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Shelagh Watkins

Goodreads Author

Born

The United Kingdom

Website

http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk

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shelaghwatkins

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Children's Books, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Member Since

September 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/shelaghwatkins

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Shelagh Watkins is writer, editor and publisher at Mandinam Press. She is the author of two novels, Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine and The Power of Persuasion. She published the anthology, Forever Friends, in 2008 and a follow-up anthology, Forever Travels, in 2010. Shelagh set up Published Authors groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and Goodreads. She is also the administrator of publishedauthors.org. ...more

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Shelagh Watkins The challenge of creating an imaginary world that will captivate readers is the best thing about writing. Every writer sets out to create a world that…moreThe challenge of creating an imaginary world that will captivate readers is the best thing about writing. Every writer sets out to create a world that will be as vivid in the minds of readers as it was in the mind of the writer, but not all writers succeed in doing so.

Since they cannot read a piece of their own work with the same fresh eyes that readers do, it is difficult for authors to assess their own writing. Even leaving the work unread for several weeks or months doesn't erase the storyline. You can't say to yourself, "I wonder where this is going?" Your mind doesn't try to work out whether a passage is a hint of something to come or not. Re-reading a last chapter that neatly draws together and explains all that went before, you can't feel the same sensation that a reader does -- rewarding, satisfying or disappointing. Also, the bits you get real enjoyment out of are the passages you enjoyed writing not the bits you enjoyed reading; that's for readers to decide, which becomes the real challenge for the writer: to write something that is as enjoyable to read as it was to write. (less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Shelagh Watkins We've all been on the receiving end of a request from friends to listen to a new piece of music in the expectation that we'll love it as much as they …moreWe've all been on the receiving end of a request from friends to listen to a new piece of music in the expectation that we'll love it as much as they do. Often, those who gain a great deal of pleasure from any form of entertainment feel a desire to share that enjoyment with others.

Unfortunately, readers rarely share the same kind of enthusiasm for works of fiction by unknown authors and, although new writers may be engrossed in the process of writing, this doesn't spill over to readers. Enjoying the whole process of writing a novel is no guarantee that readers would love to read the novel if only the author could get it out to them.

I say unfortunately because many writers start to write the novel they want to write and then try to attract the interest of a publisher, which leads to an endless stream of rejection slips and disappointment.

New writers, who know their characters inside out and could recite the plot backwards, have to be aware that no novel they have read before or since can conjure up such vivid pictures as those in their own minds during the writing phase. That's the joy of writing. The special ingredient is being able to convey that to readers. Only readers can tell us if we have managed to convey the story and evoked images in the readers' minds that create a magical world full of action and adventure.(less)

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Shelagh Watkins’s books

Average rating: 3.84 · 193 ratings · 39 reviews · 32 distinct works

	Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine 3.51 avg rating — 59 ratings — published 2005 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Forever Friends 4.36 avg rating — 45 ratings — published 2008 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Power of Persuasion 3.96 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Four Short Stories 2.94 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Christmas Squirrel 3.92 avg rating — 12 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Forever Travels 3.73 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Thousand Words of Poetry 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Forever Families 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Literature & Fiction Interviews Volume II it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mr. Planemaker's Diving Machine it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Shelagh Watkins…

18 posts
Shelagh Watkins's Blog

Interview: Shelagh Watkins

Susan Whitfield, author of three published novels, Genesis Beach, Just North of Luck and Hell Swamp, interviewed Shelagh Watkins on her blog on Monday 12th October:
[image error]Shelagh Watkins is writer, editor and publisher at Mandinam Press, and author of two books: Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine and The Power of Persuasion. She set up the Children's Fiction group on LibraryThing, the Published Read more of this blog post »

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Published on October 18, 2009 04:59

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Shelagh is Currently Reading

Shelagh is currently reading

A Christmas Squirrel

by Shelagh Watkins (Goodreads Author)

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Dec 14, 2017 03:11PM

Shelagh is currently reading

On the Night Before Christmas

by Shelagh Watkins (Goodreads Author)

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Dec 14, 2017 03:10PM

Shelagh is currently reading

Mr. Planemaker's Diving Machine

by Shelagh Watkins (Goodreads Author)

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Feb 04, 2012 02:51PM

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Shelagh’s Recent Updates

Shelagh Watkins wrote a new blog post Writing Community Unites to Write "Forever Friends" This collection of stories and poems, created by members of the Published Authors Forum on the world wide web, reflects the bond of friendship between Read more of this blog post »
Dec 01, 2023 12:03AM · like

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Blog Tours for Re...: Hosting a blog tour	8	39	Jan 18, 2009 04:22PM
UK Amazon Kindle ...: Self Challenge. Jay-me's second challenge - 2012 - Our Authors	71	100	Jan 27, 2014 12:08AM

Shelagh’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-17) post a comment »

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message 17: by Shelagh

Apr 03, 2011 10:37AM

John wrote: "Hey Shelagh ...

Long time no communications - love the interviews.

Not sure how much you know (age and forgetfulness go hand and hand), but I fell in love with a Myspace friend and moved to Tenn..."

Hey John,

How are things? I remember Monkey Love and how you met your new love! How's the writing going? Would you like to be interviewed?

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message 16: by John

Apr 03, 2011 10:21AM

Hey Shelagh ...

Long time no communications - love the interviews.

Not sure how much you know (age and forgetfulness go hand and hand), but I fell in love with a Myspace friend and moved to Tennessee. Life is good and I am a survivor.

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message 15: by Liane

Feb 15, 2011 07:27PM

Thanks for the friendship, Shelagh! Greetings!

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message 14: by Shelagh

Dec 16, 2010 03:50AM

Mike wrote: "Thanks for your Goodreads friendship.
I hope Mandinam Press won't be too long before accepting subbmissions again.
Mike Brecon"

We'll see what the New Year brings for Mandinam Press!

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message 13: by Mike

Dec 16, 2010 03:07AM

Thanks for your Goodreads friendship.
I hope Mandinam Press won't be too long before accepting subbmissions again.
Mike Brecon

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message 12: by Elizabeth

Jan 19, 2010 05:52AM

Hey Shelagh, thanks for letting me know about the authors page. Will be sure to check it out. Have a good week......

Take Care,
Elizabeth

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message 11: by Shalonda

Dec 18, 2009 02:27AM

Hey There, Just stopping by to say hi and to let you know that I added "Forever Friends" to my goodreads authors listmania. I hope that all is well.

Shalonda

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message 10: by Jeannie

Mar 31, 2009 06:11AM

Hi Shelagh...what an awesome name! I'm sure I'd mispronouce it *smile*. Thanks for adding me as a friend.
Blessings,
Jeannie

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message 9: by Ilyn

Jan 10, 2009 03:20PM

Hello Shelagh,

How are you? Thank you for accepting my friend-request. I wish you a Healthy, Happy, & Prosperous 2009.

Please visit these groups when you have a chance: Happy & Brainy Group, To the Glory of Man, and Reason Reigns. Have a marvelous weekend. Warmest regards.

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message 8: by Chase

Nov 15, 2008 11:01AM

Hey Shelagh and good to connect with you here as well:)

Hope you are doing wonderful:)

Love and light you:)

Sincerely,

Chase:)

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message 7: by Roger

Nov 06, 2008 06:19AM

Hi Shelagh,
Thanks for the friendship on Goodreads,
ROGER

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message 6: by Aine

Oct 08, 2008 01:52PM

Hi Shelagh, good to see you here, the world is surley getting smaller, I hope you are well,
Take care, Aine

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message 5: by Bradley

Sep 14, 2008 02:29AM

I hope you are having a good day! =)

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/Bo...

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message 4: by Donald

Sep 10, 2008 01:23PM

Hi Shelagh,
I thought I invited you but maybe not (I probably had reached my limit when I did it). I hate that about this site. Thanks for inviting me!!
Don

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message 3: by Tammy

Sep 09, 2008 03:59PM

Wish I could've submitted for the anthology.. Maybe next time... Congrats to you and all the other writers. Your hard work putting this book together, I'm sure is greatly appreicated..

Tammy

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message 2: by Tammy

Sep 09, 2008 03:39PM

Hi Shelagh,

Nice to see you here... Thanks for the friendship invite.

Tammy

Fireflies, Moonlight and All That Jazz
http://www.freewebs.com/tlwhisman
Sliced Ice Cream
http://www.freewebs.com/slicedicecream

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message 1: by Gabriel

Sep 08, 2008 06:30AM

Cheers!

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