Peeling Back The Glamour – Things Nonwriters Never Think About

agentlewomanandascholarLeave a comment

When I first told people I wanted to be a writer I received one of two reactions. The first was The Scoffer – ‘why on earth would you want to do that?’ The second, the Misconstrued Enabler – ‘of course, you want to be a writer, it’s easy and you get to wear pajamas all day!’

Of course, as writers, we know that both of these responses are ridiculous, wrong and based on uneducated naivety. Having said that, before we leap to our own defenses we must also acknowledge that some of what they say is true.Read More »

Why is it So Hard To Get Rid of Books?

agentlewomanandascholarLeave a comment

I love my books. No I mean I really love my books.

As someone who could not read or write until I was thirteen years old due to dyslexia, you could say I have played catch up and over compensated ever since. Seriously, I am book mad. I have collected volumes with a vengeance, devouring them until my eyes dimmed. In my mind, there is nothing better than a good book.

Having said that, I currently have my smallest book collection since discovering Amazon in college and have, in that time, needed to do several book purges. My library has ranged around two-four hundred volumes the entire time, and though this may not sound like loads to the dedicated bibliophile, trying to cram that many books onto two book-shelving units is not easy. In fact, it ends up becoming a rather frustrating game of Tetris come Jenga.Read More »

Being Productive… Even When Your Sick

agentlewomanandascholar2 Comments

Every once in a while, we all get sick. It’s inevitable really. Let’s face it, we are always rushing about, stumbling over our to-do list and it doesn’t matter how organized we are in life, with mental health, exercising and eating, eventually some virus is going to come along and bite us in the arse.

Now the more career driven among us will immediately refuse to take a day off, will soldier on with the tasks at hand and most likely make themselves worse off in the long run. The more practically minded will run for the sofa and a snuggly blanket, wishful wanting to waste the day with a TV binge.

Whether you are the ‘let’s get on with it’ type or eagerly waiting for any old excuse to phone in sick, here are a few tips for being productive, even when you’re sick.Read More »

The Gratitude Jar – Here’s How and Why

agentlewomanandascholar3 Comments

Frequently I find myself complaining about little things that really annoy me. A customer at work was rude, someone cut me up on the road, or the milk has expired when I really want a cup of tea.

All too often nowadays it is easy to focus on the things that go wrong. What’s wrong with the world and why the things that happen to us are unfair. Rarely is it as simple to see the good in a bad situation.

But why is it so hard?

We become so drawn into the need to express our opinions and frustrations, that we forget to see the wood for the trees.

But how can we combat this compulsion?Read More »

Nominated for a Bloggers Recognition Award

agentlewomanandascholarLeave a comment

I had a lovely surprise earlier this year when I was put up for a Blogger Recognition Award form my lovely friend and talented blogger Cheryl Fassett.

As with a lot of these so-called ‘awards,’ this is a bloggers prompt or tag, in which participating bloggers write a post based on the prompt, answering certain questions and connecting with other like-minded and/or slightly insane people.

What I love about this particular award is that it has just so happened to come about at the same time that I am re-launching this blog, and for those of you who have been following me from day one, you will know that my first blog post ever was another one of these awards. If however, you are new here, please do check out Nominated for a Liebster Award. This is a special post for me, not only that it was my first but that it was tagged to me by another very special lady and wonderful writer, Bee Halton.

Read More »

Too Lazy To Write?

agentlewomanandascholar2 Comments

The biggest lie I tell myself as an aspiring writer is this – I don’t have time to write.

As with all things in life, the jobs we enjoy and want to do are always pushed to the back of the to-do list for one reason or another. Either some other menial task such as the washing up or folding the laundry takes president. Or, another classic, being too tired after a day at work and just needing to steal a few moments to chill out and relax.

In other words, Netflix binge.Read More »

The Rise to Brigandry

agentlewomanandascholarLeave a comment

Part 4 of The Masked Lady

By Lauren Xena Campbell

Source: The Rise To Brigandry 

From the privy daybooke of Lady Lisabeth Ainsley Drake, Spinster and secrete Highwaywomen.

Entry the first

It is dreadfully cold in the night. But then at night it always is. Even shrouded in the warmth of a cloak, sitting in the ambiance of a roaring fire I feel the chill. It seems that no matter how much time should pass, the night’s never-ending freeze will not cease to claim me. And I find it hard to forget~Read More »

The Signet of Justice

agentlewomanandascholarLeave a comment

Part 3 of The Masked Lady

By Lauren Xena Campbell

Source: The Signet of Justice

Lightening illuminated the stain glass of the cathedral windows, burning the air with unease. The choir boys began to hum sweetly, their voices toned with harsh discipline, howling out for mercy from their Lord, still unhearing. I wept also, though I did so with tears and no nice voice.

This was the day of my marriage to Lord Ambrose. A day darker and more miserable then any other before and yet it was true. I stood at the alter under the watch of God to pronounce eternal love and allegiance to the only man whom I have ever truly reviled. I waited in his shadow as the good Father announced us man and wife.

All the spirit left me; there was no future now, only never-ending dusk.Read More »

The Man Behind The Mask

agentlewomanandascholar1 Comment

Part 2 of The Masked Lady 

By Lauren Xena Campbell

Source: The man behind the mask

It is a curious thing, meeting a stranger, not knowing how much there is to discover of their character, what lies behind their façade. It is true that when this happens, it is in our nature to search for the knowledge and understandings that lies hidden from us. Such a sensation became me when I met Lionel Freedman.Read More »

Stand and Deliver

agentlewomanandascholar4 Comments

Part 1 of The Masked Lady 

By Lauren Xena Campbell

Source: Stand and Deliver

When my Mother first told me the legend of the un-catchable highwayman I thought her bedlam. All this talk of a dashing rogue dressed with a half-mask, cloaked in deep cerulean, carrying naught but a pistol and a short sword! Ridiculous! Everyone knows that no man can out-ride the royal guard. And yet here we have stories of an ashen horse faster then lighting and a rider more cunning then even the devil. Naturally I would doubt such an account; to me it was just another childish fairytale that my Mother had tried to impress me with. No doubt another one of her silly schemes to try to convince me to wed. Mine being such a fiery compassion I swore never to believe her accounts, nor did I or would I ever have any such desire to wed, neither for protection, profit nor anyone’s pleasure but my own. And this I vowed.Read More »