One of the niggly things about being in Ireland is that I can’t magically sign books far away. But now I have some lovely little bookplate stickers for The Treachery of Beautiful Things, so I sort of can. There are three designs.
Aren’t they pretty? (They are bigger than this. I’m just having problems making them fit on the page at the mo.)
If you’d like one, send me a message using the contact form at the bottom of my Out & About page. And let me know.
Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, or Samhain marks the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. Traditionally its the time when the veil between worlds weakens, allowing spirits and creatures of the otherworld to creep through into our own. It is a time when demons, imps and faeries prowl the earth, when the dead whisper in our ears. Such visitors have always needed to be appeased with gifts. Bonfires are traditionally lit to drive back the dark. To light our way, and frighten off troublesome spirits Jack o’ lanterns were carved, originally from turnips or swedes, but nowadays, carving a pumpkin is much easier. Turnip ones are so much scarier though. They look like mumified heads!
Whether you believe in the Supernatural or not, it doesn’t seem to matter. There is something about Halloween that has the ability to spook us all. Maybe it’s possible that even if we don’t believe in it, Halloween believes in us.
Spooky stories are a time-honored tradition. We love to be scared in safety, to send a chill down the spine, to glance over our shoulders just in case. On Saturday I was in Marsh’s Library for the Bram Stoker festival, hearing their stories of ghosts searching through the books for a lost letter, or the mummy which was found and then mysteriously disappeared. We even saw the death mask of Jonathan Swift! (I was there for the prize giving of the short story competition – congratulations to the wonderful winners). Next week, by the way, I’ll be chairing a discussion of YA fantasy for Irish Pen, with Celine Kiernan, Oisín McGann and Conor Kostick. Who knows what tales of horror we’ll come up with?! Come and find out.
I have my fair share of scary tales. I put a lot of them into my novels — the Redcaps swarming in The Treachery of Beautiful Things, the Sluagh attacking in Soul Fire, and in my WIP a girl walking down a corridor in a deserted library, certain that she is hearing voices from somewhere just around the corner. Some I just keep to myself.
What’s your scary tale? Come and share a ghost story in the comments in celebration of the scariest night of the year.
Still ticking over at the moment. Not a lot to report, but pretty soon there will be. Interviews, guestposts, giveaways, and a booktrailer. Did I mention the booktrailer?
Some teasing images…
The last two were taken on the day we did our filming on Killiney Hill. Fabulous, isn’t it?
In other news I was doing some writing work with dd’s class – a fabulous group of 7 to 9 year olds with so much imagination and talent. We talked about genres, characters, plot, and then they wrote, illustrated and made their own books. Yes. Made! With Publishers logos, table of contents, and ISBNs and everything! *happymaking*
The trees swallowed her brother whole. And Jenny was there to see it. Years later, when she returns to the woods where Tom was taken to say good-bye at last, she finds herself lured into a world where stunning beauty masks the most treacherous of evils, and strange and dangerous creatures await—creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with allegiances that shift as much as his moods. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack’s help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where nothing is what it seems, no one is who they say, and she’s faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice—and not just her own.
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
But utterly braindead and exhausted. Learned lots, laughed lots, met some wonderful wonderful people and had a fantastic time.
In a while, when I have recovered a little and libraryland stops its total upheaval that has to happen (apparently) when I go away for a day or two, I will sort out photos and a blog post with some of the things covered – like Sarah Duncan’s fantastic tips on lifting a ms from good to great, Kate Walkers fab conflict workshop, and that wonderful “Oh my God, it’s 2am and we have to be at a session at 9am” moment!
But since all day today I had to struggle to say Connolly instead of Colony (and failed), I think I need a rest!
(plus I really really want to read Julie Cohen’s “Girl from Mars”)
There’s an interview with me up on Hell Or High Water today.
Come a find out all you could ever want to know. 🙂
Less than a week left to the wonderful Phoenix Convention (or P-con as it is affectionately known). I’m really looking forward to this one. P-con was the first con I attended as a writer (as an adult) and found an abundance of people with all the same interests as me.
This year I was invited as a guest and have panels. So exciting! 🙂
Saturday, 6th
10am Is it time for “Return of the Werewolves”?
Nick Harkaway, Brian J. Showers, Laura Anne Gilman, Maura McHugh, R. F. Long
And then all Saturday is mine to play with!
Sunday, 7th however is a different matter – I will be a busy girl.
12pm Keyboard or pen – Room for both?
R. F. Long, Oisín McGann, Maura McHugh
2pm Has the Internet become indespensible?
Cheryl Morgan, Bob Neilson, R. F. Long, Maura McHugh
4pm E-Books
R. F. Long, Nich Harkaway, Colin Smythe, Derek Gunn
So far I’ve got the following answers “Yes”, “Em”, “YES”, and “Yay!”
But we’ll see how that goes. I’m in with some pretty impressive individuals so … yeah… wow! This is going to be fun.
Like magic? Like UF?
Then you’ll LOVE Genny!
The wonderful Suzanne McLeod’s The Cold Kiss of Death officially releases today. Let excitement and bouncing elephants reign supreme.
I’m reading the first volume in this series The Sweet Scent of Blood (What? I’m a slow reader! Give me a break!) and its awesome.
Don’t believe me? (How could you doubt me?!)
Kimberly at Darque Reviews has given The Cold Kiss of Death a starred read!
‘Ms. McLeod outdoes herself, and takes her fictional world to new levels. The Cold Kiss of Death is a refreshing escape that will keep readers glued to every page.’
‘Great writing, enough sass to make [Genny] believable and above all a tale that makes us all want to visit to see the “hidden” side of this ancient city. . . making [Suzanne] perhaps Britain’s premiere Urban Fantasy Author.‘
Lovevampires.com** has given The Cold Kiss of Death 
!
‘The Cold Kiss of Death [is] an exciting and satisfyingly complex read. Throw in an imaginatively realised fantasy London with demons, sorcerers, satyrs, vampires, necromancers and a wide variety of faery beings and it’s clear that this book is a sure-fire winner for fantasy fans.’
Go on, you know you want it! Make sure to hop over to Suzanne’s LJ and congratulation her!