Monthly Archives: July 2013

Captain Cook, Whitby and Jessica Blair

Captain Cook looks across the piers and lighthouses of Whitby to the North Sea. Born across the North york Moors in the small village of Marton he sailed in Whitby-built ships and carried its name across the world Captain CookIn many of Jessica Blair’s novels, of romance and adventure, the characters are set against a background of Whitby’s seafaring life of the 18th and 19th centuries when its sailing ships explored and hunted whales in the dangerous waters of the Arctic to add to the economic prosperity of the port.

Whalebones01

Jessica Blair – A Collage of Novels

A collage of some of Jessica Blair's novels
A collage of some of Jessica Blair’s novels

It is hot, almost too hot to work but deadlines always beckon no matter how far away. This last fortnight I have found it too hot to be outside, until late evening, but I have benefitted because it has meant more time on the computer working on my latest novel and keeping me on the schedule I always set myself when starting a new novel. I work towards a final 100,000 words. I do not set myself a daily target but each time I work on the novel I do a word check so I know my progress towards my final goal. My contract gives a date when the manuscript has to be delivered and I aim to have the final word down a month before that so I have time for  checking and polishing. It is an interesting life!

Birthday, Lincolnshire Memories

I’ve been away for a week in Lincolnshire for a family get-together for my birthday at my eldest daughter’s. Fortunately it was a fine pleasant day so we were able to utilise her garden, and spread out rather than be on top of each other in the house. Fifteen close family were there. The only one missing was my grandson —  it would have been a long way to travel from Australia considering he has not long been there and is likely to be there only two years. We had a splendid day and took a lot of the hassle out of the preparation by having outdoor caterers who certainly did the same after the meal by making all the necessary washing-up disappear! What joy! 

The break did me good and I came home raring to get on with my novel. In the last ten days it has been going well, my eyes were opened to some revision that improved it and new material flowed well.

Managed a visit to Lincoln that recalled my war-time flying days with 44 Squadron

A landmark when returning to base after a flight over enemy territory
LINCOLN CATHEDRAL A landmark when returning to base after a flight over enemy territoryLancaster Tour completed