I’ve just finished the first draft of chapter 50 (the last chapter) of Dancing the Maypole. The story decided the last scene should be an epilogue (which will make sense when you read it) so the story is finished, but not finished. At the moment the story has about 138,700 words (the length of two of my novels). One thousand or so words more and it will be finished. I feel like dancing!
Cari, You are a steamroller! Dance girl…dance with all of your heart and soul! We your readers (fans) are holding our breath. The epilogue will be a breeze! At least from our end, we are not the hard working writer! This message is senting you blessings and wishes for a magnificent finish. Then my dear, please take a few days of much earned holiday. Blessings:)
Oh man! I feel like crying! I am so happy for you… We all have been together with you in this dear Cari. Your victory is ours as well. We believed you all the time. This is just the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Love you so very much. We are mighty proud of our darling girl.
@Renata
You’re so sweet! Thank you Renata. I hope life is being kind to you and your lovely family too!!!
Congratulations!!!!I can’t wait to read it. Good luck with the epilogue and I hope you are patting yourself on your back :).
@Sariah Ryland
I don’t know if I can reach my arm far enough to pat my back yet, but I have actually started the epilogue last night (literally by the light of the full moon to the sound of Vivaldi’s Gloria/Magnificat – the one directed by Muti) which is just as good. The saying, ‘To begin is to finish’ runs through my mind like an annoying song on continuous replay. I’m feeling really excited to see what happens next! Another thousand words and I should be done. It’s been a hard climb, but I made it!
I am anxious to see what will happen to the characters since the snippet you posted way back when…
@Levita
I was tempted to share more, but I was afraid I’d have to go back and rewrite something (which is what I ended up doing with the first few chapters). Hopefully at the end of the day it all ends up looking smooth like a frosted cake ready to eat (I’ve been torturing myself watching Ace of Cakes – I can’t eat cake at the moment as I’m on a special mostly sugar free diet till mid October when we have our anniversary (one can go without cake on one’s umpteenth birthday, but NOT on a fifteenth anniversary!) As I can’t eat cake to celebrate finishing my book I bought myself some perfume! (Alfred Sung’s original Sung) A calorie-free treat I’ll enjoy for months. Now I just have to get it done and one line. Minor details.
I’m so glad for you! Congratulations. 🙂
SQUEEE!!! I’m so excited to read it!
@Jen Jen
Thanks Jen Jen! I hope your own characters are being kind…and so they should. They get to live in your head! Mine would all pack up their belongings (and the surrounding landscape) and join yours if they could (even if they had to live in the wrong century). They’re stuck with me for now, but if you wake up one morning with a really large headache and the sound of carriage wheels ringing in your ears you’ll know they’d washed their hands of me.
@Emily
I shall try to have it on line as soon as possible! I think you’ve suffered a way too long wait. 😉
This is just to tease I am so pleased the story with be up soon.
She waits at the train station wearing a pale blue muslim gown and her hair in a knot with becoming brown curls framing her face. Once again she checks the clock beside the schedule. A multitude of people rush about around her their trains arriving and departing at a furious pace. One girl is leaving on the Twilight Express and some vampires and lycans following behind. A young man slings a backpack behind heading to Ancient Greece to begin his Odyssey. She looks at her particular destination hmmm Adderbury estate. “ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE UNKNOWN GATE UNKNOWN” She sighs and opens her reticule making certain for the upteenth time her ticket was secure…
@Levita
Love it! I want to read it. Hmmm I wonder what she finds at Adderbury…???
YAY! That is awesome! I am so happy you have done it! 🙂 Keep at it! And just around my Birthday! 😀 YAY! I am so excited to read it!
Maybe the young lady arrives just in time to see the story unfold around her.
@Sarah
I knew there was another birthday in September. That’s one missing piece back where it belongs. Give Timothy a kiss for me and tell him his Aunt Cari will get him a present someday…after his Mummy gets a birthday present. 😉
@Levita
Or maybe she ends up rescuing a lonely beautiful Smirke from some impossible pickle. It seems to be a Smirke family trait; getting into impossible pickles (and then escaping just in time – or not escaping and ending up in a bigger pickle). The stories continue to pile up in my head…
I’ll have to start writing faster or I’ll start channeling irritated characters. That could be scary!
A plump curly-haired maiden rescuing a Smirke…
How would she come across the young man? The young lady might taunt him a little before helping said Smirke out and which of the brothers would it be…
@Levita
The possibilities are endless. The first one that comes to mind is she could knock on the door and claim to be a distant cousin in need of lodging or assistance… 😉
I’ve met the heroines of Cecil and Cosmo, but if this curly-haired maiden happened along before the said ladies had a chance to sling their hooks being plump wouldn’t rule a witty lady out. I don’t think she’d want to end up with Robert (a self-centered individual who seems to have an unconscious goal to outdo his wicked uncle). Charles and George are lovely. (There are other Smirkes – I suspect quite a few – waiting to leap onto the page). When you figure out how to buy one of these tickets let me know. I’d love to visit the Smirke’s Adderbury. I don’t know if I’ve ever said before, but the house on the cover of Dancing the Maypole is the real Adderbury House. I don’t know who lives there now or if they minded I stood at their gate taking pictures for ages. Crazy woman? Moi?
Its imaginary. A train station that goes into the setting of any book would be special indeed. It would be cool to dress in period dress and take a trip into ones favorite book. It is like that movie where the girl goes into her favorite Jane Austin book.
@Levita
If I ever discover the location of the train station…I’ll be sure to let you know! There are so many books I’d want to visit I’d probably go mad trying to figure out which one to visit first. :/