All Saints - All Stars

I recently visited a local school and I have to say they were a great bunch of children. Their enthusiasm was infectious.

I went to simply talk to them about books, any books, but of course mine might have been mentioned. The reception was very welcoming. Some of them had work for me to read, others had so many questions that we just couldn't fit them all in. I could have been there for another hour and not have time to answer all their questions.

The work they produced for me was great, a real treat for me to read, I think there may be a budding writer or two in the group. It's great to see children get so worked up about reading, they all read on a regular basis and wanted to tell me all about the books they loved.

If only we could involve more children, it seems so uncool to the majority and it is such a shame. Reading can open so many doors, show you what you can achieve, or lead you to a new world to loose yourself in.

What would it take to make all children interested in reading? What a question, right? If we could engage them at an early age then we would have them for life. But what do they want, let's face it, time with their parents. I still remember listening to my mum read to me and to my sons and they have a healthy appetite when it comes to books. Spending time to share all those stories, what could be better?

Well Hello There!

I bet you have been wondering where I have been, or celebrating that you haven't heard from me for a while.

I seem to have met myself going backwards recently, life who needs it getting in the way, and it's not just my writing that is suffering but the dust bunnies are beginning to fight back. Autumn disappeared in a blink of the eye and now Christmas is around the corner, yes I said it peeps, CHRISTMAS is weeks away. My life needs a plan.

Writing needs a plan if you want your readers to become hooked and wanting answers. A plot structure is a good place to start. Did you see what I did there, moving things along nicely ... no? Oh well I am going with it so humour me. Here starts the lesson, which is short and hopefully sweet, enjoy.
 

1.     The protagonist must have a clear central motivation – it has to be consistent and important to the protagonist.

2.       The goal – what the protagonist wants to achieve or a problem they want to solve. (also the consequences of not achieving that goal, which should increase tension.)

3.       The jeopardy must increase. James bond’s little problem turns into saving the world.

4.       The sacrifice, whether that is big or small, respect, pride, money, life. (the bigger the sacrifice for them will mean that you draw the reader in.)

5.       Every scene and chapter needs to keep the protagonist off balance, whether that’s in a negative or positive thing. The story has to move or it dies

6.       There are classical structures out there to look at, that you can learn from.

A Long Time Coming (Perfect Timing Series #2) Author: Heather Van Fleet: Trailer Reveal

Title: A Long Time Coming  (Perfect Timing Series #2)

Author: Heather Van Fleet

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Day: November 12^th, 2013

Publisher: Sunshine Press

Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb:

Abigail Orson has a problem. A love problem to be exact. And she has absolutely no idea how to go about fixing it.

For years now, she’s been chasing her best friend’s brother––demanding things from him that he’s never wanted to give. For one? A real relationship that stems well beyond that dreaded ‘just friend’s’ zone. You see, David Anderson is her perfection to a T. The one and only guy that’s ever had the ability to make her heart beat faster––make her toes curl with the simple blink of his long, girly lashes. But David is also a recovering amputee, and the only thing he really wants out of Abigail, is to be left alone. Abigail’s a fighter though, and losing the one guy who has ruined her for every other man is no longer an option.

He’s a waste of space. A guy with one leg who has lost his motivation to live––to love––to be a man in general. If only the beautiful girl, of his unattainable dreams, would get that through her perfect, blonde, stubborn head! He’s not the right guy for Abigail––he’ll never be worthy of what she deserves. But staying away is almost impossible, especially when he’s just as in love with her as she is him. But Abigail has a life ahead of her––one that’s definitely livable without a nineteen year old gimp like him holding her down. What makes her want to stick around is beyond questionable anymore.

Choices will be made. Lines will be drawn. And the two of them will face challenges that nobody saw coming. David and Abigail may have had thirteen years to fall in love, but the thing is, timing and love have never exactly worked in their favor either...

Goodreads: Goodreads

Author Bio:

Heather Van Fleet currently reside in northern Illinois, with her three little ladies, and fabulous hubby, and high school sweetheart, Chris. She’s a stay at home mom by day, and an avid and completely obsessive writer and reader by night.

She’s always had a soft spot in her heart for books, and has been creating her own little stories since the age of seven. But she never really had the confidence or the time to actually sit down and really do something about it until her youngest daughter Isabella was born just two years ago. Bella, as well as her older sisters Kelsey and Emma, are and always will be her greatest inspirations.

Links:
Website   Goodreads   Facebook

Excerpt:

He made it to his feet, swaying slightly to the side, just as she reached out a hand to steady him. Her brows drifted together, her lips were pursed to kill. All sass and spice––the girl was straight up sex in a sweater dress. “And what is that supposed to mean?” She stood with her hands at her hips. David narrowed his eyes as her neckline slipped lower. He traced the edge with his gaze, wishing it was his fingers instead.

“It just means that you’re trying to mess with my head.”

She scoffed, pressing her hand over the dip of that crack he wanted to keep ogling. Damn. That was twice now in a span of two seconds that he imagined touching that very spot. This time though, he wasn’t thinking about using his hands… He sucked in a gasp and released a quiet groan at the thought. Yeah, he was in a shit ton of trouble with this girl.

But really though, what was new?

Life in the Funny Lane - Paul Dunne

This book is a collection of stories from a boy growing up in Dublin in the 1950’s. It shows the wonderful relationships between children and parents of a lost era. There are insights of what life was like growing up in Ireland and I love the relationship he has with his father. I am not really one for these types of books and at times I felt I was simply being told a list of what had happened, but when he opened up about more personal matters I really became involved. Regardless of the content, the author always managed to keep the humour, which really worked.

If memories are your thing, it really is worth a read.