As it's National Poetry Day, I thought I'd share a few thoughts on Byron. The celebrity cult of Lord Byron began while he was still alive, boomed when he died, and still continues today. He remains an object of fascination, scandal, and appeal. I've been interested in him since I first read about him in a "Famous People" encyclopaedia. It was a children's book, so it did not explore the more infamous aspects of his life. But it was enough to inspire me to delve further into research on the man and the myth - including the puzzle of the mirror . Ultimately, Byron went on to become a major inspiration for my first published book Day's Dying Glory , right down to its title. His early poems (generally my favourite ones) feature heavily in the book, and I enjoyed weaving in lines and references which Byron-fans would spot where others might not even notice them. Poets and poetry have inspired hundreds of writers. It is fascinating that language can be so power...
Firstly, happy new year!
Secondly... New Year means New Goals!
One of my goals this year is to publish a blog post every Monday, centred around writing for middle grade. 2025 is the year I publish my book Doorway to the Sunset, a middle grade fantasy adventure, and Book 2 in the Feather Down trilogy.
What is Middle Grade?
Middle Grade is an American term, coming from their education system, where Middle School is generally for ages 8 - 12. Middle Grade books, therefore, are aimed at that age group.
It’s not a genre, but an age bracket, so saying ‘Middle Grade Historical Fiction’ just means that the story is in the genre Historical Fiction, but is aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 12.
(There is some discrepancy over what ages are covered by middle grade, some people saying 9 to 13 is more ideal.)
However, the age range is only a suggestion, used mostly by marketers to understand their audience. I, like many other adults, also love to read middle grade. Personally, I find them more fun, and more likely to focus on plot instead of beautiful prose.
The Secret Garden is one example of a middle grade book
So, what about the characters?
Throughout the year, on the first Monday of the month, I’ll be focussing on the types of characters you could write for Middle Grade. Each book should have a main character, of course, but middle grade usually involves a baddy too, and a friend and a mentor. Then, we’ll delve into the realms of magical characters, and mythical creatures. By the end of the year, you’ll know just what a range of possible characters you can have in middle grade.
Another example of a middle grade book. The Tale of Truthwater Lake is our focus book for January. I'll be posting my book review on the 27th.
The Schedule
Writing out the schedule here makes me accountable, so I can’t just think one day, “Nah, I don’t think I’ll write a blog post this week!"
The schedule goes:
3/2/25 The main character
3/3/25 The baddy
7/4/25 The friend
5/5/25 The mentor
2/6/25 Mythical creatures
7/7/25 Magical characters
4/8/25 Adults in Middle Grade
1/9/25 Naming a character
6/10/25 Using existing characters
3/11/25 Character habits
1/12/25 Character Appearances
Follow along on the journey and, if you’d like to add anything, please do use the comments section!
What’s New With Crowvus?
The team at Crowvus have been looking back over the past year, which has been much quieter than usual. A few changes have happened within the Crowvus Team, and it’s taking a bit of adjustment. We are determined, however, that 2025 is going to be a very positive year for our little publishing company.
We have five books that we are publishing in 2025:
Sir Louis Curlewy - A children’s non-fiction book in rhyme! This delightful poem introduces children and adults alike to the wonderful world of the curlew.
Doorway to the Sunset - A middle grade fantasy adventure. When a terrifying creature is found to be on the prowl for souls, Freya and her friends must find out who sent the animal and how to defeat it.
The Stealth of Caledon - An historical fantasy for adults. The Clan of Caledon faces more danger as a new character shows his face in Golspie: A hunter who is driven to destroy Caledon by any means necessary.
A Gothic Horror Anthology - No, this isn’t the final name, but the title says it all! Judith Crow has compiled her novellas and short stories into this spine chilling book that is sure to get you looking over your shoulder.
Our Annual Christmas Ghost Story Anthology - Again, not the name! And I have no idea what stories will be featured as the competition hasn’t opened yet. If you enjoy writing ghost stories, however, get your fingers on that keyboard. The competition opens in May and we can’t wait to hear from you!
If you have any questions, or anything to add, get in touch on the comments section or by emailing the Crowvus team at the_team@crowvus.com
Happy writing!
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