Stories, Bones, birds and chat

I'm very happy to say that Cynic Magazine have accepted my short story, An Unholy Affair, for publication in August, hurrah! Always good to have something to look forward to over the summer is what I say. Meanwhile, the good people at Dreamspinner Press have emailed me the final edits to The Bones of Summer, so that's what I'll be working on over the next few days.

Anyway, here's this morning's meditation:

Meditation 130

It is not the gathering
that pierces you

but the letting go,
the rediscovery

of spaces
you had thought

were filled forever
when coin, flesh,

feather vanish
and only your voice remains,

unprotected, unsung.

For most of today, Lord H and I have been freewheeling across the country watching birds. Our first port of call was the Arundel Wetland Centre where we went warbler-mad. We managed to spot a willow warbler, a reed warbler and a sedge warbler - all three new birds for this year, hurrah! Plus there were dozens of baby ducklings, baby coots, baby moorhens and baby Canada geese, etc etc. So very pleasing indeed. Also pleasing was the marvellous slice of chocolate cake we had for lunch, which seemed to cure the headache I spent most of the morning nursing, thank the Lord. On the way home, we also had a quick spin round Pulborough Brooks where we added a another bird to the "New Birds This Year" List - a little egret - one of my favourites.

Back at the ranch, I've been involved in not one, not two, but three author marketing virtual events. First off, Rites of Romance Chatters have been hosting an Eternal Press authors' day, so I've been marketing Painting from Life at that.

Secondly, Love Romances Cafe has been hosting an event for writers of GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) fiction, so I've been talking about Painting from Life, A Dangerous Man and Maloney's Law there.

Thirdly and finally, Literary Nymphs Chat have started their three-day m/m (male/male) fiction event, so I've posted information on my work there too. Tomorrow, I think I'll do another posting, probably with a greater emphasis on sex and sensuality (hey, a great almost-title for another Austen novel there, I think!), as both are of course ideal for Sundays ...

Tonight, I'll be glued to Primeval, in between making sure all my literary balls (as it were) remain in the air for as long as possible. A writer's life is certainly never dull, eh!

Today's nice things:

1. An Unholy Affair being accepted for publication
2. Getting the final edits for The Bones of Summer
3. Poetry
4. Birds
5. Three virtual author events!
6. TV.

Anne Brooke - juggling for Britain
Cancer Research Race for Life - aiming to raise £300 before 6 June!