WUTHERING BITES

Thanks amazing readers!! You've been reading my blog while I've been busy. Today I was playing around with my paint set and I think this is my favourite costume design. My YA version of Wuthering Heights (now called Wuthering Bites) has a high concept setting and modern dress (but whatever...) Here's the start:

WUTHERING BITES   

Prologue

From the journal of Greta Gardner, February 1978

The boy arrived at night, wrapped in a blanket. He was carried by his adopted father who placed him on the kitchen floor next to me. His big blue eyes stared out from under his wild black hair. He shrank from the fire, he shrank from my touch, yet his skin was cold as ice…

He arrived with a list of instructions tucked into the pocket of his jacket.

Eats - mostly chicken and oranges (likes: roast chicken, blood oranges and plums).

Drinks - mostly water and citrus juice.

 First warning - do not let him go in the sun often as he burns easily.

Second warning - make sure he wears his necklace amulet (a parting gift from his biological mother). He screams if you take it.

Final Warning - do not let him go out at night alone.

As a small boy (just walking) he had a tendency to wander off, and many times staff at the orphanage were unable to find the little fellow for hours. Once, he was found hanging upside down from the roof of the school gymnasium, like a bat. The only giveaway was the drip drip drip of juice as he stuffed his baby face with blood oranges.

His file was then stamped: Special Needs.

PAINTING PICTURES

I haven't been on Twitter or this blog in ages but I have been busy. Today I painted some costume designs with some of my YA characters in mind. I'm thinking of changing the title of Wuthering Nights to Wuthering Bites (more descriptive!)...

LENA DUNHAM, GIRLS AND TINY FURNITURE

I've seen a lotta GIRLS over the years and have I mentioned that Lena Dunham is a crazy good writer? I saw her film from (many years ago) Tiny Furniture the other night on the recommendation of an old friend. I loved this film, it was touching, fragile and bizarrely kinda sorta... funny.

A HUNDRED THOUSAND VIEWS THANKS SO MUCH AMAZING READERS

Dear Readers,

When I started this YA writing journey (I finished Pride & Princesses in 2009) I also started a blog, twitter, Amazon, Wattpad and Goodreads journey not that long after. I briefly dabbled in Amazon self-publishing, picked out photographs I'd taken on my travels and scribbled my drawings using a computer mouse to decorate my blog with mostly original content (they are very, very rough drawings:). I had a vision that I haven't fully developed yet... my own little house with windows that open to stories that haven't been heard previously. I read the entire Twilight series as an antidote to the rigours of completing a law degree (it worked!) and the entire Hunger Games series soon after. I'm educating myself every day but I realize I've been educating myself since I was born. No outside source could teach me more than I've learnt myself about the arts. I'm a work in progress. We all are. I think creativity comes from life and a place personal to each of us. I took cover in my teen stories which are mostly based on classics by great writers. I've had fun "YA-ing" those great novels written decades (centuries) ago. I've read a lotta sweet comments and a few not so sweet ones over the years!! I embrace all with love and say a HUGE THANK YOU to the 'viewers' who have read my blog... 'cos now the blog is just about to reach a hundred thousand views and that was my goal in the first place. It's time to sing another tune and perhaps focus on my grown up stuff:) Many thanks to all, much love to all:).

love Summer (not my real name, my pen name, but ya'll knew that by now:) oxo

NEVER BROKEN and Picking Up The Pieces by Jewel Kilcher

I just finished reading Jewel Kilcher's incredible autobiography Never Broken  and listening to her fab new album, Picking Up The Pieces. I was privileged to hear her sing in concert a few years ago. Jewel writes as brilliantly as she sings. Never Broken is really a great read especially if you've ever indulged in the creative processes of writing, music, art etc. Jewel's early life is filled with struggle and beauty. Never Broken is a remarkable story and so elegantly self-helpful. Warning: If everything in your life has gone smoothly you may not get as into this as I did (but whose life runs so smoothly!?), and it helps to have listened to all her songs. Picking Up The Pieces is personal yet universal. The music spoke to me, every song tells a story. I found the experience of reading Jewel's story and listening to her new album when I'd finished reading truly AMAZING.  WOW. (http://www.jeweljk.com/ twitter: @jeweljk)

AT CHATEAU MARMONT

Me and my fabulous writer friend visiting Chateau Marmont. We were joined by another amazing friend (taking the photograph) and had a delicious lunch:)

MY FIRST MASTERPIECE

 

 

Most children like to paint their own masterpieces. I'm so thankful I was encouraged to be creative as a child:)

MY FAVOURITE PLACE

I absolutely love the beach and the beaches in this part of the world are amazing:) Hope you all have a wonderful reading October.