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...
At the end of this blog is the book cover for the upcoming release, Sir Louis Curlewy! For more information, scroll to the bottom and have a peek! Middle Grade Monday: Genres Romance in Middle Grade Valentine's Day is at the end of the week and, throughout several homes, couples are racking their brains on what to get their better halves! Romance is one of the most loved genres of adult fiction, romance authors being the most prolific in writing their books, and the reader community thirsty for their next read. But adult genres don't always translate into middle grade. (Incidentally, this blog comes with a caveat that I am not well-versed in romance, being a devout singleton who would rather keep my very cosy life the way it is than risking changing it for a man!) There is no romance genre in Middle Grade, for the simple reason it just doesn't appeal to people that age. They are still in, or just getting out of, the idealistic romance stories in fairytales, and aren't r...