15/9/2023 0 Comments Coping with a deaf dogAfter months of close observations, it's become apparent that my writing assistant is suffering from partial deafness. It appears to be in his middle range, as he still responds to high-pitch or low sounding noise. My normal speaking tone falls into the void. To be fair, after nearly thirteen years together - I don't blame him for switching off to my jabbering! He's been my constant companion, whilst I've written each of my published books. Though he sat beside me without passing judgement during my early attempts too. It's quite sad seeing him jump in surprise when he doesn't hear me approach or on waking, when I have to tap or stroke him to gain his attention. He's always been an attentive dog, but now his little button eyes rarely leave my face. I'm grateful that his puppy training had included hand gestures, as it's these which I'm now relying on. Though he's clearly learnt to cope by knowing my routines and associating specific objects as signals anticipating commands, actions and events throughout our day. I suspect he's probably been doing that for a while, before I realised the issue. Good job the opening of his 'treats' cupboard doesn't appear to be affected - now, that would be a disaster! They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks but I beg to differ; he's responding nicely to a range of new hand signals and whistles.
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14/9/2023 0 Comments Did you know ...
6/9/2023 0 Comments September challengeI'm back at my desk today. Starting my September challenge a little later than planned, after the weekend's incident. I tried working yesterday morning but my brain wasn't ready to settle. But today's different, I'm back! For Book 13, I've spent the morning writing a new chapter to fill a current gap. Which feels like a pain when you're writing within parameters of the plot but has given me space to drip feed a few additional details about all the characters. With the new project, I'll be spending the afternoon sifting through character names. I'm not loving the couple I'd already selected so I may well start from scratch with the cast. I'll admit to having certain criteria for naming bods in my books. There are certain letters of the alphabet that I dislike the phonic sound of - they get rejected immediately. I have the proverbial list of 'I know them in real life names' which I'll never use due to association or fear of offending. Then I have my long, long, long list of 'I love that name' names which I attempt to ration myself but usually end up selecting at least one. Or three! Yeah, I've squeezed three into book 12 - ha, I try and kid myself that I show restraint but I don't. I can't. I flex that artistic license when it comes to naming characters. Update: After browsing my usual naming books and choosing a cast, I ended up wandering around my local graveyard. Don't act so shocked - you know that I do that. I love graveyards for various reasons: the names, the carved masonry/statues and the history. I've had to be honest about my health in recent months in order to reduce the number of requests and emails I receive in relation to library talks/author Q&As/festival visits. So, I celebrated my release after 12 weeks of recovery by visiting Birmingham - I had a wonderful day, albeit that walking amongst human beings felt very strange.
Early the next morning, I went for a dog walk - knowing I'd had a successful outing the day before. I tell this story because if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. I had no idea what was waiting for me around the corner. I found a young man collapsed on a driveway. I'll save you the details but it was clear he wasn't in a good way. I called 999 for an ambulance, and with the assurance of the wonderful lady at ambulance control, I ended up doing chest compressions on him. That was the very last thing I could ever have imagined doing on leaving the house. I'm grateful to hear that he's doing OK but he was lucky that I knew the basics. He was lucky that I'd behaved myself for 12 weeks and could physically complete the task. I feel incredibly lucky for the moral support I've received after the event - it was a totally crappy experience to have encountered. I'm not sure what the Universe was 'playing at' by sending me that surprise! If you're reading this and have no idea what 'you' would have done on finding that young man ... then here's a link to get some free training. This morning, I redid the training just incase it ever happens to me again - though I hope it never does. Press here: British Heart Foundation link 4/9/2023 0 Comments Kindle UnlimitedIf you subscribe to Amazon you can now gain access to my first three book titles via 'Kindle Unlimited' - enjoy!
A Christmas Wish - Flora Phillips has an excuse for every disaster in her life; she was abandoned as a new-born on a doorstep one foggy October morning in 1986. Her philosophy is simple: if your mother doesn't want you – who will? The Single Girl's Calendar - A task a day to cure a broken heart. Esmé Peel is approaching thirty with some trepidation, but hope in her heart. If she can just get her long-term boyfriend Andrew to propose, she will have ticked everything off her 'things to do by the time you're 30' list. She didn't reckon on finding another woman's earring in her bed however, and soon she finds herself single, homeless and in need of a new plan. Her best friend Carys gives her the perfect present – The Single Girl’s Calendar – which has a different cure for heartbreak every day: The Magic of Christmas Tree Farm - The scent of pine fills the crisp air as local villagers select their perfect tree. Picking the tree is the easy bit, creating a perfect Christmas is a bit trickier... Nina has the most magical job in the world, matching customers with their perfect Christmas tree. Holly is just trying to be a normal teenager, having to deal with the mean girls in her class. Angie is trying to bring her family together and save her broken marriage. It's not something she can force, but it's the only gift she craves. Available here: Amazon My goal for August was to complete the first round of edits for book 13. I set myself the challenge as it's my least favourite job and usually I drag my feet but yesterday, I completed my task with one day to spare! Never before have I managed to complete such a task in anywhere near that time. Note to self for the future, me thinks! Anyway, I took the rest of the day off as a reward and mooched around the garden.
The next step is to plug the gaps which I’ve noted whilst editing. I have several specific chapters to write, need to reinforce the theme and tweak some character arcs – which sounds a lot but once I get started I’ll be ticking those beauties off my list. I’m aiming to complete this task in a fortnight, leaving the remainder of September for polishing. Tomorrow is the 1st September so I have a new project to wrangle with alongside Book 13. It might come as a surprise but I’ve switched projects from the one I was planning to start to a brand-new idea. Nothing’s ever wasted in this game so the ‘other project’ will need to be patient and wait in line; I will get to her. But starting tomorrow, I’ll begin planning a new idea from scratch. Planning a project alongside the ‘gap writing’ for Book 13 should work nicely for a couple fo week, so I’m not worried - my brain loves to juggle with ideas. Though it goes without saying, I’ll be spending less time at my desk as my ‘hibernation’ is over just in time for autumn, my favourite season! Come and chat all things bookish at Redditch Library on Saturday, 30th September from 11am - I promise to entertain with stories of my publishing journey, inspirations and insights behind my published books. Plus, there'll be a fresh brew! This library event is free - no ticket or booking necessary! If you bring your paperback books, I'll happily sign those at the end. My latest book 'Christmas Wishes at the Lakeside Cottage' will have been published for just one week - so I'm bound to be in the Christmas spirit! Available for preorder: press here 29/8/2023 0 Comments Week 12 has arrived !It seems unbelievable but it has actually arrived - week 12! I have endured three months of isolation and a near solitary existent in-order to protect my recovery and health. It feels quite strange, when I think back but I set a routine and stuck to it! I have seen just 2 people during that time. Seriously, I have! I am eternally grateful to the two precious souls who have kept me going during this time - I cross my heart and promise, I will pay you back whenever necessary. #ThankYou
Occasionally, I'm asked by book bloggers if I'd answer questions about my publishing journey. Today, the lovely Karen Louise Hollis has my interview showing on her website. So why not grab yourself a coffee, settle in a comfy chair and enjoy a blog read elsewhere.
Press here: to visit Karen's blog If other book bloggers are interested in hosting an interview - please contact: ErInGreenAuthor@mail.com 22/8/2023 0 Comments Pinterest - inspirationsThere are many occasions, usually after my research trips have finished, that I seek inspiration about a specific location chosen as a book setting. I'm a visual person so browsing Pinterest is second nature; be it a face, a dress design, buildings and interior furnishings allowing me to save an image for later reference. From now on, I'm going to share some of those images with you because it might enhance you enjoyment of the books - I can't promise. Pinterest link for Erin Green Author: press here |
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