Mayday Mayday!

Would you lookit that, I’m actually getting my monthly journal in more or less on time this month! Probably because I didn’t have to take the time to write an article for May, since I just got tagged to answer 12 questions by Zara-Arletis  – you can find my answers at the bottom of this journal.

Of course, this means I’m bringing you May’s news and events while they’re good and fresh with still days or even weeks to spare. So you’ve got no excuse not to get stuck right in!

First up though, have another photo of the little chickens.


Look at them grow! The photo I posted last month might have been a week or two out of date by the time I got around to sharing it – but even so! They’re out and about now, enjoying the sunshine we’ve had here in Britain, as indeed have I been. First camping trip of the year is booked for a couple of weekends’ time – and I can’t wait (even though no doubt the weather will turn and we’ll have howling gales and rain by then…)

And now, because I can’t hold back any longer, on with the news!



First and foremost, let me draw your attention to this:

Yes, that's right - another wonderful lit chat event. And this time, it's a bookclub chat, Daily Deviation style! Join us on Saturday at 11AM PST to meet some of April's literature Daily Deviation recipients and to chat about their work. This is the first of these events, and it marks us - the literature community - leading the way with a new format of chat. So lets make it great! Come along and show DeviantArt what its literature community is made of!

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When you're done entering that time/date into your calendars to be sure you don't miss out, why not take a look at some of the other things going on at the moment?

Ongoing contests and events

 On NOW, ending 13th May: 400 words of Hope Contest 3 DAYS LEFT - from Literature-Anonymous.  Write something within the 400 word limit on the theme of 'Hope,' and include the words listed in the contest journal. There's still time if you're quick!

 On NOW, ending 26th May: ThumbHub May Contest! - from ThumbHub. Another contest for all mediums! Write, draw, photograph or craft something about dogs in awkward situations. 

 On NOW, ending 31st May: MagicalJoey's Anthology Contest IV - from MagicalJoey.  This contest challenges you to write a collection of at least 6 poems grouped by some common theme.

 On NOW, ending 30th June: Flash Prompt #16 - May 2018 - from FlashFictionMonth. The final flash prompt before July hits! Time to get some practice in quick, as once again that devious hydra stirs from its slumber...

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News and Contest Results

 Big exciting news here: akrasiel's book is published! Find out everything you need to know to support her here: The Call of the Rift: A Compendium - my copy arrived earlier this week, and while I've not had a chance to start reading yet, I can tell you it certainly looks stunning...

 This year, Nurturing-Narratives are planning on working with FlashFictionMonth to put together an FFM anthology! Find out more here: Publishing Opportunity!

 Nurturing-Narratives also have another lit community feature, and this time they put me in the hot-seat! Check it out here: Community Spotlight: squanpie

 Here's another feature for you to check out from the ever lovely LadyLincoln The Ladies of Lit: Volume LXXXIX

 BeccaJS has recently re-vamped and updated this holy grail of literature resources. Feel the need to educate yourself on anything lit? Check it out! All the Literature Educate!

 LadyLincoln is here to tell you everything you needed to know about Daily Deviations. Do go have a read through another excellent community resource here: Seven at Seven: Daily Deviation Tips

 Rose-Em has just joined the CRLiterature team - go say hi, and check out her feature journal series here: Over the Moon: Springtime (Volume #2)

And in case I've missed anything out, check out these other news and events articles here:





1. What was the first thing you ever created that you were proud of?

Woah, tough one. Probably loads of stuff I can’t remember any more – but one I do remember was a lego man I made years ago. Not like a normal little lego man - this was a man shaped abomination I built from his feet up entirely with lego blocks. And yes - that's from his feet up. For some reason, I decided the best thing to make his feet out of, was a pair of upturned lego speedboats - so from that point on I was stuck building the poor guy with every brick upside down. I swear it made sense at the time! 

2. What is your favorite fictional character (any media) and why?

Gonna have to say David Gemmell’s Waylander. He’s pretty much your classic brooding assassin hero type, but he really excels at making dramatic entrances. And that’s cool.

3. Who or what is your muse?

Very difficult to pick a single thing – but since inspiration tends to flow from whatever game or book I’ve been playing/reading recently, I guess it’s reading in general! Top of the list would be the Witcher games, and David Gemmell’s fantasy novels for worlds and characters I can always return to for an inspiration top-up.

4. If you could pick anything to reincarnate as, what would it be?

A pet cat. I’d be fed, could go and do what I wanted during the day, and could leap six foot up to a garden fence with total ease.

5. Is it better to pronounce words as they are written or write them as they are pronounced?

Not sure what the difference is here. But being English, I’ve long given up on the idea that spelling and pronunciation are in any way linked.

6. There are 4 roads out of town. One is fast but hard to travel, one is slow and easy, one is dangerous, and the last is the one everyone else takes. What would you pick?

Slow and easy. Time to take in the sights away from the crowds (and the danger!)

7. Are you a monogamous artist or do you like to work on several projects at once?

I’m always working on all the things at once. Usually one for each medium though – with a bucket load of ideas or half started and abandoned projects I keep promising myself I can go back to at any time…

8. Is a picture really worth one thousand words?

Perhaps in an instant – but I think the words tend to last longer after the picture fades.

9. Which Lovecraftian Old One are you? (Don’t tell me you don’t read Lovecraft. I’ll cry.)

Sorry Zara-Arletis  – you might need this tissue...

10. What are you afraid of? (Nothing is not an acceptable answer.)

Ok, this might sound crazy, but…. Plants. The sort of ones that keep growing and break through rocks – or through people when growing at fantasy levels of super speed.

11. Do you prefer to create heroes or villains?

Heroes – though I’d love it to be different. I constantly struggle to make my babies do bad things.

12. Is it time to dance?

Never! Time to sit in a corner and listen to the music though.

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I won't be tagging anybody for these questions - but I'd love it if you could all share at least one of your favourite artworks you've discovered this week (DeviantArt or outside - I'll take music, or film even!)

That's all for now - see you next month!