Callum McLaughlin's Blog, page 71
April 16, 2015
April 14, 2015
Seeking Solace on Sale!
Seeking Solace
As part of the celebrations for #NationalPoetryMonth, the Kindle version of my poetry book, Seeking Solace, will be on sale from today until Friday 17th. It will be just 99p in the UK or $0.99 in the US, making now a great time to pick up a copy if you are at all interested.
The poems in Seeking Solace were written to be both approachable and relatable, so whether you are new to the genre or looking to expand your collection, I hope you will find something that speaks to you. In either case, there seems no better time to explore the form than during National Poetry Month.
In way of an excerpt, here are a few visual quotes to whet your appetite.
Taken from ‘In Memoriam’
Taken from ‘Grand Cosmos’
Taken from ‘Making Memories’
Taken from ‘Dawn’
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Huge thanks to anyone who gives the book a chance and if you enjoy it, a brief review goes a long way towards helping a writer out. Happy reading!
April 13, 2015
Author Interview Series: Behind The Scenes with Callum McLaughlin
I was recently interviewed about my writing journey thus far, which you can see here. It was an absolute pleasure to take part.
Originally posted on Just Get It Written:
Everyone���s journey to publication is different and unique. In Behind The Scenes, I interview writers who tell us how they started and got to where they are today. With the knowledge that comes from experience, they share their words of wisdom with us. If you���re a writer, I���d love to hear about your journey! Please contact me here if you���re interested in being interviewed. New interviews featured every second and last Monday of the month.
Callum McLaughlin writes gripping suspense thrillers and is also a published poet in his own right. His latest offering, Seeking Solace, showcases his talent in a collection of sixty poems.
1. Tell us a bit about your writing journey. How did you get started, and how did you get to where you are now?
I first started out professionally a few years ago. I volunteered my time at a local magazine, gaining experience���
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April 12, 2015
Musical Inspiration | #NationalPoetryMonth
I���ve spoken several times before on my blog about how I think poetry and music are heavily linked, with many of my favourite songs those with lyrics that read like poems in their own right. There seems no better time to celebrate this than during National Poetry Month and as such, I thought I would share a couple of my favourite poetic songs.
The first comes, of course, from Bj��rk, with Bachelorette.
I’m a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl
You’re the bird on the brim
Hypnotised by the Whirl
Drink me, make me feel real
Wet your beak in the stream
Game we’re playing is life
Love’s a two way dream
Leave me now, return tonight
Tide will show you the way
If you forget my name
You will go astray
Like a killer whale
Trapped in a bay
I’m a path of cinders
Burning under your feet
You’re the one who walks me
I’m your one way street
I’m a whisper in water
Secret for you to hear
You’re the one who grows distant
When I beckon you near
I’m a tree that grows hearts
One for each that you take
You’re the intruder’s hand
I’m the branch that you break
—
The second is from S��ley, with I���ll Drown.
He is alone
in his house out there
far, far away
he sleeps with his eyes open.
He was so sad last night
in his house out there
he took my hand
and whispered
I like his old style
in his house out there
his windows are eyes
his garden has waterfalls.
But his waterfalls are tears,
they come from him
he will fill this house
he takes my hand
and whispers.
I���ll drown when I see you
His tears run so fast
in his house out there
we try to get out
his house took our hands and smiled
we���ll never escape
from this sad, sad house
I take his hand
We sink.
I���ll drown when I see you
—
Completely by accident, I realised that both songs I chose were by Icelandic artists. While at first this seemed an odd coincidence, I later realised the country���s clear love of literature and language makes it no surprise that their songwriters are equally as prolific.
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What are some of your favourite poetic songs or songwriters?
April 10, 2015
April 8, 2015
Let’s Talk Poetry!
National Poetry Month
I may not be American but that doesn���t mean I���m not all for joining in the celebrations for National Poetry Month throughout April. Anything that promotes attention and appreciation towards the written word is great in my opinion, no matter where we are in the world.
Whether you read it, write it or both, I thought it would be nice to kick things off with something of a conversation about our own experiences with the form. So whether it���s discussing your most beloved poems, recommending your favourite collections, promoting your own pieces or talking about how you first got into poetry ��� I would love to hear all about it in the comments.
I���ll go first: My favourite poems are Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye, Leisure by W.H. Davies and Remember by Christina Rossetti, amongst others. I released my own collection called Seeking Solace at the start of this year (available in the UK here and the US here), which was a real dream come true. As such, I also love to support fellow indie poets and have read several collections from writers such as Marcia Meara, Jonathan Ojanpera, Just Patty, Kay Kauffman and Melissa Holden so far ��� all of which I recommend checking out.
—
Now, over to you. Feel free to share your thoughts about all things poetry.
April 6, 2015
Union
A hand is placed in mine
to merge the maps upon our skin.
With this union we may weave
a bond of interlacing lifelines
and journey these bodies together;
cases of flesh and blood
that protect what we desire.
April 2, 2015
Hollow
The most intricate tapestry
that I had woven
from my heartstrings ���
it���s torn apart.
Unravelling my every feeling
in a ball of festered yarn,
the Devil���s haberdashery
ruled by practiced hands.
I was chasing blood from stone,
perhaps because you���re hollow,
drained of human penance
like all your barren words.
But I will let the pain fill me up
to flood my heart with sorrows,
as I will get healed by it ���
and I will drown for no one.
March 31, 2015
March in Books
books, books, books!
It feels like just a few days ago I was writing a post for my February reading update, and yet somehow it���s already time to bring March to a close.
That said, I have had another great month when it comes to books. Throughout March, I���ve managed to complete 10 of them, making it my most fruitful month of the year so far. This takes my annual total up to 25 and keeps me well on track to reach my minimum goal of 40 books.
Best of all, I read a great mix of genres and styles, which is something I���m particularly keen to maintain. Included this time round were two indie poetry collections, a graphic novel, a thriller, classic kids��� lit and some Icelandic literature I picked up whilst on holiday ��� amongst others.
Standout reads this month were definitely Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness (the final book in the Chaos Walking trilogy) and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton, both of which I loved.
I���m excited to see what April���s books have in store.
—
How are you getting on with your reading goals?
March 29, 2015
Character Interview: Dr. Brookes from False Awakening by Callum McLaughlin
I got the chance to do a character interview with the very lovely Gina. It’s the first I’ve done and I had a wonderful time being drawn back into the mind of Dr Brookes from my novel, False Awakening.
Originally posted on www.ginabriganti.com:
Have you ever read a book, and wanted to ask a compelling character a question?�� Or six questions?�� That���s how I felt as I read False Awakening by Callum McLaughlin.�� I am fortunate because not only is Callum a talented and friendly writer, but he also agreed to let me ask those questions of Dr. Brookes.
Dr. Brookes is the psychologist who cares for Abi, a typical eighteen-year-old young woman, after she wakes in the hospital with only a snippet of a memory about a tragic event.
I asked these questions of Dr. Brooks (ahem, Callum):
Q:�� Dr. Brookes, when did you know that you wanted to be a psychologist?
A: Well, my father was a doctor and a rather good one at that. After paying to put me through a good education, I think both my parents assumed that I would naturally follow suit, but I knew otherwise���
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