Is me! So excited to be back on #ukteenchat in a couple of weeks 🤩

Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 14th April 8-9pm BST with the fabulous @emmaebradley.bsky.social, who will be chatting all about her new book - The Crown of Conquest. All welcome to come along and join in the chat 🙂 #writerslife #writingcommunity

#ukteenchat thank you, that was so fun! Always here if anyone has any writing questions 😊

That hour has absolutely flown by! Thank you so much for being a wonderful guest @melliver.bsky.social, you are more than welcome anytime on #ukteenchat 😊

#ukteenchat something I had to relearn recently: 1. Find the writing joy and 2. Don’t let go of it when you get negative feedback/reviews. You can’t please everyone, and you shouldn’t want to. Make sure you’re writing what YOU love and you’ll find your people! Reviews are for readers, not authors!

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

#ukteenchat I just handed in line edits on TO THE DEATH 2, so that’s almost wrapped up now! And I’m just putting the finishing touches on my first ever adult speculative time-travel portal fantasy with a dash of dark academia, coming soon to editors’ inboxes 👀

Yes, I don’t write everyday but I do write for hours once I’m set up! #ukteenchat

9, Can you tell us anything about what you’re currently working on, or is this sworn to secrecy right now? @melliver.bsky.social #ukteenchat

#ukteenchat I am SO BORING I write at my desk, with my dual screens and fancy chair, in silence. I can’t do cafes but sometimes can do a library. If I get stuck I like to listen to movie themes from scenes with a similar vibe to help set the mood!

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

#ukteenchat my first draft is all about nailing the plot, so I don’t have major rewrites later. The second draft is fleshing out characters - usually what their needs are, versus what their wants are. Then I work on the world building. Kinda like layering up a lasagna! The more layers the better!

#ukteenchat now in really life Emma I am the least fussy of eaters, I’ll eat anything. And while these guys prefer blood? They’ll chomp down on some tasty flesh and organs if needs be!

7, From previous chats, I know you’re a mega plotter, could you tell us a little bit about your approach to creating stories, please? @melliver.bsky.social #ukteenchat

#ukteenchat well 👀 for anyone lucky enough to have got their hands on an early copy, they might find this page in the back of the book…

6, Will there be more books to come in the world of To The Death? @melliver.bsky.social #ukteenchat

#ukteenchat my Pyres are a hybrid of vampires and zombies. They burn in sunlight but are otherwise lean mean fast killing machines that can only be taken down with a bullseye to the head or the heart. So yes I would be dead minutes after the first wave hit thanks for asking 😂

5, If you had to survive your own game show in To The Death, how well do you think you’d do? @melliver.bsky.social #ukteenchat

#ukteenchat grief and survivor’s guilt is a HUGE part of the story and something readers can relate to in an otherwise fantastical world. I dedicate the book to all our Inner Monsters, aka learning to love the parts of ourselves that sometimes we lie awake at night just regretting we ever let out.

4, Survival stories often reveal the darkest and most human sides of characters. Without spoilers, what kind of emotional or moral challenges do your characters face on the island? @melliver.bsky.social #ukteenchat

#ukteenchat when I pitched this book to my agent her exact words were “you always have wanted to write a zombie book”, which is so true! I’m a die hard zombie fan, and while writing I was hooked on the traitors, so I think the two things meshed in my head! But zombies first, they’re so fun to write!

#ukteenchat I learned SO much and of course I am still learning, the Deaf community is chock full of fascinating culture.

3, The book blends a deadly game show with vampires (Pyres), which is such a brilliant hook. What came first for you, the idea of the game or the Pyres? @melliver.bsky.social #ukteenchat

#ukteenchat even though it’s set in a fictional world I did find myself delving into six months of sign language lessons for one of my Deaf characters, Cass. We also engaged an authenticity reader and my partner has been diagnosed as Hard of Hearing in that time and is getting hearing aids soon!

#ukteenchat thanks! I love a good fictional reality TV show, Squid Game on the brain!

2, Did you need to do any research you needed to do for To The Death? @melliver.bsky.social #ukteenchat

#ukteenchat of course! Welcome to Blood Island, where the fight for survival against the bloodthirsty undead is recorded for live entertainment. Meet Astrid, a girl with a shadowy past who hates the limelight, but is forced to participate in Bloodwatch’s latest game show with fit outsider, Luke 👀

1, Could you please tell us a little bit about your new YA, To The Death, please? @melliver.bsky.social #ukteenchat

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 fabulous @melliver.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 😀 #ToTheDeath #writerslife #writingcommunity #writementor

Join us tonight, Tues 24th March 8-9pm GMT for #ukteenchat with the fabulous @melliver.bsky.social - who will be chatting all about her new #dystopian #YA, #ToTheDeath. All welcome to come and join in the chat here on BlueSky 🙂 #writerslife #writingcommunity #UKYA #writementor

Join us tonight, Tues 24th March 8-9pm GMT for #ukteenchat with the fabulous @melliver.bsky.social - who will be chatting all about her new #dystopian #YA, #ToTheDeath. All welcome to come and join in the chat 🙂 #writerslife #writingcommunity #UKYA #writementor

This week's Notes from the Graveyard Shift is now posted over on Substack with nest-building, night wings, and four seasons in one day (week!) 🪦 #NotesFromTheGraveyardShift #writing #horror #writer #substack open.substack.com/pub/finlayso...

This week's Notes from the Graveyard Shift is now posted over on Substack with digital creatures, kelpies and writing in the dark 🪦 #NotesFromTheGraveyardShift #writing #horror #neurodivergent #substack open.substack.com/pub/finlayso...

Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 24th March 8-9pm GMT with the fabulous @melliver.bsky.social - who will be chatting all about her new #dystopian #YA, #ToTheDeath. All welcome to come and join in the chat 🙂 #writerslife #writingcommunity #UKYA

Happening now over on Twitter/X #ukteenchat

A Kelpie in watercolour #kelpie #art #illustration #folklore #watercolour

Next #ukteenchat will be tomorrow - Tues 10th March 8-9pm GMT with the fabulous Tess James-Mackey talking all about her new #YA Thriller - Better Off Dead. It'll be over on Twitter/X, all welcome to come and join in the chat 🙂 #BetterOffDead #writerslife #WritingCommunity

My first time seeing a little Grimogen Darkstar costume out in the world, and her own little bat-cat too! 😊 Also, I'm dressed as Grimogen's mum, Mallory Darkstar ⭐ 🐈‍⬛🦇 @tinytreebooks.bsky.social #grimogendarkstar #WorldBookDay #childrensbooks #reading

This week's Notes from the Graveyard Shift is now posted over on Substack with lucky numbers, ketchup conspiracies and graveyard antics🪦 #NotesFromTheGraveyardShift #writing #worldbookday #neurodivergent #graveyard open.substack.com/pub/finlayso...