Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

What’s involved in writing a book: the editing

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An email arrived in my author inbox today (the first email that came from an actual person and wasn’t spam.)

Who was the email from, I hear absolutely nobody ask?

It was from my newly-assigned editor, the lovely Emma, who had already completed an initial proofread of Venom and Blaze. In my day job as a copywriter and editor, it’s usually me who completes edits and sends chunky word docs back to clients, so it feels a little unnerving to be on the receiving end of an edit.

So what happens next?

I will take a look at Emma’s edits over the weekend. As this is my debut novel, I have no clue what to do. Do I leave tracked changes on? Do I approve her changes? What happens if massive edits are required? Does she make suggestions and action them or does she make suggestions and I action them? I have no idea. And, as a chronic overthinker, I suspect I might end up being a nightmare client.

After I’ve had a look and made any more tweaks, Emma will proofread it for a second time and go through the novel with a fine tooth comb. After that, I genuinely have no idea what happens next.

How am I feeling?

Like it’s all starting to get very real. When I signed the contract to publish Venom and Blaze, the publishing date was in Summer 2024. As I signed in 2023 and I happen to be remarkably short-sighted, 2024 seemed like a very long time away. Now, an actual editor has read my book, made some changes and we’re going to work on it together. It’s all starting to feel like it’s actually happening, and, seeing as I’ve dreamed of this since I was six, that’s quite a big deal for me.

Are you interested in more updates in my What’s involved in writing a book? blog series? Let me know in the comments.

What to read while you’re waiting for Venom and Blaze to be released

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My debut novel comes out this year (THIS YEAR!!!) Still, there’s a good few months to go between now and the summer, so what should you read while you’re waiting for my book to come out?

Scythe by Neal Shusterman.

10/10.

I’m still to finish this trilogy (I’m just partway into The Toll) but I can honestly say it’s been a long time since I read a book that gripped me like Scythe did. Neal Shusterman’s writing style is exceptional and his ability to create multi-faceted characters is incredible.

Katy by Jacqueline Wilson.

8/10.

Like most 90s babies, I grew up devouring Jacqueline Wilson books. I went on the run with Lola Rose, I learned about Victorians with Charlie, I felt left out like Dolphin and I wanted to be a twin like Ruby and Garnet. However, I wasn’t sure the inimitable Ms Wilson could pull off a retelling of the classic story What Katy Did Next. I was wrong.

I should point out I’ve never read the original by Susan Coolidge so there was never any risk of me making any comparisons but I will say Ms Wilson’s version is exceptional in its own right. I’ve no idea if she includes any nods to the original, but she has done a fantastic job of telling a heart-breaking story.

The book is directed at readers that are slightly younger than my target audience, but I’m confident even teenagers would enjoy this one. It did lose marks in my opinion for having quite a slow-moving opening. There is a lot of scene setting before the crux of the story begins. Fortunately, Ms Wilson’s unique writing style pulls the reader through without feeling like it drags.

Heist Society by Ally Carter.

7/10.

I’m showing my age with this one, which was published in 2011! Thirteen years ago?! But it’s one of my go-to novels when I want something slick and suspenseful. As a teenager, I loved Kat’s personality – arguably more than Cammie in Ms Carter’s other popular series, Gallagher Girls – and how her brain worked. Toss in a cast full of characters, like rich boy Hale, and you have the magic formula for keeping me entertained.

What YA books have you read recently? Maybe you’ve written one? If so, I’d love to read it and review it on the blog – so please get in touch.

Last night, I typed “The End”

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I’m excited to announce the first draft of Quiver and Arrow is finished!

What happens next?

Nothing. I let the story sit for a few months. Then, I format it using Reedsy (they have a brilliant, free formatting tool) and read it like it’s a normal book. I find the fallow period combined with the change in formatting helps me spot errors more easily.

After that, I’ll submit Quiver and Arrow to my publisher to see if they think it’s got any merit.

And the rest of the Mirrordom Trilogy?

Venom and Blaze will need edited nearer to its publication date. And then begins the fun bits, like choosing a cover and promoting the story. The same process will happen with City and Shadow.

Will there be any other books in the Mirrordom Universe?

Let’s not rule anything out. I do have a novella planned, but that’s not progressed beyond a scribbled note in my journal.

What else is in the pipeline?

I’m writing a psychological novel for adults, purely for my own pleasure. I’m also working on another YA novel, completely unrelated to Mirrordom.

And then there will be all the work of promotion, engaging with readers, approaching booksellers and, hopefully, achieving my dream of getting Venom and Blaze into Waterstones!

What am I reading?

At the moment, I’m reading The Toll by Neal Shusterman – the last in the Arc of a Scythe trilogy. I’m absolutely loving his work. I’m also still reading The Dark Queen by Dana Gricken. I’ll be writing reviews on both when I’m done.

Are you reading anything riveting? I’d love to hear all about it.

An update from Mirrordom

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January is (finally) about to draw to a close as I write this. In spite of it being January the 3,001st, payday still being days away and the weather showing no signs of improving, brighter days are on the horizon.

There is something to be said for dark winter nights. There’s a plausible reason to stay home, write books, read books and not socialise. But I am more than ready for the summer!

I’m also one step closer to writing “THE END” on Quiver and Arrow. The book has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster, and I hope you get to enjoy it one day.

I can already see myself going back to Mirrordom and delving into the backstory of Quiver’s mother. But we’ll see if anything comes of that. One thing for sure, she is a fascinating, resourceful woman who definitely has a few stories to tell.

As far as we know for now, though, this is the end of the Mirrordom stories – and definitely the end of the Mirrordom Trilogy. So, it’s important to me that we get a satisfying ending with plenty character resolution and development. Although the stories all happen over the course of one year, there’s numerous events that cause our protagonists all manner of consequences. However, I can safely say the most drastic of all those consequences has happened in Quiver and Arrow.

Meanwhile, in the world of Mirrordom, I’m looking forward to starting the process of editing Venom and Blaze, so it can go straight from my imagination into your hands.

How is your endless January going? I’d love to hear all about it.

Book review: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

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6/10

WARNING: SPOILERS

Like many 90’s/00’s babies, I grew up reading Ally Carter in my teenage years. I dreamed of being a Gallagher Girl. I swooned over Hale in Heist Society. I even walked the streets of Embassy Row with Grace. There is no question that Ally Carter is a fabulous author of YA fiction – and that she made my childhood a better place.

So I wanted to love this. But I… didn’t.

The Blonde Identity tells the story of a woman who wakes up in Paris with no idea where she is. She becomes embroiled into top secret plots and spy stuff, all of which she tackles with a relish and enthusiasm that borders on irritating. It becomes apparent she’s been mistaken for her twin sister, who actually is a spy and would treat the situations with the gravity they deserve.

It’s not a terrible book, by any means. But it doesn’t have any of Carter’s trademark twists and turns. It doesn’t have the charm of her other books.

What I loved…

Alex. It’s just a shame the (arguably more interesting) twin doesn’t show up sooner in the book.

The unexpected villain. All eyes are on a man called Kozlov, but the real danger is closer to home… I liked this unexpected twist – it was one of the few I didn’t see coming.

What I didn’t love so much…

The cliches. I think they’re meant to be satirical but the main character literally, repeatedly speaks the word “Gasp!”

The forced relationship. Zoe and Sawyer have known each other for just a few days. Maybe that’s why his declaration of love is so utterly jarring for me. I found it a tad cringeworthy, especially at the end of the book where he gives up his lifelong career for a woman he met that week.

Sawyer. I just didn’t like him. I could get almost get behind Zoe’s relentless lust for life, but Sawyer wasn’t terribly likeable as a character. His backstory felt like it was shoehorned into the story. For example, he has repeated nightmares about a woman called Helena whom he failed to save. I feel this could have been unpacked more and, yes, maybe it would have been a cliché to have Helena be more than just someone on a mission he couldn’t keep alive but it would have given depth to his story and explained why she seems to haunt his dreams.

Overall, The Blonde Identity is a light, fluffy story that would work for killing time on a long train journey.

Book review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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10/10

WARNING: SPOILERS

Every once in a while, I read a book that makes me wish I’d written it myself. Scythe is exactly that kind of book. From the cover, to the intro, to the content inside, every little bit of Scythe kept me gripped and enthralled.

Scythe follows the story of a girl called Citra and a boy called Rowan who live fairly normal lives in a world where death and disease have been eradicated. This utopian world keeps its population down through the method of gleaning. Those who glean are called Scythes. When Citra and Rowan are both chosen as apprentices, they stumble on a world of intrigue.

Citra and Rowan are pitted against each other and, when things take a turn for the worse, it becomes apparent that whoever is chosen to be ordained as a scythe will need to glean the other.

To get around this, their scythe gleans himself – inadvertently making matters a whole lot worse for Citra and Rowan. The pair are forced to go their separate ways and train under other scythes. One of them will become a scythe – but at what cost?

What I loved…

The character depictions. The book is mainly dual-perspective, with different journal excerpts from other characters. The author’s remarkable ability to switch tone of voice was brilliant – making it easy to determine whose journal we were reading.

The concept. Truly original concepts are rare – but I feel this was one.

The world building. I love the utopian world Neal Shusterman has created and the way the most human of qualities, like resilience, greed and love, come to the fore even in a utopia.

The pace. I love books that get straight into the story – and this does exactly that. Throughout the book, I feel the pace is pitch-perfect.

What I didn’t love so much…

Absolutely nothing. There’s a reason why I gave Scythe a 10 out of 10. I’ve already ordered the other two in the trilogy from AbeBooks. If I’m being really picky, I would prefer Citra and Rowan to be just friends. Their love story doesn’t have enough development in this book and feels shoe-horned in at the end. I feel having the pair be just close friends would result in a stronger, slightly more plausible storyline.

Back to Mirrordom

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It’s the dreariest of January days as I’m writing this. Rain sluices down the window and biting winds bend the trees into submission. Perfect writing weather – I’m just missing a crackling fire and a mug of hot chocolate.

I’m taking a break from writing Quiver and Arrow, the third and final (is it final, though? Are we sure?) book in the Mirrordom Trilogy. And, let’s just say, it’s the darkest one yet. I’m slightly traumatised writing it. There are a lot of deaths.

And there’s also a lot of new characters. You’ll get to meet Arrow, Zenith, Fang, Sapient and more.

How do I keep my writing sharp?

Behind the scenes, I’ve been watching Harlan Coben’s BBC Maestro course on writing thrillers. Now, I’d be the first to admit I don’t have the brains to write a thriller. But I love Harlan Coben, both his books and his Netflix adaptations (do yourself a favour: stop reading this and watch The Stranger. You can thank me later.), but Quiver and Arrow isn’t like the other books in the Mirrordom Trilogy. You can expect more twists and turns than a Scottish single track road. And there’s no one who knows more about twists and turns than Harlan Coben.

You see Quiver and Arrow starts with a mystery. In fact, there’s quite a few mysteries. And they’re all throwing Quiver’s world into total chaos.

If I’m being honest, Quiver was my least favourite character in the Mirrordom Trilogy. I found his ideals naïve and didn’t think he was especially nice to City, a character I always felt terribly protective of. But now Quiver has come into his own – I can sympathise with his actions and choices. And, let’s be real, he’s getting a really tough time in this book. Will it end happily? There are no guarantees with this series.

How much plotting do I do?

I plot a lot. But I find that it doesn’t really matter if I do or not. I can write the entire plot out, chapter by chapter, and still I get surprised. The act of writing the book, for me, is an entirely organic process. By that I mean that it grows like a plant. I can encourage it in a certain direction. But I have no real control over it. It happens how it happens. Which is very annoying because I’m a planner by nature and I’d quite like to stick to the plan I had at the start.

How do I think of new characters?

The character of Arrow was actually dreamed up back when I wrote the first book in the series. I liked the way her name matches with Quiver’s. However, I never got round to doing anything with her until the third book.

I also decided I wanted Quiver to have a pet, so I gave him a beautiful, pure-white wolf called Fang that never leaves his side.

And what book would be complete without a villain? You’ll have to wait to find out who the villain of this story is, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

What are you working on this January? Are you reading anything exciting? I’d love to hear all about it.

Hello, 2024!

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Up in Scotland, we take New Year quite seriously. Traditionally, we’ll have a holiday on 2 January as well as New Year’s Day.

I’ve never really been a party person – so my main concessions to the fact that we’ve switched 2023 for 2024 were staying up until midnight, watching fireworks and having moments of self-reflection.

Plus: New Year Resolutions. I’ve always made New Year Resolutions for as long as I can remember and find it a good way of taking stock. What have I achieved? What did I fail to accomplish and why? How can I improve next year? I try to set attainable goals and measure how far I’ve come.

As well as personal resolutions, I’ve also created some book-related ones.

Last year, I didn’t manage to read as many books as I’d have liked. I use an app called StoryGraph to keep track of what I’ve read. It’s super simple to use and I’m excited to think that I’ll see one of my books on there one day!

StoryGraph also creates a fantastic Reading Wrap-Up at the end of every year. 2023 saw me read 35 books, with the first being The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell and the last being I’m Not Done With You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

I make no apologies for my eclectic taste!

This year, I want to smash my reading goals and enjoy a minimum of 80 books. I am a firm believer that to be a good writer, you need to be a voracious reader. As a child, I could devour hundreds of books each year.

I’ve already kicked 2024 off with two amazing books. The Dark Queen by Dana Gricken caught my eye because of its gorgeous cover. I bought the ebook and I’m loving it so far. I’ve also started the utterly captivating Scythe by Neal Shusterman. I can only aspire to such brilliance.

But my resolutions don’t end with just putting a dent in my TBR list. 2024 is also the year the first two novels in my trilogy are set to come out. That means editing them to within an inch of their lives, choosing covers, promoting, kick-starting my non-existent presence on social media and badgering local independent bookshops to stock my book. Plus more stuff I probably haven’t thought of. And, alongside all that, I need to get the third in the trilogy written. And the novel I started and haven’t finished because I got too excited to go back to Mirrordom. So, yeah. Wish me luck. I’m going to need it.

Do you have hopes and dreams for 2024? Do you make New Year Resolutions? Leave a comment below – I’d love to hear all about what you’re up to.