Neil J Hart's Blog, page 4

The Madison Chronicles: Locations & Inspirations

Since falling in love with reading, I’ve always relished diving into a new book and discovering the world that I find around me. As a writer, one of my favourite parts of the job is creating worlds of my own for people to read and discover, too.

The Madison Chronicles (TMC) started life as a little story about a woman who went around stealing unimportant memories (like where you put the car keys, or the date of your cousins birthdays, or what happened an hour ago) and tucking them into her po...

Writing Update Feb 2016

Well, it’s been a while since I updated you on what’s been going on here. So, here goes…

I’ve spent the time stripping book one of The Madison Chronicles: Sadie Madison and the Boy In The Crimson Scarf back to basics and building it all back up again. It’s now a little over 140k words and split into 40 shorter chapters (rather than the 23 monster chapters). It’s now on it’s way to literary agents. Wish it luck.

Meanwhile I’m busy plotting and writing book two: working title Sadie Madison and...

The Madison Chronicles: World Building

As a writer, one of my favourite parts of the job is world building. Since falling in love with reading, I’ve always relished diving into a new book and discovering the world that I find around me. The task of creating my own worlds for others to discover is the closet I’ll get to being a God.

The Madison Chronicles (TMC) started life as a little story about a woman who went around stealing unimportant memories (like where you put the car keys, or the date of your cousins birthdays, or what h...

Writing Update Dec 2015

I’m really geared up and excited to take Sadie Madison in 2016. Here’s a writing update…

I’m rattling through my edits and corrections on book one of The Madison Chronicles, Sadie Madison and the Boy In The Crimson Scarf. I’ll be working endless on them throughout December and over Christmas, so hopefully all that hard work will be ready to go out to agents in the new year.

I’d like to thank those of you that have been offering suggestions on character names and giving me your favourite types...

Writing Update Sept 2015

Another month and another long list of edits, updates, changes and re-writes.

I’m only a week or so away from completion now (first major draft) and then I’ll be sending my words out to some of you for appraisal and feedback. I’m really excited about the book now, not that i wasn’t before, but, over the past six months, it has really taken on a new guise and molded itself into a new type of monster. A monster that I hope you’ll all enjoy spending time with.

I’m currently working through each...

Interview August 2015

Quick Interview with me…

What is your motto or maxim?
NjH: “You should be writing!”

How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
NjH: Get up, read books, write books, eat, sleep.

Questions About Books and Writing

Who are your favourite authors?
NjH: Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Clive Barker, Douglas Coupland, JRR Tolkien, George RR Martin

What are your 5 favourite books of all time?
NjH: The Two Towers, Generation X, Ready Player One, American Gods, His Dark Materials.

Is there a book y...

Writing Update Feb 2015

Well, it’s been a year since I updated you on what’s been going on here. I’ve spent the year stripping book one of The Madison Chronicles: The Girl Who Could Not Forget back to basics and building it all back up again. It’s now well over 150k words and split into shorter 38 chapters (rather than the 23 monster chapters previously). I’ve put it away for a while so it can breathe and rest and mature.

Meanwhile I’m busily plotting and writing book two, tentatively entitled The Boy Who Could Not F...

Monsters

I’ve always loved monsters. I even love the word Monsters. Hmmm, Monsters. What’s not to love about Monsters? Oh, right, yeah… they’re terrifying! But isn’t that’s why we love them? Yes. It is.

There are no limitations with monsters. They can be all, and anything, and everything that you want them to be; what you can imagine, what you can fear, what you can feel watching you in the dark. The long raking fingers, gnarled flesh, gaping maw, shredding teeth, hulking powerful limbs, needle sharp s...

Writing Update Jan 2014

Happy New Year

I’m really geared up for 2014. The last few edits and corrections on Book One: The Girl Who Could Not Forget are underway – been working endless on them throughout December and over christmas – so hopefully all that hard work will be in your hands soon. I know I have a select band of readers just itching to have a read. That time is approaching fast.

I’d like to thank those of you that have been offering suggestions on character names and giving me your favourite types of sandwic...

Writing Update Nov 2013

Another month and another long list of edits, updates, changes and re-writes. I’m only a week or so away from completion now (first major draft, anyway) and then I’ll be sending my words out to some of you for appraisal and feedback. I’m really excited about the book now, not that i wasn’t before, but, over the past six months, it has really taken on a new guise and molded itself into a new type of monster. A monster that I hope you’ll all enjoy spending time with.

I’m currently working throug...