Coveted Covers

I really like the simplicity of these covers.  I love the ribbon idea in the first one, and the second cover looks seriously yummy. 

A Little Update

Hey Everyone,

So I'm still putting the final touches to book 1, and also working on book 2.  The planning stages are done on book 2, so I'm putting down the scrapbooks and getting some serious writing done.  I'm writing a series, so some of the characters are making a reappearance and there are also lots of new people (including one I'm particularly excited about!).  My main character Jacki and her friends are a year older in this book.  It's so strange to witness imaginary people growing up.

When I'm writing initial drafts I find reading new books to be a bit distracting.  I'm not sure why exactly, but I prefer to revisit stuff I've read before. I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird at the moment and next on my list are Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Great Gatsby.  

I'm currently really excited because I'm going to see Josh Ritter  tomorrow night.  He is my absolute favourite musician.  I first heard about him while on a family holiday in Toronto in 2003.  There was a massive queue outside HMV, and we asked who it was for and got the response 'It's Josh Ritter man!'.  When I got back to Ireland I googled him and bought Hello Starling, his third album.  It was fabulous, I listened to it over and over.  I really love listening to good lyrics, and Josh Ritter's lyrics are amazing. I bought his other albums straight away and eagerly awaited the release of Animal Years, which was to become my favourite album of all time.  Two more albums followed, the later of which So Runs the World Away was released last week.  I've seen him live about ten times and met him twice. He's so nice!  Can you tell I'm slightly obsessed?!  There's a great interview with Josh in this month's Hotpress magazine.  He's also an author and his first book is out next year.  

I've been feeling very happy and calm the past few days, which I hope will continue.  I have a terrible habit of focusing on the past, and I'm working really hard to get rid of it. 

I'd been listening to Heathers on their Myspace all last week while working.  Once I met my deadline I was able to head out and get my hands on their album Here, Not There.  I really wanted a physical copy because the artwork is so pretty.  On the inside cover is a really inspiring passage.

'It's putting things behind us.  Having to get through things and move on as best we can.  It's remembering the good times but making sure we don't get stuck in the past.  It's being here and not there.'

Save the Date

Hey Everyone!  For those of you living in Kildare (where I live) or close to it, the inaugural Kildare Readers Festival will take place from Friday 14th- Sunday 16th May in Naas.

The line-up of writers includes John Connolly, Sheila O'Flangan, Stuart Neville, Joseph O'Connor, Claire Keegan and lots more including ME! 

 If you are free do come to my talk! I would love to say hi.  I'll be reading a sneak preview from my debut novel Angel Kiss and talking to Linda Geraghty about my career as a writer. 

Click here to see full programme

And the best part is that all the events are FREE (but booking is essential).

Hope to see some of you at the festival! 

Things I ♥

♥ The above MacBook Pro covers from Twelve South.
♥ Sunshine.  We've had a whole week of lovely weather here, a very rare occurrence in Ireland! 
♥ Movies about writers/writing - Paperman looks promising! I love Emma Stone. Speaking of movies, I wish they'd hurry up and release The Runaways here.
♥ John Green - I think he's a fantastic writer.  And so clever and funny.  I'm currently reading Looking for Alaska and cannot wait to read his collaboration with David Levithan - Will Grayson, Will Grayson.
♥ This cardigan. My Forever 21 obsession is ongoing.  
♥ The Writer's Room on the Skins website is an interesting read. 

Literary Style

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Deadline Survival Kit

Another writing deadline is approaching. I still have eight days to go, so I'm at the 'deadlines aren't so bad' stage.  The stages that follow are not pretty and hopefully you won't have to witness them.  For now let me share with you the contents of my deadline survival kit:

Tea

I drink insane amounts of tea when I'm working. I used to make it in a cup, but I would frequently get engrossed in a chapter and not realise how much time had passed and then take a sip of yucky cold tea.  So I've started making it in a flask. Wow, my life is exciting. (The above cup is from Hannah Zakari)

   Gilmore Girls

 

Okay, so I go on about this show a lot. It's one of my all time favourites. Sometimes I take a break at 3 and watch Gilmore Girls reruns on t.v. It keeps me going. 

Pretty Pens

A pretty pen can make all the difference when it comes to deadlines. Red pens bring back scary secondary school memories for me. So I write my corrections in purple or pink. 

Giant Jumper

Comfort is everything when it comes to writing deadlines. If i'm cold I get cranky, so I wear a big comfy jumper. I prefer man sized ones with hoods so I stole the above one from my brother.

Off I go now to do a serious amount of writing! 

Thoughts for a Thursday

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“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”

Anton Chekhov