Jessica Blair

Update

Been away from my blog too long. Daughter, Judith, still in hospital (3 weeks now) but she is making progress - slow but sure. So life gets upset but we cope. Family come and stay and go and come again and so on so they can visit Judith. Nice to have them and their support. It all makes alterations to style and time, but who cares so long as she gets better? I’m twenty miles from the hospital. Travel through beautiful countryside - try to relax and enjoy it as I drive or are driven. I manage to keep my writing ticking over - keeping on schedule at the moment. Haven’t  enjoyed the heat too much especially when its humid. What did we expect when they put the roof on Wimbledon?  Protection against rain so that meant we were sure to get good weather. But didn’t it look magnificent, all lit up against the backcloth of London lights? I’m not a tennis fan - cricket is my love- roll on the Ashes - a terrible shame it is not seen on usual TV.

HI

Been away from my blog for a while - daughter rushed to hospital 8 days ago - still there. So no blog. Little writing done. Thank goodness I was ahead of schedule with present novel. Did manage to talk to Scarborough Writers’ Circle - a long standing date. Daughter insisted I fulfilled it. I have been a member of the Circle since the 1960s but have not been a regular attender, especially in recent years. I live 40 miles away. It was a good meeting. Talk seemed to go down well. Plenty of questions. So that was gratifying. It was good to see again members from the past and to meet new faces.

Bonkers or not?

Yipeeeee!!!!!.  I’ve finished checking the proof copy. I was determined to get it finished today .  Well ahead of time. Now I can get back to my novel — sorry, characters, to have kept you waiting. Your lives will be revived tomorrow.  Yes, I do talk to my characters and they do talk back . I was once telling this to someone - conversation overheard by young grandson who was playing quietly in the same room. He ran to his mother in the kitchen — ‘Mummy, grandad’s bonkers!’  Mum looked at him with surprise - ‘What do you mean?’  ‘ He’s bonkers. He talks to people who aren’t there !’

RNA, Football, Writing & Headaches

Went to RNA (Romantic Novelists Association) Northern group meeting yesterday. Good to meet with other writers. Just chatting with them spurs me on to write more. Only thing at the moment is, one of them is a Burnly supporter. I’m a Middlesbrough supporter. They changed places - Burnley up Boro down ! Nuff said !    But we had writing talk not football talk. Sadly we now face summer break. I’ll miss the writing contact with them all. Next meeting September. But I’ve enough writing to keep me going. Correcting proof copy of SEALED SECRETS due out in February - tedious job but necessary. Get that out of the way then back to present novel. I’m a third of the way to the necessary 100,000 words. Must put some music on. I play a lot when I’m writing - has a soothing influence. Keeps off headaches that come with concentrated concentration !

The Way Ahead

Going along nicely with my novel - one third written. The way ahead looks good. Clear, not an obstruction in sight - then bang. Proof copy of SEALED SECRETS arrives from publisher. Has to be checked by 23rd June. Early copies of three suggestions for the cover arrive. Must be dealt with soon. Cover copy arrives to be checked and approved. Have a talk to prepare for Scarborough Writer’s Circle on 16th June. Attending an RNA (Romantic Novelists Association) meeting near Harrogate on 4th June. Daughter wants to talk about doing some publicity. Have to go to York on 10th June. Family visiting 8th to 12th June. (That will be nice)  Well it’s all nice. Better to be busy than miserable. But why is it everything crowds in at once when life is sailing along steadily? I’m not grumbling; I wouldn’t have it any other way. I enjoy writing and anything to do with it. Long may things continue to crowd in. They make life adventurous.

The Boro

Sad days. Boro relegated. Must look at it positively. They can be exciting days ahead - restructuring. Time for the players to stand up and be counted for loyalty and determination to take the Boro back up to the Premiership where they belong. Whatever the preparation, however good the organaisation behind the scenes it is the play on the field that counts and that play means a determination to serve up good football that wins games. Get the ball in the back of the net, Boro!

Mull of Galloway

Back from a week in the Mull of Galloway. Great time, great place, great ‘cottage’ - very luxurious. Stood on the most southerly point in Scotland. Weather mixed but only one full day of rain; it didn’t matter that day, spent it in bookshops in Wigtown - the Scottish Book Town. Other times sunshine and showers. Logan Botanical Gardens wonderfuly interesting. Lots of exploring and lots of photographs - camera never stopped clicking. Librarian at Stranraer Public Library told me Jessica Blair is one of their most popular authors, always in demand and readers wanting to know when the next one is coming out - very flattering. Nice to know I am pleasing people.

Now I’m back working on the novel feeling refreshed after the break.

Children’s Books

Children’s Favourites chosen by five Laureates made interesting reading in today’s Daily Telegraph. Prompted me to make my list from my reading in my early years:-

Peter Pan And Wendy - J.M.Barrie

Treasure Island -  Robert Louis Stevenson

Prester John - John Buchan

Black Beauty - Anna Sewell

Aces Up - Covington Clark

True To The Old Flag - G.A.Henty

King Solomon’s Mines - H Rider Haggard

And I devoured Boy’s Own Annuals, any books about Robin Hood,  also those about Biggles by W.E.Johns. And I spent many happy hours devouring Arthur Mee’s Children’s Encyclopedia (sadly no date in this but it must have been from the early part of the 20th Century judging by the dress and early motor cars in the pictures. - I still have it aafter all these years - how many? Well a long time. It’s still fascinating to turn the pages and slip back into by my early years)

What were your favourites from your young years?

GURKHAS

Shame on the Government ! These men served this country bravely and should not be neglected.  The Home Office says it would cost too much to implement a scheme to benefit these men and their families. The Government should look around at how much money it wastes on schemes that are not beneficial to this country.  Why refuse these loyal people when the Government allow in so many who don’t even have the interest of this country at heart?  It’s so easy to let slip and forget what these and many others have done in times of conflict without proper recognition.

There’s Always A First Time ?

My Easter break has been prolonged. It really started on the Wednesday before Easter when three of the family arrived. Maybe even before that if you count four arriving on the previous Sunday to take a cottage 2 miles from me for a week. Two more arrived to me on Maunday Thursday. I cooked for 10 that evening !  The main meal; my daughters provided the sweets. I had plenty of washers up.  They all left on Easter Sunday for various parts of the Kingdom. I got my breath back but it was great having them. Then my son arrived for two days. I was taken out for lunch last Sunday and today I have had lunch in a newly renovated pub in a nearby village with a friend from America. All great fun and very enjoyable. Managed to squeeze in a bit of writing now and then. Oh, yes, I’m off to York tomorrow for most of the day.  After that? The way seems clear for some time to get on with my writing — Oh, no! I’m off on holiday for eight days leaving some of my family house-sitting. After that my computer keyboard will be red-hot. It had better be - I’ve never missed a deadline yet!  And don’t tell me there’s always a first time!