Blog tours, brandy and brothels

Books News:

I've spent a very happy time contacting the winners of the recent blog tour for The Heart's Greater Silence and getting their prizes to them. Many congratulations to all, and I hope you enjoy the reads and packages you've won!

Meanwhile, I'm very pleased to catch this wonderful article about the importance of ebooks - some great wisdom there, and I do like the understanding that ebooks are books for grown-ups. Well said indeed. Speaking of which, gay short story Entertaining the Delaneys gained a 4-star review at Goodreads - many thanks, Mickie.

And, if you're looking for a good fantasy eread, why not try The Gifting. At only £1.91 at Amazon UK as well as being available at Amazon US, it's a bargain not to be missed. Trust me.

The Sunday haiku is:

After this bleak snow
crocuses rise up like stars
from the silent earth.


Life News:

Sadly, I've continued to be ill in the latter half of the week so haven't done very much at all. I think I feel better today though, and indeed it's the first time I've been outside since Tuesday, so things must be looking up. K and I popped out to see Brandy Mount Gardens and admired their national collection of snowdrops and daphnes which was absolutely stunning. So I'm glad I made the effort. I think it's the last time they'll be open to the public so even more worth the effort indeed.

The fabulous news of the week however is the launch of the Embrace The Rainbow website - which is a safe place for all GLBTQ people, with a particular emphasis on writers and readers, and I can't recommend it too highly. Do visit - it's a very important cause.

Finally, I was much amused this week to find that someone had stumbled upon my blog by searching for "Elstead brothel" in Google. Goodness me, I had no idea Elstead was such a den of sin. Perhaps a career move is on the cards? Since then, I've found out all sorts of exciting titbits, including the fact that up until 2005 Elstead did have a brothel, and apparently pampas grass is a sign of a swingers' household. Well, goodness me. I don't think we could ever afford pampas grass in Essex, and we Essex gals are in any case way too direct for the swinging lifestyle. I shall however never look at those charming tall fronds swaying in the breeze in people's gardens in quite the same way again. But, hey, at least I've solved that particular searcher's problem, should he/she ever return ...

Anne Brooke
The Gathandrian Trilogy
Gay Reads UK
Biblical Fiction UK