Tag Archives: The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team

Jun20

Strong women of the past

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You’ve met The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team! Without prompting from me, honest, they mentioned my determination and focus, giving me cause to contemplate where it came from…

My Dad loved delving into our family’s history. I’ve his ancient copy of Debrett’s Peerage (circa 1903), complete with markers, where he’d found prominent, important people who were part of our family. Among others we were related to banking families, Barclays, Hoares and Gurneys, and one of those Gurneys married into another banking family and became Elizabeth Fry.

Elizabeth Fry was a pioneer. She was a major driving force behind new legislation targeting the inhumane treatment of prisoners. Queen Victoria supported her, giving her an audience on more than one occasion. Elizabeth visited prisoners facing transportation, as well as women and children in Newgate prison and brought their plight into the public eye.

Her book Prisons in Scotland and the North of England, tells how she stayed overnight in prison, offering nobility the opportunity to do so for themselves, to witness first hand the appalling conditions suffered by the convicted. Her untiring determination to make a difference led to the founding of the Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners in Newgate. This association provided materials for women so that they could learn to sew and knit and once they were out of prison. could then earn money for themselves.

Elizabeth used her position and worked with other Quakers in a bid to abolish the slave trade and the school she opened for nurses was the inspiration for Florence Nightingale, who took a team of Fry’s nurses with her to the Crimean War.

In this year when we celebrate the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act that gave some women over the age of thirty the right to vote, maybe we need to look back further, to the women, mothers and grandmothers who, in turn, inspired the Suffragettes.

Let us celebrate the awesomeness of women through the ages and be certain and determined that, as women of 2018, we stand up for and bring into the public eye, the causes that we believe and care about.

 

 

Jun19

The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team

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The Flowerpot Witch blog tour is nearly here and it’s all thanks to the newest member of the team, Rachel Gilbey.

Welcome Rachel to my blog!

Thanks Wendy, it’s my pleasure to be featured on your blog.

Your services were recommended to me online as the lady to create a perfect blog tour but how do you describe yourself?

I would describe myself as incredibly fortunate to be in a position to be running my own business and doing a job that I am thoroughly enjoying. I am organised, a huge lover of books and just want to help authors get their book out and seen to the wider world.

How did you come to be supporting writers?

Three years ago I started up a book blog, and then from there started taking part in blog tours. From that I realised it was something that I had the skills to do, but it took a year of procrastination and research before I was able to set up the business.

I have been an avid reader my whole life and with social media and the internet it was probably inevitable that I would eventually find likeminded people and be able to share my love of books with a wider audience.

 

Have you considered writing yourself?

No, I just about got an A in English Language GCSE back in 2000, and that was the last time I tried to write creatively.  If I ever had a persistent idea for a book I may give it a go but have no burning desire to write, I would rather enjoy the fruits of everyone else’s imaginations!

 

What is your favourite genre to read and why?

Chick lit / romance – I like pure escapism.  Romance in real life doesn’t seem to agree with me but in fiction I get to experience many varieties of book boyfriend, and with chick lit and women’s fiction I get to enjoy some humour too and generally realistic well rounded identifiable characters, which I can then pretend to be for a short while.

 

If you were stranded on a desert island, with food and shelter provided, what five items would you want with you?

Kindle – I have so many books on it that even without Wi-Fi I have enough to keep me going for a few years

Sun tan lotion – need to protect my skin as I turn into a lobster otherwise!

A sexy man – well I need to entertain myself too!

A genie in a lamp – Having someone to cast unlimited wishes seems like a plan to me

A puppy – I love dogs and don’t have one and need some company when I get bored of the sexy man!

 

You can invite three people to dinner, who would you invite and why?

Gordon Ramsay – I need someone to cook the dinner and I like him!

Gary Barlow – a mix of entertainment, great music and well I’m a huge Take That fan but don’t want to invite only them for my 3 spots!

Dave Gorman – he’s a lesser known comedian but I love his jokes and observational comedy and I reckon he would fit in well to this party.

 

Thank you so much for sharing a little of what makes you tick.

Use these links to contact Rachel and view the wonderful random resources she offers.

 

Website – https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/rachelsrandomresources/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/rararesources

 

And that’s The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team, the creative, inspiring, sexy, awesome women behind my books.

Look out for The Flowerpot Witch blog tour coming to a blog near you very soon!

 

Jun18

The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team

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Now you’ve met my first readers, it’s time to meet my cover designer, formatter and all round tech supporter, Kate Murray. Kate is an artist and author in her own right who kindly offered to help me when I’d been let down.

I asked her some questions…

1 How do you write and draw? Is everything plotted, planned to perfection? Do you ever change tack as you go along or always stick to a pre-made plan?

Sometimes there is a plan, but more often there isn’t. It depends on how complicated I’m going. When I plan a large piece of work that has meaning then it has to be meticulous in pre drawing and notes. But if I decide to work to a feeling then there are no plans – I simply have a go.

In my writing there tends to be more of a plan although the characters very rarely stick to it.

 

2 Do you have a writing ritual? Meditation, certain cup for your tea, writing trousers?

 Trousers? No… I do have a specific set up. My computer, which is a Wacom drawing tablet, earphones (have to be red) and music, normally from the mid 80s to present day. Oh! And Queen. A cup of coffee and a handful of peanuts. Then I’m ready for anything.

 

 3 Aside from writing, what makes you tick? Tell us 5 things about yourself we probably don’t know.

I love to bake, knit and do creative things.

I grow stuff, from herbs to flowers.

If I can I will have some DIY project on the go, although my partner is the one who has to bail me out.

I love that my home is full of family that come and go as they please. That the house always seems busy.

I collect ornament cats. And I name them. Give them characters and places in the house.

 

4 If you were stranded on a desert island with shelter, food and water, what 5 items would you want with you?

My partner – Roland. I would forfeit the other four things for him…

 

5 On said island, what 5 books would you take and why?

The Prowlers by Christopher Golden. This book isn’t about curses but the stark reality of the werewolf if they existed.

Touching the Void by Joe Simpson. He survived but how he did it is amazing.

The Fireman by Joe Hill. I love all Joe Hill’s books but this is about love and sacrifice, and is just brilliant.

Hollow World by Michael J Sullivan. Because it is a future I can see happening. And love without the barriers of gender.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It starts with murder and carries on from there. Beautiful, modern fairytale.

 

6 Off the island now, which famous person would you like to have dinner with?­

Tricky, but I would have to chose Freddie Mercury. He had a hell of a creative mind and I have a feeling I would just listen. Anyone who can put an operatic section in a rock song has got to be interesting. Scaramouch Fandango; where does that come from?

 

7 Your current writing projects?

I have a Tudor colouring book for Key Stage 3 on the go at the moment. A murder mystery screen play and a couple of artworks. Life is busy and a lot of fun.

 

8 Other published work and links….

 

‘Nomora’ – Aberystwyth Masters Magazine 2012

‘The Wait’ – Female First (magazine) 2013

‘Searching Pride’ – Female First (magazine) 2013

‘Oil and Water’ – The Lampeter Review 2013

‘Vanilla and Caramel’ – Ether books and in Twisted Tales Anthology 2013 published by Raging Aardvark Press

‘The White Ghost’ – Ether books 2013

‘A fur coat, a guitar and a song’ – in the ‘Busker’ anthology published by What the Dickens magazine (ebook) 2013

‘James Herbert – biography’ – Thresholds (University of Cirencester) 2013

‘Vanilla and Caramel’ – Twisted Tales Anthology, Aardvark Press 2013

‘Dust’ – published by Jotters United Literary Magazine 2014

‘Crimson and Scarlet’ – published by Jotters United Literary Magazine 2014

‘The Phantom Horse’ – Self-published flash fiction collection 2014

‘The Constant Bicycle’ – in the ‘Spooky Tales’ anthology published by What the Dickens magazine (ebook) 2014

‘Love Just Is’ – Short story Collection published by Raging Aardvark Press 2014

‘Shadows Close’ – Short Story Collection published by Raging Aardvark Press 2014

‘Truth and Lies’ – Self-published crime novella 2015

‘The Gone’ – Self-Published horror novel 2015

‘The Shallow Sea’ – Self-published disaster novel 2016

‘Here Be Dragons’ – Self-published children’s novel 2016 (Shortlisted for the Firefly prize 2015)

‘Tunnels’ – Self-published Children’s novel 2016

‘Fey’ – Self-published Children’s novel 2016

‘How the Moon Lost the Stars’ – Self-published picture book 2017

‘The Gone 2 – Evolution’ – Self-published Horror Novel 2017

‘Here Be Wolves’ – Self-published children’s novel 2017

‘Adult Tudor Colouring Book’ – Self-published colouring book 2017

 

Most are available through my Amazon page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kate-Murray/e/B00IS2FP98/

Or my website: http://kate0murray.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.murray.author.artist/

https://twitter.com/the_toymaker

 

Kate is wonderful to work with! She’s patient and thoughtful and meticulous in all her work. Her artwork is stunning and her books magnificent and she’s far too modest to tell you, but she’s been accepted to study for a PhD at Swansea University. She’s a truly inspirational, unstoppable creative bombshell and I’m privileged to call her friend.

Join me tomorrow to meet the final member of The Wonderful Wendy Woo WitchLit Team.

 

 

 

 

Jun17

The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team

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On the run up to The Flowerpot Witch blog tour, I’ve been introducing you to the fabulous team of women who help me get my book from my imagination into the public domain. Today is the turn of my final first reader, Melanie Collier.

Hi, I’m Melanie, dance and movement teacher, crafter, blogger and provider of document services such as proofreading, copy-editing, data entry or just plain old typing.

I teach belly dance in Pembrokeshire, where I also provide cover for LIFT (Low Impact Functional Training) gentle exercise sessions for Age Cymru. My first love was ballet, but I’ve been to workshops or courses in lots of other dance styles. I also studied contemporary dance, and through that was introduced to somatic movement practices. Since I was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis several years ago, (something of a hindrance and embuggerance to a dancer) I’ve found yoga and Pilates useful and become increasingly interested in somatics, both as physiotherapy and as applied to dance.

When I’m not dancing, exercising, proofreading and editing, I like to mess around with yarn (I always have a pair of socks on the needles), wire, beads, sequins, sea glass, fabric, ribbons, paint/pens/pencils or Photoshop. I take commissions for things like socks, jewellery and fabric flowers. Various bits of my digital art are gradually being added to the print-on-demand sites Zazzle, Redbubble, Cafepress and Deviant Art as I engage in the perpetual fight with my antiquated PC to load them.

And when I’m not doing any of that, I’m gardening, watching wildlife, recording moths (like proofreading, identifying moths requires an eye for detail) and butterflies, blogging, doing mindful meditation, and trying to find time to practise drumming, learn other new skills and curl up with my cats and a good book. Housework is low on the list of activities!

I met Wendy through dance and it was only later that I learned she’s an author. I was quite flattered to be added to her team of first readers for The Naked Witch, a new genre and activity for me. I immediately fell in love with Lizzie and her daughter, and was enthralled by the way she thinks and works and the descriptions of her sessions in her sanctuary, so was very glad to get an early look at the following two novels. I’m not sure if Wendy likes or loathes my nit-picking (especially the lack of commas before clauses beginning ‘but’, which drives me NUTS!). However, I am sure that readers will enjoy the books very much indeed.

Melanie is a creative, vibrant spirit and a beautiful dancer. Of course I like her nit-picking! With Melanie’s sharp eye and unflinching determination for perfection, she helps me whip my books into shape, ready for you readers.

http://dancingmoth.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DancingMoth/

Join me tomorrow to meet the cover designer and formatter of the Wendy Woo Witch Lit books. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the blog tour poster and, if you haven’t yet been introduced to the Lizzie Martin series, check out my books on my author page.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wendy-Steele/e/B007VZ1P06/ref

https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Steele/e/B007VZ1P06/ref

 

 

Jun16

The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team

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On the run up to the blog tour for The Flowerpot Witch, here’s another first reader for you to meet, Melanie Jackson Bridge. If I was married, she’d be my sister-in-law, so she’s married to my partner’s brother, but I’m lucky to call her friend as well as family.

I’m Mel and currently I don’t really do very much at the moment. I’m an older parent to a 7 year old who keeps me on my toes. In the absence of employment, I’m a wannabe polymath. I feel that you’re never to old to learn something new, and over the last year I’ve participated in a number of short courses on a variety of subjects including creative writing, critical thinking, eminent Victorians, Jane Austen, and understanding autism. At the time of writing this, I’m 2/3 through an evening adult education course, and I’m about to sign up for some online learning. If I’m not filling my time with my evening class, you may find me at my local ecology group, at yoga, bellydancing, doing school governor things, doing parents association things, or reading. Occasionally I make cards, or jewellery. From time to time I help my husband out with the admin side of his photography business.

I’ve known Wendy for many years and its her resolute spirit and ability to apply herself 100% to what she does that really inspires me. Therefore, it was a great honour to be asked to be one of Wendy’s first readers, as I greatly admire Wendy’s ability to tell a good story. Lizzie Martin is a wonderful character; wise, measured, compassionate, warm and a genuine friend. Just the sort of person we all aspire to be. What marks Lizzie as different is her connection to the natural world and the unseen, and her magic always strikes me as beautiful and practical in equal measures.

Like others in Wendy’s circle, I see myself as an author, but as yet, my story is unfinished and so unpublished. At least once a week I remind myself I’m trying to write a novel, but I spend so much time researching the WW2 period I get sidetracked by reading different accounts from the Mass Observation. Because of my propensity to procrastination I’m in awe of Wendy’s determination and focus as an author.

 

And, like all of my Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team, Mel has failed to mention her degrees! She has a BSc and MSc in Conservation (management) and studied while pregnant and managing a new baby. She’s a stickler for grammar and a stern critique of my work but I love her for it. She knows she’s lazy and incredibly pedantic, but she’s a feminist, a pagan, an LGBTQ ally and a great charity supporter. My most remembered magical moments are with Mel, sharing magic in my circle beneath the moon. I’m blessed to have her on my side.

Check out her writer page on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KMacDonaldAuthor/

and on twitter: https://twitter.com/tooftalf

 

You’ve met Sarah, Eve and Mel so pop back tomorrow and meet another Mel, Melanie Collier, to complete The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team first readers.

Keep your eyes peeled for The Flowerpot Witch blog tour coming soon to a website near you!

 

 

 

Jun15

The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team

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With less than a week to go until The Flowerpot Witch blog tour begins, I’m showcasing on my blog the women who have made my writing and publication possible. Today’s first reader is Eve Merrick-Williams…

I’m Eve, a retired lady of a certain age, but don’t buy the stereotype. I sport large tattoos and some recent body piercings. I love Rammstein, Junksista and Suicide Commando to name a few of hundreds of loved bands. I had the great luck to meet Wendy four years ago when I joined her belly dance class.

I was hugely flattered when Wendy asked me to be one of the first readers of The Flower Pot Witch, as I greatly admire Wendy’s writing. I love the Lizzy Martin character  who is the sort of woman we’d all like as a friend. Lizzy is a modern woman who deals with all the challenges faced by  modern women; a modern woman who just happens to be a witch.

I write myself, mainly dark, gothic short stories and flash fiction. I’ve had some success getting published in small press magazines. I always joke that I can only get published in magazines I wouldn’t want to be seen reading.

 

Eve is a good friend, but one who can be totally honest with me. She’s far too modest to tell you but she has BAs in Classical Studies and Ancient History and an MA in Ancient Philosophy and Myth and inspires me every day. Despite insisting that she has no rhythm, she’s a fab dancer and valuable member of Tribal Unity Wales.

You can find her on Facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/Eve-Merrick-Williams-783933638314022/

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EveMerrick

 

Jun14

The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team

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The Flowerpot Witch is nearly here and like all heartfelt, all consuming endeavours, I couldn’t have done it on my own. Family and friends supported me over the nine months it took to write and edit, but a very special team of people… in fact, a very special team of talented, creative women then took the book on, to be ready for publication and online, out into the public domain.

Over the next few days, I’m showcasing my own personal heroes, the real and amazing women behind my books.

Today I’d like you to meet Sarah Ward, one of my first readers. I met Sarah four months after she’d delivered her second child, when she  came along to a lesson to learn American Tribal Style® Bellydance with me at Tribal Unity Wales. She’s a friend but one I can trust and who will always be honest with me….

I’m Sarah, and I run an independent photo print shop – Y Stiwdio Brint (“The Print Studio” in Welsh) – in Lampeter with my husband, Ash.

I do a bit of design work here and there, but mostly spend my time ensuring that our business runs efficiently, and continues to flourish the way it has over the two years we’ve been open to-date!

I volunteered to read Wendy’s first Witchlit novel rather selfishly as an excuse to read something fictional and non-business related; since our three children came along, and then the business, reading for pleasure seemed to be a distant memory! I got stuck in, fell in love with the main character Lizzie, and savoured every word I read! The laid-back depiction of any “witchy” goings-on made it feel like I was reading about a friend, and the warmth of Wendy’s writing made the book a total breeze to actually read!

The biggest compliment I could pay was to ask Wendy to be a first-reader for the next two books also, as I couldn’t wait to see how Lizzie’s story continued to unfold. Now that all three are out in paperback form, I’ll soon be putting in an order for the trilogy so I can easily dip into Lizzie’s world whenever I like!

http://www.ystiwdiobrint.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/yStiwdioBrint/

Sarah is easy to work with and delivers useful feedback and honest critique. She’s an amazing, young, creative inspirational woman and a stunning dancer. She plays an active part in her local community looking to revive Lampeter high street, as well as nurturing three children, dancing with her tribe and administering in the shop. I’m blessed to have her as a friend.

Do check out her website and facebook page for all things print.

Join me tomorrow to meet another member of the team.