I Smith Words is moving! And I’d love to take you all with me…

Greetings to all you lovely I Smith Words followers. You may have heard through the grapevine that I Smith Words has been getting a facelift, or rather, a full blown extreme makeover.

I have so enjoyed your interaction since I formed the I Smith Words blog a few years ago, but you may have noticed my absence from the Blogosphere over the last few months, and that is because I have been slaving away on my brand new project, which brings together the very best of I Smith Words along with a few other subjects I’ve been wanting to write about for a while.

The project I have launched is called LadyFace, it’s a brand new blog that will feature everything from stories to lifestyle, whether inspired by art, literature, fashion or politics. There are plans to feature some kick ass creatives doing some very exciting things, and I will also be delving into the world of modern girl (and boy) power.

One feature I am most excited about will be the bi-monthly short story, which will be accompanied by illustrations from myself and guests. I will also often throw out a literary challenge as I have done in the past here, which hopefully will make up for the Literary Lion shaped hole that I Smith Words will be leaving.

Any of you lovely aspiring writers might also be interested in the journey I started some years ago, to write my debut novel… I will be sharing my tips and discoveries with you along the way.

So whether you’re interested in writing, reading stories, style or you just have an opinion you’d like to throw out there, I ask you to join me in bidding I Smith Words a fond farewell, and to join me over on LadyFace. You can sign up to the mailing list here, or you can stay following me in the WordPress reader as I will export this blog across, although I must tell you one of the reasons I have made this change is because the WordPress reader doesn’t work too well with my move from wordpress.com to wordpress.org, so the newsletter is really where it’s at when it comes to LadyFace.

You can, of course, pop over to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook also, where I’ll be providing details of new posts, and challenges you can get involved with along the way.

Thank you all so much for your encouragement so far, for your beautiful words, for your wonderful stories for the Literary Lion challenges, and your unforgettable kindness in this journey thus far. I am excited as to where it will take us next.

Bisous,

Laura aka LadyFace.

Advertisement

America taught me to dream

This time eight years ago I had just got back from exploring the East to the West coast of America on an Amtrak train. I was there in the midst of Obama fever, I met a nation that was progressive and open-hearted, and on that monumental election day eight years ago, the world saw what I had seen.

This time last year I was in LA and on my way to Vegas to celebrate my 30th birthday. Because of all the places in all the world, America was where I wanted to mark such a monumental year. I fell in love with it eight years ago, and it has since held a special place in my heart. From New York to Chicago to St Louis to San Francisco, everywhere I went was caked in that American positivity we all hear about. And I just found it so infectious.

Because we Brits don’t dream like the Americans do. We Brits are self-conscious in our ambitions, we are cautious in dreaming too hard and aiming too high, we don’t like to put too much faith in our ambitions, but America isn’t so guarded. When I tell a Brit I’m a writer they look at me as though to say “yeah, but what is your day job?”, but when I tell an American I’m a writer they tell me that one day they’ll see my face in the bookshop, that one day they will point out my name in the credits of a film, and that when it happens they will remember me, just as I promise to myself to remember them, however ridiculous and far fetched their dreams may sound.

So today, on November 9th, 2016, when I woke up to find that this country that I love had elected Donald Trump as their president – someone who stands for everything that I feel is wrong with the world – I was saddened.

I am disappointed as a woman that 42% of American women feel it is ok to endorse the most misogynistic politician in our lifetime. I am disappointed that 53% of men have chosen to put arguably the most arrogant man on the planet in the White House, someone who will continue to walk all over this world with no consequence or responsibility just because he has and forever will get away with whatever he wants.

That is, unless we refuse to give up hope.

For the rest of you, I hope. Hillary Clinton said in 2007 that “The worst thing that can happen in a democracy – as well as in an individual’s life – is to become cynical about the future and lose hope.” America you taught me this when I visited your beautiful country for the first time all those years ago, and you will continue to teach me that even in such dark times.

Please, for the sake of us all, keep on dreaming.

Why engagement is the key to being a better blogger

Greetings oh blogging world. I am back this week with a piece I wrote for the wonderful Belong Magazine…

We all love our little blogger back and forths, and this month I have been exploring just why. Check out the piece on the Belong Magazine blog… here, and if you have any more blogging tips, feel free to share! x

Who’s Bad?

You may have noticed my dwindling words over the past few months, and for that I have slapped myself on the wrist many times, so much so that my writer’s hand has almost suffered an injury.

For this reason, I have henceforth decided that the time has come to give my blogging habits an overhaul.

The rather lengthy lauragabriellefeasey.wordpress.com has now become ismithwords.com, and in celebration of this brevity, I am launching an exciting new flash fiction feature tomorrow.

The Monday Muse shall be back in full force next week, with The Hemingway Day returning amidst a flurry of six words on Friday. The Confessions of a Shop Assistant series shall also be making an appearance – warts and all – once a month too.

Here’s hoping that the words to come will make up for the recent silence.

Laura.

The Liebster.

Liebster Award

As I opened my eyes and clutched my iPhone this morning I noticed I had been nominated for a Liebster Award. I once won a £10 WHSmith voucher for completing a crossword puzzle, so this latest accolade is just one of many along my tumultuous journey towards BAFTA/Oscar fame. Obviously.

The lovely Lyra nominated me, so from henceforth for this post I shall do as she says…

11 Facts about me

1. In case you hadn’t noticed, I am a touch sarcastic. It is the highest form of wit.
2. I love cats too much. But not in a weird way.
3. I wish unicorns were real.
4. When I was younger I wanted to be a pop star, an actress or a brain surgeon, so I once auditioned for The X Factor.
5. I have a fetish for clothes.
6. I have a fetish for shoes.
7. I have a fetish for notebooks.
8. I have a fetish for patterned plates.
9. I’ve always wanted to try being blonde and I’m halfway there.
10. I once was proposed to by a man in Las Vegas because I told him I wanted to live in LA. He was from Texas, he was about sixty but he had a superb cowboy hat.
11. My head lives in the clouds 80% of the time. Today is very cloudy.

11 Answers to Lyra’s questions…

1. What is your greatest passion?

Film.

2. What is your favourite colour and why?

Black. It’s chic.

3. Have you ever been in love?

Yes. Once unsuccessfully, once successfully.

4. How do you deal with difficult moments?

I have vices.

5. What brings you peace?

Literally… meditation, pavement pounding. Figuratively… knowing that one day I’ll get there.

6. What is your favourite book?

I will never stumble upon an answer to this question. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Alchemist, Harry Potter… I could go on…

7. Do you have something that you’ve owned your entire life?

An oversized stuffed polar bear that my Dad purchased when I was born. Apparently that is what men do when they’re excited, they buy polar bears.

8. What’s your best “birthday” memory?

A happy meal in McDonalds after crimping my hair and getting an oversized troll doll. Just my Dad and me.

9. What’s the most original gift you were ever given?

A cat from Japan that steals all my money and lives in a box. Don’t worry, he’s well looked after.

1. What was your favourite holiday and why?

Drifting from the East to West Coast of America, because their optimism is infectious and they love an English accent. Or Disneyland. Because everyone was impossibly happy 100% of the time and it rubbed off. But then I returned to London. Londoners aren’t as happy.

1. What’s your favourite flower? Why?

Orchids. Because they’re high maintenance.

11 questions to my nominees…

1. What is your favourite word?
2. What is your least favourite word?
3. When did you last laugh?
4. Where’s Wally (or Waldo for my American friends)?
5. What would you do with a lottery win?
6. Who would play you in a film about your life?
7. If you had a superhero power what would it be?
8. What was the last book you read?
9. What is your first thought when you wake up?
10. If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what would it be?
11. What do you think of my blog?

11 nominees…

Lhu Wen Kai

sidsorin

NS

a Boy Named Sue

K. Renae P.

t0lan22

aschlady

brandangelak

raevenlywrites

romeoattwenty

Thewitch