Poisons, plants and poems

Book News:

I've just found out that The Delaneys and Me sold over 550 copies last quarter, which is frankly astonishing. I am ... um ... speechless. Or as near to speechless as I ever get. 550 copies, well gosh! I must turn my mind to writing a sequel, I see ... As I'm sure there's a lot more to tell about Liam.

I'm also pleased to say that The Executioner's Cane has now reached the 80,000 word marker, so is about 2/3rds through. Heck, I never thought I'd even think that, let alone write it ... yes this last book in the Gathandrian Trilogy is going to need serious editing when it's done, but it's good to think that one day there might actually be something there to fiddle around with, if you see what I mean.

And A Dangerous Man gained a very thoughtful 4-star review at Amazon US, which I was delighted with - lovely to think people are reading it indeed. Keeping to this topic, I've set up a Facebook page for A Dangerous Man so if you think you might like a novel about art, love and murder (or if you've already read and enjoyed the book), do feel free to drop in and join in the party. As it were. It's the first time I've set up a stand-alone page for a novel, so I don't know quite how it will all work out, but I'm hoping it will. I'm going to have some fun with it anyway!

Maintaining the themes of danger and darkness, I've reviewed Maryrose Wood's The Poison Diaries at Vulpes Libris - this is an utterly fabulous novel, and beautifully written, so do please pop across and have a read. You won't regret it.

Turning to poetic matters (as I do tend to do now and again ...), there's an interview about my poetry and other writing issues at Seventh Window News, and don't forget that my most recent poetry collection, Sunday Haiku, is still available. All this excitement must have proved inspirational as I've written two non-meditation poems this week - the first time in months. Gosh. Here they are:


Journey

I drive home
through evening’s rich carpet,
the tail lights of cars
leading me onward

when an old song on the radio
plunges me back
to the woman I once was,
simple trick of time
not looked for,

and all the years
between then and now
are swept away
as if they had almost never been
for that yearning, hopeful girl
I can’t remember.


Fact

Once one poem arrives,
you won’t have to wait long
for another,

like chocolate digestives,
Chinese food or visits
from your mother.


This week's meditation poems are:


Meditation 452
When the hills
are silent and bare

open your eyes
more fully to see

it is not emptiness
but hope which waits there.


Meditation 453
Remember the warm silkiness
of flesh on the tongue

when deceit’s darkness
cuts out your sun.


Meditation 454
Between the questions,
the fear and the evident
lack of trust

the freedom to listen
lies waiting still.



Life News:

I'm continuing to feel a little better, but must admit to being still rather shaky about everything. It's almost as if I don't know how I'm going to be, mood-wise, from one minute to the next which is quite disturbing really. Not sure what to do about it, to be honest, except continue taking the 2 doses of St John's Wort, with the odd addition of Rescue Remedy or Quiet Life pills (thank God for them ...), and of course wait for my next specialist appointment in a couple of weeks' time. Heck, if this is life without HRT, not sure I really want to get used to it, but we'll see ...

There's been zilch viewers for the flat, which is very disappointing, so yesterday we reduced the price by 20k to try to get some interest, so it's now on the market at £220,000. I'm hoping that might help, as it's quite disheartening seeing a fair number of houses around that actually we'd be happy with, but being unable to do a dang thing about it. The good news however is that the tricksy neighbour has said they will pay their share of the building insurance - such a relief though we have yet actually to see the cash of course. Not only that but a really good look at the lease for the flat indicates that if one party in our freehold doesn't sign the agreement for any new buyer for whatever reason, then the majority verdict carries the vote, so it looks like I was after all hyperventilating unnecessarily last week. Ah well, same old, same old, eh. Not that we want it to come to that, if we get a buyer, as I'm hoping everyone will sign, but at least there's a light at the end of the proverbial which may possibly not be an oncoming train.

Anyway, tonight I am throwing all troubles to the autumnal wind and going up to London for an evening of chat and cheeriness with Jane W. I'm hoping there won't be any leaves on the line ...

Anne Brooke