Q & A with D.G. Kaye

Q & A with D.G. Kaye – Featuring MJ Mallon and #NewRelease – Lockdown Innit

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Welcome to my March edition of Q & A time where today I’m featuring another Fey Sister, friend and author, Marjorie Mallon.  I recently published a review for Marje’s lastest release – Lockdown Innit, and today Marje will share her journey to writing her latest book in prose and poetry here in her second book she felt compelled to write about how Lockdown has affected her personal world.

 

Marjorie Mallon author

 

About Marje:

My alter ego is MJ – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheros!

On the 17th of November I was born, in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit.) My early childhood was spent in Hong Kong. During my teen years, my parents returned to my father’s birthplace, Edinburgh, where I spent many happy years. As a teenager, I travelled to many far-flung destinations. It’s rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six-foot hunk of a Rock God husband. My two enchanted daughters have almost flown the nest, but often return with a cheery smile to greet me.

During the day, I work in an international sixth form with students from around the world. I’m the meet and greet lady who welcomes them to their new college and issues them with late slips when they don’t get to their lessons on time!

I write YA fantasy, paranormal, horror/supernatural short stories, flash fiction and short form poetry. More recently, I have produced and compiled an anthology/compilation set during the early stages of COVID-19 entitled This Is Lockdown. Following on from this, in February 2021 I will be releasing Lockdown Innit, poems about absurdity which will be available in kindle and shortly after release in paperback.

I’ve been blogging for many moons at my blog home Kyrosmagica, which means Crystal Magic. From time to time I write articles celebrating the spiritual realm, inspiration and my love of nature, crystals and all things magical, mystical, and mysterious.

My eclectic blog shares my three loves: reading, writing, and creativity. I adore reading and have written over 150 reviews on my blog: https://mjmallon.com/2015/09/28/a-z-of-my-book-reviews/

 

 

Blurb:

Lockdown Innit is a poetry collection of eighteen poems about life’s absurdities and frustrations during lockdown. Wherever you live in this world, this is for you. Expect humour, a dollop of banter and ridiculous rants here and there. Amongst other delights, witness the strange antics of a swan posing by a bin and two statuesque horses appearing like arc deco pieces in a field. Check out the violin player on a tightrope, or the cheeky unmentionables wafting in the lockdown breeze!

 

Lovely to have you over today Marje. Let’s get down to some Q & A!

 

 

 

Where do your book ideas grow from?

Normally, my book ideas grow from a massive surge of creative energy that I
experience upon wakening. I grab my notepad by my bed and jot down ideas before they vanish! These notes become my initial story idea. From that point, I develop the concept and see how it develops and perhaps transforms.

D.G. – Have to laugh Marje, I do the same – notebooks everywhere, because we never know when inspiration strikes – and forgotten shortly after, lol.

 

Do events in your daily life inspire your writing ideas?

When I started writing daily life events didn’t inspire my writing as much as they do now. I’m more aware of current affairs, the world around me, how this pandemic has affected people. So, yes, events in my daily life have taken centre stage for the moment and pushed my fantasy writing aside for a while. I’ve written two books inspired by our struggles during this time, the first This Is Lockdown is a compilation of my personal diaries, poetry and flash fiction plus 28 contributions on the topic of ‘isolation’ from the perspective of authors, bloggers and creatives, including your good self, Debby. These contributed pieces include poetry and flash fiction pieces from different parts of the world. The anthology has an international feel, with thoughts not just from the UK, Ireland, Scotland, but from Italy, Australia, USA and Zimbabwe too. Working on the anthology was a wonderful way to connect with the writing community, to bring us together and lift our spirits in a shared goal at this time.

D.G. – I loved that book too Marje, and thrilled to be part of what will undoubtedly become a piece of history in years to come.

 

What are your writing goals for this year?

I expect that my latest release, a collection of poems about the absurd experiences
I’ve encountered during the pandemic: Lockdown Innit, Poems About Absurdity,
might be the last Covid19 related book that I release. The muse will decide! There are eighteen poems in the collection on all manner of subjects, some absurd serious, some light-hearted absurd. Themes such as: jogging, disregard for others safety, face masks carelessly thrown away, poems written to family members, genuine fears and some pure humorous like Lockdown Breeze, Swan’s Confusion, Horses Like Statues and This Face.Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity releases February 26th.

For the poem: This Face, the image was kindly created by fellow poet and author
Sarah Northwood who is starting to introduce graphic skills to her repertoire:
https://www.sarahnorthwood-author.com/

 

Pink face

 

This Face

Here’s my face, I’m in the pink,
A shade lighter here and there,
Black glasses, hint of eyebrows,
Smile of lipstick, small detail of nose,
Black border for my chin and hair.
Sweet perfection, not a hair out of place!
Sweet perfection, without any disgrace!
Could that really be me in there?
I didn’t even brush my hair!
Or wipe the gunk off my specs,
Those eyebrows, freshly tweeked,
My hair bobbed, cut to perfection.
Which angel darling created this?

© M J Mallon

Sarah Northwood’s image also graces my paperback cover, (which I designed
myself,) to be released shortly after the kindle.

Lockdown Innit cover

 

My writing goals in 2021 are to complete my YA fantasy – The Curse of Time #2
Golden Healer, my poetry and photography collection Do What You Love, and to
work on an autumn inspired book for release around Halloween, with my Spiritual
Sisters: Debby, Colleen, Adele and Sally. I’m so excited about all my projects, 2021 is going to be some year!

D.G. – I love your determination to plow through this pandemic and not lose your writing mojo like many of us writers have endured. And thrilled to be part of the upcoming ‘Sisters’ book too. ❤

 

What is the most intrinsic part of being a writer?

That’s an interesting question, one I am pondering about… Perhaps, its akin to being reborn again. For me, my experience has been like that to a degree. My younger self was lacking confidence, unsure who I was supposed to be. Since becoming a writer, I triggered that imaginative spark in my creative brain, embraced fulfillment and became a little crazy – in a good way! Maybe, writers experience the world on a muchdeeper and more profound level and once we do we can’t return to the person we used to be.

D.G. – Experiences do change us Marje. And no, we will not be going back to the world we knew. Let’s hope we’ll all make it a better world.

 

Do you watch TV? If so what is your favorite show and why?

I tend to be fairly juvenile in my choice of TV! My eldest daughter and I have been
watching episode after episode of the American comedy-drama television series,
Gilmore Girls which I love. The mother daughter vibe is fabulous as is the
wickedness of the grandmother. I’m always so jealous of Lorelei’s (the mum’s) lovely fashion sense. She is the coolest mum out there! She’s kind of wacky, (which I relate to,) speaks so fast (like she’s got an abundance of thoughts whizzing in her brain,) and loves her daughter Rory (I’m so close to my daughters and family too.) The characters are all so wonderfully relatable and the series is addictive.

D.G. – I am so not surprised you connect with that show Marje. I’ve only ever watched a few episodes – long ago when it was on primetime. But no surprise coming from a YA writer. 🙂

 

Connect with Marje: Links and Social Media

Authors Website::  https://mjmallon.com

Visit my Author Amazon Page for all my books:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L

MJ Mallon books

 

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon

#ABRSC – Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/

Goodreads::  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-mallon  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

 

©DGKaye2021

bitmo live laugh love

 

 

44 thoughts on “Q & A with D.G. Kaye – Featuring MJ Mallon and #NewRelease – Lockdown Innit”

  2. A very nice author interview with Marje, Debby. Lockdown in the UK was quite different to here and I expect the recovery will be very different too.

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    2. Thanks for your joining in the chat Robbie. Yes, all our experiences vary to a degree. I’ve started back at work which has been very strange and emotional. Isolating for so long affected me more this time than it did in the first lockdown. But, I’m coping better after a few days back. Work starts more in earnest next week when our students will be back in larger numbers. Luckily, a fair few of us are getting our vaccines which is good. Also, we are testing twice a week, so hope to keep the covid at bay. Take care, Marje x

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      1. It was so weird going back to work. Felt so emotional on Monday, it’s as if a whole year of holding in emotions just burst out of me. It’s getting a little easier, nice to see some humans! Even my boss! Lol. x

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    2. I know me too Stevie. My hubby had his jab today and I am going for mine tomorrow. I work in a school so will be glad to get inoculated as they kids are back in large numbers next week. What a time it has been. Here’s to happier times ahead. Marje x

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    2. Hi Pete, yes I can’t believe a year on we are still here… Anyway, it looks like hope is on the horizon. This will be my last collection about these times. I’m working on some new ideas which I am excited about. All the best, Marje

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  5. Fantastic Q&A Debby and Marje.. always interesting to find out the inspirations and background to poetry and stories.. look forward to reading on my Amazon list today.. hugs to you both ♥

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  6. Wonderful interview with Marje here! Debby, I like the questions you asked and the intro about Marje’s job at the college too. It was a great mix of personal and professional in this post 🙂 Love you two ladies!

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    2. Hi Christy, thank you for your lovely comment, Debby has done a fabulous job with this interview. Thank you for all your support with this launch too. Yes, it’s lovely working in an international college supporting kids from around the world. I’d say it’s been my favourite career job, (though writing always comes first!) Lol. It’s been a tough year for the youngsters and staff but there is an easing of restrictions and hope on the horizon. A lot of staff are now getting their covid vaccine, including me today! And we are regularly testing both staff and students.

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  7. Hi Debby, I love this interview with Marje, and so nice to see her again. I can’t wait to see what she decides to write next, and also her perspective on writing being like a rebirth. Amazing. Toni x

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    2. Hi Toni a totally different direction next! I will be working on edits of my second YA fantasy in the series Curse of Time and a new story idea, a NA paranormal short story/novella. Thanks for your encouragement and for joining in the discussion. x

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  8. Good answer to the affect of daily life on her writing. I wonder how many agree (I certainly do) that we just let the world roll on, pretty sure that would happen withour without our help, until COVID hit. Then, everything changed.

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  11. What a wonderful interview with Marje! I love her enthusiasm and determination to plow on despite the craziness around the world. I feel the same way. Thank you for hosting, Debby. This was great!

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  12. What an interesting interview. I have a wonderful relationship with my daughter too, though she now lives far away and I don’t get to see her as often as I’d like.
    It is good to see that our pandemic is not a hindrance to creativity, for some at least. Well done, Marje,

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  14. It’s great to see Marje over here, Debby. She has so much energy and enthusiasm, particularly about what writing means to her. It comes out loud and clear through her answers. Good luck with your writing goals, Marje. I have no doubt that you’ll achieve them.

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  16. Thanks for another great interview, Debby! As soon as it is available in paperback, I will need “Lockdown Innit” printed too. In addition to the anthology, this is another standard work for me, in order to be able to recall this time in a relaxing way. Wish a good day! Michael

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