Tag Archives: book-review

I am writing

I am writing-thirteen

Some where over there, across the pond, a football tournament has kicked off. Might account for the lower number of visitors this week, or perhaps my posts have become less interesting. Who knows! I shall persist in being committed to blogging on a daily basis during the month of June. That was the plan anyway. Let’s see if this continues. So far, I’ve missed one day, and that does bother me somewhat.

Right, today there was a plan to continue writing a WIP which is sequel to Dragon Realm. Whoops, I’ve made that public. I won’t give away the title yet. I shall wait til I have the first draft at least. I will feel a little confident about it and be more willing to share.

The plan has gone a little awry today. I’ve been thinking about Christmas. Yes, Christmas in June as we head into a summer. To be fair, a British Summer has the potential to be damp. Yesterday, and the day before were both cold and damp. Anyway, a new addition to the book oydssey 2025 is a book event which is a Christmas event, and this had me worried somewhat. I’m curious as to how many Christmas works an author, writer is supposed to have in their repertoire.

I do have a christmas title. Just the one, but I was worried that this was enough. I do have a couple of Devan Coultrie short stories too.I really enjoyed writing Padmi’s Christmas carol, but it has lingered with quite a bit. The enjoyable process, the characters and their journeys. There is something about a Christmas Carol Inspired Story, not to mention the festive season.

Over the years, I’ve tried and I’ve failed to get into and enjoy Christmas romances. I enjoy them, but I am yet to feel the power and be compelled by The Muse to write one. Until, Padmi’s Christmas carol came along. Not a romance, and there are some gothic elements to it as well.

In the last few weeks, I’ve felt haunted by Padmi’s Christmas carol, and this was also rubbed along with the attendance to the christmas book event. over the last week or so, I’ve been thinking about possible stories. I have come up with two, which have somewhat changed the writing plan for the year. There is a third, but that may be a step too far. Four projects over a summer, with a fifth creative one, might be difficult.

I’m hoping to work on them over the summer. A summer that already proposes to have something of a creative bent to it. I already feel excited to write them, there has been planning and plotting today which for the most part felt exciting. There was and is a little sadness in that those were not the three thousand words I wanted to write today. Alas, I guess this is what the Universe would have me do today.

I am writing

I am writing-Nine

I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to read about. From having a paperback/hardback, to an e-reader or having an audiobook. Read, enjoy a book in whatever medium is available to you and however you feel most engaged.

Oh, and read what you want too. There needn’t be hard and fast words about who reads what and why. I for one, have a variety of genres, fiction and non-fiction on my e-reader. Read what you fancy and form your own opinion. There are always going to be those who debate and discuss. In some part, that’s exactly what fandom’s and book clubs do and do it very well.

It’s okay to like a book, not like it, be carried away or think a book really isn’t for you. I’m not entirely sure who is served by book snobbery. Okay, it does help if readers like books. This does help market demand and readers finding your work. I guess my challenges is when comments arise such as you shouldn’t read that, read this instead. This is better, I prefer that. Why you reading that for, read something else.

Books that are banned, books that are criticised; that’s an interesting avenue to. For me personally, I do my best to respect books. For example, I was raised in a household where you didn’t put books on the floor. We might not have lots of them, but I was raised to respect them, value them; keep them safe. In many instances, I’ve done by best to donate books to a loving home once I’ve had my fill of them.

There are many people in this world who don’t have the same access to books. On a daily basis, libraries and community centres are closing down. I have fond memories of visiting the library whilst growing up. Even as an adult, I find libraries fascinating sanctuary spaces. The same goes for bookshops. As an author, I’ve had the privilege of being stocked in a couple. I dream of being in a library one day.

And if you like me, want to grab a few copies. There’s a form on here somewhere. I’ll even sign them for you.

I am writing

I am writing-Two

There was some writing yesterday. A well as a bit of organisation of writing projects. There are a number to look at.

It’s not easy to pick up a notebook, pickup where I might have left off and hurtle off at full throttle. Some of these have been sat stacked for nearly a decade, others a few years. I tend to write things down with a full head of steam. The Muse gets titrated and emptied; it all feels very hopeful. Alas, one is human and with that energy depletes.

I also never throw any writing away. I choose to come back to it at another time. This does then lead to an inevitable log jam of books and ideas. However, this does, in my opinion at least, stave off writers block a little. I have had the ideas, these have been decanted. I can go back to them, sometimes with a fresh set of eyes and have another crack.

So I have inventoried and made a vague plan of what to do over time. Each book tends to be written over a year. Typically, I start on the 6th of January, Epiphany. A good a day as any to have a bright idea. To aim for a finish on New Years Eve. Not all projects might take a year. This does depend on how long I would initially like them to be. Padmi’s Christmas Carol took a week to write. Devan Coultrie can take up six weeks. I once wrote a script for a short movie in one morning. I hasten to add, these are only ever the first drafts. I do not profess to be perfect. Not by any length of chalk. All depends on a work/life/creativity balance.

Previously, I mentioned that I would be attending book events later this year. I did post those, for information.

Book events are a really interesting part of being an indie, self published author. I get to meet new readers, readers who have decided to invest in my books; I also get to adventure across the country. Mama F or a soul sister usually accompany me and act as my glamourous assistant. I’ve been very lucky to have gone to events in Montana, USA and then across all corners of the United Kingdom. Should we get to Cardiff, then yes, I will have covered the whole of the sceptred isle.

It’s not easy reaching readers, promoting work and hoping that there will be positive reviews. In fact, I have had my fair share of one and two star reviews. These can be soul-destroying and horribly demotivating. This has been on my mind quite a bit over the last year, it’s very difficult to shake off the feeling of being diminutised. Alas, I’m trying to reconcile myself to the fact that I won’t be everyone’s cuppa tea. My books will find people, and there are readers who invest and take things from the Figments of my Imagination; reading that, is always lovely.

This year, there is a full ticket of events. Only a couple pencilled in for 2027. Nothing yet, for 2028. The future is yet to be determined.

book signings, Books

Book Odyssey 2024 over for another year

As 2024 draws to a close, the book odyssey for this year also concludes. There has been travels and also book releases.

There were three books released this year. In a second, I might pick up a pen to start a project that is bustling to get done.

I have been to quite a few book signings this year, and each one has come with lessons learned and experiences gained. As an Indie, self-published author these are really instrumental and invaluable for a whole host of reasons. There is networking, finding new readers, gaining insight and of course, having an adventure of a sorts. Ultimately, I go to these events to reach new readers and share my work.

As a British Author of South Asian origin, going to these events has a broader purpose too. To share stories that otherwise might not be told. This helps improves representation of different communities and identities to form a richer tapestry of literature that readers can find. I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of going to events that really take this seriously.

Tales on Trent, Leek Book Fest, Dudly Book Con and Big Sky in Montana are probably, in my humble opinion, events that have been inclusive, diverse and organised for accessibility, for the love of books and helped build community.

There are still events that I miss out on, don’t qualify for and events that are so big, you have to be very well established to even get on the waiting list. I live in hope of having a readership and a fan club, where I do get a look in with these events. It may well be that as 2025 strikes ten years of being an Indie Author, I shall review the process of going to book signings. I still plan to write, don’t worry.

So far this year, I have been to the following events. I’ve learned loads, met lovely people and the experiences have been a really good adventure. Where I can, and where she is available, I try to bring Mama F along. She’s read the books, so that does help!

Dudley Book Con at the heritage archives was fabulous in meeting lots of horror authors. I know, how does a contemporary romance, mixed bag author like me, fit? Well, I did. Crystal organised a cracking good event and I was made to feel very welcome, very much part of the event and made loads of connections. This was such a lovely, successful experience that I’ve been invited back for next year. I was even inspired to write a horror. I have a plan, a cover that could possibly work. I am also standing by my atmospheric zombies in The Battle of Gravelly Hill Interchange.

Leek Book Festival was a first time event, carried out by Sam et al who are form an epic book club. There was a whole week of literary, art events and Mama F and I were invited along. A well organised event, that reached out to the community and had a diversity of authors. This was a cracking good event, and the book canon did well. I’m back next year, and I really hope this grows and grows. I may also get to meet the Mayor again. He came to my table and we had a lovely chat.

Liverpool saw a trip to rebels and outlaws, having been a late addition to proceedings. Not sure which character qualified me for that, but this was an another adventure for Mama F and I. Travelling was fun; possibly the longest distance yet in the United Kingdom for books.

Belfast is probably going to beat that to be honest, and Scotland features as well. I’ve yet to go to Cardiff for a book adventure. Can you imagine? I can then safely say, that I’ve tried to spread my work across the United Kingdom.

Montana saw a return visit to Billings for the Big Sky Book Event. Whilst this has fewer authors, this is by far my most successful book event by several country miles. My link to Montana is of course through the Peace series. Big Sky book event is very close to my heart. A well planned event, with diverse authors and great links to the community. I’m not returning to Montana for some time, but a fictional piece of me lives there. The Two Chandni’s had their international release there.

I endeavour to return at some point. Montana remains my portal to the US, and perhaps I need to consider how to capitalise on that better.

In the matter of the last week or so, I attended Authors behind bars Shrewsbury. A novel event, I had my own cell!

So what happens next. Well.

Next years events-at the moment! These could change depending on availability, and whether I end up waiting lists. Still a cracking good, rather extensive list and who knows what could happen in the next 12 months.

Book Bonanza Leeds 2nd February 2025

Book lovers Birmingham 26th April 2025

Leek Book Festival 7th June 2025

Belfast Books and ballgowns 28th June 2025

Wonderland in Nottingham 26th July 2025

-August watch this space, Scotland is on the list-

Himley Hall Dudley 11th October 2025