Welcome to Dragonscale Clippings

Inside the mind of a writer...

My motto for 2012: Quality, not quantity

I am currently exploring the sensation of Sound...

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Stones - A Thank You

Thank you for journeying with me this month as I wrote a stone each day for A River of Stones
that was hosted at WOWH. 

I always find it useful to minimise; it helps me overcome my tendency to overwrite in my novels...

Next month I will be exploring the sensation of Sight. I look forward to our creative journey together through words...

Stone - 31

snow whispers on the beech leaves, making brittle sounds on their brown, dead surfaces

Stone - 30

skyfields are grey, dimpled with whiteness
through an uneven gap muted yellow light pours

Monday 30 January 2012

The Rusalka Ritual published by Golden Visions

My short story, The Rusalka Ritual, has been published by Golden Visions in the US. I entered it for the Winter Contest and although I didn't win anything, I did get an Honourable Mention!

This is a tale about bravery and foolishness; about seeing beneath the surface and facing Fear.

If you enjoyed my novel, Dragonscale Leggings, you will love this short story about Dracomagan and her friends as they seek to overcome enchantment and certain death.

And if you haven't yet read Dragonscale Leggings, this is an excellent introduction to the weird and wonderful world of my favourite female dragon slayer.

What are you waiting for? Click here to find out more!

Stone - 29

the harsh touch of fresh, cotton sheets, smelling of winter sun and cool air, smoothing the material under my palms as I make the bed

Stone - 28

invisible ice lurking the bird water bowl
unseen but felt as I dip shrinking flesh into the water
and fling the two halves onto the herb garden
where they shatter glass-like on the frozen earth

Stone - 27

the sun low in the sky filling my vision yet not blinding me
seeing through diffused rays of golden light
I realise the darkness is only temporary
light is eternal

Stone - 26

how the mildness of the wind on a mild day quickens my blood
makes me think of Spring and the earth waking
smelling wetness and greeness on the wind's breath...

Friday 27 January 2012

A Review by Elizabeth Baxter of Freya Pickard's Dragonscale Leggings

Writing comedy is very hard to get right. I can count on the fingers of one hand the writers of fantasy comedy I can think of that do it well. Now I’ve read Dragonscale Leggings, I'd have to add Freya Pickard to that list. I have to admit, when I first started reading Dragonscale Leggings I wasn't sure what to expect. I often find that the jokes in comedy fiction fall flat and that somehow, it misses the mark. Dragonscale Leggings though, is a great read, and very very funny.

The reason it works so well is that we have a combination of great storytelling and great characters. Dracomagan is a kick ass 21st-century gal who winds up in a land of Arthurian legend with the job of being a dragon slayer. But she doesn't let this get in her way, and goes about her business with a blatant disregard for the rules of the day and with a witty sarcasm that often had me laughing out loud. This is a heroine who knows what she wants and how to get it. There is a great supporting cast as well, including some very delicate dragons and some less than chivalrous knights. But the best supporting character has to be Tygar, Dracomagan’s horse who could easily have a book all to himself. The interplay between Dracomagan and Tygar provide lots of the laugh out loud moments in the book.

I would have liked the story to be a little longer as I really wanted to see more of Dracomagan and Tygar’s adventures. Luckily, the book ends at a perfect point to allow for sequels and I hope in time Freya Pickard will add to Dracomagan’s adventures.

I’d recommend this book for anyone who likes fantasy and a good laugh into the bargain.

I give it four bookworms.
Don't forget that Liz is running a Giveaway of Dragonscale Leggings here If you'd like to win a copy of my novel, make sure you visit the link before 31st January 2012 to be in with a chance!

Stone - 25

eye-catching, eye-trancing, eye-piercing
the chromed sea
its flat, silver surface undimpled
above, dark grey clouds show
their ragged hems

Stone - 24

splash of orange against a rain-soaked brown-grey drab landscape of concrete, bare branch and barrel, as the robin lands and eats seeds

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Stone - 23

the heron a black silhouette against the grey morning sky
flapping slowly, fighting the wind, veering, heading south
I watch until my arms ache from holding a basket
of wet washing that needs to be hung on the line

Stone - 22

slashed hedge tops like prickly stubble, pale brown dullness relieved by grey-blue wings

Spirits at play...

If you need some inspiration today, visit this amazing website - 

Doven Gallery 

Monday 23 January 2012

The New Writer

Guess what?

I've had a haiku published in The New Writer! OK, it's only one haiku but it's difficult getting accepted for publication in this "different" magazine. I know, I've been trying for over a year! 

For those of you who subscribe to The New Writer, my haiku is on page 33. If you don't receive The New Writer, you can find out more about it here

More good news about publishing success to be announced shortly!

Stone - 21

hot scent of spiciness frying in the wok;
heat of ginger
pungent aroma of coriander
eye-watering smack of chilli flakes
breathing suddenly becomes
easier

Stone - 20

the insistent wind constantly tugging, pulling
slipping beneath layers of clothes
chilling my skin
slowing my blood

Stone - 19

in a crowd of people constantly moving, hurrying; 
how no-one collides
avoiding contact
any contact
even eyes

Friday 20 January 2012

Dragons!

Comments on Freya Pickard's novel Dragonscale Leggings from Libby...
  
I have just finished reading Dragonscale Leggings and found it unique, original, amusing and exceedingly well written - a wonderful book, when's the sequal comming out?


You can read Libby's creative work at The Wobbly Dum Dum Tree

Stone - 18

how dust clings to dust; it's white, transparent, but clumped together it turns grey, like insidious talcom powder

Stone - 17

the rhythm of words on a page, black ink on white sheet, creating worlds within my mind, letting me escape, just for a few hours...

Stone - 16

distant sea colour of slate, straight-edged as a ruler below the pastel smudged horizon of purple-grey-pink, before the sun rises

Stone - 15

the sun freed from the horizon strikes skyward; diffused light of egg yolk and blusher through blue bonfire smoke

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Social Networking

I think you either love it or hate it. You either participate or ignore it.
 
I have an ambiguous relationship with it. I am a technophobe so do not get on with anything on the screen that isn't really, really clear. I use social networking sites mainly to make people aware of me and my writing. There's only one networking site that I enjoy using...
 
I find Facebook too chaotic. It's too busy - where do I go? How do I contact people? How do I find the information I'm after? There's too much stuff and I don't have time to sift through everything.
 
Twitter is exceedingly annoying. I don't think anyone ever reads any of the posts. I certainly don't get any comments on mine. And, again, there's too much there...
 
I tried Elfwood earlier this year as my main genre is Fantasy. That was a non-starter! I posted some poems up but no-one from the site has commented on them. And the few people I tried to contact have totally ignored me!
 
MySpace is more interesting as it gathers together artistic people. I've discovered some musicians I wouldn't otherwise have known about. But, yet again, the site is too busy, there's too much going one. Plus it loads incredibly slowly...
 
The only social networking site I would actually recommend to anyone is Writing Our Way Home. Maybe it's because it's written by writers and for writers (and by writers I mean those who write for the sheer delight of wordsmithying as well as those who want to be and have been published). For me, it works. It's not too busy or complicated. I can find what I need to find easily. It is fascinating and interesting with diverse cultures, beliefs and experiences represented. I feel part of a wider family on this site but at the same time there's no pressure to participate in everything that's going on.
 
That's my treatise on social networking. I'm not keen on it but it's necessary in these times to make people aware of your presence if you're trying to sell something.

Monday 16 January 2012

Book blogs & Giveaway!

Last week I took part in my first ever Blog Tour which Liz kindly hosted for me at her blogsite Small Blonde Hippy

If you missed it, you can catch up using the links below: -
Monday - Interview with Freya Pickard
Tuesday - Slowing Down Words
Wednesday - Allowing Creativity to Happen
Thursday - Review of Dragonscale Clippings
Friday - Giveaway

Liz is very kindly running a Giveway on her site. If you would like to win a copy of my novel Dragonscale Leggings, click on the link title Giveaway and follow the instructions. 

A huge thank you to Liz for hosting the blog tour. I really appreciated everything and "met" some interesting people through it. 

Freya
xxx

Stone - 14

frost encased glass so thick I cannot see the patterns
melting slowly a patch spreading upwards
colour now through the glass

Stone - 13

luminous moon watching the muted dawn of pink and grey-purple clouds and sky

Stone - 12

creamy, savoury fish-meaty; light, cool protein taste on freshly made bread roll - tuna and mayonaise lunch

Friday 13 January 2012

Win a free copy of my novel Dragonscale Leggings!

All this week I've been blogging at Small Blonde Hippy in a blog tour. If you've missed it, just click on the link and work backwards.

You can win a free copy of my novel Dragonscale Leggings by clicking here and following the instructions.This giveaway closes on 31st January 2012.

Not sure you're interested in my novel? Why not read Liz's review of Dragonscale Leggings here ?

Stone - 11

as I stopped to look at the pale green buds on the flowering blackcurrant, I felt the heat of the sun on my skin and heard the thrush's liquid song

Stone - 10

it hurts to look at the silver burning sea
on this cold, damp winter's morning
but it's flat, like a tray
and so bright

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Blog Tour...

My blog tour continues at Small Blonde Hippy

On Monday, Liz interviewed me
On Tuesday I blogged about Poetry
Today I blogged about Photography

Pop over and have a look - let us know what you think!

Stone - 9

the smell of soap and moisturiser as I pass the bathroom; that warm relaxing scent that makes me think of rest...

Stone - 8

white-grey smoke in thick clouds conceals the garden as our neighbour burns leafmould...

Monday 9 January 2012

Blog Tour...

This is something new for me. This week I am being featured on Elizabeth Baxter's blog at Small Blonde Hippy

What to find out more? Click on the link and take a look!

Stone - 7

lone star fallen
too small to see
until the weak sunlight hits it;
a memory of Christmas
discarded, forgotten

Stone - 6

sky lightens behind me
before me - darkness
grey sky clear of star and cloud
awaits approaching dawn

Stone - 5

dead leaf; brown with darker veins, forlorn, flattened on brick paved street, looking out of place

Hacks - a review

If you're interested, I've reviewed Hacks at IMDB

Small Stone published at A Handful of Stones!

You can find one of my small stones here at a handful of stones

Scroll down to 8th January 2012 to read it!

Friday 6 January 2012

Stone - 4

wind pulled trees
bare brown with purple hints
beneath the flat, grey sky
illuminated by a silver sun

Stone - 3

The howling wind of winter's dark cocoons my sleepy, morning weariness.

What's happening at Pure Haiku?

I have started blogging again at my other blogsite, Pure Haiku. 

I'm starting off the new year with a quartet of haiku that I wrote after I'd read the Twilight series last year. They were first published in Dial 174 issue 85 where the sequence was shortlisted for the competition. 

If you'd like to pop over and read them over the next couple of weeks, click here 

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Stone - 2

Tears of frustration, hot, salty, trickle out of my eyes; why does life have to be so difficult sometimes?

Stone - 1

Heat in my throat, roughening my voice, drawing energy out of my body.