Meet the Author - Misha M. Herwin

Writing is, by and large, a community. And the best way to develop in the writing world is to network with other writers. With this in mind, I would to welcome Misha M. Herwin, who has recently launched her latest book, Shadows on the Grass, and has agreed to visit the Writer's Block to answer a few questions.

1. First of all, tell us a little about yourself and your writing. 
I am Misha Herwin and I write books for adults and for children. I’ve also written plays which have been performed both by a professional theatre company and in schools. My short stories have been published in various anthologies in the UK and US; including The Way to my Heart, Voices of Angels, The Darkest Midnight in December, The Yellow Room, and Bitch Lit, among others.

2. Tell us about your new book. 
Shadows on the Grass slips between past and present and tells the story of a Polish immigrant family who find themselves in Bristol after the Second World War. The Poland they knew has gone. It has become part of the USSR and they have to start a new life in a new country. It also goes back into their past which helps to explain the family dynamics. To sum it up: In 1960s Bristol, seventeen-year-old Kate is torn between the new sexual freedom and her rigid Catholic upbringing. Her parents have high expectations of her, but she is determined to lead her own life. Her grandmother Mimi is dying. In her final hours, her cousin The Princess keeps watch at her bedside.  Born in the same month in the same year, the two women are bound by their past and a terrible betrayal. Meanwhile, caught between the generations, Mimi’s daughter Hannah struggles to come to terms with her relationship with her mother and to keep the peace between her daughter and her husband.

3. What is your favourite place to write? 
I like to write in my office, which is crowded and messy but full of books and photos and pictures that are special to me. That, however, is not always possible and I often work on the train when I go down to Bristol to see family. I like to plug in the laptop, buy a cup of coffee, and get immersed in my latest WIP.

4. Are there any authors you would like to meet and why? 
I’d like to meet JK Rowling and ask her how many times Harry Potter was turned down. There is such a mythology about this book that I’d be curious to learn the truth.

5. Have you ever based a character on someone you know? And if so, did they ever find out? 
I did once write a play for a youth group and the characters were tailored to the kids who would play them. I didn’t mean anyone to know but the mother of one of the main characters came up to me afterwards and said “You really got our Clare.” Luckily she was pleased because the character Clare was playing whinged and moaned throughout the whole piece. It taught me to me much more careful the next time.

6. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research? 
Sorry, not done anything really crazy. (Well not in the name of research for a book)

7. What’s the best advice anyone gave you? 
Best writing advice is a) read, read and read some more. Which is easy for me because I’ve always loved reading. b) Try to write every day. When I do the WIP comes more easily and I feel happier, because I’ve done something creative even if I’ve only had 20 minutes to do it.

Thanks for hosting me on your blog. If you want to buy a copy of Shadows on the Grass  HERE is the link.

Thank you for joining me today, and I wish you every success with Shadows on the Grass.

Happy writing.

Western Weekends - Lonesome Dove (The Miniseries)

It's been a while since I've done a Western Weekend. One of my favourite reads of last year was Larry McMurtry's 1985 western novel, Lonesome Dove. It's a hefty read, but it's nonetheless gripping and poignant. So, I figured I'd take a look at the 1989 miniseries.

Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones star as Augustus McRae and Woodrow Call, former Texas Rangers and the proprietors of the Hat Creek Cattle Company and Livery Emporium of Lonesome Dove, Texas. Things take off when fellow Ranger Jake Spoon, played by Robert Urich, unexpectedly arrives in Lonesome Dove after a ten-year absence. Jake is wanted for murder in Arkansas, but the stories of travels inspire Woodrow to gather a herd and set up a ranch in Montana.

It's amazing how such a big book could be transferred to the screen. In fact, that was the original intention. Larry McMurtry wrote Lonesome Dove as a screenplay back in 1972, under the title Streets of Laredo. The film was due to be directed by Peter Bogdanovich (whom McMurtry had previously worked with on The Last Picture Show), and was going to feature John Wayne as Woodrow Call, Jimmy Stewart as Augustus McRae, and Henry Fonda as Jake Spoon. However, John Wayne turned the role down, prompting the others to back out, and McMurtry eventually bought back the rights to the story and made it into a novel.

Watching this, I agree with John Wayne; I really cannot see him in the role. However, Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones share some great chemistry. The expansive scenery looks stunning, and I am invested in the journey all the characters go through. The first part starts out with the promise of an adventure, but then it takes dark turns at every corner. OK, not quite to a Game of Thrones level of killing off main characters, but they still try and keep things a little gruesome if toned down.

I do have to reserve some criticism for one particular scenes: The first river crossing at the end of the first episode. One of the ranch hands gets killed after his horse disturbs a nest of water mocassins. It's not exactly a pleasant end, but the slow motion and extreme close-ups ended up looking silly. They show it again at the beginning of the next episode, but the aftermath is still poignant.

There are a couple of other changes from the book that I didn't entirely agree with, but that's expected and often required, so I can't really fault that. They still kept the emotional feel of the book, and that's all that really matters.

The miniseries is four parts, all of which are about an hour and a half. I've not seen it on any streaming services in the UK, but the DVD is available online and I do recommend you buy it. I do recommend subtitles though, as the accents are quite thick.

An Unexpected Visit - A Flash Fiction for #WIPTruthOrDare

It’s not often you get fancy dress nights at my local. That’s what I thought when I saw the two newcomers. Granted, the pub was virtually empty since they weren’t serving food while the kitchens were being redone.

I was sat at the corner table, pint in my hand when the doors swung open and two men from a previous century strode in. The first man was no taller than 5’6”, but with an athletic build. With a rakish grin shining behind his Van Dyke style moustaches and goatee, and the rapier swinging between his legs like a monkey’s tail, he seemed to fill more space than he actually took up. That’s no small feat, considering his companion. The second man was a large black man, almost 7’ tall and with a muscular build. His face bore a grave expression, beneath the three parallel scars which ran from above his right ear to his left cheek. Hanging from his belt were two cutlasses and a brace of old flintlock pistols.

“This place looks pretty dead, Scar.” The first man looked around. I almost chocked on my pint when he mentioned the name.

“As long as there’s some food and ale, I don’t care.”

I took a deep breath. “Sorry mate, kitchen’s closed.”

They both stared at me. “Mr Scar, is it? Then I take it that your friend is Mr Kestrel.”

I saw the other man’s grin become wider. “Hear that, Scar? Our reputation precedes us. Seafaring men have taken our exploits as far as…where are we exactly?”

“You’re in Stoke. And there aren’t many seafaring men around here. We’re too far inland for that. How’d you get here from the Caribbean?”

They gave each other a quizzical look. “You seem to know a lot about us for a respectable man.” Scar leaned over me. “Who are you?”

“I’m a writer.” I stammered.

“Then who are we?”

“I guess, the characters.” I stood up. “This is surreal, and kind of terrifying. I’m going to get another drink. I’ll buy a round if you want.”

Their expressions immediately softened at the promise of free booze.

Laughter filled the room while empty glasses filled the table.

“I remember the incident with the Andalusian in Havana!” Scar punched Kestrel’s arm with enough force to knock him off his chair. “That mare got the better of Kestrel. You need to write about that one.”

“It’s in the works.” I raised my glass in a toast. “As is your smuggling run in Charlestown.”

“Anything of ours made it to print?” Kestrel struggled back up.

“Not yet. Your adventure with Rosanna Barclay’s is being beta-read by a friend. But you have to sell your soul to have a steady income. I ain’t cut out for this full-time work malarkey.”

“I know the feeling.” Kestrel slurred, “That’s why I became a gentleman of fortune.”

The sound of the bell at the bar signalled our revelry had to end. Outside, I watched them stagger off into the night.

“I wish you good fortune, Mr Roberts.” Kestrel waved, “Here’s to hoping you can share our many adventures.”