I’ve had many fears since becoming an author: Will my imagination let me down? Will my book sell? Will publishers issue another contract? Have I the energy to write another book? Thankfully, over the last seven years, such fears have proven to be pointless. But one fear remains … the unfinished book.
 
None of us know how long we have on this glorious planet and sadly, my experiences of recent years have left me with a heightened sense regarding my own mortality. I’ve always had an obsession about time, but now I’ll admit it is something else. I live a simple life, with my time and love being my prized possessions – I don’t waste either.
 
This year, I have taken to reading some of the ‘unfinished novels’ that other authors have left us. Jane Austen ceased working on ‘Sanditon’ on 18th March 1817 prior to her death in July 1817. It seems strange but she dated her final written page. Did she know? Or was it purely a writing habit? Either way she never returned to the story leaving it at eleven chapters outlining the beginning of Charlotte Heywood’s tale.
 
F Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Last Tycoon’ is a first draft consisting of approximately two hundred pages. The story is strong, the quotations beautiful and so poignant yet cut short by his sudden death, following his third heart attack. My edition provides Fitzgerald’s planned outline so I know where his plot was heading. 
 
My final read will be Charles Dickens’ ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ which has 500 pages but conveys just half the story. Dickens suffered a stroke at the age of fifty-eight, having suffered poor health for the previous five years. Sadly, the mystery novel remains just that - as no one knows the book’s resolution. I have a feeling this final read may frustrate me but I’m still willing to read it.
 
Time will tell regarding my own fear or maybe I’ll use it to spur me on towards ‘The end’.

My latest book is published in three weeks and I cannot wait! I am bursting with excitement for readers to arrive at the white picket gate of Lakeside cottage ready to attend a writing retreat. Followers know how much I love a writers' retreat! I'm sorry to disappoint but events are purely fictional and not written about authors I know.

The book blurb: 

Welcome to the Lakeside Cottage . . . A place to write, where inspiration awaits . . .

Five authors have gathered at the idyllic Lakeside Cottage for a retreat, with the promise of peace and dedicated writing time. At least, that's the idea . . .

Retreat organiser Rula is there to edit, surrounded by like-minded souls. An interloper, especially one with whom she has a past, was certainly not part of her plan.

Eve has a bad case of writer's block, despite numerous bestsellers under her belt. Can she find new inspiration? Or will she get drawn into the dramas that unfold around her?

Alice has a deadline looming but is seemingly more interested in anything but writing. And where does she keep disappearing to?

Daphne is an experienced self-published author, but might she be more unconventional in other ways too?

And then there's Brontë, the complete novice. She's a mere scribbler, not a 'proper writer' like these other women, and she feels totally out of her depth.

As the collective word count grows, and their personal stories interweave, each woman finds herself drawn in unexpected and life-changing directions.

This week, I gave an ‘author talk’ to the Warwickshire Federation of the Women’s Institute, as part of their literary afternoon. A private event held at the Unitarian Chapel, Warwick and I was delighted to speak alongside author, Fran Hill. 

​On arrival, the venue’s Georgian styled decoration of coloured ceiling and white plaster detailing reminded me of the Assembly Rooms in Bath – which I attended many years ago. I love stained glass windows so couldn’t help myself on spying the rose window.
 
I had a forty minute slot which was tight for me as my usual talks can easily last ninety minutes! Anyway, I managed to slice and dice the specifics into the time available. The local bookstore had provided a supply of our books for sale so we each did a ‘signing’ session after our talks. It was lovely having the chance to speak to so many women plus, hear Fran’s publication story. 
 
Topics covered:
 
Secret scribbler                                     Romantic Novelists' Association
Being a good girl                                   Rejections
The ‘cot’ room                                       Writing retreats
​Writing groups                                      Village life
Euston station & St James’                   Pride & Prejudice
Jane Austen’s proposal                         Narnia
​Katie Fforde’s bursary                          Dreams
School Careers advisors                      Open University
Foundling                                            

I’m delighted to share that my structural edits left the building on Monday, 1st July at 12:30am. Slightly later than I’d anticipated but after days of tweaking and at times faffing with certain details – the manuscript has finally gone! My entire weekend was absorbed in re-writing scenes, moving dialogue and questioning my own judgement whilst consuming gallons of tea but I did it! 
My most hated, loathsome stage of any project is now complete. The nearest thing I can describe it to is building a three-storey house and once complete then having to remove and reposition the staircase elsewhere. Not an easy job when there are connections linking to everything that surrounds it. You move one piece and it affects something else. I amend a section of plot and it effects other areas which then need attention and alteration in order to make sense. I’ve learnt to trust my process and brace myself for a mid-task wobble which usually happens when I have a panic moment thinking I’ve made an error in the sequencing but is nothing more than my brain playing tricks on me.
Anyway, structural edits are done and dusted. I spent the rest of the day sleeping, reading and drinking more tea in order to download the details from my brain. Again, I’ve had to learn how I do that as efficiently as I can in order to switch my focus to the new project that I’d had ticking over in the back ground. 
July sees the beginning of Camp NaNo. I’ve entered the new project as my main focus – it feels good to be involved in a month-long challenge. Followers know I love my daily progress charts and word counts! ​