S.C. Skillman's Blog, page 52

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

A Trail of Discovery Through Small Independent Bookshops in the Cotswolds

Over the past couple of months, at the suggestion of my publisher Matador,

Passionate Spirit cover design

I’ve visited a number of small independent bookshops throughout the Cotswolds (where my new novel A Passionate Spirit is set).

The Yellow Lighted Bookshop Tetbury

I’ve introduced myself and my novel, offered each bookshop manager a copy of my advance information sheet and asked if they would be willing to stock my book when it comes out in November.

Not only have I found the managers of the shops very friendly and encouraging, and have won several positive responses to the idea of stocking my book, but also I’ve had a wonderful journey of discovery among small independent bookshops.

Madhatter Bookshop, Burford

For a small town to have its own independent bookshop is a great blessing. I’ve now visited bookshops in Stow-on-the Wold, Burford, Chipping Norton, Tetbury, and Woodstock.

The Borzoi Bookshop, Stow-on-the-Wold

Among the bookshops I found one that also sells hats; and another that sells tea, coffee and cakes at the front, in amongst the book displays. All of these shops have individual, fascinating and eclectic displays of books; none are the same, and none are dominated by the current blockbuster or most-hyped new publication. In several I found books that I wanted to buy, and I did make a number of purchases; among them, not a few Christmas presents!

I still plans to visit bookshops in Stroud, Abingdon, and Oxford.

Jaffe and Neal Bookshop, Chipping Norton

In particular I loved this quote which I found in The Yellow Lighted Bookshop, Tetbury:

So often, a visit to a bookshop has reminded me that there are good things in the world.  (Vincent Van Gogh)

I thoroughly agree with Van Gogh.

Filed under: About Books I love, Books, British, British psychological suspense writer, creative writing Tagged: a passionate spirit, books, Cotswolds, discovery, good things, indpendent bookshops, journey, novel, SC Skillman author, Vincent Van Gogh

Antithesis to HRH’s Quirky Garden Rooms Full of Curiosities: Compton Verney Capability Brown Landscape

Isn’t it lovely how many different moods and themes can be captured by garden designers and landscape architects?

The parkland surrounding Compton Verney house, Warwickshire

A week ago I was speaking to the guide who led our tour around Highgrove Gardens about how HRH The Prince of Wales viewed Capability Brown. And the answer was that he realises in some contexts the ideas of that great eighteenth century garden designer might be appropriate, but personally it’s not his “sort of thing”. For when Capability Brown was brought in to transform the surroundings of a stately home, he would be thinking of sweeping lawns flowing seamlessly into the extensive parklands via the ha-ha, dotted with majestic parkland trees, and would of course throw in a cunningly-situated lake, which would create a perfect vista from the house.  This is a profoundly different  approach to that of the sequence of interconnected rooms full of  quirky and unexpected things, which is itself a very popular style of garden design among the great gardeners (such as Vita Sackville West with Sissinghurst Castle Garden, of course).

View across the new wildflower meadow to the chapel at Compton Verney

However yesterday I was in one of my favourite Capability Brown landscapes at Compton Verney in Warwickshire

And again I thought how calming and uplifting it is to be in this spacious parkland, which wraps around the house perfectly, providing an ideal setting.

But there’s now a new feature in the landscape, of which HRH the Prince of Wales would wholeheartedly approve: a new wildflower meadow on the West Lawn, with mown paths running through it corresponding to a William Morris design, relating directly to the theme of the excellent Arts and Crafts exhibition currently showing inside the house.

As we visited it on the last day of August the wildflowers were long past their best; apart from a single patch which gave some idea of what the entire meadow will look like next May:

Wildflower meadow at Compton Verney

Filed under: art exhibitions, British, British landscape, buildings, culture, design Tagged: Arts and Crafts, Compton Verney, curiosities, designer, garden, garden design, Highgrove, HRH the Prince of Wales, ideal, landscape, quirky, SC Skillman author, Sissinghurst, William Morris