Have spent most of the day attempting to look normal and welcoming (God, but that's one hell of an effort, I can tell you) at the University's Open Day. Had an initial moment of terror when I turned up at 9am to discover our Student Care Services table was completely bereft of all literature and minus a pull-up stand with our name on it. It turned out that nobody had turned up as asked for to get our boxes of literature so the Student Advice team and I did it ourselves. That still didn't solve the problem of who the hell had stolen our name stand, so Student Advice and the Marketing Team spent the whole morning attempting to search for it. This meant that people wandering round had no idea who we were supposed to be and we kept having to tout our wares in the time-honoured fashion of shouting and gesticulating. The problem was finally solved by Les from Counselling who remembered that the Health Centre had taken the stand for one of their events, so he went and retrieved it himself. Gawd bless you, Les.
In the midst of all that, I had to vanish at about 11.45 in order to cover a lunchtime meeting for Ruth, as she's away. Unfortunately, due to various mix-ups, there was no room and ... um ... no lunch. This latter problem had occurred as apparently Catering had a note that the room was booked for zero people and therefore had done nothing about it. Which I suppose is fair enough. Though why you'd even want to book a room for no people is anyone's guess. So, spurred on by the vision of desperate support staff chewing their own arms, I did a sandwich raid on the nearest campus cafe and the lovely Catering woman rushed off to make coffee & tea. Sometimes, you know, it's all done by smoke and mirrors here on the educational coalface. I don't think anyone noticed the join.
At 2pm, when I'd minuted everything I was going to minute, I rushed back to the Open Day, which was thankfully somewhat calmer by then. We do always get huge influxes of people between 9.30 and 11.30 and then it begins to ease off as the talks and tours kick in. Mind you, it was a relief to escape back to the office at 3.30pm and I definitely think I've had my conversations/people interaction quota for at least the next month.
Not that there's a great deal we can do in the office, as the email has been down since Monday afternoon and is only just starting to come back. Still not come back for me though. Sigh. That said, there is something old world and charming about not having to respond quickly to anything - without email, we have to go back to the old method of direct contact with our colleagues in slow-time, and it's actually rather pleasant. Hey ho. I did get some of the minutes typed up, which is something and at least means I can avoid till next week the utter hell of having to face the Open Day notes. Arrrgghhh!!
Tonight I'll try and write some more of Hallsfoot's Battle - I think I'm due a scene or two with Ralph, as he re-meets the mind-executioner again. That'll put the cat amongst the proverbials.
And I've just finished Antonia Fraser's marvellous biography, "Cromwell, our Chief of Men". It's taken me an age to read it but I love it. It's fabulous, though you do have to concentrate, as she packs a lot into 800 pages. But I love Cromwell and really can't get enough, so I may have to buy another biography of the great man sometime soon. Anyway, it's thoroughly recommended, but you'll need to be alert!
Today's nice things:
1. Getting to the end of the Open Day
2. Writing
3. Cromwell.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
ANNE BROOKE BOOKS: Independent writer of modern fiction
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Thorn review and Away Day survival
A lovely review of Thorn in the Flesh from Vicki Tyley who was kind enough to say the following:
“Quite simply, it was wonderful – intense, emotional and suspenseful, even dark, with a satisfying ending.”
Many thanks, Vicki - much appreciated! Your comments have seen me through today's team Away Day, which we spent at the Manor House Conference Centre in Godalming - so only a three minute drive, hurrah. I must admit a large part of the discussions were beyond me: if I hear the word "strategy" or "framework" more than three times, my brain implodes - purely as a safety mechanism. Indeed I think I may have entered some kind of coma a couple of times during the morning, but it may have been the heat. Which wasn't helping. Only the fact that I was taking basic minutes kept me alert. I even got quite tearful during the late morning individual exercise when I sat in the garden, stared out at the woods and longed to be at home. Sigh. Nice food though - and the peanut butter icecream at lunch was fabulous.
However, thank the Lord, the afternoon was better - the paired discussions were great. I got Ruth G from the Chaplaincy who was, like me, the only one not at managerial level on the Away Day so we did a hell of a lot of giggling. We decided that as the Chaplaincy is apparently invisible to the Powers That Be (heck we even had to beg for them to allow the Chaplaincy flat to be cleaned and have its own loo roll when Ruth first arrived!...) and I don't know what I'm supposed to be for, then manager status may be some way from us. Thank goodness. I couldn't bear to be a manager again - once in that horrific role (a long, long time ago) was more than enough, believe me. I'm better off as a lone voice in my own special bubble. Bubble workers of the world, unite! Your company (doesn't) need you.
Mind you, we managed to get a really good discussion going in the last twenty minutes or so, when everyone suddenly woke up and started emoting. Isn't it always the way? I left on a high note. Sadly though, I have 10 pages of generic stuff to write up, plus a zillion flipchart sheets to try and collate, so I suspect the usual gloom will be descending pretty soon. If I ruled the world, I would make flipcharts illegal - they are the Work of the Devil, you know. Much like treasury tags and clipboards. Be warned ...
Tonight, I'm hoping to do a little more to Hallsfoot's Battle - which must surely be in the running for the Slowest Novel Ever to be Written awards. Good to know I'm in a class of my own for something.
Today's nice things:
1. The Thorn review
2. Nice conference food
3. Giggling with Ruth
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
“Quite simply, it was wonderful – intense, emotional and suspenseful, even dark, with a satisfying ending.”
Many thanks, Vicki - much appreciated! Your comments have seen me through today's team Away Day, which we spent at the Manor House Conference Centre in Godalming - so only a three minute drive, hurrah. I must admit a large part of the discussions were beyond me: if I hear the word "strategy" or "framework" more than three times, my brain implodes - purely as a safety mechanism. Indeed I think I may have entered some kind of coma a couple of times during the morning, but it may have been the heat. Which wasn't helping. Only the fact that I was taking basic minutes kept me alert. I even got quite tearful during the late morning individual exercise when I sat in the garden, stared out at the woods and longed to be at home. Sigh. Nice food though - and the peanut butter icecream at lunch was fabulous.
However, thank the Lord, the afternoon was better - the paired discussions were great. I got Ruth G from the Chaplaincy who was, like me, the only one not at managerial level on the Away Day so we did a hell of a lot of giggling. We decided that as the Chaplaincy is apparently invisible to the Powers That Be (heck we even had to beg for them to allow the Chaplaincy flat to be cleaned and have its own loo roll when Ruth first arrived!...) and I don't know what I'm supposed to be for, then manager status may be some way from us. Thank goodness. I couldn't bear to be a manager again - once in that horrific role (a long, long time ago) was more than enough, believe me. I'm better off as a lone voice in my own special bubble. Bubble workers of the world, unite! Your company (doesn't) need you.
Mind you, we managed to get a really good discussion going in the last twenty minutes or so, when everyone suddenly woke up and started emoting. Isn't it always the way? I left on a high note. Sadly though, I have 10 pages of generic stuff to write up, plus a zillion flipchart sheets to try and collate, so I suspect the usual gloom will be descending pretty soon. If I ruled the world, I would make flipcharts illegal - they are the Work of the Devil, you know. Much like treasury tags and clipboards. Be warned ...
Tonight, I'm hoping to do a little more to Hallsfoot's Battle - which must surely be in the running for the Slowest Novel Ever to be Written awards. Good to know I'm in a class of my own for something.
Today's nice things:
1. The Thorn review
2. Nice conference food
3. Giggling with Ruth
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Monday, June 30, 2008
Printers, postcards and prickles
Well, gosh. Across the pond, Maloney's Law has now been sent to the printers so all I'm waiting for at this point is (a) publication and (b) to hold a copy in my hot little hand. Double gosh. Goodness me, how English my emotional response is. Inside however, I'm screaming and hanging out the bunting. I'm hoping that Maloney will sell more copies than my other books have but, most of all, I'm hoping readers will get something out of it. I know I certainly do, no matter how many times I read it through.
Back in the working world, I am still staring at the Personal Tutors' handbook and worrying about the concept of "mapping". I've produced something - in fact two somethings - but Lord only knows whether it's right or not. Still, my lunchtime reflexology session made everything seem right again - and I even fell asleep in the middle. It set me up for this evening's brief pop into see Gladys. Good to know I'm still her Most Hated Visitor, even though she does soften slightly at the sight of the birdseed I bring for her table. It strikes me that big publishers are very much like Gladys indeed - perhaps I should put birdseed in my next novel submission? It's a thought anyway.
Meanwhile, I'm reeling from the shock of reading tomorrow's Team Away Day agenda. I blanked out at the third word, which was "strategy" and by the time I got to "future development plans", I think I'd lost the will to live. I hope the day itself isn't going to be as dry as the agenda - thank God I ordered ice cream for lunch. I suspect we'll need all the refreshment we can get, and more so as apparently it's going to be a scorcher.
Oh and my postcard from Portugal finally arrived in the office - one month after I sent it. Must have gone by river bus then. My how everyone laughed. But not as much as they laughed at the sight of me attempting to store a particularly long package on the windowsill and getting the cactus attached to my forearm. Bugger. Thankfully Carol sped to the rescue with scissors and a ruler and beat the thing back. What a heroine. I was deeply moved, so moved in fact that I've resorted to verse:
Office Incident Number 101
Just when I think
everything is running smoothly
the cactus I've forgotten
bites my arm with elongated teeth
and won't let go.
It takes a pair of scissors,
one ruler and two friends
to dislodge the beast.
And they say I'm prickly.
Tonight, I think I'll do some more to Hallsfoot's Battle. I'm not entirely sure what the mind-cane is going to do to Talus (poor boy), but I'm sure I'll think of something.
And here's a late entry haiku, as I forgot it yesterday:
The hot blue dawn melts
amongst the night's slow blossom.
Autumn woods drift by.
Today's nice things:
1. Maloney going to the printer
2. Reflexology
3. Writing.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Back in the working world, I am still staring at the Personal Tutors' handbook and worrying about the concept of "mapping". I've produced something - in fact two somethings - but Lord only knows whether it's right or not. Still, my lunchtime reflexology session made everything seem right again - and I even fell asleep in the middle. It set me up for this evening's brief pop into see Gladys. Good to know I'm still her Most Hated Visitor, even though she does soften slightly at the sight of the birdseed I bring for her table. It strikes me that big publishers are very much like Gladys indeed - perhaps I should put birdseed in my next novel submission? It's a thought anyway.
Meanwhile, I'm reeling from the shock of reading tomorrow's Team Away Day agenda. I blanked out at the third word, which was "strategy" and by the time I got to "future development plans", I think I'd lost the will to live. I hope the day itself isn't going to be as dry as the agenda - thank God I ordered ice cream for lunch. I suspect we'll need all the refreshment we can get, and more so as apparently it's going to be a scorcher.
Oh and my postcard from Portugal finally arrived in the office - one month after I sent it. Must have gone by river bus then. My how everyone laughed. But not as much as they laughed at the sight of me attempting to store a particularly long package on the windowsill and getting the cactus attached to my forearm. Bugger. Thankfully Carol sped to the rescue with scissors and a ruler and beat the thing back. What a heroine. I was deeply moved, so moved in fact that I've resorted to verse:
Office Incident Number 101
Just when I think
everything is running smoothly
the cactus I've forgotten
bites my arm with elongated teeth
and won't let go.
It takes a pair of scissors,
one ruler and two friends
to dislodge the beast.
And they say I'm prickly.
Tonight, I think I'll do some more to Hallsfoot's Battle. I'm not entirely sure what the mind-cane is going to do to Talus (poor boy), but I'm sure I'll think of something.
And here's a late entry haiku, as I forgot it yesterday:
The hot blue dawn melts
amongst the night's slow blossom.
Autumn woods drift by.
Today's nice things:
1. Maloney going to the printer
2. Reflexology
3. Writing.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Websites and yet more Maloney
I had great plans today to go into Godalming to wander around the French market and pop into Waterstone's with my book vouchers - but in the end, I really felt too exhausted to bother. Time of the month, you know, dammit.
Still, at least it's meant I've updated my website with the pleasing news that The Bones of Summer was shortlisted in the Writers' Conference Novel competition. Hurrah! Which is lovely but strange - The Gifting was shortlisted last year (and Donna from Piatkus Press, who judged the competition, also asked to see the start of that one - but so far the agent hasn't yet sent it to her ...) and now it's Bones' turn. And that in the face of the fact that Piatkus publish neither fantasy nor gay crime. Most odd. Still, nice to know I'm reaching a readership that ... um ... doesn't really want me. Heck, in publisher terms, I should be used to that though!
I've also updated the Goldenford site with the latest news items, so do pop in and have a read. You can also admire the wonderful photographs in the News section, as well as the new cover art for the upcoming Luther's Ambassadors. My, we do some shit-hot covers here in the Goldenford world, you know. The contents are pretty hot too.
And I have the latest edit of Maloney's Law to do - that is, the final final edit after my final changes have been added in. It all looks wonderful so far, except that on the Acknowledgements page, I see I can't even spell Guildford. Sigh! So far it's the only thing on my final final edit list though, so here's hoping it stays that way. After that's done, Paul and his story will be off to the printers and all I'm waiting for then is actual publication. Hurrah! Honestly, I can't quite credit it's happening - this stage of the game never actually seems real, though I know that when I'm actually holding a copy of the novel I'll be as emotional as ever. I do think that Maloney is turning out to be my favourite child so far. I care about him most of all.
Oh, and last night's opera was great fun, but not the tour de force I was hoping for, I must say. Not enough sexual tension or pizzazz, to my mind. Which surprised me. So, perfectly enjoyable, but not an opera I'll be rushing to see again, I think. Thank goodness for Dr Who though - which was the best I've ever seen. And included Ianto Jones - what more can you want? But ah (spoiler alert!!!!) - who will be the next doctor now???
Today's nice things:
1. The Bones shortlisting
2. Getting the websites updated
3. The final final Maloney edit.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Still, at least it's meant I've updated my website with the pleasing news that The Bones of Summer was shortlisted in the Writers' Conference Novel competition. Hurrah! Which is lovely but strange - The Gifting was shortlisted last year (and Donna from Piatkus Press, who judged the competition, also asked to see the start of that one - but so far the agent hasn't yet sent it to her ...) and now it's Bones' turn. And that in the face of the fact that Piatkus publish neither fantasy nor gay crime. Most odd. Still, nice to know I'm reaching a readership that ... um ... doesn't really want me. Heck, in publisher terms, I should be used to that though!
I've also updated the Goldenford site with the latest news items, so do pop in and have a read. You can also admire the wonderful photographs in the News section, as well as the new cover art for the upcoming Luther's Ambassadors. My, we do some shit-hot covers here in the Goldenford world, you know. The contents are pretty hot too.
And I have the latest edit of Maloney's Law to do - that is, the final final edit after my final changes have been added in. It all looks wonderful so far, except that on the Acknowledgements page, I see I can't even spell Guildford. Sigh! So far it's the only thing on my final final edit list though, so here's hoping it stays that way. After that's done, Paul and his story will be off to the printers and all I'm waiting for then is actual publication. Hurrah! Honestly, I can't quite credit it's happening - this stage of the game never actually seems real, though I know that when I'm actually holding a copy of the novel I'll be as emotional as ever. I do think that Maloney is turning out to be my favourite child so far. I care about him most of all.
Oh, and last night's opera was great fun, but not the tour de force I was hoping for, I must say. Not enough sexual tension or pizzazz, to my mind. Which surprised me. So, perfectly enjoyable, but not an opera I'll be rushing to see again, I think. Thank goodness for Dr Who though - which was the best I've ever seen. And included Ianto Jones - what more can you want? But ah (spoiler alert!!!!) - who will be the next doctor now???
Today's nice things:
1. The Bones shortlisting
2. Getting the websites updated
3. The final final Maloney edit.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Maloney done and a musical coronation
Have finished the final edit of Maloney's Law this morning and sent it back to the lovely people at PD Publishing. I only found 5 mistakes, so that's fabulous. And, bloody hell, but certain passages especially later on in the novel still make me cry. And I wrote the bloody thing - not to mention having read it through about a dozen times in the last few months! I'm not sure I'll ever write anything as emotionally strong as that again. It packs a punch for sure. And probably, in essence, says a whole lot more about my family than I'd realised. In its fashion. Now there's something for the reader to chew on ...
Anyway, the very generous and talented Vicki Tyley - whom I met via the Authonomy Beta site - has made an eBook of Thorn in the Flesh for me. It looks good, Vicki - many thanks! I've sent it to the Golden Girls as a sample of what can be done and it's certainly a very interesting thought for the future. I just have to work out how to add in the cover art and publisher details etc. One for Lord H, I think!
This afternoon, we're off to Glyndebourne to see The Coronation of Poppea. I love Monteverdi and it's the first Glyndebourne of our summer season (my, how posh I'm sounding for an Essex Girl ...) so I'm so excited I might actually be sick. We're eating in the Mildmay Restaurant which is our favourite too. Bliss.
And there's a slight shock for Lord H waiting, which I'll have to break to him gently when he comes back with lunch soon - I've realised that when I have to send something from his mailbox it adds in the photo of his good self which the Mac took when we first had it. Whoops! I know he's going to hate that ... I feel that photo - lovely though it obviously is - is not going to be around for too much longer. Sadly. The dangers of new technology are rife, you know.
Today's nice things:
1. Finishing off Maloney and feeling happy with it
2. The eBook of Thorn
3. Glyndebourne.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, the very generous and talented Vicki Tyley - whom I met via the Authonomy Beta site - has made an eBook of Thorn in the Flesh for me. It looks good, Vicki - many thanks! I've sent it to the Golden Girls as a sample of what can be done and it's certainly a very interesting thought for the future. I just have to work out how to add in the cover art and publisher details etc. One for Lord H, I think!
This afternoon, we're off to Glyndebourne to see The Coronation of Poppea. I love Monteverdi and it's the first Glyndebourne of our summer season (my, how posh I'm sounding for an Essex Girl ...) so I'm so excited I might actually be sick. We're eating in the Mildmay Restaurant which is our favourite too. Bliss.
And there's a slight shock for Lord H waiting, which I'll have to break to him gently when he comes back with lunch soon - I've realised that when I have to send something from his mailbox it adds in the photo of his good self which the Mac took when we first had it. Whoops! I know he's going to hate that ... I feel that photo - lovely though it obviously is - is not going to be around for too much longer. Sadly. The dangers of new technology are rife, you know.
Today's nice things:
1. Finishing off Maloney and feeling happy with it
2. The eBook of Thorn
3. Glyndebourne.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Friday, June 27, 2008
A lovely day at the fair and the final Maloney
Irene, Jennifer and I have spent most of the day selling Goldenford books at the Annual Writers' Conference today. And what a good time we've had! So far it's proving to be the best Writers' Conference ever, in terms of conversations held with people and even books sold. Well gosh! Amongst the rather respectable sales we've done, I even managed to sell two copies of Thorn in the Flesh and two copies of A Dangerous Man. Hurrah! That's pretty good going for me. I now only have 2 ADM first editions left so will be moving on soon to attempting to sell some of my 2nd edition stock. Double gosh. I almost feel like an author, you know. Hell, it can't last.
Interesting how the more you engage a browsing customer in conversation, then the less they're likely to buy. It's the knack of knowing when to withdraw verbally and leave them with buying space, I suppose. If you talk too long, it just becomes a (usually very interesting) conversation and you lose the roles of tradesperson/customer. Interesting also how people were particularly taken - as they often are these days - with Goldenford being an all-woman company. There's power in the Golden Girls indeed!
Anyway, we packed up for the day at about 6pm and I'm now home for the evening. Thank the Lord. I couldn't have borne the thought of a night out certainly. I'm aiming to concentrate on going through the final proof (gosh! final proofs - whatever next?) of Maloney's Law which turned up from PD Publishing last night. I'm now about to start Chapter 8. The excitement notch is definitely on the up here in the shires. I'm so looking forward to seeing Paul Maloney in print - he's one hell of a hot babe. In my opinion.
Today's nice things:
1. The Writers' Conference fair
2. Going through the final Maloney proofs
3. Selling books.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Interesting how the more you engage a browsing customer in conversation, then the less they're likely to buy. It's the knack of knowing when to withdraw verbally and leave them with buying space, I suppose. If you talk too long, it just becomes a (usually very interesting) conversation and you lose the roles of tradesperson/customer. Interesting also how people were particularly taken - as they often are these days - with Goldenford being an all-woman company. There's power in the Golden Girls indeed!
Anyway, we packed up for the day at about 6pm and I'm now home for the evening. Thank the Lord. I couldn't have borne the thought of a night out certainly. I'm aiming to concentrate on going through the final proof (gosh! final proofs - whatever next?) of Maloney's Law which turned up from PD Publishing last night. I'm now about to start Chapter 8. The excitement notch is definitely on the up here in the shires. I'm so looking forward to seeing Paul Maloney in print - he's one hell of a hot babe. In my opinion.
Today's nice things:
1. The Writers' Conference fair
2. Going through the final Maloney proofs
3. Selling books.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Don't ask for trouble ...
A day in. When I haven't gone out at all, and I've only had a couple of quick phone conversations just rearranging appointments. Bliss. And there's an evening in tonight, so even more bliss. What more could you want?
Really enjoyed seeing Jane W last night, though was rather amused by her parting comments that the day's writing I was planning for today wasn't really like a proper job or hard work or anything. Hey, I wish! In an emotional sense, I imagine it's much like saying to a mountain climber about to tackle a mountain they haven't yet climbed: hey, enjoy the climb, and as you do it for fun then it's no great effort, is it? Ah well.
Not that I've written that much of Hallsfoot's Battle today, but I can see a bit more of the path I'm heading on at the moment and the mists are holding off. I'm at c10,300 words and about to hit a scene of potential danger and excitement. Hurrah! So, I might take a breather to try to summon up the energy for it. Or ferret ahead a little more tonight. We'll see.
I've also finished Liz Young's Asking for Trouble. Oh dear. My advice is: don't. The film based on the novel - "Something Borrowed" - is way better than this feeble chick-lit effort. In the film, the characters were sparky, the humour was top-notch, the romance very moving and the themes surprisingly grown-up. In the book, the characters are dull and ploddy, the humour strained, the romance unbelievable and the themes very childish. It's a constant source of astonishment that such drivel gets published at all, and anyway I'm sure chick-lit used to be better than this. In the days when I read it. Or have I just moved beyond the age of appreciating chick-lit and I now want something darker and punchier for my palate? But that can't be right - whatever my current tastes, the book is still bad! I have a far higher opinion of my reader than Liz Young does for sure. Anyway, I suggest you skip the book and just watch the film - which is something I never thought I'd say.
Meanwhile, back in the vaguely commercial arena (ho ho), it's been over one month since The Gifting began winging its way around all those yummy UK & US fantasy publishers, and the response so far has been .... zilch. I suspect that my agent is either too embarrassed to send it anywhere at all and is simply pretending he has done something with it, or he's too embarrassed to show me the hugely cutting responses begging him never to mention my name again. I'd bet on the second one of these two options, if I were you. Ho hum.
And our flat numbers - plus the mystical arrow - are back on the signs. Gosh! Though the neighbour's son is obviously traumatised by my comments on his grammar and spacing skills as the numbers 1 & 2 are now so far apart as to be almost in another county entirely. I think next time I will simply smile benignly and not indulge in any conversation. Probably the best way.
Today's nice things:
1. Staying in and not really communicating
2. Writing and climbing a bit further up the almost impossible mountain
3. Bitching about published books which are bad, bad, bad!
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Really enjoyed seeing Jane W last night, though was rather amused by her parting comments that the day's writing I was planning for today wasn't really like a proper job or hard work or anything. Hey, I wish! In an emotional sense, I imagine it's much like saying to a mountain climber about to tackle a mountain they haven't yet climbed: hey, enjoy the climb, and as you do it for fun then it's no great effort, is it? Ah well.
Not that I've written that much of Hallsfoot's Battle today, but I can see a bit more of the path I'm heading on at the moment and the mists are holding off. I'm at c10,300 words and about to hit a scene of potential danger and excitement. Hurrah! So, I might take a breather to try to summon up the energy for it. Or ferret ahead a little more tonight. We'll see.
I've also finished Liz Young's Asking for Trouble. Oh dear. My advice is: don't. The film based on the novel - "Something Borrowed" - is way better than this feeble chick-lit effort. In the film, the characters were sparky, the humour was top-notch, the romance very moving and the themes surprisingly grown-up. In the book, the characters are dull and ploddy, the humour strained, the romance unbelievable and the themes very childish. It's a constant source of astonishment that such drivel gets published at all, and anyway I'm sure chick-lit used to be better than this. In the days when I read it. Or have I just moved beyond the age of appreciating chick-lit and I now want something darker and punchier for my palate? But that can't be right - whatever my current tastes, the book is still bad! I have a far higher opinion of my reader than Liz Young does for sure. Anyway, I suggest you skip the book and just watch the film - which is something I never thought I'd say.
Meanwhile, back in the vaguely commercial arena (ho ho), it's been over one month since The Gifting began winging its way around all those yummy UK & US fantasy publishers, and the response so far has been .... zilch. I suspect that my agent is either too embarrassed to send it anywhere at all and is simply pretending he has done something with it, or he's too embarrassed to show me the hugely cutting responses begging him never to mention my name again. I'd bet on the second one of these two options, if I were you. Ho hum.
And our flat numbers - plus the mystical arrow - are back on the signs. Gosh! Though the neighbour's son is obviously traumatised by my comments on his grammar and spacing skills as the numbers 1 & 2 are now so far apart as to be almost in another county entirely. I think next time I will simply smile benignly and not indulge in any conversation. Probably the best way.
Today's nice things:
1. Staying in and not really communicating
2. Writing and climbing a bit further up the almost impossible mountain
3. Bitching about published books which are bad, bad, bad!
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Mapping, coffee and the Big City
I have spent most of the day puzzling over what I’m supposed to be doing about the Personal Tutors’ Handbook – I suspect I am about to get into a managerial vortex from which there will be no escape. The boss has asked me to map out three different options for what the Handbook should look like. What??!? I have no real idea what that means, even though I smiled with enthusiasm when given the task (oh fool, fool!). And I suspect that, much like double-entry bookkeeping and the inner workings of the combustion engine, I never will have any idea what it means, no matter how much it’s explained to me. You see, I was off sick for the lesson in management-speak and I’ll never catch up now. Besides, there are some things that my head simply blanks out, possibly for the sake of its own intellectual survival. “Mapping” is, I feel, one of these. I also highly doubt that I’ll come up with three options – ye gods, I’ll be lucky to make a half-decent attempt at one. Sigh.
Still, onwards and upwards, as they say. Managed to sneak in a much-needed coffee with Sally from Advice at lunchtime – she was very close to Penny and it was good to talk about what’s happened, and the funeral arrangements and stuff. Also good to catch up with Sally of course.
And, worryingly, it appears that the new English Department at the University also want to have a chat with me concerning their plans for a Creative Writing course in their upcoming degree programme and how it relates to my informal University Writers’ Group. So that’s put the Fear of God in me; it feels as if I’m being summoned to the Headmistress’ (yes, I did go to a girls’ school – can you tell??) office in order to be told off for being a fraud and taking on things I shouldn’t when other people are far better qualified to run the Group. Yes, I know, I’m probably over-dramatising (surprise!), but heck you know me … They’re probably just going to be nice. That’ll take the wind out of my proverbials for sure.
Now for an update on Ruth’s radio plans for the campervan. Um, the radio doesn’t fit. Curses! Which just goes to show Halford’s don’t know what they’re talking about. As usual. The Ruth Clan are going to have to take it back to the shop for more advice and, in the meantime, carry on with the self-directed musicals … My recording option remains open.
Tonight, I’m off to London to see Jane W, so it’s certainly proving a highly social day. Heck, at least it’s with people I like! For some reason, I’m not even dreading the train journey there and back (which I usually do) – must be my age, ho ho. Perhaps I’ve gone beyond the Years Of Worry. As if …
Oh, and I’m feeling rather guilty as I bitched (in a jokey way, as women do …) to the neighbour’s daughter (a lovely woman I always have a laugh with) about her brother’s attempt at redoing the signs for the flats – partly because I was still feeling cross at his rudeness last week. And partly, to be fair, because I think they are rather strange. Actually she didn’t think they were very good either, so yesterday I came home and he’s painted over them all and – presumably – started again. At least, that’s what I imagine, as all we’re left with is a mystical arrow pointing upwards, with no text. Hmm, though perhaps that’s how he feels about us now. Or it could be that he’s decided to map us out of existence entirely. Ah well.
Today’s nice things:
1. Lunchtime coffee
2. A night out
3. Jokey bitching.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Still, onwards and upwards, as they say. Managed to sneak in a much-needed coffee with Sally from Advice at lunchtime – she was very close to Penny and it was good to talk about what’s happened, and the funeral arrangements and stuff. Also good to catch up with Sally of course.
And, worryingly, it appears that the new English Department at the University also want to have a chat with me concerning their plans for a Creative Writing course in their upcoming degree programme and how it relates to my informal University Writers’ Group. So that’s put the Fear of God in me; it feels as if I’m being summoned to the Headmistress’ (yes, I did go to a girls’ school – can you tell??) office in order to be told off for being a fraud and taking on things I shouldn’t when other people are far better qualified to run the Group. Yes, I know, I’m probably over-dramatising (surprise!), but heck you know me … They’re probably just going to be nice. That’ll take the wind out of my proverbials for sure.
Now for an update on Ruth’s radio plans for the campervan. Um, the radio doesn’t fit. Curses! Which just goes to show Halford’s don’t know what they’re talking about. As usual. The Ruth Clan are going to have to take it back to the shop for more advice and, in the meantime, carry on with the self-directed musicals … My recording option remains open.
Tonight, I’m off to London to see Jane W, so it’s certainly proving a highly social day. Heck, at least it’s with people I like! For some reason, I’m not even dreading the train journey there and back (which I usually do) – must be my age, ho ho. Perhaps I’ve gone beyond the Years Of Worry. As if …
Oh, and I’m feeling rather guilty as I bitched (in a jokey way, as women do …) to the neighbour’s daughter (a lovely woman I always have a laugh with) about her brother’s attempt at redoing the signs for the flats – partly because I was still feeling cross at his rudeness last week. And partly, to be fair, because I think they are rather strange. Actually she didn’t think they were very good either, so yesterday I came home and he’s painted over them all and – presumably – started again. At least, that’s what I imagine, as all we’re left with is a mystical arrow pointing upwards, with no text. Hmm, though perhaps that’s how he feels about us now. Or it could be that he’s decided to map us out of existence entirely. Ah well.
Today’s nice things:
1. Lunchtime coffee
2. A night out
3. Jokey bitching.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Nightmares, visits and books
Woke up hyperventilating like a hot pig way too early this morning, after a distinctly Dr Who-ish and rather terrifying nightmare. Lord H and I were in the desert which was full of large statues, some of which were in a museum also in the desert. I knew beyond any doubting that the large statue in front of the building was coming alive and intended to kill people. When it finally started walking, nobody would listen to my attempts to warn them - so Lord H and I went inside the museum where smaller statues were coming to life too. We attempted to find out if they were dangerous or not by communicating with them. But when they started to attack us, I tried to beat the thing to death, but it just wouldn't die. Thank the Lord I finally woke up! Haven't a clue what that all means, but hell it's been a difficult week and I do tend to have rather vivid dreams. Still, at least it meant I didn't have to wait for the alarm. There's always a positive side.
Back in the real world, I've spent most of today writing up yesterday’s minutes and sorting out the final versions of all the other minutes that seem to be outstanding at the moment. Plus worrying about the mysteries of the Personal Tutors’ Handbook updates – something which I feel is never going to please everyone, or possibly not anyone. It’s such a mysterious life, you know.
Took the University Writers’ Group at lunchtime – didn’t feel as jittery about it today as I usually do, probably due to the calming pills I took this morning. I never feel confident enough to chair this kind of group, but people do seem to keep coming to it. And we get some marvellous pieces of work, so it’s always an inspirational hour. At least for me.
And Ruth bought a radio for her campervan at last. Apparently she and Douglas have been making do by working their way through the musicals and have now come to the end of their combined repertoire. Thus raising the need for a radio. I suggested that it might be more fulfilling to record their own efforts and simply play them on loop, but Ruth has kept faith with the shop-bought option. Shame!
Tonight, I’m going to pop in to see Gladys for the five or ten minutes she can bear me – though it’s usually only two minutes before she starts shouting, sigh … I’m going to try a new approach this time – I thought I’d take some birdseed from home (which we never use anyway as we don’t have a garden) and fill up the bird-table outside her room. I know she likes looking at the birds when she can, so at least I can be doing something useful rather than just pissing her off. I'll keep the birdseed in the car and fill the table up whenever I visit, as the seed I took for her before seems to have vanished. Anyway, it’s a plan. UPDATE: It worked, sort of. She didn't start shouting at me until four minutes had gone by. I think I confused her by not saying hello initially and just doing the bird-table thing straight off. Sigh. Still, I suppose that's progress, but I have to admit I'm not really liking the hugely crotchety and difficult old lady she's suddenly turned into. Is it something nursing homes put in their tea? Perhaps it's a new Government directive? Hell, it wouldn't surprise me. In the meantime, the vicious, mean and downright nasty part of myself wonders why Gladys didn't die, and Penny live. Again, it's a mystery.
Once back at home, I might even try to add a few sentences to Hallsfoot’s Battle as I haven’t done any for so long – or that’s how it seems – and I’ve forgotten entirely what’s supposed to be happening or who anyone is. Still, that’s never stopped me before. Besides, there’s nothing on TV. Again.
I've just finished Dai Vaughan's Germs - a collection of 77 short stories which is well worth a read. They're all very short so if you don't like one, another will be along pretty damn soon. Hurrah! Some of them were utterly superb and some left me utterly confused, but there's something very human about them. And Story 53 - entitled "Manna" - was the second totally perfect short story I've ever read in my life. Bliss. The other, to my mind, is "Blackthorn Winter" which appears in Esme Ashford's On the Edge, a collection published by Goldenford. High-Five to us then!
Today’s nice things:
1. Having a day when nobody appears to have died, thank the Lord
2. Writers’ Group
3. Books.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Back in the real world, I've spent most of today writing up yesterday’s minutes and sorting out the final versions of all the other minutes that seem to be outstanding at the moment. Plus worrying about the mysteries of the Personal Tutors’ Handbook updates – something which I feel is never going to please everyone, or possibly not anyone. It’s such a mysterious life, you know.
Took the University Writers’ Group at lunchtime – didn’t feel as jittery about it today as I usually do, probably due to the calming pills I took this morning. I never feel confident enough to chair this kind of group, but people do seem to keep coming to it. And we get some marvellous pieces of work, so it’s always an inspirational hour. At least for me.
And Ruth bought a radio for her campervan at last. Apparently she and Douglas have been making do by working their way through the musicals and have now come to the end of their combined repertoire. Thus raising the need for a radio. I suggested that it might be more fulfilling to record their own efforts and simply play them on loop, but Ruth has kept faith with the shop-bought option. Shame!
Tonight, I’m going to pop in to see Gladys for the five or ten minutes she can bear me – though it’s usually only two minutes before she starts shouting, sigh … I’m going to try a new approach this time – I thought I’d take some birdseed from home (which we never use anyway as we don’t have a garden) and fill up the bird-table outside her room. I know she likes looking at the birds when she can, so at least I can be doing something useful rather than just pissing her off. I'll keep the birdseed in the car and fill the table up whenever I visit, as the seed I took for her before seems to have vanished. Anyway, it’s a plan. UPDATE: It worked, sort of. She didn't start shouting at me until four minutes had gone by. I think I confused her by not saying hello initially and just doing the bird-table thing straight off. Sigh. Still, I suppose that's progress, but I have to admit I'm not really liking the hugely crotchety and difficult old lady she's suddenly turned into. Is it something nursing homes put in their tea? Perhaps it's a new Government directive? Hell, it wouldn't surprise me. In the meantime, the vicious, mean and downright nasty part of myself wonders why Gladys didn't die, and Penny live. Again, it's a mystery.
Once back at home, I might even try to add a few sentences to Hallsfoot’s Battle as I haven’t done any for so long – or that’s how it seems – and I’ve forgotten entirely what’s supposed to be happening or who anyone is. Still, that’s never stopped me before. Besides, there’s nothing on TV. Again.
I've just finished Dai Vaughan's Germs - a collection of 77 short stories which is well worth a read. They're all very short so if you don't like one, another will be along pretty damn soon. Hurrah! Some of them were utterly superb and some left me utterly confused, but there's something very human about them. And Story 53 - entitled "Manna" - was the second totally perfect short story I've ever read in my life. Bliss. The other, to my mind, is "Blackthorn Winter" which appears in Esme Ashford's On the Edge, a collection published by Goldenford. High-Five to us then!
Today’s nice things:
1. Having a day when nobody appears to have died, thank the Lord
2. Writers’ Group
3. Books.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sad news
Got into work today and one of the first phone calls to Ruth was to tell us that Penny, my sick Guildford friend, had died on Saturday at 1pm. Not sure what to say really, but it seems so unfair that she only had one happy year of retirement before she got ill. I’m sorry too that I didn’t make the effort to visit her last week due to my own minor set-backs, which seem very petty now. Just goes to show it’s important to do stuff while you can. Sometimes there aren’t any second chances.
Anyway, most of all I’ll remember Penny’s wicked and downright gloriously dirty sense of humour, her glamour and her can-do, no-nonsense attitude. If I ever have even a quarter of any of that, I’d be proud.
So. Now we wait to see what the funeral arrangements will be. And, in the meantime, there’s the lunchtime Steering Group, which will include the DVD on the Chaplaincy’s Auschwitz trip (God, what a day …), and the shopping to do. Indeed, as they say, life goes on. But I’m glad of the distractions of it.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, most of all I’ll remember Penny’s wicked and downright gloriously dirty sense of humour, her glamour and her can-do, no-nonsense attitude. If I ever have even a quarter of any of that, I’d be proud.
So. Now we wait to see what the funeral arrangements will be. And, in the meantime, there’s the lunchtime Steering Group, which will include the DVD on the Chaplaincy’s Auschwitz trip (God, what a day …), and the shopping to do. Indeed, as they say, life goes on. But I’m glad of the distractions of it.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Flowered out and the great Web Queen
Had a fantastic birthday yesterday - Lord H and I spent the day in Wisley where the rain mostly held off. Highlights of the day included (a) the amazing Chinese dragons made out of begonias, (b) the glorious rose garden, (c) the wild garden, (d) seeing two frogs, (e) the very good lunch at the Terrace Restaurant, and (f) seeing loads of birds, including a mistle thrush (a first for us). I must admit to being totally flowered out by the time we left. Also had lots of Clarins, books and money as presents, so that's all certainly put a smile on my face. And Dr Who was a shit-hot episode, so what more can you want?
Today, I was too lazy to go to the Quaker service (which I had planned to do), so I obviously have no spiritual staying power to talk of. So no surprises there either. Instead, Lord H and I have spent most of the day attempting to get the Mac to update the Goldenford and my own websites. Lordy, but that's been bloody tough. And there was I thinking it would take a couple of minutes. More fool me then. Still at 6pm, I think we've beaten it into submission, but I have to admit it is a bit of a palaver and involves going into a Windows parallel environment and twiddling one's thumbs while Mac sorts it out. Sigh. So I've discovered one aspect which the PC does do better then! Ah well - I shall just have to save up website changes and do them when I'm feeling strong ...
Tonight, I might watch "Kinky Boots" if I feel up to it - but having also just finished watching "Intermission" with Colin Farrell, I'm still in shell-shock. I do love La Farrell, but the film was grim. Way too grim for me. I was actually rather glad that I didn't manage to get the end of it on the video, due to the football. Perhaps KB will be funnier? I do hope so.
And one of my birthday presents from Lord H was a magnetic haiku set - which I absolutely love! I have made my first haiku with it too:
Concrete blossom whispers
listen to the snow.
Fragile winter morning.
Today's nice things:
1. Getting the ruddy website updates done finally!!
2. Playing with haikus
3. Colin Farrell - though shame about the film ...
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Today, I was too lazy to go to the Quaker service (which I had planned to do), so I obviously have no spiritual staying power to talk of. So no surprises there either. Instead, Lord H and I have spent most of the day attempting to get the Mac to update the Goldenford and my own websites. Lordy, but that's been bloody tough. And there was I thinking it would take a couple of minutes. More fool me then. Still at 6pm, I think we've beaten it into submission, but I have to admit it is a bit of a palaver and involves going into a Windows parallel environment and twiddling one's thumbs while Mac sorts it out. Sigh. So I've discovered one aspect which the PC does do better then! Ah well - I shall just have to save up website changes and do them when I'm feeling strong ...
Tonight, I might watch "Kinky Boots" if I feel up to it - but having also just finished watching "Intermission" with Colin Farrell, I'm still in shell-shock. I do love La Farrell, but the film was grim. Way too grim for me. I was actually rather glad that I didn't manage to get the end of it on the video, due to the football. Perhaps KB will be funnier? I do hope so.
And one of my birthday presents from Lord H was a magnetic haiku set - which I absolutely love! I have made my first haiku with it too:
Concrete blossom whispers
listen to the snow.
Fragile winter morning.
Today's nice things:
1. Getting the ruddy website updates done finally!!
2. Playing with haikus
3. Colin Farrell - though shame about the film ...
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Friday, June 20, 2008
Climbing up the well ...
I can't believe it, but I'm actually feeling more like a normal human being today, bloody hell and put out the ruddy bunting. I feel today that there might actually be a glimmer of hope out there somewhere, but not of course in the publishing trade. That remains, as ever, a veritable pit of darkness and despair. Ah 'tis a place of strange mystery, Carruthers, from which nobody returns alive, or at least in human form ...
First thing this morning, I was bizarrely cheered whilst waving goodbye to Lord H to see a young man in a blue shirt walking an extremely large and very coiffured (is that a word?) poodle past the end of the garden path. It was really almost the size of a sheep. Perhaps it was a sheep, I don't really know. Strange things do happen in Godalming. But a poodle-walker is definitely a first here in the shires. For the rest of the morning, I have been having a wonderful massage courtesy of the lovely and really rather pregnant (should she be doing massage in her condition??) Laura. When she got to my notoriously stiff-as-boards shoulders, she was putting so much effort into beating the tension into submission that I feared she might give birth there and then. But luckily not. That would have been a terrifying start to my birthday weekend.
On the journey back, I was also cheered to see I was following a green van belonging to the Godalming piano company almost all the way home. I suddenly came over all 1950s - it felt like something out of "Dad's Army". I half expected the van to stop and Corporal Jones to appear. Oh God, I'm getting whimsical - I will have to be beaten into sense with twigs again. Sigh.
Later, I was planning to play golf with Marian, but she wasn't able to go after all due to the rigours of her week. Which, to be honest, suited me as my week hasn't been that good either (as you know, you poor people ...) and I was pleased for the extra quiet not-having-to-socialise time. But I'll pick up the golf again in a couple of weeks, weather permitting.
However, some sad news on my sick Guildford friend, which puts my self-obsessed and dark ramblings very much into perspective - unfortunately, she's still in hospital and not up to being visited much at the moment, or even being talked to. I really wish I'd gone to see her this week, as I'd planned, after all - I put it off entirely because of me and I hope I don't live to regret that decision. I hope Ruth from work and I will be able to visit next week. And I hope we can go together. Bloody hell, but sometimes other people's lives and the things that happen to them are just so bloody unfair that it makes me want to take God by the scruff of the neck and give him a bloody good shake. No doubt he feels the same way about me however. I just hope next week brings good news. Sick Friend deserves it.
For the rest of the day, I've been typing up the utterly huge amounts of Goldenford minutes I took last night. Girls, girls! You have so much to say and you say it soooo quickly! Highlights of the plans to come include a brief book signing at Waterstone's in Guildford on Thursday 10 July at 10.30am. Bearing in mind that they only actually have one copy of Pink Champagne and Apple Juice and they are refusing to buy in copies of either Thorn in the Flesh or Tainted Tree, I can see it's going to be a very short visit. Luckily they have copies of other Goldenford books, so we can at least try to hang around and beg people to buy them for a while before they chuck us out. My new theory is that actually bookshops secretly hate both books and authors, and are way too posh to be seen to be hobnobbing with the likes of us inky-fingered and suspect writers. It's like putting Cruella de Ville in charge of the nursery - she wouldn't really want to catch sight of the children.
Tonight, I'll be doing the cleaning so I don't have to do it tomorrow, as 21 June is an Official Writers' Day Off to celebrate my 44th birthday. Anyone who dares to write anything tomorrow will have to pay the forfeit of actually buying one of my hard-to-get books. Hey, think of it as a challenge ...
So, have a good weekend and, if you're not having one for any reason, you have my heartfelt sympathy. I know how that feels.
Today's nice things (especially for Jen):
1. The poodle
2. Feeling better, ye gods!
3. Massages
4. Piano vans
5. Getting the Goldenford minutes under control - of sorts
6. My 44th birthday tomorrow
7. Being able to laugh at Waterstone's.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
First thing this morning, I was bizarrely cheered whilst waving goodbye to Lord H to see a young man in a blue shirt walking an extremely large and very coiffured (is that a word?) poodle past the end of the garden path. It was really almost the size of a sheep. Perhaps it was a sheep, I don't really know. Strange things do happen in Godalming. But a poodle-walker is definitely a first here in the shires. For the rest of the morning, I have been having a wonderful massage courtesy of the lovely and really rather pregnant (should she be doing massage in her condition??) Laura. When she got to my notoriously stiff-as-boards shoulders, she was putting so much effort into beating the tension into submission that I feared she might give birth there and then. But luckily not. That would have been a terrifying start to my birthday weekend.
On the journey back, I was also cheered to see I was following a green van belonging to the Godalming piano company almost all the way home. I suddenly came over all 1950s - it felt like something out of "Dad's Army". I half expected the van to stop and Corporal Jones to appear. Oh God, I'm getting whimsical - I will have to be beaten into sense with twigs again. Sigh.
Later, I was planning to play golf with Marian, but she wasn't able to go after all due to the rigours of her week. Which, to be honest, suited me as my week hasn't been that good either (as you know, you poor people ...) and I was pleased for the extra quiet not-having-to-socialise time. But I'll pick up the golf again in a couple of weeks, weather permitting.
However, some sad news on my sick Guildford friend, which puts my self-obsessed and dark ramblings very much into perspective - unfortunately, she's still in hospital and not up to being visited much at the moment, or even being talked to. I really wish I'd gone to see her this week, as I'd planned, after all - I put it off entirely because of me and I hope I don't live to regret that decision. I hope Ruth from work and I will be able to visit next week. And I hope we can go together. Bloody hell, but sometimes other people's lives and the things that happen to them are just so bloody unfair that it makes me want to take God by the scruff of the neck and give him a bloody good shake. No doubt he feels the same way about me however. I just hope next week brings good news. Sick Friend deserves it.
For the rest of the day, I've been typing up the utterly huge amounts of Goldenford minutes I took last night. Girls, girls! You have so much to say and you say it soooo quickly! Highlights of the plans to come include a brief book signing at Waterstone's in Guildford on Thursday 10 July at 10.30am. Bearing in mind that they only actually have one copy of Pink Champagne and Apple Juice and they are refusing to buy in copies of either Thorn in the Flesh or Tainted Tree, I can see it's going to be a very short visit. Luckily they have copies of other Goldenford books, so we can at least try to hang around and beg people to buy them for a while before they chuck us out. My new theory is that actually bookshops secretly hate both books and authors, and are way too posh to be seen to be hobnobbing with the likes of us inky-fingered and suspect writers. It's like putting Cruella de Ville in charge of the nursery - she wouldn't really want to catch sight of the children.
Tonight, I'll be doing the cleaning so I don't have to do it tomorrow, as 21 June is an Official Writers' Day Off to celebrate my 44th birthday. Anyone who dares to write anything tomorrow will have to pay the forfeit of actually buying one of my hard-to-get books. Hey, think of it as a challenge ...
So, have a good weekend and, if you're not having one for any reason, you have my heartfelt sympathy. I know how that feels.
Today's nice things (especially for Jen):
1. The poodle
2. Feeling better, ye gods!
3. Massages
4. Piano vans
5. Getting the Goldenford minutes under control - of sorts
6. My 44th birthday tomorrow
7. Being able to laugh at Waterstone's.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Getting through the day ...
Hmm, it’s a bit like that today. I am lying low, battening down the hatches and attempting not to react in too emotional a fashion to any outside stimulus. Good job I’m at work then, I suppose! In an attempt to counteract the ongoing gentle slide, I’ve doubled my HRT dose and will have to see if that works. I certainly felt a little better last night as I was going to bed, but didn’t really stay awake long enough to see if the feeling continued. Ah well.
This morning, all is strangely blank once more. Plus I’m feeling hugely vulnerable, so much so that today’s inner statement is probably more along the lines of: Yes, you’re probably right – I am rubbish. Sorry, girls. Lord H thinks I was roughly the same last month, so it’s obviously hormonal. Still, knowing the source doesn’t make it any more pleasant, I must say.
I was already feeling rather vulnerable anyway, from my unfortunate attempt to chat to the neighbour’s son in a friendly fashion last night. Well, I won’t be bothering with that again, I thought he was really rather rude. But I was feeling way too weak to fight back, so I just walked off. The idjit probably didn’t notice though – too obtuse. Or maybe he just has the conversational skills of a toad.
And this morning, I’ve chatted to the lovely girls in Catering about sorting out this lunchtime’s meeting – which isn’t one of mine, but I was trying to be supportive anyway. At the end, one of the girls who’d actually bought Thorn in the Flesh some time ago jokingly said she’d managed to sell it on eBay and had got tuppence for it. At least I think she was joking but really, who’s to say. Naturally, I laughed and said something light-hearted as I like her but, to be honest, this sort of thing is hugely more of a knock-back than people imagine. Especially from those who are supposed to be on your side. I’m beginning to think that indeed the minuses vastly outweigh the plusses in this business. As a result, I’m rapidly losing any kind of confidence I once had, and now even if people say how much they enjoy my books, I don’t actually comprehend it. And, looking at it logically, can you blame me? After all, when push comes to shove:
(a) I don’t sell more than 100 books or so of anything, and a significant proportion of these are really no more than gifts to people who don’t want to buy them.
(b) My agent never contacts me, even with bad news – whereas an online friend whose latest novel was sent out at roughly the same time as mine is already meeting the first of two publishers next week. I doubt I’ll hear anything now about The Gifting – in the same way I heard nothing about the Thorn submissions until after a year when I simply had to assume the agent had been unsuccessful. It’s that terrible silence which defeats me.
(c) Until recently, I’ve tried to drum up interest in my work on the Writewords site but I've been less and less successful there – evidently I’m not important enough in what is now a very competitive commercially-focused writing environment. I suspect that I may not last there until my August renewal, to be honest. Hell, even when I add a comment to a thread, nobody now responds. So I’ve given up trying. (That said, a huge thank you to the handful of lovely people who do buy my books from there – I really appreciate that support, but I think you’re a rare breed now!)
And these are only the latest complaints. Sigh! So, why bother? Honestly, I don’t know. I’m increasingly reminded of a former church acquaintance who once told me that he used to love playing golf but had given it up as it had become more of a hindrance than a joy. Food for thought indeed. I do certainly feel that the book business has well and truly defeated me. However, I know I’m cursed by bloody-mindedness: I’ve started Hallsfoot’s Battle so I’m determined to finish one day. But maybe as there’s no-one out there keen to take it, I should just write it when I feel like it. Can’t see that one coming along quickly then!
Hey ho. And I’m still at work, worrying about a meeting at lunchtime when I have to say something intelligent about the Personal Tutors’ handbook, when really I’d much rather not. I’m just not interested. And tonight it’s the Goldenford meeting. When at the moment the feeling is much the same. So it’s a question of getting through the day and doing a heck of a lot of pretending along the way. Double sigh. Best break out that Emergency Chocolate again …
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
This morning, all is strangely blank once more. Plus I’m feeling hugely vulnerable, so much so that today’s inner statement is probably more along the lines of: Yes, you’re probably right – I am rubbish. Sorry, girls. Lord H thinks I was roughly the same last month, so it’s obviously hormonal. Still, knowing the source doesn’t make it any more pleasant, I must say.
I was already feeling rather vulnerable anyway, from my unfortunate attempt to chat to the neighbour’s son in a friendly fashion last night. Well, I won’t be bothering with that again, I thought he was really rather rude. But I was feeling way too weak to fight back, so I just walked off. The idjit probably didn’t notice though – too obtuse. Or maybe he just has the conversational skills of a toad.
And this morning, I’ve chatted to the lovely girls in Catering about sorting out this lunchtime’s meeting – which isn’t one of mine, but I was trying to be supportive anyway. At the end, one of the girls who’d actually bought Thorn in the Flesh some time ago jokingly said she’d managed to sell it on eBay and had got tuppence for it. At least I think she was joking but really, who’s to say. Naturally, I laughed and said something light-hearted as I like her but, to be honest, this sort of thing is hugely more of a knock-back than people imagine. Especially from those who are supposed to be on your side. I’m beginning to think that indeed the minuses vastly outweigh the plusses in this business. As a result, I’m rapidly losing any kind of confidence I once had, and now even if people say how much they enjoy my books, I don’t actually comprehend it. And, looking at it logically, can you blame me? After all, when push comes to shove:
(a) I don’t sell more than 100 books or so of anything, and a significant proportion of these are really no more than gifts to people who don’t want to buy them.
(b) My agent never contacts me, even with bad news – whereas an online friend whose latest novel was sent out at roughly the same time as mine is already meeting the first of two publishers next week. I doubt I’ll hear anything now about The Gifting – in the same way I heard nothing about the Thorn submissions until after a year when I simply had to assume the agent had been unsuccessful. It’s that terrible silence which defeats me.
(c) Until recently, I’ve tried to drum up interest in my work on the Writewords site but I've been less and less successful there – evidently I’m not important enough in what is now a very competitive commercially-focused writing environment. I suspect that I may not last there until my August renewal, to be honest. Hell, even when I add a comment to a thread, nobody now responds. So I’ve given up trying. (That said, a huge thank you to the handful of lovely people who do buy my books from there – I really appreciate that support, but I think you’re a rare breed now!)
And these are only the latest complaints. Sigh! So, why bother? Honestly, I don’t know. I’m increasingly reminded of a former church acquaintance who once told me that he used to love playing golf but had given it up as it had become more of a hindrance than a joy. Food for thought indeed. I do certainly feel that the book business has well and truly defeated me. However, I know I’m cursed by bloody-mindedness: I’ve started Hallsfoot’s Battle so I’m determined to finish one day. But maybe as there’s no-one out there keen to take it, I should just write it when I feel like it. Can’t see that one coming along quickly then!
Hey ho. And I’m still at work, worrying about a meeting at lunchtime when I have to say something intelligent about the Personal Tutors’ handbook, when really I’d much rather not. I’m just not interested. And tonight it’s the Goldenford meeting. When at the moment the feeling is much the same. So it’s a question of getting through the day and doing a heck of a lot of pretending along the way. Double sigh. Best break out that Emergency Chocolate again …
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Cakes, diamonds and rain
Feeling terribly blank and somewhat useless today, I must admit, so am taking my double-dose of Vitamin B pills, plus my De-Stress ones and the Evening Primrose Oil. Ye gods, you’d think that would be enough to stop the slide, but who can tell … Must be the shock of having to come into work after a day away. Talking of which, last night’s opera – Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet – was very good. Incredibly lush and romantic and the soprano had a voice to die for. But the set and costumes were all terribly terribly (how very Surrey I’m getting …) black. In fact, everything was black or dark shades of grey. Apart from the big orange balls and the little orange balloons which occasionally appeared. Really I would have liked more colour – certainly at the beginning where everyone’s happy. They are at a party after all. Still, I’m glad we’ve seen it, though it doesn’t have tunes you hum along to on the way home.
Today we’ve got the last meeting of the Mentoring Group, so Carol and I are getting cakes from Starbucks to celebrate our successes. Must remember to go early before the shelves are wiped clean – as it’s Graduation Week this week. And I’m hoping there won’t be too many items to minute, as there shouldn’t be any actions. After all, as we’ve no more meetings, then we won’t be able to follow them up. But hey it’s the University, and anything can happen … UPDATE: something of a cake overload actually. I’d forgotten I’d already ordered cakes via Catering, dammit. Still, the academic contingent can always be relied on to rise to the occasion where food is concerned. We only had four buns left at the end of it all.
I’ve also been researching hotels for a September weekend away, which is cheering me up mightily. Well, it’ll be our fifteenth wedding anniversary on 11 September (sorry, we can’t help the date) and I think that in itself is deserving of a short break. I’ve found a hotel in Hampshire that does La Stone therapy and reflexology – bliss for me but I don’t know if Lord H will be quite so keen … I’ll just have to hope. I also think that this year might well be the year of the eternity ring. I hummed and hahhed (is that right??) about it when Lord H asked if I wanted one when we were ten years old, as back then it just seemed so “old and married” and Next Stop: The Grave. If you see what I mean. As once you have the eternity ring, what other jewellery is there to look forward to?? Lordy, but I know I’m weird. Now, however, I am desperate for diamonds and emeralds in a nice little band. Which will go so well with my nice little diamonds and emerald engagement ring. Hell, perhaps it’s my age, but then again I’ve always been a sucker for emeralds. Sorry, this is getting way too girly, so I will have a lie-down in a darkened room. Someone pass me the smelling salts. And a jewellery brochure.
Tonight, it’s a night in, which I’m glad about, though there’s nothing on TV, dammit. Honestly, sport ruins the schedules so. I’ll have to stare at Hallsfoot’s Battle and see if I can drag anything up from my virtually non-existent pot of inspiration. Mind you, inspiration has only appeared about twice in my writing life, and each time I changed it. I rely a hell of a lot on just typing – at some stage a story of sorts will usually emerge. Blinking and yawning … Hey ho, or then again maybe I’ll just do some sudokus instead.
And I’m not happy with the weather forecast. Yesterday, everything was looking grand for my birthday day out on Saturday – but now it’s all torrential rain and hurricanes till the finale. Curses. No surprises then that I’ve already made inroads into my Emergency Chocolate Supplies. Please send more!... However, it's not all bad: I've finally dragged my way through (kicking and screaming) to the end of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' novel, Of Love and Other Demons. Serious yawn. Who the hell made him a classic writer?? That's several days of my life I won't get back. Still, at least I've actually finished a Marquez novel once in my life. But never again - please!!
Oh, today’s Inner Bitch Calendar tells me that it’s “I’m Good Enough” Day – because your Inner Bitch knows how many days you’ve spent thinking you weren’t … Hell there’s so much ruddy truth in that. Repeat after me (if you’re a girl): I’m good enough; I’m good enough; I’m good enough. There. I suspect I might need a daily dose however.
Today’s nice things:
1. Cakes
2. A night in
3. Looking at hotels – and jewellery!
4. The Inner Bitch calendar advice.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Today we’ve got the last meeting of the Mentoring Group, so Carol and I are getting cakes from Starbucks to celebrate our successes. Must remember to go early before the shelves are wiped clean – as it’s Graduation Week this week. And I’m hoping there won’t be too many items to minute, as there shouldn’t be any actions. After all, as we’ve no more meetings, then we won’t be able to follow them up. But hey it’s the University, and anything can happen … UPDATE: something of a cake overload actually. I’d forgotten I’d already ordered cakes via Catering, dammit. Still, the academic contingent can always be relied on to rise to the occasion where food is concerned. We only had four buns left at the end of it all.
I’ve also been researching hotels for a September weekend away, which is cheering me up mightily. Well, it’ll be our fifteenth wedding anniversary on 11 September (sorry, we can’t help the date) and I think that in itself is deserving of a short break. I’ve found a hotel in Hampshire that does La Stone therapy and reflexology – bliss for me but I don’t know if Lord H will be quite so keen … I’ll just have to hope. I also think that this year might well be the year of the eternity ring. I hummed and hahhed (is that right??) about it when Lord H asked if I wanted one when we were ten years old, as back then it just seemed so “old and married” and Next Stop: The Grave. If you see what I mean. As once you have the eternity ring, what other jewellery is there to look forward to?? Lordy, but I know I’m weird. Now, however, I am desperate for diamonds and emeralds in a nice little band. Which will go so well with my nice little diamonds and emerald engagement ring. Hell, perhaps it’s my age, but then again I’ve always been a sucker for emeralds. Sorry, this is getting way too girly, so I will have a lie-down in a darkened room. Someone pass me the smelling salts. And a jewellery brochure.
Tonight, it’s a night in, which I’m glad about, though there’s nothing on TV, dammit. Honestly, sport ruins the schedules so. I’ll have to stare at Hallsfoot’s Battle and see if I can drag anything up from my virtually non-existent pot of inspiration. Mind you, inspiration has only appeared about twice in my writing life, and each time I changed it. I rely a hell of a lot on just typing – at some stage a story of sorts will usually emerge. Blinking and yawning … Hey ho, or then again maybe I’ll just do some sudokus instead.
And I’m not happy with the weather forecast. Yesterday, everything was looking grand for my birthday day out on Saturday – but now it’s all torrential rain and hurricanes till the finale. Curses. No surprises then that I’ve already made inroads into my Emergency Chocolate Supplies. Please send more!... However, it's not all bad: I've finally dragged my way through (kicking and screaming) to the end of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' novel, Of Love and Other Demons. Serious yawn. Who the hell made him a classic writer?? That's several days of my life I won't get back. Still, at least I've actually finished a Marquez novel once in my life. But never again - please!!
Oh, today’s Inner Bitch Calendar tells me that it’s “I’m Good Enough” Day – because your Inner Bitch knows how many days you’ve spent thinking you weren’t … Hell there’s so much ruddy truth in that. Repeat after me (if you’re a girl): I’m good enough; I’m good enough; I’m good enough. There. I suspect I might need a daily dose however.
Today’s nice things:
1. Cakes
2. A night in
3. Looking at hotels – and jewellery!
4. The Inner Bitch calendar advice.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Brunch, battles and song
A day in lieu from work today - hurrah! Though it does mean I have to face the mountain of having to go in on a Thursday, cue future groaning. Ah well, there's two whole days to go before then, so let's not cross that bridge, etc etc ... Anyway, I've had a lovely morning, meeting Jane H (hello, Jane!) in Guildford for brunch at the Slug & Lettuce. There was a scary moment however when I was crossing the road to get to the cafe, and a mad woman in full wedding party get-up starting shouting and swearing at me. Perhaps she's read one of my books? A distinct possibility, I feel ... I think my great sin was in crossing the road when she apparently hadn't been able to, even though there was zilch traffic so her way was clear. Guildford is obviously full of mad women in party frocks and hats today - so I huddled next to the S&L until Jane rescued me. Thank you, Jane! Also, thank you to Jane x3 for (a) buying brunch, (b) a great catch-up and (c) giving me my first birthday present, which I opened early. Shame on me indeed. But a wonderful card (too rude to note here, naturally ...) and the Emergency Chocolate rations will come in very handy. Possibly on Thursday!
Meanwhile, back on the ranch, I've been struggling away with Hallsfoot's Battle and have now reached just over 9000 words. Ye gods already. I've stopped it for now though as I'm in the middle of another Snow-Raven section, and Birdspeak takes time. Sigh. I think a short nap - otherwise known as a "snap" - is called for.
Because tonight, we're off to the opera in Woking to see Romeo & Juliet, which according to our Opera Guide is about 3.5 hours long. So I doubt we'll hit the pillow before midnight. But, ah doomed love - always a moneyspinner. It's what I always say: opera is just like TV soap. But with song.
Today's nice things:
1. Brunch with Jane
2. Writing
3. Opera.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Meanwhile, back on the ranch, I've been struggling away with Hallsfoot's Battle and have now reached just over 9000 words. Ye gods already. I've stopped it for now though as I'm in the middle of another Snow-Raven section, and Birdspeak takes time. Sigh. I think a short nap - otherwise known as a "snap" - is called for.
Because tonight, we're off to the opera in Woking to see Romeo & Juliet, which according to our Opera Guide is about 3.5 hours long. So I doubt we'll hit the pillow before midnight. But, ah doomed love - always a moneyspinner. It's what I always say: opera is just like TV soap. But with song.
Today's nice things:
1. Brunch with Jane
2. Writing
3. Opera.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Monday, June 16, 2008
Marketing Queen and a Thorn review
Came in in Lord H’s car today as he’s kindly taking mine in for a service, so had to pop into Security to get a car pass and attempt to negotiate my way into a space. I’m only used to driving Fiestas, you see – the Laguna is like driving a tank. A tank that’s rather more in control than I am. Anyway, I don’t think I’ve killed anyone yet –though as it’s so big I can’t really tell what I’m driving over …
Anyway, at work I’ve been plunged straight into the thick of various marketing mini-projects today, and sorting out papers for meetings this week – well, at least it meant I didn’t have to stress the fact of Monday morning too much, hurrah! It was nearly lunchtime by the time a natural pause occurred.
I’m also fighting off a horribly large fly (I hate flies and wasps and bees etc with a passion) which insists on using my head as a landing pad. Now if only the Dean were here, he’d sort it out for me – he’s a whizz on insect maintenance in the office – but sadly he’s away, so I have to keep shrieking, flapping the air with an old brochure and failing entirely to kill the damn thing, Curses. Not only that, but Starbucks has no sandwiches and I haven’t bought in my own lunch today. For once. Double dammit. The petrol crisis is beginning to make its mark, you know. I may have to resort to a blueberry muffin and looking sadly at Carol’s Ryvitas instead. Sigh.
Ooh, but the lovely and talented Mick Dementiuk has given me a boost with a review of Thorn in the Flesh which I include here:
“I have just finished Thorn in the Flesh by Anne Brooke; unfortunately it’s not available in the USA but well worth the effort to get it from a publisher who doesn’t deal with Amazon. A nicely well-done story; had me on the edge of my seat and I really hated the villain after I found out who he was. But what kind of re-telling of the Oedipus/Electra complex story is this? A great one, if you ask me. That question has been in our minds since the earliest of times and Anne Brooke has simply retold the tale nicely leading us deeper and deeper in the story until we can do nothing but answer in rage at what was being done to the heroine and the characters around her.”
Thanks, Mick – much appreciated. It's nice to get positive feedback for sure.
I wandered round the campus at lunchtime – always lovely to sit by the lake and listen to the chaffinches. And to look for sandwich crumbs of course. Not to mention psyching myself up for the journey home. I’ll pop into see Gladys on my way back and see if she likes me any better this week. I’m not holding my breath – she could only bear about five minutes of me last time. Still, who can blame her?
Meanwhile here’s a poem:
Thursley Common
These flat lands, stretching
to the distant line of poplars,
hold me up to the sky.
I am embroidered in light
by dragonflies, dancing
diamond-winged over water.
Like them, I follow your lead,
watch the hobby split the air
and expand the heart.
And tonight, there’s a programme on Charles Dickens’ private life. Culture and naughtiness – hell, what more do you need?
Today’s nice things:
1. The Thorn review
2. Lunchtime walk
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, at work I’ve been plunged straight into the thick of various marketing mini-projects today, and sorting out papers for meetings this week – well, at least it meant I didn’t have to stress the fact of Monday morning too much, hurrah! It was nearly lunchtime by the time a natural pause occurred.
I’m also fighting off a horribly large fly (I hate flies and wasps and bees etc with a passion) which insists on using my head as a landing pad. Now if only the Dean were here, he’d sort it out for me – he’s a whizz on insect maintenance in the office – but sadly he’s away, so I have to keep shrieking, flapping the air with an old brochure and failing entirely to kill the damn thing, Curses. Not only that, but Starbucks has no sandwiches and I haven’t bought in my own lunch today. For once. Double dammit. The petrol crisis is beginning to make its mark, you know. I may have to resort to a blueberry muffin and looking sadly at Carol’s Ryvitas instead. Sigh.
Ooh, but the lovely and talented Mick Dementiuk has given me a boost with a review of Thorn in the Flesh which I include here:
“I have just finished Thorn in the Flesh by Anne Brooke; unfortunately it’s not available in the USA but well worth the effort to get it from a publisher who doesn’t deal with Amazon. A nicely well-done story; had me on the edge of my seat and I really hated the villain after I found out who he was. But what kind of re-telling of the Oedipus/Electra complex story is this? A great one, if you ask me. That question has been in our minds since the earliest of times and Anne Brooke has simply retold the tale nicely leading us deeper and deeper in the story until we can do nothing but answer in rage at what was being done to the heroine and the characters around her.”
Thanks, Mick – much appreciated. It's nice to get positive feedback for sure.
I wandered round the campus at lunchtime – always lovely to sit by the lake and listen to the chaffinches. And to look for sandwich crumbs of course. Not to mention psyching myself up for the journey home. I’ll pop into see Gladys on my way back and see if she likes me any better this week. I’m not holding my breath – she could only bear about five minutes of me last time. Still, who can blame her?
Meanwhile here’s a poem:
Thursley Common
These flat lands, stretching
to the distant line of poplars,
hold me up to the sky.
I am embroidered in light
by dragonflies, dancing
diamond-winged over water.
Like them, I follow your lead,
watch the hobby split the air
and expand the heart.
And tonight, there’s a programme on Charles Dickens’ private life. Culture and naughtiness – hell, what more do you need?
Today’s nice things:
1. The Thorn review
2. Lunchtime walk
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Birds, Hallsfoot and the return of the flush
First off - good news! Lord H has mended the toilet (what a super-hero!) so we have a flush. Hurrah! It's amazing what a difference it makes not to have to do stuff with buckets. As it were.
Flushed by success (sorry, couldn't resist it) we've been out this morning to Thursley Common and Wisley Common to look at birds. We managed to spot various tit families with growing young, a jay, a stonechat and (oh joy! New bird alert!) a hobby putting on a grand performance of aerial dynamics in the sky. Fabulous. And we heard a cuckoo too, but sadly never caught sight of it. I do love Thursley Common - in the sunshine there's something so incredibly peaceful and grounding about it - something in the way it stretches for miles and gives you a sense of space and freedom. Plus the dragonflies and damselflies are stunning.
For the rest of the day, I've been working on Hallsfoot's Battle and now have some interesting ideas for Ralph and also Gelahn, which should up the tension several notches. And I'm now at just over 8000 words and enjoying the view. Though I have to admit something odd happened to the Mac and I had to shut it down, thus losing about 15 minutes work - even though I save like an obsessive about every five minutes, dammit. Still, I've managed to rewrite the missing sections, so I think it's okay. That thud of horror when the screen goes black is not something I'd wish on anyone though. Heck, not today anyway.
And I even remembered to wish Jim a happy Fathers Day when I did my usual Sunday call to Mother. He liked his vouchers, thank the Lord. I wonder if Waterstones (pause for a nearly Amazon-sized sigh here) will ever let me have the gift I ordered for him two months ago? I'm hoping for Christmas this year now - Waterstones: are you listening??? Please give me my stuff! I really have no idea what is wrong with online booksellers these days - perhaps they've given up responding to any purchase requests. And it's not as if I'm even asking for anything obviously impossible to source, like poor old Thorn in the Flesh. Which remains totally beyond everyone's grasp but ours. Double sigh.
Tonight, there's still sod-all on TV, so it's out with the Cribb DVDs and an evening of Victorian quirkiness and charm beckons. Bliss.
Today's nice things:
1. Birds and Thursley Common
2. Hallsfoot's Battle.
3. Cribb.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Flushed by success (sorry, couldn't resist it) we've been out this morning to Thursley Common and Wisley Common to look at birds. We managed to spot various tit families with growing young, a jay, a stonechat and (oh joy! New bird alert!) a hobby putting on a grand performance of aerial dynamics in the sky. Fabulous. And we heard a cuckoo too, but sadly never caught sight of it. I do love Thursley Common - in the sunshine there's something so incredibly peaceful and grounding about it - something in the way it stretches for miles and gives you a sense of space and freedom. Plus the dragonflies and damselflies are stunning.
For the rest of the day, I've been working on Hallsfoot's Battle and now have some interesting ideas for Ralph and also Gelahn, which should up the tension several notches. And I'm now at just over 8000 words and enjoying the view. Though I have to admit something odd happened to the Mac and I had to shut it down, thus losing about 15 minutes work - even though I save like an obsessive about every five minutes, dammit. Still, I've managed to rewrite the missing sections, so I think it's okay. That thud of horror when the screen goes black is not something I'd wish on anyone though. Heck, not today anyway.
And I even remembered to wish Jim a happy Fathers Day when I did my usual Sunday call to Mother. He liked his vouchers, thank the Lord. I wonder if Waterstones (pause for a nearly Amazon-sized sigh here) will ever let me have the gift I ordered for him two months ago? I'm hoping for Christmas this year now - Waterstones: are you listening??? Please give me my stuff! I really have no idea what is wrong with online booksellers these days - perhaps they've given up responding to any purchase requests. And it's not as if I'm even asking for anything obviously impossible to source, like poor old Thorn in the Flesh. Which remains totally beyond everyone's grasp but ours. Double sigh.
Tonight, there's still sod-all on TV, so it's out with the Cribb DVDs and an evening of Victorian quirkiness and charm beckons. Bliss.
Today's nice things:
1. Birds and Thursley Common
2. Hallsfoot's Battle.
3. Cribb.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Saturday, June 14, 2008
All Faired Out
Have spent the day attempting to sell Goldenford books at the Pirbright Open Day with the stalwart Jackie and the equally stalwart Irene. The rain held off, thank the Lord, but sadly we only sold three books. Sigh. So that's two Tainted Trees and one Thorn in the Flesh. And that latter was to someone I knew from an old poetry group - thank you, Valerie! How marvellous it must be to sell to strangers though. Ah well. So a bit of a waste of a day, but it was lovely to catch up with two of the Golden Girls, so all was not entirely lost.
Anyway, you'll be pleased to hear that Irene and Jennifer did slightly better than that in the recent Freiburg Festival - the audience loved them (as they should!) and they sold honourable amounts of their books. Hurrah! And apparently, Goldenford has been asked to go back to the same event next year, so that's good news. Thank you, Freiburg.
I have to admit to feeling rather blank at the moment - it's the aftermath of sitting in the sun and attempting to smile at people without frightening them off. Interesting also the numbers of young boys who seemed to have a great interest in A Dangerous Man. Or perhaps it was the same boy running around our lonely stall very quickly?? Anyway, I rather suspected his parents wouldn't be too impressed if I actually sold him a copy - best to come back in ten years' time, I feel. I really don't want to be up in court for dubious activities - at least not so early in the year.
Tonight, I am attempting to regain any sense of energy I once had by watching Dr Who. I did have the chance of going out, but I don't think I can cope with any more people. Not for a while certainly!
Today's nice things:
1. Actually selling a copy of Thorn
2. Freiburg successes
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, you'll be pleased to hear that Irene and Jennifer did slightly better than that in the recent Freiburg Festival - the audience loved them (as they should!) and they sold honourable amounts of their books. Hurrah! And apparently, Goldenford has been asked to go back to the same event next year, so that's good news. Thank you, Freiburg.
I have to admit to feeling rather blank at the moment - it's the aftermath of sitting in the sun and attempting to smile at people without frightening them off. Interesting also the numbers of young boys who seemed to have a great interest in A Dangerous Man. Or perhaps it was the same boy running around our lonely stall very quickly?? Anyway, I rather suspected his parents wouldn't be too impressed if I actually sold him a copy - best to come back in ten years' time, I feel. I really don't want to be up in court for dubious activities - at least not so early in the year.
Tonight, I am attempting to regain any sense of energy I once had by watching Dr Who. I did have the chance of going out, but I don't think I can cope with any more people. Not for a while certainly!
Today's nice things:
1. Actually selling a copy of Thorn
2. Freiburg successes
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Friday, June 13, 2008
Massage, a late lunch and where's my Mac??
A brief visitation from the Mac today before it decided to deny all knowledge of ever having an Internet or a mailbox connection. Sigh. So I'm back on the old PC typing this. Ah, it's like I've never been away, you know. However it's another one to add to Lord H's list of mending things. Poor chap.
Anyway, apart from the Mac deciding it doesn't like me any more, I've actually had quite a nice day. Shock! Had a Clarins facial & massage in Guildford with the lovely Charlotte today - it's her last day (sob ...) as on Monday she flies off to a new life in Gran Canaria. Lucky for some for sure! I took in champagne to toast her on her flight - good luck, Charlotte, we'll miss you. Though, honestly, some people will do anything to get away from me.
After that, it was a very late lunch and girly chat with Sue - another Guildford friend, which was fun but I think we may well have doubled the noise volumes in the cafe. At least. Not much of a surprise there then! And I also managed to catch up on my essential shopping needs - and even tried to go into a clothes shop that wasn't M&S and look like I knew what I was doing. So that didn't last long. I don't think I really understand clothes shops, and M&S is the only one I can cope with without hyperventilating and feeling like I'm in an alien universe. I knew I should have taken my How To Be A Girl pills before I left.
Though, apparently, today is a day when I should actually have been in Godalming rather than Guidford - as Godalming is now the centre of the artistic universe; Chris Evans is moving from these parts and his driver appears to have taken a priceless Damien Hurst painting from his house and deposited it by mistake in one of the Godalming charity shops. Ah, rich pickings are here for the the taking, you know. We are indeed a town of many treasures. I bet all the Matrons of Godalming are even now slugging it out in the High Street for victory. There's an image you don't really want to dwell on. At least not for long.
I've just finished (for the second time - no wonder I thought it was so familiar!) Barbara Vine's The Chimney Sweep's Boy. Very well written but oh the people in it are soooooo irritating. The one good thing is that the wretched Gerald is dead by Page 2 - if I'd been Ursula I would have finished him off way way before he managed to die of a heart attack. And the daughters needed a good slapping too. By the time I got to the (plot give-away alert!) incestuous homosexuality flashback bit at the end, I really didn't care much. Nor find it particularly believable. Anyway, Gerald deserved a bit of suffering - shame it didn't seem to make him any nicer.
Tonight, I'll catch up on the cleaning and stare mournfully at my Mac until Lord H takes pity on me. Hmm, maybe I have been taking those Girlie Pills after all.
Today's nice things:
1. Clarins massage
2. Lunch with Sue
3. Thrilling at Godalming's moment of artistic fame.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Anyway, apart from the Mac deciding it doesn't like me any more, I've actually had quite a nice day. Shock! Had a Clarins facial & massage in Guildford with the lovely Charlotte today - it's her last day (sob ...) as on Monday she flies off to a new life in Gran Canaria. Lucky for some for sure! I took in champagne to toast her on her flight - good luck, Charlotte, we'll miss you. Though, honestly, some people will do anything to get away from me.
After that, it was a very late lunch and girly chat with Sue - another Guildford friend, which was fun but I think we may well have doubled the noise volumes in the cafe. At least. Not much of a surprise there then! And I also managed to catch up on my essential shopping needs - and even tried to go into a clothes shop that wasn't M&S and look like I knew what I was doing. So that didn't last long. I don't think I really understand clothes shops, and M&S is the only one I can cope with without hyperventilating and feeling like I'm in an alien universe. I knew I should have taken my How To Be A Girl pills before I left.
Though, apparently, today is a day when I should actually have been in Godalming rather than Guidford - as Godalming is now the centre of the artistic universe; Chris Evans is moving from these parts and his driver appears to have taken a priceless Damien Hurst painting from his house and deposited it by mistake in one of the Godalming charity shops. Ah, rich pickings are here for the the taking, you know. We are indeed a town of many treasures. I bet all the Matrons of Godalming are even now slugging it out in the High Street for victory. There's an image you don't really want to dwell on. At least not for long.
I've just finished (for the second time - no wonder I thought it was so familiar!) Barbara Vine's The Chimney Sweep's Boy. Very well written but oh the people in it are soooooo irritating. The one good thing is that the wretched Gerald is dead by Page 2 - if I'd been Ursula I would have finished him off way way before he managed to die of a heart attack. And the daughters needed a good slapping too. By the time I got to the (plot give-away alert!) incestuous homosexuality flashback bit at the end, I really didn't care much. Nor find it particularly believable. Anyway, Gerald deserved a bit of suffering - shame it didn't seem to make him any nicer.
Tonight, I'll catch up on the cleaning and stare mournfully at my Mac until Lord H takes pity on me. Hmm, maybe I have been taking those Girlie Pills after all.
Today's nice things:
1. Clarins massage
2. Lunch with Sue
3. Thrilling at Godalming's moment of artistic fame.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
Thursday, June 12, 2008
New Mac, a mysterious delivery and on with Hallsfoot
My first blog using the new Mac. I must say I like it and it's a lot quicker with stuff than the old PC. I'm still not sure what to do about printing though, but Lord H assures me that can be sorted. Emails seem to be getting through, though I'm having trouble with sending some replies. I'm hoping that will be solved soon as well! Mind you, the slightly wild whooshing noise the Mac makes when it sends something is utterly terrifying. Still, at least you know it's been sent - somewhere ... I only wish I knew how to make the font larger. But, all in all, I think I'm about to be a Mac convert.
This morning I have been getting my own prescriptions sorted out - it took a couple of car journeys (lucky I filled up on petrol then - in a panic-free fashion) but I'm okay now. Or as okay as I ever am. Sadly, my sick Guildford friend is back in hospital and not up to seeing people today, but we're hoping she might be up to being visited next week. And if she's really unlucky, one of those visitors will be me!
I've also been zapping along with Hallsfoot's Battle - goodness me, it's amazing how much easier - and more exciting - writing becomes when you give up worrying about being published. Astonishingly, I'm now at over 6000 words and I even have ideas. Hell, if I'd known giving up on (ho ho) the idea of potential fame and fortune would have this effect, I would bloody well have kicked my ego into touch sooner. Give me anonymity and a life of literary obscurity and watch those fingers fly.
Maybe I should even write a book on "How Not To Be A Successful Writer ... Stylishly" - I have the experience after all. No, no! Stop! Even I see that it would be just too surreal if some commercial bugger actually published it. Then, gods preserve us, where would my reputation for failure be?... Ah, that way madness lies indeed. I'll stick to the day job.
Meanwhile the mysteries of our temporary holiday post-boy continue - when our usual man is away, which he obviously is this week, post is delivered in a variety of ways and at a plethora of times. On Monday, the new boy delivered the post for the whole house to the downstairs neighbour, who then had to trudge up and down the stairs giving it to the correct owners. Today, I pop down to the hall just after lunch and find a Waterstone's package for Lord H wedged in the partially-open window frame. Are letter-boxes just too dull these days? I fear that tomorrow the street will have to be on the alert in case Postie decides simply to lob the letters at us as he cycles by.
Tonight, I'm planning an evening doing sod-all apart from watching the last (no, no, don't leave us - I'll never find out what happens to the blue tits now!) "Springwatch" and catching up with "My Name is Earl". It's a tough life, but hell somebody's got to live it.
Today's nice things:
1. Writing
2. Marvelling at postal deliveries
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
This morning I have been getting my own prescriptions sorted out - it took a couple of car journeys (lucky I filled up on petrol then - in a panic-free fashion) but I'm okay now. Or as okay as I ever am. Sadly, my sick Guildford friend is back in hospital and not up to seeing people today, but we're hoping she might be up to being visited next week. And if she's really unlucky, one of those visitors will be me!
I've also been zapping along with Hallsfoot's Battle - goodness me, it's amazing how much easier - and more exciting - writing becomes when you give up worrying about being published. Astonishingly, I'm now at over 6000 words and I even have ideas. Hell, if I'd known giving up on (ho ho) the idea of potential fame and fortune would have this effect, I would bloody well have kicked my ego into touch sooner. Give me anonymity and a life of literary obscurity and watch those fingers fly.
Maybe I should even write a book on "How Not To Be A Successful Writer ... Stylishly" - I have the experience after all. No, no! Stop! Even I see that it would be just too surreal if some commercial bugger actually published it. Then, gods preserve us, where would my reputation for failure be?... Ah, that way madness lies indeed. I'll stick to the day job.
Meanwhile the mysteries of our temporary holiday post-boy continue - when our usual man is away, which he obviously is this week, post is delivered in a variety of ways and at a plethora of times. On Monday, the new boy delivered the post for the whole house to the downstairs neighbour, who then had to trudge up and down the stairs giving it to the correct owners. Today, I pop down to the hall just after lunch and find a Waterstone's package for Lord H wedged in the partially-open window frame. Are letter-boxes just too dull these days? I fear that tomorrow the street will have to be on the alert in case Postie decides simply to lob the letters at us as he cycles by.
Tonight, I'm planning an evening doing sod-all apart from watching the last (no, no, don't leave us - I'll never find out what happens to the blue tits now!) "Springwatch" and catching up with "My Name is Earl". It's a tough life, but hell somebody's got to live it.
Today's nice things:
1. Writing
2. Marvelling at postal deliveries
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers
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