A Wardrobe-Change is in Order

Wed, APR 05, 2023 - 12:13

Whatup, fantasy fiends?

Once upon a time, in a past life (see, from uni until my 30s!) I was a graphic designer. So, when the chance came up to try my hand at the cover for my self-published book, "The Torril City Mysterion", I dove in with gusto!

This was a fun and rewarding process that allowed me to bring my vision to life. But as we all know, there's always room for improvement. Plus, a good book cover design is more than just an aesthetically pleasing image; it's a visual representation of the story that can speak to readers and make them want to pick up that sucker. A good design can capture the essence of the telling, set the mood, and pique the reader's interest.

Thus, while I have fond memories of the original cover, I’m excited to announce that Torril City is getting a little update.

Take a gander. I feel this new cover captures the characters more accurately while giving the book a fresh new feel, and I hope you’ll agree!

Yep, the same great story, with a fresh, new look™. This cover will be going live at some point this year, so keep an eye out!

I hope you're feeling funky and fabulous, wherever you are.

Magic and Meaning

Tues, JAN 17, 2023 - 08:48

As a fantasy author, I believe there's a unique power in this genre. It can inspire and uplift like no other, giving us a chance to rekindle a little childlike fascination, hope, and magic. Nowadays, we could all use a little more of that.

We're all exposed to various dramas every day, whether political, environmental, social or familial, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of these problems. Just take Covid-19. After that saga and the many difficulties and uncertainties it brought to us all, I personally found myself taking solace in some good old fashioned escapism. In tales which present other possibilities and ideas.

And it seems I wasn’t alone.

The recent, meteoric surge in popularity of the Marvel cinematic universe, Game of Thrones (and similar shows), and Brandon Sanderson's epic tomes are just a few examples proving people’s hunger for stories in this incredible genre. People are craving other worlds, adventures and magical creatures, not to mention incredible, one-of-a-kind personalities to delight and excite.

As an author, I naturally keep an eye on the industry. I revel in watching other creators capture the imagination of their audiences, and it’s been truly inspiring to watch the metamorphosis of media over the last decade. Creativity and quality are at an all-time high, so whether you're a longtime fan of the genre or just starting to explore it, I hope you find just as much joy in the magnificent array of stories we have now access to.

I'm so grateful to be part of this community of dreamers.

Torril, A Year On…

Thurs, SEP 29, 2022 - 10:29

Howdy, fantasy fiends!

Believe it or not, today marks the one year anniversary of the release of The Torril City Mysterion, and I can’t believe how time has flown by.

I still remember a time when I battled inwardly with self-publishing. After all, I’d heard horror stories, listened to publishers and big publishing houses alike condemn ‘indie’ authors. At one time, I even got into the querying game, spending months researching agents, crafting letters, logging everything in spreadsheets, and eating the inevitable rejections — and it was all to avoid the ‘shame’ of remaining unsigned -gasp!-

Well, it’s a year on, and here’s what I now know about self-publishing: It is the ultimate freedom for authors.

Sure, the journey has been a bit of a rollercoaster. There have been difficulties and heartbreaks at times, and when I published Torril City in Sep, 2021, many years’ worth of worry and doubt were sitting on my shoulders. But I’d spent the time learning the craft. I’d done the hard work, and been through the journey from drafts to re-writes to edits. And most importantly, I’d written the story I had always wanted to read.

The support that I received from readers, friends, and family, therefore, told me at once that it had all paid off. Plus, connecting with readers all over the world, and hearing their thoughts on my work — to know that my words have touched so many people — is something I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced.

So, to my readers out there, near and far, young and old; you are everything. Thank you for not forgetting about us indie writers and here's to many more adventures together!

TIME TO LAUNCH

Wed, NOV 10, 2021 - 12:45

If you’re like me, you get a bit excited when it’s finally time to lift the lid on a project. After all, as Zac Efron once eloquently put it, “The deep, soul-quenching thrill of creation is a uniquely human experience which at once enriches and revitalises our lives.”

OK, Zac Efron never said that. But the point remains; there is something very fulfilling about completing a project. And what’s even better is sharing it with the world.

That’s why I’m so thrilled to announce that right now, The Torril City Mysterion — my first fantasy slash mystery novel — is going to print. Worldwide. It will be available through the regular channels such as Amazon, but will also be available at any local bookstore within two or three days. That's right. You can walk into your local bookstore and order a copy, just like that!

I'm incredibly lucky to have this opportunity, and so grateful to all the people who've helped me along the way. From my wonderful editor, Stacey Dumoski, to my friends and family, and of course my husband, Moritz, who has been there reading drafts from day one. You are all amazing, so thank you.

If you’re curious to snap up a copy, stay tuned, I'll post some links shortly.

The Torril City Mysterion will be available in softcover and eBook format.

A Little Spit 'n Polish

Wed, SEP 29, 2021 - 10:23

In 1963, Ian Fleming gave an interview about the craft of writing. His advice was pretty clear. He followed a set schedule every day, in those hours he wrote 2,000 words, he never looked back at what he’d written, and in six weeks he had finished a book. After a rather brief revision and publishing process, it was then time for the next James Bond story.

Dame Agatha Christie is on record saying something similar, although she places far more emphasis on the planning phase. “The real work is in thinking out the development of your story and worrying about it until it comes right,” she explained in an interview. “That may take quite a while. Then, when you've got all your material together, as it were, all that remains is trying to find time to write the thing. Three months seems quite a reasonable time to complete a book if one can get right down to it.”

If we only focus on the letter points from both these authors, then, writing seems very straightforward. It’s an idea followed by planning and writing, and then the book is done. Yet, strangely, both authors gloss over what I consider the most important element of writing. Namely, that of editing.

Sure, in a quiet space and with no distractions anyone could write away and bang out a chapter a day, and doing so, one could theoretically finish a book in a couple of weeks. The problem there is, of course, that any book written so quickly would undoubtedly be slop — even with good planning.

I have no doubt that both these authors did plan their stories meticulously before diving in to writing, but I still find it odd that they place so little emphasis on editing. The fact is that I also plan very thoroughly before writing. I create a small outline for the story, then an expanded outline. I then plan chapters out individually, noting who is in the scene, their goals, what the chapter goal itself is. I have spreadsheets and notes for every kind of detail, even images and music to help fasten things in mind. But I also tend to read over what I've read every single day, and in this time inevitably find a boatload of things to modify or delete. It’s incredibly time-consuming and I can easily spend a week on one chapter.

I once (in)famously stated in a YouTube video that, “[creative endeavours] are 10% creation, 99% modification,” and faulty as my math was, I still stick by the point. I reckon that editing and rewriting make up the bulk of my writing process, and really wonder how these authors-of-old handled it.

The simple truth could be that I don’t possess the mental acuity they did, and that their drafts were so perfect that editing was barely necessary. Or that they had editors who went to town and polished the book up without author intervention.

Either way, though I hear woeful tales of authors reaching the dreaded ‘editing phase’, I actually love it. Reading over and altering my work is great fun and has so many benefits, from solidifying the plot and minutiae in my mind to helping me consider what I’ve written more thoroughly. It allows me to plant links and connections which I can use in the future, and which I otherwise wouldn't have planted without careful inspection.

Plus, it results in a polished, shiny-ass story. And who doesn’t like one of those?