The Bloggers Bash Competition: C-o-n-n-e-c-t-i-o-n-s

 

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I believe it all began when I moved to Cambridge from Scotland.

Shortly after our marriage, my husband and I made the rash decision to live out in ‘the sticks,’ in a sleepy Cambridgeshire village called Chatteris. What an enormous culture shock for an Edinburgh city girl like me – I felt isolated and pretty miserable.

Perhaps I would never have started writing if it wasn’t for this and later sadness’s in my life.  In time we moved to the suburbs of Cambridge, within easy reach of the city centre. I made new friends but missed the loving support of my extended family. My husband worked long hours, but I knew that he longed to Do What He Loved – ski on a mountain or be in a rock band! Financial responsibilities meant that his personal dreams languished. Inadvertently, this sacrifice triggered my idea for The Curse of Time – The Bloodstone,  my WIP – which is currently being edited by my lovely friend –  Colleen Chesebro – Author of The Heart Stone Chronicles – The Swamp Fairy/ 

As my  daughters grew older I developed an interest in alternative therapies and worked as an Aromatherapist/Reflexologist. During this time I discovered an interest in crystals. This beautiful Malachite captured my attention, demanding to be my first crystal purchase.

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The Malachite definitely sparked my creativity, and helped alleviate my shyness! My urge to write developed in a whirlwind of reading, and imagination. I woke up with ideas and jotted them in a notebook.  This manic phase coincided with the arrival of a strange black cat who demanded my attention. He became my muse.  Was he a stray? Or perhaps  a witch’s cat? Sadly, he disappeared without a trace. I had an odd idea (to find a black cat model,) and my blogging friend Gary Jefferies: Fiction Is Food  introduced me to Samantha Murdoch – the proud owner of Lily.

Astonishingly Lily bears a remarkable resemblance to the black cat in my book, Shadow.

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Guess what? Samantha loves crystals too! Bloodstone, (photographed below by her son,) plays a central part in my book – another extraordinary coincidence!

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Photo credit for above three photos: Alex Marlowe, Samantha Murdoch’s son.

All these incredible connections have fuelled my desire to write. I am so lucky to have many inspiring writers, bloggers, and creative individuals who I call friends. Astounded by their support and encouragement my confidence has soared. I’ve participated in short stories prompts, poetry, photography challenges, and weekend coffee shares…  In August 2015 I did the unthinkable – I shrugged off my shy persona and attended My First Bloggers Bash. 

In part, this is thanks to the power of my Malachite crystal!  I can’t wait to attend the next bash in June, and see some of my blogging friends, (unfortunately not all can attend,) and new ‘faces,’ too.

Life is devoid of meaning without ‘real’ positive relationships, connections that matter. I believe that if you give of your best, you will receive the best back. I have a passion for the arts, and I will continue to promote bloggers, writers, and creative individuals who I count as my dear friends. I love supporting authors by writing book reviews:  My Wise Old Owl A – Z Book Reviews, and offer  Blogger/Author Spotlights. One recent example is: Sue Vincent and Stuart France

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MY MOTTO:  

Always Do What You Love,

Stay True To Your Hearts Desires,

Remain Young At Heart,

And Inspire Others To Do So Too,

Even If It Appears The Odds,

Are Stacked Against You,

Like Black-Hearted Shadows.

 

A Writing Award To Give Yourself: Do What You Love. 

Hence the name of my blog: Kyrosmagica – Crystal Magic.

The Bloggers Bash Competition – Sacha Black

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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.

38 thoughts on “The Bloggers Bash Competition: C-o-n-n-e-c-t-i-o-n-s”

  1. Fabulous post, Marje! I love how you have themed this, and some of those connections are bordering on tbe spooky! Some things are just meant to be, I believe that too, when I look back at my own journey. 😊

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    1. Thank you so much Ali. 🙂 Yes it is all quite extraordinary, a bit like the clock that will feature on my book cover! That really is spooky…. Certain things are meant to be and I do feel perhaps I have finally found that ‘one particular special thing that I love’ that rocks me much, much, later in life! Such a late developer…

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  3. Marje, I can well imagine the disorientation of moving from the lively city of Edinburgh to the quiet countryside of Cambridgeshire – things seem so remote! Glad you’re closer to Cambridge itself. I’m fascinated with your interest in crystals, the power they give you and your whirlwind of activity is evident from your busy and creative blog as well as writing your book You are now an integral part of the blogging community! Congratulations on your all your achievements! 😀❤️

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    1. Yes, it took me a long time to get used to it. But now I’m very fond of Cambridge, and still love visiting Edinburgh too. Thank you so much Annika, I do appreciate your kind comments and friendship. I do hope I continue to be whirled along by my beautiful crystals, perhaps they are enchanted!! LOL!

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  5. Lovely post 🙂 yes I’m pleased we met, as I said to Gary earlier and-you have malachite! So do I! A malachite cat actually 🙂
    Edinburgh too-I used to love visiting and my dad went to uni there..
    But yes, you have a wonderful blog and I wish you every success for the future 🙂 xx

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      5. Most of the crystal pictures on the blog are either mine or Alex’s personal stones…and I’ve been blogging for nearly a year so that’s quite a lot of stones! Ahh..you’ve given me a fab idea…I should lay ALL our crystals out on the bedroom floor and get Alex to take a picture…guess what I’ll be doing today!!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Marje, this was such an inspirational piece. I love our connections that we all share – you especially! Good luck on the competition and I only wish I could be there, too! 😘❤

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  10. Marje, this is so great! Perfect post for the challenge and the connections we bloggers make is so wonderful! Colleen is a great choice to edit your work! I’m not a fan of crystals, but I do believe that talismans are special if we believe they work 🙂

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  11. What a wonderful post Marje, and such gorgeous photos of Lily (as you know, I am very partial to black cats being the proud owner of Eddie…or should I say, he is the owner of me, and not so much as proud, but as a matter of the way things should be between a cat and its human 😉 ) I am very much looking forward to seeing you at the BB, carrying on from where we left off a year ago 🙂 ❤ xxx

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      1. I remember now Marje talking about black cats and your Shadow from your book – when I posted my Stawberry Moon post I think?! We do love our cats! Yes, me too, so excited, can’t wait to see you again!! 🙂 xxx

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  12. I am happy to have dropped by for this post in which you tell us about your connection to crystals and how they have been inspiration for your book and the name of your blog. There is a magical feel in those connections.

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  13. Pingback: Thank Yous and Thoughts – samanthamurdochblog
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