A Re-introduction

So today (I almost forgot, oops!) is the blogfest "Please allow me to re-introduce yourself".




When I saw this floating around the blog-o-sphere a while ago, I couldn't not sign up! It just seemed the perfect door back into blogging after such a long absence!

So, what's changed since we last spoke?

Well, today I handed in my Thesis for my degree in Biomedical Science. It has been a hellish 4 months, and probably one of the main reason for my absence.

Also, I've applied to do my post graduate degree in teaching next year. Sometime over the summer I had one of those 'revelation' moments. I'd been beating myself up over careers and job prospects and nothing that my Biomedical degree allowed me to do was interesting me any more (backed up by how much I did not enjoy my research project and thesis). People have always told me that I'd be a really good teacher, that I have a knack for explaining things, but it was mostly my family and in my youthful folly, I decided that I didn't want to do what my family suggested. Now it seems that they knew my own mind better than I did! I spent a few days at the beginning of September, before I started back to University in my old High School, watching my Biology teacher, well, teach. He was my favourite teacher, and he has such a way of having fun with his students without losing their respect that he almost never has to get angry. Unfortunately  I haven't heard anything back about my application. They are currently doing interviews, so I'm hoping that I'll get word of an interview soon. I was stupid and only applied to one place, so I don't have a plan B!

In writing news, I've slipped back into old habits and found myself dipping my toes into the murky waters of fanfiction again. The immediate feedback that I get and the fact that I have a readership from the very first chapter I post makes it so much easier for me to write to know that people want to read what I'm writing. When I'm writing original stories, I don't have that feedback and I find it so easy to just give up. Does anyone else struggle like this? Perhaps I need a writing partner...

So, that's you caught up to date with my life so far! Riveting isn't it?

Sarah x

Best reads of 2012

So, in 2012 I challenged myself to read 25 books. It was the first year that I'd kept track of what I'd read (through the ever helpful goodreads.com) and I in fact read 30. This year I've upped the ante and have challenged myself to 40 books!

But, here are some of the best books that I read in 2012!

1. The Fault In Our Stars - John Green 




This story really touched me. It was deep, thoughtful, and by no means your typical cancer story. Everything about it was so tangibly human. It also made me weep openly on public transport, something which I have never done before. Every family has been affected by cancer in some way, so I feel like stating this book has some kind of extra special meaning because of how cancer has affected my close family is a bit redundant.
Nevertheless, it is a truly amazing book and he deserves all the praise and recognition he is getting because of it. It's only up from here for John Green, but how do you go up, when you're pretty much at the peak?

2. Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins



I don't read very many contemporary books, but I had seen this one crop up in my feed so much in 2011 that I finally gave in and got it after Christmas 2011. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It was funny and romantic and just a joy to read.


3. Looking for Alaska - John Green




2012 was the year I properly discovered Mr. John Green and his writing. I'm so glad my friend suggested his books. This was the first one I read and for the first few chapters his style of writing was quite jarring. It was so different from anything else I'd read that it took a while to settle in, but after that I was hooked. Usually when I read books, I feel like writers have a story first, and themes are a by-product of their writing or revising progress. However, with John Green, it's quite apparent that he has certain ideas or points or themes that he wants to get across from the very start. I like that.

4. The Alchemists Secret - Scott Mariani 



This was a suggestion of a friend who has read the entire (to date, they're still going) Ben Hope series. They were very good value on the Kindle so I bought the first one. It was very good. My friend had recommended it with the tagline of 'Dan Brown but better' and I can't think of any other way to describe it. Clever plot lines, lots of action and brilliant characters.

5. Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult



Jodi Picoult always manages to write really human and stories about moral conflict. This story tackled  the difficult question of life support, and should you turn it off? Handled very sensitively and I liked the wolf parts. I feel like saying much more would ruin it, so that's all you're getting!


Honourable mentions: Divergent - Veronica Roth, Uglies - Scott Westerfield, Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson

Booby Prize 2012: (i.e. the worst book I read)

Hush Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick



An annoying protagonist with absolutely no sense of self preservation. I wasn't intrigued by the lore aspect of it either. I was disappointed because of all the hype I'd heard about this book. Don't get me started on her 'anaemia' because as a student of biomedical science the fact that if she didn't take her iron tablets she began to feel 'weak' is absolutely ridiculous. Anaemia is not dependant on one damn iron tablet. It is a long term disease with gradual regression and progression. This really bugged me.


Sorry my blog has been so quiet for the last few months! I was exceptionally busy last semseter in Uni. I'll hopefully be a little more active this year. But I won't promise, because I don't like to make promises when I know it's entirely possibly I will break them.

But hopefully it won't be six months until you hear from me again. I've got to get myself back into the blogasphere... any good blogfests going?

Sarah x

The Music of the Night

This is a non writing related post, but as I'm struggling to blog at the moment, this will have to do! (Plus I will use any and every opportunity to talk about this particular subject matter...)

PHANTOM.

Ahem. In case you don't already know, I am a HUGE fan of the Phantom of the Opera. Ever since the 2004 movie with Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler, I have been ever so slightly obsessed. I think the first ever fan fiction I wrote was about Phantom, but I never finished it! (Sarah, not finishing a story? GASP, IT CANNOT BE!)

I was lucky enough to see the West End production in April when I went to London with friends. It was an amazing experience and I cried through most of the songs. I even waited after and got to meet the wonderful man who had played the Phantom, Peter Joback. I did talk about it in a previous post here.

Now, Phantom of the Opera has been around for 25 years, and to celebrate this there was a special production produced in the Royal Albert Hall in London, which they released on DVD. ALSO, there has been a second UK production that has been touring all over the country. Through July they were in Dublin and I took my mother down to see it for her birthday! (Really it was just an excuse to see it again, but she did REALLY enjoy it! Honest!)

The Phantom was played by the fantastic John Owen-Jones, a bit of a legend in the world of musical theatre, and it was so amazing to see him live. And, like a true theatre fan, I was waiting at the stage door and got an autograph and picture with both him, and Simon Bailey, who had played Raoul.

Me with Simon Bailey who played Raoul. Isn't he gorgeous!

Me with John Owen-Jones who played the Phantom.
This man has the voice of an angel.

My brochure now has two Phantoms and two Raouls. 

As you can see I'm wearing a self-designed t-shirt which says "Get angry and drop a chandelier". If you know the plot of Phantom then you'll know why that's funny!

I've been really lucky these few months in getting to see this phenomenal show twice. Unfortunately though, it's  bit like a drug, and the more I see it, the more I want to see it again!

If you ever get to London, or New York I really would recommend it.

Gloat over!

Sarah x

Versatile Blogger Award

Just when I'm struggling to think of things to blog about, I'm given an award! 

WOOP!

Thank you very much to Jeannette over at Folio Road who nominated me! 

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you. - Already done!

2. Add the Versatile Blogger award picture to your post. Check!

3. Share 7 random facts about yourself! 

• I have seven cats! They don't all belong to me. They're mostly strays that just sort of took up camp at our house. We used to have much more, but some unfortunately went to kitty heaven, while there were some of a litter of kittens that were re-homed. 
• My absolute favourite colour is purple. I have so much stuff that's purple you wouldn't believe...
• I know most writers are addicted to coffee, but my poison of choice is tea. Good ol' strong tea with a good helping of milk. 
• I'm absolutely obsessed with Phantom Of The Opera. I've been to see it once in the West End and once on tour. I have a programme that I bring to every show and get signed by some of the main cast members. I plan on seeing it many more times in my life. 
• I am extremely lazy and easily distracted, which is why I never seem to achieve much!
• I'm a Nerdfighter. +10 points to you if you know what that is!
• I wanted to be a Vet for all of my childhood until I was about 11 then I spent a day on a farm and saw a calf being born... and I knew then that I couldn't handle it.

4. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging - Oh gosh, 15? I mostly follow blogs that, from what I can tell, are pretty well established! Would anyone mind if I cheated here? Nope? Phew, thank goodness. 

Thanks once again to Jeanette, I hope I'll get some inspiration rain on the drought of my writing/blogging soon! If you know a inspiration rain man at all, send him this way to do his little dance!

Sarah x

Hang on a minute...?

Whoops! Late again!

Thank you everyone who left a comment on my hookers! (Which sounds so wrong by the way!) I loved reading them, and was quite surprised by the response because I personally didn't find them very hook-ey!

But ONWARDS, to the hangers. 

WIP

Chap 1 - He’s unmistakably dead.

 Chap 2 - A guard yells at us to be silent, and we are.

Chap 3 -  As I'm led away, to gods knows where, all I can think is how long it'll be before I'll loath being called Princess.

I've enjoyed this blogfest! You lot always come up with such good themes! Just wish I'd been a bit more organised and got these out on time!

I will eventually get around to reading others, promise! 

Sarah x

Gotta love me some Hookers!

Well that title's bound to get some views...
(sorry this is late!)

So, I know I've been absent, but so has my brain. With moving Uni house, and mum deciding to redecorate most of our house, my muse seems to have gotten lost in the mess. Its so infuriating, because it's summer, and this is when I have the most time to write and I just can't seem to be able to do it!

Reading my WIP hookers... they don't seem very... hook-ish to me. If I'm completely honest, I'd never really taken a good close look at the beginning and endings of my chapters before now! If nothing else, these two posts will be an exercise in being more... hook-ey?

Chap 1 - "Thief!"
Chap 2 - Panic grabs hold of my throat and I can’t breathe.
Chap 3 - There are no windows in this godsforsaken prison. 

I'm sure I have other hookers floating about the place, but this post is late so I just better get it out here quick!

See you, tomorrow, I guess for the hangers!

Sarah x

Explaining my absence

I doubt that many of you had actually noticed that I hadn't posted here since April, and are now reading this in your dashboard with mild surprise and curiosity, thinking something along the lines of "I don't remember following this person..."

NO MATTER.

Hello again. It's been a while. Let me tell you what I've been up to.

April was a busy, busy month for me. I turned 20, and had lots of Uni work to do. I also went to London with my house mate and her friend. We went to see Phantom of the Opera. Ever since the 2004 movie with Gerard Butler (which is incomparable by the standards of seeing the live West End or Broadway versions let me tell you) and it was a dream come true to see it. I even waited after to meet the lovely and talented gentleman who played the Phantom. His name is Peter Joback, a Swedish pop and theatre star. He was so lovely.

8 years after the obsession began, I finally get so see it live!

This guy is 40 is gorgeous and has such an amazing singing voice.
He's also got a husband, so not only would I be barking up the wrong tree...
I'd be in the wrong forest.

So that was a nice break to have in Easter when I should have been revising for my exams. We also went to see Rock of Ages, the show that the new movie with Tom Cruise is based from. I've since seen the movie as well and would recommend the show a HUNDRED times more. The movie was ridiculous. The show is too, but it's much easier to go along with it in a theatre environment!

So exams ate away at April and May. Then I went to Spain for 10 days with the two girls I live with the first week of June. It was my first holiday away without 'adults'. It was amazing. Here are a few snaps! 

One of the scariest, yet most thrilling things I've ever done. 

Salou, Spain.

Blatantly for Facebook cover photo!

Such beautiful and intelligent creatures.

The last night!

We were instructed to pose. It was under duress... honestly.

The wonders of a metre long pizza. The three of us struggled to finish it, but did!

So now that that's all behind me, I'm finally getting back to writing. But it's not going to be easy.

I'm having to remind myself what I'd written so far, and with that comes the irresistible temptation to edit as I go through it. Can't. Resist. 

Hopefully I'll be able to have something to show for myself by the end of the summer. I'll try to resume my normal blogging frequency, but make no promises! 

Hopefully it won't be to long until we see each other again!

Sarah x