A visit with author... Clare Revell

Well, my goodness! Today, I'm looking forward to sharing a visit with my friend, 

Clare Revell 

author of 

CASSIE'S WEDDING DRESS 

Welcome back, Clare! Let's start off with the question I always want to know first… Why do you write?

I write because I have to. That sounds daft, but for me if I don’t write I go insane. I find myself filled with stories all day long. Sometimes the muse goes on strike, but he’s rarely silent for long. Then he comes back with a new set of characters or a plot twist.

Creating characters is such a mysterious process. How, exactly, do you go about doing it?

Usually I start with the name. Then hair colour, eyes etc. Next I hit google and trawl through masses of photos/tv shows, etc until I find someone to play them. Sometimes its easy, sometimes it isn’t.

At that point the character takes over. He or she decides what his personality is like, what they like or don’t like. Quite often mid-story, and that means I have to go back and change things. It’s their story and they insist on it being written the way they want.

Fascinating. A lot like real people, if you ask me. What manuscript do you happen to be working on right now?

It’s called Thursday’s Child. The heroine is called Niamh (pronounced Neeve). She’s a prosecution barrister for the Crown Prosecution Service (think the UK equivalent of the DA). She's married to Jared, a firefighter. Injured in a car accident, Niamh has no memory of the last ten years. Unfortunately this means her husband is a total stranger. As far as she is concerned she’s 26 and single, rather than 36 and married. Jared is determined to woo her and make her fall in love with him all over again.

That sounds gripping. Is there a theme you most like to write about?

I love romance and crime/mystery/drama. Hence I combine them all and write romantic suspense. I also dabble in fantasy and sci-fi.

And why did you write Cassie's Wedding Dress? 

It was inspired by the Royal Wedding. Very much a what if the dress was damaged and they asked if they could use mine. Then I was watching the horse racing and a jockey was injured. Several of my books used Pastor Jack and he’d been demanding his own story for a while. So the three things got combined.

And what a great way you combined them, I really enjoyed reading it! Just for fun, what Hollywood director would you most like to work with, if your book were to be made into a movie?

Any! Seriously, it wouldn’t matter who they were, so long as they did the book justice. So many films are nothing like the books.

I agree. Could you tell us where readers might most likely bump into you when you are on vacation?

They’d have to come to the UK. I haven’t had a holiday in about three years, now.

Ah, maybe a picnic by your nearest lake, then. What kind of computer programs do you use when you write?

Usually word. Occasionally ywriter – that’s good for planning and for nanowrimo. Which is coming up way too fast. But draft one is always done by pencil and paper. Narrow feint paper and a propelling pencil. 

Finally, where can your readers find you if they want to pop in for a visit, now and again?

My website is www.revell124.plus.com/clarerevell

Thank you ever so much for sharing a bit of yourself with us, Clare. It's intriguing to hear how a particular author weaves their words into stories. And you always seem to be working on something new, which I'm sure makes your readers happy. I know it does me!

Someone You Should Know...

Well, as I say at the end of every one of these blog posts, I am hard at work on the next book in my "women of adventure series," THE PANDORA BOX. And an amazing adventure it is turning into. The famous "past lady of adventure" that I am linking up with my new contemporary story is the one and only, Nellie Bly. And even though it's been nearly one hundred years since she made her mark on this world, her footprints are still easy to follow.

Known as our first woman reporter, over here in America, this gal had audacity from a very early age. Not only was she a thinker (an out-of-the-box thinker at a time when such things were looked down upon), she was a brave doer, as well. I admire that in a heroine, especially a true-to-life one. And of all the history that has gone on between her time and ours, I have heard of no one who has attempted to do even half the brave things she did. Much less, succeed at them. The most famous of which was her descent into madness. Why would she do such a thing?

Because she had heard of the deplorable treatment of patients within the walls of what was then known as "insane asylums" -- the most notorious of which was Blackwell's Island, in the East River of New York Ciy -- where it had been rumored it was impossible to return from, even if you were put there by mistake. Which an alarming number of people were, during those days, especially if you were a vagrant with no place to go. Oh, but who would believe such things were really going on, without someone who could actually prove it?

Well, in trade for a position on one of the most prestigious newspapers in New York, Nellie Bly offered to do just that. She intended to get herself committed to that dark place, and have a look at it from the inside out… as long as her employer promised to do whatever it took to get her out, again, after two days. Which he promptly did. What a sensation a story like that would make! Except he had no idea when he made that promise, that it was practically impossible to get anyone out of there, no matter how much influence they had in the city.

Nellie was barely twenty-three years old at the time, and here -- in her own words -- is what she was thinking on the eve of her "departure"…

"I remembered all I had read of the doings of crazy people, how first of all they have staring eyes, and so I opened mine as wide as possible and stared unblinkingly at my own reflection. I assure you the sight was not reassuring, even to myself, especially in the dead of night. I tried to turn the gas[light] up higher in hopes that it would raise my courage.

...when I thought of what was to come, wintery chills ran races up and down my back in very mockery of the perspiration which was slowly but surely taking the curl out of my bangs.

…who could tell but that the strain of playing crazy, and being shut up with a crowd of mad people, might turn my own brain, and I would never get back. But not once did I think of shirking my mission. Calmly, outwardly at least, I went out to my crazy business…"

Well, she barely did get out, and she very nearly went mad waiting for her rescue. Because it was a whopping ten days instead of the agreed upon two (with no word from the outside) before the publishers finally succeeded in appealing to the highest authorities in order to get her released. But because of her daring mission, Blackwell's Island was exposed, laws for the treatment of the insane were changed, and Nellie Bly rocketed to fame. That was only the beginning of her many audacious ideas.

I am nearly finished with my encounter with this lady, and I can honestly say that the many hours I have spent with her on this project have been beyond inspiration. She has whisked me back in time, and got me thinking. More importantly, she got me to believing strongly about some things. I feel very privileged to have "walked with her" for a while. Which is why I thought I should introduce her to to you. Because the amazing thing is, that even after all these years, Nellie Bly still has the capacity for making an impact on people.

Imagine that!

Invitations…

In the old days, when one had guests, they might stay anywhere from several days to indefinitely. People who practiced this usually had large enough houses (or estates) to accommodate them. Traveling was harder and took longer in those days, too, and some people traveled so far away they were never heard from, again.

Many of the working classes had long-term guests as well. But they were more along the variety of relatives that needed a place to stay (most of history actually happened without government help), or friends of friends who were down on their luck. These type of guests almost always pitched in with the family workload, making them an asset even if things were a little more crowded around the house.

These days, even though we can get places quicker, we are much more isolated. TV has helped with that, because not only is it a great babysitter, it keeps the adults pretty quiet, too. At the same time, there has never been so much freedom for individuals to do exactly as they please, without having to explain themselves to anybody. Which is why I so thoroughly enjoy living the way I do. I can be gone for months at a time, and still come back to my splendid little hideaway, here, for all the peace and quiet I need for writing my adventure stories. Oh, but I absolutely love guests, and even though it is far off the beaten track, you'd be surprised how many make it a point to come for regular visits. My dearest friends, especially.

So it is that I am inviting a very large crowd for the entire month of October, in honor of my book GOLD TRAP which is to be launched this very next Saturday. Fellow time-travelers, some of them, not to mention several interesting adventurers, and even a few of my author friends. I'll be introducing them all month long. There will be plenty of interesting discussions to join in on, delicious food and beverages, and a number of lovely spots to slip off to for anyone that simply needs to be alone with their thoughts for awhile. So, I hope you'll stop by as often as you can to join us, because you're invited, too.

Heavens, it just wouldn't be the same without you.

Now, off to work on PANDORA...

Looking for Serendipity…

Dictionaries define the word serendipity as "an unexpected pleasant experience." And do we all need more of those! Well, it just so happens one has come my way, and I have a feeling (just a feeling) that it is trailing a few others along with it, like a big kite with a long tail.

Now, if it were a kite (and it would have to be a giant kite for this scenario), I could do one of two things. First case, I could look up at it, note its size and wonder as it passes, and enjoy the moment. Second case (and I'll tell you, right now, this is the one I am choosing), I can grab onto that tail -- even if I have to chase it, first -- and hold on for an exciting adventure. Grab your hats, dear readers, because here comes the description of my kite…

I and my book are going to the FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR, October 12-16 in Germany. To meet and "hob-nob" with other industry professionals and artists from

around the world. While I have never been there before, I have ancestors who have, so I might have to do a little "time traveling" at some point along the way (think Mary Poppins jumping into a chalk drawing -- it actually happens more often than you can imagine). At any rate, I am going to be reporting all, right here on the blog, so stay tuned for some details I guarantee you won't be able to get anywhere else. And some opportunities (because I always share -- things taste better when you do) you won't find anywhere else, either.

So, while I have a million things to do before departure (like a BOOK LAUNCH, for heaven sake!), let me leave you with this…

Wherever you are today, may you look up and catch a glimpse of the many serendipities that are passing over your own head (at this very moment!), and grab hold of one of them for yourself. If you do… then we are kindred spirits.

So, now, I am off to work…

Mad Things…

OK. A little bit of a blog-writing challenge from Isis Rushdan (thank you, fellow campaigner) about "the maddest things to happen to me" over the last two days. Well, my goodness, what did we let loose here? Because -- as if right on cue -- the craziest "mad things" began flying at me, as soon as I read those words…

It all began with an electrical glitch (hmm… could there be some connection?) that effected my computer. Which in turn tangled up my responses while trying to set up a Facebook page to link up with my website. Mostly because I wanted to like so many of you out there who have become my friends. But did you know that not just anyone can push one of those "like" buttons? No, you must have a Facebook page, yourself, in order to participate in that sort of thing. But -- speaking of sorts -- it turns out they don't even allow my sort to have one of those pages.

Which rather made me mad, in another sort of way (and this kind is worse than the first, I think) because I began speaking a piece of my mind to the powers that be, over there. Having absolutely no idea that the "record" button was still on. Faith and Begorrah! Now, everything I said and did, yesterday, is plastered up all over my dear sponsor's news feed (not to mention her walls). And that after she so kindly agreed to share her space with me, under condition I would mind my manners. Now, we are stuck in a terrible quandary of whether she should sacrifice her reputation over the whole thing, or I should. Good grief, and I only just got there!

Now, I've had to call in the cavalry for help (better than waiting till they come after me), for the entire blow-up has gone way beyond both of us. Mad, indeed! Still, all this has led me to wonder just how much control one actually has over these little "mad things" that plague all our lives in the first place. So, if you've had any similar experiences, dear reader, pipe up and share some of them, will you?

Then I won't feel so alone out here.

And, now, to work for the day...

What's it Worth?

And so back to our discussion on adventure. I have met few people who do not desire to have an adventure of their own. And while most of us live ordinary lives within a few miles of our regular circles, there are those that manage to break out every once in a while and actually embark on one. They can be disasters or delights, depending on the personality. Either way, true adventure (either good or bad, for there are both kinds) changes you, and you walk away with something of value, no matter which kind it is.

One of my favorite passtimes is browsing through Gutenberg looking for personal experiences of just those types of adventures. You find them in the oddest places. And along with such accounts, there are always gems. Life secrets that you can take away and use for your own if ever the need comes up. I think I just might share one of these every Friday, starting with this one here, which takes place after a harrowing journey through war-torn Europe that would have killed most of the rest of us. Here it is:

"I was at last about to arrive at my goal, and was in a state of wild excitement at the idea of seeing once more all my beloved ones. I should have liked to have gone to sleep. My eyes, which had grown larger with anxiety, traveled through space more rapidly than the train went. I fumed each time it stopped, and envied the birds I saw flying along. I laughed with delight as I thought of the surprised faces of those I was going to see again, and then I began to tremble with anxiety.

What had happened to them, and should I find them all? I should if—ah, those "ifs," those "becauses," and those "buts"! My mind became full of them, they bristled with illnesses and accidents, and I began to weep. My poor little traveling companion began to weep too. Finally we came within sight of Homburg. Twenty more minutes of this turning of wheels and we should enter the station. But just as though all the sprites and devils from the infernal regions had concerted to torture my patience, we stopped short. All heads were out of the windows. "What is it?" "What's the matter?" "Why are we not going on?" There was a train in front of us at a standstill, with a broken brake, and the line had to be cleared.

I fell back on my seat, clenching my teeth and hands, and looking up in the air to distinguish the evil spirits which were so bent on tormenting me, and then I resolutely closed my eyes. I muttered some invectives against the invisible sprites, and declared that, as I would not suffer any more, I was now going to sleep. I then fell fast asleep, for the power of sleeping when I wish is a precious gift which God has bestowed on me.

In the most frightful circumstances and the most cruel moments of life, when I have felt that my reason was giving way under shocks that have been too great or too painful, my will has laid hold of my reason, just as one holds a bad-tempered little dog that wants to bite, and, subjugating it, my will has said to my reason: "Enough. You can take up again to-morrow your suffering and your plans, your anxiety, your sorrow and your anguish. You have had enough for to-day. You would give way altogether under the weight of so many troubles, and you would drag me along with you. I will not have it! We will forget everything for so many hours and go to sleep together!" And I have gone to sleep. This, I swear to.

Miss Soubise roused me as soon as the train entered the station. I was refreshed and calmer. A minute later we were in a carriage and had given the address, 7 Ober Strasse. We were soon there, and I found all my adored ones, big and little, and they were all very well. Oh, what happiness it was! The blood pulsed in all my arteries. I had suffered so much that I burst out into delicious laughter and sobs.

Who can ever describe the infinite pleasure of tears of joy! During the next two days the maddest things occurred, which I will not relate, so incredible would they sound. Among others, fire broke out in the house; we had to escape in our night clothes and camp out for six hours in five feet of snow, &c. &c."…

These words were penned by Sarah Bernhardt, better known as "the most famous actress the world has ever known." Yet, here are a few of her own thoughts from the deepest recesses of her very own humanity. She craved adventure from a young age, and in her pursuit of it… usually found herself walking head and shoulders above most everyone else around her.

What an incredible thought that is! I have now put it on my "to do" list to read the rest of this amazing lady's memoirs, to see what else I can learn from her. Which convinces me, dear reader, that there is so much more available to us in this life than first meets the eye!

And now to work before a lovely weekend and a bit of rest…

A Visit From Friends…

Today I have had a wonderful surprise visit from my own dear writing family. All of them at once, and all with glowing things to say about my new venture. What's more, they even offered to pitch in and help me with the coming launch of GOLD TRAP (the first book with my name on it), even to the point of inviting friends from their own various circles to be present here on that special day. I couldn't be more pleased.

But there is so much to do before then, and we all sat down for one of our old brainstorming sessions to figure out best how to get everything done. Of course, I made it quite clear that it could not all be about me. There had to be something here for everyone to enjoy. Which is why I was absolutely amazed (and honored) that the Professor offered to bring an example of his new alternative energy invention. Which has little to do with gold or traps… but in a way, it does. It's certainly all a mystery to me. He plans on an actual demonstration that will…

Oh, but I'll let him explain all that when he comes back. He had to leave early because of an urgent call that the children had taken over the lab, again. Leaving the rest of us to discuss decorations and refreshments for the coming big day. All very necessary. Still… things tend to seem rather lifeless when he leaves a room.

A state only getting busy with work will help.