Valentina Expressions

My intention with this series, “Autumn With An Author” is to introduce my readers to authors I know well and authors I want to get to know as people through their expression of writing. Today, I present you Marjorie Mallon from Cambridge, UK.

1. Your latest publication “Bloodstone – The Curse Of Time” is an imaginative mystery book. What did you develop first the plot or the characters?

Thank you so much for inviting me to interview at your wonderful blog Valentina. My latest publication, Bloodstone The Curse of Time Book 1 is an imaginative YA fantasy mystery with paranormal, light and dark elements inspired by two sculptural artworks: 

The Corpus Christi Chronophage invented by extraordinary British inventor Dr. John C Taylor OBE (who I had the pleasure of meeting in person in 2017.)

The extraordinary timepiece is situated on King’s Parade Cambridge opposite King’s College. I discovered Juniper Artland’s The Light Pours Out of Me by Anya Gallaccio while out with friends near my parent’s home in Scotland. 

With regard to your question, I developed the characters first of all.  For me, characters are central to the story and I don’t tend to plot. I write organically from my imagination which brings interesting results!

Links:

http://www.johnctaylor.com/the-chronophage/corpus-chronophage/

2. Do you always get along with your characters?

Some characters are more lovable than others! But whether they are villains or heroes, or somewhere in between, I do find them all fascinating. And they all have facets of their personalities that I find intriguing.  I like my characters to have a hidden side. This is particularly evident in Esme, the girl trapped in the mirror, Ryder, (who has a dark, hypnotic, mysterious side,) and The Creature, Eruterac, who is conjured from the brush strokes of Amelina’s magical art set. Read Bloodstone to see what I mean!

3. What do you do to get inside your character’s heads? 

It depends on the circumstances. If I see someone that triggers an idea then it tends to flow from there. Often, unsuspecting bypassers become my characters! Otherwise, (as is the case in Bloodstone,) a burst of frenetic energy creates the character and my writing flows forward from that.

4. If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

I have interviewed some of my characters on my blog. It was fun to do and a useful way to dig deeper into their personalities! I’d love to chat to Ryder the most, as he is mysterious, wicked but also has a childlike side to him. He is evolving more and more in the second book in the series which I’m working on.

5. Do you have a special way/system to find the title of your books?

With the Curse of Time series it began in a process of stages. Getting the story concept and developing it further, it changed a lot! Initially, i planned to call the novel The Crystal Cottage but the story became darker with the introduction of the Corpus Christi timepiece and The Crystal Cottage didn’t seem like the right title! So, after I republished the original story with Next Chapter Publishing we settled on Bloodstone (The Curse of Time Book 1.) 

6. What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?

Peace and quiet and a few choice crystals! Lots of sparkles and warm gentle sunlight.

7. Has writing changed your perspectives of life or on certain issues.

Not really, I am still the same person I was. I’m pretty deep, and thoughtful and that hasn’t changed. Writing has given me a way to release that angst into the atmosphere!

8. How do you celebrate when you finish your book?

Crack open a bottle of wine! Then, when the initial celebrations are over I realise that this is just the beginning. A book may be finished but there is marketing to do…

9. Do you market your books or don’t like to hard sell as most artists don’t like to sell their work?

Marketing is not my favourite thing to do but a necessary evil. I much prefer the creative stage, especially the first burst of creativity getting the story down. Anything after is hard work but a worthwhile slog to reach the end goal!

10. Have you planned more books in the near future?

Thank you so much for the wonderful questions Valentina. Yes, I am nearly finished Golden Healer, Book 2 in The Curse of Time Series. I have some poetry/photography book ideas to develop, one is fairly developed and is called Do What You Love.  I am moving to Portugal  in the near future, so it all depends on the time that I may, or may not have for writing!

In the meantime, do check out all my books. I write poetry, and prose and like to dabble in photography too. Also, I produced an anthology during the early stages of Lockdown, (when I was furloughed from work,) with many of my brilliant writing friends and creatives/bloggers in the community. 

Here are my titles which are all available in Amazon and most are available online in various Bookstores, etc, too. 

Read an excerpt, follow the link to Goodreads reviews on Next Chapter Publishing:
https://www.nextchapter.pub/books/bloodstone

Bloodstone universal buying link: 
http://mybook.to/bstmm

Media kit:
https://mjmallon.com/2021/07/17/media-kit-bloodstone-the-curse-of-time-book-1-nextchapterpb-ya-fantasy-release/
 
Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose (with photography) 

Media kit:
https://mjmallon.com/2020/03/01/media-kit-mr-sagittarius-poetry-prose-photography/

Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity

Universal link:
http://mybook.to/Lockdowninnit

Media kit:
https://mjmallon.com/2021/04/15/media-kit-lockdown-innit-poems-about-absurdity-media-kit-poetry-book-lockdown-poems/

This Is Lockdown (an anthology)
Media kit: 

Media Kit: This Is Lockdown #COVID19 #Corononavirus #Compilation #Anthology #Shortstories #FlashFiction #Poetry #Isolation #Writers

Universal link kindle: 
http://mybook.to/Thisislockdown

Universal link paperback:
http://mybook.to/Thisislockdownpb

Author Bio:

MJ’s motto is to stay true to your heart’s desires, and inspire others to do so too, even it if appears that the odds are stacked against you like black hearted shadows.

Favourite genres to write: Fantasy/magical realism because life should be sprinkled with a liberal dash of extraordinarily imaginative magic!

Next Chapter Publishing YA fantasy series.

Bloodstone – The Curse of Time Book 1

And the 2nd in the series to be published thereafter…

Golden Healer – The Curse of Time Book 2

Her writing credits also include a multi-genre approach: paranormal, best-selling horror, supernatural short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She has worked with some amazing authors and bloggers compiling an anthology/compilation set during the early stages of COVID-19 entitled This Is Lockdown and has also written a spin off poetry collection entitled Lockdown Innit.

She’s been blogging for many moons at her blog home Kyrosmagica, (which means Crystal Magic.) where she continues to celebrate the spiritual realm, her love of nature, crystals and all things magical, mystical, and mysterious.

Her eclectic blog shares details and information about her new releases, author interviews, character profiles and her love of reading, reviewing, writing, and photography: https://mjmallon.com/

Valentina, if you use the images of Esme and The Creature please can you link back to the wonderful artist, my friend Carolina Russo:  https://yesterdayafter.com/

Thanks a bunch! So looking forward to being a guest on your blog.

I enjoyed reading about you and getting to know you better, Marjorie, thanks for being here.


*****

I am the timid marketer, allow me to add my books on various subjects, available on Amazon and B&N. http://goo.gl/xUZfk0

Valentina Cirasola is an interior-fashion designer/consultant, author of 6 published books, a storyteller, and a blogger of many years. She writes about many subjects. Her books are non-fictional practical ideas to apply in the home, fashion, cooking and travel. She has conceived a few new books to be published in the immediate future to which she is working simultaneously. Amazon Author’s Page