I have sent my first newsletter. A rather nerve-wracking experience! I do hope people like it. I have already spot at least one typo. But there again my blog is littered with typos.
I am also running my first contest.
Contest To win a signed hardback copy of A Noble Captive, please email me with the answer to the following question: What are the hero's and heroine's names in A Noble Captive? I will be drawing the winner on 15 Nov. You must be a current newsletter subscriber to win.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
More on first pages
First can I say that Blogger is being werid. My sidebar has gone south, and the coments are appearing the comments section but not necessarily being forwarded to me or showing that there are some.
There is a new clustermap on the sidebar, and it is wonderful to see where my visitors are located.
Now a little about my theory about first pages. A first page needs to draw you into a story. Its main goal is to get you to turn the page. You need to have some sort of tension there. The story can not be static. Most readers, including agents and editors read the first page first and if it does not capture their imagination, they do not read onwards. The first few pages must draw the reader into the story and get them hooked. The writer wants to force the reader to keep turning pages to find out more. Questions need to be asked, and a few of them answered.
Bridging conflict is the conflict that happens BEFORE the main conflict or problem is introduced. In the case of a romance, the main conflict is between the h/H and concerns the growth of their relationships. Sometimes, however, you do need to show a little of their life before that first meet.
The First Meet is not necessarily when the protagonists meet, but when their relationship changes and begins to grow.
Because in most romances, the First Meet is what the reader is longing for, looking for and there is not a lot of narrative action before to sustain the bridging conflict, so the writer will probably be best moving the first meet as close to the beginning of the novel as she can.
A very wise publisher once said to me: Never Let an Opportunity for Good Narrative Action Pass You By.
In other words, don't start in the immediate aftermath of a battle, start as the battle begins as it will be exciting and tense. BUT also make sure that it has direct bearing on the relationship and is not simply backstory that the author needs as the main reason you are writing a romance is the relationship. Backstory and the witholding there of is a whole other topic.
Ideas to jump start flat First Scenes:
1. Make your first scene be about the h or H who has the greatest conflict at the beginning of the story. Who is in the most trouble? Who will the reader have the most empathy with? Who is in a dynamic or fluid situation? Who is under the most pressure?
2. Once your protagonist is there, what business must the reader know BEFORE the main action begins? Why? How can you make it more tense?
3. Look again at page one, have you done everything to make the situation seem immediate to the reader? Are you operating in real time? Does your protagonist face a choice? Why does your protagonist think his/her life is about to change?
4. How can you make it worse for your chosen protagonist?
You can repeat this exercise for other parts of your novel that fall between plot development points. These are the points that bridge, and the conflict there should be immediate and tense.
The writer is aiming for tension on every page and certainly in every scene.
As my editor said in her latest revision note -- sometimes, it is just TOO Domestic. -- ie nothing much was happening. I had to go back and up the tension.
I plan to include more of my writing theory in my newsletter. The first one will be going out in the begining of November to celebrate the publication of A Noble Captive in hardback. The sign up is on the sidebar, can be found (if it is not immediately visible by scrolling down.
There is a new clustermap on the sidebar, and it is wonderful to see where my visitors are located.
Now a little about my theory about first pages. A first page needs to draw you into a story. Its main goal is to get you to turn the page. You need to have some sort of tension there. The story can not be static. Most readers, including agents and editors read the first page first and if it does not capture their imagination, they do not read onwards. The first few pages must draw the reader into the story and get them hooked. The writer wants to force the reader to keep turning pages to find out more. Questions need to be asked, and a few of them answered.
Bridging conflict is the conflict that happens BEFORE the main conflict or problem is introduced. In the case of a romance, the main conflict is between the h/H and concerns the growth of their relationships. Sometimes, however, you do need to show a little of their life before that first meet.
The First Meet is not necessarily when the protagonists meet, but when their relationship changes and begins to grow.
Because in most romances, the First Meet is what the reader is longing for, looking for and there is not a lot of narrative action before to sustain the bridging conflict, so the writer will probably be best moving the first meet as close to the beginning of the novel as she can.
A very wise publisher once said to me: Never Let an Opportunity for Good Narrative Action Pass You By.
In other words, don't start in the immediate aftermath of a battle, start as the battle begins as it will be exciting and tense. BUT also make sure that it has direct bearing on the relationship and is not simply backstory that the author needs as the main reason you are writing a romance is the relationship. Backstory and the witholding there of is a whole other topic.
Ideas to jump start flat First Scenes:
1. Make your first scene be about the h or H who has the greatest conflict at the beginning of the story. Who is in the most trouble? Who will the reader have the most empathy with? Who is in a dynamic or fluid situation? Who is under the most pressure?
2. Once your protagonist is there, what business must the reader know BEFORE the main action begins? Why? How can you make it more tense?
3. Look again at page one, have you done everything to make the situation seem immediate to the reader? Are you operating in real time? Does your protagonist face a choice? Why does your protagonist think his/her life is about to change?
4. How can you make it worse for your chosen protagonist?
You can repeat this exercise for other parts of your novel that fall between plot development points. These are the points that bridge, and the conflict there should be immediate and tense.
The writer is aiming for tension on every page and certainly in every scene.
As my editor said in her latest revision note -- sometimes, it is just TOO Domestic. -- ie nothing much was happening. I had to go back and up the tension.
I plan to include more of my writing theory in my newsletter. The first one will be going out in the begining of November to celebrate the publication of A Noble Captive in hardback. The sign up is on the sidebar, can be found (if it is not immediately visible by scrolling down.
Friday, October 27, 2006
the first page game
Julie Cohen posted something about first pages and disecting them. I have decided to play. The first one is from Gladiator's Honor, and the second one is from A Noble Captive which comes out in Hardback in Nov and paperback in Jan 07 in the UK. BTW at the moment, it looks like ANC will be available on Amazon.com. They certainly have the cover up.
Gladiator's Honour
Rome 65 BC (Tells reader where and when)
Who was that man? And more importantly why did she know him? (There is mystery here)
Julia Antonia risked another look at the man standing in the portico of the baths.(period detail) It was not his bronzed muscular legs emerging from his almost too short tunic nor the breadth of his shoulders which captured her attention but rather the planes of his shadowed face. (Okay he 's sexy to look at but she is more interested in knowing the why) She knew those features as intimately as she knew an old friend’s and yet, when she heard him speak to his companion, she knew she had never heard his voice before.
His gaze caught hers and it seemed as if he could look into her soul. He arched an eyebrow and nodded. Did he recognise her as well? Her fingers pulled her russet shawl more firmly about her head and shoulders and smoothed the folds of her green wool gown, making sure she was dressed in a manner appropriate for a Roman matron. (showing her status, giving so detail about her --She wants to be respectible, she enjoys being respectible)
Sabina Claudia, her stepmother, gave that high-pitched cackle she always used when she tore some unsuspecting matron’s reputation to shreds and threw the scraps into the swollen river of Roman gossip. (she knows what happens to women who transgress) Sabina’s friends leant forward, their shawls quivering, eager to hear the latest juicy morsel, crowding out Julia’s view of the stranger. When Julia had the time to glance back, the man had gone, vanishing into the busy marketplace as if he had never been there. (Again the mystery, and will she be willing to risk the possible stain on her reputation? Who is he? The reader needs to turn the page)
A Noble Captive
75 BC -- An island in the Mediterranean, a few miles north of Crete (Tells reader where and when)
'The sibyl of Kybele wants to see you lot.’
The harsh voice of a pirate (indicates possible adventure. also why does this person want to see them?) cut across Tullio’s troubled dreams and jerked him awake. (shows hero is not in comfortable situation Why?)
Marcus Livius Tullio, junior tribune Legion II Fourth Cohort, (gives details of status -- Roman, triple name, officer therefore of the first estate -- the hero) winced as he stood up in the overcrowded hold where he was confined with what remained of his men. Every part of his body from his neck to his knees ached. The leg wound he received in the pirate attack throbbed.
How many days since pirates had overrun the trireme, transporting his men and him back to Rome?(period detail) Four? Five? In that short time, seven of his men had died in this stinking rat-infested place.
Some might say they were the lucky ones. (they are not in a good situation, how is he going to get out? )
In the dim light of the hold, Tullio could make out the dispirited faces of the twenty who remained alive. Already they moved like prisoners, shuffling towards the entrance with heads bowed.
‘Helmets on, boys,’ Tullio forced his voice to sound as firm and calm as it would on the parade ground outside Ostia.(acting heroic, the leader despite the circumstances, definate adventure in the offing, willing to fight his men's natural instincts to give them dignity) ‘Let’s show this priestess of theirs that we are Roman legionaries, not slaves or pirates who skulk in corners and attack in the dead of night.’ (shows hero determined in the face of danger, unbowed,. Who is the priestess? elements of conflict pirate priestess v Roman legionary)
At his words, the men stood straighter. (shows his men despite what they have been through believe him what is going to happen to them next? will their belief borne out? will Tullio escape or die? why does the priestes want to see them? the reader has to turn the page)
There is a bit more of each of my books on my website. In case anyone is interested in reading a bit further.
My first contest features a signed copy of A Noble Captive, but you must be signed up for my newsletter to partcipate.
Gladiator's Honour
Rome 65 BC (Tells reader where and when)
Who was that man? And more importantly why did she know him? (There is mystery here)
Julia Antonia risked another look at the man standing in the portico of the baths.(period detail) It was not his bronzed muscular legs emerging from his almost too short tunic nor the breadth of his shoulders which captured her attention but rather the planes of his shadowed face. (Okay he 's sexy to look at but she is more interested in knowing the why) She knew those features as intimately as she knew an old friend’s and yet, when she heard him speak to his companion, she knew she had never heard his voice before.
His gaze caught hers and it seemed as if he could look into her soul. He arched an eyebrow and nodded. Did he recognise her as well? Her fingers pulled her russet shawl more firmly about her head and shoulders and smoothed the folds of her green wool gown, making sure she was dressed in a manner appropriate for a Roman matron. (showing her status, giving so detail about her --She wants to be respectible, she enjoys being respectible)
Sabina Claudia, her stepmother, gave that high-pitched cackle she always used when she tore some unsuspecting matron’s reputation to shreds and threw the scraps into the swollen river of Roman gossip. (she knows what happens to women who transgress) Sabina’s friends leant forward, their shawls quivering, eager to hear the latest juicy morsel, crowding out Julia’s view of the stranger. When Julia had the time to glance back, the man had gone, vanishing into the busy marketplace as if he had never been there. (Again the mystery, and will she be willing to risk the possible stain on her reputation? Who is he? The reader needs to turn the page)
A Noble Captive
75 BC -- An island in the Mediterranean, a few miles north of Crete (Tells reader where and when)
'The sibyl of Kybele wants to see you lot.’
The harsh voice of a pirate (indicates possible adventure. also why does this person want to see them?) cut across Tullio’s troubled dreams and jerked him awake. (shows hero is not in comfortable situation Why?)
Marcus Livius Tullio, junior tribune Legion II Fourth Cohort, (gives details of status -- Roman, triple name, officer therefore of the first estate -- the hero) winced as he stood up in the overcrowded hold where he was confined with what remained of his men. Every part of his body from his neck to his knees ached. The leg wound he received in the pirate attack throbbed.
How many days since pirates had overrun the trireme, transporting his men and him back to Rome?(period detail) Four? Five? In that short time, seven of his men had died in this stinking rat-infested place.
Some might say they were the lucky ones. (they are not in a good situation, how is he going to get out? )
In the dim light of the hold, Tullio could make out the dispirited faces of the twenty who remained alive. Already they moved like prisoners, shuffling towards the entrance with heads bowed.
‘Helmets on, boys,’ Tullio forced his voice to sound as firm and calm as it would on the parade ground outside Ostia.(acting heroic, the leader despite the circumstances, definate adventure in the offing, willing to fight his men's natural instincts to give them dignity) ‘Let’s show this priestess of theirs that we are Roman legionaries, not slaves or pirates who skulk in corners and attack in the dead of night.’ (shows hero determined in the face of danger, unbowed,. Who is the priestess? elements of conflict pirate priestess v Roman legionary)
At his words, the men stood straighter. (shows his men despite what they have been through believe him what is going to happen to them next? will their belief borne out? will Tullio escape or die? why does the priestes want to see them? the reader has to turn the page)
There is a bit more of each of my books on my website. In case anyone is interested in reading a bit further.
My first contest features a signed copy of A Noble Captive, but you must be signed up for my newsletter to partcipate.
Revisions sent
I finished hte revisions for my Viking ms today and sent them off. I do believe it is a far stronger book. However, my editor will have the final judgement on that.
With every ms and set of revisons one learns things. Unfortunately, sometimes one has to go over and over the same lesson ad nauseum. This time I learnt that I am far more comfortable with a slow build up to the first sex scene. By doing the scene too early, my pacing was off. My editor made a suggestion, and it all fell into place. She also gave me a simple solution to another problem that had bugged me.
Now sometimes, with the crows of doubt, I know they are phantoms and I ignore them. Other times, I just wish they'd become phantoms. It was more I vaguely knew there were problems but couldn't my finger on how to fix it. So buried my head and hoped. My editor saw it, pointed her finger and gave me good advice on how to fix them.. Editors are like that -- they home in on problems. It's their job.
So now fingers crossed I have sent Haakon and Annis merrily on their way. Off into the sunset as it were.
The house is a tip and I want to get the newsletter sorted out.Thank you v much, everyone who has signed up. It should be going out sometime next week to coincide with the hardback release of ANC. The hardbacks are mainly purchasesd by libraries.
Kate Hardy has just had her 25th book accepted by M&B. I can remember when her first book came out. Not so very long ago, so I am tremndously pleased for her.
I shall put up a list of Christmas carols I have been listening to. At the momenti it is mostly Maddy Prior -- Carols and Capers. It is v good except my middle hates the song currently stuck in my head. It is a wassail song, but not the tradional here we come a wassailing. This one has more of a waltz tempo.
With every ms and set of revisons one learns things. Unfortunately, sometimes one has to go over and over the same lesson ad nauseum. This time I learnt that I am far more comfortable with a slow build up to the first sex scene. By doing the scene too early, my pacing was off. My editor made a suggestion, and it all fell into place. She also gave me a simple solution to another problem that had bugged me.
Now sometimes, with the crows of doubt, I know they are phantoms and I ignore them. Other times, I just wish they'd become phantoms. It was more I vaguely knew there were problems but couldn't my finger on how to fix it. So buried my head and hoped. My editor saw it, pointed her finger and gave me good advice on how to fix them.. Editors are like that -- they home in on problems. It's their job.
So now fingers crossed I have sent Haakon and Annis merrily on their way. Off into the sunset as it were.
The house is a tip and I want to get the newsletter sorted out.Thank you v much, everyone who has signed up. It should be going out sometime next week to coincide with the hardback release of ANC. The hardbacks are mainly purchasesd by libraries.
Kate Hardy has just had her 25th book accepted by M&B. I can remember when her first book came out. Not so very long ago, so I am tremndously pleased for her.
I shall put up a list of Christmas carols I have been listening to. At the momenti it is mostly Maddy Prior -- Carols and Capers. It is v good except my middle hates the song currently stuck in my head. It is a wassail song, but not the tradional here we come a wassailing. This one has more of a waltz tempo.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Onwards with revisions
My latest set of revisions arrived late Monday.
They ilustrate the importance of an editor. My editor was able to pin point and spot those areas that my cps had mised. She also gave me a very big hint as to why the story wasn't working in its current form. Moving a specific scene to later in the book has really increased the tension.It also showed me the portential for several other scenes. It did also make reach for the research, and had me call my sister is a font of knowledge about Norway.
Increasing tension is what it is all about. Sometimes, you lose it by doing writing what seems sensible, but isn't. Sometimes, it works better another way....
A good editor can be indepnsible.
Mine is. She does have a good eye. It is just a matter of execution....
Things are flowing better now. And I hope to have them completed by Monday.
Please consider signing up for the newsletter. I know I should probably input all those people who have ever written to me about my books etc etc, but I hesitate. Do they really want to hear from me?
I plan to send out the first letter in a few weeks time. It will have the opportunity to win a signed copy of my latest book. It will also have recipes, a bit about the history behind my latest story, what I am working on now, possibly a few sayings and insirational things. In short, a more in depth look at my writing. The only person who has access to the list is me btw.
They ilustrate the importance of an editor. My editor was able to pin point and spot those areas that my cps had mised. She also gave me a very big hint as to why the story wasn't working in its current form. Moving a specific scene to later in the book has really increased the tension.It also showed me the portential for several other scenes. It did also make reach for the research, and had me call my sister is a font of knowledge about Norway.
Increasing tension is what it is all about. Sometimes, you lose it by doing writing what seems sensible, but isn't. Sometimes, it works better another way....
A good editor can be indepnsible.
Mine is. She does have a good eye. It is just a matter of execution....
Things are flowing better now. And I hope to have them completed by Monday.
Please consider signing up for the newsletter. I know I should probably input all those people who have ever written to me about my books etc etc, but I hesitate. Do they really want to hear from me?
I plan to send out the first letter in a few weeks time. It will have the opportunity to win a signed copy of my latest book. It will also have recipes, a bit about the history behind my latest story, what I am working on now, possibly a few sayings and insirational things. In short, a more in depth look at my writing. The only person who has access to the list is me btw.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Newsletter
In response to popular demand, I am going to start a newsletter so that anyone who desires it, can be kept up todate with my book releases and general news.
As an incentive to sign up to the newsletter, the first newsletter will offer a chance to win a signed copy of my new book -- A Noble Captive BEFORE it appears on the shelves.
I will be sending out the newsletter soon.
A signup link is on the sidebar or on the contacts page on my website.
As an incentive to sign up to the newsletter, the first newsletter will offer a chance to win a signed copy of my new book -- A Noble Captive BEFORE it appears on the shelves.
I will be sending out the newsletter soon.
A signup link is on the sidebar or on the contacts page on my website.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Laurie Campbell's Enneagram Class
Laurie Campbell is giving a repeat of her fabulous enneagram class. This particular class gave me real insight into developing characters.
The details are:
Giving likable, plausible characters a compelling conflict is easier with "enneagrams." Counselors and personnel managers use this personality tool to identify the heroic qualities (and not-so-heroic qualities) for each of nine types -- the Perfectionist, Nurturer, Achiever, Romantic, Observer, Skeptic, Enthusiast, Leader and Peacemaker.Every one of these character types has distinctive traits, including a fatal flaw, that will naturally bring them into conflict with other people...AND with themselves.Laurie Schnebly Campbell invites you to get ready for some hands-on homework -- to do during November or at leisure -- and discover how to increase (and resolve) conflict by using your characters' fatal flaws.Registration is $30 (PayPal or check due by Oct. 25) for the November 1-30 class, athttp://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/killerinstinctsschedule.html
The details are:
Giving likable, plausible characters a compelling conflict is easier with "enneagrams." Counselors and personnel managers use this personality tool to identify the heroic qualities (and not-so-heroic qualities) for each of nine types -- the Perfectionist, Nurturer, Achiever, Romantic, Observer, Skeptic, Enthusiast, Leader and Peacemaker.Every one of these character types has distinctive traits, including a fatal flaw, that will naturally bring them into conflict with other people...AND with themselves.Laurie Schnebly Campbell invites you to get ready for some hands-on homework -- to do during November or at leisure -- and discover how to increase (and resolve) conflict by using your characters' fatal flaws.Registration is $30 (PayPal or check due by Oct. 25) for the November 1-30 class, athttp://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/killerinstinctsschedule.html
A Noble Captive cover.
Thanks to Deb Hale, I discovered that the cover for A Noble Captive is up on Amazon.co.uk.ANC is available for pre order there in hardback and paperback and Sold and Seduced in hardback at Amazon.co.uk. So the listing for Michelle Styles is getting longer.
The quickest way to get ANC in paperback will be to order from Mills and Boon where it be available starting 1 Dec.
I have loved this cover ever since I saw an early mock up back in May. Several versions of it are blu-tacked to my wall and have provided inspiration. I love how Tullio cups Helena's head.
This time the cover really reflects the two characters btw. I was not allowed anywhere near the Art Fact Sheet, and it was all done by my brilliant editor.
The story of A Noble Captive occupies a special place in my heart. It is my second Roman. It is the first one that I worked with my brilliant editor on, but it is also one I really wanted to tell. It is one where the ending image came to me first, and then I had to figure out how to get there. It also has a secondary character who is close to my heart and sort of touches on my philosophy that miracles are happening every day. My fingers are firmly crossed that the readers enjoy the story as well.
I am bit over excited as getting the cover image up is like having a Christmas present come early.
Christmas is on my mind because I am currently writing my Victorian Christmas wip. And as a slight departure and for an intellectual challenge, it is a new era and the emphasis is on Christmas and not passion. I am very glad to have read Desmond Morris's book on People watching as I shall be concentrating on the first six stages in the courtship ritual, rather than reaching stage 7 (moth to mouth) in ch 1. It means building up pay offs. And it should be fun, but different.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Starting over
I had one of those moments yesterday when I realized the wip was spinning out of control and rapidly becoming a POS.
The motivations of the two main characters made no sense what so ever and if it continued, the whole thing would smell...badly.
I spoke with my lovely editor who knows how to ask the right questions and sound enthusiastic. I was able to explain what I thought was wrong, and why I thought this way would be better. She did not let me go with my first choice btw. But we discussed it and came up with a good solution. Or rather I came up with the solution and she wisely agreed.
It is now up to me to write the thing. But occassionally one has to go with one's gut. If it is not working, sometimes you have to examine the why.
And she was right about it needing slight tweaks to drop the new motivation in.
Now at least I know the back story. My characters are not whiny and my hero is much more heroic, or he will be...
The motivations of the two main characters made no sense what so ever and if it continued, the whole thing would smell...badly.
I spoke with my lovely editor who knows how to ask the right questions and sound enthusiastic. I was able to explain what I thought was wrong, and why I thought this way would be better. She did not let me go with my first choice btw. But we discussed it and came up with a good solution. Or rather I came up with the solution and she wisely agreed.
It is now up to me to write the thing. But occassionally one has to go with one's gut. If it is not working, sometimes you have to examine the why.
And she was right about it needing slight tweaks to drop the new motivation in.
Now at least I know the back story. My characters are not whiny and my hero is much more heroic, or he will be...
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
A bit of research: Consuming Passions
My bedtime reading for the past few weeks has been Judith Flanders new tome on the growth of the consumer -- Consuming Passions Leisure and Pleasure in Victorian Britain.
Victorian Britain is perhaps of misnomer as the book spans both the 18th and 19th century. But I adored the subject, partially because I approach history at times from econ history background rather than a political history background. I find the details about the growth of things like broadsheet music, art, and ready-made clothes endlessly fascinating. It is those things that had the greatest impacts on people's lives and helped their (and indeed our) world.
My main problem with the book is the lack of an adequate index. Flanders covers a lot of information but the index is eccentric in its choice of topics. Or rather it does not act my mind would.
Having said that, it is a book I would unhesitatingly recommend to anyone interested in the period. It has wonderfully detailed information on subjects that are usually skimmed in Regency or Victorian novels.
I shall be using it to give my Victorian novel more of an authentic feel. Flanders includes a whole chapter on the growth of the Victorian Christmas, for example. I also found her chapter on sport and sporting most illuminating.
I now understand the workings of the circulating library, penny-bloods and Salisbury Square fiction as well as how WH Smith started. I found the whole history of shopping fascinating.
I have also finished Flanders' previous effort - -The Victorian House. Although it deals with a later period than my book (1850s and beyond), it serve to remind one of the trials and tribulations as well as touching briefly on the 1840s.. I used to enjoy reading Mrs Beeton at the Lit and Phil -- they had several copies from different eras.
Flanders makes an excellent point about corsets. If you look at the preserved corsets about 6% are under 20 inches and the average is between 20 -26. There is no way of telling if they were preserved because they were exceptionally small either. But much of the correspondence about tight lacing reads like a shoe fetish correspondent's would read today. How many people really do sacrifice their feet for 3 inch high Jimmy Choos?
Anyway, I can thoroughly and heartily recommend both books for anyone interested in researching more about the period.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Official Start, interview and another review.
The Romance Reader.com has kindly done an interview with me for their New Faces column. One of their senior reviewers has given Gladiator's Honor Four Hearts. She said The Gladiator’s Honor is the first of four planned Roman-era romances by Michelle Styles, and if this debut book is an indication, readers have a lot to look forward to. It’s always a pleasure to discover a strong new voice in romance. Readers, check out Michelle Styles. You can read the full review here.
It does wonders for my ego to be told that Gladiator's Honor was a strong debut. I can only hope that my next book will live up to and expand on the promise. I believe my books have gotten better, but time will tell what the reviewers and readers think about it.
Today marks my official start for the acutal writing. It is one of the times that I find it helpful to go back and check howwell I did on keeping my goals...I do think I sometimes start slow and then really knuckle dowm. But this time, given the tightness of the deadline, I shall have to be very disciplined.
Unfortunately last night, I went up to bed, thought about the begininng, didn't have my notebook with me, and could not be bothered to go back downstairs. I know what needs to be written though...Famous Last Words.
The only person happy to have Christmas Carols on besides me was my middle. She was abit disappointed when I told her -- only the Victorian ones, no White Christmas! I also reread A Christmas Carol over the weekend for the umteenth time. it is wonderful how Dickens invokes Christmas and his Christmas message. Now that I have finished Judith Flanders' Consuming Passions -- much of the background comes to life. (I shall do a review of this excellent new reference book soon) Dickens first published A Christmas Carol in 1843. My wip is set in 1846, so I was able to indulge.
Last night was the last episode of Jane Eyre. It was wonderful. I was crying at the end. Really well done. I shall have to get the DVD when it comes out. Toby Stephens is certainly at the top of my list for TV heroes. Very High Drool factor.
It does wonders for my ego to be told that Gladiator's Honor was a strong debut. I can only hope that my next book will live up to and expand on the promise. I believe my books have gotten better, but time will tell what the reviewers and readers think about it.
Today marks my official start for the acutal writing. It is one of the times that I find it helpful to go back and check howwell I did on keeping my goals...I do think I sometimes start slow and then really knuckle dowm. But this time, given the tightness of the deadline, I shall have to be very disciplined.
Unfortunately last night, I went up to bed, thought about the begininng, didn't have my notebook with me, and could not be bothered to go back downstairs. I know what needs to be written though...Famous Last Words.
The only person happy to have Christmas Carols on besides me was my middle. She was abit disappointed when I told her -- only the Victorian ones, no White Christmas! I also reread A Christmas Carol over the weekend for the umteenth time. it is wonderful how Dickens invokes Christmas and his Christmas message. Now that I have finished Judith Flanders' Consuming Passions -- much of the background comes to life. (I shall do a review of this excellent new reference book soon) Dickens first published A Christmas Carol in 1843. My wip is set in 1846, so I was able to indulge.
Last night was the last episode of Jane Eyre. It was wonderful. I was crying at the end. Really well done. I shall have to get the DVD when it comes out. Toby Stephens is certainly at the top of my list for TV heroes. Very High Drool factor.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Eternal present v specific time period
Most contemporary writing is set in the eternal present. It means that when thereader reads the book, it is set in modern day. It also means the contemporary writer does not have to worry about when things happened.
Christmas to them is moveable feast, set on whichever day of the week, it happens to fall in the year that the reader is reading it.
Not so with the historical writer as often a specific year is chosen. Thus there are readers who can quickly look up what was happening in 1846 -- the year my current wip is set in. Christmas was on a Friday for any who are interested. Also means I have to take into account dates that things might be closed, in order to give the wip an authentic feel.
If I was writing a contemporary, I would be able to be more vague. The Monday after the first Sunday in Advent for example, but not in this one. As it is anchored to a specific time, events happen on specific dates. One has to work with it, rather than against it.
And I know the vast majority of people will not be bother whether on Christmas1846 fell on aFriday or not. But some will and I am. Thus it adds to my enjoyment of the writing to try to give it as an authentic flavour as possible.
Christmas to them is moveable feast, set on whichever day of the week, it happens to fall in the year that the reader is reading it.
Not so with the historical writer as often a specific year is chosen. Thus there are readers who can quickly look up what was happening in 1846 -- the year my current wip is set in. Christmas was on a Friday for any who are interested. Also means I have to take into account dates that things might be closed, in order to give the wip an authentic feel.
If I was writing a contemporary, I would be able to be more vague. The Monday after the first Sunday in Advent for example, but not in this one. As it is anchored to a specific time, events happen on specific dates. One has to work with it, rather than against it.
And I know the vast majority of people will not be bother whether on Christmas1846 fell on aFriday or not. But some will and I am. Thus it adds to my enjoyment of the writing to try to give it as an authentic flavour as possible.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
On starting a new wip
I am curently thinking about my new wip -- the Victorian Christmas one set in Newcastle with a self-made man as the hero. He is going to have to be yummy.
For a number of reasons I believe my next hero will bear a certain resemblance to the British actor -- Richard Armitage. The link takes you to a v good and complete photo album. After my problems with posting Hugh Jackman photos, I thought it best to link the album. Richard Armitage is currently appearing as Sir Guy of Gisbourne on Robin Hood.
I am busy doing my outline. Fingers crossed it has enough turning points. I do like the Donald Maas exercise which says which are the five crucial events that take the plot forward, and what a three crucial events that move it backward. You can repeat the steps for the first and second plot layers. Or even subplots. It helps me to think and I am starting to get the semblance of an outline, perhaps one that is able to withstand 18/19 chapters.
Of course I also get the crows of doubt circling about HVC. Did I do everything correctly? Will it be good enough? that sort of thing. Actually I do know thatmy editor has a very good eye and she will help make it better. I really trust my editor. She is not only an Inspiration but a Bad Influence.
Anyway, the actual writing starts on Monday and so I had best get something sorted.
For a number of reasons I believe my next hero will bear a certain resemblance to the British actor -- Richard Armitage. The link takes you to a v good and complete photo album. After my problems with posting Hugh Jackman photos, I thought it best to link the album. Richard Armitage is currently appearing as Sir Guy of Gisbourne on Robin Hood.
I am busy doing my outline. Fingers crossed it has enough turning points. I do like the Donald Maas exercise which says which are the five crucial events that take the plot forward, and what a three crucial events that move it backward. You can repeat the steps for the first and second plot layers. Or even subplots. It helps me to think and I am starting to get the semblance of an outline, perhaps one that is able to withstand 18/19 chapters.
Of course I also get the crows of doubt circling about HVC. Did I do everything correctly? Will it be good enough? that sort of thing. Actually I do know thatmy editor has a very good eye and she will help make it better. I really trust my editor. She is not only an Inspiration but a Bad Influence.
Anyway, the actual writing starts on Monday and so I had best get something sorted.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Done and sent
HVC has been sent to my editor! Before the deadline we had agreed, and definately before the deadline on my contract. Off my desk and on to hers. Hooray!
She has also agreed that at least my next two Vikings will be linked to this one. My request so I am very pleased about that one.
Now all I have to do is write my Victorian Christmas one! Cue the Christmas carols...
But first, the house needs tidying!
She has also agreed that at least my next two Vikings will be linked to this one. My request so I am very pleased about that one.
Now all I have to do is write my Victorian Christmas one! Cue the Christmas carols...
But first, the house needs tidying!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Plotting and other things.
Julie Cohen and Jenna Bailey-Burke have a Q&A up on e-harlequin about plotting v flying by the seat of your pants. Apparently I am totally a plotter. Well, if I am, it is my own method. And I do firmly believe that most of the tweaking and editing comes AFTER the first draft. Between you and the computer screen, there is not much help. And my plotting is an outline. I can't use other people's methods. Mine works for me, and is fairly chaotic.
Anne McAllister has risen to the challenge and published a picture of Julie and me at Brooks. I know it was Brooks, because I had discarded on my tweed blazer there. Where as at the lunch, I wore it and sweltered. It is well worth viewing -- her rogue's gallery.
I did a lovely talk at Crimlington Writers' Group yesterday. In case anyone visits, the slang website is
You Can't say that!. It is quite fun, but people should not be too hung up on it. The modern day reader also has to be able to read the work.
And certainly G Heyer's making up of words, and use of other dubious ones does not detract one little bit from the enjoyment of the novels. They have a ring of authenticity about them. And the whole point is to create an authentic world.
Now off to finish this round of edits!!!! I have a deadline to beat.
Anne McAllister has risen to the challenge and published a picture of Julie and me at Brooks. I know it was Brooks, because I had discarded on my tweed blazer there. Where as at the lunch, I wore it and sweltered. It is well worth viewing -- her rogue's gallery.
I did a lovely talk at Crimlington Writers' Group yesterday. In case anyone visits, the slang website is
You Can't say that!. It is quite fun, but people should not be too hung up on it. The modern day reader also has to be able to read the work.
And certainly G Heyer's making up of words, and use of other dubious ones does not detract one little bit from the enjoyment of the novels. They have a ring of authenticity about them. And the whole point is to create an authentic world.
Now off to finish this round of edits!!!! I have a deadline to beat.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Letter writing
Last night we watched Beaches with Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. It is a relationship film about the friendship of two women from very different backgrounds and what happens to them. It is one of my favourite films and always makes ne cry at the end. My DH enjoys the film as well. We first discovered it when I was pregnant with my eldest. He'd half-forgotten where Pouncer the wonder cat came from.
It made me think how much things have changed.
My eldest is about to go to Moscow with his school in two weeks time. Thus fulfilling my promise that he could. For those who don't know -- once I was first writing, he obviously thought I was not paying attention and after series of I gather frustrated questions, he asked if he could go to Moscow to which I replied yes.
When I used to go off to camp, parents were always told to write. Letters were the big deal. None of that now. The students were told that they could take a mobile phone and charger. No address was given to write to.
Watching the movie, reminded me of the excitment I used to get when I opened my friends' letters, holding the envelope in my hand, looking at the wrting and the anxious seconds of tearing it open. Reading it onceand then again. Between email and mobile phones, I don't write many personal letters these days. Maybe I should.
Up in the attic, sits the boxes of letters my dh and I exchanged over our courtship. Well read, and lovingly preserved. Would I have kept emails in the same way?
I do make a point to print out my reader's emails and treasure them, so perhaps I would have. Maybe it is the act of keeping and treasuring that is important.
But without a doubt a letter (however it comes) brings a certain comfort.
It made me think how much things have changed.
My eldest is about to go to Moscow with his school in two weeks time. Thus fulfilling my promise that he could. For those who don't know -- once I was first writing, he obviously thought I was not paying attention and after series of I gather frustrated questions, he asked if he could go to Moscow to which I replied yes.
When I used to go off to camp, parents were always told to write. Letters were the big deal. None of that now. The students were told that they could take a mobile phone and charger. No address was given to write to.
Watching the movie, reminded me of the excitment I used to get when I opened my friends' letters, holding the envelope in my hand, looking at the wrting and the anxious seconds of tearing it open. Reading it onceand then again. Between email and mobile phones, I don't write many personal letters these days. Maybe I should.
Up in the attic, sits the boxes of letters my dh and I exchanged over our courtship. Well read, and lovingly preserved. Would I have kept emails in the same way?
I do make a point to print out my reader's emails and treasure them, so perhaps I would have. Maybe it is the act of keeping and treasuring that is important.
But without a doubt a letter (however it comes) brings a certain comfort.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Proofs and such like
The postman handed me the proofs for The Roman's Virgin Mistress today. I had thought they'd arrive in a week's time. However, now that they are here, I shall get them done. AND then work on the next round of edits for HVC.
Certain things take priority...
My children will be very happy as this will mean I am not on the computer as much for the next few days.
It is lovely to re-read the book and also to see how the editors massage and shaped it. At this point, I am only reading for flow and continuity. generally the mistakes I pick up are mine. For example I used the phrase -- for a few weeks. How could I have done that....weeks were not a common concept then. It was not really until Ceasar changed the calender that they became generally accepted.
It is the tiny little details that help bring authencity to a novel.
Certain things take priority...
My children will be very happy as this will mean I am not on the computer as much for the next few days.
It is lovely to re-read the book and also to see how the editors massage and shaped it. At this point, I am only reading for flow and continuity. generally the mistakes I pick up are mine. For example I used the phrase -- for a few weeks. How could I have done that....weeks were not a common concept then. It was not really until Ceasar changed the calender that they became generally accepted.
It is the tiny little details that help bring authencity to a novel.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
The Pink Heart Society
My call story is up on the Pink Heart Society blogzine today. Please go and visit so that I won't feel alone!
The PHS has done marvellous things in the past month and seems to be going from strength to strength. I know Trish, Ally, Nicola and Natasha have a number of exciting events planned. It is one of the first places I stop each and every morning. It is wonderfully addictive!
The PHS has done marvellous things in the past month and seems to be going from strength to strength. I know Trish, Ally, Nicola and Natasha have a number of exciting events planned. It is one of the first places I stop each and every morning. It is wonderfully addictive!
Monday, October 02, 2006
What a difference a complete draft can make
Yesterday, the white hot heat of writing came upon me. In many ways as the computer was doing a complete scan, this was not good.
I sat curled up on my sofa, scribbling away.At first it was going to be snippets and running order, then it became expanded and I did most of the last chapter plus epilogue.
Then it was church and the ideas started to flow thick and fast. I did draw the line at taking notes during the sermon! But it was a case of *hold that thought*, get home scribble some more, check the stupid virus scan, scribble some more, do jobs around the house, scribble. If you have ever had the misfortune to see my handwriting, you will understand why I say scribble. You know it is bad when you can barely make out the words.
Then the scan stopped. No viruses. The computer was free.
Next it was my just keep writing technique. Put it down and see where you get to. Finally four hours plus later, the first draft was done!
Bad pages I can fix. Awkward sentences can be polished. Ping ponging talking heads in space can be layered. The important thing is that is done. I have the clay and straw to work with.
I have decided for me, a first draft is not a 100 page outline or a synopsis. These tools can aid, but a first draft is something over the guideline word count, where the vast majority of my story is in place. I do do synopsis, out line, sometimes character studies but these are not actual drafts. There is a difference.
By the time I had finished, I felt energized. This is a change as I had been feeling exhausted and going to bed early.
Thus I was able to watch the second episode of Jane Eyre with Toby Stephens as Mr Rochester. Very good viewing but then I used to adore the gothic genre.
I sat curled up on my sofa, scribbling away.At first it was going to be snippets and running order, then it became expanded and I did most of the last chapter plus epilogue.
Then it was church and the ideas started to flow thick and fast. I did draw the line at taking notes during the sermon! But it was a case of *hold that thought*, get home scribble some more, check the stupid virus scan, scribble some more, do jobs around the house, scribble. If you have ever had the misfortune to see my handwriting, you will understand why I say scribble. You know it is bad when you can barely make out the words.
Then the scan stopped. No viruses. The computer was free.
Next it was my just keep writing technique. Put it down and see where you get to. Finally four hours plus later, the first draft was done!
Bad pages I can fix. Awkward sentences can be polished. Ping ponging talking heads in space can be layered. The important thing is that is done. I have the clay and straw to work with.
I have decided for me, a first draft is not a 100 page outline or a synopsis. These tools can aid, but a first draft is something over the guideline word count, where the vast majority of my story is in place. I do do synopsis, out line, sometimes character studies but these are not actual drafts. There is a difference.
By the time I had finished, I felt energized. This is a change as I had been feeling exhausted and going to bed early.
Thus I was able to watch the second episode of Jane Eyre with Toby Stephens as Mr Rochester. Very good viewing but then I used to adore the gothic genre.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Mushrooming
It is the right season for going out mushrooming, and I took sometime offwriting yesterday to just that.
The fields and forest at this time of year sport an array of mushroms. Most are not worth eating as they are either only margianlly edible or sometimes highly poisonous. But it is good fun to try to find mushrooms and identify them. And such proved the case yesterday. However, down a steep bank on the top of a birch tree clustered a horde of beautiful white Oyster mushrooms. Now I have never found them in the wild before, so I was very excited. We picked afew but left the vast majority gow undisturbed.
I shall dry them and eventually add them to stews and/or sauces.
I always go with a field guide to identfying mushrooms. Roger Philips' are probably the best. And unless one is absolutely postively sure, one never eats a mushroom. it takes a slight leap of faith, but my dh has done mushrooming since he was a boy. The first several times, he collected horse mushrooms, I made him eat them and watched to see what would happen. As he survived...I became a convert.
Last year, I found parasol mushrooms and field blewits -- both excellent, but thus far neither has reappeared.... still October is the best time for gathering mushrooms.
I had a lovely email today from a reader, asking to be put on my email newsletter list. Thus I suppose I needto get one sorted -- certainly in time for A Noble captive hitting the shops in the UK. From little acorns, mighty oaks grow and all that.
The wip is within touching distance of the end.
The fields and forest at this time of year sport an array of mushroms. Most are not worth eating as they are either only margianlly edible or sometimes highly poisonous. But it is good fun to try to find mushrooms and identify them. And such proved the case yesterday. However, down a steep bank on the top of a birch tree clustered a horde of beautiful white Oyster mushrooms. Now I have never found them in the wild before, so I was very excited. We picked afew but left the vast majority gow undisturbed.
I shall dry them and eventually add them to stews and/or sauces.
I always go with a field guide to identfying mushrooms. Roger Philips' are probably the best. And unless one is absolutely postively sure, one never eats a mushroom. it takes a slight leap of faith, but my dh has done mushrooming since he was a boy. The first several times, he collected horse mushrooms, I made him eat them and watched to see what would happen. As he survived...I became a convert.
Last year, I found parasol mushrooms and field blewits -- both excellent, but thus far neither has reappeared.... still October is the best time for gathering mushrooms.
I had a lovely email today from a reader, asking to be put on my email newsletter list. Thus I suppose I needto get one sorted -- certainly in time for A Noble captive hitting the shops in the UK. From little acorns, mighty oaks grow and all that.
The wip is within touching distance of the end.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Stop press!
My very dear friend Anna Lucia has recieved an offer for her book MCWife from a US RWA PRINT publisher.
My fingers are firmly crossed that it works out, but do go over and congratulate her!!!
My fingers are firmly crossed that it works out, but do go over and congratulate her!!!
At the coalface
I am within sight of my goal -- under a hundred pages to go. I know the ending. BUT sometimes, it seems the closer I get the further away the end is.
And why does the middle of October suddenly seem to be so close?
Time is a very funny thing.
And why does the middle of October suddenly seem to be so close?
Time is a very funny thing.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
And some did eat cake!
I had a thoroughly lovely time at the AMBA day yesterday. The plane was relatively painless, as was the tube. It was pouring down with rain when I got off at Green Park but luckily I had put my blue mac and so off I went to the RAF Club for lunch. The guests this year were the managing editors from Germany,Holland and the UK. They provided lots of interesting info about how they did a variety of things. It was also a chance to catch up with friends and meet a few peple that I had not met before. It was not nearly as intimidating as last year as I think I felt much more confident. It was lovely to see such people as Kate Walker, Anne McAllister, Thrish Wylie, Natasha Oakley and Jessica Hart.
After the lunch and discussion, a number of us went off to Fortnams in search of CAKE. Having eaten rather a lot at lunch, I was content to have leon refresher. Julie Cohen (see picture with enhance cleavage) had a glass of milk and a Victoria sponge. Abby Green, a new presents author joined in with a brownie and Lucy Gordon had ice cream --Dusty Rose which looked absolute delish..
As you can see from the picture of author with handbag, Kate Hardy was looking v. glam with her new Radley handbag.
After that rbrief respite, we trooped off to Brook's (as in the club where the Earl of Sandwich used and Charles Fox used to gamble) The interior is to die, BUT photography is forbidden. The sofas downstairs are large, burgundy and leather. Prints of the Prince Regent were hung on the stairwell. We were in the Gaming Room and it has been carefully restored to its Regency splendour. The original gaming table is now in the library. Brooks has its own private label champage that I drank rather too much of. Liz Fielding received her well deserved RITA, and one of the authors got her silver 25 book pin.HM&B give out pins for 25 and 50 books published. The editors were all looking lovely and conversation swirlled. I spoke far too much, and was once again one of the last to leave.It was a thoroughly good day, and I trust that I managed to stay out of photos...
Thursday, September 21, 2006
The Roman's Virgin Mistress -- blurb
I have just received the blurb for The Roman's Virgin Mistress (M&B Historical paperback July 07) and I love it!!!
Scandalous!
Silvana Junia knows what the gossips say about her – and doesn't care! Until a mysterious, dangerous stranger rescues her from the sea, and she's instantly drawn to him.
Notorious!
Lucius Aurelius Fortis is rich and respected. But his playboy past could come back to haunt him if he cannot resist his attraction to beautiful Silvana. And in the hot sun of Baiae their every move is watched…
Outrageous!
Tempted beyond endurance, Silvana will become his mistress. But she has one last shocking secret…which will change everything between them!
Rome, 69 B.C.
Scandalous!
Silvana Junia knows what the gossips say about her – and doesn't care! Until a mysterious, dangerous stranger rescues her from the sea, and she's instantly drawn to him.
Notorious!
Lucius Aurelius Fortis is rich and respected. But his playboy past could come back to haunt him if he cannot resist his attraction to beautiful Silvana. And in the hot sun of Baiae their every move is watched…
Outrageous!
Tempted beyond endurance, Silvana will become his mistress. But she has one last shocking secret…which will change everything between them!
Rome, 69 B.C.
Under the surface
I was rereading Robert McKee's Story as my before going to sleep reading.
A the moment he is my favourite author on writing. Possibly because much of what he says is very advanced, and he uses graphs and logic tables.
In any conflict, it is the dilemma that is important. A choice between an obvious yes or no, is not really a choice. It is the choices that are less clear cut that make for an interesting story. Can someone want two irreconciable things at the same time? Can the character actually fail to complete the circle? How is the character going to change? Dilemmas create tension, far more than clear cut choices.
The other thing that jumped out a t me last night was that the same reaction, the same beat does not change anything and you go into a holding pattern. Action/reaction shouldresult in a gap and then a change.
And another thing: the old maxim -- it is a scene is ony about what is shown on the surface, the writer is trouble as there is no tension.
Tomorrow I am off to London. It will be fun, and thre will be CAKE involved or so I have been informed. Me? I am a great cake eater. I see no problems with cake. Ice cream can be good too.
A the moment he is my favourite author on writing. Possibly because much of what he says is very advanced, and he uses graphs and logic tables.
In any conflict, it is the dilemma that is important. A choice between an obvious yes or no, is not really a choice. It is the choices that are less clear cut that make for an interesting story. Can someone want two irreconciable things at the same time? Can the character actually fail to complete the circle? How is the character going to change? Dilemmas create tension, far more than clear cut choices.
The other thing that jumped out a t me last night was that the same reaction, the same beat does not change anything and you go into a holding pattern. Action/reaction shouldresult in a gap and then a change.
And another thing: the old maxim -- it is a scene is ony about what is shown on the surface, the writer is trouble as there is no tension.
Tomorrow I am off to London. It will be fun, and thre will be CAKE involved or so I have been informed. Me? I am a great cake eater. I see no problems with cake. Ice cream can be good too.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Better today
The sun is shining. My fever appears to have stopped or at least I am not breaking out in a sweat every time I move -- although I still have a bit of a cough.
Tonight at 9 pm on BBC 4 is the first part of a four part series entitled Reader I married Him -- Daisy Goodwin presents a look at romantic fiction. Already from the press releases I have learnt that a M&B book is sold somewhere in the UK every 2 minutes. M&B represents 40% of the paperback market. And hopefully with well researched statistics, getting an airing on the BBC, Romance will be taken more seriously. I will be trying to glean any statistics I can, because whenever you do media presentations, you do get ask certain questions.... I know they did some filmng at the M&B offices so I shall be looking for familiar faces. They also interviewed some members of the RNA. I am really looking forward to seeing it.
I am also looking forward to Friday and AMBA day. It starts with lunch.This year, the speakers are foreign editors. Then some friends and I are retiring to Fortnams for a cup of tea. Later there is a toast to the authors at a very old established club...With all the editors. I am especially looking forward to seeing the historical team again as I am very fond of them. Champagne will be drunk by those that can, o.j. by those who are on the soft stuff... Then I get to go to dinner with two very good friends. It is one of the days that I do feel like -- I am a Glamorous International Award winning Best selling Author and so are my friends, thank you very much.
As generally I sit around in jeans that are somewhat worse for wear, old sweaters and t-shirts, I think I deserve a bit of glam...
Tonight at 9 pm on BBC 4 is the first part of a four part series entitled Reader I married Him -- Daisy Goodwin presents a look at romantic fiction. Already from the press releases I have learnt that a M&B book is sold somewhere in the UK every 2 minutes. M&B represents 40% of the paperback market. And hopefully with well researched statistics, getting an airing on the BBC, Romance will be taken more seriously. I will be trying to glean any statistics I can, because whenever you do media presentations, you do get ask certain questions.... I know they did some filmng at the M&B offices so I shall be looking for familiar faces. They also interviewed some members of the RNA. I am really looking forward to seeing it.
I am also looking forward to Friday and AMBA day. It starts with lunch.This year, the speakers are foreign editors. Then some friends and I are retiring to Fortnams for a cup of tea. Later there is a toast to the authors at a very old established club...With all the editors. I am especially looking forward to seeing the historical team again as I am very fond of them. Champagne will be drunk by those that can, o.j. by those who are on the soft stuff... Then I get to go to dinner with two very good friends. It is one of the days that I do feel like -- I am a Glamorous International Award winning Best selling Author and so are my friends, thank you very much.
As generally I sit around in jeans that are somewhat worse for wear, old sweaters and t-shirts, I think I deserve a bit of glam...
Better today
The sun is shining. My fever appears to have stopped or at least I am not breaking out in a sweat every time I move -- although I still have a bit of a cough.
Tonight at 9 pm on BBC 4 is the first part of a four part series entitled Reader I married Him -- Daisy Goodwin presents a look at romantic fiction. Already from the press releases I have learnt that a M&B book is sold somewhere in the UK every 2 minutes. M&B represents 40% of the paperback market. And hopefully with well researched statistics, getting an airing on the BBC, Romance will be taken more seriously. I will be trying to glean any statistics I can, because whenever you do media presentations, you do get ask certain questions.... I know they did some filmng at the M&B offices so I shall be looking for familiar faces. They also interviewed some members of the RNA. I am really looking forward to seeing it.
I am also looking forward to Friday and AMBA day. It starts with lunch.This year, the speakers are foreign editors. Then some friends and I are retiring to Fortnams for a cup of tea. Later there is a toast to the authors at a very old established club...With all the editors. I am especially looking forward to seeing the historical team again as I am very fond of them. Champagne will be drunk by those that can, o.j. by those who are on the soft stuff... Then I get to go to dinner with two very good friends. It is one of the days that I do feel like -- I am a Glamorous International Award winning Best selling Author and so are my friends, thank you very much.
As generally I sit around in jeans that are somewhat worse for wear, old sweaters and t-shirts, I think I deserve a bit of glam...
Tonight at 9 pm on BBC 4 is the first part of a four part series entitled Reader I married Him -- Daisy Goodwin presents a look at romantic fiction. Already from the press releases I have learnt that a M&B book is sold somewhere in the UK every 2 minutes. M&B represents 40% of the paperback market. And hopefully with well researched statistics, getting an airing on the BBC, Romance will be taken more seriously. I will be trying to glean any statistics I can, because whenever you do media presentations, you do get ask certain questions.... I know they did some filmng at the M&B offices so I shall be looking for familiar faces. They also interviewed some members of the RNA. I am really looking forward to seeing it.
I am also looking forward to Friday and AMBA day. It starts with lunch.This year, the speakers are foreign editors. Then some friends and I are retiring to Fortnams for a cup of tea. Later there is a toast to the authors at a very old established club...With all the editors. I am especially looking forward to seeing the historical team again as I am very fond of them. Champagne will be drunk by those that can, o.j. by those who are on the soft stuff... Then I get to go to dinner with two very good friends. It is one of the days that I do feel like -- I am a Glamorous International Award winning Best selling Author and so are my friends, thank you very much.
As generally I sit around in jeans that are somewhat worse for wear, old sweaters and t-shirts, I think I deserve a bit of glam...
Sunday, September 17, 2006
On being sick
First things first My good writing friend Michelle Willingham has finally sold her first book to M&B historicals.It is an Irish Medieval, andfull of hunky warriors. It is wonderful news and I am sure she will be a great addition to the M&B stable.
This weekend, it finally hit -- I am sick. My children have been sick, my dh has been sick, and then it was my turn. Yesterday, I went to bed at 5pm without supper with a headache that would not quit. My middle made me a hot water bottle, and I woke up an hour later --drenched as the hot water bottle had leaked everywhere and being out of it , I hadn't noticed! I still have a bit of temperature, but feel much better.
I was able to work on my wip and I am not so depressed about its progress as when my headache was nearly blinding me. It is getting there. Over 50k now and the deadline a little less than four weeks away. If I keep going at my current rate I WILL make it. I know what is happening next and have really looking forward to writng this part. It is basically five to six more chapters. Or about a hundred to a hundred and twenty more pages, then editting which always adds because I have a tendency to need to layer.
Oh and I have finally got ALL the honey in. Something else I don't reccomend doing with a fever but it had to be done. My eldest and I went out and brought the last three supers in yesterday. Because the Porter bee escape had been on, and the bees could not get to the honey, once we had taken the first super off, the bees rose up -- stinging mad. In the end , I had about five stings and my son about three. The honey was easy to spin off. And we ended up with 18 lbs.
So that is a grand total of 206 pounds off two hives. Which I think will take some beating.
This weekend, it finally hit -- I am sick. My children have been sick, my dh has been sick, and then it was my turn. Yesterday, I went to bed at 5pm without supper with a headache that would not quit. My middle made me a hot water bottle, and I woke up an hour later --drenched as the hot water bottle had leaked everywhere and being out of it , I hadn't noticed! I still have a bit of temperature, but feel much better.
I was able to work on my wip and I am not so depressed about its progress as when my headache was nearly blinding me. It is getting there. Over 50k now and the deadline a little less than four weeks away. If I keep going at my current rate I WILL make it. I know what is happening next and have really looking forward to writng this part. It is basically five to six more chapters. Or about a hundred to a hundred and twenty more pages, then editting which always adds because I have a tendency to need to layer.
Oh and I have finally got ALL the honey in. Something else I don't reccomend doing with a fever but it had to be done. My eldest and I went out and brought the last three supers in yesterday. Because the Porter bee escape had been on, and the bees could not get to the honey, once we had taken the first super off, the bees rose up -- stinging mad. In the end , I had about five stings and my son about three. The honey was easy to spin off. And we ended up with 18 lbs.
So that is a grand total of 206 pounds off two hives. Which I think will take some beating.
Friday, September 15, 2006
My cave
Cheryl St John had a blog yesterday about her cave, her inner sanctum and I was impressed. This is what my writing space currently looks like. I stitched the unicorn picture when I was sixteen. Underneath are my covers such as I have them. On the top of the bookcase, you can see the champagne bottles from my celebrations of my first two M&B contracts. The red heart shaped box next to them is where I keep my reader letters. It was originally a box of chocolates from my dh, but I loved the shape and thought it the perfect place to keep reader's letters. And you can see my mug. There is generally a mug of something on my desk and I tend to drink it either lukewarm or cold as I go into the kitchen to have a break, wander back, start writing again and then remember...And also in the room, but in the picture was my yellow labrador who was lying alseep, and whom I nearly tripped over as I triedto take the picture.
And I am in mid-book. I thought it was in a mess , until Cheryl point me in the direction of Writer's Caves and I saw Jennifer Cruisie's. Then I realized what mess could really be like!
So go on tell me what is YOUR cave like or better yet post a photo on your blog so the world can see!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Gladiator's Honor's cover
I adore the cover of Gladiator's Honor but had no idea which artist had done the illustration. I know it was commissioned as HM&B do not have any ancient Roman set artwork.
But I had no idea about who the artist.
Thanks to Victoria Bylin who was searching for the artist who did the artwork for the UK cover of Abbie's Outlaw. I now know -- James Griffin. You can take a look at his gallery here and if you scroll down a bit you will see the orginal picture of Gladiator's Honor. He also did the artwork for Juliet Langton's The Warlord's Mistress. Anyway, I thought it rather exciting.
In other news: After I got my first reader letter, I made a decision that I would write to those authors whose books I really liked and thank them. It is something I had never thought of doing before. Anyway, I was very impressed with Loretta Chase and in particular Mr Impossible. So I emailed her and recieved a nice email back. She was in deadline frenzy and apparently my letter helped give her the impetus to finish. Always a nice thought. Her next book, the final book in the series Darius's story -- Not Quite A Lady will be published by Avon in May 2007. So there is some of my May reading sorted then. And if you have not yet read Loretta Chase and like Regency, do -- you are in for a treat.
But I had no idea about who the artist.
Thanks to Victoria Bylin who was searching for the artist who did the artwork for the UK cover of Abbie's Outlaw. I now know -- James Griffin. You can take a look at his gallery here and if you scroll down a bit you will see the orginal picture of Gladiator's Honor. He also did the artwork for Juliet Langton's The Warlord's Mistress. Anyway, I thought it rather exciting.
In other news: After I got my first reader letter, I made a decision that I would write to those authors whose books I really liked and thank them. It is something I had never thought of doing before. Anyway, I was very impressed with Loretta Chase and in particular Mr Impossible. So I emailed her and recieved a nice email back. She was in deadline frenzy and apparently my letter helped give her the impetus to finish. Always a nice thought. Her next book, the final book in the series Darius's story -- Not Quite A Lady will be published by Avon in May 2007. So there is some of my May reading sorted then. And if you have not yet read Loretta Chase and like Regency, do -- you are in for a treat.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Part of the Hugh Jackman Tour
The Pink Heart Society has declared it a Hugh Jackman day and has invited members to post pictures as part of a tour and I am doing my bit. Personally I think this one is fairly good... I found it at Jackman's Landing which has a marvellous compendium of photos...
The Romance Reader Connection Review of GH
I woke up this morning to another review -- this time from The Romance Reader Connection. Melissa Fowler rated it a 4 1/2 stars. As she is a dedicated reader of Harlequin Historicals, it was a real thrill to get the rating.
She said: THE GLADIATOR'S HONOR is an enticing combination of passion andromance, adventure, suspense and political intrigue. Ms. Styles captivating narrative brings ancient Rome to life in amazing detail.Valens and Julia are well suited as hero and heroine, the type of characters who, despite being knocked around a bit in the past, aredetermined to live as they wish—even if it is outside of polite society. The supporting cast of characters was also quite engaging, especially the more villainous elements.
The Romance Reader Connection is lovely, well thought out site btw and well worth a visit.
I do so love getting feedback from readers whether it is in the form of reviews or letters from readers!
She said: THE GLADIATOR'S HONOR is an enticing combination of passion andromance, adventure, suspense and political intrigue. Ms. Styles captivating narrative brings ancient Rome to life in amazing detail.Valens and Julia are well suited as hero and heroine, the type of characters who, despite being knocked around a bit in the past, aredetermined to live as they wish—even if it is outside of polite society. The supporting cast of characters was also quite engaging, especially the more villainous elements.
The Romance Reader Connection is lovely, well thought out site btw and well worth a visit.
I do so love getting feedback from readers whether it is in the form of reviews or letters from readers!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Gladaitor's Honor a B+ at All About Romance
All About Romance has reviewed Gladiator's Honor and given it a B+. It was a thorough review and certainly has given me things to think about. They are notoriously difficult reviewers and so I can take a certain amount of satisfaction from the review.
And even though it did not have that certain something to make a Desert island Keeper for that particular reviewer, she still is looking forward to my next book. Always a bonus.
And even though it did not have that certain something to make a Desert island Keeper for that particular reviewer, she still is looking forward to my next book. Always a bonus.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Yet more honey
I got three more full supers off one of the hives -- this makes 5 full supers thus far from this one hive. It stil has 3 incomplete supers on and so potentially more honey.
It looks like it will be about 100 pounds more of honey. This is to go with the other 100 pounds of honey I have already got off....
At the moment I am heartly sick of honey. There are 6 more supers frames to spin, but the honey tank is at the bottom of the spinner is full as is the filter tank.I have to wait for the honey to drain through into the collection tank before I can complete the job. Luckily the 144 jars and lids arrived yesterday. And I am not going to even begin to think about candles. As the other byproduct of keeping bees is beeswax. Neither am I tempted to make mead -- a fermented and therefore highly alcoholic honey drink popular during the AngloSaxon/Viking period. Lots of beekeepers do make the drink.
But it goes to show what my hives are capable of producing in a good year. But God, it is hard and at times very scary work with the bees pinging all about you. It is good to get the blood flowing though and there is a certain amount of satisfaction, once the supers are in the house and the bees are humming outside.
In other news: My partial was okayed by my editor -- so it is full steam ahead and I no longer have an excuse. My fingers are crossed for an excellent manuscript.
It looks like it will be about 100 pounds more of honey. This is to go with the other 100 pounds of honey I have already got off....
At the moment I am heartly sick of honey. There are 6 more supers frames to spin, but the honey tank is at the bottom of the spinner is full as is the filter tank.I have to wait for the honey to drain through into the collection tank before I can complete the job. Luckily the 144 jars and lids arrived yesterday. And I am not going to even begin to think about candles. As the other byproduct of keeping bees is beeswax. Neither am I tempted to make mead -- a fermented and therefore highly alcoholic honey drink popular during the AngloSaxon/Viking period. Lots of beekeepers do make the drink.
But it goes to show what my hives are capable of producing in a good year. But God, it is hard and at times very scary work with the bees pinging all about you. It is good to get the blood flowing though and there is a certain amount of satisfaction, once the supers are in the house and the bees are humming outside.
In other news: My partial was okayed by my editor -- so it is full steam ahead and I no longer have an excuse. My fingers are crossed for an excellent manuscript.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
A Noble Captive Hardbacks arrive
My hardback copies for A Noble captive have arrived! I love and adore the cover. It just is. My editors who comissioned the cover picked up the elements of the story in far better way than I could.And it is just as exciting to get the copies for your second book as your first.
Okay, maybe a bit less...
Ironically it was just about a year that the full was requested, and what a year it has been!
Monday, September 04, 2006
The last day before school starts
Today is the last day before school starts for my younger two. It is bound to be a day of searching for lost items, and checking one last time to make sure that everything is there.
The weeks have flown by and it hardly seems anytime since we were getting ready to go to Iceland!
What is worse, the years have flown. Eighteen years ago, I was busy getting ready to go to the UK. Sixteen years ago, I had a really bad night and then my eldest was born the next day by c-section.
Hence the only reason why I know the date I landed in the UK to start my new life -- I had to show my passport when I was registering my eldest's birth and one of the midwifes commented.
At that time I thought I had all the time in the world -- every day seemed to take a year. My life revolved around this newborn. getting ready to go anywhere took hours because no sooner was I dressed and ready, then he had to changed or fed and then ... you get the picture. Then suddenly he was five and starting school, and now he will be sixteen. And in theory next June, he could leave school, and leave home...A Very Scary Thought.
Luckily he is intent on university, so he will belong to me for a few more years yet.
I still remember the crewel work picture I did for a very good friend of mine when I was 16 and she was expecting her first child. It had the words the effect -- Hush to the washing, and ironing go to sleep, I am rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
And they really don't... time is a funny thing and it does slip through your fingers. Even when you think you have all the time in the world.
The weeks have flown by and it hardly seems anytime since we were getting ready to go to Iceland!
What is worse, the years have flown. Eighteen years ago, I was busy getting ready to go to the UK. Sixteen years ago, I had a really bad night and then my eldest was born the next day by c-section.
Hence the only reason why I know the date I landed in the UK to start my new life -- I had to show my passport when I was registering my eldest's birth and one of the midwifes commented.
At that time I thought I had all the time in the world -- every day seemed to take a year. My life revolved around this newborn. getting ready to go anywhere took hours because no sooner was I dressed and ready, then he had to changed or fed and then ... you get the picture. Then suddenly he was five and starting school, and now he will be sixteen. And in theory next June, he could leave school, and leave home...A Very Scary Thought.
Luckily he is intent on university, so he will belong to me for a few more years yet.
I still remember the crewel work picture I did for a very good friend of mine when I was 16 and she was expecting her first child. It had the words the effect -- Hush to the washing, and ironing go to sleep, I am rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
And they really don't... time is a funny thing and it does slip through your fingers. Even when you think you have all the time in the world.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
The Roman's Virgin Mistress
The Roman's Virgin Mistress will be publish in the UK in May 07 in hardback and July 07 in paperback.
I love the title as it really says everything about the book. My editors have decided to go with more Presents type titles for my Roman books, which is fine by me. I will admit to picking books off the shelves with the word Virgin or Mistress in them in the past....
I have been offered a new three book contract. The other books in the contract are my Viking one and one set in the Victorian era at Christmas. I am looking forward to finishing them both!
I love the title as it really says everything about the book. My editors have decided to go with more Presents type titles for my Roman books, which is fine by me. I will admit to picking books off the shelves with the word Virgin or Mistress in them in the past....
I have been offered a new three book contract. The other books in the contract are my Viking one and one set in the Victorian era at Christmas. I am looking forward to finishing them both!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Ducks and rows
Anne McAllister has a post about getting all her doucks in a row and getting her book finished.
I had to laugh as my ducks are seldom in a row. they tend move far more as a phalanx. Last night, it was total confusion. The ducklings had decided to stay up late, and then panicked as I went to put htem away. They ended up getting mixed up with the older ducks. Eventually, I shut the duck pen and left them to it as I fed the dogs. Ducklings are unreliable and apt to panic, forgetting where their duck house is and rushing from one place to another, totally ignoring the duck house.
When I came back, the last of the ducklings were disappearing into their duck house, having eventually calmed down... and I was able to shut their door. But because I had not brought the dogs out, the big ducks refused to go to bed. they went into the house, and came out again, round and round the duck house we went until one decided that flying through the netting and going into the Dene was a good idea. I retreated, got the dogs, and then they were perfectly behaved.
My advice therefore is if you want to get your ducks in a row -- use older ducks and make sure you have a dog stationed near by.
In other news: my wip is going slowly, but it is moving ahead. I did some plotting yesterday and now know far more what happens in the middle bit. This in theory should make everything go faster. For the moment, my ducks are scattered and not in a row or even a phalanx.
I had to laugh as my ducks are seldom in a row. they tend move far more as a phalanx. Last night, it was total confusion. The ducklings had decided to stay up late, and then panicked as I went to put htem away. They ended up getting mixed up with the older ducks. Eventually, I shut the duck pen and left them to it as I fed the dogs. Ducklings are unreliable and apt to panic, forgetting where their duck house is and rushing from one place to another, totally ignoring the duck house.
When I came back, the last of the ducklings were disappearing into their duck house, having eventually calmed down... and I was able to shut their door. But because I had not brought the dogs out, the big ducks refused to go to bed. they went into the house, and came out again, round and round the duck house we went until one decided that flying through the netting and going into the Dene was a good idea. I retreated, got the dogs, and then they were perfectly behaved.
My advice therefore is if you want to get your ducks in a row -- use older ducks and make sure you have a dog stationed near by.
In other news: my wip is going slowly, but it is moving ahead. I did some plotting yesterday and now know far more what happens in the middle bit. This in theory should make everything go faster. For the moment, my ducks are scattered and not in a row or even a phalanx.
Monday, August 28, 2006
August Bank Holiday Monday
It is the AUgust Bank Holiday here in Britain. This means grey skies and possibility of drizzle later.
My dh has started to put the garden to rights. This will involve a trip to the dump as the garden is looking rather like a jungle at the moment.
The ducklings are growing. It is very interesting to watch the social interaction. Lots of head bobbing before a young duckling join a group of ducks. There is a certain order to the way they do things. Everything regimented with lots of load quacking if it does not go as planned.
I discovered two books -- Consuming Passions about the growth of the consumer during Victorian times, apparently there is a chapter on Christmas. And also the Victorian House:Childbirth through death. Both by Judith Flanders. I am justifying the purchase as research for the Victorian Christmas one I am writing after this one.
Speaking of which, I saent the partial for HVC off to my editor who will be returning from holiday tomorrow. Even though, in theory I don't need to send in partials anymore. I like to do it. It makes for a certain discipline.
Also:
The marketing team for Harlequin Mills and Boon are busy gathering data for the 2007 Romance Report. In particular they are doing a survey about how romantic are you?If you would like to help, please fill in the following survey. Your answers are totally confidential and can not be traced back to you.Obviously the more people who fill out the survey, the more information Harlequin Mills and Boon will have about the currnet state of romance.The survey does need to be filled in by 30 September for your answers to be included in the 2007 Romance Report that is sent out to media worldwide. Thank you in advance for helping.
My dh has started to put the garden to rights. This will involve a trip to the dump as the garden is looking rather like a jungle at the moment.
The ducklings are growing. It is very interesting to watch the social interaction. Lots of head bobbing before a young duckling join a group of ducks. There is a certain order to the way they do things. Everything regimented with lots of load quacking if it does not go as planned.
I discovered two books -- Consuming Passions about the growth of the consumer during Victorian times, apparently there is a chapter on Christmas. And also the Victorian House:Childbirth through death. Both by Judith Flanders. I am justifying the purchase as research for the Victorian Christmas one I am writing after this one.
Speaking of which, I saent the partial for HVC off to my editor who will be returning from holiday tomorrow. Even though, in theory I don't need to send in partials anymore. I like to do it. It makes for a certain discipline.
Also:
The marketing team for Harlequin Mills and Boon are busy gathering data for the 2007 Romance Report. In particular they are doing a survey about how romantic are you?If you would like to help, please fill in the following survey. Your answers are totally confidential and can not be traced back to you.Obviously the more people who fill out the survey, the more information Harlequin Mills and Boon will have about the currnet state of romance.The survey does need to be filled in by 30 September for your answers to be included in the 2007 Romance Report that is sent out to media worldwide. Thank you in advance for helping.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
A better day, a hero prototype found.
Margaret Moore wrote a very good article on the Harlequin Historical Authors' blog in which she had uploaded a picture of Gerald Butler. Before this, I had not encountered him, and had not seriously considered him as an image model for Haakon, my hero. But when I saw the photo, I realized -- this was nearly a perfect match.It is the dark hair and blue eyes. I understand from Patrica Frances Rowell he has been used as an image model for a number of Harlequin Mills and Boon Historical heroes including her own A Fortuitous Abduction. Terri Brisbin informs that she has over three hundred photos of this man. I think I have been missing something here.... I am not worried that our characters will alike, the deep character that each writer creates brings something new to the table. It is just that the image sometimes helps.
And here he is in a more modern pose. He will be appearing as King Leonidas in the 300 -- wearing Spartan Gear. Thermoplyae and all that. I hope it is a well told tale, although I suspect there will be a large group of women going for the pleasure of watching GB...and his loincloth. And what is wrong with that? A healthy hetrosexual appreciation of a good looking man is nothing to be sniffed at.Anyway, once I had seen the picture, many thigns feel into place and where I had been a bit stuck, things appeared to flow better...
Did I need a face to put to an idea? I am not sure, but thus far it seems to have worked. I sent my first three chapters off to one of my critque partners and they came flying back with a few minor tweaks. These I will do and then send it off to my other critque partner, before sending it to my editor for Tuesday.
The bee stings are healing. And the honey has been bottled. I am currently melting the wax to separte if from any remaining honey and then I will make a few candles. The windows have to be closed while I do this as the bees can smell the honey and try to get in.
But the wip is moving forward again.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Harvesting honey and mistakes made
On Sunday, my dh decided we had had enough of the honey drought. For the first since August 2001, we had been without our own honey. I was supposed to go down and put the porter bee escapes in below one super.
Porter bee escapes allow bees to leave but not return. The theory being that you then go and pick up the honey in the early morning, and there is no need to shake the bees off the individual frames. This is the THEORY. It is not always true in practice as I have discovered in previous years.
However, I wanted honey sooner than four days time, and so I decided to forego the porter bee escapes for the shake the damned bees off the comb method.
I went into the first hive and was astonished to see how much honey -- the top super was overflowing with sealed honey. We had no more supers to put on. There were very few bees in the top layer.
MISTAKE Number 1 I should have just taken the top super away and worried about shaking the bees off, so distance from the hive. In stead I thought to follow my original plan and transfer the super frames to a brood box. Result: bees tried to sting my arms. One or two succeeded. Bees dislike honey robbers.
I got the honey up and in with no more mishaps. It was Rosebay willow herb -- a lovely light straw colour, and wonderfully runny. There were 26 jars worth on the one super. When you consider for the last few years following the 2 brood box method, we have had a total each year of about 50 jars, I was very pleased. There are 9 other super boxes potentially as full of honey.
MISTAKE number 2 Do not attempt to reopen a colony just after you have taken honey off. The bees tend to be a bit aggressive. Particularly do not try this when your smoker has gone out. RESULT: 15 bee stings to my legs. And one hive of v angry bees, rising in a black cloud.
Luckily I am not allergic.
Now all I have to do is check the other bee hive and plot how I am going to get porter bee escapes on.
In other news HVC goes slowly. I have figured out where I made a mistake and more importantly why it is a mistake. It should read better.
If you feel in need of motivation about writing, you should check out margaret Moore's blog. She offers some wonderful pearls of wisdom. With me it is not worrying so much the other writer is writing 15 pages per day, but rather that I am going too quickly, if this makes sense. And yes I know,I would be the one standing, burbling in the corner, if I couldn't write as much as I do.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Gladiator's Honour on radio
The audio cd of Gladiator's Honour will be broadcast on One Word Radio, starting on 27 August.
It is your chance to hear the wonderful voice of Simon Poland. It is abridged, but I thought when I heard it that it was done very well.
Can you tell that I am very excited about this development?
My good friend Brigid Coady is the announcer.
It is your chance to hear the wonderful voice of Simon Poland. It is abridged, but I thought when I heard it that it was done very well.
Can you tell that I am very excited about this development?
My good friend Brigid Coady is the announcer.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
And the winner is...
Gladiator's Honour is the winner of the 2006 Cataromance Reviewers' Choice Award for Mills and Boon Historicals.
I am very pleased as I did not expect to win.
Elizabeth Lane won the Harlequin Historicals award.
You can see the winners here:
The RNA lunch was lovely, despite the rain. It was thrilling to actually get to see Rosamunde Pilcher. LadyMary Stewart was too ill attend and Lucilla Andrews was in hospital. Lucilla ANdrews was apaprently spitting mad that she couldn't be there. For those who don't know, Lucilla Andrews was one of the big names in medical romance.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Lunch, interview and a new blog in town
Today I am going to the RNA Lifetime Achievement Luncheon for Rosumunde Pilcher, Lucilla Andrews and Lady Mary Stewart. I will confess to not having read Lucilla Andrews. She wrote mainly medical romances which are not my favourites. BUT I spent very many hours reading RP and MS. Mary Stewart's Touch Not the Cat was one of the first main stream romances that I read and hooked me. I discovered RP before she wrote The Shell Seekers and always really enjoyed her books. I shall be doing the fan girl thing even though I believe Lady Mary is not well enough to attend.
I did a small Harlequin Historical Authors blog. It is a group blog, and we plan to feature all your favourite HH authors with interesting articles, news and comment. So please stop by.
I did a small Harlequin Historical Authors blog. It is a group blog, and we plan to feature all your favourite HH authors with interesting articles, news and comment. So please stop by.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Gladiator's Honour is a 2006 Cataromance Reviewer's Choice nominee
I was very thrilled and delighted to learn that Gladiator's Honour is one of the nominees for this year's Cataromance Reviewer's Choice Awards. As many other wonderful writers (Kate Hardy, Kate Walker, Anne McAllister, Julie Cohen, Trish Wylie, Liz Fielding, Ally Blake, Jenna Bayley-Burke to name but a few) and books are on the list, I doubt I will win, but it is very nice to be nominated and to think Gladiator's Honour was thought highly of. You can view the full list here.
The awards are announced on Friday 18 August. It is an all day event. There will be interviews with the nominees, goodie bags and much much more. You can find out more by going to the Cataromance site. Cataromance is a website dedicated to Catagory Romance.
Monday, August 14, 2006
One Book
I have just realised that Kate Hardy tagged me with this. Put it done to jet lag.
And as two plumbers are busy wrestlingwith the Aga, now seems to be the right time. As you will see, I did have probelms with one or two answers.And I want it said that it is practically impossible to choose just one book.
1. One book that changed my life: The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. I read this as a teenager and it made a great impression on me.
2. One book that I have read more than once: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes – This is the book that I adored when I was about 12. Total literary crush on Rab.
3. One book I would want on a deserted island: One book? One measly book? It would have to be the Bible or possibly the Collected Works of Shakespeare or possibly the Icelandic Sagas. Something very long and with lots of stories in it.
4. One book that made me laugh: Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer
5. One book that made me cry: The Marriage Miracle by Liz Fielding
6. One book I wish I'd written: Mr Impossible by Loretta Chase. An excellent historical romance writer and I am consumed by jealousy. There are others aswell she mutters darkly...
7. One book I wish had never been written: Or is a better sentiment as I am not into book banning – sunk without a trace? Here I could put Mien Kampf or Das Capital. Both have had a detrimental effect on the world. But I will have to go for Marx. And among other things Marx can’t do math.
8. One book I am currently reading: 1776 David McCullough (just finished Mr Impossible) it is an excellent companion to his Pultizer winning biography of john Adams that I read several years ago. I have several others on the go including an Icelandic Saga.
9. One book I have been meaning to read: Blood and Sand by Frank Gardiner – It is an account of the BBC correspondent’s life, what happened to him before he was shot and left to die in Saudi street and how he recovered afterward. My eldest has read it. I also am meaning to read Ghost Wars, but as my dh is currently reading our copy, I think I am excused for the moment
Now to tag: Nell Dixon, Anna Lucia and Kate Walker.
And as two plumbers are busy wrestlingwith the Aga, now seems to be the right time. As you will see, I did have probelms with one or two answers.And I want it said that it is practically impossible to choose just one book.
1. One book that changed my life: The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. I read this as a teenager and it made a great impression on me.
2. One book that I have read more than once: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes – This is the book that I adored when I was about 12. Total literary crush on Rab.
3. One book I would want on a deserted island: One book? One measly book? It would have to be the Bible or possibly the Collected Works of Shakespeare or possibly the Icelandic Sagas. Something very long and with lots of stories in it.
4. One book that made me laugh: Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer
5. One book that made me cry: The Marriage Miracle by Liz Fielding
6. One book I wish I'd written: Mr Impossible by Loretta Chase. An excellent historical romance writer and I am consumed by jealousy. There are others aswell she mutters darkly...
7. One book I wish had never been written: Or is a better sentiment as I am not into book banning – sunk without a trace? Here I could put Mien Kampf or Das Capital. Both have had a detrimental effect on the world. But I will have to go for Marx. And among other things Marx can’t do math.
8. One book I am currently reading: 1776 David McCullough (just finished Mr Impossible) it is an excellent companion to his Pultizer winning biography of john Adams that I read several years ago. I have several others on the go including an Icelandic Saga.
9. One book I have been meaning to read: Blood and Sand by Frank Gardiner – It is an account of the BBC correspondent’s life, what happened to him before he was shot and left to die in Saudi street and how he recovered afterward. My eldest has read it. I also am meaning to read Ghost Wars, but as my dh is currently reading our copy, I think I am excused for the moment
Now to tag: Nell Dixon, Anna Lucia and Kate Walker.
And sometimes you are the bug
I have a fondness for Mary Chapin Carpenter and her songs. I discovered her about 12 years ago The one which is playing through my head is the one about Sometimes you are the windshield and sometime you are the bug.
Yesterday was an eventful day. It started noramly enough. In fact it was normal up to 3 o'clock. Then the hot water pipe burst inside the AGA. The first I knew about it, my dh was screaming at me to come and see. As he had just screamed about there being no hot water for his shower, and I was busy with laundry, I was not best pleased. However, once I realised the situation, it was all hands on deck.
The water had flowed out and was busily dripping down into the basement. The rugs are the bottom of the staris were soaked. The well around the Aga was covered in warm red brown silt and water poured from its side. We turned everything off and still the water flowed out. I think we finally drained last bit of water from the house....Anyway, now today I have to see about getting it fixed as my usual plumber is on holiday. As we have another boiler, I suspect that the Aga shall to be bypassed. The thought of having to have it taken apart...
There is no reason why the pipes should have gone -- except the water pressure has been funny lately and the pipes are very old.
All this has meant that HVC was not worked on and I shall have to try to catch up in the next few days...
Yesterday was an eventful day. It started noramly enough. In fact it was normal up to 3 o'clock. Then the hot water pipe burst inside the AGA. The first I knew about it, my dh was screaming at me to come and see. As he had just screamed about there being no hot water for his shower, and I was busy with laundry, I was not best pleased. However, once I realised the situation, it was all hands on deck.
The water had flowed out and was busily dripping down into the basement. The rugs are the bottom of the staris were soaked. The well around the Aga was covered in warm red brown silt and water poured from its side. We turned everything off and still the water flowed out. I think we finally drained last bit of water from the house....Anyway, now today I have to see about getting it fixed as my usual plumber is on holiday. As we have another boiler, I suspect that the Aga shall to be bypassed. The thought of having to have it taken apart...
There is no reason why the pipes should have gone -- except the water pressure has been funny lately and the pipes are very old.
All this has meant that HVC was not worked on and I shall have to try to catch up in the next few days...
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Bits and bobs
Well it had to happen --- Gladiaotr's Honor received a three star review from the RT. I have not read the review as I am not a subscriber. The main obection (or so my editor tells me) is that my language was too modern. My editor does not seriously think this is an objection. She would refuse to publish me if I wrote it in some sort of archaic form of English.
Quite frankly, no one knows what the Romans sounded like or exactly how they spoke. Nearly all of the writing we have access to was formal. There is a great gulf between formal and informal. Always has been, always will be. Even back in Shakespearean England, people used contractions.
My characters might sound modern because to their way of thinking, they were modern.
Anyway, I am very pleased to have been reviewed and apparently a number of nice things were said. Hopefully the publicity will result in several more sales.
I am currently hard at work on HVC. I do need to up my daily output.
My muse seems to thrive on hard work. Push her, make her work and she rolls up her sleeves and gets stuck in. If I wait for inspiration, she decides to go to sleep or loll around eating chocolates. Annoying there but there you have it. BICHOK works for me. Just as well as I have two books to write between now and 20 Dec. It can be done. It will be done.
Better get back to work then...
Quite frankly, no one knows what the Romans sounded like or exactly how they spoke. Nearly all of the writing we have access to was formal. There is a great gulf between formal and informal. Always has been, always will be. Even back in Shakespearean England, people used contractions.
My characters might sound modern because to their way of thinking, they were modern.
Anyway, I am very pleased to have been reviewed and apparently a number of nice things were said. Hopefully the publicity will result in several more sales.
I am currently hard at work on HVC. I do need to up my daily output.
My muse seems to thrive on hard work. Push her, make her work and she rolls up her sleeves and gets stuck in. If I wait for inspiration, she decides to go to sleep or loll around eating chocolates. Annoying there but there you have it. BICHOK works for me. Just as well as I have two books to write between now and 20 Dec. It can be done. It will be done.
Better get back to work then...
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Holiday part 2
Annoyingly, blogger is not letting me upload photos. And I did have some more good photos of Iceland.
The plane flight over to BWI was painless and I have to say that I like BWI much better than Dulles. However, once we stepped outside, it was like stepping back into the steam room at the Blue Lagoon.
Heat and humidity remained the themes for the trip.
We spent the first fewdays recovering, and then went to the newly reopened National Portrait Gallery. It has been closed for over seven years and it was good to see all the portraits. I particularly enjoyed the portraits from the early years...The modern hanging foam heads were a bit disconcerting. We also went to Mt Vernon. The house and the grounds do not really change very much, but at this time of year, the swallowtail butterflies are out and the gardens are good. They are busy building a new museum though.
Afterwards we went to Alexandria for lunch and walk around. There we went into Barkley Square -- an upmarket dog bakery. When a small dog wearing pink ribbons tried to attack my youngest, its owner apologized. The dog was grumpy because she was trying on clothes. It was only when I look at the racks of dog dresses that I realized it was the DOG and not the owner who was trying on clothes! No wonder she was so upset. However the shop is wonderful for all things doggie and I managed to get a new collar and lead for Chile -- our Lab.
We drove up to the Adirondacks via the Hudson Valley. Stops on the way included West Point and FDR's home in Hyde Park. More properly it was his mother's house where he lived. Sarah Delano Roosevelt was an amazing woman. A bit overbearing, but determined. Our tour guide was wonderfully informative about FDR and his life there. FDR's library and museum was fascinating.
Eleanor Roosevelt's house Val-Kill is being renovated and will reopen this autumn. She preferred the cozy comforts of that house to the formality of Springwood. Eleanor Roosevelt was a truly great woman and one of my heroines.
Adirondacks were peaceful and relaxing and I can thoroughly recommend them to anyone. The only caveat is to bring lots and lots of bug spray.
On the way back to DC, we drove through Pennsylvania and stayed over night in Bird In Hand in the middle of the Amish country. It is a different way of life. On the Saturday morning, lots of buggies competed with cars as the Amish went about their business. The funniest sight was a horse drawn carriage at a petrol station as the Amish man filled up his petrol can. The Amish are allowed certain self contained tools. Strimmers appeared to be popular. The farms and houses were immaculate. It was a salutary reminder that life does not have to go at a thousand miles per hour.
The holiday went by very quickly, too quickly and now seems a long time ago as jet lag has finished.
The plane flight over to BWI was painless and I have to say that I like BWI much better than Dulles. However, once we stepped outside, it was like stepping back into the steam room at the Blue Lagoon.
Heat and humidity remained the themes for the trip.
We spent the first fewdays recovering, and then went to the newly reopened National Portrait Gallery. It has been closed for over seven years and it was good to see all the portraits. I particularly enjoyed the portraits from the early years...The modern hanging foam heads were a bit disconcerting. We also went to Mt Vernon. The house and the grounds do not really change very much, but at this time of year, the swallowtail butterflies are out and the gardens are good. They are busy building a new museum though.
Afterwards we went to Alexandria for lunch and walk around. There we went into Barkley Square -- an upmarket dog bakery. When a small dog wearing pink ribbons tried to attack my youngest, its owner apologized. The dog was grumpy because she was trying on clothes. It was only when I look at the racks of dog dresses that I realized it was the DOG and not the owner who was trying on clothes! No wonder she was so upset. However the shop is wonderful for all things doggie and I managed to get a new collar and lead for Chile -- our Lab.
We drove up to the Adirondacks via the Hudson Valley. Stops on the way included West Point and FDR's home in Hyde Park. More properly it was his mother's house where he lived. Sarah Delano Roosevelt was an amazing woman. A bit overbearing, but determined. Our tour guide was wonderfully informative about FDR and his life there. FDR's library and museum was fascinating.
Eleanor Roosevelt's house Val-Kill is being renovated and will reopen this autumn. She preferred the cozy comforts of that house to the formality of Springwood. Eleanor Roosevelt was a truly great woman and one of my heroines.
Adirondacks were peaceful and relaxing and I can thoroughly recommend them to anyone. The only caveat is to bring lots and lots of bug spray.
On the way back to DC, we drove through Pennsylvania and stayed over night in Bird In Hand in the middle of the Amish country. It is a different way of life. On the Saturday morning, lots of buggies competed with cars as the Amish went about their business. The funniest sight was a horse drawn carriage at a petrol station as the Amish man filled up his petrol can. The Amish are allowed certain self contained tools. Strimmers appeared to be popular. The farms and houses were immaculate. It was a salutary reminder that life does not have to go at a thousand miles per hour.
The holiday went by very quickly, too quickly and now seems a long time ago as jet lag has finished.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Holidaay part 1 -- Iceland
Iceland is a land of great natural beauty.Icelandic Air is only airline to serve Iceland and does deals so that you can stopover for three nights on the way to North America without paying extra -- so that is what we did.
One word of caution -- Reykjavik is not as safe as the guidebooks like to say. Some drunk tried to abduct my youngest off the street on the first afternoon we were there. My dh put a stop to it, and luckily held on to his temper. Thankfully, we had no repeats, but it was a bit unnerving.
On the second day, I went horseback riding up on the lava fields with Ishestar. Icelandic horses are direct descendents from Viking horses. They are beautiful -- smaller than English or American horses, with beautiful manes. They have five speeds. At the end of the two hour ride when my legs were numb, I managed to fall off when my horse decided to gallop. Nothing worse than a few bruises and scrapes, and a case of wounded pride. After returning to the hotel for a quick shower (all hot water is provided by geo-thermal and smells of rotten eggs), we went to the Culture house to look at the Icelandic medieval manuscripts. The manuscripts helped inspire Tolkien as well as Wagner and provide the most insight we have to Viking life. We then went to the newest musuem -- 871+/-2 -- a museum devoted to the longhouse than was discovered when a new hotel was being built. It made excellent use of multimedia. Later, we went on a whale watching tour. On the expedition, we saw puffins, minke whale, white beaked dolphin and harbour dolphins. Both type of dolphin had young with them and so put on quite a display -- leaping, twirling and playing. Afterwards, we went to a little fishering shack and ate lobster soup and salmon kabobs while sitting on barrels.
On the third day we went for a walk on the waterfront and then to the National Museum, which was recently redone and is excellent. It really puts Icelandic history in context. The oval brooches taht Viking women wore were much larger than I thought. There was a dressing room where you could try on Viking clothes --including a helmet and sword. The chain mail was hanging up so you could feel how heavy it was. Then we went on a bus tour to Thingvellir and the Rift Valley where the European and NOrth American plates meet, as well the Gullfoss (Golden Falls) waterfall and Geysir after which all geysirs are named. Geysir no longer erupts with any great regularity but the one next to it does -- about every four or five minutes.
On the last day, the airport bus dropped us off at the Blue Lagoon for several hours. We spent the time in the warm salty water, smothering our faces with silica mud, getting a massage from a hot waterfall and generally relaxing. It looks like a James Bond set. The only problem is that the salty water is hard to get out of your hair. And thus, my hair was a bit stiff when I arrived at BWI!
Iceland is a terrific place to visit. There is a lot of development going on, and hopefully none of the natural beauty will be spoilt, but given the amount of the building projects -- I would say the time to visit is sooner rather than later.Even though, sometimes finding a hotel room can be difficult.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Back
I arrived back in the UK this morning after three weeks away.
I will post pictures as Iceland is lovely as well as being highly organised for tours and the like.
I have fewer pictures of the Adirondacks because my middle kept forgetting to take her camera with her. The house where we stayed was the former great house of a Great Camp (built around 1900) and was fantastic -- right on the lake. With plenty of charm. My mother had lived there as a child for a time.
Iceland was cool but the US was meltingly hot and humid. There were also bugs, bugs and more bugs. Being bathed in sweat with rivulets of bug spray trickling into your eyes is not an experience I am in any hurry to repeat, but the views were fantastic. Everyone kept telling us that the Adirondacks were not normally so hot...Star Lake was lovely and cool though.
Iceland did not appear to have bugs. Its hot water is fueled by hot springs and smells of sulphur...
My friend Donna Alward sold her first book to HM&B while I was away.
And my interiveiw with e-harlequin's Inner Scoop is now up. I have also recieved a box of NA Gladiator's Honor as well as four Large Print The Marriage Inheritance from Linford Romance.
I have had the revisions for VW and they look highly doable and will no doubt make the mss much stronger. They are very minor tweaks, but crucial. Now just to execute them.
I will post pictures as Iceland is lovely as well as being highly organised for tours and the like.
I have fewer pictures of the Adirondacks because my middle kept forgetting to take her camera with her. The house where we stayed was the former great house of a Great Camp (built around 1900) and was fantastic -- right on the lake. With plenty of charm. My mother had lived there as a child for a time.
Iceland was cool but the US was meltingly hot and humid. There were also bugs, bugs and more bugs. Being bathed in sweat with rivulets of bug spray trickling into your eyes is not an experience I am in any hurry to repeat, but the views were fantastic. Everyone kept telling us that the Adirondacks were not normally so hot...Star Lake was lovely and cool though.
Iceland did not appear to have bugs. Its hot water is fueled by hot springs and smells of sulphur...
My friend Donna Alward sold her first book to HM&B while I was away.
And my interiveiw with e-harlequin's Inner Scoop is now up. I have also recieved a box of NA Gladiator's Honor as well as four Large Print The Marriage Inheritance from Linford Romance.
I have had the revisions for VW and they look highly doable and will no doubt make the mss much stronger. They are very minor tweaks, but crucial. Now just to execute them.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Off on my holidays
I am off to do Viking research in Iceland, and then visit relations in the US.
I shall be back on 8 August as it is doubtful I will have much time on the computer while on holiday.
I shall be back on 8 August as it is doubtful I will have much time on the computer while on holiday.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Laurie Campbell's synopsis class
I took this class last year and thought it excellent. It is a great way to learn all about the black art of synopsis writing. I know my confidence and skills at synopsis writing came on in leaps and bounds after taking the class. A thoroughly useful class.
If you've ever had trouble writing a synopsis, here's a hint: pretend you're writing an ad.An advertising copywriter for 25 years, Laurie Schnebly Campbell was amazed to discover that the same skills which enabled her to sell bikes, bouquets and birdbaths ALSO helped her sell books. (So far, she's sold six to Silhouette Special Edition -- including one that beat out Nora Roberts for "Best of the Year"). Discover how to use those same techniques to get editor-agent "buyers" interested in YOUR product!workshops:
CVomments on past workshops:
"Thanks so much for an incredible wealth of information.
What a fresh, but extremely logical, approach to writing a synopsis!" — JoAnn Weatherly- - - - -"PLEASE keep me informed of any upcoming opportunities to hear you speak on ANYTHING." — Linda Lael Miller- - - - -"A fellow author has been raving about (your handouts). She said they worked so well that she plotted an entire book in 2 1/2 days." — Deb Cowan- - - - - - -
Now, regarding the August 7-31 workshop:"Tips From Madison Avenue: The Selling Synopsis" will be a month-long series of email lectures, with optional homework assignments along the way. Some people ask questions and chat about their assignments; others do the work but stay quiet; and I'm sure some never do it at all.The idea is that you can read the lectures and do homework whenever you have some free time, rather than getting all the info in one big clump. But sometimes when I give this workshop, a few people wait and read everything on the yahoogroup archives during the final week...so it's just a matter of whatever works best for you.
Here's the syllabus:
• Advertising (what makes people buy?)
• Know Your Product (characters)
• Target Market (identify your own)•
Unique Selling Points (first worksheet)
• Summary/Opening (second worksheet)
• Brainstorming (third worksheet)
• Strategy (last worksheet of the class!)
• Your Synopsis (outline; no homework)
• Query Letters, Format & More (Q&A)
To register for the $25 email class, see www.WriterUniv.com.
If you've ever had trouble writing a synopsis, here's a hint: pretend you're writing an ad.An advertising copywriter for 25 years, Laurie Schnebly Campbell was amazed to discover that the same skills which enabled her to sell bikes, bouquets and birdbaths ALSO helped her sell books. (So far, she's sold six to Silhouette Special Edition -- including one that beat out Nora Roberts for "Best of the Year"). Discover how to use those same techniques to get editor-agent "buyers" interested in YOUR product!workshops:
CVomments on past workshops:
"Thanks so much for an incredible wealth of information.
What a fresh, but extremely logical, approach to writing a synopsis!" — JoAnn Weatherly- - - - -"PLEASE keep me informed of any upcoming opportunities to hear you speak on ANYTHING." — Linda Lael Miller- - - - -"A fellow author has been raving about (your handouts). She said they worked so well that she plotted an entire book in 2 1/2 days." — Deb Cowan- - - - - - -
Now, regarding the August 7-31 workshop:"Tips From Madison Avenue: The Selling Synopsis" will be a month-long series of email lectures, with optional homework assignments along the way. Some people ask questions and chat about their assignments; others do the work but stay quiet; and I'm sure some never do it at all.
Here's the syllabus:
• Advertising (what makes people buy?)
• Know Your Product (characters)
• Target Market (identify your own)•
Unique Selling Points (first worksheet)
• Summary/Opening (second worksheet)
• Brainstorming (third worksheet)
• Strategy (last worksheet of the class!)
• Your Synopsis (outline; no homework)
• Query Letters, Format & More (Q&A)
To register for the $25 email class, see www.WriterUniv.com.
Friday, July 14, 2006
The Viscount's Betrothal
At the moment I am reading Louise Allen's latest -- The Viscount's Betrothal. I am enjoying it very much as it features an uncovnentional heroine -- very much in the mode of one of my favourite heroines -- Aemilia Peabody. The hero is just well very good. I was going to put up a copy of the cover but Blogger is being difficult....shakes fist at computer
I know Louise is a fan of Elizabeth Peters from a RNA conference workshop that she did several years ago. And I do so like it that she has created her own very strong heroine who is utterly right for the Regency but with that very steel back bone.
Louise's books are always good fun to read. My midde is now a huge fan of them. I kept having to retrieve her last one -- The Marriage Debt out from underneath her bed as she kept denying any knowledge of said book...
One great thing about Lousie's books is that because her heroines are so strong, her heroes have to match them in strength. It makes for an intersting contest of wills. Equally great is the way she dribbles in the history. It is very well done. Anyway, her books are a pleasure to read. I keep finding excuses to read The Viscount's Betrothal even though I am supposed to be doing proofs.
Nicola Cornick's latest is out -- Lord Greville's Captive. It is sitting on my TBR while I am on holiday pile because if I don't get the proofs done.... A Nicola Cornick is always a treat. I am looking forward to getting her first single title Deceived while I am in the US as it is supposed to be v good.
Today I shall be crazy busy -- finishing proofs, getting and the thousand and one jobs I need to have done before I go off on holiday on Monday. I am enjoying doing my proofs as I am falling in love with Sold and Seduced all over again. Although I keep thinking -- yes but is VW as good? You know the nice low swoops of the crows of doubt...
The ducklings are continuing to grow. They were wel behaved and once their mother decided it was the duckhouse or the net, and went in, protesting loudly, the little balls of fluff streamed in afterwards. The first brood now look like minature ducks -- so very different from the fluff balls of only a few weeks ago.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
More ducklings
The inevitable happened. The first mother duck decided to sit on a nest when the Naughty duck turned up with her brood. I told my dh thre would be ducklings, and he said -- no, too late in the season. Guess who was correct?
We have 12 new ducklings. My dh was sent out and bought a new duck house. Several of the ducklings are completely yellow. In due course we shall have to give them off to good homes...I think.
Oh and he decided that today was also the day to pick all the gooseberries. I now have scratches down my arms.
Not much work on the new wip but I know my hero is going to be to die for.
The library campaign goes on. The stakeholder meeting was held and typically the council said that there must be change. Actually no, the recent high court case said that Northumberland County Council LOST said that the public must be told that the status quo is ALWAYS an option. They have to consult properly. There is now four weeks until the next staeholder meeting. The council say that the village's needs could be met by a corner in the Co-op or a library van. Umm the village paid for a redundant Network Rail builing to be fitted out as a library decades ago BECAUSE the library van option was not working. They objected to the library moving to the high school two years ago, why should they have changed their mind? The fight continues.
We have 12 new ducklings. My dh was sent out and bought a new duck house. Several of the ducklings are completely yellow. In due course we shall have to give them off to good homes...I think.
Oh and he decided that today was also the day to pick all the gooseberries. I now have scratches down my arms.
Not much work on the new wip but I know my hero is going to be to die for.
The library campaign goes on. The stakeholder meeting was held and typically the council said that there must be change. Actually no, the recent high court case said that Northumberland County Council LOST said that the public must be told that the status quo is ALWAYS an option. They have to consult properly. There is now four weeks until the next staeholder meeting. The council say that the village's needs could be met by a corner in the Co-op or a library van. Umm the village paid for a redundant Network Rail builing to be fitted out as a library decades ago BECAUSE the library van option was not working. They objected to the library moving to the high school two years ago, why should they have changed their mind? The fight continues.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Back from the RNA conference
The RNA conference was held on the very lovely campus of Newton Rigg near Penrith.
My dh drove me over, and we were able to stop at the Village bakery for lunch, arriving in good time for the conference's start.
It was wonderful to see so many old friends and to make the acquaintance of many new and interesting people.
Both my editors were there and I had a lovely time chatting to them. I was also feeling smug as VW was sitting in my editor's inbox with no way for her to look at it. Thus the pressure was off for me and I could soak up the atmosphere.
The first day was devoted to celebrations and to a saga panel. Nell Dixon swears she will not sit next to me again as we both nearly got a fit of giggles when a saga writer made several unfortunate remarks about M&B. Seeing Nell and Allison and having them stay in the same block as me was one of the joys of the conference. Nell has promised me a medical romance, and I am holding her to it.
I was aso finally able to meet Kate Walker's twin or rather partner in crime -- Michelle Ried. A thoroughly lovely woman.
The lass said about dinner the better. I am not mentioning about the bar afterwards as others may do so.
Saturday started with Kate Allan's very interesting workshop on marketing. There was a bit about myspace.com. Both Nell and Kate are quite keen, but is it one more thing? Then there was the HM&B workshop on emotional conflict. Very interesting and well presented. My editor put up a large poster of GH as well as poster of Julie Cohen's Delicious and one of the new covers for the Romance line -- such an improvement.
Kate Fenton was the keynote speaker on romantic comedy. I must find her books. I need to read this woman's books as they sound a thoroughly good read.
Lunch with fellow M&B historical authorJune Francis, HM&B Romance author Jessica Hart and NAL author Amanda Ashby. I am so looking forward to Amanda's book, You Had Me at the Halo. It sounds fantastic. We shall draw a veil over Jessica, Amanda and I stopping outside open windows and getting shush. My only defense is that I didn't realize where we were.
I went to Sue Johnson's workshop on banishing the curse of writer's block and found several useful tips. It is good to know that many people suffer from the same things as I do.
After tea, Penny Jordan spoke about her career and the way she works. Penny is an amazing woman. She has been a firm favourite for a long time.
Dinner was sit down and lovely. I was able to sit with friends and spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening -- even if Michelle Ried claims I could talk for England and America combined. Afterwards, back in Kate Walker's kitchen -- I shall draw a veil over, but I understand there may be photos.
In the morning, I attend Jessica' hart's enjoyable A to Z Writer's survival guide. Generally when in doubt -- drink or take a bath. She did make the point that sometimes -- good enough is okay. However, I suspect her good enough is somewhat better than me, and so I shall keep trying.
NIcola Cornick led a friendly and informative NWS session. There are exactly 250 NWS places. For the last three years, the places have closed in May, so if anyone is interested in pursuing this valuable scheme, apply for RNA provisional membership in January time.
Then there was the welcome news of the RNA PR campaign and how it is going.
Lunch and I don't think I disgraced myself.
Then I spent a little time preparing my workshop once again and finally I gave it. I am quite happy to send the notes off to anyone who did not see the workshop. My editor did say that I covered the bases correctly, but she may have been being kind!
At last home, and after a lovely supper I was sent to bed as I overtired.
My dh drove me over, and we were able to stop at the Village bakery for lunch, arriving in good time for the conference's start.
It was wonderful to see so many old friends and to make the acquaintance of many new and interesting people.
Both my editors were there and I had a lovely time chatting to them. I was also feeling smug as VW was sitting in my editor's inbox with no way for her to look at it. Thus the pressure was off for me and I could soak up the atmosphere.
The first day was devoted to celebrations and to a saga panel. Nell Dixon swears she will not sit next to me again as we both nearly got a fit of giggles when a saga writer made several unfortunate remarks about M&B. Seeing Nell and Allison and having them stay in the same block as me was one of the joys of the conference. Nell has promised me a medical romance, and I am holding her to it.
I was aso finally able to meet Kate Walker's twin or rather partner in crime -- Michelle Ried. A thoroughly lovely woman.
The lass said about dinner the better. I am not mentioning about the bar afterwards as others may do so.
Saturday started with Kate Allan's very interesting workshop on marketing. There was a bit about myspace.com. Both Nell and Kate are quite keen, but is it one more thing? Then there was the HM&B workshop on emotional conflict. Very interesting and well presented. My editor put up a large poster of GH as well as poster of Julie Cohen's Delicious and one of the new covers for the Romance line -- such an improvement.
Kate Fenton was the keynote speaker on romantic comedy. I must find her books. I need to read this woman's books as they sound a thoroughly good read.
Lunch with fellow M&B historical authorJune Francis, HM&B Romance author Jessica Hart and NAL author Amanda Ashby. I am so looking forward to Amanda's book, You Had Me at the Halo. It sounds fantastic. We shall draw a veil over Jessica, Amanda and I stopping outside open windows and getting shush. My only defense is that I didn't realize where we were.
I went to Sue Johnson's workshop on banishing the curse of writer's block and found several useful tips. It is good to know that many people suffer from the same things as I do.
After tea, Penny Jordan spoke about her career and the way she works. Penny is an amazing woman. She has been a firm favourite for a long time.
Dinner was sit down and lovely. I was able to sit with friends and spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening -- even if Michelle Ried claims I could talk for England and America combined. Afterwards, back in Kate Walker's kitchen -- I shall draw a veil over, but I understand there may be photos.
In the morning, I attend Jessica' hart's enjoyable A to Z Writer's survival guide. Generally when in doubt -- drink or take a bath. She did make the point that sometimes -- good enough is okay. However, I suspect her good enough is somewhat better than me, and so I shall keep trying.
NIcola Cornick led a friendly and informative NWS session. There are exactly 250 NWS places. For the last three years, the places have closed in May, so if anyone is interested in pursuing this valuable scheme, apply for RNA provisional membership in January time.
Then there was the welcome news of the RNA PR campaign and how it is going.
Lunch and I don't think I disgraced myself.
Then I spent a little time preparing my workshop once again and finally I gave it. I am quite happy to send the notes off to anyone who did not see the workshop. My editor did say that I covered the bases correctly, but she may have been being kind!
At last home, and after a lovely supper I was sent to bed as I overtired.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Off to Penrith
I shall be away this weekend, being very serious indeed at the RNA conference.
There, on the Sunday I will be giving a workshop on Bringing your Historical World to Life. If anyone wants my notes etc, after the conference, I will be happy to email them. At the moment, they are rather sketchy, but I know what I want to say.
in other news: I have finished Virgin Widow!!!!
I shall go to the conference without a binder full of mss, and can relax and enjoy the good company and three days of talking about books.
There, on the Sunday I will be giving a workshop on Bringing your Historical World to Life. If anyone wants my notes etc, after the conference, I will be happy to email them. At the moment, they are rather sketchy, but I know what I want to say.
in other news: I have finished Virgin Widow!!!!
I shall go to the conference without a binder full of mss, and can relax and enjoy the good company and three days of talking about books.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Fighting for a library
On Friday, I learnt that my little local library in Haydon Bridge has been earmarked for closure. I have become involved in the fight to save it.
Northumberland County Council appear on the face of it to be ignoring the Culture Minister's plea to consult local communiities before making firm decisions. Members of the local parish council were only told on Monday about an important stakeholder meeting to decide in principle the future of the library system. This isbreathtaking arrogance. Because only weeks ago, they lost a court case about the way they consulted over the proposed move to the three tier system. The public meeting is supposidly going to be held in the middle of school holidays -- grr.
My local library serves the elderly, the disabled and the young families in the village. Many of them do not have private transport to take them to Hexham for the main Tynedale library. It provides a vital lifeline for some people. The building was purpose built by fund raised through the Shaftoe Trust and other parts of the community, because the village desired a library. When my children were little and we only had one car, it served as a lifeline to sanity for me. We would go and get books at least one a week. When I became serious about writing, it is where I went to read Mills and Boon. I still use it for research and my children often stop in on the way home from school. The schoolbus drops them off outside the library.
Like many services, libraries are something we tend to take for granted. Yet they are as vital today as they were when William Ewart and Andrew Carnegie along with other Victorian philanthropists first founded the public library movement. For Carnegie, the library provided the vital knowledge that enabled him to go from bobbin boy to wealthiest man in the world. He endowed the branch libraries because he wanted to get books where they were needed most.
It says something not very nice about a soicety when they start closing libraries.
Luckily everyone in the village that I have spoken to, thus far feels as strongly as I do. This is something that must be fought. It will mean a decrease in a major service with NO decrease in the tax we pay. The bulding is sound, disable accessiable in a way none of the larger libraries are. It also has free internet access for those who wish to use and a highly knowledgible librarian. The County Council is on a cost cutting mission, and it should look elsewhere to find money.
Libraries are the cornerstone of life-long learning and should be treated as such.
Northumberland County Council appear on the face of it to be ignoring the Culture Minister's plea to consult local communiities before making firm decisions. Members of the local parish council were only told on Monday about an important stakeholder meeting to decide in principle the future of the library system. This isbreathtaking arrogance. Because only weeks ago, they lost a court case about the way they consulted over the proposed move to the three tier system. The public meeting is supposidly going to be held in the middle of school holidays -- grr.
My local library serves the elderly, the disabled and the young families in the village. Many of them do not have private transport to take them to Hexham for the main Tynedale library. It provides a vital lifeline for some people. The building was purpose built by fund raised through the Shaftoe Trust and other parts of the community, because the village desired a library. When my children were little and we only had one car, it served as a lifeline to sanity for me. We would go and get books at least one a week. When I became serious about writing, it is where I went to read Mills and Boon. I still use it for research and my children often stop in on the way home from school. The schoolbus drops them off outside the library.
Like many services, libraries are something we tend to take for granted. Yet they are as vital today as they were when William Ewart and Andrew Carnegie along with other Victorian philanthropists first founded the public library movement. For Carnegie, the library provided the vital knowledge that enabled him to go from bobbin boy to wealthiest man in the world. He endowed the branch libraries because he wanted to get books where they were needed most.
It says something not very nice about a soicety when they start closing libraries.
Luckily everyone in the village that I have spoken to, thus far feels as strongly as I do. This is something that must be fought. It will mean a decrease in a major service with NO decrease in the tax we pay. The bulding is sound, disable accessiable in a way none of the larger libraries are. It also has free internet access for those who wish to use and a highly knowledgible librarian. The County Council is on a cost cutting mission, and it should look elsewhere to find money.
Libraries are the cornerstone of life-long learning and should be treated as such.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Happy Fourth of July
Today is a day I can proudly proclaim that I am an American and proud of it. Some of my relations came over with the Pilgrims, and they continued to arrive for a long time after that. On most issues that have torn America apart, I have had relations on both sides. For example -- yes some of my relations owned slaves in the South but others founded the first abolitionist society in Chicago and helped found the Republican party. It made for interesting debates when my grandfather (a Southern gentleman) married my grandmother. I adore family history and won't bore anyone with anymore. But I am proud of the small part my relations played and continue to play in America's development.
I was disturbed to read yesterday's You.gov poll in the Telegraph. The questions were nonsensical. Why should a statistical organisation ask people -- do you like American, a lot,a little etc. They would NEVER have dared ask the same question about Asians, the Irish etc.
America is much more than it is protrayed in the media. Just as the UK comprises so much more than its media protrayal.
Anyway I simply want to say how much I love my countries -- the one of my brith and the country I now live and have chosen to bring my children up in.
The American flags are flying over the garden today, patriotic music is blaring and we are having a quiet BBQ today. But for once I am not going to make my seven layer dip. -- I have a mss to polish.
I was disturbed to read yesterday's You.gov poll in the Telegraph. The questions were nonsensical. Why should a statistical organisation ask people -- do you like American, a lot,a little etc. They would NEVER have dared ask the same question about Asians, the Irish etc.
America is much more than it is protrayed in the media. Just as the UK comprises so much more than its media protrayal.
Anyway I simply want to say how much I love my countries -- the one of my brith and the country I now live and have chosen to bring my children up in.
The American flags are flying over the garden today, patriotic music is blaring and we are having a quiet BBQ today. But for once I am not going to make my seven layer dip. -- I have a mss to polish.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
The next stage
The next stage in my wip has been reached.It is probably my favourite stage. -- the wip is off the computer and I amn dealing with the hard copy. I read it through with a blue pen, making changes as i go. THEN I read it through randomlywith a red pen, again making changes until every page has been randomly tightened. Hopefully after doing this, it will be at a stage that y editor can take a look and see the problems. Then comes revisions, which vies for favourite stage after this one. Revisions mean that my vision of the book is being helped to be realised. It is all about making a good book stronger. I like feeling that my editor are on the same team.
Also because of the lovely weather, this stage means I can put my straw hoat, and go outside to read the wip,rather than being stuck at the computer. Always a bonus.
In duckling news:
They are getting bigger and churping louder. They enjoy fosicking in the fresh compost that my eldest puts in their pen daily. Thus far, knock on wood -- all three are surviving.
And a cast went from the beehive. Annoying but there was not chance of capturing it as it came to rest high in the beech tree.
Also because of the lovely weather, this stage means I can put my straw hoat, and go outside to read the wip,rather than being stuck at the computer. Always a bonus.
In duckling news:
They are getting bigger and churping louder. They enjoy fosicking in the fresh compost that my eldest puts in their pen daily. Thus far, knock on wood -- all three are surviving.
And a cast went from the beehive. Annoying but there was not chance of capturing it as it came to rest high in the beech tree.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
About bees
Julie Cohen asked about bee swarms. And as it's warm, I thought I would answer.
When bees swarm, the first swarm happens when a queen cell is sealed. The current queen and a sizable portion of bees leave the hive to set up a new hive elsewhere. Sometimes, you also get casts when the queens hatch out and one by one they leave the nest, with smaller and smaller groups of worker bees. The first swarm may be the size of a football, and the last the size of cricket ball.
Once the old queen has left, it takes about three weeks, for the new queen to emerge, mate and start laying her eggs and then it takes about another three weeks for the new workers to start emerging.All the while the colony is not increaing, and so may not be able to take advantage of any honey flow.
Swarming used to be a desirable trait before they invented moveable frames as the beekeeper would have to kill the bees to collect the honey. This is when bees were kept in skeps (ie the traditional straw beehives). With moveable frames, the beekeeper no longer need to kill the colony to get the honey, so much of your time as a beekeeper is spent trying to avoid swarms as the more swarms, the less honey.
You can tell a colony is about to swarm when there is a build up of drone brood comb. Drone brood comb is usually the first sign, and then the heart sinks as one discovers fully developed unsealed queen cells. You can cut out the queen cells and buy yourself -- two weeks of time. Other method include the complex and complicated Snelgrove method. Keep doing this and they may give up all idea of swarming, but then once the idea gets in their tiny brains....
The main reason for swarming imho is that the colony gets too big for one queen to control. She controls the workers through her pheremones, but other beekeeepers may disagree.
Bees swarm because it is the way they increase their colony or so they think. Today, you have the varroa mite, and any colony in the wild has very little chance of long term survival. Unfortunately. As a beekeeper, you have to take precautions -- a specially adapted floor, treating with Apistan or Apiguard at the correct time, and there are few other newer methods.
A bee swarm is generally not dangerous when it first leaves the colony. This is becuase the bees gorge on honey. But after a few days, they become hungry and ill tempered. If you spot a bee swarm, the best thing is to call the council and they will give you the name of an expert who can come and remove it. Or capture it for you. If a swarm is in your garden, it belongs to you, unless the beekeeper saw it emerge from his/her hive. A nucleus of bees can cost about a hundred pounds to acquire commercially.
Thus endeth the lesson.
When bees swarm, the first swarm happens when a queen cell is sealed. The current queen and a sizable portion of bees leave the hive to set up a new hive elsewhere. Sometimes, you also get casts when the queens hatch out and one by one they leave the nest, with smaller and smaller groups of worker bees. The first swarm may be the size of a football, and the last the size of cricket ball.
Once the old queen has left, it takes about three weeks, for the new queen to emerge, mate and start laying her eggs and then it takes about another three weeks for the new workers to start emerging.All the while the colony is not increaing, and so may not be able to take advantage of any honey flow.
Swarming used to be a desirable trait before they invented moveable frames as the beekeeper would have to kill the bees to collect the honey. This is when bees were kept in skeps (ie the traditional straw beehives). With moveable frames, the beekeeper no longer need to kill the colony to get the honey, so much of your time as a beekeeper is spent trying to avoid swarms as the more swarms, the less honey.
You can tell a colony is about to swarm when there is a build up of drone brood comb. Drone brood comb is usually the first sign, and then the heart sinks as one discovers fully developed unsealed queen cells. You can cut out the queen cells and buy yourself -- two weeks of time. Other method include the complex and complicated Snelgrove method. Keep doing this and they may give up all idea of swarming, but then once the idea gets in their tiny brains....
The main reason for swarming imho is that the colony gets too big for one queen to control. She controls the workers through her pheremones, but other beekeeepers may disagree.
Bees swarm because it is the way they increase their colony or so they think. Today, you have the varroa mite, and any colony in the wild has very little chance of long term survival. Unfortunately. As a beekeeper, you have to take precautions -- a specially adapted floor, treating with Apistan or Apiguard at the correct time, and there are few other newer methods.
A bee swarm is generally not dangerous when it first leaves the colony. This is becuase the bees gorge on honey. But after a few days, they become hungry and ill tempered. If you spot a bee swarm, the best thing is to call the council and they will give you the name of an expert who can come and remove it. Or capture it for you. If a swarm is in your garden, it belongs to you, unless the beekeeper saw it emerge from his/her hive. A nucleus of bees can cost about a hundred pounds to acquire commercially.
Thus endeth the lesson.
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