Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Forest Holiday Writer in Residence In Sherwood Forest

I am really looking forward to my first ever Writer In Residence in Sherwood Forest this summer.



I love woodland walks in every weather, and so does our new puppy Ringo Star. We are lucky enough to live near ancient woodland in London and although I have never actually hugged a tree I have been sorely tempted, as I often feel creatively re-charged by walking amongst the ancient ones.

I appreciate the woods in every season because they are always places of discovery. While running or walking through our local woods I have often been able to follow mind trails through my stories. In fact I often think getting lost in a wood is pretty much the same process as writing a first draft of a novel.

I am currently writing the first draft of my third YA novel 'Kite Spirit' to be published by Macmillan in 2013. A first draft is all about following trails, sometimes you turn a circle and  find yourself back where you started, but when all is flowing well it's like walking in a woodland you thought you knew well and finding a completely new and undiscovered path... and that's a magical walk.

So as I am at first draft stage with 'Kite Spirit,'(a stage of writing in which I am irrepressably puppy like in my enthusiasm)  it seems fitting that I should be taking up my first writing residency in Sherwood Forest, a place that has captured so many children's and adult's imaginations.

I fully intend to get lost in the woods but readers, and my wonderful editor Sam Swinnerton will be glad to hear that I'll be fairly ruthless in cutting down brambles in the next stage of writing!

We will be taking our new puppy with us so that he can explore a few new trails of his own....



Here's Ringo's first walk in the woods... wait till he sees Sherwood Forest! I can  just see him donning a Highwayman's hat! Come to think of it, I always quite fancied one myself...

I will be in residence from July 23th to July 30th at Forest Holidays’ Sherwood Pines <http://www.forestholidays.co.uk/cabins/locations/heart_of_england/sherwood_forest.aspx>  site. While I'm there, I'll be working on 'Kite Spirit' my latest book, and will also conduct interviews, hold a writer’s workshop for aspiring authors and host a reading of extracts from her novels.
 www.forestholidays.co.uk or call 0845 130 8223.

If you would like more information on the Author in Residence programme or would like to arrange an interview with Sita Brahmachari during her stay, please contact Yasmin Sethna on 020 8630 9487 or at yasmin@yoyagerpr.co.uk
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14 comments:

  1. Zantippy Skiphop12 June 2012 at 11:57

    :) :) :) It sounds like the stuff you write is so sunny! Is it?

    hi, Ringo!

    "...and although I have never actually hugged a tree I have been sorely tempted..."

    :o Just hug a tree! They'll love you for it!

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    1. Sita Brahmachari12 June 2012 at 13:44

      OK! will do so tomorrow! Sunny yes, in parts, but I have been told that I have a particular though maybe dubious skill of making people cry!!!

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  2. An Aspiring Author16 June 2012 at 01:30

    Is Kite spirit to be a sequal of Jasmine Skies? I have just finished reading Jasmine skies and thoroughly enjoyed it, it was a gripping read and when I picked it up last night I didn't want to put it down, meaning I finished it first thing this morning...

    The only aspect that disappointed me was that we didn't see the reunion with her family. Will we get to see this at some point or have you decided to leave that to the readers imagination?

    Thank you for publishing such a great book, it will remain in my memory, and my heart,

    AAA

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    1. Sita Brahmachari6 October 2012 at 04:51

      Hi, Thanks for your lovely words. Kite Spirit is a completely new story with different characters.

      I wanted to leave it to the reader to imagine what happened, but never say never. Maybe one day I'll write another Mira story and you'll find out the back story of what happened! Very best, Sita

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  3. Sita Brahmachari16 June 2012 at 01:48

    Hello,

    I am so happy that you enjoyed Mira's adventure. I loved writing it. Maybe everybody remembers the first time they went out into the world on their own and come back changed by the experience. There will be no direct sequel to Jasmine Skies. I very much felt that this is a time of life when many of the certainties begin to slip away and so although it is probably harsh on the reader I wanted to leave you with the same ambivalenece that Mira feels about seeing her family and Jide again. She has done things to change her world and now the world is changed.

    However, one day I may return to Mira at another rites of passage moment, maybe as a young adult, and then I will fill you in on what happened. What I do know is that she ends up going to Uni with Jide and Millie Lockhart (from Artichoke Hearts as friends) and her family will always be close.

    I hope that helps,

    I am writing Kite Spirit at the moment and it is a very different story with a new protagonist ' Kite'. It's set in the wilds of the Lake District and it is to be a ghostly story about the vulnerability of the teenage years... I'll keep you posted.

    And thanks so much for taking my sory to your heart.

    Sita

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    1. An Aspiring Author16 June 2012 at 02:20

      I love the Lakes! Can't wait for that one. I have uploaded a review of Jasmine Skies onto my blog at http://tproaaa.blogspot.co.uk/ I hope you don't mind... Thank you for your quick response,

      AAA

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    2. Sita Brahmachari18 June 2012 at 10:31

      A very inspiring place indeed. That is really kind of you to write a review of Jasmine Skies and I enjoyed reading it very much. Mira's journey is so intense and I wanted it to hit the reader at a roller-coaster pace! Really pleased you enjoyed it.

      Sita

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    3. Lolly6 October 2012 at 01:41

      You are my favourite author and that's saying something because I read so many books. Whenever I read Artichoke hearts again it always seems like I haven't read it before because I get mixed up in a different world . Please keep me up to date on Kite spirit Love Lola

      P.s Who and what were your favourite authors/books when you were my age(9)?

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    4. Sita Brahmachari6 October 2012 at 04:54

      Thank you so much. I feel very touched by your comments.

      I loved Alice In Wonderland, Wind In The Willows, Beatrix Potter and The Secret Garden.

      I am so pleased you are enjoying my books.

      Sita

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  4. Lolly6 October 2012 at 01:31

    I can't wait to read Kite Spirit as I couldn't put down ARTICHOKE HEARTS and JASMINE SKIES! I had to ask the library to renew it so I could read it again! I am doing India in my school and the facts in your book really help me!

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    1. RAI RAI27 November 2012 at 11:41

      Same here!! i loved ARTICHOKE HEARTS and JASMINE SKIES

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  5. RAI RAI26 November 2012 at 11:13

    I have really enjoyed the Mira stories, I can really relate to her feelings....you rae very inspring and I absolutely love your books!!! Say hi to Ringo for me ;)

    Anyway I am also Indian ( and from Kolkata too!!) and an aspiring author. You have really inspired me and I CAN'T WAIT to read Kite Spirit!!! Have you given it anage rating??

    R xx

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