I’ve neglected my blog for too long – mainly because a lot has been happening! I’ve been writing Apples in the Dark 3 while doing final edits on Apples in the Dark 2 while attempting (badly) to publicise Apples in the Dark! And doing a lot of storytelling.
Apples in the Dark has led me into some interesting conversation with readers who themselves have hidden disabilities. And it has had some great reviews, including this one which really touched me:
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Apples in the Dark by John Alex Taylor is a beautifully crafted, heartfelt novel that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and personal struggle. Ten-year-old Alice, feeling isolated due to her intelligence, befriends Rachel, a scientist with epilepsy who is battling her own emotional and physical challenges. As Alice works to bring together her mother, Beth, and Rachel, the three women form an unlikely but profound bond. Taylor’s writing sensitively portrays the complexity of relationships and the impact of unspoken struggles, while Alice’s wisdom and compassion shine through. This poignant and introspective story is a compelling look at how connections can heal and transform lives.
This review made me feel all my hours of writing and rewriting were worthwhile.
WORK IN PROGRESS
Apples in the Dark 3: Shouting at Angels is coming along nicely, thanks to a week writing at the wonderful Gladstone’s Library in North Wales. Gladstone’s Library is residential – there’s no need to let the outside world intrude while you are writing there (see my photo taken in the beautiful reading room).
***NEWS!
Apples in the Dark 2: Angels and Blackbirds will be published in June. Rachel tells the story with Emmy, who appears in Book one, but who now becomes the main character. It’s a story of empowerment as learning-disabled Emmy finds her place in the world.
Emmy’s character and the dilemmas she faces are drawn from my lifetime of work alongside her peers. I wanted to put the reader in her shoes as she makes sense of a very confusing world.
Here’s a taste of Emmy’s voice, early in the book. At this point, even the simplest tasks are difficult, because her mother did everything for her, and her mother is dead. She gets around it by pretending to be someone else. But Emmy soon finds that she is more capable than she thought.
My Rachel needs coffee. Mam says don’t go near the kettle. My Julie needs coffee. My Julie will be cross if I don’t make it.
No, she won’t. My Julie’s never cross. Mam is. Mam’s dead.
‘Tom…?’
He’s gone. It’s just me in the kitchen. Just me. No – I’ve got a Tom inside. My Tom inside did 999. My Tom inside could make coffee. Or a Julie inside. Have I got a Julie?
Two mugs – my princess mug for best Rachel. Coffee jar. Teaspoon, like making coffee at the centre for daft Dilys. Water in the kettle – not too much, Julie inside says. Turn it on so the light shines. Wait. Wait till it clicks off and be special careful, Emily Richards.
Mam’s not looking says my Julie inside.
Kettle’s boiled. BE SPECIAL CAREFUL. Pour it out, says my Julie. Easy-peasy, just like at Rachel’s house. And at the centre.
Mam, did you know that pouring the kettle is easy-peasy?
Milk for Julie. Shut the fridge careful, Emmy. Easy. Stir. Spoon in the sink.
Carry it careful, says my Julie. One mug at a time.
They’re still outside, talking. Talking about Emmy, I bet.
Watch the steps. ‘Coffee, best Julie.’
‘You made it! You managed, Emmy.’ Julie looks surprised, and it was easy-peasy.
‘My Julie inside me made it. And one for Rachel.’
‘Did you make yourself a cup of tea?’
Oh. ‘My Julie just makes coffee.’
‘There’s an Emily Richards inside you who could make tea, because Emily Richards prefers tea.’
That’s scary – no Julie inside. ‘Me make it? Just me?’
Emmy lives in the moment – quite a contrast to Rachel, who reflects and sometimes over-complicates things that Emmy just accepts. I love writing these two very different points-of-view together.
***EVENTS
My 2025 calendar is filling up.
I’ll be doing two events in support of The Gathering Community in Tudor Street in Abergavenny as part of Abergavenny Writing Festival Fringe.
Friday 4th April at 3.00: Storytelling (I was a storyteller long before I was a writer).
Saturday 5th April at 11.15: Writing fiction from the disability I hid from myself. The story of writing Apples in the Dark.
Then
Saturday 3rd May is Pontypridd Book Fair and the Grand opening of Storyville Books in their new premises in Mill Street. I will have a stall there.
Dates for launch events for Apples in the Dark 2: Angels and Blackbirds will be announced shortly.
Hopefully, you won’t have to wait so long for another blog from me!
Lovely to catch up on your blog. I don’t comment often or post on fb but do read all you’ve been up to and have loved following you and Fiona in your life and walks in Wales. It’s an amazing achievement to have written one book let alone three and I really admire your tenaciousness, I often start one in my head if I can’t sleep and only ever get to chapter two! Plus it’s great to say I worked with a published author and look for traits of the lovely people we met in your characters. Well done!!
Thank you, Lyn – so lovely to hear from you! Lots of happy memories working with you in Andover x