Regency Romance Novels

What will your desktopography be…?

By

I just discovered this website called desktopography. I assume there was a competition and artists from all over the world entered their work. These are works of art that you can download for free as computer wallpaper. I don’t like all of them, but most of them are visually WOW! They’re picture-stories…like illustrated covers from fantasy book covers (only more amazing!). I’d buy a number of these as posters. I’m going to download the moonscape with the balloon-ship…it’s so magical. I love it!

I will of course get some work done today. Dancing the Maypole is getting a mega-edit. I edit, then the Goblin prints off a chapter and takes out his red pen and scribbles all over my story, and then I mega-edit. Last week I made the mistake of adding a few words at the beginning of a chapter and the next thing I knew I was drowning in ripples of changes affecting numerous chapters. I’ll reach the finish line eventually. I’ll be that weird woman dressed in out of date lycra crawling on her hands and knees the last few yards, but I’ll get there. I keep catching colds which is slowing me down, but (when I’m not staring at my wallpaper) I’ll be sanding away at my latest story!

Still editing…when I’m not taking pictures…

By

It will take a few more weeks of editing before the story is ready to go on line. It’s getting a three layered mega-edit. I go over it with my new handy dandy editing program that checks spelling and grammar (but it doesn’t catch everything). So the Goblin then edits one chapter at a time. I then I go back over it again and smooth out anything I’d missed. The process is slower than I’d like it to be, but I’ll be less stressed when I send it out into the world.

In this neck of the woods Fall has arrived. The leaves are falling off the trees and the sky has turned grey. Earlier this week I woke to find the countryside shrouded in fog. I love fog! I tried to resist, but I had to take my camera out and see if I could find some pictures. It was cold enough to persuade most of the dog walkers to stay home, but not cold enough for gloves so for most of my walk it was like having the countryside to myself. I particularly wanted to try and capture the thinning trees with their sparse leaves dotting the fog. That was my hope. Here are my favorite shots. [Read more…] about Still editing…when I’m not taking pictures…

Moments from a windy walk…

By

This afternoon I looked out the window at the windy sunshine and decided I had to take my camera for a walk. I forgot to grab my music so I listened to the wind rushing through the trees. Clumps of small fluffy clouds meant it was a hit and miss. On seeing a shot I had seconds to turn on the camera and focus… I managed to catch a few (when my camera strap wasn’t blocking the viewfinder). Lately I’ve been reading Haiku (and trying to live more in the moment ie Cari-ku) so I wrote a little poem about each shot. If one of the pictures inspires a different haiku or poem feel free to share it in a comment… [Read more…] about Moments from a windy walk…

Dancing the Maypole is done…

By

I’ve decided that Dancing the Maypole doesn’t want an epilogue. After coming to a standstill in attempt number three on Saturday afternoon I sort of had a mini breakdown. I think the book is actually finished and ready to run, but I’m subconsciously trying to keep it in the gate (because that way no one can tell me it’s rubbish?). There’s this mutual growing rage between me and the story; it’s time to let go. So…I’m going to give myself a week to not think about Dancing the Maypole and then I’ll get started on the final editing. And hopefully before the end of October you’ll be getting an e-mail (if I have your e-mail) telling you it’s done and online. I hope you like long stories; this one is twice the length of ‘The Hired Wife’. I didn’t want it to be that long, but my characters don’t care what I think. So there’s fifty chapters and it’s done.

Closer to done…

By

After writing the equivalent of thirteen paperback pages for the (unfinished) epic-epilogue (of Dancing the Maypole) I decided to go back and read the last chapter over again. I’m really happy with it! Then I read the epic-epilogue (which threatened to go on on forever), and I had an awful sinking feeling. I knew the epic-logue was all wrong.

I gave in and mentally deleted what I’d long assumed would be the epilogue (I knew the story wanted one, I just wasn’t listening…again…) and after going to bed I tried to figure out what the story wanted (I love my job – I can work in a horizontal position with my eyes closed). This morning I started over and I’m so glad I did. I no longer feel like I’m stuck in a romance writing version of Tron where I have to write my way out of the game… One short epilogue and I’ll be ready to start final editing.

Shots from Monday Morning…

By

The epilogue to Dancing the Maypole is unfolding (just a very little way to go). Yesterday I went into Stamford to help a friend pack up her flat. You know you’re out of shape when after attempting to squash five overcoats into one of those air lock bags lifting the bundle makes your arms ache (to be fair this was after hours of packing bags, taping up boxes and generally getting in the way and rudely asking every five minutes ‘is that rubbish?’). The Goblin dropped me off on his way to work so I had an hour before she was expecting me so I headed for the meadow by the river to take photos. It was a lovely day, but exhausting. Today I woke up late feeling like I could cheerfully sleep the rest of the day so I crawled back in bed with the book I’ve been reading (Harriette Wilson’s Memoir’s) and stayed there for hours without any intention of getting up. You’ll be hearing more about Harriette! I’ve known about her for ages, but as she was a pricey prostitute (courtesan) I presumed it would be boring. I’m the bore for passing judgement before I’d read the first few pages. [Read more…] about Shots from Monday Morning…