Post christmas

Guess what we had for Christmas? Well, I bought it my husband actually. A Wii. And what fun it proved to be over the holiday, keeping everyone entertained and happy so all I had to do was sit back and watch – and provide the food of course. A major feat in itself. I’m used to cooking for two, not eight. All seemed to go well though. No one complained and I had hardly anything left.

We also had (a joint present) a Nintendo DS – for brain training. So what with the physical activity of the Wii and the brain activity with the DS I’m going to be on top form in 2008. Let’s hope I write more books than I did in 07. One was my count. One miserable book. I don’t mean the book was miserable, it was the fact that I only had time to do one because of extensive revisions, and holidays, and life in general that annoys me.

I received proofs of my Australian book two days before Christmas (nice!) But I’ve already read and dispatched those back. And so my New Year’s resolution is to try and write more.

And to everyone I’d like to wish health and happiness for 2008.

Happy Christmas

So much to do, so little time. This will be my last post until after the holidays, so I’d like to wish everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas, and a healthy and prosperous 2008.

Pantomime

We went to a pantomime the other night – Jack and the Beanstalk. But it was a pantomime with a difference. It was a Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto. The band was part of the set and the musicians were also the actors. It was fascinating to watch them moving from playing instruments to playing their characters. I’d gone there with doubts as to whether I would enjoy it because it had veered away from the traditional, but in the end I was won over.

The other piece of good news – I’m half way through my book. So, even with Christmas interrupting my writing, it looks as though I’ll meet my deadline of end January after all. Fingers crossed everyone.

Keyboards

I recently bought a new keyboard because the letters were rubbing off on my last one. They actually started to do it within a few months of buying it but the shop wouldn’t exchange, saying, well, they’re cheap to buy, get another one! Or words to that effect. So I bought a cheap from one from our local supermarket – trying to be thrifty – or maybe mean! The trouble with that one was that I had to hit the keys hard and since I’m a light-fingered typist, I kept missing letters out. So I now have an expensive, stainless steel, super duper, all singing keyboard. But guess what? The keys are so close together that I keep catching the ones above with my nails (and they’re not that long!) Consequently I get all sorts of odd letters appearing in my typescript.

What is it with keyboards? Has anyone else had any experiences like this?

Christmas

Isn’t Christmas creeping up quickly? On reflection how can you creep quickly? But never mind, you know what I mean. Two more weeks and it will be here and I’m nowhere near ready. I’d much rather block it out of my mind and get on with writing Santo’s and Penny’s story – it’s much more interesting than shopping for presents or writing cards.
The fact that I’ve had to start my book again hasn’t put me off in the least. I know my characters so well that it’s almost writing itself. I’m three chapters in to it (14,100 words) – only 36,000 to go! Penny, if you recall, is Santo’s new nanny and already there is a strong physical attraction between them, which they’re both fighting against because of previous disastrous relationships.
When I first started writing in the 1970’s, when books were by no means as sexy as they are today, I used to send a copy of each of my books to an elderly aunt. She used to tell me that she’d enjoyed them very much, but… There was always a but and she’d look at me over the top of her glasses and I’d know exactly what she meant. The love scenes! Actually they were tame compared to today’s books. I think if she was still alive I’d never dare send her a copy now.
But I love the sizzling passion and the sensual tension. And clearly, judging by the number of women who buy them, they love it too.