Sparkles, sunshine, orchids, Paddy and book news.

Life in Fife continues to be delightful.
Despite getting an infected insect bite, (all healed now) it's been a lovely month.

I've created a new sparkly canvas to add a pop of colour in my new kitchen

We continue to be blessed with a very mild winter and some sunshine!

My darling hubby, instead of buying a bouquet of flowers to say get well soon, bought me some orchids

and throughout, I had a very attentive nurse. If I called for OH, Paddy would run and fetch him, barking all the while. He's a little treasure!

I am continuing to write "The House in the Leaves", book three of my Leaves Series. The editor and I have been conversing and we're getting it right! I hope to have it published sometime this year.

If you haven't seen the first two, look HERE

 

Snowy Lomonds, stunning skies and new gateways!

Here we are in February, we've been so busy, I'd almost forgotten my blogs!
We had a little dusting of snow over the Lomond Hills, enough to look pretty, but not enough to cause problems.

We've also had some gorgeous skies - and I've even seen the Northern Lights since we moved. The stars here are phenomenal  - well, they are full stop - but what I mean is the visibility here is so much better than we ever had in Essex. I'm a lover of stargazing, so this makes our move even more magical.
I haven't any star skies to show you, but a sunset - oh yes...

We had a couple of storms, where there were some gale force winds and they knocked our old driveway fence apart. We decided we'd replace them with wrought iron. The blacksmith came over to give us a quote, stayed for a coffee and a chat and when he returned with the gates, not only had he produced the driveway gates and fence, he'd given us a pedestrian gate for free! He told us it was because we were genuine folk. How lovely to meet such wonderful people.

and in book news, I am still writing "The House in the Leaves" and hope to finish sometime this year. All in the Leaves and Leaves for Chloe are available online, should you wish to read the first two in the series.

Catch up again, soon!

A new adventure begins

Hello friends - it's so long since I posted and so much has been happening!
Hubby has resigned from the college he used to work for  - and we've been advised to start legal action against them. I'm not saying any more about that, apart from the fact that because he's free of them, we are free to follow a long cherished dream.

We are moving further into the country!
We'll be surrounded by green fields and good friends. It's so exciting!
Of course I'll be off line for a while whilst the technical bods do what they have to, with phone and wifi .. but as soon as I'm back, I'll share some pics.

There's one pic here, and it'll give you a taste of what we'll be enjoying.

I'm looking forward to exploring, plus getting back to grips with my third novel.
See you all soon.

My writing notebooks, essential company and two Giveaways!

Good morning to you!

Before I write a novel, the seeds of the idea are written in one of my notebooks. I have a few notebooks, the black is the one that has all the details the book I am currently writing, 'The House in the Leaves.'
When I spoke to a police officer and a member of the coroner's office, this was the notebook that came with me. It was fascinating to learn what happens when there's a case going through the coroner's court system.

Sometimes, writing is a lonely experience. After the research, you really are there by yourself, bringing the characters and story to life, through your keyboard.

It's good at time to have someone for company, who tells you, STOP! Step away from the keyboard.....

and come play with me!

Why is Paddy's company so essential? Because dogs need attention, they need to be walked or played with, they need to be fed. It is so easy to lose yourself in the world you are creating, that you forget to step away from the computer. That doesn't do you any favours, physically. So having a dog makes me move - he's good for my health. Plus he makes me smile, which has its own benefits, as I'm sure you know.

Now, we come to the giveaways, there are two currently running.
Both for a 'Leaves for Chloe' tote bag

Firstly, one at A Book and Tea here which also has a whole post dedicated to the art of tea leaf reading
and secondly here at 'Becca's Books'

Good luck if you enter!

Christmas wishes, reader enjoyment and the new beginning.

Good morning, my blogging friends.
We're in the final few days before Christmas and I've no doubt that you're all busy, but wanted to take the time to wish you all a wonderful Christmas.

This is where we'll be eating our Christmas lunch

yes, that's the dining room at my house!
Wherever you have your Christmas meal, I hope the atmosphere is filled with love and kindness.

I had a couple of people write to me about my latest book 'Leaves for Chloe' which adds to the feel good vibe at this time of year.
Indulge me, while I replicate them here.


I wanted to tell you, I just finished reading 'Chloe'.......couldn't put it down! Thoroughly satisfying read! Can't wait for the next one to find out how my new 'friends' are doing in their new venture! :D 

 It was fabulous Pat. You are sooooooooooooooo clever and can tell a good tale Roll on #3 

On sale now in Amazon and Kobo

And the new beginning?
I have started the third of the series. It will be called, 'The House in the Leaves.'
The cover will once again be made by the very talented Teresa Palomar Lois.

Hubby continues to improve and is settled back at work now.
I am finally beginning to relax about it all. I'm hoping 2015 will be a good year for us. I hope it's a good one for you too. 

Leaves for Chloe update, some beautiful wood - and Paddy!

Good morning friends!

'Leaves for Chloe' has gone to the publisher!
With a fair wind behind us, it should be out for sale before Christmas.

The moment it is, I will let you know.

Hubby has been busy, turning wood.
He made this recently, as a wedding present.

and darling Paddy has been learning some hands free massage techniques!

My latest paintings are over on my gallery site HERE

I hope that you have a good week - I'm off to write some more to the third novel  - 'The House in the Leaves.'

When I met a policeman... purely for research!

It has been a fascinating week on the research front.
You all know that 'All in the Leaves' is part of a series, it being the first book.
The second is 'Leaves for Chloe', with the third and final being 'The House in the Leaves'.
They can all be read independently, so no waiting for the third to actually reach a conclusion!

So, the research.... I was planning an accident in one of the books - so I had a lunch date with a policeman and a coroner's officer to find out what would happen if there were such an accident.

I now know more about accidents and Inquests than I ever knew before. From road tyre marking measurements, to taking of statements, how and when you need to be interviewed in the Police Station; to the fact that Coroner's Inquests are always opened and immediately adjourned. That allows for the release of the body for burial. The Inquest hearing may be another further six months to a year down the line, especially if there is a fatality, which would need a jury trial!

There were so many interesting factors involved, I can see me writing more books, that include all I learned from this most fascinating pair. Only I'll have to change genres. Which I wouldn't mind doing. A meaty murder mystery, perhaps, or maybe even a horror!

This is an interesting road I'm travelling!

Short Stories, a review and a Summer Break

I was so busy yesterday that I never got a chance to blog!
This is because I've been doing two very important things.

Firstly, I've been working with my reflexology people in advance of my summer break. I get to spend the month of August with my hubby, because he's on leave from college, where he works as a lecturer. We spend the time doing couple things and enjoying each other's company. Mostly the computer stays off.

Secondly, I've been putting together a book of short stories!
I'm hoping to have it out before my novel All in the Leaves gets published.
The title of the book of shorts is 'At Sanctuary's Gate.'
I've had a few people reading, editing and reviewing for me - and I thank them for their time.
Author Amanda Martin (Baby Blues and Wedding Shoes, Dragon Wraiths) read them for me and gave me her thoughts:
"Evocative imagery, unusual viewpoints and heart warming tales, At Sanctuary's Gate has it all. Each story packs a punch in a short space of time and leaves you thinking."

Here's the cover image for you to enjoy. 

I may get a chance to visit here and there, if not, see you in Sept!

PS: You can find Amanda's blog here 
and her Twitter account HERE

June Paintings and a shift in Focus.

We're in July - and normally I would publish a post showing you all of my June Paintings, in case you missed them on my painting blog.

In June, I took part in a Challenge to paint every day - and I produced a painting a day for the whole of June. If I post all thirty paintings, this post will go on forever! If you'd like to see the paintings, take a look at my other blog HERE
There are five posts with June paintings, one post each week.
The post a week taught me its a good schedule, so that will continue, there and here. Art on Monday, Life on Friday. 

Now that the Challenge is done, what's next for me?
Now my focus is more on my novel, All in the Leaves. Two days after finishing the June Challenge, I finished the first edit of the whole novel. The second edit is quarter of the way through. The third and final edit is one fifth completed. Second and third are not being done by me - all I have to do is rewrite any mistakes that are found.
For light relief, I am visiting your blogs and leaving comments. I need to be out there in the blog community again. Thanks for bearing with me.

Missy is doing well. She's fifteen and a half now, thoroughly enjoys her walks and meeting new people. She does sleep a fair bit too, but at her great age, she's entitled. Here's a recent pic of her for you to enjoy.

A professional book cover.

I am jumping with excitement!
I've seen a rough copy of my book cover. The illustrator is doing a wonderful job. I wanted to share it, but was advised to wait until the colour version is ready... and guess what, I actually listened to the advice!

Would you like to know a little more about the illustrator?
Her name is Teresa and she lives in Spain.
Not only does she illustrate, but she produces the most divine watercolours.
She has a website HERE and a blog HERE

I'm the proud owner of this painting of hers, which I absolutely adore.

Of course, that's nothing like my book cover, but you'll love it when you see it.

You might ask why aren't I doing the cover myself, given that I paint?
When I was writing the book, I became very engrossed in it. So much so that it was difficult for me to see it objectively. When I ran the different colour teacups past you all, it was the only image I could conceive of, but yet, there was a nagging doubt that it didn't do my book justice.

So I spoke to Teresa and asked for her help. She took a sample of the book, looked at the genre I was writing in and went away to think.
Then she came up with seventeen options, all drawn out. Seventeen! These we whittled down to three. The more we looked and discussed, the more one stood out from the others. From that line drawing, she developed the idea until it became a cover image to be proud of.

Yet, she doesn't want it shared, because the work is not yet complete. Colour has to be added and type too. Teresa knows, as I do really, that the choice of colours and typeface can make or break an excellent drawing.
The amount of work she's put in to this cover is nothing short of phenomenal, so in respect to her professionality, I'll hold off until you get to see the finished article.

Every blog I follow on writing says  "good book covers sell books."
That was another reason for going with a professional. The people who know me would buy my book whatever it was covered with. The people who don't know me will be entranced by this beautiful cover, I hope!
Not long now..  All in the Leaves will be out, definitely before Christmas, this year. Thanks to you all, for cheering me on.

My novel - an update

Good morning friends.

What's been happening here? While my painting self has been taking part in a painting-a-day challenge for June (see HERE) my writing self has also been busy editing my novel, All in the Leaves.

Firstly, I edit a chapter, then it passes over to hubby for a continuity check and then it goes to the proper editor who scours it for all anomalies and sends it back to me, marked up in colour, ready for me to change again.
Honestly, it does feel as if writing was the easy part and this is the perfectionist slog.

The exciting news was that I spoke to Matt at ebookpartnership, who was as helpful as can be - and he gave me a quote for getting my novel formatted as an e-book,  and distributing it to all major retailers.
All in the Leaves should be available to purchase before Christmas - as long as we three keep plugging away at the edit.

How do I fit all this in? Honestly, I've given up watching the tv!  I've read lots of articles from other writers, talking of the anti social element of writing. I can see how easy it would be to become aloof from friends. Writing and editing is so very time consuming. I hope when you all get to read my book that you think it was worth it. I hope I think it was worth it!

Have a great weekend, whatever you're doing.