Impatient But Happy

I love this time of the year; especially living in Bulgaria where a white Christmas is usually a given. And I like the fact that Bulgaria, although a Christian country, doesn't do commercialism like Western Europe or America. Some of this could be that people just don't have any money here. Paying out large sums in advertising, to try and trawl in vast revenue for goods, therefore, is a waste of money.

On the subject of money, I read that the Bankers of RBS have quit because the Chancellor of the Exchequer has scuppered their chance of paying themselves huge bonuses. Well, boo-hoo! Their greed and insensitivity to ordinary people in this era of dearth takes my breath away! Let them go I say, and good riddance. Let's hope that those who take their place will be more adept at the job, have more of a social conscience and be prepared to work for more realistic rewards!

About writing: I hoped that "Sabine Dolls would be out by Christmas, but this isn't to be. Hopefully, I can get down to the editing with Bluewood in the New Year and get it out by the end of January. Also, I'm almost at the final edit stage of my new novel: "Parallel Triangle" but I can't really push that until I've got the first book properly out and up for sale. Methinks that 2010 will be interesting!

Sandy Hyatt-James

Autumn

Why is Autumn referred to as Fall by our American friends? When viewing the spectacular golds, russets and browns from my home, I can see nothing "downwards" about it. To me, it's such a special time of the year. It pricks at my imagination. Makes me think of misty forests, and mythological creatures. I want to sit by the fire, eating butter-melting muffins with my friends and tell creepy stories. Here's a short one to be getting on with:

Last November I went to a fancy dress dance with a new boyfriend and a group of friends. I went as Catwoman, but that's by the by.
When powdering my nose in the restroom, halfway through the evening, I noticed a woman standing at the mirror next to me. She smelled of Lavender. I admired her thirties style evening dress; said it put me in the mind of Ginger Rogers. She smiled, nodded, graciously and continued primping her hair, which, by the way, featured permed, blond curls.
She never once spoke to me. I didn't put this down to rudeness because throughout, she seemed intent on carefully re-applying her red lipstick.
My friend then entered the restroom and joined me at the mirrors. We chatted for a few moments. After the Thirties Woman left, I said, "I wonder where she hired that gorgeous dress?"
My friend looked this way and that. "What dress?"
"The one that woman was wearing."
"What woman?"
I gaped at her for a couple of seconds. "Er....the woman who was here putting her lipstick on. I can still smell the Lavender perfume she was wearing."
"I never saw a woman and I can't smell Lavender. Nobody wears Lavender scent these days anyway. She laughed. "I told you not to drink too much of that punch!"

So, that's my contribution to Autumn. Watch this space for another one next year.

Sandy Hyatt-James

My First Draft Completed

What a great feeling it is to have finished the first draft of a novel. Now, some authors might argue that putting the initial stuff down is the best part, but for me it's what comes afterwards that's the best. Now I can wait a little while, go back to the beginning and really start to "write" my book. I've been tempted to go back and perfect this and that over the past six months: the time it's taken me to to the draft, but being further along as a writer now, I think this way's going to prove to be the best.

While I'm about it, I may as well mention that "Sabine Dolls", my first novel has now been accepted by "Bluewood Publishing." I'm so excited about this! It cancels out the disappointment that I felt with the Mystic Moon debacle. I have a good feeling about these people, who seem committed to turning out the best books possible.

I saw the cover art for the book last week. Wow, just seeing the first draft of that really brought it home to me that I'm about to be published - at long last!

Sandy Hyatt-James

Just thought I'd say how difficult it is to write. I'm usually a plotter and plodder, but yesterday I motored along like a happy little dolphin. By the time I got to bed, I felt, well, pleased with myself at having written far more than usual. But, this morning, when I checked what I'd written I could only conclude yesterday's offering was excrement in the extreme.
The moral of this tale, where writing is concerned, is to do it little, often and well. Don't, as I did, slam it all down, then wring your hands and rend your clothing with embarrassment afterwards!

Be back soon.

S H-J

So, here I am again, two months later with something to say. We're well into the summer at the moment and I haven't had time to post anything. But, I thought I had to record that the e-publisher with whom I signed up in March this year has now gone out of business. At first I was disappointed, but now, after having corresponded with the other ejected authors of said site, I'm really glad that my book "Sabine Dolls" never got to print with them.

So, I'm now back off the wagon and having to hawk my manuscript around to other publishers.

S H-J

Political Stuff

There's a big hoo-haa in England at the moment about MPs expenses. Apparently, one of them had even been claiming expenses for mortgages on a second home for three years, when the bloody house was already been paid for. Then there are the swimming pools, cleaners and furniture for their second dwellings that they've been putting in their crooked claims for as well. How dare they, I say to my mild-mannered self. How dare they tax the poor old British person up to the eyeballs while they are living the high life on ordinary Joe and Josephine Soap's money. High taxes were one of the main reasons that we (my husband and I) left the country. (The weather ain't so good also). I hope these greedy people now stew in their embarrassment at being found out.

English Grammar Bloop

Today I taught my upper intermediate class. I was interested to find a mistake in the text book, from which I teach the grammar. The sentence in question read: Each of them are experts in the field of nuclear physics. Sorry writers - this should surely be: Each of them is an expert.
Subject verb agreement? I'm not really a busy-body......honest.