S.C. Skillman's Blog, page 52

A Passionate Spirit Hot Off the Press

I was excited today to receive a delivery of 50 copies of my new novel “A Passionate Spirit”.

“A Passionate Spirit” by SC Skillman

Although I’ve seen and approved the cover design and read through the typeset proofs several times, nevertheless, to hold the freshly-printed book is a thrilling moment, worthy of celebration. At last it’s a reality!

Now I can offer signed copies for sale via my website. Publication date is 28th November, when the novel will be available to buy through all online retailers, and in bricks-and-mortar bookshops. It can be pre-ordered now from the Troubador website. In addition it will be available as an ebook.

I hope that the bookshops I have visited and many more will stock copies for you to buy.

Maybe one of these bookshops is local to you. Here is  a list of the shops where you should be able to find “A Passionate Spirit” in stock after 28th November:

“A Passionate Spirit” (paranormal thriller) by SC Skillman

Blackwell’s, Oxford; The Borzoi Bookshop, Stow-on-the-Wold; Jaffe and Neale, Chipping Norton; The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop, Tetbury; Warwick Books, Warwick; Kenilworth Books, Kenilworth;  Mostly Books, Abingdon; The Woodstock Bookshop Woodstock; Madhatters Bookshop, Burford; and Waterstone’s in Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Banbury and Gloucester.

Filed under: Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing Tagged: new novel, paperback, passionate spirit, SC Skillman author

The Power of Personal Stories, for Remembrance, for Empathy and to Ignite a Passionate Spirit for Change

The love of story telling which I learned as a young child, through reading adventure stories, grew into a passion to write stories myself.

Stories Are Powerful

Writing and reading stories is all about our ability to enter other hearts and minds and worlds, and to exercise and develop our powers of empathy. I hope that is what my story of A Passionate Spirit will do. How vital it is that we tell stories – not only fiction, but the stories of our own experience. We’ve seen that clearly over the last few days of remembrance.

On the day before Remembrance Sunday I sang with the Spires Philharmonic Choir in a concert called Sing Us Your Dreams at Earlsdon Methodist Church, Coventry. The Earlsdon Research Group had gathered together many personal stories from people who remember their grandfathers, their fathers and their uncles who fought in World War I and returned. We’ll repeat the concert with more World War I-related memories, on Saturday 14th November at Lancaster Priory.

During the concert we sang some very moving pieces: newly-written poetry by Avril Newey set to lovely and poignant music by one of our own choir members, Michael Torbe, including The Unknown Warrior and Reveille Rise Now, and These Thankful Fields, plus some famous wartime songs. In between our musical pieces, a narrator recounted to a packed church some of the stories that had been gathered from local people in Coventry, as part of the Sing Us Your Dreams project.  These were the stories of those who had returned – “the lucky ones”. Many were very powerful and moving. And those with stories to tell can still contribute at the Sing Us Your Dreams website.

We heard of returned soldiers haunted by images of having to shoot sick horses and throw them overboard off transport vessels; men so traumatised they never spoke of what they’d experienced – one whose granddaughter remembers being mystified and slightly frightened of him as he sat silent in the corner at Christmas parties.

We heard of a serviceman who was shot in the hand, refused to have his arm amputated, and came home with a black hand, which he showed to a woman who was about to give him a white feather on a bus.  We learned of a mother whose 15 year old son joined up in the raw excitement of recruitment posters proclaiming Your Country Needs You. He was killed and every Remembrance Day for the rest of her long life (she lived to 95) she laid a wreath on his grave and wept for the loss of her young son.  We heard of a boy who memorised the sight chart so he could convince recruiting sergeants he had good eye sight. We heard of a woman for whom, though her husband returned to her, it was never possible to recover their former life together, because, as she later reported, “in his heart he never really left the army.”

I thought of my own teenage son.  If we had been there, in 1915, I as a mother may have seen him, perhaps, as young as 14, so excited by the propaganda that he was prepared to falsify his birth certificate to join up and go to the front line.

We heard of those who were “lucky” – yet the devastation of war not only kills people, it destroys countless other lives for decades through the damaged minds and bodies and spirits of those who return.

All personal stories which transported me back to the reality of life, at that time, then opened it up with vivid freshness.

I feel I can understand those who were silenced by their terrible experiences. And yet thank God for those who have been able to tell their stories, so they might be passed down, for our compassion and empathy, which may strengthen in us another passionate spirit… a powerful resolve to do what it takes to change the future.

Filed under: British psychological suspense writer, creative writing, culture Tagged: dreams, experience, fiction, lives, passion, passionate spirit, personal stories, remembrance, SC Skillman author, story telling, unknown warror, World War 1

Exciting Plans as Publication Day Draws Closer for “A Passionate Spirit”

Publication date draws ever closer – 28th November!

A Passionate Spirit full Cover

My new novel “A Passionate Spirit” has now been sent to print and will be ready in the next couple of weeks.  Meanwhile Matador’s ebook department are converting the manuscript to an ebook.  When the ebook has been uploaded to online retailers, it will also be on Net Galley for 6 weeks. There, keen readers and reviewers can download the new releases free of charge for review.

If you do a lot of fiction reading, and enjoy writing online reviews, and you’re not already a member of Net Galley I’ll be including a Net Galley widget in a blog post closer to publication date, and you can then sign up! Or of course you can head on over to Net Galley now and join straight away.

Remember, word-of-mouth recommendation is critical to an author’s success, and online, that means reviews, and plenty of them!

You’ll be able to post a review on my webpage at Matador as well as on Amazon, Goodreads and my Facebook Page.

Meanwhile I’ve booked a stall at three Christmas fairs in Warwickshire, to sell copies both of my first novel “Mystical Circles” and my newly released book “A Passionate Spirit.” I always enjoy doing local fairs and events; it’s fun to chat to the visitors and to find out what sort of books they like reading, and when they do their reading. I’ve learned some interesting information about different reading habits that way!

In addition, I’ll be doing some book signing events at local bookshops. More about those closer to the time!

Filed under: book reviews, Books, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing Tagged: a passionate spirit, author, book review, books, creative writing, exciting plans, fiction, publication day, reviews, SC Skillman author

Is it an Author’s Responsibility to Write a Satisfying Conclusion?

How important is it for the ending of a novel to satisfy?

image credit writing4success.com

To what extent can an author be held responsible for this, or is it down to the heart and mind of the reader?

In 2012 I published an online article about novel endings in which I quoted Robert McKee in his excellent book Story.  He describes many different types of endings, in popular films and novels. He says the main protagonist may not achieve their desire, but ‘the flood of insight that pours from the gap delivers the hoped-for emotion… in a way we could never have foreseen.’

I believe the end to a novel must satisfy, wheher it be ironic, bittersweet, tragic, creepy, heartbreaking, chilling, shocking, tantalising or fairy-tale happy.

A good end to a story may deal out poetic justice, wisdom, truth, comedy, surprise, a frisson of terror…  but it should never be disappointing, pointless, depressing, or (worst of all, I think) unnecessary.

I believe this last charge could be levelled at Louis de Bernieres for his ending of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – a book which otherwise made a strong impact on me and which I found compelling.

Recently I’ve spoken to a few people about unsatisfying novel endings.  I heard this comment from my 17 year old son about the end to GP Taylor’s young adult novel Shadowmancer:  “I was left wondering what on earth had happened. I felt disappointed.”

I know I am not alone in my reaction to the end of Louis de Bernieres’s novel. To me, the end of the story was unnecessary and pointless; it made me feel angry. I don’t even believe that a poor ending to a novel can be justified by the notion that “well, life is like that”. Even if cruel irony plays its part in the outcome, nevertheless, we should feel that the end plays an essential part in the organic whole of the world which the novel presents.

I’ve also heard some negative reactions to the final outcome of CS Lewis’s Narnia stories.  I myself felt slightly unsatisfied and disappointed. I felt that in some curious undefined way it was “a cop-out”. Others have reacted more strongly to this disappointment. CS Lewis’s finale made them furious, having loved the books so much!

I hope that the end of my novel A Passionate Spirit will satisfy. Whether it will chill, or shock, or surprise… I’ll leave that up to you, my future reader!

Filed under: Books, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing, SC Skillman Tagged: a passionate spirit, emotion, heart and mind, main protagonist, novel, novel endings, reader, satisfying conclusion, SC Skillman author, story

A Passionate Spirit About to Go to Print!

Passionate Spirit cover design

My new novel A Passionate Spirit is about to go to print, after several rounds of revision to the typeset proofs.

I’ve recently been contacted by a journalist who sought my permission to quote me in a book he’s writing – and coincidentally I’ve also quoted him in an appendix to my novel! He wanted to quote from a blog post I wrote a couple of years ago, on a subject which is relevant to my story.

It was fortunate that he did contact me because not only was I happy for him to quote me, but was also able to check the appendix over with him and then submit a couple of changes to the typeset proofs.

Publication dates grows ever nearer now (28 November) and the next stage will be for me to check the list of media contacts who’ll receive my Press Release. Then the manuscript will also be converted into an ebook and once approved, will be uploaded to Net Galley.

If you’re a member of Net Galley do seek out A Passionate Spirit there in a few days’ time and download your free copy for review!

Filed under: book reviews, Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing Tagged: a passionate spirit, author, books, creative writing, Net Galley, novel, publication date, SC Skillman author, typeset proofs, writing

Signs and Omens at Gloucester for A Passionate Spirit

Many have through the centuries seen signs or omens from the natural world.

A view of Gloucester Cathedral

In my article on Carl Jung’s theory of archetypes “How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Archetypes Help You In Your Creative Writing?” which I wrote for ezine articles in January 2012, I mention the archetype of the animal spirit guide/messenger. This runs as a theme through all mythology, appearing everywhere from aboriginal legend to ancient Greek thought to the Bible to classic literature.

Here’s what I wrote then on the theme of the animal spirit messenger:

“…the Bible of course makes use of this theme too by giving the Dove a key role as a guide; and as a symbol of peace, love, the Holy Spirit. Another example is the Raven. “To have a raven’s knowledge” is an Irish proverb meaning “to have a seer’s supernatural powers”. The Raven was banished from the Ark by Noah – but it returned later on in the Old Testament to feed Elijah in the wilderness.”

The Raven Centre in Gloucester

I make use of the theme of the Raven in my new novel A Passionate Spirit.

Yesterday I was in Gloucester where I visited the local branch of Waterstone’s on my Cotswolds bookstore tour.

Gloucester has many historical locations, and so I was tempted to take several photos. When I viewed my photo of Gloucester Cathedral I noticed that my camera had caught a large bird on the wing, flying past the Cathedral.

Bird flies past Gloucester Cathedral

Then I turned round and discovered that the  lovely timbered building behind me was called The Raven Centre.

A fanciful coincidence? Or maybe a beautiful sign or good omen?  I choose to hope so!

Filed under: animals, Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing Tagged: animal spirit messengers, archetypes, Carl Jung, creative writing, Gloucester, Gloucester Cathedral, passionate spirit, raven, SC Skillman author, signs and omens

A Passionate Spirit Full Cover

I was delighted to receive the full cover for my new novel this week:

A Passionate Spirit full Cover

I’ve just sent back my third set of corrected typeset proofs to Matador and await the new proofs. When I’ve approved them, the book can go to print.

Don’t forget you can pre-order the book now, either from Matador or from Amazon!

Filed under: Books, British, creative writing Tagged: full cover reveal, Matador, new novel, passionate spirit, preorder, print, SCSkillman author, typeset proofs

Cotswolds Locations to Give Spice and Colour to the World of A Passionate Spirit

Recently I’ve been visiting a number of Cotswolds locations in which key scenes of my novel A Passionate Spirit are set, and locations which are referred to in the story.

The Fleece, Market Place, Cirencester

A Passionate Spirit is a paranormal thriller, and some of the events of the story cross the borderline between the real world and the unexplained.

St John the Baptist Church, Market Place, Cirencester

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I enjoy exploring fictional characters in their everyday world and how they respond when they meet the impossible.

Graze Bar and Brasserie in Gosditch St, Cirencester

Extra spice and colour has been added into my novel because the events take place in real locations.

I hope those residents of Cirencester who read my novel  will perhaps have a different view of some of these locations after they’ve finished the story!

The King’s Head Hotel, Market Place, Cirencester

Filed under: Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing Tagged: a passionate spirit, author, books, Cirencester, Cotswolds, fictional characters, locations in novel, paranormal thriller, SC Skillman author, story

New Life, New Season, Fresh Start at University

Autumn is often a time of new beginnings and a few days ago we moved our daughter Abigail into her new student room in her hall of residence at Gloucestershire University, Cheltenham.  There she will be completing her studies in Media Production and we hope she will emerge as a great film-maker.

Personalizing the student “capsule”

Saying goodbye to your young person as he or she goes to the university is often a time of many and mixed emotions for parents.  If I’d used “emoticons” to demonstrate my emotions, there would have been a full range of contradictory faces!

There would have been faces which were sad, fearful, anxious, excited and hopeful among them.  And upon returning home again, having said goodbye to her, feelings of being bereft, numb and even feelings of unreality.

New space in the student room

And yet she is now making new friends, attending lots of events, discovering new things, entering a different world.  It’s a time for rejoicing too.

For many it can be the best, most fun part of your life.

What can compare to those hilarious conversations and cooking disasters that take place in the student kitchens, or those late nights sitting on the bed in someone else’s room, doing crazy things? or those new discoveries as you go along to another quirky society you signed up for at the Freshers Fayre?

May it be so, as I think now of all the young people starting at their new universities and colleges right now.

Filed under: British, British psychological suspense writer, SC Skillman Tagged: autumn, college, fresh start, new beginnings, SCSkillman author, student, University

Fellow Author’s Book Launch in “The Greatest Bookshop in the World”…

Blackwell’s Bookshop in Broad Street, Oxford

This weekend I attended the book launch of a fellow author: Philip Davies who has published the first in a series of young adult fantasy books called “Destiny’s Rebel.”

Philip is a member of a writers group I attend, and we were all delighted when he was at last able to announce he’d signed a contract for the publication of his book, after many trials and tribulations with agents and publishers – the kind of thing all writers can relate to. Philip has read aloud to us extracts from his novel during the past few years and we’d all come to know and love his sassy heroine Kat.

Philip held his book launch in Blackwell’s at 48-51 Broad Street in Oxford – and what a wonderful bookshop  it is.

SC Skillman author