6233a054

Thoughts and ramblings for the weekend.

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 12:10:27 GMT

It's almost proper Spring - lighter mornings making it easier to get up, and head straight to my writing desk. My book in progress The Making is going well, after a lot of cuts, and re-writes. I'm planning on delivering it to my agent before too long. There are bound to be more changes that need making, some tightening up that needs doing. But I'm a perfectionist, and have learned to expect this work which will make my book come alive. I want my reader to empathise with my characters, feel immersed in the world they inhabit.

It is though, one of the things most authors struggle with. I doubt any one of them, even a winner of the Booker prize, is ever completely satisfied with their finished book. When I pick up one of mine that has sold very well - sometimes around the world, had great reviews, even been featured on the Sunday Times best-seller listing, I still criticise the writing. Making imaginary new edits. Wishing that I'd chosen this word over that one. That's the thing about being meticulous, and I know I owe my readers that level of detail. Only my best is good enough. It comes with the writing territory! Or it should, if you're doing your job well?

I've been getting to grips with Tiktok recently. Quite a learning curve. I'm getting over the frustration of learning how it works, and starting to enjoy myself. Helped by my brilliant social media manager, and team, at JoffeBooks and LumeBooks and also my fabulous PA, who curates my website and is a one-woman whirlwind of creativity.

If you follow me on my socials you'll see my latest exploits. Hot off the Press. Exciting news is coming soon - and a new cover reveal. I can't wait. Do like, comment, and re-post, and get in touch via my socials. I love that close connection with my readers, and it's so life-affirming to connect with fellow authors.

Until next time - fellow book lovers, and lovely readers. See you amongst the pages! Happy reading and writing...

New Year Mood

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 11:33:07 GMT

2024 - the year of the mighty dragon!

January is always a challenging month of short gloomy days and long nights. A perfect time to curl up under a soft blanket with a mug of hot chocolate, and a good book. If that’s not possible for you, libraries are warm welcoming spaces, packed with books which are free to read and to borrow. I’m a huge, life-long fan of them.

2024 is also the year of the mighty dragon. In Chinese astrology the dragon represents qualities of power, ambition, passion, and creativity. What an auspicious and exciting time then, for my novel Second Skin to enter the world on widespread armoured dragon wings.

The characters in this book are very dear to my heart. I cannot wait for readers to meet them. I enjoy writing about strong women, who take their lives into their own hands. That’s not to say they don’t make mistakes, bad decisions or wrong choices. But they find a way to succeed, and survive, sometimes in entirely unexpected ways. Just like my heroine in Second Skin.

Here is a brief outline of the story.

Eighteen-year-old Lady Aledra is Drakkoni — a race of shape-shifting dragons who brutally conquered the Esran lands. Drakkoni are fiercely protective of their pure bloodlines. Aledra’s father is the powerful Lord Commander Artor Jewel-Wing. Aledra was told her mother is dead, but really she was banished for being part-Esran. Aledra is raised on a remote farmstead, away from the prying eyes of the Drakkoni court, and mentored to control her secondskin. Which is where her dragon form hides.

Your firstskin is what you allow the world to see and your secondskin is the true expression of your soul.

When war breaks out between the Drakkoni and the Esrans, Aledra is imprisoned and learns the truth about her mother. She escapes and meets Jubal, an Esran whose family were slaughtered by Drakkoni warriors.

Aledra conceals her heritage and against all odds they fall in love. Will their love turn to ashes if Jubal finds out who she really is?

Second Skin.

TWO MOONS, TWO HEARTS, TWO SOULS.

I am currently reading Yang Sheng by Katie Brindle – The Art of Chinese Self-Healing and Get Well Stay Well by Dr Gemma Newman, GP.

From these excellent books I’m getting inspiration wisdom and expertise about healthy living for mind, body, and spirit from both an Eastern and Western perspective. I highly recommend both books.

For pure escapism, I’m loving E. S. Thomson’s excellent crime novels set in Victorian London. That's all for now...

World Book Day

susancbentley@hotmail.com (sue bentley) — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 14:24:20 GMT

Hello Readers!

It's the 25 ^th Anniversary of World Book Day this year. I visited Raunds Primary School on the 3rd of March 2022, and had the pleasure of meeting 100 enthusiastic young readers, teachers and teaching assistants. Here I am signing books for the winners of the free raffle. I hope they enjoy reading them.

Signing books at Raunds Primary School on World Book Day 2022

After a quiet time for author visits in the past two years it's lovely to be out and about meeting people in three dimensions, and seeing their happy faces. I visited Staverton Women's Institute recently, and was warmly welcomed by the 25 women who attended. The village hall is a little gem in a narrow, unlit country lane. So charming to see the members of the WI walking there, with torches in their hands. I'm sure there's a story in there somewhere.

Proof that spring has arrived in force!

I hope to get to meet many more readers of all ages this year, and to enjoy a few literary events. Sometimes the best thing is to be incognito, and meet other authors I admire. It's always fascinating to find out how they write their books. I was looking through some photographs recently and came across this blast from the past.

It's of me and Katy Fforde - who is now a well-known, and extremely successful writer. Both Katy and I were unpublished at this time. We were 'the hopefuls' interviewed by Gloria Hunniford, during an item about the winner of the Romantic Novelists Award for that year. Maybe it was a lucky omen - we're now both now bestselling novelists!

That's all for now....

Work In Progress

susancbentley@hotmail.com (sue bentley) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 09:00:07 GMT

Lastville

Hello again readers, writers and fellow book-lovers! Today I want to share a little about my current WIP. The book is set in Lastville, a fictional town in Northamptonshire, and centred around the death of a brutish and unpleasant shoemaker. Miss Minerva Shaw, twenty-six years old, opinionated, stiff-necked and resigned to being a spinster, forms an unlikely friendship with the dead man's son. Their investigations lead them into the very heart of a secret club, where death itself is currency.

I absolutely love my new boots. My feet feel extra special when I'm wearing them!

That's all for now, time to return to my editing cave...

Second Skin

susancbentley@hotmail.com (sue bentley) — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 09:33:32 GMT

All about my latest novel

Second Skin is a stand-alone novel, currently number one in a new series entitled Bridge-of-Fire. The main character, Aledra, in one of a race of shapeshifters called The Drakkoni. While outwardly human in form, some of the Drakkoni harbour a secret. Like others of her race Aledra has a soul-double hidden deep inside her, and can switch between two-personas or skins, hence the title, Second Skin. The Drakkoni are the fierce and proud conquerors of a beautiful wild continent named Esra, and are hated by the oppressed indigenous people.

I started out with the germ of an idea for Second Skin which became more complex, far reaching, and darkly sinister as I developed it. This happens most of the time when I’m writing for a Young Adult and older readership! Fascinating things happen when cultures collide. There’s so much material for a writer to explore. I’m also very interested in the many stories and rich lore of Native American Culture. Within it, I found inspiration for some of the themes and characters for Second Skin.

I found 500 Nations and Empire of the Summer Moon totally fascinating. The books made me think about the dynamics that happen when races collide; how complex the whole thing is and how tragedy so often follows. The visuals in the 500 nations were compelling and inspired me to wonder about the people I saw on those pages. It’s always been stories about individual people in impossible circumstances that intrigue, move me and get me thinking. So the genesis of Second Skin sparked when I read Empire of the Summer Moon, and met Quanah Parker, last great chief of the Comanche and mixed-blood son of the famous and tragic pioneer woman Cynthia Anne Parker.

Aledra is one of a race of shape-shifters; the Drakkoni, powerful warriors and conquerors of a wild and beautiful continent. She is estranged from her cold and distant father, who is Lord Commander and confidante of the King. When her attempt to save a life goes tragically wrong, she becomes a fugitive, hunted both by her father and a pitiless bounty hunter. She teams up with Jubal, a young man from an indigenous tribe, who has witnessed the slaughter of his people by the hated Drakkoni. Aledra and Jubal journey across the war-torn continent, surviving as best they can while their greatest challenge is how to exist as sworn enemies.

I hope to return to the world of Esra sometime in the future. Bye for now!

Telling Lies For A Living

susancbentley@hotmail.com (sue bentley) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 09:38:45 GMT

Yes, in essence, that’s what I do. I make things up!

You could say I tell lies – really big, complex ones. I fabricate characters and settings and expect readers to care about people who don’t exist. I do my best to convince them that my characters and the world they inhabit are real. In short I have become an expert in deceit. (You can get ten years for that!)

I’m afraid I’m shameless about this. I have no choice in the matter. The art of writing a short story or a novel, is to persuade the reader to go along with one on a journey of pretend. In fact, to weave such a feasible web of lies that one lures the reader into that magical state, which is ‘suspension of disbelief’.

When I discovered books at a young age, I ate up books, simply couldn’t get enough of them. But I wasn’t consciously aware of how a book came into being. I loved getting lost in whatever I was reading. It was only later that I realised there was an architect behind each book. Oh, that’s what the name on the cover was about? That ‘someone’ was an actual person, who had dreamed up whatever I was reading from their imagination. Wow. It was like magic. (It was quite a bit later, before I made the shift to thinking - if that ‘someone’ could make up stories, maybe I could, too.) So what, if books are all ‘tall stories’? The bigger and more dramatic the ‘lies’, the more exciting and enjoyable the plot, the better. I chose to believe in the imaginary worlds within books. I had suspended my disbelief. I was hooked.

And now that I make my living from writing, the art of pretence, fabrication and telling lies is part of my stock-in-trade. To begin with, I must strive to believe my own lies. It’s important that my characters become so convincing - so ‘real’ to me - they take on a life of their own. How else can I expect the reader to care about them? I need to ‘hear’ my characters speaking to me, each with their own distinctive voice. In my completed novel the reader should be able to tell which of them is ‘on stage’ from dialogue alone.

The same principles come into play when creating backgrounds and settings. Some writers use actual places they know or have visited, especially for contemporary novels. I do this to some extent, but as there’s often a strong fantasy element in my books I also make a lot of things up. Of course that is true of all novelists. A writer of thrillers doesn’t need to murder anyone or commit a crime. A writer of historical fiction can take as much or as little licence with the facts as they wish. Like me, they are not above twisting facts, features and places to add drama.

It was nerve-wracking when I first revealed my characters at writing group meetings. To hear people speaking about them as if they were actual, living persons, felt very odd indeed. And it was just as strange to discuss fellow writers’ make-believe characters and worlds, and offer opinions about ‘pretend’ problems and issues. (I think there’s a little of the psychologist in every writer.)

But my characters have all become part of me. I know their hopes and fears, what motivates them, what secrets they hide. While, working, walking, travelling - they’re with me. In any given situation, I might ask myself, what Jess, or Caleb, or Aledra would do. And that may well translate into a scene in one of my books. The worlds I build in my books feel just as real. I can almost smell it. Almost touch it. I believe my own lies. Job done.

But there comes a time when I must let go of my creations. From existing only in my imagination they have sprung to life within the pages of a book. They no longer belong to me and must go out into the world to work their magic on readers, who I hope will fall in love with them, too. They might hate them, of course, but that’s fine just as long as they believe in them.

Fellow writers -- how about you? What part of Telling Lies For A Living is true for you and your story telling?

That's all for now book-lovers!

We Other Book Launch!

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 10:42:14 GMT

We Other book launch at my local Waterstones!

Book launches are always a thrilling experience for an author and this one was no exception! The afternoon began with a wonderful speech from my publisher, followed by a few words from me. Then there was much eating and drinking and chatting. I signed books for readers as well and posed for photos. Chatting with readers is always one of my favourite aspects of being an author.

There was also a reporter from Northampton Chronicle & Echo present who documented the occasion. I even had my very own window display which completely made my day. A wonderful experience and great fun was had by all!

I'm so thrilled that We Other is out in the world and it's amazing to see it on the shelves of one of my favourite book shops.

That's all for now lovely readers -- until next time...

Autumn Mood

susancbentley@hotmail.com (sue bentley) — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:12:06 GMT

Cosy reading

Hello everyone, autumn is my favourite season -- rich colours in the hedgerows and wrapping up warm for walks in nature!

This is the view from the small sofa with soft cushions, which I added recently to my study. My orchid collection is putting on a display, keeping me company as I write, research and read for pleasure.

I'm currently weaving together all the complicated strands of the plot for my novel, Lastville, a Victorian mystery based on the Northampton Boot and Shoe trade. It's taken a dark turn lately, which I'm loving. More about that in a future blog post...

New Editions

I'm very excited to see this new Czech edition of Magic Puppy: Cloud Capers. And the new Hungarian editions of Magic Ponies: A Special Wish and Magic Kitten: Classroom Chaos. It's great to welcome more lovely overseas readers to the Magic Kitten and friends family!

That's all for now, lovely readers!

Sue's Advice For New Writers

susancbentley@hotmail.com (sue bentley) — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 21:15:23 GMT

Tips I've found useful during my 30 year career

People often ask me for tips about writing and how to get published. So here are some thoughts on the subject. I hope you find them useful and constructive.

First of all – writers must write. That sound obvious, but it’s very easy to do everything but sit down and write. We can talk about it, think about it, plan to write, make mountains of notes - but the craft of writing and the magic of it only happens in the physical act doing of it. Somehow the connection between the brain and the paper, or your pc/tablet – if you write directly onto a screen, kicks in when you knuckle down and engage in writing. You’ll write far more words than you ever need, but nothing is wasted. You’ll be learning the craft. Unless you’re a genius (and you may well be!) Learning to be the best writer you can be, takes time. How much depends on the individual.

I’ve found it helpful to seek out other writers. It’s good to share your thoughts, inspirations, worries. Find a writers’ group. It’s important that the members of any group gel – you’ll need to build trust as all writers are vulnerable and somewhat lacking in self-belief in the beginning. The last thing you need early in your career is to be crushed by some high-handed comment or made to feel small by someone’s condescending attitude.

Can’t find a group? Start your own. You might meet a kindred spirit at a local writer’s event. Or reach out on social media and connect virtually. You can exchange and comment on work by email. If it’s practical to do so, you may decide to meet up monthly and discuss your work-in-progress (WIP). It’s invaluable to get an opinion on your writing. Having the support of other writers will spur you on. You can also share experiences, contacts and build confidence enough to finish a piece of work.

Subscribe to a writing magazine. Actual or on-line. They have interviews with authors, offer advice and run competitions. Entering competitions is good in that it encourages you to finish a piece of work and submit it. Good practice. Read the Writers’ and Artists Yearbook – published every year it lists every publisher for every kind of writing, has features on writing, more competition news, and a whole lot more. It’s worth buying a copy now and then, but every public library will have a current copy you can look at.

I encourage you to learn the business of writing and to cultivate a professional attitude from the off. There’s a wealth of advice out there. Every aspect of writing is covered somewhere. Type ‘Writing’ into google and you’ll see what I mean. There are bloggers who specialise in free writing advice. Once you’re ready to submit work to an editor, you’ll find advice on how to go about it – from writing a covering letter to setting out your manuscript in a professional way.

There are no short cuts to becoming a writer. The best advice I was ever given was to read, read, read, and write regularly. (A page a day is a finished novel in a year) You’ll be absorbing all kinds of things as you read; characterisation, pace, building tension. That and much more will translate to your own writing. You’re likely to write the type of books, or stories, your enjoy reading. Read and then look more closely at your favourite authors, discover exactly how they made you care about their characters. How did they surprise you, scare you, move you? Try to do it as they have done at first and your own voice will emerge.

Just keep at it. Someone once said writing is ten per cent inspiration and ninety per cent application – I’d add with some talent thrown in. But you get the point? Writing is hard work – good writing that is. Don’t be satisfied too quickly. A 1st draft is just that. It’s a triumph to get it done, but then the work begins. Write, re-write, edit and revise your WIP. Be prepared to fail sometimes. That’s OK, it’s allowed. Just keep at it. If you’re cut out to be a writer, you won’t be able to stop writing anyway. Good Luck. I wish you every success.

ITV Interview

susancbentley@hotmail.com (sue bentley) — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 09:46:42 GMT

ITV Anglia News Feature

Sue was interviewed about her 30 year career as an author and her impressive number of sales of books for children and adults!

I really enjoyed speaking about my experience of writing books for children and adults. The fun phrase - 'I'm the most successful author, you've Never heard of' popped into my head. And I knew they'd like it, as all interviewers and presenters love a 'hook'.

Sure enough, when the interview was shown on TV that was exactly how the presenter introduced me! I don't usually get too nervous when being interviewed, whether it's on TV, Radio or face-to-face at an author event or literary festival. I realised early on in my writing career to just concentrate on the person speaking to you, and being asked questions means you just respond and don't have to think too hard.

I try to ignore any cameras, bright lights, or studio activity. The interview then becomes a cosy chat, a one-to-one, and everyone is at ease.

If the interview is live, then it's slightly more challenging, as you only have one chance to get things right. If it's recorded, it's less pressure, as the piece will be edited and any fluffed words or awkward moments disappear. I also remind myself that professional presenters are often not word-perfect. That's all part of being human. My advice to anyone being interviewed, is as follows.

Realise that this is a fantastic opportunity. Be brave and go for it.

Remember that you know your own book better than anyone. You are the expert on YOU.

The interviewer has a job to do. Be courteous, friendly, enthusiastic - it makes their work easier, and they'll warm to you.

Make sure you mention the title of your book as often as you can!

And have fun!