Monthly Archives: March 2009

News

It’s cold and windy today. I’ve just been up the village with two recipes for my friends Rhoda and Peter Walker. I had them to a meal a couple of nights ago and they liked what I had made. I was flattered. Never had cause to cook until I was on my own. So it was cook or starve ! Now I quite enjoy it. Maybe it’s the creativity and because of that it relates to the creativity of writing. News on the writing front – yesterday I was commissioned to do another novel for my publisher Piatkus. So now much of my time will be dedicated to writing that. Work? Well, I suppose it is but it isn’t a chore if you enjoy it and I do. Always nice to meet with writers – Peter is the person whose books sparked off Heartbeat – we had a good natter. All being well I’ll be meeting more writers next Thursday – RNA meeting near Harrogate. Looking forward to that and also to the ride in my newly purchased car. Keep warm everyone. 

 

Tax chocolate ?

Today’s newspaper tells me that the suggestion has been made at a Medical Conference to tax chocolate to halt obesity epidemic.  Did you ever hear such nonsense?  What else that causes obesity would they tax?  Parents for not leading by example or supervising their children’s eating habits? The list could be never ending. Food, as it was meant to be,  is one of the joys of this life while providing the necessary ingredients to susstain it. And food will do us a lot more good if we enjoy it; if we do it will give us a mental lift as well, which must be good for us, especially if we enjoy it with family or friends.  I am not advocating over indulgence. Be sensible. Killjoys would have recipes put out by TV cooks and writers modified, regarding the fat content. Don’t they realise that would spoil the final product and the joy of eating it. Let’s get everything in proportion and stop being silly about our eating habits. Enjoy but let moderation into the equation.

Stay With Me

The cover for my latest hardback, published in February by Piatkus. The story is set in the 19th century commercial and shipping worlds of Whitby and Hull. It tells of the conflict between Lena Carnforth and her step-brother after their parents are killed in the Tay Bridge disaster of 1879. Ambition and the desire for revenge stalk lives with disasterous results that shape futures.

Read and enjoy. 

 

Latest Western

Thought you might like to see the cover of my Western that came out in February. Published by Magna Large Print in their Dales Large Print imprint. It originally came out in hardback in 1961 The drawing is by Gordon Crabb and I reckon he has captured a great deal of atmosphere especially through the sheriff’s eyes and also his stance. Makes you want to know who he is facing in what must be a coming shoot-out  !!! 

Time

Thursday I have to go to York.  Friday – well, my present car is 10 years old!  I’ve kept them all 10 years – how many of them? Well that would be telling and revealing. With MOT, service, licencing all coming up I thought that cash could go towards another car so Friday sees me collect one I got my eyes on ten days ago. Sorry to part with an old friend that is running nicely but body getting a bit worn – something rather like me ! So Friday will no doubt be spent getting to know a new friend – hopefully that friend will take to me too and then we’ll have fun together. I like my cars. During all this I’ll have to plan a menu for two friends coming to lunch on Saturday.  And I’ll have to get on with a novel – writing it. Time? I’ll find it somewhere. If you are keen enough about something you’ll always find time no matter how busy you are.

 

Getting Up To Date

I’ve neglected my blog since Feb 19. I have visited it every day checking for Comments. Been a busy time. Visits from two daughters. They helped me chose a car. Mine is ten years old – looking worse for wear like me. Service, MOT, licencing all coming up by he end of month so thought it a good time to change. Visited a couple of garages locally – there are plenty of good bargains around. I found one. Now waiting for the car to be delivered. Moved up to a 1.8 – stiil short of the 2.9 I used to have but cars are different in performance now from those days when motoring was really something. Emailed a friend with all the details of performance etc but she emailed me back – ‘What colour (that’s the only thing women usually want to know)’     SILVER LIGHTNING  if any of you out there want to know. (that’s the official description)  Also been setting up a surround sound in my bedroom. It also acts as my writing room. Rotten local authority wouldn’t let me build a special room on top of my garage. I play a lot of music when I’m writing. I find it soothing and helps stop headaches apart from creating moods for different scenes. It is sort of one of the tools of my trade.     I’ve been busy checking over the edited copy of my latest book as well as starting work on a new one.  Three books out in February – tell you about them next time. There’ll be pictures of the covers too. Watch this space. 

Hair cut tomorrow and a visit to a paperback bookshop. Monthly shop on Wednesday morning. Wednesday evening dine with friends. Thursday see writing friends at a Romantic Novelist Association meeting. The first meeting of the Northern Group after the winter break. Looking forward to it. A week on Saturday I have friends coming for lunch and the following day visit friends for lunch. And there is the writing to do. So busy two weeks ahead.    Amongst all this I anxiously watch Middlesbrough Football Club’s attempt to get outof he relegation zone. Play like they did in their last two matches (THEY BEAT LIVERPOOL -note that) and they will.