Callum McLaughlin's Blog, page 81

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The view over Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

I arrived home yesterday after an unforgettable trip to Paris. My friends and I had an absolute blast, soaking up a lot of sights, a lot of culture and a lot of foot pain! As fun as it was, it’s always nice to get back to familiar surroundings after some time away and I’m eager to get back into the swing of things regarding my blog and, of course, my writing.

I’ve received feedback following beta reading of my WIP, False Awakening, and will be putting final touches to the manuscript before working on the formatting and tweaks that will see it finally turn into a fully-fledged book. Nervous and exciting times lie ahead and I for one cannot wait.

Au Revoir (sort of)

Paris, here I come!

From tomorrow I’m going to be spending four nights in Paris with a couple of my good friends. Thanks to the wonder of Wi-Fi and my iPhone, I should hopefully be around every now and then to read some of your posts but won’t be posting in that time and for the most part will try and catch up when I get back. I hope you all have a lovely week and I’ll be back to regular posting soon.

Au revoir, mes amis!

Smoke and Mirrors

There’s something about those eyes,

I’m drowning all over again.

Don’t be fooled by the concrete mask

I constructed for your benefit,

look close enough and you’ll see the cracks

lost in the dust of my crumbling defences.

Take a blade to my skin and my blood will flow,

it was always just a game,

if only I’d known the rules.

CALLUM MCLAUGHLIN – Author Interview

callummclaughlin:

I was kindly interviewed by the awesome H.M. Brooks. It was lots of fun!

Originally posted on H.M. Brooks Writes:

I’m posting my first author interview today. I’m so excited! I don’t remember when or how I met Callum – other than that it was on our blogs not too long ago. Anyway, he has got to be one of my favorite poet writers, and he was kind enough to let me interview him.

Callum McLaughlin was born and raised in the Scottish countryside where he continues to live and work. Aside from his own creative writing endeavours, he operates on a freelance basis, producing content for blogs, websites and magazines. Out with this, he is interested in all things music and nature, and takes his greatest inspiration from the world around us.

Why did you start writing?

I’ve always had a love and appreciation of storytelling. Some of my clearest and fondest childhood memories are of being read to by my mother and grandfather; it just seems like a natural progression that I turned that passion…

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Ultimate Book Tag

books, books, books!

It’s tag time again! As always, I’d love if you got involved and shared your answers.

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?

Thankfully I don’t. I particularly like reading on the train so I’m glad I’ve never suffered from travel sickness.

2. Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?

I’d probably have to go with Thomas Hardy. There’s something so eloquent and poetic about his descriptive writing that I love. I remember my Advanced Higher English teacher described him as ‘the first cinematic writer’, meaning he was one of the first writers who wrote so vividly you could really picture it in your mind’s eye, and that’s why many of his works translate to the screen so well.

3. Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.

Harry Potter; without a doubt. Firstly, I more or less grew up with the series. Secondly, it inspired a whole new generation of readers and writers. Thirdly, I think its characters are a lot more relatable and realistically portrayed, despite their fantasy setting, which is testament to Rowling’s writing skills.

4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is it in (besides books…)?

I don’t carry a book bag but if I’m travelling somewhere overnight/on holiday, etc. and need to take a bag with me then I will absolutely have a book or two in there.

5. Do you smell your books?

The smell of a book is one of my absolute favourite things in the world.

6. Books with or without little illustrations?

I haven’t read a huge amount of books with illustrations but do particularly adore a collection of hardback classics I own (Black Beauty, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz) that have gorgeous illustrations throughout. I’m also keen to pick up A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness which is apparently very nicely illustrated. I suppose I’d happily read a book with or without them so long as the story was good.

7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?

I’m not saying I ever thought they were of any particular literary worth but in my early teens I enjoyed the Resident Evil novelizations by S.D. Perry. They aren’t going to win any awards but for video game adaptations aimed at teenagers, they’re a bit of fun, and a guilty pleasure I may well return to one day when I fancy something easy to read.

8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!

Other than many attempts to hand write and illustrate my own… nothing comes to mind.

9. What is the thinnest book on your shelf?

I’m not looking at my shelves right now but I’d go with either The Monk and the Hangman’s Daughter or The Last Day of a Condemned Man; they’re both tiny.

10. What is the thickest book on your shelf?

Ironically, it might be 1001 Books You Must Read before You Die. I also have a compendium of the early Rebus books by Ian Rankin that’s fairly large.

11. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?

Definitely, I’m a freelance content writer and have also published a novella. I have another WIP well underway to hopefully be released later this year and enjoy writing poetry in between it all. I’d love nothing more than to continue writing for many years.

12. When did you get into reading?

I’ve loved reading right from early childhood when my mum used to read to me. I also remember my grandfather making up funny songs and stories for my brothers and I that fuelled my love of storytelling.

13. What is your favorite classic book?

That’s tricky but I usually come back to Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy when I’m asked this.

14. In school was your best subject Language Arts/English?

It’s funny because I wasn’t a typical ‘nerd’ and never felt especially ‘smart’ but I actually did very well in school and won the Dux medallion. English was always the subject I actually enjoyed the most, however.

15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated…what would you do?

I would thank them sincerely for the gesture and then either give it to a friend I thought would enjoy it or most likely I’d donate it to charity.

16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to

Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?

I can’t think of any series that are similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games but for the sake of giving an answer, one of the first series I remember reading is The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis; very harrowing but not very widely known.

17. What is your favorite word?

Shenanigans is a pretty fabulous word; let’s go with that for now.

18. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?

I suppose I have tendencies… ;)

19. Vampires or Fairies? Why?

Hm, that’s a tough one because they’re so different. I’ll go with fairies because dark fairytales are a favourite of mine.

20. Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?

I’ll say angels because I love stories with elements of good vs evil.

21. Spirits or Werewolves? Why?

Again, a tricky one, but I’ll go for spirits since they can hold a lot of mystery and tragedy which make for great story elements.

22. Zombies or Vampires? Why?

As an old-school Resident Evil video game fan, I’ll say zombies. I suppose the fact they can’t be reasoned with in any way makes them particularly scary.

23. Love Triangle or Forbidden Love?

Forbidden love. Don’t we all enjoy a bit of angst?

24. AND FINALLY: Full on romance books or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in?

Action-packed with some romance thrown into the mix; that way we get the best of both worlds and a lot more room for drama and excitement.

The One

You’re the one;

the one who sees light in the darkest of days;

the one who feels warmth in the coldest of nights;

the one who finds beauty in the harshest of worlds;

the one who brings joy amongst lashings of pain.

You’re the one;

the only one I need.

We Just Want to be Understood

‘you will find the right film or the right book, and it will understand you.’

For a long time, I have held the above quote as one of my all-time favourites (I even have a framed print of it on my wall which was kindly gifted to me). There’s something about it that totally resonates with the reader inside me while simultaneously inspiring my inner writer, because I know myself how often I have read something which utterly connects with my thoughts or emotions in a way I could never express to a loved one.

If one day I could create something akin to what Bjӧrk alludes to (be it a novel, poem or otherwise) which someone, somewhere in the world was able to take some nuance of comfort, motivation or understanding from, then I would think myself pretty darn lucky and certainly very happy.

Are there any quotes that inspire or resonate with you?

China Doll

How ironic that she who claims so many hearts

plays host to the most broken heart of all.

Try as she might to fill the void with conquests

notched on her lonely bedpost,

it would take a better man to

wade the depths of murky waters

and salvage a sinking star.

An exquisite china doll of pristine porcelain

conceals marks left by an owner’s clumsy hands, but

there’s only so much life can chip away

until there’s nothing left.

This glass ballerina is hurtling towards a fate

even the blindest eyes can see,

let us not stand idly by and watch her shatter.

Reading Habits Tag

It’s tag time!

I’ve seen this tag knocking about for a while and thought it seemed like fun. I’m always intrigued to learn more about other people’s reading habits, favourite authors, beloved books and so on, so by all means take the mantle and answer the questions yourself; I’d love to see your responses.

Question #1: Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

I do most of my reading at night, so I’m usually just perched on my bed.

Question #2: Bookmark or a random piece of paper?

Bookmark. My favourite one has a picture of a cat on it. Obviously.

Question #3: Can you stop reading anytime you want or do you have to stop at a certain page, chapter, part, ect.?

It wouldn’t bother me what page or part of the book I was on but I could never stop reading half-way through a chapter. The thought alone makes me squirm.

Question #4: Do you eat or drink while reading?

Not usually, since it tends to be late night (or early morning more specifically – yay for insomnia) when I’m reading. If and when I manage to do some reading during the day, I’d love a nice mug of tea by my side though.

Question #5: Can you read while listening to music/watching TV?

I prefer to read in complete silence. The joy of books for me is losing yourself in another world and music/TV would be too distracting.

Question #6: One book at a time, or several at once?

I wish I could read several books at once, since there is an endless list I want to get through, but I find myself so engrossed in a story that I tend to stick to just one. At the most I can attempt two, but even that is a rarity. I’d rather focus all my attention on one set of characters and then move on to another.

Question #7: Reading at home or everywhere?

Most of my reading is done at home – since I prefer peace and quiet – but I do often read on the train if I’m making a longer journey.

Question #8: Reading out loud or silently in your head?

I read books in my head but I have been won round to the benefits of reading your own work back to yourself aloud, particularly dialogue; it really helps to get the flow right.

Question #9: Do you read ahead or skip pages?

I never skip ahead on purpose. I do occasionally feel my eyes glancing to the end of a paragraph during a particularly exciting moment or the climax of a great novel, but I soon snap them back before I spoil anything.

Question #10: Breaking the spine or keeping it new?

There is something hugely endearing about old, battle-worn books that show years of love and use. My compulsions push me to keep my own as pristine as I can however. I’ll just admire other people’s tatty books from afar.

Question #11: Do you write in books?

Never. As I said, I try to preserve my books as best I can and tend to feel that a book is for the author’s writing, not mine.

A New Beginning

I don’t see a fault

but merely a life lived and loved.

Step free of the shadows’ ill-fitting shroud

and bathe your glorious scars in the morning light;

a spirit this pure shines brighter than any imperfection.

You’ve waited long enough for this day to come to pass;

the day the fledgling spreads its wings and flies,

worry abandoned like out-grown feathers.

This cage was born of your own doubt,

for I don’t see a fault.

It’s time to begin again.