YA Storytellers: stories of inspiration

Today the YA Storytellers are discussing stories about inspiration. It's something that all authors need - well, it's probably something that everyone needs regardless of what they're trying to achieve. As for myself, I am inspired by so many things...

Music

I love tunes that have an underlying haunting sound to them - anything that sounds spooky or magical totally inspires me, which is why I sometimes listen to soundtracks whilst writing (Harry Potter, Edward Scissorhands, Premonition, Practical Magic, for instance). Lana Del Rey's songs also have that edge that I love. Just listening to the first few seconds of her songs, makes the cogs of my brain go into overdrive!

Movies

If I'm feeling a little low and uninspired then I'll put on the TV and watch a movie. If I'm in the middle of writing YA urban fantasy, I'll watch Twilight, Harry Potter or something else that matches my mood. If I'm writing chick lit, then I'll pop in a romantic comedy - anything with Sandra Bullock will help re-charge my batteries and get me keen to write again!

Images

Pinterest is my favourite image site where I can easily wile away several hours just gazing at magnificent photography. One single image could lead to an entire series of books! Isn't that just awesome? Join me over at Pinterest and check out my boards (there are loads!).

Travel

Canada was the first place that inspired me to write. It's the most spectacularly wonderful place I've ever had the pleasure of visiting and I can't wait to return one day. My first visit took place back in 2009 and we visited Alberta and British Columbia and took in the mountains, snow, lakes, islands, forests, you name it - we saw it! But it was at the wonderful Powell River spot that images of vampires, werewolves and ravens danced in my mind. I wrote Raven less than a year later!
I'm also hugely inspired by England and all that it entails. Quaint little villages, stunning ancient castles and cathedrals and so much more. Every time I go back to the country of my birth, I am overwhelmed with inspiration. It's amazing!

People

Whether it's strangers in a  coffee shop or someone I've met - I can't help but imagine some aspect of their personality or looks in a character on the pages of my books. My Morgan Sisters series came from meeting just one man who would eventually become Declan Alexander - one of the coolest characters in the series.

But what about you? What inspires you?

Thursday Threesome: The top fantasy movies of all times

Thursday Threesome, you ask? Well that should mean my top three... but I'm going to include all my other faves too, because there are just too many others not to mention, right? Okay, so here goes...

1. Harry Potter series

Ever since Daniel Radcliffe came on the scene back in 2001, I've been completely and utterly hooked on this series. Like many others, I devoured the books first, saw each movie at the cinema and then bought every DVD. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson grew up before our very eyes, getting better at acting with each film. I know I will never tire of the Harry Potter series. Will you?

2. Avatar

I saw it at the cinema in all its 3D glory and then watched it on a much smaller 32 inch TV and it was still as brilliant! Avatar has everything, action, romance, drama, fantasy. Its one of the most beautiful fantasy movies I've ever seen. I mean, the Tree of Souls? Gorgeous, just gorgeous.

3. The Tenth Kingdom

Okay, so technically this isn't a movie as such. Its a mini series but its just so awesome, I had to include it in my top three. The Tenth Kingdom is about a young woman and her father after they are transported from New York through a magical mirror into a parallel world of fairy tales, magical creatures, evil stepmothers and self-discovery.

And because there are tonnes of other mega awesome fantasy movies out there, I just had to share some of my other close favourites. Do you agree with me? Did I miss any?

Princess Bride

Ella Enchanted

The Chronicles of Narnia

Willow

Neverending Story

Lord of the Rings

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Corpse Bride

Pirates of the Caribbean

Hocus Pocus

Hook

Nanny McPhee

Mary Poppins

The waterbabies

The Golden Compass

Legend

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Enchanted

Inkheart

Dragonheart

Alice in Wonderland

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Stardust

Aquamarine

Splash

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Edward Scissorhands

The Wizard of Oz

Eragon

The Dark Crystal

The Snow Queen

Snow White - The Fairest of Them All

Merlin

The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns

Practical Magic

Conan the Barbarian

Clash of the Titans

Gremlins

Ghostbusters

Big Trouble in Little China

Mannequin

Beetlejuice

Big

Teen Witch

Casper

The Borrowers

Arthur and the Invisibles

Bridge to Terabithia

The Seeker: The Dark is Rising

The Water Horse

Bedtime Stories

City of Ember

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Because my books are aimed at kids and young adults, I've not included any really scary fantasy movies but I know there are tonnes of super cool ones out there! So what do you think of my list?

I feel for Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart right now

Photo credit: lyk3_0n3_tym3 via photo pin cc 

I was really saddened to read about Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson's split last week. I know it's hard to believe that she would cheat on our lovely RPatz, but there must be reason behind it. Surely, nobody cheats unless there is an underlying problem with the relationship in the first place? They seemed like the perfect couple... so in love. And yet, she can't have been so desperately in love with him if she would go off for a bit of a fling with some movie producer / director (whatever!), could she? I had hoped that they could work it out, but I guess it's tough to forgive something like that, especially when it's plastered in every newspaper, blog, website, yada yada yada all over the world. Poor RPatz must be feeling so betrayed and poor Kristen must be feeling so guilty. I really do feel for them both. I'm sure they're both hurting so much right now. I just hope they can accept what has happened and move on and be happy, whether it's together again (I hope so!) or with different partners. They deserve to be happy, just like the rest of us.
Photo credit: lyk3_0n3_tym3 via photo pin cc

#yaindiecarnival: baddest, nastiest YA characters

Baddies are great aren't they? And writing a nasty character is enormous fun. I particularly enjoyed creating Olivier Duran in The Raven Saga. He's a terrifying, heartless (well, aren't they all?!) vampire who loves nothing more than to play with his food.

But who is my favourite all time YA baddie? Hm... that's a tough one. Lord Voldemort (shhhhhhhhhh, I hear you say.... sorry!) has got to be the ultimate evil doer, don't you think? Victoria in the Twilight series was a total cowbag too! I recently read a fantastic book by Shalini Boland, it's the second in her Marchwood Vampire Series, and there are some pretty horrendous nasties in there too! Ooh I can't think, I can't think.... most YA fantasy books have got some kind of horrible evil guys and all are usually as bad as each other! But I'm going to stick with Voldemort as the 'nastiest character in YA'! What do you think?

For more YA baddies, check out my awesome fellow carnis...
1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series

2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self

4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 

6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 

8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series 

10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey

12. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter  

13. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
14. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga

15. Courtney Cole Writes
16. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.

17. Ella James
18. Maureen Murrish

19. Valerie Sloan
20. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings

Click here for more Indie News:

YA Indie Carnival: Name That Tune

Music. Does it inspire you to write? It certainly does me. I'm a sucker for a good dark and eerie tune, especially if I'm writing something a bit on the creepy side. When I was writing Raven I had a few firm favourites, mostly from movie soundtracks like The Lost Boys (Cry Little Sister) and Twilight (Possibility). There's also a beautiful song that is actually mentioned in the book. Cancao do Mar (yes, it's Portuguese) is a haunting fado song and is Rose's favourite kind of music. When Lilly first happens upon her aunt, this is what she's listening to outside her cottage. Have a listen... it really is gorgeous:

I've recently discovered a new musician and I've totally fallen in love with her music. Its just so me, you know? Lana Del Rey's music is dark and haunting and I just can't get enough of it. My husband, on the other hand, thinks she sounds like she's drunk!
Here, have a listen to one of her songs.... I know I'll be listening to this when I write my next book!

To read more about Name That Tune, go visit my awesome fellow Carnis, click the links below...

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series

2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self

4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 

6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 

8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series 

10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews 

12. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
13. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping 

14. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
15. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls 

16. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
17. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter 

18. TG Ayer
19. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy 

20. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
21. Roots in Myth, PJ Hoover 

22. Courtney Cole Writes

Click here for more Indie News:

Q&A with blogger Sharon Goodwin

Today I've got a very lovely lady and book blogger Sharon Goodwin... Hi Sharon! Welcome to Q&A with moi!

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?
A book I’ve read recently has had that effect on me ……………. Caligula by Douglas Jackson. I do enjoy historical fiction and for me, this book ticked all my boxes. I was so absorbed in the story I was loathe to put it down. I was taken on a trip to the past and became involved in lives that were real to me. I even confronted my ‘shadow’ side with all the depravity, blood, gore, pride etc. The court intrigue kept me interested as did the assassination attempts on Caligula’s life. I didn’t want the book to end and hesitantly turned those final few pages. A good sign of what the story means to you!

Who is your favourite author and why?
I don’t have a favourite author – each author creates something that allows me escapism. In my childhood days I would have answered Enid Blyton (along with how many thousands of others!) Those adventures I took as a child gave me freedom!

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales! You can make up your own stories just by looking at the different cameo’s on the front cover.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I would invite;
Bryan Sykes (author of The Seven Daughters and Adam’s Curse) to talk about DNA
Paramahansa Yogananda to tie the DNA in with ancient wisdom – and maybe learn a little spiritual wisdom myself!
Next on my list would be biology author Toby J Gibson – he could put his research of molecular biology (including DNA finds) to the group.
Finally, Douglas Adams (author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). He could give us ideas on how to use all the things we learn round the dinner table – in the future!

Who, or what, inspires you?
Nature! Taking time out each day to walk and see and breathe and feel what is around me. That is true inspiration.

Where is your favourite place to write your blog?
Downstairs on my laptop while looking out the French Doors at the garden (all seasons).

Tell us a little about your favourite book...
My favourite is His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman (more than one book!) ……………… It’s a fantasy trilogy. We journey with two children who visit parallel worlds and have the most amazing adventures. They meet characters such as witches and armoured polar bears. They have their own daemons which are their souls. We also delve into physics, philosophy and theology! It’s such a fascinating world that the author has created.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I am going to be predictable and say the movies based on The Twilight Series by Stephenie Myer!

If your favourite book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?

The first book in His Dark Materials has already been made into a movie ‘The Golden Compass’. To be honest, I thought the cast was brilliant. Nicole Kidman was a fantastic Mrs Coulter and Daniel Craig was brilliant as Lord Asriel. Hopefully The Subtle Knife will also be made into a movie …Georgie Henley would make a fab Lyra (the young girl) she played Lucy the youngest daughter in Narnia; Kathleen Robertson for the witch Serafina Pekkala, she played Azkadellia in Syfy’s ‘The Tin Man’; Arthur Bowen to play Will Parry (he was Albus Severus Potter).

Tell us a random fact about yourself
For the past two years I’ve helped run an after school cookery club

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
An Air pageant was held at Hengistbury Head in July 1910 with almost all of aviators in the country attending. Many sightseers attended. For most of these sightseers this was the first time they had ever set eyes on one of the new fangled flying machines.
Charles Rolls (co-founder of Rolls Royce) took off in his Wright Flyer and gave a demonstration of the capabilities of the Wright brothers machine, but as he came into land something went terribly wrong. Some commentaries speak of Rolls stalling the machine, others indicate there was a mechanical failure with part of the tail falling off. Either way, the machine fell to the ground from about 100 feet. Charles Rolls was mortally wounded with "Severe Concussion" and died in the wreckage, before medical assistance arrived.

Winter or summer? Winter
Ebook or paperback? Paperback
Sporty or couch potato? Couch potato
Cook or be cooked for? Be cooked for

Link to your blog: http://shazjera.blogspot.com

How Powell River changed my life

The exact spot in Powell River that changed my life 

Have you ever visited a place and just been blown away by it? I mean, totally and utterly awe-struck by its beauty? That happened to me a couple of years ago when my husband and I first visited Canada. We were immediately struck by how friendly the people were... genuinely friendly, you know? It wasn't just that of course, it was the natural surroundings that just took my breath away.
One particular spot had such a profound effect on me, in fact, that it inspired me to begin writing a whole series of books. That spot was located in Powell River, British Columbia.
We'd driven all the way across from Banff (not all in one go, mind you!) so we'd seen our share of gorgeous locations, but when we stopped and got out of the car, we decided we'd have a picnic. So we carried our food down to the shore and sat on these massive pieces of driftwood that were scattered all over the beach. I'm pretty sure I barely ate anything because I was too busy falling in love.
It was breathtaking... but it was also so inspirational. There was an air of mystery to it too which made me imagine all kinds of weird and wonderful possibilities. After reading, watching and falling in love with the Twilight series, I could imagine supernatural events happening right there in Powell River.
I wanted changelings, witches, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and more, all to have a place in what would later be known as The Raven Saga. It would centre around a young girl who moves to Powell River after her parents disappear and discovers she is part of a supernatural world. The first book, Raven, is out now. You can buy it here, and the second, December Moon will be out in September.
It was that little beach in Powell River that inspired me to write The Raven Saga. In fact, it changed my life. It made me realise my dream. The dream that I can write books that excite people, books that people want to read. I've already had messages from readers desperate to read the sequel! I'd like to thank Powell River for that.