Category Archives: Photo Moments

Libraryland goes to Rome

Life Happens, Photo Moments, travels, ,

Or what I did in the first week of January 2011.

Below is a slideshow of pictures from the trip to Rome for the library conference, although not many of the conference itself. Librarians talking… not too thrilling there. But lots of photos of our various walks and tours, our wanderings around, of Christmas trees, lights, fireworks (we were there for the Epiphany which is a huge holiday there), Churches, crypts, a titulus (3rd century church) underneath the crypt and libraries. Lots of photos of libraries. Including the Vatican library from the outside. Continue reading Libraryland goes to Rome →

A break in the silence

Life Happens, Photo Moments, travels, Writing Life,

Yes, I’ve been very quiet. Putting the finishing touches to the edits for MAY QUEEN and generally getting ready for Christmas. I’ll be away in early January, off on a libraryland trip to Rome so hope to have lots of pictures for you all then. May even get into the Vatican Secret Library if I’m lucky. Fingers crossed.

Of course it all depends on the weather which has been less than cooperative so far this month! Lots of snow, lots and lots of snow…

The last one is paricularly interesting for me becuase it shows a view used in GRAFFITI ANGEL, looking from Cherrywood up towards Killiney Hill. The Obelisk is just visible on top of the hill on the right hand side.

So I will be scarce for the next while, but will pop up from time to time. Have wonderful holidays everyone and for those who celebrate it a very happy Christmas.

A fairytale trip, NaNo and a little bit of news

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I’ve been a bad bad writer, not keeping you all up to date.  But I have also been very busy.

So I give you a brief report of our Halloween trip, something about NaNo and some news. The news is at the end. Yes, I’m making you wait. I’m mean like that! Continue reading A fairytale trip, NaNo and a little bit of news →

Better late than never – RNA Conference 2010 post

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Better late than never in so many ways. First of all it has taken me all week to get around to posting this. Secondly WHY have I not been going to this coference for years???

I am, as with most writers, not the most extroverted of individuals. Never really had been, although I can do a good impression when I need to. I was determined to make it to my first RNA conference this year and I am so glad that I did. Had a bit of a stressy trip out to the airport between a late bus and heavy traffic, and a bit of a stressy time at the drop-off-your-bags points when I found a large group of Japanese tourists had arrived just before me and proceeded to re-pack their luggage in the queue! But Air France/City Jet were wonderful and the flight itself was a dream. When the air hostess asked if I wanted a drink I had a budget airline flashback and just asked for water, only to realise too late they were giving out wine as well. And sandwiches. And boiled sweets for take off (a trip back to childhood). And chocolates just before landing.

I should warn you, food will probably be a theme of this post.

The DLR was also wonderful and in no time at all I arrived at our accomodation in Greenwich. Yes, it was like being a student again. There was a party going on as I arrived and my lovely flatmates were drinking wine out of plastic cups. That didn’t stop the hugs and warm greetings.

Another theme of this post will be the friendliness and fun-filled nature of everyone I met at the conference. I couldn’t have asked for a better gang to hang around with than the ladies of flat 20, but everywhere we went people chatted, exchanged ideas, joked and generally had a wonderful time.

Continue reading Better late than never – RNA Conference 2010 post →

Wicklow Gaol Night Tour

links and stuff, Out and About, Photo Moments

On Friday night we went on a night tour of Wicklow Gaol – highly recommended, really entertaining and very moving.

Oh, and creepy.

It’s known as one of the most haunted places in Ireland. Actors in period costume greet you, introduce you to the gaol and its history and, oh yes, follow you around scaring the bejaysus out of you!

At one point, my best friend E and I were standing in a cell (a tiny tiny dark cell) reading something on the wall, when a convict crept up behind us silently, leaned in between us and said, in a whisper “do you have any money?”

Screams, jumps, minor cardiac incidents, general hillarity for everyone else. 😀

Overall its a fantastic experience. Especially at night. The actors are amazing, the gaol is really well organised, fascinating and very very moving.

I stood in one room and it felt like my breath had been stolen from me, in another and I just wanted to cry, on the deck of a model of a transport ship where the slope of the deck and the sound of the quays made me feel like I was standing on a ship at sea.

And one room… oh man… it was weird. Like you walked in and the pressure completely changed, closing in around you.

Did I see anything? No. But there are lots of orbs in my photos. Whatever those orbs might be. You can make up your own minds 🙂

Btw, the people in 18th/19th century prison clothes… yes, they would be the actors. Honest. 😉

Awesome research material. Awesome night out.

Afterwards we went to dinner at Donelli’s. Beautiful food, wonderful service, fantasic meal.

Research and symbolism on the doorstep

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(Hells bells this turned into a long post. Sorry in advance!)

On our long walk the other weekend I came across a hawthorn in bloom, growing beside an oak with new leaves, over what appeared to be an old well. A raft of symbolism, right there on my doorstep, all tying into the novel I’ve just finished rewrites on – May Queen – and its sequel which I have been researching – Forest King.

I had to share the picture. Oak and hawthorn are representative of my two main characters, and the story is drawn from the folklore of the British Isles so much of which revolves around trees.

Chatting on twitter the other day, I mentioned process and that maybe I would write up a blogpost on it. So this is that blogpost. And the pretty picture… ah well, that’s part of the process too. All will become clear – or more confused. We shall see.

Continue reading Research and symbolism on the doorstep →

Out in the wild…

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Thanks to Wyvernfriend for the tip off we went into Dublin today and found…

*drumroll*

a copy of The Scroll Thief in Waterstones!

Soooooooo exciting as it’s the first time I’ve seen it in the wild! Great was the squeeing (from me and from the family). We talked to the staff, and signed the book. And jumped up and down some more.

In other news, I’m guestblogging today at the Mad Genius Club on Myths – Old and New. Please stop by and make me look popular!!!

And just a mini reminder… Soul Fire comes out in print on Tuesday. Yay!