E C Hamilton

If I ever have the opportunity to ask an author a question, I usually want to know about the very first idea. What was that first, tiny spark that turned into the massive flame that became their completed book or series? This is especially true for authors I admire who have written books that I love. I know a lot had to happen for me to hold this beautiful, important piece in my hands. How did it all begin? When I first heard the story of how Harry Potter began for J. K. Rowling, I was fascinated. It thrilled me, because it started with a single spark of inspiration one day on the train, and she spent the rest of the trip mapping out the stories in her head. I didn’t know it, but it would be a very important story for me to hear. I would later know exactly the kind of wonderful, thrilling experience it is to have a spark and let it totally consume you. No pencils, no paper, no writing down, just you and your thoughts, and this magical story unfolding just for you. When I...

If we’re being honest, it was never going to take long for a Disney post to appear on my blog and, if we’re being even more honest, it most definitely won’t be long until the next. Whether you’ve found life-long loves in Disney like me, are a part-time fan, or could not care less, Disney and Pixar characters are everywhere. From a cartoon mouse to a rat chief, from motor vehicles to emotions, from princesses to demi-gods, Disney has had a huge influence on popular culture. As a writer, my character inspiration can come from anywhere, and there are a hundred great examples to draw from. There are plenty fan-favourites floating around out there that are hard to forget. Then there are some we don’t hear about very often, or don’t even recognise as great until we watch the movie again. I have seen a number of appreciation posts for some of the following characters, which has made my heart sing, but some, I have rarely seen mentioned. Whether underappreciated is true for all or ...

One of my biggest flaws as a reader is picking up books and putting them down. The year I decided to change my habits, I forced myself to finish every book I started, even if I found it difficult. I used to think life was too short for books I didn’t have to read, but what I didn’t realise at the time was that I was missing something great by not giving books a second chance. To be fair, not all of them turned out to be winners. There were some I got to the end of and thought ‘that was disappointing’, but mostly I found I was grateful to have gone back and finished them. I owed the author another go for putting a piece of themselves on the paper, and those authors repaid me. There are three book series that come to mind, specifically, as ones I came very close to not reading at all. Funnily enough, they all remain in my list of all-time favourites. My favourite example is Cinder by Marissa Meyer. When I first picked it up, I adored the concept. I’ve always had a soft sp...