What's the question?

Thanks to Julie Phillips who invited me to take part in this question and answer blog. I believe this originally came from Jane Wenham-Jones and then Lynne Hackles so I feel very privileged to be part of the blog question chain.  I like this sort of thing as it gets people to know a little bit more about me.  It's a nice way of finding out little bits of information that may not normally be published in a blog post. 


Q. Where were you born and where do you live at the moment?


I was born in Madeley, Shropshire. I loved it as a child. We had an old ruined court house, miles of woods and fields to play in and wonderful community spirit on the crescent where I lived.  I now live near to Ludlow on the edge of a small village, it's quite remote, we don't even have a phone box but that's how I love it.

Q. Have you always lived and worked in Britain or are you based elsewhere at present?

I have always lived and worked in Shropshire, I am a true Shropshire lass.



Q. Which is your favourite part of Britain?

Around the Lizzard in Cornwall is my favourite but I am drawn to all the Celtic areas of Britain.



Q. Have you ‘highlighted’ or ‘showcased’ any particular part of Britain in your books? For example, a town or city; a county, a monument or some well-known place or event?

My book 'Red Kite' is set around the South Shropshire hills, mainly the Titterstone Clee which is almost in my back garden! I loved doing the research for it as every time I walked up there, I could walk the footsteps of my main character, this made him very real to me.  



Q. There is an illusion – or myth if you wish – about British people that I would like you to discuss. Many see the ‘Brits’ as ‘stiff upper lip’. Is that correct?



Maybe during the war this was the case but I don’t believe it is today. Some people get on with it no matter what but others - well!!



Q. Tell us about one of your recent books

I have just self published my book ‘Red Kite’ It’s a teenage book about a boy who trying to cope with the death of his brother and is bullied at school. His only joy is that of birdwatching but he is prevented from even enjoying that.
I want to show that there is still a lot of young people who are really into nature and conservation.   



Q. What are you currently working on?



I am writing a series of younger children’s books in the 5-7 age group and also a non-fiction book for the same age about dinosaurs.  When I have those done I am hoping to write some more magazine articles.



Q. How do you spend your leisure time?



I have two horses and four chickens so they take up quite a bit of time. I love spending time out in the garden too. I am fascinated in the Pagan way of life and am studying Wicca at the moment. I love golf and am having lessons.  It was something my Dad was very good at.  I just got the urge to learn one day.  I have also just taken up playing the Ukulele but I am not very good.  When I am not doing any of those things I love writing!



Q. Do you write for a local audience or a global audience?



I hope to reach a global audience with my books but my magazine articles are usually focused on a local audience.

Q. Can you provide links to your work?

I have two other blogs and my page on Amazon

http://insidethechickencoop.blogspot.com/

http://thepaganapprentice.blogspot.com/


http://www.amazon.com/Diane-Perry/e/B00A9SUFPI/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Lots of Red Kites

I took my first delivery of several copies of 'Red Kite' today.  It may be a small box but it's the start of my stocking up of copies in the hope that one day I will sell them all. It's expensive to order  large numbers so I will probably just order a few each month and build my supplies that way.

Until now, I was only ordering one at a time. That's the scary thing with self publishing, I had to make sure it was right before sending it out into the world.  It was only me making the decisions and I had no one else to blame if it wasn't right.  The first few attempts were terrible as there was so much to think about.  Each time I received my solitary copy, it came back looking odd with the spine too thin, then the next time it looked like a telephone directory as I kept on changing the layout which altered the thickness of the book.  Then I forgot to put the ISBN number on so that was another copy wasted really.

Finally, I got my act together and was satisfied with the result so took the plunge of ordering a few more copies which arrived today. 

Now the hard work starts of marketing it which to me is even harder than writing it but I have a few plans, some may be crazy but I am going to give it my best shot.    

'Red Kite' Book Launch

I finally launched my children's novel ' Red Kite' this week on Amazon Kindle.  It's been a long time but I am so glad that now it's out there and doing something positive.  I hope to have a hard copy soon too as I am working on the Lulu self publishing site to get it printed and ready for sale.

I started writing it ten years ago and tried desperately to get it published in the conventional way, or at least get an agent but it was so difficult.  Most of the places I sent it to took around six months to reply and only wanted it in isolation, so I couldn't send it anywhere else. Then finally after months of waiting it would come back rejected.  There is so much competition out there and it seems in Children's fiction, unless you are already very famous or destined to be the next J K Rowling, it will be very hard to get published in this way.

I did have many good comments though from major publishing houses which is rare as many only send a standard response, I think that is why I refused to give up as some of the comments were very encouraging.

The story is about a teenager who is trying to cope with the death of his identical twin brother, it shows his journey through bereavement, while trying to cope with being bullied at school, his only pleasure is Birdwatching.  I will not say anymore, just in case you wish to download it and read it at the very reasonable price of  £0.77 pence.  (Well I had to get a plug in somewhere)

It will probably never be a best seller but at least I did something with it and now I can concentrate on other projects like the sequel and I want to do some more article writing.  I got fresh inspiration for writing magazine articles just this week when one of my articles was published in the December issue of Dogs Monthly.

So, it may have taken ten years but at last 'Red Kite' has flown the nest and I can move on to other things.

Bringing a story to life

I often walk in the very places that I have set my novel 'Red Kite'. It helps me to bring a story to life, if I am actually there, in the place that I have set a scene.

Over the years I have walked miles in the footsteps of 'Brodie' my central character. The photos on this post are what he has seen, so by viewing these images, you are looking through his eyes.



I think many vistors to the Titterstone Clee may have given me a wide berth at times if they have spotted me acting out a particular chapter when I have been talking to myself, perhaps counting steps , hiding in places with my notebook franticly scribbling down ideas, or just sitting in the very places where Brodie has visited.

It is a great way of bringing a story to life. If you experience it in the real world, it can breathe so much life into your work. I know this may not always be possible, especially if you are writing Sci-fi and of other planets, but back down on earth, it's worth trying. Saying that, I think the image above looks almost like another planet!



The photo above is perhaps the most chilling as it is where Brodie has the most terrifying experience ( You will have to buy the book - if it is ever published - to find out what that experience could be!)

I sat in this very spot the other day. I was enjoying my escape back into 'Red Kite' It was silent apart from the birds and the hum of a distant tractor. Suddenly a man called out a boys name from behind me. Nothing odd about that you may think - except it happened to be the name of Brodie's dead brother! How spooky was that? I turned around like I had seen, or heard a ghost! Poor man must of thought I was bonkers!

That was bringing my story a little bit too close too life, but what a magical experience it was to have.

Snow helps Red Kite fly

I said I would make sure I used this snowy weather problem to my advantage and now I am very happy to say that I will be sending two chapters and my synopsis off tomorrow to yet another publisher. (as long as we don't have anymore of the white stuff that is)

I was shocked to find that I had only sent Red Kite off 3 times last year. I submitted it to two publishers and one agent. In fairness they all wanted to see it in isolation in that I had not sent it to anyone else, so it took ages before they rejected it and the year was ticking by, but the last rejection I got was in July 2009. I have no excuses there and should have worked on it, and sent it out again, as I have in these last two days.

I shall therefore put it in writing now, that IF (oh the positivity, note I did not say when) I get it rejected again, I will send it out at least a month later.

No going back now, I have to make it happen.

The photo is one I took at the Red Kite feeding station, at Gigrin Farm in Wales. I really tried to see these magical birds through the eyes of my main character. Every step I took around the place, I imagined how he would see it. A little scary as he is a 14 year old lad, but it is a challenge. It is said that you should always imagine your novel as a film. These birds would all be stars if this was the case.