Art Journalling Continued...

The three latest pages from my art journal of Hope and Gratitude. It’s fun and so very good for mental health. Why not give it a go - you can use pretty much any scraps you have lying around. Magazine cuttings, old greetings cards, ticket stubs, memorabilia etc. It’s so absorbing and can be a really personal and creative way of Journalling.

My Art Journalling Journey - A Journal of Hope and Gratitude - STARS IN DARKNESS

Yesterday I began my journey into Art Journalling in the hope that it would give me some joy, contentment and relief from the sadness, stress and isolation of our current situation. The very apt theme of this journal is Hope and Gratitude.

Being engrossed in creativity is known to be good for mental health. I know this well, I used to teach it. So, I guess it’s a case of psychologist and artist heal thyself, and time to take my own medicine.

Here is the result and, trust me, it really does help. 

Day 1 - Stars in Darkness 

I really enjoyed creating this and am looking forward to continuing this new journey.

SleeplessPsyche 2 - Rishi Sunsk’s Grand Plan

No. 2 The one about - RISHI Taxing the RICH!

 

Sleepless Psyche Cartoon Series

My new cartoon series consolidating my writing skills, artistic ability, and political ideology. Your comments are welcome.

No. 1  The one about - Government U-Turns

Shielded Homestead Life

Our little homestead has been my salvation during lockdown. Shielding from everyone including family and friends and not venturing outside my front door would be unbearable we’re it not for our wonderful garden homesteads outside space and the joy of planting and harvesting.

This month we’ve been harvesting peas, beans, kale, lettuce, radishes, strawberries,  raspberries, many many different herbs, lemon balm, mint and fennel teas are wonderful and the early potatoes, garlic, and onions are coming on a treat. 

I’ve begun preserving fruit - apple sauce and raspberry jam made and marmalade on the agenda!

Covid, Confinement, and Creativity

My painting of a fox using Derwent Inktense pencils.

This last few months have been hard. As someone who is classed as a 'vulnerable' individual due to a medication induced lowered immune system, chronic rheumatoid arthritis and chronic asthma, I have been 'shielded' at home for the last 4 months. That's rather crap in itself, but when you take into account that I also care for my husband (also shielded due to an incurable lung condition necessitating 24 hour oxygen therapy) and we have not seen any of our family, including our heavily pregnant daughter, grandson, and youngest daughter, since February then, to say things are 'hard' is a massive understatement. 

The fact that I am a natural creative, an introvert and have a decent outside space has somewhat mitigated what would otherwise be a virtually unbearable situation.  It has been difficult for me to write, as this takes a degree of immersion which I can no longer commit to. However, I have occupied myself with numerous other activities such as drawing, painting, sketching, crocheting, cooking, and working in my garden homestead. This has been my salvation.  

Home grown fruit and vegetables.

I have become convinced that the chances of food shortages due to Covid-19 and/or the Brexit fiasco are high, and so I have been busily 'prepping' and attempting to grow enough food to be able to support myself and my husband should those shortages materialise. I don't know if I would have coped if I had not had this outside space and my heart goes out to those in a similar position to myself who live in high rise flats or institutions. 

I have decided to resume this blog as an online journal in which I can share my experiences with others and maybe help them realise that they are not alone and there are many people like myself who are almost completely isolated from the outside world. Technology is a blessing in this situation as it enables a degree of social interaction that at the moment I cannot experience any other way.

I will be sharing my daily activities, my thoughts, my worries and also my strategies for coping under this high level of adversity.  The development of a high level of resilience is my ultimate aim, for resilience is what will get us through this Covid-19 pandemic and the climate disaster looming on the horizon.

Keep safe.

Homemade preserves & our homestead.

New Covers Revealed and More!

Hi folks,

I am proud to announce that I have begun a new project and am busy creating a graphic novel/manga adaptation of The Afterland Chronicles Series - Here's a little taster of the first page!

I am also thrilled to reveal the new covers for my Afterland Chronicles Series and The Last Girl Guide. Lots going on this year!  I'll keep you updated on how the graphic novel is coming on and I'd love your feedback!

Excellent Value Book Cover Design Service!

If you are an independent author or small publisher, one of the biggest areas of stress is getting the right cover for your books.  The well known saying - "Never judge a book by its cover" is completely wrong - EVERYONE judges a book by its cover. The cover is what sells the book - or, more often, fails to sell the book.  Good designers are worth their weight in gold, and many of the best can charge their weight in gold too!

I have found a great company that offers expert design services at unbelievably reasonable prices. They offer premade eBook covers from only £30.

So if you are looking for a great book designer at a reasonable price - look no further. Just get yourself over to Magic Design Company - The Book Cover Design Experts.

HOW TO GET A FULL LIBRARY OF SUMMER READING COMPLETELY FREE!

Hi everyone,

Do you love grown-up fairy tales? Not the traditional kind, but those reimagined, adaptations that send tingles down your spine as you read them. If you do, then you could be in for a treat.

The Fairytale Shelf, in conjunction with Instafreebie, is giving away over fifteen modern fairy tale adaptations/retellings completely FREE!

So if you want all of your summer reading sorted in one go, just click on the banner below and take a free trip to Fairy Land!

Afterland Chronicles Trilogy - Audiobook OUT NOW!

Hi everyone,

I have been working hard to bring you the full Afterland Chronicles Trilogy on audiobook. So, if you are an audiobook lover the book is available on Audible and iTunes. The book is narrated by a first class, experienced audiobook producer and narrator - John H. Fehskens. The audiobook includes all three volumes - ASCENSION OF THE WHYTE, RYTE OF PASSAGE AND ICE AND FYRE.

AUDIBLE OFFER:
If you are not an audible member you can get your first book for FREE with a 30-day FREE TRIAL membership

(Click on the images to learn more)

Happy listening!

SPECIAL BANK HOLIDAY OFFER! Try an eBook or two completely FREE!

Hi all,

I am offering the chance for those who have not yet taken a trip into The Afterlands to grab a copy of the first book in the trilogy ASCENSION OF THE WHYTE - completely free, and for a limited time the first book in my Dark Fairy Tale series THE LAST GIRL GUIDE is also available to download FREE.

Just click on the images to download your FREE books!

Happy Bank Holiday!

Karen

News! - Author & Book Rebranding

Well if you've been paying attention then you may have noticed that my Author brand has been undergoing something of a renovation.

Over the next few weeks, my website, blog and book covers will undergo a complete rejuvenation.  I would love to hear what you think of the new designs.

This month also sees the release of the Audiobooks for Ice and Fyre and the complete Afterland Chronicles Boxset - so if you like audiobooks then you're in for a treat!

Take a look at the newly designed book covers for my two series:

The Afterland Chronicles

The Dark Fairy Tales Series

Rabbit Girl - Cover Reveal and Latest News!

For the next few weeks, I will be busy completing the research and first draft of my new novel Rabbit Girl.

I have been investigating specialised mental hospitals for young people in and around East Anglia, where the story is set and I've got some super ideas for locations.

As the story is based very loosely on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, I have discovered plenty of useful material, inspiring quotes and ideas from the original book as well as from my visit to Alice's Adventures Underground this spring.

Curious? 

Here's a small insight:-

Would you abandon your best friend to save your sanity?

"You're absolutely bonkers - as mad as a hatter - all the best people are..."

Lissie has long had more than her fair share of problems. For one, her only friend Is a six-foot white rabbit called Lewis.

Add to that a childhood traumatised by schizophrenia, confusion over her sexuality, and Lissie generates enough material to keep a team of psychiatrists busy for years.

If she is to recover, Lissie must be prepared to give up the only friend she has ever known.

However, getting rid of Lewis is no easy matter...

To keep up-to-date with my progress check back here or subscribe to my Readers' Community.

Karen

OUT NOW! - MAGIC BOXSET

Hi everyone, 

I've been busy putting together a magical box set this week, getting together with four other authors to produce a box set of firsts in series. Check out the information below if you LOVE Magic...

Love escaping into the world of MAGIC?

Then why not immerse yourself in these five new worlds brimming with enchantment? This unique box set includes the first books in five captivating fantasy series. Explore each new and exciting magical world and discover which of them you would like to spend more time in. A virtual smorgasbord of exciting magical adventure for you to sample.

"Those that don't believe in magic will never find it." -- Roald Dahl

Believe....

Table of Contents

1. "Ascension of the Whyte" by Karen Wrighton

2. "Night Awakens" by Leslie Claire Walker

3. "Terra Incognita" by Karen L. Abrahamson

4. "Zelda Pryce, Book 1: The Razor's Edge" by Joseph Robert Lewis

5. "The Apple of Their Eyes (Juliette Harbinger, Vol. 1)" by Michael R.E. Adams

Click on the cover for details of how to buy.

Karen 

Audio Books, Exercise and Taming My Dragon

Hi everyone,

I've had a busy couple of weeks since I got back from my holiday in the Cotswolds. Mainly I've been concentrating getting my audiobooks produced and on sale. I now have three on sale and two more in production!

Available to buy now are the first two books in the Afterland Chronicles series - Ascension of the Whyte and Ryte of Passage as well as The Last Girl Guide, my stand alone post-apocalyptic young-adult survival adventure story.

In production is the final book in the Afterland Chronicles - Ice and Fyre, and my first children's book - Molly Midnight and the Little People.

I have also been putting my new exercise regimen into operation in an attempt to be healthier. Writing is a notoriously sedentary lifestyle so I vowed to walk at least 4 miles a day which pretty much ensures that I smash my 10,000 steps a day target too! My Fitbit stats are now something to be proud of and hopefully, I shall reap the rewards with a little weight loss and improved level of fitness too! My dog Jinks is also, understandably, extremely happy about this new exercise routine!

Lastly, with a view to increasing productivity and improve dialogue authenticity, I have been experimenting with Dragon Dictation software, and hopefully from now on will be writing all my first drafts using dictation.  The great thing is that I can combine the two and dictate while I am walking! So if you pass a preoccupied, dog-walking woman chuntering "Full stop, new paragraph" stop and say Hi - it will probably be me!

RABBIT GIRL

I've (finally) started writing my new book, working title - Rabbit Girl.

Draft cover:-

As I write, I'm collecting ideas and images in Pinterest.

Some of the images on my board

Click here to view the complete board

I'm excited to be delving into the world of Lewis Caroll, investigating new ideas,

and creating a new book based loosely on Alice in Wonderland...

Rabbit Girl - Draft Blurb

Would you abandon your best friend to save your sanity?

"Sanity is overrated. Look at you - you're as mad hatter - all the best people are..."

Lissie has long had more than her fair share of problems. For one, her only friend Is a six-foot white rabbit called Lewis.

Add to that a childhood traumatised by schizophrenia, and Lissie generates enough material to keep a team of psychiatrists busy for years.

If she is to recover, Lissie must be prepared to give up the only friend she has ever known.

However, getting rid of Lewis is no easy matter...

DO YOU LOVE POST-APOCALYPTIC, BUT HATE ZOMBIES? - THE AFTER BOXSET - NEW RELEASE

I am proud to announce that one of my books has been included in the AFTER bundle - a boxed set of uniquely different post-apocalyptic novels, featuring characters just like you.

What would you be willing to do to survive?

BOOKS INCLUDED:

1. "The Last Girl Guide" by Karen Wrighton
2. "The Tube Riders: Underground" by Chris Ward
3. "Mr Apocalypse" by Mark Gillespie
4. "Of Myst and Folly" by Leah Cutter
5. "The Rift" by Kim Antieau

FIND OUT MORE HERE

OR 

PURCHASE FROM THESE STORES

BOOK RELEASE - THE AFTERLAND CHRONICLES - Special Illustrated Complete Compilation

The book that every fan of Throne of Glass and Harry Potter needs to read…

This Exclusive, Special Illustrated Compilation follows the adventures of Rose, a girl who died, only to be reborn Into a land of magic, privilege, and prejudice, where wizards and dragons reign. There, she is asked to lead a magical war against a being so powerful that he once obliterated an entire race. Entering the Aurum Oratory, a school of magic and wizardry, Rose is prepared for a dangerous, magical quest. Its aim – to destroy one of the greatest evils of all time…

With over 100 colour illustrations!

What readers are saying:

“An epic fantasy series to rival the great classics.” 

“A spellbindingly romantic, magical fantasy adventure series, I wished it would never end.”

“The beautiful illustrations bring the story to life…

If you loved Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Percy Jackson or Game of Thrones series, then you should enjoy this magical, roller coaster ride of fear, tenacity and courage. 

BOOK RELEASE - ICE AND FYRE - OUT NOW!

The waiting is over....

The final book in The Afterland Chronicles Series was published today, along with a Boxed Set of the trilogy.

Take advantage of the book launch week's SPECIAL OFFER PRICE on both the book and boxed set!

Ascension of the Whyte - Audiobook OUT NOW!

ASCENSION OF THE WHYTE

AVAILABLE NOW ON AUDIBLE (AND ITUNES)

View this title on Audible

Alice's Adventures Underground

Yesterday, I met some interesting people you may have heard of, the White Rabbit, the caterpillar, the Cheshire cat, the Mad Hatter, and of course the terrifyingly malevolent Queen of hearts. 

These are just some of the inhabitants of Alice's adventures underground, an interactive play set in a disused underground tunnel, beneath Waterloo Station in London. My daughter Anna bought me, her partner Dan,  sister Faye, and husband Kevin, tickets for Christmas. 

Yesterday we travelled down to London and the five of us descended into the bowels of the London Underground into Lewis Carroll's Wonderland. 

The settings were dressed in a wonderfully eclectic fashion, each room in the underground rabbit warren skillfully designed to illustrate a scene from Lewis Carroll's wonderful story.

Entering as a large group, we were guided through various tunnels until we reached a room where we were asked to make a decision - Drink Me? or Eat Me? 

Depending on your choice you are sorted into either red cards or black cards each taking their own very different routes around Wonderland. We were black suits, three of us spades, and two clubs, which meant that we also split up to travel slightly different routes around the underground maze. 

All the usual suspects were there,  we soon met the cook who baked the Queen's tarts and of course somebody had to steal them. 

We were introduced to the Cheshire cat and later attended the Mad Hatter's tea party which was truly amazing. Tweedledee and Tweedledum entertained us with acrobatics, twirling precariously over our heads, and finally, we entered the courtroom and find out who had stolen the Queen's tarts and to hear her utter those terrifying words OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

I could go on and tell you more, and believe me there is lots more to tell, but in doing that I would spoil some of the wonderful surprises you are treated to on your adventure underground. I cannot recommend this event enough, in fact, I would go back again tomorrow if I had the chance.

After the big finale, we were led back into the bar area where we played a game of Flamingo Croquet and had the opportunity to drink some more aptly named cocktails - all served in teacups.

When Anna gave me the ticket she was unaware that I had begun a new novel, which is based loosely on the story of Alice in Wonderland. Scarily serendipitous eh? 

However, it was wonderful research for me, as well as it being a great day out and a  truly inspired gift. 

I will be writing more about my book - RABBIT GIRL when I have completed the first draft. You can be certain it will include many ideas gained from my experience underground in London yesterday. I highly recommend this experience for all fans of interactive theatre, especially for those of you with a soft spot for Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland. A truly magical afternoon - complete with a tea party (what more could you ask for?)

For more details on Alice's adventure underground follow the link here or click on the image below.

Karen

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