Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Thursday, 11 October 2012

A Shadow in the Past - Melanie Robertson-King - Author Guest Post

As part of her blog tour, I am pleased to welcome author Melanie Robertson-King to the blog today.




From Short Story to Novel
Guest post by author Melanie Robertson-King

It might sound strange to some people, but that’s how my novel A Shadow in the Past began, with a totally different working title of Sarah’s Gift. Okay, it was a rather long short story – around 16,000 words – perhaps more novelette/novella length but that’s how it started.

A friend and now former work colleague found an advert for a creative writing course around 2005, cut it out of the newspaper it was in and brought it to me to work. I thought about it for a very long time, discussed it with my husband and then signed up. It was correspondence and I had three years to complete it. Okay, I got a bit off track here but not by much.

I wrote a couple of short stories and articles as assignments and then my instructor suggested I try my hand at writing a novel – said I could write a “cracker”. So, I hauled out Sarah’s Gift, developed an outline and bit by bit turned in sections as my assignments.

A number of drafts later, and then a huge number of edits (close to 20) after I’d been contracted and assigned an editor, what used to be Sarah’s Gift was complete under the new title A Shadow in the Past.

About the novel...
A Shadow in the Past

When a contemporary teen is transported back through time to the Victorian era, she becomes A Shadow in the Past…
When nineteen year old Sarah Shand finds herself in Victorian Era Aberdeenshire, Scotland, she has no idea how she got there. Her last memory is of being at the stone circle on the family farm in the year 2010.
Despite having difficulty coming to terms with her situation, Sarah quickly learns she must keep her true identity a secret.
Still, she feels stifled by the Victorians’ confining social practices, including arranged marriages between wealthy and influential families, confronts them head on and suffers the consequences.
When Sarah realizes she has fallen in love with the handsome Laird of Weetshill, she faces an agonizing decision. Does she try to find her way back to 2010 or remain in the past with the man she loves?


About the author:

A Shadow in the Past is Melanie Robertson-King’s debut novel. Prior to turning her hand to fiction, she wrote articles and has been published in Canada, the US and the UK. In addition to writing, her interests include genealogy, photography and travel. On one of her trips to Scotland, she had the honor of meeting The Princess Royal.

 Melanie is a member of Romance Writers of America and their Ottawa Chapter.

 She lives in Brockville, Ontario, Canada along the shore of the majestic St. Lawrence River with her husband, son and oldest grandson.



Find out more:


Where you can buy A Shadow in the Past:

4RV Publishing
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk 
Barnes & Noble
ChaptersIndigo 

Thanks to Melanie for appearing on my blog!



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23 comments:

  1. Janice11 October 2012 at 12:13

    It's interesting to note that your novel started out as a novella - and to me that seems a very sensible way to approach the writing of a full length - to get down the story first and then add a subplot and (in my style of writing) multi-viewpoints to expand the storyline and the detail. I might give that a try with my next full length!

    Congratulations on your debut, Melanie.

    Janice xx

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    Replies
    1. Melanie11 October 2012 at 16:33

      Thanks Janice. Glad you were able to drop by.

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    2. Lindsay11 October 2012 at 18:41

      Thanks for visiting and commenting Janice x

      Delete
  2. Anonymous11 October 2012 at 12:54

    Wow! I don't remember hearing this before regarding the short story beginning. Very cool. Good luck Melanie!

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    Replies
    1. Melanie11 October 2012 at 17:10

      Pretty neat stuff, eh? Thanks Stephanie!

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    2. Lindsay11 October 2012 at 18:42

      Thanks very much for commenting Stephanie x

      Delete
  3. Nicky Wells11 October 2012 at 13:48

    Isn't it interesting? From little acorns grow big trees! Thanks for sharing, Mel, and thanks for hosting, Lindsay! x

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    Replies
    1. Melanie11 October 2012 at 17:12

      Couldn't have said it better myself, Nicky.

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    2. Lindsay11 October 2012 at 18:43

      Thanks very much for commenting Nicky, very kind x

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  4. Bill Kirton11 October 2012 at 14:49

    A new insight into the genesis of the novel. Fascinating, Melissa. I love the shorter form but equally there are times when you get the feeling that more needs to be written about its characters and themes. I'm glad this one worked out soi well for you. Maybe you'll start looking through desk drawers for more now.

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    Replies
    1. Melanie11 October 2012 at 17:11

      I just might have to do that, Bill. I've got a couple that might lend themselves well to expansion.

      Melanie

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    2. Lindsay11 October 2012 at 18:43

      Thanks for visiting and commenting Bill.

      Delete
  5. Patricia11 October 2012 at 16:28

    When you have so much excellent detail with which to work, it's no wonder this became a novel! Congratulations on your highly successful debut, Melanie!

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    Replies
    1. Melanie11 October 2012 at 17:14

      Thanks so much, Patricia. Over the years, I have amassed quite a bit of information. At least one 3" binder full of notes and other goodies.

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    2. Lindsay11 October 2012 at 18:44

      Thanks for commenting Patricia.

      Delete
  6. Maggie Jagger11 October 2012 at 18:31

    I love the time travel aspect of your historical romance, Melanie. What we take for granted against how it was then. Lots of fun to read!

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    Replies
    1. Lindsay11 October 2012 at 18:44

      Thanks for visiting and commenting Maggie.

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    2. Melanie12 October 2012 at 12:44

      Thanks for dropping by Maggie. I appreciated your critiques of my early chapters.

      Delete
  7. Sheryl Browne11 October 2012 at 22:10

    I do a little scriptwriting and sometimes i find writing in script form, i.e. getting the story down quickly works for me. I then go back and flesh it out. Interesting post, Melanie/Lindsay! :) xx

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    Replies
    1. Melanie12 October 2012 at 12:44

      Thanks Sheryl! Interesting comment. Not so different, after all.

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    2. Lindsay16 October 2012 at 12:37

      Thanks for visiting and commenting Sheryl x

      Delete
  8. Linn B Halton and Lucy Coleman13 October 2012 at 11:52

    I wonder how many full length novels began with a short story idea? Having followed you through the whole process Melanie, it's been a journey and a half! You deserve to have that book in your hands and now it's in the hands of readers!!! Congrats.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. It's great reading your comments and I really appreciate them :)

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