Experience the Extraordinary

Do you ever question your eyes?

You see, there are other worlds just on the visual periphery of our own reality. If you wait for a while, you might just spot a glimmer of light slicing through the thin fabric into the extraordinary.

Take a look at another of my novel’s teaser videos. Don’t forget to turn the volume up!



Can you see those glimmers of light?

Open your eyes wider and start dancing into the extraordinary realms. Life may never be the same again!

Meanwhile, here in my writer's nest, the journey continues. Despite the distractions of everyday life and making a living, I am still writing and finding escapism in my characters' adventures. The going feels frustratingly slow though. And, just to keep the pressure ramped up to the maximum, the next phase of the Professional Writing MA begins. There is much work to negotiate between now and the next portfolio submission in February.

Oh, but you all keep me so inspired and encouraged. I'd like to thank you for all the positive messages that you left me following my last post. Your kind thoughts and encouragement always make such a huge difference. What's more, I'm feeling so much better now that I'm on a new course of herbal medicine. Nature's magic is quite amazing!

Now, bright stars, I wonder - would you like to know the title of my novel? Can I tempt you with a brief story outline? Yes? Look out for my next post when the unveiling begins. Until then, I'm wishing you bright beams of brilliance.

Challenges of Living a Creative Life

I’ve been so busy travelling in my imagination, skipping from realm to realm, spending time with the characters in my novel, that I haven’t always been focused on every day matters.

And, it isn’t surprising when I’ve been in worlds such as this one …



For me, writing creatively means that I become totally immersed in the world my characters inhabit. I live their story through their emotions and their lives play out in my mind’s eye. And, this is how it must be if I am to create a story that will capture the hearts and minds of my readers. This journeying can come at a cost though …

Over this past week, ordinary world pressures caught up and delivered me to a place of fear and despair. Panic set-in. My imagination collapsed under the weight of tiredness, the flare-up of an old health issue, and the hefty challenges of living a creative life. For a few days, I didn’t have the energy or the mindfulness to write, and so I placed myself into the serenity of meditative sanctuary, and began the process of recovery.

Nature’s essence and positive intention have helped restore equilibrium. I went to see my medical herbalist today and I’m back on a course of medicine. In other areas, there are still challenges ahead but I know it is the way of things to be touched by light and dark, and, as a writer, I’m richer for all experience.

Fortunately, the fires of creativity are still burning bright and I’m back to travelling between realms ~ just in time for Halloween. Work continues on my novel and, I dare say, will be fuelled by this ordinary world episode.

So, stay tuned, kindred spirits. I’ll be releasing more details about the novel soon, along with other news. I wish you joy, love, and magic at this enchanted time of year.

Life is But a Dream

Time passes so quickly that it has a kind of illusionary quality akin to dreaming. I wonder, sometimes, whether I am here or there ...



I have tumbled out of time this week. I finished my latest portfolio submission for my Writing MA so found myself just a little bit exhausted from the work. And, another milestone marked the arrival of my beautiful little granddaughter, Ruby Jane! Yes, I have entered the realms of the Grand Elder and have become even more pre-occupied with time's passing.

And, so, I felt the need to rest and replenish over the past few days and have done so with a gallery visit, and immersing myself in music, film, poetry, art, and fiction. I have also basked in the October glow just holding the moment to stop it sliding into oblivion. The change of pace has done me good. You don't realize when you're in the realms of creativity how much you are pushing yourself. Sometimes, stepping off the treadmill is necessary to restore equilibrium.

Fortunately, bright stars, I'm ready for the next burst of writing and with the veils between worlds so fragile right now, I can imagine disappearing into a dream. Am I here or am I there? Perhaps it's all relative.

Wishing you all many moons of sweet stillness. Love. x

Gliding into October

The darkness is creeping here in Lancashire's red rose county as autumn digs in, and, as I continue writing the novel, I'm barely in the realms of the real (whatever real is!). So, I'm calling in briefly to share a new teaser image and video with you.

Here I am with the veils between worlds so filigree thin ...



Notice the ghostly figure running through?

And, here, another video teaser ... Don't forget to turn up the volume!



Thank you, once again, to my dear Mr Fenwick and my brothers, Mark Strange and Jedi Richard Strange, for taking part in the shoot.

And, here we are, another month gone already! Fly, fly, the song of time ...

When you are lost in creativity, time passes so quickly, and I am writing with an insatiable passion. When I'm not physically writing, the words are still forming in my head and stitching through my soul, waiting to be delivered on paper.

This week, I'm busy preparing my next portfolio for my Writing MA and then I continue writing my novel towards year end, hoping I will then have a rough manuscript ready to polish come New Year. Still lots to do!

Moving on, and I'm very aware of life chasing me, baring its teeth. Yet, I have no fear. I know what I have to do and, in living authentically, I aim to spend out my earthly days creating stories and, hopefully, bringing you some magic, love, and light into everyday life.

Do keep popping in and leave a comment. It's always a pleasure to hear from you! Apart from updates on the novel, I'll soon be sharing other news, ideas, thoughts, and insights as the journey continues.

Wherever you are, whatever you're feeling right now, here's wishing you all that you wish for. Much love. x

PS ... Thank you for all your recent good wishes regarding the Wales in Words comp shortlisting. Although I didn't go on to win, it was an unexpected pleasure to be shortlisted. The eventual winner was Dalesman's Welsh Ramblings, and a well-deserved win too. I do hope to return to Wales before too long and I'm sure it will be a setting for one of my future novels. Before then, I aim to return to the Lake District, Glastonbury, and Edinburgh, which all have a place in my debut novel, in-between travelling between worlds of course!

Strange Goings On in the Woods

As autumn blows in, stealing summer's heart, I have been playing out in the woods along with some of the Strange clan and my dear Mr Fenwick. We were there to capture some images and teaser videos for my debut novel, which will act as promotional and companion material for when my fictional work is ready to go out into this world.



And, here I am, with my brothers, Mark Strange, and the mysterious figure of Jedi Richard Strange. What fun we had!

The images are only vaguely representational of the characters, and give just the essence of what's to come. In actual fact, these images have inspired another set of characters and an idea for a future work of fiction! This has been added to the slate of projects that I already have lined up. I just love it when the muse springs out of the ether.

And, here is one of a series of short teaser videos ...



I have to say, this makes me smile. It's a bit over dramatic, especially with the music, don't you think? It was, however, fantastically fun to create.

Thank you to my kin for their support and creative input. My brother Mark's film-making vision really spiced up the shoot and resulted in producing some great source material.

Now, as I write, I'm conscious of the fading light. I'm working feverishly, summoning words out of the mercurial muse and weaving them into being. I must increase my weekly wordcount if I'm to finish a first draft ready to polish come the New Year. A tad ambitious? Possibly, seeing that I'm so pedantic! Apart from writing, I also need to start thinking about agents and publishers, which is the current focus on the Writing MA. Oh, yes, there's much still to do. Little-by-little, the novel is manifesting.

So, I'd like you to know that your thoughts, your support, your kindness, and friendship, help immensely as I journey with the writing. It is such a long and exhausting voyage but filled with magical moments. And, I want to thank you, kindly, for your patience as the story unfolds. Your bright presence in my life means so much.

I must return to my writer's nest. More updates soon from beneath the milky glow of the autumn moon.

Love to you all. x

Wales in Words

Hello All,

Just a quick update before my next post to announce how delighted I am to be one of the seven shortlisted blog writers for the VisitWales `Wales in Words' competition!

UK Days Out

You may recall that Mr Fenwick and I visited beautiful Pembrokeshire back in June. You can read about our trip here. Shortly after, I was nominated for the Wales in Words award, so it is a lovely surprise to find that I've made the shortlist!

The eventual winner will gain the fabulous opportunity to experience a short break at a beautiful boutique hotel called Holm House in South Glamorgan. What a treat! It would be bliss to return to the wild and wonderful that is Wales ~ a landscape permeated with magic and soothing song that continues to inspire my writing. Win or not, it won't be long before we return, and I hope you'll be able to visit some day too.

Here I am ... back on Pembrokeshire's Manobier's shores ... dreaming ...



I'll post again soon (I've been busy-busy writing) but for now ...

Be the bright stars that you are and I'm sending you sparkling good wishes, brightened with the essence of Wales.

Sliding into September

It's been dark, damp, and definitely chilly here of late and, while multi-directional rain has been bombarding our little house here on the cusp of the country valley, I've been blanket-wrapped to stave off the cold while I'm writing. Cosy! Oh, but I'm feeling the desert's heat on my skin as part of me has been journeying with one of my characters into Arizona's heart ...



Can you hear the eagle's call?

I see, and I'm there in an instance.

And, this journeying without moving occupies me with a passion as I write the days into wild oblivion.

So, just a short post for now as there are milestones ahead, and plenty to do before I reach them!

I hope you are all wonderfully well and thank you all for your continuing support, encouragement, and bright presence. It is a joy to be sharing the journey with you.

Until next time, be the dreamer and the dream. x

Autumn's Song

Summer days are waning now here in this little corner of England and, although there is hope of warmer climes to come, I am hearing autumn's song on the breeze. A fertile time ahead for my writing and a chance to make significant progress on my novel.

Talking of my novel, here's another image representing doorways into other dimensions.



Although I'm depicting myself in the visual teasers (simply because I have the images to work with), my leading lady, Cali, is someone quite different ~ a captivating dark-haired girl with an extraordinary gift. But more to come about Cali!

As for Tom, my leading man, oh boy! Well, when you read my novel, you will form your own image of Tom but, from a writerly viewpoint, I need to have my own picture clearly in mind. His personality has elements from a number of guys I have known or admired (same for all my protagonists) but my greatest inspiration for Tom is courtesy of Mr Alex Kapranos of the band Franz Ferdinand. Now, apart from being an handsome guy, he appears to me as being warm, down-to-earth, and personable, although I imagine there is an edgy side to his character (as there is with us all), and he really sums up my leading man. Here's a clip of Alex singing Katherine Kiss Me ...



When he sings this song, I imagine him being Tom singing `Cali Kiss Me'!

So, now you know just a little more about the essence that is perfuming my novel and, slowly-slowly, it is weaving into reality.

With autumn calling, next week heralds the return to my Writing MA after the summer break. I have thoroughly enjoyed the slower pace of the past few weeks, which has enabled me to be spontaneously creative as well as catch up on other elements of my work and life. It has been a productive and blissful time.

So, bright stars, my love to you as always. Until the next instalment, safe and magical journeys. x

Moving Between Realms

Writing a novel - especially a novel with a fantasy twist - is like journeying into different worlds. I am constantly moving to and fro. Sometimes, I fade into another dimension or even disappear completely. Here I am doing just that!



And this is what appears to happen to Cali - one of my main characters. I'm so hoping that you'll fall in love with her almost as much as Tom does! Oooh ~ there you go ~ a tiny teaser for you.

I've been wading through my research and contemplating my novel a great deal over this past week. And, most important, I've been weaving words. I'm writing random scenes, rather than currently following a chronological path, and this seems to suit me fine. It's slow going of course but when I slip into my imagination, I am in the most blissful of places. I am happy to linger there. And despite this lingering, I still aim to write two novels a year (once I finish my Writing MA of course!).

This past week has been so busy and I really have been moving between realms in the most joyful ways. Some of the highlights include:

* Breakfast in the Lakelands on a beautiful August day.
* Midnight meteor gazing with my dear Mr Fenwick.
* Walking in Silverdale and finding the spot where Tom and Cali will share a forever moment!
* Meeting with a special friend - a kindred soul - and enjoying copious amounts of tea and philosophy.
* Visiting the Enchanted Worlds art exhibition at the Harris Art Gallery here in Lancashire, England.
* Celebrating my daughter's 15th birthday! Oh my ... 15! How did that happen?!
* Overdosing on music and creativity ~ such a natural high!

And, here I am, with books towering out of my head!



Of course, I love `doing' but I am always conscious of `being' ... and I think it is so important that we make time just to `be'. So, to end this post, my message for you right now is `embrace the moment!' Simply `be' in this moment right now and feel life's magic. Enjoy the bliss of being. Isn't it just astonishing?

Until next time, wishing you the wild and the wonderful. x

Through the Silver Veil

I have received the most inspiring comments on this blog and have made many new friends from around the world, for which I am most grateful and blessed. To show my appreciation for your wonderful presence, here is an image I've created for you. It includes a few passages from my poem `On Red Bridge' from my collection `In Touch with the Essence'. Click on the image for a better view.



This is a short post this week. I've had a busy time in the ordinary world and I'm now bringing my focus back to the extraordinary to continue working on my novel ~ a world that is growing ever more real to me with each passing thought. So, I need to read through my research and contemplate a while, and the process will be helped along with another trip north to Cumbria. It is there, by lulling lakes and mist-coated fells, where my characters are journeying into the magic.

So stay with me, my friends, and we'll travel through the silver veil together.x