London here we come!

We’re getting really excited now – tomorrow even before the crack of dawn we’re going to set off for a long weekend in London!

Not allowing the early start to dampen our spirits, we’ve got plans for tomorrow already – we’re off to the Tower. No, not as political prisoners but rather following their footsteps. Can’t wait to get a sense of the energies there. So many important heads rolled there, there’s bound to be something to feel.

On Friday we’re lunching with a couple of luvvly mad women, Cora & Lainey, before we meet up with our best Welsh friends, Ryan & Chloe. We’ll have 48 hours to run riot together. Well, we’ll behave when we visit the British museum. Promise! But a couple of nights out will be great, catching up on gossip and having a giggle. Can’t wait!

Playing tourist in London will be expensive but hell, we haven’t had a city break since April. Apart from the Tower, we want to see Westminster, Temple and St Pauls. Some markets and shops (Harrods, anyone?) are also on the list. There won’t be enough time in the day methinks.

By the way, earlier today I entered into a competition for unpubbed writers on Lori Brighton’s blog. Fortunately, as I finished the first draft of Highland Arms last week, I qualified. Fingers crossed I’ll make it to the next 20 to send in their first page!

Right, best get started on that ironing and packing… hasta la vista, baby!

NaNo is drawing near…

… and I’m still not nearer to a plot. ~sigh~  Maybe I just can’t plot contemporary stories. When writing, my mind’s always in the past. So trying to come up with a modern background throws me a little.

I’ve picked the location, Ullapool in the north-western Highlands. However, even out there mobile phone access is possible. So it’s tricky to get someone to escape from the rut. Phone, tv & radio can always catch up with you. Not sure I like it. I find it easier to plot in the past, where these things weren’t available.

I’m thinking of a young woman who had taken on a new ID to shake off bad people in the past (not sure what types, though). One day, a week after her arrival, she meets a hillwalker during a hike along the shore. He’s hired a cottage for a few weeks’ holidays. But although she’s drawn to him, his unhealthy interest in her stirs up fears. She’s not sure if she can trust him.

Not quite sure about this but might give it a go unless I’ll come up with something more gripping. I’m sure the ‘runaway victim’ theme has been done to extremes.

Hmmm…

Done & dusted! Novel finished!

Yayyy, I just finished my first novel!

There’s a feeling of pride, relief, and also of sadness. It’s the end of my sharing Rory’s and Catriona’s life. They’re on their own now! I wonder what they’re up to…

Next comes the lovely job of editing. Yayyy, love editing. Well, I actually love it too much, methinks. I’m going to polish the first three chapters, and write a synopsis. Then it’s going on its journey to a publisher. Fingers & toes crossed, please!

NEXT!

Bright and early

Yes, that’s me today. Well, perhaps…

Early is true – I was up at 6.30am! Can’t say I was awake then, though. Still not quite there despite driving hubby to the train station to go visit his sick mum. I hope she’ll be fine and out of hospital soon again. He’ll be gone for two days and I intend to make the most of my time.

I’ve to catch up on some critiques (sorry, girls, for running behind!), then get down to some serious writing as I get close to the ending. I hope to get the tension right. Having a good ending to a novel is so important. I’ve read a few bad ones and a poor ending can ruin the whole reading experience. It shouldn’t be too drawn out, nor too short. A resolution on the last two pages after 60,000 words is just not enough. I really hope I get the balance right. My crit girls will keep me on my toes, methinks!

There’s a small job I’ve got to do when I’ll have a break – rake up the leaves in the garden. Gosh, the last two weeks of winds and rain have brought loads of them down. All nicely into our small patch. GRR! Well, at least it’ll qualify as my exercise for the weekend…

Later, I think I’ll put in an hour’s reading. Current read is Beth Trissel’s Through the Fire. I’m just about halfway through it and it’s excellent. Beautiful visuals and strong characters. A pleasure to read!

Right, so off now to get another cuppa coffee. Then I’ll settle on the sofa, feet up, Macbook on lap and mobile next to me in case hubby tries to get in touch. Oh, the day is just going to whizz by.

A weekend alone…

Ah, I’ve just had a weekend all to myself. Literally!

I didn’t see a soul on Saturday or Sunday. Not even the postie! After the long day Friday (the extremely early start didn’t stop me from reading till 1am), Saturday started surprisingly early, too. At 9am!

I spent all Saturday reading, critiquing, reviewing and writing, edging another little bit closer towards completion. I watched some telly, sat out in the garden, reading for an hour, and returned to the Macbook. In between, I had a few drinks (juice or wine), some food (German Maultaschen mit Speck & Ei!). A perfect day, you would say. But something was missing. My hubby!

Ever the helpful friend, he’d volunteered to help a friend re-decorate her house. So off he went to the south of England, leaving me behind very early that Friday morning. So the first day of the weekend was really quiet. And it lasted quite long. Till 2am.

So Sunday began only near mid-day, when I finally woke up. It’s very quiet and rural where we live, so no noise was to be heard. Even Bob the Cat was snoozing in the garden, though Tiger deigned to arrive half an hour later, after my calls became more and more frantic! Cheeky minx!

The day was spent pretty much like Saturday. Apart from the F1 race of course. Before and after the race I continued reviewing and writing. Not a sunny day, there was no chance for me to venture outside. A brisk wind sent me closing the door quickly again after letting the boys out. But even they didn’t like it much. Some hot soup was just the right thing for dindins.

So tonight I’m waiting for the flight to arrive. An hour’s delay is a pain in the ar*e but hubby’ll be back home soon.

Best get ready to rush to the airport…