This Year in Reflection

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Favourites of 2009

Movies:

500 Days of Summer
Adventureland
Up
TV Shows:
How I Met Your Mother
Skins
Misfits
True Blood

Gigs:
Josh Ritter in Whelans Dublin.
Paramore in the O2 Dublin.
Neil Young in the O2 Dublin.
Play:
DNA performed by Galway Youth Theatre
Album:
Brand New Eyes - Paramore
Song:
The Only Exception - Paramore
Book:
The Twelve by Stuart Neville
Teenage Fiction:
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
Every Summer by Claire Hennessy
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Non Fiction:
Columbine by Dave Cullen
Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights by Sophie Dahl
Think! by Edward de Bono


Stand Out Moment:
Browsing in an art supplies shop on Camden Street with my Mum when my agent rang to tell me that Puffin had offered me a book deal. I was beyond ecstatic!

2009 is a year I will never forget. Last January, inspired by Vanessa at Inkwell Writers, I wrote a very important sentence in the first page of my new pink diary: '2009, the year I sign on the dotted line.' I wanted more than anything to sign a book contract. At that stage I had no offers and no agent, but I did have a feeling 2009 was going to be a good year. It's true what they say, a goal not written is only a wish. So whatever it is you want for yourself this year, write it down in that new diary now!

2009 was also the year I started this blog. Through it I have connected with so many lovely and interesting people (that's you!).

I wish you all a very happy and successful 2010.

Merry Christmas!

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Just wanted to wish a very Merry Christmas to everyone who reads my blog. I hope you get everything you wish for!

I am off now to enjoy the various festive gatherings and to eat an insane amount of sweets! 

Happy Holidays and Lots of Love,

Literary Style

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Gifts for Writers

portable hard drive 

for backing up those important files

laptop sleeve

for looking super stylish in the library

gloves

for toasty hands when typing

a typewriter ring

for someone special

A Little Update

Hello Everyone!

Isn't December so much fun?!  Winter is my favourite time of year. I love sitting on a big armchair beside the fire, writing stories and drinking tea.  My auntie got me a really handy cushioned laptop support from Ikea for for my birthday, so i can now sit super comfortably.

I have spent the past few weeks double-checking any forensic details mentioned in my first novel Angel Kiss (a teen supernatural crime novel to be released in 2011).  I researched in the early stages using books and newspaper archives but my editor advised me to double-check everything with experts.  She was right, as some of the information I got was slightly inaccurate.  Everyone I contacted was so helpful and for that I am very grateful.  I'm not finished yet but I am on the way there!

In addition to researching, I am also writing my 2nd book, 18 Kisses.  I am so excited about it.  There is something magical about writing first drafts, you just can't beat it. Whenever I am in the initial stages of creating characters and dreaming up plot lines I always get this wonderful positive glittery feeling.

On Thursday I will receive the next set of Angel Kiss rewrites from my editor at Puffin. Rewriting is not so glittery...but it is worth it when you see your story getting much better.  My deadline is in early January, so Christmas will be busy.

I was feeling a bit sorry for myself the past while, relationship break-down and stress and pressure and general grumpiness, but then I saw this quote on one of my favourite blogs, Notebook Doodles:


'The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.' 


Reading this quote totally changed my outlook.  The power of words always amazes me.

Book Hampers!

Blogger and super cool children's author David Maybury has a really great Christmas Competition over on his blog.
He is giving away three different hampers that feature some brilliant children's and teen's books. There's a set for boys, one for girls and one mixed bag.

Also it's snowing on David's blog this month.  Literally. Go check it out!

Party Time

Hello Everyone

It's been an exciting weekend.  I went to my writers' agency Christmas party on Friday night.  I am represented by Faith O'Grady at the Lisa Richard's agency.  They also represent actors and comedians so there was a mix of creative types there.  It was super fun and I got to meet lots of writers.  I am not the world's best mingler, but everyone I met was so friendly and interesting so it was great.  It was basically drinks and finger food from four until eight.  My agent introduced me to the other writers she represents, and there were also people there from Puffin Ireland whom I knew already, including my very amazing editor Paddy.

The party season is so much fun for writers, because we spend a lot of time working by ourselves. I have a few more writery Christmas outings lined up, including one tonight.  I've decided to wear the above sparkly dress as it has a great holiday feel about it.  (I got it in Forever 21).

Have any of you guys been to your Christmas Party yet?

P.S. I apologise for the poor quality of my photos lately, (photobooth) I hope to get a new camera soon!

Dress Envy

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I adored Saoirse Ronan's red carpet outfit for the New York premiere of The Lovely Bones.  I'm a huge fan of dresses paired with black tights. (She also wore black ankle boots). This style is perfect for a young Hollywood starlet. 
The adaptation of Alice Sebold's novel is directed by Peter Jackson and features an impressive cast including Susan Sarandon and Rachel Wiesz. I cannot wait to see this film.  The Lovely Bones is one of my all-time favourite books.  Unfortunately the movie isn't released in Ireland until the New Year so I will have to wait another while!

Literary Style

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20 Questions

image: creative commons

I saw this questionnaire on the lovely Emily's blog so thought I'd give it a go. They were fun questions to answer because they are all about reading and books.

1. Last books i bought:

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine
I'm reading Dead Until Dark at the moment.  I have to drag myself away from it because I have so much writing to do. 

2. Last Book I got in Post
Understanding Publishing Contracts by Michael Legat.  I studied law very briefly, but learned enough to know that contracts are very hard to amend or get out of, so read yours carefully!

3. The first book i've read over and over
 Matilda.  When I was about 9 I read it a lot and almost knew it off by heart. Roald Dahl is my all time favourite author.

4. Children's books every child should read:
Fiction:
Matilda and all of Roald Dahl's Books

Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Non Fiction:
The Diary of a Young Girl Anne Frank
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah

There are lots more but I personally loved the above.

5. Favourite Place to read
 In a cafe on a comfy seat with a lovely cup of tea.

6. A book i bought just for cover:
 The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon. It had a really pretty velvety black and white cover.

7. Scariest Book I ever read:
A Point Horror one when I was very young.  It was about vampires, that's all I remember.  I thought it would be on the same level of scariness as Goosebumps but it was far worse.  I had nightmares for a fortnight.  


8. Most Romantic Book ever
Pride and Prejudice.  Every girl wants a Mr. Darcy!  

9. Book that changed my life in some way
Fiction:

Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone
This novel restored by faith in books written for younger people.  In my early teens I didn't read very much at all, but then Harry Potter came along and made books cool again.  I remember standing in line outside my local bookshop with my friends at midnight on the release of the 6th novel, looking up and down the queue in which 17-year-olds and 8-year-olds and adults were all waiting for the same book, and I remember realising that Harry Potter really had started a reading revolution.  
Non-Fiction:

He's Just Not That Into You.  Every woman should read this book.  It is a brutally honest guide to dating, not just informative but also hilarious.  It changed the way I view relationships.

10. Books i've reread the most
I don't revisit books very much.  I used to do it all the time when I was younger but not so much anymore.  I do reread The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole though.  I think it is funniest book ever written and it always cheers me up.

11. Books i need cliff notes for
Shakespeare.

12. Book you need dictionary for
I think if you need a dictionary for a book then you should put that book down (unless it is a classic, but even then the best ones are accessible).  In my opinion, books are supposed to be enjoyable and fun to read, not hard work.  Don't read what you think you 'should' be reading.  Read what you enjoy, read the good stuff!  Life is too short to be forcing yourself to read ridiculously complicated sentences.

13. Books i like that no one else seems to
I tend to like really popular books so I can't think of anything!

14. Books i don't like that everyone else seems to
Too many to mention!

15. Number of books i own (guess):
Maybe 200? I do give some away to Oxfam Books when I'm done with them.  Spread the love! 

16. Number of books on TBR (that have not been acquired)
At least 30.  But I have a whole stack to get through already.  A few years ago I couldn't find much that I really wanted to read, but since I got into following book blogs I have heard about so many great novels.

17. Must have reading accessory
Bookmark.  I have quite a variety!

18. Literary destination i want to go to:
Hogwarts.  My letter should arrive any day now....


19. Top three favourite authors
This changes all the time but at the moment:
Childrens:
Roald Dahl
JK Rowling
Roddy Doyle

Adults:
Mary Higgins Clark
Tracy Chevalier
Alice Sebold


20. The reason i started book blogging
I started so I could take my mind off waiting for responses from agents and publishers.  I absolutely love blogging about writing and reading.  I get to interact with so many fabulous people through it!