We've had a blog makeover!

I have not been on here blogging recently, partly due to a crazy schedule, but also due to the fact that I've not been connecting with the blog so much. It's something I've been wanting to remedy, and what better remedy is there, sometimes, than a complete makeover? :D

Not Just A Stiff Upper Lip was set up because Elizabeth and I wanted to bring a bit of Britain to you, namely, the passionate, sensual Britain - yes, it exists - and also "paranormal Britain" because we both write paranormal elements within our stories, which are almost all set in the UK.

I've been hearing this around the internet quite a lot the past year: Brits? Passionate? Not.

Whenever I post up a promo for my werewolf series, with the strapline "Lusty, British werewolves live in the Surrey Hills", some smartarse likes to make some quip about how "Lusty" and "British" don't go together.

Well, maybe I've just led a very ... er ... fun life then! Throughout my late teens and twenties I was introduced to a lot of lust and that was right here in Albion. I don't think I've ever had a boyfriend who didn't feel things on some deep level; who wasn't sensual...

My point is, I have never seen Britain or its people as dispassionate, and it's a damn shame if the rest of the world does, because it's simply not true - not by a long shot ;)

It was my idea for a blog makeover, and I wanted it to reflect fun and flirty; sensual, full of life and lots of things to tell.

And maybe I'll feel like blogging again now :)

Dianna xxx

Zombie Prejudice?

So, a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the end of one of my favourite series Being Human. I was major gutted that it had ended since it was the only British Paranormal Romance series going and I totally loved it.

I'm not someone who watches television, unless, I become addicted to the show eg. Dr Who, which is re-starting this Saturday and it looks freaking amazing can I just say. But after the last episode of Being Human finished an advertisement for a brand new series was shown . . . In the Flesh. 

It is a Zombie series, but it is set after the Zombie apocalypse AND the zombies have been treated and have now been released back in to Society as PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) victims. And none of the surviving humans are happy, oh no, and can you blame them?

People who were once Zombies, who ate their family and friends are now back in their neighbourhood trying to lead normal lives again. Even though they can't eat, and they have to wear special make-up and take medicine . . . 

How freaking awesome is that for a story idea?

Life after being a zombie. Zombies now becoming the minority in society, being the focal point of prejudice, and being hunted by small groups who fought against them during the apocalypse.

 It is just one of those programmes that, as a writer, I can't help but think, "damn, I wish I had thought of that." 

It really is such a unique idea. The programme itself is dark. Kieran who is the main character has flashbacks of his life as a Zombie, which I have to say, it must be damn awful remembering eating people . . . *shudders* I mean how do you cope with that? It is witty, and funny, and really thought provoking.

Needless to say, I dig it. I think if you are a fan of Zombies this is definitely a series you should watch. I mean, we have so many films/stories set before the Zombie apocalypse and during, but not a lot set after, and especially not a ton that involve the rehabilitation of former Zombies. Partially Deceased Syndrome. Ha. Don't you just love that?

So, yeah, major pimp-age post today. I think it is a fantastic series and definitely one you should all watch. It's on every Sunday night at 10pm on BBC 3 - for those of you in the UK. For everyone on the other side of the pond you may have to do a little google-ing/youtube-ing to see if you can hunt it down, but if you can, watch it. There has only been two episodes so far so you don't have a lot to catch up on, but you are seriously thrown in to the story straight away.

Have a fab week. :-)

A ghost, a werewolf & a vampire sharing a house?

A ghost, a vampire and a werewolf share a house . . .

Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, doesn't it? Well it is actually the basis of the English paranormal series Being Human. Yes, in the midst of the Twilight Saga, and the American hit series The Vampire Diaries I'm happy to say that on this side of the pond we have our own paranormal series.

I'm a fan of all three of the above, and more to the point I find the difference in scenery, plot and take between the three completely refreshing. The funny thing is that it always seems very hard to try and imagine such stories happening in Britain. It's rather amusing - in a sense - to see such a story set today, and literally happening a short distance away, but it works. The ongoing story, and the side ones are believable and the characters are unique and fresh.

I have watched Being Human from the beginning, and despite the fact that only the ghost from the original trio remains, I think it’s top. But, every Sunday when I sit watching this fab program I can’t help but wondering why there isn’t more paranormal series, or more to the point, stories set in United Kingdom.

Dr Jekyll and his unwelcome Hyde live in London. Frankenstein, The Wolfman, and even Dracula all visit the city in their own tales. They are the four godfathers of Gothic paranormal, and yet we hardly hear of such characters in this country, and in this day and age. Why is that?

I personally think it may have something to do with how crowded and small the UK is, well, compared to America where there is so much space and never ending possibilities for where stories could take place; but then, I suppose there are possibilities in a number of countries.

So I honestly don't know.

Dianna mentioned in her post The British Paranormal Romance that we don't see a lot of stories set in England, and I have to agree. I personally haven't read many books of the paranormal - contemporary - nature that are. There’s a lot of history – steampunk particularly – and chick-lit/contemporary stories, but not a lot of the other genres, which is rather sad really.

I haven’t read everything there is to read, so I am honestly only making a very vague guess, but it does seem that we are lacking in paranormal on this side of the pond, which is one of the reasons I set The Blood Series in England. I wanted to let Vampires and Werewolves run around and cause havoc in the UK because, well, why not? We have foggy eerie countryside’s, and moors. We have lush forests and beautiful landscapes, and we have dark corners where anything could be lurking.


And let's not forget that England is the backdrop of the Arthurian legend; ancient magic and supernatural beings. Fair enough there were castles and knights, and fair maidens, but still, it has to count for something, right?


So surely it isn't completely crazy for such beings to inhabit this country today? When you think of magic, and such creatures what type of world conjures in your mind?

For anyone who loves vampires, werewolves and ghosts, you should most definitely take a look at Being Human. It’s funny. It’s dark, and it’s different. Plus it has Mitchell (S1-3) and Hal . . . *drools and swoons*

Paranormal Britain

It's a lovely, warm day today, although I still reckon it'll snow end of Mar / beg of Apr, as it has done for the past couple of years.

But today made me think of spring, and spring in the UK is truly beautiful with the grass looking greener and the smell of everything as flowers begin to bloom...

It makes me feel like getting out and exploring the country, and one of my favourite past times (which, sadly, I have less time and money for nowadays) is to go out hiking, specifically near and around stone circles. For those of you unfamiliar with stone circles, Stonehenge is the most famous of all, but there are lots of little, lesser known ones dotted around the UK, and their energy is amazing.

I don't make a secret of the fact (nor do really go shouting about it) that I'm 100% witch at heart, and there's nothing more grounding and refreshing to really connect with the land, especially when you spend most of your hours at a laptop, belting out blog posts and stories.

Needless to say, that a lot of my inspiration for current and upcoming books have been based on my love of magick, Paganism, and teachings of both witchcraft and shamanism (from various traditions).

In my latest book, The Sands Of Time, I mention how apple trees are a doorway into the land of Faerie. In The Witching Pen, I explore magick in a more urban way, by placing some of my characters in a new age shop in the middle of London, and concluding the events of the story in a 'hotspot' at Hyde Park.

One of the things that makes the UK truly unique, is that all you have to do is drive / train journey for no more than 20 minutes to get from urban to countryside. You're greeted with a complete change of scenery, but neither less magical than the other.

One of the closest magical places for me (about an hour's drive away from where I am), is Pewley Downs in Surrey (nr Guildford). The north and south downs of Surrey as a whole are quite something: they're ancient, but the land also seems to carry itself as if it's brand new and still flourishing in the present. Very strong energy -- very strong indeed.

And this is the part of the blog post where readers begin to think I'm a little weird, but hey, I am. I actually have danced naked around a fire in the snow before. No -- you'll never get to hear about it, but feel free to read my stories, and wonder if there's any fact to the fiction ;)

What are your nearest and favourite magical places in the world?

Dianna x