Newsletter #8 - Of Unchosen Ones and Adventures
Hello!
Spring has well and truly arrived, here in the UK, and it’s been fantastic. I tend to go adventuring with my family in all seasons and weather, but it’s great to see places opening up and waking up a little more. I love being outdoors, and definitely do my best writing and creating when I’m on the move, exploring and thinking. I find it challenging to sit indoors at a laptop day after day (windows open whatever the weather – unless the wind blows them shut instead, which often happens!).
However, when I’m nailing the draft of a novel, for me, the best way is to tell myself to SIT DOWN (in a loud, capital letters voice) and effectively not move until it’s done. Anything else - short stories, screenplays, articles, working up ideas, and even later editing of novels - I can do in bite-size pieces, weaving adventures with the children into every day. I’ve just finished the bulk of the structural editing for book 2 of the Unchosen One trilogy (woohoo!) and I’m off on an adventure today! When I’m working on novels, I’m like one of those toys - remember those with a suction pad at the bottom, and a spring, a funny little face or character at the top. You push it down and it stays, and it stays, and it stays (while it writes its novel) then – PING!!! Off for an adventure. Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, I hope you have the opportunity for an adventure soon.
THE UNCHOSEN ONE – BOOK 1
By the time I write the next newsletter, my new middle grade novel will be out, at least somewhere in the world! I’m lucky enough to have a global release for this one, so it’s launching in Australia (1st May, Walker Books Australia), UK (7th May, Walker Books UK) and America & Canada (12th May, Candlewick Press). This is happy for me, because I get to have publication launch day three times in a month with the same book. And, of course, publication day is always a good excuse for a really nice cake.
I’m so excited to share this new series, which is fantastically illustrated by Ben Mantle, who also did The House At The Edge of Magic series! So happy to be paired with Ben again. Delving into the wonderful world of epic fantasy has been an absolute delight. As with The House At The Edge of Magic series, I didn’t plot the story beforehand – I threw out a Call To Adventure to my imagination and waited to see who turned up. Every twist of the plot, every new character who appears were all a surprise to me in the first draft. Sometimes when the characters began to speak, it wasn’t in the voice I was expecting. Sometimes when they stepped out of the shadows, I had no idea who they were until the spotlight shone.
These characters became stronger and more confident in my mind with every chapter written - one of them with an entertaining habit of giving a bit of backchat, sharing their own thoughts on the story from the very first moment I asked his name (one of my favourite moments, unchanged from the first draft). Some of these comments made it into the printed book, so I hope he’s happy about that.
I hope you enjoy exploring the Isle of Peryll and walking alongside these new characters as they tell you their stories. You can find a sneak-peek of the opening chapter here.
If you know anyone else who you think would enjoy it, please do feel free to share this newsletter with them.
And just a reminder that you can pre-order ‘The Unchosen One’ book here: https://www.amysparkes.co.uk/@theunchosenone Pre-orders are really helpful to authors and make a big difference, so please know that every pre-order is very much appreciated!
VISITING THE PAST
I was delighted with this recent review of The Players Act 1: All The World’s A Stage from Keira Morgan at the renowned Historical Novel Society: The Players - Act 1: All the World's a Stage
As it’s the Bard’s birthday month, it seems the perfect opportunity to offer a special Shakespearean deal on the e-book of The Players Act 1: All The World’s A Stage! The offer will go live on 20th April and the e-book will be down to 99p/c.
We’ve collated links to all the places you can pick up a paperback or e-Book here: Players 1715
Making plans!
Historical fiction is something I really enjoy writing and I have plans for both adult and children’s books, alongside the period dramas I’m writing for screen, and the short historical stories I write for Aquila magazine. (The latest one was out this month, all about smuggling for their Georgian edition – I absolutely loved writing this). Not only is escaping to a different time and place hugely enjoyable and informative, but also learning about people and the world in the past can help us learn so much about them in the present.
There are some very exciting things afoot, but that will have to wait until another newsletter!
CURRENTLY READING
English Folk Tales of Coast And Sea by Lisa Schneidau.
One of my favourite things about writing is reading around topics or areas that I’m interested in. Not only can it be inspiring and help create ideas, plot points or deepen the world-building, but it also helps nurture enthusiasm and excitement for a story.
I’ve just started reading this book, and looking forward to wading deeper into the old tales of the coast. Raised in Eastbourne, East Sussex, the sea was my constant companion and I’ve long been drawn to write about it. With a bit of luck, I’ll be able to sit by the sea at some point soon and devour the rest of the book!
Thanks so much for reading the newsletter! Please do feel free to forward it on to anyone who might be interested.
If you ever have any questions for me, do feel free to contact me through my agent via my website or send me a DM via my social media platforms:
Mastodon: @amysparkes@wandering.shop
Best wishes,