Monthly Archives: April 2010

Writing – Work in Hand

Books, News

18,000 words into my new novel. 100,000 words the target by February. A little behind schedule but I’ll get on course.but first I’ll have the proof copy of my previous book SECRETS OF A WHITBY GIRL to check.  Email from my publisher told me it was being sent to me today. If  you have followed some of my previous blogs you won’t recognise that title. Originally it was to be I WEPT FOR THE MORNING SUN but marketing and artistic departments decided otherwise. So look out for that new title but it won’t be appearing until next February. In the meantime check out the latest hardback SEALED SECRETS or the paperback of  STAY WITH ME coming out on May 6th or a paperback omnibus volume that includes earlier Jessica Blair books; THE LONG WAY HOME  and DANGEROUS SHORES coming on the same day.

Happy Reading

Jessica Blair and Music.

Books

Chopin born 200years ago.  

1940 a 17 year old schoolboy, soon to be going to war, saw a film, Trade Winds starring Frederick Marsh and Joan Bennett in a Yorkshire market town. 

Connection?  a piece by Chopin – Predules Op28 N07 in A Major featured in that film. It stuck in that boy’s mind and has been a favourite ever since.

And it always reminds me of the regret I feel at refusing to learn the piano . Stupid boy! Yes, I am that boy, writing now under the name of Jessica Blair. But maybe if I had become immersed in music I wouldn’t have become a writer.  But that piece and other influences gave me a liking for music. I play a lot of music while writing. (more of that in future blogs) My taste in music is wide, some genres I don’t like, others I lap up. I respect other people’s likes even if they aren’t  mine.  I am no expert but I know what I like and enjoy. Surely that is the most important aspect of music –  bringing delight to the listener whatever the music.

Happy listening and Happy reading !

Jessica Blair: forthcoming novels.

Books, BOOKS FROM MY BOOKSHELVES

MAY 6th

STAY WITH ME  in paperback. Set in 1879 Whitby and Hull. ‘… when disaster strikes, Lena is devasted to realise just how carried away she’s become with her desire for success …’

Omnibus Volume:  THE LONG WAY HOME & DANGEROUS SHORES in paperback. ‘Vengeance or true love – which will Lydia choose?’ &  ‘Abigail soon learns she should have heeded her father’s warning when she uncovers the secrets Luke has been harbouring about his life …’

Romantic Novelists’ Association.

News

Yesterday I went the monthly meeting of Northern Chapter of Romantic Novelists’ Association. Eighteen  of us. Lots of chatter over an informal lunch. No speaker, no special subject but a most interesting ’round the table’ meeting. Each in turn told what they were writing, what had happened in their writing lives in the previous month, news of what was happening in the publishing world etc. A lively meeting, interesting, serious but laced with much humour. I always draw energy from these meetings to get on with my present commission from my publisher PIATKUS, part of the LITTLE BROWN BOOK GROUP, – in this case a novel to be in the hands of the publisher before February. 100,000 words. I’ve done 12,000 so far — you’ll know what I’ll be doing over the next few months !!!