Children's Stories-Original Manuscripts

  

When I was 17 I wrote about five or six children's stories. They were pretty simplistic and threw them in the back of the cupboard because I didn't have much faith in them. I will have to rewrite them and add a bit more detail and description to bring them up to scratch. But every story starts with a basic idea.

Now that I've started going through all my art and stories I've boxed up over the years, I've decided to fine tune the stories and have some one illustrate them.

I'm feeling excited about this and am aiming to have at least two children's stories published by the end of the year.

I've always wanted to illustrate my own stories, but this is something I may not worry about until one day in the future, as I know my artwork needs fine tuning, so I'm more than happy to get someone else to do it.

The below drawing is a concept I had for a story about a little girl and cat who is a cookie thief. Once I have  the stories edited and illustrated, I will have to work out how to put them into eBook form, so it's a pretty exciting thing to go from an idea to actually seeing it and feeling it's realness.

There is no better feeling than the satisfaction that comes with creating :)

Life is Short

Life is precious. It is a gift.

It has always made me wonder how people can hold such grudges against people they love, or not hug people goodbye.

We take our lives and the people we love for granted and we do it everyday.

I think that stories of revenge or grudges help make for great story plots, like the Grandfather in Heidi. He wouldn't of been the gruff old man who mellowed in the end and learnt a lesson without that anger.

But we as the reader can then learn from his mistake so we don't have to repeat it in real life.

I think sometimes in life we get nervous or anxious about things and we can put all these expectations on it, and we forget that life is short. We say, Oh we'll do it tomorrow or I could never do that...

but why?

why say, 'Oh I could never do that? It's the ones that dare to do it that actually get to do it.

If we are lucky enough tot live into old age, do we really want to look back and say, 'Oh I wish I'd done this or that?

So I say we should stop caring what other people think and live our best life. Because I don't want to look back and say I wish I had of done this or done that.

That's why I try to step up to challenges, even if they scare me. Putting yourself out there is scary, you will get criticized...it's that simple...but what if, just if people also like you?

And you can't please everyone, so who cares if you don't? Who told you had to?

I'm just gonna keep being me and doing what I do best :)

When people you know pass away, or you hear of young people dying, it really hits home how short life is. It makes you less worried about what people think, it makes you more grateful that you still have time to keep on perusing your dreams...

Life is short. We should choose to dance even if people are looking. Sing even if we are off key. Take the holiday. Tell that person we love them. We never know what beautiful opportunities might present themselves if we only open up to them and allow them to happen.

Books that make my Soul Sing

When I was little my mum always read me Enid Blyton books, and when I was little nothing sparked my imagination more. The idea that toys could come to life, the characters of the Faraway Tree, characters of Little Golden Books, just made my childhood magical. I've always known I needed to write, nothing feels more right for me.

I read King Lear and the Crucible in year High School and both these plays really stayed with me. I guess I'm fascinated by human nature, and the brutal themes in these books made me wonder what kind of people could do these things?

Especially because the crucible is based on a true story, which make sit even more bizarre. Sometime truth really is stranger than fiction.

I always knew from a young age I wanted to write. I remember seeing books with gold sticker on them and the librarian telling us that that mean the author had won an award. I remember saying to myself in my mind at only seven or so, that one day, I would win one of those! I FELT it in my soul.

Haha we will see, but whatever happens or how many people read my books, I just have a desire to tell stories and I hope that they bring some pleasure to children and adults.

So, here's a list of books that changed the way I thought about writing:

The Faraway Tree

I loved the characters Moon face and the pixie. I loved the old Dame Washer women, and I loved that you never knew what was going to be at the top of the tree when they got up there. I remember just being so enchanted and excited by these books, it was like anything was possible.

Little Golden Books

I always loved the illustration, even now as an adult I will sit down and admire the illustration of these books, mostly the vintage ones. They have a quaintness and an innocence about them.

The Princess and the Goblin

This book was the first gothic work of fiction I ever read. I’m not sure if it would be classified as such, but I remember the way this book made me feel. It was kind of gloomy and oppressive and strange and romantic all at once, and this is the type of story I want to write.

Anne of Green Gables and The Story Girl

Who doesn’t love Anne’s fiery temper and over dramatic musings? Anne Shirly made me want to ne a writer and teacher.

The Story Girl to me was even better than Anne of Gren Gables. It was just sooo romatic and beautiful.

Huckleberry Finn

This is the first adult book I ever read and I was blown away by the beautiful language. I got to go along the Mississippi when I went to America, so it was a magical moment for me.

There’s just such a magic that some old book possess, it’s the descriptive and beautiful words that just hit you in the soul and you can’t quite explain why, but they just speak to you and move you.

King Lear

Now this play is the best play ever! Forget Romeo and Juliet, I love the brutalness of this play. The savageness of it all. It’s dark and brutal and it just is a lot meatier than Romeo and Juliet and much more interesting. Cordelia is a pain, but we need her in there to create relief from the rest of the savage bunch.

Flowers in the Attic

I don't care what anyone says, Virginia Andrews has a name for her trashy books, but I love every minute of them. These were the most adult books I had ever read at fifteen and I was shocked by the content, but it opened my eyes as to how messed up adult relationships can be, and again the whole idea of revenge and what a motivator that can be really inspired my own writing. We fall in love with Cathy as the protagonist of the book, but as the story goes on we see how she becomes bitter and angry with her mother, and the idea that someone can live their life, but underneath this hatred can dwell, it makes for an interesting story.

The Hobbit

I read this book in year nine and I feel in love with it. I knew that one day I would write a book like this. I did feel a little overwhelmed when reading it as there was just sooo much happened in in it. I guess I never really read such a fantastical book before. It definitely inspired me and still does.

To Kill a Mocking Bird

As with the Crucible, this story fascinated me, not only for the beautiful way it is written, and the magic of the story being told through Scout's eyes, but the fact that it is really a story of mass hysteria and human fear. As I 've grown up and seen people react in ways that I don’t understand or comprehend, I've realised a lot of the time it is fear based. Racism is fear based, hate crimes are feared based, and I think it's basic human nature to want to protect ourselves from the unknown. It's a survival mechanism, but obviously, it has been taken to far on many occasions. If only in a moment of fear and hatred, if people could stop and look at who and why they are hating, then there would be a lot less misery in the world.

The Colour Purple

This book really shocked me when we read it at school as it is full of 'colourful language' and the main character has a lesbian relationship with Shug.... It really opened my eyes though to how people can relate to each other and how these two characters developed their relationship, and it wasn’t about being gay or straight, but about how humans have a basic need for love.

The Crucible

This book changed my life, as I have a fascination with psychology and I have always wondered what drives people to do what they do. The story of Abigail Williams and how an entire town became hysterical over witchcraft has always fascinated me since I read it and saw the movie. It is so hard to believe that such a thing could occur. That someone could not just say, this is madness? If anyone stands up to the status quo, everyone else becomes scared and starts to attack that person to keep them inline. You can witness the very same thing happening in this day and age on Facebook. One person disagrees and you have five or six people jump on their case...

Mob mentality. It is whatever is deemed to be right or wrong a the time.

Gormenghast

All thought I have never actually read the book, I watched the movie when I was a teenager and it just blew my mind. I just knew I was on the right track writing fantasy, there's just something about fantasy that sets my souls a light. I will have to track down the book and read it.

So now that I have written out this list, I can actually see why I write what I do. My favourite genre is Gothic Fantasy, and I LOVE to explore the motivations behind why characters are the way they are. There must be heart, otherwise you have nothing.

Strawberry Fields Forever-Part 2

I recently did a photo shoot and had family portraits done with the lovely Glen-Lea Photography They were really patient and I had my photos within two weeks as promised and I couldn't be happier with the results :)

I'm so happy with the photos, as they really captured the feel I was going for. I wanted some pictures for my website and an author photo, and I love the vintage/magical feel to these pictures.

I live in rural Australia, and these pictures really capture the beauty of the bush. I hate stuffy photos and will opt for pictures that are themed or in a  nice location every time over a studio shoot with a bland background.

Black and Blue Floral Crown

Materials

Black ribbon

Three bunches of flowers

Strong Craft Glue

Scissors

I always used to buy floral crowns, but these days I tend to make my own, it's so much cheaper and more fun and it take literally only about half an hour if that. I use ribbon instead of headbands, as they don't hurt your head and ribbon is pretty inexpensive. 

Yes you have to worry more about ribbon fraying, but I take very good care of my crowns, so it shouldn't be to much of a problem.

I simply wrap the ribbon around my head and leave a good amount hanging in the back, snip it, then tie it. then lay it flat with the know still in it, and then glue the flowers on. Give it a few hours to dry and all done :)

Mad Hatter Inspired Outfit...

I recently had my birthday and my sister and  dressed up as a punk Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter. I had the party at my friend's house, which was super nice of my friend, as I didn't have to stress too much about cleaning my house before hand or anything like that. Which might sound kinda silly, but when you have three kids, trust me it's not!!

It was the best party I've ever had, with random people turning up that my friend invited, and people dancing all night, there was a great vibe going on. I tend to find that when you have a costume party, not everyone will always dress up, but that's okay. Everyone has different comfort levels.

So this is how we put our costumes together.

My Costume:

Hairpiece-Headband from Kmart. I added fake flowers and drawings.

Dress-Ebay

Petticoat- Hell Bunny

Tattoos- Atomic Cherry

Rabbit-from the Disney Shop from my trip to New York a couple of years ago

Wig- Katy Perry Wig

My sister, Raylene:

 Headpiece-Easter Hat I made for my daughter with stuff from a discount shop

Dress-Chic Star

Coat-Hearts and Roses, bought about six years ago

Petticoat-Ebay

34

My 34th Birthday was amazing. I've had my share of birthday disasters, and it's been a hard road for me to find friends over the years. Not because I struggle to make friends, but because I've been quiet isolated due to my circumstances.

Being a stay at home mum can be quite lonely, that's why it's so important to get out and join things like playgroup, but then add on top of that special needs, homeschooling and stress which lead to poor health, it's a recipe for isolation.

I'm not saying that homeschooling or special needs or any of that stuff causes you to be isolated, it simply increases the chances. I cracked under the pressure. I wasn't in a supportive marriage, and it just crumbled. My life crumbled.

So anyway, I have been very lonely for a long time, and it hasn't been great. Now that I have moved back to my hometown and I feel as though I am finally starting to rebuild those connections that are so important for good mental and physical health.

FRIENDS ARE NECESSARY FOR YOUR HEALTH!!

Life flows in seasons, and I had a season of hardship and isolation, but through it all I grew and became stronger. I now know what I want more and what doesn't work.

Anyways, getting back to my birthday disaster...one year, not so long ago I invited a shit load of people to my birthday party at a Chinese restaurant and literally only three people turned up that weren't related to me and these people were people I wasn't even that close to.

I realised I didn't have a gang, I didn't have a tribe...and I felt so pathetic and stupid and just humiliated.

Another year I was planning a Alice in Wonderland type 'Tea Party' Birthday and just before my birthday my boyfriend dumped me and then my party feel apart, because I felt humiliated and I couldn't go on with it, and half the people coming were his friends.

I don't want to get caught up in expectations, perhaps that's where my fault lies, that I expect too much I have been told. But I don't think it's wrong to expect happiness on your birthday! To expect the people that love you to give a shit.

People treat you how you allow, and you get what you ask for and what you put out. If someone doesn't care and can't be bothered and you always give them everything, then it's time to move along. It really is that simple.

I love to celebrate everything...anything is an excuse to be happy, so why not? Who say's we have to stop celebrating life just becuase we grow up? I'll celebtrate until the day I die..life is short and it's the happy memoriess that make it worth living for.

So my 34th birthday was the best birthday I have ever had...

The day started off with a lovely breakfast my friend cooked for me and my sister, he does this all the time, he holds a thing called 'Breakfast Club' were all get together every holidays and have Brekkie with our group of friends, and anyone else who cares to turn up. It's great. It's kinda like church dinner, when your on your own, it's so important ot stay connected.

Then that night we had a party, and a bunch of backpackers turned up on a mini bus and a bunch of the local boys from Vanuatu also turned up. It was a costume party, but of course not everyone dressed up, but there was heaps of dancing and laughs, and in compassion to every other birthday I've ever had, that was by far the best party and best birthday ever.

It didn't matter that I didn't know half the people, everyone was friendly and seemed to enjoy themselves.

I was alittle overhwlmed to be honest I couldn't believe so many people were there :)

I've been so depressed for the last two months, as I relised  my marriage is over and I'll be getting divorced soon, but the past three weeeks has shocked me out of it. I'm still going to have bad days of course, that's life, but I feel so gratfeul to have such beautiful people in my life and know that I finally have a group of friends that get me and I belong too.