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Still on our travels

We’ve reached Scotland! Actually we’ve been here a while, but not as long as you’d expect considering when we left home – but then we did stop off at quite a few places in England and do a detour through Wales on the way.

Here I am not in any of those countries. I’m way up in the air on the Chirk aqueduct. Behind me is a sign saying welcome to England, and ahead is one saying welcome to Wales (and croseo i Gymru too, of course) but where I’m standing is neither. Are there other places in the world which aren’t technically in any country?

Btw, I’ve just sent out my latest newsletter, so if you’re subscribed you should have received that, with more of my travel photos, plus a chance to win a free ebook. If you’re not on the list and would like to be, you can sign up here.


	




			
				


			
				


	
	

		

			 patsy 		


		
I won a literary prize! (sort of)
	


	

		

I haven’t won a prize for my own writing (not lately anyway, although I have entered a few competitions so maybe I will). Instead I’ve won a selection of books by Margaret Holbrook, who ran a draw on her website.










When Margaret offered to post the books to me I explained we were on our travels in the mobile writing retreat / campervan. We realised I’d be passing fairly close to where Margaret lives. As that’s near RHS garden Bridgewater that seemed the ideal place to meet – they don’t just have plants, but also a coffee shop with cake.

I hope you’re impressed with how well we co-ordinate with the planting scheme. I can’t tell you why I look windswept and Margaret doesn’t. I can’t tell you about the books as I haven’t read them yet – I’m looking forward to doing that. I could tell you how many chocolates are left from the box which was also part of the prize, but I’m not going to!

	




			
				


	
	

		

			 patsy 		


		
Wednesday word of the week – Mellow
	


	

		


Something which is mellow is soft, rich and free from harshness, particularly where our senses are involved. If we’re mellow, we’re either softened by age and experience – or by alcohol! (A nice mellow shiraz, perhaps?)


When describing fruit it meand soft, sweet and juicy. Mellow soil is rich and loamy.


I took this picture of my and Gary’s shadows in the mellow evening light. (That’s not snow but chalk – the light breeze was mellow too.) I *may* have drunk some wine when we returned to the van after our walk.

	




			
				


	
	

		

			 patsy 		


		
Very friendly!
	


	

		


I currently have a story in both The People’s Friend Weekly magazine, and the special. In all the remains Louisa wants to do one last thing for her old friend and discovers the old lady had felt much the same way – although her nephew feels very differently.









Heart and Home is set in the fictional Moitlet Hall. Isn’t that illustration lovely? It’s even prettier than my own vision of the place! 
Did you spot that Moitlet Hall is almost an anagram of Little Mallow?






	




			
				


	
	

		

			 patsy 		


		
Wednesday word of the week – Tumultuousness
	


	

		
Tumultuousness is a long word, so I’ll build up to it …


A tumult is an uproar or noise, an angry demonstration or disturbance or a conflict of emotions in the mind.


Tumultuous is disorderly, noisily agitated or making a tumult. If you’re being those things, you’ll be acting tumultuously and demonstrating tumultuousness.


Waterfalls are a tumultuous torrent of water.



Can you imagine the tumult of emotions the pixies experienced when Gary knocked on their door? He only tapped gently, but to them it probably sounded like a tumultuous racket.





	




			
				


			
				


	
	

		

			 patsy 		


		
Wednesday word of the week – Concretize
	


	

		
Concretize means to make something concrete rather than abstract. Concrete in this case meaning ‘existing in material form’ not a mix of sand and cement.


Actually getting on and writing your story, as opposed to just day dreaming about seeing it in a bookshop, will concretize your brilliant idea into something you can submit for publication.


Concretize may also be spelled as concretise.


(This is an old photo of the booksigning for my first ever published book. It’s now available in a newer edition.)

	




			
				


	
	

		

			 patsy 		


		
Lee-on-the-Solent Literary festival
	


	

		

The first ever Lee-on-the-Solent literary festival is taking place this Saturday, 9th August. Here’s the programme of events – 



















There will be books to buy – quite a few authors (including me) will have stalls and of course the bookshop will be open. Please come along if you’ll be in the area. Entry is free and the sun is almost guaranteed to shine!

	




			
				


	
	

		

			 patsy 		


		
Special offer
	


	

		















Two of my cosy (cozy) crime novel ebooks are reduced to 99p (99c) for the next few days.

Disguised Murder and Community Spirit in Little Mallow is the first book in my Little Mallow cosy crime series. Each book is a complete story, but the character’s lives carry on one from another.





‘plenty of twists and turns … a clever plot that keeps you guessing until the end’ 5 stars
‘Patsy’s humour comes through in bursts throughout’ 5 stars
‘moves along at a good pace and was a joy to read.’ 5 stars
‘characters who you care about … as well as concocting a darn good mystery to solve’ 5 stars

Acting Like A Killer is a stand alone novel.
‘ lovely read, gentle but not afraid to confront some difficult areas, all wrapped up with a goodly dose of humour.’ 5 stars
‘felt like I was right there … I love the characters …They seem like real people that I’d love to read more about. 5 stars
‘a delightful read’ 5 stars

Both novels are set on the south coast of England. Both can also be read through kindle unlimited, bought as paperbacks, or requested from the library. The price reduction ends 8th August, when they’ll go back to £2.99 / $3.99.