writer

Summer/Autumn 2013

~ Susan Goater ~ Leave a comment

Spring morphed into Summer and then the roller coaster started!

I am very pleased that some of you found my work interesting enough to hire me, for this I ‘thank you’.

I must apologise for the lack of blogs, in short I have been blogging but not my own, I have taken control of a few others from around the world and interesting they are, from photographers to presenters – all good fun.

BBQ territory was served on many a hot summers night, I was considering moving my office outside at one point!   I do love my alfresco writing, the shades have been on whilst lapping up the rays and concocting communication cocktails – ‘ice and a slice’ of course!

Holiday season now over, the hard work continues.  My second project is very much at the fore front of my mind, the weekends see serious writing continuing, late night candle burning is back on the agenda as the moths watch on.

FLAME ON!

31st December 2012

~ Susan Goater ~ Leave a comment

To all my family and friends here and across the shores

– Happy New Year –

may 2013 bring health, happiness and love in copious amounts, with a dollop of prosperity for good measure

XxX

As time slips away from 2012 I will leave you with these words…..

To see the world in a grain of sand

and to see heaven in a wild flower,

hold infinity in the palm of your hands,

and eternity in an hour.

William Blake

Hour Glass

November 2012

~ Susan Goater ~ Leave a comment

White Rabbits!

……All Hallows’ Eve having just passed, Bonfire night coming up VERY soon…… Christmas on the horizons….. time to strike out the candles – dark nights are up and lots of writing to do.

October felt very short and I could have done with a few more days to add to the thirty-one I appear to have eaten my way through!  …..However as months go it was super productive, completion of magazine entries, overseas commissions, my clients blogs and web-words and a couple of quirky pieces to throw into the pot and THEN off to The Cheltenham Literature Festival for some very interesting and rewarding banter – meeting J K Rowling was probably high up there on my ‘to remember moments’ coupled with the suave and very lovely Roger Moore, both truly enthralled and inspired me – a very interesting Festival full of wonderful people, ideas and what seemed the last of the summer sunshine.

More of the same this month – work orientated, with a dash of photography to add to the pot for pure indulgence – MY time to play!  Talking of which my youngest has been at it again, photographing Lamborghini and Bentley’s to add to her repertoire AND mighty fine pics they are too x

Short and sweet for the 1st of November – I am off to create – with the added bonus of Starbucks RED CUPS arriving this Friday!  I CANNOT WAIT… YAY..x

FLAME ON!

October 2012

~ Susan Goater ~ Leave a comment

October is up, up and away before I was ready!

…….I was not entirely finished with Summer and still languishing in a much-needed wind down over the Summer months when September struck!  FULL ON work ensued in all shapes and forms and continued seamlessly into October.

I have some very exciting projects presented to me in the last few weeks from magazine postings to book ‘parts’, involving new threads organised for some new clients.  The usual ‘suspects’ are as always catered for and once again from their commissions I am introduced to new clients – for which, I am humbled by their kind words and remain dedicated to ‘tinkering and dabbling’ for all my clients and pride myself in being able to write some extraordinary and unusual threads to use as they so wish.

A couple of interesting entries I can sing and shout about – completion of the FIRST edition gazette entitled ‘The Spectacle‘ for and on behalf of Piccadilly Opticians – this small but quaintly quirky opticians packs a punch, nestled in THE most wonderful Arcade in the heart of Birmingham’s City Centre.  Not just a joy to work with – these folk really have things squared out, their direction and drive to cement something a little bit different amongst the giants of international eyewear sales seems to be their forte – their customer care and ‘eye’ for the newest hard to find glasses is a hard act for anyone to follow.

……….I have to admit to have a second reason to showcasing this particular project, as it is the first time I have worked alongside my eldest daughter, Emily Goater (www.behance.net/emilygoater & emilygoaterzine.blogspot.com) is also packing a punch when it comes to marking her territory in Graphic Design and in point of fact is ‘doing it on her own’ and needing no help from anyone to showcase her amazing talent – even though I am slightly biased!  The two-part Goater Girls are on the map……but whats this.. a third part is making an entrance…..my youngest daughter Sally now coming up through the ranks was lucky enough to bag an event as a spin-off to this Gazette – Sally already having mapped out her own future as a photographer covered the Birmingham Style Fashion event in collaboration with Asa Slatford within the prestigious Mailbox.  This year hosted by Martine McCutcheon and showcasing the fashion show in all its glory, with the likes of Harvey Nicholls, Selfridges and featuring local and international designers.  Sally was in place to capture the runway shots making this her debut as Birmingham’s newest photographer at 15! (A selection of  pictures from the shoot can be found by clicking ‘maybe of interest’ page – September 2012).

……..so maybe, just maybe, the trio can look forward to working together in the future – an exciting promotion to offer you folk a whole package – Goater Girls…Photography, Graphic Designing and Writing!

MY projects have once again took a back seat – may have to hitch my tent somewhere remote to complete – YOU think I am joking!

….shhhh! so who noticed the post was late?

….enjoy the rest of October…..X

September 2012

~ Susan Goater ~ Leave a comment

White Rabbits and all that jazz…………well it looks like Autumn, even sounds like Autumn…and by jingo it is AUTUMN!

Summer well and truly buried – rest and relaxation was in abundance with a couple of commissions thrown in for good measure….alfresco writing and BBQ’s galore, when not raining – wished it could continue but the cooler nights are about to hit town – unless anyone can find the big switch to throw – marked INDIAN SUMMER!

I have also been a little distracted of late….. my birthday present was eating my time and stole my heart for quite some time during August – LOVE MY NIKON – photography was one of my fathers passions, clearly in the blood, but not swapping my writing for photography just yet…. just a healthy hobby and not giving up my day job, I will leave the photography to the professionals!

September – lining up nicely…… diary is packing a punch this month, commissions from near and far, seeing the likes of my regular ‘writes’ and a heavy sprinkling of some ‘newbies’ – all makes for a colourful variety, from film buffs, web words, to a couple of ghost written articles.  Planning, researching and reading for  future events and magazines – inspired and excited I am…..HOW many days in September – I need more!  Then there are my projects… the usual late night writing to continue – with candles of course!

FLAME ON indeed!

Susan Goater – Writer?

August 2012

~ Susan Goater ~ Leave a comment

….jumped into August!  A slow start – holiday season and all that jazz…. July saw the Jubilee a wash with celebrations, August continues the tradition and joins in with the festivities with all things Olympian – the weather is competing with the Amazonian Forests as if an Olympic sport!   I, on the other hand have joined a night class to hone my skills to be proficient in the ancient art of ‘Arc Building’ – just in case!

End of July saw my own celebrations…my birthday was to be a very enjoyable and relaxing, full of fun, love and peace.  Thank you to those who made it FAB…x   Not forgetting the star of the show THE ‘Nikon D5100’ made me go all weak at the knees with excitement!  Not much writing went on in that week I can tell you….distracted somewhat!  I think I am going to have some fun dabbling with this new toy.

A couple of projects flew swiftly in and out of THE WORK ROOM during the latter part of July, ramping down for the Summer Holidays in the commission department, hoping for a couple of quite ‘ish’ weeks to complete some of my areas of interest and a submission.  Some lazy hazy summer days to be had – I HOPE – if the rain stops!  Proms are upon us, great music and FAB times are planned, BBQ’s and general recharging of batteries to be had and spending time with my wonderful family and friends.

Once again …. thank you to all of MY new followers and your kind words, seems I am now reaching the four corners of the world – WELCOME to my Russian followers …..

‘Добро пожаловать в мои русские последователи’ and I do hope Google translate has that right!  GULP!

Happy Summer Holidays ALL – enjoy AND hopefully FLAME ON!

July 2012

~ Susan Goater ~ 2 Comments

July is up… or so it says on my calendar – but, by the looks of the view outside one could be forgiven for thinking it was April!  Showers in abundance, hail and horrendous storms, floods in parts – positively barmy tropical weather!

June saw some interesting commissions completed with one full on week for reading Simon Toynes second book ‘THE KEY’ – a very talented author whose third book is due out Spring next year, an exceptionally well constructed book with threads to twist and turn at an Olympic pace!

The Coldplay concert a particular recent favourite – an AMAZING unforgettable evening shaped with FAB music, fireworks galore and WARM weather – YES warm weather, as I recall it was ONE hot week, alfresco writing was in abundance with a need for a NEW pair of sunglasses to see my words forming on MAC…..Ray-Bans sourced from my wonderful opticians nestling in the heart of Birmingham, Piccadilly Opticians renowned for their wide variety of new, quirky, funky and vintage international eyewear – in a word they are FAB.

Jubilee was a wash out, despite oodles of fun.. tennis is up …. clearly more rain on the horizon!

Olympic torch sped through our local town albeit VERY early Sunday morning…. I managed to raise myself from the pit for that one… a once in a lifetimes experience to see that.

Oh yes and my ‘WANT’ list just got bigger….in my dreams ‘Leica’ camera!  Maybe for my birthday later this month 🙂  ….is that a pink pig flying over head?

PROJECT – my submission deadline date is 30th July…. THIS YEAR!  Candles are out for late night writing – the race is on…..plot drawn, timelines sorted and rearing to go….

Once again thank you to all my new followers, your kind words are appreciated.  To those who I am commissioned by a hearty thank you for allowing me to serve some words up for your various assignments.

I am off to find some evening classes who teach the art of ‘ARK’ building…. may be needing one soon or else I shall be floating away!  Food for thought with my writing, may be needing a hurricane lamp, never mind candles!

Have yourselves a superb July…..FLAME ON!

June 2012

~ Susan Goater ~ Leave a comment

Hello – out of the starting blocks and hitting June at full pelt this month, organisation and time management the key……….

May saw a steady mixture of commissions,  with some interesting threads laid for various people and establishments. The word pot was brimming at the end of May, organisation and planning always the key to writing, pulling words out of the bag most evenings whilst writing late by candlelight – my favourite time to lay MY words for my continual project……well… the moths were enthralled!

June is lining up nicely with a ‘hope’ and a real possibility to set aside time for my personal writing project and reading – I say ‘hope’ as one never knows just where or when the next commission strikes, as they are the bread and butter and my project is usually placed on the back burner.

Ummm! I DID incur a MAJOR dilemma during May……

…….after visiting my usual favoured Waterstones to purchase a ‘nice little read’ to take my mind out and away from work and all things dutiful I was handed a copy of ‘SANCTUS’ by Simon Toyne, it instantly felt unique, tactile and interesting…..not my usual choice of genre.  My original book choice was out of stock, this was recommended by a Waterstones representative to pacify me whilst I await my book order. As I thumbed through, read the covers and first page I decided to give it a go. Simon Toyne……to me an unknown writer, BUT one that I am convinced will be up there with the greats, certainly one to watch and follow his work.

I am not normally taken to writing book reviews in MY blog!……..BUT………this is an exceptional book, from start to finish a heady paced read, exciting, extremely well written with oodles of scene painting for my mind to toss around in a thoroughly believable direction – worthy of a film score. No stone unturned, clearly well researched, threads and plot lines AMAZING in their projection, winding the reader down paths fully loaded with detail. The imagination and plot grasped me from the onset, no moments to spare or drift off! I must add at this point, I could not put the book down, a rare occurrence for me! A thoroughly enjoyable book, first of three, my only dilemma – when to purchase book two, ‘THE KEY’, as I am finding it hard to resist the pull of my local Waterstones. For me ‘resistance WAS futile’ …. NOW that is the sign of an excellent author, when you cannot stop reading what they produce!  WELL… little did I know that this book would single-handedly lead to such a pitch of obsessive reading, even I thought reading could possibly become an Olympic Sport!

I am off now to enjoy the rest of the ‘extended’ Bank Holiday, I can feel some more R&R coming on (Reading and w’R’riting!)….ENJOY yours…x

FLAME ON……

May 2012

~ Susan Goater ~ Leave a comment

……Whoops!  May crept in quickly and caught me unawares… busy end to April with the transition into May a seamless experience.

Projects completed and more on the burner, leaving not too much daylight time to continue with my project work – nothing else for it, but to strike out the candles and write at my most favoured time – after darkness and up to all the wee small hours of the NIGHT!  I love working at this time, something magical, secretive even, quiet indeed leaving my mind to carve some interesting threads with no distractions other than the comforting rain on the windows.  For me the most productive time to lay down words, even if I have been creating for others there are no shortages of words left in the bag, this is MY time and I LOVE IT… x

To note:  according to my ‘stats’ I have a good few followers in Italy, Israel, Bangladesh and in particular North America and New Zealand…. may I say a ‘hearty’ thank you to you all for following.  Your kind words, messages and recommendations are very much appreciated – it is however at times impossible for me to reply to you all individually but I do try when I have a quiet spell – it never ceases to amaze me where my work flows through AND from which direction my next commission will appear – THANK YOU….X

April showers!  May is supposed to bring flowers, followed by flaming June… BRING on the FLAMING June – ready for some heat and a dry spell now – PLEASE!

This has to be the ‘wettest drought’ I  have ever known!

May-day bank holiday – enjoy yours…… X

NO soggy flames here…..FLAME ON!