Sarah Painter's Blog, page 5

How I Used Pictures To Write In The Light of What We See

Nancy Beaton as a Shooting Star for the Galaxy Ball, 1929 Photographer: Cecil Beaton.
This is an important image in the book and I had a print of it sitting on my desk while I wrote.

When I’m writing I like to collect images which ‘feel’ like my book. In the past, I’ve even made paper-and-glue collages, with small objects and found ephemera stuck into the mix.

Visual details and setting are very important to me, but the first draft tends to arrive in the form of characters talking. In The Light of What We See was no exception, so I used an inspiration board of digital images to help me. The board (like the book) includes ghost birds, the beautiful Gower peninsula in South Wales, Brighton, nurses, and the Royal Sussex Hospital.

In the early stages, I use pictures of people as ‘placeholders’ for the characters. They don’t necessarily look the same as the character, but they evoke a feeling or attitude which helps me to write them. Pretty quickly, I get to know them through the story and they take on a life of their own. Evie and Geraint look (and feel) completely different in my mind, now, but the inspiration board was a massive help in the beginning.

Unusually, I didn’t use images for either Mina or Grace (the main characters) as they arrived so fully-formed and definite that I didn’t need them.

As this book is half-set in 1938, I did a fair amount of research. The pictures serve as shorthand reminders for that research or, again, just to set a certain mood in my mind before writing a scene.

I have collected quite a few of the images I used onto a Pinterest board if you are interested.

Out on Friday – meep!

Also, don’t forget to enter your email address here to be in with a chance of winning book swag on Friday!

I will pick three names at random from my mailing list on Friday afternoon.

Also, Lake Union are running a GoodReads giveaway which ends on Friday. Head here for your chance to win one of twenty paperbacks.

Publication Celebration Giveaway – Pretty Book Swag!

Hello, my lovelies!

On the weekend, I took my book out for lunch in Edinburgh, and a good time was had by all… As you can see, my book likes a splash of Prosecco. Quite right, too!

As promised, I have procured some goodies to giveaway to celebrate the publication of In The Light of What We See.

I have had two gorgeous book lockets made. They are quite tricky to photograph, but here’s one held by me. The locket measures 22 x 17mm, but might look as if it is larger in my small-ish hand.

The locket opens and has spaces for two (tiny!) pictures/photos.

I also have some notebooks (one bird-themed as a nod to the ‘ghost birds’ which appear in the novel) and one with my book cover, and some lovely postcards.

Woodland Trust bird notebook

On publication day (1st April – as if you could forget!), I shall pick three names at random from my mailing list and those lucky ducks will win one of the following prizes:*

1st: 1 book locket, 1 ‘bird’ notebook, 2 x postcards

2nd: 1 book locket, 2 x postcards

3rd: 1 book-cover notebook, 2 x postcards

FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN – SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER HERE!

In other (boasty) news: In The Light of What We See is still in the top 100 ‘Kindle Bestsellers’ chart. Huzzah!

Thank you to everyone who has bought it, reviewed it, or spread the word. I am so grateful!

*Giveaway is open Internationally and closes at midday (GMT) on 1st April, 2016.

In The Light of What We See Picked for Kindle First!

So, um… This happened. Meep!

Hello, my lovelies.

Something a little bit exciting happened with In The Light of What We See, but I was strictly forbidden from talking about it… It’s been killing me!

The book has been chosen as a Kindle First title, which means it is out (Kindle format and in the UK/Australia only) right now. During March, members of the Kindle First book club can pick up a copy of the book for just 99p and read it ahead of official publication on 1st April.

I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you about this before – I hope you will forgive me.

I also hope you’ll forgive a little horn-blowing… In The Light of What We See hit number 3 on the Kindle chart yesterday. Whoop!

It’s also currently NUMBER ONE in the ‘Contemporary Fiction’ chart on the Australian Amazon. Thank you, Australia!

I’ve also received my first three reviews and they are all five star… Cue a massive sigh of relief!

If you’re in the UK, you can join Kindle First (for free) and grab your copy for 99p here. For Australian readers, the price is $1.99.

For those in the rest of the world, there are only four weeks to go until official publication; do pop back next week (or sign up here) to hear about a pre-launch giveaway.

Thank you!

 

 

 

Five Weeks And Counting…

Do you remember the bit in Back To The Future when George McFly receives a box full of copies of his latest book from his publisher? Well, I’ve dreamed of that moment since I first saw the film, and last week it actually happened! Meep!

I will apologise right now, but this blog (and some of my social media) is going to be heavy on the meeping. It is five weeks until In The Light of What We See hits the shelves and I am so excited I may just burst.

Excited, too? Thank you! You can pre-order it here, add it to your bookshelf on GoodReads or sign-up for my newsletter for the chance to win some celebratory book swag.

Paper sculpture by Su Blackwell.

In other news, I have been drooling over Su Blackwell’s beautiful book sculptures (again!).

She has a book out with beautiful photographs of her work, but I would love to see the real things. One day!

 

 

Monday Motivation: Happy Author Is Happy

The sparkly owl I knitted also makes me happy. Essential companion when reading and stalwart book-cosy!

It’s Monday morning as I write this – not traditionally a time of deep joy – but I am fizzing with excitement. Okay, some of that may be the caffeine (I didn’t sleep well and possibly over-filled the tea bucket) but it’s mostly happiness.

I am just so damn lucky because I love my job. I went out for a meal with my lovely husband recently and do you know what I started blethering about as soon as my first beer hit? My job: My current WIP, my ideas for this website, how amazingly nice and supportive my readers are, how flipping lucky I am, and how I still can’t believe I get to do this…

So, thank you to you all for being here. I am so grateful to you for reading and talking about my books and for hanging out in my corner of the internet.

And I’m grateful to all readers, too. They (well, ‘we’, since I’m a reader, too) support an industry which promotes creativity and empathy and enables a (lucky) few to work in their PJs.

On that note, if you fancy winning a signed copy of The Language of Spells, there’s a GoodReads giveaway running at the moment (finishes Thursday). You can enter here.

 

 

Hello, February! Writing, Podcasting and Investigating Book Swag

Hello, my lovelies!

Just a quick update to let you know that I’m still here – I’ve just been buried in my Scrivener document, trying to get a first draft finished. I’m working on a follow-up (standalone novel in the same genre) to In The Light of What We See and it has swallowed my brain!

If you’re interested in an audio update on my writing life (complete with a croaky, cold-choked voice), my latest podcast episode is up here. It also features an interview with creative coach, Mark McGuinness, and we discuss motivation, meditation and smashing through creative blocks.

I’m also getting very excited about my next book launch. In The Light of What We See will be published in two months time (meep!) and I’ve been researching ‘book swag’ for giveaways. This mainly involves losing hours to the delights of Etsy. It’s a hard life…

I’m rather fond of these miniature book pendants by NickyDrawStuff:

 

And these lockets by NovelDesignsUK:

 

Both sellers offer custom design (so I could get some made with my book cover).

I’m also looking into printed canvas shopping/tote bags and notebooks.

What do you think? Got any book swag recommendations or suggestions?

 

 

 

 

2015: The Greatest Hits

Snow Jabba says ‘Hug me – it’s Christmas!’

Hello, my lovelies!

The snow has all gone (for the moment!) and Jabba-the-Hut, lovingly moulded by the Painter family has sadly melted away… However, school has finished and pre-Christmas holiday excitement is in full force around here!

I love the turn of the year and the chance to reflect on the previous twelve months. It’s been pretty wonderful both personally and professionally and I’m so very grateful.

My agent sold my dual narrative novel, In The Light of What We See.  It’s out in April 2016 in paperback, ebook and audiobook, and I can’t wait!

Earlier in the year, I wrote (and had published) a Pendleford novella The Garden of Magic.

I also finished the first draft of my urban fantasy and started another book. And I’ve got an idea for series which is tugging at my sleeve. Hush now, series idea, you’ll have to wait your turn…

 

 

 

I started a podcast and have been amazed and delighted by the lovely authors who have given up their time to be interviewed for the show. It’s been wonderful to hear from fellow writers (from those just starting out to the very experienced), and I’ve been so touched by all the positive comments and support for the show. I hope to make it bigger and better in 2016 and have lots of plans to make the site www.worriedwriter.com an even-more valuable resource.

I have ordered a shiny new planner for next year and am excited about making plans and setting goals for 2016.

My main plan, as in previous years, will be to write as much as possible. Ideally, I want to write/finish three novels, but as long as I’m working hard and creating lots, I will be happy.

I also wanted to say a big ‘thank you’ for visiting and reading, and for all your kind words over the year. THANK YOU!

Happy holidays to you all!

 

I have a book cover! Meep!

Hello, my lovelies!

I have a cover and official blurb for my new book, In The Light of What We See. 

I think the designers at Lake Union have captured the mood of the book perfectly and I’m thrilled. Hope you like it!

Here’s the blurb:

Brighton, 1938: Grace Kemp is pushed away by the family she has shamed. Rejected and afraid, she begins a new life as a nurse. But danger stalks the hospital too, and she’ll need to be on her guard to avoid falling into familiar traps. And then there are the things she sees…Strange portents that have a way of becoming real.

Eighty years later, Mina Morgan is brought to the same hospital after a near-fatal car crash. She is in terrible pain but recalls nothing. She’s not even sure whom to trust. Mina too sees things that others cannot, but now, in hospital, her visions are clearer than ever…

Two women, separated by decades, are drawn together by a shared space and a common need to salvage their lives.

It’s out on 1st April 2016 and is available for pre-order. You, know. In case you’re interested…

Writing, Snow and The End of The Year Approacheth

Snowy commute to the writing shed yesterday! Brr!

Hello, my lovelies.

It’s the last day of November – eep! As if to hammer the point home, the weather took a decidedly wintry turn yesterday (see above).

I managed to hit my target of 30,000 words, but my WIP hasn’t grown by anywhere near that much as I’ve scrapped a character’s point-of-view. Sigh. Still, I have to remember that I had to write those words in order to discover that they didn’t belong in the book.

Fine-tipped colour pens make everything better. Fact.

I have so many plans for December. There is ‘life stuff’ to catch up on (like Christmas shopping and crafting) and lots of writing-related things I want to get done before the Christmas holiday and the end of the year…

The last month of the year is a time to revisit my goals for 2015, knowing it’s my last chance to get them done.*

It’s a little overwhelming to be honest, so I’m going to sit down with my favourite fine-tipped coloured pens and make a list. Or two.

Thank you for visiting!

*I know fine well I can ‘carry them over’ to next year’s goal list, but I don’t want to, damn it!

 

 

(Not) NaNoWriMo

Mechanical Paper Art by the talented Jennifer Collier – www.jennifercollier.co.uk

On the podcast this month, I interview thriller author Catherine Ryan Howard. Catherine was lots of fun and the interview has been described as ‘giggly’. Good thing I cut out lots of the laughter in the edit…

Hop over here to listen (it’s free!) or via iTunes.

In other news, I have been attempting to get a chunk of my new first draft done. I’m not doing NaNoWriMo, but a personal challenge to get 30,000 words down in November.

How’s it going? Well… Given that this first two weeks has been filled with visitors and life stuff and volunteering at my daughter’s musical theatre group for their annual production (backstage only, you’ll be relieved to hear), I’m pretty pleased: 9,288 words.

Yes, this leaves me with the lion’s share, but the next two weeks are infinitely quieter than the start of the month, so I have every faith I shall catch up.

I also finished reading this fantastic collection: P.G. Wodehouse: A Life in Letters, Edited by Sophie Ratcliffe. It’s a fascinating look at the life of a prolific writer and full of reassuring  lines such as:

‘I am now trying to get a plot for a new novel, but so far only incoherent ramblings.’

How about you? Are you taking part in NaNoWriMo?

[Wonderful typewriter art found via DesignSoak]