T.L. Spencer's Blog
December 22, 2018
It���s nearly Christmas!
It���s true, Christmas is around the corner, only a few days away! I���m sure those of you who celebrate the occasion have been busy wrapping and bagging those well-thought out gifts and demonstrations of devotion! Even when the tape refuses to get in line and the bows refuse to stick! Christmas is a time for fun and family, at least it is for me be mine...
Christmas is also a time to take stock of our lives and the pleasures within it. Take a look at what we���ve done over the year, and see how we might improve upon anything in the next. I for one, spend far too much money (don���t we all?)!
But Christmas is also a time for pleasure. It���s a period where we can celebrate our lives, our hobbies and our homes; a time where we can take a break from work and decompress.
To that end, I have a present for you all! During the Christmas period, my books will be available for free to download.
Wishing you all a happy Christmas, a carefree winter break and a fortune filled 2019!
Terri x
It’s nearly Christmas!
It’s true, Christmas is around the corner, only a few days away! I’m sure those of you who celebrate the occasion have been busy wrapping and bagging those well-thought out gifts and demonstrations of devotion! Even when the tape refuses to get in line and the bows refuse to stick! Christmas is a time for fun and family, at least it is for me be mine...
Christmas is also a time to take stock of our lives and the pleasures within it. Take a look at what we’ve done over the year, and see how we might improve upon anything in the next. I for one, spend far too much money (don’t we all?)!
But Christmas is also a time for pleasure. It’s a period where we can celebrate our lives, our hobbies and our homes; a time where we can take a break from work and decompress.
To that end, I have a present for you all! During the Christmas period, my books will be available for free to download.
Wishing you all a happy Christmas, a carefree winter break and a fortune filled 2019!
Terri x
November 11, 2018
Up to date!
Hello everyone!I haven’t been on here for so long, it feels almost criminal! There really is no excuse, and I apologise. I have had a few things happening at home - blogging simply got pushed to the bottom of the pile!Anyway, I’m back (maybe not better than ever, but back all the same) and have some updates for you.First, I’ll be making some additions to the blog, including two new books. The first will be the second edition of Blood Prophecy, which includes bonus content; the second is the third instalment of the Witch-Haven saga, Dark Delusions.I also have some freebies in the form of book deals to present just in time for the festive period, so watch this space!
Speak soon,TL Spencer xxx
Speak soon,TL Spencer xxx
August 11, 2016
Setting a good example...
I was going to write an article and give you boring facts and figures about how reading to children early sets a good example and has the potential to improve language skills later on in life, but I think I shall let this picture speak for itself.
Sometimes an image can do more than all the numbers in the world.
Sometimes an image can do more than all the numbers in the world.
Enjoy the Sunshine!
It is a lovely day today, and I encourage people to get outside and enjoy the rays! We've already been out and walked the dog!
July 30, 2016
Dedicated to Reading!
Where and when do you read? The answer may surprise you...
Having worked around children and adults in education, I can say with certainty that the knowledge and understanding of the English language is key to getting on in life. It may sound obvious, or perhaps foolish, to some but the statement is true all the same. We live and breathe words. And nowhere are words more beautiful and colourful than in books. It is in books that we can find new words and improve our minds, discover new things and go on adventures we never thought we could; wth books we can become more open-minded and more understanding and upload fantastic information into our brains.
But how often to people read? And when they do, what do they read? Where do they read and who is reading the most?
To answer these questions, I will be posting articles, pictures and links to discuss and uncover the truth behind our obsession with words and, in some cases, our reticence to read.
Watch this space!
Having worked around children and adults in education, I can say with certainty that the knowledge and understanding of the English language is key to getting on in life. It may sound obvious, or perhaps foolish, to some but the statement is true all the same. We live and breathe words. And nowhere are words more beautiful and colourful than in books. It is in books that we can find new words and improve our minds, discover new things and go on adventures we never thought we could; wth books we can become more open-minded and more understanding and upload fantastic information into our brains.
But how often to people read? And when they do, what do they read? Where do they read and who is reading the most?
To answer these questions, I will be posting articles, pictures and links to discuss and uncover the truth behind our obsession with words and, in some cases, our reticence to read.
Watch this space!
June 30, 2016
The best Meme!
So, I've found a meme which I absolutely adore! For anyone with a husky, this will we completely understandable:
Awesome!
And here's another one I discovered whilst surfing through Pinterest...
Please enjoy these Husky Happy Shots!
Awesome!
And here's another one I discovered whilst surfing through Pinterest...
Please enjoy these Husky Happy Shots!
June 23, 2016
Shadow Box!
I love these things; works of art and yet so useful at the same time!
This one was made from a book! I've also seen money boxes, fairy wishing wells and night lights. They are fascinating things. Originally, they were made to dazzle people, most often showing off a person's personal or military prowess. Now though, they are are often created to stand as great works of art.
This one was made from a book! I've also seen money boxes, fairy wishing wells and night lights. They are fascinating things. Originally, they were made to dazzle people, most often showing off a person's personal or military prowess. Now though, they are are often created to stand as great works of art.
June 22, 2016
Rosie Rushton Review
My love of Jane Austen has risen to new heights with this collection of modernised teenage adaptations of the beloved novels by author Rosie Rushton. From Whatever Love Is (Mansfield Park) to firm favourites Summer of Secrets (Northanger Abbey) and Love, Lies and Lizzie (Pride and Prejudice), Rushton has definitely set the bar on how to write a romantic comedy with depth, passion and hormonal drama!
So, If I was talking about Austen, I'd start with publishing order. However, as these are adaptations, I'm going to start with my lowest rated. This review contains spoilers.
*** Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams ***
An adaptation of Emma, this charming novel brings to the fore all the sentimentality and sarcastic dry wit that the original did. Like the original, Emma Woodhouse is a young, caring woman who is well aware of her luck, good fortune and status - and also well determined to ensure she passes that wealth on by pairing her friends. When her best friend George Knightley, needs help at his family's hotel over the summer, who is she to deny him, especially when there are certain individuals around - like Frank Churchill - to make life a little more interesting?
There was a lot I admired about this book. Emma had a certain naivety which her superior sophisticated attitude made all the more endearing, and George Knightley with his stoic charm and intelligence balanced out her foolishness rather well. The arguments and debates were well written and the twist involving Frank Churchill, while expected, was pleasing. Not many teen novels include 'gay' characters and the reveal was spectacular, and inkeeping with today's technology.
However, on saying this, I feel that the pacing was slightly off. Certain chapters were dull and unnecessary with characters acting, well, out of character! Secondary relationships suffered slightly in tis novel, also. While Emma and George were fantastic, the chemistry between others (including Emma and Frank) was a little forced, meaning that the romantic elements were quite drained, and even non-existent in some places. I think this had more to with the structure of the novel, as it followed extremely close to the book. The 'proposal' scene in the original is essentially the same in the adaptation (modern notions aside), so it lost something in translation. Cute, but not romantic. At the beginning, George was a great romantic figure, and remained so. However, in the end few scenes he seemed more like a carer than a boyfriend.
Overall, it was a funny tale of teenage misadventure, which focused more on the lies and drama than on the funny ideals of romance, losing a little in modernised translation. Three stars.
***The Secrets of Love***This one also gets three stars, but I liked it a bit more than the previous one, based on Sense and Sensibility, this story tells the tale of sisters Ellie, Abby and Georgie as they deal with the loss of their father and their home, and of course new relationships. Ellie meets Blake (Edward Ferras) and Abby starts dating the devil-may-care Hunter, even as the georgeous drummer Nick sticks to her side no matter her attitude. And Georgie? She does her own thing... But when families and expectation collide, what will happen to them?
In some ways, I enjoyed this more than the original (my apologies to every Austen addict), as Sense and Sensibility is ridiculously worded in places, with dialogue being much different from all the others. This novel was full of teenage angst and hormonal frustration which made it extremely relatable. Unlike the above adaptation, the relationships were much better written and the story and characters were more consistent. However, as usual, I felt that poor Brandon (Nick) got pushed out again and it takes something massive (like a car crash) to make our character see hat a great guy he is. Know it isn't Rosie Rushton's fault, but it's one of the main issues of the original novel and could be sooooooo easily fixed.
Ridiculous!
***Echoes of Love***This one gets 3.5 stars. Persuasion! Anna Elliot and Felix Wentworth were head over heels in love, only family got in the way. Two years later, Felix is back and seemingly determined to show Anna exactly how much he doesn't care.
Poor Anna! Talk about tough. You really feel for her. She has her best friend (not gonna spoil this for you, but I was extremely impressed) but no one else. Her sisters are spoiled to the core and self-centred and everyone else relies on her to fix everything. And Felix? Oh my goodness. He is bitchy. A sexy kind of bitchy, but still.
I'm not sure what to say about ths book. It was very emotive and had some very wise thoughts - Felix's aunt was particularly brilliant and offered the audience a 'get out of novel free card' when times became too emotional - and the scenes and characters from the original were well adapted. I particularly love the 'half agony, half hope' admission of love letter in this book. It was modern, inkeeping with the 'Wentworth' honour, and ridiculously romantic. The teenage drama was there, also, which seems to be Rushton's forte and unlike the ordinal gave us the couple's backstory, which was sweet and kind of heartbreaking at the same time. But at some points I think it felt a bit manic, with too much of everything in one place.
Overall though, this was a heartwarming novel which focused on trust and memory. I loved it. If only the pacing weren't so up and down, and some scenes not so hectic!
****Whatever Love Is****Frankie being friend zoned. Frankie who wants to be a writer and who is always there for everyone. Mansfield Park all over again.
Frankie is the girl who was taken in by her mother's adoptive family. She's in love with her adoptive/step cousin Ned, who unfortunately won't give her the time of day because he's fallen for someone so inappropriate and shallow it's unreal. The more she tries to help him, the more hurt she gets. What's a girl to do? She certainly won't go anywhere near Henry, he's too much of a flirt...
This was a clever adaptation, even down to Frankie's brother working in a cruise liner as a photographer (instead of being in the navy). Mr Bertram is now a fashion designer, with the eldest brother falling out with him over production line issues and Young Ned wanting to be a social worker.The two Betram sisters are much the same, but with young Julia's kind side highlighted with cookery skills. The romance was a strong component and the dialogue was amazing. Quick, sassy and realistic, each character had their own style and consistency. Plus, the interactions were fabulous, with the more intense scenes being the best - the reveal at the end was interesting to say the least, and Henry getting a slap was quite satisfying!
While I wou.d have liked to see a darker side to Frankie's character, I understand that as an adaptation to Mansfield Park, she is essentially the consistent Angel. Still, it would have been nice to see her try and make Ned jealous! Overall hour, this was a great book and I've read it lots of times.
****Love, Lies and Lizzie****Another Pride and Prejudice adaptation... James and Lizzie, fighting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G... Mrs Bennet trying to get in with big-wigs, texting couples, Jane Bennet heart broken over a lost love, emails with scandalous confessions, George Wickham and drugs, a party addict Lydia... Need I say more?
*****Summer of Secrets*****Summer gets an opportunity to go to Italy with her friend... And her friend's hot brother. Only, when she gets there, a secret needs to be revealed.
This is my favourite adaptation. Perhaps because it's my least favourite original novel, Northangar Abbey's adaptation, this book came as a pleasant surprise and offered great incite into psychological disorders. Thoughtful, fun and romantic. Summer is so dreamy, with her head stuck in magazines and her mind stuck in conspiracies and adventure, that her intelligence seems overshadowed by naivety. It's entirely endearing, Ludo tells her, and amusing too. Because she is caring and considerate, and just wants her friend to be happy, even if she has to upset people, to do it!
I have read and reread this. The gothic element has been brilliantly transferred into art and mystery, and the relationships have been translated really well. I was so surprised at this novel, and I thoroughly recommend it. Five stars.
So, If I was talking about Austen, I'd start with publishing order. However, as these are adaptations, I'm going to start with my lowest rated. This review contains spoilers.
*** Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams ***
An adaptation of Emma, this charming novel brings to the fore all the sentimentality and sarcastic dry wit that the original did. Like the original, Emma Woodhouse is a young, caring woman who is well aware of her luck, good fortune and status - and also well determined to ensure she passes that wealth on by pairing her friends. When her best friend George Knightley, needs help at his family's hotel over the summer, who is she to deny him, especially when there are certain individuals around - like Frank Churchill - to make life a little more interesting?
There was a lot I admired about this book. Emma had a certain naivety which her superior sophisticated attitude made all the more endearing, and George Knightley with his stoic charm and intelligence balanced out her foolishness rather well. The arguments and debates were well written and the twist involving Frank Churchill, while expected, was pleasing. Not many teen novels include 'gay' characters and the reveal was spectacular, and inkeeping with today's technology.
However, on saying this, I feel that the pacing was slightly off. Certain chapters were dull and unnecessary with characters acting, well, out of character! Secondary relationships suffered slightly in tis novel, also. While Emma and George were fantastic, the chemistry between others (including Emma and Frank) was a little forced, meaning that the romantic elements were quite drained, and even non-existent in some places. I think this had more to with the structure of the novel, as it followed extremely close to the book. The 'proposal' scene in the original is essentially the same in the adaptation (modern notions aside), so it lost something in translation. Cute, but not romantic. At the beginning, George was a great romantic figure, and remained so. However, in the end few scenes he seemed more like a carer than a boyfriend.
Overall, it was a funny tale of teenage misadventure, which focused more on the lies and drama than on the funny ideals of romance, losing a little in modernised translation. Three stars.
***The Secrets of Love***This one also gets three stars, but I liked it a bit more than the previous one, based on Sense and Sensibility, this story tells the tale of sisters Ellie, Abby and Georgie as they deal with the loss of their father and their home, and of course new relationships. Ellie meets Blake (Edward Ferras) and Abby starts dating the devil-may-care Hunter, even as the georgeous drummer Nick sticks to her side no matter her attitude. And Georgie? She does her own thing... But when families and expectation collide, what will happen to them?
In some ways, I enjoyed this more than the original (my apologies to every Austen addict), as Sense and Sensibility is ridiculously worded in places, with dialogue being much different from all the others. This novel was full of teenage angst and hormonal frustration which made it extremely relatable. Unlike the above adaptation, the relationships were much better written and the story and characters were more consistent. However, as usual, I felt that poor Brandon (Nick) got pushed out again and it takes something massive (like a car crash) to make our character see hat a great guy he is. Know it isn't Rosie Rushton's fault, but it's one of the main issues of the original novel and could be sooooooo easily fixed.
Ridiculous!
***Echoes of Love***This one gets 3.5 stars. Persuasion! Anna Elliot and Felix Wentworth were head over heels in love, only family got in the way. Two years later, Felix is back and seemingly determined to show Anna exactly how much he doesn't care.
Poor Anna! Talk about tough. You really feel for her. She has her best friend (not gonna spoil this for you, but I was extremely impressed) but no one else. Her sisters are spoiled to the core and self-centred and everyone else relies on her to fix everything. And Felix? Oh my goodness. He is bitchy. A sexy kind of bitchy, but still.
I'm not sure what to say about ths book. It was very emotive and had some very wise thoughts - Felix's aunt was particularly brilliant and offered the audience a 'get out of novel free card' when times became too emotional - and the scenes and characters from the original were well adapted. I particularly love the 'half agony, half hope' admission of love letter in this book. It was modern, inkeeping with the 'Wentworth' honour, and ridiculously romantic. The teenage drama was there, also, which seems to be Rushton's forte and unlike the ordinal gave us the couple's backstory, which was sweet and kind of heartbreaking at the same time. But at some points I think it felt a bit manic, with too much of everything in one place.
Overall though, this was a heartwarming novel which focused on trust and memory. I loved it. If only the pacing weren't so up and down, and some scenes not so hectic!
****Whatever Love Is****Frankie being friend zoned. Frankie who wants to be a writer and who is always there for everyone. Mansfield Park all over again.
Frankie is the girl who was taken in by her mother's adoptive family. She's in love with her adoptive/step cousin Ned, who unfortunately won't give her the time of day because he's fallen for someone so inappropriate and shallow it's unreal. The more she tries to help him, the more hurt she gets. What's a girl to do? She certainly won't go anywhere near Henry, he's too much of a flirt...
This was a clever adaptation, even down to Frankie's brother working in a cruise liner as a photographer (instead of being in the navy). Mr Bertram is now a fashion designer, with the eldest brother falling out with him over production line issues and Young Ned wanting to be a social worker.The two Betram sisters are much the same, but with young Julia's kind side highlighted with cookery skills. The romance was a strong component and the dialogue was amazing. Quick, sassy and realistic, each character had their own style and consistency. Plus, the interactions were fabulous, with the more intense scenes being the best - the reveal at the end was interesting to say the least, and Henry getting a slap was quite satisfying!
While I wou.d have liked to see a darker side to Frankie's character, I understand that as an adaptation to Mansfield Park, she is essentially the consistent Angel. Still, it would have been nice to see her try and make Ned jealous! Overall hour, this was a great book and I've read it lots of times.
****Love, Lies and Lizzie****Another Pride and Prejudice adaptation... James and Lizzie, fighting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G... Mrs Bennet trying to get in with big-wigs, texting couples, Jane Bennet heart broken over a lost love, emails with scandalous confessions, George Wickham and drugs, a party addict Lydia... Need I say more?
*****Summer of Secrets*****Summer gets an opportunity to go to Italy with her friend... And her friend's hot brother. Only, when she gets there, a secret needs to be revealed.
This is my favourite adaptation. Perhaps because it's my least favourite original novel, Northangar Abbey's adaptation, this book came as a pleasant surprise and offered great incite into psychological disorders. Thoughtful, fun and romantic. Summer is so dreamy, with her head stuck in magazines and her mind stuck in conspiracies and adventure, that her intelligence seems overshadowed by naivety. It's entirely endearing, Ludo tells her, and amusing too. Because she is caring and considerate, and just wants her friend to be happy, even if she has to upset people, to do it!
I have read and reread this. The gothic element has been brilliantly transferred into art and mystery, and the relationships have been translated really well. I was so surprised at this novel, and I thoroughly recommend it. Five stars.
June 20, 2016
About what isn't there...
Hi guys, tomorrow I will be posting my review of the Austen adaptations! In the mean time, take a look at these pictures and the art of space...
I am all for accidental art, so anything to do with reading is fantastic! The use of the book and the glasses together, the negative spacing... It's perfect, and so pretty!
Again, another example, this time with a ring. These were taken with iPhones if you can believe it (these images are available on Pinterest and are accompanied by articles in photography).
This is probably my favourite. Books to make you think. :) As all books should. xxx
I am all for accidental art, so anything to do with reading is fantastic! The use of the book and the glasses together, the negative spacing... It's perfect, and so pretty!
Again, another example, this time with a ring. These were taken with iPhones if you can believe it (these images are available on Pinterest and are accompanied by articles in photography).
This is probably my favourite. Books to make you think. :) As all books should. xxx
