Inspiration

Inspiration is a word that not only relates to myself as a writer but to other writers, artists, designers, chefs, gardeners and many other professions.  According to dictionary.com the word Inspiration means to inspire; the act of being inspired and a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul. Any writer can sit down and write at any time and produce a fairly good page of writing but to be inspired by something is like the breath that gives life and the root word spir has to do with concepts of air and breathing.  Inspiration comes from the Latin word spira which means; breath of life, breath, breathing, mind, spirit and soul.  In other words it’s like the ingredient that gives life to your work whether it is writing, or painting or a magnificent wedding dress.  Inspiration can be the one ingredient that makes something work and lack of it is probably the reason a lot of writer’s get writer’s block.  Writer’s block is like being in a rooml with no door in it and you look up and the height seems insurmountable sometimes and it is at times like these that one needs, Spira, the breath of life.

What do you do when you face writers block?  Firstly, I try to encourage myself because you certainly won’t get anywhere by sitting there feeling discouraged.  I put down the pen or take my fingers off the keyboard and take a break from writing. I start to surround myself with things I love and enjoy doing.  I surround myself with things that create spira and sometimes it doesn’t happen straight away.  One has to persevere. I  Make a coffee, watch some old movies, go for a walk along the beach. I most often will do something creative like paint or sew; make a dress or gown for someone and I find these things often create enough inspiration for me to want to do more.  There are lots of things I do to get past writers block and find the inspiration I need to keep the writing flowing.  I don’t know what the rest of you do, but here is a list of a few things I do that helps me.

• ·         Walking along the beach at sunset
• ·         Walking through the park
• ·         A glass of wine by the fire at night
• ·         Read my favourite books
• ·         Watch old movies; especially ones in castles.
• ·         Study (That’s right; study.  Study something of interest like maybe an important incident in history   or a character of history or literature.  I recently studied the history of wine making.  Very interesting subject and why not do it the old way? Go to the library. Look at books and photos.
• ·         Talk to people.  Sometimes conversing with others will just shine the light on something hidden. Someone might share or reveal something in their own life that just might be the idea you need for your writing.  I say this because this has happened to me and what the person told me is the theme for my next novel.  

So don’t lose heart when there seems to be no way. Have faith, go for a walk and dream of the possibilities.

Old Treasures

I love old books.  There is just something that is magical about an old book.  I mean I love books in general but to find an old rare book is like finding a lost treasure or something.  Well anyway while I was out today looking in thrift and vintage shops (hobby of mine) I found an old book.  I was in my element.  I found the first edition of the book, The Poetic Works of John Keats published in 1817. I was so thrilled! I was holding a book published in 1817.  If I wasn't thrilled enough with that book, lo and behold I found another.  The second book is called, The Tide of Time by Henry Newbolt which is third edition published in 1926.  It's fabulous.  I've learned you can never know what you might find in a second hand or thrift type shop.  One day I found a box full of vintage dress patterns from the 1950s, 60s and 70s that had barely or never been used.  Below is a picture of my two books.  Cheers and happy book hunting!

The Dressmaker and Her Daughters

The Dressmaker and Her Daughters is now available in both kindle and paperback formats.  It is the story of the Collins' sisters; Julia, Hannah, Rebekah, and Abby.  The Collins family return to their hometown with news of business collapse and the ill health of Mr. Collins and it doesn't take long for the four lovely sisters to become the talk of the small town. 
Hannah is the main character in this story; a strong willed book loving girl who takes a position as a governess in the noble home of Captain and Mrs Lynch.  The job is not what she expects as she soon discovers Mrs Lynch is cold and calculating and she longs for home however things take an unexpected turn and her faith and beliefs are put through the fire.

New book

My new book The Dressmaker and Her Daughters  is nearly ready.  It is the story of the Collins' sisters and their trials and tribulations.  Below is a copy of the cover.  Should be available soon.  There is also a new cover for my book Jade which is now available in paperback.  Cheers. 

And Jade:

I Am Delighted To Annouce a New Book

 My latest written work which will be available very soon. 

 Set in the 1950’s, The Dressmaker and Her Daughters is the story of the Collins’ sisters; Julia, Hannah, Rebekah and Abby.  When Mr Collins falls into business difficulties and his health begins to fail the Collins family return to their hometown where they buy a seaside cottage in a picturesque village that overlooks the ruins of an old castle.  Mrs Collins carries on with her dressmaking expertise with Rebekah’s talent at her side and the four sisters are soon the talk of the town with their charm and beauty. 

This tale follows the lives of the four sisters through their joys and struggles to make a new life in a new place.  Julia is the eldest of the Collins’ sisters and a very talented piano player who catches the eye of the well esteemed Mr Jack Brennan.  Rebekah is a seamstress like her mother and her life takes an unexpected turn one day when Mr and Mrs Allen arrive at the door when their car breaks down.  Abby is the youngest of the Collins’ sisters and she is the wild one with red hair and she is always getting into trouble.  She has two horses that annoy the farmer next door however her charm and beauty captivate his son, David, a mysterious young man with delicious secrets circulating through the village about him.

Hannah is the main character of this tale; a book loving, novel writing girl with ambitions like her mother.  She is the most outspoken of her sister’s; the only one who has studied since high school and she decides to take a position as a governess in the noble home of Captain and Mrs Lynch with the most unexpected results.  The Lynch household with its huge gothic Victorian mansion seems to have a coldness about it when Hannah first arrives and Mrs Lynch she soon discovers is a very cold and calculating woman who is very dominating and determined and controls the lives of her daughters with strict discipline. She soon begins to regret taking the position and looks forward to returning home until she meets… Captain Lynch.  He is everything she ever dreamed of in a man and more and one look of his dark sweet eyes causes her heart to beat faster than ever.  He has black hair and dark eyes and a strapping build that she finds irresistible and she never expected the master of the house to be a well-educated man with great talent and charming romantic manner.  Being a young woman of Catholic faith she tries to avoid the inevitable; falling in love and she finds there is suddenly a war going on inside her. Her faith and belief are telling her to turn and walk away from it all and her heart is telling her otherwise.

Hares

I love the writing of Elizabeth Goudge.  Her books are so beautifully written and I love this passage about hares.  I made this image for my daughter because she has 4 of the darlings and they are always escaping from their enclosure.  If you can just imagine her racing madly around her backyard trying to catch them. Quite a drama! I told her it's because...they have fairy blood in them! LOL!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!  Have a great one and I hope that your coming year is filled with great things.