* * * * * * December* * * * * *
Looking back, I can see why I’ve suffered with RSI this year – I’ve just realized that I’ve written three children’s books! At the beginning of the year, there was Abbey’s Angels then there was a book for Egmont, and I’ve just finished my girls’ adventure, Secret Pyramid, and I’m feeling very sad! I had so much fun writing this one and I’m really going to miss it. But I have the consolation that it’s the first in a series so I hope I can return to these characters again very soon.
I now have the difficult decision of deciding what to write next. I think I’m going to write another children’s book and then return to my romantic comedies. That’s the plan. We’ll have to see how that works out…
So, overall, a very good writing year and another good year for reading too. Click here to see my Top Ten Reads of 2007 which include rather a lot of adventures.
* * * * * * November* * * * * *
To escape the suburban fireworks, we hired a hideaway on Dartmoor this month and had a week of bracing walks over moors and up tors. The colours were truly captivating and I’ve just bought a new winter coat reminiscent of autumn beech leaves. We also nipped over to Cornwall and did the Daphne du Maurier ‘Mary Yellan’ trail, visiting Launceston, Altarnun and Jamaica Inn. Luckily, Joss Merlyn and Francis Davey were not at home!
But all holidays must end and I had to return to London as I’d booked to see the fabulous Tutankhamun exhibition at the O2 – perfectly timed for writing my discovering-the-treasure scene in my girls’ adventure book, Secret Pyramid. My research also took me behind the scenes at The British Museum where I was allowed to hold a 3,000 year-old shabti, peer inside rows of sarcophagi and sniff the bandages of a mummy!
The month drew to a close with the Egmont Christmas party. I’ve just written a book for a new girls’ series but more about that next summer. It was wonderful to meet so many other writers and illustrators who were all bursting with creative energy (or was that the effect of the cocktails? They were very good!)
* * * * * * October* * * * * *
I got my first copy of my second novel this month – The Unmasking of Elena Montella or Wenn es dich gibt to give it its German title. It’s so pretty and I’m delighted with it.
See what you think on the books page. You can also find photos of Venice – the setting of the novel – on the photos page.
There's also a short story inspired by the beautiful masks of Venice. Marietta's Mask Shop.
We had a magical trip to Pembrokeshire this month where the beaches are truly breathtaking. Molly adored the vast expanses of golden sand. We also visited beautiful Manorbier Castle – the sumptuous setting of the film adaptation of I Capture the Castle – one of my favourite books.
I’ve been taking things slowly with the writing this month owing to continued RSI but have been getting on with my girls’ adventure, Secret Pyramid, and enjoying innumerable trips to the British Museum in the name of research. I can highly recommend a trip after dark – the mummy rooms are virtually empty and far more atmospheric!
* * * * * * September* * * * * *
We had a wonderful trip to the Yorkshire Dales this month, staying in a very cute cottage where Molly and I had the choice of two waterfalls to visit on our morning walks (see Moll and me below at Stainforth Force). And, to celebrate our wedding anniversary, Roy and I revisited the scene of the crime: Bolton Castle – which I’ve decided is the perfect setting for a new children’s series – to be started very soon. We also nipped over to the Lake District for the day where I visited Hill Top – the home of Beatrix Potter - and it was really magical to see the settings of so many of her ‘tales’.
I had the great pleasure of meeting one of my favourite writers this month - Julia Golding. We swapped writing stories whilst luxuriating in chocolate overload in Harrods.
And, it’s official – I’ve sold a film option on my first novel, Flights of Angels (Unter deinem Stern). As for my writing, after my recent bout of RSI, I’m pacing myself and working slowly but surely on a project I’ll tell you all about another time…
* * * * * * August* * * * * *
I’ve been paying for recent productivity this month with a dose of RSI – the curse of the keyboarder! Not much fun when all you want to do is sit and write – especially when the sun refuses to shine and you haven’t the excuse of sitting outside with a good book. I’ve had to learn to pace myself and take things slowly which is most frustrating!
* * * * * * July* * * * * *
Well, after finishing Abbey’s Angels, I made sure I had a good break before starting the next novel - about twenty minutes in fact! But I’m not complaining. I’d rather have too many ideas than suffer from writers’ block. What a nightmare that would be. What on earth would I do with my time? I’d have to do something drastic like clean the house or get a proper job!
So, I’m busy writing the first in a new adventure series for girls called Secret Pyramid and it’s proving really addictive. This one needs a bit of research so I’ve been trooping round The British Museum and raiding the local library shelves.
I met with some of my writer friends this month for a performance of Othello at The Globe where we experienced the most amazing storm. There was thunder and lightning and torrents of rain and, when Othello yelled out the line, ‘fire and brimstone’, everyone roared with laughter! But, in true showbiz fashion, the show went on and everyone had a great time. Here’s our view from our gallery seat. The rain made a wonderful pearl curtain.
A fabulous outing this month to take part in the recording of the World Service Book Club interview with Armistead Maupin, author of one of my favourite books, Tales of the City. He was so funny with lots of colourful stories of San Francisco life - not all of which will make it to the air, I fear! Can’t wait to hear the programme as I was the lucky lady who got to ask the first question!
* * * * * * June* * * * * *
Well, it might not be perfect - in fact, I can think of things I want to change already - but I have a first draft of my new children’s book, Abbey’s Angels. It’s a strange feeling coming to the end of a story. There’s relief that you’ve made it but also a sadness that the story is told and that you’ll have to leave your characters behind. There’s a feeling of excitement too at the thought of starting something new, and I can’t wait to leap into my next project. I think this is the bit I like best about writing - anything is possible at this stage and you can take any direction you want.
If you’re in the UK, I have a short story out in Issue 26 of Best. It’s a fun tale of what happens when two shopaholic friends hit the summer sales.
* * * * * * May* * * * * *
Lots of pics this month! The first, courtesy of Liz Fenwick, is of a fabulous book launch at Borders, Charing Cross, for Jane Wenham-Jones’s Wannabe a Writer. Here’s just a few of the contributors (I’m the one in pink!) Anyone wanting to write a novel and get it published should read this book. It’s a fun look at the real world of the writer and covers everything from handling rejection to dealing with that awful phenomenon known as ‘writers’ bottom’!
And here’s a pic of two beautiful badgers in my friend’s gorgeous wildflower meadow. What a magical experience it was to see them feasting on peanuts, sultanas and honey just a few feet away from us!
I’ve also been researching for my novel, The Curious Collection, and visited the beautiful Snowshill Manor in Gloucestershire - home of the collector, Charles Paget Wade. He’s such an inspiration and I think this novel is going to be a lot of fun to write. Here I am enjoying the sunshine in a quiet corner of his garden.
Lots of novel news this month. My German publishers have just accepted a third novel, Three Graces - about a young duchess who has to share her new home with a rather eccentric ghost. Meanwhile, my second novel, The Unmasking of Elena Montella, is out in November and has a cover! Take a look on the books page where you can also read an extract.
I’ve also updated the photo album to include some party pics. Talking of which, here’s me with lovely Helen Lederer at the RNA Summer Party.
* * * * * * April* * * * * *
Oh dear! This month, I had a brand new idea for an adventure series for girls and I kept getting wonderfully distracted by researching things for it which included meeting up with the winner of Channel 4’s fabulous game show, The Search, and talking about codes and treasure hunts. But Abbey’s Angels is still surging forward, only not at quite the same breathless pace as last month. I was stuck in Chapter 14-land for the longest time but things seem to be moving again, thank goodness!
Another wonderful distraction was seeing Chris Isaak in concert at the Hammersmith Apollo. I’ve loved his music for years and got my photo card signed by him with “two hearts” drawn on it after one of my favourite songs of his. A truly magical evening - with a heart-thudding moment when he leapt off the stage and toured the audience! Here's a pic of my hero singing Blue Hotel.
Then there was my first Society of Authors event in London where I had the great pleasure of meeting Tracy Chevalier and Margaret Drabble, and hearing poet laureate,
Andrew Motion, reading two of Shakespeare’s sonnets on the great man’s birthday.
And there’s major excitement with talk of a German TV adaptation of my novel Flights of Angels (Unter deinem Stern). It may never reach the screen, of course, but wouldn’t it be great fun if it did!
Oh, and if you just happen to be in Australia this month, watch out for my short story, The Perfect Present, in Woman's Day. And I've just set up My Space page so come along and say hello when you have a spare moment. Now, back to that novel ...
* * * * * * March* * * * * *
I’ve been putting all my energy behind Abbey’s Angels this month and it’s coming on very nicely - almost half way there on the word count. However, I’m sure that, when I get to the end of the story and read it through, I’ll see all sorts of things wrong with it and will need to tear it all apart and then put it back together again. But nothing can beat the wondrous feeling of writing that first draft.
I had a wonderful day out at the Oxford Literary Festival earlier this month to hear Anthony Horowitz speak. He’s got to be one of the most enthusiastic and energetic writers I’ve ever heard - truly inspirational - and I’m really enjoying his Alex Rider series. I would absolutely love to write a rip-roaring rollicking adventure one day.
So many books to write...so little time...
* * * * * * February* * * * * *
Well, I got as far as Chapter 4 with The Curious Collection, and have temporarily put it one side as I rush headlong into Abbey’s Angels. This is my new children’s novel adapted from my own book, Flights of Angels, (Unter Deinem Stern) and I'm very excited about it.
We had a magical day of snow this month. Here’s a pic of Molly making friends with a rather dodgy-looking snowman! It made me want to start my third princess novel which is set in the depths of a Delphinium winter but I have to rein myself in and concentrate on one or - er - two novels at a time!
I am also in the process of updating this website. I’ll be putting up some fun party pics on the photos page, together with some of Venice which is the setting of my second novel - out later this year, and I’ll be giving you a sneak preview of it which I hope you enjoy. So visit again soon and let me know what you think.
* * * * * * January* * * * * *
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
And welcome (willkommen!) to my website if this is your first visit.
Well, it’s full steam ahead on the writing front this month. I’ve launched straight into my new adult novel, The Curious Collection, which has been begging to be written for over a year now. Great to see it finding its way onto the page at last.
Remember my American rewrites of The Audacious Auditions of Jimmy Catesby - my children’s book about the boy who dreams of becoming an actor? Well, the new version went down well with the US agent and she is sending it out to publishers. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Had a wonderful winter holiday in Lanzarote this month with my brother, Al, escaping a whole week of grey and gloom in the UK. Highlights were a camel ride, a tour of Timanfaya National Park, and the views across to the desert island of La Graciosa from Mirador del Rio.
Here’s a pic of me at stunning Mirador - or ‘Lanz End’ as Al named it! It was a real treat to have an early morning swim in our own pool and eat outside in summer clothes in January.
Click here to read my 2006 Journal
Click here to read my 2005 Journal
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