MY PUZZLE PALACE
Hello and welcome. Wow. I honestly never thought I would be writing a welcome post, so this is a little overwhelming. If you haven't guessed by now, I love books. My Puzzle Palace is what I call the inside of my mind. There are happy magical places in there, but there are also the lower floors, like the dungeons, and it's very easy for the pieces to get scrambled sometimes. For me, that's where books came in. The chance to escape into any world you please, filled with lovable characters, mysterious places and a great journey. I used to find myself exploring so many different worlds as a child, that at some points I forgot to live in this one.
That continued into adulthood, and when I met my best friend, she moved me to a town called Driffield. On our first day there, we walked into a local bookstore. It turns out it was that book stores first day of opening. We soon became regulars and whether it was circumstances or manifestation, that same book store ended up relocating right under our flat!! We ended up helping out from time to time, and worked there for over a year. That just solidified my love for books more than I thought possible. I ended up analysing writing styles and writing my own reviews of books that I got to proof read before their release date. It changed my perspective on a lot of things, and I opened my mind to more genres so I could speak to customers about certain types of writing Those customers educated me a lot and I will forever remain thankful to Darren and Donna at 'The Little Book Emporium Driffield'. [Would recommend if you love an authentic feeling book store with an amazing collection and variety] For more information visit; https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/the_little_book_emporium_driffield
I did, however, struggle to read aloud. I couldn't grasp the ebb and flow it took to be a great storyteller. Which was infuriating because I had so many stories to tell, and tales I wanted to share. Luckily for me, that same best friend who moved me directly to that amazing book store, was also a book lover, and was willing to sit and listened to me practice. She never mocked or stopped me throughout the many hiccups and stutters along the way. I guess it's because of her that I've managed to do all of this in the first place.
Unfortunately, I understand that real life gets in the way. I always kept my foot in the door of the book world, but sometimes the only chance I had to enjoy a book was through Audible whilst trying to simply "do" life, and I barely got a chance to write at all.
Luckily for me, my fiancee left. Which I know may sound a little harsh. But, honestly, her cheating on me and ultimately abandoning our relationship, was the guiding light that forced me to delve into my scrambled puzzle palace and start cleaning up in there.
I'm not here to lie to you, if you're ever in that situation, it is hard work. It takes time and a lot of effort. I didn't feel better for months, but it comes when you least expect it and you will get there. It's really easy to have your palace turned into a haunted house. I have a message for those people who relate to this.
You aren't alone, you are not going to turn into the opinion of someone who doesn't know you. I know it sounds so typical, but take it from some one who has been there. If you put the work in for yourself, the weight gets lighter.
Now, 5 years later from first moving to this little town, I am currently in the process of writing a Young Adult Fiction saga and I have recently narrated and produced my first Children's Audiobook 'SNAILS TALES.' Which is now available on Audible, where you can get it completely FREE when you message ' PROMO ' in the 'CONTACT' section of this site. I am super grateful for the experiences I have had so far; the people I have worked with and the things I'm learning. I am so excited to put the work in and to be able to create things that could potentially help someone escape a little themselves.
Through this blog, I aim to give you all a little more insight into my process in writing the 'Valman'ka Chronicles'. From map ideas; adding dialogue; building relationships; and exclusive insights to characters, places and snippets from the book.
FIRST INSIGHT!!
Now, the Valman'ka Chronicles is based in a distant world, merged with other realms due to a King's selfish act hundreds of years prior. A young girl named Viola Grey finds herself in the midst of it all when she is viciously attacked by a rogue pack of wolves on the one night of the year were all the supernatural beings are supposed to be dormant. Somehow, Viola emerges unharmed in a beam of bright light. Thereby attracting the attention of the Valman'ka Warriors; highly trained, disciplined enforcers of balance and peace throughout the mixed race. Viola must now go on a quest of self-discovery to reveal her role in the chaotic hunt to find the ring that could send them all home.
But, believe me when I say this book didn't always begin like this. I always think back to when writing my own book felt like a pipe dream. Any dream is possible with commitment and belief. It all started with a couple of friends sat around a few drinks. Of course, drunk me could make any crazy 'pipe dream' come true. I had an idea that I was going to write a book. No one questioned it. That night we gathered around a crumpled pile of paper. I hastily grabbed a pen that barely worked in the flat and created the first character. Vincent Blake. That was the 24th July 2021.
Originally the books where to be set in 1918 London. Now over time, it has been brought into a more modern world. Not quite the one we live in today, but not too traditional. I remember us firing off mad ideas that he could have a pet snake and own a broken shop full of all kinds of things, and then we passed out. I should have woken the next morning, saw the paper and binned it as a drunken laugh. But, when I read it, I couldn't help but want to build Vincent Blake, and then I built everything around him. He doesn't appear in the books straight away and he can't even be classed as a main character but when you meet him... Know it began with him.
TWIX YOU!
The phrase 'Twix you' will be commonly used in the book between the main character 'Viola Grey' and her best friend 'Alexandra Levine'. It's a phrase deep routed in their childhood from when they first met, like a juxtaposition in the sandpit on their first day of school. It signifies a bond that is unique to only those two. Just as this Blog will hopefully uniquely connect differently with all of you.
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