Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "felicity-lennie"

You can read my latest interview on author Felicity Lennie's blog. Find out which fictional characters and authors I'd like to take with me to a desert island full of books!
And find out which of my books I would select for the Island's library, and why :)

Here's the link: http://bookislandcastaway.blogspot.co...

Enjoy!

I've been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by my good friend, author Darcia Helle. Thanks, Darcia!

I always enjoy reading Darcia's blog and would recommend it to everyone. Here's a link to her blog: Quiet Fury Books Blog







The rules of the Versatile Blogger Award are as follows:


1. Thank the person who gave you the award
2. Include a link to their blog.
3. Paste the award on your blog.
4. Share 7 things about yourself.
5. Pass this award on to as many as 15 blogs you enjoy reading and let them know about the award!

So, I suppose now I should tell you 7 things about me. Here they are:

1. I'm usually the first person on the dance floor at parties
2. I'm usually the last person to leave the dance floor at parties
3. I have a collection of song lyrics that I have written over the years
4. I have had all my wisdom teeth removed
5. I eat far too much chocolate
6. My favourite film is Shirley Valentine
7. I used to watch horror movies as a child

Now, I must pass the award to some of my fellow bloggers (avoiding picking the same ones as Darcia did!). I thoroughly enjoy reading the following blogs:

Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick's blog: The Tale is The Thing

Lisette Brodey's blog Molly Hacker

Quentin R. Bufogle's Goodread's Blog

Jess C. Scott's Blog

Felicity Lennie's blog

Susan Buchanan's blog

Calum McDonald's: blog

Joe Gande's blog

[image error]


Today I am pleased to be introducing you to a wonderful author I met on Twitter. Felicity Lennie has written numerous books, she's also a musician and has a myriad of other talents and interests, including making rockets! I am totally fascinated by this author as she seems to come up with a new creative idea every day. I wonder where she gets the time and energy for all she accomplishes. As well as being an author or countless books, she hosts no less than three blogs and makes her own book trailers, including composing the music herself!

I am excited because as well as agreeing to answer my interview questions, Felicity has thought up a very inventive and original prize for my blog readers. Followers of my blog will know that usually my guests give away a book or two when they appear on my blog, but today you are in for an extra special treat. One lucky reader of my blog will win a fabulous prize. Please keep reading to the end to find out what you could win and how to enter!

I recently read Felicity's book, Libra Liberati. A fun, murder mystery, revolving around the life of a famous (fictional) author. I would highly recommend it. I am now keen to read some more of Felicity's book.




Okay, that's enough chat from me, let's get on to the interview. Here it is:


I recently read and enjoyed 'Libra Liberati'. This book is a humourous murder mystery revolving around the life and works of an author. What inspired the character, Libra Liberati, and was she based on any author or authors you had read?

No idea where she came from and not based on anyone. It’s the name ‘Libra’ that is significant. An Italian friend died when I was 18. She was paralysed completely save for her facial muscles but she used to have everyone laughing all the time with her mad jokes. I asked her how she could joke all the time when her life was so challenged.
She said :- ‘I have only one choice left in life. I can be happy and make everyone around me happy or I can be sad and make them sad. I choose joy.’
She was one of my ‘significant signposts’ on the road of life. There she was in that hospital bed with no family or close friends visiting her but she was like sunshine to the other patients, one of whom was my Gran. I promised to remember her and I have. Her name ‘Libra’ will live on in this book after I am gone. It is my gift to her for the life lesson she gave me. When I’m down I say to myself – ‘ I choose Joy ’ and that was Libra’s gift to me. Sometimes laughing in the face of appalling tragedy is our only weapon and only defence.

You have written 14 books. Can you briefly tell us about each book and why you wrote it.



I wanted to be a seismologist but couldn’t be. I was a musician so everyone wanted me to do that but I wanted to be a writer. My English teacher told me I couldn’t write until I had truly ‘lived’. I guess I got carried away ‘living’ but when my young friend found out she was dying, she insisted I start writing promising to proofread and edit it. Dad was dying too so I gave up work and wrote at his bedside. They both died before it was finished. A young male friend of mine always wanted to be man of action and adventure but died too. I imagined the sort of life he always wished he had and wrote it for him and my friend, dedicating the book to them all.



Most of my stories were to entertain fellow-patients. I was stuck with about 9 others far away from home for weeks on end in digs having treatment. Days were slow so I filled them with cliff-hanger stories and adventures. They died. I lived. The books are a lasting memorial of that time and those people. They are in the British Library so after I go, all our names will be there rubbing shoulders with Agatha Christie, Dickens, Shakespeare, Chaucer and all the ‘greats’. It gives me goosebumps. Now I just write because I can and the clock is ticking so I am in a hurry. I’m trying all the different genres to see if I can do them all but not Romance.



How long does it take you to write a novel?

First one took too long due to loads of research. Each one takes less time. Last two were each written in a week.

Wow!

Are you writing a book at the moment? If so, can you tell us a little about it?

I’ve been writing a ghost story for some time in relay with a Canadian writer, also ill…. A labour of love for us both.
As to my current personal project - my best friend has told me after years of badgering I can write about him (something I have always wanted to do since he is beyond belief and utterly unique. The adventures I have shared with him and my husband are way more exciting than any book I have ever read but he wouldn’t let me before so I have kept my promise ….. but now I can tell the world ….. awesome or what !)

As I have been following you on Twitter, I know that you recently started making your own book trailers for your books. You also compose the music. Do you have a musical background?

Yes and that’s why I was kind-of corralled into a musical career. Started piano lessons at the age of 3 and taught for a while later on. Studied Piano, Cello and unlikely as it sounds Opera Singing at College but also played trombone in a Silver Band, Church Organ and guitar, and zither in Folk Group. Used to write a lot of music and wrote a Musical about ‘Nancy Astor’ with a drummer friend.

I read on your bio that you like to set yourself a number of challenges each year. I believe you started doing this from the age of 12. Was there a reason for this, and have you managed to accomplish all your challenges?

Yes. I wanted to see what this person called ‘me’ could do. It seems logical that without trying everything I can’t possibly know what I could be good or not good at. There have been some surprises and some shocks! My best friend did it for a while too but she emigrated. I haven’t ploughed a whole field yet, seen the Aurora or been in the Arctic Circle though I have had opportunities to do them (one with marines expedition years ago). Strangely no matter how weird they are, the opportunities always turn up … it’s for me to accept or not. Mostly I accept. My mum made me say ‘Yes’ to everything more or less.

What are your outstanding challenges for this year, and do you think you'll accomplish them?

I’ve done 5...well 6 really and halfway to finishing 7 but added 3 more then lost one because I can’t get to Book festival this year. The Orrery is tricky but invariably expert advice will turn up from somewhere if I need it. My website is
Felicity Lennie

I recently nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award, and part of that included that you had to reveal 7 things about yourself. I must admit a couple of your revelations have made me curious. You state that a famous pirate and an inventor are your ancestors. Who are they?

I cannot say but if you had a mind, you might work it out. The clues are all there. I can tell you the pirate was extremely smart and the inventor was extremely smart too. I could tell you lots of interesting stuff but I won’t. I love secrets and I know quite a few.
Compared to my husband’s family tree, mine is quite ordinary. His father told me of his extraordinary pedigree but I thought he was joking at the time. It seems not and you could write a ton of books about them. I can tell you an interesting story about them and the Battle of Culloden but I won’t. I like secrets.

LOL. Now I'm even more curious!!

You also stated in the 7 things you revealed that you once had a million hits in 6 months on a website you created. What type of website was it, and are there any tips you can share with us about how you promoted it?

Amateur Rocketry and I worked hard on it sometimes through the night but then I was often in pain and it took my mind off things. It was all-singing … all dancing ….. colourful and I kept it up-to-date and constantly changing. I created crosswords… puzzles… online Treasure Hunts …. Logic Problems …. Still have a lot of them. Doing a crossword puzzle in the shape of a rocket was my pinnacle I think though all the Treasure Hunts were pretty cool. I was learning web-mastering at the time and had been at it a couple of years. One thing I learnt quickly was that being flash didn’t pay off- that it wasn’t about showing off my web skills but about showing off the club’s rocketry skills. I certainly put the area on the map around the world for a couple of years and got feedback from the most extraordinary places. We fascinated people. One thing I learnt was that people liked an easy-to navigate website.

You have varied interests, as well as writing and music, including astronomy and seismology. It seems to me that you are the type of person who is always looking for the next challenge. What keeps you motivated?

Death.
Life is a gift. Don’t waste time! My mother grabbed Life by the throat and squeezed every last second out of it. I would not be her daughter if I did not do the same. When you are dead you can’t do stuff so do it now.

You have two interesting blogs, as well as your fel-osophy blog: Castaway Astronomer and Castaway Author. They are great. I answered the questions on the Castaway Author one, and it was fun to do! How did you come up with the idea for those?

As a toddler I told my parents I intended to live on a deserted island with my large number of imaginary friends. In some ways like the ‘Simon and Garfunkle’ song I have lived my life on that imaginary island without anyone noticing. I thought being creative others might feel the same way as me. My husband thought Astronomers would appreciate dark island skies too so hence the blogs. We are highly competitive with each other my husband and I.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you've answered the Castaway Author questions, so I'll ask you a couple of them here:

Which of your own characters would you choose to be shipwrecked with and why?





All the dogs in ‘Edison Landrake ‘ , the dying house in ‘Backwater’ and Gilbert’s Pagani Zonda since no-one would care that I haven’t passed my test so I could drive round the island in it………………..FAST!!!




Which one of your books would you nominate for the library and what do you think it would contribute to future readers who might get shipwrecked there?

The one I’m about to write about my real best friend…. That will make toes curl and your heart skip a few beats !!!!

Do you have a favourite author?

No. I have favourite books but Far from the Madding Crowd is a favourite (read 18 times) and ‘Jude The Obscure’ is my least favourite (same author) This goes for Charles Kingsley… a favourite and one I don’t’ like by the same author. I judge each book individually. Love Icelandic Sagas and Anglo-Saxon Chronicles though.

Do you prefer print books or ebooks?

Have to enlarge the print ridiculously to be able to read any length so can’t read books anymore- eyesight problems.

Do you have any advice for anyone who is thinking of self-publishing a book?

Only Miss Crute’s …
‘If you haven’t hooked your reader by the end of the first sentence, don’t bother writing anymore.
‘Don’t’ be satisfied with less than 100% your best effort. The book will be how you are judged as a person too so be sure that it stands for the best you can possibly be.
Give your characters a hook to hang their hat on .

From following you on Twitter, I know you are big fan of musicals. Do you have a favourite musical? And if you could star in a musical which character would you like to play and why?

Crikey …. An old lady who said she could read fortunes told me once I would end up on Broadway. Overheard by family, it has been a thorn in my side ever since.
As a child I wanted to be Cyd Charisse which is kind of nice ‘cos my husband is her biggest fan and painted her on the side of his biggest Rocket. I’d love to do that ‘Bandwagon’ final number hot sexy or what …..that dress… wow!



Most like me of course would be ‘The Unsinkable Molly Brown’ … I could give that some ‘wellie’.



Thank you, Felicity!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I told you she was a fascinating lady, didn't I?

Check out Felicity's novels here: http://www.felicity-lennie.com/

Now, I know you're eager to find out what you can win! Felicity has offered to write a short story on any topic for the winner of this contest. The winner gets to choose what the story is about. A personal short story, written for YOU by the extraordinarily talented Felicity Lennie!

To enter, please leave a comment below stating what you would choose as the topic for the short story. A winner will be chosen on 30th July 2012!

Good luck!

[image error]



You may remember, last month I interviewed the fabulous Felicity Lennie, author of Libra Liberati, and many other novels.

I also ran a contest on my blog offering one lucky blog reader a personalised short story written exclusively for him or her by Felicity.



Four people left comments, as follows:

Darcia Helle said she would like her story to be based on the theme of 'Danger'.

Joanna Lee Doster wanted a story about her being wrongly accused of murder with an antique stolen from a posh antique store


Doreen Cox said she would leave it up to Felicity to pick a subject for her story

Julie Elizabeth Powell said she wanted a rags to riches tale about how she became a famous author

The resulting short story is a combination of all of those comments! So everyone's a winner!

Here's the story for all to enjoy. If the winners would like their very own copy of the story, send me a message here on Goodreads with your email address and I will send you a copy of your prize!

It's just wonderful that all of those who entered the contest have been rewarded with this clever story. I really enjoyed reading it and I know you will too!

Thanks, Felicity for entertaining us!

Here it is:


OLDMAN by Felicity Lennie

I could not choose so you are all involved in this little tale of mine.



As the spiteful shower ceased, water droplets plopped onto the lids of the large corporate bins lining the alleyway like sentries on duty. Julie pulled the discarded plastic sheeting closer around her as she struggled to stay warm in the doorway where she was sheltering.
It was her first night sleeping rough and sleep was impossible because of the insecurity of her situation. Her landlord had evicted her for non-payment of rent and her whole life was squashed into the few bags round her.
Just a couple of months before, she had been the successful manager of a posh Antique shop in the most prestigious part of the City. It had been her chance to mingle with the rich and famous customers who spent fortunes on genuine artefacts for their homes, rare quality pieces that were unobtainable from any other source. Indeed she had wondered how her employer came by them but since she had never met him, she had never had the opportunity to ask.
Julie had registered with the Aggastyan Employment Agency as soon as she had arrived in the City. In order to be able to live there, she had to get a job and fast, her landlord requiring money upfront. This agency had been close to the Bus Station where she had arrived. She was surprised when they sent her still carrying her luggage off to a job interview. Her initial interview had been with a Solicitor acting for the mysterious Herr. Altmann. No-one else was there to be interviewed and the questions merely were whether she accepted the terms of employment and pay, both ridiculously flexible. Just as she was about to ask whether she could have an advance for her landlord, the solicitor had produced a thick wad of cash and pushed it across the table.
“First month’s money in advance’, he said.
Julie had grabbed it quickly for fear it might disappear. Smiling happily, she had offered her hand to shake but the solicitor had shuddered and called his spindly, elderly secretary in. She looked like a grey raven.
“My secretary will give you the necessary papers and keys. You will find everything you need at the shop. The code for the safe is whatever you make it as it is currently empty. Each day you will put all the cash in there, lock it, set the code and go home. Your employer will empty it each night and bank it,” the solicitor told her.
“What about the stock?” Julie had asked.
“There is a catalogue on the counter. It will tell you all you need to know,” the solicitor said. The secretary touched Julie’s arm. The iciness of her hand seemed to make Julie jump. It was like being touched by the dead.
Back at her new flat, Julie had laid what was left of the money after her rent on the small bed. She had forgotten all about the solicitor and his strange behaviour. Here were her first earnings for a job she had not even started. She slept well and awoke early full of tingling anticipation.
The first morning had been nerve-wracking and exciting since lots of her customers were celebrities that Julie immediately recognised. Each antique was carefully labelled with, what seemed an outrageously high price and scant information about its origin. Only a few pieces were sold in a day but the amount of money she put in the safe left Julie breathless. The next morning it was always gone and there were new artefacts added to the collection.
After a few weeks, Julie became used to her new job and began to get invitations to social events by some of the celebrities. A letter was left on the counter one morning telling her that her pay had increased and a load of cash piled up in another large envelope. Eagerly Julie bought new clothes, new shoes and even some jewellery. The more elegant she dressed, the more invitations she received.
At one party she met the famous rock singer ‘Ilvec Chio’. For years she had been a fan of the staggeringly handsome Ilvec . Suddenly, before she knew it, she was in his chauffeured limousine and she had become part of his entourage ….. his woman.
She had wanted to give up the job but he insisted she didn’t, saying the life span of a Rock star was unpredictable so less enthusiastically, Julie kept going to the shop. Then one day, in a rush to make Ilvec’s concert, she forgot to lock up .
At the concert he failed to turn up, fans were refunded and disappointed but not as disappointed as Julie. She went to his apartment. He was missing.
The next morning she arrived to find the shop had been trashed, graffiti sprayed everywhere and a strange elegant woman standing holding a priceless jewelled dagger dripping blood. On the floor lay a body, the body of Ilvec Chio.
The woman was mumbling, “My name’s Joanna . I didn’t do this…… I was walking by …the door was ajar and I heard some-one cry out ….. you have to believe me, I didn’t do this!” She dropped the dagger with a clatter and moved towards Julie who moved away quickly jabbing the police number into her phone.
Wildly looking around the woman called Joanna ran panicking towards the door as a tall woman appeared, surrounded by three others. The tall woman was dressed in a Police Uniform.
“My name’s Doreen and these are my friends. We were in the café next door and saw this woman come in then we heard screams so we called ……”, the woman stopped as she saw the body.
The police woman Darcia took charge.
More police arrived. Statements were made and the woman called Joanna was arrested and led away still protesting her innocence.
Julie was allowed home.
The next morning she went to the shop but it was boarded up. In fact it looked as if it had been boarded up for years. There was old graffiti sprayed on it, cobwebs , grime and old bills posted. She tried to use the keys but they no longer fitted the door. She went down the side alley where she found a broken window and looked in. The place was empty except for old broken glass from the window through which she looked.
A policeman spotted her and asked her what she was doing.
“The antique shop ….. owned by Herr Altmann…. Where is it?” she murmured.
“This place has been empty for years! It’s condemned and waiting for demolition,” the policeman told her.
Julie shook her head in shock. She went to the solicitor’s office. That too was a derelict building.
Nothing made any sense.
She went in the news kiosk at the bus station and bought a paper.
The headline read ‘Ilvec Chio’ stabbed to death by a crazed fan in an alleyway near his home. The face of the crazed fan was shown as the woman who had called herself Joanna.
Julie went down to the Police Station and asked if she could see the woman but they told her it was impossible.
Just then Joanna appeared flanked by two officers. Julie rushed towards her but was held back by Darcia.
“You killed him at the shop didn’t you,” Julie said desperately, “it was in the shop wasn’t’ it…. The one I was manager of….”
Joanna looked at her sadly, “Save your breath, they wont’ believe you and they won’t believe me. I was in your position once …. It’s a time loop. You will try and find the Old Man and kill him too eventually then the loop will twist round again.”
Julie watched as Joanna was led away.

Julie had lost everything in a single moment. The money evaporated as quickly as the shop had done and her employer. The rent could not be paid and she was evicted. She had struggled to find work for a few weeks but nothing. The landlord threw her out with her bags and now she was in a doorway sheltering from the rain.
Eventually it stopped and the Moon rose high and bright.
She gathered her bags and walked out into the main road. How far she wandered she did not know but she knew that in the morning she would go to the bus depot, ring her family and beg them to get her home.
As the early morning light started to appear, she noticed a familiar sight ….. an antique shop , different from the one where she had worked. The door was ajar and suddenly hope burst in her heart. Maybe the owner was there and would give her a job …. Perhaps all was not lost after all.
She hurried in.
An old pale man stood at the counter. He turned and smiled the sick twisted grotesque smile of one who knows he has triumphed.
Automatically whilst in some sort of trance Julie’s hand wrapped itself round an old bejewelled dagger and against her will, her hand plunged it into his chest.
Where she had once seen the old man, became a young handsome actor well- loved by huge hordes of fans. Into the doorway appeared a woman holding keys …..
“My name’s Julie. I didn’t do this… I was walking by … I heard cries.. I came in … I didn’t do this …. I DIDN’T DO THIS !”


Is there a hopeful end to the time-loop story?
Joanna and Julie were absolved from the murder accusations when the bodies vanished. The whole incident would have been swept under the carpet was it not for the fact that they collaborated on a book about the experience which raced to number one in the bestseller list of every country of the world. It is now being made into a movie.
Both are wealthy but neither has ever accepted an invitation to browse in any antique shop. In fact they avoid them altogether.