Managed to sell one copy of “A Dangerous Man” (http://www.flamebooks.com) to Ruth at work today (hurrah!) but couldn’t persuade her to part with any more cash for “A Stranger’s Table” (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) – groan. The writer’s life is indeed one of swings and roundabouts. I’m trying to go easy on the copies of Michael that I sell directly as (a) I don’t get royalties from them, and (b) Flame don’t, I think, actually count them as copies sold (but you know me – I daren’t ask …). And, in the extremely slim-to-the-point-of-vanishing chance I have of getting them even to consider taking another novel, every copy counts.
However, there is some good news – Mother has just finished ADM and really loved it – hurrah! Apparently, she thinks it’s my best yet – ye gods, I didn’t know I was in competition with myself. But she is right, in my view. Still, no pressure on the next one, eh …? Much. I’m not sure I can write from that kind of place again either, to be honest. Heck, at least I managed to do it once. Maybe, along the lines of yesterday’s blog, it might be enough.
This morning, after catching up with last week’s stuff, I’ve tried to ring the surgery to arrange my usual round of medical check-ups (courtesy of half my family dying eventually of diabetes and the other half having nasty cholesterol/kidney problems – it’s astonishing I’m still here at all really). Apparently the system has changed utterly since last year and the three tests I used to have with the nurse and which took no more than a minute all together have now been divided up “for reasons of improved patient care” (bah, we say, bah!) and given lots of paperwork accompaniments. Which means that I now have to fill in a form for the blood test and go to the blood clinic. (Though the other tests I can still have together). This would be fine in theory, but they can’t fit me in till at least 2010 now, so they’ve suggested I fill in the blood form – when it arrives, having had to be signed off by my doctor who has to check I’m still alive – and then take it up to the hospital. Bloody hell. And “patient care” my arse. What a rigmarole. By the time I’ve done all that, I’ll probably have stress-induced diabetes and my kidneys will be shot to pieces. And who knows what I’ll pick up from the hospital. Sigh.
This lunchtime, I walked into town to put in Clayton’s (http://www.myspace.com/dwbsoho) cheque for ADM – thanks, Clayton! Hope you enjoy the read. And Monique from the University Health Centre has apparently bought me a new fluffy pen (what a star!) – I tried to pick it up in the morning, but she was too busy with patients, so will have to try later in the week. Maybe she can squeeze me in and give me the blood test herself … but I suspect that if we do that, we’ll all be beaten to a pulp by the PCT (Patient Care Trust) for trying to buck the system. Again.
Tonight, Lord H is at theology class – which apparently was supposed to be about homosexuality and advertising (my verdict – hey, bring it on, babe!... there should be more of both), but due to sickness is now about homosexuality and poverty. Which means that the Diocesan attempts to pair subjects in some vague way is now completely trashed. Hah! That’ll show ’em. I might do more to “The Gifting” while he’s out (as it were), as I think I need to get back into it after my slight break. But I’m hoping to be a TV slob too at some point. The video of “Primeval” beckons, I fear …
Oh, and I've submitted the synopsis for "Maloney's Law" and "Thorn in the Flesh" to The Friday Project (http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk) in a last desperate attempt to communicate with the outside (publishing) world on those ones. Seeing as my agent (http://www.johnjarrold.co.uk/about.html) seems to have vanished into the ether. Are you there, John ...? It's feeling quite lonely over here, you know ... Oh God, I'm being a Needy Author. The agent's worst nightmare. Someone pass me the arsenic.
Today’s nice things:
1. Selling one copy of ADM
2. Gaining parental approval for said book (ye gods, but I’m sad …)
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
ANNE BROOKE BOOKS: Independent writer of modern fiction
Monday, March 05, 2007
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Space for me and my men
Bloody hell, but that was a valuable weekend. I'd been dreading it beforehand thinking: should I go? should I stay at home? can I get to Bristol (and back) in one piece? But I'm glad I made the effort. And yes I made it through the wind and rain and lorries, and I'm back now. With my usual post-travel headache, but feeling something's changed inside. Which can only be a good thing.
So, Enneagram 2 - me and my relationships was the focus. On the technical side, as a Moody Romantic 4 (the Enneagram circle has nine numbers which you have greater or lesser leanings towards - I'm a 4), I've found out about how I can use my Loner neighbour (5 - the number which I do think Lord H is, by the way, but it's up to each person to work it out for themselves, so it's only my opinion!) and my Movie Star neighbour (3) in circumstances where that will be helpful, and also how my strongest links in times of stress & security are to the Perfectionist 1 and the Helper 2. And thinking about it, I do love so much to be at home (like a 5) so I can recharge, and I also do perform in public (like a 3), probably as a defence mechanism. Also, I think that when I'm stressed, I get obsessive about why things aren't perfect in some circumstances, and on flattering people so they don't attack me in others. Both of which actions are like the 1 and the 2 on the circle. Same with the security points really - when I'm feeling safe, I like the feeling of being in control (like a 1) and I also feel better able to help others (like a 2). Ye gods, Sherlock, it's all beginning to make sense. To me anyway.
Oh, and being a 4, I do love talking about myself, which explains the last paragraph - welcome to Anne's ego trip. Enjoy the ride ...
But far and away the best part of the weekend was what I feel I got out of the meditation/body work sessions (they focus on the combination of the physical and the spiritual at Emmaus House, which is something I appreciate). During the two meditations, we were asked to focus on our inner self and to hold that self with love and care. Not something I do very often, if I'm honest. For a while, I didn't really know what I was supposed to be doing, but then it came to me that it wasn't just me in that space. It was Michael too. And someone else. Which (in my tradition and understanding) I'd probably call God, but other people might call something else. The question I was asking, and which Michael was asking too, was: did I do okay? is it enough? And the answer was: yeah, you did good. It's enough. And then an overwhelming feeling of acceptance. No. More than that. Affirmation. Sounds simple, I know, but always the big question hanging over me in everything I do has been: is it good enough? am I good enough? And after five years of struggle with the book, the question becomes too huge to lose even on publication, believe me. To have it answered at least in terms of "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) and Michael in a way that means something to me and on a deep level is frankly revolutionary.
It also, I think, has freed something up in me in the way I've tried to ignore Michael and the Michael parts of me in my attempts to relate to God. After this weekend, I feel more that God might actually see the whole picture and not be as surprised or afraid of it as I am. Maybe (just maybe, mind ...) when that great supreme being in the sky looks at me, he already sees Michael, and Paul, and Simon, and ... whoever, as well and is even pleased that I've begun to acknowledge them too. Maybe even they can be part of the plan. Bloody hell, eh?...
Well. Phew. A lot to be pondering on, as you can see. But there were some lighter moments along the way - including having an ensuite room which had a toilet with only one wall between it and the window. And, um no other cover, not even a door. So, as Lord H said on the phone, more of an "en" than a "suite". I had to be jolly careful not to lean forward after getting off the throne (as it were) or everyone on the Bristol highway had a prime view of my unmentionables. Which may explain the amount of shrieking that appeared to go on at 2am on Saturday morning. Perhaps the Bristol youth were letting off steam at the horror of it all ...
Back home, I have yet to face the unpacking, but Lord H has done some cleaning (what a superhero - he now has huge numbers of Husband Points), so I'll leave it till next week. What a slut I am indeed. And tonight, it's "Lewis" on TV, so a slob-out opportunity. Hurrah.
Ooh, and for the first time, I've won the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) Flash Fiction II weekly competition with my "Another Time, Another Place" story, so that's a nice feeling for sure. And it means I have to set next week's competition - aha! the power! the power! My Enneagram 4 ego is loving it, dahlings!
This week's haiku:
Gravel and water,
sunlight, birdsong, a cool wind:
time and space to breathe.
This weekend's nice things:
1. Having space with Michael and God
2. The unexpected sense of peace
3. Laughing at the toilet arrangements.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
So, Enneagram 2 - me and my relationships was the focus. On the technical side, as a Moody Romantic 4 (the Enneagram circle has nine numbers which you have greater or lesser leanings towards - I'm a 4), I've found out about how I can use my Loner neighbour (5 - the number which I do think Lord H is, by the way, but it's up to each person to work it out for themselves, so it's only my opinion!) and my Movie Star neighbour (3) in circumstances where that will be helpful, and also how my strongest links in times of stress & security are to the Perfectionist 1 and the Helper 2. And thinking about it, I do love so much to be at home (like a 5) so I can recharge, and I also do perform in public (like a 3), probably as a defence mechanism. Also, I think that when I'm stressed, I get obsessive about why things aren't perfect in some circumstances, and on flattering people so they don't attack me in others. Both of which actions are like the 1 and the 2 on the circle. Same with the security points really - when I'm feeling safe, I like the feeling of being in control (like a 1) and I also feel better able to help others (like a 2). Ye gods, Sherlock, it's all beginning to make sense. To me anyway.
Oh, and being a 4, I do love talking about myself, which explains the last paragraph - welcome to Anne's ego trip. Enjoy the ride ...
But far and away the best part of the weekend was what I feel I got out of the meditation/body work sessions (they focus on the combination of the physical and the spiritual at Emmaus House, which is something I appreciate). During the two meditations, we were asked to focus on our inner self and to hold that self with love and care. Not something I do very often, if I'm honest. For a while, I didn't really know what I was supposed to be doing, but then it came to me that it wasn't just me in that space. It was Michael too. And someone else. Which (in my tradition and understanding) I'd probably call God, but other people might call something else. The question I was asking, and which Michael was asking too, was: did I do okay? is it enough? And the answer was: yeah, you did good. It's enough. And then an overwhelming feeling of acceptance. No. More than that. Affirmation. Sounds simple, I know, but always the big question hanging over me in everything I do has been: is it good enough? am I good enough? And after five years of struggle with the book, the question becomes too huge to lose even on publication, believe me. To have it answered at least in terms of "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) and Michael in a way that means something to me and on a deep level is frankly revolutionary.
It also, I think, has freed something up in me in the way I've tried to ignore Michael and the Michael parts of me in my attempts to relate to God. After this weekend, I feel more that God might actually see the whole picture and not be as surprised or afraid of it as I am. Maybe (just maybe, mind ...) when that great supreme being in the sky looks at me, he already sees Michael, and Paul, and Simon, and ... whoever, as well and is even pleased that I've begun to acknowledge them too. Maybe even they can be part of the plan. Bloody hell, eh?...
Well. Phew. A lot to be pondering on, as you can see. But there were some lighter moments along the way - including having an ensuite room which had a toilet with only one wall between it and the window. And, um no other cover, not even a door. So, as Lord H said on the phone, more of an "en" than a "suite". I had to be jolly careful not to lean forward after getting off the throne (as it were) or everyone on the Bristol highway had a prime view of my unmentionables. Which may explain the amount of shrieking that appeared to go on at 2am on Saturday morning. Perhaps the Bristol youth were letting off steam at the horror of it all ...
Back home, I have yet to face the unpacking, but Lord H has done some cleaning (what a superhero - he now has huge numbers of Husband Points), so I'll leave it till next week. What a slut I am indeed. And tonight, it's "Lewis" on TV, so a slob-out opportunity. Hurrah.
Ooh, and for the first time, I've won the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) Flash Fiction II weekly competition with my "Another Time, Another Place" story, so that's a nice feeling for sure. And it means I have to set next week's competition - aha! the power! the power! My Enneagram 4 ego is loving it, dahlings!
This week's haiku:
Gravel and water,
sunlight, birdsong, a cool wind:
time and space to breathe.
This weekend's nice things:
1. Having space with Michael and God
2. The unexpected sense of peace
3. Laughing at the toilet arrangements.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Friday, March 02, 2007
On retreat and Flame reviews
Had a fairly logical packing session last night for the retreat I'm on this weekend at Emmaus House (http://www.emmaushouse.org.uk). I'm doing the second Enneagram course focusing on relationships. So, by the time I come back, I'm hoping that Lord H, my three imaginary menfolk and I will all be living in perfect harmony. Still, we don't do so badly at the moment, all things considered and at least no-one's turned up in a white coat. Yet.
And Lord H has finished "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com)!!! I think he enjoyed it. He did say it was very terrifying, but not quite as terrifying as realising he had a wife who could get inside the head of a gay male prostitute with a proclivity for violence. I'm not sure it was the deal he signed up for! Still, he was smiling when he said it (whilst backing away and phoning the police for help ...). He'll no doubt be glad to get back to the relative normality of his theology essay this weekend while I'm away. And he did say I mustn't worry that his chosen topic is the ethics of divorce ... I can see I'm going to have to come back and be extra nice and loving! Goodness, what a strain ...
Ooh, and Flame Books have added a couple of the reviews I've had to their review section (http://www.flamebooks.com/books.asp?sectionId=3) which is nice. Almost makes me feel like a real writer. Someone pass me the smelling salts.
This morning, I have shopped wildly for birthday cards in Godalming (why is everyone's birthdays in March - or at least everyone I know?) and think I've found suitable pictures for all. And I popped round a set of books to Jennifer of Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) for the market on Tuesday. Now all I have to do is have lunch and go to Bristol. God, how I hate travelling to strange places on my own. I really hope (a) my petrol isn't contaminated and will actually get me there, (b) I can find the place all right without stopping and having to burst into tears & ring Lord H. I can see I'm going to have to take a calming pill before I set off. God, I must be a woman after all ...
Back Sunday. Have a great weekend, all.
Today's nice things:
1. Lord H surviving ADM!
2. The reviews now being on Flame
3. Starting the retreat - once I get there ...
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
And Lord H has finished "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com)!!! I think he enjoyed it. He did say it was very terrifying, but not quite as terrifying as realising he had a wife who could get inside the head of a gay male prostitute with a proclivity for violence. I'm not sure it was the deal he signed up for! Still, he was smiling when he said it (whilst backing away and phoning the police for help ...). He'll no doubt be glad to get back to the relative normality of his theology essay this weekend while I'm away. And he did say I mustn't worry that his chosen topic is the ethics of divorce ... I can see I'm going to have to come back and be extra nice and loving! Goodness, what a strain ...
Ooh, and Flame Books have added a couple of the reviews I've had to their review section (http://www.flamebooks.com/books.asp?sectionId=3) which is nice. Almost makes me feel like a real writer. Someone pass me the smelling salts.
This morning, I have shopped wildly for birthday cards in Godalming (why is everyone's birthdays in March - or at least everyone I know?) and think I've found suitable pictures for all. And I popped round a set of books to Jennifer of Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) for the market on Tuesday. Now all I have to do is have lunch and go to Bristol. God, how I hate travelling to strange places on my own. I really hope (a) my petrol isn't contaminated and will actually get me there, (b) I can find the place all right without stopping and having to burst into tears & ring Lord H. I can see I'm going to have to take a calming pill before I set off. God, I must be a woman after all ...
Back Sunday. Have a great weekend, all.
Today's nice things:
1. Lord H surviving ADM!
2. The reviews now being on Flame
3. Starting the retreat - once I get there ...
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Counselling and the imaginary gay male
Another session of counselling with Kunu this morning. Actually I felt quite positive. We talked a lot about writing, about Michael and even got onto mentioning Paul (from "Maloney's Law") and Simon from "The Gifting". It's funny how I can know exactly what was happening for me at the time of writing them simply by looking at my strange line of imaginary gay males and their story. For instance, Michael is the screwed-up, desperately needy one (and God, what a year-and-a-half that was for me too), then the next one along is Paul, who's possibly even needier, but who covers it well with a nice dose of dry wit and the innate ability to grow (I felt better that year). Now, there's Simon who has a hell of a time at the beginning of his story, but who now finds himself on a journey to somewhere better - though he doesn't know where yet - and, even though he's shit-scared, is actually beginning to enjoy it. Lord alone knows where we go next. It's also interesting that now I've got Michael in the world beyond my own head, I'm beginning to focus more on Paul once more. Anyone fancy giving a publishing home to a good-looking gay PI who's obsessed with his ex-lover, has a bitter secret in his past and an almost Asperger's ability to calculate time? He can laugh at himself too ...
Anyway, Kunu and I have come to the conclusion that I am having a better week because I've actually managed to communicate with the outside world (by means of Michael) in a meaningful (I hope) way, and that astonishingly I'm getting positive feedback in return - which is making all the bloody difference. Ye gods though, if I am getting my personal validation from good reviews, I am obviously far more desperate than even I had realised. Must go back to those "self-esteem and how to find it" lessons ... And God help me when the bad reviews turn up. Argh!
We also talked about clothes - my £400 Orvis spend has turned up and I love every single one of my new items. I'm even wearing my new blue and white jumper now - it's ace. I think actually that now Michael is free (or freer) from me, I feel I can (a) buy nice clothes, and (b) wear different earrings. God, I'm so psychotic I probably have more issues than Paul. It's as if all this time I've been waiting. Oh, hang on, I'm getting muddled - that last sentence is actually from "Maloney's Law". I remember it well. Bloody hell, I'm plagiarising myself. Ah well, you read it here first.
At home, I discover that my copies of "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) have actually turned up - hurrah! So I can send out my copies to (a) Clayton (http://www.myspace.com/dwbsoho) who has apparently trashed his version of PayPal (well done, Clayton! I tried that once, but they got stroppy with me; they obviously have more respect for you), (b) Gary at Independent Authors (http://www.independentauthors.co.uk) in case he can sell any, and (c) the Apsley Guise Scout Association (no, don't laugh - they want a copy for their charity auction even though I have explained what ADM is about and that Michael isn't really suitable, unless the Scouts are much, much changed from what they used to be ...). So I have packaged items as if it were an Olympic sport and will post them tomorrow.
And, at the same time, Jennifer from Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) tells me that she needs copies of my books and a few flyers for the market they're holding in Guildford on Tuesday. I shall have to see if I can pop in tomorrow morning, or Monday night, as I'm on retreat in Bristol this weekend, so shall be out of contact until Sunday night. When I won't really be arsed to get in a car - with or without books - and drive anywhere. If I don't hear from her, I'll try ringing tonight, as I'd rather squeeze it into tomorrow morning's schedule than have to do it after work. Monday night is always, if at all possible, spent at home. I cannot make any kind of bid for sanity otherwise ...
Oh, and I've popped into see Gladys too - who is quite bright today and enjoying the daffodils. She's quite worried about her cat though, as she fears they might take Dolly (said cat) away from her. Seems unnecessarily cruel to me. Dolly's no trouble. Can't she ring Old People's Line about this sort of thing? If the Powers That Be do decide to steal poor Dolly, I will round up the usual suspects and cat-nap the damn moggy back for her. Godalming: The Cat Wars. It would probably make a good film.
Tonight, I will start packing (otherwise I will get twitchy). No, that's a lie. I shall be twitchy anyway as I hate being away from home and Lord H. Travel, of any kind, is just not natural. God knows why people insist on doing it. But I know I need to get away to think & regroup (me and my imaginary men), and I think now is a good time to do it.
Today's nice things:
1. Counselling
2. Copies of ADM arriving
3. Thinking about writing.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Anyway, Kunu and I have come to the conclusion that I am having a better week because I've actually managed to communicate with the outside world (by means of Michael) in a meaningful (I hope) way, and that astonishingly I'm getting positive feedback in return - which is making all the bloody difference. Ye gods though, if I am getting my personal validation from good reviews, I am obviously far more desperate than even I had realised. Must go back to those "self-esteem and how to find it" lessons ... And God help me when the bad reviews turn up. Argh!
We also talked about clothes - my £400 Orvis spend has turned up and I love every single one of my new items. I'm even wearing my new blue and white jumper now - it's ace. I think actually that now Michael is free (or freer) from me, I feel I can (a) buy nice clothes, and (b) wear different earrings. God, I'm so psychotic I probably have more issues than Paul. It's as if all this time I've been waiting. Oh, hang on, I'm getting muddled - that last sentence is actually from "Maloney's Law". I remember it well. Bloody hell, I'm plagiarising myself. Ah well, you read it here first.
At home, I discover that my copies of "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) have actually turned up - hurrah! So I can send out my copies to (a) Clayton (http://www.myspace.com/dwbsoho) who has apparently trashed his version of PayPal (well done, Clayton! I tried that once, but they got stroppy with me; they obviously have more respect for you), (b) Gary at Independent Authors (http://www.independentauthors.co.uk) in case he can sell any, and (c) the Apsley Guise Scout Association (no, don't laugh - they want a copy for their charity auction even though I have explained what ADM is about and that Michael isn't really suitable, unless the Scouts are much, much changed from what they used to be ...). So I have packaged items as if it were an Olympic sport and will post them tomorrow.
And, at the same time, Jennifer from Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) tells me that she needs copies of my books and a few flyers for the market they're holding in Guildford on Tuesday. I shall have to see if I can pop in tomorrow morning, or Monday night, as I'm on retreat in Bristol this weekend, so shall be out of contact until Sunday night. When I won't really be arsed to get in a car - with or without books - and drive anywhere. If I don't hear from her, I'll try ringing tonight, as I'd rather squeeze it into tomorrow morning's schedule than have to do it after work. Monday night is always, if at all possible, spent at home. I cannot make any kind of bid for sanity otherwise ...
Oh, and I've popped into see Gladys too - who is quite bright today and enjoying the daffodils. She's quite worried about her cat though, as she fears they might take Dolly (said cat) away from her. Seems unnecessarily cruel to me. Dolly's no trouble. Can't she ring Old People's Line about this sort of thing? If the Powers That Be do decide to steal poor Dolly, I will round up the usual suspects and cat-nap the damn moggy back for her. Godalming: The Cat Wars. It would probably make a good film.
Tonight, I will start packing (otherwise I will get twitchy). No, that's a lie. I shall be twitchy anyway as I hate being away from home and Lord H. Travel, of any kind, is just not natural. God knows why people insist on doing it. But I know I need to get away to think & regroup (me and my imaginary men), and I think now is a good time to do it.
Today's nice things:
1. Counselling
2. Copies of ADM arriving
3. Thinking about writing.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
The prodigal earring and another review
The earring has returned! Double hurrah! The spirit of the quivery old earring man has obviously done its work. Either that or St Anthony (patron saint of lost things) has been busy, Gawd bless 'im. Anyway, I was sitting at the computer last night, Lord H said something, I turned round to answer him and I saw it lying next to the chair. Rejoice and kill the fatted calf indeed! Well, I had a whisky & ginger to celebrate, so honour is satisfied. Thank goodness we don't Hoover on a regular basis. Oh, all right. The sound of your mocking laughter is deafening me. We rarely Hoover at all with any sense of commitment.
And Irene (http://www.thisthatfromireneblack.blogspot.com) from Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) and author of the stunning romantic Indian thriller, "The Moon's Complexion" (available from Goldenford and Amazon and why on earth haven't you bought it yet you're missing a treat ...) has given me a lovely review of "A Dangerous Man" (ooh and while you're buying "Moon", you may as well pop across to http://www.flamebooks.com and buy this one too, tee hee ...), as follows:
“You sure don't pull your punches, do you? That's some novel! Where does it all come from? My mind's been blown to smithereens - I'm awestruck! If you haven't read Anne's book yet, I thoroughly recommend you to do so. You will be totally amazed and left breathless and blinking!”
Oo-err, thanks, Irene, hugely! Michael's quite touched too, but then again he's like that ... Thank you!
So, after reading Irene's review six million times and smiling a lot (okay, okay, and then reading it another few million times ... I know I'm an egomaniac, I know ...), I leapt into some kind of action and submitted my monthly offering of poetry, this time to Staple magazine. Phew. Literary honour is satisfied. I popped a couple of leaflets in for ADM and "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" (also from Goldenford) as well, on the grounds that if they can't stand my poetry, then they might soften towards my prose instead. You never know.
And lunch with Robin, who is planning another shopping trip soon, depending on whether I might be able to afford it or not. She's bought ADM (thanks, Robin) but I know her pile of books is huge so suspect she might not reach it until at least 2008. We went to the Harrow in Compton as always, but they've taken their baguettes range off the menu (surprise!! I know I shouldn't have said that they were my favourite ever lunch item - the curse of Brooke's Discontinued Items strikes again - deeeep deeeep sigh). We had to have sandwiches instead. It just wasn't the same.
Oh, and I've been looking through the University 101-page document on the restructuring (thank God only 4 pages actually seem to relate to me, or I might implode entirely) and was highly amused by the throwaway comment in the first page which tells me that the reason for the current restructuring is the fact that the last restructuring was just too expensive and we can't afford it. So, basically, we're restructuring because we can't afford the restructuring. Hmm. As I said in a reply on my last blog, I'm starting to think I'm in the middle of a particularly bizarre Monty Python sketch. Higher Education is indeed a wonderful thing ...
Then again, if I ask St Anthony nicely, perhaps he'll deal with my job the same way he managed the earring? There's always hope.
Still, life goes on - I've written a couple of hundred words more of "The Gifting" and hope to scribble some more later on. But my main plans this evening are slump, slump and (you've guessed it) slump again.
Today's nice things:
1. The return of the earring - hurrah!
2. Irene's lovely review of ADM - double hurrah!
3. Lunch out - but bring back my ruddy baguette, you bastards!!
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
And Irene (http://www.thisthatfromireneblack.blogspot.com) from Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) and author of the stunning romantic Indian thriller, "The Moon's Complexion" (available from Goldenford and Amazon and why on earth haven't you bought it yet you're missing a treat ...) has given me a lovely review of "A Dangerous Man" (ooh and while you're buying "Moon", you may as well pop across to http://www.flamebooks.com and buy this one too, tee hee ...), as follows:
“You sure don't pull your punches, do you? That's some novel! Where does it all come from? My mind's been blown to smithereens - I'm awestruck! If you haven't read Anne's book yet, I thoroughly recommend you to do so. You will be totally amazed and left breathless and blinking!”
Oo-err, thanks, Irene, hugely! Michael's quite touched too, but then again he's like that ... Thank you!
So, after reading Irene's review six million times and smiling a lot (okay, okay, and then reading it another few million times ... I know I'm an egomaniac, I know ...), I leapt into some kind of action and submitted my monthly offering of poetry, this time to Staple magazine. Phew. Literary honour is satisfied. I popped a couple of leaflets in for ADM and "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" (also from Goldenford) as well, on the grounds that if they can't stand my poetry, then they might soften towards my prose instead. You never know.
And lunch with Robin, who is planning another shopping trip soon, depending on whether I might be able to afford it or not. She's bought ADM (thanks, Robin) but I know her pile of books is huge so suspect she might not reach it until at least 2008. We went to the Harrow in Compton as always, but they've taken their baguettes range off the menu (surprise!! I know I shouldn't have said that they were my favourite ever lunch item - the curse of Brooke's Discontinued Items strikes again - deeeep deeeep sigh). We had to have sandwiches instead. It just wasn't the same.
Oh, and I've been looking through the University 101-page document on the restructuring (thank God only 4 pages actually seem to relate to me, or I might implode entirely) and was highly amused by the throwaway comment in the first page which tells me that the reason for the current restructuring is the fact that the last restructuring was just too expensive and we can't afford it. So, basically, we're restructuring because we can't afford the restructuring. Hmm. As I said in a reply on my last blog, I'm starting to think I'm in the middle of a particularly bizarre Monty Python sketch. Higher Education is indeed a wonderful thing ...
Then again, if I ask St Anthony nicely, perhaps he'll deal with my job the same way he managed the earring? There's always hope.
Still, life goes on - I've written a couple of hundred words more of "The Gifting" and hope to scribble some more later on. But my main plans this evening are slump, slump and (you've guessed it) slump again.
Today's nice things:
1. The return of the earring - hurrah!
2. Irene's lovely review of ADM - double hurrah!
3. Lunch out - but bring back my ruddy baguette, you bastards!!
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The “at risk” writer, an earring crisis and another review
Sent round the poetry review email for “A Stranger’s Table” (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) this morning to the usual suspects and have had one promise to buy (hurrah!) but no actual sales as yet (groan). But the University Arts Office want to have a picture and some blurb for their summer calendar, so I’d better make sure my parting is straight and my teeth are in. Talking of looking nice, as a special treat, I have put new pictures of happy, cared-for students on the Student Care Services site as I was bored with the same old faces. Ha! That’ll fool ’em …
And at lunchtime, we had our special Vice-Chancellor chat (warning to those not in Education – never, ever attend a V-C’s chat expecting good news; it’s like being in the army in a war zone in the ’90s and seeing Kate Adie reporting. You know you’re in deep shit …). Anyway, he told us we were all basically “at risk” and even those who hadn’t yet got their gloom & misery letters (ie me) would be getting them shortly, probably. So it looks like I might be a “Phase Two” loser and have to reapply for my job sometime next academic year. But it’s hard to tell – as his delivery was so fast he could probably have taken off and reached Mars without the aid of a touch-paper or a naked flame – especially as in one breath he said that Student Care Services would have very few changes and then in the next breath he said all admin staff were pretty risky. Hell, we knew that anyway. In so many ways. Anyway, it does beg the question whether the Government will one day introduce a system where somewhere between the ages of 40 and 50, you actually have to take time out and reapply for your own life. Hmm, such a measure would certainly give many pause for thought indeed. Ah well, in the meantime, I shall lie low and wait for my letter. Or the Great White Hunter. One of the two. But where, oh where, will I find another part-time job that pays so nicely and keeps me in floppy disks? Lord, how I hate change!
Ooh, and it’s also interesting that the V-C gave his spiel whilst flanked by the entire membership of the Executive Board. Did he think we would riot and tear him limb from limb? Hmm, perhaps we should have... And I’ve never seen such a terrifyingly similar contingent of middle-aged, middle-class, white-haired, grey-suited gents all at one table. Don’t they offer executive posts to women at all? Or to men without M&S expense accounts? Just as the University is about to embark on the Gender Equality survey too. The mind boggles …
But, far and away today’s worst news is the fact that I have LOST AN EARRING. This, for those of you keeping up with my psychotic earring traumas, is one of my gold hoop ones that I was given when I had my ears pierced on my 16th birthday – a present from my mother whom I’d been nagging for years about it. On the day, she’d even arranged specially to bring out of retirement the man who’d pierced her ears when she first moved south to marry my father. Which basically meant that my ears were pierced by a silver-haired, trembling-handed 120-year-old corpse who could barely see the chair he was sitting on, let alone my ear. My mother’s always been such a romantic at heart. I of course was terrified. Still, I have to say that he did do an ace job, and I’m extremely sorry to have lost one of those earrings now, over 26 years after getting them. And I’m especially traumatised as it now means I will have to wear other earrings which aren’t them – and I’ve (for reasons I still can’t explain) been wearing these gold hoop ones for months now as I can’t bear the thought of putting others in. I shall definitely get some replacements though as they’re the ones I also sleep in, as they don’t prick my neck like dangly earrings or studs, and I can’t not wear any overnight as the hole is then in danger of closing up, particularly if I’m ill. And how Lord H hates the sight of me rejabbing my ears if the piercings ever do close up – he has to leave the room and sit groaning quietly in a corner for a while. Still, at least I have the unlost earring, so I should be able to match it fairly well.
Ooh, and at home, the lovely Andrew Taylor (http://www.andrew-taylor.co.uk), award-winning crime writer, has kindly given me a few words on “A Dangerous Man” (http://www.flamebooks.com): “The novel was very interesting and unusual, a dark and chilling parable about art, love and murder.”
Thanks, Andrew – I really appreciate that. Hugely.
Tonight, I’m planning to watch the second half of the wonderful “Instinct” on TV. I was utterly gripped by it yesterday and am desperate to know what happens. Love the two main characters too – can’t imagine what the critics meant about them not being likeable. Utter tripe – they’re great!
Today’s nice things:
1. Nearly selling a copy of “A Stranger’s Table”
2. Laughing at the Executive Board clones
3. Andrew Taylor’s review of ADM.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
And at lunchtime, we had our special Vice-Chancellor chat (warning to those not in Education – never, ever attend a V-C’s chat expecting good news; it’s like being in the army in a war zone in the ’90s and seeing Kate Adie reporting. You know you’re in deep shit …). Anyway, he told us we were all basically “at risk” and even those who hadn’t yet got their gloom & misery letters (ie me) would be getting them shortly, probably. So it looks like I might be a “Phase Two” loser and have to reapply for my job sometime next academic year. But it’s hard to tell – as his delivery was so fast he could probably have taken off and reached Mars without the aid of a touch-paper or a naked flame – especially as in one breath he said that Student Care Services would have very few changes and then in the next breath he said all admin staff were pretty risky. Hell, we knew that anyway. In so many ways. Anyway, it does beg the question whether the Government will one day introduce a system where somewhere between the ages of 40 and 50, you actually have to take time out and reapply for your own life. Hmm, such a measure would certainly give many pause for thought indeed. Ah well, in the meantime, I shall lie low and wait for my letter. Or the Great White Hunter. One of the two. But where, oh where, will I find another part-time job that pays so nicely and keeps me in floppy disks? Lord, how I hate change!
Ooh, and it’s also interesting that the V-C gave his spiel whilst flanked by the entire membership of the Executive Board. Did he think we would riot and tear him limb from limb? Hmm, perhaps we should have... And I’ve never seen such a terrifyingly similar contingent of middle-aged, middle-class, white-haired, grey-suited gents all at one table. Don’t they offer executive posts to women at all? Or to men without M&S expense accounts? Just as the University is about to embark on the Gender Equality survey too. The mind boggles …
But, far and away today’s worst news is the fact that I have LOST AN EARRING. This, for those of you keeping up with my psychotic earring traumas, is one of my gold hoop ones that I was given when I had my ears pierced on my 16th birthday – a present from my mother whom I’d been nagging for years about it. On the day, she’d even arranged specially to bring out of retirement the man who’d pierced her ears when she first moved south to marry my father. Which basically meant that my ears were pierced by a silver-haired, trembling-handed 120-year-old corpse who could barely see the chair he was sitting on, let alone my ear. My mother’s always been such a romantic at heart. I of course was terrified. Still, I have to say that he did do an ace job, and I’m extremely sorry to have lost one of those earrings now, over 26 years after getting them. And I’m especially traumatised as it now means I will have to wear other earrings which aren’t them – and I’ve (for reasons I still can’t explain) been wearing these gold hoop ones for months now as I can’t bear the thought of putting others in. I shall definitely get some replacements though as they’re the ones I also sleep in, as they don’t prick my neck like dangly earrings or studs, and I can’t not wear any overnight as the hole is then in danger of closing up, particularly if I’m ill. And how Lord H hates the sight of me rejabbing my ears if the piercings ever do close up – he has to leave the room and sit groaning quietly in a corner for a while. Still, at least I have the unlost earring, so I should be able to match it fairly well.
Ooh, and at home, the lovely Andrew Taylor (http://www.andrew-taylor.co.uk), award-winning crime writer, has kindly given me a few words on “A Dangerous Man” (http://www.flamebooks.com): “The novel was very interesting and unusual, a dark and chilling parable about art, love and murder.”
Thanks, Andrew – I really appreciate that. Hugely.
Tonight, I’m planning to watch the second half of the wonderful “Instinct” on TV. I was utterly gripped by it yesterday and am desperate to know what happens. Love the two main characters too – can’t imagine what the critics meant about them not being likeable. Utter tripe – they’re great!
Today’s nice things:
1. Nearly selling a copy of “A Stranger’s Table”
2. Laughing at the Executive Board clones
3. Andrew Taylor’s review of ADM.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Monday, February 26, 2007
Admin, flashes, a review and the vampire student
A morning spent clearing up the admin from last week, and an unexpectedly clear day due to the cancelled lunchtime steering group meeting. I am therefore frighteningly up-to-date, with the time to enjoy some wonderful pieces of satire in the student newspaper, “Barefacts”. The non-news section was a riot – one skit on branding (and the ridiculous amount of money the university spends on it to no apparent purpose) and one on equality for vampire students (why should the undead get all the fun?). But I suspect that both Lord H and I will struggle with the sudokus. Honestly, don’t these students have work to do rather than setting difficult puzzles for us intellectually-challenged staff?...
Had a walk round campus at lunchtime and spent some time by the lake staring at the swans and dreaming of fame & fortune. Heck, don’t tell me: I should have stuck to the swans …
And I’ve written another piece of flash fiction for this week’s Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) challenge, which carries the theme found in the title:
Another time, another place
Her eyes met his. He smiled, the burden of his day lifting just a little. She smiled back. Three steps, and then they’d passed each other, heading in different directions, into their different lives. He felt once more the weight of his wedding band. Another time, another place, he thought.
I’ve also decided that I’m going to be a fly-by-night committer too and on 15 March (which is a Thursday), instead of going to my dance lesson – when Keith W will allegedly be back for it, but hmm, I’m not holding my breath … – I’m going to go on a Writeworder night out in London instead. Well, there’s certainly a higher chance of some of them actually being able to go, and heck I shall enjoy it.
At home, I discover that Keith Please (a quite well-known poet who lives locally and is a very, very nice man) has kindly given me my first review of “A Stranger’s Table" (http://www.poetrymonthly.com):
“The smart – in the best sense – title paves the way for the variety of voice and subject matter to come. There is throughout a refreshing lack of inhibition in the use of language, yet not a single piece is overwritten. A fine collection.”
Heck, I'm still smiling!
Tonight, Lord H is out at his theology class and I’m hoping to get some more of “The Gifting” done. Might even get Simon and Johan out there on the ocean, you never know. And there’s also some ace TV on – a thriller called “Instinct” looks particularly good, so I imagine I’ll be watching that. I’m such a TV tart ...
Today’s nice things:
1. The lake & swans
2. Writing the flash fiction piece
3. Getting my first review of “A Stranger’s Table”.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Had a walk round campus at lunchtime and spent some time by the lake staring at the swans and dreaming of fame & fortune. Heck, don’t tell me: I should have stuck to the swans …
And I’ve written another piece of flash fiction for this week’s Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) challenge, which carries the theme found in the title:
Another time, another place
Her eyes met his. He smiled, the burden of his day lifting just a little. She smiled back. Three steps, and then they’d passed each other, heading in different directions, into their different lives. He felt once more the weight of his wedding band. Another time, another place, he thought.
I’ve also decided that I’m going to be a fly-by-night committer too and on 15 March (which is a Thursday), instead of going to my dance lesson – when Keith W will allegedly be back for it, but hmm, I’m not holding my breath … – I’m going to go on a Writeworder night out in London instead. Well, there’s certainly a higher chance of some of them actually being able to go, and heck I shall enjoy it.
At home, I discover that Keith Please (a quite well-known poet who lives locally and is a very, very nice man) has kindly given me my first review of “A Stranger’s Table" (http://www.poetrymonthly.com):
“The smart – in the best sense – title paves the way for the variety of voice and subject matter to come. There is throughout a refreshing lack of inhibition in the use of language, yet not a single piece is overwritten. A fine collection.”
Heck, I'm still smiling!
Tonight, Lord H is out at his theology class and I’m hoping to get some more of “The Gifting” done. Might even get Simon and Johan out there on the ocean, you never know. And there’s also some ace TV on – a thriller called “Instinct” looks particularly good, so I imagine I’ll be watching that. I’m such a TV tart ...
Today’s nice things:
1. The lake & swans
2. Writing the flash fiction piece
3. Getting my first review of “A Stranger’s Table”.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Reading, writing & slumping
No church today - bliss. Or rather Lord H went as he was on server duties, so represented the household accordingly. And it was - horror of horrors - a baptism service, and I don't do those, given my deep child-hating tendencies. It's my belief that all babies/children are inherently dull and when they're born they all look like Winston Churchill but without the cigar. Though I suppose that's not entirely fair - there are some children I like, but only one or two and then only because they have real personalities and so count as small people, rather than children per se. Even so, they'll still be a hell of a lot more interesting when they hit their twenties. Thank God this is a child-free zone.
I have spent the time getting another 1000 words of "The Gifting" done, so I now have 99,006 - only 994 to go before the big 100K!! And I've finished a hell of a lot of books, including:
(a) "Wherever", a poetry anthology from Cinnamon Press (http://www.cinnamonpress.com) which has a poem by ... um ... me in it. I also enjoyed the offerings from Michael Smith, one from Claudia Jessop and those by Linda Benninghof. All good stuff, but Smith was far and away the best. Though it does gall me to say it wasn't me, of course ... Hell, I'm only human.
(b) "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers - some good positive stuff in there which I shall try to remember, but it did become rather wearing towards the end. I'm not really sure I can aim for perfection, to be honest. Simple survival would be nice.
(c) "Not Dark Yet" by Nick Maes. I thought this was well-written but really didn't have much to it. Gay boy meets older straight woman. Falls in love. Woman dies. Um, haven't we heard this story before? And I do think it was really a long short story dressed up as a novel and needed rather a lot of cutting to bring it to perfection (assuming that can be achieved of course ...). But I would pick up another Maes again, if one came up.
Ooh, and the lovely Sue Haywood (http://www.teafriendsandchocolate.com/sue/) has been talking me up in her blog - so thanks hugely for that, Sue. Much appreciated. I think you're rather wonderful too. And the equally wonderful Becky (http://www.myspace.com/edie1964) has ordered a copy of "A Stranger's Table" so has doubled my weekend sales joy factor - thank you, Becky! I'll post it off to you on Monday. I've also discovered that the Eurocrime blog (http://eurocrime.blogspot.com) has included me on their new crime book listings for both "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) and my ancient first novel, "The Hit List" (gay crime comedy) so that's nice too - though, if I were being honest, I wouldn't recommend my first novel if you've not read it before. It shrieks "first novel" whenever I open it (rarely) and demands changes (lots of them) that I frankly can't be arsed to make. Still, I know in my heart that I had to write THL (Jamie) in order to get to ADM (Michael), so I do have something to thank it for.
The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the repeat of "Ugly Betty", which I do enjoy, even though it doesn't really know whether it's a comedy or a drama. I think it's starting to leap over the fence to drama now, but it should have started off there in the first place and then we'd all have known where we were.
Tonight, I will attempt to ring mother, and do some serious slumping over "Lewis" on tv. Bliss. Ooh, and a weird thing happened at lunch - we suddenly heard distant knocking and then an enormous bird flew past the window. I suspect we've been caught up in a temporal anomaly and there are now dinosaurs in the loft and pterodactyls in the garden. Ah well, we live in interesting times.
This week's haiku:
One skeleton tree
carries evening skies tonight,
sweat poured out in stars.
Today's nice things:
1. Getting caught up in "The Gifting" for a while
2. Reading
3. Nice news from Sue, Becky & Eurocrime (3 in 1, I know, but hell it is Sunday ...).
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
I have spent the time getting another 1000 words of "The Gifting" done, so I now have 99,006 - only 994 to go before the big 100K!! And I've finished a hell of a lot of books, including:
(a) "Wherever", a poetry anthology from Cinnamon Press (http://www.cinnamonpress.com) which has a poem by ... um ... me in it. I also enjoyed the offerings from Michael Smith, one from Claudia Jessop and those by Linda Benninghof. All good stuff, but Smith was far and away the best. Though it does gall me to say it wasn't me, of course ... Hell, I'm only human.
(b) "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers - some good positive stuff in there which I shall try to remember, but it did become rather wearing towards the end. I'm not really sure I can aim for perfection, to be honest. Simple survival would be nice.
(c) "Not Dark Yet" by Nick Maes. I thought this was well-written but really didn't have much to it. Gay boy meets older straight woman. Falls in love. Woman dies. Um, haven't we heard this story before? And I do think it was really a long short story dressed up as a novel and needed rather a lot of cutting to bring it to perfection (assuming that can be achieved of course ...). But I would pick up another Maes again, if one came up.
Ooh, and the lovely Sue Haywood (http://www.teafriendsandchocolate.com/sue/) has been talking me up in her blog - so thanks hugely for that, Sue. Much appreciated. I think you're rather wonderful too. And the equally wonderful Becky (http://www.myspace.com/edie1964) has ordered a copy of "A Stranger's Table" so has doubled my weekend sales joy factor - thank you, Becky! I'll post it off to you on Monday. I've also discovered that the Eurocrime blog (http://eurocrime.blogspot.com) has included me on their new crime book listings for both "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) and my ancient first novel, "The Hit List" (gay crime comedy) so that's nice too - though, if I were being honest, I wouldn't recommend my first novel if you've not read it before. It shrieks "first novel" whenever I open it (rarely) and demands changes (lots of them) that I frankly can't be arsed to make. Still, I know in my heart that I had to write THL (Jamie) in order to get to ADM (Michael), so I do have something to thank it for.
The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the repeat of "Ugly Betty", which I do enjoy, even though it doesn't really know whether it's a comedy or a drama. I think it's starting to leap over the fence to drama now, but it should have started off there in the first place and then we'd all have known where we were.
Tonight, I will attempt to ring mother, and do some serious slumping over "Lewis" on tv. Bliss. Ooh, and a weird thing happened at lunch - we suddenly heard distant knocking and then an enormous bird flew past the window. I suspect we've been caught up in a temporal anomaly and there are now dinosaurs in the loft and pterodactyls in the garden. Ah well, we live in interesting times.
This week's haiku:
One skeleton tree
carries evening skies tonight,
sweat poured out in stars.
Today's nice things:
1. Getting caught up in "The Gifting" for a while
2. Reading
3. Nice news from Sue, Becky & Eurocrime (3 in 1, I know, but hell it is Sunday ...).
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Golf and the Great Clean
A bit of a lie-in this morning, followed by a major panic as I realised that we really had to clean the flat before our golf session & lunch with Marian & Siegi. No matter how many hours/days you leave for the cleaning trauma, there is never enough time. And I do sooo hate cleaning - it makes me long for the days of servants (though they'd probably be shocked by the sort of stuff we keep around the place, to be honest). Anyway, we managed to do it in time, thank God.
And in the middle of it all, I received another request for "A Stranger's Table" - which is now on Amazon and can be found here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strangers-Table-Anne-Brooke/dp/1905126883/sr=8-1/qid=1172342554/ref=sr_1_1/202-0915331-5590251?ie=UTF8&s=books
... all you ever need to know about wasps, art and lesbianism, all in one book. Marvellous. The perfect gift for Lent indeed.
So, with today's request, I have sold the grand total of five poetry books. Ah well. Not quite Poet Laureate standards, one fears, but heck it's a tricky market. Still, the good news is that Ver Poets (Gawd bless 'em) have asked to review a copy so I have sent one to them. And my old poetry tutor (who bought today's copy) has suggested I send it to the TLS' review pages as well - which just goes to show there's nothing like optimism. I do fear that will be a totally wasted copy, but he's very insistent ...
So, golf at lunchtime with Marian and Siegi - we couldn't play on our usual course though (Charterhouse, if you're asking, dahlings - Lord H is a member, but only because the downstairs neighbour is a green-keeper, so don't get too excited ...) as they were having a competition, so we went to the local one instead. Which was surprisingly empty, probably due to the amount of sport on today. Nevertheless, we were still crap - the only one playing anything remotely like the noble game of golf today was Lord H. However, we did have a laugh. Mainly at how many times I could get in the mud and shower myself with the stuff when I attempted a swing.
Post-lunch, I have put the flat back to how it should be, so it feels more like our own now - is it just me, or does people coming round feel like invasion to others too? No? Ah well, it is just me then ... Sigh.
Tonight, I'm hoping to slump like a beached whale in front of the tv and catch up on (a) Primeval, and (b) my video of Life on Mars. And I have done a few sentences to "The Gifting" - but nothing serious like actually turning the pages over to write more. Too tired for anything complicated really.
Today's nice things:
1. Selling a copy of "A Stranger's Table" - which has boosted my sales by one-fifth, hurrah!
2. Golf
3. Slumping and tv.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
And in the middle of it all, I received another request for "A Stranger's Table" - which is now on Amazon and can be found here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strangers-Table-Anne-Brooke/dp/1905126883/sr=8-1/qid=1172342554/ref=sr_1_1/202-0915331-5590251?ie=UTF8&s=books
... all you ever need to know about wasps, art and lesbianism, all in one book. Marvellous. The perfect gift for Lent indeed.
So, with today's request, I have sold the grand total of five poetry books. Ah well. Not quite Poet Laureate standards, one fears, but heck it's a tricky market. Still, the good news is that Ver Poets (Gawd bless 'em) have asked to review a copy so I have sent one to them. And my old poetry tutor (who bought today's copy) has suggested I send it to the TLS' review pages as well - which just goes to show there's nothing like optimism. I do fear that will be a totally wasted copy, but he's very insistent ...
So, golf at lunchtime with Marian and Siegi - we couldn't play on our usual course though (Charterhouse, if you're asking, dahlings - Lord H is a member, but only because the downstairs neighbour is a green-keeper, so don't get too excited ...) as they were having a competition, so we went to the local one instead. Which was surprisingly empty, probably due to the amount of sport on today. Nevertheless, we were still crap - the only one playing anything remotely like the noble game of golf today was Lord H. However, we did have a laugh. Mainly at how many times I could get in the mud and shower myself with the stuff when I attempted a swing.
Post-lunch, I have put the flat back to how it should be, so it feels more like our own now - is it just me, or does people coming round feel like invasion to others too? No? Ah well, it is just me then ... Sigh.
Tonight, I'm hoping to slump like a beached whale in front of the tv and catch up on (a) Primeval, and (b) my video of Life on Mars. And I have done a few sentences to "The Gifting" - but nothing serious like actually turning the pages over to write more. Too tired for anything complicated really.
Today's nice things:
1. Selling a copy of "A Stranger's Table" - which has boosted my sales by one-fifth, hurrah!
2. Golf
3. Slumping and tv.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Friday, February 23, 2007
Nutrimetics, coffee, tongues and opera
Today I am a lady who does coffee (if not lunch) - hurrah! Spent the morning at Jane H's, catching up on the gossip, talking about "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) - she's read it, she really enjoyed it, phew that's a relief, thanks, Jane ..., and sampling the products of Jane's wonderful shit-hot new stylish coffee machine. It was marvellous! And even did decaff, so I'm not quite as on the ceiling as I would be with a caffeine fix. Though as I'm fairly hyper anyway, I sometimes wonder if it makes any difference ... Oh, and I also restocked my essential supplies of Jane's Nutrimetics (http://www.nutrimetics.co.uk) so perhaps I am indeed turning into a designer product junkie. Anyway, I love the stuff, and I even have two new ones to try, so I am a contented cat. Goodness, am I turning in to a Real Woman? No! Surely not ... Whatever would Michael say?
Talking of womanhood though, I actually bought £400 worth of new clothes yesterday!!! Which in Orvis (http://www.orvis.co.uk) language, translates into ... um ... only six items, including two utterly adorable jackets which I just couldn't resist. Bloody hell, what am I saying? Ye gods, I never shop. Or buy clothes. What is happening to me??? I blame it on the Sad Light, which is turning my winter depression into an overwhelming desire to spend. Or perhaps the Government is putting female hormones into the water supply after all, and I am at last getting my fair share of the little buggers? Anyway, Lord H was thrilled as he is constantly bemoaning how cheap a wife I am (or at least I think that's what he's saying ...) and used his credit card to buy the stuff. So I am indeed turning into Surrey Wife in that I am now officially Kept By My Husband. You heard it here first.
And a curious fact about Lord H (steady people, steady ...): I have known this man for 20 years and been married to him for 13-and-a-half, and yet yesterday evening he walked into the dining room, stuck his tongue out and demonstrated for the first time ever how he could roll it into a U-shape. It was horrible, really horrible. I can see I shall have to book another therapy session pretty damn quick ... In fact, I have never seen anything quite so disturbing before (which I imagine proves what a bizarrely sheltered life I have in fact led) and it also proves beyond shadow of a doubt that I am actually married to an alien. Take me to your strange tongue-rolling people ... No, on second thoughts, don't. Anyway, once I'd stopped screaming and calmed down somewhat, Lord H explained that it's part of the genetics presentation he's preparing for his theology course. Apparently, there are two types of people in the world: those who can roll their tongues into a seriously weird U-shape (dominant gene); and those who can't (recessive gene). All I can say is that, for the first time ever, I am really, really glad I'm not the dominant one. And I can see his presentation is going to be memorable.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I have spent the afternoon typing up yesterday's scribblings of "The Gifting" onto the computer - it's slowly, slowly this week, with only 97,600 words in total to show. Oh to get to 98,000 before the Revolution arrives. And Sean from Flame has very kindly contacted me to see if I'm happy with the look of ADM - the answer being a resounding yes! - but lovely of him to ask. I've also had another go at a piece of flash fiction for the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) Flash Fiction II challenge (the theme being "plughole"!) and have come up with a 50-worder:
Bathtime secrets
Janine watched the water as it swirled down the plughole. When it was finished, she lifted out the matted hairs from its tiny eyes. Dark strands mixed with auburn. Such a shame then that she was blonde. Downstairs, she heard the front door open. ‘Darling, I’m home,’ her husband yelled.
Tonight, Lord H and I are off to see Opera South's performance of Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love" in Haslemere - Ruth from work sings in the chorus, so there's a personal connection, but it's a great opera too. The only problem I'm having (apart from Haslemere's parking hell) is that I hate, hate, hate going out on a Friday (when Lord H and I should be slumping in front of the telly with pizza and icecream - that's what Friday's are for, for goodness sake), and we're not really going to catch up on our usual psychotic-hermit time until Sunday, as we're doing golf & lunch at ours tomorrow. All nice stuff of course, but the amount of social interaction I'm going to have to do with the outside world is already making me twitchy. I think it's time for a calming pill ...
Today's nice things:
1. Jane liking ADM - thanks, Jane!
2. Jane's great coffee machine
3. Opera.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Talking of womanhood though, I actually bought £400 worth of new clothes yesterday!!! Which in Orvis (http://www.orvis.co.uk) language, translates into ... um ... only six items, including two utterly adorable jackets which I just couldn't resist. Bloody hell, what am I saying? Ye gods, I never shop. Or buy clothes. What is happening to me??? I blame it on the Sad Light, which is turning my winter depression into an overwhelming desire to spend. Or perhaps the Government is putting female hormones into the water supply after all, and I am at last getting my fair share of the little buggers? Anyway, Lord H was thrilled as he is constantly bemoaning how cheap a wife I am (or at least I think that's what he's saying ...) and used his credit card to buy the stuff. So I am indeed turning into Surrey Wife in that I am now officially Kept By My Husband. You heard it here first.
And a curious fact about Lord H (steady people, steady ...): I have known this man for 20 years and been married to him for 13-and-a-half, and yet yesterday evening he walked into the dining room, stuck his tongue out and demonstrated for the first time ever how he could roll it into a U-shape. It was horrible, really horrible. I can see I shall have to book another therapy session pretty damn quick ... In fact, I have never seen anything quite so disturbing before (which I imagine proves what a bizarrely sheltered life I have in fact led) and it also proves beyond shadow of a doubt that I am actually married to an alien. Take me to your strange tongue-rolling people ... No, on second thoughts, don't. Anyway, once I'd stopped screaming and calmed down somewhat, Lord H explained that it's part of the genetics presentation he's preparing for his theology course. Apparently, there are two types of people in the world: those who can roll their tongues into a seriously weird U-shape (dominant gene); and those who can't (recessive gene). All I can say is that, for the first time ever, I am really, really glad I'm not the dominant one. And I can see his presentation is going to be memorable.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I have spent the afternoon typing up yesterday's scribblings of "The Gifting" onto the computer - it's slowly, slowly this week, with only 97,600 words in total to show. Oh to get to 98,000 before the Revolution arrives. And Sean from Flame has very kindly contacted me to see if I'm happy with the look of ADM - the answer being a resounding yes! - but lovely of him to ask. I've also had another go at a piece of flash fiction for the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) Flash Fiction II challenge (the theme being "plughole"!) and have come up with a 50-worder:
Bathtime secrets
Janine watched the water as it swirled down the plughole. When it was finished, she lifted out the matted hairs from its tiny eyes. Dark strands mixed with auburn. Such a shame then that she was blonde. Downstairs, she heard the front door open. ‘Darling, I’m home,’ her husband yelled.
Tonight, Lord H and I are off to see Opera South's performance of Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love" in Haslemere - Ruth from work sings in the chorus, so there's a personal connection, but it's a great opera too. The only problem I'm having (apart from Haslemere's parking hell) is that I hate, hate, hate going out on a Friday (when Lord H and I should be slumping in front of the telly with pizza and icecream - that's what Friday's are for, for goodness sake), and we're not really going to catch up on our usual psychotic-hermit time until Sunday, as we're doing golf & lunch at ours tomorrow. All nice stuff of course, but the amount of social interaction I'm going to have to do with the outside world is already making me twitchy. I think it's time for a calming pill ...
Today's nice things:
1. Jane liking ADM - thanks, Jane!
2. Jane's great coffee machine
3. Opera.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Fluffy slippers and submissions
Hmm, I suspect that title might give people the wrong idea, but what the hell. Into Guildford first thing for a spot of shopping before my counselling appointment (at last! I've missed it over the three weeks of not going) - mainly to buy those utterly gorgeous, silky, fluffy slippers I promised myself yesterday. But shock! horror! There are no pink ones left in my size (7 if you're asking ...), so, suitably traumatised, I had to settle for a mauve pair. But actually I've warmed to them as they still do look adorable. And will tone beautifully with my fluffy pink-and-white striped dressing-gown. I am indeed a Goddess of Style ... Cruelly, I have placed them on the bed, standing guard over Lord H's post - as I know how much he hates my fluffy slipper collection and has, in the past, been found bending over a pair wielding a knife. The household excitements never stop, you know. Um. Did I say "collection"? Um, well, ye-es ... I do already have fluffy cow slippers and fluffy sheep slippers (with horns, so they must be mountain sheep), both of which I love and wear constantly. Even in summer. I'd love to have a fluffy kitten pair too, but have never seen any. Sigh.
Sound of door banging - whoops! I think Michael has just left, disgusted by my lack of gay style understanding. Ah well, I'm hopeful he'll be back shortly, as otherwise where will his next line come from? And thinking of Michael, I spent a long time talking about him in today's counselling session with Kunu. I think I've got to the point where, because "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) is now published, the link with Michael has become/is becoming slightly less obsessive. I feel as if I've spent five years in a small room with this man and have been unable to move on at all as no publisher before Flame would take it. No matter how many other books I began (and in three cases finished) writing. I think, of them all, he's the most important one, and probably always will be. Now, it's as if I've stepped back, closed the door so I can no longer see him and am preparing to move away. It's not that I don't want to see him again - believe me, I do - but I don't think we're living together any more in quite the same way. Part of me feels sad about this, but I wouldn't want to change it. And, weirdly but not quite as weirdly as I thought it would be, Kunu is planning to read ADM. Which I think will help, as it's hard to explain all that stuff - at least for me. I'm always more honest in the written medium. She also asked me what Michael thought of the book - the question brought me up short, but did make me think. My response is he's pleased. Maybe there are one or two things he'd alter, so he doesn't have to lay himself open at quite so much depth, but on the whole he's pleased. In fact - more weirdness alert - in the car, I think I heard him say thank you. And that meant something.
On the way home, I popped into see Gladys, but she seemed to be in the middle of a nap, so I left a note and tiptoed out quietly, hoping not to confuse her. I'll try for a conversation next week and see how she is. For the rest of the afternoon, I've been ploughing through my usual monthly submissions to poetry competitions. Maybe I'm getting jaded and cynical in my post-Michael (no! God! I can't quite mean that yet; it's too soon, it's too soon ...) years as there were a couple of entries I abandoned entirely on the grounds that I really couldn't be arsed to check if my postcards were the right size, or put an envelope inside another envelope and seal it before using another envelope to post it. Much like those medieval feasts where you put a duck in a swan and then put the whole lot in a hog's head and eat it. Ye gods!! What are these competition people on? All I bloody well want to do is pop it in the ruddy envelope and post it. Life's too short to fiddle about with stationery. Talking of which, the flyers for ADM have turned up (small publishers' syndrome, which I expected - so I did them myself) so I've sent a load out to friends/contacts who don't have computers in the hope of bringing in a little extra trade. Ever hopeful - that's me.
Oh, and the Lovely Caroline (http://www.myspace.com/caroline_biesse) - Caroline: this is now your official title ... - says she's getting even more into ADM and thinks it gets better and better. In spite of the rudery. Huge thanks again, Caroline - much appreciated. Michael sends thanks too. Or would if the fluffy slippers hadn't driven the poor bloke away. And Penelope Cline/Nell Grey (http://www.nellgrey.co.uk or http://www.visualartnow.com/penelopecline/) - the artist who did the ADM cover - has finally received the copies I sent her (hurrah! - and heartfelt thanks again, Nell - glad they turned up all right, after all this time!). I've also asked if she'll draft some ideas for Jacquelynn Luben's (http://jackieluben.blogspot.com) next novel, "Tainted Tree", on behalf of Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) so we're looking forward to getting the roughs of those. "Tainted Tree" is a great novel which I hope we'll be able to publish in the not too distant future - the story of one woman's search for her family roots. A very readable saga indeed.
Think I might scribble down some more stuff on "The Gifting" later - see how Simon is getting on now he's in the country of water. I don't think he's a great swimmer but hell he's going to have to learn pretty damn quick.
And, generally, I'm planning a quiet evening - once Lord H has got over the shock of the slippers, aha!...
Today's nice things:
1. Fluffy mauve slippers
2. Counselling
3. Thinking about Michael
4. Ye gods - four! - Caroline's generous comments about ADM.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Sound of door banging - whoops! I think Michael has just left, disgusted by my lack of gay style understanding. Ah well, I'm hopeful he'll be back shortly, as otherwise where will his next line come from? And thinking of Michael, I spent a long time talking about him in today's counselling session with Kunu. I think I've got to the point where, because "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) is now published, the link with Michael has become/is becoming slightly less obsessive. I feel as if I've spent five years in a small room with this man and have been unable to move on at all as no publisher before Flame would take it. No matter how many other books I began (and in three cases finished) writing. I think, of them all, he's the most important one, and probably always will be. Now, it's as if I've stepped back, closed the door so I can no longer see him and am preparing to move away. It's not that I don't want to see him again - believe me, I do - but I don't think we're living together any more in quite the same way. Part of me feels sad about this, but I wouldn't want to change it. And, weirdly but not quite as weirdly as I thought it would be, Kunu is planning to read ADM. Which I think will help, as it's hard to explain all that stuff - at least for me. I'm always more honest in the written medium. She also asked me what Michael thought of the book - the question brought me up short, but did make me think. My response is he's pleased. Maybe there are one or two things he'd alter, so he doesn't have to lay himself open at quite so much depth, but on the whole he's pleased. In fact - more weirdness alert - in the car, I think I heard him say thank you. And that meant something.
On the way home, I popped into see Gladys, but she seemed to be in the middle of a nap, so I left a note and tiptoed out quietly, hoping not to confuse her. I'll try for a conversation next week and see how she is. For the rest of the afternoon, I've been ploughing through my usual monthly submissions to poetry competitions. Maybe I'm getting jaded and cynical in my post-Michael (no! God! I can't quite mean that yet; it's too soon, it's too soon ...) years as there were a couple of entries I abandoned entirely on the grounds that I really couldn't be arsed to check if my postcards were the right size, or put an envelope inside another envelope and seal it before using another envelope to post it. Much like those medieval feasts where you put a duck in a swan and then put the whole lot in a hog's head and eat it. Ye gods!! What are these competition people on? All I bloody well want to do is pop it in the ruddy envelope and post it. Life's too short to fiddle about with stationery. Talking of which, the flyers for ADM have turned up (small publishers' syndrome, which I expected - so I did them myself) so I've sent a load out to friends/contacts who don't have computers in the hope of bringing in a little extra trade. Ever hopeful - that's me.
Oh, and the Lovely Caroline (http://www.myspace.com/caroline_biesse) - Caroline: this is now your official title ... - says she's getting even more into ADM and thinks it gets better and better. In spite of the rudery. Huge thanks again, Caroline - much appreciated. Michael sends thanks too. Or would if the fluffy slippers hadn't driven the poor bloke away. And Penelope Cline/Nell Grey (http://www.nellgrey.co.uk or http://www.visualartnow.com/penelopecline/) - the artist who did the ADM cover - has finally received the copies I sent her (hurrah! - and heartfelt thanks again, Nell - glad they turned up all right, after all this time!). I've also asked if she'll draft some ideas for Jacquelynn Luben's (http://jackieluben.blogspot.com) next novel, "Tainted Tree", on behalf of Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) so we're looking forward to getting the roughs of those. "Tainted Tree" is a great novel which I hope we'll be able to publish in the not too distant future - the story of one woman's search for her family roots. A very readable saga indeed.
Think I might scribble down some more stuff on "The Gifting" later - see how Simon is getting on now he's in the country of water. I don't think he's a great swimmer but hell he's going to have to learn pretty damn quick.
And, generally, I'm planning a quiet evening - once Lord H has got over the shock of the slippers, aha!...
Today's nice things:
1. Fluffy mauve slippers
2. Counselling
3. Thinking about Michael
4. Ye gods - four! - Caroline's generous comments about ADM.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Readers and reflexology
Gulp. My boss has bought “A Dangerous Man” (http://www.flamebooks.com) and I have signed it for him. From me and Michael. Double gulp. That should make for an interesting review this summer ... I did think about giving him a note of the pages to avoid as he’s a nice, straightforward man, but thought the list would be too long and confusing. Gulp. Again. But, hey, lovely that it’s another sale – I hope Flame are pleased with me. And the equally lovely Caroline from MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/caroline_biesse) has already started her copy and tells me that she’s really enjoying it, though is shocked by the number of rude words I know. Sorry, Caroline … I’m afraid it will probably get worse before it gets better. And thank you for letting me know it’s arrived!
I am taking it to the wire, work-wise, as I still haven’t sent out papers for Monday’s Steering Group but I’m waiting on a response about a report before we decide whether we have a meeting at all. And, being a part-timer, today is my last day of the week … Update: relief! They've cancelled it. Phew. Still, will have to do a report to email round, otherwise the members will forget I exist at all.
Reflexology at lunchtime, as no back exercise class this week, or at least none that I can make. So all my toxins are flowing nicely, thank you. And Emily (reflexologist) is keen to buy the book – hurrah! – so I’ve made a note to bring a copy to my next session – that is, if Flame have sent me the ones I ordered by then … Back at my desk, the lady who borrowed “A Stranger’s Table” (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) yesterday has now, sadly, returned it without the compulsion to buy. Groan. Still, at least she left me a note to say she’d enjoyed the poems. Buy them then, darn it, buy them – how difficult can it be??!!! Oh. Sorry. My normality head slipped a little there – but it’s safely in place once more, you’ll be relieved to hear. Lord, but I’m soooo borderline psychotic. Somebody book me a therapy session.
This afternoon I’ve done a VDU assessment for one of the Counselling staff, so have had to sound professional and competent. When in fact I know nothing and tend to slouch at my computer when no-one is looking like an old hippy. A drunk one. Oh, and I rushed around like the proverbial juggling meetings and agendas and minutes until my brain imploded. So no changes there then.
Tonight, I’m shopping and doing normal stuff. If I can manage it. Update: I managed it. Hurrah. And I forgot to say that Carol at work has bought a gorgeous silky pair of blue fluffy slippers, so I intend to go into town tomorrow to buy a pink pair. Never say I'm not cool ...
And, finally, one of my colleagues asked me if it's actually Lord H on the front cover of "A Dangerous Man" ... Of course not, I cry - Lord H is even more attractive, in every way! Naturally.
Today’s nice things:
1. My boss buying ADM
2. Caroline saying she was enjoying the book
3. Reflexology.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
I am taking it to the wire, work-wise, as I still haven’t sent out papers for Monday’s Steering Group but I’m waiting on a response about a report before we decide whether we have a meeting at all. And, being a part-timer, today is my last day of the week … Update: relief! They've cancelled it. Phew. Still, will have to do a report to email round, otherwise the members will forget I exist at all.
Reflexology at lunchtime, as no back exercise class this week, or at least none that I can make. So all my toxins are flowing nicely, thank you. And Emily (reflexologist) is keen to buy the book – hurrah! – so I’ve made a note to bring a copy to my next session – that is, if Flame have sent me the ones I ordered by then … Back at my desk, the lady who borrowed “A Stranger’s Table” (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) yesterday has now, sadly, returned it without the compulsion to buy. Groan. Still, at least she left me a note to say she’d enjoyed the poems. Buy them then, darn it, buy them – how difficult can it be??!!! Oh. Sorry. My normality head slipped a little there – but it’s safely in place once more, you’ll be relieved to hear. Lord, but I’m soooo borderline psychotic. Somebody book me a therapy session.
This afternoon I’ve done a VDU assessment for one of the Counselling staff, so have had to sound professional and competent. When in fact I know nothing and tend to slouch at my computer when no-one is looking like an old hippy. A drunk one. Oh, and I rushed around like the proverbial juggling meetings and agendas and minutes until my brain imploded. So no changes there then.
Tonight, I’m shopping and doing normal stuff. If I can manage it. Update: I managed it. Hurrah. And I forgot to say that Carol at work has bought a gorgeous silky pair of blue fluffy slippers, so I intend to go into town tomorrow to buy a pink pair. Never say I'm not cool ...
And, finally, one of my colleagues asked me if it's actually Lord H on the front cover of "A Dangerous Man" ... Of course not, I cry - Lord H is even more attractive, in every way! Naturally.
Today’s nice things:
1. My boss buying ADM
2. Caroline saying she was enjoying the book
3. Reflexology.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
A Dangerous Man - he's here!
Finally managed to proofread the changes to the mentoring handbook today and also to put some pretty pictures in so there aren’t too many scary words to beat people with. I’m sure Carol will have more changes though, as first handbooks always take a lifetime, but I’ll have to wait and see.
I then spent some time dragging myself through the utterly boring Perspectives mag (the mag for university administrators). I don’t know how they manage to make it as dull as it is, but I’m sure each edition is worse. Could definitely do with a few colour pictures in there. In fact, I’m sure that when I was ploughing through the last dreadful article – and I can’t now even remember what it was supposed to be about – a third of my brain cells packed their suitcases and left home. Thank the Lord it only comes out about three times a year (or perhaps it’s more and I’ve blanked it?). I only read it when there’s nothing else to do, to be honest.
Oh and I had a message from a friend (thanks, Liz) who seems keen not to miss out on any of my recent successes, (gosh, a fan, a fan – I’m astounded!) so I sent her the books info by email – though actually I’d already done this, so maybe I’m seen as Spam on everyone’s systems now? It wouldn’t surprise me, and would explain the lack of responses from elsewhere (see below) … - and I also left a message on her ansaphone to say what I’d done. As you can see, I am indeed a desperately needy writer. But then you knew that.
We had our monthly UniSWriters meeting at lunchtime today. As I’d received a request from one of our members (thanks, Alan!...), I brought along some chocolates to celebrate my astonishing week of publications and attempted to sell some of the “A Stranger’s Table” (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) collection. No takers, though I did have one borrower, which was nice. And we had a great meeting – lots of interesting writing and some good discussions. Indeed, we were rocking.
This afternoon, I fiddled around on the care services website and checked the links to the Students’ Union site, as they’ve just updated it and therefore all my original links have died. I’m sure there must be some I’ve missed though – but no doubt some bugger will let me know pretty damn sharpish if things don’t work.
Tonight, it’s Guildford Writers (http://www.guildfordwriters.net) and I shall take along the end of Chapter Two of “The Gifting” for comment – just before the trial scene. I suspect drinks will be on me at the end of the evening, and, with a bit of luck, I might even sell a couple more books. You never know your luck, eh?
Oh, and I’m rather (for “rather”, read “very”) annoyed that my dancing partner for my Thursday evening classes intends to let me down for the next three weeks. Which is actually par for the course for that particular group of old college friends, I have to say, so I really don’t know if I’m going to bother that much with them any more. I think it’s time to let go of old friendships that aren’t working. After all, we have so little in common now, and I have other friends whose company I enjoy far more and who don’t let me down on such a terribly regular basis. But for now I’m really peed off about the lack of dance. Spit.
But, to raise the spirits, the wonderful David Caddy, editor of Tears in the Fence (http://www.myspace.com/tearsinthefence) magazine has agreed to look at a copy of “A Stranger’s Table” for a possible review. David gave me some good comments about my first collection, “Tidal”, so I feel quite hopeful about this one. In any case, huge thanks, David. It’s much appreciated.
Other good news today is that my flash fiction piece is now on the Bird & Moon website and can be found here: http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/guest122.html. But, even more thrilling than this, my author's copies of "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) are finally here! Hey, my baby looks cool, though I'm still sorry they took the cigarette out of his mouth on the cover. But it's a book! It's a book! Hurrah! My baby's come home at last ...
Today’s nice things:
1. UniSWriters
2. Guildford Writers
3. Getting the message from Liz.
4. Ooh a 4th today – oo-err, missus: the request from David Caddy
5. And a fifth - the flash fiction publication
6. But, best of all, Michael's come home!!!
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
I then spent some time dragging myself through the utterly boring Perspectives mag (the mag for university administrators). I don’t know how they manage to make it as dull as it is, but I’m sure each edition is worse. Could definitely do with a few colour pictures in there. In fact, I’m sure that when I was ploughing through the last dreadful article – and I can’t now even remember what it was supposed to be about – a third of my brain cells packed their suitcases and left home. Thank the Lord it only comes out about three times a year (or perhaps it’s more and I’ve blanked it?). I only read it when there’s nothing else to do, to be honest.
Oh and I had a message from a friend (thanks, Liz) who seems keen not to miss out on any of my recent successes, (gosh, a fan, a fan – I’m astounded!) so I sent her the books info by email – though actually I’d already done this, so maybe I’m seen as Spam on everyone’s systems now? It wouldn’t surprise me, and would explain the lack of responses from elsewhere (see below) … - and I also left a message on her ansaphone to say what I’d done. As you can see, I am indeed a desperately needy writer. But then you knew that.
We had our monthly UniSWriters meeting at lunchtime today. As I’d received a request from one of our members (thanks, Alan!...), I brought along some chocolates to celebrate my astonishing week of publications and attempted to sell some of the “A Stranger’s Table” (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) collection. No takers, though I did have one borrower, which was nice. And we had a great meeting – lots of interesting writing and some good discussions. Indeed, we were rocking.
This afternoon, I fiddled around on the care services website and checked the links to the Students’ Union site, as they’ve just updated it and therefore all my original links have died. I’m sure there must be some I’ve missed though – but no doubt some bugger will let me know pretty damn sharpish if things don’t work.
Tonight, it’s Guildford Writers (http://www.guildfordwriters.net) and I shall take along the end of Chapter Two of “The Gifting” for comment – just before the trial scene. I suspect drinks will be on me at the end of the evening, and, with a bit of luck, I might even sell a couple more books. You never know your luck, eh?
Oh, and I’m rather (for “rather”, read “very”) annoyed that my dancing partner for my Thursday evening classes intends to let me down for the next three weeks. Which is actually par for the course for that particular group of old college friends, I have to say, so I really don’t know if I’m going to bother that much with them any more. I think it’s time to let go of old friendships that aren’t working. After all, we have so little in common now, and I have other friends whose company I enjoy far more and who don’t let me down on such a terribly regular basis. But for now I’m really peed off about the lack of dance. Spit.
But, to raise the spirits, the wonderful David Caddy, editor of Tears in the Fence (http://www.myspace.com/tearsinthefence) magazine has agreed to look at a copy of “A Stranger’s Table” for a possible review. David gave me some good comments about my first collection, “Tidal”, so I feel quite hopeful about this one. In any case, huge thanks, David. It’s much appreciated.
Other good news today is that my flash fiction piece is now on the Bird & Moon website and can be found here: http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/guest122.html. But, even more thrilling than this, my author's copies of "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) are finally here! Hey, my baby looks cool, though I'm still sorry they took the cigarette out of his mouth on the cover. But it's a book! It's a book! Hurrah! My baby's come home at last ...
Today’s nice things:
1. UniSWriters
2. Guildford Writers
3. Getting the message from Liz.
4. Ooh a 4th today – oo-err, missus: the request from David Caddy
5. And a fifth - the flash fiction publication
6. But, best of all, Michael's come home!!!
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Monday, February 19, 2007
Lunch with Julia and website planning
Ye gods, but it took me all morning to sort out my emails and it wasn’t as if there were that many. They just seemed to be a rehash of the stuff I’d dealt with the week before, but obviously no-one has been paying attention to my highly-intelligent and focused (double ha!) responses. Either that or they see it’s an email from me and delete it as a reflex mechanism. Sigh.
Anyway, I sent round an email about my desperately exciting and incredibly readable poetry collection, “A Stranger’s Table” (http://www.poetrymonthly.com), and got a response of … um … zilch. Poetry is obviously – at least with the University – a dying art. Though, to be fair, the Dean of Students did come out and flick through it, admiring the alcoholic cover before handing it back saying he never read poetry. Double sigh.
The only bright point was lunch with Julia (http://greatleveller.blogspot.com), during which we put the film, writing and University worlds to rights. Hell, somebody has to. And she has faithfully promised me that this time she has actually done her UniSWriters’ homework for tomorrow’s meeting – so please bring it, Julia!
And, nobly and doggedly, I did keep dropping the words “poetry” and “collection” into my afternoon emails and conversations, but I fear I am flogging the proverbial in the workspace. I suspect that I’ll end up doing what I usually do and forcing people to have them as birthday presents for the next few years. Thank goodness I only ordered fifty! But, aha, that'll show 'em ... Indeed the life of a poet is a weary trudge … now where’s my garret?
Tonight, Lord H is at his theology course, looking at the ethics of just wars and refugees. Hmm, certainly enough there to keep them going for a couple of hours – and really I suspect they could probably fill a couple of months with the subject … Whilst he’s out, I shall type up the poem I drafted yesterday evening on difficult grandfathers and how to get rid of them, and look at finalising character studies and planning initial blogs for the upcoming “Pink Champagne and Apple Juice” website. I’d like to get some writing on “The Gifting” done too but suspect that’ll have to wait for a while yet. Ideally I’d like to get 100,000 words done by the end of March, but whether that will happen or not is in the lap of the gods. As ever.
And I've just finished reading a couple of books:
1. Shameless by Paul Burston (http://www.myspace.com/paulburston) - which is a nice, frothy romp through the drug/gay dens of the city, with a hint of heat underneath. Enjoyable too.
2. Vacant Possession by Hilary Mantel. Sigh. Didn't really get on with this one, though I did (much to my surprise) finish it. Colin was a great character and I think we should have concentrated entirely on him and his marriage, and therefore ditched the highly irritating MC completely. Hmm, not a great success then ...
Today’s nice things:
1. Lunch with Julia
2. Typing up a new poem
3. Fiddling round with the new website.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Anyway, I sent round an email about my desperately exciting and incredibly readable poetry collection, “A Stranger’s Table” (http://www.poetrymonthly.com), and got a response of … um … zilch. Poetry is obviously – at least with the University – a dying art. Though, to be fair, the Dean of Students did come out and flick through it, admiring the alcoholic cover before handing it back saying he never read poetry. Double sigh.
The only bright point was lunch with Julia (http://greatleveller.blogspot.com), during which we put the film, writing and University worlds to rights. Hell, somebody has to. And she has faithfully promised me that this time she has actually done her UniSWriters’ homework for tomorrow’s meeting – so please bring it, Julia!
And, nobly and doggedly, I did keep dropping the words “poetry” and “collection” into my afternoon emails and conversations, but I fear I am flogging the proverbial in the workspace. I suspect that I’ll end up doing what I usually do and forcing people to have them as birthday presents for the next few years. Thank goodness I only ordered fifty! But, aha, that'll show 'em ... Indeed the life of a poet is a weary trudge … now where’s my garret?
Tonight, Lord H is at his theology course, looking at the ethics of just wars and refugees. Hmm, certainly enough there to keep them going for a couple of hours – and really I suspect they could probably fill a couple of months with the subject … Whilst he’s out, I shall type up the poem I drafted yesterday evening on difficult grandfathers and how to get rid of them, and look at finalising character studies and planning initial blogs for the upcoming “Pink Champagne and Apple Juice” website. I’d like to get some writing on “The Gifting” done too but suspect that’ll have to wait for a while yet. Ideally I’d like to get 100,000 words done by the end of March, but whether that will happen or not is in the lap of the gods. As ever.
And I've just finished reading a couple of books:
1. Shameless by Paul Burston (http://www.myspace.com/paulburston) - which is a nice, frothy romp through the drug/gay dens of the city, with a hint of heat underneath. Enjoyable too.
2. Vacant Possession by Hilary Mantel. Sigh. Didn't really get on with this one, though I did (much to my surprise) finish it. Colin was a great character and I think we should have concentrated entirely on him and his marriage, and therefore ditched the highly irritating MC completely. Hmm, not a great success then ...
Today’s nice things:
1. Lunch with Julia
2. Typing up a new poem
3. Fiddling round with the new website.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Radiant faces and holy socks
Ah, deep trauma today in the Lord H/Brooke household when I discovered that Himself was wearing socks with holes so large that you could have put the entire population of Ecuador in them. And have room for their friends. Honestly! How can I hold my head up in Surrey public life if people think that I deliberately send my husband out in such garments? My middle-class credibility would be shot to pieces. So we had to perform the ritualistic removal of said socks and drop them into the rubbish bag. There was then a further official sock inspection before we were allowed to start off for church this morning. And later I shall be checking the rubbish just in case Lord H has sneaked them out without me knowing. Ha! Foolish man. I am a Wife - I know everything, even before it happens ...
Anyway, church wasn't too bad, all in all, though it was a foul choice of hymns. Does anyone actually like the soul-destroyingly dreary "Just as I am, without One Plea"? Way too many verses, and I'm sure that by the time we've dragged ourselves to the end of it, even God has got bored and gone onto better things. And I can't say I blame him. Some surprising news though - the new priest is actually not as dreadful as I had feared from the build-up. Though he is scarily high and kept singing Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia at odd moments and forcing me to think of something sad in order to stop laughing. But that's the nature of the High Church - gay without the colour awareness. And the sermon was okay - not so bollockingly awful that I felt the need to spit in the communion wine and at least I actually went to communion this time, so it really can't have been as hellishly inhumane as the old Archdeacon's sermons. Though at a full fifteen minutes, I did consider it could have been a tad shorter. This isn't the Baptists, you know.
Interestingly, we were looking at Jesus' transformation on the mountain, and linking it back to Moses' radiant face when he met with God - and afterwards, Clare (one of the saner and more cynical members of the congregation - and thank God for them ...) rushed up to me and said how wonderfully radiant I was looking. Which means the Clarins Restore Your Youthful Radiance Cream (not its real name, but I can't be arsed to get up and look) must be working, as I used it for the first time today, hurrah! Now if only Moses had had access to such beauty aids, then he would never have needed to meet with God at all, and a lot of time would have been saved for the dust-weary Israelites. A lesson for us all indeed.
I also have to say that New Priest is far better with people (and also with me - do I count as "people"? Hell, I don't know) than the bloody old one ever was. After all, Old Priest spent years completely ignoring me while I beavered around the vestry doing my essential Sacristan tasks and also blanked me on the two occasions I tried a cry for help when things were hellish last year. The bastard. Which explains why I never signed the bugger's leaving card and am totally unrepentant about that fact ... Anyway, after the service, NP - whose name is Paul, btw - came up to me in an utterly non-demanding way (God only knows how he managed that, but full marks to him for doing so), had a normal conversation, was more than open to the fact that I'm having a serious backsliding moment, and was happy for me to come along when I felt able to without making the dreaded Big Issue of it, and then we chatted about the Whitbread Prize, art (he paints), etc. And he didn't offer to pray for me, thank God. So I am more impressed than I thought I would be - and even if our lay reader still dislikes him, well, I am prepared to admit - and surprised by it - that I don't.
Oh, and I managed to sell a copy of "A Stranger's Table" to Clare and John, so I am £5 richer than I was before I went to church. Nothing like a bit of commerce behind the pews to oil the wheels of religion.
This afternoon, I have mooched around, read the papers and napped. I think I might write a poem - or the start of one - later, but I'll see how it goes. Oh, and a friend of mine emailed to say her grandfather is dying - which would be sad, if he wasn't a bastard tosser who over an unfortunately long life has messed everyone up, including said friend. Naturally, I emailed back at once to say I hoped he died in pain (considerable if there's any justice at all) and she mustn't go to the funeral if she doesn't want to (so sod the ideas of family and so-called christian duty, eh?), and well done her for outliving him and I hoped that when he was fully six feet under that she might feel able to visit the grave with me so the two of us could spit on it and dance maniacally round the graveyard whilst laughing. Never let it be said that I don't offer appropriate emotional support when necessary. Anyway, I think she was pleased as I got a reply email with huge amounts of grinning in it. Ha! That'll show the no-good loser.
And I've rung my mother, so have performed appropriate daughterly duties for the week by offering computer/internet consultancy advice for her latest computer drama. And we've agreed how important it is not to click onto a spam email that tells her she's won something. Sigh ... still, apparently the hundred or so emails per day she's been getting since are now thinning out, and she's in the process of adding a spamfilter and a firewall to her system. Phew!
Tonight, it's "Lewis" on TV (the Morse spin-off) - bliss! As it ends at 11pm, I can see that Lord H and I will have to be in our jim-jams with our big fluffy slippers and cocoa before it starts. Never let it be said that we don't know how to party.
This week's haiku (in praise of Dan Corbett who performs the weather report as if he's doing Swan Lake - it's heaven to watch, but I'm none the wiser about the weather afterwards ...):
Weatherman:
On the screen you dance,
hands carving weather from air.
Bright storms fill my eye.
Today's nice things:
1. The conversation with New Priest
2. Sending an honest email to a friend
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Anyway, church wasn't too bad, all in all, though it was a foul choice of hymns. Does anyone actually like the soul-destroyingly dreary "Just as I am, without One Plea"? Way too many verses, and I'm sure that by the time we've dragged ourselves to the end of it, even God has got bored and gone onto better things. And I can't say I blame him. Some surprising news though - the new priest is actually not as dreadful as I had feared from the build-up. Though he is scarily high and kept singing Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia at odd moments and forcing me to think of something sad in order to stop laughing. But that's the nature of the High Church - gay without the colour awareness. And the sermon was okay - not so bollockingly awful that I felt the need to spit in the communion wine and at least I actually went to communion this time, so it really can't have been as hellishly inhumane as the old Archdeacon's sermons. Though at a full fifteen minutes, I did consider it could have been a tad shorter. This isn't the Baptists, you know.
Interestingly, we were looking at Jesus' transformation on the mountain, and linking it back to Moses' radiant face when he met with God - and afterwards, Clare (one of the saner and more cynical members of the congregation - and thank God for them ...) rushed up to me and said how wonderfully radiant I was looking. Which means the Clarins Restore Your Youthful Radiance Cream (not its real name, but I can't be arsed to get up and look) must be working, as I used it for the first time today, hurrah! Now if only Moses had had access to such beauty aids, then he would never have needed to meet with God at all, and a lot of time would have been saved for the dust-weary Israelites. A lesson for us all indeed.
I also have to say that New Priest is far better with people (and also with me - do I count as "people"? Hell, I don't know) than the bloody old one ever was. After all, Old Priest spent years completely ignoring me while I beavered around the vestry doing my essential Sacristan tasks and also blanked me on the two occasions I tried a cry for help when things were hellish last year. The bastard. Which explains why I never signed the bugger's leaving card and am totally unrepentant about that fact ... Anyway, after the service, NP - whose name is Paul, btw - came up to me in an utterly non-demanding way (God only knows how he managed that, but full marks to him for doing so), had a normal conversation, was more than open to the fact that I'm having a serious backsliding moment, and was happy for me to come along when I felt able to without making the dreaded Big Issue of it, and then we chatted about the Whitbread Prize, art (he paints), etc. And he didn't offer to pray for me, thank God. So I am more impressed than I thought I would be - and even if our lay reader still dislikes him, well, I am prepared to admit - and surprised by it - that I don't.
Oh, and I managed to sell a copy of "A Stranger's Table" to Clare and John, so I am £5 richer than I was before I went to church. Nothing like a bit of commerce behind the pews to oil the wheels of religion.
This afternoon, I have mooched around, read the papers and napped. I think I might write a poem - or the start of one - later, but I'll see how it goes. Oh, and a friend of mine emailed to say her grandfather is dying - which would be sad, if he wasn't a bastard tosser who over an unfortunately long life has messed everyone up, including said friend. Naturally, I emailed back at once to say I hoped he died in pain (considerable if there's any justice at all) and she mustn't go to the funeral if she doesn't want to (so sod the ideas of family and so-called christian duty, eh?), and well done her for outliving him and I hoped that when he was fully six feet under that she might feel able to visit the grave with me so the two of us could spit on it and dance maniacally round the graveyard whilst laughing. Never let it be said that I don't offer appropriate emotional support when necessary. Anyway, I think she was pleased as I got a reply email with huge amounts of grinning in it. Ha! That'll show the no-good loser.
And I've rung my mother, so have performed appropriate daughterly duties for the week by offering computer/internet consultancy advice for her latest computer drama. And we've agreed how important it is not to click onto a spam email that tells her she's won something. Sigh ... still, apparently the hundred or so emails per day she's been getting since are now thinning out, and she's in the process of adding a spamfilter and a firewall to her system. Phew!
Tonight, it's "Lewis" on TV (the Morse spin-off) - bliss! As it ends at 11pm, I can see that Lord H and I will have to be in our jim-jams with our big fluffy slippers and cocoa before it starts. Never let it be said that we don't know how to party.
This week's haiku (in praise of Dan Corbett who performs the weather report as if he's doing Swan Lake - it's heaven to watch, but I'm none the wiser about the weather afterwards ...):
Weatherman:
On the screen you dance,
hands carving weather from air.
Bright storms fill my eye.
Today's nice things:
1. The conversation with New Priest
2. Sending an honest email to a friend
3. TV.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Champagne, Clarins and the blue-rinse brigade
A lazy morning start - hurrah! Had an email from the lovely Sue Haywood (http://www.teafriendsandchocolate.com/sue/) who is planning a special, interactive website for "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" - which will have blogs from the characters, forums and a cocktail lounge amongst other delightful offers. It sounds really great, Sue - so thank you for that, and I'm looking forward to getting it sorted for the big 9 April launch date. Even if no-one drops by, we'll still have a good time!
And, sadly, I've spent some time practising Michael's signature from "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) as it came to me last night that if I get the chance to sign any copies of the book (hell, if I even get the chance to see one!! Cue author's sad cries of: where's my baby? I want to see him now!!!...), then I'd like to sign from both of us. Pretentious bollocks maybe, but it feels right. Anyway, I think I've worked out something I can use which is more him than me, so I'll see how it goes. I was explaining this to Lord H at lunchtime today in the Waterstone's cafe and looked up to see that he was edging further and further away from the table whilst keeping a calming smile on his face and reaching for the mobile. Still, I should be used to that by now ... But I expect the men with the normality drugs will be round any day now.
Attended my regular Clarins facial late morning, which was bliss as usual. Emma (the Clarins therapist) decided to go for the radiance treatment today, and afterwards persuaded me to buy some cream that will apparently restore my youthful glow. So I suspect this may be the beginning of the end. Or the end of the beginning. Or some such Churchillian wisdom. And, talking of ageing, much to my shame, when Jane W and I were having our curry last night I actually had to get my glasses out as I couldn't otherwise read the menu. My, how she fell about laughing. I think I shall take up knitting and swearing at the telly, as Grandma used to do.
All of which made me feel very at home at this afternoon's theatre trip with the normal Guildfordian blue-rinse brigade who attend Saturday matinee performances. Lord H and I saw Rattigan's "French Without Tears", which was spiffing, old chum, what ho. Vintage Rattigan really, so very enjoyable, particularly in the battle of the sexes, but the second half was much slicker and cleverer than the first. The old lady behind me kept missing stuff as I think her hearing aid wasn't working, but I was impressed during the interval when she said to her companion that she'd decided she really had to give up the skiiing when she turned 82. They make 'em tough in Guildford for sure. Oh, and on the way out Lord H and I were terrified by the mother one row up from us who was quizzing her son on the complexities of the Rattigan plot and demanding answers before he got an ice-cream. Ye gods, I know Surrey Parenthood is the most competitive in the UK but the poor little lad couldn't have been more than six or seven. I thought about leaning over and advising that he ring Childline, but Lord H whisked me away before I could cause any substantial damage. Surely childhood is bad enough without theatrical exams being added to the mix?
Tonight, I really have to do some cleaning before the Soap Police come round. And it'll be "Primeval" on tv later, but I shall demand that Lord H watches it with me as it apparently contains giant spiders. Ye gods. And the normal ones are frightening enough.
Oh and we're having champagne to celebrate my two book week - hurrah!
Today's nice things:
1. The plans for the Champers website
2. Practising Michael's signature - well, I got a kick out of it - sadly ...
3. The play.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
And, sadly, I've spent some time practising Michael's signature from "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) as it came to me last night that if I get the chance to sign any copies of the book (hell, if I even get the chance to see one!! Cue author's sad cries of: where's my baby? I want to see him now!!!...), then I'd like to sign from both of us. Pretentious bollocks maybe, but it feels right. Anyway, I think I've worked out something I can use which is more him than me, so I'll see how it goes. I was explaining this to Lord H at lunchtime today in the Waterstone's cafe and looked up to see that he was edging further and further away from the table whilst keeping a calming smile on his face and reaching for the mobile. Still, I should be used to that by now ... But I expect the men with the normality drugs will be round any day now.
Attended my regular Clarins facial late morning, which was bliss as usual. Emma (the Clarins therapist) decided to go for the radiance treatment today, and afterwards persuaded me to buy some cream that will apparently restore my youthful glow. So I suspect this may be the beginning of the end. Or the end of the beginning. Or some such Churchillian wisdom. And, talking of ageing, much to my shame, when Jane W and I were having our curry last night I actually had to get my glasses out as I couldn't otherwise read the menu. My, how she fell about laughing. I think I shall take up knitting and swearing at the telly, as Grandma used to do.
All of which made me feel very at home at this afternoon's theatre trip with the normal Guildfordian blue-rinse brigade who attend Saturday matinee performances. Lord H and I saw Rattigan's "French Without Tears", which was spiffing, old chum, what ho. Vintage Rattigan really, so very enjoyable, particularly in the battle of the sexes, but the second half was much slicker and cleverer than the first. The old lady behind me kept missing stuff as I think her hearing aid wasn't working, but I was impressed during the interval when she said to her companion that she'd decided she really had to give up the skiiing when she turned 82. They make 'em tough in Guildford for sure. Oh, and on the way out Lord H and I were terrified by the mother one row up from us who was quizzing her son on the complexities of the Rattigan plot and demanding answers before he got an ice-cream. Ye gods, I know Surrey Parenthood is the most competitive in the UK but the poor little lad couldn't have been more than six or seven. I thought about leaning over and advising that he ring Childline, but Lord H whisked me away before I could cause any substantial damage. Surely childhood is bad enough without theatrical exams being added to the mix?
Tonight, I really have to do some cleaning before the Soap Police come round. And it'll be "Primeval" on tv later, but I shall demand that Lord H watches it with me as it apparently contains giant spiders. Ye gods. And the normal ones are frightening enough.
Oh and we're having champagne to celebrate my two book week - hurrah!
Today's nice things:
1. The plans for the Champers website
2. Practising Michael's signature - well, I got a kick out of it - sadly ...
3. The play.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Friday, February 16, 2007
Poetry, golf and the big city
Action-packed day today. I typed up the last section of "The Gifting" from my scraps of paper - which is a great relief as I finally have Simon in the last main journey section of the novel - the water section. And he's almost in one piece too. So good for him. Haven't a bloody clue what he's going to do while he's there, but I'm hoping something will turn up. Water-monsters anyone? Hmm, maybe not. I'll have to wait and see.
And I've finished my edition of "Borderlines" poetry mag - loved the offerings from Andrew Mayne and Helen Burke - absolutely stunning poems. I do sooo love it when I can read a poem, expecting nothing or not very much, and suddenly everything about it makes my skin tingle and my toes dance. You're taken out of yourself and put somewhere else - somewhere totally exciting - in those circumstances and, believe me, it's bliss. And it's not really something fiction can ever do, no matter how wonderful. Anyway, most of the rest of the collection was just dull nature poetry, which always makes me yawn. And it's a shame that they put "breast" instead of "breasts" in my own poem, "Silken", thus giving my naked female character a rather Amazonian feel. Ah well, I tend to count myself lucky if people actually spell my name right, to be honest. Life's too short to kick up a fuss when the great gift of publication has been dropped into one's lap indeed.
Lovely to see also that "A Stranger's Table" is now on the Poetry Monthly Press (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) website in their bookshop (http://www.poetrymonthly.com/page11.html) - but again odd to see the misspelling of "novelist". Ah well, the wonderful Martin did get my name right though, so no complaints there! I'm told that it should get picked up by Amazon at some stage, so shall keep an eye out for that. And maybe "A Dangerous Man" will be on there on Amazon one day too? You never know your luck. And thank you to Irene (http://www.myspace.com/ireneblack) who has let me know that she has just received her copy of the novel and is apparently admiring my "fantastic" language and street cred. Gosh, thanks, Irene - there's two statements I'd never expected to hear bandied about with reference to me. Mind you, my language has always been fruity. But, really, I wouldn't know street cred if it hit me in the face one dark night behind the bike sheds. It's all Michael's doing.
This lunchtime, I played golf with Marian - we had a good round, which was unexpectedly empty of other golfers even in spite of this week being half-term. Sad news about her father though, who died two weeks ago and was buried last week. Then again, he went quickly and he was 94 with a (still) very full and active life - so actually I think that's the best way to go. My own father was ill for years and died very young - only in his forties - so part of me envies Marian that she had hers for so long. Even so, not a good time for her and the family.
Tonight, I'm off to London to see Jane W (who, by the way, was the first person ever to read "A Dangerous Man" and gave me enough honest encouragement to continue beating away at publishers' doors, so I shall remain always grateful for that - thanks, Jane). We're going to visit the Gilbert & George exhibition at Tate Modern (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/) as we both enjoy their stuff. Naturally, a few gin & tonics are called for, plus some food somewhere. But, also sadly, one of Jane's friends died a few weeks back - very suddenly, from a heart attack, and he was only 47 - so it's obviously a difficult month in terms of personal loss. This kind of thing always seems to happen in winter, and is shit. Honestly, the older I get, the more I think how fragile life is. Pack as much as possible in now is what I say. And, as I say to Lord H at every opportunity, keep exercising ...
Ooh, and well done to Nik Perring (http://nikperring.blogspot.com) for another rave review for his marvellous children's book, "I Met a Roman Last Night, What Did You Do?", and also to Roger Morris (http://rogersplog.blogspot.com) for more deservedly rave reviews for his historical crime novel, "A Gentle Axe". Well done, both!
Anyway, here are today's nice things:
1. Reading two utterly gripping poems
2. Getting Simon to the last leg of his journey (ye gods, I'll have to make him more sandwiches soon - the poor bugger will be running out ...)
3. Seeing Jane.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
And I've finished my edition of "Borderlines" poetry mag - loved the offerings from Andrew Mayne and Helen Burke - absolutely stunning poems. I do sooo love it when I can read a poem, expecting nothing or not very much, and suddenly everything about it makes my skin tingle and my toes dance. You're taken out of yourself and put somewhere else - somewhere totally exciting - in those circumstances and, believe me, it's bliss. And it's not really something fiction can ever do, no matter how wonderful. Anyway, most of the rest of the collection was just dull nature poetry, which always makes me yawn. And it's a shame that they put "breast" instead of "breasts" in my own poem, "Silken", thus giving my naked female character a rather Amazonian feel. Ah well, I tend to count myself lucky if people actually spell my name right, to be honest. Life's too short to kick up a fuss when the great gift of publication has been dropped into one's lap indeed.
Lovely to see also that "A Stranger's Table" is now on the Poetry Monthly Press (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) website in their bookshop (http://www.poetrymonthly.com/page11.html) - but again odd to see the misspelling of "novelist". Ah well, the wonderful Martin did get my name right though, so no complaints there! I'm told that it should get picked up by Amazon at some stage, so shall keep an eye out for that. And maybe "A Dangerous Man" will be on there on Amazon one day too? You never know your luck. And thank you to Irene (http://www.myspace.com/ireneblack) who has let me know that she has just received her copy of the novel and is apparently admiring my "fantastic" language and street cred. Gosh, thanks, Irene - there's two statements I'd never expected to hear bandied about with reference to me. Mind you, my language has always been fruity. But, really, I wouldn't know street cred if it hit me in the face one dark night behind the bike sheds. It's all Michael's doing.
This lunchtime, I played golf with Marian - we had a good round, which was unexpectedly empty of other golfers even in spite of this week being half-term. Sad news about her father though, who died two weeks ago and was buried last week. Then again, he went quickly and he was 94 with a (still) very full and active life - so actually I think that's the best way to go. My own father was ill for years and died very young - only in his forties - so part of me envies Marian that she had hers for so long. Even so, not a good time for her and the family.
Tonight, I'm off to London to see Jane W (who, by the way, was the first person ever to read "A Dangerous Man" and gave me enough honest encouragement to continue beating away at publishers' doors, so I shall remain always grateful for that - thanks, Jane). We're going to visit the Gilbert & George exhibition at Tate Modern (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/) as we both enjoy their stuff. Naturally, a few gin & tonics are called for, plus some food somewhere. But, also sadly, one of Jane's friends died a few weeks back - very suddenly, from a heart attack, and he was only 47 - so it's obviously a difficult month in terms of personal loss. This kind of thing always seems to happen in winter, and is shit. Honestly, the older I get, the more I think how fragile life is. Pack as much as possible in now is what I say. And, as I say to Lord H at every opportunity, keep exercising ...
Ooh, and well done to Nik Perring (http://nikperring.blogspot.com) for another rave review for his marvellous children's book, "I Met a Roman Last Night, What Did You Do?", and also to Roger Morris (http://rogersplog.blogspot.com) for more deservedly rave reviews for his historical crime novel, "A Gentle Axe". Well done, both!
Anyway, here are today's nice things:
1. Reading two utterly gripping poems
2. Getting Simon to the last leg of his journey (ye gods, I'll have to make him more sandwiches soon - the poor bugger will be running out ...)
3. Seeing Jane.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Poetry, chocolate and grumpy women.
Not necessarily in that order though. It's very rare to meet a grumpy woman after a chocolate session. Before, of course, is another story ... Anyway, I forgot to say that Lord H came home last night, saying that the 14th Feb had been an interesting day at work, in that he'd been surrounded by 2 happy women and 20 grumpy ones. Being a boy, he hadn't liked to ask why. Probably a wise decision really. Still, at least he could safely wear his Smug Husband expression, knowing that he'd passed the marital test for that day. Ah, say I, but there are so many other days in the year ... the riotous rollercoaster that is married life continues apace, aha!
Also yesterday, but I forgot to say, my lovely colleague Ruth suddenly screeched and began to scrabble in her drawers (careful, people ... office drawers, you know. Please ...), eventually bringing out a chocolate Satan (yes, I have spelled that right) which she'd been saving up for me but had forgotten about when I was ill. And I can tell you that there really is nothing like a chocolate Satan to cheer up the general wellbeing quota. Just the sort of thing a non-church going, church going girl needs. I ate it in seconds. Maybe less. Thanks, Ruth! Though it is strange that I do know a woman who doesn't like chocolate. What is the world coming to?
And, talking of Ruth, she has once again been on her mysterious Number 19 bus, which turned up just when she wanted it to and took her to where she needed to be in the nick of time. This would ordinarily be dull news indeed - but the local timetables don't actually have a Number 19 bus and nobody else local has ever heard of it. Apparently, when she gets on, she never actually sees the driver's face and he doesn't ask for standard fares. And the bus is always virtually empty apart from her. Hmm. I'd suggest making sure she's not giving her hard-earned cash into a skeletal hand or hearing strange, maniacal laughter before she makes herself comfy next time. Still, as long as it works ... and after all stranger things have happened in Surrey, so they say. Just not to me.
Today, I've done more marketing and almost feel like a real author - if only because the sum total of my actual writing has been to (a) change one word in a poem - from "them" to "you", if you're asking - and (b) type a lot of new bumph down for "The Gifting", and then delete a whole load of old scenes, so that my total wordcount came out as significantly less than I had yesterday. God, how I hate it when that happens!! And why on earth do I write ahead when I know I'll probably change or scrap it anyway when I get to that point? It is indeed a mystery ... though if I'm honest I do enjoy dotting around like a goat on a rock when I'm stuck on a scene - it pushes me out of my "stuck" position. Sometimes. But I did get quite excited about the actual words I typed and left in today though - I think I got to the point when I was writing one thing and meaning something else about storytelling and how characters take us (um, for us, read "me" ...) over and don't let go. And, hell, I should know what that feels like (yes, yes, Michael, I can hear you, but not every novel is always about you, eh?...). Weird stuff. But fun.
Other news of today - "A Dangerous Man" is now on the scrolling advertising section of the YouWriteOn (http://www.youwriteon.com) site, so thank you very much to Edward for putting that up for me. And my brother-in-law (http://www.peterandsusan.co.uk/blogs/petersblog.asp - and now to be forever known as Lord B-I-L) has found my blog. Scary biscuits indeed! Soon, news of my oddities will spread through the whole of Lord H's family and I will be found garrotted one dark and lonely night with my hair pinned to the nearest chapel. You heard it here first ...
And I've been a good secretary and done the Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) minutes - better late than never! Sorry, gals ... I got in a muddle over a finance minute ('twas ever thus ...) but thankfully Jackie (http://www.myspace.com/jackieluben) has corrected me. Thank goodness someone has their finger on the pulse, eh?
Oh, and "Borderlines" (the Anglo-Welsh Poetry Society's mag) has turned up. This Winter 2006 edition has one of my poems in ("Silken") - which also appears in "A Stranger's Table". It's one of my intermittent lesbian offerings (and if that doesn't scare Lord B-I-L, nothing will!! But don't worry, people - Lord H is entirely used to me by now ... cue: A lesbian moment? Super! How nice.)
Today's nice things:
1. Seeing "Silken" in Borderlines
2. Getting excited by writing - and wanting to do more: hurrah!
3. Seeing the ADM advert on the YouWriteOn site.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Also yesterday, but I forgot to say, my lovely colleague Ruth suddenly screeched and began to scrabble in her drawers (careful, people ... office drawers, you know. Please ...), eventually bringing out a chocolate Satan (yes, I have spelled that right) which she'd been saving up for me but had forgotten about when I was ill. And I can tell you that there really is nothing like a chocolate Satan to cheer up the general wellbeing quota. Just the sort of thing a non-church going, church going girl needs. I ate it in seconds. Maybe less. Thanks, Ruth! Though it is strange that I do know a woman who doesn't like chocolate. What is the world coming to?
And, talking of Ruth, she has once again been on her mysterious Number 19 bus, which turned up just when she wanted it to and took her to where she needed to be in the nick of time. This would ordinarily be dull news indeed - but the local timetables don't actually have a Number 19 bus and nobody else local has ever heard of it. Apparently, when she gets on, she never actually sees the driver's face and he doesn't ask for standard fares. And the bus is always virtually empty apart from her. Hmm. I'd suggest making sure she's not giving her hard-earned cash into a skeletal hand or hearing strange, maniacal laughter before she makes herself comfy next time. Still, as long as it works ... and after all stranger things have happened in Surrey, so they say. Just not to me.
Today, I've done more marketing and almost feel like a real author - if only because the sum total of my actual writing has been to (a) change one word in a poem - from "them" to "you", if you're asking - and (b) type a lot of new bumph down for "The Gifting", and then delete a whole load of old scenes, so that my total wordcount came out as significantly less than I had yesterday. God, how I hate it when that happens!! And why on earth do I write ahead when I know I'll probably change or scrap it anyway when I get to that point? It is indeed a mystery ... though if I'm honest I do enjoy dotting around like a goat on a rock when I'm stuck on a scene - it pushes me out of my "stuck" position. Sometimes. But I did get quite excited about the actual words I typed and left in today though - I think I got to the point when I was writing one thing and meaning something else about storytelling and how characters take us (um, for us, read "me" ...) over and don't let go. And, hell, I should know what that feels like (yes, yes, Michael, I can hear you, but not every novel is always about you, eh?...). Weird stuff. But fun.
Other news of today - "A Dangerous Man" is now on the scrolling advertising section of the YouWriteOn (http://www.youwriteon.com) site, so thank you very much to Edward for putting that up for me. And my brother-in-law (http://www.peterandsusan.co.uk/blogs/petersblog.asp - and now to be forever known as Lord B-I-L) has found my blog. Scary biscuits indeed! Soon, news of my oddities will spread through the whole of Lord H's family and I will be found garrotted one dark and lonely night with my hair pinned to the nearest chapel. You heard it here first ...
And I've been a good secretary and done the Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) minutes - better late than never! Sorry, gals ... I got in a muddle over a finance minute ('twas ever thus ...) but thankfully Jackie (http://www.myspace.com/jackieluben) has corrected me. Thank goodness someone has their finger on the pulse, eh?
Oh, and "Borderlines" (the Anglo-Welsh Poetry Society's mag) has turned up. This Winter 2006 edition has one of my poems in ("Silken") - which also appears in "A Stranger's Table". It's one of my intermittent lesbian offerings (and if that doesn't scare Lord B-I-L, nothing will!! But don't worry, people - Lord H is entirely used to me by now ... cue: A lesbian moment? Super! How nice.)
Today's nice things:
1. Seeing "Silken" in Borderlines
2. Getting excited by writing - and wanting to do more: hurrah!
3. Seeing the ADM advert on the YouWriteOn site.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Champagne, roses, and my first review!
Valentines Day. Hurrah! Another chance for a small exchange of presents, so Lord H and I had fun opening ours this morning (presents, people, presents …). I bought him two books he wanted, plus chocolates, and in return I also got choccies, plus a fantastic pair of winter golf gloves so my tiny hands are not frozen when I’m swinging. As it were. I’m sure it will make all the difference to the sad state of my game. Talking of presents though, Lord H has told me that Caroline at work received a book on funerals from her husband for her fortieth birthday. Hmm, we have some seriously strange people in Surrey, don't you know ...
Oh, and the Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) Gals had a jolly time in our meeting last time – though sadly depleted by the loss of Irene (http://www.myspace.com/ireneblack), who has broken her arm in an altercation with a Waterloo Station gate on the way to see Michael Wood perform. Bummer that it wasn’t after he’d finished his hot totty lecture though. And hope you’re on the mend soon, Irene – we missed you. At the end of the meeting, Jackie (http://www.myspace.com/jackieluben) was telling us that friends of hers who live in Brighton and Hove have renamed “Hove” to “Hove, Actually”. Bliss – in my innocence, I hadn’t heard that one before. Which resulted in a few old chestnut Hove jokes of my own, such as “People will say we’re in Hove”. We’re a highly intellectual and focused set of publishers, as you can see.
Today at work, I’ve done all the changes to the mentoring handbook that I had to do – and now only have to shove in (technical secretarial phrase there – meaning, um, “shove in”) some pretty pictures and read the whole darn thing through again. I’ve also updated the mentoring info on the website, so I almost feel like a useful member of the university society. Almost. And at lunch, I attended the back strengthening torture class (though that isn’t its official title, I have to admit), so have grown another few inches in height. No sign of turning blonde as yet though. Will grey do?
And I am now officially a “Champing-at-the-Bit Author” – Wayne (http://www.myspace.com/wblackhurst) at Myspace has received his delivery of “A Dangerous Man” (http://www.flamebooks.com) even before I’ve got my author’s copies. Double damn it!! Still, he kindly tells me that the book looks good and like a real book, so that’s a relief – thanks, Wayne. I’m still champing though …
And, amazingly, I even have my first comments on the book – Sarah from Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) & MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/henna_rouge) has read it already and says the following: “The writing in the book is pretty special. I read it at one sitting - I can't resist books I love, couldn't put it down. I bled for poor Michael. The tale is dark and brilliant and absolutely terrifying - congratulations!” Bloody hell, Sarah, thank you so very much. Hope you don’t mind me blogging this, but I’m just so very thrilled! You don’t know how much that means to me, you really don’t. Thank you.
Oh, and Lord H sent roses to work – hurrah! – so now has huge numbers of Husband Points. And sensibly, he’s also provided a pot with them, so I don’t have to worry about our lack of vases – due to Lord H’s birthday flowers still going strong. They breed them tough these days for sure. Tonight, we’re having champagne, lasagne and ice cream. And probably a few chocolates as well – heck, I’m all for the healthy lifestyle choice.
Today’s nice things:
1. Getting roses - & champagne
2. Finding out my book actually exists
3. Getting my first review – thank you, thank you, thank you.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Oh, and the Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) Gals had a jolly time in our meeting last time – though sadly depleted by the loss of Irene (http://www.myspace.com/ireneblack), who has broken her arm in an altercation with a Waterloo Station gate on the way to see Michael Wood perform. Bummer that it wasn’t after he’d finished his hot totty lecture though. And hope you’re on the mend soon, Irene – we missed you. At the end of the meeting, Jackie (http://www.myspace.com/jackieluben) was telling us that friends of hers who live in Brighton and Hove have renamed “Hove” to “Hove, Actually”. Bliss – in my innocence, I hadn’t heard that one before. Which resulted in a few old chestnut Hove jokes of my own, such as “People will say we’re in Hove”. We’re a highly intellectual and focused set of publishers, as you can see.
Today at work, I’ve done all the changes to the mentoring handbook that I had to do – and now only have to shove in (technical secretarial phrase there – meaning, um, “shove in”) some pretty pictures and read the whole darn thing through again. I’ve also updated the mentoring info on the website, so I almost feel like a useful member of the university society. Almost. And at lunch, I attended the back strengthening torture class (though that isn’t its official title, I have to admit), so have grown another few inches in height. No sign of turning blonde as yet though. Will grey do?
And I am now officially a “Champing-at-the-Bit Author” – Wayne (http://www.myspace.com/wblackhurst) at Myspace has received his delivery of “A Dangerous Man” (http://www.flamebooks.com) even before I’ve got my author’s copies. Double damn it!! Still, he kindly tells me that the book looks good and like a real book, so that’s a relief – thanks, Wayne. I’m still champing though …
And, amazingly, I even have my first comments on the book – Sarah from Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) & MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/henna_rouge) has read it already and says the following: “The writing in the book is pretty special. I read it at one sitting - I can't resist books I love, couldn't put it down. I bled for poor Michael. The tale is dark and brilliant and absolutely terrifying - congratulations!” Bloody hell, Sarah, thank you so very much. Hope you don’t mind me blogging this, but I’m just so very thrilled! You don’t know how much that means to me, you really don’t. Thank you.
Oh, and Lord H sent roses to work – hurrah! – so now has huge numbers of Husband Points. And sensibly, he’s also provided a pot with them, so I don’t have to worry about our lack of vases – due to Lord H’s birthday flowers still going strong. They breed them tough these days for sure. Tonight, we’re having champagne, lasagne and ice cream. And probably a few chocolates as well – heck, I’m all for the healthy lifestyle choice.
Today’s nice things:
1. Getting roses - & champagne
2. Finding out my book actually exists
3. Getting my first review – thank you, thank you, thank you.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
A Stranger's Table and Goldenford
Hey, had a good day at work today - ye gods, miracles can still happen. I worked like a trooper, got my minutes done, ploughed through my emails, took a walk round the lake at lunchtime and stared at the ducks, and even trogged on with my amendments to the mentoring handbook. Hell, I must eat cornflakes again for breakfast some time. Must be the E numbers.
And I think two more people might have ordered "A Dangerous Man" from Flame Books (http://www.flamebooks.com) so I might even have sold five. You never know ... But much to my delight I discover that a lady called Maxine has commented on the Crimeficreader blog (http://itsacrime.typepad.com) entry with ADM in it, saying that, of the three novels mentioned, mine looks the most interesting - http://itsacrime.typepad.com/its_a_crime_or_a_mystery/2007/02/some_more_new_c.html#more - I felt really chuffed on hearing that - thank you, Maxine! - and have replied saying how happy Michael is to hear it too. Well he is, but can only convey this by means of me; he's more a man of the drawing pencil than the pen.
At home, I discover that the lovely Martin Holroyd at Poetry Monthly Press (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) has sent me the copies of my latest poetry collection, "A Stranger's Table". My cup runneth over indeed! Perhaps this week is my lucky publishing week in the great mind of the universe and, after this, nothing will happen again for years? Still, it's a nice feeling, though - I'm not complaining! And it's a snip at only £5.50 for a collection full of sex, furniture and boats. Oh, and not forgetting the magic cat. What more could a poetry reader want? Once Martin has it on his website, it can be purchased from there, but otherwise, if anyone out there wants a copy, let me know and I can do the necessary. Post-free indeed. Surely no further good news can come my way this week?...
Tonight, it's Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) , so I'm looking forward to catching up with them and working our way towards the publication of Jay Margrave's "The Gawain Quest" - which is an utterly amazing novel (hell, all our Goldenford novels are amazing and I should know - I edit them, apart from mine of course ...) which should be snapped up by all and sundry the moment it appears in June. I can never resist a novel which starts with such a sharp and witty sex scene, but then that's me for you.
Today's nice things:
1. Getting my copies of "A Stranger's Table"
2. The nice comment about Michael on the blog
3. Goldenford stuff.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
And I think two more people might have ordered "A Dangerous Man" from Flame Books (http://www.flamebooks.com) so I might even have sold five. You never know ... But much to my delight I discover that a lady called Maxine has commented on the Crimeficreader blog (http://itsacrime.typepad.com) entry with ADM in it, saying that, of the three novels mentioned, mine looks the most interesting - http://itsacrime.typepad.com/its_a_crime_or_a_mystery/2007/02/some_more_new_c.html#more - I felt really chuffed on hearing that - thank you, Maxine! - and have replied saying how happy Michael is to hear it too. Well he is, but can only convey this by means of me; he's more a man of the drawing pencil than the pen.
At home, I discover that the lovely Martin Holroyd at Poetry Monthly Press (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) has sent me the copies of my latest poetry collection, "A Stranger's Table". My cup runneth over indeed! Perhaps this week is my lucky publishing week in the great mind of the universe and, after this, nothing will happen again for years? Still, it's a nice feeling, though - I'm not complaining! And it's a snip at only £5.50 for a collection full of sex, furniture and boats. Oh, and not forgetting the magic cat. What more could a poetry reader want? Once Martin has it on his website, it can be purchased from there, but otherwise, if anyone out there wants a copy, let me know and I can do the necessary. Post-free indeed. Surely no further good news can come my way this week?...
Tonight, it's Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) , so I'm looking forward to catching up with them and working our way towards the publication of Jay Margrave's "The Gawain Quest" - which is an utterly amazing novel (hell, all our Goldenford novels are amazing and I should know - I edit them, apart from mine of course ...) which should be snapped up by all and sundry the moment it appears in June. I can never resist a novel which starts with such a sharp and witty sex scene, but then that's me for you.
Today's nice things:
1. Getting my copies of "A Stranger's Table"
2. The nice comment about Michael on the blog
3. Goldenford stuff.
Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
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