Jenny Kane: Coffee, cupcakes, chocolate and contemporary fiction / Jennifer Ash: Medieval crime with hints of Ellis Peters and Robin Hood

Tag: Teenage fiction

Guest Post from Kelly Hambly: The Best Advice I Ever Got

Today I’m pleased to welcome young adult author, Kelly Hambly, back to my site today, to share a little of her writing journey. 

Over to you Kelly…

The Best Advice I Ever Got

Unlike many authors, my journey to traditional publication was not quite as long but nevertheless, it doesn’t mean to say it was by any means easier.

When I took up writing fiction just over five years ago, after being inspired by a song I had heard, I had not written anything as such for years. In essence, I had to learn from scratch. By this, I mean, even the basics of storytelling and grammar, not to mention structure.

For a while I wondered if I had thrown myself in at the deep end, but the story I had formulated in my head kept gnawing away at me. So for the next 18 months I worked everyday teaching myself as I went along how to put this story down into words. I didn’t take any classes, I couldn’t. I suffered with anxiety so going out to meet people was a definite no. So I read, and read some more. I wrote, I wrote some more. And this passion continued, and by the end of the first 18 months I had produced my first novel. To say I was chuffed is an understatement.

My English at school wasn’t pretty good but I went on to do an English degree course, but that was 8 years previously, and did pretty much no writing after it. Well, I know a lot of authors can relate to the wonderful feeling of holding your first piece of work in your hands, but when I put it out there for feedback – the result wasn’t what I hoped for. To put it bluntly like this woman did, she told me to give up. I was crushed, but after moping for a day or two I took her advice. I made sure I improved, and set out to prove people like that wrong.

So I wrote another four novels and many short stories. And like I always say to those who ask me for advice, it only takes one story and one person to see its potential and you’re on your way, so you should never, ever give up.

hallows poster

I wrote The Town Halloween Forgot in June 2013. It was intended to be released as a short story for that Halloween, but something about it kept me wanting to write more, and the following year I toyed with the idea of self-publishing. It wasn’t a route wanted to go down again, and by chance I discovered Accent Press, and thought I had nothing to lose by trying. Three weeks later I got an email from them offering to publish it for me.

So, to any aspiring writer out there, right now, reading this, keep writing, and keep the dreams alive. Listen to criticism when it is given, but learn how to respond to it. It may not be what you want to hear, but it could help you reach where you want to go.

Buy link-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Town-Halloween-Forgot-Willow-ebook/dp/B00OFU7DRE/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1

Bio-
K A Hambly lives in Swansea, South Wales with her husband and two children. She studied English and Media, where she wrote a thesis on Dracula (From Novel to Cinema)

Vampires and Gothic Horror have always been an interest of hers so it is no surprise that she began writing her own vampire series in 2011. She states music and movies play a huge part in her inspiration.

She is currently working on her new YA series, The Town Halloween Forgot.

****

Many thanks for coming to visit today Kelly.

Happy reading everyone,
Jenny xx

Introducing Kelly Hambly – The Town Halloween Forgot

Today I’m pleased to be able to introduce one of the newest voices from the Accent Press stable, Kelly Hambly. Kelly’s new book, is one of the very first of Accent’s brand new Young Adult/Teenage fiction publications.

Release Blitz!!

The Town Halloween Forgot, The Curse of Willow Creek is Kelly Hambly’s debut novel with Welsh publisher, Accent Press. Kelly is a Welsh author of Fantasy and horror. She lives in Swansea with her husband and two children.

The Town Halloween Forgot

Halloween is a YA novel, inspired by her children and the move to their new house, where she states her kids were convinced the hallway was haunted. Whether it is or isn’t, this gave her an idea to write a young adult fantasy novel. It took about a year to write and she was even going to self-publish it, until she decided on a whim to try her luck with a publisher. As her children were her main influence, she even named the main character, Danny, after her son.

Sometimes Halloween is all trick, and no treat. Danny Hallows is no ordinary fifteen year old. After his parents’ divorce, he relocates to a small Welsh town called Willow Creek where he accidentally sets off the beginnings of a 600 year old prophecy. Discovering his family are related to the last witch of the 1656 witch trials, he is faced with protecting his family’s legacy and saving Halloween from the dark sorceress Morwenna, who is hell bent on revenge for what Danny’s great-grandmother did to her all those years ago. Can Danny stop the prophecy before it’s too late?

 

You can follow Kelly on Twitter @celtic_nimueh

Book links http://goo.gl/5PDj5U  (UK) http://goo.gl/aorOvi  (US)

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/KA-Hambly-Author

***

I hope that has whetted your appetite for a bit of an autumnal spooky read!! Good luck with your first book Kelly!

Happy reading,

Jenny xx

 

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén