The Z Files: Emma Gray (EJ Greenway) ~ Cancer

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 :)

Today I welcome a politically thrilling crab!  In other words, Cancer political thriller writer Emma Gray, who writes as E J Greenway.  She's written two parts of a political trilogy, Party Games and Power Play ~ and if anyone knows what she's writing about, Emma does; she's worked at Westminster for twelve years.  Go on, just take a look at her Amazon author page bio HERE; see, she's not making it all up :)
 

Tell us about your Cancerian self, Emma ~

Please note ~ Emma doesn't have a carapace, so has chosen 

to hide behind sunglasses instead...!!

"I have to admit this, but since Terry asked me to be part of the Z Files, I’ve been putting it off. I think it’s a great idea, and I sooo wanted to do it, it’s just I’m TERRIBLE at talking about myself as, like Cancerians tend to be, I’m rather crap at self-analysis. We can become insular, sure, and I’d like to think of myself as insightful and intuitive about others, but when it comes to seeing myself objectively, I think I’ll probably air on the (expected) negative… 

I did a bit of research before putting type to screen, and one particular website describe Cancerians as ‘over-imaginative and prone to fantasy…they may themselves possess some literary…talent’, so really I can’t object to that! Although the same site says Cancerians can be shorter than average height with brown hair and ‘they sometimes walk clumsily’! We’re not actual crabs, y’know!"

"Anyway, I don’t think I’ve got any psychic ability, which is an apparent trait, perhaps more of an ability to predict the behaviour of others once I’ve got to know them. This really helps in my writing, as my books are so character-driven, and I’m extremely loyal to my characters - I’m probably far more emotionally attached to them than I should be! I’m quite a dreamer sometimes, although I’m quite a practical person and I’m thorough in my day job so I don’t let dreaming get in the way (most of the time)! I’d much rather pour out emotion into my writing than in my own life, so I’m not one of those heart-on-sleeve types, and it is true that I’m rather cautious and dependable…God, I sound dull!"

"I also have quite a good memory, meaning I can remember small details about my storylines and characters, which can make the process a bit easier at times. But then, of course, I’ll have a sudden inferiority attack and walk away from my writing for sometimes months, oozing with pessimism. But like all good Cancerians, I’ll be loyal to the cause and determined to see it through, so I’ll get back on the writing horse, keep calm and carry on!"

I asked Emma to tell us a bit about Book Three, currently in progress...

"I'm really excited about book three in my trilogy, End Game, as I've had a lot of political inspiration over the past few months! It picks up six months after Power Play, and the Opposition benches are living in fear of their tyrannical yet ultimately insecure leader Colin Scott. End Game follows the lead characters from my previous two books, but one in particular has a difficult decision to make about the path he must take if Scott is to be overthrown."

I have huge respect for writers like Emma who manage to run a demanding career and a family, and still find time to write - and do posts like this for me!  You can follow Emma on Twitter and read more about her on her blog.

Now...  which famous writer crabs shall I choose?

Ultimate thriller man, with a government conspiracy or two himself ~ Dan Brown....

...and historical fiction maestro Hilary Mantel ~ because Wolf Hall and her other works are all about politics, are they not?  A politician more devious than Thomas Cromwell would be hard to find ~ okay, he lost his head, but he should have known Anne of Cleves was never going to work!)

Next up: a horse loving Sagittarius!

Previous Posts:
Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader 
Leo: Rose Edmunds, Anne Goodwin, Alex Johnson,
Aries: Joanne Phillips, Trisha Ashley, Cynthia Harrison
Gemini: Haydn Lee, Norah Colvin, Jerome Dumont, John Privilege,  
Shelley Wilson,
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Aquarius: Cathy Ryan, Lynda Renham,
Capricorn: Georgia Rose, Wendy Janes, Annie Lyons, Steffany R
Sagittarius: Adrienne Vaughan, Rachel Amphlett, Wendy J Lennox, 
  Katrina Mountfort
Cancer:June Kearns, Sarah Boucher, Katie Oliver, Mark Barry
Virgo: Louise Marley, Elizabeth Ducie, Barb Taub,
Pisces: Lizzie Lamb, Julie Haiselden, Maria Savva, Sacha Black,
Scorpio: Gen Gannon, Stacey Garrity, Gemma Lawrence, Robert Leigh, Catherine Hokin, Jenny Twist,
Taurus: Valerie-Anne Baglietto, Val Poore,
Libra: Tom Hocknell, Jen Ammoscato Joanne B

 

The Z Files: Sarah Boucher ~ Cancer

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

I invited around 70 writers/bloggers to tell me how typical of their sign they are, and how their astrological 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 :) 

Now, here's a lady who often makes me laugh ~ Sarah Boucher, re-teller of fairy tales!  I read her very sharp and witty debut novel, Becoming Beauty (her take on Beauty and the Beast) last year; my review is HERE.  Her sign?  A Cancerian in slightly miffed denial ;)

I’ve always found it oddly appropriate (read: insulting) that my astrological sign is in fact a fatal disease. Cancer, really? Thanks for that, astrology. You’re brilliant.

Once in a while, I read through my daily horoscope just for kicks and giggles. I never put much stock in promises of ready cash and meeting tall dark someones. Everyone’s given a relatively positive horoscope, right? “You will lose all your money and die alone” won’t convince readers to return for the next day’s instalment. 

Personally, I think Ron Weasley had it right when he read Harry Potter’s fortune in the tea leaves: “Harry's got a sort of wonky cross... that's trials and suffering. And, uh, that there could be the sun, and that's happiness, so... you're gonna suffer... but you're gonna be happy about it...”

"That’s the type of honesty I can get behind. I’d put more stock in “invest in your cat lady starter pack now” than most of the nonsense they peddle. If I wasn’t allergic to cats, that is."

Given my scepticism, imagine my surprise on reading an online description of Cancers. It was all about Home. Homebodies and nurturers, those are the Cancers. Well, that can’t be me, says the woman who’s just spent the day teaching five-year-olds and then returned home to fill her condo will the homey aroma of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. (From her mom’s recipe.) Nope, that doesn’t sound at all familiar. It can’t be the same woman who prefers tapping away on her laptop when she’s cozied up on her own couch. Upholding traditions and making a cozy place for people to land? Uh-uh. Not this girl. You’d never find home, family, and emotional journeys in my stories. (Unless you actually read them, that is.)"

"Ah well, I gave up the dream of being a true original long ago. I guess if that means I can spend my days with adorable little people and my nights bringing traditional fairytales back into the public eye, it can’t be all bad."

Yep, I think you sound pretty Cancerian, Sarah - all that childhood fairy tale stuff; straight back to Mother's knee!  You can read more from Sarah on her excellent website (she writes lots of amusing and straight talking articles!) and follow her on Twitter.

Now, some Cancerians for Sarah to entertain at home with those peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies....

chick lit writer Louise Bagshawe....

...and one of my all time favourites (you're honoured!), 

contemporary fiction writer Deborah Moggach

Up Next: A dreamy Pisces...

Previous Posts:
Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader 
Leo: Rose Edmunds, Anne Goodwin, Alex Johnson, 
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: Annie Lyons, Steffany R 
Sagittarius: Rachel Amphlett, Wendy J Lennox, Katrina Mountfort, 
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, Valerie Poore,
Cancer: Katie Oliver, Mark Barry
Libra : Tom Hocknell, Jen Ammoscato, Joanne B

The Z Files ~ Katie Oliver ~ Cancer

Welcome to The Z Files, in which writers/bloggers show how the characteristics of their star sign influence their work; contributors were invited to treat the subject as seriously, cynically or lightly as they like!  Links to other posts can be found at the end of this one.

Scuttling sideways through the damp sand with a red rose from Mr Darcy, I am proud to present The Z Files' second Cancerian, best selling chick lit author from Washington DC, Katie Oliver.  Published by Carina, her books are adored by many lovers of cupcakes, daft shoes and dating on both sides of the Atlantic!  'If you like a bit of comedy with your romance'... read more HERE!

Katie has started her post with a rundown of traditional crabby traits...

Cancerians love home-life, family and domestic settings. They are traditionalists, and enjoy operating on a fundamental level. They love history, and are fascinated with the beginnings of things (heraldry, ancestry, etc.). The moon is their ruler, so they can be a bit of a contradiction and sometimes moody. However, they are conservative, so they'll be apt to hide their moods from others altogether. They have a reputation for being fickle, but they'll tell you that isn't true, and it's not. Cancerians make loyal, sympathetic friends. However Cancerians need alone time, and when they retreat, let them do so on their terms.

"According to my astrological sign, I'm a homebody and a traditionalist who likes history, and food. Check, check, and check. I'm also a loyal friend - just like your devoted pet spaniel - but am subject to moods ranging from amiable sociability to fits of Greta Garbo-ish, 'I-vant-to-be-alone' behavior. I can be 'a bit of a contradiction.'

Oh, boy. Can I ever. 

My moods are unpredictable - although not as unpredictable as they were in my twenties, or thirties (or even my forties). They can range from face-on-the-floor, why-do-I-even-BOTHER despair, to the giddy, whirling, open-armed joy that Maria demonstrated in the opening scene of “The Sound of Music.” And this manic/depressive behavior is even more pronounced when it comes to my writing. 

When the creative process is going well - the sentences and ideas are flowing, the plot's working, and the dialogue isn't coming off stilted and weird - I'm ecstatic. (Coffee helps, too.) When things aren't going so well, and every word feels like a struggle, the doubt and despair creeps in. Why did I ever think I could write?? Who am I kidding? I will NEVER finish this stupid book."

"Also true to my sign, alone time isn't merely a preference when I write - it's a necessity. The smallest distraction throws me off, yanking me out of Scotland or Majorca or wherever my story's set and landing me right back in reality. Which is not where one wants to be when one is writing. 

So there you have it...I fit my zodiac sign to a 'T.' (Or a 'C.') And that's mostly a good thing, I think. My moods (so often annoying to Mr Oliver) are an advantage; they help me empathize with whatever fictional dramas my characters are going through. (Confession - I’ve been known to make myself cry at my own sad bits. Pathetic.)"

Me too, Katie - I thought that was normal!  But then I have got Cancer rising, so I know a little of this sign...I really get the 'alone time' thing, too, and the need to completely immerse yourself in the world.

I was looking for famous Cancerian chick lit authors to trio-up with Katie, when I came across this lady crab...

....who, I suppose, was a chick lit author of her time!  

(Barbara Cartland, for anyone who doesn't know!)

.... and a more contemporary chick lit Cancerian ~ Lisa Jewell:)

You can follow Katie on Twitter and/or look at her Prada and Louboutin filled books on Amazon.com or Amazon.UK   

Next up: a truly adventurous Sagittarius

Previous Posts (click name to see post):
Leo and Aries: Me, and Julia Proofreader
Leo: Anne Goodwin, Alex Johnson
Gemini: Shelley Wilson
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Aquarius: Cathy Ryan, Lynda Renham,
Sagittarius: Katrina Mountfort,
Cancer: Mark Barry
Virgo: Barb Taub
Pisces: Sacha Black
Scorpio: Jenny Twist
Taurus:  Valerie Poore

The Z Files: Mark Barry ~ Cancer

Welcome to The Z Files, in which writers show how the characteristics of their star sign influence their work; contributors were invited to treat the subject as seriously, cynically or lightly as they like.  You can find links to other posts at the end of this one.

Daring to sidle out from underneath his protective Cancer shell and expose himself (!) to my blog readers, here's Mark Barry :)  Mark is, in my opinion, one of the best 'indie' authors out there.  I've read four of his books (at the time of writing); you can read my reviews of them HERE  (ps, they're all 99p/99c until October, I thought I'd just slip that in!). Under his Green Wizard guise, he also does author interviews with a difference... more later!

Tell us about your semi-Cancerian self, Mark...  

Mark on the left, his son on the right.

"An old boss of mine was a part time tarot reader and astrologist and, thus, I picked up a ton from her about astrology without ever fully assimilating its doctrine. 

I’m ostensibly a Cancer, born June 23^rd. This nearly makes me a Gemini and therein lies, of course, the contradiction. If I had taken aboard the teachings of the starry tablets of stone, I would be scared. Here’s why.

Cancers are by nature crabs. Diamond hard on the outside and soft as melted butter on the inside. Once you penetrate the shell, a Cancer is yours, but breaking through it isn’t easy."

The Cancerian moon smiles warily at the twins...

"Yet, Geminis are the opposite. Assess the negatives and weep. Shallow, scheming, feckless, duplicitous, slutty, unrealistic, boastful, Janus-faced, bi-polar – the playful twins offer a disorienting contrast to the stolid, dependable, loyal, faithful, honest, depression-prone crab. 
According to my old boss this combo was always going to make my life very difficult.   One half of me wants to party like it's 1999 and the other half of me wants to lock the doors and tell everyone to, er, go away.  That’s me in a nutshell. Trapped in a circadian parabola oscillating from manic party animal to despairing recluse almost by the day."

...okay, then, have your own sign!

 
"Potential partners? If you’re an Aries, your zodiacmates have already mashed my swede in twice, so keep me in the friendzone thank you very much, but if you’re a Pisces, a Scorpio or a Capricorn, we tend to get on alright. I also blend with other Cancers but, as you can imagine, that is a mind-blowingly intense combination – and no apologies for the adverb; it’s appropriate."

"My writing? Cancers suffer in a private hell of their own making and Geminis are the ultimate dancing communicators so what else can a man afflicted by both do but write or teach? 

Do I believe in this stuff? I’ll leave that to you to work out :-D"

Actually, Marky Mark, I have to tell you that up and down moods are also very much a feature of moon ruled Cancer...  if you would like to know more about the Green Wizard's cauldron, you can give it a stir HERE and follow Mark on Twitter; you won't recognise him, by the way, as he changes his profile picture on a weekly basis, and it's rarely him.  He may think this is the mercurial, changing face of Gemini; I think it's the hideaway Cancerian :)

Would Mark like to share a beer with these two fellow crabs ~ under their respective carapaces, perhaps?

A chap who knew a thing or two about human nature... George Orwell..

...and the original gonzo journalist, who was known to have 

an up and down mood or two, himself... Hunter S Thompson :)

Up next ~ An amusingly analytical Virgo, followed by a decidedly off-beat Aquarius!

Previous Posts:
Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Proofreader Julia
Leo: Anne Goodwin,
Gemini: Shelley Wilson
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Sagittarius: Katrina Mountfort