From December 18th to January 2nd, The Boy From The Next Dimension will be reviewed by Authonomy's Young Adult Literature Forum!
I've not looked at TBFTND for a while now, with the intention of looking back over it later with a less attached eye - now, I can see that it's in need of a makeover, so hopefully the wonderful YALFers will be able to give me some guidance on exactly where to get started with that!
To finish, I'd like to mention an amazing book that I've just finished reading: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. It's exciting, it's intelligent, it's romantic, it's funny... I started the sequel last night and it promises to be as good as the first book!
Isabel :)
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Let there be blog posts!
So, after a long period of silence, I have returned to the blogosphere and I bring, with my return, the synopsis of my new book Etiquette. I said a while ago that I'd post the synopsis if I became confident that the story was going somewhere, and I think it probably is. Where it's going, I don't know, but time will tell. Here's the synopsis, without further ado:
One girl's mission to become a lady...
When Cam is made to swap her modern school of two thousand pupils for a three-hundred year old boarding school in the countryside, she is sure that she knows what to expect: serious girls whose hobbies don't extend beyond Latin and chess and buying sensible knee-length skirts.
But she's faced with a very different reality and her past experiences are rendered useless in the glamorous place, where lunch doubles up as an etiquette lesson and incorrect napkin placement can grant you social exclusion.
Cam finds friends who take it upon themselves to remodel her into the elegant, upstanding Camilla - but it's not easy. Cam wears nothing but jeans and has never eaten a canape in her life.
I've written about 17,000 words and it will soon be readable on Authonomy :)
One girl's mission to become a lady...
When Cam is made to swap her modern school of two thousand pupils for a three-hundred year old boarding school in the countryside, she is sure that she knows what to expect: serious girls whose hobbies don't extend beyond Latin and chess and buying sensible knee-length skirts.
But she's faced with a very different reality and her past experiences are rendered useless in the glamorous place, where lunch doubles up as an etiquette lesson and incorrect napkin placement can grant you social exclusion.
Cam finds friends who take it upon themselves to remodel her into the elegant, upstanding Camilla - but it's not easy. Cam wears nothing but jeans and has never eaten a canape in her life.
I've written about 17,000 words and it will soon be readable on Authonomy :)
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Update!
Hi, and sorry for the silence that seemed to take over my blog for a while...
In terms of TBFTND, things are going well: the sequel is starting to look like a book, and I've one or two ideas for a third instalment!
I had an idea for a totally separate book a couple of days ago - not fantasy this time, more a YA chick-lit style. It's only 10,000 words long and still pretty sketchy, but it's fun to work on all the same! If I become confident that I'm going somewhere with the story, I'll upload it to Authonomy and put the synopsis on here.
I read a few great books while on holiday, here's a selection:
Velvet by Mary Hooper is a great YA historical fantasy with a spooky undercurrent.
The third book of the Numbers trilogy by Rachel Ward is a great finale, darker than the first two of the series.
Starters by Lissa Price is a great futuristic novel, very fast-paced and original.
The sci-fi novel 0.4 by Mike Lancaster is a clever concept and written in an intriguing way.
Echo Burning by Lee Child is gripping with immaculate, rich descriptions, and I imagine it appealing to many people.
Until next time,
Isabel :)
In terms of TBFTND, things are going well: the sequel is starting to look like a book, and I've one or two ideas for a third instalment!
I had an idea for a totally separate book a couple of days ago - not fantasy this time, more a YA chick-lit style. It's only 10,000 words long and still pretty sketchy, but it's fun to work on all the same! If I become confident that I'm going somewhere with the story, I'll upload it to Authonomy and put the synopsis on here.
I read a few great books while on holiday, here's a selection:
Velvet by Mary Hooper is a great YA historical fantasy with a spooky undercurrent.
The third book of the Numbers trilogy by Rachel Ward is a great finale, darker than the first two of the series.
Starters by Lissa Price is a great futuristic novel, very fast-paced and original.
The sci-fi novel 0.4 by Mike Lancaster is a clever concept and written in an intriguing way.
Echo Burning by Lee Child is gripping with immaculate, rich descriptions, and I imagine it appealing to many people.
Until next time,
Isabel :)
Saturday, 21 July 2012
More books!
Today I want to talk about a couple of books which are written in a style I really like.
Dreaming of Amelia (Jaclyn Moriarty) is an exciting, quirky YA book - what makes it so unusual is that the story is told through personal memoirs written by students in an examination, and also by blog articles and comments.
Also using the multiple-narrative style is Bram Stoker's Dracula, which is made up of journal entries, telegrams and letters written by the main characters. It's incredibly realistic, more so than any other fantasy novel I've read, thanks to the well-researched facts that are weaved into the imaginative elements. The descriptions are rich and the characters are all strongly crafted. I'd recommend it to anybody who's willing to stick at it - the old-English idioms take a bit of reading!
When I started writing my own book, I started playing around a bit with multiple first person narratives, and reading these two books convinced me to properly apply the style to my own work. There are two main narrators in my book, with three other minor ones. Two chapters are also Internet chatroom conversations, and a further chapter is mostly made up of notes between two characters.
On Monday I'm going on holiday for a fortnight, but in my absence please take a look at my book. Thanks, Isabel :)
Dreaming of Amelia (Jaclyn Moriarty) is an exciting, quirky YA book - what makes it so unusual is that the story is told through personal memoirs written by students in an examination, and also by blog articles and comments.
Also using the multiple-narrative style is Bram Stoker's Dracula, which is made up of journal entries, telegrams and letters written by the main characters. It's incredibly realistic, more so than any other fantasy novel I've read, thanks to the well-researched facts that are weaved into the imaginative elements. The descriptions are rich and the characters are all strongly crafted. I'd recommend it to anybody who's willing to stick at it - the old-English idioms take a bit of reading!
When I started writing my own book, I started playing around a bit with multiple first person narratives, and reading these two books convinced me to properly apply the style to my own work. There are two main narrators in my book, with three other minor ones. Two chapters are also Internet chatroom conversations, and a further chapter is mostly made up of notes between two characters.
On Monday I'm going on holiday for a fortnight, but in my absence please take a look at my book. Thanks, Isabel :)
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Recent happenings
Summer's finally arrived - not that you'd know it, considering the weather - so I'm really looking forward to working on Authonomy and addressing my sequel.
I recently went through a rough patch in terms of my sequel development - one of my main characters had to make an incredibly hard decision, and it was difficult for me to choose too. In the end, I found a third option so everything is well underway again!
Publication is my goal - although writing has been extraordinarily rewarding in itself - so a week ago I purchased the Writers' and Artists' 2013 Yearbook. It contains extensive listings of worldwide publishers and agents, as well as advice about marketing, finance, and approaching publishing firms: pretty much everything you might ever need to know about writing!
While I could happily talk about the Yearbook for hours, the Book of the Month this time is Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter. It's a funny, exciting, and glamorous YA spy novel. Another of her books which I've enjoyed is Heist Society, also with an espionage theme.
Bye for now!
Isabel
I recently went through a rough patch in terms of my sequel development - one of my main characters had to make an incredibly hard decision, and it was difficult for me to choose too. In the end, I found a third option so everything is well underway again!
Publication is my goal - although writing has been extraordinarily rewarding in itself - so a week ago I purchased the Writers' and Artists' 2013 Yearbook. It contains extensive listings of worldwide publishers and agents, as well as advice about marketing, finance, and approaching publishing firms: pretty much everything you might ever need to know about writing!
While I could happily talk about the Yearbook for hours, the Book of the Month this time is Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter. It's a funny, exciting, and glamorous YA spy novel. Another of her books which I've enjoyed is Heist Society, also with an espionage theme.
Bye for now!
Isabel
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Sorry...!
Hello again!
I know, it's been ages since my last update! I've been far too busy lately with revision and exams to blog about books. I am still busy, but I didn't want to give my two loyal followers another fortnight of silence!
Authonomy is also quiet - I have a long list of things to read and comment on which I will address after exams are over and done with. I'm also going to be working on my sequel (!!!) to TBFTND this summer, so I'll be able to keep you informed as it gradually comes together. It will be so exciting to go back to writing fresh material, rather than just editing existing work.
I'll update again in a couple of weeks, but now I really have to go and revise...
Isabel :)
I know, it's been ages since my last update! I've been far too busy lately with revision and exams to blog about books. I am still busy, but I didn't want to give my two loyal followers another fortnight of silence!
Authonomy is also quiet - I have a long list of things to read and comment on which I will address after exams are over and done with. I'm also going to be working on my sequel (!!!) to TBFTND this summer, so I'll be able to keep you informed as it gradually comes together. It will be so exciting to go back to writing fresh material, rather than just editing existing work.
I'll update again in a couple of weeks, but now I really have to go and revise...
Isabel :)
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Quick update - and more of my favourite books!
Hello again!
TBFTND is now at 271 on Authonomy, and I continue to receive encouraging comments - a few days ago, Lacydeane posted that I have "the perfect writing style and voice."
Paul Beattie (who recently reached the prestigious Editor's Desk with his book!) also kindly wrote that "Your writing has an extremely accomplished, polished feel which made me think you were a much more experienced, established writer."
Can't get much better than that!
Anyway, back to my personal favourites.
Alice In Time by Penelope Bush is definitely in my top-five. It follows a teenage girl who basically returns to being seven years old, and sees her childhood through teenage eyes. Penelope has an incredibly realistic and amusing narrative voice, and I found myself relating to her "teenage speak." It's brilliant when a book does that for you.
That's it from me for now!
Isabel :)
TBFTND is now at 271 on Authonomy, and I continue to receive encouraging comments - a few days ago, Lacydeane posted that I have "the perfect writing style and voice."
Paul Beattie (who recently reached the prestigious Editor's Desk with his book!) also kindly wrote that "Your writing has an extremely accomplished, polished feel which made me think you were a much more experienced, established writer."
Can't get much better than that!
Anyway, back to my personal favourites.
Alice In Time by Penelope Bush is definitely in my top-five. It follows a teenage girl who basically returns to being seven years old, and sees her childhood through teenage eyes. Penelope has an incredibly realistic and amusing narrative voice, and I found myself relating to her "teenage speak." It's brilliant when a book does that for you.
That's it from me for now!
Isabel :)
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Talking about other books for a change!
I'm as much a reader as I am a writer, so I decided that it was about time I spoke about some of my favourite books. There are too many to address all in one post, so I'll try to do one or two books a week.
One particular series that I've loved for a long time, and returned to again and again, is the Ingo series by Helen Dunmore. Even after the hundreds of books I have read, I'd still consider it my favourite. Aside from being immaculately and hypnotically written, with perfectly crafted characters and an exciting storyline, it has been a source of inspiration and companionship to me. I read the first of the books when I was about nine and fell in love with it, and I'm still enjoying them now.
I'm currently reading "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. At 696 pages, it's pretty tough-going but incredibly exciting, and a source of fascination for anyone with a passion for history, literature, or Dracula. The plot is so, so clever - I marvel at all the twists and turns every time I pick the book up!
More reviews to come!
Isabel :)
One particular series that I've loved for a long time, and returned to again and again, is the Ingo series by Helen Dunmore. Even after the hundreds of books I have read, I'd still consider it my favourite. Aside from being immaculately and hypnotically written, with perfectly crafted characters and an exciting storyline, it has been a source of inspiration and companionship to me. I read the first of the books when I was about nine and fell in love with it, and I'm still enjoying them now.
I'm currently reading "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. At 696 pages, it's pretty tough-going but incredibly exciting, and a source of fascination for anyone with a passion for history, literature, or Dracula. The plot is so, so clever - I marvel at all the twists and turns every time I pick the book up!
More reviews to come!
Isabel :)
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Edit in progress!
My manuscript has been on Authonomy for a few weeks now and not much editing has been done, as I've been focussing on gathering feedback. Kokako (the Authonomy user I mentioned in my last post) spent a massive amount of time searching for typos, and it turned out there were quite a lot! So I've sorted all of those out and the manuscript is a lot tidier.
There is one recurring suggestion to help improve my book, too. A couple of readers wanted some excitement in the gentle first chapter, as the cliffhanger comes right at the end of that chapter. Now, there isn't much excitement in Natalie's house on a Sunday morning, so to get to required excitement I'm going to add a prologue. It has to be tantalising but not obscure - I think I know what direction I'm going to take with this so it will appear on Authonomy soon. Check out the comments on Authonomy to see what people liked, and what points they would improve on.
Isabel :)
There is one recurring suggestion to help improve my book, too. A couple of readers wanted some excitement in the gentle first chapter, as the cliffhanger comes right at the end of that chapter. Now, there isn't much excitement in Natalie's house on a Sunday morning, so to get to required excitement I'm going to add a prologue. It has to be tantalising but not obscure - I think I know what direction I'm going to take with this so it will appear on Authonomy soon. Check out the comments on Authonomy to see what people liked, and what points they would improve on.
Isabel :)
Monday, 2 April 2012
Have returned - and my book is doing better than ever!
Alongside some incredibly constructive and promising comments, I found that The Boy From The Next Dimension is now the 8th highest rated book on the site, as well as being 2nd in the Romance genre, 4th in Young Adult, and 4th in Fantasy.
I also broke the 1000 barrier in the site's ranking - I'm now at 950!
A new Authonomy user, kokako (Sue) also left me a brilliant comment: "It's a great story, great concept, and beautifully written... With a writing style and voice that fit the YA genre perfectly. This book has a lot of potential."
She also left some very helpful tips to add even more depth and realism - I've written the book and I know it inside out, so I find it hard to read it as a reader would. I forget what readers do and don't know at certain points in the story, so feedback like Sue's is the most helpful kind.
Best wishes, Isabel.
A new Authonomy user, kokako (Sue) also left me a brilliant comment: "It's a great story, great concept, and beautifully written... With a writing style and voice that fit the YA genre perfectly. This book has a lot of potential."
She also left some very helpful tips to add even more depth and realism - I've written the book and I know it inside out, so I find it hard to read it as a reader would. I forget what readers do and don't know at certain points in the story, so feedback like Sue's is the most helpful kind.
Best wishes, Isabel.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Not here for a while...
I will be out of the country for a over a week, so I won't be able to post anything new until I return. In my absence, please take a look at my book and tell me what you think!
Isabel Parkinson.
Isabel Parkinson.
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Praise for The Boy From The Next Dimension...
The manuscript has only been online for a little under a month, but my book has been well received - thanks to everyone for the brilliant and helpful comments! Here is what people are saying about my book - it sounds promising...
Di Alcantara - "This is wonderful. The pitch says everything I'm expecting to find in a fantasy YA book! After reading the first chapters, I can tell that you really put your heart and soul into this. Natalie delivers well in the brilliantly-developed character category and so did Erenel. The action is there, the overflowing emotions, and of course the cliffhangers that got me hooked! It's definitely difficult to compete against many YA writers, but I think you have a good shot at it with this book."
Paul Freeman - "I read the first couple of chapters. It's an engrossing tale, very easy to get into the mind of Natalie, the tense you use makes it feel as if we are following her around with a roving camera. I thought your dialogue was very natural and the story flowed well. I found it interesting how Natalie dealt with discovering the boy, how her beliefs in what is real and what is not are challenged. Good job, I enjoyed the read."
J. Owen - "The premise is a great, and the spin on ghost / inter-dimensional 'being' provides a very promising plot. I also liked the IM chat section and the way different POV’s are introduced in the latter chapters. The MS is flawless—I didn’t spot any typos—and very well written... In summary; an enchanting story and I really want to know more about Erenel and the Otherworld’s trouble – you tease..."
Warrick Mayes - "Lovely clean flowing narrative. I didn't really care about the story line, which I'm sure is good, because the little scenes were so pleasing and great fun - especially the brief hunt through the brother's room for the missing hat. Neat hook at the end of the chapter. The dialogue, very real, very believable, helps keep a light mood."
liberscriptus - "I read what you've got posted, and I think you've got a very interesting premise that leaves the reader asking questions. What is the Otherworld? Why is Natalie in danger? Wonderfully intriguing. The voices with which you write feel authentic and relatable, especially Natalie's. Erenel seems a bit stiffer than the other characters, perhaps because he's such an enigma at this point. I feel like I don't really know who he is - only that he's good-looking and protective."
Curious? Click here and take a look.
Isabel.
Di Alcantara - "This is wonderful. The pitch says everything I'm expecting to find in a fantasy YA book! After reading the first chapters, I can tell that you really put your heart and soul into this. Natalie delivers well in the brilliantly-developed character category and so did Erenel. The action is there, the overflowing emotions, and of course the cliffhangers that got me hooked! It's definitely difficult to compete against many YA writers, but I think you have a good shot at it with this book."
Paul Freeman - "I read the first couple of chapters. It's an engrossing tale, very easy to get into the mind of Natalie, the tense you use makes it feel as if we are following her around with a roving camera. I thought your dialogue was very natural and the story flowed well. I found it interesting how Natalie dealt with discovering the boy, how her beliefs in what is real and what is not are challenged. Good job, I enjoyed the read."
J. Owen - "The premise is a great, and the spin on ghost / inter-dimensional 'being' provides a very promising plot. I also liked the IM chat section and the way different POV’s are introduced in the latter chapters. The MS is flawless—I didn’t spot any typos—and very well written... In summary; an enchanting story and I really want to know more about Erenel and the Otherworld’s trouble – you tease..."
Warrick Mayes - "Lovely clean flowing narrative. I didn't really care about the story line, which I'm sure is good, because the little scenes were so pleasing and great fun - especially the brief hunt through the brother's room for the missing hat. Neat hook at the end of the chapter. The dialogue, very real, very believable, helps keep a light mood."
liberscriptus - "I read what you've got posted, and I think you've got a very interesting premise that leaves the reader asking questions. What is the Otherworld? Why is Natalie in danger? Wonderfully intriguing. The voices with which you write feel authentic and relatable, especially Natalie's. Erenel seems a bit stiffer than the other characters, perhaps because he's such an enigma at this point. I feel like I don't really know who he is - only that he's good-looking and protective."
Curious? Click here and take a look.
Isabel.
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Meet Natalie...
A regular girl whose chance meeting with a strange boy changes her life in ways she could never have dreamed of...
She's the protagonist, the main girl in the book. Natalie is a typical teenage girl, living comfortably in a small village with her parents and older brother, Jack. This regular lifestyle is explored in the first chapter - but the excitement levels soar from then on. Now, I don't want to give too much away (if you want to know more, you know what you have to do...) but the story basically revolves around Natalie and her encounters with the boy from the next dimension - he introduces himself as Natalie's inhuman counterpart and this unique connection makes for a fascinating relationship.
I made Natalie in this way so that my readers can relate to her. We've all been in the situation of contemplating the boringness of our lives and wishing that something - or someone - could cross our path and turn our life into a fairy tale.
I hope that you've now got an idea of one of my main characters and that you enjoy the read.
Isabel.
She's the protagonist, the main girl in the book. Natalie is a typical teenage girl, living comfortably in a small village with her parents and older brother, Jack. This regular lifestyle is explored in the first chapter - but the excitement levels soar from then on. Now, I don't want to give too much away (if you want to know more, you know what you have to do...) but the story basically revolves around Natalie and her encounters with the boy from the next dimension - he introduces himself as Natalie's inhuman counterpart and this unique connection makes for a fascinating relationship.
I made Natalie in this way so that my readers can relate to her. We've all been in the situation of contemplating the boringness of our lives and wishing that something - or someone - could cross our path and turn our life into a fairy tale.
I hope that you've now got an idea of one of my main characters and that you enjoy the read.
Isabel.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
First things first...
Just a quick introductory post about my online book, The Boy From The Next Dimension, a teenage fantasy novel with a bit of romance thrown in there for good measure.
The manuscript has only been online for fourteen days but it's flown through the ranks so far - from over 5000 to 1975! I uploaded sixteen more chapters today, and the final part is coming soon after a few minor adjustments.
So, that's pretty much the background story - watch this space!
Isabel.
The manuscript has only been online for fourteen days but it's flown through the ranks so far - from over 5000 to 1975! I uploaded sixteen more chapters today, and the final part is coming soon after a few minor adjustments.
So, that's pretty much the background story - watch this space!
Isabel.
The Boy From The Next Dimension
One pre-planned encounter changes her life forever...
Natalie was a normal teenage girl. Her priorities were schoolwork, her friends, and competing on her new pony.
That all changes after a chance meeting with a strange boy from another dimension of this world, a dimension which faces dire problems of its own. Natalie finds herself swept up in a tidal wave of danger, excitement, mystery, and endless opportunities.
But what started out as fun quickly turns into a terrifying fight for her life and the lives of the people she loves. Natalie is faced with impossible decisions, conflicting emotions, and dark secrets – secrets about the people she thought she could trust.
Natalie was a normal teenage girl. Her priorities were schoolwork, her friends, and competing on her new pony.
That all changes after a chance meeting with a strange boy from another dimension of this world, a dimension which faces dire problems of its own. Natalie finds herself swept up in a tidal wave of danger, excitement, mystery, and endless opportunities.
But what started out as fun quickly turns into a terrifying fight for her life and the lives of the people she loves. Natalie is faced with impossible decisions, conflicting emotions, and dark secrets – secrets about the people she thought she could trust.
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