helen black's Discussions
What's the point ?
44 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Pate Grantwell Dec 16, 2008.
The Londonstani Effect
9 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Iain Rowan Apr 19, 2008.
Hit me baby one more time
15 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Karen Dionne Mar 21, 2008.
helen black's Page
Profile Information
- Hometown:
- beds,uk
- About Me:
- I'm a writer - Damaged Goods published by Harpercolins.
I'm a lawyer - representing kids
I'm a mother - 8 year old twins
I'm a wife - poor sod
I'm a loud mouth - as a working class northerner it's obligatory
- I Am A:
- Reader, Writer
- Website:
- http://hblack.co.uk
- Books And Authors I Like:
- Mark Billingham, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, Martina Cole, Minnete Walters all rock.
- Movies And TV Shows I Like:
- The Usual Suspects, The Godfather, The Blair Witch Project.
On TV I like Spooks, In Cold Blood, 24, Dr Who, Ashes to Ashes.
Oh and Prime Suspect - loving it.
Helen black's Blog
Lights, Camera, Action
'Just a little more eyeliner,' says the impossibly beautiful make up artist.
I'm at some TV studios in Old Street to promote Damaged Goods. I've done a lot of radio ( frankly I've got the face and arse for it ) but I've never before graced the screen.
I check my reflection. I'm wearing more make up than Boy George. My skin is so orange I look like a burnt satsuma.
'It won't look so heavy under the lights,' says the make up artist who I can't help noticing wears nothing…
ContinuePosted on January 29, 2008 at 10:02pm — 1 Comment
Lights, Camera, Action
'Just a little more eyeliner,' says the impossibly beautiful make up artist.
I'm at some TV studios in Old Street to promote Damaged Goods. I've done a lot of radio ( frankly I've got the face and arse for it ) but I've never before graced the screen.
I check my reflection. I'm wearing more make up than Boy George. My skin is so orange I look like a burnt satsuma.
'It won't look so heavy under the lights,' says the make up artist who I can't help noticing wears nothing…
ContinuePosted on January 29, 2008 at 10:02pm
Groundhog Day
Husband Who Lives In Hope brings through the wine. I cart a collection of biscuits and chocolates that would make Willy Wonka barf.
We settle down in front of the TV to watch the latest episode of Messiah.
A very sexy Mark Warren struts gloomily through numerous religiously themed crime scenes.
'Do you think,' asks Husband Who Lives In Hope, 'that he ever notices that all his cases are a bit similar?'
Mark inspects a pair of blood stained hands forced to pray for…
ContinuePosted on January 22, 2008 at 4:14am
Small Town Blues
Mother With An Eye For A Bargain calls me from the supermarket.
'They've got your book.'
These calls are not unusual - since Damaged Goods was published she's spotted them with the trained eye she turned on me as a teenager with hickies.
'There are five on the shelf,' she says. 'So I'm happy with that.'
There's a but comming. I can smell it like a dog before a storm.
'But,' there you go, 'the position's all wrong.'
'These things are decided by the…
ContinuePosted on January 18, 2008 at 8:23pm — 3 Comments
Supermum Lawyer Writes Debut Novel shrieks the headline in the Gazzette. My picture grins out inanely, Damaged Goods, held close to my chest. I sigh. ''Most mothers are delighted if they find time to…
Supermum Lawyer Writes Debut Novel shrieks the headline in the Gazzette. My picture grins out inanely, Damaged Goods, held close to my chest.
I sigh.
''Most mothers are delighted if they find time to juggle work and children but Helen Black somehow wrote her fabulous new book.'
I sigh and look around the train wreck I laughingly call home.
The twins were up til 4am projectile vomiting with a force and intensity Linda Blair would…
ContinuePosted on January 17, 2008 at 8:37pm — 2 Comments
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My apologies for the HUGE delay in replying to you! God, I can't believe that you sent me a message in January and it took me nearly a year to find out that I had a message! I joined crimespace some considerable time ago, and then I joined bookspace, and then facebook, and then I started a website, and then I started getting about thirty e-mails a day through the website and on and on and on it went! And then this morning, for whatever reason, someone else sent me an e-mail through the website asking if I was still on crimespace, so I went there and there was your message! Anyway, huge apologies Helen, and seeing as it is this time of year may I take this opportunity to wish you all happiness for Christmas, and all the very best for a wonderful 2009. Please e-mail me back at roger@rjellory.com and we can talk about books and other such nonsense! Take care, and sorry again for such extraordinary bad manners.
Roger.
A while back you asked if I had a website and I said it was a work in progress. Well I'm now pleased to report that its up and running!
If you get a chance, please take a look and let me know what you think.
Cheers,
Steve
I have just bought a copy of Damaged Goods, I saw it when I was signing books in Waterstones the other day. Not sure when I'll get round to reading though, there are already half a dozen waiting on the pile. It was the title that caught my eye - I was was to use the same title for the third or fourth book in the series. Never mind.
Twins, lawyering, and writing. Okay, so I'm not the busiest person I know.
Congratulations on your successful debut.
I haven't heard about panels just yet but it's nice to be able to say hi in advance of the festival. Thanks for the heads up on Neil - I'll track him down and say hello on here too. I see we both share the same sordid dayjob btw - must be something about the law that drives us to come up with complex murder plans...
Cheers
Chris
x
Just wanted to let you know that I am reading and thoroughly enjoying your book at the moment! One part that really struck me was when 'husband who lives in hope' went out and bought you a laptop when you said you'd like to write a book - mine did that too!
Of course, it was second hand and died before I got cracking....tsk.....but hey!
So, anyway, I'm now back online - with a new laptop and a better internet connection. If someone could throw in a Cadburys twirl and a bar of wholenut at this moment then my life would be almost perfect.
But back to the book - I only picked it up yesterday and I'm on Chpt 3 - it's zinging along really nicely and Lilly Valentine is a great character. Having met some fantastic Northern women, it's great to see one brought to life like that!
Anyways - I'll give you my humble opinion - for what it's worth - when I finish!
Better get my butt back over to WebMums now - I've abandoned it since my laptop died and I've loads of new articles to put on there!
TC
Nikki
x
I think it all depends on how much you want to write the screenplay and how much you want to cut. When you see movies and think, 'that's not as good as the book' it's often because sections you really enjoyed in the book are not in the film. There's a process you go through when adapting where you need to decide what the STORY is about and the little things that this reader or that reader might really like disappear. In the end I think it is difficult because you are the most attached to your book. As well, writers, especially mystery and thriller writers, want to get onto the next book and not live inside a single novel for that long. And Scriptwriting is a long long process.
If you are interested in trying to work a book into a screenplay there's a great free scriptwriting package online now called celtx http://www.celtx.com/ Having used Final Draft for years, I am now switching over. This program has everything you need from character development to who will be doing an actor's hair. Try getting some ideas down with this program and actually start writing the script and you'll be able to see whether it's going to be hard or easy for you.
Cheers
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