iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Thank you so much for having me! An absolutely pleasure, really enjoyed that! 💗 #ukteenchat

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If I'm stuck, I like to go through a scene and just write the dialogue. It tells me a lot about how the characters get from the start to the end point. With ESD, it worked so well that I thought... huh. I think this might be something! That's (sort of!) how the scripted voice was born! #ukteenchat

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It's a first draft, so I can't tell you much with confidence because I don't know myself! I will say it's another theatre-set novel, but aside from that it's different to ESD in almost every way - not YA and no murder! I first had the idea 6 years ago, so it's been a long time coming! #ukteenchat

Can You Keep A Secret Sarah Levy GIF

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I've been a fan of writing at The Barbican for a little while now, but what I *did not* know about until recently was the library there! It's so quiet and studious, then when you need a break, you can go out to the main arts centre and soak up all the vibes. It's a game changer. #ukteenchat

a cartoon of a man with the words to the library on the bottom

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Usually a pantser, although I always know what I'm writing towards, but Exit Stage Death was *so* plotted. The synopsis alone was 8k words, so when I came to actually write it, it happened quickly! Would I do it that way again? Probs not. 🙅‍♀️ Did it work? Sorry, pantsers... it really did! #ukteenchat

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The main thing it did was let me give the killer a voice without giving away who they were. I could probably have done that in dual POV prose, but once the scripting idea came to me, that voice came *so* easily, and I think in writing, when something is easy, you should run with it! #ukteenchat

a woman with a braided hairdo and earrings says " please let me speak "

ALT: a woman with a braided hairdo and earrings says " please let me speak "

Emma Bradley @emmaebradley.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Reposted by Ava Eldred

Exactly! They can explode stuff and be in peril while we're living vicariously through them all cosy with chocolate 😂 #ukteenchat

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A bit of both - I knew who the killer was and why they did it before I started, but how they were going to execute it could only come once I knew who the characters were. It was always a 'proper' murder mystery though, so the tropes that come with that were all there from the beginning. #ukteenchat

Writing Livi and Juliet in contrast to each other was my favourite part. On the surface they're so different, but when you look a little closer, they have more in common than they'd like to admit. Finding that balance was so fun. #ukteenchat

two spider-man are standing next to each other in a room .

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Lots of my writing group have experience of classic summer camps, so we had many chats about specifically social media use, & what kind of rules would be in place. But because it's UK-set, & we have less of a camp culture, luckily I could use a lot of artistic licence too! #ukteenchat

I've worked in theatre my whole professional life, so it made sense that at some point that would spill in to my writing I guess! The intense, almost instant friendships in the book are definitely true to my experience, so I guess Exit Stage Death is my love letter to those. #ukteenchat

a woman in a crown kisses a woman in a witch costume

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Of course! #ExitStageDeath tells the story of Livi, in her last summer at Camp Chance, hoping to get cast as lead & prove that theatre is a 'real' career. The drama spills offstage when a fellow camper is murdered, leaving Livi to work out who did it, before they strike again! #ukteenchat

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Thanks for having me! I've admired #ukteenchat from afar for years, so really happy to be taking part! #ExitStageDeath

Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

I’ve been in the flat alone all day so I’m feeling VERY READY TO CHAT! Looking forward to this! #ukteenchat

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So looking forward to this! 🩷

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Erin Literary Cool Cat 🐈📚 @erinliterary.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

EXIT STAGE DEATH by @avaeldred.bsky.social @uclanpublishing.bsky.social the STUNNING New YA Murder Mystery set in a musical theatre summer camp. When a murderer strikes, Livi gets an ultimatum: Find the killer or its curtains for someone else! REVIEW➡️ erinthecatprincess.blogspot.com/2025/05/exit...

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Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

And TALKING OF TONY NOMS my old fave Darren Criss has his first! So well deserved for my only 'one who got away' from my concert producing days - he has worked hard, pivoted, done *interesting things* and is so very good, both as a performer and person. Absolutely thrilled for all of Team Criss.

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Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Every year on Tony Awards nomination day, I remember the year Aaron Tveit was the only nominee for best actor in a musical. He won. Against himself. It'll never not be funny.

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Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

I don't think we, collectively, talked enough about how genius Warriors is as an album/musical/piece of art/escape room. I've listened to it hundreds of times, and I'm sure this last listen (I'm typing this as I've just hit Last Train Home*) I'm hearing things I never have before.

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Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

This afternoon I thought I'd count how many musical theatre references there are in EXIT STAGE DEATH. Nine in just the prologue... think this might be quite a long tally.

Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I didn’t think I was in the festive spirit yet, but I just caught myself thinking it must be time for some chocolate then looked at the clock. 8.36am. Must be Christmas! 🎄🤪

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Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

I thought cutting ~10k words from my adult manuscript would either be easy or impossible. Turns out, with 9,200 gone, I was wrong on both counts - it was hard, an it has made this book in to something I'm truly proud of. I think it's good. It still makes me cry. Let's hope some publishers agree! 🤞

Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

I've just realised I hadn't posted here that my next YA novel, EXIT STAGE DEATH is being published by @uclanpublishing.bsky.social in June. It's the most fun I've ever had writing anything. If you know how many minutes are in a year because of musicals, not maths, I wrote this one for you!

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Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Made a start pack for UCLan authors if people would like to follow us! go.bsky.app/7ZmvUHn

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Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Couldn't make Wicked work this weekend with my pals and didn't make any alternative plans because I was like... it's fine. It'll happen when it happens. No rush at all. Anyway I need to leave the house in 15 minutes for the first local screening of the day. LOL predictable.

Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

I've read the book I'm editing probably six times from beginning to end, and the final quarter makes me cry every. single. time, even though I wrote it and it's not a surprise. Can I just not regulate my emotions or is it maybe... good?

Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

I feel like few enough people follow me here that I’ll get away with saying I just saw cover roughs for something that hasn’t been announced yet and I’m Very!! Happy!! 🥰

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Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Dreamed that someone, possibly my boss, stole the idea for the book-of-my-heart* I’ve been half-writing since 2019 and sold it to a production company. Anyway I’ve written 5k of it in about 27 hours so like… that worked. Thanks brain ✌️ *Complicated feelings about this phrase, but it really is. 📖

Ava Eldred @avaeldred.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

This is why, in The Boyband Murder Mystery, none of the band are ever physically described with specificity. Being able to project on to a character can be really important! I wanted them to look like the boyband members the reader loved so they felt *that thing* about them. This is a great thread.