childrens books | Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

Wordsmith’s Collective Thursday – Update on My New Creative Space

June 1, 2023
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It has been some time since I mentioned my newer creative space, so I thought I would share the latest stage. With so many projects on the go – freelance and personal – I have not had much time to organize my new study. However, I do have my writing desk and creative table in place now.

There is still more organizing of the storage space to do and a few shelves to put up.

You may notice I have a few interesting items on the writing desk upper shelf. These are an eclectic mix of mementos. The black and grey plushy is called Snork and was bought for me by my Mother, she’d asked what she could get for me and Snork was it. Yep, not jewellery, but a plushy. There is also a Tigger – to cut a long story short, an old school pal and I love Tigger and were nicknamed Big Tig and Little Tig. And a little sprout plushy (leaf not showing).

There is a Groot – you know I love him, various crystals and rocks for protection, inspiration and most are purple, my favourite colour. There is a little bunny floating on a leaf, a wren (favourite bird), a china bunny, which was a surprise find in an antique store. It is actually a replica of one my Mother had. Rocks from road trips, print of the Writers Museum in Edinburgh,

On the other desk is the on-going model I will get to at some point! It is a little bookstore.

What items do you have in your creative space and why?

Bibliophile’s Collective Tuesday – Sunday Spotlight with Kate DeGross

May 30, 2023
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I was delighted to be invited to be highlighted on Kate’s Instagram’s Sunday Spotlight. If you missed it here is the link. https://www.instagram.com/farawayinalovestory/ Flick through the pages and read the interview.

The prequel to this series will be published later this year. Malgraf’s Dawning follows the life (and creation) of the evil witch in the series.

Wordsmith’s Collective Thursday – Copyright

May 4, 2023
mandyevebarnett

We celebrated Copyright Day on 23rd April, but what does it actually mean?

Copyrights are an important part of securing your work against a number of things, such as plagiarism. It allows you to take legal action against anybody, who has copied or reproduced your work without consent. It is a lifetime protection, although generally, copyrights last for the life of the author, or the remainder of the calendar year in which the author dies, and then for 70 years following the end of that calendar year.

So why copyright?

1. It’s beneficial to have your work on record when you register

Registering your book with the copyright office provides you exclusive rights.

2. It prevents others from copying your work

Copyrighting your book legally protects you if someone tries to steal ideas, characters, plot, or any likeness from your work.

3. You cannot sue for copyright infringement unless your book is registered

If someone does steal from you, you cannot do anything about it unless you registered your book.

4. You can produce derivative content related to your copyrighted book

Since you own the rights to your characters, story, and anything unique to your work, you have the freedom to produce more content related to it.

5. Your work can be performed or displayed publicly

If you apply for copyright, you have the freedom to use your book in any public way you wish since you own it. You don’t have to worry about someone else using your work in a public way without your permission.

So in essence all your writing is covered under copyright.

If you are unsure investigate with your publisher or the platform you are publishing with.

Bibliophile’s Collective Tuesday – Lots of Literature to Celebrate

May 2, 2023
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There are several celebratory days this week! So let’s get started.

2nd May – Harry Potter Day (May 2 was the day of the Battle of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series) This series is a global phenomenon not only with the books but the movies as well.

4th – 10th May – Children’s Book Week (also celebrated in November) You might know I have written a couple of children’s books.

4th May – Intergalactic Star Wars Day (“May the Fourth be with you.”) Once again these movies are of global recognition and there are numerous memes celebrating the Fourth.

My favourite is Darth Vader – you might say bad boy vibes!

Whose is your favourite character in the movies?

6th May – Free Comic Book Day

I was not allowed comics when I was young, so I would always grab my friends comics when I was playing at their houses. They were a novelty for me.

Today there are multiple movies highlighting many of the characters first created in comics. And there doesn’t seem to be an end to them either.

In today’s market good quality issues can fetch remarkable amounts of money! Such as Amazing Fantasy (1961) No 15 is valued at $355,000. So, if you hoarded old comics best go and look now.

Did you have a favourite comic book?

Bibliophile Collective Tuesday – Celebrate Stories and Poems Days

April 25, 2023
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We all know the importance of reading to our children. Not only does it build a parental connection with them and give them their first introduction into letters and words, but also how they can become part of a story’s characters world with their imagination. In a world flooded with visual images and games that do the work for them, a book is a treasure for their mind. This week we celebrate: National Tell a Story Day on 27th April.

Can you remember the first story you fell in love with?

I loved Hiawatha, Wind in the Willows, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

We also celebrate this week the end of poetry month with Poem in Your Pocket Day on 30th April.

As many of you know poetry isn’t my thing, however I do indulge on occasion and have submitted a couple for my writing groups annual poetry challenge this year. If my poems are approved they will be included in an anthology later this year.

Do you have a favourite poem?

When I was young I remember my mother reciting these two. The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear and Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. When I grew older this one was recited in my English class. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth.

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