Debut Authors and Party Atmosphere

My day started with arriving early (this is becoming a reoccurring theme, must get better time management!) at the Pop-Up Bookshop to purchase the books ready for the Debut Authors - Tanya Byrne and Louisa Reid event.

Got the new girl on the till, had to point out the deal for the day on these books not that it was a problem, everyday there are new books, new deals or the prices change. Books in hand, I sat down on the brightly covered sofa with its orange cushions and throw and took in the surroundings.

Let's say that it was orange, very ornate and in the corner of the room an artist was decorating the wall for "City of a 1000 stories". The idea behind it is to tell the story of our wonderful city through drawings and anyone can contribute when visiting the Library and Pop-Up Bookshop, have a read of the blog from the event at: http://cityof1000stories.blogspot.co.uk/

Whilst in the bookshop, a few members of the organising committee and team from Writing West Midlands came in to collect stuff for the big event that evening, Stuart Maconie and Caitlin Moran at the CBSO.

                          

As I was standing pretty, I offered to help with the loading of the boxes and props that were needed. Sara had to park at the Copthorne Hotel, which involved walking through the Paradise Forum with crowds of people while I was balancing boxes on my arms! We made it though and the car was packed. Read about Caitlin and Stuart, who are both local authors to Brum at http://www.birminghambookfestival.org/the-world-according-to-moran-maconie-3887/ or alternatively their websites http://www.how-tobeawoman.com/ and http://www.stuartmaconie.com/

Debut Authors

Next task was some relaxation with Tanya Byrne and Louisa Reid, held in the murky depths of the library in the lower ground floor, the business centre had just finished work for the day as we trundled in. The warning bells signalling closure for the library started the event at 5.30 and the announcement from the Library Staff that we will be locked in, took me back to my youth when I tried to hold off until the very last second before I left.

Tanya Byrne's book Heart-Shaped Bruise is about a 17 year old girl called Emily who writes a journal that she is not meant to have and through her words, you find out why she is in the psychiatric facility of Youth Offenders Institute. Tanya spoke about her book with passion, excitement and even though she told us most of the main plots, she saved the suspense and tension for the page turning. She answered all the questions that she was asked with a smile on her face, honesty and a love for her chosen path and this is going to come out in the book I believe. Can't wait to get stuck in. Follow her @tanyabyrne on twitter, or facebook https://www.facebook.com/tanyabyrnewrites

 

Louisa Reid's book Black Heart Blue is about two sisters stories, Hepzi and Rebecca, each tell their own story before and after Hepzi has died. Rebecca is now free from her sisters shadow, as a suffered from Treacher-Collins Syndrome, she has always been the one people couldn't talk to. Follow their story as it unravels. This book appeals to me for the two sides of the stories, the dark nature of the plot line. Find out more about Louisa at http://www.louisareid.com/ Twitter @louisareid.





PARTY TIME IN THE LIBRARY THEATRE

I walked in after finishing at the Book signing and the music was playing in the background, Reggae from the speakers mixed with acoustic guitars from two gentleman sat on chairs in the audience. The stage had a theme of someones front room, chairs placed around, tables there was books, vinyls and food/drink placed out ready.
The theme for the evening was Independence Party, the freedom from the reigns of rulers, dictatorship and personal steps towards the release of shackles. There was poetry, prose and music in the first half where eight performers from the group Writers without Borders.

We have Urdu for a poem about personal freedom from marriage, we have poetry about the English taking over the Tea Empire and we have music and dance from the belly dancer much to the embarrassment of her brother who was also on stage!
It was informal, fun and very captivating to the audience, I can see why they are asked to come back year after year to entertain the audiences.

Writers without Borders is a Birmingham based group of writers from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Some have lived in England for many years and others have arrived in the country quite recently. The group includes professional, semi-professional , new and emerging writers and meets monthly at  Stageside Bar and Restaurant, Birmingham, to share their work. Here is there blog: http://wwborg.wordpress.com/

Day 2 - Pop up Bookshop and Simon Armitage

Helmet secured, shoes tied, bag packed and lights charged off to Birmingham Book Festival for the second instalment of fun this evening.

Today, I wanted to be early so leaving at 3 for the 6 o'clock show was not an issue unlike yesterday where things were just missed timed.

My aim was to get to the Pop-Up Bookshop situated in the lower ground of the Central Library, I knew I could take as long as I wanted, have a jolly good look around and see what fantastic writing and writers we had coming up, not that I didn't know but wanted some background reading. You can never have enough books, a wise person once said. I think I was my Dad-in-Law come to think of it!

Bit of a precarious cycle in to City Centre but will put that in another blog another time!

BOOKSHOP

I already had one request of purchase and that was to get Jackie Kay's new book 'Reality, Reality'. Never personally read her before and neither had my partner, she wanted the book as she and her dad (along with me, hopefully, as I volunteering for the event) on the 11th October at Birmingham Cathedral. Whilst standing waiting to pay for the book, I had a quick leaf through the first few pages and looks a good read with 15 short stories slotted within its covers. The theme is Reality and I can see that the basis of the book is around people perception of losing touch with Reality with all the TVs shows we are watching where Reality seems to be lost.



Find out more from Jackie Kay at Birmingham Book Festivals: http://www.birminghambookfestival.org/jackie-kay-reality-reality-3872/ and the British Council Literature: http://literature.britishcouncil.org/jackie-kay

Other books that caught the eye fell into the usual genres of attraction to myself; Adam Nevill, the author of 'Apartment 16', which was a gripping, page turning horror novel from the new author in 2010.
"A wonderfully written, deftly-plotted tale of terror. Apartment 16 kept me guessing right to the end, and kept me turning pages long into the night." Review by Fantasy Writing sums it up.
When I saw the latest offering from Nevill, 'Last Days', with its big bulky spine, large cover filled with dark haunted house in the shadows; I got excited and will be purchasing it on my next trip to the Bookshop with an empty bag!



Heart Shaped Bruise and Black Heart Blue were my next find on the tables filled with literature ready to be devoured.

                               

Heart Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne, the cover caught my eye firstly as any good book should, I turned the book over with trepidation to read the blurb. Digesting every word, sentence. I now wanted to run away and hide in a dark room to read cover to cover without distraction. Let's see if you have the same effect from the few words on the back cover:

"They say I'm evil.

The police. The newspapers. The girls from school who sigh on the six o'clock news and say they always knew there was something not quite right about me.

And everyone believes it. Including you.

But you don't know. You don't know who I used to be. Who I could have been.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever shake off my mistakes or if I'll just carry them around with me forever like a bunch of red balloonsAwaiting trial at Archway Young Offenders Institution, Emily Koll is going to tell her side of the story for the first time."

Black Heart Blue by Louisa Reid, almost had the same effect, I say almost as I only noticed it because it was sat next to Tanya Byrne's book. The blurb had the exact effect of wanting to read more:

"How would you feel if your twin sister died suddenly? Particularly if she was the beautiful one and you were horribly disfigured.

And how would it feel to be alone now if you and your sister were the only ones to know the truth about what takes place behind closed doors at home?

And what would you do if it was your parents who brought danger and terror into your life? Would you dare reveal how your sister died?

And would you be brave enough to find an escape of your own?

Black Heart Blue is a powerful novel about the domestic horrors that can unfold within a small community - and one girl's quest to stand up for the truth."

Come and see them at Central Library on the 9th October. Find out more from: http://www.birminghambookfestival.org/tanya-byrne-and-louisa-reid-3885/.

Simon Armitage



The evening started as it meant to go on I think and it was not rehearsed. Simon Armitage was introduced by Jonathan Davidson, Chief Executive of Writing West Midlands and he said,

"We had been talking earlier and I realised I have been reading his writing for 25 years".

Simon's response, "You have been reading longer than I have been writing it"

Fantastic comedy value there.

Simon Armitage showed why writers, poet, bloggers and in fact everyone does something that they feel passionate about. He grew up in a village called Marsden which is on the south Pennine Way, he explained that he saw "astronauts" on the horizon with their large rucksacks and they would come the hills into Marsden for some good old hospitality.

Armitage played both of these concepts on his travels for "Walking Home". Marsden was his destination and the walk was done backwards from Scottish Borders to Yorkshire.

With not a penny to his name, well in his pockets anyway, he set off looking for hospitality and for this he read his poetry in anywhere he could find.

His mission for the journey was to 'test' the resolve and longevity of his existence as a poet and other poets through his own works and stories. He upset a few local poets I am sure! Using the pull of Marsden and Home, he found that Poetry and Prose still has an existence in today's society and long may it continue.

Read the Book Festival site for the evening: http://www.birminghambookfestival.org/simon-armitage-walking-home-3774/ and more about "Walking Home" at http://www.simonarmitage.com/

A few snaps from last night after the event:

Research, Research!

All the fun begins again!

I have started to research for my new novel, but this time is all fun, fun, fun as it is a new topic to me!

Research for False Details was good as well don't get me wrong but this topic has all the excitement linked to it of looking at things fresh, not understanding fully the subdivisions between the different beliefs and understanding others personal take on such fascinating subjects.

Paganism, Druidry, Shamanism, Faerys, Magick - as you can see I could go on and on with trying to cover all the topics that I need to cover to get the overall view of all things under the Pagan umbrella.

What makes this fun, other than the fact I am learning lots of new things, I am having to read lots of literature from authors that already write, blog etc on the subjects that are close to their hearts and beliefs.

My Kindle was dusted off last week and I have downloaded e-book after e-book from Amazon after recommendations from a fantastic Facebook page, Pagan e-books for free. I can not speak highly of this magnificent resource for anything Pagan and subjects similar. Everyday the author of the page along with members of the group placed their recommendations.

Here is a link to the page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/PaganeBooksforfree
I would recommend anyone who has an interest, inkling or solid belief of anything that may be covered in this page to have a look.

Going off course, Research! Last night I read two books that covered the topic of Avalon and a fiction book related to All Hallows Eve.

Avalon I got to the second chapter which 30% of the book and I had written three pages of research in my notebook, synapses were going bonkers for the whole time. Words triggered ideas, I got images that the author described in such amazing detail leading me to think about how I can use the similar images.

All Hallows Eve covered the idea of zombies in a village, reminded me of Walking Dead but hey, still a good read as my book is set in a small village. Lots of ideas got from such a short book.

Birmingham Book Festival - Launch Party

Early again as usual I just can't seem to help myself, setting off way before I need to.

Arrived in the old Bird's custard factory in Digbeth, the building has had a facilitate through a jolly colourful lick of paint, lots of retro shops with a splattering of the abnormal some would say. A tree seems to be growing out of the walk at first glance not that it would be totally unheard of in old buildings then you realise that at closer inspection that the sculpture of a person had been made using an old tree and wicker protrudes from it. The reason is the pagan place that lies next door, now longer out of place. It reflects along with other pieces of art dotted around the vibe and culture the custard factory is trying to create. It guides the creative, imaginative and the minority of people from West Midlands area to come to a unique centrepiece.


It you want to find out more about the Custard Factory in its present form, take a look at http://www.custardfactory.co.uk/


The history of the Custard Factory can also be found there also but here is a quick overview:
"This 5-acre sprawl of riverside factories was built 100 years ago by Sir Alfred Bird, the inventor of custard. At one time he had a thousand people making the stuff. Some even say it helped create the British Empire. But by the early 1980s it had long since lost its mysterious appeal and the factories fell derelict."


West Midlands Writing is based on in the old factory walls, the perfect place in my opinion to have a team for what can only be described as an "Alternative Book Festival". You will not find the usual big name authors, poets, publishers or event organisers at The Birmingham Book Festival.
This year the Festival will cover topics ranging from New Libya, where three people from Gaddaffi's Libya have lived through the troubles and want to share their experiences through writing, to Walking the Penine Way with Simon Armitage, no money walking it the unconventional way round and reading poet to make his way home to Yorkshire.
All the events make for good talking points with friends, family, colleagues and fellow event goers.


Want a more in depth look at the programme, check out: www.birminghambookfestival.org/


Looking at the start of the programme, "Dr" Deborah Alma is the Emergency Poet, sat in her 1960s ambulance fully equipped with life saving equipment, a bed and the uniforms to match. This sounds like a weird idea having a doctor in the house at a book festival but it fits as she will reads sonnet to soothe the love troubles, a stanza to sign off the end of lunch or even Nurse Verse will give you some medical attention with the "Write Poem".


Moving onto my involvement and reason for this blog, I am volunteering at the festival and having taken the whole event off work to absorb and enjoy the 10 days as much as possible I have elected to be present at as much as I can.


Whilst mingling with the guests and interested parties at the Launch last night I was asked by a few people, Why have I volunteered? What makes the Birmingham Book Festival stand out? (Already covered that one!) What am I looking to get out of the event?


Why and What am I getting out of it, can be answered simply with I have a personal interest in Literature through writing and reading and it being in my City, why the heck not. I write poetry but only for my own consumption and after years of an overactive imagination, not finishing anything longer than the idea stage I got to the end of my first novel last year so another reason I am here is to pick up the usual tips, hints and guidance to get to the end of another.


Onto the main event after food and drink had been consumed, introductions made etc. Boring bit but had to done. First bit of interesting news was the New Poet Laureate was announced, I would like to congratulate Stephen Morrison-Burke on this fantastic accolade. He performed last night and I was dancing with him as he read his poem, it conjured up imagery and the imagination ran wild as he 'waxed lyrical'.


The launch party was rounded off last night by the silliest, funniest poet I have ever seen. I think the best way to introduce him is the way he was introduced last night with Elvis McGonagall in his own words:


"Stand-up poet, armchair revolutionary and recumbent rocker! Elvis, we are told, is the sole resident of The Graceland Caravan Park somewhere near Dundee, where he scribbles verse whilst drinking malt whisky and listening to Johnny Cash. He is also a former World Slam Champion, compere of the notorious Blue Suede Sporran Club and is one of the poets occasionally in residence on BBC Radio 4’s “Saturday Live”. Oh, and he is very, very funny!"

I don't want to spoil the fantastic act that he was so if I have tickled the taste buds, look him up and see him live or listen to him on his website. http://www.elvismcgonagall.co.uk/

Addiction

Addiction: A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the substance being used and gradually requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses.

I want to start by admitting that I am an addict. Now, that I have admitted I feel a lot better about my addiction as announcing it to the world I can continue without having to think what others will see me as.

My addiction is not life changing, it does not physically or psychologically affect me in any way that is adverse, my addiction is a good addiction!

Ok, enough suspense....I am addicted to CYCLING. There is said it.



Yes, cycling. What started off as a way to commute to work as it was the easiest, cheapest and environmentally friendly way has become something that I crave, I need to do if I don't I feel unhappy, lathergic and just lazy!

The definition above states: "A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance such as a drug or alcohol." My drugs of choice is endorphines, dopamine and adrenaline!

Endorphins are the body’s natural feel good chemicals, and when they are released through exercise, your mood is boosted naturally.  As well endorphins, exercise also releases adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine.  These chemicals work together to make you feel good....

During exercise, these endorphins are released, and this can produce feelings of euphoria and a general state of wellbeing.

Read more:

http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/Exercise_Endorphins.#ixzz278AZuMcL

I found that my daily commute to work was not longer enough to satisfy my needs, I started by increasing the distance through finding other ways to work. I am sometimes found to go 5 miles out of my way in the opposite direction so that I can make more of it and thats at 6am!

As I found all my routes were limited through time and my ability was improving, I took to really pushing myself with big rides before a late shift, these ranged from 20 to 40 miles dependent on time starting in afternoon.

 Here is a typical ride before work using strava:

<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='http://app.strava.com/runs/13192686/embed/704d132350f7425db351e43bab8086ed216a844f'></iframe>

Lack of Blogging!

Well it has been well over 6 months since the last time I wrote anything on this blog!

I have a lot of catching up to do but I think that would just be boring for everyone really.

Here's a brief overview: Work, Writing and Cycling are the major contributors within some other stuff in between mostly holidays or short breaks away would be more precise.

I can't do a catch up of Summer 2012 without mentioning the most important part can I, THE OLYMPICS!!

Starting off in a very self-absorbed frame of mind with an ultimate questions of WHY??

• Why did they have to restrict my holiday meaning none was allowed during the Olympic period?
• Why was everyone so obsessed about some sports when it is on all year round?
• Why had the Olympics needed to be rammed down our throats?
• Why the hell did the Government employ G4S?

As the Olympic Games kicked off, the whole country went mad for the opening ceremony. It showed the whole country in a whole new light to the rest of the world, yeah? Did it really? What a waste of millions of pounds that could have funded new jobs, the NHS, better policing, getting us out of National Debt?
I was still quite pessimistic at this point!

Then, the moment of change....CYCLING started and I was hooked!! And I mean hooked, I watched it live then I watched the replays on BBC IPLAYER, read the results on Internet, constantly checked my phone for updates on the road race, Chris Hoy's Keirin race and the team track events.
Fantastic week of events then the so called sports started and were present in between, I switched off again at this point not really concentrating on the results just the medal table...oh how I wanted to beat USA!

New Writing Initiative

As I sit here writing this blog, I am breaking my new writing initiative so not off to a great start!

"False Details" the novel that I have been working on recently has been finished to the first draft stage, it was a long process (6 years!) but it was fully worth it as I feel a massive sense of achievement and have accomplished something I had been dreaming about for a long time.

I know that "False Details" is only at stage 1 of the process, I have some people looking at it and editing it! I tried to edit it myself but I was not finding the mistakes as easy as someone else, the sentences made sense to me but to someone else a reader would not understand it!! 2nd Draft will obvious be an improvement due to these people so THANK YOU...

 

After a little rest period, I needed this so that I could clear my head more than anything else...I am eady to start writing again! I want to start writing again as my ideas are flowing out of my ears at the moment and if i don't do something about i will go insane or more tragically lose all the things I am thinking of! A notebook helps to the point of recording small ideas but when I go into free flow and can not control all the words as they ooze out of my brain so I came up with a little idea to capture some of them.

I will write every day for as long as feel is possible but the minimum aim EVERY day is 1000 words. 1000 words a day is nothing, I hear some of the writers say...I agree but I want this to be my minimum and to show this on Tuesday I wrote 5000 words all on one subject but on Monday I wrote 1200 on 3 totally unrelated things but I got my ideas down on paper and can come back to them and make them longer!!


Here is my inspiration at the moment for my short entries I am doing...I think of a word and then write the first things that my brain wants to that sounds like a good story...at the moment it is wonderful to write different genres, different settings, different peoples story. The only downfall is there are words everywhere and this is a massive problem as I want to write about a new word I think of so discipline is needed in abundance.

Here is a little something, I wrote so far this evening...minimal editing and it is an idea in working.

The sky darkened like the sight of the events that were about to unfold as layer by layer, the mystery is unearthed from its grave.

A small team standing around awaiting instruction and the signal to start their processes, the limited number of people from the university set in motion anticipation the find that others find insignificant.

As Stuart Bennett approaches his task for the next few hours, he took the time to look around the beautifully cared for allotments that had been produced. The years of hard work arranging and planting beds was evident throughout, the perfect resting place if there ever was one.

The recently painted wrought iron fencing blended perfectly with the runner beans and pea shoots that adorn the structure and have now reached their summit.

Beginning with the crude removal methods, Stuart can not watch this part and takes a walk. The hired digger crunches its way through the top layers ripping away the root system of the old oak tree that once stood not 50 years from the plot.

Once the top layers have been taken away the hardware shovels are grabbed and the human digging starts.

When the first evidence of the grave has been reached, the crude stops and the intricate methods starts until the prize has been found.

Stuart mans up the trowel with one hand carefully placing the other tools in their cloth carry case on the graves edge in close proximity. Starting from the centre of the gaping hole he carefully drags the soil to the edges indenting into the pile covering the bones.

All the precision is suddenly undone as the mound collapses leaving the soil to rush into a newly created hole, the grains form around the skeleton that lies beneath. Stuart glances down unable to stop the flow to see two dark eye sockets looking back at him. The clean white bones standing out against the heavy black dirt.

Stuart can now see that the burial has been planned with a casket encasing the skeleton. The excavation can now begin with the painful process of brushing away the detritus.