My instinct is to lock myself in an ivory tower, aka the spare bedroom, and write my novels. (I would open the door to receive drinks, meals and snacks with profound gratitude.
The ivory tower is unsuitable. I would be forced to emerge from it to deal with business and keep up with online sites. Today, I visited Link In after a long absence and found many messages from wonderful people who want to link up with me. It's great to meet old friends and make new ones. I've also joined pin interest while my hero and heroine are nudging me to continue their story.
As I have mentioned in earlier posts I am also catching up with innumerable scribbled notes. I vowed I would never allow them to increase out of all proportion to available time but - deep sigh - I've added a few more.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Busy Day
As a rule I begin writing at 6 a.m. Today was no exception. At least, I was not writing my novel but attending to business. Amongst other writing related matters things I prepared a brief article about my novel Far Beyond Rubies set in England in 1706 during Queen Anne Stuart's reign.
When chatting to people about my books and life as an author many of them are surprised when I point out that writing is a business. Of course, it is a happy one because I enjoy writing historical novels, researching history and visiting places of historical interest.
Anyway, this morning I also applied half of the scribbles in one of my notebooks. I looked up websites relevant to my novels. It was a little tedious but sometimes the results were rewarding. However, I vowed that never again would I accumulate so many notes which would languish for a year or more.
At 10.30 a.m. I took advantage of the beautiful sunny weather to work in my organic garden. I tidied a narrow flower bed that edges the broad steps leading up to my house, planted a shrub that had been in a pot for ages, cut back the dead leaves on the lady's mantle and planted some polyanthas. By the time I had to go indoors to cook lunch I had added two large buckets of weeds etc., to the compost bin.
When chatting to people about my books and life as an author many of them are surprised when I point out that writing is a business. Of course, it is a happy one because I enjoy writing historical novels, researching history and visiting places of historical interest.
Anyway, this morning I also applied half of the scribbles in one of my notebooks. I looked up websites relevant to my novels. It was a little tedious but sometimes the results were rewarding. However, I vowed that never again would I accumulate so many notes which would languish for a year or more.
At 10.30 a.m. I took advantage of the beautiful sunny weather to work in my organic garden. I tidied a narrow flower bed that edges the broad steps leading up to my house, planted a shrub that had been in a pot for ages, cut back the dead leaves on the lady's mantle and planted some polyanthas. By the time I had to go indoors to cook lunch I had added two large buckets of weeds etc., to the compost bin.
Friday, 10 January 2014
Lost a Found
Someone gave me a very pretty folder which has pockets in which to store papers. I used it for some vital historical research re:- my new novel, Monday's Child, the sequel to my published e-book, Sunday's Child set in the Regency era. For two days I searched the house for it. I even woke once last night fretting about it and trying to remember the details of the research. This morning when I got up I thought that it must be with all my other files. I returned to the cupboard in which I keep them - sure enough it was there.
The experience is comparable to writing. Sometimes the eye does not see what should be there.
The experience is comparable to writing. Sometimes the eye does not see what should be there.
Thursday, 9 January 2014
First early peas.
Dull grey morning so far - if there's a splash of sunshine later on I shall sow a row of first early peas and dream of eating tender peas and strawberries in June - but not together.
So far, a satisfactory morning, I've revised Chapter Twelve of my Regency Novel, Monday's child, the sequel to my e-book, Sunday's Child.
Does anyone else fall in love with their fictional heroes?
So far, a satisfactory morning, I've revised Chapter Twelve of my Regency Novel, Monday's child, the sequel to my e-book, Sunday's Child.
Does anyone else fall in love with their fictional heroes?
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
Better Weather
My grandson, who has been poorly and did not go to school, went for a walk across the green behind my house and on into the woods. We took Oscar with us. He is a small, delightful 6 month old puppy my grandson and his family are looking after.
The weather is mild, the air crisp but the ground underfoot squelchy after the recent heavy rain. The woods are full of birdsong and we saw squirrels scampering across the ground and in the trees. Oscar enjoyed it and barked for us to throw sticks for him to fetch.
As a historical novelist I imagined our experiences taking place in the past and made notes.
The weather is mild, the air crisp but the ground underfoot squelchy after the recent heavy rain. The woods are full of birdsong and we saw squirrels scampering across the ground and in the trees. Oscar enjoyed it and barked for us to throw sticks for him to fetch.
As a historical novelist I imagined our experiences taking place in the past and made notes.
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
Busy Day
I worked on a new chapter of Monday's Child; tidied the house and made a winter warmer soup with root vegetable, pearl barley, peas, aduki beans, spices and fresh herbs - yummy.
I also checked the peanuts and grains I put out for the birds. It's very worrying, year by year fewer and fewer birds visit my garden. Last winter was severe and so far this winter there has been almost ceaseless rain and fierce winds. Have the harsh conditions killed the birds? The population sees to be declining.
I also checked the peanuts and grains I put out for the birds. It's very worrying, year by year fewer and fewer birds visit my garden. Last winter was severe and so far this winter there has been almost ceaseless rain and fierce winds. Have the harsh conditions killed the birds? The population sees to be declining.
Monday, 6 January 2014
Oops
Oops. Royalist Rebel is by Anita Seymour not Anita Davison. 4 year-old granddaughter playing noisily with a toy farm is distracting me. She pretends a crocodile is eating my feet and, to oblige her, I scream.
Royalist Rebel by Anita Davison
Thoroughly enjoyed Royalist Rebel by Anita Davison. The rebel is Countess Dysart of Ham House (Richmond, U.K.) whose parents sympathised with Charles 1st. An interesting story based on fact that is well-researched. Highly recommended.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
10 Good Things in 2014
1. 5* reviews on www.amazon.com and www.amazon.co.uk of my historical novels, Tangled Love, False Pretences, Sunday's Child and Far Beyond Rubies.
2. Signing the contract for my historical novel The Captain and The Countess with MuseItUp Publishing.
3. Attending The Festival of Romance in Bedford.
4. Two of my grandchildren doing really well at their secondary schools.
5. My niece making a full recovery from a death-threatening illness.
6. A holiday in beautiful Woolacombe Bay in Devonshire with my daughter and her children.
7. Bumper crops of apples, pears and plums in my organic garden, plus lots of delicious soft fruit, herbs and vegetables.
8. Visits to places of historical interest.
9. Very happy extended Christmas season with my large family.
10 The love and support from my family throughout the year.
2. Signing the contract for my historical novel The Captain and The Countess with MuseItUp Publishing.
3. Attending The Festival of Romance in Bedford.
4. Two of my grandchildren doing really well at their secondary schools.
5. My niece making a full recovery from a death-threatening illness.
6. A holiday in beautiful Woolacombe Bay in Devonshire with my daughter and her children.
7. Bumper crops of apples, pears and plums in my organic garden, plus lots of delicious soft fruit, herbs and vegetables.
8. Visits to places of historical interest.
9. Very happy extended Christmas season with my large family.
10 The love and support from my family throughout the year.
Saturday, 4 January 2014
Rain, Wind and Writing
Day after day in South East England the wind has
been raging and lashing rain against the windows of my house. The weather
conditions make it an ideal time to stay indoors and continue writing my new
novel Monday’s Child, the sequel to my novel Sunday’s Child published by MuseItUp.
Both novels are traditional historical novels set in the Regency. At the moment
I’m patting myself on my back because another historical novelist who is
reading Monday’s Child, chapter by chapter, e-mailed me to say my description
of a ball made her feel as though she was watching a film of one of Jane
Austen’s novels. As you can imagine her comment makes me feel as though I’m
floating on air.
Friday, 3 January 2014
Time to be Honest
Ten regrets re:2013
1. Not being able to afford to buy every book on my want to read list.
2. My inability to manage on less than 8 hours sleep a night so that I could pack more into my already busy days.
3. Not meeting my target of swimming 3 or 4 times a week.
4. Failure to lose more weight in spite of low fat milk, only one sweet treat a week etc.
5. I should have signed up for more book blogs for my romantic historical novels.
6. Spending too much time on Facebook when I should be reading historical non-fiction and making notes for my novel.
7. Describing the hero helping the heroine to sit on his horse and then sitting in front of her. In order to do so he would have had to pass his leg over her head. Ouch! Neither my efficient copy editor nor my efficient line editor noticed this. No matter how hard I try it's really difficult to always get everything right.
8. I wish I had mastered the technique of growing indoor and outdoor winter salads.
9. Failure to finish my new novel by Christmas 2013.
10. I should have bought new carpet for the stairs and a new gas cooker.
1. Not being able to afford to buy every book on my want to read list.
2. My inability to manage on less than 8 hours sleep a night so that I could pack more into my already busy days.
3. Not meeting my target of swimming 3 or 4 times a week.
4. Failure to lose more weight in spite of low fat milk, only one sweet treat a week etc.
5. I should have signed up for more book blogs for my romantic historical novels.
6. Spending too much time on Facebook when I should be reading historical non-fiction and making notes for my novel.
7. Describing the hero helping the heroine to sit on his horse and then sitting in front of her. In order to do so he would have had to pass his leg over her head. Ouch! Neither my efficient copy editor nor my efficient line editor noticed this. No matter how hard I try it's really difficult to always get everything right.
8. I wish I had mastered the technique of growing indoor and outdoor winter salads.
9. Failure to finish my new novel by Christmas 2013.
10. I should have bought new carpet for the stairs and a new gas cooker.
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Catching up with my notes etc.
I'm about to be given a new computer by my son who is a partner in an international IT company. This morning, I saved all my files on my memory stick. While doing so I printed up some material and was side-tracked by reading and googling. Amongst other things I read Christina Rossetti's thought-provocative Goblin Market.
After deleting all my files from the computer I began to go through notes I made throughout the year. Snippets for novels, ideas, website addresses etc., etc. While doing so I visited several interesting websites. Now that I've made a start I'm looking forward to applying my notes.
After deleting all my files from the computer I began to go through notes I made throughout the year. Snippets for novels, ideas, website addresses etc., etc. While doing so I visited several interesting websites. Now that I've made a start I'm looking forward to applying my notes.
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
Monday, 30 December 2013
Gardening 2014
The recent storms blew over my wooden bird table and smashed it. Never mind it was very old and a bit rickety so I shall replace it instead of trying to mend it. I'm hoping for a few days mild enough to potter in the garden and greenhouse. I am looking forward to gardening in 2014. In the meantime, while the weather is too bad to be outside, I have checked my packets of seeds and disposed of those which are out of date. I shall now consult seed catalogues, order more seeds, and some perpetual strawberries. Very soon it will be time to chit seed potatoes and sow the first tomato seeds.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
Book Tokens
I'm delighted with the book tokens which I received from more than one person for Christmas.
Saturday, 28 December 2013
My Christmas
My head's reeling with Christmas cheer. One of the highlights was watching my daughter's children delving into their stockings and the 4 year old repeatedly saying: This is the best Christmas ever. And the nine year old saying the same thing but adding: Because you're here, Grandma.
The most amusing was one of my 12 year old grandson telling his father that he no longer believes in Father Christm...as. To which my youngest son replied. "If you don't believe, you don't get." "I believe, I believe." Later, he told me. "I don't understand why parents would want a strange man to enter their children's bedrooms while they are sleeping."
I divided my time between my children's houses and loved every minute with each one, my daughters in law and my grandchildren.
On Christmas Eve we lunched at a favourite restaurant, I spent the night at my daughter's house, Christmas Day after stockings at presents at her house, I visited son No.3 and his family and then had a wonderful vegetarian lunch at his twin brother's house.
Boxing Day is on of my granddaughter's birthday. She and her cousins celebrated it playing bowls in the late afternoon. I enjoyed watching my grandchildren and two guests bowling before we went out to dinner.
I spent yesterday at my daughter's house and went to see The Hobbit 2 with my twin sons and three grandsons.
And now, after having such a happy Christmas, back to work on my novel Monday's Child the sequel to Sunday's Child.
The most amusing was one of my 12 year old grandson telling his father that he no longer believes in Father Christm...as. To which my youngest son replied. "If you don't believe, you don't get." "I believe, I believe." Later, he told me. "I don't understand why parents would want a strange man to enter their children's bedrooms while they are sleeping."
I divided my time between my children's houses and loved every minute with each one, my daughters in law and my grandchildren.
On Christmas Eve we lunched at a favourite restaurant, I spent the night at my daughter's house, Christmas Day after stockings at presents at her house, I visited son No.3 and his family and then had a wonderful vegetarian lunch at his twin brother's house.
Boxing Day is on of my granddaughter's birthday. She and her cousins celebrated it playing bowls in the late afternoon. I enjoyed watching my grandchildren and two guests bowling before we went out to dinner.
I spent yesterday at my daughter's house and went to see The Hobbit 2 with my twin sons and three grandsons.
And now, after having such a happy Christmas, back to work on my novel Monday's Child the sequel to Sunday's Child.
Monday, 23 December 2013
Christmas Greetings
My prayers go out to all those who are afflicted.
I offer the compliments of the season to all of you who celebrate Christmas, and hope those who don't will have a peaceful time.
I offer the compliments of the season to all of you who celebrate Christmas, and hope those who don't will have a peaceful time.
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Ideas for My Novels
I'm sure many novelists are asked where they get their ideas for their novels. I am not an exception. My novels are often inspired by historical research, reading non-fiction or visiting a place of historical interest, after which my imagination takes over.
While writing I draw inspiration from many things, including poetry. Yesterday, after reading the following verse, I went to sleep with the words in my mind.
Her gentle motion and her smiles,
Her wit, her voice my heart beguiles,
Beguiles my heart, I know not why,
And yet I love her till I die.
Anon (17th century)
While writing I draw inspiration from many things, including poetry. Yesterday, after reading the following verse, I went to sleep with the words in my mind.
Her gentle motion and her smiles,
Her wit, her voice my heart beguiles,
Beguiles my heart, I know not why,
And yet I love her till I die.
Anon (17th century)
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Christmas Read
I'm still staying at my youngest son's house and treasuring my time with his wife, two of my grandsons and one of my granddaughters. The Christmas lights and tree are up and we are enjoying each other's company.
I've dipped into one of the books I chose to read during the Christmas holidays The White Princess by Philippa Gregory. The fate of the Princes in the Tower is uncertain, and the personal relationship between Henry VII and his queen, Elizabeth of York is speculative, but, so far, I'm enjoying the novel.
I've dipped into one of the books I chose to read during the Christmas holidays The White Princess by Philippa Gregory. The fate of the Princes in the Tower is uncertain, and the personal relationship between Henry VII and his queen, Elizabeth of York is speculative, but, so far, I'm enjoying the novel.
Time Off
As a rule I'm up early in the morning and working on my laptop. However, I'm spending a long weekend with my youngest son, his wife and children. So I enjoyed the luxury of sleeping late and the afternoons in their lounge in front of a log fire. Very bad for writing my novel, Monday's Child the sequel to Sunday's Child but very enjoyable.
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