PHILLIP W SIMPSON
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Minotaur cover reveal and giveaway!

4/30/2015

2 Comments

 
M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!
This week, we are revealing the cover for
Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson
presented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Minotaur.v3
“Where shall I start?” asked Minotaur.

Ovid made an expansive gesture with both hands. “Where else but the beginning of course.”

Minotaur nodded his huge head. “Yes,” he said. “Yes,” his eyes already glazing over with the weight of thousand year old memories. And then he began.

So begins the story of Asterion, later known as Minotaur, the supposed half bull creature of Greek legend. Recorded by the famous Roman poet, Ovid, Asterion tells of his boyhood in Crete under the cruel hand of his stepfather Minos, his adventures with his friend, Theseus, and his growing love for the beautiful Phaedra.And of course what really happened in the labyrinth.

This is the true story of the Minotaur.
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Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Publisher: Month9books

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About-the-Author

Phillip W Simpson

Phillip W. Simpson is the author of many novels, chapter books and other stories for children. His publishers include Macmillan, Penguin, Pearson, Cengage, Raintree and Oxford University Press.

He received both his undergraduate degree in Ancient History and Archaeology and his Masters (Hons) degree in Archaeology from the University of Auckland.

Before embarking on his writing career, he joined the army as an officer cadet, owned a comic shop and worked in recruitment in both the UK and Australia.

His first young adult novel, Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1), was shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for best Youth novel in 2012.

He is represented by Vicki Marsdon at Wordlink literary agency.

When not writing, he works as a school teacher.

Phillip lives and writes in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife Rose, their son, Jack and their two border terriers, Whiskey and Raffles. He loves fishing, reading, movies, football (soccer) and single malt Whiskeys.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Rewrites. Yay!

4/21/2015

0 Comments

 
When people (mostly my wife) ask me how the new novel is going, I say ‘well, it’s going.’ I’m not sure where but it’s going. The first 5k words or so got critiqued by my lecturer (Paula Morris) and fellow students in the MCW. They confirmed my suspicions. Basically, I was trying a bit too hard to be ‘clever’ or ‘complicated’ or something. I don’t know really. I was just trying to do something different, to stretch myself, to be better. My agent tells me that I have the skills now to challenge myself and I like to think that’s what I’ve been doing but, I have to admit, I’ve felt a little bit at sea with my current W.I.P.

It’s young adult of course. Historical. Of course. This will be my third YA historical novel. My eighth novel overall, actually. Without giving too much away, I have three main characters. All teenagers. My plan was to use first person POV and present tense. Alternate each character from chapter to chapter. I soon realised this was too complicated and confusing and changed it to only two of the characters. I wrote the prologue and the first two chapters. Wasn’t entirely happy with it.

I sent it to my agent. She really liked it.

Then it got critiqued by the other students. The pointed out that I use too many adverbs which I didn’t realise. I also say ‘suddenly’ quite a lot. I changed it.

Suddenly (see what I did there?), it’s now 3rd person, past tense. Mostly one person’s perspective but quite a bit of a second with occasional other characters thrown in for good measure. I think it’s better. I hope it’s better. It better bloody well be better.

I sent this second draft to my agent. She liked the POV better but I’d lost something in the pacing by trying to weave too much bloody plot in too early. Back to the drawing board.

It’s my third draft and I’m getting sick of reading the same sentences. Have done almost 30k now. Almost half way. My agent has it.

Now, I know I promised to give regular updates on the course but I lied. There’s no other way of saying it. The bottom line is that I am learning, I am taking on board other’s criticisms and advice and adapting my writing accordingly. I’m reading more widely which is great. I’m much more analytical when I read. I feel like this has taken a little enjoyment out of reading but I guess that’s life.

This course will make me a better writer. That or it will kill me. Pick one.


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    Phillip W. Simpson

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    Phillip W. Simpson is an author of  YA and children's books.

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  • Home
  • About
  • NOVELS
    • Minotaur
    • Argos
    • Titan
    • Earthborn
    • Rapture Trilogy >
      • Rapture - Rapture Trilogy #1
      • Tribulation - Rapture Trilogy #2
      • Apocalypse - Rapture Trilogy #3
      • Rapture graphic novel
    • The Unseen Country
    • Overdrive
  • Children
    • The Smallest Trolley Racer
    • Over the Rainbow Bridge
    • Chapter Books
    • Teacher resources >
      • Multiple intelligences
      • Writing resources for teachers
      • Educational Series, Articles and Short Stories
  • Workshops
  • Shop
  • Press kit
  • Blog
  • Contact