A Very Odd Wordy Fortnight.

A Very Odd Wordy Fortnight.

Last week I was meant to do so many things: eat homemade pizza, have mid-week drinks, go to a trip with the teachers and have a trip in Seoul but unfortunately for me, most of all last week I was ill. Huzzah :/ My co-teacher sent me home on Tuesday because she said, and I quote, “You do not look very good”…cheers. So I got packed off home. Wednesday wasn’t much better and I had to take another day off. I could barely get out of bed. Blah!

Thursday, I dragged my sorry tired arse into school- however a friend was kind enough to give me a lift. Was still unsure about the Cultural Festival with the Foreign Native English teachers from the province, but at 9:45am my co-teacher says, “Abi, let’s go!” WHAT! Not a single word and it’s “Abi, let’s go” ?!?! Typical. So we met outside of the Chungnam Board of Education Office and got on a very nice coach to Dangjin. Took a few hours to get there, stopping off for 15 mins on the way. When we arrived we had kimchi broth, tofu and noodles. It was so-so. My stomach wasn’t up for it, so I didn’t eat much. The festival itself was interesting to say the least. First 40 mins was being entertained, Korean style, with the Chungnam Philharmonic and they were awesome! It was brilliant to hear.

We then had various talks from teachers and a very funny man from the American Embassy- all talking about teaching and living in Korea. I’ve heard it all before, but I got some interesting ideas for my students. So I’m planning some lessons.

Over the weekend two lovely ladies from Janghang and three of us from Seocheon, went to Daejeon to catch a coach to go to Seoul for a Cultural Trip.  Good lord almighty!

Had to catch the 6:06am train, so Gez and I had to get up annoyingly early, it was a rush to get on trains in the cold and rain but finally made it onto the coach in Daejeon, sleep deprived and a little wet.

Seocheon and Janghang ladies, plus boyfriend at the Gyeongbokgung Palace @ Seoul Cultural Tour!

Got to Seoul and had chicken for lunche which was Samgyetang: A whole young chicken stuffed with rice and cooked in a ginseng broth! It’s lovely! We then walked up to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Gez and I had been there before back in April though when we went it was drier but much colder. We had a tour around the palace again, getting new pictures and remained relatively dry. After a walk around, we headed off to Insadong for a Korean show- dancing and singing. It was great fun! The costumes were brilliant and the dancing fantastic!

Then after a tiring time, we got back on the bus and headed to a fancy restaurant that was in the shape of the main Gyeongbuk palace. It was very fancy, but cool!

Eugene Hallock gave a speech about his time in Korea and we then had an 11 course Korean meal! Good lord it made me fat after the first 5 courses- and I ended up eating my friend’s courses too as she hates fish and shell fish and the majority of the courses were made up of fish. :s

We then went to the next stop which was Seoul Tower, aka Namsan Tower. But it was awesome as the city was lit up in a dazzling array of sparkling buildings. Very cool!

After that short trip, we mooched on over to our 4* hotel called, Best Western Premier Seoul Garden Hotel. Bit of a mouthful but it was awesome. All paid for by the government.

After chilling out for a bit we headed to Hongdae and saw lots of people in costume and the last dregs of the Zombie Walk. After ¾ of an hour wondering around, we saw a very drunken friend from Seocheon. Screaming COFFEE at the local punters, she gave us all a sloppy bloody Zombie kiss and headed out into the world to find her friend. Heading back to the hotel I passed out within seconds. So darn tired!

On the Sunday we headed out early after a nice breakfast! Went to the National Museum of Korea. It’s actually close to Yongsan station, so Gez and I will go there again when we have the time. The museum was brilliant! So many things to see and our group was privileged to be taken around by one of the museum curators.

We then played with clay! We could either make a Korean style pot or a pig. Since I could not make either, I decided to make an Asian style dragon…

Had bibimbap for lunch (rice, steamed vegetables, chilli pepper paste, egg and sometimes meat mixed together)…wasn’t bad but didn’t fancy it at the time. We then headed off to the Four River Project in Gangcheon-bo in Yeoju. Interesting place but there’s really not much to say about it.

The group were so knackered so we decided to call it a night and leave the rest of the bigger group and head back down to Seocheon. Mad rush to get the 7pm train and it was packed to the brim! Couldn’t even stand and this is a huge long arse train. 18 carriages and all packed.

Got home at a very late time of 9:45pm and after I figured out what I was going to plan with my students and their lessons for the following Monday and Tuesday, I promptly passed out again.

So…this week!

Monday and Tuesday: Students ended up watching Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s Halloween week and they deserve a week off from me.

Today I got wonderful news. An editor for an on-line magazine has accepted me to publish a few short stories, and I have a deadline by the 23^rd of November!  Also NaNoWriMo starts on the 1^st of November, 50,000 words in one month AND I also got the first proofs for Loving In Time, which has to be done within 29 days. Good lord! So much to DO and not much time to do it in!

Over the weekend I managed to finish my novella, Spirit of the Water Nymph, and I put it on my website for all to download if anyone wanted.

www.abi-kirk.webs.com

21 Years of Bullying

This week I have been troubled a lot by the recent tragedy of Amanda Todd, a 15 year old Canadian from British Colombia who sadly took her life after 3 years of extensive mental abuse from an on-line stalker and physical abuse from bullies at school.
I cannot stress enough how bullying affects people even well after they have left college.

I’m going to share with you my past, which I haven’t done publicly. Bullying is something that people don’t’ really talk about during the time it happens, that people are afraid because of the backfire it causes to friends and family and that’s how bullies get away with it.

*Note:* All of the names I have mentioned are not the true names of those involved. All of the incidences are true to my knowledge and while others may have a different account, I say: each to their own. I do, however, keep their privacy because I have settled my peace with them. I hold no grudges, what was done, was done.

I was bullied throughout my entire childhood even into adulthood.

I was bullied at home, the girls on my street stole my bike, nearly broke my bedroom window throwing rocks, nearly blinded my dog with a laser pen, threw fruit onto my grandparents roof and over the garden fence nearly breaking our car’s windows, and once we got into a physical fight. Unfortunately for her, I was taller than her. At primary school it was no better. One girl liked to kick me and punch me and got away with it because her mother was the dinner lady. I got mocked and taunted at ballet school, on the bus to secondary school, at secondary school, in 6^th form and at work up until last year when I was 25. That’s 21 years of my life I have been bullied- even by adults. When will it end?!

Unfortunately for Amanda she didn’t have any help, she sent out a cry for help and while others believe it was attention seeking, there is one vital thing people need to realise. There is a BIG difference in attention seeking and a cry for help. With my story, I am going to show you that difference. Though my own bullying was not as cruel as Amanda’s, it still torments me because those who were responsible for bulling me never apologised and I doubt I will never get an apology out of them. I however have forgiven them for their acts towards me. I knew they were cruel, I knew they were hateful spiteful and deceitful and at the end of the day when all that was said and done, I found out that I was right. I hate injustice just as much as the next person but I finally got my own justice when I saw that I was right and karma came.

I was an only child, skinny and had no social life because I was constantly at ballet school. Though I had only a handful of friends at primary school and one real best friend, I was bullied at ballet school by my peers and those older than me, those who I looked up to. I was the oddball and was constantly mocked and jeered at. My friend’s parents told me I was mocked and jeered at because I was a good dancer and had the body of a ballerina; I put it down to the fact that I was weird, awkward and with very knobbly knees.

My mother told me to stand up for myself and I took her advice. During one ballet class a girl came up to me and asked me to take off my golden retriever t-shirt as it reminded her of her dog who had sadly died. I refused. It got worse after that day because I stood up for myself. The taunts and jeers came in like a tumultuous wave that constantly crushed my spirit, breaking me away bit by bit, wearing me down and because of that and I hated ballet, because of the bullies. Tap, however, was much more fun; mostly because I couldn’t hear them name calling me over the noise. When we were put into groups, it was bad. We forced each other to get along but still the bullying persisted.

I look back on that and wonder if I would have done the same thing if I was ten years older. I think the answer is quite simple, no. I wouldn’t have done it, not for her. Unsure if she was goaded into asking me, I don’t think I will ever know, but I remember thinking if I were in her shoes, if I would have asked the same thing and d’you know what? I don’t think I would have. I’m not sure if it was stupid of her asking, or cruel of me having a t-shirt that resembled her dog, but in all fairness I can understand if she was upset, but I won’t kowtow to someone like that. I thank my mother on that little boldness, but also look where it got me? I was shunned from then on, even when I was in my middle teens I was still tormented at ballet school.

But what about back at school where bullies seem to extend into most of your life as you have to attend school 5 days a week and I was lucky to cut back for ballet school only going 4 days a week (note sarcasm).

Well the first year of secondary school (11 yrs old) I was so-so on the friending, after all we were all in the same boat; coming from different primary schools and not knowing many people. The two boys who came from the same primary school as me, were split up. I hardly got the chance to speak to them, and them me. So essentially, I was alone.

I sought out a small petite girl with long blond hair and within a few weeks we became fast friends. We went over to each other’s houses after school and genuinely had a good time. I didn’t have skirmishes with any of the other girls as cliques began to form and thankfully, I was bully free, in school, but not on the school bus.

Unfortunately for me, I lived a fair ways from my secondary school and had to use a bus. It had about 10 stops. On the first day of school, I found out I was the first pick up and chose my seat, like my mother instructed, behind the driver, his name was Lance. There were 4 bus drivers, Lance was the least likable of all. Ben, Simon and Darren. Darren was my favourite bus driver. He didn’t stand for crap and everyone respected him, he brought tapes and played them on the TV. Then there was Simon. Nice bloke, had a chat with us and was a nice guy. Ben was nice but he had a lot of problems and after shouting at a couple of bad boys on the bus, got tormented by them until he quit.

Anyhoo, the first year of the bus to school was a nightmare. I only had one friend, Kelly, who was two years older than me and sat beside me on the bus. I liked her a lot and we had a lot in common. But one girl who I could not stand and who hated every part of my body was a girl who I shall name Dawn (not her real name). Dawn and I didn’t really get along in the first year. She was cosy with her boyfriend and because I knew him, she despised me. I was taunted, jeered, things were thrown at me and I still sat in that seat behind the bus driver. Lance and Ben didn’t really get involved, while Darren did. When Darren was on the bus, she didn’t do anything, in fact on a few occasions she came down to the front and sat next to me pretending to be friends. But when Lance and Ben were on, I was target central.

Second year of secondary school aged 12.

Ah this wasn’t a good year. Though I still had my little blond friend, there were others who were pulling me in a different direction and for that, I was punished for it. One girl made my life a misery. One day we were best friends, the following day she hated me and got everyone to gang up on me, calling me names, pushing me, sending me threatening emails, then the following week we were best friends again. Never in my life had I known such a messed up friendship as us.

One girl who was demur and quiet and liked reading a lot told me to be careful. I didn’t get it then, but I get it now. After 5 months of a volley of friend-enemy relationship, I was finally seeing a new light within a small group of people who were really there for me. My little blond friend had moved away from me, after a fight and fall out where she and two others ganged up on me and gave me the silent treatment for a month or two, but soon they sought greener pastures with some of the popular girls and I went in a different direction. To witchcraft.

I had become part of a coven and with that along came the dark music, the obsession over gravestones, black make-up and black clothes, basically anything freaky and unnatural. I liked it. I could be free with this and it made me happy. In my third year of secondary school, when I was 13/14 I had a new best friend at school. I was happy, my grades were ok, as usual and things started to work out. Our group grew and we became known as the Bench People at our school. Emo’s didn’t exist then, and so we were a collective of Goths and freaks. Didn’t trouble anyone, liked our dark music, talked about poetry, Buffy and Charmed and generally had a good time on Friday nights in our local town. Though, I was still tormented by the same girl from the previous year with the friend-enemy friendship. She had once again managed to screw me up and someone managed to send me more hateful and threatening emails to me.

During the time I was 15/16 things settled down. I got bullied by a few girls who were younger than me who decided to push me against the wall and threaten me (just outside the teachers class no doubt) but I explained that they had got the wrong end of the stick and mistook me for a girl who was similar looking to me. She didn’t understand that I could not be in two places at the same time. I was in Cornwall with my mum and she was at home being picked on by a girl who looks like me. Funnily enough the girl who looks like me is called Michelle. Michelle if you are out there…thanks!

So…Then after my GCSE’s when I was 16, I moved onto 2 years of 6^th form at the same school to study A-levels in Biology, History, Social Studies and Drama. It all went downhill from there.

I wish I had been prepared for what was to come, but it came out of the blue. Starting AS Level in September, everything was going fine until the winter of 2002.

I’ll never forget it as long as I live. It was Carnival night and I saw one of my friends and her parents in the crowd and waved to them. My other friends then dragged me away saying that they didn’t want to be near her or say hello. That upset me first off…I thought we were all friend’s right, what’s changed? Half an hour later we met at one of our local spots and after discussing if me and my best friend should go and see a movie together, she explained that she couldn’t. Within minutes the others turned on me, telling me that I was wrong that I should respect her decision. But that wasn’t why I argued with her, I just didn’t understand her excuse at the time.

That was the first blip in what was going and it escalated from there. One girl who I was friends with decided to give me the silent treatment after she found out I like her boyfriend saying I got my friend to break her and her boyfriend up and that never happened, thus so it got progressively worse.

In a matter of weeks I was alone, completely friendless and all I heard was them bitching about me openly in front of anyone who would hear, talking behind my back, making me feel that I was alone and in fact, I was. One girl who acted as a friend but who sided with them, still talked to me and explained to me what was going on; the girls blamed me for everything, said I was homophobic, I couldn’t be trusted and I was mean and nasty and bitched to others behind their back. But how could I bitch to anyone? I didn’t have any friends.

In 2003 it sunk to a new low on so many levels. I have always hated Valentine’s Day and that year wasn’t any better. One of my former friends decided to hand out Valentine’s Cards to everyone in our tutor room. She didn’t give me one, obviously as she hated me, but one cruel thing was leaning over me to give a card to someone sitting next to me. I was in school for 30 mins before I called my mum and asked her to pick me up, I couldn’t bare it. My grades were slipping because I couldn’t be in the same school as them. I felt pathetic, I felt weak; unable to do or say anything. And the teachers didn’t help, why would they? Teachers don’t really see anything. After failing to turn up to my biology class where the others were, I was told off by my science teacher. He gave me the janitor talk, said I wouldn’t amount to anything. I didn’t have any fight left to explain to him what was going on. I was just fighting to get through the day, fighting to only cry for a minimum of 4-5 times during the day, if I was lucky and fighting constantly against my better judgement of staying in school, even if it was torture for me every day.

A month later, a very dear friend, who was much loved by many people in the school, suddenly died. I’ll never forget that girl as love as I live. She was such a character and a brilliant actress, she made so many people laugh and her own laugh was infectious.

While we were being given the devastating news, I remember sitting in the lobby of our “Common” building that the 6^th formers shared. The group walked by me as though I was s*it on the floor. No hug, no I’m sorry or having a talk. That was a heavy blow; even during a friend’s death they tormented me.

The death of my friend hit me hard and the cold cruel people who had had taken my reason to smile and live my life, had made it worse. A week or two after my friends funeral I had the darkest notion ever, I wanted to end it all. As dramatic as it sounds as it’s used in so many films and books and what not, it was the lowest side of me that I never want to be in again. No one knew of my pain and if they did, they ignored it and my parents didn’t understand either. I was being dragged back by the group over and over again. I couldn’t escape them, couldn’t get away from them because they were there, lurking behind any form of happiness I got at school and sucking the life away from it. School was not a happy place to be anymore and neither was my home. I wasn’t happy anywhere, I was constantly sad and depressed. But I never sought medical help even when it came to the lowest of the low. For some reason I was afraid of getting help, afraid of someone noticing that I had failed to pick myself up on my own and it gave me a thought.

During my 17^th birthday, I didn’t celebrate it. Instead I was in my room crying. It’s quite odd really, during the time my friends had their birthdays when we weren’t speaking, I still got them a card and a present and I had no one and nothing. Not even a text, but it was then that I had a choice to make. I could either let them continue to hurt me, or I could move away from them and start fresh with a new life, new friends. I had to move schools.

Everything was done, sorted and I was on my way to start a new school. I thought about having a last ditch effort to pull myself together and let my them know why I was going and I told her and walked away. There was a great sense of relief when I said what I said. It might have been small but it was a small victory at the fact that I was going to a place where no one knew me, they didn’t know my baggage or any of my previous friends.

Amanda went through some very harrowing ordeals and in this day and age it was much worse than mine because it was cyber bullying which no one can really get away from. Cyber bullying is a form of mental abuse, but mental abuse could be just as bad as physical abuse, because the scars are still there, even after so many years has passed.

Amanda is still getting bullied even now, over a week after her death. People continue to call her an attention seeker after her plea for help over youtube. This is where I shall educate you in attention seeking:

-Attention seeking: adjective attempting to attract the attention of other people, typically by disruptive or excessively extrovert behaviour.
 -Cry for help: a way of saying that you need help. Most suicide attempts are really a cry for help.

Amanda was crying for help, she wasn’t attention seeking. The help she wanted she didn’t receive and as a result, her life is now ended.

If you are being bullied hear what I say: Your bullies have NO right in treating you the way they do. They are NOT allowed to make you feel miserable, or cause you mental or physical pain. You have one life in this world; do not let your tormentors take your happiness away from you. You are not alone, even if you have no friends, your family doesn’t listen, you are still NOT alone! There are help-lines to guide you, new school to go to, teachers to talk to. You have the power to change your life, you! You have the right to a happy life, a happy school life and a happy home life. Do not let your bullies get away with it. They are not allowed to treat you the way that they do.

If you know someone who is being bullied you can do something about it. Help them out, even if it’s anonymously. Tell a teacher or another friend, be there for them. This world is dark enough as it is; don’t let someone’s life slip away in front of you because you didn’t want to get involved. BE involved, help someone out, be a big brother or big sister to those who need help. Don’t stand by and watch people hurt; their pain will forever be with you if you refuse to act. Don’t have any regrets, help someone have a better life.

Bullying needs to stop. Amanda’s message is the start of something that should be recognised. Bullies have no right to do what they do. This must stop!

I am holding a Candle Vigil for Amanda a month after she took herself from this world. Please click on the link below and join the event over Facebook. All I ask is that you light a candle for Amanda and for anyone else who is being bullied on Nov 10th.

Candle Vigil for Amanda Todd

Botched Haggling and Janghang Ho!

The other weekend my friend Rachel from uni came over to South Korea for a few days after touring in China for a month. Meeting her outside Angbok station we went to the palace of Changdeokgung and had a look around. Pictures below!

The palace is stunning and beside it was the Secret Garden where we had a tour. Pictures below!

 Seoul really is wonderful and it’s so amazing to realise that you are in one of the most largest cities in the world and yet are completely cut off from all the hustle and bustle of the outside life.

I then took Rachel to a Korean restaurant. We had Kimchi broth with tofu and pork, Galbi, which is tender pork where you fry it before you and bibimbap which is rice, spicy sauce and vegetables. Very nice! Rachel loved it a lot and wants to look for a Korean restaurant in London when she gets back to the UK.

That night we went to see the Fireworks display. So many people were around the place, but it was spectacular! The people quite literally lit up Seoul. As Rachel said, it was raining gold!

Following morning we went into Itaewon. Now Itaewon is an area in Seoul which is very Western and you’ll find a lot of western shops for clothes and food (I got gravy packets, custard packets, Gummie Bears, Apricot Jam and tarragon) and so forth. Well finally after many, many months I found a shoe shop with my size! Most of Korea and actually Asia have shoe sizes that go up to 6, or 250, well it’s sod’s law that I am a 255, or 6 ½ or a 260, a 7. And many shop assistants give me such a look when I asked for 260 in women’s shoes. Grumble. But! This shop had 260! And I got some boots for my 1 yr anniversary with my boyfriend aww…sad fact though that the bloke wanted the money in cash, so the boyfriend used my money to buy my present for me….Typical.

Anywhoo, so walking down the road, minding my own business and the boyfriend says, “Look gloves.” They were black and leather and something that I really don’t like. But I looked at one and a woman suddenly sprang up on me and started talking to me in broken English and Korean. She said it was discount from 80,000 to 45,000 and I said it was too much, as they were. I only had 20,000 on me so she asked how much. I told her 20,000 and she shook her head and gave me some other gloves that were worth 20,000 and I said no then walked off. She then called out 35,000 and said no, too much then as I walked away for a second time, she said, ok, ok, very irritably and I made a bargain of 20,000 from “80,000” 45,000 pair of gloves.

On the train home I looked at my new gloves, relishing in the fact that I finally made a bargain and then became somewhat distraught when the woman gave me two left hand gloves…asdfghjkjhgfdsdfghsdjhgfdjhgsd!!!!!!!!!!!  Serves me right I suppose. Buggeration.

The following weekend…

Last night our little Seocheon group (in South Korea) visited Janghang, the next town over and we brought with us a newbie from Ohio. He had only been in the ‘Cheon (nickname for Seocheon) since Wednesday and hadn’t met any of us.

First we headed over to the samgyupsal place in Janghang, along with quail eggs, kimchi, fried fish and the traditional bbqing pork in front of you- we had a brilliant time with beer, soju and cola! Then we moved away and went ten pin bowling! I’m not a good bowler and after winning 2 games out of 3 and only getting 3 strikes, we then drunkingly moved off to noraebang. Noraebang is basically karaoke.  A booth with alcohol, munchies, 2 microphones and 2 tambourines, the 13 people from both groups melded together like chocolate and caramel and got stuck into any and every random song. Twas very, very fun!

Our little newbie from Ohio got quite drunk to the point he passed out…bless. And our usual strip tease from a friend didn’t happen as it’s getting quite cold. But we did have a good time and I managed to hit the high notes in Avril Lavigne’s I’m With You and Ugly Coyote’s Can’t Fight the Moonlight. So I feel proud of that! J

I now have a week off invigilating for my students as they do their mid-term exams. During the week I am going to prepare for NaNoWriMo and finish off my little spin off. Writing for a week! Bliss!!!

Just another day in paradise.

So let’s get this blog started shall we?

Let's have a look at a positively wonderful library from my on-line newspaper...

 Library from Kresmunster Abbey in Austria 

Alternatively you can view my pins and my boards from Pintrest. http://pinterest.com/abikirk/

Back to why I am blogging today...

Question, How many of you are on Linkedin? Or maybe I should ask, do you know what Linkedin is? Well to put it plainly, Linkedin is like Branchout on Facebook; a website that connects people through profession, jobs and interests and whatnot. I joined about 2 weeks ago and after joining a group, “Book Writer” I began a topic which really needed to be addressed. Amazon book reviews.

Now if you are an author, published or not, then you know about reviews. There are some good and some bad- it comes with the package of being an author and you know for a fact you are not going to please everyone. However, there are some reviews which are, to put a too finer point on it, appalling. The reviews are basically troll work where other authors have stooped so low as to bitch about someone’s book without ever reading it and then shamefully boast about their work and how it is better in contrast. Abysmal! 

Though my book is not out on the shelves or indeed in Amazon’s warehouse at the present time, I know for a very sad fact that there will be one horrid review on my book from someone who dislikes me, instead of hating my book.

I was unsure how to take this when I found out and though I don’t understand the person’s real motive to do something like that, I feel that it should be said. I am not going to name names, for unlike them, I am not horrible. They know who they are.

But it got me thinking about reviews in general. There have been a fair few authors who have plugged their work on other authors newly published books. I have seen two authors do that to a few author friends and it upset me that there are actually very nasty people out there who rip authors to shreds because in truth, they are either jealous of the attention or really has some beef with that particular author.

I don’t really leave reviews on Amazon as I prefer Goodreads, if truth be told and while there is more response to reviews on Amazon, I find myself categorically adamant that there are more troll-like reviewers than actual reviewers who give the author some positive criticism.

Not everyone will like the best book in the world as no one can please everyone- there are over 8 billion people, odds are they’ll be a fair few who don’t like your book for one reason or another, but does it give those people a right to hate your book so much that they won’t read it and STILL leave a review?

When the masses of messages poured into my email account after posting about the Amazon Reviews on Linkedin, I found it interesting to point out that one clever chap mentioned that Amazon sends an email to you within 24 hours of purchasing a book from them, asking to review it. Well I’m not a speed reader so I couldn’t possibly leave a review within the first 24 hours of buying a book. Maybe after 3-4 months after I’ve finished it- and even then I’d choose my words carefully when reviewing.

I’m not a good reviewer, I’m quite poor. Usually I tend to say, “This book was amazing, you have to read it” and not give a clear reason on why it must be read, ergo with something that I know needs a review, I shall gladly give a positive one, even if I sort of didn’t like the book. 

There have been some terrible books that I have read. Most of them have got bad English, spelling, grammar and other nasty things like rape, bad sex and acutely bad swearing. That does put me off some books, especially if they are meant to be targeted towards teenagers. Bad form, but that's my opinion. 

When I was a bookseller, I gave my opinion and I gave reviews of the books for my customers. Then it was up to them on whether to buy it or not. Going slightly off topic here but I once had a customer who wanted something for her grandson, he was 14, nearly 15 and she wanted a funny, intelligent book. I told her to start off with Colour of Magic by Terry Prachett. You can't go wrong with him. She then told me about the Vampire books that she's heard about. Naturally I told her I had read Twilight and the P.C Cast books and gave her my honest opinion but I also told her that they were receiving much praise. She then asked me about the swearing and the sex and that was the point where by telling her the truth she flatly refused to by them.

While teenage girls love the fantasy of a mythical being sweeping her off her feet, there are only a handful of teenage boys who would want to read those types of books. However with the boys who I have spoken to who have read Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse and P.C Cast, they have all said the same thing, "Where is the action?" Made me laugh and to tell them honestly, you won't find that type of manly action. It's for girls right? Teenage girls who just want sex, swearing and a badass book they can brag about to their friends.

For e.g. a 14 year old came into the store and bought three P.C Cast books. On the cover they practically screamed out "Not suitable for under 16's" but she bought them anyway, thanks to mummy and as she was leaving the store she said out loud and proud, "None of my friends have these, they'll be so jel!"

Need I say more?

There is no divisional line between children any more. It's blurred. Heck, when I was 15 I was reading Enid Blyton as well as Goosebumps, Animorphs and Harry Potter...the good old days of innocence in children is fading and teenagers are becoming adults before they realise that they have no childhood to speak of, which is a shame. Books, even in their brilliance, brings about a sense of devastation to teens and when children as young as 13/14 read mummy's 50 Shades of Grey, there is no hope for the world of books, teens or their mothers...I won't get onto 50 Shades of Grey...I'm too happy to annoy myself right now...

Any hoo, back to the topic of this blog...

For reviews, specifically for Amazon, I believe that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. If the book wasn’t for you say so, but don’t destroy it by blasting the author because you don’t like him or her, or the book is violating your copyright, or they have stolen your ideas. Preposterous!

Books are our children. We created them from scratch, we’ve nurtured them, changed them to our ideals; they are part of us. So just think about that the next time to review a book you may not like or I may just tell you blatantly, “I don’t like your snot nosed child!’ See…it’s not nice, is it? And I don't even know your child (if you have one). But the point I am making should be clear, don't judge a book by it's cover or synopsis. Give it a chance and even if you don't like it, make a positive review with criticism. We are meant to be helping authors and readers. 

I leave you with a lovely quote...

Where the heck have I been?

Where the heck have I been? South Korea!

Ooh dear, well so much for trying to keep this blog afloat. Well in all fairness I have been really busy- to the point where my mind has gone bonkers and I'm finding out way too many interesting things with my life, which doesn't normally happen. Gosh where to start it's been a while... First of all I am now in South Korea! Joy! Teaching 1st and 2nd years at two schools has been a fun and it's been an interesting 6 months and now I am winding down the last couple of months until I go back home. Here is a pic of my school!

Teaching has been interesting, never thought I could, but I guess even I can surprise myself. Here are my English Conversation class discussing the lesson.

I got through English Camp, which was 2 weeks of fun in English, learning songs, writing a musical, finding an English name. Had a lot of fun.

Then the boyfriend and I went to Hawaii, Oahu for a week! That was so much fun! Saw Jurassic Park scenery and LOST scenery! Made my day that did!

Also I saw some rare Green Sea Turtles! That was lovely!

And some brilliant sites on the island.

Now I have started back for 2nd semester and things are going a little bit better. Also during which I was picked up by Pegasus Publishers for my book, Loving In Time. So that will be out in PB in a few months time. My literary agent is back in business and is searching for a publisher for Tattoo of the Black Angel, and I've had a word or two with some excellent people so I have a surprise for Wattpad people in a few months time. But I can't say anything at the moment... Next week is the Korean holiday called Chuseok- where relations go to the eldest brother's house or the family house and pay respects. The Waygooks and myself are going to Busan/Pusan for the holiday, to chill out, eat good food and have a brilliant time before the end of the nice weather!!!!

Clogs Are Turning!

Hello and welcome to another mindless brain numbing blog about random stuff.
Firstly, I hope everyone's New Year's were particularly memorable, especially to those who weren't drinking themselves into the hospital. Secondly, I hope that your New Years resolutions are still going strong.
Now, I don't smoke, or drink (maybe the occasional celebrational drink for my b-day/a friend's birthday or a wedding but they happen very rarely) and so, I wondered what could my New Years resolution be?

I got to thinking (it pained me to think so hard) but I came up with a very tricky resolution: To NOT listen to any K-Pop. Now being English you'd think it would be easy, but nope. I will be jetting away to South Korea in Feb and I refuse point blank not to listen to any weird K-Crap as I'm now dubbing it.

For those who listen to K-Crap, then well that's your own fault really, I have no patience for your mindless screaming, "I LOVE MBLAQ" or "I LOVE SHIN-ee" ;) I tolerate the screams of teenagers and their incessant yodelling of the members names on their fb page; to each their own.

And as because K-Pop, sorry K-Crap, is big in South Korea, it will be very hard to not listen to it. I have, therefore, devised a cunning plan (rubs hands like Bauldric), apart from bringing my iPod with me, THANK GOD!, I am going to be listening to K-Rock!

Now, I'm not quite sure that many people know this about me, so I'll say it loud and I'll say it proud. Many moons ago, I used to be a Goth. Black clothes, make-up, rocking out and shoved in a mosh pit to Korn, Nirvana and the like, and retaining that part of my very strange teenage life, I have decided that I like K-Rock. I heard a few songs from Youtube and I did like the music, the melody and the notion that they created their own music traditionally and organically. Yes and I know that sounds weird, but being a musician myself, I know how difficult it is to create and write a song and the repetition of learning it off by heart and the recording of it etc. That is a true artist, a person or band, who can play their own instruments, that's taken them years to practice> not someone who found out they look good, or are "Eye candy" as it's now called, think they can sing, get shoved in front of a microphone, can only shake their arse after told they'd get a load of dosh (money) if they open their mouths and pretend to sing while a computer makes their voice sound pitch perfect. That does NOT a musician or singer make.

I took singing lessons when I was younger and it was difficult, not because I was crap at singing thank you!, but because I had a certain range or pitch and my music teacher had to help train me to reach certain pitches, both low and high, in order to expand my singing range. I ended up being Soprano, when I used to be Alto. So I felt better in myself for reaching such high notes.
Anyway, after saying all this I hope I am trying to make a valid point in that pop is crap and fake, rock is hard work but authentic and rap is...don't even get me started on it.

So summarising, I'm not going to listen to K-pop at all for a whole entire year while living in Korea.

So as it goes with my writing. A'hem! Good! ^^ Yesterday I managed to remember something from over a year ago and I decided to write out the plot, go me, another fantasy story, only worth one big fat book over 200-300 A4 pages, but I've only written the plot and the prologue! I will still stop writing when I'm off to Korea. If I have ideas, then I'll write them down, but I can't miss anything while I'm there, it's a new country, a new experience and a new year that I don't want to miss.

x

No Freaking Way!

Ok so, for starters, sorry I have been neglecting the blogging thing, I've just been uber busy. Again with the bullet points:
-I got a literary agent who wants to publish Tattoo of the Black Angel
-I have got so many books now from work my floor will break and I shall fall into the room below me
-I have finished Scar of the Centaur (WHOOP)
-I have finished Journey In Time (Sequel to Loving In Time)
-I finished my NaNoWriMo story and will soon commence the second in the series, albeit very slowly.
-Still preparing for South Korea, cannot wait to go!
-Going to go on a whirlwind tour of Wales to see all my friends in the 2nd week of Jan, my friends don't know this yet, so I think I may need to tell them soon...
-I watched season 7 of House within 2 days
-I ate two Terry's Chocolate oranges in two days
-My Canadian friend is just awesome, I love her to bits and her present is coming with me to S.Korea!
-I own my own mini Zanpakuto kasa! I feel very cool, just like Ichigo from Bleach! hehe
-Getting nervous about going to Korea but doesn't everyone?

Right I think that is everything bullet pointed so far to the point of being updated within a month or so.
Now then, onto business. What to discuss?

Being an "author" or "writer" or "soul spiller", whatever you want to call it, I get very strange questions from my readers. So here are a few things which I hope will clarify some questions.

Question: Do I like myths?
Answer: Blatantly obvious and a resounding, Yes! I love myths/mythology and everything in between, however, I rarely read mythology stories... =/ I know, weird right? I haven't read Percy Jackson or Hunger Games (not mythology but still a question that people annoyingly keep asking me) so please...STOP ASKING ME!
But in all fairness, I prefer action books, like Andy McDermott and S. Larsson. Their books are just frigging awesome, but they are also adult books and I know a lot of my readers wouldn't read them because they may find them boring. Sorry, but being an archaeologist, I must love McDermott it's my being to love him and forever more! (The main character is an archaeologist called Nina)

Question: How do you write out your plots?
Answer: Depends. Sometimes I write it on paper when I'm taking a walk or I'm away from my computer, or sometimes when I'm at the computer I have my notes right in front of me. Personally, I think it's imperative to plot down the backbone of the story and give yourself a reason on why you are actually writing, what are you trying to accomplish? I'm not sure about other authors, I suppose they have a great idea and must write it down for entertainment, but for me, I think it's about finding that moral, that "something special" that makes a book. Think it corny of me for saying, but I want to show that behind my weirdness that people deem "flippant, idiotic and childish" about my personality, that there actually is something about me that should come across the pages that I write and will say "Oh so that's who Abi is?".
Recently I paid a visit to some of my old managers. I won't mention any names or professions, but when I told them that I had written 12 books within a year and a half and I had got a literary agent, they were dumbfounded. They thought I was a "special" girl and not in the sense of a gift, they thought I was a little "mad up-stairs and slow" and so I was belittled by my colleagues. It hurt so much, but with their words, I decided to change tact and keep at it and I have surprised everyone around me.
With this determination to let go of those who thought ill of me, I have strived to write out all the plots of my stories from the very beginning, or else I may lose sight of what I am intending to write: A inspirational book that gives insight into other cultures, old religions, hopeful and good morals and also teaches some amount of education in history.


I hope that everyone has had a good New Years. Congrats to my two wonderful friends Dave and Mand who have recently got engaged. <3 you guys!