The End or the Beginning?

It's done. Gone. Given up to the marking Gods. There's no going back now.

The finished product!

Yes, I have finally handed in my dissertation. After months of researching and writing it, it had kind of become a routine. I got up, wrote some (or more accurately, attempted to write while having a mental block), cried, stared at a blank screen thinking I would never get anywhere with it. This went on every day all summer and I must admit it was very strange waking up this morning and not having any more dissertation work to do. It sounds rather silly, but it had become my life pretty much. I just hope that all those tears were worth it and I manage to pass!

In the end I was almost pleased with it. It certainly looked nice when it was all printed out and bound. Miraculously my ink held out enough to print all my illustrations and even the pie charts that ended up representing my research survey (one thing I learned this summer was that Excel and InDesign do not get along). I did nearly have a small heart attach when the secretary couldn't find my signed statement against plagiarism, and then realised she was staring at it. I had visions of having to take it back and do it all over again! The strange thing is, when it came to handing it in, I was almost sad to see it go. It had become my pet and it's kind of scary to think there's nothing I can do to it now. I just have to hope it's good enough. 

Black & White Publishing

Picture Courtesy Black & White Publishing

Hey all, sorry I have been AWOL lately. I have been frantically beavering away with my dissertation (it’s not going well so it’s best we don’t mention it) and I’ve also been kept busy with work and my internship at Black & White Publishing. You may remember I told you about starting it a while ago. Well, my last day was last Friday – that’s the quickest six weeks of my life!

I’m not exaggerating when I say it was a wonderful experience. I had more fun than I expected. Everyone was so nice and welcoming and I never once felt like a mere intern. They treated me like an extension of the staff, even allowing me to sit in on some meetings and offer my opinions on author interviews. I got to create quite a few databases which was actually a lot of fun. I got to research things like craft and wool shops and book review blogs, which introduced me to a whole host of interesting blogs.

One of my main duties was to read through the submissions and keep a log of them. I’d encountered the slush pile at Luath, but I’d forgotten just how truly awful some writing is. It never ceases to amaze me how many people think they can write when they really can’t. It actually makes me question my own love of writing. I hope I’m better than some of the terrible submissions I had to read over the last six weeks! There were several where the English was barely comprehensible, while some others were just utterly disturbing (children being impaled on spikes, anyone?) But there were some interesting ones. I thoroughly enjoyed an entire manuscript that I got to read entitled In Fear of Fear. It was about a woman in a mental institution and we discovered how she ended up there through a series of flashbacks. It was really well written and I loved the twists and turns in the plot. On my last day I discovered a young adult submission which I think had some potential, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that too.

The highlight for me was being able to proofread a children’s picture book, Magpies and Mischief. It was so much fun! The illustrations were beautiful and the story was actually really good. I will definitely be purchasing a copy when it is published. Not once did it feel like I was working. It clarified for me that this is indeed what I want to do with my life.

Black & White was a great experience. I would definitely recommend anyone interested in getting into publishing to apply for work experience with them. I want to thank them all again for having me and for treating me like a valued member of the team. It’s been the best six weeks and I’m going to miss going in every Thursday and Friday. I’ve discovered a whole host of new books thanks to my placement and I hope I’ve sharpened my skills. I certainly feel more confident and I hope it’s not long before I am able to work for a publishing company again.

Book Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

I'm going to come clean - I have only ever read one book by Neil Gaiman prior to The Ocean at the End of the Lane. As a lover of the fantasy genre I realise how shocking this is, but I have been somewhat preoccupied with my paranormal romance for the last few years and when I was a teenager it was all chick lit and classics that I read. So, when I picked up Gaiman's new book my only point of reference was Stardust, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and a couple of episodes of Doctor Who (I know lots of people had issues with 'Nightmare in Silver' but I quite liked it).

I must admit the blurb on the inside flap did pique my curiosity. Everything was so vague - 'our narrator' (what's his name?), 'dark forces' (ooh, what are they?) - it made me want to start reading right away to discover what the heck this was all about. We never do actually learn what the name of the narrator is, which could have had an alienating effect, but actually didn't. In fact, I'd say that the anonymity of the narrator actually makes the narrative seem more real and immediate because you feel as if you are the narrator (barring, of course, the fact that I am not a seven-year-old boy). It adds a strangely personal feel to the whole book, which makes the events in it all the more potent.

The narrator may be recalling his childhood, but do not make the mistake of thinking this is a children's book. This is definitely an adult novel. Actually reading it while writing my dissertation and researching crossover fiction was a bit of a lucky coincidence because this book made me question the whole idea of adulthood and childhood. I think it's probably a standard trope in fiction by now, but seeing the events through a child's eyes you realise that children see things much more clearly than adults do. This novel does make you question the idea of reality and of memory - how much of what we recall from childhood is true and how much is fantasy constructed through snippets of memories? This is the question at the heart of The Ocean at the End of the Lane and it left me pondering my own memories of childhood.

"Everything whispered inside me. Everything spoke to everything, and I knew it all."

Gaiman's writing is subtle but effective. I was honestly terrified at certain points in this book. Ursula Monkton is quite possibly one of the scariest villains I've ever come across in fiction. Perhaps it was because we saw her through a child's eyes and children see horrors in much starker terms than adults do, but every time she appeared I shuddered with fear and revulsion. Without giving too much away, I have never been a big fan of birds, especially crows and their ilk, and after reading this book I like them even less. There is plenty in here to provide your imagination with fodder for nightmares! As well as being scary, the narrative has emotional heart too. The friendship between the narrator and Lettie Hempstock is both sweet and touching. The Hempstock women make a wonderful family unit and demonstrate that female characters in fantasy can be strong and resilient.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a mesmerizing tale, one that captures your imagination and sweeps you along. To be honest, I didn't think initially I was going to enjoy it, but as I kept reading on it started to enthrall me. Gaiman plays on the notion of imagination and fantasy in an expert way, and while the action is resolved, like our narrator, the conclusion leaves us with some unanswered questions. Far from leaving us unsatisfied, however, you are left with a sense of contentment, accepting that, much like in life, we will never hold all the answers. Truth is a hazy concept and each individual will have a different perception if what is true and what is false. In essence, this is a novel about fantasy itself. Neil Gaiman, you are something of a genius. I promise to find time to read the rest of your work now!

Charlaine Harris Book Signing

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the Dead Ever After book signing with Charlaine Harris at Ghillie Dhu in Edinburgh. When I first found out that Charlaine was coming to my city I was over the moon. One of the drawbacks of living in Scotland and having favourite authors that are all American is that they very rarely venture to these shores. Usually when they come to the UK it's just London they visit. My excitement at learning that, finally, one of them was headed my way was therefore immense.

I'm probably not alone in coming to the Sookie Stackhouse books through the TV show True Blood. Ironically when the first series aired here in Britain we were having a very hot, humid summer, much like we are now. I remember sitting up in my room every Friday night at 10pm, sweltering away in the heat, feeling like I was actually in Louisiana. It took all of one episode to get me hooked and the next again week I had ordered the first three books online. The rest of that year was dedicated to reading the first ten books in the series and I quickly fell in love with a certain Eric Northman, who is even more amazing in the books than he is in the TV show (where, let's face it, he is pretty damn awesome!)

Admittedly I haven't read any of the books since the 10th. This is partly down to the poor reviews they received and also partly due to being caught up reading other series. All the same, I was determined that I wasn't going to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Charlaine face-to-face and to hear her discuss the Sookie books.

Book Review: Dreams & Tide, Books 1 & 2 in the Sarah Midnight Trilogy

Today I'm reviewing not one, but two books - Dreams and Tide, the first two instalments in the Sarah Midnight trilogy written by Daniela Sacerdoti. Set in Edinburgh and Islay, these books are a YA fantasy series about a girl who belongs to a world of demon-hunting Secret Families. So far, so very Mortal Instruments, but that is where the similarities end. These books are original and establish their own intriguing mythology which sets them apart from the other YA series out there.

The first book in the series, Dreams, begins with Sarah, the heroine, standing at her parents' graves. We learn they have been murdered and that they are hunters, but at this point we are not told what exactly they hunt. This quite clever tease left me curious and eager to discover what was going to unfold over the course of the story. The first chapter then drops you straight into the middle of the action. We see Sarah on her first hunt and we learn about her supernatural power, the blackwater, which allows her to dissolve demons. I quite liked this idea as it's not a power I've come across in any of the other books I've read. One other thing I found refreshing was that using the power was not as simple as putting her hands out and dissolving the demon. The blackwater leaves Sarah soaked and feeling drained, which gives it a more real and frightening edge. It reminds me of Rumplestiltskin's warning in Once Upon A Time - 'all magic comes with a price'. In these books it really does!

'Sleep. Her own private torture.

She was too tired to stop it.

If I dream again, I swear, it'll kill me. For real.' (Dreams)

Spotlight on Gullane

View across the main green to the Mallard Hotel

Next week my little town is going to be overrun with people when the 2013 British Golf Open comes to Muirfield. Before images of it get beamed all over the country I decided now would be a nice opportunity to do a blog post all about Gullane.

First of all let me get one thing straight. It is pronounced Gull-ane. Not 'Gillin'. It's only pronounced 'Gillin' if you live on the north side of the main road and you're a posh twat. Us ordinary folk know it as Gullane. Quite why it's called this, I have no idea, but don't let the name put you off.

Gullane is officially big enough to be a town (we figured this out ten years back in geography), but it's a small town. The main high street boasts the essential Co-op, butchers, hairdressers, chip shop and two cafes. For such a small place we have an abundance of golf courses: 5 to be exact. We also have 4 pubs, all of them of the 'old man' variety. I used to work at the Golf Inn on the main high street. It's a beautiful old building, covered in ivy and it used to have a warm, cosy bar area with a great menu. Unfortunately, it was taken over last winter and the reports I have heard have not been positive. I do recommend a trip to the Auld Clubhoose round by the main green. They have quite a small menu, but their sticky toffee pudding is amazing and the inside decor is pretty quirky.

Goose Green

Gullane is a pretty little place. Goose Green is located to the north of the main street and it's like a village scene from a period drama with all the old houses and cottages. It's a great place to sit and soak up the sun. We also have a lovely beach, which is very popular on hot, sunny days. If you're looking to cool down after that, both the German cafe and the little sweet shop on the main street sell gorgeous ice cream.

As well as this, Gullane is home to the fire training school, where students train to become firefighters. It's actually at the top of my road and sometimes you can watch them carrying out exercises from my room window. Thursday night is fireman night in the village, so ladies, if you have a thing for firemen, get down to Gullane on a Thursday night!

A picture can convey so much more than words, so I'll leave you with some snaps I've taken over the last few years. Look out for some of these landmarks on your TV screens next week, or better still, come visit it for yourself. We're an hour away from Edinburgh by bus.

Little church just over from Goose Green

View across to Gullane No 1 Course and my dream house (the one with the round tower)

A World of Books

It's all starting to get very busy what with dissertation and placement, and from next week I am working four days instead of  just two. I am sorry for not updating my blog as often as I should, but finding time is an issue, as is finding things to blog about. Unfortunately there's not much other than dissertation and work going on at the moment, and I don't want to bore those brave souls amongst you who venture here to read my blog. You may be thinking, well, then, update us on your book project and on Publishers Inc. Alas, there is nothing to report. They are both currently being proofed for the millionth time, but hopefully one day soon I will be able to bring you news on them.

So, in the midst of all this, you would think that I would not be adding yet more books to my reading list. I honestly don't have as much time for reading as I would like right now. Whenever I can, I snatch some hours, but I am not getting through my books as quickly as I would like. A sensible person would realise that adding to the list right now would be rather stupid. A sensible person would focus on completing the books in the 'To Read' pile before adding more. I, however, am not a sensible person.

My current reading pile

This is my current 'To Read' pile. That doesn't include the books I still want to buy. In the last few weeks so many good books have been published, many of them additions to series I've already started. It pains me that I have yet to buy Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the End of the Lane, but as soon as I actually have money again I'm rushing out to get it. Since reading the first two pages of The Humans and being told how brilliant it is by my friend Lauren (who does have an eye for a good book), I now want to get a copy of that. I also discovered that the same author wrote a children's book called To Be a Cat. I cannot resist stories about cats. Moreover, I've been promising myself to read Looking for Alaska and the rest of the Game of Throne books (which will likely take a whole year), and as if that was not enough to make your head spin, I have been enjoying Daniela Sacerdoti's Dreams so much that I am definitely going to read Watch Over Me.

Let the Work Experience Commence!

Goal #3 for the year (and arguably the most important) - Take my first steps in getting a job in publishing. Last Thursday I made some progress on this front when I begun a work experience placement at Black & White Publishing in Leith, Edinburgh. This is my second work experience placement (I spent two weeks at Luath Press, also in Edinburgh, last March) and I was eager to get started and gain a further insight into the publishing world.

This placement is part of my MSc Publishing course, although I organised it myself. After a speculative email, I was answered almost immediately and luckily there was an opening which I gladly seized upon. A few people on my course had already been to Black & White and they all had seemed to have enjoyed it, so I looked them up and discovered they have quite a varied and exciting list. As well as many non-fiction titles, they also publish crime and mystery fiction, romance fiction and even (to my delight) a couple of young adult titles. Having discovered this I was excited for my first day.

Based on Ocean Drive, Black & White are a simple bus journey from Edinburgh city centre. I've not been to Leith too often (apart from one horrible interview/assessment with a recruitment company) but armed with Google maps I soon found my way to the office. It is a lovely, bright, airy office, and I even have my own intern desk, complete with stationary and Mac. My first impression when I walked in was one of wonderment. There are so many bookcases and so many books; I felt like a child in a candy shop. I probably came across as a little over-enthusiastic!

Book Review: Goddess

I bought Starcrossed, the first in Josephine Angelini’s trilogy, mainly because I loved the cover art so much. It also sounded like quite a good story. Once I started reading it, I quickly became hooked. I did fall ever-so-slightly in love with the hero, Lucas, and I loved the way the relationship between him and Helen was set up. It was the ultimate forbidden love and based on Paris and Helen of Troy no less. The concept was different to anything I’d ever read before: offspring of Gods and mortals, or scions, divided into four houses, tormented by the Furies so that they were driven to kill one another on sight. I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t wait to read the others.

Goddess is the conclusion to the trilogy. It was released back in May and though I must confess I hadn’t enjoyed the second installment, Dreamless, as much, I was still eager to find out how the series would wrap up.

Top 5 Motivational Songs

I was out running today and it may sound corny, but it did make me feel almost empowered. As I ran jogged my way along the streets of Gullane I suddenly felt as if anything was possible, any obstacle was surmountable. Which is a nice change considering the frequency with which I have been despairing lately.
It got me thinking about how simple things can suddenly restore your faith in yourself. Take music, for example. Haven't we all at some point heard a song and instantly felt so much better about ourselves? I do love my music; I think life would be a bit dull without it. I love the fact there are songs for every occasion: happy songs, love songs, heartbreak songs. Today, however, is a motivational song day.

I'm not going to lie, I am having a tiny (okay, major) panic about how I'm going to fit everything in over the next two months. Somehow I must juggle dissertation, placement, a part time job and the finishing touches to both Publishers Inc and The Camomile. Sometimes I wish there were more hours in the day! Today, however, I am in a positive frame of mind due to that run and I did manage to get quite a bit of dissertation work done today, including this survey, which I am begging you all to spend five minutes on for me: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sMvooXWMtY0UkjhMBvlQQWGrNt2b2qy7RmoEtglm5dI/viewform

So, to honour today's burst of optimism I have decided to dedicate my post to my top five motivational songs. These are the tunes I turn to whenever I need a bit of morale boosting.

In descending order...

5. What A Feeling - Irene Cara
It's really all about that immortal line - "take your passion and make it happen". Every time I hear that I think yes, I can fulfil my dreams. The whole song is so uplifting, though. It's always guaranteed to get me dancing away and smiling by the time it's over. Incidentally, I've never seen Flashdance, though I've been meaning to for years.

Book Review: The Night Circus

I'm going to be honest: I probably would never have read The Night Circus if people at university hadn't talked about it so much. I'd looked at it a few times in Waterstones, but the blurb on the back didn't convince me this was the kind of book I'd want to read. In fact, I was convinced it would be some high-brow tale about circus life. However, several of my classmates said they had really enjoyed it and ever a sucker for a beautiful book cover, I decided to give it a go.

Best. Decision. Ever.

The Night Circus is mesmerising. I honestly didn't know what to expect, but I certainly wasn't prepared to be swept up in the book quite as much as I was. Erin Morgenstern is a wonderful writer. Her words take you to the world she has created. The way she describes the sights and sounds of the circus make you feel as if you are actually there. It was evocative and awe-inspiring. This is not just any old circus; this is a magical circus.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover

But let's be honest, you do it anyway.

This is my idea of a beautiful cover design

Book covers fascinate me. I love how simple some can be, how colourful others may be and how beautiful they can look when placed side by side. It's not the first time that I have bought a book purely because I liked the cover (sometimes I don't even read the blurb on the back!).

It was only natural, then, that when it came to choosing a dissertation topic that I would plump for something to do with book covers. You have to enjoy researching and writing something that is between 15,000 and 20,000 words in length, and I thought my fetish for all things cover design would fit the bill perfectly.

Napier Degree Show 2013

Last night saw the launch of Napier Degree Show 2013. As members of the School of the Arts and CreativeBuzz magazine and our book project were on display, as well as a sneak-peek of the forthcoming Publishers Inc. For Buzz we had a giant poster of the cover on display, as well as the contents page and the Independence spread which gained national media attention a few weeks ago (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article3742505.ece).There are also copies of the magazine to pick up and take away.

I'm a (not-so) Secret Fangirl

Are you ever too old to be a fangirl?

I ask because of something I read today while researching for my dissertation. A group of people were asked for their responses to Harry Potter and this particular person said they would never read the books because there is too much hype around them. That, however, was not what irked me most, it was a comment they made about a twenty-something girl they saw wearing a Harry Potter shirt. "What is wrong with these people?" they exclaimed.

My favourite books in the entire universe plus matching bookmarks

No, HP hater, what is wrong with you? Okay, so I might be a tad (fine, a lot) biased, being a certified fangirl myself, but what is wrong in an adult being a fan of something? Sure, Harry Potter began life as a book for children, but adults soon discovered they loved it every bit as much. There are many other books and even films that have a cross-generational appeal. How many adults enjoy Disney films?

I am in my twenties and I still read young adult books. In fact, I read them more than 'adult' books. They might not be aimed at me, but I find more to identify with in them than I do in other books. The self-doubt, worries about the future and relationships that the characters go through are all things I can relate to. My opinion is, if you enjoy something you should read/watch it, regardless of your age.

Which brings me back to merchandise. Admittedly, I am a marketer's dream. I love buying merchandise. It's a way to show you're passionate about something, and I firmly believe a life without passion is not a life at all. So, yes, I will buy t-shirts, and posters and all manner of other things. I don't care if I'm 'too old'. It makes me happy. To suggest there is something wrong with people who are openly showing their affection for a book/film/band is narrow minded. How is it any different from football fans spending a fortune on strips and season tickets and crying their eyes out when their team loses the match?

So, I will continue to be a fangirl, despite my advanced years. And I say to you all, find something you're passionate about and don't be ashamed of it because the joy of life is in pursuing the things we love.

Fun Run?

One of my goals for this year was to exercise more. To be honest, I've not been doing much toward meeting this goal. Just the mere thought of exercise usually leaves me tired and reaching for the chocolate. I've been making all the work I had to do for uni an excuse, but with classes officially over, I decided to buck myself up and get my bum up off the couch.

Raring to go

Many of my friends run and you know what they say: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I figured it would be a good way of getting in shape, plus it's free, so today I boldly ventured out on my first run jog.
In my head I had ambitiously planned out my route - up my road, along the dog-walking path, then round two blocks before coming back. It would be easy, I thought.

I was wrong.

I live on a hill (okay, a slope, but you try running up it of a morning) so by the time I got to the top  of the road I was already out of breath. Determined not to give in, I powered on, managing to do half the original circuit I'd planned. Technically I ran about two blocks, which was an achievement in my eyes. By the time I got home my legs were seriously hurting and I was on the verge of having an asthma attack, but I did feel vindicated.

I'm not quite sure a 10 minute run jog burns off any calories, but considering I haven't ran anywhere (save for buses) since school, I was quite proud of myself. I plan to make Tuesday my weekly run day, and hopefully increase the distance each time. I doubt I'll ever make a marathon runner, but hopefully I can get in shape. Now, where did I put that chocolate bar?

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Time to be all sentimental...

Today was the last day of trimester two. I can't believe how quickly it's come round. It feels like just yesterday I was starting this course back in September with no idea what to expect. Now, techincally, there are no more classes. Trimester three is all about the dissertation.

It's been a rollercoaster ride. I never imagined back at the beginning how stressful the experience was going to be. Undergrad had a few hairy moments, especially around exam time, but this course has taken me to a whole other level. At times it felt like each week a new problem emerged to add to all the others we were trying to juggle. Producing the book and two magazines has been more of an exercise of what not to do than what to do. It's shown me that working in a team is vital. It's also extremely difficult.

Has it been a worthwhile experience? Yes, it has. I have gained knowledge of producing books and magazines and I feel more confident when applying for publishing jobs. I know I can handle high pressure situations now. While I didn't enjoy the set backs and the stress, it has made me stronger.

But the best thing to come out of the course is the wonderful people I have met. I could never have foreseen
that I would make so many close friends. I've never been part of such a wide circle of friends before, but we really do all get on so well. We've bonded and had many good times over the last few months. These are the people that have kept me going in week on week, even when all I wanted to do was throw a tantrum and tell the university I was quitting.




So this post is dedicated to them. Thanks for making the past nine months so memorable. Here's to writing our dissertations! And hopefully there are many more memories still to make.

Buzz on the Streets

Wednesday (1st May) saw the launch of Buzz magazine 2013. After 12 long weeks of blood, sweat and tears (literally) the publishing and journalist students of Napier were able to say the job was done. It was a lovely, sunny night and we all had a good time, celebrating all our hard work.

To be honest, I don't think any of us ever thought we would reach this point. We faced so many problems in producing this magazine; at times it felt as if we were cursed! Buzz was a joint project between the journalist and publishing students and we didn't always see eye-to-eye. Not to mention there were a lot of last minute changes to be made that resulted in a considerable amount of stress and frayed tempers on all sides.

But I think it was all worth it in the end. I'm really happy with how the magazine looks overall. The cover is bright and colourful and as good as any professional magazine cover. The contents page is cool and the cover story looks amazing. I designed two spreads for the magazine - the Brew Lab one and the picnic one. Considering that before October I had never touched InDesign, they're not too shabby. The picnic hamper spread was a particularly hard one to bring to life, but it's good to be tested creatively.

Enjoying the launch

The whole project has taught me a lot - from design skills, to working with others, and, most importantly, how to stay calm under extreme pressure. It was at times frustrating and at times fun, and it's definitely an experience I'm glad to have had. I've never done anything like this before and I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. I would seriously consider working in magazine design in the future.

Those of you who live in Edinburgh, look out for Buzz in cafes, bars, hotels and select shops all over the city. And don't forget to check out www.buzzmag.org/ for more stories and reviews of the latest films and gigs.

I Dreamed A Dream...

If you've been following my blog (big shout out to you if you do!) you will know that two weeks ago I was in London for the annual Book Fair at Earl's Court. As well as being a chance to attend this great industry event, it was also an opportunity to visit the nation's capital. We had plenty of free time at night and what better way to spend it than going to the West End?

I'm a huge fan of musicals. If I had my way, life would be one big extended musical. I have wanted to see Les Misérables on stage for ages now and after seeing the recent Hollywood film, I was determined to use my trip to London to see it. Luckily a couple of my friends wanted to go too, so on the Tuesday night we found ourselves at Queen's Theatre.

Keep Calm and Read On

Happy World Book Night!

I love the whole idea of this event. What can be better than encouraging people to read? There is nothing quite as wonderful as opening a book and stepping into its world. For many it is the only chance to travel that they will ever get. A book allows us to escape the mundane world around us, to be part of an adventure, to experience a love we can only dream of, and encounter creatures and places far more exciting than anything in the real world. Everyone should be able to experience the happiness a good book can bring, and World Book Night is a brilliant way of promoting reading.

I meant to sign up to be a giver this year, but, me being me, I missed the deadline. My friend, Lauren, however, gave away copies of Jojo Moyes' Me Before You (remember, you can follow her blog, co-run with fellow amazing publishing gal, Clare, here: http://wakeupyourluck.wordpress.com/). So, to honour the event, I've decided to make this blog post on the five books I think everyone should read.

Picture courtesy World Book Night

5. A Room With a View, E.M. Forster

This was the first Forster book I read, and I fell in love with it instantly. The Italian parts of the novel made me want to go there and the characters are an interesting mix. Lucy is a bit of a silly heroine, but you can't help but warm to her. I did love how her relationship with George unfolded too. A must for anyone wanting to read about Edwardian society.

4. Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys

A 'prequel' to Jane Eyre, this is one of the most evocative books I have ever read. It tells the story of how Mr Rochester's first wife went mad. Paranoia infuses the whole novel, from the British character's racist attitude to Antoinette's fear of becoming like her mother, and the atmosphere is both stifling and intoxicating. I was mesmerised by this tale and enjoyed it more than Jane Eyre. Postcolonial literature at its finest.

3. The Jewel of St Petersburg, Kate Furnivall

Set in Russia on the cusp of the fall of the Romanov empire, this is a heart-pounding page turner! From the first chapter the action comes thick and fast as Valentina tries to make her own way in the world to the backdrop of the impending Bolkshevik revolution. There is something for everyone in this novel: romance, history, action and a fearless heroine. It will leave you holding your breath right up to the final sentence.

2. The Mortal Instruments/The Infernal Devices series, Cassandra Clare

I'm including both because they are equally amazing and also because they link together. The former are set in the present day, the latter in Victorian London. There are vampires and werewolves, angels and demons, but don't go thinking they are just another run-of-the-mill YA series. These books are witty and action-packed. Clary is a likeable heroine, and, indeed, a lot of the female characters stand on their own two feet. They will make you laugh and they will make you cry, which is what a good book should do, right?

1. The Cassandra Palmer series, Karen Chance

If you do not read these books then you are missing out on the best series that was ever created. Blending mythology with the supernatural, combining action and romance and laced with humour, these books are everything a good story should be. Cassie is hapless to begin with, but with each book she grows in strength and confidence and, yes, she can take care of herself, thank you very much (well, most of the time). Add to the mix a whole cast of characters that will steal into your heart and I defy you not to fall in love with this series. If you like urban fantasy then you have to read them. And once you've done that, make sure you read the Dorina Basrab series and Lia de Croissets shorts; they're equally as awesome.

London Book Fair

What a week!

I'm back in Scotland after a whirlwind trip to London to the annual Book Fair. It was my first time visiting both the Fair and the city, so I had no idea what to expect. I will admit to being terrified of using the tube and a bit daunted at the prospect of meeting so many people, but I set out determined to face my fears.

Book Review: Clockwork Princess

WARNING: I cannot guarantee that this review will be spoiler-free. Read on at your own peril...

La Barantine

Sometimes in the midst of all that studying, you just need a break. After a morning of going over proofs for our book project yesterday, we decided that we deserved a treat, so we took ourselves off to a little French cafe on Bruntsfield Road, La Barantine.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Hope everyone had a good Easter.


It's been a busy old time for me. With less than two weeks now until the London Book Fair (I cannot tell you how excited I am for this) and only three weeks after the Easter break until the end of term, there's a whole load of deadlines approaching.

The good news is that Buzz Magazine is now complete. Those of you who live in Edinburgh, look out for it in coffee shops, bars and hotels from April 18th. 

Book Review: Hollow Earth

Some of you may remember my blog post about the John Barrowman book signing. In it I said I would soon be giving my review of Hollow Earth. You may have thought that I'd forgotten all about it (or you may have forgotten yourself) but don't worry, I remember and though this is a little later than 'soon', I'm giving this post over to my review.

Red Nose Day

Just a short post today in honour of Comic Relief.

I have a few fond memories of Red Nose Day. At school it was one of my favourite days in the year because we got to dress in 'home' clothes and do something fun, like wear a wig. One year our teachers all came to school in their pyjamas. We did have fun and we used to raise quite a bit of money too.

So You Want to Work in Publishing?

Week six of my second trimester is almost over (yes, really!), so now seems like the time for some good old reflection. Before I started my MSc Publishing course I knew we would be required to participate in 'live projects', producing a book and a magazine. During our first trimester our work was all geared to providing us with the skills needed to complete these projects. The individual proposals we all worked on for the book live project had me imagining an exciting collaboration to produce a beautiful, interesting book. There were so many good ideas and I couldn't wait to get started on it.

The reality, as is so often the case, has been somewhat different.

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars

This is my first attempt at a book review since I was in high school, so please forgive me if this sounds rusty.

I'm sure you've all heard of The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. It's one of those books that is so famous, lines of it exist independently. You know what I mean - "the world is not a wish-granting factory" and "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once." To be honest, it is not my usual type of book. In fact, I probably would never have read it had it not become such a big thing on tumblr and had several of my friends not recommended it. I approached it with a bit of trepidation, unsure, exactly, what to expect, but as it turns out I actually really enjoyed the book.

A book that deals with teenagers suffering from cancer has the potential to be unbearably sad, but John Green has managed to interweave tragedy and humour into a punchy, heart-rending and yet heart-warming narrative. I defy you not to like Hazel, the protagonist and narrator. She was witty and fiesty and made me think about what it must be like to be in her situation. Her anger at the way people respond to kids with cancer was interesting and made me contemplate what my own reaction would be. I think it's true that we can drown cancer sufferers in pity and we do talk about their bravery and how hard they seem to fight. We do it, perhaps, because we can't imagine what they arre going through and we admire them. But until reading TFIOS I never considered how this might seem to someone with cancer. Hazel doesn't see herself as brave and she doesn't want to be; she just wants to be 'normal' and treated like her old high school friends.

The Fault In Our Stars cover 

It is Hazel's relationship with Augustus Waters that forms the main heart of the story, and I found it a refreshing love story. Augustus is charming and humorous and I think the reader ends up falling a little in love with him along with Hazel. I loved their trip to Amsterdam to visit Peter Van Houten, author of Hazel's favourite book. It was such a romantic gesture for Augustus to spend his wish on the trip and I found the descriptions of Amsterdam enchanting. I think it makes the (spoiler alert; although, to be honest if you don't know this, where have you been?) return of Augustus' cancer all the more of an emotional punch.

Green does not shy away from describing the brutality of the disease. We see how it eats away at Augustus and experience through Hazel and those around her the pain that it causes to the patient and their loved ones. I had a lump in my throat at several points, but Green never gets bogged down in the sorrow. Hazel maintains her wit and her bursts of anger at the universe and the people in it struck me as realistic. I came away from this book with a different perspective on what it must be like to suffer from cancer. This book will make you laugh and cry. Don't let the subject matter put you off. I can promise you that you won't regret picking up this wonderful book.

Annette xx

Meeting John Barrowman

It's been another really busy week, but the highlight was attending a book signing on Wednesday at Waterstones by THE John Barrowman. That's right, Captain Jack was in Edinburgh to sign copies of Bone Quill, his newest novel, and there was no way I was going to miss the chance to see him in person. I've never met anyone famous (anyone exciting anyway) and I've loved John since the moment I first saw him on Doctor Who. Plus, I'm making it a point of attending as many book/publishing related events as I can, and a book signing is definitely publishing related.

Needless to say, Waterstones was chock-a-block with fans, but luckily my friend, Jen, arrived early and got a spot near the start of the queue for us. The level of excitement and impatience amongst the crowd as we waited was almost tangible, and when John and his sister, Carole (who co-authors the books with him) started to descend the stairs everyone cheered. Immediately phones were whipped out as people tried to get pictures. I attempted to take some myself, but I was shaking through sheer excitement so much that they came out a bit blurry! Still, as Jen pointed out, they are proof that we did indeed meet him.

John & Carole Barrowman

Both John and Carole were so nice. Carole asked me how I was, which I thought was really sweet of her. And John was so gracious when I embarrassed myself and asked him if he'd be interested in teaming up with Merchiston Publishing for a potential e-book. I was coerced into asking this by my so-called friends (thanks guys) and my excited tutor who found out I was attending the book signing. I am still in a state of utter horror that I actually asked him about it; sorry, John! But the silver lining is that I actually spoke to him and he was lovely. He's just like you see him on TV; completely down-to-earth. It was a brilliant, if slightly surreal experience, and now I have two books signed by one of my favourite actors. As days go, that was pretty darn good!

One of my signed books

I shall be reading Hollow Earth (the first of the two books) next, so stayed tuned for my review at some future date.

Annette xx

Baking and Book Covers

Wednesday was a very busy day.

As part of my publishing course we are involved in 'live projects', attempting to produce two books in both print and electronic format. In order to raise funds for this, we held a bake sale on Wednesday at our campus. The idea was instrumented by our brilliant marketing team, headed by Kelly Hamister, and we all brought in baking to tempt the people of Merchiston. The result was a feast for anyone with a sweet tooth. We outdid ourselves - authentic American chocolate chip cookies, rock cakes, chocolate truffles, and Chinese onion biscuits (which were delicious!).

Some of the sweet treats we served up

The marketing team went with a vintage theme in honour of one of the books we hope to publish. They dressed up for the occasion and they had music, which created a brilliant atmosphere. Passers-by were certainly intrigued and by lunch a lot of the baking had been sold. By the end of the day quite a few of the treats had sold out. I'm very happy to report that the bake sale raised £241! I don't think any of us expected it to be such a huge success and we are all very proud of our marketing team. This money will go towards our marketing materials, such as bookmarks and promotional teabags.

That evening I attended the 'Do You Judge A Book By Its Cover' event at Blackwell's on South Bridge. I must confess to being ever-so-slightly obsessed with book covers. One of the things I love most about physical books is how pretty they look lined up on my book shelf. Since starting my publishing course this interest in cover design has grown as I've learned just what goes into making a book look the way it does. InDesign and I may have our issues, but I enjoy the creativity involved in designing a book cover. So, when I heard about this event, I was determined to attend.

The book at the heart of the event was Far Rockaway, by Charlie Fletcher. The paperback cover was designed by Astrid Jaeckel, a student from the Edinburgh College of Art, as part of a competition held in conjunction with the College. Both author and illustrator were present at the event, along with Anne McNeil from Hodder, Jonathan Gibbs from Edinburgh College of Art, and Janet Smyth from the Edinburgh Book Festival.

The discussion was based around Far Rockaway but it threw up a lot of ideas and discussion about book cover design in general. Anne McNeil stated that the jacket design should encompass the heart of the book and reach out to potential readers. I found it interesting when she spoke of the collaborative process involved in designing a book's cover. Until I started this course I didn't give much thought to the process. My only exposure to it was while on work experience at Luath Press. The designer would come in for meetings with authors on a Tuesday, and though I saw the author, designer and publishing team sitting together at these meetings it always seemed to me as if the designer was the one directing everything. The more I learn about publishing, however, the more I am realising that departments have to collaborate and that no decision can be made without consultation.

One of the main things I took away from the event was the importance of the market. McNeil spoke at length about the influence of bookshop trends and the decision that is often taken to make a cover more 'commercial' so that it will be easily identifiable to the readers. This is something I can relate to. Just today I spied a book in a book store and the style of the cover immediately alerted me to the fact it was a historical romance in the vein of Philippa Gregory. So, you see, there is so much more to a book's cover than the image. It is a fascinating process, one based on careful consideration and involving more than just the designer. It is, I would argue, one of the most crucial decisions made about a book. I know that attractive covers have influenced my purchases in the past.

I have my suspicions that I am just a nerd, but if you think about it I'm sure you will be able to think about book covers that you have loved and loathed. Let me know which ones. We can maybe start a club!

Annette xx

'Jellicles Come to the Jellicle Ball'

Last Friday I went to the Edinburgh Playhouse to see Cats. It bought the tickets as a Christmas gift for my mum because she loves the musical to pieces. I can't even remember when I first became obsessed with Cats. I was probably about 9 or 10 and the DVD of the specially recorded performance had just come out. Mum bought it and we watched it over and over. I quickly got my hands on a copy of the original soundtrack and soon I knew the words to every song. My friends and I even used to stage 'productions' of it in my bedroom. I saw it in the theatre for the first time about ten years ago and this is the second live production I have been to see.

Maybe it is the immediacy of the memory or maybe it was because we were in the second row and had the most amazing view ever, but this is my favourite production so far. It was spellbinding and the cast were terrific. I can't praise them enough.

The most amazing set ever

Look at that stage! We spent ages picking out pieces of the rubbish. My favourite was the huge tin of Felix. The opening with the flashing cats eyes took my breath away. It is one thing to see it on a DVD, but to experience if for real is thrilling.

And then the cats came out. I simply love the fact they interact with the audience so much. It makes it all the more fun. As I said before, the entire cast was wonderful, but I have to mention my personal favourites. First of all, Oliver Savile as Rum Tum Tugger blew me away. The Tugger is one of my favourite cats, and Savile had all the panache, sex appeal and haughtiness that the role demands. He got him down to an absolute T. When he swooped into the audience to ask one of the ladies to dance we were all cheering and his air guitar with his tail at the curtain call was hilarious. Melissa James was an amazing Bombalurina. Her facial expressions were spot-on especially during the Macavity number. From now on she will be the standard by which I measure all other Bombalurinas. On the night one of the understudies was playing the role of Mistofelees. I think it was Joel Morris, but I could be wrong. At any rate, this was the best performance of Mistofelees I've seen. His expressions of wonder and pride when he brought Old Deuteronomy back from Macavity's clutches were perfect. That particular number was a stand-out. The whole audience were singing and clapping along and the pyrotechnics were amazing.

The role of Grizabella is, of course, the most important and while I don't think anyone will ever be able to banish Elaine Paige from my mind, Joanna Ampil in this production was spectacular. She put her heart and soul into the performance and her rendition of Memory was breathtaking. I could feel every emotion while she was singing.

But, the show for me was well and truly stolen by Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. I am probably ridiculously biased here. They have always been my favourite Cats right from the very first time I watched the DVD. In fact, when I was a kid I wanted to be Rumpleteazer. I'd still say that if I was an actress that would be my dream role (closely followed by Christine in Phantom). I adore the DVD interpretation of them, but the actors playing them in this production stole my heart. I have to confess to being totally distracted by their every antic in the background during Gus the Theatre Cat and Mistofeeles. They played them with such humour and affection. Their little hugs and kisses on the cheeks were adorable and I must confess to doing an inward 'aww' when, during Gus the Theatre cat, Mungojerrie put his hand on Rumpleteazer's heart when Gus sings 'I'd a voice that would soften the hardest of hearts.' They were perfect and future Mungojerries and Rumpleteazer's will have a lot to live up to!

It was a brilliant night and I urge you all if you haven't seen it yet to get yourselves down to the Playhouse. The cast make this one production you don't want to miss! I fancy going back to see them myself.

Annette xx

Venturing into Blogging

Not quite sure how to start this so I'm just gonna dive right in. My lecturer is always telling us to start blogging, but I've resisted so far because I'm not sure I actually have anything interesting to say for myself. Then my friends, Clare and Lauren set up a blog to document their challenge of meeting the 13 goals they set for themselves for 2013, and it inspired me so much I decided to try blogging for myself (you can follow these two amazing girls and chart their progress here: http://wakeupyourluck.blogspot.co.uk/). They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, so for this first post I'm gonna list my own goals.

1. To be more proactive - I'm not one for putting myself forward. I like to fade into the background and not be noticed. But this year I want to push myself into taking on bigger roles in the projects I'm involved in and to do things that would normally scare me. I'm always complaining about not having done anything with my life thus far. Well, that's because I haven't really tried. This is the time to do something about that.

2. To exercise more - I'm a Libra and we have a natural affinity for lounging about. Unfortunately this leads to putting on weight, so in the interests of losing weight and being healthy, I want to at least try and work out every week. I keep talking about joining an exercise class, but I never do it. I want to try zumba, so let's see if I can motivate myself into joining the class at the local gym.

3. To take the first step in getting a job in publishing - I'm (hopefully) already half-way there through doing my MSc, but I want to do more. Part of my course involves a placement and I really want to try and organise more work experience, especially in London. It's my dream to work in London and all the publishing houses I am interested in are there. If I can get some work experience at one of them that would be amazing. It would also fulfil my first goal. I'm always saying I want to go to London but I never have, making cost an issue. A placement there would force me to step out of my comfort zone.

So, those are my goals. There are only three because a) I want to be realistic and I think the fewer there are, the more likely I am to fulfil them, and b) I couldn't think of any more! Let's see if I can see them through over the year. Wish me luck!

Annette xx