In August 2013 we enjoyed a fantastic day at Harry Potter World at Leavesden…

I have become a great fan of the Harry Potter saga; the stories have been a massive commercial success but they’re also very engaging tales! This ‘Making Of’ event is arranged around two “sound stages” that are used to showcase a very extensive display of actual props and sets from the films. We spent a good couple of hours walking around the displays and taking (literally) hundreds of photographs. It is probably true to say that something from your favourite part of the saga will be on show and the atmosphere was wonderful.

There was a comment in the ‘Screenwriting’ section of the tour that resonated with me:

     “The thing about Potter is that it’s very earnest about expressions of things like Loyalty, Courage and Redemption. Audiences were hungry for that.”

I think those themes are always appreciated by both film and book audiences since they talk to basic motivations about behaving well and “good” triumphing over adversity.

I get a real sense of J K Rowling using those expressions honestly in her writing, without it feeling forced or contrived, and that gives the stories a great sense of authenticity, in my opinion. Of course, I’m noting that big hint as something to consider in my own writing!

My favourite parts of the tour included seeing the massive model of Hogwarts that was used in the filming, the sets from the Ministry of Magic and the various creature models. Diagon Alley was interesting but felt a bit odd due to the (understandable) railings running down both sides.

I had a walk across the Hogwarts Bridge, sat in the Weasley’s flying car and drank a Butterbeer – what more could you want? It was fantastic!

This picture dates from 3rd May 2013:

“The Living Rock Swallowed Fuster”

At this point in the writing my survivors of humanity had been “ingested” by the approaching ship (Charybdis)and were enduring their first real test. Some people were dying while others were rising magnificently to the challenge. They couldn’t afford to lose any member if their crew and any death is a tragedy, but something wonderful was about to happen – I couldn’t wait to see it develop under my pen!

I can’t resist sharing this old blog entry from 20th April 2013 – this small scene from an episode of Doctor Who had me laughing out loud:

Dr: “… And ignorance is… what’s the opposite of bliss?”

Clara: “Carlisle.”

Dr: “Yes! Yes Carlisle. Ignorance is Carlisle.”

Wonderfully funny, as long as you don’t come from Carlisle…

When I was writing ‘An End of Beginnings’ I sometimes did little sketches & paintings to help me visualise the scenes I was working on. Here is an early picture of the ship that eventually became known as the Auchliffe in the finished novel…