Of all the days I think this is possibly the easiest. My best friend and I have one of those relationships where due to real life we don’t get to spend as much time together as we would like to, in fact at times we can realise a month or so has passed without speaking but we also know that if the other needs us they will be there. We have held each other up through some of the most difficult times anyone can experience, there have been countless phone calls in the early hours, nights out, swapped shoes, borrowed handbags which never return lol but most of all there has been the knowledge that there is someone who I can tell anything and never be judged. Don’t get me wrong we don’t always approve of what the other has done, we might even have on occasion given each other home truths that we didn’t want to hear but that is the reality of true friendships – they are not afraid to be honest with you. So these are not my songs they are Anna’s my best friend and partner in various crimes throughout the years.
This second one actually has double meaning because is was one of her mums favourite records which was played at her funeral but also a song that Anna and her sister would dance about in their living room to and whenever I hear it I can’t help but smile.
Hmmmm this seemed so easy when I started but now am actually having to rack my brain to come up with songs. The first song relates to my little boy especially after we nearly lost him I spent hours watching him sleep. (Plus I have to admit to having a bit of a thing for a certain guy with a huge mouth)
The second is a little harder especially as I look down the list at song categories to come, but as I had one for my little boy I better have one that reminds me of my daughter.
I am really enjoying most of these exercises, the odd ones do not really seem to help or fit with my writing style but overall it has been a good investment. So today’s exercise is…
Now obviously you know me and how much I love lists so this would seem to be a really easy one not because I could not come up with a list for each one but because I would not know where to stop lol.
I am going to cheat slightly here, as you know we all get awards then struggle to come up with 7 interesting things about you over and over again so I am going to do a couple of lists here now then use the other suggestions to do my 7 things on awards posts and link them back to here.
List your favourite childhood books
Okay in no particular order…
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Wish For a Pony by Monica Edwards
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
List some metaphors for sunset. The sunset looked like…
…a dissolving rainbow sliding across the sky.
…a princess colour scheme swatched against the clouds.
….a gossamer cascade from the Goddess’s gown.
Okay so thats mine done I would love to see a few lists in comments from you all pick one and share and also feel free to pinch the idea’s for using on awards post 😀
Today I am cheating a little and doing a joint review as after reading the book again for my 1001 Books Challenge I pulled the film from the shelf and watched it again.
In some way by now it is hard to imagine that anyone would not have read this but just in case I really will try to be careful to not give too many spoilers.
The book tell the story of three separate days, each set years apart and in different places but intrinsically entwined. On a day in 1920’s London Virginia Woolf begins writing a new novel while in 1990’s New York Clarissa Vaughan plans a party and somewhere in between Laura Brown plans her husbands birthday dinner and reads her copy of Mrs Dalloway.
Before I start I need to say I am really biased as this is my favourite example of Intertextuality ever. The film for the main part stays faithful to the book with only minor deviations so I shall discuss the actually book and DVD simultaneously then just add a little regarding the casting of the film.
Cunningham has woven a complex time-line jumping from one character to the next within the space of one day between what at first glance seem to be three totally separate events and time-lines. Three women who you believe would and could never meet yet two of the three will have their lives significantly affected by the third a woman dead long before they ever learned her name. The common phrase now in use of ‘six degrees of separation’ is demonstrated so well in this book how the very writing of a book can change the life of the person who picks it up and subsequently effect generations to come. In a very real way Cunningham perpetuates this by in turn creating a book which will lead you to meet not only his characters but to also delve into the world and works of Woolf which in turn will lead you back to reread this book armed with the new knowledge you have gained. I came to this book with a knowledge of Woolf and the novel she is portrayed writing which is of course Mrs Dalloway another book telling the story of one day from a woman’s life a day which Cunningham mirrors in the events of Clarissa Vaughan’s day.
This story really does lend itself perfectly to the visual component of film, while it can occasionally take a line or two to establish which character is taking prominence in the book in the film it is of course immediately obvious, not only by character but by the cinematography which is altered slightly to create a real period feel for the different era’s. I was a little concerned regarding the casting of Nicole Kidman for Virginia Woolf but I can hand on heart say that my concerns were totally unfounded. The make up was amazing to the point where it was almost impossible to recognise her which allowed her acting talent to shine through and allow the viewer to forget it was an actress they playing the author were watching. Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore put in outstanding performances as the other two lead characters but for me Kidman steals the show.
The book and the film both deal with the main theme of relationships and the ways which people lose themselves by trying to live for others, issues are raised regarding the ravages of both physical and mental illnesses both upon the sufferer and those who care about them. I don’t think I give anything away when I talk about the point where Virginia Woolf dies this is an actual historical fact so we are all aware I should imagine of how it occurred I have to say that both the book and film deal with this subject beautifully, tragic yet poignant I confess that a few tears were shed at this point not just for the terrible tragic event itself but for us, for what we lost because mental illness destroyed such an amazing woman at such a relatively young age. One can only speculate upon the works of genius she may have created had the dark shadows not descended so frequently and severely.
If by some strange chance you have been in a coma for years or have just arrived from another planet here is the trailer for the film.
I give both book and film 5 out of 5 and would give 6 if I could
Do you like it? I admit I am not sure I may change it again but I really fancied a nice new look for the new year. I am playing with my new photo software at the minute preparing a few pics for the other blog I have decided that I shall post three pics a week on there. While pictures on this site are not for sharing as they contain my family the photos I post over on the other blog I am more than happy for my followers to use should they find anything which inspires them. All I would ask is that maybe you credit the blog which may lead them back here lol I will also be posting the picture for Photo Friday there on the Saturday with a link to my fiction piece if anyone does feel inspired by any of my pics please make sure I know the links and then I can ensure they are posted where people can find them.
So pictures like this one you will be able to use should you so desire….
But not this….
Do you like the pretty frames they match the one on the oil painting above my fire place. As I have my pics set as screen saver so the computer turns into a digital photo frame, I am also borrowing an idea from Russell Ray Photos and actually framing pictures as I post them that way I know which have been posted. Of course my pictures are no way in the same league as his so if you haven’t taken a peek then I recommend taking a trip over to his blog.
As promised here is the new blogging schedule for 2013, not everything has changed but hopefully you will enjoy the balance between hearing about me and my work. The new schedule will actually start next week for this week I am afraid you are just getting random posts until the monster returns to school and I can get back in the flow of things.
So here we go…
Monday Musings stays the same featuring either a book review, film review or author interview.
Tuesday will alternate between me getting back into the saddle and continuing my Udolpho journey and a new feature Tasty Tuesdays. I love cooking and as you saw from the Christmas pics I have a new assistant in the kitchen so I decided to share a few of our culinary adventures, now don’t expect Jamie Oliver most of the stuff I do cook will be really simple such as my thick creamy veg soup but they are the sort of things that everyone has their own version of so hopefully mine will give you ideas or inspire you to knock up something different.
WIP Wednesday remains as before where I will discuss how I am faring on my WIP and will be the place for any reveals to take place.
Thursdays will alternate between me posting a Vlog or a writing exercise. I am quite looking forward to getting stuck in to the writing exercises and seeing if they do help get the creative juices flowing.
Fridays will see Photo Friday continue with a mix of Flash Fiction and poetry inspired by an image from my hard drive, please feel free to use any of the friday pics if the inspire you and post a link back which I will add to the bottom of the post the following week so everyone else can come have a look.
Saturday will be a general catch up post as well as accepting any outstanding awards (and yes I know I have been really lax and have quite a few left to accept from last year but I will get there)
Sunday will see a new feature Sunday Story where I intend to write a serial story on the blog. Each installment will be between 500 – 1000 words depending where it suits me to stop and hopefully leave you with a cliff hanger or two. I haven’t quite decided on the story yet but I decided to do this as frequently many of you request more when I write flash fiction so hopefully this will satisfy the desire for longer pieces.
Weekly Round Up has been cancelled and instead there will be a once a month post scheduled for the final day of that month regardless of day which will summarise the past month and look at what I am aiming to get done the following month.
Okay so there you have it the new schedule starting Monday I hope there is something there for everyone.
(Written in response to Susan Daniels poem which you can read here Skank/Goddess (not a nice girl) I don’t normally write in response to other peoples posts but the image she created has stayed with me all day demanding my attention so I hope Susan like this)
I should imagine like most of the normal resolutions I make I shall have broken most of these within the first week but here goes – I always make my resolutions in tens that way I might keep one hehehe
4) Complete a minimum of three writing exercises per week and keep my sensory journal adding one thing per day
5) Be more realistic about reading other blogs, accept sometime you cannot read everything no matter how much you would want to – to ensure I do this I shall clear my inbox at the end of each day
6) Write a minimum of 1000 words (including blog posts per day)
7) Do my personal NaNo challenge in January
8) Do NaNo in November
9) Try to find a writing group I can join up with either locally or online
10) Learn to believe in my writing
Okay so that’s the resolutions next up the project list for the next twelve months – I may regret this one as I can see it growing
1) Publish Voices Across The Void
2) Edit Queen of Ages and begin submitting to agents and publishers
3) Begin drafting second part of trilogy
4) Research for final part of trilogy
5) Research for postapocalyptic novel based on the idea I mentioned before
6) Second collection of ghost storys based on the extra ones from VATV
It looks like a busy year ahead and I look forward to continuing to share my journey with you all.
Today I want to share an interview with a remarkable young lady. Despite being only 18 years old she is about to publish her second work venturing forward into a second career which like her first as a model can be harsh and requires determination to succeed. Her book The Anthology is due to be released tomorrow over on Lulu and her face book links can be found at the bottom of the page.
I had the chance to ask tilly a few questions so here we go…
1) You began your career as an alternative model before branching out into writing, what inspired you to write?
I have always enjoyed writing, all the way through my school life. I finally decided to put it all into a book so that I could share my work with the world. My mom has also written a book and I think her writing gave me that bit more of a push to write more too. It’s a great way to put your personality on paper.
Tilly modelling
2) Which writers have influenced you as a writer and who are your favourite authors to read?
I have to admit, I don’t like modern authors as much as I like the old ones, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde being a few. Simply because they are original.
3) The Anthology is your second publication can you tell us a little about it?
Its basically all the stories and poems I could find that weren’t too personal from my high school work books, I loved reading them out in front of the class, so it only made sense to put them all into a book. A few of the stories I have written recently. There is about 4 years worth of creativity in this book.
4) You have, so far, self published your work, have you considered trying the traditional route?
I have but unfortunately being 18 I don’t have that much money in my back pocket yet, but it is something I would love to do in the future.
5) Now to let peope get to know you little better the silly questions, if you were stranded on a deserted island and you were allowed two items one practical one luxury what would they be?
Hmm, well that’s a difficult one. I think for practical reasons I would take a mobile phone (not for angry birds… honest. For phone calls of course!) and for luxury I think I would have to take a photo album, just so I could look at it and remind myself of fond memories.
6) who would you want to play you in a film story of your life?
Maybe Kate Winslet or Nicole Kidman, or possibly Scarlett Johansson. I can’t really give any reasons as to why, I just find them remarkable to watch and I see them as such powerful women.
But Y’know if they aren’t available I could give it a go! Hehe!
Paula Acton 