My family think I’m crazy and I have to admit they could be right! It’s been a long time since I actually had a day off – I mean a day where I could laze and relax. It’s either family stuff – looking after toddlers, cleaning and ironing etc and/or work, seven days a week. I took two hours ‘off’ last Sunday to do some weeding and then sit to have a coffee with Lawrence. It’s very pleasant sitting in our courtyard garden and we haven’t had many really sunny, summery days yet. But what did I do? Well, I sat still for about two minutes. I then proceeded to pull out small weeds from between the old brick flooring beneath our feet. The courtyard is built around an old cider press, which is now a feature garden well, and the circle of raised brick is where the donkeys would have trodden day in, day out. It is both sad and beautiful at the same time. The point is, my husband wasn’t too impressed by the fact that I couldn’t even sit and chill for just half an hour. I guess you could say that I need the holiday we have coming up in June. I know there are many women out there like myself who are juggling so many balls (and a writer’s life is a rather compulsive one) it’s often hard to have ‘down’ time. So roll on holidays and my computer time will be two hours a day and no more … I’m counting down – 17 days to go!
It’s been a week of website updates and maintenance, packed inboxes, last-round edits for my next book and writing posts. I’ve also been tied up finalising some new book covers as my brand comes together. Touched by The Light is a fun romance, as well as making the reader wonder about what happens when you follow the light into the beyond. Now it has a cover that reflects the humour in this story – and the model is perfect for Dan, the guy whose love-life Mya tries to fix from the other side.
My ‘big’ news is that I can now reveal the cover for Ceri’s journey: Angels in advance of a pre-release promotional tour that will begin on June 17, 2013! The release date is July 6th, 2013…
It’s a series of 3 novellas: each around 30,000 words in length and a leisurely afternoon/evening read. Truth and Decisions (parts 2 and 3) will be released later this year. The story has required a lot of research, including attending two Gayatri mantra workshops for part 1, Angels. I’ve also read extensively about angels and various theories, plus I actually do believe they exist. I wanted this story to take the imagination that one step further and consider how it might all work if this life isn’t the sole purpose of our being. However, I didn’t want to make it ‘other-worldly’ fantasy. Instead (for those who already believe there is life after death – and I realise that in itself is a huge leap of faith) thinking how it MIGHT actually work in practice. Angels introduces the main characters and Ceri’s dilemma; part 2 Truth explores life on two planes; part 3 Decisions is about Ceri having to make choices in order to move forward. The heart of the trilogy is still a love story; Ceri wants to find someone to love who can live with the fact that she sees angels… everywhere.
Mr Tiggs has had an unsettled week. We’ve had rain interspersed with some beautiful sunshine and he hates the rain! The birds also drive him mad, as he’s a stalker. He’s constantly on edge, jumping up every time there’s a flurry of bird movement. But I also think he can sense that we are ‘on the move’ and with people coming to view the cottage it is disruptive.
My stars have been spot on again and telling me that May begins quietly and builds to a frenzy. Well, the ‘quiet’ bit was probably while I was doing the edits for Angels, as it’s a time of pure concentration and you can’t allow yourself to be pulled away. It’s very intense and I tend to shut everything out whilst I’m in the zone. Now, after thrashing out the cover design and with book promo material to draft, posts to write etc, it is crazy. I follow two different astrologers and whilst they both have very different styles, the information they give me says more or less the same thing. Why do I take such great comfort in reading my horoscope?
I suppose it’s because I’ve always had this incredibly strong drive for whatever I do in life. But there is a down side. I truly believe that there are times when I make things happen that don’t fall into line with the path the universe has mapped out for me. I exercise that ‘free will’ we have all been granted. Of course I know when I’m taking a detour – and that’s all it is, I believe we all return to the path that has been determined for us – because it feels like I’m trying to make the impossible happen. It becomes merely a little meander off the beaten track. But how do you know whether that’s the case, or it’s simply a life lesson you are here to learn? Maybe it’s meant to be hard because that’s the whole point! I’ll leave you pondering that thought. As I often say, “sometimes it feels like trying to push jelly uphill…” On the other hand, nothing worthwhile ever comes easily, it requires effort.
The stars tell me the future is bright, so I guess I’m not straying too far from the path… thanks for dropping by!
