Missing Heroine

I worked on my novel for longer than usual. Afterwards something niggled at the back of my mind while I collected a prescription from the doctor's surgery, had it filled in at the chemist and then withdrew some money from the bank. I hurried home to greet son number two whose birthday is today. Off we went to my favourite vegetarian restaurant, Sakonis, in Harrow. As usual the food was delicious. While enjoying both the meal and my son's company, I realised what was wrong the part I wrote this morning. The hero attends a dinner at his parents' house to which, I realised, the heroine should have been invited. Tomorrow, much to her relief and my own she will be there.

Gardening, Writing.

The sun's shining today. It's not too hot and there's pleasant breeze. I couldn't resist cutting an hour off my writing time and getting on in the garden. I transplanted hollyhocks grown from seed. They are biennials but if they are cut back to the ground after flowering they should thrive for several years.  I've planted them against the wall in two beds in the front garden. Their spires of flowers should make a splash of colour next summer. I also transplanted alpine strawberries grown from seed in the greenhouse.. I panted a double row which form a miniature hedge. The delicious  taste of their small fruit always lingers in the mouth.  I'll catch up with my writing schedule this evening.

Writing Target, Cooking, Cook in a Stately Home

This morning I met my writing target earlier than usual. After breakfast I nipped out to get some milk and take some money out of the bank.

After I came home I made 4lbs of redcurrant jelly. (I didn't have time to make it before I went on holiday at the end of July, so I boiled the redcurrants with the correct amount of water, strained it through muslin and put the liquid in the freezer.) Next I made a blackberry and apple pie, after which I made more mango ice-cream - the g...randchildren will really love me this year as its their favourite homemade ice cream. I then made my lunch, a vegetable pie, sweetcorn, potatoes, gravy and home grown runner beans. By the time the kitchen was clean and tidy I needed to put my feet up after I ate.

How did a cook in a stately home cope? Meals for the upper class and dinner parties etc., as well as meals for the servants. No electric gadgets such as food mixers and blenders, no fridges, freezers and dishwashers. Ranges fuelled by wood or coal etc. etc. How on earth did the cook keep going even if she had kitchen staff?

Bhagavadgita As It Is, Philosophy, Sentimentality, Fanaticism

At the moment I am re-reading The Bhagavadgita As It Is translated into English and with purports - by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following made an impression on me: "Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism." Chapter Three Text Three.

My Guest Interview at Love Romance Cafe

Whenever I am interviewed online, I look at the webpage and think: Is that really me.

 Today my latest interview with Love Romance Café is at:-

 http://www.allyshields.com/7/post/2015/08/coffee-chat-author-interview-rosemary-morris.html

 Wow! My thanks to Ally and any of you who visit it.

 

Tuesday's Child a Traditional Regency Romance, Back Story and Conflict

My new novel is Tuesday's Child, a traditional Regency Romance, by which I mean I don't open wide the hero and heroine's bedroom door.  It is a follow on novel from Sunday's Child and Monday's Child, which will be published in spring, 2016. It is a stand alone novel but because the heroine was a minor character who played an important part in Sunday's Child the back story is crucial. Back story is always tricky. I think I've solved the problem by the heroine observing a scene and reflecting on the effects of past events effects on her present and introducing conflict.

Line Editing. Checking 'and'.

Yesterday, I took a day off. Today I felt guilty so I finished checking how often I wrote 'and' in Monday's Child the sequel to Sunday's Child a romantic Regency novel. I have divided sentences into two, rephrased sentences as well as occasionally, very occasionally using gerunds.

Gothic Exhibition at The British Library

Today I visited the Gothic Exhibition at the British Library with a dear friend. The exhibition traces the history of Gothic literature and films. The first emphasis is on Hugh Walpole's Castle of Otranto, but there are references to gothic subject matters in the mediaeval period and in Shakespeare.


We enjoyed the exhibits of texts, handwritten pages, books old and modern and the history of gothic films including The Birds based on Daphne du Maurier's short story. I came away inspired with material for Tuesday's Child a follow on novel from Sunday's Child, published by MuseItUpPublishing and Monday's Child which I am almost ready to submit.

Intense Revision

I am revising Monday's Child, a Regency Romance and  follow on novel from Sunday's Child.


I have highlighted 'and'. Substituting other words as well as dividing sentences into two tightens the prose. It also helps me to avoid repeatedly writing 'and then'. The process is boring but the novel will read better when I finish.

Monday's Child - Final Chaper, Traditional Regency Romance

I am delighted because I have written the last chapter of Monday's Child, a traditional Regency Romance. By traditional I mean that I have not opened the bedroom door wide. Monday's Child is the follow on novel from Sunday's Child published by MuseItUp Publishing. I am now enjoying planning Tuesday's Child the next novel in the series.

Medieval Novel, Monday's Child, Lunch.

Am now very pleased because I have written the penultimate chapter of Monday's Child a traditional Regency Romance with a twist in the tale, a follow on novel from Sunday's Child published by MuseItUpPublishing. Today I lunched with a close friend at The Loving Hut a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. We enjoyed the buffet style meal with lots to choose from and nattering about writing and other subjects. We are now planning to visit the Turner Exhibition later in the month.

Special Offer for 5 Days. 5 Historical Novels in 1 Bundle.

• Special Offer

 

5 historical novels in 1 Romance Bundle by Rosemary Morris.

 

1,313 pages.

 

Special offer.  $4.99  (£3.23)

Full price $29.75

Discount $24.76

 

ISBN:978-7-77127-645-0

 

The bundle will be available from the 28^th November, 2014 to the 2^nd December, 2014

 

Available from https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore  www.amazon.com  www.amazon.co.uk  nook and all reputable vendors.

 

False Pretences.  Annabelle runs away from school into the arms of a charismatic gentleman…but can she trust him to help her?

 

Far Beyond Rubies  When their eyes first meet, Gervaise’s soul recognises Juliana’s and from that moment on, their destinies become inevitably entwined.

 

Sunday’s Child  If Major Tarrant expects Sunday’s Child, a Regency lady, to be a ‘bread and butter’ Miss he will be surprised.

 

Tangled Love  The throne has been usurped by James II’s daughter and son-in-law, Mary and William of Orange. In 1693, loyal to his oath of allegiance, ten year-old Richelda’s father must follow James to France.

 

The Captain and The Countess.  His heart captured by the Countess only Captain Howard sees pain behind her fashionable façade and is determined to help her.

 

 

Too view the book trailers, read the first three chapters of each novel and reviews please visit www.rosemarymorris.co.uk.

 

 

 

 

Monday's Child Epilogue

This morning, I finished writing Chapter Thirty-One of Monday's Child, a traditional historical novel set in the Regency era. It is a stand alone novel in which some of the characters from my published novel, Sunday's Child, take part.


I spent the rest of the day considering the book and realised that all I have left to write is an Epilogue.


By the end of the next week I will have finished Monday's Child and can then begin revising and editing it.

Learning to Read

My just five year-old granddaughter is learning to read. For homework she has the following. She has a card with coloured pictures and the letters of the alphabet plus ch, ff etc. She also has cardboard cut outs in the shape of pencils with a few words on each one e.g. oh, on, to etc. Finally she has first readers with one sentence on each page. E.g. Look at Mum.


The other day when I was helping her she said. "This is hard work but I've got a good idea, grandma. You read and I'll listen."

Applying Research to Monday's Child

The research for the last few chapters of Monday's Child, the follow on novel from Sunday's Child, is complicated. To get it straight in my mind I have amalgamated my scribbled notes, photo copies and passages from my reference books. I have headed each part with a date and assigned it to a chapter. This means I will not need to cross reference each fact as I write. So far the method is working well. Phew!

Special Offer. Pre-order. Five historical novels in One Bundle. $4.99 £3.23

Pre-order.

 

5 historical novels in 1 Romance Bundle by Rosemary Morris.

 

1,313 pages.

 

Special offer.  $4.99  (£3.23)

 

Full price $29.75

 

Discount $24.76

 

Release Date the 28^th November, 2014

 

Available from https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore  www.amazon.com  www.amazon.co.uk  nook and all reputable vendors.

 

False Pretences.

 

Annabelle runs away from school into the arms of a charismatic gentleman…but can she trust him to help her?

 

Far Beyond Rubies

 

When their eyes first meet, Gervaise’s soul recognises Juliana’s and from that moment on, their destinies become inevitably entwined.

 

Sunday's Child

 

If Major Tarrant expects Sunday’s Child, a Regency lady, to be a ‘bread and butter’ Miss he will be surprised.

 

Tangled Love

 

The throne has been usurped by James II’s daughter and son-in-law, Mary and William of Oragne. In 1693, loyal to his oath of allegiance, ten year-old Richelda’s father must follow James to France.

The Captain and The Countess

 

His heart captured by the Countess only Captain Howard sees pain behind her fashionable façade and is determined to help her.

 

To view the book trailers, read the first three chapters of each novel and reviews please visit www.rosemarymorris.co.uk.

Cassiobury The Ancient Seat of the Earls of Essex

On Monday evening, at Café Cha Cha, in Cassiobury Park, I attended an interesting talk by Paul Rabbits, Head of Parks and Open Spaces for Watford Borough Council and Sarah Kerenza Priestly, Heritage and Arts Manager of Watford Museum.

The subject of the talk was Cassiobury, The Ancient Seat of the Earls of Essex.

"In 1916 the 7th Earl of Essex, aged only fifty-eight, died after being run down by a taxi. Six years later, his widow and his heir, the 8th Earl, put the house and the park up for sale."

Today, Cassiobury Park, is a 300 hectare site twice the size of Hyde Park. It is much loved by local people.

I have been considering setting a novel in or around Cassiobury House for a long time, so I was delighted by the talk, and am looking forward to reading Peter Rabbits and Sarah Kerenza Priestley's beautifully illustrated book Cassiobury The Ancient Seat of the Earls of Essex published by Amberley Publishing, www.amberley-books.com.

Monday's Child Final Research

I have a nasty cold so I've been lethargic. However, I completed what I hope is the final research for Monday's Child a traditional Regency novel, which is a follow on story from Sunday's Child. By combining the information in four of my non-fiction books and  photo copies from other  books I am now able to write the next chapter. Phew! Now, where is that box of tissues?

Writing and Decluttering

I've been spending too many hours tapping away on the laptop with the result that I've became so tired that I've been making spelling and other mistakes when networking. So I've taken it easy for the last two days. I've only tapped away on the laptop for a fixed number of hours. I've used the extra time to de-clutter my desk and to make a start on sorting through my magazines. I've begun to sort them into piles to be thrown away, to keep and to give to friends and have chosen some cuttings which I want to keep.

1st World War, Napoleonic War

On the news I viewed the sea of poppies, which commemorate members of the armed forces who gave their lives, around The Tower of London.

While writing Monday's Child, the follow on novel from Sunday's Child, I have read widely about the Napoleonic Wars. I wonder how many people realise that in proportion to the number of people alive at that time more lives were lost then than in the First World War. A very sobering thought. It's also sobering to wonder what would have happened if the Battle of Waterloo had been lost.