What's up Wednesday

It's What's up Wednesday time again. This is my second What's up Wednesday, so I am very excited to be back for another week. 
 

What's up Wednesday is run by the lovely Jaime Morrow. You can check out her blog here. It's a really simple blog fest. Each week we answers the questions below and you get to learn a little about what we are up to. So, lets get started. 

1. WHAT I'M READING
2. WHAT I'M WRITING
3. WHAT INSPIRES ME, RIGHT NOW
4. WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

1) What I'm reading:

I'm currently still on my Martina Cole session, although Dangerous Lady, which I am currently reading is the last one on my shelf at the moment, so I will be moving on to a new author soon. I have been so busy that I haven't had time to read much of it yet, but what I have read I like. As I can't tell you all that much, I'll give you the back cover blurb and move on. 

Bestselling author Martina Cole's explosive first novel of corruption and violence.

No one thinks a seventeen year-old girl can take on the hard men of London's gangland, but it's a mistake to underestimate Maura Ryan. She's tough, clever, and beautiful, which makes her one very dangerous lady.

Together, she and her brother Michael are unbeatable, but notoriety has its price. The police are determined to put Maura away, once and for all, and not everyone in the family thinks that's such a bad idea. When it comes to the crunch, Maura has to face the pain of lost love in her past and the dangerous lady discovers her heart is not made entirely of stone.

2) What I'm writing:

This week, I have mainly been blogging. There has been a bit of editing on Memory Book; about four chapters, but ultimately blogging and reading others blogs has pretty much been keeping me busy. 

3) What inspires me right now:

The kindness and generosity of others is really inspiring me now. If you check out my blog post from yesterday "How things change" the reason why will be clear. 

I have also been inspired by little Elliot Prior, a 4 year old, British boy who stood up to terrorists in Nairobi's Westgate Mall.
 

This little cutie told one of the terrorists, as he stood in front of his injured mum, "You're a bad man. Let us leave." What a brave little man he is and what an amazing inspiration, too. 

4) What else I've been up to:

Mainly this week, I have been trying to get my mobility scooter back. If you haven't heard about this yet you can read more about the situation in my blog post from yesterday "How things change" . Thankfully, everything is sorted out with that now and although I have not been able to get my original mobility scooter back, I have (thanks to the kindness of those at Launceston Mobility) been able to get a suitable replacement, which is a huge relief and a very big weight of my shoulders. 

It has been a very tough month this month and I am glad all the worry is finally coming to an end. 

Well, that's my What's up Wednesday. How about you? 

Have a lovely week, what is left of it, and thank you for stopping by. 

Love and hugs, 

Joss xxx 

Express yourself

        

          It’s Monday; well, it will be in a few hours, lol. I am publishing this a little early. It's a productive day. At any rate, Monday means it's time for an Express Yourself post.

Express Yourself is an awesome, weekly blog hop that is hosted by the lovely Jackie and Dani, in which, each week, the entrants answers a specific question; then, we all hop from blog to blog reading everyone’s entries.

           

          If you would like to join in with this blog hop or simply check out all the other awesome blog posts for it. Then click here.

What authors would you love to have lunch with?

Well, my first thought, when I saw this question was all of them. I love talking to other authors and hearing about their work progress; but, then I assumed that might require a space, the likes of which it would be very difficult to find. So, I thought what about a huge banquet hall and just as many writers as we could cram in, but what about those we couldn’t, how mean would I feel then?

So, in the end, I decided that I would try to be a little more specific. I am going to allow myself a party of six. I will be one of the six, because it wouldn’t be me having lunch with them, otherwise. That leaves five writers to pick from the hundreds that I love. That’s a task and a half.

One of my first thoughts was Daphne Du Maurier. Imagine the stories she would have to tell you about her writing career and her time at Jamaica Inn, plus she loves Bodmin moor and was inspired by it, just as I was; however, Daphne Du Maurier is no longer alive. I wouldn’t mind a ghost at the table, but it might make the rest of us feel a little guilty, as she sat and watched us, tucking into a meal, while she just watched on.

The living it is then.

So, I was trying to think about this logically. First, I thought of all the writers I loved. That list; however, proved far too extensive. My conclusion, then; choose those that may be of help with either my current works in progress or future works.

And this is what I came up with:

Terry Pratchett - Not only is he an amazing writer, but he has Alzheimer’s. As I am writing Memory book at present, which is about a man with Alzheimer’s, Terry Pratchett would be able to give me not only writing tips, but his own first-hand experience with the disease. His fantastical worlds would also be fun to explore and dissect, which makes him, at least in my opinion, an awesome dinner companion.

Martina Cole - When it comes to strong characters and tough stories, Martina is an expert. She deals with topics most avoid and her characters are beautifully crafted; so, if I am looking to learn about realistic characters and polish my skills here, even more, then Martina will be another ideal dinner guest.

Jane Wenham Jones - Why? Well, because every party needs some humour and she is one of the funniest writers I know; that and she writes a whole host of amazing books, including books on writing that miraculously make you cry with laughter instead of from boredom, which is rare for educational books. With Jane at my party, I can get lots of great tips and lots of great laughs, as well.

Karen Amanda Hooper - I really need her to publish more of her Sea creature memoir series, preferably before she releases more Kindrily; not because I don’t love her Kindrily books, because I do, but I am a serious addict, when it comes to her Merfolk and Selkies. I’m hoping, if I provide enough alcohol, I’ll be able to get her to agree to, oh, I dunno, another 5 or 6 sea creature memoirs before she gets started on the Kindrily again.

Francine Rivers - Another author, who creates amazingly realistic characters; but the reason for choosing her today is to do with her favoured genre, Christian fiction. In memory book, Charlie struggles with God and faith. His wife, a devoted Christian, passed on her love of God to her son, who went on to become a vicar. Charlie; however, can’t forgive God for not only taking his wife, but allowing her to suffer, so long and painfully, with her cancer. Francine, I am sure, could give me so many great tips about bringing God into a fictional novel on top of character development and the creation of an unforgettable story.

So, there you have it, my five guests for my little dinner party; all picked with care and consideration. Now, there’s a first for me, and Terry Pratchett should be in his element with all these lovely ladies for company. :) 

What writers would you like to have to dinner and why?

Love and hugs,

Joss xx