Snoops!
Bear with me – I just need somewhere to make a note of this so I can check back on it for my own sanity.
MS now stands at 94,977 words including edits thus far. It started at 88k. I’ve edited 151 pages out of 314 pages. That equates to 46,347 words out of 94,977 words. Hoping that final count of ms will be around 100k+.
I’ve been lucky enough to have met my editor socially (still not used to saying that or writing that) a few times now since I joined Team Tor. This was due to me turning up at loads of events Bella also showed up at. We even dressed alike at one event and that was a bit embarrassing; clearly the assimilation pills I took when I joined are working.
My 1940 Dutch Fairy Tale Book
It’s been great chatting to her in kinda off-time about various things and the more we chatted the more I’ve come to realise how much I trust her vision for the first Blackhart book and the series. She asked really pertinent questions and is really quick on the uptake when I explain my world’s mythology to her. I sent her some photos of the Dutch fairy tales I received as a gift from my friend Mieneke to give her an idea of my sources.
But then, this Friday past I got sent through my editorial letter and my manuscript edits too. And, as luck would have it…my printer decided to mess around. I went into a full on muppet flailing panic. Thankfully I was alone in the office so no one could point and laugh at me. However, I got the edits and the editorial letter printed off and carried it home, feeling hugely smug and going “oh yeah, baby, who is grown up now?”
I read through the editorial notes whilst I sat on the train rocketing along past Brixton (book 2 is set here) and Dulwich and I felt my heart swell with pride and excitement. These were my words Bella was talking about. My characters and the the mad situations I put them in. And together we’re going to make it – hopefully – better and brighter and more enjoyable for readers yet to come.
I couldn’t stop smiling. The manuscript itself looks not too bad, I convince myself, only lightly bled across with commentary and mark-ups. I kinda expected a bloodbath. My deadline is okay and doable, I tell myself, counting the days and figuring that I can easily take time off work too as I am owed a lot of days carried over from last year. With that in mind, I puttered around the kitchen making dinner for friends of ours swinging by and whilst we were having dinner I kept smiling a smug secret smile.
This is the next big step for me and the book and it’s like I’ve just unlocked a gaming achievement.
I realise this is not the usual way edits are welcomed, but then, bear in mind these are my first ever edits from Bella. The edits I worked on with Juliet last year feels a long time ago now and I’ve been pondering a lot of changes, some minor, some slightly bigger, to the manuscript and I’ve spoken to Bella about those too. Now I can get stuck in, chop, change, amend and hopefully make better.
And I’m not even remotely panicking. Nope. Not at all. It’s just bloody exciting.
Some of my notebooks
There are very few people in my acquaintanceship who do not like good stationery talk, especially notebook talk – how to use them, how not to use them, where they were bought and how that blank page gives you the fear.
So whilst chatting to Andrew Reed (fellow Team Mushens author) via Twitter the other night I thought I should really do a bit of a write-up on notebooks, their uses and why we love them so. I spoke to a few other people on twitter and Facebook and hey presto, a mini-notebook-convention is taking place right here, today.
*warning: this is a long blogpost with a lot of images* (more…)
From Neil Gaiman’s A Writer’s Prayer
Warning: today’s blogpost is mostly NY Resolutiony stuff and a bit navelgazey – feel free to wander away.
These were my resolutions for 2013:
The bits in bold type are things that are actually happening. I am writing more and I’m reading more, far more than I did when I ran My Favourite Books. I’ve put “Relax More” in italics because really, that’s hard to now with three books that need writing. Oh, how little did I know and expect back in December. Silly girl, Liz!
However, I’m tying “relax more” in with the bolded “hang out with my dear friends more” because really, that’s what relaxing for me is about. Movies, long chats in hidden basements of secret restaurant shops in London with good friends and fixing the world. The new friends thing is kinda new and a bit odd because I’ve joined two new websites:
We’re a group of UK-based picture book, children’s and YA authors and illustrators who’ve got together to blog about what we do and why we do it
OneFour KidLit is a group for children’s and young adult authors with books debuting in 2014.
I’m very proud to be part of both of these blogs. I know some of these people online via Twitter and Facebook so being part of two great groups like this means suddenly a swathe of great support and newly minted friends. I win this resolution, right??
But in all seriousness: there is so much to learn as a noob, but that’s actually related to how much you’d like to do and how active you want to be. I know some authors just have their heads down and get on with it. Me, on the other hand, I quite like being part of a group and finding out how things work before it’s my turn to you know, go out there and do it. I like doing my pratfalls with back-up, basically.
I’ve blogged my first introductory post at OneFourKidLit and you can read that here. My first blogpost for Author Allsorts will go live on 1st May and although I know what I’ll be blogging about I’m not sure I should say for fear of you lot laughing and pointing at me. So you’ll have to wait.
The items I’ve underlined are things that are ongoing and occasionally hard work – exercise, less time procrastinating, being more frugal and using the library more.
The italics items – support good causes and photography – utter fail for me. I’ve not donated much to charity since the start of the year or rather, not in the way most people would think. I tend to pass on a lot of books to Matt’s school’s library and I know the books are finding a good new home there, but it feels a bit like cheating. For the next few months, into Autumn, the house will be tidied stringently and we will be donating clothes and more books, dvds and cds to our local charity shops.
As for photography – pfft. Please! The last time I did something was when it snowed so much and we almost froze to death walking around the local cemetery. Pretty pictures though!
Enjoying London and Travelling to New Places – all of this is ongoing too. Today for instance I walked all around Warren Street Station area and got horrifically lost. I found tiny empty side-streets and wandered around them mewling like a lost sheep…until I found the correct building. It was all planned, of course, me getting lost. As for travelling to new places – well, we’re heading to Edinburgh in May and then to NY later this year. Those are new places! (We’ve been to Edinburgh a few times but it was so long ago it counts as new). We are also visiting Oxford later this month on a silly daytrip. I need some museum time at the Pit Rivers and the Ashmolean too, just because.
That’s it, my quarterly check-up on how things are going with my NY resolutions. Not too shabby. I shudder to think what my 2014 resolutions will be: breathe breathe don’t panic breathe breathe.
Since we shut MFB at the end of 2012, both Mark and I have been reading practically nonstop. Mark’s been devouring contemporary action thrillers and some light urban fantasy and near-future science fictiony type stuff.
I’ve been reading crime thrillers, urban fantasy, non fiction books about crime and research books on folklore and also swathes of books for teens and younger readers. Also: graphic novels, lots of them.
A lot of the books we’re reading comes from our existing collection of books but some of it comes from our local library. I know the books I have on my shelf but walking in to the library is a breathless event because you just never know what you may find.
I’ve also been able to attend two great launches in the past few weeks.
My good friend, Mo O’Hara (Maureen Oakeley before she got famous), had the launch of her My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish at the pretty Tales on Moon Lane a few weeks ago.
Here are some photos from the evening.
My scary snarly nail for Mo’s launch party
Proud author Mo O’Hara with her book
George (Tales on Moon Lane) holding THE cake and Mo with Frankie
It was such a lovely evening – loads of SCBWI folk attended, but also a lot of Mo’s friends which was great. Super fun to see adults trying to comprehend the madness of a children’s author’s book launch. There was much green zombie juice to drink too, which definitely helped the very loud and super excited atmosphere.
Friday past was Sarwat Chadda’s book launch for his second Ash Mistry title:
The book is called ASH MISTRY AND THE CITY OF DEATH. I mean, how could you not want to read it? Here’s the stupendous cover:
Sarwat’s enthusiasm for his books, characters and writing is infectious. He’s one of those guys who really thinks about what he’s doing but he kinda hides it behind a facade of silliness. I’ve got you sussed, Sarwat! You can’t lie. CITY OF DEATH sounds incredible and according to Sarwat, it’s very much a homage to Mowgli in The Jungle Book. I can’t wait to read it. (I’m lying, btw – I’ve not yet read book one – SAVAGE FORTRESS – because I’m waiting for the third book to be out so I can read them all in one go!!)
Here are some books I bought recently and some that I’ve been reading:
I forget where I read a review of Hidden Things. I loved the cover and the write-up sounded great, so I bought it ages ago. Once I got stuck in I just could not stop reading. Definitely a slow burner and none of the supernatural elements you find in Hidden Things is leery or too in your face. Mr. Testerman is super restrained as he walks Calli through this world and I fell for his writing in a big way. Also: you’d want a girl like Calli on your side when the world goes pearshaped.
I saw a review of Madhulika Liddle’s most recent book in one of the newspapers here at work. I loved the sound of the writing and the world and the era it’s set in and decided to give the first book “The Englishman’s Cameo” a whirl. Well, I loved it – the world, 17th Century India, is rich in detail, to the extent where, even in the middle of winter here in the UK it felt as if I was there, in this warm arid place. The locations are evocatively described and a lot of terms used aren’t translated into English but that doesn’t matter as it’s used in context so you understand what the author refers to. The main character is imminently likeable and I had to fend a colleague off as he wanted to nab the book from me. I made him buy his own copy. The bloody cheek.
On Saturday Mark and I came in to town to have a celebratory lunch with Sarah and her hubby and it was wonderful. I ate until I wobbled around like those bobble-head dolls. We bid them adieu late afternoon and en route to the station we swung by Forbidden Planet where I got treated to two lovely titles. I’ve started Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce and already and bah, it’s ridiculously good. Damn you, Graham Joyce! *waves fist impotently at the skies*
And Sunday was Game of Thrones Season 2 marathon. From my Facebook and Twitter feeds, it seems a lot of friends opted to do this as mostly the weather was vile and grim. And what better way to while away your time than to wander around Westeros and hate Joffrey and love Tyrion and crush on Jon Snow?
So, a week on from Tor acknowledging me as part of the League of Tor Authors, and it’s been pretty damn amazing.
Celebratory Tea Mug from Mark
It is a learning curve, going from blogger and fan to noobie debut author.
Here’s stuff wot I did:
1. smile so much I had to go buy stronger face cream to combat the wrinkles that seemed to set in overnight.
2. say thank you to what seems to be a thousand people online and in real life.
3. have grown up conversations about an author photo.
4. scour my pinterest boards and set up super secret pinterest board loaded full of covers of books I love, images I love to hand over to Tor’s design team.
5. I signed up to be part of onefourkidlit.com as they invited me along – this is truly flattering.
6. got invited to be part of a UK based kidlit author blog being set up – this is so exciting my mind boggles – also: flattering.
7. evaluate reading time vs writing time vs “down” time and realised for real that there is now no longer down time.
8. wrote around 5 thousand words over 4 days on book2 and kinda hoping I’m not screwing it up.
9. got emails from my family that, although they are thousands of miles away, made me feel loved and amazing.
10. started working very hard on the second bedroom to pull it into some kind of order so that Mark and I have a room that will be inhabitable if friends need to stay over.
11. tell people I work with about the deal and explain to them a bazillionty times that no, I am not JK Rowling or JRR Tolkien. Geez!
12. how incredibly exciting and yet frightening it is when people you know well and who you’ve met as a blogger (and they are either a blogger or an author whom you’ve long admired) and they say: really looking forward to reading it when it’s published. And then your brain goes into melt-down.
13. still, with the smiling and wrinkles.
14. remember to buy more waterproof mascara as it turns out I go all emo when I get good news.
15. realised I need to keep a series bible for characters and creatures that inhabit the Blackhart world. *gulps*
No celebratory meal has yet been devoured – that will come soon. In the meantime both Mark and I are being strict with ourselves food-wise as we have to look spic-and-span for a wedding in May and then our NY trip too later this year – where will eat All The Things. *dreams of bagels*
We are also wondering what to do about a holiday later this year. I would just like to go somewhere warm – and am secretly hoping the UK will get to bask in some lovely sunshine, because that would be amazing and it would mean trips to the beach with Sparrow, writing in the garden but also evening bbq’s and salad. *quietly dreams*
Please, weather gods, get it sorted, right?
I’ve received the nod to be able to tell all the world some utterly exciting news:
I have a book deal.
Not just a book deal, mind you, but a deal for a trilogy with publishers Tor UK.
Basically, what I’m feeling is this: (I apologise for the use of gifs in this blog)
Mixed with a bit of this:
Okay, that’s the end of the gifs, before I get motion sick.
This is the official press release info that went out from Bella Pagan at Tor UK and my agent, Juliet Mushens, earlier today but what’s really making me blush and feel proud is Bella and Juliet’s comments:
Bella Pagan had this to say on the deal: ‘I adored Kit Blackhart and her story. But there is so much more here than even the wonderful characterisation and fast-paced storytelling. I was massively impressed by the convincing weight of worldbuilding that backs up The Blackhart Legacy. This is a book that first charms and excites, then sticks with you to demand a sequel!’
Juliet Mushens said: ‘I fell in love with the rich world that Liz de Jager has created as soon as I read the first page of The Blackhart Legacy. Kit is a fantastic YA heroine – whip-smart and feisty – and I can’t wait for a wider audience to meet her.’
There’s been a storm of congratulations over on Twitter and it is amazing and I’m smiling and also: thank the gods I decided to wear waterproof mascara today!
And you know, a huge thanks to my friends* and to Mark for just being so cool and for encouraging me and grounding me. It still feels kinda weird. But it’s a good kinda weird.
And by friends I mean:
Sarah Bryars
Sharon Jones
Jenni Nock
Kaz Mahoney
Tanya Byrne
Kim Curran
Lou Morgan
Jamie Ambrose
Then my SCBWI pals: Sue Hyams and Mo O’Hara / Mo Oakeley and Paolo Romeo – they were right there at Kit’s birth and believed even when I didn’t. You guys are the best!
These peeps are a dream team of knowledge, solid advice and good sense. I encourage everyone to have a Dream Team like this to hand for crazy fun times like this.
This Saturday past was icy cold. There were snowflurries and a bonechilling wind blowing in from the North. This was of course signal for Liz and Mark to head out into London and have an ABA.
Bundled up, we headed to Borough Market, recently refurbished and redone and packed to the rafters full of good food, wine, fruit, beers, cider, cakes, meats and all manner of deliciously delicious things.
I love walking around Borough Market, and in fact, all markets in and around London. There’s something old-timey about them. A twinkle of mystery in a seller’s eye that makes you feel they have an extra bit of something behind the counter, something from beyond the Wall, like in Gaiman’s Stardust.
Here follows a plethora of photos. A lot of food – as usual, some colourful umbrellas and a bit of graffiti, as is my wont.
Breads from an outside vendor before you go through the archway
Pastries – yum!
Stunning looking pies from Pieminster
Hot Cross Buns – Mark’s particular favourite
I got to sample one of these. it was as big as my face and delicious.
These rounds of cheese, was as big as my upper body.
Cool upcycled bag I was allowed to take a pic of.
After all of this, and having a nice mug of hot cider, Mark and I headed into Soho and stopped by the Hummus Bros guys and had some hummus and fresh bread, before visiting Foyles and chatting to the amazing booksellers there about upcoming books. Jeni, Jo and the team are always ridiculously good at stuffing me full of good reading material but this time round I was good and walked away without a purchase, mostly as I know I will be back in about 2 weeks’ time for a blow-out but also, in a few days’ time I will be buying Mo’s superb debut book published by the great peeps at Macmillan’s Children’s Books. So I need to contain myself.
We also swung by Forbidden Planet. A great selection of newbook titles were out. I spotted a few by Strange Chemistry and Angry Robot books that looked like it could chew holes in my budget. I headed around to look at some comics and graphic novels and uhmed and ahhed once more over the Hellboy library editions when I spotted Mark chatting to someone. Turns out it was Laurence Campbell who really, along with Mike Carey and Tony Lee, has to be one of the nicest guys in comics.
I fan-girled at Mr. Campbell in an embarrassing way, which he took with good grace. Want to know why I fan-girled at him? He’s only doing a run with Mike Mignola on the current BPRD series – to me, that’s just utterly the best thing that could have happened to Mr. C. He is one of my and Mark’s favourite artists and his work on The Punisher has been excellent.
Anyway. We headed home after that, having bought some comics and ended our day having some glorious sushi at a local restaurant in Catford with a friend and her niece. It was our friend, Lex’s birthday, and the sushi was her idea. And you know? It was the perfect end to a great day.
I love pancakes. Be they the French style crepes or the slightly thicker English pancake or the American style pancakes. They are just scrummy. But it breaks my heart that pancakes aren’t eaten / fussed about more except around Pancake Day on 12th February (Shrove Tuesday). From the BBC website:
Shrove Tuesday
In western Christian churches, the day before Lent starts is Shrove Tuesday. This is also known as Pancake Day. This day was traditionally the last chance to use up the foods Christians would not be eating during Lent. Today people often give up chocolate or alcohol.
Festivities take place in many cities all over the world, including Mardi Gras in New Orleans (USA), Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Venice (Italy). People dress up, wear masks, parade and dance in the streets.
My dad was an incredible chef and storyteller. Between him and my mum, they had this handwritten recipe book in the shape of a red hardback notebook and into this recipe book they would note down recipes, observations, what worked/what didn’t work and their thoughts on recipes. Much to my sadness, I have no idea what happened to this amazing recipe book. But I knew, from this recipe book, all kinds of magical things would come: home made chutneys and other preserves, my dad’s famous curry, my mum’s incredible fruit wedding cakes, my dad’s even more famous recipe for pancakes. If there is ONE thing I regret about this red book having gone awol, it would be the loss of this recipe. I’ve kinda made it my life task now to find a recipe that would be on par with his.
So far I’ve tried several and one that’s being the best thus far, because it’s so forgiving and you can mess around with quantities.
Easy as pie recipe this – I tend to double it up and make thin crepes and Mark and I eat ourselves to a standstill.
110gm plain flour
2 large free range eggs
275ml semi skimmed milk
25gm melted butter – cooled, plus another 25g butter for greasing (the “greasing” is rubbish, really – I just use non-stick spray as it cuts down on butter use and faffing)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl.
In a small bowl beat the egg and milk then add the melted butter.
Pour the mixture into the flour, stirring all the time. Then whisk it up until you have bubbles in your mixture – you can let it stand for a bit / use it immediately.
Heat the pancake / frying pan, sprits spray/ butter and then add a ladle of batter, swirl across pan and cook pancake until the edges brown and flip to cook the other side.
I strongly believe though that the trick to making decent pancakes is: 1. a decent pan and 2. a stainless steel mixing bowl. The bowl thing is maybe just my bit of superstition, but it works for my pancake batter every time, as well as my batter for making yorkshire puddings/toad in the hole.
