Christmas Delights and More Writing Inspirations

On our recent travels in our motorhome we came across an old farm that's been restored into a steam museum, wedding and party venue, with some cute little gift shops. It reminded me of places like Portmerion in North Wales (but on a much smaller scale), or Last Drop Village in Bolton close to my own home.

Thursford was all ready to receive Father Christmas and his elves visiting for the month in an amazing winter wonderland. As I have recently had an idea for a teen/YA fantasy trilogy, I thought this place was amazing. My new book idea is very different from The Beyond Series of books as it whisks the reader away to a whole new world and dimension of fun and magic, with some scary intrigue and thrills along the journey.

So I felt it very fitting that I was transported to this beautiful wonderland for just an hour or so, making me feel like a kid again, which was fantastic.

Above Santa's Grotto

Moving snow scenes

Angry snowmen!

Obviously my new idea doesn't include angry looking snowmen, but - oooh hang on..., just kidding. But it did feel like I was walking through a magical fantasy world.

We also stayed in a caravan park in a woodland close to Thursford in Norfolk. Naturally, me being me, I felt this looked more like Narnia. Ever since I first read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the idea of an alternate universe existed beyond a wardrobe was the most amazing and scary story I'd read at that point in my young and impressionable life.

All it needs is a lamp-post!

I had a working title for my new trilogy, but I've discovered there is something a little similar already out there... so I will have to get my thinking cap on for catchy titles. But think Narnia, meets Doctor Who, with magical making Goonies on Halloween!! Hmm, that's quite an eclectic mix, but hopefully it will work.

Lycan Lamia Book Four Cover Revealed

Well, I've had an exciting week with writing and books. Firstly I finished editing Lycan Lamia, Book Four in The Beyond Series and so the book is now ready for publication in January 2015 as promised. Hurrah!!

So I have decided to reveal the new book cover for all too see. And I have to say I love this one just as much as the others, Phil Newton from 11 out of 10 has excelled himself yet again with his creative design.

My other great new is that this weekend I had the most amazing, realistic dream ever. It felt like I was in a real place, that my powers were real, the strange creatures and the land I was moving around in felt so real. I woke up to write a synopsis for a new high fantasy trilogy. Not content with creating a supernatural story filled with fanastical creatures here on Earth (the Beyond Series, if you haven't already read the books), I've now created a whole new dimensional world. (I haven't decided what I'm calling this place, but I could describe it in minute detail.) Anyhoo, I need to iron out a few creases in the plot, but the characters are all there ready to start an adventure.

Don't forget you can get Didikai Witch Demon Lupus and Vampire Sorceress on Kindle and in Paperback.

Excited Inspiration From Whitby Goth Weekend

I finally made it to Whitby for Halloween, and wow, it didn't disappoint.

The place is so very atmospheric. First we walked up the 199 steps to the Abbey where I saw someone impressively dressed up like Vampire Lestat, and he had a baby vampire following him around! Aww. We then went to the Abbey itself, where they had organised an outdoor play of Bram Stokers Dracula. There were just three actors who played all the characters. I love watching live performances as I feel part of the show, even if you're just watching, but the crowds interaction, and the actors ab-libs made the show very funny, and very entertaining indeed. We watched the last performance of the day, and so were treated to watching the Abbey lights switch on, which only happens for Halloween. When looking up at the stone ruins lit with blues, greens, and reds as dusk falls, it takes on a whole new eerie ambience.

We then did a ghost walk, which I still love, even if I think the person taking me on the ghost walk isn’t that fantastic, one still gets a sense of local myths and legends, and to walk through the small, winding, cobbled streets in the dark is always atmospheric and creepy, especially at Halloween.

On Halloween itself, we walked around Robin Hoods Bay, which was rife with smugglers in its day. The best way to describe the place is a miniature fishing village on a very, very steep hill. I can see why smugglers and pirates liked the place. Back in its time, unless you lived there you probably wouldn’t have bothered to negotiate the steep hills, cliffs, and tight winding streets. The place is very quaint though.

In the evening we went back into Whitby, and it was bonkers busy! There were goths and steampunkers dressed up to the nines, people like myself who wanted to join in, and dress up a little bit and be a part of the scene, and then there were the people who just came to watch the shenanigans. There were some amazing outfits and then there were some really creepy ones, like the clown IT from Steven Kings film, or the guy whose makeup looked like he had reptilian skin under his human face, like the scifi series ‘V' and Death came to the pub for a few drinkies! Very good and very creepy. Naturally the place was bursting at the seams with people, but we managed to stay out until past midnight. 

The amount of pimped out hearses parked up there was amazing, and I guess some people just love living the whole undead lifestyle for real. For me though, I’m quite happy to just write about it. The place was so atmospheric, I was even inspired by a new horror story as part of the Fifth Book in The Beyond Series AND I'm sooo excited because I've also come up with a new trilogy of spooky books for teens and young adults, purely from last nights dream. Yep, I woke this morning, leapt out of bed and wrote the full synopsis AND book titles for three, yes three new books and a whole new series. I'm not giving anything away just yet and that’s all I’m going to say for now…. Mwah hahahaaaaa!