ABOUT

April 3, 2018

 
(twitter: @BleuViola)IMG_0167

People.  They make the world go round, don’t they?  I adore meeting new people and what better way than to do so through the medium of writing?

While writing is part of our everyday through form-filling, emails and texting, don’t you sometimes find yourself creating stories from something?  Or nothing?  Perhaps a scene unfolding through the windscreen while sat in your car, or a journey taken by a stranger in a dream you wake from? Strings of words appear in my mind; plots and twists, creating worlds which need exploring.

I have joined the Romantic Novelists Association and have somehow secured one of only 300 places on their New Writers Scheme for 2018. I can submit a manuscript (ideally around 80-90,000 words) by August, but earlier if possible … so should you choose to jump aboard and watch me progress, procrastinate, spend time on ‘other projects’ will you do me one favour? Shout and remind me I should be working on my WIP 🥂

I love the art of writing.  When I was a teenager I even loved to buy a new fountain pen and quality paper to go with it.  I would clear the desk of all ballpoint pens (riff raff) and push all homework away from sight (ghastly, even if necessary) in order that the new pen and paper would not be disturbed in their first outing.

The spoken word, then in ink but now mostly on a keyboard can entertain and educate,  make us laugh and cry.   If you read any of my posts here then I hope you leave entertained, educated or amused.

March update.  20,000 words down …. only another 60,000 to go … are you having a laugh????

A love poem – Antonio

November 16, 2018

Their time together had become,

A mere chapter of life.

A chapter too short.

And try as he might,

He could not stop the pages from turning.

Each day he woke from a fretful sleep,

She had slipped further back in time.

And the distance strained at his heart,

Like a bow pulled back with an arrow.

Asleep was the only time he could be with her.

Touch her cheek, look into her eyes

So full of love for him they floated against

A blur of background inconsequence.

So close, so precious, so real.

Then wakefulness would drag him back to hell.

Gritty eyes would see the numbers had increased,

Taking him away, leaving him adrift.

Her chapter was back there; back at the beginning.

💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

My poor Antonio .. I am writing a scene in which he is struggling with huge loss. I thought I would treat you to a snippet and poetrise it (I’ve just made up a new word 😃) xx

(Photo credit; Imagefully.com)

WIP growing #nanowrimo is working!

November 12, 2018

Eat an autumn apple from the farm while I assure you that #nanowrimo is going ok 😃

Pausing for family stuff and an amazing centenary rememberance weekend 🌺

I’m thinking WIP wordcount might get across the 50,000 mark which, considering it stood at 24,000 in mid August. My final aim for the WIP is around the 70,000 mark. I’m averaging 1,400 a day for NaNoWriMo at present, so I could, in theory, complete a first draft by the end of the month 😱😱😱😱

Why I’m Not Doing Nanowrimo This November

November 10, 2018

NaNoWriMo is not
for everyone, every year.
Here is one writer who made
a judgement and took the
pressure off ..
I WANT the pressure on my
shoulders this year and I know
she’ll understand that feeling
within me right now 🌸

The Book Raven

Every year I try to pursue Nanowrimo and every year I fail. I fail because of life. I fail because I have so many things I want to do. I fail because I can’t seem to sit myself down and write 1,500 words in one sitting. One year, I swear I will pursue and complete this challenge, but now is not the time.

I have a lot of things going on in my personal life. I have a lot of obligations I have to fill. I also, have this urge to watch some movies. Plus, I’ve had the feeling of wanting to binge all of Shane Dawson’s You-tuber documentaries. I’m also working a lot trying to make some extra money for Christmas. I simply don’t have the time.

This does not mean I won’t be writing at all. I’m currently writing a new book idea that has required no outlining…

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Marmite pinwheels and succulent lips 🌸

November 10, 2018

Hello my friends! How does this wet-under-foot Saturday find you in your various forms of homestead?

These mature cheddar and marmite pinwheels (thrown together with ready-made pastry) I watched being created by a client last week. I had delivered some clean horse rugs and sat sipping a welcomed cup of tea while she described the guests due for her dinner party that evening.

It all starts with a Japanese piece of art.

🤣 Seriously, it’s easy. You spread marmite across rolled out pasty, smother with grated cheese ….

.. roll into a log and slice.

I don’t recommend using the tart tin. I’d simply run out of baking trays playing host to the first 48! They’ve stuck in the tart tin and I can’t serve them out on the farm walk today (but I can sit here and eat them while we chat).

Funny. I hated marmite for years. I quite like the salty kick now.

Anyway, no NaNoWriMo words these last couple days but family stuff has taken priority. Thinking about it every chance I get. Mmmmm .. just grabbing another. They’re a little addictive if you do like marmite!

Look what arrived from a company in Ireland today .. the cutest lip balm 🌺 Check this company out! Literary Lip Balms

I did have a bit of a breakthrough yesterday with a plot hole which has threatened to swallow up my (perceived to be .. by yours truly) finest scenes because the dates never worked.

I had a huge time-line issue. I needed my Male lead to be born on a certain date, and I’d decided I’d set the main part of the book in 1999, with a final chapter with midnight on December 31st. In Edinburgh 😱🥂 (I can’t wait for you to see that!!!)

Finally sorted a few things out in my mind driving around yesterday and I think tomorrow I can crack on with more typing 💫

Have a good weekend!

A hundred years ago a lot of people were relieved the war was over, too late for so many

November 9, 2018

As a brief respite from NaNoWriMo chat, have sown visuals from my visit to the big smoke to check out the candles 🕯

I took my two children to the observation floor of The Shard on, wait for it, 9 November 2014 when the ceramic poppies had been laid all around the Tower. The view was outstanding.

Then we ate in this amazing restaurant on the river.. Coppa Club

Whether you’re watching the London Cenotaph service this Sunday, or attending a local church, or walking quietly, or working a shift… let’s remember all our servicemen and women who lost their lives in the First World War 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Friday Night Drinks with….Emma Cooper @ItsEmmacooper @headlinepg @BleuViola @RNATweets #GuestPost #FridayNightDrinks #FictionCafeWriters

November 9, 2018

Look Everyone!! 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
You are in for such a treat
tonight as we get to meet
Emma Cooper who wrote
THAT amazing book, THE SONGS
OF US … remember???

What a fabulous regular
post this is proving to be
for Julie at ALittleBookProblem 🥂

A Little Book Problem

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I’m really excited tonight because I am having virtual drinks with a fabulous author and all-round lovely lady, who I am lucky enough to have met IRL and who has become a personal friend…Emma Cooper. Her debut novel, The Songs of Us, was published earlier this year.

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Welcome to my blog, Emma and thank you for joining me for drinks this evening. First things first, what are you drinking?

I’ll start with a pink gin and tonic I think … I’ll move onto red wine in a bit.

Gin and tonic is my tipple of choice so I will join you in that. If we weren’t here in my virtual bar tonight, but were meeting in real life, where would you be taking me for a night out?

I’d take you to the Woodbridge Inn in Coalport, it’s a gorgeous pub on the bank of the River Severn by…

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