Time for another update as we drift into a VERY miserable 2016 (from a weather point of view)
We had a wonderful Christmas; everything worked. The only cloud on the horizon was that our younger daughter had to work! *sigh*
Never mind, she will be over at Easter and her mum can spoil her then.
I took Pam over to Brussels to see some friends, go to the Christmas Marker (brilliant) and to do some shopping, and happily, she had a great time. It was lovely for her to see a lot of people she hasn’t had the chance to see for too long. Brussels is such a fun city, anyway. Did I mention the beer? I’m sure I must have mentioned the chocolate.
It has been a busy time for the writing. I made the decision to send my manuscript to be professionally edited, once I had completed the amendment suggested by my New Writers Scheme reader.
As I knew Jane Eastgate from Conference, and she came highly recommended., she seemed to be an easy choice. She has turned out to be an excellent choice as well. Still lots to do, and, as I write, I have finished 310 pages of line-edits. I’m taking a 2 day break before I attack the Structural edits, etc. It’s all good!!
Quite a few people do blog posts on their best reads of the year, so I thought I would too.
My top reads of the year were, in no particular order:
The Lost Girl, by Liz Harris.
I have been reading Liz’s books since her first one was published, and they get better and better. The Lost Girl, set in the mining communities of Wyoming in the 1870s and covering a period where the mining industry were bringing in a large number of Chinese miners.
Liz writes with a great eye for detail, and this book is both is a delight to read. Sympathetic characters and good pace though out.
A big surprise for me. This was the first of Fanny Blake’s books that I had read. A gripping family tale, set in Italy and Cornwall and totally absorbing. If there is a moral in the tale, it’s “Don’t leave your mobile phone lying around!”
Fanny’s prose style transports the reader effortlessly to the warmth of a Tuscan orange grove. A great discovery for me.
Liz Fenwick is another author whose books get better and better. Under a Cornish Sky is Liz’s fourth book and best yet. Once again Liz has brought out the “spirit of Cornwall” in her book. Great characters as usual, a strong romantic thread and lots of family intrigue. Just a delight. (as she is in real life)
Buy, read, review and enjoy them all. I did!
So, whether you running, walking, reading writing or editing, have a great time doing it – and it WILL be worth it in the end.
Keep the faith!
John
Thank you so much for your lovely comments about The Lost Girl, John. I very much enjoyed writing the novel, and I'm thrilled that you enjoyed reading it so much.
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations again on your RUBY WEDDING! What an achievement!! You are the right person clearly to be writing an historical novel with a love story woven into it. Good luck with the novel!
Liz xx
Thank you John for the kind words on Under A Cornish Sky and happy belated anniversary! Ruby. Impressive. Enjoy the editing...it helps you grow as a writer!! xx
ReplyDeleteHi John,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Fiction Books and leaving your kind comment about 'Under A Cornish Sky'. I always enjoy 'meeting' new people :)
I am off now to check out the other books on your favourites list for 2015 and hope to share some titles in common with you this time around.
Belated congratulations on your 40th. We are up to 37 years this year (which apparently is alabaster!), so not too far behind you :)
Yvonne