James Stoddah's Blog
June 22, 2017
New book 'Viewpoint' on the horizon
I have finished writing my new book 'Viewpoint', which will be released in early 2018. Viewpoint is a Young-Adult fiction novel – still a mystery, but separate from the Riley’s Investigation series of contemporary mysteries (Ring of Conscience and A Parallel Trust).
Viewpoint follows a young artist, with a dark past, who investigates an old sketch of a French fortress and realises that its history is as dark as her own. In spite of the numerous ruins Kayleigh Halsey discovers and paints in her journey into adulthood, she finds colour and beauty in everything she sees, every friendship she develops and all the lives she touches.
The book is set in Cumbria, England and Provence in France. Kayleigh explores the ideas and passions of the post-impressionist era and makes her own astonishing discovery.
Subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Facebook or Twitter for updates.
Viewpoint follows a young artist, with a dark past, who investigates an old sketch of a French fortress and realises that its history is as dark as her own. In spite of the numerous ruins Kayleigh Halsey discovers and paints in her journey into adulthood, she finds colour and beauty in everything she sees, every friendship she develops and all the lives she touches.
The book is set in Cumbria, England and Provence in France. Kayleigh explores the ideas and passions of the post-impressionist era and makes her own astonishing discovery.
Subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Facebook or Twitter for updates.
September 10, 2015
Social Media Update
I've been busy on social media lately so thought I would post an update to links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.stoddah
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesStoddah
Tumblr: http://aparalleltrust.tumblr.com
Tumblr: http://melodema.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jamesstoddah/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.stoddah
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesStoddah
Tumblr: http://aparalleltrust.tumblr.com
Tumblr: http://melodema.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jamesstoddah/
September 7, 2015
How a Dream Inspired a Career Change
FROM MY HUFFINGTON POST ARTICLE THIS WEEK
In September 2003, my eldest son woke me with my morning coffee -- a weekend treat. I was disorientated. I'd been dreaming but my subconscious hadn't let the dream go. I sat in bed, drinking my coffee, recalling the dream with clarity: a schoolgirl leaves her English homework on a park bench. A man finds the exercise book and reads her story -- a story about a murdered girl whose ghost helped capture her killer. The man sets out to make a "perfect film" based on the story and the girl who wrote it unwittingly becomes the main character. I clearly recognized the places in my dream -- my home town of Penrith and a guesthouse in Glencoe Valley that became the man's hideout. That half an hour or so, sat in bed replaying the dream in my mind, changed my life.
I wrote the dream down in my notebook. I thought the plot would make an interesting book. All weekend thoughts of the dream consumed me and I found myself extending the plot, as if my conscious mind had taken over from my subconscious. By Monday morning, I had a three-page synopsis.
I had left school at 17 to pursue a career in the music industry. Music was my passion and by 21, I was running my own record label and earning a living writing jingles and songs. After my wife became pregnant with our first child, I started a music promotions company which I'd now been running successfully for 12 years.
I had never contemplated writing before. In fact, I hadn't read a book for over a year. Still, instead of going into the office that day to collect the DJ reports and Fastrax radio data, I sat in my living room typing the opening chapters. For the next six weeks I would delegate my promotions work and finish the book that I had provisionally titled The Three Wrongs.
Of course, I knew nothing about the publishing industry. The viewpoints in my novel were arbitrary and switched between first and third person. I had a lot to learn and, even though I was proud of the story and had made it work, the book wasn't really fit for publishing. My first draft was rejected -- nice concept but technically unconvincing. My ideas were good but my writing sucked. What this exercise did, however, was to completely shift my career path. I enjoyed the writing process. By now my imagination was saturated with ideas and I was filling many notebooks.
I made the decision to close my company and learn about the publishing industry. I studied the technical aspects of writing, copy-editing, proofreading, self-publishing, marketing and read hundreds of blogs by other authors. Looking back, I can't believe the ease of the transition. I completely abandoned the music industry -- my passion -- and divorced it for this newer, more exciting model, with neither regret nor conscience. I became a publishing assistant and researched, critiqued and provided marketing for other authors.
I have since abandoned The Three Wrongs but have two published books, Ring of Conscience and A Parallel Trust. Writing is a new passion. The creative process is different with every project and I've seen the industry evolve over the past 12 years.
That dream became a defining moment in my life. It created a butterfly effect that set me on a new path. As a bonus, it rekindled my love for music because, by withdrawing myself, I could look on to the industry from the outside and I found that the magic returned. I feel excited again when I enjoy a new artist and experience that buzz of adrenaline when I realise they have a back-catalogue I can explore.
My mother encouraged me to follow my dreams as a child, which is why she allowed me to leave college and focus on my passion for music. Little did I know that 20 years later, I'd literally be following my dreams.
Perhaps my subconscious knew my destiny all along.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-s...
In September 2003, my eldest son woke me with my morning coffee -- a weekend treat. I was disorientated. I'd been dreaming but my subconscious hadn't let the dream go. I sat in bed, drinking my coffee, recalling the dream with clarity: a schoolgirl leaves her English homework on a park bench. A man finds the exercise book and reads her story -- a story about a murdered girl whose ghost helped capture her killer. The man sets out to make a "perfect film" based on the story and the girl who wrote it unwittingly becomes the main character. I clearly recognized the places in my dream -- my home town of Penrith and a guesthouse in Glencoe Valley that became the man's hideout. That half an hour or so, sat in bed replaying the dream in my mind, changed my life.
I wrote the dream down in my notebook. I thought the plot would make an interesting book. All weekend thoughts of the dream consumed me and I found myself extending the plot, as if my conscious mind had taken over from my subconscious. By Monday morning, I had a three-page synopsis.
I had left school at 17 to pursue a career in the music industry. Music was my passion and by 21, I was running my own record label and earning a living writing jingles and songs. After my wife became pregnant with our first child, I started a music promotions company which I'd now been running successfully for 12 years.
I had never contemplated writing before. In fact, I hadn't read a book for over a year. Still, instead of going into the office that day to collect the DJ reports and Fastrax radio data, I sat in my living room typing the opening chapters. For the next six weeks I would delegate my promotions work and finish the book that I had provisionally titled The Three Wrongs.
Of course, I knew nothing about the publishing industry. The viewpoints in my novel were arbitrary and switched between first and third person. I had a lot to learn and, even though I was proud of the story and had made it work, the book wasn't really fit for publishing. My first draft was rejected -- nice concept but technically unconvincing. My ideas were good but my writing sucked. What this exercise did, however, was to completely shift my career path. I enjoyed the writing process. By now my imagination was saturated with ideas and I was filling many notebooks.
I made the decision to close my company and learn about the publishing industry. I studied the technical aspects of writing, copy-editing, proofreading, self-publishing, marketing and read hundreds of blogs by other authors. Looking back, I can't believe the ease of the transition. I completely abandoned the music industry -- my passion -- and divorced it for this newer, more exciting model, with neither regret nor conscience. I became a publishing assistant and researched, critiqued and provided marketing for other authors.
I have since abandoned The Three Wrongs but have two published books, Ring of Conscience and A Parallel Trust. Writing is a new passion. The creative process is different with every project and I've seen the industry evolve over the past 12 years.
That dream became a defining moment in my life. It created a butterfly effect that set me on a new path. As a bonus, it rekindled my love for music because, by withdrawing myself, I could look on to the industry from the outside and I found that the magic returned. I feel excited again when I enjoy a new artist and experience that buzz of adrenaline when I realise they have a back-catalogue I can explore.
My mother encouraged me to follow my dreams as a child, which is why she allowed me to leave college and focus on my passion for music. Little did I know that 20 years later, I'd literally be following my dreams.
Perhaps my subconscious knew my destiny all along.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-s...
September 11, 2014
September Update
Thank you for all your comments and ratings for "Ring of Conscience" - it's very much appreciated.
The new book, "A Parallel Trust" is finished and with my editor. More details will be announced soon - with a cover reveal shortly.
A new trailer for "Ring of Conscience" is here.
Don't forget the TREASURE HUNT where you can win real prizes.
Join the Hunt!
The new book, "A Parallel Trust" is finished and with my editor. More details will be announced soon - with a cover reveal shortly.
A new trailer for "Ring of Conscience" is here.
Don't forget the TREASURE HUNT where you can win real prizes.
Join the Hunt!
June 29, 2014
Join The Hunt
The website melodema.com that features in Ring of Conscience exists and readers can join the hunt along with the characters.
There is also an open treasure hunt which works in the same way as the clues in the book. There are real prizes here including a solid gold replica of the "Ring of Conscience" featured in the book. You can find that here.
Good luck! If you enjoy the book, please rate and review, it all helps.
Take care, everybody. James.
There is also an open treasure hunt which works in the same way as the clues in the book. There are real prizes here including a solid gold replica of the "Ring of Conscience" featured in the book. You can find that here.
Good luck! If you enjoy the book, please rate and review, it all helps.
Take care, everybody. James.
