Ten years ago, I decided to write a book. A book based upon this blog. I even took all the pictures on my phone. My first book, the yellow one, was an interesting entry into the world of self publishing. The Yellow One and the Green one, remain two of the most popular books. (all right, the reviews for the green one, say otherwise.)
That was how my writing journey started. I was new, naive to the whole world of writing and especially that of being a self-published Indie Author. A lot has changed since then. There are certainly more books, there have been lots of book-related adventures too. Writing books set in Montana, has led to adventures there. There lots of book adventures scheduled for this year. I am going to reflect as these will continue in the future, and what other avenues I might need to consider about making sure my stories are out there for readers to find.
I’ve learned a lot of the self-publishing indie universe, about books and the challenges that come with writing and marketing. The market is huge, diverse and there stories for everyone about anything. There’s a lot to reflect upon in approaching ten years this summer.
I don’t profess to be perfect, or a rock star, for that matter. I am eternally grateful whenever a reader chooses to pick up a book and invest in it. I’ve lots of notebooks, lots of stories; all waiting for me to attend to them.
It feels like a life time since I released Retreating to Peace. The book was released on the 19th January 2018, which means we’re celebrating 7 years of Devan Raaj Coultrie.
For me this a big deal, a lot has happened since that release. Two more books followed, adventures to the US as well. Not to mention the writing, directing and release of a short indie film.
Writing Devan was a risk, and he brings with them adventure, courage and ambition. I think he’s contributed to my growth personally as a human, as a writer. I still have to make sure I count director as well. I worked with an amazing crew in writing him, then making the film. Lots of lessons were learned, there was a lot of development that might not have happened.
The 19th of January will always be special. I mean, Devan does have a birthday; some time in march. But this was the day his Universe was unleashed.
Keep an eye out next week. The Devan Coultrie Saga will be on offer on kindle.
It’s not easy being an Indie Author. The market is huge, there’s a lot of variety. A bit like Arabian Nights, there are 1001 stories that you can sample at any one point. Being an Indie Author, means not having the massive machine of a publisher behind.
As such, when a review comes through, I’m inclined to do a happy dance. A happy dance with a heart gladdened by someone taking a chance, a risk, on my work.
Reviews are very important as an Indie Author. These help to measure success, spread the word and acts as a bench mark to help readers choose their next read. They are however, very elusive to gain.
They have an immense power. To encourage and to crush. I think I have a full set of one to five stars. Not the best of accomplishments to celebrate, but I hope that even traditional, big-hitting authors have their share of these.
We live in a world where social media is huge and growing. I keep seeing the strap lines-tik tok made me buy this, the newest tik tok sensation. That’s a huge movement of bookworms, and book worms are important. The power of books, of writers and their stories shouldn’t be underestimated.
It’s a daft person who underestimates the power of social media. After all, I’m sat here writing this blog. I can be connected with via insta, twitter, FB as well, These are all forums and arenas for communication.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not spouting sour grapes at not being a tik tok sensation. That comes with its own baggage; social media can have both positive and negative impacts.
Being a tik tok sensation is in the same league as:
1.Being a cup winning therapist-I can but dream of the FA cup, and make my way up to Euro and world.
2.Winning an oscar or a bafta; I did write a movie, but these are proper pie in the sky ambitions.
3.Being No 1 author on any given list, never mind USA today. All the way from Brummie land.
Yeah, the chances are slim, aren’t they? But, I celebrate the review. Each and every one. That means someone read my book, thought about it and shared it.
No idea who the Kronos Quartet are, but they sound amazing.
Thing is, they’ve always been a part of my upbring. Especially when it comes to the old-school Bollywood Movies that my family enjoyed as I was growing up.
Whilst adventuring and writing, some of these songs were ear worms. Figured I could listen to them, sate The Muse and see what I ended up writing. Dum Maro Dum, is an iconic song. To me, it is more rock and roll, than it is Bollywood. To be fair, I’ve also been listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours as well. The two do overlap a great deal and the Kronos Quartet certainly feel very rock and roll.
Not sure if I’ve shared before. But many of the books are written with their own play lists. I had a Devan one, but in a pique, having written Peace Betrayed, I pressed delete. I know, daft idea, but I’d thought I’d finished with him at that point. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
Anyway, yes, most books have their own playlist. Gorbind, Koby have one. There’s a Hades one, I think, as well as one for Chandni. I don’t always write with music on. I do like to work in silence. Yet there are instances where it’s okay to have a gentle soundtrack playing to help capture the mood, tone or ambience of the writing.
Writing the most recent Koby book, I had Mozart, with Lacrimosa as well as Zadok The Priest. Big, bold pieces of music that helped it all coalesce. With Chandni Rises and Chandni Chirag, there were four different versions of Carol of the bells.
As to whether anyone can hear these when they read, well, who knows?
That was a very steep hill. I made it up there, very slowly so as to stretch my legs. After a three hour drive across 177 miles, stretching one’s legs was a bit useful.
I decided to go on a writing adventure to follow in the footsteps of one Agatha Christie. I thought it might help inspire, help kick start the writing process and bolster my confidence. Confidence in driving all that way; I’m still growing when it comes to long journeys and motorways. But also after a year where I’ve felt bruises in my work not getting very far, I could write with some joie de vivre.
Apparently, Agatha Christie spent two weeks at the Moorland and wrote her draft there. I can say that this did make the air a bit more romantic. If such a great Briton can go there, feel compelled to write, that why not test the hypothesis?
The walk up to Haytor Rocks was bracing, the breeze was a bit nippy and the moors were an ambient character in themselves. I can understand how Marple or Poirot might suddenly appear. I strongly recommend The Moorland Hotel. The staff were brilliant, and couldn’t do enough for me. As a solo traveler, I often feel anxious about such things. (Every now and again, I do get asked where my husband is. Well, if you’re looking for him, what hope do I have?) Was a lovely place, with lovely people. Rather enjoyed it.
I did write, and I did enjoy it. I’m committed to writing, to stretching my imagination. I travelled with about four different notebooks, to finally settle on what I wanted to write. I think I have a vague plan now as to what I might do this year.
2024 was a busy year. I released three books, counselling and teaching was busy. There were also some soul-colouring adventures. (Apologies for not sharing, really was a rapid year).
And 2025 promises to be no different. This year, started with a combination of adventuring to write. Just after the new year’s celebration, I took myself off cross country to Dartmoor. Off to hotel where Agatha Christie no less, spent time writing her first novel. All right, it has burned down and been rebuilt since, but I assure you that the romance and energy was there.
I’ve only been on a day-long writing retreat. About a week before the Pandemic kicked off, and I found it an interesting experience. I’ve never gone off on a longer stint, beyond my desk, adventured to sit down and right.
Thinking of how successful such an experience it was Agatha Christie and feeling that this year will be big in marking ten years, I gave this a go. Travelled 177 miles south west-that was an experiment and challenge in itself. I then spent two and half days writing. I did actually write!
I’ve recently found a revived writing mojo. There is after all, a new book out on the 3rd of March. I wanted this to continue, to be more consistent. Writing this blog is another aspect of that. I’m hoping to make regular, more consistent contributions here to get things moving.
There has been opportunity to assess and evaluate the stack of stories that I would like to write. There are easily half a dozen notebooks that i feel I could tackle. Not all in one go, but work through. There is nothing quite like being sat down, writing and being inspired. I don’t think I experience writer’s block. I can make plan, have a vivid and impassioned response to decant the ideas. It is then carving out time to write and sew those ideas together. All being well, this will happen.
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-
You’ve been on my mind. This blog, the readership. I know you’re out there. Somewhere, in the vast and varied echelons of the cyber universe.
I’m sorry.
I’ve not not been around as much as I could have been, or should have been. I can’t remember the last time that I sat here and typed up a post. There are number of reasons for that.
The one I always state. That life got busy. Well, that still stands.
I teach, I practice as counsellor. I write books. It has been a while since there was any gardening.
Today, I sat here and thought. You know what, Iet’s do a blog post. Before I get inky fingers, and do some writing. There’s a book to finish.
Teaching, counselling, and writing have in fluid quantities been three central themes of my life over the last year. Teaching is busy; colliding with counselling as a vocation. The counselling practice thrives; it’s going from strength to strength. That leaves writing.
I’ve had two creative projects simmering away over the last year.
One. was the development of a screenplay. For a short film. The cast was found, there is a whole crew behind it. It was a year this monday just gone, that I found my leading man. We’re on the cusp, of completing the filming process. This has been a learning curve! Especially, with a pandemic! I had learn how to write a screen play, adapt my own story. The one in question is Devan Coultrie is Unwell. A short story from Postcards from Peace: A Peace Series collection. I am also directing, so this really has been something. I can’t share much at the moment. Only that seeing the leading man become Devan, was a mind-blowing. Seeing the leading lady, become Aditi was the same. To work with two talented Make Up Artists, a Director of Photography who really knows his stuff.
We have to finish filming and then editing will happen. I have been blown away by the entire process. It has been an interesting process of skill acquisition and development. I’ve never thought and in a million years, that I would be a director. I still might not be! This isn’t finished yet.
There aren’t many British, Female Directors out there, of South Asian Ascent. I can name, one? So that makes this feel a bigger deal.
The second project, is no longer so new. Behind the Scenes has been out for a year. A collection of flash fiction, some short stories; a zombie apocalypse novelette. All of which is set in, inspired by Birmingham. Most of which, was written during lockdown.
As I step away from this blog post, I’m going to try and tackle the next creative project. I’ve been writing it since April, and I am trying to get it towards the end. This is best described as doomed romance. More on that, as it happens.
Hold up, wait. I need to to tell you about dragons. I got this far, and forgot to tell you about dragons. I’ve written another novelette. Again, set in, inspired by Birmingham. And there are dragons involved. There will be more on this later too!
Dragon Realm
A city of a thousand trades. Birmingham is busy and bustles. Everyday people go about their everyday business. Yet, there is something that lives within Birmingham. Something far more magic, than a city is mundane.
Brian is on the night bus, when he hears a voice call to him from the dark. Dave and his Lady Eleanor have a far from normal day on the canals. Linus and Gary might be friends on opposite football teams, but when half-time comes they have something in common.
Dale goes out for a Balti, and gets more than his dinner. A romance reader catches the attention of Eloise whilst in the city library.
A few people of Birmingham are sought out to do something special. To act as guardians to rather mysterious packages.
Restless and unrestrained, The Muse, is ready to go; he takes me by the hand. Softly, he whispers into my ear. His words make my heart race and my mind whir.
“Are you brave?” He asks, wearing the Devil’s smile. “Or just plain reckless?”
“Courageous,” I reply. “Now bring me my pens. We have work to do.”
(Gonna need a new calendar)
Yesterday, in a fit of pique I gathered up my notebooks. I re-arranged my desk to group the works in progress to see all of what was in the pipeline. What has been in the pipeline for years. There are seven different notebooks, each with a different story. All of which I plan to write, get through at some point. I don’t ever, throw anything away. I even found a plan for another Devan Coultrie book. That, however, doesn’t feel very immediate. It’s not calling to me as much as the stack of notebooks are.
The plan today, was start on on writing project, that needs to be done by next summer. A contribution for an anthology, that can be up to ten thousand words. I have a plan, a process that I fancy testing out. Only for The Muse to sulk today, having grinned at me yesterday, like a crazy thing. I may give it a bash today. Though the The Muse does feel as though it is hungover. Understandable, as it’s been a busy year for writing.
I had planned to sit at my desk all today. To close the door, have my head phones and write as much as I could. Then I woke up, tired and bleary eyed. I have some recharging to do, I think. I probably shouldn’t push myself to create when The Muse isn’t feeling the best. I know that there are things to write, to conjure and create. But the conditions and contributing variables don’t feel write today. One of the many reasons I choose not to do Nanowrimo, is that it doesn’t feel right to work so intensely in a short period of time. As disciplined as I can be, about writing, I don’t think I’d cope with such a gruelling regime. I like having relatively unfettered, mostly organic process of writing. That’s why there are so many different notebooks; why there are often post-it’s stuck into them as I think of something to add or construct.
What I’m inclined to do, is sit here at my desk. Leaf longingly through the leaves of the notebooks, to try and enter the zone. To see what stirs The Muse. To pick up my pens, if moved to do so. I don’t really like deadlines, even when I have self-imposed ones. However, I do like to be disciplined when it comes to writing. I get really very frustrated when not able to conjure up figments of my imagination. I might have a bullet point, in a plan, to meet, and then have nothing floating across my mind.
To think, I missed a blog post yesterday, and want to make up for it today!
Tomorrow, England goes into lockdown for the second time. A necessary action, I believe as the NHS faces a combination of COVID and winter pressures.
The memory, of that friday before the first lockdown is still there. I feel it very keenly; the meeting on the college campus. The horrible, heavy dread in the air. I was supposed to teach the next day; classes were to go straight on line. Even my counselling practice had to change and go to online/telephone.
This is somewhat different, it certainly feels different. A case of, I’ve done this before, but here we go again. Teaching is hybridised for the time being. The Counselling Practice, is COVID Compliant and continues.
My other focus, is creativity. You’ve already seen the socks and leg warmers. That is definitely going to continue. I’ve been thinking, ever since the Prime Minister made his announcement-as mad as it was-about my writing projects. I do have a stack of them.
The first lockdown was spent writing, and I daresay it helped managed my stress levels, a sense of being, amongst other things. I felt a very keen sense of loss, in not being able to go out, visit the BMAG or other creative places. I did manage to go the BMAG actually, to refresh and reabsorb energy for The Muse.
So, the writing projects; I have a few.
For one, I don’t need any more notebooks. In the first lockdown, I bought a pile, knowing that I had ideas that need to decanted. I sorted out all the stories, to be then tackle them. No more notebooks needed, at all. I am therefore, now faced with works to do. I had been wondering how I was going to get to them all. Generally, I will stare at them, pick up and open the one that calls to me. I also have to be in the mood to be carried away.
There is a vague plan. I have contribution to an anthology to write, in the first instance. It can be up to ten thousands words, and be inspired by Birmingham. I have a plan, a list of ideas actually that I plan to through for that.
Then, there are four, five, six other notebooks. Each with a story, that has been planned out in bullet points. Some are quite detailed. There are specific chapters. Others, have a general plan, that can be fleshed out as required. I used to write on a whim, just see where my imagination wanted to go. That was great, and for the most part it worked. Now, I bullet-point/plan, when the ideas come and use them as checkpoints. A sort of mesh, I guess, to then fill out. At least then, I don’t forget what I want to do. As such, there are post-its everywhere too. Bits and pieces that have come to me, that I’d like to integrate. You can never have enough post-it’s, I guess and I never throw anything away. Just in case.
All that is required, is my pens and my inks. I should just get on with them.
Some of them, have been sat on my desk for two years, gathering dust. I need to stare at them intently, to see what calls to me.
So, on the eve of lockdown part two, I have ordered some more ink. A new fountain pen too. Rest assured, I still have my Parker Sonnets. Nothing will ever replace them, and I will be heart broken if anything were to happen to them.
(I’ll never forget that first moment of using one in The Pen Shop. A proper Ollivander moment, with Fantasia playing, I kid you not. It was just the right one, the best fit, and I felt in love immediately.)
This is the current selection. I have a definite bias, when it comes to colours of ink. I have gone through two bottles of imperial purple, two of deep magenta, I think. Ordering more, I guess is more than preparation for writing projects. I even flushed out a few fountain pens last week, as I had used them a great deal and they had become clogged up.
I didn’t have time to prepare the last time. I didn’t even think, that writing was a way of enduring. It sort of just happened. Alas, I enjoyed it, it was useful. It was also meaningful. In a slightly different way, I guess, to baking Banana Bread.
I made bread, a few times. But then I gave up. It didn’t particularly give me a zing, in the same way that writing did and does.
There will be writing this weekend. I’m not doing NANOWRIMO. That has never really called to me. There is no way, no how, that I could that over a month; if only to write a first draft. My writing process is languid, in that I don’t particularly like those contained, very short deadlines. If I have six months, a year, that feels more plausible.
horticultural 'obbit 