Hello Autumn

 

Here we are, September already drawing to a close, and I've realised, yet again, I haven't blogged in a while.

It doesn't help that I'm sending out a newsletter every month now, in the hope for more subscriptions and more readers. Does this mean blogging is a thing of the past?

To be honest, I think I prefer to blog... 

Since the kids have been back at school, (YAY) I've been juggling a lot of things and so maybe my lack of blogging can be forgiven. 

As well has going to work work (as I call it - which is the Post Office, where I have to turn up or I'll not get paid), I've also got a 3-book contract to adhere to, I'm doing a few hours a week for a local business, and I'm actually trying to start up something new myself, in the hope it will become my much more rewarding job that allows me to stay home and write. The alternative is a full time job, which would mean my writing dream pushed further back. (productivity will be much slower!) On the days I work at the Post Office, my brain can't focus on writing, so I hate to think what a full time job would do to my inspiration.

Add running around after two teenage boys to the list too! I appear to be juggling a lot of balls at the moment, and this Covid-19 era is also a stressful time. 

I will admit I love the summer. I love the long, lighter days, and the warmer weather. I prefer flipflops to boots and shorts to jeans. However, next month is my birthday month, and I have a few dates with friends in the diary to look forward to. So Autumn isn't all bad.

I don't want to think about Christmas (especially as I work in a Post Office) so I'll take one month at a time. What about you? 

If you'd like to read last month's newsletter, click here.  I announced the winner of my competition! The next one should be out early October - if I get my act together. (Did I not mention I'm very busy at the moment?)

Hello Again, October

When October arrives I know the year has rapidly flown by. It's my birthday month, this means, I will be one year older soon, and also Christmas is really not that far away.

This year, I am trying not to think about that time of year until I come back from my holiday.

Yes, I said HOLIDAY!

With the success of Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage going into Sainsbury's last year, I am treating me and the boys to a holiday in Kos.

We can not wait.

I am feeling a teeny tiny bit anxious at the thought of being in a foreign country with just the boys. But the complex is all inclusive, so I don't actually have to leave the hotel if I don't want to.

But until after this holiday, the summer is still here, and I am ignoring the fact that Autumn is knocking at our door. I refuse to put the heating on! Jumpers and two pairs of socks if necessary!

I apologise for the lack of blog posts lately. I really have been knuckling down with the writing, but I can confirm, we're all happy and positive in the Morgan household.

I'm working on book two of my Kittiwake Cove series, though how much may get done this month is questionable. It is my birthday month, after all.

Voices Inside My Head

I really need to do a blog post. The last time I blogged it was the 14th October! (I didn't even mention my birthday which has came and went). And now we're rapidly approaching the end of October, and Halloween.

I have finished the first draft of my 3rd book, and came up with an idea for another book - which maybe the 4th I write, as these characters keep talking to me. It's nicknamed Cinderella meets James Bond, only because she leaves a ball (Christmas party) at midnight and the hero - dressed in a tuxedo - doesn't get her name.

I appear to be alternating the seasons with my books. My first book, Plus One is a Lucky Number, was set in the summer and my second, One Fine Day was set in autumn/winter. My third - which is only in draft state - is set in the summer again, where as this 4th book, if this is the next one I write, is set in the winter. Well, it starts with a Christmas party where the hero and heroine meet. It may go the whole four seasons! Who knows?

It's been rather lovely actually. It's felt like a very long time since two characters really spoke out to me to have their story told. I don't know what it is about these two but they won't leave me alone. But, however much these two characters keep talking to me, they're going to have to be quiet for a little longer. I have written their first scene and made some notes of their characters, and I will continue to brainstorm them as I need to give them a back story each but my focus must be on editing book 3, which has the working title of To Love Again.

Obviously I haven't managed any writing while the kids have been off school - but next week it's back to the grindstone. Without wanting to wish my life away, or my children's for that matter, I do dream of the day I can work full time as a writer. If it will ever happen, is another thing. But for now, I need to continue to do the best I can.

Autumn is Here!

Autumn really is officially here. I do now have my central heating on. However, I would say, it's still not ultra cold. (This morning was abysmal with the rain though).

Sometimes coming up with a new blog post idea is hard work - my mind really is blank (although I know I still haven't done my 'all things purple' post).

I have been neglecting my blog lately. And these days, I'm finding less and less are leaving comments. But I get loads of page views. My blog has now reached - all time - over 100,000 page views which is awesome.

In my defence for neglecting my blog, I did get my edits back for One Fine Day, and I wanted to get those sorted and back to my editor as quickly as possible - the ebook is out 8th January after all.

The cover is now up on Amazon and that's exciting too. To explain the cover a little; it is supposed to have an autumnal feel as the book is set from October through to January. Although Christmas does get a mention, I didn't want it having a Christmas cover. The buildings are supposed to represent the setting; Bristol. And the bird... I want as a trademark lol!

I'm so excited about this book. I hope my readers will love it. It feels wonderful that both books that I've written have got accepted and published, which means they will get read. It doesn't matter if it's only two people, it just feels fabulous! Many writers have novels tucked away that will never see the light of day. Think of all those stories and songs that never get read/heard...

Now I know it's still November and many of us still don't like mentioning the C word... (Christmas, not the other C word!), but I'm going to do another advent calendar on my blog this year.

I tried it a couple of years ago and it was a great success. How it works is that I will post something everyday for the twenty four calendar days. I know it's not quite like opening a real one and getting a piece of yummy chocolate, but my advent calender will be better for you. And I promise some eye-candy :)

More Proverbs Less Confusion

Once again, I have been neglecting my blog, and I apologise profusely.

We are in November already. I still haven't turned the heating on... and actually, the trees outside my house still have most of their leaves.

I have a couple of topics I'd like to discuss, but on this post I want to talk about More Haste Less Speed... which I've been saying for the last forty years as Less Haste More Speed, because to me, that makes sense.

Why does it make sense to me? Because usually when I am rushing around trying to do something, and it takes longer because I am rushing, (I usually drop something, or find myself doing it twice, three times and swearing a lot!) I say to myself, "Teresa, less haste, more speed." i.e. slow down! Whereas, although the other way means the same thing, it doesn't feel like it's telling me to slow down, it's just lecturing me. It's telling me if I rush I'll be slower.

Now the reason it's come to light that I've been saying it wrong all this time is due to being in work on Friday. For one reason or another I was discussing it with my colleague and the postman - I think I was trying to tie up the mailbags quickly for the postman. They were both saying no, no it's more haste less speed... and I was like, really? I'll have to Google it. (Where would we be without the internet?)

Saturday I was back in work on my own, and we got to discussing this funny little proverb, and even a customer agreed with me that he thought it was Less Haste... then another customer afterwards said, no, it actually is More Haste...  Confused.com.

Then I decided I MUST Google it.

Admittedly I always muddle my metaphors and sayings, so it doesn't surprise me I am wrong. I did go Google though, and this is what I came up with - a discussion on Mumsnet...  (I feel relieved I am not the only person on this earth getting it wrong.)

Now, could it be that I was taught Less Haste More Speed? Is it an area thing? Is it another North/South divide or what? You know, the same as how we pronounce scones, or should it be jam first then cream (Weirdos - of course it's cream first then jam!) Or have I just been saying it wrong all these years?

Anyone else out there thought the saying went less haste more speed?