Authors Electric

  The night is long and full of terrors (Game of Thrones fans, don't worry... we are not burning anyone here today). The day is short, especially if like me you have yet to brave the potentially plague-infested shops to do your Christmas shopping. But, never fear, this pan(dem)ic year is almost done... When unicorns rise In the wild winter wood Now shall we see The truth in their words Ever clearer as the sun Restores light to the earth. * Katherine Roberts writes fantasy and historical fiction for young readers. It's probably too late to order a paperback for Christmas, but all of her books are also available in digital format for both Kindle and epub. www.katherineroberts.co.uk

At the time of writing I do not know if my 87-year-old mother will still be with us at Christmas. She was rushed into hospital with a severe stroke at the end of November, and has not yet regained her swallowing or speech. She's still being fed via a tube in her nose and is obviously not going to be tucking into turkey and all the trimmings any time soon. So this year, in my family, the usual run up to Christmas is turning into a subdued jog around various hospitals to visit her (she's been moved a couple of times), interspersed with quiet moments at home when I just can't seem to get into the mood for any festive decorating, xmas shopping, writing sparkly cards, or any of the other frantic preparations that usually accompany this time of year. This has, strangely, been blessing. I have some fresh candles and I've placed a few simple items around the house to mark the season. A silver reindeer tea-light holder. A Scandinavian-style reindeer wreath (because they don...

In a week’s time, on the eve of the winter solstice, I’ll be starting one of my favourite annual traditions. Winter isn’t my preferred season (late spring/early summer with their young green leaves and revving-up sunshine are far more to my liking), but even I’ll admit there’s something magical about midwinter. It doesn’t have anything to do with my pagan forebears, or with the fact that Christmas comes hot on its heels (...possibly not the most appropriate metaphor), simply that it’s the setting for what is probably my favourite book. Since I first read it at the perfect age of eleven, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper has occupied my number 1 spot – and is the book I’ve most often returned to. Forget Lord of the Rings , Cancer Ward , Gone with the Wind or War and Peace . Something has regularly drawn me back to read TDIR (and not just that it’s quite a bit shorter than my other faves!). So much so that over the past two (three?) decades, it’s become a tradition to read it j...

Rather overlooked in the frantic rush to prepare for Christmas, the Winter Solstice is nevertheless a significant day for those of us who live in the northern hemisphere. For this is the longest night of the year, which might sound a bit dark and gloomy, but means that from now on the days will lengthen and the nights shorten. So rejoice - because the light is returning! Slowly and surely, like a new book being created word by word, one day you'll wake up and find it's spring again. For authors, I think this is the perfect time of year to pause and reflect, to hibernate and recover our creative strength for the new year ahead. Like the spring bulbs buried underground and preparing to thrust their green shoots through the earth, much creative work happens out of sight. New projects can grow from last year's bulbs, and - if we are patient and give them enough time - our ideas will soon ripen and bloom for others to enjoy. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favourite sols...