T-L Spencer: Dreaming, Writing, Reading

It is a lovely day today, and I encourage people to get outside and enjoy the rays! We've already been out and walked the dog! 

I was going to write an article and give you boring facts and figures about how reading to children early sets a good example and has the potential to improve language skills later on in life, but I think I shall let this picture speak for itself. Sometimes an image can do more than all the numbers in the world.

So, I've found a meme which I absolutely adore! For anyone with a husky, this will we completely understandable: Awesome! And here's another one I discovered whilst surfing through Pinterest... Please enjoy these Husky Happy Shots!

I love these things; works of art and yet so useful at the same time!  This one was made from a book! I've also seen money boxes, fairy wishing wells and night lights. They are fascinating things. Originally, they were made to dazzle people, most often showing off a person's personal or military prowess. Now though, they are are often created to stand as great works of art.

My love of Jane Austen has risen to new heights with this collection of modernised teenage adaptations of the beloved novels by author Rosie Rushton. From Whatever Love Is (Mansfield Park) to firm favourites Summer of Secrets (Northanger Abbey) and Love, Lies and Lizzie (Pride and Prejudice), Rushton has definitely set the bar on how to write a romantic comedy with depth, passion and hormonal drama! So, If I was talking about Austen, I'd start with publishing order. However, as these are adaptations, I'm going to start with my lowest rated. This review contains spoilers. *** Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams *** An adaptation of Emma, this charming novel brings to the fore all the sentimentality and sarcastic dry wit that the original did. Like the original, Emma Woodhouse is a young, caring woman who is well aware of her luck, good fortune and status - and also well determined to ensure she passes that wealth on by pairing her friends. When her best friend George Knightley, nee...

Hi guys, tomorrow I will be posting my review of the Austen adaptations! In the mean time, take a look at these pictures and the art of space... I am all for accidental art, so anything to do with reading is fantastic! The use of the book and the glasses together, the negative spacing... It's perfect, and so pretty! Again, another example, this time with a ring. These were taken with iPhones if you can believe it (these images are available on Pinterest and are accompanied by articles in photography). This is probably my favourite. Books to make you think. :) As all books should. xxx

I will be reviewing a series of books based on the beloved Jane Austen classics! I recently discovered them, and believe them a great addition to the 'lore', as it were.  Keep on coming back, people, because my library just got happier! XxX

We may have read the book, we may have seen the movie, but whichever form we've digested, the mysterious 'Shadow' within Inkheart (written by C.Funke) always manages to send a chill shivering down the spine. Mo and Meggie's impressive yet dangerous gift to bring fictional wonders to life presents us with fantastical tales of marvel and adventure. And of course, where would we be without adding danger to the mix? A thrilling and literary addition to silhouette summer... ;) XxX

Continuing with my theme of silhouettes and shadows, I wanted to diversify into something a little more upbeat. What can shadows and silhouettes do? For what and how can they be used? Well, this image of the magical Mary Poppins, set against quaint city backdrop gives us plenty ideas. What an easy way to create beautiful pieces of bespoke furniture, or delight guests at a party! With more sinister backdrops, I am sure Halloweeners would delight in seeing arms and legs dangles perilously through the air, to the shadows of a noose in a window... The possibilities are endless. But back to Mary Poppins and a spoonful of sugar!

Good afternoon! I love this picture. You usually see it combined with a quote from Alice in Wonderland. By itself though, the amount of space, and the darkness is somehow spooky. I can see why they use it for Alice... The shadows of the mind suit this background.

Shadow fan...  I love the attention to detail here. Especially with the light coming through. You can pick up lots of details surrounding the woman's face even though she's in darkness - the lighting is well balanced to pick out specific elements. Beautiful.

Whether it's a good spine-chilling thriller, a ghoulish horror or a heart racing Noir, in film, art and even in books there's something about the shadows that heightens our senses, excited is, makes everything that more alive... To celebrate our love of shadows, be they characters in books, mysterious works of art, photography slip ups or simple silhouettes for the next month - ironically when our days are longest and our shadows shortest - I will be posting facts, pictures, song titles for everyone to see and absorb at there darkest leisure. XxX

Hello, wherever are you are! It has been a long time since I have been on my blog, and for that I deeply apologise. I've been hard at work studying and writing and it has been difficult to find a minute of peace in the havoc. But here I am, and with updates and new books, no less. As you can tell, my blog has had a bit of a clean up. This is an ongoing project of mine, so if stuff you like disappears, it will most likely reappear at a later date. If not, give me an email or shout on Twitter (look left for info) and I shall try and find a place for it somewhere. Regarding my books, two new stories have joined the ranks of the Witch-Haven magic crew. Available on Amazon Kindle, the biting tale of Charlotte Warren and Jordan Morris and their struggle between secrets, magic and true love can be read in Bitten in the Dark , the second instalment in the Powers of Witch-Haven series. Also, enjoy a blast from Witch-Haven past with the new short story Love Drunk , where a Halloween pa...