Book News:
Great news on the book front! My first (and so far only) children's story has been accepted for publication by DWB Children's Books, so I've sent back the contract, the final edits and the cover art form to them today. Well, goodness me - who'd have thought it? It's a story about a girl who can't speak, a tricky confrontation with a school bully and a very magical nun. I've considered the options long and hard, and have decided (though I've always promised myself it was something I'd never do - but, hey, gals are entitled to change their minds, you know) to publish the story under a pseudonym, particularly bearing in mind the subject matter of my more adult fiction. Choosing the name today felt very strange, and rather displacing, but now I've got more used to it, it actually feels rather liberating. And, in many ways, it's not too far from who I actually am - just a different emphasis on it. Gosh, a whole new name I can write under! Maybe there's a sequel in me yet ...
Ooh and I've just seen that the cover art for gay thriller A Dangerous Man has made it to Round 3 of the 2011 Rainbow Awards Cover Contest and is currently lying at joint 3rd place in the Jury Vote. It probably won't make it through to the next round then, but it's been lovely being up there for a while, that's for sure.
This week's meditation poems are:
Meditation 584
Everything
finds its place
from the
highest hill
to the smallest
blade
of grass.
It will come to
pass
when all things
fade
that we are
bound still
by grace.
Meditation 585
The music of
linen
encompasses the
skin
with notes and
crotchets
and quavers
so every
movement
sings a story
out
to the
listening air:
a breath one
savours.
Meditation 586
When a greater
light lives
in our darkness
and cloud
everything shifts
to what it
should not be
so a measured
silence is found
in the bomb’s
cruel blast,
the tongue’s
sweet luxury
in the
strictest fast
and the aroma
of hope
in rank
despondency.
And all we
dream of
becomes what is
allowed.
Life News:
We've been attempting to sort out our finances more sensibly over the last couple of weeks, which has proved tricky in some ways. I think we're getting there though, and are even trying to squirrel away a tiny amount of savings in the midst of all this spending here and there. Hmm, best wish us luck then!
Today the tree men have been round (which has given me a few enjoyable Diet Coke break moments, I must say - maybe it's my age?...) and removed our two monstrosity hedges, two of our overgrown trees and two elderly yews from our front and back gardens. What incredibly polite young men they were too. So now the garden looks utterly fantastic - it's really opened up the space and gives us a heck of a lot more to work with. And it's made my lovely neighbour very happy also, as he gets rid of that terrible hedge as well. A win-win scenario indeed.
Tonight, K and I are off to the theatre to see The Holly and the Ivy - so that should be good. One vicar, two irritable aunts and an errant daughter? Sounds so me, dahlings, and in oh so many ways ...
Anne Brooke
The Thoughtful Corner
ANNE BROOKE BOOKS: Independent writer of modern fiction
Showing posts with label neighbour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label neighbour. Show all posts
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Books, Loss and Prayer
Life News:
I'm very sorry to say that my lovely former ground floor neighbour in Godalming died in his old people's home on Sunday night. It's been something of a shock, really, even though he was elderly (nearly 90 - how I wish he'd made it to that big day) and had become increasingly unwell over the last few months. I'm glad I was able to see him last Thursday for half an hour or so - I didn't know then it would be saying goodbye - and I'm glad we were able to chat, albeit briefly.
Funny how I've known Henry for 18 years as a neighbour sharing the same house as us, and funny how it became friendship almost from the start. He was very much part of the reason we stayed in the house all that time, and odd how when he left it for the home early last year, everything changed. I'll really miss him. He was always kind and courteous, and nothing was too much trouble - in many ways, and K agrees, the fact that he's gone seems like the end of an era for us. There's no-one left in our old home now who was there when we arrived, and that feels odd.
Things I'll remember about Henry:
* His daily chopping of wood for his fire every morning at 6.30am, come sunshine or rain, or even snow - it was somehow very soothing and an excellent alarm call.
* His fascinating and very moving stories of the war, and how the terrible things he'd experienced as a young man in Germany changed his life and led to his absolute and deep-seated belief in peace, his hatred of any kind of war and his commitment to Communism.
*The time when we went on holiday and forgot to leave contact details - and when we got back our water tank had burst, flooding his flat below for a week, and he'd misplaced our keys so he couldn't get in. While I was traumatised at what happened and couldn't apologise enough, he smiled and said (in that inimitable accent of his), "Ach, Anne, it was nothing compared to the Russian front in Winter ..." No doubt very true, and there's no answer to that.
* The time when I was trying to find him at the home, and was told he was in the living room having a sing-along with the other residents. I asked the staff not to disturb him as I was happy to wait, but he came along anyway as it was me (what a gent!). He happily told me he'd been learning some wonderful English war songs which he'd really enjoyed singing and, how much he'd loved learning Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag as, "with those sort of tunes, no wonder the English won the war." Marvellous. However, he did admit, with a twinkle in his eye, that he was probably wise not to offer to teach them the war songs of the German army ...
* The marvellous fact that he was possibly the only man in the country who has been decorated both by the Third Reich (for looking after his tank which had broken down in Russia and which he managed to hang on to) and the British Government (for saving the life of a tramp who was on the railway line when he was working here as a prisoner of war). And did Henry ever tell me that himself? No - I had to find out from his daughter.
Anyway, this morning it was good to meet up with his son and daughter again over a coffee and just catch up with what happened, although we would all have preferred different circumstances could have instigated it. He was a good man and I'll miss him. RIP Henry.
Book News:
The free giveaway of The Gifting at Goodreads continues for another 16 hours only so there's still time to enter. I'm amazed that 450 people have thrown their hats in the ring (I expected 10!) and I hope the 5 winners enjoy the read. Sadly, however, I've been blooded at the hunt (as they say) with my first 1-star review from someone who really hated every word of the beast. Ouch, indeed! Though I do wonder if it might be my mother getting her own back for the fact that I almost forgot her wedding anniversary, shame on me ... In which case, I deserve all of it and more!
However, some kind of balance was achieved in the literary universe by the fact that the Los Angeles Public Library has just bought an e-copy of The Gifting, so I'm hoping some good people might borrow it once that's available. Here are the next few sentences:
In any case, this battle has been a bloody one. Even though it has been fought largely in the realm of the mind, already it has claimed too many. And destroyed too much.
Other good and unexpected news is that my spiritual novella, The Prayer Seeker, has been accepted for publication by DWP Publishing - so that's a huge thrill and I've sent the signed contract back to them today.
Along the same lines, I've finally had the courage to press the "send" button for the second in the Gathandrian Trilogy, Hallsfoot's Battle, and so it has today winged its way to Bluewood Publishing for consideration. Here's hoping ...
On a rather naughtier note, you can enter the free giveaway at Jessewave reviews today for a copy of For One Night Only, so good luck with that one! You can also read a brief 4-star review of For One Night only, and Tommy's Blind Date also gets a 4-star review at Goodreads, so thank you to both reviewers for those.
Vulpes Libris has a review of Alice Hoffman's marvellous literary and very human novel, The Story Sisters, and I do thoroughly recommend that one. It's intense but definitely worth it.
Finally, to end, here are this week's meditations:
Meditation 550
Water on your skin
and the sharp dazzle
of sunlight
through the dark curtain
wash your sins
clean away
and prepare you
to serve God one day.
Meditation 551
Music and laughter
draw you to the window –
echoes of delight,
sunshine and dancing
in this bright morning sky –
and you catch sight
of such celebration
to welcome God’s arrival.
Something right
whispers behind you
where riches and old comfort
bind you to the night.
Meditation 552
The music is already here.
It’s existed for all time
and no time.
It’s folded into the air’s
cooling molecules
and contained afresh
by the arching sky.
It whispers over your skin,
waiting to be allowed within.
Anne Brooke
I'm very sorry to say that my lovely former ground floor neighbour in Godalming died in his old people's home on Sunday night. It's been something of a shock, really, even though he was elderly (nearly 90 - how I wish he'd made it to that big day) and had become increasingly unwell over the last few months. I'm glad I was able to see him last Thursday for half an hour or so - I didn't know then it would be saying goodbye - and I'm glad we were able to chat, albeit briefly.
Funny how I've known Henry for 18 years as a neighbour sharing the same house as us, and funny how it became friendship almost from the start. He was very much part of the reason we stayed in the house all that time, and odd how when he left it for the home early last year, everything changed. I'll really miss him. He was always kind and courteous, and nothing was too much trouble - in many ways, and K agrees, the fact that he's gone seems like the end of an era for us. There's no-one left in our old home now who was there when we arrived, and that feels odd.
Things I'll remember about Henry:
* His daily chopping of wood for his fire every morning at 6.30am, come sunshine or rain, or even snow - it was somehow very soothing and an excellent alarm call.
* His fascinating and very moving stories of the war, and how the terrible things he'd experienced as a young man in Germany changed his life and led to his absolute and deep-seated belief in peace, his hatred of any kind of war and his commitment to Communism.
*The time when we went on holiday and forgot to leave contact details - and when we got back our water tank had burst, flooding his flat below for a week, and he'd misplaced our keys so he couldn't get in. While I was traumatised at what happened and couldn't apologise enough, he smiled and said (in that inimitable accent of his), "Ach, Anne, it was nothing compared to the Russian front in Winter ..." No doubt very true, and there's no answer to that.
* The time when I was trying to find him at the home, and was told he was in the living room having a sing-along with the other residents. I asked the staff not to disturb him as I was happy to wait, but he came along anyway as it was me (what a gent!). He happily told me he'd been learning some wonderful English war songs which he'd really enjoyed singing and, how much he'd loved learning Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag as, "with those sort of tunes, no wonder the English won the war." Marvellous. However, he did admit, with a twinkle in his eye, that he was probably wise not to offer to teach them the war songs of the German army ...
* The marvellous fact that he was possibly the only man in the country who has been decorated both by the Third Reich (for looking after his tank which had broken down in Russia and which he managed to hang on to) and the British Government (for saving the life of a tramp who was on the railway line when he was working here as a prisoner of war). And did Henry ever tell me that himself? No - I had to find out from his daughter.
Anyway, this morning it was good to meet up with his son and daughter again over a coffee and just catch up with what happened, although we would all have preferred different circumstances could have instigated it. He was a good man and I'll miss him. RIP Henry.
Book News:
The free giveaway of The Gifting at Goodreads continues for another 16 hours only so there's still time to enter. I'm amazed that 450 people have thrown their hats in the ring (I expected 10!) and I hope the 5 winners enjoy the read. Sadly, however, I've been blooded at the hunt (as they say) with my first 1-star review from someone who really hated every word of the beast. Ouch, indeed! Though I do wonder if it might be my mother getting her own back for the fact that I almost forgot her wedding anniversary, shame on me ... In which case, I deserve all of it and more!
However, some kind of balance was achieved in the literary universe by the fact that the Los Angeles Public Library has just bought an e-copy of The Gifting, so I'm hoping some good people might borrow it once that's available. Here are the next few sentences:
In any case, this battle has been a bloody one. Even though it has been fought largely in the realm of the mind, already it has claimed too many. And destroyed too much.
Other good and unexpected news is that my spiritual novella, The Prayer Seeker, has been accepted for publication by DWP Publishing - so that's a huge thrill and I've sent the signed contract back to them today.
Along the same lines, I've finally had the courage to press the "send" button for the second in the Gathandrian Trilogy, Hallsfoot's Battle, and so it has today winged its way to Bluewood Publishing for consideration. Here's hoping ...
On a rather naughtier note, you can enter the free giveaway at Jessewave reviews today for a copy of For One Night Only, so good luck with that one! You can also read a brief 4-star review of For One Night only, and Tommy's Blind Date also gets a 4-star review at Goodreads, so thank you to both reviewers for those.
Vulpes Libris has a review of Alice Hoffman's marvellous literary and very human novel, The Story Sisters, and I do thoroughly recommend that one. It's intense but definitely worth it.
Finally, to end, here are this week's meditations:
Meditation 550
Water on your skin
and the sharp dazzle
of sunlight
through the dark curtain
wash your sins
clean away
and prepare you
to serve God one day.
Meditation 551
Music and laughter
draw you to the window –
echoes of delight,
sunshine and dancing
in this bright morning sky –
and you catch sight
of such celebration
to welcome God’s arrival.
Something right
whispers behind you
where riches and old comfort
bind you to the night.
Meditation 552
The music is already here.
It’s existed for all time
and no time.
It’s folded into the air’s
cooling molecules
and contained afresh
by the arching sky.
It whispers over your skin,
waiting to be allowed within.
Anne Brooke
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Rosie by Name
Book News
I'm delighted to say that my comic and just a little bit naughty short story, Rosie by Name, is now available at Bluewood Publishing, and what a totally fabulous cover that is. I love it. So if you want some springtime laughter, do pop along and find out more. Rosie's quite a gal!
On a rather different tack, I've just found out that my lesbian erotic short story, Butterfly Girl, has been accepted for publication by Oysters & Chocolate webzine, so I'm thrilled about that one too.
In terms of reviews, A Dangerous Man has been doing well though, sadly, royalties for the paperback version are continuing to be very poor, which I'm sorry about really - I feel rather guilty for my paperback publisher as they've taken a risk on it and I fear it's not paid off ... Still the ebook is doing okay so that's some consolation for sure. Anyway, at Goodreads, it gained an interesting 4-star review (thanks, Kate) and a fascinating 5-star review (thank you, Sonya), so both of these were lovely.
Meanwhile, I'm happy to note that 5 copies of The Secret Thoughts of Leaves have been borrowed from libraries during April, so I hope the borrowers have enjoyed that. Call me old-fashioned but actually having someone take one of my books from a library always gives me a thrill. It's almost like being a real writer, you know.
And my review of Andy Frankham-Allen's magnificent fantasy novel, Seeker, is now up at Vulpes Libris, so please ignore that quite dreadful new cover it has (!) and go along and find out more. It's a work I can thoroughly recommend for all.
Meditations so far this week are:
Meditation 514
A long, bleak path
from the place you know
to one you do not;
with every slow step
the chance for life
fades away
and you know you will not
make the journey back
one day.
Meditation 515
Great power
brings greater risk
so do not choose
to seek it.
Walk the quieter path
and mark your step
on the earth most suited
to meet it.
Meditation 516
Freedom comes by being open
to the day’s surprises
which often arrive
in strange disguises.
Life News:
Difficult news on the house front, alas. It appears that our vendors might be having second thoughts about selling us their very nice house, groan. I appreciate they're in the middle of a tricky divorce and have every sympathy for that, but we've got so far down the road that I can't bear the thought of our second attempt at purchase falling through. We're getting zilch information from their solicitors or their estate agents, though the solicitors did tell us their clients were probably too busy divorcing to pay us much attention or words to that effect (nice, eh!...), so we're really none the wiser. K sent a firmly worded email earlier in the week, which has been ignored. And today I've rung up the estate agents - actually to ask them if we can view another house on their books, which put the wind up them rather, but frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn - who got terribly panicky and promised to ring back asap. Which they have now down, so hopefully someone's on the case ...
Anyway, in the meantime, we're keeping our options open and I've arranged three other house viewings for Saturday and, if we find one we like and they're actually willing and able to sell it to us, we'll seriously consider withdrawing our offer and starting afresh, with a keener vendor. The one good thing that comes out of this is our solicitor is likely to make a fortune from our misfortune (glad someone is!). A few more situations like this and we won't be able to afford to move at all. Hey ho, you've got to laugh, I suppose. Thank goodness for anti-depressants! Though, understandably, I've had a bit of a relapse this week and have been supplementing them with Quiet Life pills, which seem to have helped a little.
However, all is not lost as nice things have happened too, hurrah. I had a totally lovely reflexology session with Helen at work on Wednesday which was bliss. I even fell asleep twice so it was great to feel that relaxed. What with Easter in the way, I've made my next appointment in May, and I can't wait. Today, I've popped in to see the ground-floor neighbour now in Woking and was delighted to find him in much better form than during my last visit. We talked about politics, the environment, gardens, war and tea, so a great time was had by all. I swear that, between the two of us, we could probably change the world.
The world of television has been a fascinating one this week. The Model Agency was as grippingly shallow and socially horrid as ever but, now it's over, I shall miss it, I fear. It was, I imagine, much like watching a Victorian freak show - the freaks being the agency bookers, definitely. Something one is fascinated by but never wants to connect to ...
However, it was wonderful to have Lewis back on Sunday nights and I wallowed in its classiness, bliss. Sooooo much better than the increasingly wretched Midsomer Murders. Talking of which, I'm told that the Jack Russell now taking the main role in Midsomer is the same dog as the one in the recent series of adverts (advertising what, I really don't know) who's attempting to find a home by doing the washing-up and the gardening etc etc for its potential new owners. Give that animal an Equity card - it could go far ...
And I watched (again, as the same episode was on last year, I think) the pilot episode for the utterly surreal, terribly rude and strangely accurate university comedy series, Campus. Ah, that Vice-Chancellor - how I loved him. It's bold, brutish and takes some breathtaking risks, but I laughed out loud several times, particularly at how well it portrayed some of the current issues of universities (though in a larger-than-life way, I hasten to add!), and I'll definitely be watching again.
Tonight, K and I are off to the theatre to see To Kill A Mockingbird, so that should be ... um ... fun. Sort of! Well, classy anyway. Which should round off the week nicely, hey ho.
Anne Brooke
I'm delighted to say that my comic and just a little bit naughty short story, Rosie by Name, is now available at Bluewood Publishing, and what a totally fabulous cover that is. I love it. So if you want some springtime laughter, do pop along and find out more. Rosie's quite a gal!
On a rather different tack, I've just found out that my lesbian erotic short story, Butterfly Girl, has been accepted for publication by Oysters & Chocolate webzine, so I'm thrilled about that one too.
In terms of reviews, A Dangerous Man has been doing well though, sadly, royalties for the paperback version are continuing to be very poor, which I'm sorry about really - I feel rather guilty for my paperback publisher as they've taken a risk on it and I fear it's not paid off ... Still the ebook is doing okay so that's some consolation for sure. Anyway, at Goodreads, it gained an interesting 4-star review (thanks, Kate) and a fascinating 5-star review (thank you, Sonya), so both of these were lovely.
Meanwhile, I'm happy to note that 5 copies of The Secret Thoughts of Leaves have been borrowed from libraries during April, so I hope the borrowers have enjoyed that. Call me old-fashioned but actually having someone take one of my books from a library always gives me a thrill. It's almost like being a real writer, you know.
And my review of Andy Frankham-Allen's magnificent fantasy novel, Seeker, is now up at Vulpes Libris, so please ignore that quite dreadful new cover it has (!) and go along and find out more. It's a work I can thoroughly recommend for all.
Meditations so far this week are:
Meditation 514
A long, bleak path
from the place you know
to one you do not;
with every slow step
the chance for life
fades away
and you know you will not
make the journey back
one day.
Meditation 515
Great power
brings greater risk
so do not choose
to seek it.
Walk the quieter path
and mark your step
on the earth most suited
to meet it.
Meditation 516
Freedom comes by being open
to the day’s surprises
which often arrive
in strange disguises.
Life News:
Difficult news on the house front, alas. It appears that our vendors might be having second thoughts about selling us their very nice house, groan. I appreciate they're in the middle of a tricky divorce and have every sympathy for that, but we've got so far down the road that I can't bear the thought of our second attempt at purchase falling through. We're getting zilch information from their solicitors or their estate agents, though the solicitors did tell us their clients were probably too busy divorcing to pay us much attention or words to that effect (nice, eh!...), so we're really none the wiser. K sent a firmly worded email earlier in the week, which has been ignored. And today I've rung up the estate agents - actually to ask them if we can view another house on their books, which put the wind up them rather, but frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn - who got terribly panicky and promised to ring back asap. Which they have now down, so hopefully someone's on the case ...
Anyway, in the meantime, we're keeping our options open and I've arranged three other house viewings for Saturday and, if we find one we like and they're actually willing and able to sell it to us, we'll seriously consider withdrawing our offer and starting afresh, with a keener vendor. The one good thing that comes out of this is our solicitor is likely to make a fortune from our misfortune (glad someone is!). A few more situations like this and we won't be able to afford to move at all. Hey ho, you've got to laugh, I suppose. Thank goodness for anti-depressants! Though, understandably, I've had a bit of a relapse this week and have been supplementing them with Quiet Life pills, which seem to have helped a little.
However, all is not lost as nice things have happened too, hurrah. I had a totally lovely reflexology session with Helen at work on Wednesday which was bliss. I even fell asleep twice so it was great to feel that relaxed. What with Easter in the way, I've made my next appointment in May, and I can't wait. Today, I've popped in to see the ground-floor neighbour now in Woking and was delighted to find him in much better form than during my last visit. We talked about politics, the environment, gardens, war and tea, so a great time was had by all. I swear that, between the two of us, we could probably change the world.
The world of television has been a fascinating one this week. The Model Agency was as grippingly shallow and socially horrid as ever but, now it's over, I shall miss it, I fear. It was, I imagine, much like watching a Victorian freak show - the freaks being the agency bookers, definitely. Something one is fascinated by but never wants to connect to ...
However, it was wonderful to have Lewis back on Sunday nights and I wallowed in its classiness, bliss. Sooooo much better than the increasingly wretched Midsomer Murders. Talking of which, I'm told that the Jack Russell now taking the main role in Midsomer is the same dog as the one in the recent series of adverts (advertising what, I really don't know) who's attempting to find a home by doing the washing-up and the gardening etc etc for its potential new owners. Give that animal an Equity card - it could go far ...
And I watched (again, as the same episode was on last year, I think) the pilot episode for the utterly surreal, terribly rude and strangely accurate university comedy series, Campus. Ah, that Vice-Chancellor - how I loved him. It's bold, brutish and takes some breathtaking risks, but I laughed out loud several times, particularly at how well it portrayed some of the current issues of universities (though in a larger-than-life way, I hasten to add!), and I'll definitely be watching again.
Tonight, K and I are off to the theatre to see To Kill A Mockingbird, so that should be ... um ... fun. Sort of! Well, classy anyway. Which should round off the week nicely, hey ho.
Anne Brooke
Thursday, March 03, 2011
The Importance of Fruit and the welcoming touch
Book News:
It is a matter for general astonishment on all sides that during February when it was offered as a free story, How to Eat Fruit was actually downloaded 4,800 times. Ye gods and little fishes, that's more than a 1,000 times a week! I know at least a couple of those who took the punt didn't enjoy it, but I hope some of the others did. Now, just imagine how big a smile I'd have if it hadn't been free! But in any case it's lovely to think of 4,800 readers, or potentially so - therefore a BIG thank you to all who clicked on that button! Well gosh.
A Woman Like The Sea now has its earlier review up at Queer Magazine Online, so thank you to Victor and Anders for that. In addition, if during March you buy A Woman Like The Sea, than you can get any other of my Untreed Reads books with a 40% discount - so there's another good offer to whet your reading appetite. Keeping with Untreed Reads, I was pleased to see that The Girl in the Painting was No 3 on their international bestseller list for February, gosh again.
Reviews this week so far have been as follows:
The Delaneys and Me gained a 4.5 star review at MichelenJeff Reviews.
At the same review site, Entertaining the Delaneys gained a 5 star review.
And Brady's Choice received a 5+ star review, so that was thrilling, I can tell you. Gosh indeed! And thank you to Jeff for reviewing all those so kindly.
Not to be outdone, Sunday Haiku was briefly at No 68 in the Amazon UK Kindle chart, and I even managed to reach the 110,000 word marker in The Executioner's Cane, huzzahs galore and put out the bunting. Heck, I might even finish the trilogy one day - who knows.
This week I've reviewed Ron Butlin's Vivaldi and the Number 3 for Vulpes Libris, which is a musically surreal short story collection that it's wisest not to consume all at once. And recent meditations are:
Meditation 494
The shadow from the sun
retraces the silent step
for a paste of figs
and bitter tears
so one man’s grief
exceeds the worth
of the truth carved out
through all the years.
Meditation 495
Do not trust
the messengers of Babylonia,
do not let them in:
they’ll admire
everything you own then take it
when they leave again.
So do not trust
the messengers of Babylonia,
my friend:
they come
with gifts and smiles but they’ll only hurt you
in the end.
Meditation 496
To be remembered for water
is how to begin
so still the tongue
and let the brightness in.
Life News:
A difficult week, health-wise, but also positive really. Without the HRT, I've been all over the place so I finally bit the proverbial damn bullet and went to the doctor this week about my mood (low, if you're asking). I did the mercifully short (as I didn't have my reading glasses) test she gave me and we discovered I'm 9/21 for anxiety and 8/21 for depression. Which apparently makes me moderately, but not severely, depressed. So it's not all bad news and gloom really! Lord knows it could be worse ... Anyway, the upshot is I'm now on my first medically-prescribed anti-depressant (ah, welcome to mid-forties womanhood indeed ..) which is called Cipramil. Yes, of course I looked up the list of side effects on the NHS site but it was so long I thought I'd stop reading before I jumped out of the nearest window. Ha! Anyway, I'm now on Day 2 of the new Happy Pills and am feeling surprisingly perky. Which must be psychosomatic as they're not supposed to kick in for at least 2 weeks. I can't take the St John's Wort with these, alas, so they're on their own, the pesky little devils. We will see, eh ...
On a happier note, I have decided, along with the lovely Kirsty at Vulpes Libris, to give up worrying for Lent. I was toying with giving up chocolate, but hell I could do without the pressure right now, so an attempted lack of worrying seems like a better idea. I've also enjoyed finishing off the story of Joseph and his brothers at bible study this week. Now there's a disfunctional family if ever I saw one. Too much favouritism is never anything but a dangerous game, my dears ...
I also spent a lovely lunchtime at Wisley yesterday, though I'm afraid there were no cupcakes and the cappuccino just isn't as good as at The Savill Garden, but nonetheless the camellias were out, alongside some gloriously scented daphne sprigs and irises, amongst others. It was all very relaxing which was just what I needed really. And I've popped in to see my former neighbour in Woking today, so that was good to catch up.
I'm hoping all this positive input will help me through the no doubt agonising final episode of the increasingly grim South Riding on TV - I am still traumatised by last Sunday so who knows what I'll be like after the weekend. Someone get me some happy TV to watch, soon!
Finally, I am beyond thrilled to announce that it's now official: UK students have voted our University as the most welcoming in Britain, and my boss gets to have a few words in the article too, hurrah! Good for Student Care is what I say - we all put a heck of a lot of work into Welcome Week arrangements and changes (which takes up a good portion of our year and takes me a month to recover from afterwards!) and it's lovely to think that the students do get something out of our efforts. Well done to them and us, and here's to this year's Welcome Week also - the champagne's on me ...
Anne Brooke
It is a matter for general astonishment on all sides that during February when it was offered as a free story, How to Eat Fruit was actually downloaded 4,800 times. Ye gods and little fishes, that's more than a 1,000 times a week! I know at least a couple of those who took the punt didn't enjoy it, but I hope some of the others did. Now, just imagine how big a smile I'd have if it hadn't been free! But in any case it's lovely to think of 4,800 readers, or potentially so - therefore a BIG thank you to all who clicked on that button! Well gosh.
A Woman Like The Sea now has its earlier review up at Queer Magazine Online, so thank you to Victor and Anders for that. In addition, if during March you buy A Woman Like The Sea, than you can get any other of my Untreed Reads books with a 40% discount - so there's another good offer to whet your reading appetite. Keeping with Untreed Reads, I was pleased to see that The Girl in the Painting was No 3 on their international bestseller list for February, gosh again.
Reviews this week so far have been as follows:
The Delaneys and Me gained a 4.5 star review at MichelenJeff Reviews.
At the same review site, Entertaining the Delaneys gained a 5 star review.
And Brady's Choice received a 5+ star review, so that was thrilling, I can tell you. Gosh indeed! And thank you to Jeff for reviewing all those so kindly.
Not to be outdone, Sunday Haiku was briefly at No 68 in the Amazon UK Kindle chart, and I even managed to reach the 110,000 word marker in The Executioner's Cane, huzzahs galore and put out the bunting. Heck, I might even finish the trilogy one day - who knows.
This week I've reviewed Ron Butlin's Vivaldi and the Number 3 for Vulpes Libris, which is a musically surreal short story collection that it's wisest not to consume all at once. And recent meditations are:
Meditation 494
The shadow from the sun
retraces the silent step
for a paste of figs
and bitter tears
so one man’s grief
exceeds the worth
of the truth carved out
through all the years.
Meditation 495
Do not trust
the messengers of Babylonia,
do not let them in:
they’ll admire
everything you own then take it
when they leave again.
So do not trust
the messengers of Babylonia,
my friend:
they come
with gifts and smiles but they’ll only hurt you
in the end.
Meditation 496
To be remembered for water
is how to begin
so still the tongue
and let the brightness in.
Life News:
A difficult week, health-wise, but also positive really. Without the HRT, I've been all over the place so I finally bit the proverbial damn bullet and went to the doctor this week about my mood (low, if you're asking). I did the mercifully short (as I didn't have my reading glasses) test she gave me and we discovered I'm 9/21 for anxiety and 8/21 for depression. Which apparently makes me moderately, but not severely, depressed. So it's not all bad news and gloom really! Lord knows it could be worse ... Anyway, the upshot is I'm now on my first medically-prescribed anti-depressant (ah, welcome to mid-forties womanhood indeed ..) which is called Cipramil. Yes, of course I looked up the list of side effects on the NHS site but it was so long I thought I'd stop reading before I jumped out of the nearest window. Ha! Anyway, I'm now on Day 2 of the new Happy Pills and am feeling surprisingly perky. Which must be psychosomatic as they're not supposed to kick in for at least 2 weeks. I can't take the St John's Wort with these, alas, so they're on their own, the pesky little devils. We will see, eh ...
On a happier note, I have decided, along with the lovely Kirsty at Vulpes Libris, to give up worrying for Lent. I was toying with giving up chocolate, but hell I could do without the pressure right now, so an attempted lack of worrying seems like a better idea. I've also enjoyed finishing off the story of Joseph and his brothers at bible study this week. Now there's a disfunctional family if ever I saw one. Too much favouritism is never anything but a dangerous game, my dears ...
I also spent a lovely lunchtime at Wisley yesterday, though I'm afraid there were no cupcakes and the cappuccino just isn't as good as at The Savill Garden, but nonetheless the camellias were out, alongside some gloriously scented daphne sprigs and irises, amongst others. It was all very relaxing which was just what I needed really. And I've popped in to see my former neighbour in Woking today, so that was good to catch up.
I'm hoping all this positive input will help me through the no doubt agonising final episode of the increasingly grim South Riding on TV - I am still traumatised by last Sunday so who knows what I'll be like after the weekend. Someone get me some happy TV to watch, soon!
Finally, I am beyond thrilled to announce that it's now official: UK students have voted our University as the most welcoming in Britain, and my boss gets to have a few words in the article too, hurrah! Good for Student Care is what I say - we all put a heck of a lot of work into Welcome Week arrangements and changes (which takes up a good portion of our year and takes me a month to recover from afterwards!) and it's lovely to think that the students do get something out of our efforts. Well done to them and us, and here's to this year's Welcome Week also - the champagne's on me ...
Anne Brooke
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Fame and physio
Book News:
A Dangerous Man gained a 4-star review at Goodreads so many thanks, Tizi, for that. You can also now listen to the radio review of A Dangerous Man at Venture Radio UK - the recording is towards the top of the page, so I hope you enjoy the listen!
Much to my delight, The Bones of Summer rose rapidly up and found itself at Number 2 in the Amazon UK gay & lesbian charts, so that was very heartening really.
And at Vulpes Libris you can find my review of Graham Sclater's We're Gonna Be Famous, a lively and enjoyable children's book which shows beyond all doubt that music really can save a life.
Meditations today are:
Meditation 486
The object you love
is the object
you become:
a fine truth,
if it weren’t the same
for the object you hate.
Meditation 487
The gods of each land
may be silent
but they still remain
whispering in the leaves
or basking in the sunlight
of a lion’s roar.
Life News:
I was up in London last night having drinks and a really wonderful curry with Jane W, so it was great to catch up after Christmas and New Year. But, my goodness, the Big City was rather busy, or at least the train back certainly was - I had to stand all the way to Woking, which was highly unusual. Don't these people have homes to go to?...
This morning, I've popped in to see my former neighbour also now in Woking (all roads do indeed lead to that vast metropolis of culture this week), and we had a good chat about all the other neighbours (as you do), travel and tea. The ideal combination indeed.
And the physio's going well. I can now do everything with my arm (hurrah!) though it does ache fairly continuously at a relatively low level so it's bearable enough. Only two more sessions to go, and we'll see how it is then. That Helen is a miracle worker indeed.
Anne Brooke
A Dangerous Man gained a 4-star review at Goodreads so many thanks, Tizi, for that. You can also now listen to the radio review of A Dangerous Man at Venture Radio UK - the recording is towards the top of the page, so I hope you enjoy the listen!
Much to my delight, The Bones of Summer rose rapidly up and found itself at Number 2 in the Amazon UK gay & lesbian charts, so that was very heartening really.
And at Vulpes Libris you can find my review of Graham Sclater's We're Gonna Be Famous, a lively and enjoyable children's book which shows beyond all doubt that music really can save a life.
Meditations today are:
Meditation 486
The object you love
is the object
you become:
a fine truth,
if it weren’t the same
for the object you hate.
Meditation 487
The gods of each land
may be silent
but they still remain
whispering in the leaves
or basking in the sunlight
of a lion’s roar.
Life News:
I was up in London last night having drinks and a really wonderful curry with Jane W, so it was great to catch up after Christmas and New Year. But, my goodness, the Big City was rather busy, or at least the train back certainly was - I had to stand all the way to Woking, which was highly unusual. Don't these people have homes to go to?...
This morning, I've popped in to see my former neighbour also now in Woking (all roads do indeed lead to that vast metropolis of culture this week), and we had a good chat about all the other neighbours (as you do), travel and tea. The ideal combination indeed.
And the physio's going well. I can now do everything with my arm (hurrah!) though it does ache fairly continuously at a relatively low level so it's bearable enough. Only two more sessions to go, and we'll see how it is then. That Helen is a miracle worker indeed.
Anne Brooke
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Poisons, plants and poems
Book News:
I've just found out that The Delaneys and Me sold over 550 copies last quarter, which is frankly astonishing. I am ... um ... speechless. Or as near to speechless as I ever get. 550 copies, well gosh! I must turn my mind to writing a sequel, I see ... As I'm sure there's a lot more to tell about Liam.
I'm also pleased to say that The Executioner's Cane has now reached the 80,000 word marker, so is about 2/3rds through. Heck, I never thought I'd even think that, let alone write it ... yes this last book in the Gathandrian Trilogy is going to need serious editing when it's done, but it's good to think that one day there might actually be something there to fiddle around with, if you see what I mean.
And A Dangerous Man gained a very thoughtful 4-star review at Amazon US, which I was delighted with - lovely to think people are reading it indeed. Keeping to this topic, I've set up a Facebook page for A Dangerous Man so if you think you might like a novel about art, love and murder (or if you've already read and enjoyed the book), do feel free to drop in and join in the party. As it were. It's the first time I've set up a stand-alone page for a novel, so I don't know quite how it will all work out, but I'm hoping it will. I'm going to have some fun with it anyway!
Maintaining the themes of danger and darkness, I've reviewed Maryrose Wood's The Poison Diaries at Vulpes Libris - this is an utterly fabulous novel, and beautifully written, so do please pop across and have a read. You won't regret it.
Turning to poetic matters (as I do tend to do now and again ...), there's an interview about my poetry and other writing issues at Seventh Window News, and don't forget that my most recent poetry collection, Sunday Haiku, is still available. All this excitement must have proved inspirational as I've written two non-meditation poems this week - the first time in months. Gosh. Here they are:
Journey
I drive home
through evening’s rich carpet,
the tail lights of cars
leading me onward
when an old song on the radio
plunges me back
to the woman I once was,
simple trick of time
not looked for,
and all the years
between then and now
are swept away
as if they had almost never been
for that yearning, hopeful girl
I can’t remember.
Fact
Once one poem arrives,
you won’t have to wait long
for another,
like chocolate digestives,
Chinese food or visits
from your mother.
This week's meditation poems are:
Meditation 452
When the hills
are silent and bare
open your eyes
more fully to see
it is not emptiness
but hope which waits there.
Meditation 453
Remember the warm silkiness
of flesh on the tongue
when deceit’s darkness
cuts out your sun.
Meditation 454
Between the questions,
the fear and the evident
lack of trust
the freedom to listen
lies waiting still.
Life News:
I'm continuing to feel a little better, but must admit to being still rather shaky about everything. It's almost as if I don't know how I'm going to be, mood-wise, from one minute to the next which is quite disturbing really. Not sure what to do about it, to be honest, except continue taking the 2 doses of St John's Wort, with the odd addition of Rescue Remedy or Quiet Life pills (thank God for them ...), and of course wait for my next specialist appointment in a couple of weeks' time. Heck, if this is life without HRT, not sure I really want to get used to it, but we'll see ...
There's been zilch viewers for the flat, which is very disappointing, so yesterday we reduced the price by 20k to try to get some interest, so it's now on the market at £220,000. I'm hoping that might help, as it's quite disheartening seeing a fair number of houses around that actually we'd be happy with, but being unable to do a dang thing about it. The good news however is that the tricksy neighbour has said they will pay their share of the building insurance - such a relief though we have yet actually to see the cash of course. Not only that but a really good look at the lease for the flat indicates that if one party in our freehold doesn't sign the agreement for any new buyer for whatever reason, then the majority verdict carries the vote, so it looks like I was after all hyperventilating unnecessarily last week. Ah well, same old, same old, eh. Not that we want it to come to that, if we get a buyer, as I'm hoping everyone will sign, but at least there's a light at the end of the proverbial which may possibly not be an oncoming train.
Anyway, tonight I am throwing all troubles to the autumnal wind and going up to London for an evening of chat and cheeriness with Jane W. I'm hoping there won't be any leaves on the line ...
Anne Brooke
I've just found out that The Delaneys and Me sold over 550 copies last quarter, which is frankly astonishing. I am ... um ... speechless. Or as near to speechless as I ever get. 550 copies, well gosh! I must turn my mind to writing a sequel, I see ... As I'm sure there's a lot more to tell about Liam.
I'm also pleased to say that The Executioner's Cane has now reached the 80,000 word marker, so is about 2/3rds through. Heck, I never thought I'd even think that, let alone write it ... yes this last book in the Gathandrian Trilogy is going to need serious editing when it's done, but it's good to think that one day there might actually be something there to fiddle around with, if you see what I mean.
And A Dangerous Man gained a very thoughtful 4-star review at Amazon US, which I was delighted with - lovely to think people are reading it indeed. Keeping to this topic, I've set up a Facebook page for A Dangerous Man so if you think you might like a novel about art, love and murder (or if you've already read and enjoyed the book), do feel free to drop in and join in the party. As it were. It's the first time I've set up a stand-alone page for a novel, so I don't know quite how it will all work out, but I'm hoping it will. I'm going to have some fun with it anyway!
Maintaining the themes of danger and darkness, I've reviewed Maryrose Wood's The Poison Diaries at Vulpes Libris - this is an utterly fabulous novel, and beautifully written, so do please pop across and have a read. You won't regret it.
Turning to poetic matters (as I do tend to do now and again ...), there's an interview about my poetry and other writing issues at Seventh Window News, and don't forget that my most recent poetry collection, Sunday Haiku, is still available. All this excitement must have proved inspirational as I've written two non-meditation poems this week - the first time in months. Gosh. Here they are:
Journey
I drive home
through evening’s rich carpet,
the tail lights of cars
leading me onward
when an old song on the radio
plunges me back
to the woman I once was,
simple trick of time
not looked for,
and all the years
between then and now
are swept away
as if they had almost never been
for that yearning, hopeful girl
I can’t remember.
Fact
Once one poem arrives,
you won’t have to wait long
for another,
like chocolate digestives,
Chinese food or visits
from your mother.
This week's meditation poems are:
Meditation 452
When the hills
are silent and bare
open your eyes
more fully to see
it is not emptiness
but hope which waits there.
Meditation 453
Remember the warm silkiness
of flesh on the tongue
when deceit’s darkness
cuts out your sun.
Meditation 454
Between the questions,
the fear and the evident
lack of trust
the freedom to listen
lies waiting still.
Life News:
I'm continuing to feel a little better, but must admit to being still rather shaky about everything. It's almost as if I don't know how I'm going to be, mood-wise, from one minute to the next which is quite disturbing really. Not sure what to do about it, to be honest, except continue taking the 2 doses of St John's Wort, with the odd addition of Rescue Remedy or Quiet Life pills (thank God for them ...), and of course wait for my next specialist appointment in a couple of weeks' time. Heck, if this is life without HRT, not sure I really want to get used to it, but we'll see ...
There's been zilch viewers for the flat, which is very disappointing, so yesterday we reduced the price by 20k to try to get some interest, so it's now on the market at £220,000. I'm hoping that might help, as it's quite disheartening seeing a fair number of houses around that actually we'd be happy with, but being unable to do a dang thing about it. The good news however is that the tricksy neighbour has said they will pay their share of the building insurance - such a relief though we have yet actually to see the cash of course. Not only that but a really good look at the lease for the flat indicates that if one party in our freehold doesn't sign the agreement for any new buyer for whatever reason, then the majority verdict carries the vote, so it looks like I was after all hyperventilating unnecessarily last week. Ah well, same old, same old, eh. Not that we want it to come to that, if we get a buyer, as I'm hoping everyone will sign, but at least there's a light at the end of the proverbial which may possibly not be an oncoming train.
Anyway, tonight I am throwing all troubles to the autumnal wind and going up to London for an evening of chat and cheeriness with Jane W. I'm hoping there won't be any leaves on the line ...
Anne Brooke
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Hit Lists, houses and haikus
Book News:
Much to my astonishment, The Hit List made it up to No 5 in the Amazon UK Kindle store this week, thought it's plummeted down now. But so nice to be on those dizzy heights for a while. Speaking of books, you can now find a good clutch of my ebooks at 1PlaceForRomance Ebooks, including A Dangerous Man, so happy browsing.
You can also purchase my literary lesbian short story, The Girl in the Painting at a 20% discount for today only at Rainbow Ebooks, so don't miss out!
I've also been utterly thrilled at the level of the last quarter's royalties from Amber Allure Press which are the highest I've ever had, hurrah! I must obviously focus on writing more gay erotic stories, as those are the ones readers seem to enjoy most. My goodness, am I developing a commercial focus at last?? K will be pleased!...
This week's meditation:
Meditation 451
Iron and water
rarely blend
except where prophets
make do and mend.
The Sunday haiku:
Bright leaves turn golden
and darkest red, embracing
summer's soft farewell.
Life News:
I'm feeling a little better today, thank the Lord. Last week's depression was really nasty and took me into a flat spin, frankly. So thank goodness for a double dose of St John's Wort and also thank goodness for the fact that K and I had dinner with friends (hello, Robin & Liz and assorted partners!) on Friday night, which was great and really put some perspective onto all the angst. Sometimes you do just have to get out and chat to people, you know.
Yesterday, we sorted out our mortgage application ready for finding (hopefully) somewhere else to buy and being able to (please God ...), and will post all that off tomorrow. We also saw a couple of bungalows in Normandy, one of which was really nice, and the other not so, but it was in a road full of bungalows and silence, and is it just me or is that slightly creepy? If we move there, do we have to start wearing patterned jumpers? Who can tell ...
On the other side of the equation, we nearly had a viewing of the flat last week apparently, but at the last minute our would-be viewer changed her mind and put an offer on something else dammit. Deep sigh. If we don't get any further bites this week, then we will have to drop the price, I think. We'll see how it's going or even if it's going by mid week.
Today, I've enjoyed the bliss of my extra hour (hurrah!) and the extra bliss that the neighbour opposite put a huge sack of Bramley apple windfalls outside her drive with a big notice for people to take them. Naturally we did and have enjoyed apple crumble and custard for lunch, mmm ... Must remember to thank her for them when I next see her.
Anne Brooke
Much to my astonishment, The Hit List made it up to No 5 in the Amazon UK Kindle store this week, thought it's plummeted down now. But so nice to be on those dizzy heights for a while. Speaking of books, you can now find a good clutch of my ebooks at 1PlaceForRomance Ebooks, including A Dangerous Man, so happy browsing.
You can also purchase my literary lesbian short story, The Girl in the Painting at a 20% discount for today only at Rainbow Ebooks, so don't miss out!
I've also been utterly thrilled at the level of the last quarter's royalties from Amber Allure Press which are the highest I've ever had, hurrah! I must obviously focus on writing more gay erotic stories, as those are the ones readers seem to enjoy most. My goodness, am I developing a commercial focus at last?? K will be pleased!...
This week's meditation:
Meditation 451
Iron and water
rarely blend
except where prophets
make do and mend.
The Sunday haiku:
Bright leaves turn golden
and darkest red, embracing
summer's soft farewell.
Life News:
I'm feeling a little better today, thank the Lord. Last week's depression was really nasty and took me into a flat spin, frankly. So thank goodness for a double dose of St John's Wort and also thank goodness for the fact that K and I had dinner with friends (hello, Robin & Liz and assorted partners!) on Friday night, which was great and really put some perspective onto all the angst. Sometimes you do just have to get out and chat to people, you know.
Yesterday, we sorted out our mortgage application ready for finding (hopefully) somewhere else to buy and being able to (please God ...), and will post all that off tomorrow. We also saw a couple of bungalows in Normandy, one of which was really nice, and the other not so, but it was in a road full of bungalows and silence, and is it just me or is that slightly creepy? If we move there, do we have to start wearing patterned jumpers? Who can tell ...
On the other side of the equation, we nearly had a viewing of the flat last week apparently, but at the last minute our would-be viewer changed her mind and put an offer on something else dammit. Deep sigh. If we don't get any further bites this week, then we will have to drop the price, I think. We'll see how it's going or even if it's going by mid week.
Today, I've enjoyed the bliss of my extra hour (hurrah!) and the extra bliss that the neighbour opposite put a huge sack of Bramley apple windfalls outside her drive with a big notice for people to take them. Naturally we did and have enjoyed apple crumble and custard for lunch, mmm ... Must remember to thank her for them when I next see her.
Anne Brooke
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Kindles and Christmases
Book News:
Yes, sorry about the title but someone has to mention the Dreaded Christmas Word first and it might as well be me. The big news of this week has been the long-awaited arrival of my new Kindle. Or Katy, as I'm calling her. She is totally wonderful and I love her - so far. The screen is clearer than the Sony ereader and I particularly enjoy the way that when you switch her off, a different writing-related picture comes up each time. So far I've had (as it were) Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens and the front cover of a medieval-style manuscript. Lovely. The only problem is that you don't see the covers of the books you buy, which is a shame. I do like covers. Still, Katy is great and I have no real complaints at the moment.
Talking of the Kindle, I'm pleased to say that my poetry collection, Sunday Haiku, managed the dizzy heights of No 8 in the Amazon Kindle Poetry charts, though it's now fallen to No 29, but it was a real boost. And if you now have or are expecting your UK Kindle, don't forget that there's a whole wealth of shopping fun here - enjoy!
Meanwhile, publication day for Tommy's Blind Date will soon be upon us, and I have accordingly returned the final galleys. You can also now find further information plus a short & spicy extract at the publisher's website - just to whet your appetite, don't you know.
Not to be outdone, The Delaneys and Me made a brief appearance at No 44 in the Amazon Gay Fiction charts but has now, sadly, slipped away again. This week I have also been heartened that Two Christmases gained a very positive 4-star review at Goodreads - many thanks indeed, Aredhel.
And, at The Bemused Gardener, I have been mulling over mint, figs and the strangeness of sticks, which might - just! - be coming to life again. You never know.
This week's meditations are:
Meditation 415
Never trust an old prophet.
They are like
false smiles
at the meal-table
and ravenous lions
on your path:
avoid them.
Meditation 416
The ancient, well thought-of
and venerable role of priest
is, in these dangerous days, the career
we recommend the least.
Life News:
There's still no definite news on any exchange date for our potential new flat - I had so hoped it would be today, but obviously ... um ... not. It's rather disappointing, not to mention frustrating - even though I do quite understand that the vendors need to get things signed in different parts of the country and then back to their solicitors and then back to our conveyancers, and the bank holiday has slowed everything down and it's a bother for them too, etc etc. It's just that we were aiming to exchange at the end of August, and we'd done everything in our power to make it happen. Yes, I understand that - with a bit of luck and the wind in the right direction - everything will hopefully happen very suddenly and then we'll be there, but until it does I'm feeling hugely twitchy and unsettled. Ah, it's the waiting which kills you, Carruthers, don't you know. Watch this space though ... We live in hope!
Popped in to see the ground floor neighbour today in order to thank him for signing all the documents we need to help the sale go through - he and his family have been total stars throughout all this and we are very grateful to them indeed. Thank you to the M Family! Also lovely to catch up with what's been going on - we chatted for ages which was great.
Other good news is that the very irritating car that was abandoned outside the house during the summer has now finally been removed by the council, so thank you, Mr Council, for that. It's a good job it's gone as my plan this weekend was to beat it to death with sticks, which would have been quite a frightening sight really.
All of which takes my mind off the fact that this week I've had my work review - well, most of it, as David and I chatted for so long that we ran out of time and we must needs finish it off next week sometime. Looks like I'm not too bad after all and he has decided not to sack me yet - hurrah!
Anne Brooke
The Bemused Gardener
Yes, sorry about the title but someone has to mention the Dreaded Christmas Word first and it might as well be me. The big news of this week has been the long-awaited arrival of my new Kindle. Or Katy, as I'm calling her. She is totally wonderful and I love her - so far. The screen is clearer than the Sony ereader and I particularly enjoy the way that when you switch her off, a different writing-related picture comes up each time. So far I've had (as it were) Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens and the front cover of a medieval-style manuscript. Lovely. The only problem is that you don't see the covers of the books you buy, which is a shame. I do like covers. Still, Katy is great and I have no real complaints at the moment.
Talking of the Kindle, I'm pleased to say that my poetry collection, Sunday Haiku, managed the dizzy heights of No 8 in the Amazon Kindle Poetry charts, though it's now fallen to No 29, but it was a real boost. And if you now have or are expecting your UK Kindle, don't forget that there's a whole wealth of shopping fun here - enjoy!
Meanwhile, publication day for Tommy's Blind Date will soon be upon us, and I have accordingly returned the final galleys. You can also now find further information plus a short & spicy extract at the publisher's website - just to whet your appetite, don't you know.
Not to be outdone, The Delaneys and Me made a brief appearance at No 44 in the Amazon Gay Fiction charts but has now, sadly, slipped away again. This week I have also been heartened that Two Christmases gained a very positive 4-star review at Goodreads - many thanks indeed, Aredhel.
And, at The Bemused Gardener, I have been mulling over mint, figs and the strangeness of sticks, which might - just! - be coming to life again. You never know.
This week's meditations are:
Meditation 415
Never trust an old prophet.
They are like
false smiles
at the meal-table
and ravenous lions
on your path:
avoid them.
Meditation 416
The ancient, well thought-of
and venerable role of priest
is, in these dangerous days, the career
we recommend the least.
Life News:
There's still no definite news on any exchange date for our potential new flat - I had so hoped it would be today, but obviously ... um ... not. It's rather disappointing, not to mention frustrating - even though I do quite understand that the vendors need to get things signed in different parts of the country and then back to their solicitors and then back to our conveyancers, and the bank holiday has slowed everything down and it's a bother for them too, etc etc. It's just that we were aiming to exchange at the end of August, and we'd done everything in our power to make it happen. Yes, I understand that - with a bit of luck and the wind in the right direction - everything will hopefully happen very suddenly and then we'll be there, but until it does I'm feeling hugely twitchy and unsettled. Ah, it's the waiting which kills you, Carruthers, don't you know. Watch this space though ... We live in hope!
Popped in to see the ground floor neighbour today in order to thank him for signing all the documents we need to help the sale go through - he and his family have been total stars throughout all this and we are very grateful to them indeed. Thank you to the M Family! Also lovely to catch up with what's been going on - we chatted for ages which was great.
Other good news is that the very irritating car that was abandoned outside the house during the summer has now finally been removed by the council, so thank you, Mr Council, for that. It's a good job it's gone as my plan this weekend was to beat it to death with sticks, which would have been quite a frightening sight really.
All of which takes my mind off the fact that this week I've had my work review - well, most of it, as David and I chatted for so long that we ran out of time and we must needs finish it off next week sometime. Looks like I'm not too bad after all and he has decided not to sack me yet - hurrah!
Anne Brooke
The Bemused Gardener
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Lions, Wolves and Angels
Book News:
I'm interviewed today about Dancing with Lions, so many thanks, Jenna, for that - much appreciated! I also think the whole concept of a 30-second "Drive Thru" interview is utterly grand.
I'm also happy to say that Maloney's Law found itself at No 24 in the Amazon UK Gay Fiction charts, but has slipped down somewhat since then. A brief burst of glory is always nice though. Talking of which, The Delaneys and Me is lurking secretively at No 40 in the Amazon Kindle Gay Books chart, well gosh. People are obviously taking a shine to gay twins and off-beat humour - for which I am very grateful, thank you.
I'm also thrilled that Martin and The Wolf received a lovely review at Jessewave Reviews, so thank you, Jenre - glad you enjoyed the read. Not to be outdone, Angels and Airheads received a 4-star review at Goodreads (thank you, Ami!). Is the paranormal coming into its own? Who can tell ...
Finally, in terms of news in this section, I'm delighted that the lovely Anders at Queer Magazine Online has published my article, entitled Things I've Learnt from my Fictional Gay Men, a subject which actually made me think fairly deeply about the eclectic mix of characters living somewhere in my head, Gawd bless them. If only I could take on board the good things about them all, then surely I might be a better, more together kind of person. I wish, eh.
Anyway, here's a poem about bananas:
Banana Road
One lone banana
waits on an English road
for a banana tree
to rise up
out of English tarmac.
This week's meditations:
Meditation 381
In matters of the heart
it’s true that mothers
may know best
as vengeance
and death
bring their men no rest.
Meditation 382
For a man
soon to be known
as the wisest
in the land
his first acts
are bathed
in blood and fear
proving that God
does indeed work
from the dark.
Meditation 383
You can vanish
in the city,
unnoticed by kings
or killers.
It is only when
the expansive skies
swallow you up
that your hours
are numbered.
Meditation 384
Finally he thinks
of asking
for wisdom –
a gift
willingly granted –
but many deaths
might have been avoided
if he’d only thought
of asking before.
Life News:
Bit of a difficult day today, as people seem to be proving tricky here and there, goddammit. So it's very much a "retire to the nearest cave and wait for the storms to pass" sort of a day, sigh. Still, I had a great time earlier in the week seeing Jane & Ang (hello, both!) for dinner at our local Italian - which was fabulous on all fronts, hurrah! And I've had a lovely time visiting the neighbour today and catching up so that's been nice too. I suppose we all have to hang on to the good bits of the week and let the tricksy bits go hang - sometimes easier said than done though. I just get cross!
Talking of which, I'm very angry and deeply disappointed that once again the Church of England has taken an historic opportunity and trashed it - a story which you can read here. When, oh when will gay people (not to mention women) be seen as equal in the church's eyes? Honestly, surely this injustice and inequality is enough already. It does deeply sadden me that the church leadership fails every time to see things as most of us actual churchgoers do. When will we have leaders who really represent us, or who have the courage simply to stand up for what is right and just and generous? I do feel very let down by this. I'd like to see an openly gay bishop in my lifetime, and a female one too, but I wonder if that's too much to hope for?...
Still, there are some things which remain good nonetheless: I must absolutely refer you to the totally stunning Rock Choir who are well worth your visit and who have produced a rollickingly good first album with some utterly toe-tapping tunes. I know this as I've just listened to the whole thing in the car and it's sing-a-long city! I'm thrilled with this on two counts: first off, my friend Marian from golf and also the lovely lady, Alison, who does my reflexology are both in the choir, so it's their first album - well done to both! And, secondly, if you buy a copy, profits from one of the tracks go to the UK charity, Refuge, which supports victims of domestic violence. A marvellous cause, I'm sure you'll agree, so please do consider buying the album - it's great!
Anne Brooke
The Prayer Seeker's Journal
I'm interviewed today about Dancing with Lions, so many thanks, Jenna, for that - much appreciated! I also think the whole concept of a 30-second "Drive Thru" interview is utterly grand.
I'm also happy to say that Maloney's Law found itself at No 24 in the Amazon UK Gay Fiction charts, but has slipped down somewhat since then. A brief burst of glory is always nice though. Talking of which, The Delaneys and Me is lurking secretively at No 40 in the Amazon Kindle Gay Books chart, well gosh. People are obviously taking a shine to gay twins and off-beat humour - for which I am very grateful, thank you.
I'm also thrilled that Martin and The Wolf received a lovely review at Jessewave Reviews, so thank you, Jenre - glad you enjoyed the read. Not to be outdone, Angels and Airheads received a 4-star review at Goodreads (thank you, Ami!). Is the paranormal coming into its own? Who can tell ...
Finally, in terms of news in this section, I'm delighted that the lovely Anders at Queer Magazine Online has published my article, entitled Things I've Learnt from my Fictional Gay Men, a subject which actually made me think fairly deeply about the eclectic mix of characters living somewhere in my head, Gawd bless them. If only I could take on board the good things about them all, then surely I might be a better, more together kind of person. I wish, eh.
Anyway, here's a poem about bananas:
Banana Road
One lone banana
waits on an English road
for a banana tree
to rise up
out of English tarmac.
This week's meditations:
Meditation 381
In matters of the heart
it’s true that mothers
may know best
as vengeance
and death
bring their men no rest.
Meditation 382
For a man
soon to be known
as the wisest
in the land
his first acts
are bathed
in blood and fear
proving that God
does indeed work
from the dark.
Meditation 383
You can vanish
in the city,
unnoticed by kings
or killers.
It is only when
the expansive skies
swallow you up
that your hours
are numbered.
Meditation 384
Finally he thinks
of asking
for wisdom –
a gift
willingly granted –
but many deaths
might have been avoided
if he’d only thought
of asking before.
Life News:
Bit of a difficult day today, as people seem to be proving tricky here and there, goddammit. So it's very much a "retire to the nearest cave and wait for the storms to pass" sort of a day, sigh. Still, I had a great time earlier in the week seeing Jane & Ang (hello, both!) for dinner at our local Italian - which was fabulous on all fronts, hurrah! And I've had a lovely time visiting the neighbour today and catching up so that's been nice too. I suppose we all have to hang on to the good bits of the week and let the tricksy bits go hang - sometimes easier said than done though. I just get cross!
Talking of which, I'm very angry and deeply disappointed that once again the Church of England has taken an historic opportunity and trashed it - a story which you can read here. When, oh when will gay people (not to mention women) be seen as equal in the church's eyes? Honestly, surely this injustice and inequality is enough already. It does deeply sadden me that the church leadership fails every time to see things as most of us actual churchgoers do. When will we have leaders who really represent us, or who have the courage simply to stand up for what is right and just and generous? I do feel very let down by this. I'd like to see an openly gay bishop in my lifetime, and a female one too, but I wonder if that's too much to hope for?...
Still, there are some things which remain good nonetheless: I must absolutely refer you to the totally stunning Rock Choir who are well worth your visit and who have produced a rollickingly good first album with some utterly toe-tapping tunes. I know this as I've just listened to the whole thing in the car and it's sing-a-long city! I'm thrilled with this on two counts: first off, my friend Marian from golf and also the lovely lady, Alison, who does my reflexology are both in the choir, so it's their first album - well done to both! And, secondly, if you buy a copy, profits from one of the tracks go to the UK charity, Refuge, which supports victims of domestic violence. A marvellous cause, I'm sure you'll agree, so please do consider buying the album - it's great!
Anne Brooke
The Prayer Seeker's Journal
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