Guest Post by Neven Carr | author of Forgotten #mystery #thriller @nevencarr

It’s a pleasure to welcome Neven Carr to the blog with a guest post. Neven’s debut novel ‘Forgotten‘ was published on 11 August last year and is available in ebook and paperback.

The Importance of the Word ‘Blah’

by Neven Carr

The definition of ‘BLAH’ according to the Oxford Dictionary:

‘Used to refer to something which is boring or without meaningful content.’

The definition of the word ‘BLAH’ according to me:

‘A highly meaningful word used to refer to a multitude of words/phrases when, as a writer, you hit a blank.’

My favourite part of writing is the initial creating. You know the feeling, when you find yourself in deep conversations with your characters, when you sadistically throw them head first into a gruelling plot to see how they handle it, when you have so many ideas exploding in your brain, your home, your car and your workplace becomes a wallpaper of sticky notes.

Yep, just love it. I believe it is the best, craziest, painful, exuberant time in a writer’s life. It’s when I feel alive the most. However, when I am hastily scribbling ideas, I can’t always think of the right word. Call it writer’s… um… ‘blah’. [I know the word I want; it’s on the tip of my tongue!].

Chapter One of my book, Forgotten, is an example of this. I had already mapped out the basic story in my head but I knew the first chapter needed to grip readers from the start. [Small note: If you haven’t read The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman, I highly recommend it. It is an easy read and full of great advice for writers.] Anyway, the first chapter also had to be relevant, introduce my major character, Claudia Cabriati, and throw her into a challenging situation where readers can get an immediate sense of her persona.

Ideas grew like mould in my mind, not discriminating where I was or what I was doing. I knew I had to jot the thoughts down immediately, before dementia kicked in and I lost them entirely. Thus, I would grab the nearest object to me, the television guide, the phone book, the serviette at the restaurant, the street directory in the car, the tissue box, oh so many tissue boxes and… well… blah… blah… blah. I think you get the picture. As it was usually when I had very little time, I would jot down the main thought only; the rest fell under my loyal sidekick… ‘blah’.

Now, I am sure many of you have your own similar similes of ‘blah’. However, on the off chance you don’t, you are most welcome to use it. [I wish I had copyright on the word, but I don’t!]

As a result, I think my first chapter achieved my goals. I am certainly very happy with it. If you choose to read my debut novel, Forgotten, I promise that all ‘blah’s have been accounted for and replaced with seriously considered alternatives.

What is your ‘blah’ word when suddenly hit by a great idea?

Drop a line in the Comments Box below, I would love to hear it!

Happy reading, writing and ‘blah’…ing!

Love Neven

About the book:

Araneya Publishing

11 August 2016

431 pages

Every family holds a secret.
How far would yours go to keep it?

Twenty-eight year old schoolteacher, Claudia Cabriati, has no memory of her life before the age of eight. This is not something she thought unusual, until a strangely familiar woman possessing knowledge of that life, is shot and killed in the grounds of Claudia’s home.

Another brutal murder follows, along with the heartbreaking revelation of an unimaginable family conspiracy. Claudia crumbles into a world driven by fear and the irrational need to run and hide.
Why were people suddenly dying around her? Were any of her family, particularly her much-beloved Papa, involved in their deaths? More importantly, would her life be next?

With her trust challenged by those she loves, Claudia turns to the mysterious and enigmatic Saul Reardon. Together they embark on a dangerous journey in search of answers.

But is the past sometimes better left buried?

Set amongst the natural beauty of Australia’s eastern coastline and its richly forested hinterland, Forgotten is a fast-paced mystery thriller that explores the controversial nature of family love and protection, loyalty and self-preservation.

At the time of writing this post, Forgotten is available to download from Amazon UK for 99p

About the author:

Neven Carr lives in what she terms is an author’s haven; a quaint fishing village on the east coast of Queensland, Australia, called Toogoom. Her former years as a Primary School teacher provided her with many life experiences, some treasured, some not so treasured, but ones she continually draws upon when writing her novels. Neven Carr now devotes her time to her four passions, her family, reading, writing and watching Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, and as many BBC mystery thrillers that her Foxtel subscription will allow.
Forgotten is her debut novel.