Monday, June 28, 2004
Scarecrows
They are everywhere - including next door to me where overnight there appeared a young man with dreadlocks, a table, two turntables and some LP's!!!
My next door neighbour's son is a disc jockey at a Manchester night club, hence the connection, I imagine.
But what about the others? Passed one today - King Kong complete with pole, from which hung a helicopter with rescuer dangling on a wire, as KK clutched poor heroine. Then in the village, have seen a troup of Morris Dancers, a rugby player, a cricketer, heaven knows how many teddy bears, plus - outside the Post Office of all places, a scarecrow patient in a bed, complete with attendant nurse, and a sign bearing the immortal Sea-side postcard words "It's only a little prick!"
As yet I haven't seen anyone to ask what it's all about - all the Scarecrows have numbers so maybe it's a competition.
Am now thinking seriously of next year and a scarecrow author plus computer.......
Work and Conferences.
I managed to get my Mira book finished this weekend but am now back at the beginning reworking the first 3 chapters, as I had a mega moment of re-plotting. Feels like it will never be finished!
This coming weekend we have the UK RNA Annual Conference in Leicester, and although I can't go for the whole conference, I intend to be there for the Saturday.
For writers, working alone, their get-togethers are a much needed opportunity to be with their own kind. The internet has made a tremendous difference to our lives enabling us all to communicate with one another of course, but to actually sit down and talk (normally all at the same time so that we haven't a clue what anyone else is sayimg) is a tremendous boost to the spirits.
This year for the first time since I joined the American RWA five years ago I am having to miss their annual conference (in Dallas this year), and the Aussie Conference in Sydney as well, much to my disappointment.
Teaching
I'm currently investigating the possibility of training/qualifying in order to teach writing classes, and the help and advice I have received from my email colleages has been terrific.
I'm still not sure at this stage whether or not I shall go ahead with my original plan. In common with many women of my age, I am experiencing a need to 'give something back' to my profession and to 'nurture and nourish' a 'new'generation.
I don't have grandchildren to tuck under my wing and watch grow, so maybe this urge to cluck over and motherhen a few proteges, is nature's way of finding an outlet for that instinct.
On the other hand, I have also noticed how many women in my age group are making career changes, or just simply committing to fufilling 'dreams' they had put on one side.
One particular friend of mine (and not quite as old ) confided to me this weekend that she would love to retrain as a cabinetmaker, and design and make her own bespoke furniture.
My big dream as a young woman was to find a huge old delapidated house (okay then an ancient pile with is own land) and restore it. I must admit I don't yearn for that anymore. Steve, my late husband always wanted to open a donkey sanctuary. Must admit I felt a bit suspicious when, after all the problems with my previous house the only place I coud find to buy with the 2 weeks I had to find somewhere was this house, with its paddock and 3 stables! Oh thank you Stevie!
Nantwich/Bookshop/new Harpercollins book/writers'groupYears ago I wrote a serious for Mills & Boon and Mira set in a fictional town named Haslewich, and in actual fact Haslewich was based on the small market town of Nantwich, where I now live (talk about coincidence)
I am having a small launch for my upcoming second harpercollins release "Connie's Courage" in Nantwich's bookshop on Friday 6th August (a tea party!) and the bookshop owner has offered me the use of an upstairs room there for the writers group I am hoping to establish.
A little ominously, when I called to see him today he asked me if "Chris" had been in touch, explaining that it was about literature.
My heart always sinks when I hear that word, because I expect the next few words to be a contemptuous dismissal of my own work - however, it seems that "Chris" is thinking about organising a Literary Festival in Nantwich, not joining my writers' group in order to put me down (sorry Chris!).
He hasn't ben in touch yet, but I hope I do hear from him. I am supposed to be speaking at Chester's Literary Festival on 9th October courtesy of Chester's lovely Tourism Manager, although heaven knows what I am going to say, and it had occured to me that next year maybe I could persuade him, to let me showcase the talents of my Writers' Group there.
Sheepdog Jack
Weather was too miserable last week to go out much but I did see Harold and Jack working in the paddock from my bedroom window, so at least Jack is still here - I haven't seen him for a few days though,and his probation period will be up now! Oh I do hope that Harold keeps him!
Okay, back to work now! (sigh!)
Penny
My next door neighbour's son is a disc jockey at a Manchester night club, hence the connection, I imagine.
But what about the others? Passed one today - King Kong complete with pole, from which hung a helicopter with rescuer dangling on a wire, as KK clutched poor heroine. Then in the village, have seen a troup of Morris Dancers, a rugby player, a cricketer, heaven knows how many teddy bears, plus - outside the Post Office of all places, a scarecrow patient in a bed, complete with attendant nurse, and a sign bearing the immortal Sea-side postcard words "It's only a little prick!"
As yet I haven't seen anyone to ask what it's all about - all the Scarecrows have numbers so maybe it's a competition.
Am now thinking seriously of next year and a scarecrow author plus computer.......
Work and Conferences.
I managed to get my Mira book finished this weekend but am now back at the beginning reworking the first 3 chapters, as I had a mega moment of re-plotting. Feels like it will never be finished!
This coming weekend we have the UK RNA Annual Conference in Leicester, and although I can't go for the whole conference, I intend to be there for the Saturday.
For writers, working alone, their get-togethers are a much needed opportunity to be with their own kind. The internet has made a tremendous difference to our lives enabling us all to communicate with one another of course, but to actually sit down and talk (normally all at the same time so that we haven't a clue what anyone else is sayimg) is a tremendous boost to the spirits.
This year for the first time since I joined the American RWA five years ago I am having to miss their annual conference (in Dallas this year), and the Aussie Conference in Sydney as well, much to my disappointment.
Teaching
I'm currently investigating the possibility of training/qualifying in order to teach writing classes, and the help and advice I have received from my email colleages has been terrific.
I'm still not sure at this stage whether or not I shall go ahead with my original plan. In common with many women of my age, I am experiencing a need to 'give something back' to my profession and to 'nurture and nourish' a 'new'generation.
I don't have grandchildren to tuck under my wing and watch grow, so maybe this urge to cluck over and motherhen a few proteges, is nature's way of finding an outlet for that instinct.
On the other hand, I have also noticed how many women in my age group are making career changes, or just simply committing to fufilling 'dreams' they had put on one side.
One particular friend of mine (and not quite as old ) confided to me this weekend that she would love to retrain as a cabinetmaker, and design and make her own bespoke furniture.
My big dream as a young woman was to find a huge old delapidated house (okay then an ancient pile with is own land) and restore it. I must admit I don't yearn for that anymore. Steve, my late husband always wanted to open a donkey sanctuary. Must admit I felt a bit suspicious when, after all the problems with my previous house the only place I coud find to buy with the 2 weeks I had to find somewhere was this house, with its paddock and 3 stables! Oh thank you Stevie!
Nantwich/Bookshop/new Harpercollins book/writers'groupYears ago I wrote a serious for Mills & Boon and Mira set in a fictional town named Haslewich, and in actual fact Haslewich was based on the small market town of Nantwich, where I now live (talk about coincidence)
I am having a small launch for my upcoming second harpercollins release "Connie's Courage" in Nantwich's bookshop on Friday 6th August (a tea party!) and the bookshop owner has offered me the use of an upstairs room there for the writers group I am hoping to establish.
A little ominously, when I called to see him today he asked me if "Chris" had been in touch, explaining that it was about literature.
My heart always sinks when I hear that word, because I expect the next few words to be a contemptuous dismissal of my own work - however, it seems that "Chris" is thinking about organising a Literary Festival in Nantwich, not joining my writers' group in order to put me down (sorry Chris!).
He hasn't ben in touch yet, but I hope I do hear from him. I am supposed to be speaking at Chester's Literary Festival on 9th October courtesy of Chester's lovely Tourism Manager, although heaven knows what I am going to say, and it had occured to me that next year maybe I could persuade him, to let me showcase the talents of my Writers' Group there.
Sheepdog Jack
Weather was too miserable last week to go out much but I did see Harold and Jack working in the paddock from my bedroom window, so at least Jack is still here - I haven't seen him for a few days though,and his probation period will be up now! Oh I do hope that Harold keeps him!
Okay, back to work now! (sigh!)
Penny
