Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

A writer’s search history

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As authors, we sometimes write about things that we don’t necessarily agree with. So our search history can range from bloodthirsty to bizarre (it’s just research, we swear!)

I thought it would be fun to share some of the more weird questions I’ve asked Google in the name of writerly research.

What do you call the chairs they use in nursing homes?

I wanted to know if those special covered, urine-repellent chairs had a name. I still don’t know. I tend to make the mistake of asking Google direct questions, rather than just chucking keywords at it. As a result, I’m so specific it doesn’t understand me.

Another word for… insert whatever word we need a synonym for rather than just reaching for a thesaurus…

Honestly, I’ve lost count of all the times I’ve asked Google for synonyms. I do have a thesaurus as well. I just never use it.

How to throw a javelin.

One of the characters in my latest novel is a highly-proficient thrower of the javelin. Thanks to Google, I now have a basic knowledge of how to stand and how to best throw the spear.

If you’re a writer, what’s the most obscure thing you’ve ever Googled?

Cover reveal for Venom and Blaze!

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I’m so excited to reveal the cover for Venom and Blaze!

Created by the amazing Ashley of Redbird Designs, this cover absolutely exceeded my expectations. I love the simple, striking design and the opulent gold colours.

And, of course, no book cover for Venom and Blaze could be complete without a few spiders here and there. Ashley cleverly came up with the idea of having a spider in the letter O, which I think adds a lovely touch.

For any independent authors or self-publishing authors, I can absolutely recommend working with Ashley. She created an amazing profile that required minimal tweaks and simply blew me away.

My advice for authors briefing cover designers

Take the time to put together the details

Your designer won’t have read your book, so they can only work with what you give them. That means you need to get down to the granular details, including what colour eyes your characters have.

What sort of details do you need to give your cover artist? These might include (but probably aren’t limited to):

  • the name of your book
  • your pen name, if you have one
  • back cover blurb and any taglines, if you have one
  • the time period your book is written in
  • the genre
  • a detailed description of your main characters
  • any design aspects you do or do not want included
  • any visual inspiration – for example, other covers you really love
  • any input on fonts.

I also included a full, hundred word synopsis with spoilers so Ashley could really get a feel for what was going on in the book.

Be respectful

Your designer is also a creative – and we all know how it feels when someone disparages work we’ve put our heart and soul into. If you need them to make amends, be sure to ask for them politely and clearly. Be as specific as possible.

I couldn’t be happier with how the cover turned out – and I really can’t wait to see what magic Ashley comes up with for Fable and Legend, the second book in the series!

What stage are we at with Venom and Blaze?

I am still waiting for the proof print copy to reach me. As my publisher is in the United States, this is taking a wee while. Once I receive it, I’ll go through it one more time with a fine-tooth comb to check for any errors. I’ll then sign off the errata form, either confirming all is okay or requesting any final tweaks. After that, I’ll be able to confirm the release date and then the countdown begins!

A playlist for Venom and Blaze

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I love it when people take the trouble to put a playlist together for me to listen to. So, my little present to you is a series of songs to listen to while you read Venom and Blaze. Every song has a link (in my head) to the story of one of the characters.

Venom

Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me? – Taylor Swift

Venom is a complex character who has the potential to choose between right and wrong. Her upbringing and situation has made her feel powerless in life and there’s a very clear moment in the story where she has to choose which way she wants to go and whether to to what she knows is right or embrace her darkness.

This song, by Taylor Swift, reminds me of Venom’s personality and the descent of compromising who she is in a desperate bid for survival.

Blaze

Thunder – Imagine Dragons

Blaze is a dreamer who doesn’t fit the mould. Irrespective of the jeering of his contemporaries, he has his own path to forge and he does so with relentless conviction.

This song, by Imagine Dragons, reminds me of Blaze’s fearlessness in the face of all odds.

Thorn

We Could Be So Good Together – The Doors

I can’t say too much about why this is Thorn’s song without giving away some key plot details. Sufficient to say, if you study the lyrics to this song by The Doors, it fits Thorn’s motivation and actions surprisingly well!

Viper

you should see me in a crown – Billie Eilish

Power is what drives Viper – and what better song to celebrate his unhinged actions than with a spot of Billie Eilish?

There are, of course, other characters in the book. Once you’ve read it, I’d love to hear what songs you think would suit their personalities.

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.

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.