The Outsider

I decided to read this book after I heard that the amazing Jordanian sculptor and poet, Mona Saudi, cited it as a major influence on her as a young artist. The author, Colin Wilson (whose book The Occult I found tedious and devoid of insight) was the original 'angry young man' who produced this beautifully written work of critical and philosophical thought at the age of 24. Can't say it did much for me, particularly his opinions on Herman Hesse, one of my favourite writers. You can see Wilson's block. He names and describes a type among artists - 'the outsider' - who seeks the meaning and purpose of life, attempting to answer the crucial question 'how should we live our lives?'. No doubt considering himself one of this type, he recognises their plight, yet as soon as he finds someone who has an answer, i.e. Hesse, he dismisses the answer as romantic nonsence. Wilson simply cannot deal with mystic or spiritual reality. Notable is the fact he does not even mention Hesse's Journey to the East. Also he says no human has achieved self-realisation - now that's a Western blind spot! Even back in 1956, the Buddha was known and Buddhism itself names many realised human beings. My final complaint, of course, is that he seems to be unaware that there ever existed a writer who was a woman! Immediately coming to mind are Emily Bronte, Virginia Woolf, Isak Dinesen, and Doris Lessing, all fitting the outsider description. What we need are a few more angry young women! So, my opinion on this book: worth a quick perusal for its historical value but otherwise of no great interest.

Ballinamore

Sometimes life brings you full circle. It was decades ago when I first came to Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim to work in my aunt and uncle's hotel, The Commercial Hotel, Main street. Years later, my first book - The Druid's Tune - would be set in this town and on a farm just outside it, before my characters time-travel to ancient Ireland. And now here I am posting this in the library in Ballinamore because I am spending some time in nearby Jampa Ling. Firstly, I was thrilled to see The Hunter's Moon on display here in the library (and they didn't know I was coming) and then to find that there are also copies of The Druid's Tune and The Singing Stone in the local studies section. (They are the Irish published versions by O'Brien Press.) It always cheers up an author to see one's work in public. I'm also listed as a Leitrim writer! Had to smile at that.

Through the Wardrobe to be Reissued

Benbella is reissuing Through the Wardrobe: Your Favourite Authors on CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia in November, with this gorgeous new cover. It will be out in honour of the third Narnia film, Voyage of the Dawn Treader (can't wait!) The book is edited by my dear friend Herbie Brennan who also wrote an article for it. I really enjoyed writing about my favourite author, CS Lewis, and I thoroughly enjoyed the other articles and essays. The pieces are not academic (thank Aslan) but are more of a love fest, with everybody talking about the books and characters from different angles. A great read!

One Down, One to Go and Then ...

Well, that's the edited draft of The Celtic Princess (Book One) done and dusted and off to Canadian and American publishers. It has also gone to UK and Australian/New Zealand publishers who requested to see same, so stay tuned for more news. Now I am taking June off to catch up on the gazillion things that haven't been done due to deadline, i.e. clean house, tend to overgrown garden, see friends, catch up on emails and correspondence, plan research trip to Isle of Erraid (more about that anon), de-clutter house (this is a biggie, I am chucking out the old to make room for the new!), head out to Co. Clare to visit friends and then up to Co. Donegal for annual pilgrimage to Lough Derg ('extreme prayer' as Finn calls it), then it's the whole month of July in a Buddhist retreat while also completing the final draft of my new adult work, People of the Great Journey. I'm half-way through it and looking forward to getting back to it. THEN, when that's done, I'll take another break before getting stuck into second book of The Celtic Princess series. It's called The Celtic Princess and The Dragon King. The storyline is already plotted and notes made, but it is early days yet. The first book was originally called The Celtic Princess and the Stone of Destiny - a totally appropriate title referring to the plot - but I decided to just begin with the series title, also it sounded a bit too like a certain other book, if you know what I mean.

Nightwish - Over the hills and far away

Here's a fantastic video by the Finnish band Nightwish. They fired their lead singer, this amazing woman Tarja Turunen, some time ago and she now sings solo. (Posted one of her fantasy videos months back.) This is the kind of music I would love to see scoring a film version of The Celtic Princess. A writer's dream.

The Celtic Princess

With three contracts signed, sealed and delivered it's time to make the Big Announcement. In fact, my agent - the amazing Marianne Gunn-O'Connor - has already posted the news in Publishers Marketplace, so this is an echo. Yes, my new YA series has legs at last and will be out next year in Canada with Scholastic, in Japan with Shogakukan, and in the United States of America with Penguin Putnam. Very exciting! Stay tuned for who will publish it in the UK and other territories. The Celtic Princess is a mythological adventure series about the 16 year old daughter of the High King of Tara who strives to be a warrior to avenge her father's murder. She is helped by a handsome slave-prince and her beloved wolfhound. I'm also developing the story as a graphic novel. Here's some early artwork from the gifted James Brady, blogged with his permission (copyright: Jim Brady).

OR Melling on Facebook

I'm not one for social network sites chiefly because of all the work it would involve. As is obvious this past while, I am having enough trouble trying to keep my blogs up to date! Don't ask me what I am doing with my time. Well, actually, I'm working one day a week in a beautiful garden on the side of Bray Head, writing two books, taking occasional courses in script-writing, meeting with friends, meditating, reading, visiting my favourite Buddhist Centre, running a spiritual library in a convent twice a month, looking after my cat, occasionally looking after my daughter (studying for exams), visiting my family, helping to run a dance co-op, um, I think that's it. ANYHOO, even though I am not on Facebook, I am: http://pa-in.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=93920199128. Thank you Bethany. Very nice!