New Year is a time for reflection and new resolutions. To try to live your life better, more responsibly, more selflessly. But first there's that party to go to....
In TORN, the New Year party is when all the plans and good intentions of my heroine, go awry.
Jess didn't really want to go to the party and has been persuaded against her better judgement. After all, she is a mother now; she needs to put her child first, to make his life safe and secure.
And yet it’s a long time since she's had any fun.
The event is a turning point. Her good intentions are subverted. Her conscience is thrown into turmoil. And her life will never be the same again.
What on earth has she done.....?
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Christmas
Everyone loves Christmas don’t they? I certainly do. It’s a serious event in our house. We are not religious, but I love the Christmas story, as well as all the traditions ̶ sparkle, snow, carols, fairy-lights and gifts piled beside the decorated trees ̶ which have grown up around the celebration of Christmas. We enjoy it as the mid-winter pagan festival it once was in these islands.
The perpetuation of tradition happens on a smaller scale, within families. I am well aware that the things I insist upon ̶ the foil wrapped nugget of coal, alongside the nuts, chocolate money and Satsuma, in the toe of the stocking ̶ is not necessarily what anyone else does, it is simply a repetition of what happened in my family when I was a child. So there is a lot of sentiment wrapped-up in the attempt to recreate the Christmases of your own childhood ̶ a need to sink back into that remembered warmth, excitement and security.
My book, TORN, starts just before Christmas. Jessica has escaped London with her young son, and is making a fresh start in the country. Here she believes life will be simple, straightforward and peaceful. As she leaves a pub on her first evening out, she breaths in the chill air with a sense of relief and optimism.
I could have made the opening chapter of TORN a warm and cosy evocation of this time of year. But I write unconventional, unpredictable, unsentimental stories. So, what do you think happens?
The perpetuation of tradition happens on a smaller scale, within families. I am well aware that the things I insist upon ̶ the foil wrapped nugget of coal, alongside the nuts, chocolate money and Satsuma, in the toe of the stocking ̶ is not necessarily what anyone else does, it is simply a repetition of what happened in my family when I was a child. So there is a lot of sentiment wrapped-up in the attempt to recreate the Christmases of your own childhood ̶ a need to sink back into that remembered warmth, excitement and security.
My book, TORN, starts just before Christmas. Jessica has escaped London with her young son, and is making a fresh start in the country. Here she believes life will be simple, straightforward and peaceful. As she leaves a pub on her first evening out, she breaths in the chill air with a sense of relief and optimism.
I could have made the opening chapter of TORN a warm and cosy evocation of this time of year. But I write unconventional, unpredictable, unsentimental stories. So, what do you think happens?
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Inspiration
Whenever I start the process of developing ideas for a new book I will always begin by reviewing my own life. I can honestly say that some real experience appears in every book I have written. After all, my own experience of life has to inform the way I look at the world, how I interpret the way people react, or how I predict they will behave. This doesn’t mean that every book I write is autobiographical. None of them are.
The autobiographical elements might be quite insignificant - fleeting moments retained like snap shots in my mind's eye. I'll maybe use something that happened to me as a jumping off point, not in the sense that it will necessarily begin the book, but that it will work like a seed from which my story grows. It could be something funny, flattering or off-the-wall, which prompts the 'what if...?' question. But a real life incident can never be slotted into a story exactly as it happened to me. I always find I have to alter it, to shade and embroider to make it fit my story-line.
The incident which actually initiated TORN, occurred while travelling to Somerset by car. I was a passenger on the nearside and was looking out at the passing scene. We passed a turning on the left. In the moment or two I had to absorb it I saw a lane sloping steeply down to the heart of a village. The road we were on had obviously been widened and made into the A road to by-pass this narrow village centre.
At that instant the random thought which went through my head was: ‘I bet those villagers were pleased.’ But it was swiftly followed by another. ‘Though I doubt the people who lived up here were delighted to have the main road re-routed past them.’ I went on to reflect that life is actually never that simple or black and white. There are always two or more sides to every question, and........... The whole story grew from there.
Here and now, I have to make it clear that TORN is not a muddy story about road protest! But it is a story about opposing attitudes to life, different ambitions and competing allegiances.
Jess has taken her 3 yr old son and moved away from London intent on escaping her racketty past. She expects life in the country to be simple, peaceful and undemanding. Here she will be able to live 'the good life' and to concentrate on her role as a mother. But there’s conflict over a proposed bypass, conflict between friends with very different agendas, conflict between her own nature and her good intentions. And she finds herself torn ...... between the suitable man and the unsuitable boy.
The autobiographical elements might be quite insignificant - fleeting moments retained like snap shots in my mind's eye. I'll maybe use something that happened to me as a jumping off point, not in the sense that it will necessarily begin the book, but that it will work like a seed from which my story grows. It could be something funny, flattering or off-the-wall, which prompts the 'what if...?' question. But a real life incident can never be slotted into a story exactly as it happened to me. I always find I have to alter it, to shade and embroider to make it fit my story-line.
The incident which actually initiated TORN, occurred while travelling to Somerset by car. I was a passenger on the nearside and was looking out at the passing scene. We passed a turning on the left. In the moment or two I had to absorb it I saw a lane sloping steeply down to the heart of a village. The road we were on had obviously been widened and made into the A road to by-pass this narrow village centre.
At that instant the random thought which went through my head was: ‘I bet those villagers were pleased.’ But it was swiftly followed by another. ‘Though I doubt the people who lived up here were delighted to have the main road re-routed past them.’ I went on to reflect that life is actually never that simple or black and white. There are always two or more sides to every question, and........... The whole story grew from there.
Here and now, I have to make it clear that TORN is not a muddy story about road protest! But it is a story about opposing attitudes to life, different ambitions and competing allegiances.
Jess has taken her 3 yr old son and moved away from London intent on escaping her racketty past. She expects life in the country to be simple, peaceful and undemanding. Here she will be able to live 'the good life' and to concentrate on her role as a mother. But there’s conflict over a proposed bypass, conflict between friends with very different agendas, conflict between her own nature and her good intentions. And she finds herself torn ...... between the suitable man and the unsuitable boy.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
A Stonking Review
"I loved this book, it was emotional, sad, happy, funny and just generally fab!" Says Kim (The Bookworm) Nash.
What a fabulous review! It brings a lump to my throat. And it is especially pleasing as no money changed hands and Kim is not a relative. Nor is she a close friend, although it goes without saying, she will be my best friend from now on!
Go to the full review at: http://kimthebookworm.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-torn-by-gilli-allan.html
It is such a joy to read the comments of someone who really 'gets' your book. Thanks Kim.
What a fabulous review! It brings a lump to my throat. And it is especially pleasing as no money changed hands and Kim is not a relative. Nor is she a close friend, although it goes without saying, she will be my best friend from now on!
Go to the full review at: http://kimthebookworm.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-torn-by-gilli-allan.html
It is such a joy to read the comments of someone who really 'gets' your book. Thanks Kim.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Famous Five
Yet another opportunity for time wasting! The Famous Five Plus blogspot has just been launched. 5 indie authors, including me. http://famousfiveplus.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Appearances
If you're interested to know more about me, I make an appearance here and there on other people's websites and blogs. In all of them I'm just waffling on, repetitively, about the same old subject *Gilli Allan* but if you want to take a look.....
The first person to invite me to be a guest on their blog was the peerless Pauline Barclay.
http://www.paulinebarclay.co.uk/#/gilli-allan/4551043237
Then I was interviewed by the witty and wonderful Jane Wenham, on her website Wannabe a Writer.
http://wannabeawriter.darkskipper.com/wp/news/2011/08/gilli-allan/
Then mad Mandy Baggot invited me onto the Meet & Greet page on her website.
http://mandybaggot.webs.com/apps/blog/show/8098390
And I have just been interviewed again, by the lovely Laura Williams, on Bookworm Ink!
http://bookwormink.co.uk/1/post/2011/10/an-interview-with-gilli-allan-author-of-torn.html
The first person to invite me to be a guest on their blog was the peerless Pauline Barclay.
http://www.paulinebarclay.co.uk/#/gilli-allan/4551043237
Then I was interviewed by the witty and wonderful Jane Wenham, on her website Wannabe a Writer.
http://wannabeawriter.darkskipper.com/wp/news/2011/08/gilli-allan/
Then mad Mandy Baggot invited me onto the Meet & Greet page on her website.
http://mandybaggot.webs.com/apps/blog/show/8098390
And I have just been interviewed again, by the lovely Laura Williams, on Bookworm Ink!
http://bookwormink.co.uk/1/post/2011/10/an-interview-with-gilli-allan-author-of-torn.html
Friday, October 21, 2011
Dashed
Yet again, I find myself writing about clouds and silver linings.
Only now, 4 days after we were due to depart, am I able to write about this without grinding my teeth.
My holiday to Italy at http://www.arteumbria.com/ was cancelled.
I was the invalid, still recuperating from a minor operation, and looking forward SO much to a week of 'doing art' with tutors Andy James and Mark Kelland, and then enjoying a week of R & R with our friends, but it was my husband who developed a severe ear infection. Obviously, flying is a very bad idea in the circumstances. So we had to cancel the arrangements.
I'm not bitter. No. Not bitter at all.
The silver lining - the contract offered by Lysandra Press - is currently still in place. Phew.
Only now, 4 days after we were due to depart, am I able to write about this without grinding my teeth.
My holiday to Italy at http://www.arteumbria.com/ was cancelled.
I was the invalid, still recuperating from a minor operation, and looking forward SO much to a week of 'doing art' with tutors Andy James and Mark Kelland, and then enjoying a week of R & R with our friends, but it was my husband who developed a severe ear infection. Obviously, flying is a very bad idea in the circumstances. So we had to cancel the arrangements.
I'm not bitter. No. Not bitter at all.
The silver lining - the contract offered by Lysandra Press - is currently still in place. Phew.
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