The Z Files: Katrina Mountfort ~ Sagittarius

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

Firing her arrows at you then bounding off over the horizon, I'm delighted to welcome Katrina Mountfort, who was born under the sign of Sagittarius.

I got to know former Civil Servant, homeopath and forensic science researcher Katrina after I read her book Future Perfect, the first in the Blueprint Trilogy.  I embarrassed her by going on and on about how brilliant it was (in my over the top Leo fashion!), but I'm sure she didn't mind.  It's like a modern version of 1984... You can read my review of it HERE

Now, Katrina, what does being a Sagittarius mean to you?

"I display plenty of the traits of this sign. I’m optimistic and still believe that Future Perfect will become a movie starring Aiden Turner! Others describe me as bubbly and I’d like to think that this shows through in my writing voice. I’m adventurous and open-minded in my writing: I constantly try new ideas and writing styles to see what fits. I’m also philosophical and freedom loving; in the Blueprint trilogy I question the definitions of beauty, the price of freedom and so-called ideal societies."

"Now to deny the negative aspects: unlike typical Sagitarians, I’m fiercely loyal and reliable! Inconsistent is a better description – I may write 8,000 words in a day (typical Sagitarius enthusiasm!) and nothing the next. When I’m excited about a project I forget to eat or sleep if my husband doesn’t remind me. This is how I manifest my excesses. And I’m absolutely scattered: I have four novels in various stages of completion and easily get distracted by a new project that captures my imagination. Likewise with book promotion: I’ve had plenty of ideas but tend to be unfocussed; I’ve learned that it’s better to concentrate on a couple of social media platforms. Sagitarius characteristics (good and bad!) appear in plenty of the characters I write; Joy in Forbidden Alliance is the one most modelled on myself."

★.:*´`*:.☆

I am so looking forward to reading Forbidden Alliance!  (Note Sept 8th ~ It's out now ~ HERE ~ I've read it and can confirm that Joy is very Sagittarian-like! There is a link to my review on the review of Future Perfect, above. ) You can follow Katrina on Twitter and find out more about her on her blog.

Sagittarius sometimes misses the finer details...

Before Kat shoots off over yonder hill, bow and arrow over one shoulder ~ does she have anything in common with these fellow Sagittarian writers?

The forward-thinking and science obsessed Arthur C Clarke....

....and fellow Sagittarian SciFi writer who had plenty to say about authoritarian governments, Philip K Dick!

Coming next: a Leo who challenges her sign, followed by a Cancer who thinks he's only half a crab...

Previous posts:
Leo and Aries:Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader
Gemini: Shelley Wilson,
Aquarius and Capricorn:  Nicky Black

The Z (Zodiac!) Files: Nicky Black ~ Aquarius and Capricorn

Welcome to my new feature The Z Files, in which writers show how the characteristics of their star sign influence their work... I gave the instruction to treat the subject as seriously (or not seriously) as they liked!
Links to previous posts are listed at the end.

Why Aye, today it's a canny pair of bonny lasses from up The Toon... er, sorry about that.  Ahem!  I'm delighted to introduce Julie and Nicky, who together make up the writing team Nicky Black.  I got in touch with Nicky after reading their gritty Geordie drama The Prodigal which I enjoyed very much; you can see my review HERE with links to both Amazon sites.

 Julie blonde and Nicky black!

Okay, so Nicky is Capricorn and Julie is Aquarius....

...how has this combination affected their working relationship, and how did The Prodigal come about?  This piece is the longest I've received, by far,  (partly because there are two of them, of course!), but I've only chopped it down a little bit because it's most interesting :) 

Nicky: "Since there are two of us in Nicky Black it makes it a little less straight forward as you can imagine, but it really made me think about how much Julie and I have in common, how much we don’t and how that makes us a brilliant team.  Also, when I look at the list of Capricornian traits, I wonder why I have any friends at all...:)."

(Note: that's only the bad ones...

...let's look at it more positively!)

"I think as writers and friends, we share some of the characteristics of both star signs, but we are clearly individuals."

"I met Julie when I was about 28 and she was in her early 40s (I’m 47 now, but don’t tell anyone...).  She was, indeed friendly but chose her friends with care and certainly didn’t suffer fools gladly.  She was a community worker, and her humanitarian and unprejudiced empathy with people living in riot-torn estates was clear to see. I’d known her for several months before she casually told me over a cup of tea that she’d written a movie, as if she were buttering bread for sandwiches. The screenplay was called ‘Heads’, and I asked if I could read it. I read it and I loved it.

In awe of this amazing writer, and being a determined and ambitious Capricorn, I took up her challenge to work with her to get the movie made. She knew I was a hard worker, meticulously organised and not in the least ‘arty-farty’.  In 1998 we set up Hard Place Productions (based on a Fringe play Julie had written and directed called Between and Rock and a Hard Place).  

We can both be self centred, and are both most definitely independent.  We both gave up our jobs (okay, that’s batty) to try something new.  In the end, ‘Heads’ didn’t make it, but my goodness we had some laughs. "

"I began to edit Julie’s work.  She liked my ruthless ‘red pen’ and honesty.  And in 1999, she shoved a writing competition in my face and said, ‘you could do that, Nicky.’ I dismissed it pessimistically and though I was thoroughly sceptical about the whole charade, I came second in the competition.  And that’s how it all started. I wrote some short pieces for the Live Theatre and started taking being a writer more seriously, but never thought I could make a living out of it, so a hobby it remained.

Julie began writing for Hollyoaks and Casualty, but her ambition was always to be original and produce her own work.  The Prodigal was commissioned by Granada in 2001.  She would write ten pages, and I would read and edit.

Sadly, again, time moved on, ITV regions ended and the producer moved on to other things. The Prodigal gathered dust. Julie, stubborn to the core when she wants to be, refused to let the option run on and on and bought it back from ITV with a view to selling it to independent producers." 

"By 2006, never satisfied with my income, I’d moved to London for my day job and I forgot about writing all together.  Then about 5 years ago, my career going really well, director of a company, I sensed that typical Capricornian depression descending.  I needed something to do that would make me proud. 

 

Julie, too, was feeling a little down.  The Prodigal was going nowhere, another rejection.  ‘Why don’t I try writing it as a book?’ I asked.  I took the Prodigal by the (Capricorn!) horns and started editing - locked away, solitary for hours and days at a time.

So what’s next?  Well, I mentioned ‘Heads’ earlier.  It’s set on Valley Park in the rave era of 1989.  That’s all I’m saying for now, other than it certainly demonstrates the youthful outlook of a pair of old birds."

I am very much looking forward to Heads!  If you'd like to keep up with Nicky and Julie, you can follow Nicky on Twitter.

.... and I've chosen these writers of some reknown as typical examples of the two signs....

Cynical Capricorn, Douglas Kennedy (one of my favourites) ~ 

many of his characters embrace long periods of solitude....

... and independent and forward thinking Aquarian, indeed: Virginia Woolf

Up next, a Sagittarian lady with a few strings to her bow, followed by a sceptical Leo!

Previous posts:
Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader
Gemini: Shelley Wilson

The Z (Zodiac!) Files ~ Gemini

Welcome to the second post from The Z Files ... on which writers show how the characteristics of their star sign influence their working lives.  A list of posts from the whole series (around 52) can be found at the end of the first one about ME, and my sister Julia Proofreader (Leo and Aries), HERE

★.:*´`*:.☆

Fluttering across cyberspace in mercurial Gemini butterfly mode (all the way to my blog!) is Shelley Wilson, author of How I Changed My Life In A Year, other motivational books and blog posts, and YA fantasy series The Guardians.... but is she a typical Gemini writer?

"I'm on the cusp, which means I’m not as quirky as I could have been!

I had a flashback when I read that I could be a ‘jack of all trades and master of none’, this is what my dad used to say to me!  I could win awards for talking, and this was often highlighted in my old school reports, so I can tick off the chatty, communicative and sociable traits.  I didn’t like school, but I loved college, and could happily be an eternal student, I guess that means I am inquisitive and keen to learn. 

I’ve often heard that Geminis are unreliable, but I would disagree.  I am one of those annoying people who arrive twenty minutes early for everything, and I can also be counted on in an emergency, such as if you’ve run out of chocolate.  However, if you can’t keep me interested then it’s the demon realm for you – oh yes, I write fantasy, there is always a demon realm lurking; you need to be pretty imaginative to think up that stuff.  I'm also open-minded when it comes to trying out new ways of doing things ~ so versatile, too!  I would like to add loyalty to the list of Gemini traits, I am fiercely loyal when it comes to my family and friends (including my online buddies)."

★.:*´`*:.☆

As one of Shelley's online buddies I can confirm the last bit, and add generous, cheerful, and also pretty damn perceptive, as illustrated by her motivational posts!  You can take a look at her non-fiction books and the first of her fantasy series, Guardians of the Dead, on her Amazon UK page or on her blog, and follow her on Twitter.

And finally... does Shelley have anything in common with her fellow Gemini writers?

The late and much lamented Maeve Binchy...

... and the man with the hidden camera (or dagger!) in his pen, Ian Fleming...

Thank you for joining us!  Next, an Aquarius/Capricorn writing duo, followed by a lady with a bow and arrow... Sagittarius :)

The Z (Zodiac) Files: Terry Tyler & Proofreader Julia ~ Leo & Aries

Welcome to The Z Files!  I invited around 70 authors, bloggers, proofreaders, etc, to tell me about their sign of the zodiac, what it means to them (if anything!) and the effect its characteristics have on their work.

For all other posts, please see the links at the end of this piece. I've had a pleasing response so far, and am now posting three or four times a week.  I've also been checking out the star signs of some (more!) famous writers, for use in each post :) 

I'll start the ball rolling with my Leo self, followed by a fellow fire sign, my proofreading Aries sister ~ welcome to The Z Files!

Me ~ Leo

Traditionally, Leos are golden lions, charismatic and confident (think Mick Jagger, Barack Obama, Kate Bush, Mae West, JLo, Robert Redford) with an overbearing streak (Madonna, Mussolini, Napoleon).  But a Leo's confidence can be a shaky thing.  On a good days I feel positive I'm a moderately okay human being and a reasonable writer.  On bad days I know that I'm not only old, fat and stupid, but have just written 30K words of utter codswallop, and any talent I did possess has disappeared.  However, I'm basically an optimistic and practical person, so the next day I will get a grip!  The determination bit makes me sit down, day after day, when it's sunny outside; I spent the afternoon of the Christmas Day before last redrafting Kings and Queens ~ which is a very Leo title! 

Warm hearted, friendly and fun, cheerful... it depends. I don't do the social media thing unless that's how I'm feeling, because my Leo pride doesn't want my online presence to be a depressing one!  Generous?  Usually, I hope.  I'm fairly helpful, and I do my best to spread the word about others' work that I love, to the extent that I even bore the person I'm supporting.  And I'm not slack about getting the beers in!  Romantic... not in an idealistic, girly way, but I do have a tendency to be swept away by grand passion; now I am in the autumn of my years (and happily married), though, I write about it instead!  As for born to rule ~ well, I can be a bit bossy....'I think you should do it my way' - urgh! I try to curb it, though not always very successfully...I'm forever thinking 'oh God, I came on a bit too forcefully there, didn't I' ~ I loathe myself sometimes!  Which takes us back to confidence...

★.:*´`*:.☆

I was worried that nobody would respond to this (maybe because of my Leo shaky confidence!), so I roped in my sister, Julia, to write a bit for me, too.  In typically Aries fashion, she said 'Oh God, if I must, I'm not a bloody writer, I never know what to put', or something similar... but then came up with this, most promptly - also very Aries of her!

Julia Gibbs ~ The Aries Proofreader

"I am, I believe, very typical of my sign. I started my own proofreading business because I don’t want anyone else to tell me what to do. I see myself as a sort of champion of correct grammar and punctuation, cutting through typos and errors with my sword of righteousness! This gives me great satisfaction, because Aries people are very fond of military metaphors, and also see things in black and white, right and wrong. And we’re champions of the underdog – oh yes, that’s me, I believe very strongly in promoting indie authors, whose work has as much right to be seen as that of traditionally published authors. Once more unto the breach, dear friends* (ps, Julia, Henry V was actually a Leo!) with me on your side you can steal a march on the competition!"

I would like to add that, in a very Aries way, Julia has a reputation for honesty and professionalism, - hey, she even delivers mine on time!  She also doesn't beat about the bush, which is something I appreciate in any sphere of life

You can follow Julia on Twitter or find out more about her on her blog, on which she does actually write some rather good pieces!  You can also find out more about what she does so successfully for many writers.

★.:*´`*:.☆

Now for the 'we are not worthy' bit:

One of mine and Julia's all time favourites, 
wonderful Leo Writer Dorothy Parker

..... and another lady we both love, Aries writer Elizabeth Jane Howard. 

Thank you for joining us!  Up next: Gemini

All other posts - just click on the name to see the article:
Gemini: Haydn Lee, Norah Colvin, Jerome Dumont, John Privilege, Shelley Wilson
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Sagittarius: Jan Ruth, Adrienne Vaughan, Rachel Amphlett,  
Wendy J Lennox, Katrina Mountfort, 
Leo: Rose Edmunds, Anne Goodwin, Alex Johnson, Rosie Amber
Cancer: June Kearns, Emma Gray, Sarah Boucher, Katie Oliver, Mark Barry
Virgo: Heather Burnside, Louise Marley, Elizabeth Ducie, Barb Taub,
Aquarius: Cathy Ryan, Lynda Renham,
Pisces: Lizzie Lamb, Julie Haiselden, Maria Savva, Sacha Black,
Scorpio: Judith Barrow, Gen Gannon, Stacey Garrity, Gemma Lawrence, Robert Leigh,  
Catherine Hokin, Jenny Twist,
Taurus: Valerie-Anne Baglietto, Valerie Poore,
Aries: Joanne Phillips, Trisha Ashley, Cynthia Harrison
Libra: Marcia Carrington, Tom Hocknell, Jen Ammoscato, Joanne B 
Capricorn: Georgia Rose, Wendy Janes, Annie Lyons, blogger Steffany R

 

Would you BUY or PASS (13) ?

My weekly contribution to Rosie Amber's Friday Five Challenge ~ if you know what it's all about, please go down to the line of red stars to see my choice for this week.  If not, please read on!

The Friday Five Challenge is an interesting exercise for writers ~ it shows the little things that can put potential readers off that click-buy.  We click on a book because the cover appeals to us, but can be put off a purchase by the blurb, the price, or the reviews.

Anyone with a blog can join in ~ here's what you do:

IN ONLY FIVE MINUTES….

1) Go to any online book supplier

2) Randomly choose a category

3) Speed through the book covers, choose one which instantly appeals

4) Read the book bio/description, and any other details

5) If there are reviews, check out a couple

6) Make an instant decision: would you BUY or PASS?

 
You can check out others' contributions on the #FridayFiveChallenge hashtag on Twitter, or see links at the end of this page.

********* 

My sister is soon to appear on a TV quiz show, and I was thinking of this when I went to Amazon for this week's selection.  I tried putting 'television star' into the search but just came up with page after page of Star Trek books, so I tried again with 'TV Talent Show', partly because one of my own books, Dream On, features one of these, and I wanted to see how early it would appear!  A few books before it, I came across the delightful cover of CURTAINS by Drew Thomas

 

Analysis

Cover
Caught my eye immediately, I think it's lovely.  I like the title, too

Price
99p for 272 pages!  99p often makes me wonder - does the author not rate himself much, or has he marked it down in price to make it sell, perhaps as a lure for the rest of his books?  The latter is highly understandable, in these days of a flooded market and the constant problem of visibility; I do it myself.

Blurb
For some reason the author has not provided a blurb, but has put a long and laboured review in the 'product description'.  Here is about a quarter of it:

Danny is a performer on London’s cabaret circuit, but his hard work isn’t doing much for his status. When he meets Veronica, who promises to make him a star, he never guesses that this might be too good to be true. Rapidly falling in love with her – or so he thinks – soon his life revolves around doing her bidding. But Veronica is a more complex individual than Danny could ever have imagined - and her forcefulness will lead them both down an unimaginable path.
Drew Thomas is to be commended, not just for imagining this path but for showcasing it with a superb exposition. The tale is told from Danny’s perspective after he has achieved fame and even notoriety. It’s clear from the start that Danny is deeply disturbed, not just fundamentally with his alter ego 'Stella' making regular appearances to question his every move, but also with something sinister that has occurred in the recent past. 

Seems fairly interesting but I couldn't be bothered to do much more than skim the long chunks of description.

Reviews
A 1* from someone who hadn't read it, to be ignored, and 8 x 5*.   I looked at 6 of them, and 3 of them were obviously from friends (ie, they had only reviewed this book, or this book and one other item).  I read in one that the proceeds were going to a charity.  Reading the author bio he's obviously got his fingers in quite a few pies, and quite successfully, too; I suspect he just hasn't bothered to promote this.

Would I BUY or PASS?
BUY ~ oddly enough!  I'll give it a go sometime, and have downloaded on Kindle Unlimited. I suspect it might be rather good; it was the author bio that made me give it the thumbs up, though, rather than the reviews or non-blurb.  He's obviously an accomplished writer, so I'll hopefully get round to this during my next big reading session, which will take place next month, I hope :)

Friday Five Challenge posts by others (click the blog name):
Irish-American New York chick lit for Rosie Amber
A undercover wizard on Between The Lines
Shelley Wilson is sorting out her money!  
Time travel I definitely want to read on Lost In A Book
A fabulous book of insults from Barb Taub!