Short stories and the movie mogul

Ye gods and little fishes, but I actually feel marginally better today. Bloody hell, eh. I discovered that some rather pricey castor oil which my natural health lady recommended for me a couple of years ago was still lurking in the cupboard, so in desperation I smeared it all over my throat and did a wonderful impression of a chip for the evening. Bizarrely, and Lord alone knows how it works, but it actually did clear the breathing passages in a non scary way. I still only got two hours' sleep, but I didn't spend the rest of the night snorting like a dying horse or vomiting. Well not as much anyway. Hurrah!

This morning, I managed to grab a doctor's appointment at as near to first thing as makes no difference, so I made my way there, courtesy of Lord H, clutching the essential sick bags, just in case. Really, I'm a style icon, you know. One day, all the top models will be carrying sick bags. Though perhaps, with their lifestyles, they already do. Sadly though, after a good chat with the doctor, we decided that I was probably already doing everything I should be doing and there wasn't anything else they could do anyway. Interestingly, the doctor thought that my problems this week might have been caused by having the viral infection alongside the catarrh infection (rather than one at a time, as usual), and both of them were therefore feeding off each other and sending my body into virtual shut-down mode - which might explain why it's gone on so long and been so utterly dreadful. I will either get better or ... um ... die. Ah the joys and strengths of the NHS indeed. This choice would have sent me into the deepest realms of despair if the castor oil hadn't been doing its thing. I think I'll attempt to choose the first of the options given to me therefore.

As the day has progressed, there have been further improvements and I've even eaten lunch (well, soup - a whole bowlful) and started doing some writing-related activities (of which more below). But I do want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who's been so lovely with emails, tips, advice and blog support over the last (rather horrific) week. It's helped such a lot. Thank you. I do still feel a bit dodgy though, so have cancelled Easter - well, Easter with Mother anyway. We'll be having a delayed Easter (much like the Orthodox churches, who always have it a few weeks after the rest of Christendom) over the first of the May bank holidays instead - I just hope the presents I've got her won't be out-of-date by then.

For the rest of the day, I have done fun stuff on the computer relating to my short stories. First off, I've rehashed my website short story pages so that now you get information on two of my upcoming stories, Painting from Life and The Voyage. Plus details about my longstanding comic short story, Not a Shred of Evidence, which is still available in Gatto Publishing's story collection. There are extracts from the beginning of all three tales on my site, so enjoy the reads. And the pictures are of course fabulous too (especially as one of them is by me indeed!).

I've also created a book trailer for Painting from Life, which I'm very pleased with. I won't upload it anywhere yet though - not till we're nearer the May publication date. Still, I'm happy with the results, it was a lot of fun and I am now the Movie Expert of Godalming. Well, of the flat at least.

Ooh, and Leslie from Bristlecone Pine Press has been running some competitions and, out of the winners, two people chose Pink Champagne and Apple Juice and one chose Thorn in the Flesh as their prizes - so whoever you are out there I hope you enjoy the reads. Honestly, hearing that news is like being picked first in the school netball - or hockey - or tennis - or anything else at all team (whereas I was always picked last in actual fact) ... Leslie has also kindly said she'll include these in my royalties, so thank you for that also!

Today's nice things:

1. Being slowly but resolutely (at last! at last!) on the mend. I hope ...
2. Working on my website
3. Creating a book trailer for Painting from Life
4. Lovely people choosing two of my books as prizes, well gosh.

Anne Brooke
Anne's website - telling the stories you want to hear ...