NaPoWriMo Starts Tomorrow!

I did this last year - not on-line, just for me and a few inflictees - and I'm all geared up to do it again.  With two poetry projects about to kick off (as part of the BOOKMARK post and as all of the Hospitalfield House residency) I'd be daft not to!

Why not you too?  

Find out more here - and don't forget there are daily prompts on offer to use or ignore. 

Red Brick Wall the Star

I couldn't make this photo of the ruined fernery at Hospitalfield House work until I cut out almost all the fernery and made the wall the star.  Which is what happens in editing fiction quite a lot.

Here endeth the lesson.

P.S.  I was over at Girls Heart Books this week, revisiting the whole cats and libraries theme.  I didn't take this photo (from 1902) but I wish I had.  Amazing fur!

Hospitalfield - The Paddock and the Fernery

I had a wonderful time grazing in the Hospitalfield House library and then, on a bright, cold, blowy March morning, they let me loose in the grounds ...

Now I let it all simmer till 23rd April.  

New Convert to Pteridomania

At the beginning of this month I did something straight out of a P.G.Wodehouse - I joined in on a public tour of Hospitalfield House, where I will be staying for a 2-week Interdisciplinary Residency at the end of next month.  It wasn't so I could get close to the duke's secretary or steal a cow creamer.  It was because I'm afraid that those 2 weeks are going to pass way, way too quickly.  As a result of a fascinating afternoon, I have a much clearer picture of my project in my mind.  AND I found out about ferneries!

(from The Virtual Victorian blog)

("Gathering Ferns" from The Illustrated London News July 1, 1871)

(Fernery at the Geelong Botanic Gardens in Australia (1892-1902))

I hadn't realised the Victorians were quite so fern crazy, but there is a ruined fernery at Hospitalfield House that has now taken up residence in my head.  More anon, as they say.

Tomorrow the Hospitalfield House people have kindly said I can come back for a few hours to use the library.  I'm really lucky to live close - and if you ever are in the neighbourhood, try a Wednesday Tour - wonderful!  

First Day of Spring

I'm over on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure today, not talking about spring - 

Daughters of Time blog tour continues

My story "Best After Storms" is over on Luna's Little Library as part of the Daughters of Time blog tour -

Thanks, Luna!

All My Monkeys Coming Home to Roost ...

Today I'm going to buy new folders, so that the landslide of papers on my desk/floor/surrounding landscape can be divided neatly into Monkey One, Monkey Two, Monkey Three, and The Small Monkey at the back.  

That's on the advice of wise fellow writers and sons.  The calming effect of stationery.  I might even buy a new pen.

Bliss.

  

BOOKMARK Said Yes!

One wait was really short!  Here's the announcement!  YAHOO!

And Now We Wait

I am in an uncomfortable place.  On Friday I sent a completed draft of my first adult novel to my agent for her to read.  Tomorrow, I have a job interview.  (If I get the job I will tell you all about it - in fact, you won't be able to stop me!   If I don't, discreet veils will be drawn ...)  In neither case can I sensibly look for an immediate response and yet, here I am, twitchy as a meerkat - 

Might as well sit down, for now we wait ...

Wish me luck!

World Book Day

Otters, Meerkats and Tiny Monkeys

Yesterday was a fitting finale for a fine month - a day at Edinburgh Zoo with a son and my camera.  Need to gear up for March now - and no, I've still not finished the WIP, though creeping closer every day - well, except for yesterday, which was full of the joy of tiny monkeys instead.