Winning a copy of 9987......

I am grinning this week because I won a signed copy of newly released "9987" by Nik Jones. The challenge was to create a character in 25 words or less. Check out the details of the competition, my entry and more about '9987' here.

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Some copied blurb on '9987'..............
"The shop is everything to him - always neat and tidy, safe and reliable, the rental DVDs carefully categorised, alphabetised and memorised. He thinks he knows his customers, until the bloodstains begin to appear - on grubby banknotes, on porn DVDs, and on the shop's fresh new carpet. Then the girl comes into his life, green eyes and fresh scarlet slashed beneath her thin cotton blouse. He wants to rescue and protect her. He wants to be with her. Forever. Murky and disturbing, "9987" is a jagged, tragic crime story set in a disturbing, uncaring world where only three things are constant: fantasy, loneliness and love. 'Gripping, cinematic, voyeuristic. A delightfully disturbing debut' - Caroline Smailes ("Black Boxes", "In Search of Adam")."
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I am looking forward to reading my signed copy soon.

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Writing for this competition was one of the few things I managed over the past couple of months and so winning it has made it extra special. I am now just starting to get back into my writing and this has given me a positive boost of encouragement.
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So back to my cold writing hut and back to the characters of my YA book. They've waited mid-action long enough. I am so excited to write more of their adventure!!
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Off to find my hat & oversized woolly jumper...........................

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Overdosing on TV drama & characters

Brothers & Sisters cast: courtesy of The Radio Times /copyright ABC

So I'm busy - that is busy watching TV!!!!!!

All a result of the very testing need to rest & inability to read for more than ten minutes. Thanks to the marvellous invention of SKY+ I am managing to watch tons of TV dramas and films during my testing-resting time.

I have to admit that I am a sucker for TV dramas both US and UK and watch an eclectic mix.

Over the past couple of weeks I've been watching re-runs of 'Brothers and Sisters' and am now eagerly watching Season 3.

Why do I like this series? 'Brothers and Sisters' revolves around the simple, but potentially fruitful, focus of a large family called the Walkers. It is the individual characters and their relationships that seem to draw the viewer in.

I love escaping into other worlds, creating heroes and special powers. However, a huge part of what really makes a story I think is the strength of the characters and their relationships. Once we care about a character and their journey, we are hooked.

A good writer (script or novel) reflects what it is to be human: the raw emotions and the battles we face on our individual journeys. As much as an individual & their journey is unique it is equally full of common experiences. We all hurt, lust, love & rage. We all struggle in relationships and have moments of ecstatic joy and bottomless despair.

Part of our job as writers may be to help the reader feel less alone in their own individual experience. Fictional characters can be companions & mentors. As a reader and as a writer we also get a chance to live our lives in someone else's shoes - widening our perspective & experiences. Fictional characters also take us on fantastical journeys providing escapism & entertainment.

All that from 'Brothers and Sisters'?????

Well......okay maybe I am trying to justify my testing-resting TV time! :-)

The "Don't Speak Too Soon" Moral!!!

First of all - a Happy New Year 2009 to you all! Hope you had a fab Holiday season and that this year proves to be your best yet!

Secondly - you'd think I'd learn to keep my gob shut! (I hear my friends and family chuckle at this mad idea).

Not many days after I finished writing my last post and had finished beaming at how well my writing was going and how good my health was.....................

Yep you guessed it! I ended up having a horrible and scary MS relapse. Over the last few weeks I've been unable to read or write more than a couple of words as well as a few other very unpleasant symptoms.

BUT I am on the mend and the good news is that, (after admittedly being a gibbering scaredy Kat), I'm feeling positive and determined to make the most of the good times. I am impatient to get writing and reading again; I've missed both very much.

Today I've done a lot (aka too much) of Bookworm work and so need to get off the computer and have a rest. But soon I'm hoping to write a post free of boring explanations and catch up with you all. But I won't speak too soon. In fact this year I'm trying to chill and not plan too much.

I just wanted to say that I still love blogging and have missed you all very muchly! And thanks to all who left comments on my last post - it was great to come back to comments. And Debs - thank you very very much for giving me an award - it gave me a big smile when Michelle told me I had that to look forward to when I finally got back blogging. I shall collect it as soon as I can! :-)

Sending out BIG 2009 Hugs

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