2011 & Give Peace a Chance

Ashamed to say , yes I´m back. The last year has been busy, problematic, great, inspirational. I nearly lost my whole manuscript to a dodgy publisher and I have been writing flat out a novel, not finished...micro stories keep popping into my head, and needed recording and short stories. You know I could be a paperback writer, or whatever. But with world events as they my message is the same as dearly missed John Lennon.

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

So this is Christmas

Oh such promises, haven´t blogged here for a while , since last year actually! Why? Christmas got in the way - the work leading up to it and the work over it as the new year arrives....and still there is the day of the Kings to come, Jan 6, another christmas and more gifts. In Spain it carries on for 2 weeks! Do I sound like "Humbug", no it´s not meant to sound that way, I love Christmas, but the cosy family affairs, a fire burning in the grate. Freezing cold outside and everyone warm and happy inside. Small, inexpensive gifts that came with "a whole lot of love". I remember these times from when I was younger and lived in the UK. I haven´t spent a christmas with any of my family for many years, as everyone went their own ways including my parents.

Nowadays its too much money, too commercial and too much stress, I am sure Our Lord would not have wished that. Then what follows is madness ....the sales...and the time to return unwanted gifts. A beautiful gift was given back to me over the table as we finished our meal........I wont wear this! you may as well have it back! A little shocked was I for it was not an ill fitting shirt, nor a fluoresent jumper, but a beautiful hand made silver bracelet chain from Bali. I might add that this person was the boyfriend of someone at the table, who virtually choked on her food when he said this....The bracelet still sits on my table, boxed and unloved. this is what I mean about how christmas has become, and these people offer not a thought for those without.

For all who are alone, ill, sad, hungry or homeless, my wishes are that for you 2010 will be kind and bring you things that you need, and this New Year filled with new opportunities and the light of hope burning in your heart.

For those more fortunate, that have spent a good Christmas and New year, avery Happy New Year and keep the light of hope burning in your hearts.

Finally, Yes I am still awaiting an answer from the publisher on my book....so I am starting the New Year with hope in my heart too.

Happy New Year! Feliz Año Nuevo!

Don´t worry, be happy.

A nice little book available on Amazon with lots of pictures.!

Had friends from the UK staying and havent done so much writing although my ideas are flowing, as usual I group them altogether, to use in the future if not now. I have ideas that flow through my dreams and I remember them clearly the next day, to write down, and sometimes record images. So clear and able to connect to other dreams. I have one bursting to be written, but as I am working on another, it is difficult to allow another to enter my workspace.

It is very positive to be filled with ideas but at times it creates headaches as where and when to place them. No news from the other publisher but I dont worry about it, I am just happy to be able to return to my work. Hope all of you out there are happy.

All Things Must Pass

Thankyou dear George for such a lovely title.
Well it arrived, all nicely packaged and on opening no sign of a little rejection slip......my heat skipped a few beats, as I saw the letter heading, my hope was raised a little, sillyme... they had just been ever so nice and wrote their rejection, basically wasn´t they were looking for, (Ibet they say that to all the girls and boys). No problem, I didn´t really feel disappointed, and that is being honest, hand on heart, where as with other books I have sent out, I kind of gave up on them after the third rejection. Any way wizzed off another introductory letter, put everything in a nice fresh envelope and sent it off directly, publisher no.2. So the waiting begins once more. haaa! I love suspense.

The Postmans knocks twice

My postman didn´t knock twice...It wasn´t my manuscript, so still no news, but I was pretty nervous there for a while, it was a large envelope with some info in....so keep hoping, thats why You know me as hope. Without a little hope what do we have. Any way got the proof from Create Space, the illustrations were more or less ok, and I would have accepted it if the page numbers hadn´t jumped all over the place, so I went through the whole book tweaking it here and there, so now I am awaiting yet another proof. It looked better than imagined, I had initially wrtten it as a pocket size book but now it is 8,25 x 8,25" and 60 pages half with full colour illustrations. So its changed from what I had first thought, to something different, but I quite like it this size.

So there you go, working on one book, thats going slowly,slowly, and on the days its not happening I am collecting information for another idea. But I am a bit lethargic, because I have been with headaches and severe eye pain, diagnosed as glaucoma. Also have the mumps, Cant believe it, and dont believe it..but my face is swollen and painful....eeeh will it get better..soon I hope.should have the next proof in a couple of days. So lets see what gives.

Harvest Moon

I have returned from my journey today,in the post box was an advisory slip that they had tried to deliver me something from UK....I think that this may be my book........complete with thankyou but no thankyou. They, those onimous ones do not email, they either shred it or "return to sender"

The small book I spoke about, I decided to try Create-space, and am awaiting a proof copy. The picture above is the illustration for the cover...my own design.I have had a lot of problems uplpoading the images, seems although I design and send them at 300dpi, They open at a lot less appearing blurred and pixelated. Someone out there must be able to help me with this one ....please. there must be a knowledgeable person who can tell me whats happening.........PLEASE.

The other problem I have found going this route is the shipping costs more than the book, which makes it expensive for those outside the USA...not a plus point.

I am awaiting the proof to see the quality, and will tell you more. So arrival home from complete peace, to 2 bounding german Shepherds (dogs not men) sorry that was a bad one!!

keep watching, within the next couple od days all hell may break out on this page, stranger things happen under a Harvest Moon.

The Long and Winding Road

Still nothing, but better than confirmation of rejection.
I have been looking at the Amazon/self publish scheme, and thinking with the small book I finally completed, (not the one I am sending to Publishers) that I may go this route. It looks a good way to produce a book, but almost too good. I feel I will try it as they give you an ISBN no.
Can´t find much information from people who have used it, so if anyone out there has a knowledge or experience, I would be pleased to hear from you, otherwise later I will give you my experience.
I hate the term "Vanity Publishing" for I believe some writers will never get into print, (I have 3 past rejections) Truth is it is very hard to get published. For me, I think the small book, I would rather self publish and maybe sell a few copies than it sitting on the shelf collecting dust. I had looked at LuLu in the past, so lets see.
I am writing, lots of different pieces, and have one novel on the go but it´s progress has slowed down a little. Next Friday, I shall be leaving for the greenery of Asturias 7-10days of clearing the mind and looking for inspiration!! A change of scenery and weather,leaving behind heat, scorched greenery and volcanoes............. hopefully it may rain.

Paint it Black

The auspicious of the auspicious...now that is something to chew on. A friend recently visited, walked into my office and came out with that little gem of a phrase, quite what she meant by it I am not sure, but each to their own thought.
I have been absent, yes I know...and I have missed blogging here and wondering about who is actually reading this blog. Well the mind has been overflowing with ideas- non relating to the other I might add, but worth saving to disc for future use. I also completed a small book I started 3 years ago, a very simple little book, and I am not sure what to do with this either.
Plus the fact I am still fighting terrible headaches, that no-one seems to find the cause for.. WEll thats the reasons for absence,I should now continue to blog regulary once more.
No rejection slip as yet, but it is a little early...so I am remaining positive with that one at the publishers. But not over positive, we all know how difficult it is to get published.
Whats the idea of an ideas if you do not use them? Whatever you have in your mind, write it, save it...for one day you may use it!!

The girl with Kalidoscope Eyes

Yep, thats me, that how I feel, watching, waiting....hoping, secretly knowing. Afraid someone will lift my words and ideas. God you could drive yourself crazy, haven´t heard anything...yet. But I knew it would be like this. I remember years back had a go at writing romantic novels, you know the kind, innocent sweet maiden, one handsome hunk that fights to win her heart. these 2 novels sit on my shelf, collecting dust. NO; my novel I just completed was not a romantic girl meets hunk. It was more along the spiritual lines. I am quite far into a new one now, although its still very much in the planning chapters and characters, but chapter one is almost ready to go. My headaches have become severe once more, holding me back. Still back to the Neuro and see what is going on. I often wonder about all you nice people out there,reading my one way conversation!!hello to you all

Shakespeare in love

Here I stand head in my hands, turn my face to the wall.....It has been a long time, distance created by vacations, The death of someone close and just a combination. Well shall I tell you, and yes we all expect it, but no word from the publishers...but then we all know unless your Princess Fergie, or someone super famous like David Beckham, it is very difficult to get a publisher to look at your work. Nearly all are "No unsolicited manuscripts!" they will be binned immediately and if we accept unsolicited manuscripts, they will also be binned immediately.

The truth of the matter is, that it is very difficult to get published, but hang in there.

I have already started my next book, in a different theme to the other, but I quite like the era it is set in,,and although I have only planned the chapters and characters, and have half written the first chapter at this moment, I am enjoying it, the last one became hard work in the end, and I do not wish to slave over this one...if it becomes unenjoyable writing it then shelve it. We have to feel like shakespeare in love.....with our words