'Tis the Season to Be Jolly

I've nearly finished my Christmas Shopping + Birthday Presents for 3 of my grandchildren one of whom was born on Boxing Day. Presents are piled on the dining room table waiting to be wrapped and, today, I shall buy Christmas Cards and post them on Monday. Next weekend, the Christmas tree will be in place and decorated, probably with a grandchild's help. So, the season to be jolly is underway in my house.

Choosing a Title for my Novel

I have a  title for my medieval novel set in Edward II's reign but after reading an article by Alison Baverstock in Writers & Artists Yearbook 2013 I'm dissatisfied with it. She quotes: Heather-Holden Brown of the hhb agency says: "The title matters hugely I want something that excites me, and that will draw a similarly instant reaction from any publisher I mention it to." So go for something that is topical, intriguing or witty and to the point."

My characters and I have settled on 'intriguing' but I didn't appreciate them waking me up in the night giving me their input while I was half asleep. They suggested something on the lines of 'When once you practice to deceive what a tangled web you weave,' but  I told them that 'it ignores the romantic elements in my novel.' On the other hand... However, my protagonists needs to understand I am the boss and they are acting under my direction!

What is on my Mind

First of all the Hindhu Wedding Service in which the bride and groom understand they will be joined in marriage for seven births. I've always thought that's risky. Suppose the marriage is unhappy and continues to be so for six more births.

This week I've dressed warmly and got on in my garden and greenhouse. I've sown micro greens which can be snipped when they are four inches high, and peas for shoots to be added to salad.

I cut the yellowing lower leaves off my Brussel sprouts and tied the plants to stop them from toppling over. I then raked and weeded the bed, fed the Brussels with a liquid feed and covered them with horticultural net to protect them from the beady-eyed wood pigeons that visit my garden. I have also spread manure around my fruit trees in the hope they will give the same bumper crop as last year.

Today, I hope to do a little more in the garden after a writing session followed by tidying up the house.

Father of the Bride's Farewell

At the end of the long Hindhu wedding ceremony that I attended on Sunday the bride's father spoke the following words.

"When you wake tomorrow morning there will be an empty place at our breakfast table. We will always remember you. Please, never forget us."

I admit his words brought a tear or two to my eyes.

Word Pictures

I enjoyed Sunday lunch at my youngest son and daughter-in-law's house with their three children, my daughter and her three children. The conversation turned to my paperback which they are very excited about, particularly because it is dedicated to my grandson, Harry. They asked me questions about how I write and I mentioned word pictures. Curious they asked me what I meant so I quoted from my new novel, Monday's Child the sequel to my e-book, Sunday's Child.

"The sun was low in a sky streaked with pale gold and powder-pink as though painted by God’s almighty hand."

This sparked their imaginations and they commented on it.

A Hindhu Wedding

I attended my youngest nephew's wedding in a beautifully decorated conference room at a large banqueting centre.

There were approximately 500 guests to witness the bride in a magnificent white silk sari beautifully embellished with red and green beadwork and embroidery, and the bridegroom in a white heavy silk tunic worn over matching trousers, tight at the ankles.

All the ladies and little girls were resplendent in colourful outfits and jewellery, and the men, many who wore slippers with pointed toes reminiscent of Aladdin, and colourful tunics and trousers were equally resplendent.

I met people I had not seen for many years including a couple of ladies who I taught at secondary school in Nairobi.

The wedding ceremony was followed by a formal lunch - flat breads, curries, a savoury, rice, sweets and much more.

I returned home tired but happy.

New Novel

Phew! 1,750 words to write and I will be  halfway through my new novel Monday's Child set shortly before the Battle of Waterloo.

I send chapters to  critique partners who offer constructive criticism and revise each chapter after I receive their feedback. This means that when I reach those magical words The End I have a novel which needs little dusting, polishing and revision.

The Eagle of The Ninth Chronicles by Rosemary Sutcliffe

As an avid reader and a historical novelist I enjoy giving books as Christmas presents.
I wracked my brains trying to decide what to give a 12 and 10 year old for Christmas. Both of them are keen readers and are interested in history so I chose The Eagle of the Ninth Chronicles by Rosemary Sutcliffe.

In her foreword she writes:

"Sometime in about the year 117 AD, the Ninth Legion, which was stationed at Eburacum where York now stands, marched north to deal with a rising among the Caledonian tribes and was never heard of again.

During excavations at Silchester nearly eighteen hundred years later, there was dug up under the green fields which now cover the pavements of Callleva Atrebatum, a wingless Roman Eagle a cast of which can be seen to this day in Reading Museum. Different people have different ideas as to how it came to be there but no one knows, just as no one knows what happened to the Ninth Legion after it marched into the northern mists.

It is from these two mysteries, brought together, that I have made the story of The Eagle of the Ninth."

Titles and Forms of Address

I treated myself to a copy of Titles and Forms of Address A Guide to Correct Use from the publishers of Who's Who, A & C Black, London. "A reference book for the desk that shows how to address (in speech and on letters and envelopes) men and women with ranks, honours ...etc.,".

I am pleased to have corrected a mistake I made in Monday's Child, the sequel to Sunday's Child. A character introduced another character as Colonel, Viscount Langley, instead of as Colonel, Lord Langley. I have corrected my mistake in the novel. Phew! I do like to be accurate.

Cold Weather and Research

Warm and cosy indoors during the cold spell I read Antony Wild's lavishly illustrated The East India Company Trade and Conquest from 1600. the research will come in useful for my novel Monday's Child and a sequel to my recent paperback Far Beyond Rubies. All in all a profitable afternoon.

Cold Weather and Research.

Warm and cosy indoors during cold weather I spent an enjoyable couple of hours researching my novel, Monday's Child, by reading The East India Company Trade and Commerce from 1600 by Antony Wild.

Far Beyond Rubies by Rosemry Morris

I am delighted to announce that my e-book, Far Beyond Rubies by Rosemary Morris, has been published as a paperback and an e-book.

 

“When Gervaise first sees Juliana he recognises her, but not from this lifetime, and knows he will always protect her.”

 

Set in 1706 in England during Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, Far Beyond Rubies begins when William, Baron Kemp, Juliana’s half-brother, claims she and her young sister, Henrietta, are bastards. Spirited Juliana is determined to prove the allegation is false, and that she is the rightful heiress to Riverside, a great estate.

 

On his way to deliver a letter to William, Gervaise Seymour sees Juliana for the first time in the grounds of her family home. The sight of her draws him back to India. When “her form changed to one he knew intimately—but not in this lifetime,” Gervaise knows he would do everything in his power to protect her.

 

Although Juliana and Gervaise are attracted to each other, they have not been formally introduced and assume they will never meet again. However, when Juliana flees from home, and is on her way to London, she encounters quixotic Gervaise at an inn. Circumstances force Juliana to accept his kind help. After Juliana’s life becomes irrevocably tangled with his, she discovers all is not as it seems. Yet, she cannot believe ill of him for, despite his exotic background, he behaves with scrupulous propriety, while trying to help her find evidence to prove she and her sister are legitima

 

Reviews.

 

 

J. Pitman’s 5 out of 5* review of Far Beyond Rubies by Rosemary Morris.

 

It was great to see that there's a new Rosemary Morris out. I like her exquisite attention to detail, and she writes in the reign of Queen Anne, which is something a bit different from the usual Regency romance.

 

In this new book, which I have to admit I raced through and will now read again, the heroine Juliana is stunned to discover that, according to her half-brother William, she and her sister are bastards. The tale of how Gervaise Seymour helps her, how she helps herself, her sister and her various strays is quite enchanting. Rosemary uses her knowledge of India, very pertinent in this period, to bring a spice of something different to this novel. Her 'tanned hero' is no pallid, painted Englishman but one who has travelled, married and been widowed on that exotic continent, thus earning himself the nickname 'Beau Hindu' amongst the fashionable in London.

 

This novel is not a light book, as it contains research into the politics, religion and morality of the reign of Queen Anne. However the research informs the novel quite naturally and I found this to be a lovely, sparkling romance. It is somewhat in the style of the late Georgette Heyer, although I think after four novels Rosemary Morris is developing a voice of her own.  

 

Suitable for those who like a cracking good historical romance, set in England, well researched, sensual but no explicit sex.

 

* * * *

Carolin Walz 5* Review of Far Beyond Rubies by Rosemary Morris.

 

Picked up Rosemary Morris' novel recently with the expectation of a nice escape into romance, and was agreeably surprised by the wealth of historical detail and engaging characters. The heroine, Juliana, is suitably persecuted by an evil step-brother and later on by a libertine suitor, and the hero, Gervaise, is not only handsome, but also mysterious, coming from a somewhat broken family and having been previously married to a woman in India. That is one of the things that sets this tale apart from the usual run of historical romances. The author is obviously quite familiar with India, and the reader gets all kinds of interesting tidbits about life there, from certain dishes Gervaise springs on his friends to what he has learned about the country's belief systems, the latter of which at first causes quite some conflict between him and the heroine. The resolution is believable and satisfying. Well-written throughout.

 

* * * *

 

Far Beyond Rubies is available from:

 

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/2 www.amazon.co.uk  www.amazon.com  nook, kobo and elsewhere.

 

         www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com

 

          Previous novels.

 Tangled Love

Sunday’s Child

False Pretences

New Release February, 2014 The Captain and The Countess

Reading at Watford Writers

I read an extract from my mediaeval novel set in Edward IInd's reign at Watford Writers. It is a passage I had struggled to write and in spite of my efforts was not entirely satisfied with. However, I am reading the novel in sequence and find the constructive feedback from other members very useful.

After I shared the scene and received some comments from a friend, I realised that I have written it from the wrong viewpoint and am looking forward to rewriting it.

Princess Fairies and Christmas.

It seems the latest craze amongst small girls is that of Princess Fairies. These are Disneyland dolls - Snow White, Beauty, Cinderella etc., for which various accessories are available.

Yesterday my daughter and I took my granddaughter to Toys are Us where she fell in love with the dolls. We told her she must wait for Christmas to see what Santa Claus brings. Many of the dolls were a bargain at half price and she doesn't know we have bought some for her. I can hardly wait to see her joy on Christmas Day.

There is something magical about seeing Christmas through the eyes of children. I shall spend Christmas Eve at my daughter's house, read the story of the nativity to the my grandsons and granddaughter, and share their  joy on Christmas Day when they open their stockings and presents.

On Writing Monday's Child.

While giving my house a through tidy-up on Thursday and doing a lot of shopping on Friday thoughts of my work in progress, Monday's Child, the sequel to Sunday's Child, both set in the Regency era were never far away. Mind you, I'm trying to train my mind not to consider the novel while driving. I don't want to have an accident while in the world of my imagination populated by a cast of interesting characters.

Chapter Ten was 'a pig' to write. None of the characters wanted to do as they were told and the historical facts I was trying to slip into their story seemed to annoy them. However, my first draft of Chapter Eleven was comparatively easy to write. The words flowed and the characters behaved.

To my relief the first two one thousand-five hundred words of Chapter Twelve, which I wrote yesterday, was a joy to write.  The heroine defied her temporary guardians but did not defy me me as my fingers almost flew over the keyboard. If only every piece of writing could flow as smoothly.

Plotting a Novel

The only novel I found extremely difficult to write was one that I plotted chapter by chapter. When I write I like my characters to have the ability to surprise me. However, if they try to 'get out of hand' they do need to be put firmly in their place. I also like twists and turns in the plot to take me by surprise.

Before I begin writing I complete detailed character profiles for the main protagonists and name them. I have to visualise them walking, talking, going about their daily lives and understand their aspirations and fears etc.

When I begin a the novel I know what the middle and ending will be, the rest is an exciting journey for my characters and  quite often for myself when I visit places of historical interest.

Love and Marriage - 17th c.poem

My isp was playing up this morning so I am posting much later than usual.

There is no happy life
But in a wife;
The comforts are so sweet
When they do meet.

Two figures but one coin;
So do they join,
Only they do not embrace,
We face to face.

William Cavendish. Duke of Newcastle (17th century)

Writing, Shopping and Unmentionables

Yesterday, I nearly finished Chapter Eleven of my new novel Monday's Child set in the Regency. It's fun to write. The heroine got herself into 'hot water' through an indiscretion and is about to plunge into it for the second time.

The phone rang. My daughter asked if I would like to go into town, do some shopping and have a coffee. I considered my heroine and dismissed her.

I popped into Primark and chose a fleece pyjamas which only cost an unbelievable £3 about $2. They had been reduced from £7. My pyjamas have a discreet pattern. I would have bought more if I could face the idea of wearing ones patterned with garish Christmas designs. I also bought a very pretty, frilly white scarf, some gloves and, as my heroine would say, some unmentionables.

Love and Marriage - Poem

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were love'd by wife, then thee:
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize they love more than whole Mines of gold,
Of all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.

Anne Bradstreet (c1612-1672)

Love & Marriage - Poetry

"Who could relate, save those that wedded be,
The joy, the ease, and the prosperity
That are between a husband and wife?

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-1400)

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales are on the to be read pile of books on my bedside table  I enjoy reading a bit here and a bit there and have decided Chaucer must have a walk-on-part in my mediaeval trilogy.