The first weighing

As Natasha Oakley and Trish Wylie were brave enough to put on their tickers. I thought I had best put mine on. This is keep me motivated and honest, I guess. I think it also shows that I was grossly overeating at Christmas! But I am under no illusion that the rest of the weight will be so easily shed. It is also quite depressing. What does not sound bad in terms of the British stone sounds much higher in pounds. But it needs to be slow and steady. It did not come on overnight. It will take a lot of hard work to go.

Agas and diets

Anne McAllister asked about the Aga. It is still out, but we are coping. Apparently the man has the pats but he has pulled his back...when his back is better, he will be in touch. Now I will let it go another week, but then I am afraid I will have to get someone else out...The kitchen is cold, and I miss my Aga with all its quirks, with its instant heat and large capacity for cooking. currently it sits brooding, waiting.

Anne has done a collage for her latest book. It does look great and I can see how it would work. But do I really want to do one of my own? I suspect the only way to know would be to try, but not with this book. I know specifically how it is going to go. And although certain bits are hazy, the hero and heroine most definately are not. And I know the sort of costume they should be wearing. Would personalities in modern dress disturb this vision? The next book after this is a Regency and so it might be easier to find specific bits...I do envy the collages...

I have started my diet and thank you to everyone who posted a comment or emailed privately. I shall keep going. The Pink Heart Society are getting together to see if they can offer encouragement and help. One thing I can not do is have ticker, showing how much weight I have lost. It would be too depressing admitting to the world in general my weight.

I went to the shops yesterday, and contrary to my naive belief that A Noble Captive would not be out in the shops until Friday, it is there now. The old semi-terrfied feeling came back. This time, however, I have sent off press releases to the local papers and we shall have to see what come of that. I am never sure exactly when one should send off press releases, and so I opted for after New YEar's on the basis that mostly journalists would be busy with year end stuff before then. Who knows. As Margaret Moore is fond of saying -- the only thing I can control is the writing. And that is what I have to work on.

Tomorrow I shall be at the Harlequin Historical Day on Cobblestone Press' week of historical writing and research workshops http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cobblestone-workshop/ Joanne Carr will also be there, and ready to answer any questions about writing for Harlequin Historicals.