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.

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 !’

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 !