The fun part -alberta’s check in

Very short report today.  We have guest for the long bank holiday and time for writing down to a minimum.  After glorious sunshine for the past week it, the weather has decided in true British fashion to rain (again) on the Queens Jubilee.  So the sight of 1,000 boats rowing, paddling, steaming and sailing down the River Thames will be viewed through wet old rain – well it was the same on her Coronation Day, so no surprise there, but it does seem a shame.  The dog is dried from a sog-making walk in the park.  Hot coffee has been consumed by all.  I dash this off before lunch is needed.

This week

In my life goals

I finished sanding and repainting the exterior woodwork on the house, as it was so hot this had to be done at silly o’clock! But it is done and just before the rain returned – Yay, one to strike off my list:)

Exercise goals

Well Alberta’s triathlon proceeds slowly. I can only manage 2 mins on bike before knees are so painful I need to cease, the dog walking seems to be stuck at 30 mins, has been for a few weeks now – annoying I can’t seem to move it on. The gardening/step machine – it has been gardening this last week, with bending and stretching for the painting, tug of war still, with perennial weeds in wild garden and sweeping and cleaning contributing all round workouts.  Now it’s raining again and will be from all reports for another week I will be transferring to the step machine.

The fun part

This last month I have been in the short story -1 a day in May challenge and although quite a few  I wrote would need a head transplant to make them workable I have now 31 new short stories:) so very pleased with that

June 1^st started writing the City’s Tale for JuNoWrMo challenge.  50,000 words in the month and so far have exceeded each day’s goals.  I have a mass of ideas but, with visitors here, I can only really carve out a couple of hours for myself so will try and write 2,500 a day and, maybe, sprint higher word counts at end of week, when they have gone.  Pleased with the shape the story is taking. It is the 4^th of the Sefuty Chronicles.

This month I want to

Keep up with JuNo and get the bulk of this Tale down.

Post more on blog sites.

Increase my networking efforts

Revamp trailer for Ellen’s Tale and begin Storyteller’s video.

I hope everyone is doing well and all the best for coming week.

All about sunshine:)

Well writing has not been on the agenda much this week – it has been all about the sunshine. After the start to the year, that UK has had, anyone with a garden would have had to put it first, or high on the agenda.  Even if one was a gardener who didn’t mind the cold winds and rain, there is little one can usefully do until everything dries a little.  I am not one of those, I am a fair weather gardener.  My garden, however, is very much a British garden.

 It’s all – ‘Come on chaps, are we going to let a little rain stop us? Cold? You youngsters don’t know what cold is, why my grandfather used to tell me tales of the 47 winter that would make your roots curl!’

 Huh – while I have been missing, it has romped away.

This is supposed to be a raspberry patch with strawberry underplanting! ‘Tis pretty tho’

So as part of Alberta’s triathlon, gardening has been playing an extreme role. It has been cardiovascular – arms above ahead (loping trees), muscle building – tug of war stuff (perennial roots) salsa like – as I have danced around trying to detangle myself from wild roses and certainly bending and stretching has figured, as I have sanded and repainted the woodwork on outside of garden room, and bedroom windows (south facing it’s an annual job) all before breakfast! – its only a step to the bike set up.

 Well, it took some doing but I can now cycle for a minute each day!  Had to go back to shop, get very basic instructions as to how these things worked.  Took a couple of hours, but then there was a snag, isn’t there always?  ‘Tis a big bike, with befits my frame, and back in the days when I rode it out on the roads, I would tilt it to one side to mount it – no longer is this possible – it does not tilt:) The idea is to increase mobility and strength into my arthritic knees –they do not move easily in any direction, let alone upwards and over:)

 So, with the aid of a concrete plinth from the garden and a wooden footstool on top of that, I clamber aboard.  To dismount, I have pulled the marble topped table close enough  so that I can lean on it, to slither down, carefully to the footstool then the plinth then the ground.  It takes longer to get on and off than I can actually manage to exercise!  But hey, Heath Robinson eat your heart out:)  2 of the A’s-tri.  The dog walk in the sunshine is almost a pleasure in contrast.

 So apart from grappling with nature what have I achieved this week

 1    I have prepared but not uplifted (yet) 6 blogs for my 4 blog sites.

2    Found some great pictures for new trailer for Storyteller

3    Begun working on the music of Storyteller trailer (am not sure I am on right track with these trailers- so if anyone can spare the time to see Ellen’s Tale and leave comment

4    Am completely ready to go for Juno next week

5    Have kept up with story a day, but has been an effort some days

6    Researched places to stay for research trip in September and almost ready to book

7   Dismal failure on networking, Facebook, Goodreads, LinkedIn etc sorry everyone (but did manage to visit 31 ROW’ers last Sunday/Monday before the week begun, and just about kept up with Triberr)

8   Continuing with reading TWJ – and have begun Game of Thrones (not into yet)

 Next week I must get well ahead on blogs before JuNo begins at end of week – ditto the networking.   JuNo complicated a bit as have guests staying over the Bank Holiday so might not be able to get ahead on word count – will see – if weather remains nice they will be off to the sea:)

Hope everyone has had a good week and all the best for coming one.

alberta’s triathlon!

Those of you ROW’ers who have followed my very halting progress to fitness, will have gathered I am not that enamoured with exercise per se – however in an attempt to kick this rapidly ageing carcass into shape, I have declared 2012, a year of really, really trying to shift the weight, strengthen the muscles and fit into an entire wardrobe of smaller sizes.  You will have probably realized also that I am basically lazy, enjoy the great indoors, grossly overweight and with a whole back story of accidents and ailments behind me, which serve to make the task even harder.

 I have a dog to walk now, so for the first time in years, I have to go out every day:( the ankles are improving and I have been at least 2 weeks without painkillers on these walks, so that’s a plus.  I reported last check in I had brought a contraption to turn my splendid, if redundant cycle, into a stationary bike.  Turns out the quick release lever didn’t actually have to be released (just as well I didn’t take a wrench to it then!) And please, can any one explain why instructions have to be so difficult – would novelists be able to explain better? Putting the contraption together has proved more energetic possibly than riding the damn thing!  However, it is up now and just needs the tyres pumped up.

 So, because on ROW 80 we can redefine our goals, I am now saying that I have invented my own triathlon!

 I’ll give you a couple of seconds to compose yourself…. Enough of the laughter now ….. Listen to me – a triathlon is a multi sport event which has three continuous ‘endurance’ events.  Note the word ‘endurance’.  What is a quick cycle to the post box at the end of the road for some, is an enormous, and at the moment impossible feat, for moi = endurance – will take weeks if not months to manage that.

 There are no fixed distances in triathlon, they vary depending on which type of athletes they are trying to attract – phew – variation rules in this sport – no fixed sports required either; although the usual is swimming, running , cycling it does not have to be and hasn’t always been.

 A triathlon is an individual affair, each is competing against the clock and the course for the best time, and on the whole it is used to improve and/or maintain fitness levels. Voila:)  ‘Tis made for me.

 My triathlon will be cycling, followed by walking, followed by either (depending on the weather) a good stint in the garden or on the step machine. They must be continuous I understand that, the only rule I am going to break is the wearing of my crash helmet whilst on the bike – as the machine is now in a fixed position I feel this health and safety aspect could be ignored. The length of time and distance I hope will grow longer over the next few months, but, being kind to my arthritic knees, I shall be putting in some pathetic times.

  I will not be shamed, I will stand proud and I will be as exhausted and the end of each day as those super fit triathlon competitors:)

 I have done no writing to report on, apart from three short stories, since Sunday because the sun is shining and I am desperately attempting to play catch up in the garden.  But everyone says writing is better, easier and more fruitful if the body and mind is healthy so this fitness stuff is part of my master plan to achieve a blue plaque on the door.  So wish me luck everyone, I will need all the cheering you can muster.

 Tomorrow morning I begin. Now I must go see if I can find the bicycle pump.

 All the best to every one.

It’s sunny-It’s sunny:) alberta’s happy

It’s sunny – it’s sunny – sorry to repeat myself but it’s sunny and that has been so rare for weeks and months.  The difference it makes to a simple soul such as I is a…maz…ing:)  I smile therefore I am, my mantra; trouble is, I don’t smile at grey skies, so what am I then?

1) I posted an appeal for opinions on the difference between love for friends, children, parents and partners, had one splendid answer but would still like to know your views. Have been struggling with a scene in Blue Moon where there is supposed to be an explanation of what love is – to chap who has never experienced it.

Help appreciated here please.

2) Anyway, not much of this past week has been mine to play in – my friend from forever/editor arrived for a week, and the only writing I managed to get done was a ‘story a day for May’, for the challenge – they are mostly long flash, but most with the potential to enlarge. Then there was a couple of longer 1500 words (I don’t consider them flash, (flash = 300 – or pos.500 at pinch).  I decided that for the ‘Write a short story a week for a year’ challenge I would concentrate on the longer pieces, try for one each week coming in at 2500 + – to that end I have produced 2 so far (rough draft).

3) Although only spent a couple of hours on the task this week, have been continuing, slowly, to edit what I have of Blue Moon.  Sketched in some extra scenes, and have gone back to basics and note sketched in some character depth + symbolism of events.  It’s shaping up quite nicely now, into the kind of book I always wanted it to be, all those decades ago.

4) Have also started planning a field trip to the location of much of Blue Moon – well a few days’ hols. really:)  I will be working honest.  The trip had to be put on hold because of the difficulties with my sisters training, but with fingers crossed and a lotta luck I should be able to sneak away in September. With friend from forever/editor coming up to care for my sister. So am having great fun working out exactly where I want to go.

5) Have decided on a cover for Purple Turtles Vol 1 – friend from forever/editor is going to see if she can get the necessary photos for me.

6) All notes on structure, incidents, characters time line etc ready and waiting for JuNoWrMo

7) Have finally, after a discussion with young friend of mine, worked out the structure of my creation myth for NaNoWrMo in November and I get to keep the three strands I always wanted to use:) talking it over with her on our hour long journey back from choir helped , and a suggestion of hers slotted in so neatly – singing seems to fizz up a brain in a wonderful way.

*This coming week hope to get more writing done, including some blogs, a book reviews.

*Try to get to end of this round of editing on Blue Moons clear the decks before June.

*And I need to spend a good amount of time catching up on network sites. Not done so well this past week.

Hope everyone has a good week and all the best for the coming one:)

Ripper, my love by Glynis Smy: Red Carpet Day

Glynis Smy was one of the first to make me feel at home up here in cyberspace.  A generous writer and friend, and I am very pleased to entertain her on this, her debut novel  launch.

RED CARPET DAY

I welcome poet/author

Glynis Smy

Today writer/poet, Glynis Smy adds author/novelist to her name. Her debut novel; Ripper, My Love, is launched in ebook format and paperback. The genre for this love story falls into the one of Historical Romance Suspense.

 

 

Growing up in late nineteenth century East London, Kitty Harper’s life is filled with danger and death – from her mother, her beloved neighbour and the working women of the streets.

With her ever-watchful father and living surrogate family though, Kitty feels protected from harm. In fact, she feels so safe that while Whitechapel cowers under the cloud of a fearsome murderer, she strikes out on her own, moving into new premises to accommodate her sewing business.

But danger is closer than she thinks. In truth, it has burrowed itself right into her heart in the form of a handsome yet troubled bachelor, threatening everything she holds dear. Will Kitty fall prey to lust – and death – herself, or can she find the strength inside to fight for her business, sanity and her future? And who is the man terrifying the streets of East London?

***

Review by author/poet/songwriter, Jessica Bell.

I began reading this book unaware that it had anything to do with Jack the Ripper and by the time I got to the chapter where he is mentioned I got quite a surprise! (Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler ). I don’t know much about Jack the Ripper so I had to look him up.

However, those who are familiar with Jack trivia, please don’t be put off–it’s not your average “boring retelling”, because it doesn’t stay true to the “facts”–it’ wasn’t written for that purpose. You see, it’s not really about Jack the Ripper at all. It’s a fictional account about the other people in his life. I won’t go into whom because it might spoil some things. But intriguing concept, yes?

The beginning might be a bit slow for some, (not for me, though, as I don’t read books just to get them finished), because it does a fine job of building character. But by around a third of the way through it really began to pick up pace. I read the last half of the book in half the time I read the first half. The world was believable. Some moments left me holding my breath. Some moments left me teary (especially toward the end), and for a person who doesn’t often read this genre, it was a smooth and enjoyable hit of “history”.

I highly recommend this. It’s history without being history. Gotta love that, yeah?

 ***

 

Who is Glynis Smy?

Glynis was born and raised in England, in the coastal town of Dovercourt, near the port of Harwich (where the captain of the Mayflower lived). After qualifying as a nurse, she married her school friend, and they produced three children.

During her rare quiet moments, she wrote poetry and articles for magazines. In 2005 she and her husband emigrated to Cyprus for a new life in the sun. It was here that Glynis lay down her cross stitch and started making writing friends on the Internet. With their support and encouragement she shared her poetry, and was successful in a few contests. She shared a short story with a friend, who wrote back telling her it was worthy of becoming a novel, and not to waste the premise upon a brief plot.

The story is the one being launched today. Glynis found her love of writing 19th Century, historical romances and her second novel, Maggie’s Child, will be published at the end of 2012.

Aside from writing and Cross stitch, Glynis enjoys creating greetings cards, and sells them to raise funds for a small hospice in Cyprus. One of her pleasures is to sit on the back porch with a glass of wine, and reflect upon her good life. She can often be heard chatting to new characters urging her forward.

Her desire to pay back those who had supported her is realised in a blog designed specifically to promote the books of others:

New Book Blogger     http://newbookblogger.blogspot.com/

You can find her personal writing blog at  www.glynissmy.com

Glynis finds the community spirit of writers on Facebook a valuable one.

Want to purchase a copy?  Launch day price for the Kindle is 99c/77p!

Amazon Kindle 

Amazon.com Paperback  

Amazon.co.UK Paperback & Kindle UK

The Book Depository UK (free delivery worldwide)

The Book Depository. Com

Barnes & Noble