Thank you to @foxandinkbooks.bsky.social for the review copy of Foes & Cons by Georgia Bowers 🧛‍♀️ So excited to get my hands on this early review package 🤩 #YA #vampire #romcom #comicon #ukteenchat #reading

This week's Notes from the Graveyard Shift is now posted over on Substack 🪦 #NotesFromTheGraveyardShift #writing #author #gothic #writer open.substack.com/pub/finlayso...

Sir David Attenborough… on your 100th birthday, we thank you. For a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with such grace and wonder. Generations have fallen in love with nature because of you. Happy birthday, Sir. 🎉

This week's Notes from the Graveyard Shift is now posted over on Substack 🪦 #NotesFromTheGraveyardShift #writing #writer #author #perimenopause #writerslife #WritingCommunity open.substack.com/pub/finlayso...

Thanks @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social for hosting the brilliant #ukteenchat - I had a such a lovely time chatting to you and really appreciate everything you do to spread the book love! 📚❤️ (Go Team Wyvern! 🐉)

If you have a book out this year and would like to be a guest on #ukteenchat please do reach out and let me know 🙂

Yes, I find an external deadline is often the only way for me! I have no self-discipline! 😅

That has been a brilliant chat, thank you so much for being such a fantastic guest @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social, you're more than welcome anytime on #ukteenchat 😊

I'm great at starting new things, not so great at finishing them! 😂 #ukteenchat

I think you have to figure out how your own brain works to find out what works for you. For me writing is a process of tidying up & collaging all the mess inside my head. And you can’t write for external validation, you have to write to please yourself first - write what you love! ❤️ #ukteenchat

And I’m also trying to write an adult lit fic novel with a dual narrative (1910 and 2020) but the research is killing me! I get bored easily! #ukteenchat

10, Do you have any writing advice or tips you’d like to share? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #wingsofthewyld

I’m plotting out book 2 of Wyverns, as my Year 5 book club is going to keep nagging me for it now. I’ve also got a teen space school murder mystery that’s complete but I need to do some further editing on it... #ukteenchat

Or just like a weirdo, talking to themselves - which is my usual look. 😆 #ukteenchat

My ideal now is to see the trailer (so I can picture the characters), then read the book, then watch the film! 😁 #ukteenchat

9, Can you tell us anything about what you’re currently working on? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #wingsofthewyld

No, but I can’t write in cafes or anywhere distracting, I need silence and space to try out my dialogue (with accompanying weird facial expressions) while I’m writing. I like a big desktop screen too - not a laptop. #ukteenchat

Yes, the irony of films getting me into reading! 🤣 (It was the black & white version of Pride & Prejudice with Laurence Olivier & Greer Garson...) #ukteenchat

Don't get me started on the pronunciation of 'wyvern'! 🤣

I’m definitely a plotter and I always know the ending up front, but mainly because I get stuck and I need a plan to know what to write next. I have no natural flow… #ukteenchat

8, Do you have any writing rituals or a favourite place to write? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #wingsofthewyld

Yes, I often have to have a real place in mind or something I've seen in a film or a photo. I can't just make it up...my default is to just leave all the descriptions out, so I have to work hard not to do that! 😁 #ukteenchat

No, I haven’t - but I’d love to try. I think novels-in-verse seem to be mostly contemporary fic, but Sarah Crossan did a thriller-in-verse recently - perhaps I could try fantasy-in-verse!? (Although would that just be like all the worst bits of Lord of the Rings?) #ukteenchat

It's the first thing I have to explain when I talk to children about the book...the difference between a dragon and a wyvern. 😂 (Of course, the romantasy crew will already be experts on dragons vs wyverns!) #ukteenchat

7, Are you a plotter or pantser, and run with an idea and see where it takes you? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #wingsofthewyld

Mostly, I focused on the details - like the characters, creatures and the food, with some very light background description to fill in the gaps. There was a lot of layering! I'm glad it was convincing...😁 #ukteenchat

I have aphantasia so I can’t picture things and I tend to skip right over passages of description when I read. So the map was a really useful way for me to conceptualise the islands, and that’s where the book started... #ukteenchat

6, You also write poetry, have you ever tried writing a novel in verse? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #wingsofthewyld

I LOVED Splash! I think my hair-crimping phase came directly out of that film... #ukteenchat

Yes, Moonface wasn't quite how I imagined but Silky and Saucepan Man were spot on, I think it was primarily a nostalgic watch for the adults! I loved it! #ukteenchat

5, The world building is so immersive, do you have any tips for other writers about creating such a believable and rich world? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #wingsofthewyld

Ones that can talk! Dragons and wyverns of course, but I want to write a mermaid book one day as I love to swim and I have my own mermaid tail… �(But maybe a dark dystopian mermaid tale.) #ukteenchat

Pinterest is probably ideal for this, but I tend to stick to doing everything on Canva these days 😂 #ukteenchat

4, What are your favourite types of fantasy creatures? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #wingsofthewyld

No, I’m terrible at research. The most research I did was trying to work out how to draw a wyvern. I have pages and pages of references and TERRIBLE drawings. #ukteenchat

They're so cool! (And used in a lot of heraldry too, so ties in nicely with the knights theme!) #ukteenchat

3, Did you need to research anything for Wings of the Wyld? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #wingsofthewyld

I'd forgotten all about it, but it was there in my subconscious!

And I’m obsessed with Toothless! He’s adorable. #ukteenchat

Originally the story was inspired by the Knights of the Round Table except with a round island instead of a table & wyverns instead of horses - as they’re a bit smaller & more maneuverable than dragons. Also, there aren’t many children’s books featuring wyverns. Just something different. #ukteenchat

Although I watched the Magic Faraway Tree the other day and realised that was a bit of an unconscious influence too! #ukteenchat

I've always wanted to write something set on a flying island...maybe a little bit to do with Avatar... #ukteenchat

2, Was there anything in particular that inspired you to write about wyvern? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #WingsOfTheWyld

‘Wings of the Wyld’ is a fantasy adventure about a girl called Ren who lives on a floating island, all she’s ever wanted is to fly on a wyvern but her dream is shattered when she fails the entrance exam to wyvern-flying school. And then the sky-pirates attack! #ukteenchat

1, Could you tell us a little bit about your new book, Wings of the Wyld, please? @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social #ukteenchat #WingsOfTheWyld

Please be kind to others during the chat, #ukteenchat is an inclusive discussion for writers or those interested in books 🙂

Welcome one and all to tonight's #ukteenchat, featuring the brilliant @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social. Have your questions at the ready and give us a wave if you’re here 🙋‍♀️ Remember to use the # so your questions don't get missed 😀 #ukteenchat

Join us tonight 8-9pm BST for #ukteenchat with the fabulous @rebeccarouillard.bsky.social who will be chatting all about her new book - Wings of the Wyld 🐲 All welcome to come along and join in the chat 🙂 #MG #kidlit #writerslife #writingcommunity #WingsoftheWyld

I'll be running my Writing Chapter Books course again from the 8th June. Please DM for more details 🙂📚 #chapterbook #kidlit #youngfiction #writing #writingcommunity

This week's Notes from the Graveyard Shift is now posted over on Substack 🪦 #NotesFromTheGraveyardShift #writing #writer #author #perimenopause #writerslife #WritingCommunity open.substack.com/pub/finlayso...