The Z Files: Annie Lyons ~ Capricorn

Astrology ~ a bit of fun, a load of rubbish, or something to take seriously?

I invited around 70 writers/bloggers to write a piece about how typical they are of their sign, and how its traits affect their writing life ~ if at all...

Has your favourite writer been featured yet?  Links to all previous posts at the end of this one :)

A big welcome today to another bestselling chick lit author and one of the UK Carina group, Annie Lyons ~ a sceptical Capricorn.  I laughed when I read her piece, because one of my and my sister's long-standing astrological jokes is "I don't believe in all that astrology rubbish; very sceptical, we Capricorns" ~ I pass you over to Annie so she can tell you more!

Like so many on-the-surface-staid Capricorns, Annie has a 'wacky' side, too!!

"When I was a teenager, the only magazine that any self-respecting thirteen-year-old would be seen dead with was Just Seventeen (by the time we were seventeen, it was Cosmopolitan – Just Seventeen was for babies). My friends and I would read it on the bus on the way to school and one of our favourite pages was the horoscope page. 

I tell myself that I’ve grown up since those days, that astrology is for teenagers, that you can make characteristics fit anyone. And yet... 

You see I’m a Capricorn and they are goats – stubborn and unmovable. I am stubborn. No-one is going to tell me what to think. I already know what’s what. So I approach the notion of astrology with scepticism. Apparently this is a Capricorn trait too. Hmmm…"

"I dig a little deeper but with caution - apparently this is also common to my star sign. I consider my writing and how my career began after I was made redundant. My practical side (another Capricorn trait) wanted to find something to do alongside my new job as ‘Chef de fish fingers’ for two small people."

"Once I realised I could do it, something sparked inside me (perhaps that Capricorn determination?) and I kept trying until I was offered a publishing deal.  

I have always tried to be casual about this writing lark. I don’t mind if it works, I am using my creative energy and that is enough. Pah! Who am I kidding? I want to be best friends with JK Rowling and have all my books made into films. And there’s that Capricorn ambition, right there.  

So maybe, I do share some traits of the goat but the one I do believe in and try to put at the forefront of everything I do, is humour. I want to laugh and make people laugh because humour unites and enriches our lives. I try to carry this into my writing and when promoting my books on social media. I find it impossible to take myself too seriously. I write books for a living. I’m not saving lives here. 

All in all, I remain the healthy sceptic I’m supposed to be and I’ll take the stubbornness on the chin. Just remember if we get into an argument, I won’t back down but I might try to make you laugh at the same time!"

A very well balanced and positive example of the sign, I'm sure you agree :)  I've always thought Capricorn must be one of the more difficult signs to be; I used to have a good goatly friend who often said, 'you're so lucky being a golden summer lion instead of a dark, depressed goat' - or maybe that was just her; Annie doesn't sound dark and depressed at all!

If you would like to follow Annie on Twitter, she's HERE, and if chick lit is your thing you can find out more about her books on her blog; she writes on lots of other subjects besides her books and writing, though; I really liked one post  a couple of months ago about the modern trend for everything having to be shared, via social media, all the time.

Now, let's find two suitable Capricorn writers to struggle determinedly up that mountain with Annie...

Must have been similarly ambitious ~ the fabulously successful Diana Gabaldon, 

author of the Outlander series

... and hugely accomplished romantic drama author, Nicholas Sparks.  

Coming up next ~ a delightful, homely and NOT crabby Cancerian!

Previous posts ~ click name to read article

Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader

Leo: Rose Edmunds, Alex Johnson, Anne Goodwin

Aries: Trisha Ashley, Cynthia Harrison

Gemini: Norah Colvin,  Jerome Dumont, John Privilege, Shelley Wilson

Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black

Aquarius: Cathy Ryan, Lynda Renham

Capricorn: Steffany R

Sagittarius: Rachel Amphlett, Wendy Lennox, Katrina Mountfort

Cancer: Katie Oliver, Mark Barry

Virgo: Louise Marley, Elizabeth Ducie, Barb Taub

Pisces: Maria Savva, Sacha Black

Scorpio: Gemma Lawrence, Robert Leigh, Catherine Hokin, Jenny Twist

Taurus: Valerie-Anne Baglietto, Val Poore

Libra: Tom Hocknell, Jen Ammoscato, Joanne B