Monday Musings – The Journey to Publication

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Today is the publication day of Uncle Jasmine, but you probably know that because I’ve been wittering on about it on social media as part of my launch plan.  What I’ve not shared with you is what an emotional journey publishing a book can be as an indie author.  So, join me on a journey to publication day.  We’ll visit some familiar places, some hidden gems but also some dark caves, mountain edges and disaster zones before we end up here at Publication Paradise.

For me the first step of this journey is to the Island of Ideas, a lush and fertile place where my popcorn brain pops out hundreds of ideas, flowing thick and fast like lava from a volcano.  My task is to find the ‘chosen one’ the idea that I am going to go with, the story that is going to occupy my brain and become my next project.  Now with so many ideas you might think this is an easy task, but oh no, the many inhabitants of the Island of Ideas, are all vying for my attention screaming, ‘Pick me’, ‘I’m the best’, ‘My turn’, ‘Meeeeeee’! They clamour over each other fighting to get picked, to be the holy grail, the one that will take the full journey, alongside me, the anguished author, until we reach Publication Paradise.

When I have chosen my new bedfellow we get up-close and personal, spending every waking (and sleeping) hour together in the Writing Warehouse, my workplace until the book is written.  There are many shelves in that warehouse and together we flit about, sometimes visiting the ‘Wow this is great’ shelf, occasionally camping out in the ‘Writer’s Block’ aisle, and of course many visits to the  Passageway of Procrastination. We scribernate in the warehouse until the idea has transformed into a book and then it’s time to leave the writing warehouse to travel to Admin Adventureland.  I mutter myself ‘Never again’, whilst simultaneously screaming ‘Yay, what shall I write next?’

It’s called Admin Adventureland because admin sounds boring right?  Wrong!  Admin Adventureland is an exciting place which contains a rollercoaster of many peaks and troughs. The words are written, the story is told, now is the time for the exciting stuff, admin! Oh, sorry I may have taken a detour to Sarcasm Street there.  Editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting, ISBNs, lots of practicalities and problems to overcome! So many places to get lost along the way, The Forest of Frustration, The Tidal Pools of Technology, Marketing Mountain, The Publicity Pyramids and of course The Savannah of Self Doubt.

And then. After what feels like a lifetime of admin, it’s time.  Publication Paradise awaits. As an indie author I gather up as many friends, family, acquaintances, randomers, waifs and strays to join me in Publication Paradise where we enjoy the book, the fact it exists, the way it can be purchased. Basking in the sunshine of this paradise for as long as possible. Until.

“Ferry to the Island of Ideas…”

Oh, go on then let’s see where this journey takes me!

And if you would like to join me in Publication Paradise and buy a copy of Uncle Jasmine, here are the links…

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncle-Jasmine-Claire-Walsh/dp/1915472245

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncle-Jasmine-Claire-Walsh-ebook/dp/B0D7Q67DHR/2

https://www.waterstones.com/book/uncle-jasmine/claire-walsh/lewis-mardon/9781915472236

5 reasons I Write Books for Children about LGBTQIA+ Characters

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1- I mean the age of the kids I write my books for they’re probably not thinking about that sort of stuff, right?  I know that it will be older young people and adults who will be thinking about their gender and sexuality, but… representation in children’s books matters because when young people and adults are thinking about those issues, they might just remember that as a child they read these books and will know that they are valid, will know that they are accepted, and will know that they are loved.  That can only be a good thing in my mind.

2- Children live in all sorts of families, with all sorts of people.  If they don’t see books with all sorts of people and all sorts of families, they may feel invisible.  They may think they are the only person with a trans brother, the only person with two mummies, the only person with a daddy who sometimes wears a dress.  Feeling invisible, not feeling seen, can have negative impact on self-esteem, mental health and wellbeing.  So anything that can help with that is surely something that needs to exist, right? Representation really matters!

3- Representation works both ways!  The word homophobia annoys me, I mean it’s not a fear is it? It’s prejudice, it’s hate, it’s bigotry and it’s unacceptable.  But maybe, just maybe, if when they were younger, some of those homophobes had read books with LGBTQIA+ characters, they would have seen that there was nothing to be scared of, nothing to fear and we would now have a fairer, more respectful world with more love and less hate.  A world with more love, imagine that.

4- Because it’s personal!  I’m proud that within my family, as well as being allies, we represent many of the letters in LGBTIA+, it’s our community and we are proud. So, I write my books with my family in mind.  Books I wish those of us in the older generations had had when we were growing up, books that our younger members, and future generations will have and grow up reading.  

5- The last reason is because I can.  Sadly, many people have to hide their sexuality and identity through fear. I could share lots of negative statistics but I’m not going to, instead I’m going to accept that I am privileged and use that privilege to contribute to a world where all LGBTQ+ can be themselves and live full and fulfilled lives without fear.

So that’s why I do what I do.  You can find my books below if you know a little person who would like one.  And if not, why not buy a copy to donate to a library, foodbank or school.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncle-Jasmine-Claire-Walsh-ebook/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncle-Jasmine-Claire-Walsh/dp/1915472245/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Princess-Without-Crown-Claire-Walsh/dp/1912677903/

Monday Musings – Thinking About Families

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Hi!

I’m Claire the pink adoring author who likes to smash stereotypes and write from the heart.  I’m a proper word nerd and love reading and writing in all shapes and sizes – and that’s just me, not the books!

I live in the Highlands of Scotland with Mr Chapter Two, our cats Banana and Princess, our sheep, Gertie and Norah, as well as 6 chickens affectionately known as ‘The Girls’.

Between us we have lots of kids, ranging from the youngest at 9, to the oldest at almost 34. The youngest ‘The Boy Who Brings Joy’ has just spent a week with us in Scotland and it got me thinking about the diversity of families and how that is to be celebrated.

When Mr Chapter Two and I first got together, we described our families and our life as ‘mending and blending’.  In the mixing pot were his 5 children and heartache from divorce, my 2 children, 1 grandchild and my grief from widowhood. Oh, and a foster son, as together we became accidental foster parents (that’s another blog in itself!)

So, thinking about families and my love of books, I thought I would share with you a couple of my favourites that show the diversity of families and the wonderful unique people that make up those families.

First up Where Are We Going by Vie Portland.  Vie is one of my favourite independent authors and human beings.  This book follows Emily and her mum as they take a magical journey home.  Emily is disabled and has a prosthetic leg, but the book isn’t about that.  Emily’s mum is a single parent, but the book isn’t about that either!

You can find this and other resources by Vie here.

https://www.vieness.co.uk/shop

I also love The Family Book by Todd Parr, the simplistic statements and vibrant pictures support the key message that families come in many varieties. Through the repetitive phrases ‘some families… and all families…’, the book clearly shows our differences are to be celebrated, and that whatever our differences there will be some similarities too, things like love, grief and strength happen in all families.

You can find it here on my bookshop.org account.  I love Bookshop.org as they support independent bookshops.

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4552/9780316070409

And then of course there is Uncle Jasmine by little old me.  Due to be released during Non-Binary Awareness Week, 8-14th July, this book features a family member who is gender fluid and what a wonderful influence they are in the life of their niece.  If you want to know more and find out how the launch is going you can sign up here.

https://mailchi.mp/3ae6a4316dec/5wh3xwx5uf

I’d love to know if you have any favourite books about families. Anyway, enough from me.  Enjoy whatever you are reading or writing.

Claire