Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

My Book News & Advocate for the Writing Community ©

Sorry I Dropped the Ball on Blog Posting

September 6, 2019
mandyevebarnett


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Apologies everyone, I did not post yesterday! It has been a super busy week (month so far). The items on my list seem to continue to grow.

Firstly, I have been promoting the launching of the sequel to my fantasy romance, Rython Legacy, I have proofed the finished product and ordered printed copies for Words in the Park on 28th September.

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In addition as secretary of the hosting group, of said event, I have been replying and supplying promotional materials for the vendor applications. And contacting new authors to invite them to attend.

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I went on a super four day writing retreat road trip to Lloydminster and discovered a new part of Canada as well as increased the word count on my steampunk novel by 12,440 words – happy author!

The next few weeks will be just as busy:

  1. Board meeting to finalize planning of the event 10th September
  2. Road trip with my daughter 14th & 15th September
  3. Road trip and attendance at Word on the Street, Lethbridge 21st September (another long weekend as I will add the Friday & Monday for writing and exploring).
  4. Preparation and mock ups for my tables at the event to show case all my books (8 in all)
  5. Words in the Park 28th September
  6. This doesn’t include twice weekly aquasize/walking and ‘normal’ life chores etc LOL

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How’s your month shaping up?

Are you going to a book event? Why not share the details?

Ask A Question Thursday

July 4, 2019
mandyevebarnett


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Today’s question is: Some writers create a bubble around themselves until they’re finished with their project – how true is that in your case?

For me, once I am writing/crafting a story the outside world disappears. I am within that world of my own creation and all external forces are forgotten. As I write the scenes play like a movie in my head, I experience the characters and their struggles.

How about you? Do you need to lock yourself away, go somewhere in particular or can immerse yourself in your story no matter where?

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Last week’s question. What books do you keep for sentimental reasons?

I shared mine in the post and Pamela shared her love of Pinocchio.

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The Adventures of Pinocchio. From the first time my mother read it to me, I was hooked on the little guy. His devotion to his father touched my heart like no other character in any book. I have a collection of at least 10 Pinocchio books in both English and Italian, and each is a bit different due to the various translators. And to add to my Pinocchio fixation, I have quite a collection of Pinocchio puppets, dolls, and figurines scattered around the house. They never fail to make me smile.

Reflection on my 7 day Writing Retreat Road Trip

June 20, 2019
mandyevebarnett


I’m changing it up a bit today to reflect on my week long writing road trip. We traveled 2400 kms in 7 days and enjoyed wildlife, magnificent scenery as well as writing and reading time.

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My plan was to cover these projects while on this retreat.

  1. Continue with my steampunk novel, The Commodore’s Gift.
  2. Add to a short story for an anthology submission.
  3. A social media review.
  4. Finish one book and start another.
  5. Edit fellow authors last chapters of novel writing group.

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The result?

  1. I did add to the steampunk novel
  2. Managed more for the anthology submission
  3. Social media review was reviewed when I got back home
  4. Didn’t manage to finish the book but very close to finishing now
  5. Finished editing the fellow author’s manuscript

So I did quite well considering.

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Do you plan how you will complete projects?

Do you list them in priority or tackle them when the mood takes you?

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Please click on the post & comment below.

Happy writing.

Ask A Question Thursday

June 13, 2019
mandyevebarnett


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As you can see I have been bust enjoying our road trip and did not schedule this post, so apologies for being late today. As writers we gain inspiration in numerous ways, so the question today is. What has been the most inspirational or fact finding trip you have taken?

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The photo is of money from around the world found in a small hamlet pub on our trip this week.

 

Last week’s question:  Where would you go for the perfect writing retreat?

Pamela Allegretto       The island of Capri at the top of Anacapri.

 Bren Leyland             Oxford. Or a room that overlooks a green space or garden.

Mandy Eve-Barnett   It will come as no surprise that I would choose Rome or beside an ocean.

Schedule for a 7 day Writing Retreat

June 11, 2019
mandyevebarnett


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Road trips have become a regular occurrence since I came to live in Canada. I have been given the gift of an awesome friend, Linda, who enjoys the open road and finding new places and experiences. We leave the main highways and travel the back roads discovering hamlets, small towns and wildlife. Most of our trips are long weekends but this week we incorporated a book fair event into our plans and are making a week long trip to explore new places.

Having new experiences, meeting new people and discovering places and scenery we would not otherwise know about, fuels the writing muse. Due to the length of our trip this time I made a list of writing projects I would like to complete. Possibly wishful thinking but with a plan in place it gives me a goal. So this is the schedule, although in which order they are accomplished is open to how I am feeling at the time.

  1. Edit a fellow author’s manuscript.
  2. Revise WIP – Rython Legacy with fellow author’s editing suggestions.
  3. Complete an animal rescue story for submission to an anthology.
  4. Continue writing my steampunk story, The Commodore’s gift.
  5. Revise social media format/posts/branding.

Our trip so far (we left early on Sunday morning) has seen new places and the sighting of five bears! We also met a wonderful author by chance when we decided on an impromptu lunch in a small hamlet. We will visit local libraries and book stores on our travels as well because life is so much better with books.

When you open up yourself to new experiences you find abundance and food for the Muse.

Do you create a writing retreat/vacation writing schedule?

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The event we will be attending is below, if you happen to be traveling that way. Find me & Linda on the Dream Write Publishing table.

Summer Oldstice  Saturday 15th June
Host: Uptowne Olds
Description: Summer Oldstice Street Festival. Artists, Musicians, Performers, Bakers, Growers, Food Service vendors, handicrafters and more! 
Location: Uptowne Olds – 10 am – 4 pm
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