Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

My Book News & Advocate for the Writing Community ©

Writing Hub -Books, Writing, Tips & more…

February 22, 2017
mandyevebarnett


writing-hub

Writing:

With an ‘extra’ day off work this week (Canadian Family Day), I managed to focus on my ghost writing project. A total of four hours spent mainly in a silent house resulted in an extensive review and a lot of added content. I am confident this second draft is more in line with my clients view and deals with all the factors she requires. The draft has been sent and I await a reply.

My other freelance writing project was completed on Saturday and my client now has everything she needs for the launch of her online lesson plans. It will be interesting to see the finished product.

Have you read something to a live audience which made you uncomfortable?

As I have my ‘erotic’ reading this Saturday I will be working on that for the rest of the week, and trying not to let nerves overtake me! It’s one thing writing but quite another reading it out loud to an audience.

Books:

Beyond the Precipice by Eva Blaskovic.

Although I am only several chapters into this book, I must mention the beautifully structured writing, the rounded characters and a sense of place it has given me.

beyond-the-precipice

An old school pal in England sent me her daughter’s novella to read and it is next on my TBR pile. The Outcasts by Maddie Andrews.

https://www.amazon.com/Outcasts-Maddison-Lily-Fox-Andrews/dp/1908128720

the-outcasts

My other reading commitment is a friends manuscript as a beta-reader.

What are reading at the moment?

Writing Tip:

writer-tips

Upcoming Writing Events- Add Yours for your Location…

February 20, 2017
mandyevebarnett


events

We celebrate Family Day today (Canada), which although is a great day off work and the added bonus of being a Monday, it is also extra time to enjoy our families. As an immigrant my writing friends have become family as well as my nucleus family here in Alberta. Over the weekend I enjoyed extra time with my daughter and son with activities and a large roast dinner. I also met a writing friend for lunch, Kathie Sutherland she is a superb poet and a kind soul.

 

family-day-poster-canada

My only event this week is on Saturday, when I will read an erotic segment from my current work in progress, The Twesome Loop. Our current Writer in Residence persuaded me to attend so I have been revising and editing like a thing possessed. This will be the first time I have read such a piece to the public and I admit I am rather nervous about it. Without doubt I will go ‘beet red’ as I read, maybe I can find a fan to help?

On the Keemooch (“On the Sneak”) Celebrate Freedom to Read Week 2017 with provocative spoken word performances and poetry. Adults only. Wine will be served. Sat Feb 25 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm Strathcona County library

keemoch

Have you read something that made you uncomfortable?

How did you cope?

Audrey’s Books, Events, Edmonton

Rick Lauber “Caregiver’s Guide for Canadian’s – Thursday 11.00

rick-lauber-headshot-with-book

Robert Bhatia “Passage across the Mersey” – Thursday 19.00

 

NaNoWriMo – Madness or Opportunity..?

November 3, 2014
mandyevebarnett


Nano 2014 banner

For those of you who have made the commitment to this mad, exciting, panic inducing challenge – I say good luck, may your muse always be at your shoulder and your words flow smoothly upon your page.

To find those extra minutes in the day to write is tricky to be sure but it is a mind set. Do you have a lunch hour? Can you slip away whilst your family is watching TV? Does it really matter if the slow cooker is the only means of cooking for the month?

I know I become totally possessed during NaNo and write several paragraphs while the meal is cooking, skipping lunch so I can address a characters next move or ignore my eyelids closing as I write into the early hours. This year the challenge began on a weekend, which was an added bonus as well as our clocks went back – whoop an extra hour!  NaNo may seem like a daunting assignment to undertake but there are incredible benefits too. It can be a personal challenge to see how you manage under a deadline, an out pouring of ideas, character development or finally beginning that wished for novel.

Writing to a deadline, for me anyway, results in almost complete novel length stories. These can be revised, added to and edited at my leisure in the following months. Even if you do not manage the fifty thousand word total, you will have laid down enough words to forge ahead with your own narrative. It can be the start you have avoided for months or years.

Knowing there are many, many writers around the world absorbed in the same challenge is not only exciting but a companionship of sorts. The NaNoWriMo site has a buddy system and you can connect with other participants, giving and receiving encouragement and support. Whether you use a pen and notebook or type your story, it is the words that matter.

This month will see thousands of stories created, their characters forging forward and over coming obstacles. Some will be happy, some will be sad but your story will be told.

Enjoy the process, scary as it is – the result is so very rewarding.

cabinMy novel this year is called The Giving Thief, a thriller/suspense/erotic – if there is such a genre!

It is a combination of three true news stories I found fascinating. My protagonist murders someone and flees – for what he believes will be a short time…but things do not go to plan. The photo is similar to how I see his hideout in the mountains.

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