Monthly Archives: March 2013

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New Project Reveal – Part 3: The Main Character

Hello gentle reader,

this week again I’m taking part in the Tursday’s Children meme hosted by Rhiann Wynn-Nolet and Kristina Perez. It is “a weekly blog hop where writers come together to talk about whatever inspires them.”

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In these posts, I share a little bit more about what I’ve been working on, a YA Historical Fantasy nicknamed Secret WIP. Two weeks ago the first part of this “Project Reveal” was all about Setting. Last week I talked about films that inspired me to write this story.

Today’s theme is : MAIN CHARACTER.

My novel takes place in London in 1862. The main character is Lily, a sixteen-year-old flower girl who lives in Whitechapel, likes books and tends to get into trouble.

Augustus Edwin Mulready - A street flower seller

Augustus Edwin Mulready – A street flower seller (oil on canvas, 1882)

In Victorian London, flower girls were a very common sight. Instead of having to go to the market or a nursery garden, people who wanted to buy flowers simply had to go to any street corner in London and find the nearest flower girl.

Lily has honey blond hair and for various reasons, she dresses well above her social status. I’m having fun researching Victorian clothing for this novel!

Vera

You may know I like to base my characters off actors to help me describe them physically. When it comes to Lily, I’ve been keeping Emily Browning in mind: not to tall, not too strong-looking, halfway between innocence and sadness…

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The last important detail to know about Lily is that within the first pages of the story, she becomes almost deaf. I find writing a character with a disability very interesting and challenging. Here I thought writing a novel in the first person from the point of view of someone who can’t hear would be challenging enough…

So what inspires you to create characters out of thin air and flesh them out? Feel free to leave me a comment below, and to visit the other Thursday’s Children posts here. And come back next week for the 4th and last post in this New Project Reveal series, in which I will tell you all about the Plot and the Title of my Secret WIP…!

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Book of the Week – 18

Hello gentle reader,

Did you know Thursday 7th March 2013 is World Book Day? This is a celebration of reading. Vouchers and free books will be given out to young readers, libraries and schools will hold events, and most importantly, the love of reading will be passed on to children and teens everywhere.

So today I’d like to share with you a couple of books that are coming out this week or the next. They are definitely books I’ll be reading on World Book Day. What will you be reading on Thursday?

Legacy of the Clockwork Key

Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey (out today!)

YA Historical Fantasy

A teen girl unravels the mysteries of a secret society and their most dangerous invention in this adventure-swept romance set in Victorian London.

poison

Poison by Bridget Zinn (out 12th March 2013)

YA High Fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it.

Clockwork Princess

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare (out 19th March 2013)

YA Historical Fantasy – Steampunk

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it? The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose. Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

What will you be reading for World Book Day? Feel free to leave me a comment below!

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 8

Hello gentle reader,

It is time for another weekly check-in! I hope you had a great and productive week…

Quote of the Week

    “I’m not running away. But this is one corner in one country in one continent in one planet that’s a corner of a galaxy that is a corner of a universe that is forever growing and shrinking and creating and destroying and never remaining the same for a single millisecond. And this is so much, SO MUCH, to see, Amy. Because it goes so fast. I’m not running away from things. I’m running to them before they flare and fade forever.”

Doctor Who, The Power of Three written by Chris Chibnall

Picture of the Week

Lea Kaspar - In London - Gordon Sq

Gordon Square, London by my friend Lea

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write every day. This week again I managed to write

6 days out of 7.

Word Count of the Week

This week I added 2250 words to my Work In Progress. I don’t know… it was a slow week.

Book of the Week

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (YA Historical Fantasy/Steampunk)

This week I finally started to read the first book in The Infernal Devices series. And so far I like it!

Good News of the Week

 I had a lot of good news this week! First I won not one but TWO query critiques, one by The Writer Diaries ladies and one by Lit Agency Intern Lauren Spieller. I also celebrated the first anniversary of my blog with a book giveaway. Finally the lovely Vikki Thompson gave me the Very Inspiring Blog Award. I had already received it back in November 2012 and you can read my post here.

Links of the Week

On my blog I posted about which movies inspired me to write a YA Historical Fantasy novel set in Victorian London.

On There And Draft Again this week, Kathi talked about characters in fantasy and I shared the list of SFWA awards’ nominations.

The ever awesome Rachel O’Laughlin is self-publishing her Epic Fantasy Coldness of Marek and its sequel Knights of Rilch and she explained when you will be able to buy them here.

Finally The Evolution of Mara Dyer is now out in the UK and if you haven’t read it GO AND BUY IT NOW!

Next week

Next week on my blog I will celebrate World Book Day!

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!