Wonder in the Woods.

This morning I took a walk in the woods. I drove to Falkland, famed for Maspie Den, Falkland Palace, Outlander, and wonderful walks, cafes, crafts, and other lovely things. The sun glinted through the trees, spilling magic onto the crunchy leaf and cone ground. Old grandparent trees creaked and cracked, and younger trees groaned and gazed.

It was exactly what I needed! I don’t know about you, but some days my brain gets so tired it hurts. Reading makes me drift off to sleep, boardgames feel like a huge task, and the longest sentence I can manage is about three words. A walk in the woods fixed that, and I came home and got to work on the Mischief Movement, writing a new scene to replace one I wasn’t quite happy with.

And tonight, I plan on snuggling down an having a good, long read.

Here are a few pictures of the Falkland Estate woods - I hope the magic crosses over to you.

V x

January is Jiggling Already

So, it’s a new year (still!), and along with it comes energy, doubts, inspiration, and newness. I like newness. There’s something about the turn of the calendar numbers that makes me want to reinvent the world a little. Perhaps a bit ambitious? So, I will settle for trying new things and learning new skills. And inventing new worlds in my head!

I’ve started painting in acrylics again and will keep thumbing my bass guitar.

And for my writing? Well… 2024 will see words splat onto the page in droves!

The Soul Lottery is undergoing a rewrite. The lovely Bella Pearson at Guppy Books gave me some insightful and wise feedback on my manuscript. It was so heartening to hear that when she chose The Soul Lottery for the Guppy Books shortlist, she considered it publishable. Being a runner-up may not have brought the publishing deal immediately, but it has spurred me to keep learning, and to make my manuscript even better! So, watch this space, peeps, because I’m hard at work helping Evan in the crypt.

The Mischief Movement is living up to its name and has caused all sorts of mischief. From refusing to budge when I had a wordcount deadline, to declaring itself unwilling to carry on in 3rd person past tense and forcing me to write 10000 words in 1st person present tense (which I have never done before) in just three weeks - and show them to my editor! Eek! Thankfully the words came together, and Marsali’s voice sprung onto the page, and now the story is coursing with vigour and possibilities, and a few too many silly jokes.

It’s been an exciting week, too! I spent two days in London and visited The British Library. I saw their Fantasy exhibition, which was an absolute wonder. Think original notes, centuries-old stories, the biggest, best names from the dawn of fantasy to now, and its digital offspring. Go if you can, and have your imagination nourished.

The highlight of my visit was attending The Big Honk, held by The Golden Egg Academy (Golden Egg Academy - The best editors and writing course for children's writers.), where I am enrolled. I was lucky to meet my writing group in person (rather than WhatsApp and Zoom), as well as tutors, editors, and other classmates. It was exciting to chat with some of the agents who attended too, and I was delighted by their interest in The Soul Lottery. I’ve heard it said many times, but to experience it is something else - the children’s writing community is a spectacular bunch of lovely, diverse, friendly people, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it. Also at the party was the inimitable Barry Cunningham, OBE, with whom I had a lovely chat about what’s happening in YA, and the need for boy protagonists in middle-grade fiction.

A truly magical evening.

I hope your year has sprung up brightly.

Verity x

Time and space to create

It’s a gift to be able to choose creation.

Every thought, dream, and idea is a seed we can nurture, a seed we can grow into creation. The little nooks inside of us - all of us - whether we are five years old, fifteen, or one hundred store our magic. What stories do you love? What seeds do you imagine they grew from?

When I write stories, they usually start with a concept - that is an idea big enough to explore - and I search out just the right children in my imagination (and my heart - for there is a girl with tales to tell in there) to enjoy it. Then I write them into the adventure. It takes time, space, and peace to do it. Sometimes I have a few hours alone to write hundreds of words. I love these times because this is when the jokes flow, and sometimes tears! And I usually enjoy lots of tea and chocolate. Other times I snatch a moment (or a moment snatches me) and jot down a fizzing idea before it disappears. These moments count, and it doesn’t matter how big or small your time and space to create is - as long as you take them.

Don’t be afraid to take the time to create. Even if it’s tiny, it’s precious.

I wonder what your seeds will grow…