Sylvia May's Blog, page 11

Writing What I Know

There are many words of advice given to writers as they learn and hone their craft. One phrase consistently tends to pop up: "write what you know." What does that mean exactly? If every author followed that advice literally, how could we have wonderful fantasy worlds like those of Lord of the Rings or Hunger Games? Or intriguing murder mysteries?

"Writing what you know" is more subtle than that. I may not know what it's like to come upon a dead body, but I do know what it feels like to be...

An Author's Work...and NEW RELEASE!!

Now that I'm an author, it seems that my work is never-ending. A typical day at my computer might go like this: First I check FaceBook and emails for author Sylvia May, then I check FaceBook and emails for author Lucy Arlington. Finally I get writing on my current novel (working title of Hyde Island), and find myself in the middle of a troubling scene when I remember I was supposed to do a guest blog about my novel, The Unraveling of Abby Settel. No sooner do I complete that, when my c...

January reading and signing

When it comes to blogging, the question I always ask myself is this: Why do I continue to let blogging sink to the bottom of my to-do list? After the best of intentions in adding "blog more" to my resolutions for 2012, here we are on the last day of January and the last time I posted was New Year's!

It seems that time management, which in the past has never been a problem for me, has become a challenge in my life as an author living in Bermuda. No matter, we forge ahead.

I was recently in...

Happy New Year!

2011 was an amazing year for me because it was the year I became an AUTHOR. And ending the year on a high note, The Waterloo Chronicle, a weekly newspaper in my old hometown, ran a story about me and my book this week. Read it here.


As January first approaches (tomorrow!!) I begin to think about my New Year's Resolutions. Oh, I know that's cliché, but the sense of having a fresh start when the year changes invigorates me. I make a list of goals and resolutions and am filled with optimism...

Happy Holidays!!

I would like to wish you all a fabulous holiday season, and a happy and successful 2012. This past year was amazing, and it was in part due to you, my wonderful and supportive family, friends and readers. Your terrific response to my book is what makes me truly feel like an author. Thank you.

Below is my Holiday newsletter. If you wish to be on the email list to have future ones delivered to your inbox, please go to the Newsletter page on my website and sign up. Also, if the links don't work h...

My Journey as an Author

Yesterday, I was invited to be the speaker for the International Women's Club of Bermuda's December luncheon and general meeting. They had asked me to speak on "My Journey as an Author." My talk was well received, and afterward many women came up to tell me that my story inspired them to be less hesitant about pursuing their goals. That was a wonderful validation. Below I've copied in my talk:
I have met many amazing women in the IWC who have done, and do, amazing things. And they all have...

On the Air

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the radio about my book, The Unraveling of Abby Settel. Nikita Robinson of HOTT 107.5 Bermuda invited me on her Book Club Hour to talk about the book as a prelude to her announcement that it is December's choice for the Book Club. (Woo hoo!!)

When the interview date was arranged a month ago, I had asked Nikita if she had questions for which I could prepare answers. Her reply was no, she preferred to do it on the fly and let my responses be s...

Plan it or let it flow?

Yesterday I set aside the whole day for writing. I exercised early, cleaned the kitchen, put the laundry on, made a cup of coffee and sat down to work by 9:00am. I've been making slow progress with my WIP so I was determined to complete chapter 10 and 11 by the end of the day.

There I was, fingers poised over the keyboard, collecting my thoughts. I knew what my character was going to do, what would occur as a result, and I was eager to make it all happen. After five minutes of typing, I was...

Kids, Advice, and Marketing on the Internet

Currently I'm in Canada, visiting my adult children. It is soul filling to hug them, catch up on their lives, laugh and share stories. It is especially heartwarming when they tell me how proud they are that I am now a published author.

In a good way, our roles are reversing as they now give me advice on various aspects of life in today's technical world. They have their fingers on the pulse of social networking and marketing techniques much more than I. In particular my daughter, who...

Watercolours and Words

In the past year, I have been learning how to paint with watercolours. It has been both a challenging and enjoyable endeavour. There are so many skills to acquire--how to hold your brush, mixing colours, various wet and dry brush techniques. I have learned to be patient, because if you don't wait for a colour to dry then it will bleed into the next one you apply. Watercolours are unforgiving--you can't paint over a mistake. I've produced results that are only good for tearing up and throwing ...