Posts made in January, 2014

Best Book Read in January: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA

Posted by on Jan 31, 2014 | 2 comments

Best Book Read in January: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA

Is it too early to choose my favourite book of 2014? Because I already know Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is going to be a contender. I loved, loved, loved this book. I already had high hopes for it as I adore gothic fiction (which I may have mentioned a few hundred times by now), and the synopsis for Between the Devil sounded gothic and romantic and everything I enjoy. You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand… Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet...

Why Writing is like Making Chocolate

Posted by on Jan 28, 2014 | Leave a comment

Why Writing is like Making Chocolate

I’ve been a chocolatier and a writer for almost the same amount of time, and I’ve noticed a few similarities between the two along the way. As such, I present: Six Things Writing and Making Chocolate have in Common. Preparation Chocolate Before I create a new chocolate bar, I research ingredients and customers, draft recipes, and daydream about packaging and how I want our chocolate to make people feel. Writing Writing might take less hard-core business analysis, but most stories still require some research and all of them take daydreaming. Even if you jump straight in without planning, that daydreaming time is essential (and so much...