How Good Nutrition & Creative Writing Come Hand in Hand

How many of us have reached the end of our novels, having worked hard on them for months on end, day after day and night after night and then feel like they have run out of steam when it comes to doing the first draft proof check?

I for one have fallen into this trap as I near the end of writing Part II of my Chronicles Of Astoria novel series. I had finished all the fun parts, eg the creative story writing part and have now reached the mundane stage of checking for errors before sending it on to my proofreading team.The whole thing began to feel like a chore and before I knew it, I was ordering takeaways and eating fast food because I ‘thought’ I didn’t have the time to make healthy food.

Well my lazy ways led to more lazy ways, I'd reach the gym and my usual forty minute workout had become more like four minutes plus a really long shower and slowly but surely, the time that I had set aside to proofread was filled with playing the Xbox, watching movies, terrible daytime TV and basically I'd become the king of procrastination. I struggled to get up in the morning, I'd wake up nice and early and just sit on Facebook using my phone while hiding under my duvet covers away from the world.

It took a loving girlfriend and a caring best friend to point out that I had in fact been buying crisps more often than normally (which was never) that I looked sluggish, seemed stressed and generally not my happy, creative self.

I had to take action! Luckily for me I'm a personal trainer and nutritional adviser by trade although lately I have been far better at advising others than taking my own advice. I decided that it was the best time to implement change.

My good friend asked me 'What's most important to you?'  I replied naturally “finishing my book” and she swiftly scolded me (as a caring friend does, it was over the phone but I'm pretty sure she was waving her finger like a school teacher) she told me that my health comes first and once I was back to  my usual bouncy self, the writing would come.

Doing as I was told, I went home and re-evaluated my own diet and realised that the takeaway foods (as we all know) are filled with carbs, fat and very little in the way of healthy nutrients; this all had to change and so I addressed each section of my nutritional life carefully.

First of all, as a man I had to increase my protein intake. knowing that proteins break down into amino acids blah-blah-blah, (I wont bore you too much) but basically I need to increase my nitrous oxide levels which in turn increase levels of testosterone - which for a guy is important for thousands of factors but the main two were, getting out of bed in the morning and also having more drive and stamina in the gym, those 4 minute workouts just wouldn't cut it for long! 

I also supplemented zinc, just at the standard dosage as it is very important for men’s health, I added in my eggs at breakfast, some chicken at lunch and then red meat or tuna for dinner. I'll add in some salmon next week once I am paid.

Next I aimed to increase the good fats in my diet so that I could balance out my good cholesterol, strengthening cell walls and improve my brain health. To do this I supplemented with cod liver oils  and added in some avocados - I even experimented with making guacamole and also added in peanut butter - spread of brown toast of course. I LOVE milk and sometimes avoid it for, well I actually don’t know why but I added it back in at 500ml per day to increase my calcium and to add in some good fats to the diet. 

Then focusing on both good hydration and high fibre I added in porridge alongside some healthy vegetables and brown bread. Ensuring all the while that I drank a minimum of three litres of water per-day.I found it was easier to fill a big three litre jug in the morning, making sure it was done by the end of the night - some days it was a case of easier said than done. 

Last stop was Vitamin C. This little vitamin packs a hefty punch, it's fantastic for generally increasing mood as well as all adding very important nutrients into the body that are needed to ensure it functions correctly.  Personally I just wanted to feel better and so I ensured I ate more fruit in the form of apples, tomatoes and more avocados which are very high in Vitamin C.

Within three days of following the new regime (yes that soon) I can feel myself springing out of bed in the morning, feeling less stressed, more focussed and more determined than I have in a long time. I have proofed a further fifty pages to my book which is 300% more than I'd done in the previous three weeks and this accomplishment has seriously made me more determined and all round happier than before.

So if you are stuck in a rut and cant create, go back to the basics. Eat well and feel great (that almost rhymes) I promise you won't regret it. Happy is as happy does. 

* M.R Shields*

New Raphael Concept Art - Take a Peek

I was super excited when I woke up this morning to an email from my graphics girl telling me she had rough drafts for the concept art to my book. Upon opening the email I was gobsmacked at what I found. From taking a few small descriptions about the character she was able to construct his face to exactly how I had imagined him in my mind.

Below is the image of Raphael, he's the main character in my first book, 'Chronicles of Astoria Part I, Delta. It's just a head shot and she still has to create his shining white armour so I am really excited to see it all completed. I love that she had brought my books to life!!! 

Updated: Here's another updated image of Raphael in his white armour alongside Chance. 

Pretty awesome huh? Do you like the Raphael and Chance concept art? 

* M.R Shields *

Two Fluffy White Helpers

Living by yourself can be tough, more-so because it means there is only one person available to do the gardening which is an absolute CHORE. A chore that I loathe more than any other household task.

I wont lie, I tend to leave my grass until it becomes as long as a jungle. Not because I feel the need to get in touch with my native side, but purely because I can be fairly lazy when it comes to chopping it. It actually fascinates me just how quickly it can grow - It fascinates AND irritates me all at the same time. So you can imagine the smile on my face when I pull up the road to my farm track to find two white fluffy helpers chomping away on my jungle.

As my car startles them and they turn to flee I yell "Hey don't go, there is more work for you around the back!!! stay until the job is done!!"

Sometimes these little surprises actually brighten up my day. I never thought that I'd be smiling and posting about two fluffy white sheep this morning but as I've gotten older I've definitely learnt to appreciate the small things that come into our lives. I think it's this appreciation that keeps life exciting and also keeps me sane while trying to write my Chronicles of Astoria series. 

So what's the overall point of this post I hear you thinking, I suppose I just wanted to share this insight and possibly make you aware that the small things are good - positive even. Appreciate them and I bet you will start to notice more positive things coming into your life too. 

Peace & Love

* M.R Shields *

Kelly's New Home

There is nothing quite like hitting the open road on a bright, fresh and sunny Sunday morning!

With my go-kart loaded with some of her belongings, her favourite teddy bear safely strapped into the front seat (safety is paramount in my experience) I head off from the cottage, en-route to a little place called Tynuilt, to help construct Kelly’s new flat into something more homely.

I get off to a good start, the roads are fairly clear and I have the top gun album blaring at the top of my standard speaker’s lungs! had it been a warmer morning, I may have risked my reputation by rolling down the window (yes rolling, my go-kart doesn’t not have such futuristic contraptions such as electric windows) and allowing the 80's tune to deafen the animals that I passed by, as it was, I kept the window tightly shut, my mouth on the other hand was yelling myself deeper into the danger zone!! Hell I could have made it onto X-factor but I really don’t have the ankles for it.

Perhaps an hour into my journey, the inevitable happened. Yes, you guessed it; I was overtaken by another vehicle. Now you may think, "big deal happens all the time" well perhaps it does, but to be overtaken by a Citroen C1 is just embarrassing. I could see it approaching from a good couple of hundred yards back, powering its way forward with its little French engine. I push the pedal to the floor of my little go-kart, willing it to go faster and growl like the tiger I need it to be, instead it sounds like a hoarse lawn mower, coughing its way further forward. Within a few seconds it’s upon me, and my first instinct is to naturally hide my face, save what little dignity I have left and pray this little red demon passes me quickly. Time slows down and I feel my cheeks go red with the situation. From the corner of my eye, this little red contraption begins to soar past me, thundering onwards with blistering speed and cutting back into the lane in front of me and taking off further down the road like a gazelle on steroids. The next moment happened so quickly.

From my angry, out-powered eagle eyes, I focus in on his hazard lights....THEY FLASH TWICE!!

‘HOW DARE HE!’ I said to the bear at my side, he thinks I let him past; my foot is still to the floor!!!! The red spectre from the depths of hell itself had not only humiliated me in front of the bear, but then poured salt on the wound with his flashy display!

Now you may think I would want to make this story have a happy ending, that perhaps I would pass this highly tuned, top spec race car further up the road only to see it parked in the lay-by with a couple of punctures... sadly there is no such justice for me in this world, I never set eyes on that record breaker again.

All thoughts of this tragedy were soothed away as I eventually arrived at my destination in Tynuilt. The view was absolutely stunning, with the mountains on my right, their peaks covered in snow and standing there, defiant against the landscape.

The beautiful Scottish moorland spreading all the way down to the water and a cool, brisk breeze flowing through the air, it all made me proud to be Scottish; the bear seemed to smile too!

below is a picture of the car... That's a Citroen C1 right?

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

The Man in the Field

THE MAN IN THE FIELD

It would seem to me, that regardless of the temperament of the person, they would always stand their ground defiantly when faced with aggression on their own doorstep. Their natural born instincts to defend their home would always supersede any simple notions of common sense. I say this mostly because I too, felt threatened and was forced to present a strong front in the face of certain danger!

The morning air was fresh and the sun’s rays were casting long lancing rays in through my bedroom window, a very welcoming site compared with the white glare of relentless snow that had been slowly destroying my business, day by day, with its insistence on blocking the roads.

Feeling vibrant and fresh (or as fresh as a man could that had slept in a bed that hadn't had its sheets changed in a fortnight) I hopped up and made my way to the kitchen to make myself a cup of warm brew. I was dressed in simple white jogging bottoms and a t-shirt, had I worn my Spiderman pyjamas’, I am fairly confident this incident would never have occurred, the man in question would have surely “up sticks” and left for fear of retaliation. As it was, the only fear I was striking into anyone was the loud padding of feet that I was creating as I marched around my kitchen in my oversized, angry dog slippers.

The kettle boiled, the brew poured, I then opened the back door and took a few steps out into the fresh morning light, inhaling a deep lungful of the crisp, Scottish, country air. With my cup of brew in one hand, the gentle breeze flowing through my fingers in the other, I gazed around my beautiful view, reminding myself just how lucky I was to live where I do.

Taking a large slurp of my brew, I pan my head from left to right, my eyes darting casually from each point of interest to the next. I could see the sheep in the next field over, chewing happily away on their grass. There was an old tree in the field divider, swaying in the wind and desperately fighting a losing battle that gravity would eventually win, but probably not for a few more seasons yet. I could see the young farmer lad working on his knees, hammering away at some post that was set mid way through the field to my left, and I could also see his assistant standing broadly next to him, watching him as he worked.

I took another slurp of my warm brew and continued to enjoy the moment, knowing full well that life was fairly tranquil for me out here. That was, until the broad, square shouldered assistant took an interest in me, that changed everything.

I could feel my irritation slowly start to rise as he continued to stare at me, showing no interest whatsoever to his colleague working at his feet. I half expected a small wave, some gesture of common courtesy, anything that would relieve the tension that was slowly building in the space that occupied the expanse between where I stood and his location. My grip tightened on my mug and from the corner of my eye I could see that my knuckles had turned white from the exertion.

Just what was this guy’s problem? My irritation grew further as I started to play out the entire event in my head, my inner monologue dramatising the situation beyond any sensible solution. Here was THIS guy, ruining my perfectly relaxing morning with his childish need to flex his masculinity. I smirked as I began to wear my game face, knowing deep down that this guy had bitten off more than he could chew here, and I certainly wasn't going to back down.

Feeling the need to demonstrate a little show of muscle myself, I let the cup of brew drop from my hands, tumbling end over end to the hard ground below and smashing into tiny pieces of ceramic mess. I hold my his gaze, he didn't even so much as flinch, as the noise echoed off the walls of my cottage and cascaded over the fields around. The young farmer lifted his head, catching my eyes he smiled and gave me a short wave. I had no beef with him; he is a good lad, so I wave back, but my eyes never leave the square one, never giving an ounce of ground in this battle.

A part of me wanted to walk over there, to hop the fence and clamber through the muddy, freshly sowed field, wearing only my growling dog slippers, and make my way up to where he stood, take the fight to him as it were. Had it not been for the farmer finishing his task, standing up, and making his way toward me, then I might just as well have.

It took the lad barely a minutes’ walk, trudging through the mud in his green willies, to reach my cottage, the other guy still stood there, immobile and staring at me, I continued to stare back.

“Morning mate” the young farmer said a smile on his face as always. I wanted to return the smile but didn’t want to give any ground in my contest with my macho nemesis. Perhaps if I convinced the guy I was incapable of smiling, that I slept on a bed of nails and that I used sandpaper for toilet roll, and then perhaps he would give up this stupid contest and look away. I chose to remain stoic, bolstered to my brutish stance.

“Morning” I said bluntly.

Now one thing I will always pride myself on, is how fast and adaptable I am to situations. My mood can change as and when required, and for it not for this unique talent I have, I may have looked as stupid as I FELT, when I heard the next words that left the farmers lips.

“Aye lad, it’s been a busy one for me, been up all morning putting up these scarecrows, don’t want the birds eating the seed you see”

I felt stupid, OK worse, I felt BLOODY stupid! Here was me, all fired up and ready for a rumble, dressed in my joggy bottoms and fluffy puppy slippers, all around me there is pieces of broken cup from a brew I was clearly too clumsy to hang on to. I did what any self respecting chap would do, I did what I HAD to do, I muttered seven little words that were as much of a lie as my bed of nails with sandpaper. As the warm morning breeze flowed through my hair I said

“Oh its cold, I'm heading back in”

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

My First Book Signing

So I stand there in my living room, my newly published book gleaming in my hands, a grin across my face so wide, that it looks like I have attempted to eat a Cadbury's chocolate bar whole, and I am not talking about the standard bar either!

I get a message from my good friend requesting that I drop her a copy of my book. I take a look out the window and see that the snow is falling dangerously heavy, the roads look treacherous, and most of all, I haven’t gelled my hair. After much persuasion (well a whole seven seconds discussion with my inner monologue) I decide that this friend could very well be my first and only fan, snow or no snow, gel or no gel I would have to risk it. So off I went.

It would be fair to say that I try to keep physically fit, although with each laboured step I take, hauling my feet through snow as thick is treacle, I soon realise just the predicament I had got myself into. Nevertheless I persevere onwards, dragging myself through the blizzard. Cars pass me on the main road, spraying slush and ice like a tsunami against my face, freezing my little nose in the process and yet still I battle on. My legs quickly felt heavy, my muscles were pumping so hard that it was no longer possible to determine whether it was the snow, or sweat that had them soaked to the bone. My thoughts drift to the great Robert Peary and his journey to the north pole in the April of 1909, although I am not sure that my brown, suede, large Next jacket would compare to their snow specific thermals that I am sure they adorned back then, almost immediately I concluded that I had it worse than they did.

The miles felt like marathons, and when I finally reached my friends vehicle, I had no fight left in my weary bones. Doing something less than manly, I am pretty sure I fainted.

When I awoke, I found myself in this beautifully warm room. Within seconds of my arousal, a glass of the finest champagne was placed into my hand and I was being embraced and celebrated by all around me. My eyes darted around the room, the bright colours were dazzling but I could make out a family of happy, welcome faces that were greeting me with the finest hospitality. On the main kitchen bunker, there were thick cut, tender fillet steaks sitting there, looking succulent and divine and just waiting to be placed onto the grill. There were candles lit on the table and more glasses filled with delicious looking wine. I could hear the snaps of camera shutters, multiple sounds from multiple devices, all pointing at me.

A voice spoke softly to me, a familiar and very friendly voice. “Will you sign my book?” she asked. I take the pen in my hand and begin to write. What I scribbled remains a mystery to me even now, but she seemed happy with the outcome. I stood back up and I felt her hand at my back, I lifted my weary eyes and once more found myself in the firing line of another photo opportunity. I smile, not because I was asked to smile, but because I was so happy at where I had found myself. The flash hits my eyes and I am momentarily dazzled, the glare fills my vision and I half expect to wake up somewhere cold, outside and in the snow. As the glare fades I smile once more, I am exactly where I was...it really WASNT  a dream!

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

Chronicles of Astoria Now Available To Buy!

The new book is finished! I am so proud to have achieved this stage as I didn't think I would make it at certain points in the journey. Part I, Delta is available on Amazon now and I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to those who have already purchased my book. 

I appreciate each and every sale not for the monetary amount but because it warms my heart to know that you also will get to delve into Astoria like I have, I love that I get to share my vision with you and I hope you enjoy it. 

In the distant future, the world has been ravaged and reduced to a single inhabitable area... Astoria. 

A grand and beautiful city, its occupants righteous and peaceful, the Astorian’s are governed and protected by the Angels, a group of supernatural humans that possess powerful gifts and skills. 

Chance is Astoria’s favourite Angel, loved by all and an enemy to none. Fun, witty and most of all competitive she quickly finds herself in a game she can’t possibly win. The price of such a loss is banishment from the city along with the loss of her memory. 

With Chance out of the way and the rest of the Angels cast out on meaningless errands, the city falls into chaos Can her trusting protector Raphael help find her memory before a dark plot is fulfilled that will endanger the lives of the remaining population of the world

 You can find Part I, Delta here on Amazon or you can contact my PR on chroniclesofastoriapr@gmail.com to purchase your copy out with Amazon. 

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

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