It Has Been Just One of Those Days

    A recent survey done in the UK by Crucial.com, found that slow computers were top of the list when it comes to the things that irritate us most .

    According to their research, computer rage is more common than road rage. Now, as someone who regularly engages in an animated conversation with this particular inanimate object, I'm glad that this survey was carried out.

    Why? Because I can at last admit to the world that I shake my fist, pull at my hair in frustration and raise my voice on a regular basis at the screen that's in front of me. Especially when I'm trying to post my blog, tweet or e-mail.

   My partner on many an occasion has stuck his head around the study door and asked "Are you okay?" Only for me to tell him that "Yeah, I'm good. I'm talking to the computer." Whilst typing this very short piece,  I have had several disagreements with this necessary evil, but I think I'll just put it down to having one of those days.

    Do you suffer from computer rage?

  

Saying It With Flowers

 

 

    Last week my work finally came to fruition and my book went on sale. I received many emails, phone calls and cards of congratulations, so many I was rather overwhelmed.

    The above bouquet was given to me by my family and has pride of place in my study.The wonderful smell of the flowers fills the air and reminds of how lucky I am.

    I'm not just fortunate to have had my work published , but to have such wonderful family and friends.

    For a sneak preview of the first four chapters, please check out Amazon. My book is published in both paperback and ebook, which can both be purchased through www.featherweightpublishing.com and it's also available through Amazon, USA, UK, Spain, France, Germany, Australia.

   

Android Love

    Two weeks ago after months of procrastination I finally invested in an android tablet. Because I wasn't convinced that it was something that I actually needed, I have invested in one which isn't a market leader.But it does everything that I want from a tablet. I can use social media, read/answer emails, watch TV, listen to the radio, read my Kindle library and browse the web.

    I spent yesterday morning looking for free apps, downloading them and I couldn't wait to show my partner last night. He was somewhat surprised at my new found love for the devise, because he had spent months encouraging me to take the plunge and buy one.

    Having done lots of research on androids for my book,  I knew the advantages of this wonderful invention and I can't wait to take it on a trip somewhere. Although I don't have a trip planned I think I should organise one just so I can take it with me.

    

Happily Ever After

     The eventual kiss, the killer's demise, the surprise when the frog turns out to be a Prince, and the bad boy/girl turned good, are some of the endings we all read and love in books.

     The ending of a book is as important as the beginning, but we all want different things from our literary experience. It could be that we want a little romance, justice to be done, or just a lovely warm feeling of contentment when we close over the cover.

     It's also possible that we want something from the end of a story that we believe for some reason, or another is not attainable in our own lives. Because after all in the real world, life doesn't always go the way we planned.

     We may vary our reading material, because we believe variety is the spice of life. Then there some of us who stick to reading only one genre solely for the reason that we can more, or less guarantee that we're going to get the ending we want. But I do think we all like to believe that in the end, we all live happily ever after.


     What kind of endings do you like best?

The Adrenalins Pumping

    My adrenal glands have been working overtime this week. Why? Because I received my copy of my ebook files and a note of congratulations from Featherweight Publishing.

    I'm so excited I'm stuck for words. Which isn't something that happens to me very often, just ask my family.

    Clicking onto www.featherweightpublishing.com and seeing the cover of my book, then reading an excerpt was a very surreal moment for me. A moment I had anticipated for sometime and I want to thank the team at Featherweight Publishing for making it possible.

    Please check out the website, not just for my book but the other Young Adult titles that are available through my publisher and other outlets. 

   

Express Yourself

    When we initially pop into this world we communicate by filling our lungs with air and let out a loud cry. Then as we develop, we learn how to express ourselves in different ways.

    We laugh, cry, speak, put words down on paper, use eye contact and touch, to connect with our fellow human beings. Creative forms of expression are endless, and I've always wanted to paint, sing, or compose a piece of music. But I'm no Mary Cassatt, Etta James, or Julia Woolf, so I'll leave it to those who can.

    Of course the great thing about being a writer is that my characters can display their emotions, thoughts and feelings in ways I can't. They can sing, paint, compose and do all the things I daren't do.

  How do your characters express themselves?

   


   

Trips Off the Tongue

    Earlier this week I met up with some friends for a meal at a local eatery. Reading through the varied menu, I couldn't help but notice the wording in the meal descriptions helped tease the taste buds of the diner.

  Tempting words made the braised beef with its rich, succulent gravy, and the Thai curry with its aromatic spices, tingle tongues in anticipation.

    This creative menu made me think about the importance of adjectives in story telling and made me realise that without them, the written word can be very bland indeed. As for the food, the creator of the menu unfortunately used a heaped spoonful of writer's license.