Easter Walk and Skellig

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter. We have been manic as usual, doing family fun days and puppet shows at church and elsewhere. It has been a busy time, but FAB. We had a lovely walk on the Camel Trail (a former railway line that is now a cycle/horse/walk pathway running from Padstow to Wadebridge and then on to Bodmin). We have found a quieter part out on the moor where the kids can scooter and cycle on a flat surface. It runs alongside the River Camel and the banksides are awash with primroses and now some bluebells too. It was breathtaking as it was a beautiful spring evening last night.

I have cherry picked TV this weekend as I have not had the energy or time to watch much. I enjoyed Dr Who and Robin Hood on Saturday (despite the absence of Richard Armitage) and my son and I adored the Sky One adaptation of Skellig on Sunday, although I was a bit annoyed at how much they added that was not in the book. That aside, we were all hooked and now Connor wants me to read the book with him. Tim Roth was great, a really grumpy character and truthfullyI like most things with John Sim in it.

I have been unable to post because my ISP has been down inexplicably for over a week...joy...joy!! Any way it seems to be back for now so I have taken the opportunity to go visiting and to do this quick post. I have been so tired out after a hectic weekend that I cannot seem to contemplate anything in terms of my writing before the children go back on the 20th!! Lots of ideas brewing so I am itching to get on with it.

Inspirational Lewis!!

I have just finished watching the first in a new series of Lewis. I have not watched this before and confess to never being a Morse fan, but it was ironing night and so I gave it a go! I was gripped; probably because it centred around a young author who had had his fantasy novel published. Of course being a detective series there are grisly murders and seedy secrets, however I was intrigued with how the plot was laced throughout with cross references and nods to two writers who share Detective Lewis's surname:

CS Lewis

and
Lewis Carroll

One of the characters lectured on Carroll and the young author, who was later murdered by his foster mother/lover(!!) was inspired to write by CS Lewis. It was inspired how the references to these two authors, their love of fantasy and potentially their secrets was woven in alongside solid detective Lewis.

It also got me thinking, I wonder who we writing bloggers are/were inspired by? What authors inspired you as a child? Which books grip you now as an adult? Does your choice of writing reflect your tastes in reading? Answers in the comments box below folks, I really would love to know!

For me there are so many, however as a child I read CS Lewis, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl in particular. I loved Famous Five and devoured them daily, reading them till I knew them by heart. I also read a lot of books about ponies!! As a teenager I was absorbed by Terry Pratchett and Arthurian legends. I think quite all of these have inspired me with fantasy and history (although I studied medieval history at Uni so I didn't need much encouragment!) In adult life I have read quite a bit of YA and 'tween' fiction, but without doubt one of my main inspirations has been Michelle Paver. I am reading, "Shadow mancer," by GP Taylor at the moment and really enjoyed Eoin Colfer's' "Airman," recently too. So now you know a bit more about my tastes, I would love to hear about yours!!