Publication Day

 Publication day has arrived for Tinsel Street. All the pre-orders have been sent, and I am madly promoting my book across social media. Have I popped champagne corks? No. I've actually been busy doing some mundane things like getting a wash on the line before the rain comes, walking the dog and going to the high street for essential things.

However, I have today signed and delivered the booking form and paid the deposit for my author event. Everything has changed. I was to hold the event in a local library as part of Libraries Week at the end of October, but someone else took my spot, and though I can move it it to another date, the time is too early. So, I have gone for the stand-by space, which my friend and I decided on while waiting for the initial reply from the library. Yes, I have to pay for it (whereas the library was free), but I get the time and date I want. Plus, it's very local to me. I will be telling you more soon, but it will be held in early November.

To go with Tinsel Street, I have put together a playlist. I love books with playlists and/or maps! The link for the playlist is https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1q4LyKx7Qje4qlH0BKhpq2?si=22148503e2e349ee

And other links to buy a copy of the books are here:

https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/contemporary/tinsel-street

https://amzn.eu/d/d2UShQQ

And you can order it though a bookshop.

I will be writing more about Tinsel Street soon.

So, why not spend Christmas on Tinsel Street? Enjoy!

Christmas is coming

 This will be my last post until the New Year. It has certainly been a busy time and a good year ending writing-wise. Cranked Anvil published my flash fiction called Little Fawn in their 123 Micro fiction section online. You can read it here. I also had a poem shortlisted by Ink Sweat & Tears for their Christmas slot. They said they ran out of room for it, but encouraged me to submit to them again next year. 

Although I was unable to attend Sutton Writers Christmas party (I had a previous engagement), I did attend their prose night a few days beforehand. I read a new flash fiction which went down well. People laughed in the right places and were very complimentary about the humour and dialogue, so I was chuffed. There were some good stories to listen to and I find it encourages me to write more, which is no bad thing.

To end this year, I'd like to share with you a seasonal short story I wrote only yesterday, and edited frantically last night and again this morning! This is my thank you for reading my blog and following me on my writing journey. I hope you will travel with me again next year.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

A turkey story

That year, dad brought home the largest turkey we’d ever seen. Mum was in a panic.

‘It won’t go in the fridge,’ she cried. ‘Whatever possessed you?’

‘We could put in the greenhouse until we need to stuff it,’ granny suggested.

My sister Molly moved closer to the turkey and reached out a finger.

‘Don’t touch it,’ mum said, pushing her hand away.

I thought the whole thing was funny, especially when mum threw her hands in the air and glared at dad with a, ‘Will it even go in the oven?’

Dad shrugged. I guess we’d have to wait and see.

*

‘Where’s your sister?’ mum asked me. It was a dull morning, and I was sitting by the fire reading. I’d not seen Molly for a while. ‘Go find her; it’s time for lunch.’

‘Do I have to?’

Mum gave me one of her looks. I put down my book and went to look for her, but she was nowhere in the house. Finally, I looked out of the kitchen window, and there she was in the greenhouse, staring at the turkey. I went outside.

‘What you doing, Mol?’

‘It’s got feathers.’

‘There’s always some left. It’s normal.’

‘No, I mean, there are more feathers now than yesterday.’

I moved towards the turkey, sitting on the largest platter mum could find. It looked just the same to me. ‘Mum says it’s lunchtime.’

‘I’ll have mine here. I don’t want to leave the turkey here on its own.’

‘Mol, it’s dead. It doesn’t know you are here.’ I grabbed her arm, and she pulled away. I stomped off back to the kitchen and told mum.

‘I’ll get her,’ granny said, taking Molly’s anorak. ‘She’ll catch her death out there.’

‘She’ll be like the turkey, then,’ I said, sitting at the table.

A reluctant Molly came in and drank her soup so fast she must have burnt her mouth. She stuffed crusts into her mouth, the crusts mum had cut off the bread before making breadcrumbs for the stuffing. As soon as Molly finished, she asked to leave the table, and soon she was slipping on her anorak to go and sit with the turkey again. I asked if I could have her tinned peaches, but mum said she’d save them for her.

Because I had nothing much else to do, I wandered out to the greenhouse to annoy Molly. Molly was two years younger than me. I would be going to big school after the summer holidays next year. ‘You will be a little man,’ granny said. I didn’t really want to be a man yet. I enjoyed playing with my friends. I didn’t want a job like dad. Homework was bad enough.

Molly was sitting on the cold concrete floor. Mum would say she’d get piles, but that’s her look out, but I did wonder if I should lend her my scarf. I slid the door shut behind me against the cold wind and shivered.

‘It’s got even more feathers now,’ Molly said.

‘Don’t be daft.’

‘And it’s throbbing, like it has a heartbeat.’

My sister had always been weird. I mean, girls are, aren’t they? But sometimes it’s like she’s from another planet.

‘I brought you a mince pie.’ I pushed my hand in front of her nose. Molly ignored it.

‘See,’ Molly said. ‘You can see it.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Molly, it’s got no neck or feet. Its innards have been dismantled and stuffed into a plastic bag inside it. It’s dead like that parrot in Monty Python. It is no more.’

Molly turned to me. There were tears in her eyes. ‘You don’t understand.’

‘I understand that it will be a tasty Christmas dinner and I’ll fight you for the wishbone.’

‘You’re horrible, you are, Timothy, horrible. Just leave me alone.’ Molly turned back to stare at the turkey again.

‘Do you want the mince pie, then?’

Mollie’s sigh meant no. Well, that’s how I took it, so I turned around and left her there and went back into the warm to eat the mince pie.

*

You know, I think Mollie would have stayed out there with the stupid turkey all night had dad not dragged her away. She was insisting the turkey had flexed its wings. Mum was worried, putting a hand to Mollie’s head.

‘I really don’t need Mollie sick on Christmas day,’ mum said to dad, ‘not with Bob and his family coming. She really can’t go out there again tomorrow. Anyway, I need to get that turkey ready for the oven.’

‘Great,’ I said. ‘Stuffing time.’

Mollie began crying. Mum picked her up and hugged her. ‘Come on, petal, time for bed. You need your sleep. It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow. I thought we might go carol singing with the church group. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? You love Christmas.’

All I could hear was Mollie sobbing as she went to bed.

‘The child is oversensitive,’ granny said.

‘She’s bonkers,’ I said.

‘A little harsh,’ said dad. ‘You know how she gets over things once she gets an idea in her head.’

Yeah, bonkers, I thought.

*

I was woken by a commotion downstairs. Flinging on my dressing gown and slippers, I went to see what it was all about.

‘She must be running a fever,’ granny said.

‘She’s been out in the greenhouse since it got light, no wonder.’ That was mum, her hands flat on the table as if it was steadying her.

‘It’s true,’ Molly said furiously. ‘It’s alive, and it’s walking about the greenhouse.’

‘Fetch the doctor,’ granny said.

‘He’ll not come out on Christmas Eve. We’ll have to take her to the hospital.’

‘Can I come?’ I said. They all turned to me.

‘Timothy,’ mum said. ‘Get dressed and go and fetch your father.’

‘Why will no one believe me!’ Molly looked at me with pleading eyes. ‘Go and look. Please.’

‘Oh for goodness sake,’ I said, and marched out of the lounge, through the kitchen and out into the garden. Gosh! It was cold. I pulled my dressing gown tighter around me and headed for the greenhouse. I slipped open the door and was greeted by a gobble, gobble sound. The shock made me back away, and the next moment, the turkey, fully feathered and with a long neck, pushed its way out of the door and was running around the frosty garden. I looked back into the greenhouse. The platter the turkey had been sitting on was empty and there were black feathers scattered around. Then I spotted the open plastic bag where the giblets should have been. A blood trail ran from it across the floor. There was a ring of hay next to it. I blinked, unable to believe what I was seeing. Had someone switched turkeys as a joke? Had Uncle Bob done it? It sounded like the sort of thing he’d do, but he later denied it.

‘I told you!’ Molly was standing there with her arms crossed.

‘But….’

‘I don’t know how, but it wanted to live. I wrapped a blanket around it last night.’

‘Last night?’

‘I came down for its resurrection. Like Jesus. I even brought in some of Thumper’s hay for its re-birth.’

Now mum and granny were standing in the garden. Mum looked terrified. Granny shrugged. ‘Well, this is a fine how d’ya do.’

The turkey was foraging in the flower beds for any seed dropped from the bird feeder, looking very pleased with itself.

‘What am I going to do with all the stuffing I’ve made?’ mum wanted to know.

No one was prepared to offer a suggestion, but we didn’t eat turkey that year, and Mollie never ate it again. As for the turkey, Mollie named it Holly, and it lived with us until it died, naturally, ten years later. I found out that turkeys are only about twelve weeks old when they are slaughtered ready for Christmas dinner, so Holly had a good, long life. Of course, no one believed the story of the resurrected turkey, and whether you do, well, that’s up to you. But I grew to love Holly and found she made a good pet, even if she did decimate dad’s flower bed when she got out of the run he built.

©Heather Walker 2024

Photo by Ionela Mat on Unsplash

It's nearly Christmas!

 This will be my last post until after Christmas, when I shall put together my review of the year. Well, the last Christmas card has been written, posted or hand delivered, and I have just two small presents still to wrap. Today has been taken up with making my easy-peasy no-cook marzipan sweets and a second batch of vegan spice biscuits. Mince pies were made last weekend and my son has asked if we can have a fruit cake this year. I've not made a traditional Christmas cake for many years as no one likes Royal icing. Over the years, I've made a sponge cake topped with water icing (decorated with a Father Christmas, tree etc!), a cranberry cake and a fruit loaf. A last visit to the shops tomorrow morning should hopefully get me everything I need for Christmas. I've got this!

I've indulged in a few Christmas concerts, including one by the choir I used to belong to. I met my friend who proofreads for me there, which was just lovely. Then there was the last concert I took part in with two other choirs. That was a special evening.

So, what have I been writing? Well, actually I've been editing. I went back to the story I wrote recently and did a first edit. It still needs a tweak, but it's almost there. The Island (working title) is another long  story which I actually wrote back in 2018. This is the first time I have been back to it. A good edit was needed and I am re-writing the ending as I changed bits, as you do! I think this might fall into the YA category.

Working hard on editing

My last piece of news for this year is that I am about to have another poem published. There was a squeal of delight when I received the email from Streetcake online journal. They only publish experimental poetry, so this is a first for me. I rarely write it, so I was really pleased to have my poem picked. I'll post a link when it is published.

Well, that's it folks. I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and hope you get lots of books (that's what I'm hoping for!)

Here is a song from Syrinx filmed at the concert I was singing in. This is the only song we could say was Christmassy - a Finnish Reindeer herding song. Enjoy.

 

November update

The River Wensum, Norwich

 Well, I've slipped on my weekly writing of a poem, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I  began November with the intention of writing a daily flash using the prompts emailed to me, but that also fell by the wayside. I usually love these prompts, but it didn't do anything for me. I wrote one, and also one using my own prompt, but that's it.

However, this month I did meet up with my writing buddy who now lives in Norwich, and on a very wet morning we adjourned to Norwich Cathedral Cafe to write over pots of tea. It was like old times and we soon slipped back into the habit of free writing and laughing over the results. We had a ready-made prompt board in the cafe (see photo) which saved us searching for words. We had a wonderful time writing together, and had a chance to catch up with each other. We last met in August.

A ready made prompt board!

I have been thinking of putting together a short story collection. I have a few that look at the funny side of life, including dark humour. Some of my stories are longer than the normal short stories, so much harder to find homes for them, so with three or four of these interspersed with shorter or even flash would work. 

To add to the collection I wrote a new story last week. The first draft is done and I really had fun writing it. There's bit of me in there (not going to say which bits!), but then doesn't every writer add bits of them into their stories? This one has very funny moments in it, but also sad moments. The story has the working title of The Holiday and it is set in Eastbourne.

Looking at my list of books read this year, I am on my 75th! My bought book pile is quite small now, but I'm off to the library on Thursday. There are a few books on my Christmas List, one being Elly Griffiths Norfolk which has locations of scenes from her Ruth Galloway series, which I have read. If I only get one book this year it has to be this!

In other news, we got the Christmas Tree up yesterday because I couldn't wait any longer. I love Christmas and look forward to carols and mulled wine. I'm singing tomorrow night with a new choir that started in January this year. Syrinx will be singing in St John's Church, Hoxton, including This Woman's Work by Kate Bush and a Finnish Reindeer calling song! Not to be missed. Have a look at the website. There are a few videos available to view.

That's all for now folks.

Writing like a woman possessed

Since writing last time about slow writing, I had an idea about something else, so I switched projects and am writing like a woman possessed on this new piece. I am 11,000 words in and I only began last Friday. I think I am nearing the end and the first draft might well be finished by New Year.

This is the way I love to write. I cannot wait to get back to this project and I think about it even when I'm not writing. With all my Christmas preparations done, I have time to devote to writing, though there are distractions. I am currently catching up with series one and two of Happy Valley before series three starts in January. I missed it first time round. Oh wow! What I missed!

I have other news but I don't feel I can announce it just yet. Suffice it to say that when I heard by email, I was so excited that I accidentally deleted the email from my spam folder and had to phone the people in question! News on that late in January.

Thank you for reading my blog this year. I wish you a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.

New Laptop and review of my writing year

The Jigsaw put together in one day

In the last few days I have been getting to know my new laptop. Times have been fraught, especially for my techie son who has had the job of putting right what I've done wrong, answering my queries and basically losing it. I fully understand. Everything about this laptop feels different, from the keyboard to the way the start up screen looks and functions react. The mouse is super sensitive...to match my mood!

But I am getting the hang of it slowly and yesterday I did lots of typing. That's helped a lot. This morning I have loaded up some photos from my phone for the first time. My son said it will be exactly the same as the way I did it before. Er...not quite. Once the device was ready to go (as it told me) I couldn't find it! Then once I did find it I copied the photos I wanted and went into pictures but couldn't find the tab for 'create new folder'. It was stuck at the top in tiny print. So it has been successful. Besides which my son is still in bed and even I haven't the nerve to wake him over this!

I've been slow to get to my laptop because there was so much to do before Christmas and during Christmas but now I have loaded my writing folder onto it (with a lot of help and distress....from me and son!). However, I've not transferred everything from my old laptop and don't intend to unless I need it. I'm trying to start afresh and be better with my filing system. Let's see how long that lasts!

So, how is everyone's Christmas going so far? We had the girlfriend of my younger son staying for two nights and between them they put together the 1000 piece jigsaw in one day! I never got a look in. I received some nice presents - books, of course, earphones, a pen that lasts a lifetime...wow! Two friends remembered my eco-friendly lifestyle and bought me a box of pens made from recycled card, plus a notebook made from recycled plastic, a soy candle, a string bag (which I first thought was a ball of wool, and I wondered what does my friend think I'm going to knit?!) and some bee bombs for the garden. My husband bought me the Dairy Diary that I asked for. I love this diary and I used to buy one every year. Then I swapped to cheaper options but they weren't the same. A friend bought me one two years ago and I realised how much I'd missed it. These days it comes with little stickers to highlight birthdays and special occasions. Oh, such fun!

Books for Christmas!

Now we come to the part where I look at my writing successes and otherwise during the year. Otherwise is very high on the agenda this year. Anyway, here goes:

Short Stories - submitted 13, successes - none
Flash stories - submitted 7, one published (Paragraph Planet)
Poems - submitted 44, successes - 4 (all published by Visual Verse), 1 consolation prize! 4 no replies (assumed dead), 3 waiting (assumed dead)
I have one poem accepted from last year's batch which will be published at the end of next year!
Novels - one submitted for a competition - no go.

During the year I attended Mslexia's writing conference in Leeds, took an online novel writing course, enjoyed author events locally, and a couple of poetry events in London. The biggest and best move was joining the writing group which meets in Hammersmith. There I found friends and a relaxed atmosphere to try new, and often, wacky things. I'm off there today.

I don't want to dwell too long over this year. It hasn't felt great writing-wise, but support from friends helps. As to the future, I don't have much planned. I shall finish my year of writing one poem a day and I want to re-visit some of the poems I have written about climate change and try sending a few out. I've decided not to go to any writing conferences in 2020, and I'm not sure about general submitting either. Competitions just feel a waste of time and money. The only workshop/conference I would consider next year is one about self-publishing. I'd like to publish some poems, but don't feel confident enough to go it alone. Just getting to grips with my laptop has been stressful enough without the thought of tackling book covers, formatting text etc. for publishing.

To end with I thought I'd share this poem I wrote over the dilemma of whether to use the candles I was given for Christmas. Did I? Er.......

The Santa Candles

A row of Santa candles waxed red

and white, I’m sure they will burn

nice and bright, but in my heart

I know this to be wrong.

It can't be right to burn Santa Clause

even for the cause of Christmas,

to light the wick will rip my heart

apart, to see him melt from the 

red of his hat to his shiny black boots

taking with it his suit all trimmed

in white, and for what, a light?

If I strike the match, see his sacrifice

flaming, will my fingers tremble

as this terrible deed is done?

Oh Santa, pick up your sack and run!

Live poetry, an exhibition and Christmas

I have been without the internet for three days. You never quite realise how much you miss it until that happens. Some workmen drilled through the Virgin Media fibre optic cable, near me, along with some gas pipes and it affected a large part of south west London. The priority was to get the hospital back on line and then everyone else. I'm not sure if everyone has been re-connected but ours came back at eleven o'clock last night.

At one point I used the internet via my son's mobile so I could do some essential things, but his data was going so I was quick. Even our local coffee shop had no wi-fi! While there is something to be said for getting away from social media for a while, the internet has become an everyday essential.

And now I'm back I can do a catch up. Last Sunday afternoon I went along to the Boulevard Theatre in Soho again. This time Live Canon presented an event with Valley Press - four of their poets were reading. I came across Valley Press some years ago and have bought books from them. Recently they started a subscription service and, liking what they do, I have signed up for a year. So I was keen to support them at this event and I got to see the theatre itself. It is a small and very intimate space. I booked a seat in the second row. I hadn't expected to be so close to the stage. This is an excellent space for poetry. Helen from Live Canon introduced Jamie McGarry from Valley Press who then went on to introduce each poet. The four performing were Ralph Dartford, Cherry Taylor Battiste, Adham Smart and Julia Deakin. I had not come across any of these poets before but their poems were powerful and very different. While I enjoyed all the poets my favourite was Julia Deakin for her variety.

I hope to return to the Boulevard in the future and hear more poets. There is something going on there every Sunday afternoon. There is a lovely bar/restaurant area, which was quiet by that time. I had a nice pot of tea, but I had to smile. With all the drinks machines around these days huffing and puffing through frothy coffees and different teas, my tea was made by boiling a kettle. How quaint!

Since that event I have received my first newsletter and book from Valley Press as part of the subscriptions service (you get to choose your books). I have a book of short stories by Judy Darley, and I think next time I will choose Julia Deakin's book.

Now Christmas is upon us and I've been baking biscuits and making my marzipan sweets. It's something I used to do to you use up left over marzipan after covering a Christmas cake. I no longer make a Christmas cake as only I eat it. There is a limit even for me! But I adore marzipan. I cover glace cherries with it and roll them in icing sugar. There are variations and this year I've covered some in chocolate and cocoa.  My elder son is going to make a non-Christmas cake (an orange cake) and I've still to make mince pies.

These Amaretti biscuits are the best! First time making
them. Going fast. Everyone loves them.

Cranberry Thumbprint Biscuits

Marzipan sweets (first layer!)

In between the cleaning, baking and shopping I'm still writing my one-a-day poems. I went along to the British Museum on Tuesday to see an exhibition. Inspired by the East shows how we fell in love with tiles and ceramics and copied them. Paintings, sculptures and sketches of objects and costumes were also on show. While at the museum I looked at an art exhibition in room 90 featuring contemporary art from the 1970's to the present day, with art from Tracey Emin, David Hockney, and a favourite of mine, Anselm Kiefer. I found the day inspirational especially when it came to some poetry writing.

Anselm Kiefer

I also managed to get back to writing group in over in Hammersmith yesterday afternoon. I've really missed it, though it took me a while to get my head into gear. I'd not had a lot of sleep and felt quite tired. But it was fun and good to see everyone. The cafe was almost deserted. I guess everyone was off Christmas shopping.

Finally my new laptop has arrived and my son has been setting it up for me. I used it briefly yesterday but I need to transfer some files over (my writing ones) so today I'm using the old one as it's quicker and easier until I get to grips with the new one and have everything I need on it. I was amazed at how quickly it boots up and shuts off. This one takes about ten minutes!

This will be my post until after Christmas, so I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I do hope you'll come back now and then.

HAPPY  CHRISTMAS

A sort out day

A bit of a strange day. It began with a parcel being delivered. My son, on shutting the front door, said that it was addressed to me but it had the wrong name (right surname, wrong first name). It was from a publisher (I'm not saying who) whose competition I entered but didn't make the shortlist. I decided to open the parcel to see if I could work out what this was about. There was no correspondence just three copies of the same book. Checking inside I found the name of the person the package was addressed to - she had a story published in it. I think this was her prize as a shortlisted contestant.

Is it wrong of me to be miffed? I know mistakes happen but this made me angry, perhaps because it's been such a bad year writing-wise, this kind of rubbed my nose in it. I've sent the publisher an email - I don't think I've quite calmed down. In fact I know I haven't!

Next, I've been searching for something I cut out of a magazine last year - a tip for a home made gift. It should have been with my cookery books, but I've been through everything and it's not there. I even had one of those plastic re-usable water bottles fall on my head as it was balancing on top of the books. That didn't improve my mood and I had a go at the boys about how many they'd accumulated and I had no where to keep them.

Finally, I have two shelves of books, files and writing stuff as well as part of the shelf on the sideboard. I went through all this and have actually thrown some old notebooks out as I am sure everything is on my computer. I need the space, and sometime I will have to go through stuff individually and throw more. At least it's tidier and sorted better. I've picked a few more notebooks to go through and see if I can throw those out. It would be great to keep everything, but I just don't have room.....and no room of my own to work in. I'm considering throwing a lot of my early stuff as I've moved on from that, besides I feel I'm gradually winding down from that manic sender-out of stories and poetry. I want to get on with other things., maybe dig out my art materials and play!

Tomorrow I switch into Christmas mode with Advent services to attend, singing events to take part in, meals to consume and present shopping. (I have actually got all my cards and most presents). The stereo will blast out the usual Christmas hits of years past, as well as carols - Enya's album And Winter Came will be first to be played! If my hubby ever moves his boxes we might even get a Christmas tree up! The course with Live Canon will finish next week and apart from my daily poem that's it for this year.  And this is it for my daily blog for November (yes, I did miss a few days). I hope you've found it interesting and fun. Thanks for reading. Hope to see you again sometime.

My wish list of books for Christmas

What a lovely frosty start to the morning. Everything looks so pretty. I couldn't resist - I was in the back garden shortly after it got light taking photos in my nightwear! Very Christmassy looking (not my nightwear, the frost).

Thinking about Christmas, I don't know about you but my wish list always contains a pile of books. A friend recently asked if there was book I'd like for Christmas. Last year I gave her a list which meant there was still the element of surprise. I've just done the same thing. While I was in London yesterday I nipped into Waterstones (fatal) and browsed the tables. I soon found something and then something else......

I took photos of the book covers and sent the list to my friend. The books are:

Sleep - C L Taylor
Homeland - Walter Kempowski
To The Island of Tides - Alistair Moffat (non fiction, history of Lindisfarne)
Christmas Days - Jeanette Winterson
Bridge of Clay - Markus Zusak

I also have a list which I will giving to hubby and the boys (and hope they discuss) with four other books on it:

Ellie & the Harp Maker - Hazel Prior
Murder in the Minster - Helen Cox
The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide 2020
Stanley & Elsie -  Nicola Upson (non fiction about the painter Stanley Spencer

I do have other things on my list that aren't books, one is a glass measuring jug because my son took my best plastic one to bail out the water in his fish tank and it's still in his room in use!

So what is on your Christmas list, books or otherwise?

A quiet moment in Waterstones with poetry

My eldest son (known as 'techie') asked if I'd go Christmas shopping with him this morning. I really didn't want to go back into the madness of the huge shopping complex that is in Kingston, but I agreed as long as he would go early.

We got into Kingston at near-on nine-thirty. It wasn't too bad. A couple of times he said he needed to go off on his own for ten minutes or so and he would phone me when he was done. At one point we were in the shopping mall and I headed off to Waterstones, despite his protest of 'oh no, not Waterstones. I'll never get you out of there!' After a brief look at the books (temptation was eating into me!) I headed to the quiet corner where the poetry is. Not only did I find one of Carol Ann Duffy's Christmas poem books, but I also found a comfy chair. I proceeded to plonk myself down into it and read the whole book! Bliss.

When the call came I was ready to meet up - no faffing about. There's discipline!

I suggested we go for a pit stop in the BHS cafe for a hot chocolate before tackling anything more. I bought nothing except parsley for the guinea pigs and a pack of cookies but it was nice spending time with my son. I sometimes envy my friends who have girls because they often seem to meet for lunch or to shop. Boys don't do that. If I suggested it to my younger son (known as 'sporty'), he'd think I was crazy - I can picture the look now!

What do I do now?

Well, my patience didn't last long.Then again inspiration comes when it does. Over the first mug of tea of the day I worked out the last few scenes for my novel. I had decided I wouldn't type it up because I needed to go out....but there I was booting up my laptop shortly after 7am and it was done!

Afterwards I thought, now what do I do? Well, I suppose I should do the ironing which has been growing all week, catch up with the washing (basket full), do some shopping, speak to my family for more than ten seconds at a time, do all those jobs that haven't been attended to and then there's Christmas! I have actually bought one present now....it's for the guinea pigs! Well, everyone has to start somewhere.

Have a good Sunday (what's left of it).

Post Christmas?

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I finally succumbed to the virus doing the rounds and after a week of a bad throat and hacking cough the cold broke on Boxing Day. Thankfully I wasn't entertaining over Christmas - it was just the four of us - so I was able to get rest and have been vegetating in front of the TV, reading, sleeping and helping with the annual jigsaw puzzle when I felt like it.

On Christmas Day morning while I still feeling pretty okay I was, as usual, first up. I love that time alone with a CD of Christmas carols and a mug of tea, candles lighting the room. And guess what I was also doing? I was editing some old poems!

Reading wise I have some poetry books by my bedside and instead of reading a chapter of my current book I've been reading a few poems before I go to sleep. I've just finished Christopher James' England Underwater. This is the third collection of his I've read and I thoroughly enjoy his quirkiness. The poems are beautiful, often unusual and amusing and stimulate the mind (where does he get his ideas from?). I shall have to track down the missing volume from my collection of his work. They are poems I will read again and no doubt get something new out of.

I've now taken the Emma Press Anthology of Motherhood upstairs. I started reading it earlier in the year but it's been sitting on the coffee table for ages without a look. So, this has become my plan - to read poetry before I retire to sleep!

So to make up for not getting here to wish every one a happy Christmas I'd like now to wish all my readers a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. Come back soon!

Getting ready for the final push (NaNoWriMo 2014)

Me age 11

I so loved my day off from writing yesterday. It did me good. However, I did send out a batch of poems. Deadlines were looming and having got caught up in my novel I knew if I didn't get on with it I'd probably miss them.

My visit to the library was one of the quickest on record. I found what I was looking for straightaway and was out of there. In spare moments I am devouring The Writer's Handbook - Guide to Crime Writing. It features articles from the likes of Val McDermid, Ian Rankin and Minette Walters.

With our central heating kicking in at 5.20am (for my youngest son who has an early start for his job) I am awake and downstairs writing sometimes by 6am. No wonder I am knackered half way through the morning. I take naps after lunch sometimes and last night I almost drifted off watching England play Scotland (in fact I missed the first goal). I perked up to watch a bit of Imagine about the German artist Keifer who has an exhibition on at the Royal Academy (do I have time to get there???) but couldn't manage the midnight finish and went to bed with about twenty minutes to go.

I've decided that I must be more active on Twitter and while doing the NaNoWriMo challenge this seems to be the right time. I tweet early in the morning (only weird writers are up then!) and suddenly I have a few more followers. But I've started tweeting about my other interests, especially art and found some interesting people who I follow and they follow me. I am still not quite sure about Twitter but I'm making more of an effort to have some sort of presence there.

Coming back to my novel, this morning I thought I was not going to get started but I've pushed on through. I've had two sessions at it today so that I can reach my own target and have just broken the 40,000 word barrier. I have just under 10,000 words left to write! From tomorrow people are able to load up their completed novels for the official word count check. Some people it seems have got there already!

I've now got to begin wrapping things up. I'm aiming for a big dramatic end but I can't get there too quickly. I have notes for a couple of scenes still to write and then I have to sort out my sub-plots before the final ending. Ah! it all sounds so simple.

Want to have a big push tomorrow if possible because Friday and Saturday are taken up with arrangements for the Church Christmas Fair. Our group is laying on hot food. So I have to cook, put together the new menu and some fliers, get everything up to the hall on Friday afternoon and make sure the tables are laid. Then there is the little matter of the Christingle service in two weeks time - I need to fish out the posters and get them up on Friday! Friday morning is also my sport session where all frustrations will be thoroughly dealt with!

Out of season writing

How do you write about something 'out of season'? Specifically I'm talking about Christmas poetry. In 2003 I had a poem published in a Christian anthology for a charity. I was rather chuffed as there was a forward by the then Archbishop of Canterbury! Since then I have occasionally received mailings from the editor inviting me to submit to other projects. This time it is an anthology for poetry and short prose celebrating Advent and Christmas.

I put the letter aside but it kept reminding me to do something. Today is that day. However, getting in the mindset of Christmas with all its festivities when the sun is shining from a clear blue sky and spring flowers colour the garden is very difficult. To get me in the mood I pulled out an Advent retreat book and tried to submerge myself in words and images. I began making notes and then started drafting some lines. Eventually something sprang to mind and I went with it.

Earlier, while thinking over this post, another idea came to me and I have just finished drafting that out. This idea was harder to pin down and I couldn't find the right words for some verses and then I got stuck at the end. But I'm happy with result now it's on the computer. I will be working on it again in a few days and as long as I am happy I will submit them both. I do have until the end of June to submit them but, as I've learnt from experience, sitting on things often means missed deadlines.

Christmas greetings...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 TO ALL MY BLOG READERS

 AND MAY NEXT YEAR

 BRING MUCH CREATIVENESS!

Christmas is coming.....and I'm still not ready

Rather up to my eyes in it at the moment with it coming up to Christmas.  Went shopping this morning and completely forgot two presents I meant to buy!  And there I was thinking I'd got Christmas wrapped up!!

Writing has been rather seasonal.  Just wondering whether to read one of my poems at the carols and readings evening I'm at tomorrow night.  I do sometimes inflict an offering of mine on them.  There is also a deadline coming up for the Magma competition and I don't think I'm going to make that one as I'm really out of time to select anything.

Looking forward

When I've managed to drag myself away from the TV I have been using some time to catch up on my magazine pile and I actually wrote a poem on Boxing Day morning!

Some while ago I told you that I'd never read a book by Margaret Atwood.  Well, before Christmas I bought a few books in charity shops (I was looking for stocking presents but the books caught my eye!).  Anyway, I bought The Handmaid's Tale, perhaps Atwood's best known book and I am nearly half way through it, having started it on Boxing Day.  I was craving for a book as at present I am waiting for the next Book Club read, and this is really compelling.  Set in the future in a world with a repressive state and where the only option to young women is to breed.  There is so much more to find out in this book.

The New Year is fast approaching.  I have blank diary for 2012 yet I already have lots to put into it.  I find the New Year an exciting time.  New beginnings beckon.  I make all sorts of half-hearted plans but I still find it a positive time.  January can be a depressing time, an anti-climax after Christmas and especially when the tree and decorations are packed away, but soon the days will gradually lengthen and before you know it new growth will appear in gardens followed by bright spring flowers. Can't you feel a poem or story coming on?   Around this time of year my Dad always used to say 'spring is just round the corner'.  We always laughed, but he was right.  Then longest day has gone and things are on the up!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

If you find some time over the festive holidays use it to write a short story or a poem, or write a diary each day and soon I'm sure you will find some inspiration from your entries (think of all those festive words!)/

Think about New Years Resolutions too.  What would you put on your list.  It's also a good time to look back over the year to see what you've achieved, what you could do better and where you are going.  More about that soon.

HAVE A GOOD TIME

SEE YOU ALL SOON

A little Christmas Story

I have been neglecting you of late (shame on me!).  To make up for it you get this Christmas story first!

The Guiding Star

When you look up at the sky at night you see that some stars are larger and brighter than others.  This is the story of a star that became known all over the world due to one extraordinary event.

            Once, a long, long time ago in the reign of King Herod there was a star in the east which had shone for many, many years.  She was old and her light was beginning to fade.  The time was coming when she would shine no more and would burn out, as all stars did.  This thought saddened her for she felt no use to anyone anymore.

            One night a voice called to her “Why are you so sad?” 

The star jumped in fright but answered in a shaky voice “Because I am too old now to give much light and I feel useless.”

The voice said “The one who made you does not think that.  In fact he has an important job for you.  A new King is soon to be born, one whose reign will never end, a saviour, the son of the true God.  Now this wonderful news is to be taken to the people on earth and God has chosen you to play your part in this.  Tonight you will give birth to a new star, a large, bright star, one which will guide shepherds and Kings to the stable in Bethlehem where God’s son is born.”

The star was amazed by all that she heard and thought that she must be dreaming.  “All my babies have been small,” she said, “not bold and bright.”

“Do not worry,” the voice reassured her, “I am a messenger of the Lord, through whom and all things are possible.  Before this night is ended you will see your light shine through your son.  He will shine brighter than any star has done before and he will be seen throughout the world, and will rest over the place where the baby Jesus lies in a manger.”

Later that night when the old star was dozing in the moonlight she was suddenly filled with a great energy.  A huge flash of light burst from her and she was dazzled by the brightly shining rays of the emerging new star.  This was her son.  Other stars turned to look at him for they had never seen one such as he.  Then angels appeared and surrounded the young star and began to softly sing.  The sweet voices grew louder, then all at once ceased.  Then the star bowed to his mother and gently moved away surrounded by the angels.  “Come,” said one, “we have much to do tonight.”

The old star watched proudly as her son departed to begin the work he was destined for.  His light did indeed fill the sky that night and for many nights to come.  The heavens were alive with music, and angels accompanied the bright star wherever he went.  News spread of the wondrous event that had taken place on earth and the old star felt privileged to have been chosen in her latter years by God, to be the mother of the guiding star.


(first published in Areopogus in December 2007)