Friday 16 September 2011

Magic Eye Friday, Sad Week but Positive Ending

Good morning, all! Got another Magic Eye for you, and this one might just be my favourite. Enjoy...


It's been a sad week for my family; on Monday we had to say goodbye to our beautiful dog, Wellington. He really was a sweetheart, and it's so strange being in the house without him. I keep reminding myself he was sixteen, so we were lucky to have him that long. 

Welly on the left and his brother, Jasper, on the right. 
(We lost Jasper two years ago - another amazing dog)

So, it's been a strange week; my writing mojo departed again, my other job has been really busy and I was resigned to not making any progress on my WIP (book 2 in the Soul Protector series), BUT, something has sparked me off again; just before I went to bed last night, I checked facebook and found a message from an old friend I haven't seen for years. Here's a snippet...

Hi Mandy and I've got 1 thing to say to you.... OH MY GOD, I got your book last Friday and I finished it by Sunday night, gone midnight - it is the best book I have read for years, maybe ever! I could not put it down. How clever are you??? I am so so impressed. It was brilliant. Please write the sequel!!!!

Needless to say, the smile is back on my face and I'm itching to write again! :o) 


Follow Friday


I'm probably late to the party as usual, but I've just discovered Follow my book blog Friday - a great way to connect and meet with other writers/readers. Click the picture below for the link.





Some Follow Friday fun, hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read with Feature Bloggers - Librarian Mouseand Alaskan Book Cafe.






Q. It's that pesky magic book fairy again! She has another wish: What imaginary book world would you like to make a reality?
Hmm, it would have to be one where I had some sort of power - maybe the Sookie Stackhouse series, because being nosey, I would love to know what everyone else is thinking!

And finally...

I read a quote once that writing a book is like standing on a street corner naked, waiting to see what everyone thinks of you. That's so true. Getting feedback is priceless, especially when it's positive. Even negative feedback is better than nothing; as long as the reviewer has taken the time to explain what they didn't like. I now make sure I review every book I read, because I know somewhere, some author will be sat behind a computer, chewing his/her fingernails, waiting to see what people think.

Have a great weekend people!! xx

23 comments:

Frances said...

I am so saddened to hear of your loss. Even though you had him until he was sixteen, I know you are heartbroken. I am so sorry.

I bought your book just not positive when I will get to it as I am doing a bunch of review books. It sounds awesome though so I am hoping soon. :)

Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving the comment. One of the challenges with some children on the autism spectrum is getting them to be social. Junior wants to be social - he just doesn't understand how. I like the way she explained his behavior. Thank you so much for sharing that.

Ivana said...

Hello, Amanda, thank you for stopping by my blog and following! I'm following back. Your book sounds great, I'm now going to read the pages posted.

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@Cristina - thank you for the kind words :o)

And thank you for the purchase, I hope you enjoy it when you get the chance to read it.

Best wishes to you and Junior.

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@Ivana

You're welcome - I hope you enjoy the opening chapters. :o)

Laila Knight said...

I'm so sorry you had to put your dog down. That would have killed my writing for a while. You poor dear. And I swear the magic eye things looks like a white square to me today. I'm starting to doubt my sanity. ;)

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@Laila

I didn't write for a couple of days, but am finding it a happy distraction now :o)

A white square? Hmmm, maybe we all see something different...

*SPOILER* - I see a coiled spring.

Crystal said...

I'm so sorry about Wellington. ((HUG)) It's a hard thing, no matter how old they are at the end.

That was really sweet the way you got that surprise uplifting FB message from your old friend, and I'm glad it put you back in the writing mood.

Also? I totally agree with that quote on writing.

Miss Cole said...

I'm sorry for your loss. And I hope your writing mojo makes a return soon.

Ooh, that one looks like that 10 loop roller coaster at Thorpe Park!

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@Crystal - yes, it was fab timing to get some praise!

(And I think if I were to stand on a street corner naked and wait to see what everyone thought - the feedback wouldn't be so positive!! ;o) )

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@Miss Cole, thank you.

I do love rollercoasters, but I think that one would be a bit too much..!

duchess_mommy said...

I never could get those 'magic eye' things.

Thank you for coming by my blog. New follower for Follow Friday's!!

Have a great week,
Teresa
http://theduchessmommyreads.blogspot.com

Amy said...

Hi there, new follower here, returning the follow!

I would love to live in Sookie's world, it would be a lot of fun!

I'm the same way recently, I always review a book after reading! :)

Shannon Lawrence said...

I'm sorry for your loss. :(

I'm glad that you got such wonderful positive feedback when you needed it so badly, though. Fortuitous!

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@duchess_mummy - I hope you didn't find the Magic Eye too frustrating - I know my husband does - he's convinced there's nothing there...

You have a great week too :o)

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@Amy

Before I published my book, I would never have dreamed of reviewing one before - feel a bit bad now...

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@Shannon

Thank you - the comment was lovely timing :o)

Laila Knight said...

Amanda, I think it's my PC at work that's the problem. I saw a white square. I looked at it again at home. It looks like sharp teeth inside the mouth of a gargoyle. Come on now, I do write Fantasy. I'm going to have to start reading you at home. :)

Anonymous said...

I can never get magic eyes to work.
:( Thanks for the thought of sharing it, though!

It's good to meet you, I'm in your Fantasy Campaigners group, so I'll see you down the Campaign trail!

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

Laila - you and your home pc have an amazing imagination - it really is just a coiled spring - but a gargoyle with sharp teeth is so much more interesting!!

Hmm, can I add gargoyle with sharp teeth to my current story...?

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@kelworthfiles - I'm sorry you can't see it.. have you tried my fish one in an earlier post? A few people who 'can't see them' saw that one :)

Liz said...

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. Losing an animal is always heartbreaking :(

But I'm very glad you are back in the writing spirit!

Unknown said...

i'm beginning to think magic eye is harder on the computer than in the book ... hmm

Amanda Leigh Cowley said...

@Liz - thank you, raring to go again now :o)

@Eileen - when I can't see it, I scroll up or down an inch, then it usually appears! Good luck :o)