Actually I’m already quite a way north, but these pictures were taken at Stowe Gardens on the way up. They’re writing related, because I’ve included some of The Muses, and Shakespeare – but mainly because I’m not just swanning around in the campervan. I’m going to do A LOT of writing, when we get where we’re going.
my glamorous writing life
Flower power
Yesterday I gave a talk to a local gardening club, about gardening as inspiration for my writing. Here’s me arriving with some of my props (picked from our garden).
There were 62 people present – the largest group I’ve ever addressed, and it’s been a long time since I did any kind of public speaking. I’m not sure exactly how long, but it was prior to the COVID lockdowns.
I was just a little nervous to start with, but everyone was very friendly and it was fine once I got going. It was lovely to meet some of the club members afterwards and I had some interesting questions, as well as a few compliments.
The people I spoke to might now be wondering if they’ll end up in a story. Yes – they probably will!
Helping with enquiries
A few days ago I got up early, had a few cups of tea and wrote out a list of things I needed to know for book 3 in my Little Mallow cosy mystery series. Then a writer friend kindly drove me, and another of her friends, to Portsmouth where I had a coffee (I know! But we were in a coffee shop so it seemed the thing to do) as we were early for the crime festival in the university.
We had a very interesting and enjoyable day, listening to a variety of informative and entertaining lectures, persuading police officers to help us with our research enquiries, looking at displays – and yes, drinking tea.
At one of the forensic stands I accepted the offer of a souvenir keyring. That is one of my fingerprints (not the typing one).
Once back home I needed three cups of tea to see me through typing up all my notes! I have to do that fairly quickly as I can only read my handwriting whilst I can still remember what it’s supposed to say.
Now I’m all set to get back to writing the book.
Victory!
I’ll be on Radio Victory this morning – Bob Bruce’s Morning Call programme which runs from 10 to 12. I’ll be talking about my Little Mallow cosy mystery series and no doubt a whole lot of other stuff!
Here’s the link, in case you missed it and would like to listen. (Please excuse the excess of cake.)
Getting ready
This morning I’m drinking tea and studying book one in my cosy mystery series. The tea part is standard for me (there are two cups, because I always make two and if Gary isn’t awake yet, I drink both).
I’m looking at my book, because I have a radio interview about it later this morning, and hope to sound as though I know what I’m talking about! That’s harder than it sounds as I’ve not long finished editing book two, and as it’s the same location and many characters recur, it would be easy to get them mixed up.
After the interview, I’ll be home for a much needed cup of tea and breakfast, and will get back to work on book three.
See you there?
I’ll be at the book fair in Lee-on-the-Solent on 11th May. It’s free to come and take a look, so if you’re in the area please come and say hello.
Southsea Market
The Portsmouth Authors Collective will be selling books by local authors at the Love Southsea Market in Palmerston Road this Saturday – 6th April. Drop by to see us and browse through our books.
In Case You Wondered…
… how me holding some prickly chestnuts on top of a windy hill (as mentioned in my last post) could possibly be connected with writing, here’s a look at my next cunning plan.
An Uncomfortable Moment
This morning, for the good of my writing career, we went out to take a photo of me holding some chestnuts. This was uncomfortable for several reasons –
1) The cases are jolly prickly.
2) It took a while and –
a) I had to keep my arm out, so my shadow wasn’t in shot.
b) This happened at the top of a small hill where it was cold and windy.
3) No tea was available.
4) It’s a popular dog walking route and people noticed. In this case I didn’t think my usual get away with anything explanation of ‘I’m a writer’ would help.
Still, there’s just a chance that it will all be worth it…
Sunny September Saturday
Here’s what this writer’s life was like on the hottest day of the year.
6.30 Too hot to stay in bed, so I got up and made tea (it’s never too hot for tea). I’d hit a snag with the ending of book 2 in my cosy crime series, but woke with part of the answer and wanted to get it typed before I had to go out.
9.15 Breakfast eaten and more tea drunk, I picked up the box of books and things I’d packed the previous day. I’d done that before we realised Gary would have to stay in for a vital delivery and therefore couldn’t drop me off. The box didn’t seem that heavy when I left home…
10.00 – 2.00 Barbara (left) Mandy (centre) and I talked to people about writing (and the heat) and tried to interest them in joining Solent Writers’ Circle. I think we did pretty well. Several people took our leaflets either for themselves or others they thought would be interested. One of the other groups in attendance is interested in some of our members going along to talk to our, and in having me give a reading / talk.
The photo (thanks, Christine) gives away the fact we drank tea, but at least I hid the large wedges of home made cake (which Mandy actually resisted!)
2.30 – I didn’t have to carry my box back! (Thanks, Gary)
The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to cool down, drinking tea, a little more writing and research into the make of car my character Cameron would drive. Thanks to the many people who answered my query on Facebook. That was an interesting and fun exercise.
6 ish – A cup of tea and then a walk looking at cars. Thanks again to Gary who told me what I was looking at. I spotted a couple of Jaguar XFs actually in our road, which seem perfect. (I’m not as unobservant as that might suggest, I’m just not a car person.)
7 ish – Had dinner and switched to wine. Wondered how weird it would be to knock on the door of a person I don’t know and ask if I could sit in the driver’s seat of their car for a moment and then take a quick look at the boot to see if it’s big enough to hold a body.