Pen Vibe

If the mind is a well of creativity, the trick is figuring out how to tap it.

For some writers, like Scottish novelist Rosemary Gemmell, the solution is as simple as a pen.

It becomes the conduit between thought and reality. As the ink flows, so do the ideas, and characters and story begin to take shape.

Today, Rosemary takes a little time to share how pen-and-paper work for her.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in the beautiful west coast of Scotland which is always inspiring. After bringing up a family and working part-time while studying as a mature student for a BA honours degree in literature and history and a post-graduate Masters in Humanities from the Open University, I finally became a full-time writer. This doesn’t mean writing full-time, as I fit in talks and adjudications for writing groups as well as coffee and lunch breaks with friends!

What do you write?

I was known as a published short story and article writer first, with occasional poetry and children’s stories. I’ve had stories and articles published in several UK magazines, some in the USA and I used to write for one Canadian and one American online company. Now I also write romantic novels with intrigue, both historical and contemporary. Although my latest novel, The Highland Lass, is under my full name, some of my more romantic novels are written as Romy and two tween books are under Ros.  [Read more…]

Stationery Ramblings gets excited that Rhodia is available in South Africa.

Austin at Art Supply Critic gets down to basics with the Pentel Sharplet-2 mechanical pencil.

Jess at A Planner by Nature opens up about Bullet Journaling.

Angela at Paper Lovestory takes a quick scan of Platinum Blue-Black fountain pen ink.

Barb at Art Journal Cafe gets down to selecting an art journal.

Fufaraw displays a collection of Pelikan, Parker, and Sheaffer fountain pens.

Michelle at Seaweed Kisses lays out her favorite pens for journaling. (Click through to video.)

Elle at The Acculturated Housewife searches for the ultimate gel highlighter.

And All Other Tasks tries to match a ballpoint pen to the Field Notes Expedition series.

Nickole at EveryThink Else gets the blues with Pilot Iroshizuku fountain pen ink.

● Gizmodo reports that Star Wars fever has reached the pen world with a lightsaber fountain pen from S.T. Dupont that floats on a magnetic platform and retails for more than £16,000. Dupont also offers an X-Wing fountain pen, while Cross has its own line of Star Wars-themed writing instruments.

● The accumulation of discarded pens concerns some students in India, so they’ve collected nearly 10,000 of them to display and hopefully convince fellow students to cut back, according to The Hindu. (They’re trying to promote the use of pens made from paper, instead.)

● The Trail-Gazette profiles the owner of an unusual – and brilliant – business in a small mountain town in Colorado. It’s a combination coffee shop/stationer that sells Moleskine notebooks and Retro 51 pens, among others, along with its cups of coffee. [Read more…]