This week, we’re talking with M. J. Mallon about her book, Bloodstone, The Curse Of Time Book 1
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I am a cat person, I used to be an aromatherapist/reflexologist and I like to collect crystals.
Why do you write?
I have a compulsion to do so. It began about seven years ago, and wakes me up in the morning tapping me on the shoulder with an insisting voice that says, “Write!”
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
Two sculptural artworks inspired Bloodstone (The Curse of Time Book 1)
I discovered a magnificent crystal grotto designed by Anya Gallaccio in Juniper Artland in Wilkieston, Scotland, encrusted with beautiful crystal geodes. It triggered an idea for a YA fantasy novel about a magnificent crystal grotto hidden below the earth’s crust, a source of magic and light only available to the Krystallos – crystal magicians.
The main protagonist Amelina, her family and ‘sister’, the mirror girl Esme, are suffering from the effects of a terrible curse which has aged Amelina’s father and imprisoned Esme. Hope appears in conflicting messages and magical paints as a strange creature of skin and bone summons Amelina to the cottage. In time, she discovers her magical Krystallos skills and hopes to cure her father of the curse of time and perhaps to release Esme from her mental trauma and imprisonment.
The second source of inspiration, The Corpus Chronophage clock in Kings Parade in Cambridge, UK, designed by Dr. John C. Taylor, OBE, drove the story into an even darker place. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. John C. Taylor in 2017 – what an inspiring gent!
The clock is a magnificent feat of engineering and science, with its menacing grasshopper driving time forward. This strange creature gobbling time drew my attention and insisted the story should have dark multi-layered elements. The grasshopper and the antagonist Ryder are a mesmerising but dangerous pairing, plotting and getting up to mischief and further acts of shadowy devilment as the series progresses.
Oh, and I forgot to mention a strange black cat who came into my garden. Its peculiar antics gave me the idea for the black cat character Shadow. I swear my cat visitor was a witch's cat. Perhaps it cast a spell on me!
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
I love fantasy, magic and writing for young people. It keeps me young!
It is fascinating how you take an idea and bring it to a new sense of place, creating new worlds and characters with a magical swish of your writing wand!
How would you describe your writing process?
Manic to begin with – a burst of creative energy, writing like crazy and then redrafting and reorganising. I'm not a plotter, I write organically, which means that the story is much more imaginative but needs a fair amount of reorganising after the first draft.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Finding your tribe, the writers who will support and encourage you. And finding and engaging with your readers!
What advice would you have for other writers?
Don't give up, keep on developing your craft, read, write, repeat and find your tribe.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I have signed with Next Chapter Publishing for my YA Fantasy Bloodstone and I love the cover they designed for me. With my self-published books under my imprint Kyrosmagica – Poetry, short stories, pandemic literature – I create my own covers using my photography, a keen hobby of mine.
Titles are driven by my inspirations for each book that I write.
What's your next step?
I'm currently finalising Book 2 in the Curse of Time series. It is in the final edits stage, and after completion of The Curse of Time series I hope to develop an idea for a New Adult Vampire story which is currently at the short story stage.
What book do you wish you had written?
Many! For passion, and excitement I'd say Jay Kristoff's Nevernight series, for magical creatures and other worlds, C. S. Narnia's The Lion, Witch and The Wardrobe, and for dark fantasy adventure it would have to be The Book of Dust trilogy by Philip Pullman.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
It depends on the review. I've had some spectacular reviews, the vast majority are 4 or 5 stars.
But there will always be someone who doesn't like or relate to your book. I have had less favourable reviews. If their comments are helpful I will pay attention. If their comments are nonsensical I find them quite funny.
Sometimes, after I've got over the initial irritation at a lower rating, how dare they! I try to have a laugh and see the funny side to cheer myself up.
An interesting book, and I love your inspirations. I know Cambridge quite well. My in-laws lived there from the late ’50s, and my husband and I lived near there for 5 years, but in all my walks along King’s Parade, I never knew about the Grasshopper Clock.
Thank you Viviene. Glad you enjoyed. Hope you get to revisit Cambridge sometime to see the clock! It is quite remarkable looking.
A great review. I am also not a plotter but we have to write in a manner that works best for us, even if it means more revisions. I enjoyed Bloodstone and look forward to the next in the series.
Thank you do much Darlene. I doubt I will ever be a plotter, like you the revisions and I will work out!