What a find! And I don't know how I've missed it. Just back from having spent a few glorious days in Stoer in the NW Scottish Highlands. Scenery to feed the spirit and people to gladden your heart. En route, we stopped in Ullapool and, quite by chance, discovered The Ceilidh Place (www.theceilidhplace.com), a hotel, bunkhouse, restaurant, arts centre AND wonderful book shop. The latter is run by a woman called Avril who clearly knows her books from her biscuits. The best display of Scottish literature I've seen in any independent as well as a refreshing range of children's books in English and Gaelic. I've no doubt May's successful Ullapool Book Festival helps to keep the stock fresh and up to date. But what a pleasure to chat to staff who really know their books. I could have spent a fortune (and nearly did!). I'll definitely be back and, hopefully, take in the festival as well.

Raring to Write: Great Reads and Inspiration.

Raring to Write: Great Reads and Inspiration.: Recently I've been reading two very different and yet, strangely, similarly inspired books: Sebastian Barry's 'The Secret Scripture' ...

Great Reads and Inspiration.

Recently I've been reading two very different and yet, strangely, similarly inspired books: Sebastian Barry's 'The Secret Scripture' and Dave Boling's début novel, 'Guernica'. The former, set in a mental institution in contemporary Ireland looks back to key events, both personal and political, through the eyes of a very elderly resident, Rose, who feels compelled to record her fading memories. Her testimony deals with shifting memory, loss and redemption. In common with his other novels, 'The Secret Scripture' draws some of its inspiration from Barry's real-life ancestry.

'Guernica' also records troubled and violent times - 1930's Spain and the ruthless bombing of Guernica by the Luftwaffe at Franco's invitation. The story starts with a Basque family and records their lives, loves and culture. Tragically, these individuals become caught up in the terrible events graphically depicted by Picasso in his famous mural. In an introductory letter, Boling explains the source of his inspiration for the novel:

 'Fresh out of college, I met a lovely Basque girl whose grandparents had come to America to herd sheep in the mountains of Idaho. Her family filled me with Basque foods . . . . . . and displayed a fierce loyalty to their families and heritage. From them I learned of the decades-long oppression of their culture by the Franco régime. And from them I also heard of the bombing of Guernica.'

I was thinking about both of these books while looking for an idea for a short story. And, you've guessed, I think I've found it in a particular family narrative about my maternal grandfather who, sadly, died before I was born but about whom my mother told many stories with warmth and laughter. These are truly inspirational.

Coping with Rejection!

On the same day as I was rushed to hospital after suffering a blackout, I received an e-mail from the Scottish Book Trust telling me that 'unfortunately' I had failed in my application for one of their New Writers awards. I wasn't really expecting to be a recipient but still, somewhere in the back of my mind, there lodged a vague hope that I might have an outside chance. So, still feeling very woozy after my hospital sojourn, it only took one reading to reduce me to tears!

Feeling sorry for oneself when faced with rejection letters, however, is not a very constructive response. The next day I had a serious talk to myself and spent some time reading samples of writing from previous winners of these awards. Despite admiring many of the extracts, I'm not sure I learnt an awful lot about what makes a winning entry.

Writing is fraught with the hazards of self-doubt and mood swings: one day you feel proud of your words, the next filled with despair. That's when I try to speak to others in the same position - come out of my solitary eyrie and bounce ideas off someone else. Remind myself of all those famous authors who've faced multiple rejections but finally won through, Ruthless tenacity is the key. That, and a passionate belief that this is what I want to do above everything else -write and keep on writing in the hope that someday I'll produce something of real merit.

Until then, I'll invest in a few more boxes of man-sized tissues and a steel rod for the back!

New Year's Resolutions

Well, it's arrived - 2012. And another chance to list those resolutions which, in my experience, generally last about five minutes! But this year it's going to be different - no really. Having lost two very special friends to cancer in 2011, I'm acutely aware of my own mortality and the need to get down on paper all the storylines that have been buzzing around in  my head for far too long. Procrastination is no longer a recognised concept!

So I've drafted out a writing timetable for January to March with targets and realistic deadlines. Because I know I respond better when under a bit of pressure, I've built in a couple of competitions with closing dates end January and end February. (My Tax Return might get in the way of the January deadline!)

I am resolved to make 2012 the most productive year yet! If there's anyone out there ready to share my resolution, I'd love to hear from you. Happy New Year.

Raring to Write: Pull Out All the Stops

Raring to Write: Pull Out All the Stops: I've just finished reading 'Pull Out all the Stops' by Geraldine McCaughrean, a sequel to 'Stop the Train'. Much of the action takes p...

Follow-up to Perthsire Open Studios

Delighted to feature in Saturday's (3rd)  Scotsman magazine which ran an item on eight Perthshire artists, including Kyla Tomlinson and self. The editor contacted me, having got my name from the POS brochure and it went from there. She was particularly interested in the mix of text and image so maybe that's worth thinking about for future projects. Anyone out there involved in any similar kind of collaboration? Love to hear from you.
                                                               Mature Pole Dancer

Now, however, I'm continuing to enter as many short story competitions as possible to keep me writing to deadlines!