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.

Passive and Active

I'm still slogging away at the pre-edits of Mondays Child the follow on novel from Sunday's Child a traditional Regency Romance. To be honest, I find the pre-editing boring and too time consuming. I console myself with the knowledge that when I finish Monday's Child will read much more smoothly. Also, last evening, I let off a little steam about the darn things and felt a little better about them today.

Risotto

Very cold day again so instead of tidying up the greenhouse, I worked on the pre-edits of my mediaeval novel, the first few chapters of which I am going to enter in a competition. I also made a mushroom and pea risotto, delicious, piping hot, filling and satisfying.  My daughter's children really enjoy it so I cooked extra for them.

Pre-edits - was.

I am working my way through the list of words my publisher has listed. Words which should be either be deleted or used sparingly.




At the moment I have highlighted 'was' and am murdering it when I'm not feeling suicidal. I enjoy writing novels but not the hard work of pre-edits, writing a synopsis and then the time it takes to work with my excellent contents editor and line editor.




I hoped to finish the novel by the 1st February but now think it won't be ready to submit until mid-February.

Amarylis

The Amarylis, a Christmas present, seemed to be in a sorry state when I received it. After a very slow start it has been growing an inch and a half or two inches a day. Now, it looks as though the bud is on the verge of opening. After it has flowered, if I cut the stem, will it flower again next year. Should I feed it?

Book catalobgue.

I have decided that I need to make a catalogue of all my books - particularly the non-fiction. I spend too much time searching for a book I need that has hidden itself somewhere. Oh for more space to keep them and more time to read them.

Testament to Youth etc

Apart from being very busy with the pre-edits for Monday's Child, I've been out and about more than usual. I intended a dinner held in honour of my sister-in-law, whose mother died recently. In spite of the sad occasion I enjoyed meeting many members of her family and my late husband's family, some of whom I had not seen for years. However, I sympathise with her. She said the house seems empty without her mum. I know how she feels, I think of my mother every day and miss her.


I've been busy hanging framed photos of the grandchildren on one of the walls above the staircase. Last time the hall was decorated all the picture hooks were removed. It then seemed such a big job to replace them so I've been putting them up a few at a time.


Apart from this, I have been livening up the house with potted foliage. I love flowers but the ones in pots are over so quickly but I hope the money plant and others will survive for a long time. Today I bought a four foot tall plant with the stems plaited together with fresh foliage at the top. Even on sale it was expensive and so was the ceramic pot I chose. The problem is that now it is in the living room I'm not sure where it looks best.


On Sunday I went to see Testament of Youth based on Vera Britain's autobiography. It's years since I read the book so I can't remember if the script takes liberties but I can say I think the film is excellent. I shall buy the dvd when it is available.


Time to have something to eat and then get on with a few 'writerly' matters.

Pre-Editing

I am now examining my use of that in my new novel Monday's Child. Frequently the word is superfluous, a sentence needs to be rewritten or which is more stylish. Anyway, I find pre-editing boring but necessary.

Line Editing. Checking 'and'.

Yesterday, I took a day off. Today I felt guilty so I finished checking how often I wrote 'and' in Monday's Child the sequel to Sunday's Child a romantic Regency novel. I have divided sentences into two, rephrased sentences as well as occasionally, very occasionally using gerunds.

Pot Marigolds, Lettuce, Larkspur

I have two large beds of earth in my front garden in which I combine herbs, strawberries, vegetables and flowers. Last year pot marigolds made a wonderful splash of colour. Inspired by a programme on television called The Allotment Challenge I plan to grow larkspur. It's pretty colours will add charm to my cottage style vegetable/flower patch.

The Medieval Housewife

I am reading The Medieval Housewife & other women of the Middle Ages by Toni Mount. It is only 90 pages long but packed with information and with plenty of photographs, including those of re-enactors. |A useful addition to my collection of non-fiction for research.

Gothic Exhibition British Library

Today I visited the Gothic Exhibition at the British Library with a dear friend. The exhibition traces the history of Gothic literature and films. The first emphasis is on Hugh Walpole's Castle of Otranto, but there are references to gothic subject matters in the mediaeval period and in Shakespeare.


We enjoyed the exhibits of texts, handwritten pages, books old and modern and the history of gothic films including The Birds based on Daphne du Maurier's short story. I came away inspired with material for Tuesday's Child a follow on novel from Sunday's Child, published by MuseItUpPublishing and Monday's Child which I am almost ready to submit.

Indoor Garden

At this time of the year, apart from foliage, there is little I can arrange in vases, so I have decided to have an indoor garden. I shall choose the plants carefully giving consideration to their situation. I'm not in a hurry to populate every room in the house with potted plants. Yesterday I bought a money plant to join the mother-in-law's tongue on the shelf above my built in shoe rack. I need one more plant which will also thrive in suffused light and cool conditions. Above them I have hung three photos in a single frame of my grandson performing in a gymnastic display.