Summer finally arrives

Summer has finally arrived in the South Hams after months of rain. I am still receiving good comments about The Other Canal, and the Cottage Hotel in Hope Cove are selling the book to guests who are thrilled that the Cottage Hotel features in the book. I am still hoping to see it on the big screen one day, but in spite of trying to read Idiots Screenwriting, I know it is not for me. It really is a specialist field. I would like to thank Michael Mills for his support in sending me great scripts from Canada and also for his faith that I could write a script! In the meantime, lots of folk have asked for a sequel and Nigel's voice is becoming louder by the day! The Way with Words festival at Dartington was great and next year I will certainly be going to more events. The South Hams Writers' group goes from strength to strength and hopefully I will have a photo of the Prize Winning dinner at the delightful Hazlewood House in my next post. I moved from "home" in Bucks here to Outer Mongolia in the autumn and am trying to adjust to the dearth of shops. John Lewis will be opening in Exeter in the autumn. Everyone is excited. Most people were not 10 mins. from John Lewis a year ago. Of course all this is very much compensated by the proximity to the sea and to family. The last time I went to M & S from here it took me two days. It seemed easier to go the scenic route and stay the night in a hotel. My dipping my toe in the travel market re writing is coming along with my book "Travels with Ted." Watch this space....... In the meantime, do look at Mervyn Cooke's poetry online. Not to be missed. mervyn_cooke@hotmail.com Cheers for now from the hot pen of yours truly Barbara

Bring me sunshine.....

Bring Me Sunshine..... At last summer is arriving. After a very wet April, suddenly it is warm and sunny. I went to Dartmoor yesterday and the ponies were just beautiful, as were the hedgerows on the way there. I needed some time out this week to renew the creative juices! The coves in Brixham were just as magical as when I first discovered them when I was 15. Then I spent a happy time at the Stoke Lodge Hotel in Stoke Fleming and finished with a day on Blackpool Sands. Coming back to more clearing out in the new house is suddenly not so difficult and already ideas for new writings are taking shape. I am looking forward to a visitor from America next week and will post about that soon. In the meantime, love and hugs to everyone who may occasionally look me up, but if not then Love and Hugs to me. Get writing BB! Oh how lovely is the evening, is the evening When to rest the birds are stealing, birds are stealing Ding dong, ding dong. (A round we used to sing at brownies back in the year dot.....)

Bucks and back

I have just had a week back "home" in Bucks. That is not to say I don't love it here in the South Hams, but it was lovely seeing so many friends AND John Lewis. I was like a kiddy in a toy shop and have finally chosen some book shelves so I can get some of my hundreds of books off the floor!

Back in Devon I am so happy to see the primroses and daffs. What a lovely sight.
Being away has woken up some creativity after a stressful move, and I now have an idea for the next book! Thanks for everyone who continue to give me good feedback about the book and to Michael Mills who has kindly sent me some scripts to encourage me to write the script for The Other Canal. I do think that script writing is an art in itself and am not sure I am up to it, but I will spend time over Easter reading and pondering!

In the meantime I have prepared my entries for this yeae's South Hams Writers Comp. As the muse has been rather sleepy since my move, I don't hold out much hope of success this year, but who knows. Certainly the group have some very talented members so competition is hot!!

Have a lovely Easter.

Love from the South Hams

Bsrbara

News from the South Hams

We seem to have escaped the snow and cold weather. The hyacinths, daffs. and snowdrops are out in abundance and it has been warm enough on some days to walk along the beach and watch kids making sand castles.

The Other Canal is doing well and I am getting good feedback. I need to find the time to turn it into a script as so many people say it should be a film. I don't know how to find a script writer. There are plenty of sites that will look at a finished script, but I guess the hard work is down to me. I have a deadline for entries to the South Hams Writers' Annual competition, and after that I will have to find more time. This is a bit difficult owing to the tribulations of my new house. Trivial things like mains water leaks, broken shower, unacceptable carpentry, upstairs like a fridge, discovering there are no windows looking on to the garden........Yes, perhaps another book......

I have just read The Caliph's House and enjoyed it immensely. I do have another book in my head, but time....?.I remember a song from many years ago :- "Time, like the wind, goes on hurrying by and the hours just fly. Where to begin? There are mountains I'd climb if I'd time."
(John Rolls I think)

I did write about the good experience with Matador as a self-publisher. After sales has proved disappointing. Courtesy and care go a long way towards recommendations! Nuff said.

Spring springs. Summer is round the corner. Buon giorno!


Barbara

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from the South Hams. The weather, as in most places, has been rather wild! This new house complains like a banshee. A good setting for the next book?

There is a write-up about The Other Canal in New Books! I also spent some time as a Local Author in Totnes bookshop. I am delighted that many people bought the book for friends and family for Christmas presents, and have had good feedback. The latest edition has A Political Thriller on the front cover - just to make it clear that it is not about canals! Do let me know if you would like a signed copy of the new edition.

At the moment the book is being written as a screen script. As many people had told me that it should be a film, I have begun to set things in motion (pardon the pun!) This italic is on the whim of my laptop and I can't revert to plain text! I should stick to my lovely new fountain pen, a gift when I left the Writers' Block and moved to the South Hams.

The South Hams Writing Group is great and members are already looking forward to the next annual competition. I do have a germ of an idea for another book, but as I still have 600 books on the floor here and no shelves, I guess my priority should be the house. But who knows??

Happy New Year.
Barbara

Devon update

All is well here in Devon although the hedges and walls in the narrow lanes still leap out and damage my car when I have to reverse. Lorry drivers tend to shout as I career backwards out of control. Never mind. All material for the next book!

In two weeks' time I am attending an Author's day at Totnes library. The book is still going well and the lovely Cottage Hotel need some more. I have not yet met Nigel and Fliss up there but I am sure they go there for the lovely cream teas from time to time. (That is if Nigel is still around!)

In a couple of weeks I get the reprint and any typos dealt with, plus A Political Thriller on the cover. It is amazing how many people say it should be a film. Thanks so much for all the encouragement. Tall oaks from ....etc. etc. Watch this space.

PS

As a PS to the Amazon story, the publisher tells me that Amazon had sold out, but have now replenished. Also my bloguru Rodney has tweaked the Amazon link on this blog, so all is well.