Karen McCreedy: Novelist and Freelance Writer - Writing diary

October 1st-13th

13/10/2020

Writing Activity: Reading and researching space and possible ideas for
future space travel has given me more ideas to stir into
the mix for Draft 4 of Voyager's Flight. Now I just have
to work out how to slot it all in!

Currently Reading: 'On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft' by Stephen King

September 18th-30th

30/9/2020

Writing Activity: Slowed down a bit these past weeks, with visits to family
and even some days out!
But continue to work on the Science & SF talk; and
doing some research for Draft 4 of Voyager's Flight.

Just Read: 'The Riverboat Mystery' AND 'Murder in the Village', both by
Faith Martin
'Sword for Hire' by Griff Hosker'

Currently Reading: 'In Spite of Myself' by Christopher Plummer

September 17th: Book Launch Day!

17/9/2020

Ascent is launched today!

It's the final volume in the 'Unreachable Skies' trilogy, published my Mirror World Publishing.

Zarda the Fate-seer, and the Drax she accompanied into exile have settled into a new life far to the north of their homeland. They have pledged their loyalty to Kalon, whose rightful place as Prime was stolen by his brother Kalis.
Zarda’s one certainty is that Kalis’ wingless heir, Dru, is destined to defeat their old enemy, the Koth; but how is he to do that when he is no longer the Prime’s heir? And how can Kalis, his scheming adviser Fazak, and their followers be overcome?.

You can order copies from
- Mirror World Publishing shop
- Amazon.com
- Amazon.co.uk
Also available from Waterstones and Foyles on request. Also available in e-book format.

September 1st-16th

12/9/2020

Writing Activity: Filling in some of the gaps in latest draft of next novel
Revising talk on Science in SF for local U3A Science &
Technology Group
Counting down the days to launch of 'Ascent' by
tweeting Q&As from previous author events

Just Read: 'The Complete Dambusters: The 133 Men Who Flew
on the Dams Raid' by Charles Foster

Currently Reading: 'Last Man Standing: Tales from Tinseltown' by
Roger Moore

18th-31st August

31/8/2020

Writing Activity: Completed another draft of sf novel 'Voyager's Flight'.
Now need to fill in all those [?] and [more here] markers
before I go any further!

Just Read: 'Lovely Bits of Old England' by John Betjeman

Currently Reading: 'Tidelands' by Philippa Gregory

Ascent: Unreachable Skies III Cover Reveal!

17/8/2020

The cover for 'Ascent: Unreachable Skies III' officially revealed today.

So happy with this wonderful artwork by Justine Alley Dowsett at Mirror World.

Copies now available for pre-order!

Amazon.com
Amazon UK
Mirror World Bookstore

August 1st-16th

16/8/2020

Writing Activity: Read through and corrected proofs for 'Ascent:
      Unreachable Skies III'. Amazing how many typos and
      silly errors slip through to this stage, even after a
      thorough line-edit from Mirror World.
Just hope I've now caught all the mistakes!

Just Read: 'A Closed and Common Orbit' by Becky Chambers
  'The King's Evil' by Andrew Taylor

Currently Reading: 'The Wizard of Earthsea' by Ursula K Le Guin

July 16th-31st

31/7/2020

Writing Activity: Continued work on latest redraft of 'Voyager's Flight'

Currently Reading: 'A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of
WWII's Most Dangerous Spy, Virginia Hall - by
Sonia Purnell

July 1st-15th

15/7/2020

Writing Activity: Continued to redraft new SF novel ('Voyager's Flight). Had
      a sudden inspiration about something that could be an
      interesting plot point - though writing it in will now mean
      more work and more redrafting!
   Also wrote a short piece for Bognor Regis WI on my one
      and only experience of visiting a crown court building.

Just Read: 'The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes from a Small Island'
      by Bill Bryson
      'The Murder of the Bride' by Faith Martin

Currently Reading: 'Pieces of my Heart' by Robert Wagner

June 18th-30th

30/6/2020

Writing Activity: Continued 3rd redraft of 'Voyager's Flight'. I do this by
   printing a few chapters at a time, and working through
   the hard copies with a biro and a notebook. Lots of
   crossings out, arrows here and there, and new sections
   indicated with letters and numbers.
   Once I've scribbled enough, I type up the changes, and
   print the next few chapters.

Just Read: 'The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshall'
   by Thomas Asbridge

Currently Reading: 'Girlfriend in a Coma' by Douglas Coupland