Up, up and away!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nah, it's a butterfly.

It wouldn't take a barrage of psychological testing to work out that I draw inspiration from many sources. My muse seems to wear different guises depending upon his or her mood.

Many writers talk about listening for 'the voice' and then following the thread to see where it takes you. I assume that's a pretty good definition of a pantser when it comes to novels.

I don't often write children's fiction because I tend to see it as having an added layer of requirements in terms of understanding your audience, as well as using appropriate language and situations for the age group that you think you're writing for.

And I'm fussy about titles too, since I like the title to be in some way indicative of the flavour of the book. Scars & Stripes, for example, is both comedic and dramatic - a coming-of-age story about an adventure that purports to be one thing and is revealed to be something else. Clever, huh?

However, Superhero Club is something of a departure for me. To start with, the lead character is a girl, she's a pre-teen (I have a feeling I just made that word up), she has a dysfunctional mum, and both she and her mum are obese. But the muse knows best.

School days in literature is such an evocative time, reminding us of the emotionally charged atmosphere of discovery, insecurity and vulnerability. My heroine, Jo - because that's what she is - lives her life on the margins and the book opens with her last one-to-one session with a counsellor.

Here's the blurb, which is in American English as the ebook is coming out through US-based Musa Publishing.  

Twelve year-old Jo has never fit in at school, what with being overweight and over-sensitive. Since Dad moved out, Mom forgets who's who in the whole mother-daughter relationship. Jo has one ambition in life: to be normal. Not gifted, or gorgeous, or even particularly popular. Just normal. 

When Jo's counselor offers her a lifeline, there's a bunch of other misfits sharing the rope. Group sessions could help them to help each other, but Chris doesn't like speaking and Alistair's a self-confessed geek. Like Stevie, the joker, says, “Oh yeah, right bunch of bloody superheroes we are!”

Sometimes the most heroic thing is to trust a group of strangers, who also have a lot at stake. Jo may find the unlikeliest of friends, and a way to transform her life from the inside. The Superhero Club could give her all that in the blink of an eye. Well, maybe a double-blink!

Tagline: You only find out you're a butterfly if you spread your wings.

Obviously, I'd love the book to do well. What writer wouldn't wish that for her or his work? But, more importantly than that, my goal is for the book to reach an audience where it can perhaps make a bit of a difference. If you know of any review sites or approaches for an ebook of this kind, please leave me a comment.

Superhero Club is out on the 9th of November:

http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=439

Which books about childhood really chimed with you?

Strictly Writing Space

Oh dear... You know when you have a ‘lightbulb’ moment in life? When something becomes very suddenly and quite unexpectedly clear? I’ve been putting together a post about our writing spaces, the actual rooms we Strictlies work from. So this morning, I thought I’d better tidy the desk and um, the whole room before I take a picture, because nobody wants to see the mess, right?


There it was, the million watt moment. I DON’T WANT TO SEE THE MESS EITHER! Doh! This may in fact play a large part in why I’ve been struggling with my inner creative side. My inner slob has won the battle. So, I’m going to be brave and post a before picture, completely untouched. Here is my writing space. Yes, that is scaffolding outside. That black file on the right – the house build file... The papers on the bed, er, general filing. A mannequin head in a box - my daughter's. Papers on the left, eh, stuff to do.
Time for a tidy up and time to practise what I’ve always preached to my daughters - ‘Tidy space, tidy mind!’ And who knows, maybe my writing muse, who has been a.w.o.l will come calling...


What Susie says about her ‘writing space’ :
“ I'm living in a rented flat. I write at a breakfast bar in the kitchen - very cold through the winter as no central heating, so sit with a hot water bottle in my lap. And the gentle throb of the fridge freezer at my side...but so handy for writerly snacks...”


What Gillian says:
"I'm alternating between bed and the sofa. I absolutely cannot write in public, so no coffee shops or libraries for me! I like to sit in the New England style guest bedroom at the rear of the house which has lovely views of the countryside."

(Note to Gill - It's ALMOST as busy as mine!)





Caroline G:
"I have just put up some very pleasing fairy lights around the notice board above the desk in my study. In theory, I have quite a good dedicated space in which to write. But in practice, I have to take myself off to the British Library when I need to get some serious wordage under my belt!"

And Helen:

"In theory I have a whole room designated for writing. It's built onto the back of the house with fabulous views across open fields. However, I'm just as likely to be found on my lap top in the dining room, working amongst the piles of ironing and boxes of xmas decorations awaiting their journey to the attic."

Debs:

"My writing room is the 3^rd bedroom and until recently was a mish-mash of old teenage cast-offs (wobbly desk, wavy shelves etc) but has now been superbly refitted by my master-craftsman carpenter hubby as a kind of ‘writing incentive’  – JUST as I decide we’re going to downsize – I know… my timing has always been askew.  So I’m now looking forward to being tucked away in a little corner next to something warm and welcoming (maybe the hubby or more likely the moggy) in a bijou draughty garret somewhere smallish."



And finally, our newest member here at Strictly Writing, who tells us about his writerly space. In fact you have to watch this space (Groan...) for more on him on May 1st. 


"I used to write at my 'working from home' desk, after hours, but now I have a dedicated space up in the attic. I hear birds scratching outside on the roof and, when the window is open, I pick up snippets of conversation from the neighbours below. Facing me, behind the screen, is an Egyptian poster by James Putnam. And, despite my best efforts, I still up end leaving piles of paperwork on the floor - my unique non-filing system. Sometimes, at night, I turn everything off and just gaze out at the stars. They gaze back, telling me wordlessly to get back to my writing."