A lady that I know, as in, we’ve met a few times and we’ve chatted, but we’re not hanging out in social situations, well, she read my first book. She loved it. She gushed and ooohed and ahhed over it and would frequently pimp it out to other people around us when we talked. I like that. I’m a bit of an attention whore so I have no problems with this kind of attention, especially where book sales are concerned.
She asked me once where some of the inspiration came from for my first book and I answered her honestly; from my life, with a lot of artistic license.
I used to run a cake decorating business from my home. I made the wedding cakes of most of my siblings. When I was making the cake for my first sister to marry, I had forgotten that one of the layers was still in the oven and it was ruined. I even wrote an article about it for the paper (one of my better ones) before I found the world of blogging. My articles were actually very similar to the way I blog only with far less douche talk and use of the word fuck. I’m getting off topic.
So, that cake. It wound up turning out just fine and quite beautiful. I had handmade over thirty five yellow roses for it. It was really pretty and it (after I made a new centre layer to replace the one I screwed up) tasted really good too. I had HUGE response from that article. That was around the time I was starting to get recognised around town as well for my writing.
When it came time to write my first book, I couldn’t resist having a similar scene in the book. Moira, my main character, is a baker. She is making a wedding cake one evening when her love interest shows up, scares her and makes her drop the cake on the floor. While I didn’t drop my sister’s cake, the idea of a ruined wedding cake is actually kind of funny. So you see, taken from real life, but with liberal poetic license. It *is* fiction after all.
Yesterday this lady that I know came in to see me at work, just worked up into a froth. She was worried because she is now reading my new book in which the main character has been assaulted and has to learn how to fight back from her physical and emotional injuries. This lovely woman, my, dare I say it, fan, was so worried about me. She wanted to know when the attack happened and how I was doing with it now, and whether the perpetrators had been brought to justice.
I had to laugh. I just had to. I have not been the victim of a beating. Thankfully. Perhaps for me the whole thing is a metaphor for my dealing with other issues. Or maybe it’s just that I wanted to write something that was such a complete departure from the first book. But it’s not first hand information. It’s still fiction.
I was touched, in a way, that she found the writing so real that she assumed I was talking about myself and after we chatted a little bit, she was relieved and even more of an outspoken herald of my books, which, of course, I don’t mind one bit.
Writing, though it has taken many twists and turns for me, is something that I have to do. It’s something that I *need* to get out. It’s my way of expressing myself and it is truly one of the most ingrained traits I have. I need to create, and since I’m done creating babies, I’m creating stories.
If you haven’t already, check out the spoilers page on the blog here or better yet, head on over to my website www.nualareilly.com and click on the links to order a book or two of your own. I have no doubt they would make a great Christmas present. And I promise you, as you read, especially if you’re reading Winter Jasmine…it’s only fiction. It wasn’t me.
The need and the want to create has been installed in all seven of you since birth. Even your parents must create. It’s an outlet, if not adhered to will gobble us up. Everyone has picked their own media or multi-media to let it out. We are a creative, and talented bunch, nutty, witty, and sometimes very silly or very serious.
Am I a proud moma? You’re damn right. We done good.
Mum
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You’re damn right you’ve done good. We’re a decent bunch even if we’re all feckin nuts.
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Okay…I understand what fiction, poetic license and release by writing are….and I’m going to pimp your books out anyway. ahhahahah….I’ll be begging for publishing advice later if I ever get my head out of my butt and stop editing my novel to death and actually FINISH it. KEEP WRITING…KEEP BLOGGING….from one Irish nut-bag to another!
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THANK YOU!! And I will give any advice I can.
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I apologize if this is easily found, but I’m going to ask anyway. Where can I find your books? Once my semester of science-y stuff is over (I love physiology, but I’m ready to be done with it) , I want to read as much as I can before this baby is born, and all I’m reading for the next five years is “Goodnight Moon” and whatever famous children’s book my child takes a liking to.
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There should be links to them both on my website http://www.nualareilly.com where you can buy them direct. Robert Munsch, Goodnight moon, Jillian Jiggs are awesome books for wee ones. When are you due??
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See? I knew they’d be somewhere obvious. Thank you, I’m definitely going to check them out.
I’m due March 2nd with a baby boy; our first. I’m both terrified and exhilarated.
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That’s the best way to describe waiting for a first baby. Congratulations!!
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Doesn’t matter how many childrens books you buy for your offspring, they will only like 3 and you will read them over and over and over and over and over and over again until they fall apart, even though they know every word by heart, and correct you if you get one of the words in the wrong order. But its part of the bedtime routine you HAVE TO create if you want any semblance of an evening and if you want them to sleep. Good luck. Put your books on a repeat order, and start with Autumn Violets………..
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As for your family Nuala, you are a fantastic bunch of clever witty talented loving people and it was a privilege and a joy getting to know you all. Yep, y’alls done good.
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