Snippet from Anne of Green Gables

I've been re-reading L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. This snippet about the layer cake Anne made amused me. "I'm sure I haven't forgotten anything this time, Mirella. But do you think it will rise? Just suppose perhaps that baking powder isn't any good.  I used it out of the new can. And Mrs Lynne says you can never be sure of getting good baking powder nowadays when everything is so adulterated. Mrs Lynne says the Government ought to take the matter up..."

Guest Blog about Rosemary Morris and Writing

Today I am a Caroll Bradd's guest. If you have time, you may read the blog. The link is:http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com/?p=920

All the best,

Rosemary Morris

Multi-published Historical Novelist

Free Read:Daisy my Flash Fiction Won 2nd Prize.

I'm pleased to share my350 word flash fiction 'Daisy' which won second prize at Watford Writers.

 

 

                                                               Daisy

 

Jack stared at the cheque. If the court verdict resulted in no other couple suffering as they had, it was more important than the money.

He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, and took out a pair of tiny socks with lace-edged frills. The ones Daisy had worn when they had rushed her to outpatients at the weekend.

“Nothing serious,” the intern said.

Frightened, they gave Daisy her medicine, cooled her with damp flannels, and then, panic stricken, took her to the surgery.

A year ago they had looked forward to Daisy’s first white Christmas. Instead of celebrating it they watched snow gently settle on her tiny satin-lined coffin.

Their grief-stricken parents and other relatives rallied to help them. Fair weather friends avoided them, not knowing what to say.

Counselling helped to break free of their individual prison cells of sorrow, and to communicate with each other. It also gave Jack the courage to insist Emily visited her parents to be cossetted.

Alone in the house, where the memory of Daisy’s chuckles echoed, Jack had packed her clothes and toys. If his heart had been brutally ripped out, surely the pain could not have been worse. 

Tears filled his eyes. His arms ached to recapture the past. Another baby could never replace Daisy, but he or she would have a unique place filled with his love.

Jack sighed. Once, when he was a small boy he played with his sister’s doll and pushchair.

“What are you doing?” his mother had asked.

Even at that age he realised she was surprised.

“I’m pretending to be a daddy,” he replied.

He had always looked forward to bringing up his children, but now it was up to his wife.

Emily arrived as softly as one of the snowflakes falling outside.

For fear of upsetting her, he quickly returned the socks to his pocket.

She kissed his cheek. “I’m ready.”

“For what?” He hoped she would say what he longed to hear.

“Another baby.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more certain.”

A year later, Poppy joined Daisy in his heart forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest on Anastasia Pollock's Blog

11^th April. Today I am a guest of Anastasia Pollock, crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth, on her blog, Crafty Knitters. My article features naval captain, Edward Howard, the hero of my novel, The Captain and The Countess. Edward’s outstanding artistic ability makes him more perceptive than most gentlemen in Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, 1706-1714. 

LINK:

 

http://www/anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/2016/04/crafts-with-anastasia-guest-author.html

 

Rosemary Morris

Multi Published Historical Novelist

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Stretching Mind and Body

Hooray. By almost ignoring social media for four months I have just finished researching, revising and editing my new 85,000 word historical novel. Three more chapters to post, one by one, to my online critique group. After I receive constructive feedback, I'll put the novel aside for a month before I read through it and make minor corrections etc.

 

This morning, I also worked in the garden, I planted a rosemary bush that languished in a plant pot all winter. At one end of an eight foot by five foot vegetable patch, I planted yellow gladioli in groups of five, removed tete-a-tete daffodils from pots and interspersed them with the gladioli. They will flower against the backdrop of the holly bush and make a splash of colour. I also raked the bed and worked potato fertiliser into it before planting chitted second early potatoes. Phew! I shall put my feet up and read for pleasure,

 

All the best,

Rosemary Morris

Multi Published Historical Novelist

 

Stretching the Mind and Body

Hooray. By almost ignoring social media for four months I have just finished researching, revising and editing my new 85,000 word historical novel. Three more chapters to post, one by one, to my online critique group. After I receive constructive feedback, I'll put the novel aside for a month before I read through it and make minor corrections etc.

 

This morning, I also worked in the garden, I planted a rosemary bush that languished in a plant pot all winter. At one end of an eight foot by five foot vegetable patch, I planted yellow gladioli in groups of five, removed tete-a-tete daffodils from pots and interspersed them with the gladioli. They will flower against the backdrop of the holly bush and make a splash of colour. I also raked the bed and worked potato fertiliser into it before planting chitted second early potatoes. Phew! I shall put my feet up and read for pleasure,

 

All the best,

Rosemary Morris

Multi Published Historical Novelist

 

Touching Base

I'm have returned to social media after two months during which I have been very productive. I finished the third of my days of the week series, Tuesday's Child and have nearly finished editing and revising it with the online critique group that I am a member of. Two of my Flash Fiction stories won second prizes at the Watford Writers, the group I belong to, and I've written a short story for a weekly woman's magazine. I also double checked the spelling and grammar in my mediaeval novel set in the reign of Edward II. Phew! And now it's nearly time to write a competition entry, a short story and begin a new novel, as well as getting on in my garden in which I grow, fruit, herbs, ornamentals and vegetables.

All the best,

Rosemary Morris

Multi Published Historical Novelist

http://www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

Article re:Writing Historical Fiction at Love Romance

I have neglected all of you while completing the final revision and edit of my mediaeval novel set in the reign of Edward II, and writing my new novel, Tuesday's Child, set in the Regency era.

 

Just popping in to let you know that, to day, I am Dawn Roberts' guest at Love Romance, where she has posted my article about writing historical fiction.

http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2016/03/guest-author-day-with-rosemary-morris.html

Rosemary Morris

Author of Romantic Historical Novels

Rosemary Morris

Free Flash Fiction Valentine's Day Story.

Watford Writers invited members to submit a Flash Fiction 350 word Valentine's Day story. I'm delighted to have won second prize for Unchained Love. I hope you enjoy it. Your comments will be very welcome.

Unchained Love

 

The consultant broke the news. “I’m very sorry to tell you both that Paul only has two months to live.”

He and I packed as much as possible into December and January. His last birthday celebrated at a restaurant, although he could eat little. Christmas, at our daughter’s house. My final goodbye at the graveside.

February brought slate grey skies and curtains of rain. Valentine’s Day approached. No cards or flowers for me this year

The shop is filled with heart-shaped balloons. Invitations to Be My Valentine. Cards ornamented with glitter, beads and ribbons are filled with romantic messages, and decorated with roses or cupids with bows in hand ready to shoot arrows.

I splash my way to Paul’s tombstone where I prop my card, wrapped in cling film. The rain washes away my tears, but can’t kill the powerful fragrance of red roses. It pierces my heart. I arrange the flowers in a vase and place them on the marble slab. God, please bless, my darling. One day, may we be reunited?

I trudge between graves, on some of which are sodden teddy bears. So much loss. My own threatens to overwhelm me. I want to run back to Paul’s last resting place and fling myself onto it. To tell him life is unbearable without him. Instead I catch the bus to the house we shared, every part of which brings poignant memories. Oh, we weren’t the perfect couple. Sometimes we had arguments, but they couldn’t have been important because I can’t remember what they were about.

I answer a knock on the front door. My next door neighbour holds out red roses. She smiles but looks curiously at me. “These came for you while you were out.”

Who on earth could they be from?

Alone, I read the card that nestled in the heart of the bouquet.

“My love, you filled my life with joy. Although I’ve left you, for my sake, please fill yours with happiness.”

I don’t know if I can ever again be happy, but day by day, for Paul’s sake, I shall try.

My Interview at Book Club

Yesterday, I was interviewed by Book Club.

http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/…/book-club-friday….

Unfortunately, an 80 year old relative, who has a pacemaker, fell down the stairs from top to bottom. Blood everywhere from a cut on his head. Shocked, battered and bruised, he is fortunate not to have broken an arm and a leg. I went to the hospital and returned late to tired to promote the interview yesterday,

All the best,

Rosemary Morris

Historical Novelist

Special Offer. False Pretences. Regency mystery/romance novel.

Special Offer.
I am delighted to announce an Exclusive MuseItUp & Amazon e-book deal for my Regency  Mystery Romance  False Pretences.

#False Pretences is available for £0.99 - $1.41 until the 30th January.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Plot, Well Researched, Enjoyable Novel, 

J. Pittam “Maythorn” (Hertfordshire, England.) 

This review is from: False Pretences (Kindle Edition)
I very much enjoyed this novel by Rosemary Morris. It is set in 1815, but is not what I'd call a typical 'Regency Romance'. There certainly is a romance involved, eventually, but there's an elegant, well-told mystery story before we get there. The plot is intricate and the research superb. I very much enjoyed following Annabelle's search for identity, which involves bitter discoveries about her father and half-brother’s political intrigues, covers her own fears and worries for her sister and servants (she's a compassionate lass, is Annabelle, and inclined to pick up waifs and strays) and finally the moment when she succumbs to a delicious hero.

All in all I hope Rosemary Morris has some more books under her sleeve.

This book is suitable for those who like their history accurate, their heroine to be a real person, the hero likewise (but gorgeous). There is no explicit sex in this novel. As a kindle read it's also suitable for those with a visual disability.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Who? A Question That Needs To Be Answered.

 

Whether you are writing non fiction or fiction, at the beginning it is necessary to engage a reader in the story by establishing who it is about as soon as possible.

In Tangled Love, set in Hertfordshire, in 1693, the unpopular King James, brother of Charles IInd has fled England and his daughter Mary and her husband William now sit on the throne. In the prologue, nine year-old Richelda’s father explains his dilemma.

     “With a sigh, Father lifted her onto his knee. ‘Richelda, I must follow His Majesty for I swore an oath of allegiance to him. Tell me, child, while King James lives how can I, with honour, swear allegiance to his disloyal daughter and her husband?’

Unable to think of a reply, she lowered her head breathing in his spicy perfume.

Father held her closer. ‘Your mother pleads with me to declare myself for William and Mary. She begs me not to return to France, but I am obliged to serve King James. Do you understand?’

 

Rosemary Morris

Romantic Historical Novelist

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

2016

Wishing everyone  a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year,

Rosemary Morris

Historical Novelist

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Christmas

For those of you who celebrate Christmas.

I hope all of you will have a Merry Christmas, and I wish you all the best for a happy, healthy, wealthy New Year in which your writing goes from strength to strength.

For those of you who don't celebrate Christmas.

I hope you will have time to relax and wish you all the best for 2016.

Rosemary Morris

Historical Novelist

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Tuesday's Child On Schedule

I've been neglecting social media. This year I didn't have a new novel published and decided I write too slowly. I need to be more productive without sacrificing quality so I decided to write Tuesday's Child without research, revision or edits. I wanted to finish the first draft by the end of November or December 10th at the latest. I have almost met my target. I wrote 70,000 words and then realised I should revise Tuesday's Child to make sure that I tied up all the loose ends. I have revised and edited 100 pages of the second draft and am making notes on the contents of each chapter. Next, I shall write the final 5,000 words or more. It's a new way of writing for me but, hopefully, I will be ready to submit the novel to MuseItUpPublishing by the end of March, if not before. Phew!

Romantic Historical Fiction $0.99 only on the Second of December

 

 

On the 12 days of Christmas my true love gave to me ebooks with food and wine.

For only one day (December 2^nd) my novels are on special offer at $0.99 from:-

 https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore

 False Pretences Annabelle runs away from school into the arms of a charismatic gentleman…but can she trust him to help her to find out who her parents are?

 Sunday’s Child Despite loss and past love, self-sacrifice, brutality and honour, will it be possible for Tarrant and Georgianne to find happiness?

 Tangled Love Tangled Love set in England in 1706 during Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, a story of two great estates, duty, betrayal and passionate love.

 Far Beyond Rubies When Gervaise sees Juliana for the first time, he recognises her, but not from this lifetime…

 The Captain and The Countess.  His heart captured by the Countess only Captain Howard sees pain behind her fashionable façade and is determined to help her.

 To read extracts, view the book covers and the book trailers please visit:

 www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

 

Writing My New Historical Novel

fter my last novel, Monday's Child, which will be published in Spring, 2016, took me fourteen months to write I decided I need to write faster. I set myself the task of finishing a 75, word novel in 75 days or less, and to enter a young adult fiction competition as well as a short story competition. I've entered the competitions but fallen short of my target to finish Tuesday's Child yesterday. However, the good news is that I've written 65,000 words without stopping to edit, revise and check my research.

In order to reach my goals I stopped posting on social media. I've missed chatting, reading posts and posting messages but it's been worthwhile.

I know that many authors write a couple of thousand words or more a day but I don't have time to, so I'm pleased with my achievements.

Rosemary Morris

www.rosemaymorris.co.uk

The Body Shop

On my way to the London Chapter of The Romantic Novelist's Association's meeting I couldn't resist popping into The Body Shop. Seduced by various products I'm now way over-budget for the week, but it's worthwhile.

Switching On My Editor.

Over half way through writing Tuesday's Child I wanted to move the novel forward from one part to the next without going into unnecessary detail. I wrote half a chapter in which the heroine is looking at herself in a mirror and thinking about several recent events.Then I decided my readers would prefer reading about what happened when it occurred to being told about it through the heroine's thoughts. I had not intended to do any revision until I finished the novel in record time, but changed my mind and rewrote half of the chapter.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

First Draft of Tuesday's Child Sweet Regency Romance

I have found it difficult to write with my internal editor switched off. When writing my previous novels I edited, revised and researched each chapter before I wrote the next one.

 However, I am a historical novelist so some research has been necessary, but even taking that into account, I have written a thousand or more words every day. I hope to finish the first, 95,000word, draft of my stand-alone novel, Tuesday’s Child, (a follow on novel from Sunday’s Child and Monday’s Child) by the 15^th December.

 So far, I’m pleased with my objective to complete a novel more quickly than I did in the past but admit I still have to silence my internal editor.