Freelance Writing

As we near the end of another year, I've decided to make this the last blog on this main website. With two other blogs to maintain (plus the writing group one), I feel this one is a little reduntant, especially when I don't know if many people actualy read it!

I'll still maintain the rest of the website, as that is where I showcase any general writing success, publications and news.

For anyone wanting to keep up to date with this writer's journey, please take a look at my other two blogs.

The Reading and Writing Blog is the one I update most regularly. I usually talk about writing opportunities, books and anything vaguely writing related, and now I'll add the occasional personal/general post.

Romy's Regency Romance is the blog related to my new Regency novel, Dangerous Deceit, which is due out from Champagne Books in May 2011. I'll also post occasional personal pieces and general observations.

So, if you're one of the kind people who sometimes reads this blog - thank you! And please come over and say hello on the other blogs.

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

As everyone in the UK knows too well, winter snow has arrived a little bit earlier this year. It's a beautiful winter wonderland out there but as temperatures drop, the ice is making it more hazardous. And it disrupts travel of all kind. I was disappointed during the week when I couldn't get down to speak to the writing group at Dumfries because the trains were cancelled. I was supposed to be staying overnight with one of my writing friends there. It was even more frustrating when the destination was fine but parts of the journey were under snow!

Now getting on with the second edit on my novel. There's not much to do, but I'm taking the chance to read it all carefully again - there's always something I want to change! I guess we're never satisfied with creative work until we're not allowed to make any further changes (at final proofing stage).

The December newsletter is due out for Sunday, so that's what I'll be doing between today and tomorrow - in between the edits, proofreading for husband's websites etc. It will be good to get a chance to do some new writing at some point (eventually)!

Rosemary

Well that's my very first edit completed on my first novel - it's away back to my editor now for further discussion. I enjoyed the process, although I suspect I got off lightly. Lots of minor corrections and changes but nothing major, for which I'm thankful. There no doubt will be more to go through but at least it has started and takes me one step closer to publication date!

Our writing group dinner and awards was the other evening. We tried a new venue, at an equestrian centre, and it was very good. Great to socialise with members and we had a tour round the stables in between the afternoon meeting and the excellent dinner. Lots of lovely horses to stroke.

I was honoured and delighted to be given the President's cup this year - evidently for my own success and the work I've done for the group. Done willingly, I must say. What a lovely gesture!

In between, I've run off the monthly church newsletter, had two articles published (one in the UK and one in the US) and had another story accepted by New Love Stories in the US. Not a bad month in some ways, although a good friend had a sudden illness which threw us a little.

On with clearing up my desk and filing everything now!

Rosemary

First it was the birthday - another year, more grey hairs. But it was lovely too as my family took me out to dinner, and my friend took me out to lunch. Still to go out with sis and sis-in-law, so I'm very lucky and blessed to be so spoiled.

Then it was the dentist! The check-up turned into root canal treatment, which needs to be completed on Monday. If ever there's a good time to lie back and think of writing plots, then that's it - anything to keep the mind off what's happening!

Yesterday, I had the new experience of taking part in an online chat with other authors from Champagne Books. It was a kind of Halloween Party and it was great fun. A good way to remind people of websites and blogs and when the book is coming out.

Not much writing this week but at least I'm updating all the blogs.

Rosemary

1920s Wedding Dress

Had a great day out last week at Shambellie House in Dumfries which houses a costume museum. Rooms and clothes covered the periods from the 19th and 20th centuries and provided a few good research details. The Accessories Room offered us the chance to try on a corset (over clothes) - unfortunately I should have gone up a size as it was so difficult to fasten! There was an interesting display of wedding dresses from films - Marriage in the Movies, such as the 1920s style dress above.

I have a very short story, based on a real situation, in ths month's Prima Magazine (November issue). Really pleased as it's a good, and popular, magazine and the story means a lot to me. As a runner-up, I receive a year's subscription - looking forward to it. Managed to send a few other pieces of writing away but really must concentrate on the novels, at least that's the intention. The writing group has restarted and I've taken over responsibility for the blog as it's something I enjoy. On with the work!

Rosemary

Three completely different types of musical extravaganza this week. I finally joined a zumba class! As much about aerobics as dance, the music was brilliant and incorporated dance movements like salsa, rumba, meringue, eastern, Greek, rock & roll and so on. It was certainly strenuous but the music made me want to keep up, and I did. Beats an exercise gym any day!

On TV, I watched the live performance of Verdi's opera, Rigoletto, filmed from Mantua in three acts over two days. Stunning idea to use the exact settings and time of day when the story took place. And the great Placido Domingo payed the title role, as a baritone! Excellent.

Last night, was something very different. Went to a local stage performance of the musical Footloose. What a wonderful evening - the dancing, singing, acting and the story were so good it could have been on any huge stage in a major town. Such energy and total involvement in their roles. One or two in particluar stood out and I wasn't surprised to hear that one of the main young male actors is professionally trained - he had a wonderful sense of comic timing and a fantastic speaking and singing voice. So glad my daughter asked me to go.

At least I have Strictly Dancing to look forward to now, which starts properly in a couple of weeks, although as always I'll wish I was doing the dancing... in my dreams!

Rosemary

Hurrah! It's coming into autumn here already. This is when I come alive, after the lethargy of summer (what summer!). My favourite season for all sorts of reasons. So, I've started learning another new dance (new to me) - now going to Tap Dancing! The first week was fun but I desperately wanted to be wearing proper tap shoes so I could hear the tap tap. The music helped, after our tentative try at some steps, but there's no doubt that the metal toe and heel caps make all the difference. So I now have a cute little pair - and it's great that our kitchen is floored with very strong Spanish tiles. Can you hear me tapping?!

Also started a new blog dedicated to my alter ego as a new Regency romance author. If I'm going to get involved with the promo/marketing side in north America, then I need a blog in my 'author' name. You can find it here.

Meanwhile, the articles are still flying out to Demand Studios, and occasionally Suite101 - then there's the odd story or competition. But I must get on with the next novel, while my contemporary one is doing the rounds of publishers and agents. Just as well I'm energized!

Rosemary

I enjoyed a day out in Edinburgh yesterday, where the International Book Festival is in full flow. Didn't manage to get to any of the talks but I was through for the annual Society of Authors AGM and lunch. Great opportunity to catch up with old friends and to make new contacts. I guess networking is one of the most important reasons for attending literary events - you never know who you might be talking to next.

Met briefly with a few friends in a nearby hotel lounge before the meeting and we were all talking about books, publishers etc. I had vaguely noticed a young woman by herself a few seats away. Anyway, she heard our conversation (unavoidable!) and very sweetly mentioned she was over from Canada especially for the Book Festival. Turns out she is a new non-fiction author and had been flown over to talk. Lovely person - and she was so pleased to meet a group of female writers.

So, although it was a whole day out (with the travelling added on), I came back inspired to keep going as always!

Rosemary

Had an entertaining time last week at the cinema. Went to the third Twilight film, Eclipse, with daughter. We both love the books and films and I wasn't disappointed. It interpreted the book very well and conveyed Bella's feelings for both Edward and Jacob. Of course, she chooses Edward - he's her whole life. Or perhaps I mean life in death, in a manner of speaking since we're talking vampires. I really like his old fashioned values, as it makes a refreshing change from all the books and films where teenage bed-hopping is the norm.

Then I took my nephews to see Toy Story 3 - what a great excuse to see the film! One of the best I've seen. The story, the character voices, the animation - everything was compelling. And I even had tears towards the end. Definitely one for adults and children. We've all had toys that we outgrew and I bet you'll view them in a different way if you see this film. It's also about loyalty and friendship, and there's even a big furry villain. Great stuff!

On the writing front, I was astonished to receive an email informing me one of my poems is shortlisted in the Frederik van Eeden Competition run by Holland Press Publishing. Only 9 are shortlisted out of 226 poems from 29 countries - I'm honoured to be among them! Winner will be announced towards the end of September, but I don't expect to get that far. It's even more meaningful as the poem is about my mother and was written from the heart. Maybe that's the best kind of writing after all.

Rosemary

Well, it's been quite a week. A publisher in Canada, Champagne Books, has accepted my Regency novel! It has taken me a few days to believe it is going to be in book form at last. They seem very professional and I'm being made to feel like one of their authors right away. Soon, the work begins when I'm assigned an editor. Then it's the cover art and blurb, then checking the galley proofs - and next spring there should be a book. Exciting! I guess I'd better think about writing the next one now. Aren't the flowers gorgeous - compliments of a lovely friend who wanted to mark the occasion with roses! Waht a wonderful suprise, and kind thought.

While that was going on, Prima magazine phoned me - my short story will be in the November issue.  And I'm still writing articles for Suite101 and Demand Studios. Writing can be full of ups and downs, but it's wonderful when you see an end result. That's when it is so rewarding.

Rosemary