December Round Up

Doesn’t time fly? I was writing the first draft of this December newsletter a day after the final show of the charity pantomime I take part in every year.

It was great being able to interact with the audience and act alongside a fun, dedicated theatre group. Being a full-time writer can be isolating. I find having a break and doing something different (and dressing up in a camel costume to sing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is certainly different!) helps me get stuck into writing projects I might have struggled with earlier in the year.

It was only six shows, but now I’m absolutely shattered!

Current News ?

Part three of my serial has just been approved. I’m now finishing up the fourth instalment. Luckily, I did the extra research needed for part four while I was waiting to hear back, so only two more parts after this 😊

Still no publication news, so onto the next bit.

WIPS !

Here’s a wintry scene to get in the mood, because there’s been no snow where I am yet!

 

Elsbeth held her breath as the door swung open. Bitter winds heavy as sea waves rushed across her cheeks, fluttering her eyelashes and stinging the corners of her eyes. Coating the hedges around her cottage were cobwebs prickled by frost that resembled snowflakes suspended in time.

Their summers could scald a man’s back when he worked the fields, winters froze milk in the pail and turned hands raw and scratched, and yet the strong contrasts brought their own beauties.

Elsbeth took in a deep, steadying breath and the cold scraped her lungs. There were guards out there, waiting for some fool to brave the night and try to celebrate Christmas.

—The Ploughman’s Song

DISCOUNTS |

As promised, A Christmas Carriage Ride will be discounted from $2.99 to $1.99 throughout the second half of December. It’s a collection of original winter themed stories inspired by classic tales I grew up reading: Dracula, Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera and a side story related to my Sleepy Hollow spin off, The Ichabod Crane and Headless Horseman mysteries.

 

The Wedding Mask will also have a dollar off in December. With much urging from reviewers, this one is a collection of Phantom of the Opera inspired stories. Some of the stories include an alternative retelling with mermaids, a modern day story and a tragic tale entwined with the Pygmalion legend…

WRITING TIPS @

Not really a tip, but with Christmas coming up we all know what gifts writers often get. Notebooks!

I love getting a new notebook, but once I’ve filled the pages, I never want to recycle them as most have gorgeous covers. Unfortunately, I’m steadily running out of space for them.

So, if you don’t want to get rid of an old notebook, reuse them for scrapbooking. I use washi tape and picture corner tabs to stick in postcards, trading cards and article cut outs. The reused notebooks can also be lined up on the shelves.

At least it might help with my New Year resolution, which is decluttering the house and finally getting through my to read pile.

 

See you all next year!

About the Author

Kitty-Lydia Dye wanders the beaches for inspiration with her dog Bramble. Her historical fiction has been influenced by the local myths roaming the haunting landscape of the Norfolk marshes. Many of her short stories have appeared in The People's Friend magazine. She has also released a collection inspired by Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera. She enjoys knitting dog jumpers, gazing at the waves at night, exploring church ruins as well as taking part in amateur dramatics (and played the part of an evil flying monkey!)

 

November Round Up

Hello again 😊 This is the November issue of my newsletter. Did I forget how many days there were in a month and now this is two days late? Yes!

There’s not much writing/publication news this time around as I tend to wind down during the run up to Christmas. It’s a very busy season for me socially—I take part in a local pantomime—but I’ve still got some writing tips to share!

CURRENT NEWS ?

I’m still working on a serial for The People’s Friend and getting closer to the final part. I can’t share anything except that I’m currently researching the inner workings of a water mill alongside Methodist circuit preaching in Norfolk.

At the start of the month, I went on a little research trip to Southwold, Suffolk for a future serial submission. It was lovely going there, especially looking around St Edmund’s church. Unfortunately, it was pouring with rain so I couldn’t bring my camera, but I did bring home plenty of research material!

PUBLICATION NEWS #

No new releases this month, as my recent short stories were set during summer and autumn. I had planned to write a Christmas story earlier in the year, but ended up missing the submission deadline while working on the serial, so it’s my own fault. 

Hopefully I’ll get The Ploughman’s Song finished for next Christmas!

WIPS !

Here’s a scene from a fantasy short story I’m currently on the second draft for:

🐚

“How can you live such a life?”

Arabella expects thorns to grow from her tongue. She wants to feel their bite upon her words.

Instead, her flesh is smooth. Beneath the surface, the girl’s blood is slippery and frothy like seafoam. Salt prickles the undersides of her eyes and they well.

This is why the fisher people abandon the lonely. So much grief and pain in one so young, who can still wind magic around her fingertips… 

Think how many storms would roar from the tiniest of nightmares. 

DISCOUNTS |

No discounts for November, but look out for dates in the December newsletter when I’ll be reducing the price for A Christmas Carriage Ride.

WRITING TIPS @

So, considering I missed the Christmas submission deadline, this month’s writing tip will be about submitting seasonal short stories. (I always hit deadlines given to me by editors, but when it's a self-imposed one for a competition or something similar, those ones still elude me! 😅)

Most magazines are six months ahead in their publishing schedule. For example, The People’s Friend closed their submission window for Christmas stories in September this year but started to accept them back in April. 

More about The People’s Friend and seasonal stories can be found on their blog: When To Submit Seasonal Stories To The People's Friend (thepeoplesfriend.co.uk)

Often publishers will find their inboxes flooded early in the year and are then even less likely to accept new stories as they’ve approved several already. Christmas, Halloween, any other specific date can only have a certain number of stories a year, so competition is much higher.

If you’re a writer who can get their stories finished well ahead of the deadline, then that’s great 😊 My advice for those who procrastinate like I do is to make the seasonal story one for the drawer.

It can be a little off kilter writing a winter story in the blaze of summer, which is when most are written, so why not write during the holidays without having to rush. Many of my own stories focus on nature, so it’s good to see what’s happening around me in real-time rather than rely on my spotty memory.

I might not be able to submit straightaway, but I can get it finished off when submissions do reopen. Or, even better, be vague about the season and you can submit whenever you fancy! :P

Do you prefer racing the clock or waiting until next year?

ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB 🕸

I’ve recently posted on Tumblr sketches of the machines featured in my sci-fi short story, The Dream and The Weaver, which was published in The Dread Machine’s Darkness Blooms anthology. Ink Spiders on Tumblr

October Round Up

I’ve decided to do a sort of monthly round up/newsletter on this blog so readers can see I’m not dead what I’m currently working on 😊 It will also include offers on my books as well as what inspires me and my writing process.

CURRENT NEWS ?

The main project I’m working on is a six-part serial for The People’s Friend magazine, so I can’t talk about it until the release date. This will be my fifth serial with the magazine and it’s one I’ve wanted to write for a few years now.

It started life as a pocket novel, but the story ended up branching out with so many different characters I decided it would work better as a serial.

My main inspiration was exploring Great Yarmouth’s history, particularly the Yarmouth suspension bridge disaster in 1845, as well as Norfolk’s mustard industry. So far, I’m working on part four.

PUBLICATION NEWS #

My writing news for October is that I’ve had two short story releases in The People’s Friend magazine.

The first one was The Beachcombers in the October 7^th issue. This was a short story about Victorian fossil hunting and the fakes that used to appear. It’s set in Hunstanton in the 1850s and deals with themes such as loss and found family. Illustration is by David Young.

My next story is in this week’s issue, October 28^th, and I’m a cover girl!

The Witch’s Tree is a sequel to my Victorian pharmacy inspired story Lavender and Leeches (February 16^th, 2019 issue), which has since been re-released under its original title Bitter Herbs and Sweet Pills in The Wherryman’s Daughter.

Jenny Cooper must combat local superstition when her sister-in-law is accused of witchcraft. Illustration is by Sailesh Thakrar. This was heavily inspired by a ghost story linked to the church ruins at Somerton. More about the first story and its inspiration can be found here: Kitty-Lydia Dye: Lavender and Leeches - What Did A Victorian Pharmacy Offer? (kittylydiadye.blogspot.com)

I’ve also received a lovely four-star review on Amazon and Goodreads for The Wherryman’s Daughter.

WIPS !

I’m continuing the spooky theme with a few quotes from a novel I’m currently working on, a timeslip set during Norfolk’s witch trials.

❀

I dreamt of her. The Catfield witch.

No longer did I lay in an unfamiliar bed, but upon the bank of some pond. Reeds cradled my vision, swaying and flecked with dark spots.

There was a slopping, choking gasp and I turned, marsh mud squelching beneath my cheek. The water rippled and a hand broke through the surface, revealing bruises and scraps of flesh.

The creature was waterlogged with weeds, face bloated and mossy, but still clearly a girl. Even while I shook, voice catching in my throat, I stretched my hand out to her.

She was just a child. One that had been killed because some cows sickened.

Spindly fingers crept up my wrist, but I did not feel the feathery scrape of a human touch. Droplets slithered, the girl melting back into the pond.

The rushes danced and whispered all around me. Alone. For miles.

❀

“Their foul touch can be seen so clearly in these troubling times,” Larkin added, “In sickness. The cruelty of war. These children and old women are often led astray, and sadly the only way of freeing them is to cleanse them entirely. To save their souls just as God demands.”

Now, the witch hunter held my gaze. His eyes were black as a fish’s. A hint of teeth appeared in his smile.

“Forgive me, I did not even realise you were there. We have not yet been introduced.”

DISCOUNTS |

Halloween always means a discount on my Ichabod Crane mystery books. The Mystery of the Headless Husband will be available for free on Amazon on the 30^th and 31^st of October.

There’s plenty of spooky happenings and folklore, such as witch cakes and a New England version of ghost dog Black Shuck, alongside a curious detective duo.

One Halloween night, Ichabod Crane vanished. Most believed the Headless Horseman had whisked him off. The truth was that he had hid himself away in shame after being the victim of a cruel trick—the Headless Horseman who near harried him into an early grave was in fact a love rival for the affections of Katrina Van Tassel.

Five years pass and the rival, Brom Bones, is found beheaded. Ichabod returns to Sleepy Hollow to search for the killer and woo the now widowed Katrina. Instead, he gains a headless ally...

There is something strange in the air that is affecting the women. Could it really be the ghost of a Salem witch? Join Ichabod Crane and the real Headless Horseman as they try to discover whether an otherworldly evil has fallen upon Sleepy Hollow or if it is the power of suggestion.

WRITING TIPS @

This is a common tip, but listening to music while writing can really help if you’re finding it difficult to focus. Most people suggest classical music. I find a mixtape of varying tempos and genres is best depending on which stage of the writing process I’ve reached.

While writing the first draft I listen to noisy music. Rock. Punk. Pop. First drafts are normally terrible so it doesn’t pay to spend too long worrying over them, so I try to drown out my mind as I put pen to paper.

For the next five drafts and while cutting down word count, the music gets even more high paced. This tends to be folk music, anime themes, video game music.

Video game soundtracks are something I definitely recommend. They’re designed to be easy to listen to while focusing on a task.

Finally, when I’m happy with a piece and plan on doing my final edit, that’s when the lyrics disappear with classical music and lo-fi tracks.

Here’s an example of what I listen to on Spotify. What music do you prefer?

Writing

Editing & the Deadline is Looming!

The Storm Has Passed, All Is Calm

About the Author

Kitty-Lydia Dye wanders the beaches for inspiration with her dog Bramble. Her historical fiction has been influenced by the local myths roaming the haunting landscape of the Norfolk marshes. Many of her short stories have appeared in The People's Friend magazine. She has also released a collection inspired by Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera. She enjoys knitting dog jumpers, gazing at the waves at night, exploring church ruins as well as taking part in amateur dramatics (and played the part of an evil flying monkey!)

Find Me On Social Media

 

Look, cute dog! :D

As I now have several accounts across various social media platforms, I thought it best to compile a list of where readers can find me and what each page features.

Here on this blog I write about new releases alongside posts examining my historical stories and what inspired them, such as mythology, the history of ice-cream, Norfolk traditions etc :)

Twitter

Kitty-Lydia Dye (@KittyLydiaDye) / X (twitter.com)

This is where I tend to post the most. It's the first place I'll update with offers on my books as well as one sentence previews of my current works in progress.

Facebook

Inkspiders

Book offers and new releases will appear here. It also features an album showcasing all of the illustrations for my People's Friend short stories.

Instagram

Kitty-Lydia Dye Author (@kittylydiadye) • Instagram photos and videos

Previews of my book covers alongside photos of Norfolk's landscape and nature.

Tumblr

Ink Spiders on Tumblr

My Tumblr page focuses on my science fiction stories and artwork. Currently, I'm posting up a short series about what inspired my latest story, The Dream and the Weaver.

Goodreads

 Kitty-Lydia Dye (Author of The Wedding Mask And Other Tales) | Goodreads 

This is where listings of my published books appear. If you enjoyed reading my stories and want to leave a review, please drop by here! :)

Sabotage At The Big Top - Part One - The People's Friend

 

Part one of my new serial starts in The People's Friend magazine! A Victorian family drama where a travelling circus struggles to reach their final destination at Norwich when someone begins sabotaging the acts.

Part two will be released next week :)

Viking Hygiene - The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm

As an accompaniment to my historical romance, The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm (published by Satin Romance), this blog series has been examining different aspects of Viking culture. Last time, it was clothes and jewellery.

 Other posts include:

Viking homes

The Vikings in Norfolk

Gods and Folklore

For this one, I’m focusing on Viking hygiene. This subject features heavily in Bride as a means for Rosa and Grimulf to get comfortable with one another 😉

Darkness Blooms - The Dream and the Weaver

My author copies from the anthology Darkness Blooms, a collection of dark speculative fiction published by The Dread Machine, which examined themes about identity, security and community.

My story, The Dream and the Weaver, examined what would happen to society if - in the very far future - dreams were treated as nothing more than another media outlet. Sleep has to be paid for and our happy dreams, distorted memories and nightmares are bought and sold to entertain others.

"Determined to find her wife, Ayumi enters a dream world where she must confront her past trauma and grief with the help of Mashoka, a faulty Weaver."

More about the book can be found here: https://www.thedreadmachine.com/darkness-blooms/
There's also a Spotify reading playlist! :)

Short Story - On St Mark's Eve - The People's Friend Special

In this month's issue of The People's Friend Special is my short story On St Mark's Eve - a folklore romance with rivalry, ghosts and smuggling! Illustration is by Sailesh Thakrar :)

Sweet As You Like - Victorian Sweet Shop Romance - The People's Friend Special

 

Illustration by Mandy Dixon

Out this month in The People's Friend Special is my latest short story. This one is set in Norwich and is actually a prequel to a past story, Carried By The Wind, but you don't need to have read that one to enjoy Sweet As You Like! :)

Lavender and Leeches - What Did A Victorian Pharmacy Offer?

As a lookback on my past works, this blog post is going to focus on my short story Lavender and Leeches. This was previously published in The People’s Friend magazine back in 2019. 

Alongside it was this lovely illustration by Jim Dewar.

It was my sixth story with the magazine and was heavily inspired by watching reruns of Victorian Pharmacy, a BBC documentary series starring Ruth Goodman where historians recreated working in a 19^th century pharmacy. 

Other influences came from the pharmacy display at the Bridewell Museum in Norwich, which, while based on a 20^th century pharmacy, certainly has a varied and interesting selection of old medicines. There’s even a carboy 😊

Lord Winterton's Secret One Year Anniversary - Inspiration and Landscape

It will soon be the one year anniversary of my Regency romance mystery, Lord Winterton’s Secret, published by DC Thomson/The People’s Friend on the 20^th of January 2022.

Other versions include a large print edition published by Ulverscroft and a self-published digital edition with the title Curious Governess, Dangerous Lord (which was the original title when the manuscript was first submitted to The People’s Friend!). The kindle version is the author’s original version, without any changes to fit the publisher’s inhouse style or wordcount.

 

Lord Winterton’s Secret was my first pocket novel. Pocket novels are a series of quick holiday reads, just under 200 pages, with a limited print run. To celebrate the book’s anniversary, I thought I’d write about what inspired me as well as any major changes the story went through during the first draft stage.

A Light On The Horizon - Writing Process

With the release of another of my short stories in The People’s Friend magazine, A Light On The Horizon, I’ve decided this blog post will be about my writing process for historical fiction 😊 It’s an adventure romance set on the Norfolk coast with lighthouses, smugglers and a great big storm! Currently available in issue 236 of The People's Friend Special.

 (Some pictures may need to be clicked on to better see the text)

Gorgeous illustration by Mandy Dixon

Growing up, I loved reading fiction which wove lots of historical detail into the narrative. When I come up with ideas for my own stories, I like to focus on one interesting fact, such as local folklore or how ice-cream was made in the 19^th century, and shape the plot and characters around this. As most of my stories are set along Norfolk’s coast, countryside or in Norwich city, I also include a regional meal or location.