psychological suspense, publication, SC Skillman, special promotion
July 25, 2017
Guest Post: 10 Books Every Young Woman Should Read
I am reblogging this booklist by Kirsty Brown, published as a guest post on one of the blogs I follow, Jenny in Neverland. I thought this an excellent list and liked Kirsty’s inclusion of some iconic books for young women which are among my personal favourites, including Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, and Anne Frank’s Diary.
Now to see us out on my guest post week, I have an absolutely wonderful post from Kirsty Brown about the 10 books that ever young woman should read. Shamefully, I haven’t actually read any of these but they are most definitely on my radar now and a few trips to the library is definitely in order. Have you read any of these? Have a read of Kirsty’s brilliant post and thank you for joining me on guest post week, whilst I’ve been away. And thank you to the amazing guest posters, too!
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Filed under: SC Skillman
July 17, 2017
Cover Reveal for Relaunch of Mystical Circles Coming Soon!
Exciting news! Mystical Circles, the prequel to A Passionate Spirit, will be relaunched soon by Luminarie.
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Logo and brand-name for Luminarie publishing company http://www.scskillman.com; http://www.luminarie.uk
I already have the new cover design and it’s very exciting indeed! I love it and I hope and believe you will too.
The new cover will express a much darker mood, as does the cover design of A Passionate Spirit, [image error]with some significant variations… this will update the branding of the two thriller suspense novels which explore strange and paranormal happenings in the same idyllic Cotswold location… a beautiful manor house in a hidden valley deep in Gloucestershire.
Watch this space – the brand new edition with its fabulous new cover will be available to pre-order on 1st August. And that’s the day when I’ll feature the Cover Reveal on this blog.
The publication date is 5th September.
Also out on 5th September from Luminarie will be the new edition of Perilous Path: A Writer’s Journey.
[image error]thriller suspense novel
