The Time has Come for #NaNoWriMo 2016!

Wow, is it that time of year again? Cor blimey, it has been another busy one. Well, this time I am incredibly excited to return to #NaNoWriMo for this, my 6^th challenge. I am using the time this year to complete a first draft of my manuscript for Redcliffe book 5 in my Redcliffe Novels series.

 I have no idea what is going to happen or where the story is heading, although I feel this one might have more of a vampire flavour, because I think the werewolves have taken over a little bit too much lately… then again, it could all change. The Mason brothers are a force to be reckoned with, and Jessica Stone is fast losing control of her animal familiar. Anything could happen!

So, look me up in NaNoland, find me on Twitter and Facebook, and let’s support each other through another gruelling, exciting, amazing #NaNoWriMo challenge.

 Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

#NationalPoetryDay – Living with the Black Dog

The sun is shining brightly

And the air is crisp and clear,

You barely slept again last night

I was there, so far, so near.

What thoughts distract your tired mind?

What torment must you feel?

You worry, stress, so much to do

You’re on the hamster wheel.

Come home, I say,

we need you here.

Oh no, you say,

There’s much to fear.

My work won’t wait

I’m all alone,

And there we wait

Just by the phone.

I love you, husband

I know you care.

We wait here for you

As the demons keep you there.

Life is too hectic

We never stop to think,

Why is it so important?

To push ourselves to the brink?

Of mental health disorder

Of chaos, anger and tears,

Our life falls into madness

While you succumb to your fears.

THE END 

Did this poem resonate with you? Then you might like to read some articles on my other blog: SpookyMrsGreen: the Pagan Housewife - A pagan lifestyle blog that incorporates mindful parenting, magic and mysticism, environmental awareness and related subjects.

Summer Holidays and Spiritual Happenings #pbloggers

Hello! We are settling in to our Big Summer Holidays now, and I am inviting you to join me at Northwich Memorial Court next weekend for our big Mind, Body, Spirit event.

                     

There are mediums and Tarot readers, fabulous authors (myself included) to speak with, beautiful crystals and handmade gifts for sale, music, dancing, yoga, spiritual development and lots more. See you there!

Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

British Paranormal Romance novels by Catherine Green

The April #AtoZChallenge with SpookyMrsGreen

It might get a little quiet over here during April. That’s because I am devoting most of my time to the #AtoZChallenge over on my pagan housewife blog, SpookyMrsGreen. There you will find ghost hunter stories, pagan housewife adventures, family drama, personal epiphanies, and much more. See you later!

Don’t forget to read my brand new contemporary adult fairytale: The Wolf and the Fairy. Available to download now in most digital formats.

Excuse Me While I Renovate My Kitchen

You may have noticed that I have been rather quiet over here on the blog this month. I have been slightly distracted by a project that turned into something quite large, and very exciting. After living in our home for almost ten years, my  husband and I finally got round to renovating our kitchen. Yes, you heard me, we are renovating our kitchen!

The units were quite dated, very impractical, and offered the worst kind of storage solution for a growing family of four in a small, 2-bed Victorian terraced house.  We couldn’t quite afford to extend, and there isn’t very much land to work with anyway, so for now we are focusing on cosmetic improvements. This begins with a brand new kitchen, and I am incredibly excited as I watch it being installed! See My Kitchen Renovation Project over on my SpookyMrsGreen website.

Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Meet Me in Nantwich for some #Spiritual Healing

I have exciting news, friends! This year you will see me at all of the weekend events run by Rosemary Douglas. I said I wanted to get back out there on the MBS circuit, and Spirit was listening. Now, I am officially back at work.

               

See me at Nantwich Civic Hall on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March. This is a Yoga event, also featuring folk of the faery and shaman tradition, so you are sure to find something of interest and delight. I will be doing a talk on stage on both days, sharing some insight about how I became the pagan housewife, SpookyMrsGreen, and my journey as an indie author. See you there!

A Spiritual Home for the Redcliffe Novels

Last weekend I finally got myself back out on the MBS scene, after an absence of about 2 years (maternity leave). For those of you not in the know, MBS is short for Mind, Body and Spirit. These events are incredibly popular, and a wonderful way for spiritual people to come together and share their messages with others. For a long time, I talked myself out of exhibiting my novels, because I didn’t think they were suitable for the events. Rosemary Douglas, the owner, had other ideas. She can be very persuasive, and I am so glad she talked me into doing this event!

Sometimes we have to step outside our own minds in order to make sense of a situation, or find a new way to do something. While I was at the event, I sold some books, told some new people about my novels and my work, and gave out a few flyers and business cards. I also felt incredibly well rested and relaxed by the end of the day, because I was in my spiritual home. Surrounded by like-minded friends, I soaked in the warm, loving energy of Rosemary’s event, and I cannot wait to return for another one very soon. Why don’t you come and see me next time?

Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Soulfully Connecting Interviews SpookyMrsGreen #ASMSG #pagan

Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) #paranormalromance #ASMSG

I am Back on Track for #NaNoWriMo!

Phew, what a day! It has been a challenging start to #NaNoWriMo2015, with the shock of a family bereavement last week. It was my wonderful Nanna, who succumbed to illness after a lengthy stay in hospital. She battled hard right to the end, and I think truthfully she knew it was coming, and so did I, deep down. It was still a shock, however, and as I write these words, I feel the tears welling up once again.

It would be very easy for me to give up on NaNoWriMo 2015, and blame life events for the cause. But that is not my nature. I have been battling many life challenges during these past five years, and the struggle continues every day. We all have our challenges in life, and we all have our stories to tell. Mine is a story of emotional upheaval, living with mental illness (not mine, but a close family member), living with accident related illness, and the general chaos that comes with small children.

And so, this time, I am determined to succeed at NaNoWriMo and honour the memory of my wonderful Nanna, who always believed in my writing, and was incredibly proud for each novel that I got published. I do this also for my Grandad, who now has to live in a nursing home full time, and who is bereft without his wife. I'm not sure exactly how many years they were together, but I know it was a long time. I do not remember any occasion during my 33 years where I have not seen my grandparents together. And now, Nanna will join us in Spirit, and we will continue to visit Grandad regularly so that he is not alone.

Good luck with your life challenges, fellow Wrimos. And if you are struggling with the challenge, do it for the ones you love. They will motivate your words to flow. See you later!

Authorpreneur SpookyMrsGreen at Your Service!

Writing is Essential to my Daily Routine

I write every day. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it, and for several months now, I have been mentally beating myself up because I have no new short stories to publish, and all my novels in progress are awaiting further improvement and editing. I have been getting very irate with myself for not beginning any new projects. I mean, I have several notebooks full of story ideas, snippets of conversation, character descriptions, and more, and yet I fail to implement or utilize those ideas. Even my blogs are falling behind. I typically write two or three new blog posts each week on this blog, and on my personal blog site, SpookyMrsGreen. Again, I have plenty of ideas. My diary is filling up with titles and descriptions. I have rough blog posts saved on my computer.

And yet, somehow, I feel like I am not writing. Perhaps it is because I spend too much time comparing myself to other authors, who all seem to have their writing planned and in action. Everyone else is firing out their new novels and story anthologies. Why can’t I do the same? The answer is simple: I am writing. I am always writing, whether it is a plan formulating in my mind as I wash the dishes, hastily scribbled notes in my diary or notebook, or more serious sessions on my computer. It is just a little more scattered at present. But it will all come together eventually. I hope.

*Image found via WordzNerd Debz

Inspired by the Ghosts I Meet #amwriting #paranormal

Did you know I am a ghost hunter? Yes, really, like the guys you see on Most Haunted, or Ghost Adventures, or TAPS. I actually do ghost investigations, séances and all the rest of it.  Well, I did up until I started having children. Now I am on what you might call extended maternity leave, but I am itching to return to my hunts.

Anyway, in honour of Halloween, and because I am reminiscing about my ghost hunting adventures, I have decided to share reports of some of my early investigations. You can see them over on my personal blog, Spooky Mrs Green (yes, that is where the spooky connection comes from!) I collectively call them the Ghost Hunter Diaries, and I might consider publishing a book at some point in the future. For now I will focus on my fiction work.

The ghosts and spirits I encountered, and the places I visited during the past eight years, have all helped with inspiration for my writing. Their characters, personalities and stories all appear in various forms and snippets. I have spent the night in haunted castles, houses, pubs, theatres and even in the famous Edinburgh Vaults. Ah yes, such happy memories! And, for an added bonus, I will share a couple of reports of other ghost hunts over here, to show you where my inspiration comes from.

Happy ghost story hunting my friends!

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

The #AtoZChallenge is Underway

The #AtoZChallenge is underway and so far I am sharing my experiences as a breastfeeding mother, the unique nature of our children, and today I have more photographs of my adorable Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross dog...

If you would like to see more about my personal life, take a look at the #AtoZChallenge over on my sister blog, SpookyMrsGreen. Have a lovely weekend!