Sunday 19 June 2011

The Grandfather Problem

My collection of grandfathers are still in the waiting area, just behind the active part of my brain. For those not in my head, I'm referring to my plan to write another MG book. Eventually. I haven't written a middle grade book since I finished tinkering with The Poisoned Apple (may it rest in pieces) and when I'm writing MG I need to concentrate on it fully or my MG voice bleeds into my short stories. Which isn't always bad, but can be a tad annoying (for me). To get me in the mood for writing a childrens' story, I've ordered Kate Milford's The Boneshaker which is almost a cheat buy as I've wanted to read it for ages.

In the meantime, I'm working on building the plan and mythology of the story that I mentioned on Wednesday - the one with perfume, balloons and the devil. I'm hoping I can expand the idea into a novella length story because there's this place I'm desperate to get into. Some of you know what that place is, but most of you don't. Ooh, I have my evil head on which must mean I'm almost ready to work on my kid's book. I'm always extra evil when I write for children.

Other books bought this week (because I've been extra naughty):
Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism by David Nickle
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Warm Bodies by Issac Marion
The Deathday Letter by Shaun Hutchinson
The Door to Lost Pages by Claude Lalumiere
The Faceless by Simon Bestwick (Preorder)

The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror 2010 - Paula Guran (Kindle)

Ooh, and I added to my to read pile, The Drowning Girl by Margaret Leroy, but I didn't buy that book, it was given to me and highly recommended.

I suspect I shouldn't buy any books for a while. My towering to read pile and my creaking bookcase agree with me. Plus my purse is chattering, 'Have you forgotten you need to redecorate your study and the bathroom and the kitchen isn't quite finished?' Next time, I'm buying a silent purse.

13 comments:

Simon said...

I think you just need to get a purse that understands who's in charge. Mine no longer nags. It just whimpers.

And you have wonderful taste in books. The ones you pre-order, anyway ;-)

Simon said...

Oh, and...

FIRST!!!

:D

Sage Ravenwood said...

A few of these I haven't heard of, which makes them a delightful discovery.

I recently brought "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs. Haven't read it yet, but it sounded wonderfully wacky and offkey.

As for book buying, I swear I could have a whole library waiting to be read and still be tempted. (Hugs)Indigo

Fox Lee said...

I need to read more. I keep saying it, yet I keep buying books!

Deborah Walker said...

Grandfathers? Sounds fascinating. Is the book about grandfathers, or is that how you think about your ideas, Cate?

Cate Gardner said...

I do, Simon.

That book is on my to buy list, Indigo. It looks deliciously bizarre.

It's about a collection of troublesome and missing grandfathers, Deborah. :D

K.C. Shaw said...

You can never have too many books. Besides, those look like good ones!

Anthony Rapino said...

The notion of a collection of grandfathers gives me endless joy. It must be written. :-)

I haven't read a novel in weeks. I need to get myself together.

Deborah Walker said...

Cool. I thought it might be an elaborate metaphor -- which would also have been cool.

Simon Kewin said...

Yeah, don't listen to purses. They know nothing.

Oh, some great suggestions there. I think my book pile might be growing too!

Anthony Rapino said...

Happy Birthday, Cate!

Simon said...

Happy birthday! (Back again...)

Cate Gardner said...

Simon, it's too empty now to do anything but grumble.

Thanks Tony & Simon.