A good deed - a happy experience and a support network.

Yesterday one of our neighbours moved out from our road.
They didn't want to leave, but the landlord had sold the house and given them notice. They had decided to self move and had hired a pantechnicon!
On the day, there were just two loading the van, so hubby and I went over to help.

In one of the coffee breaks we took, we were talking about what we might be doing if we weren't loading vans. I mentioned writing and painting - and then my neighbour announced he'd taken up writing for the last four weeks!
His friend who was helping, said he wrote too - and also created computer generated art. 

So we discussed grammar, punctuation, ideas, courses and websites!
We exchanged email addresses and will be sharing art and writing experiences.

So one good deed has led to an unexpected network of support, for all three of us.

If you had predicted that would happen on Sunday morning, I would have laughed. There we are, though, it actually happened. One of life's happy experiences.

There's always hope

It's been a long time since I've been here, mostly due to my hubby's illness.
There haven't been the hours in the day to do all that I would like to.
However, keeping my fingers tightly crossed so as not to jinx anything, it seems that hubs is well on the mend.

I haven't been writing much, but in the last week, that too has changed. It seems as if I can take my foot off the pedal for a bit and simply relax.
I've picked up 'Leaves for Chloe' again and the editing has begun. Thanks for all your patience with me - and I'm hoping that you'll get to read the further adventures, later this summer.

Why did I pick this flower to show you? One, it's in my garden - and two, in the darkest times, it reminds me, there's always hope.

Dreams can come true!

Good morning friends.



Yesterday I saw my book cover on the website of the Ebook Partnership.
If you'd like to see it click HERE and watch the scrolling pictures.
I was so excited to see it up there, this dream of publishing a novel is coming true!

I was going out yesterday to meet up with some writer friends, which I did, after viewing the website. We had a hot drink and some nibbles and we talked - and talked!

We've decided to form a little writer's club. We'll meet once a month at mine, until we get too big for my house!
More dreams coming true and much excitement. We even discussed if I should have a book launch party  - a real one and a virtual one. The virtual one they thought could consist of me sitting here, live comments and me answering you back. It seems like a lovely idea - what do you think?

Relax, refresh... and find equilibrium.

'How do you relax?' is a question I'm often asked. 'After all, you can't do reflexology on yourself!'
Actually, yes I can - and I do. I am reasonably flexible, so I can cross one leg over the other and reach my soles. Reflexology is brilliant for refreshing one's sole - and other parts too!

However, it's not the only way I relax. I paint in watercolour,  write fiction and also meditate. All three take me away from the stresses of this world, which yes, of course, I encounter. These practices help me deal with them.


Meditation teaches me to take a step back, to watch my own thoughts and realise that they are indeed just that, thoughts. Be they good or bad, they will pass -  and thoughts do not define the real me. By taking a step back, I do get to see the wood for the trees - and that helps me to plan a strategy for coping with life's little surprises. Finding a way through the wood, past the trees, if you will.

Is there a way through? You betcha!

Painting allows me to create a world of my own.  I like to paint things which attract me, they are usually things that make me smile, and some are filled with light.

Delicious! I can taste it all over again.

Crystal glass, so enchanting. Chocolate and fruit too. It's all good!

In my fiction, again I create a world. It has twists and turns and the odd 'misguided' character; but on the whole, my world faces the sun, being bathed in light.

My own created world.

However, in all these things that I love, you'll notice that there is no balance. Everything I love is sedentary. Back in May, I wrote about finding the balance. So now there is activity. I walk my dog, and now that she is older and not able to do the long walks, I speed walk a minimum of a mile a day. (That's fast walking to me, not the type where you throw your hips out and walk heel to toe.) It is surprising how well that clears the cobwebs from your mind, especially when you do not allow any one type of thought sway. I've stopped and seen some beauty in my surroundings while this was happening.

You walk, I'll snooze!

Just waiting for me to discover

These are my way of relaxing, refreshing and restoring my own equilibrium. They are not the only way. You'll find ones specific to you. I'd love to hear all about them! 


Time - or more correctly, lack of time - is the reason I hear for most people not doing similar. The accountant in me says audit your time. Write down what you want to do, where your time goes and see where you can find the time to relax and refresh. Most of all, find the balance. Otherwise you may find yourself visiting me in a professional capacity. Which is quite a journey, for some of you!
That brings me to my last point: laughter. Humour. It neutralises a lot of angst. Make use of that fact. Laugh frequently.

Laugh. Got it!

I am writing.

Good morning friends!

The summer weather seems to have disappeared and we are left with cooler temps, wind and rain.
Missy and I go for walks, talk to the neighbours and when we return, I am writing, while Missy has a snooze. She's never far from me, as you can see.

That's my netbook in the photo, upon which I write my stories. It's very portable, quite small, but just the right size for my dainty little hands!

In story news, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who's bought 'At Sanctuary's Gate (Seven Short Stories)'  I hope you all enjoyed it.

'All in the Leaves' my first novel is with the editor, soon to be passed on to the company who'll be sending it all around the world. We're still on track for a 31st October publish date.

My second novel 'Leaves for Chloe' is just over half way written!
When I've finished this blog post, I'll be dreaming up more adventures and tapping them into my trusty netbook.

I don't know if any of my readers are dyslexic, but if you are, I recently found a free font called Open Dyslexic. My dyslexic hubby downloaded it and he has found it so useful. It has made reading a pleasure for him - which is no bad thing!
Have a wonderful weekend, whatever you do.

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.

A garden project

After the steps were built, we had in mind a new garden project. We wanted to make a new flowerbed.
We've had a few days off, so decided to tackle the flowerbed while the weather was with us.

Here it is:

removing the top layer of grass

Digging out the concrete rubble which had been buried beneath

Our little visitor. Did you see him in the last photo? He was hunting for worms as we took a break.

Missy the Supervisor checks the quality of works

and here's the finished flowerbed.

and Missy, enjoying the sunshine now the work is done.

We have a couple more days off and will be enjoying those, at home.
I shall be writing some more to my second book, Leaves for Chloe.

Hope you've enjoyed the pics.

Reflexology, Painting, Writing.

I'm a reflexologist, a painter and a writer.

My good friend Lynne recognises all three in these word clouds she made for me.

Reflexology

Painting

Writing

Aren't they fabulous? Did you notice that the writing word cloud relates to my first novel 'All in the Leaves'?
Progress is good on the editing, the process is a quarter of the way through.
We are expecting an end of year debut. I'll tell you more as the time nears.
Have a great weekend.

Balance

For the last few days, I've been considering my lifestyle.
All of my favourite pastimes are sedentary ones. I sit to paint, to write, to tweet and to blog. Then I also sit to work!

It was the forced inaction resulting from the sprained ankle that caused me to think. Nothing like having something denied, to make you want to do that very thing.

I'm an internet lover, enjoying the time when I use it to write, research and have fun tweeting and blogging. It can take an inordinate amount of time, though.
So I need to find balance and plan some outdoor and exercise time into each day. Otherwise I might miss the sunshine - when we have it - the beauty of flowers and the meeting of neighbours for an unscheduled chat. I'd also miss the undoubted physical benefits my body derives from movement.

My first book, All in the Leaves, was written in less than four months. I've now realised that was far too quick. It meant I sacrificed other things to complete it.
Book Two will be written at a slower pace and I'll take time to enjoy the journey more, raising my head from the keyboard at regular intervals to enjoy the view.

How do you find balance in your life?
Are you still working on it?

Just...

In lots of places relating to writing, I've heard the best advice was to start writing book two whilst book one is being edited/proofread/polished.
So, I'm writing Book Two. There's something I've noticed creeping in - and that's the word 'just'.
Just as emphasis, as in 'just great'. Just as politeness, as in 'just help yourself'.
Just meaning simply, as in 'just another day at the office'. Just meaning recently, as in 'just seen the news'.

Far too many justs!

Writing has made me more aware of how I talk and think.
Sometimes we rely on one word, simply because it seems to fit.
When I was a youngster at school, one English teacher banned the use of the word 'nice'. He thought it was a very nondescript word and that to carry on using it was an act of laziness on our parts, when the English language was full of very descriptive words. He exhorted us to read more widely and keep a dictionary handy. Which is something I've always done.
So how I fell into the 'just' trap, I have no idea.
As I write, I'm watching myself closely. Just in case!

Best laid plans

The best laid plans often go astray.
That's what's happened here since my last post. I've sustained an injury to my left foot, which needed a trip to the hospital, x-rays, crutches and some pain medication.
Luckily, the foot is not broken, but I have tears to ligaments and tendons. Its going to take a while to be right again.

Mentally, I'm not in a place to do much writing or painting!
Foot and ankle exercises, then sleeping seem to be all I want to do. I'm sure as time goes on that will change, but for the time being, forgive me if I'm quiet.

There is some good news to report, and that's with the darling Missy.
Our vets offered a free arthritis check so hubs took her along.
The vet was delighted with her, she's at an ideal weight, has the right number of short walks for optimum well being, has plenty of soft places to sleep for ease on her bones and is on a minimum level of arthritis medication. Missy showed him a few of her tricks in exchange for a piece of duck and everyone parted on good terms. We just have to keep on doing what we do and Missy will have a reasonably happy old age. That news cheered me no end. She deserves to have a happy life.

Fingers crossed I'll be back to blogging shortly. Until then, I'll enjoy coming to visit your blogs as and when I'm able.

Publishing for beginners - a few easy steps.

1. Write a book.
    This is the easy part. You may think I'm off my trolley, but I'm not. The hours spent slaving over getting the perfect plot, the perfect characters and a wonderful ending are just the beginning.

2. Google 'Getting a novel Published.'
    You thought you spent hours on your book? This is where you really spend hours as you find out the difference between agents, publishing houses and self publishing.

3. Decide to be traditionally published.
     So you Google traditional publishing. You spend hours finding out that agents are angels, spawn of the devil, benign beings looking for the best home for your novel or people who keep you on hold for months and months, as you wait for a reply. Depending on which links you clicked. Believing the truth is out there somewhere, you click a few more links. Goalposts move. A few more hours pass as you re-establish the goalposts. Its ok, you can write the time off as research when you finally do get published and sell enough to be paying tax. That goalpost also moves with every Budget.

4. Wonder what would it be like to self publish?
     Yes, you've guessed it, our friend Google comes into play once more. Spend many hours searching again. Find 'how to' posts that tell you its possible to do it all, if only you know how to format, how to market, how to edit,how to illustrate and design, how to upload, how to deal with different countries' tax laws. Find other articles which say we'll do all that for you, at a cost. Decide it might be nice to be in total control of your book's future.

5. Decide to self publish.
    If some people have done it all, it can't be that hard, can it? Google formatting your book, marketing, editing and uploading. For a little side interest, Google how many books an average self publisher can expect to sell on a first time book. Cry at the hideously low figure. To cheer yourself up, Google successful self publishers and the obscene amount of wealth they've accrued. Cry a little bit more. Buck yourself up and Google the need for editors and cover designers. Read that although you can do it all, you shouldn't! Because it will show - and you'll be sorry when your amateur efforts result in so few sales. Laugh maniacally.

6. Take some time out.
    Sit on a chair and rock. Think of anything but books. Don't even read your own one. Not yet! No, put it down, you fool! Realise you can't stop thinking about books. Breathe deeply so your head doesn't go 'splat' with all the information sloshing around inside it. Go out with a writing buddy, eat cake, make plans and be optimistic.

7. Rise of the Optimist.
    Decide that no matter what, you will try to get your book out there! Enough with Google, already. Buy a copy of Writers Yearbook to find an agent, or decide to go it alone, with outside help if your pocket can afford it. We'll DO this thing! 
After all, writing was the hardest part, wasn't it? 

 

Wax on, wax off!

When you first start writing a novel, the goal is to finish it and you many think that finishing is the longest slog, especially when the book is about 100,000 words.
But after the finishing comes the editing. The idea of editing is to polish up the novel so that its the best it can be.
Its also to correct any spelling and grammatical mistakes that have crept in. Which they do, when you are concentrating on the writing and getting the story down.
This is the longest slog for me. The novel is written, now its the polishing.
I feel like the Karate Kid, who has to learn his 'wax on, wax off' routine, until the car is as shiny as it can be. The good thing is, along with the Kid, I'll be learning a skill that stands me in good stead for the next novel.
Will there be a next? Of course! I've already started writing book two and am ten thousand words in!

Now, back to book one. I was playing around with some covers for it too, in case I decide to go the self publish route. At the moment, all options are still open. 

Here are some of the cover options. I would love for you to tell me which, if any, would make you want to pick the book up. Don't be frightened to say 'none' if that is the truthful answer. :)

Thanks in advance for your help!

Innovation and another book cover

On Saturday, I watched a reflexology webinar on my computer.

What's a webinar? A web based seminar.
Instead of me travelling to the other end of the country for a reflexology training day, I could sit in the comfort of my own home, watching it live and interacting through a dedicated 'chat' box.

This is a marvellous innovation. It saved me driving for a few hundred miles and stopping overnight in a hotel.
Which means I've polluted the atmosphere less because I didn't use my car.
I also get the benefit of standing up to stretch, rather than sitting all day. I get to use my bathroom without missing great chunks of the lecture.
I even get to have lunch with hubby!
Are there any downsides? Of course. If you are doing a practical, its always helpful to have the lecturer there on the spot to put your hands in the correct position. But, I've been in practice for 16 years, so I should be able to see and understand hand placements.

The webinar lasted from 10am to 5pm, including breaks, so I wasn't really at the computer much for the rest of the weekend.

I did manage just the one book cover, which I did for my writing chum.
We met up at a local theatre for a chat over how we're progressing with our writing.
Here's the cover I designed for her. I hope this one too feels like you'd want to pick it up!

Book Covers

Some days, all I feel like doing is 'playing.'

Hubs had sourced a new photo program called DigiKam so I set to, uploading my photos and designing book covers. It was great fun!

Here are a few - do you think I might have a future in design? :)
Or perhaps I ought to write the stories to match the covers.
Which do you prefer of the three? 

Website and writing

Most of you know me from my painting blog - but did you know I have a painting website?
It is a gallery site that shows all of my paintings.
I created it when we first moved into this house, some four years ago.
It has gallery sections for my dog paintings, my alphabet painting and my cowgirl paintings.
If you'd like to see it, the link is here


I also have a reflexology site.
Reflexology is my working life - and its this life which gives the time and ability to paint and to write.
If you'd like to see my reflexology site, its here

Yesterday I was reading some more of Mary Mackie's Creative Editing.
I want to finish the book and absorb the lessons before I start editing my novel.
However, its so difficult not to write, having got used to doing so daily - that a short story was on the cards. That has been completed and it will sit awhile in a drawer, before I look at it again and make any necessary changes.

Its a funny way of working, but apparently a good one, according to the writing tutor.  It makes you detach from the story and then see it clearly when you return to it.

Do you have any odd little rules for your work?
I'd love to hear them.

this painting 'Almost Home' you can find on my gallery site!

Forging ahead

Hubs and I are on holiday for a week, we've already been out, buying garden plants for me to make my little haven look as pretty as a picture.
We've bought a beautiful hellebore, a sweet smelling evergreen called sarcococca - or Christmas box. Some allium bulbs, a paeony and a bleeding heart.

hellebore

I also picked up a book in a second hand store called 'Creative Editing- spot what's wrong with your writing before your editor does'.

Its the most wonderful book -  a little gem. Its already had me looking at certain parts of my book and thinking - this must change! Which in a way is a blessing, because I heard yesterday that I didn't make the winning five to be mentored. Perhaps in this writing journey I am being helped in a different way.
I am half way through the editing book, once I reach the end, I will apply what I've learned to have the best, most polished novel I can have. Once that's done, I'll look at sending out to agents.

Plans for the rest of the week include a rendezvous with a writing friend from my first course, lunch with another friend, another day - and garden haven planting! Whatever you're up to this week, have a fab one! x

A little bit excited...

I'm a little excited..... my novel is finished!

Here on my desk is a completed novel - one hundred thousand words.

The writing of it has consumed me over the last few months, but every moment has been a pleasure and a revelation.

Creating a world populated with people who you've brought to life is a feeling like no other. I can see why people would write series, or sagas. Who would want to let go of these wonderful people, let them sail off to reader land, never to be seen again?

I'm so enamoured of the process, I've started on book two!

Book one will sit until after the selection of the Future Stars (see post below).
If I'm lucky enough to be chosen from the many entries, then I'm hoping the guidance received will help me edit and improve Book One.
If I'm not chosen, then I will look again at what needs to be done.

Until that moment, I'm enjoying the fact that I can see in front of me, twenty folders, each containing a chapter of my book.

It feels like quite an achievement.