Writer’s journey – How did it all happen?

Well how did I start writing? It was quite odd really. I used to write as a teenager. At the time I had a ginger tom cat called Chester, Mr. Popularity, everyone loved him. He liked to venture afar and we would often have to rescue him. I remember one occasion in particular, my brother and I ended up trudging through the woods, in Blackhall in Edinburgh, to pick him up from a house in the vicinity. He ended up at the most peculiar places. One time he chose to visit a house with thirteen cats! He is a tom cat with attitude!

I told you he liked company. So it seemed natural to  write about cats,  and I kept a diary. My dad was and still is one of my other great sources of inspiration.  He has travelled extensively to the Far East, and Middle East and is a wonderful raconteur.

As far as my writing is concerned the inevitable happened.  I was the typical teenager. I got distracted. I found boys, discos, parties, and my writing suffered. Somehow I didn’t pick it up again for a very long time. This is a regret. A massive regret. But what can I do? I can’t travel back in time, I don’t have a Tardis. So I just have to accept that the time is right now.  You see, I’m still this young girl at heart, just stuck in an older and maybe wiser body. I have experienced more, travelled more, lived more, so hopefully that will make me a better writer.

Several events came together to ignite my desire to write again. First of all I read a lot.  At the time I was reading Dorian Gray and it was definitely a novel that captured my imagination and set my mind free. Also my eldest daughter was studying GCSE Art and I took a sudden interest in art and photography. I’m not saying that I can paint or draw, though I wish I could. No, I enjoyed watching her artistic development and I enjoyed sharing ideas with her and encouraging her.

All of these influences helped me to write my first book, a children’s/YA fantasy set in Cambridge, which I have now published. The female protagonist in my novel is a teenage girl who paints a puzzle of art. But it is by no means a novel simply about Art. She expresses her sadness, and discovers her magical powers, through the medium of painting and via crystals and well the rest you will find out when you read the book. Let’s just say that a lot happens and I think that it will keep you entertained!  Well I hope so anyway.

Also I know this sounds crazy but my other source of inspiration was a black cat, a  throw back to Chester.  I had never seen this strange black cat before and suddenly he just started appearing in our garden. There was something different about him. He appeared  like a miniature panther, all glossy and splendid, looking for attention, with his mesmerising eyes, I fell under his spell. He liked to show off, he would disappear into thin air, climb to ridiculous heights, or chase his tail around the garden like a demented clown. He just had to play a part in this book too. Lets just say he has a subsidiary part to a main character, who is male, young and very interesting too, just like him. That was the beginning. Looking back I am amazed that from just a few initial thoughts my idea just seemed to grow and grow. Now my debut novel is nearly ready for the final edit. How did that happen? I couldn’t be happier in fact if I had a tail, I’m sure I would be whizzing around and around chasing it with excitement!

Update: I  released my first book The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone in August 26th 2017 in kindle form via Amazon. The paperback is now released too. This has since been updated and republished by Next Chapter Publishing.

Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

“This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage. A captivating tale!” – Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)

Bye for now, xxxxx

M J Mallon Author – The Curse of Time – Book 1  Bloodstone

My links: 

Authors Website: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
Founder of Facebook – #ABRSC Authors/Bloggers Support Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

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Marje @ Kyrosmagica

Hi. Welcome to my blog: M J Mallon - Kyrosmagica Publishing. A blog about magic, books, writing, laughter, and much more! I'm a YA fantasy author, poet and reviewer. My first YA fantasy novel The Curse of Time - Book 1 - Bloodstone is set in Cambridge and Book 2 - Golden Healer is now out too. As well as this, I have contributed to several anthologies, created my own with some amazing international writers, bloggers and creatives during the pandemic: This Is Lockdown and written two poetry collections: Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity & Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose. I write book reviews on my blog and on Goodreads, book bub and on my bookstagram. I have a penchant for travel and have relatives in far flung places, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore, (my birthplace.) I grew up in in Bonnie Scotland, in Edinburgh, and now live in Cambridge. I love sunny, hot places, particularly Rome, Venice, Portugal, Barcelona, and I forgot to mention the sun drenched beaches of the Caribbean, how could I? I am lucky to have been blessed with two lovely daughters and a husband who I fondly refer to in this blog as my black sheep. Family joke! With my passion for travel, culture, beautiful beaches, good food, books, theatre, writing, and humour, I hope to keep you entertained. I'm loving every minute of this creative journey, please join me.

271 thoughts on “Writer’s journey – How did it all happen?”

  2. I’m sure you’ll do well. I love the UK – lived there for 16 years, and raised my children there for some time before moving to the US. Thanks for getting in touch!

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  3. Congratulations on coming back to writing! I’m actually working on a novel inspired by Dorian Gray right now, so I can totally relate to how that book can be strangely motivating and thought-provoking.

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  5. None of our greatest inner desires are developed…they emerge, they surface, and they bubble in our subconsciousness until something triggers us to take notice of them! I for one love these little triggers that make us turn our head towards the finer + purer things in life…albeit writing!! I totally understand where you are coming from. Writing is a medley of rooted journeys, progress + trajectories all mapped out on a page in the form of written colors + emotions. Writing is so magical, and i am just so pleased that it has found you 🙂 Lovely post!

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  6. Congratulations on completing your debut novel – that’s a huge accomplishment!I had many years where I didn’t write, too. I also choose to think the older/wiser body and mind is something that was needed for my writing (it’s better than dwelling on those missed years 🙂 )

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    1. Thanks for your encouragement. Yes you’re right there is no point on dwelling on the past. You only have one life, it is better to live every day in the present. 🙂

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  7. Tis truly amazing at what sparks our imagination and ends up between the covers of a book. All those life experiences, all the folks we meet, the wonky mistakes and realized challenges–they morph into story. And it is magical.
    I wish you great success with your writing. Keep at it!

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  9. hi marje 🙂 thank you so much for dropping by my blog and for following 🙂 nice to meet you.. i notice we have quite a few things in common 🙂 good luck to you with your writing 🙂

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      1. thank you 🙂 like you i travelled a lot.. and i have lived in malaysia (and other countries) for several years 🙂 and visited s’pore too of course 🙂
        now it is.. best wishes from hungary 🙂 have a lovely day !

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  16. What a remarkable journey:). And I feel we have something in common too – where you regret straying away from writing but then eventually you found your way. And what a comeback! You wrote a book:)! So I am inspired out of my mind right now:)! Thank you for dropping by! And good luck with your book. The plot sounds very interesting!

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  18. That is so cool! I used to have a ginger cat called Chester as well. The barn cat had kits in the dog house (yea, right?) and he was born with both legs crooked. Mum pushed him out of the nest, so I grabbed him up, got him warm and moving with a brisk toweling, then grabbed a couple of the other kits and rubbed them all over him. She took him back, since he smelled like them, and he was my buddy for a good long time.

    Thanks for your comment on my blog about “Shimmer in The Dark” – glad you liked it~!

    Leiah
    soireadthisbooktoday.com

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      1. He was a funny, funny boy. He talked to ghosts all the time – he would stare hard at one spot and meow in interrogatives and exclamations. His back legs being tucked up in a “crossed arms” position around his body gave him this rolling walk (he walked on his ‘elbows’) and I named him after the Chester character in the old TV program “Gunsmoke” played by Dennis Weaver.

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  19. Ah.He sounds quite a character. Chester’s must be characters! It’s all in the name! I had a female cat after him, a Gemima, who sounded dainty. We were told she only chased butterflies well that was a lie! One day she brought home a dead mouse for me. She was quite a rascal too, but not quite a patch on Chester. He was my favourite.

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  22. there is nothing in this world that inspires like a cat. I love them. Most of my life i have shared with cats, sadly no longer with us.. Bonne Chance with your work.. Oh! and always keep a friendship with a black cats, they bring good luck. eve Le chat , l’adore

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  24. Your story reassures me that it’s not too late to write again, to pursue the things that once brought us joy. You say, “You see, I’m still this young girl at heart, just stuck in an older and maybe wiser body. I have experienced more, travelled more, lived more, so hopefully that will make me a better writer.” I believe it.

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  26. Pingback: Wonderful Team Member Readership Award | Natacha Guyot

    1. Thank you so much for the award – Wonderful Team Member Readership Award! I have been away in Cornwall on holiday and just came back. What a lovely surprise. I will be happy to accept, though it may take me some time to choose some nominees etc to pass on the award to. 🙂

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  28. Good morning Marjma, while reading your introduction I had the feeling that words really come easily to you and that, above all, you really love what you are doing and this will certainly help you on your difficult path. My congratulations for your award and enjoy it. All the best.

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  31. Your book sounds fascinating! And I have daughters who I am sure would enjoy it…looking forward to its release.

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  32. I’m so glad you stopped by my blog, it’s lovely to meet you. I also loved writing in my teens and I was a avid reader but like you say yourself, life got in the way for a long time. Anyway, better late than never and I wish you all the very best with your writing.

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    1. Hi Jean. Thank you so much for your comment. Yes, it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Sometimes the time is right when you are older and possibly a little wiser! All the best to you too.

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  33. Hello Marjma.. so nice to have stumbled upon you blog! Any ideas on a release date for your book yet? I have been really feeling the Indie books lately, and would feel privileged to read it and/or review it on my blog. Let me know when you know the details, as your book sounds wonderful! Much love, and good luck to you.
    Morrighan @ Elysian Fields
    ( http://ufbooks.blogspot.com )

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    1. Hi Morrighan. Thank you so much for your kind message. At the moment I am trying out the traditional route to publishing so it may take some time before I have a release date. Having said that I am not adverse to publishing it as an indie book and may well look into that later. Thanks for your offer to read and or review I will keep you in mind. Marjorie. 🙂

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  34. Congratulations, Margma on your first novel which sounds delightful. We are all children at heart so it is no wonder ‘she’ lives in your mind. Please keep us all posted! Wonderful for you!

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  38. Good luck with your new book, it sounds like fun! I was also inspired to write mine by my daughter. I have always had a black cat, love their green eyes glaring out of all that sleek fur. At the moment I have a very crazy dog instead.

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  43. Lovely tale of how you came to be as a writer! And you like cats, which puts you right up thre in my book, since I write about cats occasionally and have always had one. Did you adopt the black cat? He/she sounds like quite a character.

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    1. Thanks for your comment. No sadly I didn’t adopt the black cat as my husband refuses to have a cat. 😦 He says he’s allergic! Though I do see the black cat from time to time, he visits us sometimes. In the past I had two cats. One ginger tom cat and one white and grey female. Both of them were very different in character. I was fond of them both but my favourite was the ginger tom as we had him from a kitten and he was a bit of a character!

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  46. What a beautiful and inspiring journey Marjorie! I’m so happy to know more about you.
    Can’t wait to read your book!
    All the very best dear for your amazing book…

    PS: Let me know if you want me to review your book (whenever it’s published.) I’ll be more than happy to do it for you 🙂

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    1. Thank you Vashti. Yes it is an accomplishment to finish a book. The hard bit is finding someone to publish it! Still hanging in there! Appreciate your support. 🙂

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