Author: ejurus
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From Draft to Published
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“Writing the last page of the first draft is the most enjoyable moment in writing.” Nicholas Sparks It’s alive! It’s alive! Well, sort of. I feel like a proud mad scientist, having stitched together my creation, given it its first breath of life. But it’s not ready for the world…
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On hiatus this week to finish the book
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“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” — Jodi Picoult Like the storm that brought Dracula to the shores of England, a storm of evil is descending on the town of Llithfaen. I’m down to the last few chapters that will decide the fate…
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Why reading a good book is better than ever
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The Wandering Companies shall know of your journey, and those that have power for good shall be on the watch. I name you Elf-friend; and may the stars shine upon the end of your road! Tolkien, J. R. R.. The Lord of the Rings The literary world has taken a…
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Bringing a dream bookstore to life
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It was the bookstore of my dreams – literally. White shelves zigzagging in and out along the walls, on a raised perimeter just a couple of steps above the central space. A treasure trove of wonderful books of all kinds, from fiction to historical. Tables in the centre with delightful…
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Be like a writer: Stop and smell the lilacs
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When I was growing up, we had a lilac shrub in the back yard, and each spring my mother would clip panicles of the lavender flowers and bring them inside. Sitting in a vase in the living room, they would fill the house with scent. The smell of things is…
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Are mirrors dangerous?
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I busted a mirror and got seven years bad luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me five. Steven Wright Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody… How do you feel about mirrors? Are they annoying…weird…creepy? We’re in the final week of Halfoween. It’s also Folk Horror Week, something celebrated on…
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What lurks in the fog?
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Fog: “a weather condition in which very small drops of water come together to form a thick cloud close to the land or sea, making it difficult to see” Cambridge Dictionary Not long after I graduated from university, I worked on a funded project at a horticultural research station that…
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Creating cursed places – inspiration from Dark Shadows
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“If I could speak the language of rabbits, they would be amazed, and I would be their king. I would be kind to my rabbit subjects. At first.” Rajesh Koothrappali, Big Bang Theory Have you ever played a Simulator game? One where you create a community, placing homes, stores, a…
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The Lovecraft Legacy
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“…he had had an unprecedented dream of great Cyclopean cities of Titan blocks and sky-flung monoliths, all dripping with green ooze and sinister with latent horror.” The Call of Cthulhu, H.P. Lovecraft We’re going to begin April/Halfoween with a creeping whisper rather than a bang. There are authors who’ve created…
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April fun in a crazy world
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Why are you looking at a graphic of Halloween stuff above? Because I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of the world at the moment! It’s finally Spring, and I want to have some fun after a long and stressful winter. April is “Halfway to Halloween” month –…