https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-h7ify-e2f089

Apologies for the sound quality all well be fixed by the next episode, I am going to be reading this amazing project I was honoured to be part of over the coming weeks. you can either listen to the episodes or grab yourself the free ebook and read ahead.

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-sd4ad-de4784

This week is a story week and I read one of my own short stories, Empty. this is a favourite of mine because it links my two short story collections.

This is a question I have considered before. At school, I did 5 years of Frech and left with an O-level, and one year of German which I really could not get my head around, but the language I really wanted to learn was not available on the school curriculum. Italian has always sounded so musical and passionate, plus combined with the French I already knew I would have been able to pick out a little more Latin.

I have considered trying to learn it now with youtube course such as this …

But I have to be honest the idea of conjugating verbs really makes my head hurt and it is easier to learn languages when you are younger so my chance has probably passed. The fact is it is a beautifully expressive language and the best example of how emotive it can be is to be found in opera, this scene in particular from Hannibal…

You don’t need to understand the actual words to feel the pain behind them, I am not an opera buff, in fact if i am honest I am not a huge opera lover but this one gave me goosebumps the very first time I heard it.

They say Italian is the language of love and I think that is probably down to the way even a shopping list can sound passionate, while arguments may sound more heated than they actually are you would never accuse those involved of not caring about the subject being discussed.

What language would you like to learn? Answers on the comments section…

Thoughts on Thursday is undergoing a slight change, previously I have used it to talk about world issues or something that has annoyed me, something on my mind. This year it will be a chance for you to know me better, each day over on FB, Twitter and Instagram I will be doing my question of the day but each week here I will answer a question in more depth.

There are a few people that came to mind when I considered this but in the end, there could only be one person I would pick, David Bowie!

Like a million other girls I fell in love with the goblin king, it was not the first time that I had heard of David Bowie but it was Jareth who captured my heart, years later on the sad day of his passing I woke to a text from my daughter, it stated simply ‘The Goblin King is dead!’ And I admit I cried a little.

What Bowie was so good at, as well as the lyrics was, was allowing the imagination full reign, there were no limits, no boundaries. He immersed himself in his creations but he also allowed others to believe that anything was possible for them. I, like many others I know, am still waiting for the dream masquerade ball, somewhere on the other side of the mirror where our younger self still dwells, where we will let him keep our younger siblings to carry on the dance.

There are so many different songs that I could choose, so many that have a special place in my heart or bring back memories of my childhood, Let’s Dance, Dancing in Street, Heroes, just too many classics to pick from all of which attest to his creative genius.

https://youtu.be/sI66hcu9fIs

Absolute Beginners was one of the films of my teens, slated by many I have to say the words of the title track always resonated with me, as I write this post I realise that it is impossible to think of the 80’s when I was a teenager without Bowie occupying some part of it.

The thing is that Bowie was not just and 80’s artist he shaped every decade he lived and performed through, even when at times he was out of the public eye, his influence continued with those inspired by him and those who he collaborated with. I do not even claim to have come close to seeing every performance from his career, this next video was new to me even now as I searched for the others.

The final video is a tribute to his work ethic, that despite battling cancer, knowing that his days were numbered, he still finished yet another masterpiece. It is hard to watch this video, knowing the truth about how ill he was but it is also a tribute that the man could face his battles and turn them into something that transcends life and death.

We can only imagine, given another two or three decades, just how many more seminal pieces Bowie could have created, but with modern technology we have the power to resurrect Bowie over and over again each time we listen to his songs, watch his videos or share them with generations to come.

Answers in the comments for which musician you would bring back even if only for just one more song.

Every year I make a dozen or so resolutions, if I am lucky I might keep one of two for most of the year.

Last year was a disaster in some ways, but a success in others, I met someone care about very much, I did a few signings including visiting new places, and of course I met new friends. But my writing stagnated, half finished projects abound on my computer and for the second half of the year I struggled mentally and physically.

This year I am still making resolutions but they are taking a different form.

This year I am starting afresh, beginning a new decade with the into making changes not just for a year but to gain the life I want.

This will be the year where I step up both my writing and marketing, I am setting up Raven’s Rest Press, this will give me an option for creating special edition books and hardback of certain books.

I will be completing the Queen of Ages Trilogy and hopefully there will be more news regarding the tie in game that a friend has conceived and I am working on.

There will be more anthology contributions alongside the books, and I will get better organised to stay on top of the blog, and the websites.

This is the year I want to get my Patreon set up.and running properly, I want to reach a point where my writing at least pays for itself and preferably pays the bills also.

I am signed up to UK signings  through 2020, 2021, and 2022, my dream is to work towards US signings in 2023, and to tie those in with visiting friends over there.

The usual one of losing weight of course is added into the mix this year I have a specific target and incentive.

Ruby came into.my life about seven weeks ago, at a time where I was mentally exhausted, I was struggling to keep the brave face on and tired and in pain. Exercising the demented spaniel is easy you walk to the field andd he runs round like a lunatic, but the horse requires you to give your time and to do exercise without it feeling like a workout.

She is my therapy,  she calms me, I am learning new skills, learning about subjects that I never considered before, and these do actually feed into my writing. Previously I wrote describing a journey of several days riding without considering so many factors, now I gaining a better knowledge of the realities of the equine world. I also learnt to make the map first.

The fact is that before I can even think about riding her I need to lose weight. Of course there is no guarantee I will be able to even then but I will be able to make that decision knowing I tried my best.

This year I am taking control of my destiny and focussing on what I want from my life.