BOOK NOOK; Moving On by Sarah Ban Breathnach

It is often said that a woman's home is a reflection of her soul and in her book Moving On author Sarah Ban Breathnach explores the psychology of home making and the nesting instinct in women.

I have always had a very strong nesting instinct; though there are areas where I fall far short of expectations!  I don't garden for a start, until its absolutely necessary and then I do so with much resentment as I think of good writing time being wasted.  I don't/can't/won't cook and as I eat like a bird and remain single and child free this has never posed too much of a problem for me personally, but I dare say it is likely to put off any potential beau.

I do enjoy putting together beautiful rooms and creating spaces which make the soul sigh in comfort and joy.  A little imagination can go a long way, and with a weekend of hard work a room can be completely transformed from a mediocre space into an enchanted realm of magic and wonder.

The place we live says much about our personality; our tastes, hobbies, work life and general interests.  Anyone can see from a tour around the rooms of my house that I am a romantic, a dreamer, a writer, a book worm, a music lover, a film buff, an ice-skater, dancer and equestrian; they would deduce that I am single, a home worker and that I enjoy my own company and have no difficulty in keeping myself entertained.  In Moving On SBB states that a woman's home is also a mirror of her psyche and her state of mind is revealed in the state of her house.  All that clutter could be a sign that you feel overwhelmed; a neat freak may well be trying to hide the fact that her life is not as perfect as it appears on the surface; a messy wardrobe and piles of ironing waiting could indicate a lost soul trying to find her way back to herself and her own identity; a disused vanity or dressing table could hint that you feel unattractive or invisible and so on.  Moving On is not a book about home decor or decluttering; it is about what happens when a woman reaches the point in her life when she is ready to settle into her own pattern as a woman in her own right, rather than simply being someone's wife, mother, daughter... when she is ready to move on and live life on her own terms.

There are some quite clever observations in this book; although it is a safe assumption that most women have a 'catch all' closet or cupboard (mine is the cupboard under the stairs - it is in desperate need of a clear out, but each time I open the door...I close it again and procrastinate!) other observations show more insight, like how using only the back door (as I do) is a subtle way of self-slighting, the back door traditionally being the tradesman's entrance.  I also have a large Gothic settle in the hallway which slightly obstructs the opening of the front door...could it be that I sometimes feel invaded and so I have created a subtle and beautiful barricade?  Possibly.  Could it also be that by using the back door and disusing the transitional space of the front hallway, that maybe I have an aversion to change and life transitions?  Absolutely!

I like the way SBB talks about the feeling of safety we expect from our home as this is something I can relate to - I try to ensure that my home is the safest place I know.  When this level of security has been compromised in some way; for example by a burglary, an marital indiscretion, a violent interaction or a betrayal of some kind; then the sacred space of the home has been violated, which may in turn lead the residents to hold onto the psychic residue of the violation. This residual fear will eventually begin to express itself in how the house is being kept and cared for.  As the title suggests Moving On has lots of tips to help you identify the problems areas and deal with them so that you can move forward in your life, even if you have no intention of moving house. It is a book which embraces the skills of the feminine nesting instinct and which honors the comfort those skills provide.  While it is not my favorite SBB book, that being Romancing the Ordinary,   it is an enjoyable and insightful read; the only thing I didn't like were the prayers at the end of each chapter which I found to be OTT and slightly nauseating, but that's just my personal opinion.   Moving On is a great book for those days when you know you really ought to be doing the housework but prefer to procrastinate and read about home-making instead!  It's a book to curl up with in bed in the middle of the night when you can't sleep, or in the middle of the afternoon when you're playing hooky from work; it's a book to inspire you to begin sorting out those jobs that have been niggling at you for ages, or just for taking extra pleasure in the beauty of the home you have created for yourself and your family. Curl up beneath the duvet, sip something festive and enjoy the comfort of home sweet home with this heart-warming  hearth- honing book.

ONCE UPON A DREAM; Dear Diary

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will be aware that I have not been too well of late, hence the lack of blog posts.  Whilst I have been sick I have been reading through old diaries, trying to remember past events more clearly so that I can pin point certain events, people and places etc.

I usually enjoy flicking through my diaries - and there is a pile of them to get through!  Its always nice to see the dreams manifest as reality with the passing of months and years...the steady progress of my life plan and the general plodding on to achieve my goals.  What I hadn't realized until now though is just how goal orientated my diaries are; often to the detriment of more personal things.  I do not like to dwell on sad times but I was quite shocked to find a pattern emerge within the pages of my diaries - a pattern of very short entries whenever I was dealing with quite major life issues such as the death of my grandmother, my mother's battle with and victory over breast cancer, an important trip north of the boarder to Scotland, and more than one special moment, all virtually lost to the page.  Instead of pouring my heart out during these emotional times, my diary is full of lists of goals, deadlines, editors' names and project ideas.  It made me realize that I have an unconscious habit of throwing myself into my work during times of acute stress. It is almost as if I am trying to pretend the bad stuff really isn't happening by focusing the diary entries on work related topics instead.  I am sure that I am not alone in finding solace in my work when life throws a fireball; the surprise is that, at the time, I was completely unaware that I was using my career as an avoidance tactic to numb the pain of grief, worry and loss.

I also noticed that I rarely write down the seemingly insignificant stuff - the compliment, the flirtation, the winning smile from a dishy doctor - those little moments of joyfulness which can turn a mundane day into something quite magical and special.  I write about the weather, being a weather geek; I write about the things which have annoyed me that day; I write about my friends, my cat and my day to day activities such as dancing, riding and skating.  But perhaps I should have written about the last conversation I had with my grandmother or the strong arm of a very dear friend who was there for me at her funeral, supporting me and surprising me with what can only be described as the silver lining in a sorrowful day.  Luckily I have fond memories of these things now and I have been reliving the silver linings during my sickness, but I can't think why on earth I didn't write about it in my diary at the time.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to focus more on the little things and put more balance in my life - its all well and good to have lists of goals and to tick off various achievements along the way and being a work-loving Scorpio control freak, I am sure that I will continue to do this as I have the Bruce need to press ahead. But I will also write down more of the  moments which make each day special - the way a handsome stranger turns his head to look at me as I walk by, the romance of a pair of amorous swans on the water, the unexpected meeting with a long forgotten dear friend, a beautiful sunset, the way my cat Pyewackett wakes me for his morning fuss, the things that make me laugh, a pair of handsome blue eyes twinkling at me across the doctor's surgery room, a secret shared in a silent glance...in short, the little things I have been taking for granted and which have been lost in the quest for bigger goals and greater achievements.  What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare..?  I plan to do more staring - and to write down what I see in my diary, recording the moments that make each day magical.  From now on I will enjoy the secret anniversaries of the heart, the soul stirring moments of possibility - and I will record them in the pages of my diary so I remember everything that matters.

ONCE UPON A DREAM; Memory Box

I have quite a fragile relationship with memories and I have been pondering on how precious they are over the past year or so.  I am one of those people who cannot bear to be reminded of sad times, so I have the urge to purge the house annually of clutter and I sometimes throw away things that I probably should have kept.

I cannot abide looking through old family photograph albums.  Some people find comfort in having pictures of their loved ones around them but I find it too distressing to see faces of my lost relatives smiling up at me from faded pictures. I even get upset looking at photos of my mother (who is alive and well) and myself when I was a little girl as it makes me feel as if I stole her youth!

I also have the quite unnerving ability to blank things out completely; events that upset me, feelings of betrayal and so on, can all be air brushed clean out of my mind with remarkable ease.  On the one hand this is great as it means I never have to deal with more than I can handle at any particular time in my life; on the other hand it means that I sometimes forget important events and people, as if they never were and of course by the time the memories begin to surface it is usually far too late to take any constructive action.  Memories that are swiftly air brushed can take years to resurface, and even longer to piece together into a logical sequence of events. Maybe sections of the timeline will always be missing or maybe they will reappear, as fresh and vivid as when first experienced - the point is, one never knows if a memory once forgotten will ever be remembered.

Late last night I shared some music videos on my Twitter page; three very poignant songs about the fragility and importance of our memories.  The lyrics are soul stirring and beautiful, the videos haunting and emotive.  It got me wondering if men have the same kind of relationship with precious memories as women do?  It is usually the women of the household who put to one side the baby keepsakes, the nursery art, the family album.  Diary keeping is also viewed as being a feminine pass time.  Is it a responsibility of our gender to be the memory keepers for our family and for ourselves?  Do you have hidden secret memories and keepsakes locked away somewhere; an engagement ring from a previous relationship perhaps; or a love letter from an old flame?  Perhaps you have keepsakes from a lost child, a broken romance or friendship, an old injury, a holiday romance?

All this pondering made me realize that our memories, even the painful ones, serve a vital purpose; they offer us the chance to work through the bad times so that we can move on.  At the same time, happy memories are there waiting in our minds, ready to make us smile as we recall precious moments. Each memory is a treasure, especially the ones that were once forgotten and have resurfaced.  Yes, it can feel like being haunted by the past at times and it can be difficult to bring a memory out through the fog of say, amnesia or dementia; but such memories are never truly lost, only misplaced.

Being a pro-active kind of girl I have decided that I am going to take control of my 'memory files' by starting to create a Memory Box.  This is not something I have ever thought of doing before - I've seen memory boxes in the local shopping center and thought them a waste of money!  Now I begin to understand the benefits of having one.  I own a few treasure chest style boxes and one of these will be my new Memory Box.  I plan to fill it over time with special items; including photos of my time spent in Scotland, cards and keepsakes and so on.  I will put in a single photo of my family, all together on holiday and taken when I was about eight years old.  I want my memory box to represent my past, but also to remind me of the woman I have become today, so I will include some of my publishing keepsakes too.  I want it to be a very positive place; when I open the box and look through the keepsakes I want to remember happy events, achievements and the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of spending time with.  I want my Memory Box to be filled with happy memories...but that is largely down to me isn't it?  Most of all I want a place where I can place those precious  moments in time so that I don't forget everything that matters to me...I want a place to treasure my past, present and future.

That's my weekend project sorted then!  Take a look at the music videos on my Twitter page, listen to the lyrics and see what they conjure up for you personally. Do you have a memory or keepsake box? Do you plan to make one?  I'd love to know how you store your precious memories.

ONCE UPON A DREAM; Blue Stocking Library Days

My Dream Library.

Those of you who are following me on Twitter will know that I have recently been spring cleaning and reorganizing my study.  A space to write is essential for an author and as a lifelong bibliophile I like to have all my books in one room, with a comfortable place to sit quietly and read.  Being a bit of a blue stocking I have always had a fascination with libraries.  I love the idea of being surrounded by books and the written word; engulfed in halls of learning.  I have a crystal clear memory of my mother taking me to the local public library so I could get my very first library card when I was about six or seven years old; I was thrilled that so many wonderful stories were made available to me. It is one of the most precious memories of my childhood, and my mother can have had no idea at the time that I would grow up to become a successfully published writer.

Even as a University student in my early 20's, the thing I loved most was not just the traditional lecture halls and the opportunity to learn, but that the huge University libraries were at my disposal. I have a deep love of old fashioned libraries like the ones in black and white English college films; the kind where tutors wore black gowns and invited favorite students to debates over tea, toast and scones.  Alas, my Uni days were not nearly so romantic, but I did consume vast quantities of buttered toast and crumpets in the refectory with fellow students! I also developed a lasting habit of making reading lists which continues to this day.  Certain items of library furniture can set my heart racing; swish library ladders that roll along bookcases; spiral library steps that can be trotted up to reach the highest bookshelves; carved wooden lecterns; winged leather buttoned armchairs pulled up to a blazing fireplace; secret doors hidden in walls of books; a butlers tray filled with scones and crumpets...a library is nothing if not a space to dream and spin fantasies.

Having been privileged enough to study in such beautiful libraries I soon decided that I would one day have a library of my very own and I have achieved this goal. Although my study is not so large as I would like it does have walls of books, a beautiful globe like those pictured above, a tapestry and a mahogany  escritoire desk with secret compartments and pigeon holes.  It has a comfy buttoned leather chair and matching footstool, with a throw to snuggle up in when the weather turns chilly. It has floor standing candlesticks, spice red painted walls, a desktop lectern and a decanter of sherry!

I spend so much time in this room I have come to name such days my Blue-Stocking Library Days!  I can happily tuck myself away here at the back of the house with my cat Pyewackett curled in his basket beneath the desk.   I might not be writing; I might be reading a novel; conducting researched; making notes for a project; making reading lists; reorganizing the vast number of books within the bookcases; listening to music; recording my own songs or maybe even watching a DVD.  Whatever I am doing in my personal library I am very grateful to have this space and the solitude to enjoy the peace of it.

As I type the candles are flickering light and shadows across the multicoloured spines of all my books, incense is scenting the room with violet, a crackling fireside DVD plays on the computer to give the illusion of a real fireplace, and a festive glass of sherry gleams like rubies beside me.  This is where I will be over the Easter bank holiday... curled up in the library chair, feet resting on the footstool, warm and cosy as the rain patters against the study window.  Here I am going to fall into a new novel and enjoy toasted hot cross buns smothered in butter with an extra sprinkling of cinnamon. I even have a cosy pair of blue knee socks for when my feet get cold! Such is the style of my Blue-Stocking Library Days....how do you enjoy your reading time?

BOOK NOOK; Entwined by Heather Dixon

I must confess that, being 38, I do not normally read teen fiction.  This novel Entwined was recommended to me via Amazon UK based on the fact that I do buy a lot of fairytale and mythology books.

The title intrigued me so I clicked on the recommendation and then clicked again to search inside.  Everything about this book drew me in from the stunning cover treatment ( I am a sucker for a castle and a ballgown!) to the blurb which hints at magic but gives nothing away.

I am an avid bookworm and as an author myself I can be tough on books.  It is very rare that I can pin point the exact reading moment when I decide to purchase a title; usually it is just a vague feeling of wanting to read a particular kind of novel, or wanting to read a particular author.  In this instance, as I read the opening paragraphs on Amazon UK I can pinpoint the exact moment the book grabbed me.
Here is the line taken from page 4;


"From the table next to the sofa, the old magic tea set clinked and clattered faintly, pouring a cup of tea in its pushy way."   


Those were the words which sold me the book. An enchanted tea set?! What's not to like?  A couple of days later the book arrived and I was gripped by a thoroughly original fairytale.  Entwined takes place in a magical world and follows the fortunes of Princess Azalea and her eleven sisters, each named for a flower.  After the death of their mother they are thrown into mourning and forbidden to dance, which is something they love to do. Dancing is the only thing they have left of their mother and so they make plans to dance in secret, with the help of a new friend.

Entwined is a fantastic fairytale novel about the healing powers of dance.  Set in a magical world which includes a spellbound palace, an enchanted silver forest and a sinister prince, the twelve princesses dance through their sorrow and grief in a winter wonderland located beyond the magical door of a secret passage, hidden in the fireplace of their bed chamber.  Here they can dance in secret; but there is a price.  The sinister prince is trapped by magic and he asks the princesses to find a way to free him.  The more they spend time with him, the more they learn to fear him.  Like all good fairytales Entwined is a teaching tool for young girls and the moral of the tale is Beware of strangers offering favors. The magic is subtle, silvery and filigree.  There are no Harry Potter like explosions of power here; the magic of Entwined is far more sophisticated than that, though it is beautifully written and each page sparkles with enchantments.

I wish the author Heather Dixon had written this as a screenplay, rather than a novel because it would make the most amazing film.  Dance is such a visual art form, and while the steps are well choreographed in descriptive passages on the page, for those who have little or no dance knowledge, it might be hard to visualize.  So for this reason, and because I would love to see the Silver Forest and dance pavilion brought to life, I really hope this novel gets picked up by Hollywood and turned into a cinematic experience.

Azalea is the main protagonist and the oldest sister, but my favorite character is actually Miss Bramble, second eldest and most rebellious - I can relate to her the most.  Entwined is a book about dealing with the deep pain of grief in a very positive way.  Dance is a healing restorative for the girls. Fathers do not always understand their daughters; family loyalties are tested during bereavement and blood ties are binding. The author is fearless in tackling these difficult topics in a very gentle and charming manner.  Romance waits in the wings for the three eldest sisters; a couple of hair-raising horse rides take place and there is comfort and joy to be found in the warmth of a beautiful, book lined library.   In short everything I love and can relate to is in this novel!

This is one of those books that I feel like I want to read again, immediately upon finishing it.  It is also one of those beautiful novels I am going to keep to myself and guard jealously - I will not be loaning this out to anyone  as I know they will want to keep it!  If you like fairytales, magical novels, dancing, spellbound tea sets and all things girly then you will love reading Entwined.  I highly recommend it.  I cannot wait to see what Ms Dixon writes next - something equally girly and fairytale I hope, but with more horses!  You can find the novel on Amazon

BOOK NOOK; My Top Five Magical Nest-Making Titles

It's spring time which means it is time to set about spring cleaning and sprucing up the house.  There is nothing quite like a sunny spring day to make a girl want to break out of winter's lethargy and go nuts with the mop and bucket.  I like to make a list of all the things that need to be done in the house; this can be somewhat daunting but the trick is to tackle one task at a time.  If you try to spring clean the entire house in one go, you will probably get disheartened even before you begin!  So take it one room at a time, day by day, and it will take as long as it takes.

Now is a great time to go through magical supplies and to give everything a thorough cleansing.  It is also a good idea to pass on anything which you do not use, this includes books, films, CD's, clothes and so on.  Box it all up and ship it out to a charity organisation.  In this way you are making space for new opportunities to come into your life and at the same time, you are giving a little bit of help to those who need it.  If you know someone who is having a tough time of late then donate your unwanted magical  books to that person; you might be introducing them to a whole new path of positive vibes.  

Over the next couple of weeks I plan to do a massive sort out and spring clean of my house.  I do this every year and I touched on it in my book How to Create a Magical Home. I like to get everything ship shape and sparkling, and to declutter all the stuff which I feel might be holding me back or which keeps me stuck in the past.  Reminders of old relationships, old friendships that have gone sour, old dreams which no longer serve you - get rid of it all and make space for positive experiences to enchant your life and your home.  Be ruthless!! The more you throw out the better you will feel.  I always feel especially lighthearted after a sort out.  Throw the windows open, play some fun music and burn new spring scented candles.  Then add a touch of magic to your home.  The following books will make spring cleaning seem like child's play, so put some enchantment into your environment.

My Top Five Magical Nest-Making Books


1. Spirit of the Home by Jane Alexander


2. The Magical Household by Scott Cunningham & David Harrington


3. Cottage Witchery by Ellen Dugan


4. Witch in the Kitchen by Cait Johnson


5. Magical Hearth by Janet Thompson


Jane Alexander is my fellow columnist at Spirit&Destiny magazine and her book is my main go-to for those days when I want to feel inspired about where I live.  What I love about Jane's book is that she makes it clear that we are merely the current custodians of our homes, and so we can never really be trapped even if we live somewhere less than ideal. Jane's book will make you look at your home in a completely different way.
Scott Cunningham was a popular pagan author and his book of household magic is well written and suitable for all magical abilities.  Ellen Dugan listened to her instincts and ended up writing a book of cottage witchery rather than the project she had stalled on - I for one am glad she did, its a fantastic book, full of easy to work spell-castings.  Cait Johnson's book of kitchen witchery might not look like your cup of tea if, like me, you don't enjoy cooking; but don't be put off by the title as this book is about so much more than recipes - it is a tome which encourages the reader to reconnect with the sacred hearth, the heart of the home.  Finally Janet Thompson has created a book of house magic which includes everything from tea spells to cat magic!  Each of these titles will make you eager to find the lost magic of home-making, which is one of the most traditional feminine arts. Once all the house work is done you can curl up with a cup of herbal tea and be proud of a job well done.  Every witch deserves a magical home...so put a spell in your spring cleaning and turn your home into an enchanted palace of magical possibility.

www.amazon.co.uk
www.spirit&destiny.co.uk 

WRITER'S DREAM; A Novel Idea

It would appear that the world and its mother is writing a novel - and I include myself in that statement; I am actually writing two novels, one for adults and one for youngsters.  I believe that it is a basic human need to share stories and that storytelling is what separates us from the animal kingdom.  I don't believe that writing a novel, or indeed any kind of book, is the fast track to wealth. I know from experience as a full time published writer that it is not.

Why are so many people writing books?  Because it has become so much easier than it used to be! Bill Gates has taken much of the tedious toil out of a writer's life! When I started out as a teenage wannabe, writing and submitting  I had to type out each submission on a manual type writer; no spell check, no auto correct, no typing once and printing out multiple copies, no email.  Each submission had to be painstakingly retyped.  These days most people have a computer so its easy to type the work in once, save and re-use multiple times.  With the invention of email there is no need to even print out and post copies for submission - no hopeful walks to the post box required and new writers no longer have to spend a fortune in ribbons, paper, envelopes and postage as I once had to. Its just so easy these days and this effectively means that those people who would have been too lazy to do it the old fashioned way are now able to give it a go, and good luck to them.

Then of course there are the media success stories of authors who make millions in movies rights, merchandising, foreign language editions, red carpet appearances etc.  These authors are the exception, rather than the rule.  Take a look on Soc's website to see statistics of how much money authors actually earn! Many don't clear the tax threshold. The fact is most publishing contracts for new authors pull in an advance of less than £1,500 which would be paid out in three, maybe four payments across eighteen months to two years. Reality check; your car is probably worth more than a publishing deal and could you really live on less than a grand a year? This is the reason agents say "Don't give up the day job"! And if you have an agent, they will take at least 20% of your advance before you even see a penny.

This trend for authorial dreams shows no sign of waning and the industry is well aware of it.  Agents and publishers know how easy it is for new writers to find them on the internet and they have set up boundaries; namely the submissions@publisher email address which a reader or junior will go through every few months.  Unless you have written something stellar it is unlikely that a commissioning editor will read it. Use the Writer's&Artists Yearbook instead to glean editors names and try the old fashioned postal approach - prove that you are willing to put a stamp on your dreams.  Another publishing trick is to sign rejections with an illegible squiggle so they don't have to deal with any comeback. Crafty, but clever!  I was chatting to a wannabe writer some time ago who had a finished novel but refused to print it out and relied on a link to a blog site to try and sell it to agents and publishers. Editors will not read an entire project on screen!  New writers; if you are not prepared to invest in your own work why would you expect a publisher to invest in it by way of an advance and contract?

Writing a novel requires a completely different approach to writing non-fiction.  Editors want to see three consecutive chapters, a synopsis and possibly a character profile list too.  Again, this is a good way for said publishers to protect their valuable time as an author can only supply the above to a high standard when they have completed the novel.  Have you ever been asked for a synopsis and thought to yourself "How can I write that when even I don't know how my book ends yet? I'm only on chapter five! It's so unfair!"  The bottom line is you must finish writing the novel before you approach a publisher or agent.  It is a very busy and competitive industry - editors and agents have no time for emails which muse "I've had a great idea for a novel; do you want to be my publisher?"  It is a pipe-dream of the idle to assume that ideas sell & make money - action makes money - write the whole novel and you actually have something to show and to sell.  


I tend to work on my novels when all the deadlines are met and after I have put time into my music and the new album - in other words, when I have finished with the day job.  I have written over 30,000 words on one novel and about 12,000 on the other so neither project is completely off the ground yet.  I am not even thinking about publishing or approaching editors with them at such an early stage. It is the very last thing on my mind.  Writing a novel is tough enough; to maintain momentum and stamina for the project can be hard work at times; why would I put myself under the added pressure of dealing with publishers at such an early stage of the books?  Especially when a rejection could completely derail my enthusiasm for the story I am telling?  I would much rather enjoy the actual process of writing and of being absorbed in the two different worlds of my imaginings.

Once again, I realize that this post is going to be a bit disappointing to some of you; but I did promise you that I would tell it like it really is in the publishing industry.  There is no reason why you should not  start to write your novel; but your very best chance of publication lies in finishing it! Good Luck :-)