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Katie's Literature Corner

Katie's Literature Corner

Rambling with wonder through stories

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The Inkeeper by Keaton D. Winter - A humbling reminder of the beauty in kindness
Darkwind by Renee Dugan
updated on July 22, 2021March 15, 2021

The Innkeeper by Keaton D. Winter – A humbling reminder of the beauty in kindness

The Inkeeper by Keaton D. Winter - A humbling reminder of the beauty in kindness

Book Review | 3 min read The Innkeeper by Keaton D. Winter pays homage to both Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and the story of Jesus, …

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Darkwind by Renee Dugan
updated on July 22, 2021November 30, 2020

‘Darkwind’ by Renee Dugan: A Magical Journey of Building Resilience, Forging Friendships, and Embracing Possibility…

Darkwind by Renee Dugan: A Magical Journey of Building Resilience, Forging Friendships, and Embracing Possibility…

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updated on July 22, 2021November 22, 2020

Rebecca (2020) Review: More Bland Than Bittersweet

The director said he hoped it would leave a bittersweet taste. I mean it’s definitely got me thinking, but I’d say the taste leftover is more just… bland.

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updated on July 22, 2021November 20, 2020

Looking to the Edges: The Space Between Categories

Imagine sitting in the cosy living room of a small cottage, warming your hands by a crackling fire. A cup of tea sits on the …

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updated on June 13, 2021November 8, 2020

‘Regina Rising’ Review

In this charming extension of the Once Upon A Time universe, Wendy Toliver weaves a short but enjoyable tale about young Regina’s experiences of friendship, love, manipulation and betrayal…

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updated on July 22, 2021November 6, 2020

“Remember, Remember…” The Ominous Origins of Bonfire Night

“Remember, remember the fifth of November…” I’ve always found that old saying rather ominous, and I think Bonfire Night itself is unsettling. What makes it so harrowing for me isn’t the historical origins (of Guy Fawkes nearly blowing up parliament), but the people standing by a blazing fire and watching as the life-sized mannequin of a person goes up in flames…

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updated on July 22, 2021November 1, 2020

“The Circle of Frost” – A Ghost Story written collaboratively by Bookstagrammers!

I posted an idea that we could write a short story in the comments of one of my posts – and it worked out quite well! Thank you to those who participated, I had great fun doing this!)

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updated on July 22, 2021October 15, 2020

Time

Imagine life as a game of cards, and your opponent is Time. Time is ever-moving, unrepentant as it passes, often rapid through moments of joy, …

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updated on July 22, 2021October 6, 2020

New ‘All Creatures’ Evokes Old Series Without Imitating It

Instead of trying to attach itself to the existing All Creatures world we know and love, this new adaptation has built its own presence beside it, with a similar atmosphere but a slightly different tone. There’s a more modern edge without taking it out of the time period, and each character has more agency and purpose.

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updated on July 22, 2021September 11, 2020

Belle (2013) Review: The Importance of Impassioned Reason

Less a film to sit back and enjoy the scenery of (though it is pretty), than one to study and learn from. It’s filled with conviction and deep philosophical dialogue, which takes quite some concentration to take in, though it is rewarding to do so.

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Search: Explore and Wander!

Visit my Literature Corner on Instagram!

katiesliteraturecorner

Katie Morrowick
Uh-oh...๐Ÿงš Anyone else excited for the Stranger Uh-oh...๐Ÿงš
Anyone else excited for the Stranger Things S4 finale tomorrow? I was aware of the show but hadn't watched it before this month... Suffice to say I have now caught up and I'm invested!
This shoot was inspired by the latest season, where the victims rise into the air like this, before... well, it's not pretty.

๐ŸŽถWhat song would be powerful enough to get you out of a trance? 
For me it would be The Purge by Within Temptation or Eyes Wide Open by Gotye.
๐Ÿ”ฎI've always been fascinated by characters like ๐Ÿ”ฎI've always been fascinated by characters like Maleficent, Regina from Once Upon A Time, and Clytaemnestra from Greek Mythology - women who were wronged, then abandoned or cast out, and who sought revenge as a result.

๐Ÿฆ‡It's interesting that they're "villains", yet the story they come from presents them as someone we can sympathise with. Maleficent is the main character of her film, changing the narrative from what we knew in the original Sleeping Beauty. OUAT does the same with Regina, reversing the standard "Evil Queen" into someone we watch suffer repeatedly, and can empathise with. In Aeschylus' Oresteia, we see Clytaemnestra's anguish play out onstage, and I certainly feel for her.

๐Ÿ”ฅEach of them are driven by deep grief and injustice, which I think is what humanises them as compelling characters. Their power comes as much from their raw emotions as it does from the literal magic or weapons in their hands, and the idea of a powerful solo woman striving unwaveringly towards her goal is inspiring (if a little scary - and, you know, maybe without the murder and mass-destruction๐Ÿ˜‚)

๐ŸŽI love the redeemability of Maleficent and Regina, where we get to see their softer sides, and how they progress to a healthier version of themselves. They are still powerful, if not more so, as they learn how to act through love, rather than revengeโœจ

โ€ข

Have you seen Maleficent, Once Upon A Time and/or The Oresteia (or a similar play featuring Clytaemnestra)?๐Ÿ’ƒ

Also, are there any other characters you can think of that fit with this archetype? I'd love to hear about them!๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธ
๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธWhat makes up your aesthetic?โœจ I l ๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธWhat makes up your aesthetic?โœจ

I love the concept of this tag - identifying the elements at the core of your aesthetic.

So, I suppose #katiecore is... 

๐ŸŒณWalking through a woodland in green velvet, sun-dappled as owls hoot from the trees above. It's reaching a cottage full of witchy trinkets and dried flowers, to sit on a mahogany rocking chair by the fire and begin pouring room-temperature tea into an earthenware cup. 

โœ๏ธIt's sitting at the writing desk with a quill and penning long letters to friends, sketching portraits on old parchment and studying paintings on the walls. It's reading out perfectly-rhymed poetry and twirling with gentle ballet to classical music and pairing the notes with everyday sounds.

โ˜•It's toasting marshmallows over a barbecue with a mug of hot chocolate and laughing with family, tapping a rhythm on tree-bark to folk music, whispering stories by candlelight and smiling at the moon. It's standing at the end of a pier, looking out at the sunset over the sea and imagining a pirate ship on the horizon, dragons swooping amongst the stars, and the shimmer of mermaid tails in the water.

๐ŸฐIt's making bad puns and telling obscure facts about history, imagining regency ballrooms, designing room decor and quoting books. It's fairy-dust and flower-rings, crumbling castles and camera-clicks, horses and rabbits, fancy dresses, long skirts and vintage heels. 

๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธIt's baking with cinnamon, farmhouses and open fields, leather jackets and flared trousers, rambling and walks, secret doorways and hidden corners in libraries, ghosts and gothic turrets, layered necklaces and cloaks and vanilla candles. 

๐Ÿงšโ€โ™€๏ธIt's a joy in wordplay and wit, platonic best-friendships and childhood magic, fairytales and 'Once Upon A Time'.

๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธIt's a soft spot for the quiet character who runs from the castle to become the witch of the wood.
-

(There's an attempt, anyway. Did I do it right?!?๐Ÿ˜‚)

I'd love to hear your take on your own aesthetic!! (Either in a comment here or in a post.) I've tagged some who I think would enjoy this tag (sorry if you've already done it - feel free to send me yours if I haven't seen it yet!), but consider yourself tagged if not โœจ
๐ŸŒ„"๐‘จ๐’„๐’“๐’๐’”๐’” ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’‡๐’Š๐’†๐’๐’…๐’” ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’‡๐’๐’“๐’†๐’”๐’• ๐’๐’‚๐’๐’†๐’”, ๐’‚๐’๐’๐’๐’ˆ ๐’Ž๐’š ๐’Ž๐’†๐’“๐’“๐’š ๐’˜๐’‚๐’š,
๐‘ป๐’ ๐’”๐’‰๐’‚๐’“๐’† ๐’Ž๐’š ๐’‹๐’๐’š ๐’˜๐’Š๐’•๐’‰ ๐’๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’“ ๐’‡๐’๐’๐’Œ ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’„๐’๐’‚๐’Š๐’Ž ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’—๐’Š๐’ƒ๐’“๐’‚๐’๐’• ๐’…๐’‚๐’š."
(- from The Bard of Berribury Fair, a poem in my book draft๐Ÿงโ€โ™‚๏ธ)

This quote captures my mood today, as the sky dips into pink and the trees outside my window twinkle with birdsong and sunset. I've just finished uni for the year, I had a lovely day with my family, and I feel the distinct magic of inspiration in the Spring air. It feels like a spreading of wings somehow, like a fairy awakening after a cold winter, and emerging from the hollow to take flight again๐Ÿงšโ€โ™€๏ธ

After I made 'quality over quantity' my focus word for 2022... perhaps I took it a little too far๐Ÿ˜‚ Joking apart, although I haven't posted in a while, I've felt very connected with my creativity these last few months. I've loved working on my book, prioritising fun, taking uni easy, and spending time with family and friends - the 'quality over quantity' mindset is working well for me so far. I wanted to wait until I felt the time was right to post on here again - and the time has come!๐Ÿ’•

I'll give you a full update soon about how I've been getting on, but for now I'd like to send you wishes of inspiration and calm. 

See you soon, enchanted folk.
Katie๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

P.S. This is Barny the owl. He's a writing companion, and he'd love to know all about how you've been getting on with your creative projects!๐Ÿฆ‰

โœจWhat's something you've felt inspired by lately, or something you're looking forward to in the coming weeks?โœจ
๐Ÿฅ‚What's something you're looking forward to in ๐Ÿฅ‚What's something you're looking forward to in 2022?

A while ago, my lovely friend @b.solis_ was telling me how at the end of each year, she picks a particular focus-word for the upcoming one.

It could be 'Gratitude', 'Adventure', or 'Self-forgiveness' - and you can tailor it to apply to your personal goals and hopes for the year. 

I've decided that mine for 2022 will be 'Quality over quantity'. Something I struggle with in life is juggling multitudes of options: which TV show to watch; which photo filter to choose; which synonym works best. 
Though I love being detail-oriented and interested in lots of things, it can also get overwhelming and unfulfilling. 
To help with this, I want to narrow my field of view with projects and tasks; to focus on depth, rather than breadth. 

โ€ข I plan to sift through old photos and select the most important ones, to put in photobooks I can actually enjoy and treasure, rather than having to wade through a huge file store every time I want to look back at memories. 

โ€ข I hope to declutter my room and let go of items that don't hold much meaning or purpose for me - the random odds and ends in a box that I haven't needed, or the ornaments I've had for ages but that I'm not really attached to.
I'll put them in a 'quarantine box' for a while to see if I miss them over 6 months, then if not, they can go - out of sight and out of mind.

โ€ข For both uni work and while drafting, I endeavour to refine my writing: not so much to lose my cadence and tone, but enough to bring my points into sharper focus.

We'll see how it goes๐Ÿ˜‚

๐Ÿฅ‚Here's to a new year, enchanted folk.
May it bring you wonder and magicโœจ
โ€ข

(P.S. Thank you to everyone in this community who has contributed to making many moments of this year positive and joyful. Sorry I couldn't fit everyone in the tags - I added them in a random order and stopped when it was full๐Ÿ˜… You all know who you are๐Ÿฅฐ)

โ€ข
๐Ÿ“– What is your focus-word for 2022?๐Ÿ“–
โœจ๐ŸŽ„ Sending magic your way this Christmas Eve โœจ๐ŸŽ„ Sending magic your way this Christmas Eve day๐ŸŽ„โœจ

Christmas has always been magical for me, and I'm certain that no matter how old I get, and even though its form changes over time, it always will be. 
Even the memories of beautiful times can carry the magic of the past into the present. 

From the mellow cinnamon warmth of fruit punch, to the minty sweetness of candy canes; watching Christmas films during the day and reading illustrated storybooks in the evening. 

The excitement of hanging stockings, and leaving cookies out for Santa (with a carrot for Rudolph). Tiptoeing out to the front porch in gingerbread-print pyjamas, to scatter glittery oats on the driveway for the reindeer. 

Looping the shiny red ribbon of the magic key around the door handle, in lieu of a chimney, for Santa to post through the letter box after delivering the presents. Eyes squeezed shut with twinkly excitement as night-time settles; not daring to peek until the blue dusk of morning wakes the magic of Christmas day...

This was the Christmas of my childhood, and even though it might be a little different each year, the magic still carries through it.

In the words of Kermit:

"I don't know if you believe in Christmas
Or if you have presents underneath the Christmas tree
But if you believe in love, that will be more than enough
For peace to last throughout the coming year"

And in the words of Terry Pratchett:

"It didn't stop being magic just because you found out how it was done."

Wishing you a magical Christmas Eve and Day, folks - no matter how you celebrate (if at all)โ˜ƒ๏ธ

โœจ๐ŸŽ„What are your Christmas Eve traditions?๐ŸŽ„โœจ
๐Ÿฐ What's your favourite setting that features i ๐Ÿฐ What's your favourite setting that features in your writing project - or your current read?

From my book, I reckon my favourite location has got to be the gothic mansion the characters visit midway through. It becomes a hub and a safe space for them, as well as a place of learning and uncovering mysteries. It also becomes very important for my main character Zoe's arc as the story progresses.
 
It's spooky, rickety, grand, and just a little bit haunted...

โžก๏ธ Swipe for some quotes from my draft. 

โ€ข
โ€ข
For those intrigued, here's an extended snippet from the scene where it's introduced:

' โ€œ๐‘ฑ๐’–๐’”๐’• ๐’๐’๐’๐’Œ ๐’‚๐’• ๐’•๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’‘๐’๐’‚๐’„๐’†!โ€ ๐‘ญ๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐’”๐’•๐’†๐’‘๐’‘๐’†๐’… ๐’Š๐’ ๐’‚ ๐’„๐’Š๐’“๐’„๐’๐’† ๐’˜๐’Š๐’•๐’‰ ๐’‚๐’“๐’Ž๐’” ๐’๐’–๐’•๐’”๐’•๐’“๐’†๐’•๐’„๐’‰๐’†๐’…, ๐’‚๐’” ๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’ˆ๐’“๐’Š๐’ ๐’๐’Š๐’• ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’Ž๐’Š๐’”๐’• ๐’‚๐’“๐’๐’–๐’๐’… ๐’–๐’”. โ€œ๐‘พ๐’๐’–๐’๐’…๐’โ€™๐’• ๐’•๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’ƒ๐’† ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’‘๐’†๐’“๐’‡๐’†๐’„๐’• ๐’‘๐’๐’‚๐’„๐’† ๐’‡๐’๐’“ ๐’‚ ๐‘ฏ๐’‚๐’๐’๐’๐’˜๐’†๐’†๐’ ๐’‘๐’‚๐’“๐’•๐’š?โ€

โ€œ๐‘ถ๐’“ ๐’‚ ๐’Ž๐’–๐’“๐’…๐’†๐’“ ๐’Ž๐’š๐’”๐’•๐’†๐’“๐’š.โ€ ๐‘ด๐’ ๐’ˆ๐’“๐’–๐’Ž๐’ƒ๐’๐’†๐’….

๐‘บ๐’‚๐’–๐’ ๐’”๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’๐’†๐’… ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’”๐’Š๐’…๐’† ๐’Ž๐’†. *๐‘ป๐’‰๐’†๐’“๐’†โ€™๐’” ๐’‚๐’ ๐’Š๐’…๐’†๐’‚.*

๐‘ฐ ๐’ƒ๐’‚๐’•๐’•๐’†๐’… ๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’‚๐’“๐’Ž ๐’˜๐’Š๐’•๐’‰ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’ƒ๐’‚๐’„๐’Œ ๐’๐’‡ ๐’Ž๐’š ๐’‰๐’‚๐’๐’…, ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’‘๐’–๐’“๐’”๐’†๐’… ๐’๐’Š๐’‘๐’” ๐’•๐’˜๐’Š๐’•๐’„๐’‰๐’†๐’…. 
๐‘ด๐’†๐’•๐’“๐’†๐’” ๐’‚๐’‰๐’†๐’‚๐’…, ๐‘ต๐’‚๐’•๐’‚๐’๐’Š๐’† ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’„๐’Œ๐’๐’๐’†๐’… ๐’‚๐’” ๐’”๐’‰๐’† ๐’“๐’†๐’‚๐’„๐’‰๐’†๐’… ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’†๐’๐’•๐’“๐’‚๐’๐’„๐’†, ๐’˜๐’‰๐’†๐’“๐’† ๐’‚ ๐’…๐’“๐’‚๐’Ž๐’‚๐’•๐’Š๐’„ ๐’”๐’•๐’‚๐’Š๐’“๐’„๐’‚๐’”๐’† ๐’”๐’•๐’“๐’†๐’•๐’„๐’‰๐’†๐’… ๐’•๐’ ๐’‚ ๐’ƒ๐’–๐’“๐’ˆ๐’–๐’๐’…๐’š ๐’…๐’๐’๐’“. 
โ€œ๐‘ฒ๐’†๐’†๐’‘ ๐’–๐’‘, ๐’ˆ๐’–๐’š๐’”. ๐‘พ๐’† ๐’…๐’๐’โ€™๐’• ๐’Œ๐’๐’๐’˜ ๐’‰๐’๐’˜ ๐’Ž๐’‚๐’๐’š ๐’“๐’๐’๐’Ž๐’” ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’“๐’† ๐’‚๐’“๐’† ๐’•๐’ ๐’”๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’„๐’‰.โ€

โ€œ๐‘ณ๐’๐’๐’Œ๐’” ๐’๐’Š๐’Œ๐’† ๐’‚ ๐’‡๐’‚๐’Š๐’“ ๐’‡๐’†๐’˜.โ€ ๐‘ญ๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐’๐’Š๐’‡๐’•๐’†๐’… ๐’‚ ๐’‰๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’•๐’ ๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’ƒ๐’“๐’๐’˜, ๐’”๐’’๐’–๐’Š๐’๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ. โ€œ๐‘ช๐’๐’–๐’๐’… ๐’•๐’‚๐’Œ๐’† ๐’–๐’” ๐’…๐’‚๐’š๐’”.โ€

โ€œ๐‘ฌ๐’™๐’‚๐’„๐’•๐’๐’š. ๐‘บ๐’ ๐’‰๐’–๐’“๐’“๐’š ๐’–๐’‘.โ€ ๐‘ฏ๐’†๐’“ ๐’†๐’š๐’†๐’” ๐’๐’‚๐’“๐’“๐’๐’˜๐’†๐’… ๐’‚๐’” ๐’‰๐’† ๐’”๐’‚๐’–๐’๐’•๐’†๐’“๐’†๐’… ๐’•๐’๐’˜๐’‚๐’“๐’…๐’” ๐’‰๐’†๐’“.

"๐‘พ๐’†๐’๐’, ๐’Š๐’‡ ๐’˜๐’†'๐’“๐’† ๐’•๐’ ๐’ƒ๐’† ๐’‰๐’๐’–๐’”๐’†๐’Ž๐’‚๐’•๐’†๐’” ๐’‡๐’๐’“ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’๐’†๐’™๐’• ๐’˜๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’†..." ๐’‰๐’† ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’ˆ๐’‚๐’, ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐‘ฐ ๐’˜๐’‚๐’•๐’„๐’‰๐’†๐’… ๐’‡๐’“๐’๐’Ž ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’… ๐’‚๐’” ๐’‰๐’† ๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’•๐’†๐’… ๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’‰๐’†๐’‚๐’…, โ€œ๐‘พ๐’† ๐’Ž๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’‰๐’• ๐’‚๐’” ๐’˜๐’†๐’๐’ ๐’Ž๐’‚๐’Œ๐’† ๐’Š๐’• ๐’‚๐’ ๐’‚๐’…๐’—๐’†๐’๐’•๐’–๐’“๐’†, ๐’๐’?โ€

Do you reckon they go into the house after that?...
โ€ข

โœจTell me about a location from your Work-In-Progressโœ๏ธ
๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธDo you enjoy horror in books and movies?๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ

Despite loving spooky aesthetics and stories, I don't like horror films. My imagination tends to spin vivid images from them and I'll inevitably be freaked out for a long while afterwards. 

I think psychological thrillers are the most affecting, because they mess with your mind's sense of reality and what is safe. It's the ones that take the simplest, most innocent things of daily life and make them jarring and unnatural, that I find the most harrowing.

As shown in Doctor Who episodes 'Listen' (where a disembodied shape lurks under a blanket on the bed) and 'Midnight' (where an invisible spirit takes over people's minds and makes them copycat everything you say until it can speak at the exact same time as you), some of the scariest things are the ones we can't see.

I attempted watching The Haunting of Hill House last month, and made it through the first episode! But I almost chickened out 3 times because of the tension build-up. It was literally a person sitting in a bed in a mansion room as the camera zoomed in - but my anticipation of something scary was far worse than the actual scare itself, and that's the part I hate๐Ÿ™ˆ

It depends what it is, though. If there is creepiness framed within a world that feels comfortable - cosy, even - and you feel safe with the characters.. elements of horror can be fun. It also helps when there is plenty of humour to balance out the scary stuff: E.g. Supernatural, Doctor Who, The Addams Family, BBC Ghosts, What We Do In The Shadows.

In the latter 3, the 'creepy' or unusual characters are the protagonists we root for - shown to be endearing, vulnerable, funny and human - which means we aren't scared of them, but laugh with them.

One of my absolute favourite movies is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and one of my favourite book series, Lockwood and Co., involves some pretty spooky ghosts (I'm rereading them now and they're still effective!). I find both so comforting.

As you'll have noticed, those are designed for the young adult age, so it's no wonder they're not too scary. 

Why? 

Because of how the scariness is framed.

๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธWhat scares you most?๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ
โœจ๐Ÿ“š What have you read recently that has broug โœจ๐Ÿ“š What have you read recently that has brought you joy?๐Ÿ“šโœจ

Whether it's a new book world you've been absorbed in, a gripping article, or even an Instagram caption that made you smile - what is something that has captured your joy of reading lately?

Or perhaps you've been in more of a slump. I had some weeks this year where my love of reading seemed to be obscured in a dull fog.

But this week, it's returned stronger and more vibrant than it has been for the entire year! I've actually enjoyed reading multiple 40-page criticism documents for my four uni modules, so I've got that satisfied sense of having completed work and learnt things.

I've also been enjoying a readalong with the lovely Anna @booksilove.gr. We're reading The Great Chimera, and the prose is so beautifully lyrical - reminiscent of Greek epics!

Has anyone else been feeling nostalgic for old favourites and comfort reads as we draw nearer to Christmas? I've been rereading The Wee Free Men (the book that made me fall in love with the fantasy genre, and Terry Pratchett's writing, when I was about 8!) It's so cosy and fun to reread - and I'm getting so much out of re-experiencing it years on. 

I also hope to finish An Evanescent Shadow by Brianne Wik, and Lightfall by Renee Dugan - two books I've had on pause and that I'm very excited to jump back into. 

Probably, my brain has realised it's near the end of the year and now wants to catch up on my Goodreads goal as much as possible ๐Ÿ˜‚ The cosy winter weather probably helps too!

Now I'm going to tune in to @reneeduganwriting's livestream to celebrate the release of book 5 from her Starchaser Saga - 'BLOODSINGER'!

Happy Tuesday all - sending well-wishes and cosy winter vibes your wayโœจโ˜•

โ€ข
๐Ÿ“š Anyone else been on a reading spree this week too? ๐Ÿ“š
โ€ข
โ„๏ธ Share a snow day memory of yours?โ„๏ธ โ€ข โ„๏ธ Share a snow day memory of yours?โ„๏ธ
โ€ข
It snowed on Monday!! 
We haven't had snow in November for years, I don't think๐Ÿ˜ฎ

I woke up to golden sunlight streaming into my room, and lifted the blind to see a glittering blanket of icing-powder covering the whole village view. The snowflakes on the sloping roof beneath my window were actually sparkling! It was magical๐Ÿ˜

In my cosy red dressing gown, I put fluffy socks and my black lace-up boots on, then tiptoed across the edge of the garden (so as to avoid leaving footprints through the even white) armed with toast, hot chocolate and a new book - 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss. 

Perching on a chair in the outbuilding, I sat and read while eating my breakfast. 
The chapter I read fit the vibe well, featuring an atmospheric tavern, mysterious innkeeper, and autumnal landscapes in a fantasy setting. It was also named 'A Beautiful Day', which I think was rather apt.

In England, we're lucky if we get more snow than 5 centimetres once a year - so snow days tend to stick in my mind because of their rarity and novelty.

I remember the year it snowed on my sister's birthday and school was cancelled, then the time many people from the village went out for a walk all wrapped up warm, and we went sledding at the park. A different year, we built a huge snowman in the front garden - and another, my sister built a snow-Gruffalo with the light dusting we had in the back garden one February.

It always reminds me of the magic that exist in this world, and how beautiful even the coldest of winters can look.
It also put me in such a Christmassy mood, which ive been feeling since!!

โ€ข
๐ŸŽ„Are you feeling the Christmas spirit yet? (If you celebrate)๐ŸŽ„
๐Ÿƒ"How the grinning jester might be a leering sk ๐Ÿƒ"How the grinning jester might be a leering skull in disguise"...๐Ÿ’€

Are morbidity and humour intertwined?

There's a duality to everything, and it's strange to think how closely alike two seemingly opposite themes can be.  Sometimes, visual associations help us to notice those similarities - such as the skull being compared to a jester in this book. 

Picture a sharp metal implement, one that can be wielded to cause damage. 
Are you imagining it? 

What did you see?

Maybe a dagger, or a sword... 

...but how about a pen? 
They're not far different in description: both made of metal, both drawing to a fine point - maybe even utilised to similar effect! But the main difference is in their intended use, and the subtle linguistic difference between drawing a sword vs. drawing WITH a pen. It's also down to the visual associations they conjure: the enrobed monk hunching over a writing desk, versus the chainmail-clad warrior striking an enemy with a steel sword. 

So, two contrasting concepts can be separated by a finer line than we might think, such as humour in death, mercy in violence, peace in war.
Those opposing themes, when placed side-by-side, reveal differences that help solidify their similarities. 

โ€ข Humour reminds us that life is short, and we must laugh while we still can. 

โ€ข Mercy highlights how our quality of life always hangs in the balance of a single person's actions.

โ€ข Peace reveals what exists in the space we take for granted in the absence of conflict, and how miniscule a difference there is between silence and disruption.

At least, that's what came to mind for me when I thought about it a bit.

โ€ข
๐ŸƒI'm interested to know if you've found examples of this in your current writing project, or in your current read... 

One of the key things that springs to mind for my book is the duality of my main character, Zoe. She feels extremely anxious in front of a crowd, and wants to be away from people... yet her biggest dream is to read her own writing aloud to a large audience. It's a sort of paradox, I suppose.

โœจDo you recognise this within yourself? What other contradictions do you, or your favourite characters, have? I'd be fascinated to know!โœจ
๐Ÿ“œOnce upon a time, eleven wordsmiths gathered o ๐Ÿ“œOnce upon a time, eleven wordsmiths gathered outside an apothecary, before journeying from bookshop to bookshop until they arrived at a candlelit tavern. Each took their place at an oval oak table, where stories were told and glasses were clinked and laughter echoed into the evening. There was something in the air that day, floating on the breeze... and those willing to look closely enough knew that it was Magicโœจ

I had the honour of being invited to a UK writers meet-up yesterday, and it really felt as fairytale as that! The magic of Bookstagram continues in person. 

I found the small gathering at the train station (keeping an eye out for Venetia's beautiful candyfloss-pink coat), and we were chatting right away. 

When we walked into Waterstones, an energy filled the space, as if the books knew they were in the presence of enthusiastic readers. I picked up a book that looked interesting, and Rebecca (who happened to be standing nearby) said she loved it, and it got her out of a reading slump a few years ago. So I had an immediate recommendation for the first novel I saw - and you bet I bought it! 

We laughed about failing book-buying bans with Sam, and trying to relate to non-readers with Megan, before trooping through the rain to a rather posh bookshop. All the books were wrapped in plastic coverings, and they had a His Dark Materials edition for ยฃ3000๐Ÿ˜ฎ Kat was tempted, but somehow none of us ended up getting that one... though I did buy a signed copy of Stephen Fry's latest book.

We went on to the pub, which was decorated like a Victorian study with a Christmas tree in the corner and two pretty chairs by the fireplace, and chatted over roast dinner. I related to Victoria about the drafting process, praised literary classics with Charli, gushed about fantasy with Esme, and marvelled at book covers with Victoria P.

After much laughter and taking photos, it was time to go - but not before getting a signed book from Luke!

As we shared our joy for reading and writing, I realised how safe it felt, like here on Bookstagram. It's as if I've known them my whole life. 

Here's to finding 'our people'.๐Ÿฅ‚

๐Ÿ“šWho do you like to go book-shopping with?๐Ÿ“š
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  • Uh-oh...๐Ÿงš
Anyone else excited for the Stranger Things S4 finale tomorrow? I was aware of the show but hadn't watched it before this month... Suffice to say I have now caught up and I'm invested!
This shoot was inspired by the latest season, where the victims rise into the air like this, before... well, it's not pretty.

๐ŸŽถWhat song would be powerful enough to get you out of a trance? 
For me it would be The Purge by Within Temptation or Eyes Wide Open by Gotye.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฎI've always been fascinated by characters like Maleficent, Regina from Once Upon A Time, and Clytaemnestra from Greek Mythology - women who were wronged, then abandoned or cast out, and who sought revenge as a result.

๐Ÿฆ‡It's interesting that they're "villains", yet the story they come from presents them as someone we can sympathise with. Maleficent is the main character of her film, changing the narrative from what we knew in the original Sleeping Beauty. OUAT does the same with Regina, reversing the standard "Evil Queen" into someone we watch suffer repeatedly, and can empathise with. In Aeschylus' Oresteia, we see Clytaemnestra's anguish play out onstage, and I certainly feel for her.

๐Ÿ”ฅEach of them are driven by deep grief and injustice, which I think is what humanises them as compelling characters. Their power comes as much from their raw emotions as it does from the literal magic or weapons in their hands, and the idea of a powerful solo woman striving unwaveringly towards her goal is inspiring (if a little scary - and, you know, maybe without the murder and mass-destruction๐Ÿ˜‚)

๐ŸŽI love the redeemability of Maleficent and Regina, where we get to see their softer sides, and how they progress to a healthier version of themselves. They are still powerful, if not more so, as they learn how to act through love, rather than revengeโœจ

โ€ข

Have you seen Maleficent, Once Upon A Time and/or The Oresteia (or a similar play featuring Clytaemnestra)?๐Ÿ’ƒ

Also, are there any other characters you can think of that fit with this archetype? I'd love to hear about them!๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธ
  • ๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธWhat makes up your aesthetic?โœจ

I love the concept of this tag - identifying the elements at the core of your aesthetic.

So, I suppose #katiecore is... 

๐ŸŒณWalking through a woodland in green velvet, sun-dappled as owls hoot from the trees above. It's reaching a cottage full of witchy trinkets and dried flowers, to sit on a mahogany rocking chair by the fire and begin pouring room-temperature tea into an earthenware cup. 

โœ๏ธIt's sitting at the writing desk with a quill and penning long letters to friends, sketching portraits on old parchment and studying paintings on the walls. It's reading out perfectly-rhymed poetry and twirling with gentle ballet to classical music and pairing the notes with everyday sounds.

โ˜•It's toasting marshmallows over a barbecue with a mug of hot chocolate and laughing with family, tapping a rhythm on tree-bark to folk music, whispering stories by candlelight and smiling at the moon. It's standing at the end of a pier, looking out at the sunset over the sea and imagining a pirate ship on the horizon, dragons swooping amongst the stars, and the shimmer of mermaid tails in the water.

๐ŸฐIt's making bad puns and telling obscure facts about history, imagining regency ballrooms, designing room decor and quoting books. It's fairy-dust and flower-rings, crumbling castles and camera-clicks, horses and rabbits, fancy dresses, long skirts and vintage heels. 

๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธIt's baking with cinnamon, farmhouses and open fields, leather jackets and flared trousers, rambling and walks, secret doorways and hidden corners in libraries, ghosts and gothic turrets, layered necklaces and cloaks and vanilla candles. 

๐Ÿงšโ€โ™€๏ธIt's a joy in wordplay and wit, platonic best-friendships and childhood magic, fairytales and 'Once Upon A Time'.

๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธIt's a soft spot for the quiet character who runs from the castle to become the witch of the wood.
-

(There's an attempt, anyway. Did I do it right?!?๐Ÿ˜‚)

I'd love to hear your take on your own aesthetic!! (Either in a comment here or in a post.) I've tagged some who I think would enjoy this tag (sorry if you've already done it - feel free to send me yours if I haven't seen it yet!), but consider yourself tagged if not โœจ
  • ๐ŸŒ„"๐‘จ๐’„๐’“๐’๐’”๐’” ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’‡๐’Š๐’†๐’๐’…๐’” ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’‡๐’๐’“๐’†๐’”๐’• ๐’๐’‚๐’๐’†๐’”, ๐’‚๐’๐’๐’๐’ˆ ๐’Ž๐’š ๐’Ž๐’†๐’“๐’“๐’š ๐’˜๐’‚๐’š,
๐‘ป๐’ ๐’”๐’‰๐’‚๐’“๐’† ๐’Ž๐’š ๐’‹๐’๐’š ๐’˜๐’Š๐’•๐’‰ ๐’๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’“ ๐’‡๐’๐’๐’Œ ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’„๐’๐’‚๐’Š๐’Ž ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’—๐’Š๐’ƒ๐’“๐’‚๐’๐’• ๐’…๐’‚๐’š."
(- from The Bard of Berribury Fair, a poem in my book draft๐Ÿงโ€โ™‚๏ธ)

This quote captures my mood today, as the sky dips into pink and the trees outside my window twinkle with birdsong and sunset. I've just finished uni for the year, I had a lovely day with my family, and I feel the distinct magic of inspiration in the Spring air. It feels like a spreading of wings somehow, like a fairy awakening after a cold winter, and emerging from the hollow to take flight again๐Ÿงšโ€โ™€๏ธ

After I made 'quality over quantity' my focus word for 2022... perhaps I took it a little too far๐Ÿ˜‚ Joking apart, although I haven't posted in a while, I've felt very connected with my creativity these last few months. I've loved working on my book, prioritising fun, taking uni easy, and spending time with family and friends - the 'quality over quantity' mindset is working well for me so far. I wanted to wait until I felt the time was right to post on here again - and the time has come!๐Ÿ’•

I'll give you a full update soon about how I've been getting on, but for now I'd like to send you wishes of inspiration and calm. 

See you soon, enchanted folk.
Katie๐Ÿง™โ€โ™€๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

P.S. This is Barny the owl. He's a writing companion, and he'd love to know all about how you've been getting on with your creative projects!๐Ÿฆ‰

โœจWhat's something you've felt inspired by lately, or something you're looking forward to in the coming weeks?โœจ
  • Hi folks, long time no see! This is different to my usual content (which I'll be back with soon!) but I felt the creative and emotional pull to post this todayโค๏ธ

Aged 12, I'd been learning drums for 2 years when I came across 'The Pretender' by a band called 'The Foo Fighters': an explosion of energy and syncopated rhythms, sung by a dude with long dark hair and loud, raspy vocals, and a drummer who looked like his twin but blonde. It was awesome. So, I listened through their discography, air-drumming with Taylor Hawkins.

In secondary school, my friend and bandmate was also a drummer, and we'd often talk about the Foo Fighters and listen to their music. I remember us jumping around in his kitchen to Everlong, playing Learn To Fly when we were supposed to be doing our graded pieces, and singing along to Best Of You in the car on the way to practice.

In February I started listening to the frontman Dave Grohl's new book, read by him. It's beautifully-written; full of life-stories, musings on change, loss, chasing dreams and finding magic in everything. I resonated with it deeply, and finished it yesterday. It ends with a tribute to those closest to him - one being Taylor, whom he described as his brother, someone he was glad to have known in this lifetime, and together they were an 'unstoppable duo'.

I chatted to my soul-sister @kabyburton_music last night, who'd also just finished the book. As a musician, she found Dave's reflections inspiring. We said when she's touring and I'm there drumming, we'll be an unstoppable duo too.

Then this morning I heard the news of Taylor's death.

My secondary-school friend messaged me, and we both listened to Foo Fighters today. Then Kaby & I spoke about transience and unpredictability.

As those songs wing their way to my heart again like they did 8 years ago, I think of the map of my own life and how we never know where the road will end. Yet, Dave's book and the joy of their music highlight exactly what makes life so beautiful: appreciating it while it lasts.

So, here's a little tribute to one of my favourite Foo songs. (I'm playing to a drumless track, edited shorter.)

"It's times like these you learn to live again."๐Ÿฅ
  • ๐Ÿฅ‚What's something you're looking forward to in 2022?

A while ago, my lovely friend @b.solis_ was telling me how at the end of each year, she picks a particular focus-word for the upcoming one.

It could be 'Gratitude', 'Adventure', or 'Self-forgiveness' - and you can tailor it to apply to your personal goals and hopes for the year. 

I've decided that mine for 2022 will be 'Quality over quantity'. Something I struggle with in life is juggling multitudes of options: which TV show to watch; which photo filter to choose; which synonym works best. 
Though I love being detail-oriented and interested in lots of things, it can also get overwhelming and unfulfilling. 
To help with this, I want to narrow my field of view with projects and tasks; to focus on depth, rather than breadth. 

โ€ข I plan to sift through old photos and select the most important ones, to put in photobooks I can actually enjoy and treasure, rather than having to wade through a huge file store every time I want to look back at memories. 

โ€ข I hope to declutter my room and let go of items that don't hold much meaning or purpose for me - the random odds and ends in a box that I haven't needed, or the ornaments I've had for ages but that I'm not really attached to.
I'll put them in a 'quarantine box' for a while to see if I miss them over 6 months, then if not, they can go - out of sight and out of mind.

โ€ข For both uni work and while drafting, I endeavour to refine my writing: not so much to lose my cadence and tone, but enough to bring my points into sharper focus.

We'll see how it goes๐Ÿ˜‚

๐Ÿฅ‚Here's to a new year, enchanted folk.
May it bring you wonder and magicโœจ
โ€ข

(P.S. Thank you to everyone in this community who has contributed to making many moments of this year positive and joyful. Sorry I couldn't fit everyone in the tags - I added them in a random order and stopped when it was full๐Ÿ˜… You all know who you are๐Ÿฅฐ)

โ€ข
๐Ÿ“– What is your focus-word for 2022?๐Ÿ“–
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