Janet Pywell's Blog, page 3
May 21, 2018
About my research and writing: Stolen Script
Many readers ask me why I write, how I write and the development of my characters. I feel extremely lucky as I get to do the one thing everyday that I love – write!
Stolen Script is very special to me as Mikky develops in a way that I didn’t expect her to. She has found security and love but she doesn’t know how to handle it. She’s frightened of commitment but secretly she yearns to be with someone she loves. But more importantly Mikky likes to take risks.
Like all of the novels in my Culture Crime Series, I invest a huge amount of time into research. Because of my love of travel and other cultures, I am able to create a strong sense of time and place. This particular novel takes the reader from America (New York), Turkey (Izmir) and to Greece (Rhodes). I visited Rhodes and went to the Jewish Museum, and imagined where Nikos would have his prospective boutique hotel. These are pictures I took in the synagogue and the museum.
[image error] [image error] [image error]
These are images of Rhodes old town. Mikky moves into a boutique hotel whilst trying to get the Torah from Nikos.
[image error] [image error] [image error]
These pictures are of a beautiful taverna, the old walls near the harbour where Yannis moors his boat and the hotel swimming pool with the sea, and views of Turkey, in the background.
[image error] [image error][image error]
Each book in the series gives a harrowing glimpse into the hidden world of violence, greed and jealousy within the arts.
Stolen Script also includes drugs and human trafficking, an unfortunate culture that is both prevalent and influential in many parts of our society – at home and abroad. The full extent of how people’s lives are affected is both horrific and shocking, and I wanted to write about how it happens around us. We must pay attention and help those affected – especially refugees who have lost their families, their homes and even their countries.
This gripping international crime thriller tells the story of Mikky dos Santos, an artist and photographer who is brilliant, idiosyncratic and who does not always do the right thing. After a personal catastrophe in New York she insists on going to Greece to authenticate a valuable parchment where she makes a promise to return it to the Jewish museum in Rhodes.
But time is running out and Nikos Pavlides isn’t giving up the Torah easily. He’s also hiding a deeper, darker secret and, as he plays a deadly game, the stakes are raised.
Mikky stands to lose everything – including her life…
Stolen Script – Buy now:
KINDLE UK|KINDLE USA | AMAZON PRINT |NOOK | APPLE | KOBO |
December 17, 2017
Bedtime Blog 12 — Read Me or You’ll Regret It — Buster!
How many headlines scream out to you?
How many times are you lured in with expectation only to be disappointed? Headlines can be like relationships, or like a book title or like a promise.
How many get broken?
The faithfulness of dogs is legendary. Their devotion, their love and their friendship is like curling up with a good book — your best friend.
[image error]
A pat on the head, a reward or a thank you — is a genuine sign of appreciation. Trust is security.
I’d like to thank you for reading my blog and for following me the last few months. It’s been my pleasure to write this each week — knowing that you are with me on my pathway through life.
Since I started writing this I have launched BEDTIME READS. My second book of short stories — all based on relationships. Some good, some bad, some crazy and mean.
I hope you’ve found them fun and interesting. If you haven’t had a chance to read them yet then you can click on this link here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Please do leave a review as it helps other readers find my books. You can do this under product description – Customer Reviews: Write A Review.
I’ll be back in 2018 for the launch of the last novel in my Culture Crime Series. FINAL SCRIPT. If you haven’t read my International Crime Thrillers yet then you can get them here:
Books are the perfect Christmas presents – buy one today for family & friends.
Good night, dear Reader. Have a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
Janet
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
December 10, 2017
Bedtime Blog 11 — Statues and Pigeons
‘The world is divided into two: statues and pigeons,’ my friend Holly, says to me.
She’s one of those genuinely good people, kind, funny and self-deprecating.
‘You’re sounding very philosophical. You only went to Crete for five days and you’ve come back like Homer,’ I reply.
‘I must be a Homer pigeon then. I couldn’t wait to land — there’s nowhere like England.’
‘That’s true.’ The irony in my voice says it all. I’d love a holiday. I’d love to get away. Five nights in Greece would suit me well.
[image error]
‘I’m not saying the food wasn’t good but it was an all-inclusive hotel and food was served in a large display cabinet. Most things were luke warm and congealed to the extent where it had to be prized apart — and the cocktails were pre-made.’
‘You might have got it from the ice.’
‘What?’
‘Greek tummy.’
‘I much prefer self-catering and eating out in local restaurants.’
‘You can do that next time.’ My reply is glib.
‘It was supposed to be a fly and flop holiday — we were so tired. But it was more like fly and plop. I spent more time in the bathroom than anywhere else — it didn’t even have a window.’
‘How perfectly dreadful.’
‘I think I’ll stay at home next year.’
‘Fly away Peter, fly away Paul,’ I hum.
She tilts her head to stare inquisitively at me. ‘Who?’
‘Homer pigeons, flying back to Heraklion. They’re homesick.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If you stop flying then you’ll always be a statue.’
Good night, dear reader. Keep flapping those wings.
Janet
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
December 3, 2017
Bedtime Blog 10 — Doesn’t Sand Get Everywhere?
[image error]
Have you noticed?
Sand is like water. One small granule or drop is neither here nor there but en masse it can form the deepest ocean or the widest desert.
It’s effect can be massive, daunting and sometimes frightening. It can also be annoying. Like when sand is itchy between your toes, on your scalp or worse — in your sandwich!
CRUNCH!
Or that single, cold raindrop on a windy day that manages to find the gap between your head and your collar and trickles down your neck and makes you shiver.
UGH!
Each drop or granule is one small step in the grand scheme of nature. But if each sand particle didn’t turn up to the party — then they’d be no beach — let alone a party!
And that’s a bit like ideas and disciplining your mind.
You just have to continue thinking up ideas, hopes and dreams. Keep inventing new scenes, plots and scenarios for your characters and although some of them may seem irrelevant and unimportant they might just turn into something special like a beautiful, colourful desert or an amazing wild and exciting sea.
Write everything down and keep notes. One day you might just find that you have different ideas, scenes, and scenarios that will alter the destiny of your protagonist or your anti-hero. This might change their destiny and your novel. This might even change your life as it expands into an amazing bestseller.
The sea of life, brimming with mind-crashing creativity might sail you toward an unknown destination and…
You may find footprints in your sandy desert that lead you into the unknown, to somewhere exotic and exciting — a twisted plot, an interesting narrative, a remarkable love scene — a story like no other.
Good night, dear reader. Think happy, adventurous thoughts.
Janet
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
November 26, 2017
Bedtime Blog 9 — Whispering Memories…
[image error]
Do your memories whisper to you?
Do we really have control over what and when and how we think?
Sometimes I spend time collecting memory stones or shells from the beach and they form a collection on my shelf. Happy days, warm days, fun days — special days.
Red Letter days. These are the most special days. Unplanned days. Spontaneous days that fall effortlessly into place. Sometimes with strangers and often with loved ones.
Maybe it’s a trip to the cinema, a quick bite of lunch or a quick detour; all unplanned and untimed. But SPECIAL.
It’s like an idea. That same thrill when your subconscious comes up with a scenario, plot or character. That’s a red letter day for a writer. An unplanned day when your narrative falls seamlessly into place and it all makes sense in the grand scheme of your latest novel. That thrilling sense of discovery, a shivering sense of excitement — a quiver of expectation.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. John Keats .
A simple sentence that means so much to many people. The truth of a simple statement that makes you want to sit and type all day knowing it will end.
That’s the beauty and that’s the truth.
It doesn’t last. Like a handful of water, a lungful of air. That’s it’s magic and that’s it’s perfect memory. Trapped in time in the red envelope of our mind. A memory that when triggered will whisper its beauty in our ear and will make us smile or shed a tear.
And that IS what lasts. Our memories. That’s what makes them so special and unique to us. Creating memories the most important collection that one can have — so I’ll keep gathering mementos to remind me of the glorious days I’m fortunate to create.
Good night, dear reader. Make happy memories.
Janet
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
November 19, 2017
Bedtime Blog 8 — When Uncle Bob becomes Auntie Tina
[image error]They say life’s about choices — do you really believe that?
I used to — but then I realised that some people aren’t as fortunate as others and they’re trapped.
There’s many a person who loves Bob Marley but can only sing like Bob Geldof (who can’t sing) — and there’s many a person who would love to belt out Tina Turner’s Private Dancer and strut their stuff but all they can manage is a shuffle on role with Peters and Lee.
This leads me to realise that many of us are trapped in the wrong bodies. And, if that true, then it means we probably have the wrong voices and it stands to reason, we have the wrong mindset too.
Many people would like to be CEOs of their own company, own a number of homes and jet away to dine in luxury restaurants with views of the setting sun around the world.
But some people just want to be surrounded by a loving family and good friends.
Whatever our ambition we all want the same thing — to be happy.
That can involve singing aloud as if we’re some happy skylark perched on the top branch or a whirling, twirling leaf falling from a tree like we’re dancing without inhibitions.
For writers — it’s a little more serious. We can be a little more intense and we’re probably over sensitive too. But there’s no point in wanting to be Agatha Christie when you’re really Jackie Collins — there’s no point in bumping someone off with a candlestick when you can shag them to death.
What does it matter if anyone doesn’t like you — or your work — or your voice? What does it matter if no-one appreciates what you do?
You’re the one that has to live in the T-shirt of your own skin. So, I say, don’t be Uncle Bob if you want to be Auntie Tina.
Rock your life and strut your stuff. Be true to who you are and write what you feel.
There’ll always be the self-styled gurus who will tell you WHAT THEY THINK. There will be people who give you advice on managing your career, your family and your goals. There’s even advice on managing your goals to set your goals — and there’s certainly a podcast, a book or a course out there to help you succeed.
BUT do you know what?
All you need is a song — your song. Your tune. Sing it from your lungs. Shout it out like you’re the happiest blackbird and tell the world your lyrics. Open your arms, spin and dance until you’re dizzy. Be happy in your body singing your song and DON’T be afraid to change.
Rock it!
It’s your life and your theme tune.
Good night, dear reader. Sing happy songs.
Janet
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
November 12, 2017
Bedtime Blog 7 — The Problem with Arguments…
[image error]
Is that no-one feels good…
My mate Arthur swears he’s better off living on his own. That’s why he went to live in a shelter on the sea front. Although he’s squatting there he’s pleased he lives alone. He’s lived through arguments and recriminations and when hears other families rowing when they walk past, it just cements his hardened heart.
That’s actually a lie.
His heart isn’t hard — it’s his attitude that’s hard and unrelenting.
You see, Arthur loves the four seasons. I’m not just talking music, energising and energetic performances or music accompanied to Disney films. Arthur believes that the change in each season is a chance to dust off old habits and to change: Autumn and Winter bring death and decay whilst Spring and Summer bring regrowth.
BUT Arthur won’t change in his attitude toward his family or his friends.
He’s through fighting. He’s beyond nastiness and the pettiness of old wounds. In Arthur’s world there’s no fighting or bitterness, jealousy or envy. He leads a simple life. He’s found his own happy niche in life — sleeping rough- needing no-one.
He wakes up each morning with nothing. He watches the sunrise and the sunset. Arthur sees the things we all take for granted as we charge around, too busy to look up from our own ignorance: making money, making rules, making decisions.
Arthur watches us. He’s the elephant that sits in the room — judging. The one who hears what we say and the vile words we use in anger and ignorance. He’s the one who shakes his head at our self-opinionated arrogance. Our relentless quest to always be right or misunderstood — when we are the victim in the arguments we create.
He’s the one who tuts and shakes his head when we pretend we’re better than we really are — when we don’t recognise our unkindness and our harsh actions to others, when we can’t say sorry, when we pretend our words don’t hurt.
Arthur knows more than anyone. He understands the difference: Inclusion and Exclusion.
He knows the hurt. He’s astute and pensive.
Arthur knows the difference between a lie and a deliberate slight. He knows when you play him badly like a screeching fiddle. When he’s so strung up and you torment him with your vile ways and accusations, and when you tease him into a manipulated confrontation.
That’s why he left.
That’s why he got out. He knows rage and anger and frustration. He knows how you wind him up. Because Arthur isn’t a stupid man. Arthur isn’t irresponsible or uncaring. He says he’s better with nothing. He’s not going to be treated this way.
By YOU or by anyone.
He values himself. That’s why he lives alone. That’s why Arthur’s happy watching the sunrise and the sunset…
Goodnight dear reader, think uncomplicated thoughts…
Janet
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
November 5, 2017
Bedtime Blog 6 — The Smallest Conversation …
[image error]
I was on the beach walking my labradoodle, Teddy when a lady I’ve met a couple of times with her four children, waved at me. She was with her youngest child and when I asked, she said the older ones had returned to school for the autumn term. She was upset. She missed them after their lovely summer holiday together and as we spoke she wiped away a tear.
Her youngest girl has blond ringlets and a summer tan that emphasises her corn blue eyes. She held out her skinny arm to show me the pretty bangle on her wrist. Then she wanted to stroke Teddy’s soft coat and pat his back.
We watched indulgently and when we parted the woman said to me. I took your advice that day — after I spoke to you in the park.
It took me a while to remember our conversation and she continued.
I went to the party in the end. You know, the one I didn’t want to go to and since then we all meet up once a week. You did me a favour that day and I haven’t forgotten…
There’s a park near where and I live. I often sit there with Teddy. He likes to sit beside me on the bench (he’s a people-watcher) and we speak to people who pass-by. We watch the world together and I remember that several months ago this lady was in the park. Her youngest with the cornflower eyes was in a buggy and she told me she was supposed to go to a birthday party that afternoon. She said she didn’t have the confidence to take her daughter to her friend’s home. She didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to meet anyone or who even know what to say.
I told her that often happens to me and that it’s very often the time I don’t want to go somewhere — that I have the best time.
She didn’t look convinced so I suggested that an hour in the scheme of things — and in her whole life’s cycle — isn’t too long to put up with something. Even if you’re not happy or comfortable, I said, she may very well meet some very nice people — other mothers and make friends.
It was a small conversation. It was quickly over. Forgotten by the time I got home.
But not for her.
She remembered. For her, it was a big conversation. She took a big step that day and she went to the party. (Sounding a little Cinderella-ish here — sorry!) She took an important step and it was one she has remembered.
It changed her life — albeit in only a small way — it made a difference.
We all meet up once a week.
I don’t know her name but I’m thrilled she told me. I’m delighted she reminded me about our conversation. BUT I’m even happier that she has enriched her life.
Now, while her lovely children she misses so much, are at school she has the company of other mothers who understand and who will support her with their developing friendship…
Goodnight, dear reader. Dream positive thoughts….
Janet
[image error]
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
October 29, 2017
Bedtime Blog 5 — Who loves Monday Mornings?
[image error]
ME — I love Monday mornings…Yes, really — I know…..but I do!
EYES ROLL…but it’s true.
I’m a writer and knowing I have a whole day ahead of me to write fills me with excitement. Monday, Thursday, Saturday — they’re no longer days of the week.
And it’s because I’m happy doing what I do.
Let’s be honest. Doing something you enjoy is far better than sitting miserably on a commuter train to hell — isn’t it?
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve done all the corporate stuff. I’ve grabbed opportunities like I’m a greedy octopus using my tentacles and I’ve slept with the ghosts that haunted me in the boardroom at night.
You know, those stress dreams that you remember on your way to work. When you suddenly wonder if you really did have that conversation at the water cooler. Did you really say that?
NO, no — NOT to him!
That’s when you spend the rest of the day watching him (or her) surreptitiously in the office. Hoping they won’t stop at your desk or ask you something.
It’s why you’re hunched down and cringing behind your desk pretending you’ve dropped a pencil. That’s when you remember — oh no — you kissed!
It was one of those dreams — NOOOOOO!
You enjoyed it — but he didn’t. Why?
Instead of being all happy, fun and flirty like Mamma Mia. You’re more like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Bottles and you’re hands are shaking.
In the boardroom your presentation is more Hello Society than Hi Society — you’re trying too hard, being too posh, not looking anyone in the eye.
Die Hard to please. Pride and Punctuality to impress. If only he knew what went on inside your head. You don’t even fancy him. He’s irritating and annoying — he’s downright ugly and obnoxious. How could you?
No, I can honestly say (with only a hint of regret) there’s none of this excitement in my house on a Monday morning. I don’t dream of kissing the neighbours or shagging a stranger but if I did — I’d just smile at them and do what I normally do every morning — feed the cat, walk the dog and wave at the postman.
Then I settle down to write. YEY
The day is mine and I get to spend it with those crazy characters locked inside my head. They’re more infuriating than any difficult colleague, more challenging than any new client and more time-consuming than the most awkward of customers.
The colleagues in my head are tumbling and eager to get out…raring to go each morning and I just have to provide them with the words, goals and conflicts and type THE END.
Until the next time…
Oh — and by the way- did you know?
Bedtime Reads is now available to download and in paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sleep well dear reader, dream happy thoughts…
Janet
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076G57K8Z
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
October 22, 2017
Bedtime Blog 4 — Falling in Love…
[image error]
Falling in love at 93 gives the word FOREVER a whole new meaning. It also brings joy, a fluttering of the heart and tremendous girlish excitement.
This is what happened when I visited my Aunt who lives in a lovely apartment outside Oxford. We were sitting overlooking the communal gardens of her ground floor home when she said. ‘Do you think it’s ridiculous for me to fall in love at my age?’
But it was her coquettish smile and the twinkle in her eye that made me want to punch the air in happiness.
Bearing in mind she met her husband, Uncle John who was in the army, when she was a nurse during WW2 in Jerusalem (she’s been a widow for over forty years), I felt I had to treat her comment with the gravitas that matched her voice so I replied.
‘Why should it be ridiculous? You haven’t stopped feeling emotions. I think it’s great — how exciting!’
It turns out that her suitor writes her poetry. He lives nearby and he leaves it on her doorstep early each morning so it’s there for her, on the mat, when she wakes up.
I imagine she moves more quickly now getting out of bed in the early morning. Her step is lighter, her movements are more eager and energetic as she slips into her dressing gown and slides into her slippers and shuffles across the carpet to open the front door: Someone loves her. Someone cares. Someone is thinking of her.
Unfortunately her eye-sight isn’t great. Seemingly, he records his loving words onto a disc so she can listen to it on her CD player. In the evenings they sit together, in the fading dusk, to listen to poetry and share a bottle of decent claret: Milton, Wordsworth, Coleridge. He recites passages that are special to them both about love, longing and loss.
It’s a meeting of words, of souls, of love and emotion. It evokes her youth and her vigour. Once again, I imagine, she dreams a young person’s hopes or does it provide comfort, melancholy and safety?
‘It will never go anywhere,” she says. ‘I’m far too old.’
We take time to watch a robin jump onto the arm of the bench and fly onto a colourful Forest Flame.
‘Some people never find love at all — so enjoy the moment — and the tenderness.’
‘Oh, I will,’ she replies laughing, as if she can’t help herself.
It’s about sharing. It’s about being in the moment. It’s about NOW.
Sharing similar thoughts, feelings and emotions — it’s about trusting the person you’re with and knowing they’re as excited as you. It’s that brief glimpse, the soft touch, the awakening of your dormant soul — that flicker of the candle-flame glowing precariously. That special whisper of breath on your cheek. It’s like being kissed by an angel.
The flame wavers, forever changing shape and dancing excitedly in it’s own light. Wondering what might have been…what might still happen.
‘It’s never too late,’ I say to her. ‘To draw your heart on the window for him.’
Good night, dear reader. Think loving thoughts…
Janet
For more information about my writing, please visit my blog:
https://janetpywellauthor.wordpress.com/
· How I Research and Write my Novels
· Bedtime Reads — Short stories based on unusual relationships
Sign up to my mailing list and receive book 1 — MASTERPIECE for free: http://www.subscribepage.com/janetpywell
Filed under: bedtime
