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Monthly Archives: June 2017
We Have A Winner!: ” We Only Said Goodbye With Words” #kdsuspense #amwriting #music #amywinehouse
Whahooo! I’m so glad you all voted in this great iconic British singer’s lyrics, as this week’s writing prompt, for Didi and I. I was at this concert, in this very room with Amy in London. She was fantastic live (when she was sober). She died too young, when she did I personally felt like a part of my musical love would forever be missing something. I still to this day often play the Back to Black album really loud.
I’ve been a fan of Amy before the iconic Back to Black album that won so many awards, did you know she had an album called Frank too? Check it out.
The writing has commenced, I can’t wait to pay tribute to Amy and use her as inspiration to write. Didi and I will post our short story on Tuesday. Another poll will go up too. We now do polls via Twitter as well as the blog. If you follow us on Twitter you can also vote with one click of a button! This week we’ve really grown in votes so thanks. See ya Tuesday… I have a feeling this is not going to be your average “love story” with heartache. Join us too and write your own story using the prompt:
“we only said goodbye with words, I died a hundred times.”
Share it and use #kdsuspense so we can find your work, or leave your link on the blog post Tuesday.
Sit tight…
It’s femme fatale week!
This interactive writing challenge is simple and insanely creative. It’s a group effort and we are so glad to have you join in the writing fun!! I hope you’re ready to challenge Didi and I by choosing which prompts we can transform into stellar suspense! Give us your best shot! You vote on our weekly prompt, and we provide the entertainment. It’s that simple! The super easy steps are as follows:
STEP ONE: Every Wednesday well post a voting pole with a few prompts to choose from.
STEP TWO: With the click of a button, you cast your vote on a prompt. (voting will stay open for three days.)
STEP THREE: READ AND ENJOY! Every week on the following Tuesday we will post the short story that transformed from the very winning prompt you chose!
Read week’s one to four’s stories here.
All comments on the story posts will be open. We love feedback, and I’m willing to bet you will never guess who wrote what!! Therein a challenge of your own! (Yes, one of us writes in British English, and one of us in American. We are well aware, and ready for some trickery. Trust me, we are brilliant at adapting styles.)
R.I.P Amy
Do Book #Bloggers Discriminate Against #Indie Authors? Can You Believe That? #author #annoyed #writerslife
Okay I’m about be real honest, state how I feel about what I’ve just read, post this and that’s that. If I offend anyone too bad! I’m sticking up for what’s right and authors all around the world. I’m too old to be walking on egg shells and not speak on what I feel passionately about. On top of that, I’m being real here.
Seriously, I’m just sitting here minding my own business catching up on blogs and stuff, with a glass of wine. I just clicked onto a book reviewer’s site and read “I don’t review books from self-published authors…blah blah blah.” I’m what you’d call a hybrid author I guess, I’m both traditionally and self published. I was traditionally published before self published. And let me tell you as a traditionally published author, publishers can still f*ck up your s*it, and you can be left rather unhappy with it. Don’t think for a moment because an author is self published they are any less of a writer, author, creator and kick- ass person, who can keep up the stamina to write a good book. Around work, families, drama and all kinds of things. Self published authors are made of some strong stuff, they are determine, they are titian and the world is a better and more diverse place with them. I’ve met some great ones.
Yes honey, I did say that! People out there think that being traditionally published is some kind of “gold standard.” Get with it, and move forward. I am so glad I found out all the benefits of self-publishing good well written stories. Yes I would be traditionally published again, but not because it is the be all and end all. Or I need that seal of approval. It’s nice sign a contract of course … I’ve done it three times and loved it but it’s not what makes me “an author” or another writer “an author.” I’m so fed up with the stigma and stick that self- published authors get, for going their own way. Handling their own business and doing what they love. Self published authors have heart,have hustle and keep going!
Stop/Do not discriminate! And don’t hate!
*Resting bitch face in full swing*…. You heard me.
Reading Habits… Mmmm #reading #books
I made a visit to a lovely book blogger’s page this evening. I read her random post on her reading habits. Inspired me to keep the post chain going. I love to read, I was (and still am) an avid reader before writer. Here are my habits what are yours?
Do you have a certain place in your home for reading?
Not really, I read anywhere. Including public places. Normally when I’m at home I read in bed or in the living room on the sofa. Curled up with a cup of tea or coffee, sometimes something a stronger. Okay, not sometimes most of the time.
— Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Bookmark all the way! I have collected some pretty ones over the years. It annoys me if they slip out or I lose them.
— Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop reading after a chapter / certain number of pages?
Most of the time I aim to finish the chapter. I find it hard to cut off and disconnect. If I’m really tired I may stop part way through, but I always aim for the long haul and finish a chapter.
— Do you eat or drink while read?
All the time! The crumbs on the E-reader is unbelievable.
— Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?
Ahh, hard one I always have something on in the background, the hard decision is music or TV. If I have the TV on it’s always the news channel I place it on, I have no idea why. If it’s music, something easy going is playing.
— One book at a time or several at once?
Just the one thank you! I give it my full attention.
— Reading at home or everywhere?
*Raises an eyebrow* what do you think?
— Reading out loud or silently in your head?
Silently in my head… what am I? Five years old?
— Do you read ahead or even skip pages?
No. Never. It’s a sin.
— Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
Keeping it new…
— Do you write in your books?
Who? What? … Hell No! Why would you? When I was at university I didn’t even like making notes in my text books. But reading books? My escapism?.. You’ve lost ya damn mind.
What are your reading habits?
Romance Writers’ Blog Challenge Wk #23: “If I Could Eat One Last Meal” #MFRW
I’m fashionably late and behind again, with the romance writers’ #52 week blogging challenge *sighs*. But I’ll jump back in on week #23. I adore food, this is probably one area of life that I’m so versatile, and will try almost anything. My parents originate from the Caribbean, growing up I ate mainly this type of food. I guess even though my mum immigrated here to London years ago, she has never left her roots. Even English dishes she cooks are sprinkled with some kind of Carib twist.
The other day I made this dish, I was so proud of it (I do love to cook also) I took a snap. It’s Caribbean chicken using my mum’s secret recipe. If I could eat one last meal I think it would be this. Well marinated, slow cooked, chicken, rice and beans with a coconut flavour and of course can’t forget the salad.
When my mum cooks this dish it tastes ten times better than mine, I can never quite get it the same, but mine is still yummy. She also likes to add Plantains to the dish. These are like bananas but not quite, and they are so sweet! You can fry them, boil them and even make crisps or potato chips if you’re from the USA from them. You’ll find them in many hot countries. Sometimes she’ll throw in a lil’ potato salad too.
The Caribbean is such a wonderful part of the world when it comes to food. Food is like a way to celebrate, and to bring people together. Flavour and spice is a big part of the culture. Never boring and never bland. Caribbean food is cooked with love, care and passion. I’ve heard this said about Italian culture and food also.
What’s your favourite dish to eat? Are you adventurous when it comes to food? Are you a great cook? If I came over to your house for dinner, what would you cook for me?
Femme Fatale: Amy, Rhi Rhi or Nina? Who is your Fav? #kdsuspense #amwriting #poll
Femme Fatale Week
It’s a damn close call for this week’s winning writing prompt guys! These three ladies are neck and neck in the voting poll. Which one of these Femme Fatale’s lyrics should Didi and I use this week? Rhi Rhi, Nina Simone, or Amy Winehouse?
Voting closes today. Do you have two more seconds? Good click on a lyric in the voting poll below, to tip the scales for a winner! Find out more about the challenge read previous stories here
Excerpt: Search For Maylee …. COMING SOON!
Question For All Writers: What’s Your Creative Time? What’s Your Routine? #writerslife #amwriting
I’m fed, watered and ready to spend the whole evening tapping away until the early hours tonight. It’s almost 10.00p.m London time, a random thought popped into my head as the creative bug bit me this evening. I’ve not pulled up my second romance novella I’m working on in five whole days! *cringe*. My editor kicked me up the ass today, she’s excited to read it. Tonight I’ve got a serious case of creativity, not to mention withdrawal symptoms.
It made me wonder, when do other writers get bitten by the creative bug? What’s your most creative hour of the day? I wonder what other writers do as part of their “routine” for writing? Do they write every day? Every other day? Once a week … what? So I’m asking you all, tell me I’m really interested. Leave me a comment let’s talk.
Personally, being a mum I write in the evening always. This is not a bad thing far from it, it suits me as this is when I naturally find I’m in the mood, and I have more creativity then. My creative hours are between 9:00p.m-3:00a.m. Or maybe I think I have more creativity as the house is damn quiet! Peace at last!
Five whole days away from a manuscript is a long time for me. I do tend to try to write everyday. I’ll be real honest, the last couple of weeks I’ve not. Mainly as I’ve been tired (nothing new there then), I’ve been reading a lot (like always). The last few books I’ve read have really gripped me. They were hard to put down, I’ve passed up writing to read. I started reading the first novel of one of this month’s Meet The Author featured authors, you’ll find out who on the 25th. I also want to read the other featured author’s work too.
Anyway, here’s my routine what’s yours like?
- Try to write every day. Is this what you do?
- Eat dinner, make a coffee, wash my face and turn on the radio. I normally listen to some easy going radio stations, that play all genres of music. We have some great ones in the UK. Or if I’m completely behind and need to knock out some serious word count… I pull out the classical piano playlist, to get in the zone classical music really focuses me.
- Sit at the laptop, pull up the manuscript. Glance over it, sip coffee. Check my phone, check Facebook, check e-mail.
- Pull up YouTube or some distraction on the internet, mess around for about a good half an hour … or longer *pulls a face*.
- Set to work.
Tell me what is your routine? I’m keen to know. And do you get straight to work or do you mess around before you actually type??… don’t lie to me now, be honest.
I better get to work as right now, typing this post, I’m on step four of the above… distraction 🙂
Share your experiences!
Vote For Wk #5’s Writing Prompt: It’s Femme Fatale Week! – Song Lyrics That Rock #kdsuspense #amwriting
Femme Fatale week
Do you like music? I love music. Always have, and I always will. I grew up with it, I think I get it from my Mum. I dance to it, fall asleep to it, drive to it, write to it, cook to it. There’s not a lot I do without music. Didi from what I’ve learned also has a big thing for music too. For week five we’re having fun, we’ve put together eight well known iconic Femme Fatale singers. Big voices, great dance moves and lyrics, the talent is endless. Dead or alive their music and lyrics live on. This week, our challenge ( you included) is to creatively write a short story, using a lyric from one of their songs, that you all vote for. Join us and write a story of your own. This is a fun week.
Who will it be? Look at the lyrics on the poll below and decide.
Note: The song’s theme is no influence on the type/genre of story we create, we’ll write as we feel not focusing on the actual type of song. Just using the lyric to be creative. Voting will close this Friday. Find out more about our weekly writing challenges / read previous week’s stories here.
Author, Kim Knight 