Choosing the Name of the Hero of My New Novel

Yesterday I chose the name Harry Royston for the hero of my new Regency novel Tuesday's Child a follow on novel from Sunday's Child and Monday's Child. However, the heroine of Tuesday''s Child is Harriet, who had a walk on, but important part, in Monday's Child. I think Harry and Harriet might be confusing, but most people would address Harry as Royston, so maybe I'll choose it.

Other possibilities are for a strong name for a strong hero and a nickname which implies fun and light heartedness are:

Alexander aka Alex, but does Alex imply fun and light-heartedness?

Christopher aka Kit, but the name fell into disfavour in the 19th century.

Dominic aka Nic; I think Nic implies a devil may care attitude which might be amusing.

Of course the surname will be as important as the Christian name.

First Step to Writing a New Novel

I have not finished the revision of my mediaeval novel but, after a lot of thought about the characters, plan and plot while doing housework, gardening or shopping, I am almost ready to begin writing Tuesday's Child, the follow on novel from my published novel Sunday's Child, and Monday's Child, which will be published in spring, 2016.

Before I begin a novel I name the main characters.

To choose the hero's name I searched The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names. I want a strong name which also implies an element of light-heartedness. My first choice was Harry Royston, but the name of the  heroine, who took part in Sunday's Child, is Harriet. So Harry, which would have been ideal is unsuitable because Harry and Harriet would be confusing.

So, back to the Dictionary to see if I can find the right name for the gentleman I have in mind.

Suite Francais

A friend and I went to see Suite Francaise on Sunday afternoon. Can't praise it enough. I didn't know it was based on a non-fiction book. Must read it.

Historic London - Bus Tour

On Saturday a friend and I went on a London Bus Tour, which allows the passengers get on and off whenever they want to.

It was very interesting seeing how London developed over the centuries north and south of the River Thames.

Sandwiched between very modern buildings and narrow roads and lanes are many small and large mediaeval buildings to admire.

A building which fascinated me was the St George, the narrowest pub in London a tall black and white timber building, which I hope to visit.

The tour clearly delineated London from the oldest to the most modern parts.

All in all, a day well spent.

Medieval Novel, Revision, Sequence of Events

Apart from reading each sentence carefully and rewriting it if necessary, it is also important to make sure that the sequence of events is correct.

This morning I realised that after the birth of their son, Nicholas told his wife that his father was delighted, but he and his father have not spoken since the child was born. I should have written that Nicholas told his wife he knew his father would be delighted by the birth of his grandson, or something similar.

Carried away by writing the story, it is all too easy to overlook such inconsistencies.

Medieval Novel. Revision With Style.

While I revise my medieval novel set in England during the reign of Edward II I get rid of repeated words and phrases.

I also rephrase sentences which contain gerunds that I tend to over use. For example:-

I changed "...trying to smooth away his pain" to "in an attempt to smooth away his pain."

Another examples follow.

I replaced "Yvonne broke her fast in the great hall before going..." with "Yvonne broke her fast in the great hall before she went..."

After I tweak the next 100 pages I shalll read the novel from beginning to end to check I for the last time.

I hope that the rewrite will be stylish after so much hard work.

Medieval Novel Revision and Emotion

This morning I continued to revise my medieval novel set in the reign of Edward II of England.

From the day of her birth the heroine's life takes many twists and turns, some of them tragic. While she grows from childhood into a capable lady,  I'm happy when she is and cry when she does. I hope that when the novel is published my readers will be swept away on the same tide of emotion and care deeply about her.

Raised Bed & radishes.

I have an eight foot by four foot raised bed in which I planted rows of baby lettuce, radish, rocket, carrots, turnip and beetroot. All of the vegetables, which I make good use of, are flourishing. Radish and turnip greens as well as beetroot leaves can be cooked and enjoyed in various ways.

Today, I ate this season's first radishes with crackers spread with Philadelphia cheese. Previously, I bought some radishes from the supermarket. They were large, a little woody and almost tasteless. My home grown ones are tender, juicy and slightly spicy. My grandson, who popped in after school to give me a slice of upside down cake that he made in food technology, agreed with me when he  tasted the radishes.

Such a humble salad vegetable but so delicious. I shall plant another row elsewhere.

Mediaeval Novel - Final Revision

I wrote my mediaeval novel set in the reign of Edward II of England a few years ago. Since then, I five of my novels have been published and a sixth has been accepted for publication. In between writing those novels and dealing with lots of 'writerly' matters as well as the demands of daily life, I have dipped in and out of my mediaeval novel. Now, I am determined to finish the revision, but the main problem is that I have dipped in and out of it so often that I see what should be on the page, not what is actually on it. Sometimes it seems as if it will never be ready to submit but, fingers crossed, I shall submit it in June.

Winston and Winnie Are Dead

Winston and Winnie, a pair of plump wood pigeons annoyed me when alive. They pecked at any greens in the garden which were not covered with netting and stone seeds I put out for smaller birds.

On Friday, feathers floated on the surface of my small garden pond. This morning, I saw  feathers scattered over the lawn near the pond. I assume a fox from the nearby woods caught them or, maybe, a cat.

So sad not to have seen them today.

Winston and Winnie are Dead

False Pretences a Romantic Regency Mystery is a Guest

My novel, False Pretences. a Romantic Regency Mystery and I are guests at Story Teller Alley, do pop in and visit us at: http://storytelleralley.com/falsepretenses (My hostess misspelt pretenses and will correct it, so you might need to visit: http://storytelleralley.com/falsepretences.)

What is Romance?

 

What is Romance? Not an easy question to answer. I suppose everyone has a different opinion.

 

The cynical poet, Lord Byron wrote:

 Romances paint at full length people’s wooings,

But only give a bust of marriages;
For no one cares for matrimonial cooings,
There’s nothing wrong with a connubial kiss:
Think you, if Laura had been Petrarch’s wife,
He would have written sonnets all his life?

 I prefer a poem written by William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (17^th Century)

 There is no happy life

But in a wife;
The comforts are so sweet
When they do meet.

 Two figures but one coin;

So they do join,
Only they not embrace,
We face to face.

Ah, you may sigh that is romance in marriage.

 But romance is much more. In the Middle Ages it was a narrative in verse or prose about the adventures of chivalrous knights and adoration of an unattainable lady, which had little in common with real life. King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table and the tale or Lancelot and Guinevere have fascinated the romantic at heart for generations.

Then there are the songs of troubadours, Henry VIII’s Greensleeves, and in more recent times one of my favourites, Unchained Melody.

 

Too Many Strawberry Plants?

On a sunny day the fragrance of ripe strawberries growing in the garden tantalises the taste buds. The pleasure of biting into a sweet, sun-warmed strawberry is far superior biting into one from the supermarket. With this in mind, I ordered 36 strawberry plants, 6 each of 6  varieties, which should provide fruit from April to September.

I'm an optimistic organic gardener, who always imagines bumper rewards from my small fruit and vegetable plots, some of which are in the front garden, some and in the back garden as well as those in pots. However, after I placed my order I panicked. Where would I find the space to plant them?

I decided to pot up the twelve plants which fruit earliest in the year and put them in the greenhouse where I will pollinate them with a paint brush.  The remainder should thrive in plant troughs.

If I plant all of them in John Innes Number 3 compost I should have plenty of fruit for the next three years which will repay me for my investment. Hopefully, not only will I have fresh strawberries to eat, I will also  have enough to make jam and, maybe, cordial.

My Organic Garden

I woke at 6 a.m. and worked on my novel and other 'writerly' matters until 10.a.m when  I went into my organic garden.


I thinned a row of turnips and used the greens to steam and then stir fried them with thin slices of sweet potato cut in half, tofu and rice, and added a vegetable stock pot cube, lemon juice and black pepper for flavour.


Turnip greens are very nutritious so I felt virtuous while I ate lunch.


During the morning I sorted out more plant pots and arranged them on a shelf in the shed.


To straighten it, I tied the stem of my patio cherry tree, which I had planted in the garden, to a pole. It is in full flower. This year I shall find a way of protecting the cherries so that the birds don't eat them the second they ripen.


I then harvested some baby carrots and stored them in the fridge. Afterward I potted up French Beans and covered them with polythene. French Bean seeds can be temperamental so I put two in each pot in the hope that they will sprout. Finally I sowed cucumbers in pots and stood them in a heated propagator.


Tomorrow I'll sow peas, which are soaking in water to encourage them to sprout.


All in all, a happy, productive morning.

Invitation

Delighted to invite you to visit Sara-Jayne at: http://sayssara.wordpress.com where I am her guest.


Can't describe how I feel when I see myself and my historical fiction featured.

Bribery - Gambados - Granddaughter

I bribed my granddaughter to be good, not only with me, with a promise to take her to Gambados, an indoor play area. Earlier in the week, I promised to take her on Sunday because my daughter said she had behaved well throughout the Easter holiday. She was so excited that she told the plumber, the postman and everyone else she came into contact with: "My grandma's taking me to Gambados."


So, yesterday, with cucumber and cheese sandwiches, shortbread topped with chocolate, and small cartons of apple juice for lunch, she had her reward, and I deserve wings and a halo. Gambados is an indoor children's play area. The music turned up to full volume, excited children's chatter etc., and adult conversation conducted loudly in order to be heard is deafening.


My five year-old granddaughter's enthusiasm and happiness made the visit worth while although my wings and halo haven't appeared. From 10 30 a.m. when we arrived until we left at 12.45 she did not stop smiling. She climbed up the platforms to the overhead area with tunnels and other challenges, drove bumper cars making three point turns and reversing with expertise, hurtled down a long slide as well as riding a horse on the fairground style carousel.


She loved our visit so much that I've promised to take her again if she continues to be good.


I took her home, and then, for an end of the holidays treat, we went to our favourite vegetarian Indian restaurant, Sakonis, in Harrow.


Full to the brim with good food, we went home and I dashed down to Asda to buy some Schlur and nibbles to contribute to Watford Writers official change of venue from Cha Café to Oddfellows Hall.

False Pretences a Romantic Regency Mystery - Back Cover

False Pretences

By Rosemary Morris

Traditional Regency Romance

 

Five-year-old Annabelle arrived at boarding school fluent in French and English. Separated from her nurse, a dismal shadow blights Annabelle’s life because she does not know who her parents are.

Although high-spirited, Annabelle is financially dependent on her unknown guardian. She refuses to marry a French baron more than twice her age. 

Her life in danger, Annabelle is saved by a gentleman, who says he will help her to discover her identity. Yet, from then on nothing is as it seems, and she is forced to run away for the second time to protect her rescuer.

Even more determined to discover her parents’ identity, in spite of many false pretences, Annabelle must learn who to trust. Her attempts to unravel the mystery of her birth, lead to further danger, despair, unbearable heartache and even more false pretences until the only person who has ever wanted to cherish her, reveals the startling truth, and all’s well that ends well.

 

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com False PretencesB009YK1MFO, Nook and other online retailers.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/writerinagarret.

 

 

Extract from False Pretences a Romantic Regency Mystery

False Pretences by Rosemary Morris

Romantic Regency Mystery

Abbreviated Extract from Chapter One

1815

 

“My dear child, you are fortunate,” said Miss Chalfont, headmistress of The Beeches Boarding School for Young Ladies. “Your guardian has arranged for you to marry, Monsieur le Baron de Beauchamp.”

Annabelle looked up with a mixture of astonishment, disbelief, and intense indignation at the arrangement that took no heed of her wishes. “I am to marry a man I have never met?”

With restless fingers, Miss Chalfont adjusted her frilled mobcap. “Yes, your guardian has arranged for you to marry Monsieur le Baron tomorrow.”

Annabelle stared at her kind teacher as though she had turned into a monster. “Mon dieu!” she raged, reverting to the French she spoke when she was a small child. “My God! Tomorrow? My guardian expects me to marry a Frenchman tomorrow? Miss Chalfont, surely you do not approve of such haste.”

“Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.” Miss Chalfont tapped her fingers on her desk. “My approval or disapproval is of no consequence. Your guardian wishes you to marry immediately so there is little more to be said. A special licence has been procured and the vicar has been informed.” Miss Chalfont smiled at her. “You have nothing to fear. This letter informs me that Monsieur speaks English and lives in this country.”

Annabelle scowled. Her hands trembled. For the first time, she defied her head mistress. “Nothing to fear? My life is to be put in the hands of a husband with the right to…beat me…or…starve me, and you say I have nothing to fear, Miss Chalfont? Please believe me when I say that nothing will persuade me to marry in such haste.”

Not the least display of emotion crossed the head teacher’s face. “You should not allow your imagination to agitate your sensibilities. For all you know, the monsieur is charming and will be a good, kind husband.”

“On the other hand, he might be a monster,” Annabelle said.” ‘

“He is described as a handsome gentleman of mature years.”

“One would think the description is of a piece of mature cheese or a bottle of vintage wine.”

Miss Chalfont frowned. “Do not be impertinent, Annabelle, you are not too old to be punished.”

“I beg your pardon, ma’am, but please tell me how mature he is,” Annabelle said, her eyes wide open and her entire body taut with apprehension.

“Monsieur le Baron is some forty-years-old.”

“How mature?” Annabelle persisted with her usual bluntness.

“He is forty-two-years-old.”

Annabelle stood, bent forward, and drummed her fingers on the edge of the desk. “Please be kind enough to inform my guardian that I will not play Guinevere to an aging Arthur. I would prefer to build my nest with a young Lancelot.”

 

False Pretences is available as an e-book from:

 

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com False PretencesB009YK1MFO, Nook and other online retailers.

 

Sunday's Child a Romantic Regency Novel - Back Cover

Sunday’s Child by Rosemary Morris

 

Back Cover

 

 

Georgianne Whitley’s beloved father and brothers died in the war against Napoleon Bonaparte. While she is grieving for them, she must deal with her unpredictable mother’s sorrow, and her younger sisters’ situation caused by it.

 

Georgianne’s problems increase when the arrogant, wealthy but elderly Earl of Pennington, proposes marriage to her for the sole purpose of being provided with an heir. At first she is tempted by his proposal, but something is not quite right about him. She rejects him not suspecting it will lead to unwelcome repercussions.

 

Once, Georgianne had wanted to marry an army officer. Now, she decides never to marry ‘a military man’ for fear he will be killed on the battlefield. However, Georgianne still dreams of a happy marriage before unexpected violence forces her to relinquish the chance to participate in a London Season sponsored by her aunt.

 

Shocked and in pain, Georgianne goes to the inn where her cousin Sarah’s step-brother, Major Tarrant, is staying, while waiting for the blacksmith to return to the village and shoe his horse. Recently, she has been reacquainted with Tarrant—whom she knew when in the nursery—at the vicarage where Sarah lives with her husband Reverend Stanton.

 

The war in the Iberian Peninsula is nearly at an end so, after his older brother’s death, Tarrant, who was wounded, returns to England where his father asks him to marry and produce an heir.

 

To please his father, Tarrant agrees to marry, but due to a personal tragedy he has decided never to father a child.

 

When Georgianne, arrives at the inn, quixotic Tarrant sympathises with her unhappy situation. Moreover, he is shocked by the unforgivably brutal treatment she has suffered.

 

Full of admiration for her beauty and courage Tarrant decides to help Georgianne.

 

Spring Really Is In The Air

The birds that visit my organic garden know spring is in the air. The male blackbird and a pair of jays bathed in the water around the rim of my small pond, and then shook the water off their feathers.


While I get on in the garden I pause to admire butterflies and a narrow border filled with daffodils, white single and double tulips and narcissi, which have a wonderful fragrance.


The bluebells are almost in flower, but beautiful as they will be they grow like weeds and are overtaking the rose bed. I dug up loads last year but they are persistent so and sos.


Tomorrow I shall pot up runner beans and French beans, sow cucumbers, squash and pumpkins as well as moving plants from the greenhouse to the garden.

Publisher's Contract for Monday's Child

My day began really well. The contract for my new Romantic Regency Novel, Monday's Child, set in Brussels during the hundred days between Napoleon's escape




Monday's Child is a follow on novel from my published novel Sunday's Child. I hope my readers will enjoy becoming reacquainted with some of the characters they met in Sunday's Child.

Watford Writers

Watford Writers, the group, which I belong to, has moved from Cha Café in Cassio Park to Oddfellows in Watford, Hertfordshire.




We met there for the first time yesterday to offer constructive critiques on whatever members chose to share. As usual I am amazed by the talent of published and unpublished writers and enjoy the get togethers with an opportunity to chat during the tea break.




Anyone who would like to join this friendly, vibrant group and receive good advice and be sure of a warm welcome.

Plotting New Novel - Tuesday's Child

After my visit to The National Portrait Museum I jotted down my ideas for Tuesday's Child, a follow on Regency Romance from Sunday's Child and Monday's Child. This morning I typed my notes, the first step to writing my new novel. Afterwards I completed some preliminary research.


I don't plan my novels in detail because I like my characters to surprise me, but I do consider how to begin, what might happen in the middle and possible endings that leave no unravelled threads.


Before I write the first sentence I complete profiles of my main characters. These not only include their appearance, their likes and dislikes, their eccentricities and much more, such as their family trees, where they were educated and their life experience. I don't reveal some of the information about the protagonists but it helps me to create believable characters.

New Novel - Tuesday's Child

I knew who the heroine of Tuesdays Child, the sequel to Sunday's and Monday's Child, Regency Romances, will be, and what  her circumstances are, but until I visited the National Portrait Gallery's Wellington Exhibition I didn't have an inkling of the plot. After viewing the exhibition I jotted down the outline while I ate lunch. All in all a satisfying day. I now plan to visit The Regency Exhibition at The National Gallery.

Chiltern Open Air Museum

I took three of my grandchildren to Chiltern Open Air Museum to see reconstructed historical buildings, which include an Iron Age House, Leagrave Cottage, 18th Century, Leagrave Cottage 19th Century and also a working farm, to name only a few.

My small granddaughter was fascinated by the rag dolls on one of the beds and by a patchwork quilt. The boys were interested in machinery, chimney sweeps brushes, bellows and fire irons and much more.

We enjoyed making friends with the shire horses and marvelled at the size of the oxen.

The weather was perfect, neither too hot nor too cold. W e appreciated our picnic, cheese and cucumber sandwiches, crisps, grapes, small squares of millionaires shortbread and apple juice, which we ate in a clearing in the woods to the tune of birdsong and chattering squirrels.

Tired but happy we went home and decided to return to watch jousts later in the year.

Agatha Christie and Syria

I am reading 'Come Tell Me How You Live' by Agatha Christie Mallowan.

In 1930 Agatha Christies married Max Mallowan a young archaeologist. According to the foreword by Jacquetta Hawkes 'Agatha did not see her own renown as any bar to sharing in her husband's work. From the first she took full part in every one of Max's excavations in Syria and Iraq.'

After the 2nd World War Agatha wrote: 'My thoughts turning more and more to those days spent in Syria, and at last I have felt impelled to get out my notes and rough diaries and complete what I had begun....For I love that gentle fertile country (Syria) and its simple people, who know how to laugh and enjoy life; who are idle and gay, and who have dignity, good manners, and a great sense of humour, and to whom death is not terrible.

'Inshallah, I shall go there again, and the things that I love shall not have perished from this earth...

Spring 1944.

Yet, seventy years late, moved to tears by her words in the knowledge of recent events in Syria, I ask myself if anything remains of the Syria she knew and loved. 

Young at Heart

Yesterday, I took my granddaughters to see the new Disney production of Cinderella. The ten, nine and five year-olds loved every minute of it, and so did I. It's very enjoyable to recapture one's childhood by immersing oneself in a fairy tale.

Easter Monday

Nothing exciting on Easter Monday, but the sunshine was very welcome.

I fitted in a lot of writing and enjoyed a satisfactory day. My daughter's 13 year-old son very kindly came round to help me to finish clearing a garden shed in which son number two had stored a lot of junk, some of it too heavy for me to shift. By now, the rubbish, which included ancient tins of paint, rusted tools etc., etc., filled about ten dustbins. My grandson insisting on sweeping away all the cobwebs and the floor while muttering, 'disgusting,' at regular intervals.

After my grandson left, I moved a pot of lilies, which will be scarlet when they flower, to the front garden and then planted a rose bush, which will have red blooms, and some polyanthas  at the front of the border. I then picked curly kale from the garden and made colcannon topped with grated mature cheddar cheese for lunch.

Ashridge Estate on Easter Sunday

Yesterday, it was a little chilly at Ashridge Estate but  my daughter, my twin sons and nine grandchildren enjoyed giveing and receiving Easter eggs and cards, and each other's company. After a long walk we sat outside the café having hot drinks and scones full of cream and strawberry jam. From our seats we were entertained by the sight of my two taller grandsons trying to hoist my daughter's shorter son up into a huge tree. Eventually, my twin sons heaved him up and then helped the other two into the tree. The branches spread out leaving a hollow where the three of them sat and chatted for ages. The three girls entertained themselves, climbing another smaller tree and the two younger boys found plenty to do.

We finished the day off with a delicious, vegetarian meal at an Indian restaurant down the road from me. By the time I reached home at half past eight I thought I would drop off to sleep while watching Poldark but managed to stay awake.

Today, after I finish writing and 'writerly' matters,I plan to get on in the garden, planting out more broad beans which are in the greenhouse etc., etc.

Eyes Which Do Peculiar Things

I don't like eyes which do peculiar things.
She dropped her eyes. I have a vision of her taking her eyes out of their sockets and dropping them. Why not write; She looked down.
His eyes darted. Where did they dart to/
She fixed her eyes on him. Did he appreciate her fixing her eyes on him. With what did she fix them?
His eyes stabbed her. Weird eyes, did he sharpen them?
Also, I'm not keen on body parts which do peculiar things.

Cottage Garden, Lilies.

After the rain stopped while I got on with 'writerly' matters, I worked in the garden. I tidied the back yard and the greenhouse and planted some scarlet lilies in a tall terracotta pot. The lilies will be 18 inches high and look beautiful at the back of the border beneath my sitting room window. I'm also looking forward to the stargazer (pink lilies), which I potted up earlier in the year, flowering. Pots of perennials are useful. They fill gaps year after year and need little more than an annual feed.

Writing,Cinderella, Garden Centre, Grandchildren Peach and Nectarine Trees etc.

I was shattered on Tuesday and even more shattered by yesterday evening. I devoted four hours to 'writerly' matters and went out at 11 a.m. I bought tickets for Cinderella for next Tuesday when I and three granddaughters will see it. The tickets bought, I went to the Garden Centre where I bought, 2nd early seed potatoes, red geraniums for the window boxes and red lily bulbs. They will be 2ft high and look good at the back of the border beneath my sitting room window. I also b...ought golden rod that will make a splash of colour next to the Michaelmas daisies in the autumn.

The pot in which I had planted a bay tree broke so I chose a heavy clay pot that I hope the wind won't blow over and planted the bay tree in it. What else? Oh yes, some succulents two green ones and a dark red one which are now on the kitchen window sill. I like the rosettes the leaves form. After unch out I went to the library to collect books I had reserved.
My daughter had an early appointment in London this morning, so I stayed at her house for the night. I gave the children their dinner, heard my 5 year-old granddaughter's reading, put her to bed and read a story about Aladdin, a princess, a genie, a villain and a baby camel to her. Then I played draughts with my 10 year old grandson until it was time for him to go to bed. Afterward, while waiting for the 13 year-old to go to bed I got on with some more 'writerly' matters. When he went to bed I read for a while before going to sleep.
This morning was busy after we all had porridge for breakfast and the children went to school. I worked on writing projects, then sorted out my mini peach and nectarine trees. Last year there was loads of fruit on them but it dropped off before it ripened. I've re-potted them in John Innes No 3 and pollinated them with a paintbrush. The pink flowers are so promising and pretty that, fingers crossed I will enjoy the fruit this year. Any advice about their nurture would be welcome.
Made a vegetable curry for lunch and then read until I returned to the laptop.
Hopefully the weather will be good for two days and I'll be able to do much more in the garden - but I must remember to wrap up all the Easter eggs.

Visit Rosemary Morris

Some years ago, I thought I would never have a novel published. Today, I googled: Rosemary Morris at MuseItUp Publishing, and am impressed by my publisher's display of my mini author biography and details of my novels, etc.  With pride I invite my followers to visit me.

Find Out About Rosemary Morris & Her Traditional Historical Novels

Things To Do in My Shorthand Notepad

At last I have worked my way through many notes in my shorthand notepad. I visited some online sites which were interesting and others that had no significance for me. I transferred e-mail addresses into my on line address book and contacted people about 'writerly' matters.




Some things were fun. For example I googled and listened to the 7th Hussars Regimental Tunes. Canter, The Cambells are Coming, Quick  Bannocks o’ Barley Meal, Slow The Garb of Old Gaul, which I decided I preferred hearing them played on the bagpipes.




I also added lots of books to my To Be Read List.

Shorthand Note Pad Crammed With Notes on Things To Do.

At long last I have finished going through my shorthand notepad which was crammed with things to do. I had made a note of the

5* Review of False Pretences

Roland, hero of False Pretences, a traditional Regency romance, makes a low bow in appreciation of Great Historical’s review. He is delighted because the reviewer thinks he will linger in the reader’s memory.

 

Amazon Review. 5.0 out of 5 stars. A sweet and suspenseful Regency Romance. Kindle edition.

 

“Rosemary Morris has penned a delightful romantic story about a young woman named Annabelle in search of her family. Raised in a boarding school, with no contact with any family, and in the charge of a guardian she has never met, she runs away only to find herself in danger. Roland, a handsome man of means, saves her from imminent danger. He takes her under his wing and together they unravel a web of lies until the shocking truth of Annabelle's past life is revealed.

Rosemary Morris writes with ease and readability. Her characters are well rounded, evolving as the plot unfurls. This novel has a bit of everything - an endearing romance, a hint of mystery, dastardly villains, plenty of suspense, and a memorable hero and heroine who will stay with you long after you finish reading. The ending is intense as all the secrets are revealed, leading to a highly satisfying conclusion. A lovely sweet romance worthy of all age groups!”

 

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com False PretencesB009YK1MFO, Nook and other online retailers.

 

 

Review of False Pretences A Traditional Regency Romance

False Pretences - A Traditional Regency Romance - Back Cover

False Pretences

By Rosemary Morris

Traditional Regency Romance

 

Five-year-old Annabelle arrived at boarding school fluent in French and English. Separated from her nurse, a dismal shadow blights Annabelle’s life because she does not know who her parents are.

Although high-spirited, Annabelle is financially dependent on her unknown guardian. She refuses to marry a French baron more than twice her age. 

Her life in danger, Annabelle is saved by a gentleman, who says he will help her to discover her identity. Yet, from then on nothing is as it seems, and she is forced to run away for the second time to protect her rescuer.

Even more determined to discover her parents’ identity, in spite of many false pretences, Annabelle must learn who to trust. Her attempts to unravel the mystery of her birth, lead to further danger, despair, unbearable heartache and even more false pretences until the only person who has ever wanted to cherish her, reveals the startling truth, and all’s well that ends well.

 

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com False PretencesB009YK1MFO, Nook and other online retailers.

 

 

False Pretences - A Tradtional Regency Romance. Back Cover.

False Pretences

By Rosemary Morris

Traditional Regency Romance

 

Five-year-old Annabelle arrived at boarding school fluent in French and English. Separated from her nurse, a dismal shadow blights Annabelle’s life because she does not know who her parents are.

Although high-spirited, Annabelle is financially dependent on her unknown guardian. She refuses to marry a French baron more than twice her age. 

Her life in danger, Annabelle is saved by a gentleman, who says he will help her to discover her identity. Yet, from then on nothing is as it seems, and she is forced to run away for the second time to protect her rescuer.

Even more determined to discover her parents’ identity, in spite of many false pretences, Annabelle must learn who to trust. Her attempts to unravel the mystery of her birth, lead to further danger, despair, unbearable heartache and even more false pretences until the only person who has ever wanted to cherish her, reveals the startling truth, and all’s well that ends well.

 

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com False PretencesB009YK1MFO, Nook and other online retailers.

 

 

False Pretences - back cover.

False Pretences

By Rosemary Morris

Traditional Regency Romance

 

Five-year-old Annabelle arrived at boarding school fluent in French and English. Separated from her nurse, a dismal shadow blights Annabelle’s life because she does not know who her parents are.

Although high-spirited, Annabelle is financially dependent on her unknown guardian. She refuses to marry a French baron more than twice her age. 

Her life in danger, Annabelle is saved by a gentleman, who says he will help her to discover her identity. Yet, from then on nothing is as it seems, and she is forced to run away for the second time to protect her rescuer.

Even more determined to discover her parents’ identity, in spite of many false pretences, Annabelle must learn who to trust. Her attempts to unravel the mystery of her birth, lead to further danger, despair, unbearable heartache and even more false pretences until the only person who has ever wanted to cherish her, reveals the startling truth, and all’s well that ends well.

 

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com False PretencesB009YK1MFO, Nook and other online retailers.

 

 

Revision and adverbs.

Amongst other things, I revised the final chapter of my mediaeval novel set in Edward II's reign. I am now asking myself whether 'He laughed drunkenly,' or 'His drunken laughter rang out,' reads best. I chose the latter because I prefer to get rid of adverbs.

Planning My New Novel, Tuesday's Child

The heroine of my new traditional Regency romance, Tuesday's Child, will be a character from Monday's Child. She is Lady Harriet, a widow, and mother of a young son. Lady Harriet is not beautiful but she is full of grace, both inner and outer.


After reading a chapter in a non-fiction book, I know where the novel will begin.


So, I have answered the question who about the heroine and two questions when and where. I know have to answer the questions what and how. In other words, what happens in the first chapter and how does it happen.


I am now looking forward to meeting the hero.

Novelist's Shorthand Notepad

I am applying all the notes crammed into a shorthand notepad. Websites to visit, on line groups to consider joining, titles of books I want to read, web.sites with interesting information, blogs I want to follow, notes for research, e-mail addresses, etc. etc.


Last time I did this I decided to do this once a week but while writing Monday's Child I allowed the list of things to do to increase.


I've joined some new groups and am looking forward to participating in them.

Writing A New Novel

At the moment, I am revising my mediaeval novel set in the reign of Edward II of England. I have entered the first 5,000 words in two competitions and am keeping my fingers crossed. To be long listed would be an achievement.


It seems strange not to get up in the morning and work on my new novel, which will be Tuesday's Child a follow on novel from my Traditional Regency Romances, Sunday's Child and Monday's Child. However, I have a lot of  'writerly' matters to deal with so I have set myself a deadline to write about 'Tuesday's Child' aka Harriet who 'is full of grace'. In the meantime, I shall be thinking about her a lot.

Puncture on the way to Lunch

Yesterday, my daughter and three grandchildren and I left in good time to lunch at Sakoni's vegetarian Indian restaurant in Harrow. We looked forward to the Gujerati style food or  pizza or lasagne. Halfway there a tyre punctured. There's nothing like waiting for three-quarters of an hour for the AA mechanic to arrive while listening to a hungry five-year old grumbling.

Eating Out

Much better yesterday and today. I took two of my grandchildren to the pizza hut yesterday while their lucky mum shivered at a football stadium, while her son number two participated in a special event. She was pleased to go home and leave him with his coach and his team while they watched a football match, and then returned to collect him.


Today, the five of us are making up for Mother's Day on which I was to ill to go out to lunch. We are going to Sakonis our favourite Indian, Vegetarian restaurant in Harrow.
Yummy, yummy for the tummy but I shall eat sparingly.

Workshop, Ill Health and Competitions

Eight days since I became ill. After five days on antibiotics I'm recovering.


On Monday evening, as I did not have a contagious infection, I managed to fulfil my commitment to conduct a workshop at the writing group I am a member of. The topic was How To Be Your Own Copy and Line Editor Before Submitting Fiction. Although I was so ill,  the workshop was very well received. Afterwards, I was very pleased to drive home safely and delighted to sink into my comfortable bed.


During the rest of the week I slept, read and watched television a lot, but I did manage to edit and submit the synopsis and the opening pages of my novel to two prestigious competitions. My main fear is that the judges will prefer literary novels or novels based on the lives of known historical figures. However, with regard to the latter, I prefer fictional characters, although real-life ones feature in my novels. 


I am looking forward to comments on the submission from one of the competitions. I also look forward to sending more entries. To use a cliché 'nothing venture, nothing gain'.

Unwell.

On Friday I felt very unwell. I became worse during the weekend, which ruined our plans for Mother's Day, and on Monday dragged myself to the urgent clinic at my doctor's surgery. I have an internal infection, the details of which I won't bore you with, and am taking antibiotics. For two days I've done next to nothing, other than sleep, watch some television and read. I am a little better today am looking forward to again being 100%,

Submission to my Publisher

At last, I finished my novel Monday's Child  a traditional Regency novel, which is set in Brussels in 1815. I have submitted Monday's Child together with the synopsis, a letter about the novel and a brief author biography to my publisher. It has taken me a year to research and write Monday's Child, during which time I worked on the edits of The Captain and The Countess, and dealt with various 'writerly matters'. For now it is sad to say goodbye to the hero Major, Lord Langley and the heroine Miss Whitley, who together with other characters have been in my mind for so long, but they will re-appear in my next Regency Novel, Tuesday's Child.

Synopsis & Garden Plans

First thing this morning, I drafted the synopsis of Monday's Child, the follow on novel from my traditional Regency Romance. I dread writing a synopsis so I took a deep breath and confronted my fear.


Last year the fruit on my patio peach and nectarine trees grew to the size of table tennis balls and then fell off. I think the pots I planted them in are too small and the compost is wrong. Today I bought John Innes No 3, which is more suitable for them. Tomorrow, I shall re-pl...ant them in larger containers. I also bought a red climbing rose to plant on the left hand side of my front door. I already have a red one on the right hand side. I also bought 12 beautiful primulas which are different colours to edge a narrow border beneath my dining room window. I also hope to have time to plant out my broad beans which are growing in the greenhouse.

Raised Bed

Cold wind and even snow was forecast, unless I misunderstood and it did not apply to S. E. England. Anyway, I expected bad weather so, on Monday, I did the week's shopping and on Tuesday tidied the house instead of getting on in the garden. Today, I sowed sowed seeds in an 8ft by 4ft raised bed. Row 1 cut and come again lettuce  leaves. Row 2 mixed  parsnip and radish seeds. The radishes will mark where the parsnips are and crop when the parsnips have sprouted. Row 3. Quick growing baby carrots. Row 4. Turnips. Row 5. Choggia, a red and white striped beetroot. There is room for a 6th row in which I will plant more cut and come again baby.

Shopping and Writing on a Cold Day

After several balmy days snow is forecast in the north of the British Isles. Elsewhere there might be frost overnight and in the west I think there might be strong winds and rain.


Instead of working in my organic garden I did the week's shopping after the hours in the morning which I set aside every day to write.


I have to compose a letter, that will include the single sentence premise to the publisher re: Monday's Child, my most recent traditional Regency Romance. In case anyone is wishes to know what my definition means it is that as a rule I don't open the bedroom door wide in my novels.


I also have to write the 'dreaded' synopsis. Then the happy day when I can submit the novel will arrive. Hopefully, by the 15th of March.


Next week I am giving a talk on editing at the writers' group which, more often than not, I attend on Monday evenings. This evening I shall read an extract from my novel set in the reign of Edward II. It is the first of a trilogy that I began ages ago, which I have worked on intermittently in between writing other novels.

Shopping and Writing on a Cold Day.

After several balmy days snow is forecast in the north of the British Isles. Elsewhere there might be frost overnight and in the west I think there might be strong winds and rain.


Instead of working in my organic garden I did the week's shopping after the hours in the morning which I set aside every day to write.


I have to compose a letter, that will include the single sentence premise to the publisher re: Monday's Child, my most recent traditional Regency Romance. In case anyone is wishes to know what my definition means it is that as a rule I don't open the bedroom door wide in my novels.


I also have to write the 'dreaded' synopsis. Then the happy day when I can submit the novel will arrive. Hopefully, by the 15th of March.


Next week I am giving a talk on editing at the writers' group which, more often than not, I attend on Monday evenings. This evening I shall read an extract from my novel set in the reign of Edward II. It is the first of a trilogy that I began ages ago, which I have worked on intermittently in between writing other novels.

Edited Monday's Child & Worked in the Garden

I finished editing Monday's Child this morning. I couldn't believe how many gerunds I had used. I hope the novel reads well and that I have not missed any typing errors. I reach a point at which I sometimes see what I think should be on the page instead of what is on the page. Thanks to the spelling and grammar facility I hope there are no typos, grammar or spelling mistakes.


After I finished Monday's Child a traditional Regency novel, the sequel to Sunday's Child, I had breakfast and then worked in the garden. I finished the bed I have  been working on for most of the week. It is planted with a well established redcurrant bush, a rhubarb plant, a blackcurrant bush, another rhubarb plant, a desert gooseberry and a small cherry tree, which I transplanted to make room for a greengage tree.


I might prettify the bed with some pots of stargazer lilies in between the plants and, maybe edge the bed with lettuces and alpine strawberries.

Spring is Here

The first two daffodils of many daffodils in my garden flowered to day. Spring is really here.

I had intended to plant rhubarb today. Instead I cut weed suppressant to fit it the top left hand corner of my garden. I then stood and one of my compost bins and the tumbler to it. The weed suppressant hardly shows now that they are in place. The advantage is that it will prevent roots growing up through the compost, save a lot of time weeding and make it easier to collect the compost when I tip it out. I have a third bin in another part of the garden. My first attempt to make compost resulted in a smelly, soggy mess. Yuck. Now I layer the different components and the compost is odourless and dry. The first layer is shredded paper most of which comes from junk mail.

Recyling in a Spring Garden

Yesterday and today I enjoyed the mild weather while tidying up my garden. I am all in favour of recycling to I used old strips of carpet to make paths between the bed planted a gooseberry bush, two apple trees, a William Bon Chretien pear tree and a plum tree, and a second bed planted with a red currant, dessert gooseberry and a black currant bush in which I plant rhubarb tomorrow.

I also emptied a compost bin and mulched the gooseberry and the red currant with compost, which is, after all, recycled material.

I'm looking forward to more gardening during the weekend.

Yesterday, a gardener pruned the hedge around my garden. The Hedge is a mixture of evergreens, a bullace (wild plum tree), forsythia, laurel, etc. It took him eight hours but is well worth it. The hedge is neat and the reduced height has let more light in.

Today is lovely early spring day today, so I cleared weeds from a vegetable patch then planted a desert gooseberry and a blackcurrant bush. I dug in plenty of manure so hope they will thrive and provide several pounds of fruit.

Revision. Monday's Child Traditional Regency Novel.

The final revision of my traditional Regency novel, Monday's Child, the follow on novel from Sunday's Child is taking longer than I anticipated. I have revised 100 pages out of 292. If I work hard I should finish the revision by the end of the week.

Lucky Grandmother

I spent last night at my daughter's house. My 5 year old granddaughter didn't want to go to sleep until I arrived. As soon as I did, I popped upstairs to see her. She cuddled up to me and told me about her day. She is sad because one of her friends has left her school to go to a new one. She and three friends divided into pairs to go down the slide. Someone pushed her. It upset her. I told her she should tell the teacher if someone hurts her. 'No,' she said, 'we sorted it out.' Miss Adorable settled down with her doggie, a soft toy, and her Cinderella rag doll. A last kiss and she went to sleep.

Amarylis

An amaryllis called Apple Blossom which I was given as a Christmas present flowered for the first time a month ago. The flowers were a very pale pink and white. When they died I cut them off and both immediately and very rapidly a new stalk grew. The amaryllis has blossomed again. This time the upper petals of the flowers are apricot, another petal is apricot striped with white and the lower petals are white. After these flowers die I think two more stalks will grow one after the other and more flowers will be produced.

Child-Sitting & Cottage-Style Garden

I stayed at my youngest son and daughter-in-law's house yesterday night to look after the two younger children while the eldest one went to school to discuss which subjects he will take for his GCSEs with his parents and teachers. I enjoyed playing draughts and Rummy Cub with my enthusiastic younger grandson and my granddaughter. Lots of laughter - lovely.




Today, the weather was much milder than yesterday, so my daughter-in-law and I went to a garden centre. I used some of the vouchers given to me at Christmas to start restocking the front garden which was destroyed when the house was cladded to make it warmer. I bought a red, rambling rose which I shall plant to the right of my front door. I hope it will grow up and over the what-do-you-me-call-it? that protrudes from the wall to provide shelter from the rain and down the left side of the door.




The flower bed under my dining room window is very narrow, so I'm going to intersperse hollyhocks and lupins, which I bought today, with lavender that I shall transplant from other parts of the garden. To this mix I plan to add delphiniums. I shall edge the front with green and purple lolla rose lettuces, and in the autumn plant spring bulbs. One of my opium poppies survived and, with luck some of the foxgloves, evening primroses and last year's hollyhocks might have self-seeded.




I don't live in a cottage but I want to achieve a cottage garden so I shall plant a row of lettuce at the front of the flower bed and, maybe, tuck in pots of herbs and stargazer lilies.




Goodness, at the thought of all this gardening I feel tired.

Pot Hole

Late yesterday evening, coming home from Watford Writers my car bumped hard over something and then the weird noises started. I was too frightened to stop the car, crossed my fingers and hoped I would reach home safely. Parked outside my house I couldn't see what the problem was. I lay awake dozing and worrying about the car. In the morning I realised one of the tyres was punctured, probably due to a pothole which I couldn't see in the dark. I called the AA, The mechanic arrived, removed the punctured tyre and replaced it with the spare tyre. I then bought a new tyre. Phew! Problem solved. It really is worthwhile belonging to the AA.

Gone With The Wind

Gone with the Wind, published in 1936 won the Pullizer Prize in 1937. It is one of my favourite novels, and I have enjoyed watching the film several times. The author, Margaret Mitchell was killed by a drunk driver in 1949 so she was not subjected to later accusations of racism which in my opinion were unfair. She was a liberal, who lived when racicism was rife but endowed scholarships at Morehouse College for black students.  Scarlet O'Hara, the  heroine in Gone With the Wind, raged against women's passive lived a privileged life protected from the cruel brutality of slavery.

Flash Fiction

This morning, I wrote a 250 word flash fiction for a competition. Because it will soon be Watford Writers 10th anniversary the chosen subject is Ten. Writing short fiction on a topic I would not have chosen is good for me. It jerks me out of my 'comfort zone' and forces me to experiment. My piece, set in the modern day, is called Ten Steps. It is my first short, short story written in the present tense.

Next Task After Finishing Edits.

I have finished the pre-edits, which I wrote about recently, and have now finished editing Monday's Child the sequel to Sunday's Child, traditional Regency Novels.


I shall now make my contents editor happy by reading over 97,500 words aloud and tweaking the final revision.


My next task will be to the synopsis, then the happy day when I submit Monday's Child and the synopsis will arrive.


 I shall also list all the characters because I shall write a follow on novel called Tuesday's Child.

Non-Fiction To Be Read Pile

As well as my pile of to be read fiction, I have a pile of non-fiction to be read which are either for research or to promote or study the market.


The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aikin Hodge.


A History of Shopping by Dorothy Davis which begins with Town Markets in the late Middle Ages.


Cassiobury The Ancient Seat of the Earls of Essex by Paul Rabbits & Sarah Kerenza Priestly.


Kathryn Warner's Edward III with a foreword by Ian Mortimer. "richly detailed, compelling look at one of England's most misunderstood kings ... this is the biography of Edward II for which I have been waiting."


Jane Austen's England by Sue Wilkes.


Good Reads for Authors  How to Promote Your Books with Good Reads by Michelle Campbell-Scott. (I began it and applied a few suggestions but writing my novel has kept me too busy to finish it.)


Writers and Artists Year Book 2015. (I intend to read the articles.)


There are a lot of other non-fiction books I intend to read but this list will keep me busy for a while.

To Be Read Books

I always have a pile of to be read novels. Some of them have received excellent reviews in the Historical Novel Society's magazines, others have been reviewed in newspapers or elsewhere and some have won awards or been shortlisted by the Romantic Novelist's Association. The titles on my current pile are: Home for Christmas by Lizzie Lane, From Ruin to Riches by Louise Allen, A Barefoot Queen by Ildefonso Falcones, The King's Curse by Phillippa Gregory, Teardrops in the Moon by Tania Cross and A Liverpool Legacy by Anne Baker. The variety of themes and plots will be interesting.

Winter Garden

The sun shone today so, although it was cold, I took the opportunity to get on in the garden. I swept the back yard, began to clear up the garden shed and sort out plant pots. Then I enjoyed sewing seeds in modules in a heated propagator. I've sown brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kohl rabi (sprouting broccoli) and three types of tomatoes, standard size, cherry and baby plum.

Books which I'm reading.

I'm reading Terror and Wonder The Gothic Imagination published by The British Library section by section. I'm also reading Writing Historical Fiction A Writers and Artist's Companion published by Bloomsbury Academic bit by bit.

I'm also reading Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough about the lives of two pairs of twins who train to be nurses in the 1920's. The Lady (Magazine) caption is: "A novel of love, loss and betrayal - think of Scarlett O'Hara and multiply by four." I disagree, the characters are not as compelling as Margaret Mitchell's famous heroine. I'm half way through it and losing interest. Part of the back blurb reads "from the author of The Thorn Birds, one of the biggest-selling books of all time, comes this sweeping saga of love and betrayal and redemption in 1920's Australia.

'As clever and compelling as its four heroines.' Australian Woman's Weekly.

Half way through the novel my problem is that with four heroines and a cast of other characters important to the novel I am not identifying with them sufficiently to care what happens to them.

I wonder what other readers think of Bittersweet.

Garden and Bird Feeders

Yesterday, I bought bags of compost to add to either manure or my homemade compost to top up a raised bed. I also bought a packet of geranium seeds. It’s so much cheaper to grown my own instead of buying plants. I like potted red geraniums both indoors and outdoors. I also bought a red, a yellow and a pink rose bush and two rhubarb plants.

My squirrel proof bird feeders arrived today. Small birds fluttered through the one I filled with seeds. I have to buy peanuts for the other one. The wood pigeons strutted around on the lawn but I didn’t see any squirrels today.

Wolf Hall

I did not enjoy the first quarter of Wolf Hall which I began reading with high hopes and didn't finish it. Yesterday, I watched the latest instalment of the t.v. series. Half way through I gave up because I found it dreary. Also, during the first two episodes, and the part I watched yesterday, I did not believe Henry VIII would have been fascinated by the Anne Boleyn depicted in the series.

Monday's Child Final Revision.

I finished the pre-edits of Monday's Child and am now working on the final revision, deleting everything unnecessary, checking the dialogue to make sure it isn't stilted and rephrasing any sentences which are awkward. I'm nearly half way through the novel and looking forward to finishing it. When I have I'll write the synopsis for which I'm making notes as I read the novel.

Revision of Monday's Child.

I finished the pre-edits of Monday's Child and am now working on the final revision, deleting everything unnecessary, checking the dialogue to make sure it isn't stilted and rephrasing any sentences which are awkward. I'm nearly half way through the novel and looking forward to finishing it. When I have I'll write the synopsis for which I'm making notes as I read the novel.

Out of Action

Somehow or other a programme was deleted from my laptop so I haven't been able to blog for a few days. Fortunately, my sons own and international it company so one of their staff sorted out the problem for me. Phew!

Happy Novelist. Happy Grandson.

I was so bored with editing my work in progress Monday's Child a traditional Regency novel that I wondered if I ever want to write another one. Of, course, even as the thought crossed my mind I knew that I do. Today I received the boost I need. At school my 13 year-old grandson's teacher said that she enjoys historical romance. My grandson told her that I write traditional historical romances and my www. address. She visited it and, according to my grandson, was almost glued to it, and she also looked at my reviews on Amazon and played one of my book trailers. According to my grandson she loved it. Hopefully, she will read all my books.

Terror and Wonder

I went to The Gothic Exhibition at The British Library and bought the book: Terror and Wonder, The Gothic Imagination. I am very amused by an illustration in it of an 1802  lithograph by James Gilray, printmaker and caricaturist. The inscription reads; 'This attempt to describe the effects of the Sublime and Wonderful is dedicated to M.G. Lewis Esq".  The caricature is of 'four spellbound women poring over a copy of Lewis's collection in a bourgeois parlour room, with a copy of 'The Monk' placed on the table. The women's faces express their horrified reaction to gothic tales of terror and wonder.

That darn squirrel.

This morning, I finished the pre-edits for Monday's Child, the follow on novel from Sunday's Child. Afterwards I went into the garden to get some fresh air. I checked the bird feeders, then saw some holes on my lawn. That darn squirrel dug them and buried peanuts. I don't begrudge the creature some food but this is too much.