Tag: Edwardian

Sticky Burrs!

Have you heard of ‘burrs’ or perhaps I should say felt burrs, Miss Penny speaking? They are little round things covered in hooks, the seeds of the Burdock plant, and they stick to everything including me. During our walk the other day I got covered in them. I had one hanging from my face, several in my paws. Susan pulls them out and that stings a bit, but I know it’s for the best. But, we missed one. I was in agony with this thing digging into my tummy. It twisted into my fur so the fur pulled every time I moved and the little hooks of the burr dug into my skin. I hardly had a wink of sleep as it was morning before Susan found it. She had to cut it out. Oh, what a relief! Can you guess what happened next? Yep, the groomers! Kind of like adding insult to injury. Now, I’m cold, I had a lovely long coat, but it was getting mattered and those burrs were a problem. Although I say it myself, I look glamorous. Susan’s catching up with admin work and getting ready for the Small Press Book Fair, signings to finish the year off.

 

 

 

Remembrance Day! I love history but not always the effect it has on people. Researching WW1 for Prelude to Sophie’s War I became painfully aware of the stubbornness of powerful men that took so many lives, not just soldiers but innocent Londoners. Prelude to Sophie’s War tells of those innocent lives changed forever https://books2read.com/u/mgG0M0

Prelude to Sophie’s War – A captivating historical novel of love and loss

Prelude to Sophie’s War  is now available through international distributor for overseas fans. An alternative to Amazon, check out your local bookstore and make a request.

Listen to an excerpt click here..YouTube 

Online retailers

Susan’s contemporary romance series has a new look and new series name – The Lavender Cottage Series (aka The Narrowboat Romance Series)

Retailer of your choice click here

 

Save Some For Me  – And what about you?

Could you survive an abusive man and raise five children alone?

This was a brave, insightful, revealing, and well written book of what must be one of the hardest experiences any person can go through. The courage and grace with which you tell this story is a truly affective reading experience…….  Judge’s commentary: Writer’s Digest  

Click for the retailer of your choice.

Available in paperback or e-book.

Remember Ruins in Silk? The prequel to The Sackville Hotel Trilogy.

Well, it is also the prequel to Prelude to Sophie’s War, young Sophie in Ruins in Silk has grown up, left The Sackville Hotel and her story continues in London as she trains to be a nurse.

Free download from Kobo and most Online retailers

The Sackville Hotel Trilogy – Ebook Box Set                  New cover

She defies Edwardian protocol. Avoids marriage – for a while – but loves twice. Anna’s epic story of a strong woman’s determination and courage spans two continents and three decades.

Click here for your details.

Click here for retailer.

 

Classic trilogy, historical, family saga, from the drawing rooms of the Edwardian era to ruthless spies of the 60s Cold War. More details 

The Blue Pendant              Anna’s Legacy                 Sarah’s choice

Quick Reference:

Susan’s Readers Group News – Subscribe  

Susan’s website – http://susanajennings.com

 My books – Synopsis and Where to buy

Contact Susan – susan(at)susanajennings.com

 Susan’s YouTube Channel All videos – click here  

YouTube video serialized version of The Blue Pendant

Excerpts from Lavender Cottage Romance Series(formerly The Narrowboat Romance Series). Readings from the book launch

Susan’s Readers Group News – Subscribe  Rain

Squirly Squirrels!

Susan corrected me and said, ’squirly’ isn’t a word, Miss Penny speaking, I guess she would know as she’s the author. I like ‘squirly’ it describes the way the squirrels dart around in the grass and shimmy up trees. I try my hardest to catch them, I want to play, all furry things are playmates. But squirrels…. I can’t even get them to stop long enough to say hello. It doesn’t help that Susan keeps my leash very tight. If only she would let me run loose like the squirrels, I know I could catch up and maybe enjoy tasting an acorn or two. Now, this is neat, they hold nuts and acorns in their front paws and nibble on them. But it’s a mystery; why do they shove acorns in their mouth? It’s quite rude actually as they stash far too many in their cheeks. Susan says they store them to eat during the winter, they don’t have owners to feed them. Ah, that’s not good for the squirrels and as this is Thanksgiving weekend I am grateful that Susan feeds me every day. Perhaps I’ll catch squirrel today. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Don’t forget to come visit Susan at the Ottawa Book Expo at Lansdowne Park Oct 20th.

Susan’s contemporary romance series has a new look and new series name – The Lavender Cottage Series (aka The Narrowboat Romance Series)

Retailer of your choice click here

 

 

 

 

 

Save Some For Me  – And what about you?

Could you survive an abusive man and raise five children alone?

This was a brave, insightful, revealing, and well written book of what must be one of the hardest experiences any person can go through. The courage and grace with which you tell this story is a truly affective reading experience…….  Judge’s commentary: Writer’s Digest  

Click for the retailer of your choice.

Available in paperback or e-book.

Prelude to Sophie’s War – A captivating historical novel of love and loss

Prelude to Sophie’s War  is now available through international distributor for overseas fans. An alternative to Amazon, check out your local bookstore and make a request.

Listen to an excerpt click here..YouTube 

Online retailers

Remember Ruins in Silk? The prequel to The Sackville Hotel Trilogy.

Well, it is also the prequel to Prelude to Sophie’s War, young Sophie in Ruins in Silk has grown up, left The Sackville Hotel and her story continues in London as she trains to be a nurse.

Free download from  My website susanajennings.com or Kobo and some Online retailers

The Sackville Hotel Trilogy – Ebook Box Set                  New cover

She defies Edwardian protocol. Avoids marriage – for a while – but loves twice. Anna’s epic story of a strong woman’s determination and courage spans two continents and three decades.

Click here for your details.

Click here for retailer.

 

Classic trilogy, historical, family saga, from the drawing rooms of the Edwardian era to ruthless spies of the 60s Cold War. More details 

The Blue Pendant              Anna’s Legacy                 Sarah’s choice

Quick Reference:

Susan’s Readers Group News – Subscribe  

Susan’s website – http://susanajennings.com

 My books – Synopsis and Where to buy

Contact Susan – susan(at)susanajennings.com

 Susan’s YouTube Channel All videos – click here  

YouTube video serialized version of The Blue Pendant

Excerpts from Lavender Cottage Romance Series(formerly The Narrowboat Romance Series). Readings from the book launch

Susan’s Readers Group News – Subscribe  Rain

Radishes!

Can you see that little red ball? Miss Penny speaking, I had so much fun, Susan said it’s called a radish; what kind of name is that? It came to me from the sky, well not quite but from above my head, the kitchen counter. Susan was making a salad, yuck, veggies and things she says are good for you. I’ll stick to chicken and kibble. But this little red ball rolled around the floor and it had a little tail, Susan said it was the root, that I could grab with my teeth and throw it in the air and let it bounce and roll. I accidentally bit into it and what a shock I got, it burned my mouth so I spit it out. It rolled under the cupboard and I let it stay there. It was fun while it lasted. Susan is a little cranky, although she laughed at my radish antics, she had a new cover made for Christmas at lavender Cottage and I think the designer screwed up and now Susan’s worried she won’t have the books ready for Ottawa Book Expo on Oct 20th. However, there is good news she finished the first draft of book three of the Lavender Cottage Series. Doubts and rumours plague Katie and Piers’ romance. Will the love birds marry or part ways forever? Aren’t I naughty teasing you? If it helps, we do get the answer in this book. Susan’s searching for a title; what do you think of  Believing Truth or Lies ? It probably won’t be published until after Christmas, it has to be edited, formatted and a cover designed—I hope she has better luck with this book.

The Sackville Hotel Trilogy – Ebook Box Set                  New cover

She defies Edwardian protocol. Avoids marriage – for a while – but loves twice. Anna’s epic story of a strong woman’s determination and courage spans two continents and three decades.

Click here for your details.

Click here for retailer.

 

 

 

Save Some For Me  – And what about you?

Could you survive an abusive man and raise five children alone?

This was a brave, insightful, revealing, and well written book of what must be one of the hardest experiences any person can go through. The courage and grace with which you tell this story is a truly affective reading experience…….  Judge’s commentary: Writer’s Digest  

Click for the retailer of your choice.

Available in paperback or e-book.

 

Prelude to Sophie’s War – A captivating historical novel of love and loss

Prelude to Sophie’s War  is now available through international distributor for overseas fans. An alternative to Amazon, check out your local bookstore and make a request.

Listen to an excerpt click here..YouTube 

Online retailers

 

 

 

 

Remember Ruins in Silk? The prequel to The Sackville Hotel Trilogy.

Well, it is also the prequel to Prelude to Sophie’s War, young Sophie in Ruins in Silk has grown up, left The Sackville Hotel and her story continues in London as she trains to be a nurse.

Free download from  My website susanajennings.com or Kobo and some Online retailers

 

 

Quick Reference:

Susan’s Readers Group News – Subscribe  

Susan’s website – http://susanajennings.com

 My books – Synopsis and Where to buy

Contact Susan – susan(at)susanajennings.com

 Susan’s YouTube Channel All videos – click here  

YouTube video serialized version of The Blue Pendant

Excerpts from Lavender Cottage Romance Series(formerly The Narrowboat Romance Series). Readings from the book launch

Susan’s Readers Group News – Subscribe  Rain

Whacky Words!

Whacky Words! Miss Penny Speaking that might seem odd coming from a dog because I can’t talk, I can bark although I don’t do that very often, the noise scares me. I may not speak but I understand several words. Hungry means dinner’s on the way, Ah, she’s so cute means some loving is coming, good girl means I’ve done you-know-what in the right place and I get treats. Oh yes, and treats means a milk bone or tasty morsel. Where’s your baby, means go fetch my pink lamb that’s usually at bedtime. So, why am I talking about words? Susan has been embroiled in words this week, 352 thousand words that’s how many words there are in The Sackville Hotel Trilogy Boxset, three books in one (e-books). However, last night just as they were being uploaded Susan discovered some chapters in the wrong order, talk about words… well, the words I heard were not for my young ears… it was not a pretty sight. Susan’s okay now and the boxset will be ready later today. By the way, body language works just as well as words. I get most of what I want by looking cute. Susan says to tell you the next edition of Susan’s Readers Group News will be out this week. Bye for now!

 

 

Strong, beautiful Anna as clever as any man, defies society, challenges marriage but loves passionately twice. Survives betrayal, bullying, even murder that almost breaks her. An epic saga that spans five decades from Edwardian Britain to the 1960s Cold War. Heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. Kobo.com

 

 

Quick Reference:  

Susan’s website – http://susanajennings.com

My books –

Susan’s Readers Group News –

YouTube

The Blue Pendant – Serialized episodes

 The Narrowboat Romance Series.- Readings from the book launch

Please note: Books I’ve Read and Work in Progress are now featured in Susan’s Readers Group News.

The Squirrel Syndrome!

The Squirrel Syndrome! Did I read that correctly? Miss Penny speaking. Oh, boy! This will be a good blog today. I love squirrels. When we go for our morning walk, I try to catch them. I want to play chase; up trees, down fences and across roads, although that’s a bit dangerous. Unfortunately, Susan keeps my leash tight so I can’t catch them… get this, they run up trees and chase each other around the tree trunk. Wow, would I like to do that? As good as any mid-way ride. And before you know it they are off in another direction and I’m confused; where did the squirrel go? Um… are you wondering what squirrels have to do with writing or reading. You have a good point, I’ll ask Susan.

The squirrel syndrome or sometimes known as the next shiny thing is about distractions. The most prevalent distractions today are the bings, peeps and buzzes from electronic devices, a message here, a text there and we feel compelled to answer, in fact, the sender now has an expectation that a reply is imminent. Like the squirrel darting from tree to fence to road, we find our minds jumping from our current occupation, which for me it is writing and breaking concentration to answer messages or deal with unrelated tasks; the result is a busy day with little to show for it. As a writer, I find this particularly disheartening and frustrating because accomplishing my writing goal depends on the number of words I write per day. The solution is simple; it is called a Do Not Disturb button. When pressed, like magic, the bings, peeps and buzzes go away, no more squirrel distractions. Try it, it works!

 

Writing Updates: Squirrel distractions seem to have grasped my creativity and this week. Perhaps because I have been working on the romance book cover—here’s a sneak preview—I thought about book two in the series and I have outlined a Christmas story for the Narrowboat Romance Series. That, of course, means that Sophie has taken a back seat for a while, but she’ll be back.

 

 

Books I’m Reading: Fiction – Gill Pauls’ Another Women’s Husband a time-slip novel, is turning out to be interesting. I’m on the fence about the believability of the protagonist’s association with Princess Diana but the Wallis Simpson story is engaging and interesting.

Nonfiction: – Nothing this week.

 

Would you like to write? I hear this comment all the time. “I want to write a book?” But few people actually write. First Sentence to First Sale is an online writing course that helps you decide if writing is for you and gets you started on your writing journey.  Due for release soon, we’re a little behind schedule so please stay tuned Click here for details

The books are available at online retailers. Click the title, make your choice

The Blue Pendant Book I     Anna’s Legacy Book II    Sarah’s Choice Book III

The Blue Pendant Book1 Anna’s Legacy Book 2 and Sarah’s Choice Book 3. E-books and print  at all online retailer

Check out the synopsis on My Books page. A great Book club read.

A gift of an e-book Ruins in Silk prequel to the trilogy. A perfect summer afternoon read. And the opportunity to sign up for Susan’s Reader’s Group.  

“Her mother’s death sets a path of tragedy; betrayal, misguided love and even murder ” 

  Click to download your gift of a free e-book   

Mugshot!

Mugshot, I’m famous, no I didn’t get arrested. Miss Penny speaking, I thought I might as well take over. Susan’s busy again. Before I forget the Kobo.com 40% off until Aug 27 Promo code AUG40. 

Last week we talked about editing and poor Susan ate her words. She was almost ready to upload the new course First Sentence to First Sale when a friend pointed out a couple of typos, which allowed all the other typos that were hiding, as typos do, (every writer knows what I’m talking about) to jump off the screen and have a party. It was intense around here. I need say no more. I’m getting quite clever with this humour thing, don’t you think? 

So what does this have to do with mugshots? Nothing actually, but in the middle of this editing frenzy Susan’s son-in-law, who thinks I’m very cute, has started a new promotion business and because of my cuteness, my photo is now on a coffee mug, along with some of Susan’s book covers. How neat is that? That’s all for this week, time to play.

What! I said I was going to play! Now you are mad at me! This white fluffy stuff is perfect and it’s never-ending, I can pull and pull. Oh, I’m not supposed to destroy cushions. 

 

Writing Updates: Not much creating this week, too much, left brain editing. I’ll be back to writing next week.

Books I’m Reading: Fiction – I finished Michael Ondaatje’s Warlight. It was okay, a bit disappointing. I had trouble getting into the story. My latest read is Gill Pauls’ Another Women’s Husband I’ve only just started it so it’s too early to tell. It is a time-slip novel, Princess Diana and Wallis Simpson are the main characters, an interesting concept.

Nonfiction: – Nothing this week.

Writing Courses: – First Sentence to First Sale – Course One is delayed but it shouldn’t affect the release date of August 31st.

Shout out: 40% off on all three trilogy books The Bue Pendant, Anna’s Legacy and Sarah’s Choice at Kobo August 23 – 27. Promo code AUG40  Kobo’s Home page, and you’ll get 40% off when you check out. What a great deal!

Would you like to write? I hear this comment all the time. “I want to write a book?” But few people actually write. First Sentence to First Sale is an online writing course that helps you decide if writing is for you and gets you started on your writing journey.  Due for release soon, we’re a little behind schedule so please stay tuned Click here for details

The books are available at online retailers. Click the title, make your choice

The Blue Pendant Book I     Anna’s Legacy Book II    Sarah’s Choice Book III

First in series The Blue Pendant  on sale on  2.99 A perfect summer read 560 pages of reading pleasure

Anna’s Legacy and Sarah’s Choice E-book at all online retailers $4.99

Check out the synopsis on My Books page. A great Book club read.

A gift of an e-book Ruins in Silk prequel to the trilogy. A perfect summer afternoon read. And the opportunity to sign up for Susan’s Reader’s Group.  

“Her mother’s death sets a path of tragedy; betrayal, misguided love and even murder ” 

  Click to download your gift of a free e-book   

SaveSave

Disturbing Happenings!

Miss Penny speaking. I wanted to play today; I thought the boss would write the blog, as there’s a super promo on Kobo, 40% off all three books. See details below. However, she’s doing housework the Historical Writing Ladies are coming this afternoon. Our cleaning lady up and quit on us, no notice just quit, some people! Susan is washing floors. Psst! She hates housework, so she’s a bit cranky. She even told me my paws made the floors dirty. I find that hard to believe. Have you seen the size of my paws? Susan’s big toe is bigger than my paw. But it has been a stressful week. The jackhammer is back on the balcony, and next door and above and below.  The noise is horrendous and my hearing is a zillion times sharper than human hearing but there’s a bright side. Susan worries about me and I get to sit on her knee when she’s typing. This week was interesting, Susan was researching London bombings in the First World War and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like for the dogs and cats living through Zeppelin attacks and bombs falling from the sky. Imagine your house disappearing into a mound of rubble, your owners trapped or hurt. I’d be so scared and if they were injured and taken to the hospital or worse killed, I’d be wondering the streets all alone. I can’t think about it, it’s too sad. I’m so grateful to have a good home but even in peace-time I know not all dogs are as lucky as me. That’s all from me this week. Have a playful week, I plan too. 

Shout out: 40% off on all three trilogy books The Bue Pendant, Anna’s Legacy and Sarah’s Choice at Kobo August 23 – 27. Look for the promo code on Kobo’s Home page, and you’ll get 40% off when you check out. What a great deal!

Writing Updates: The new outline for the Sophie series is complete and the writing is back on track, which means the scheduled Christmas release will go ahead as planned. 

Books I’m Reading: Fiction – I enjoyed Twenty-one Days by Anne Perry an excellent book. Now I’m reading Michael Ondaatje’s Warlight. It’s not an easy read but an interesting story and thought provoking, I’ll be more specific next week.

Nonfiction: – No specific book but historical research from all sources 

Writing Courses: – First Sentence to First Sale – Course One is complete and will be uploaded to Teachable next week and open for pre-sale. Official released date August 31st.

Would you like to write? I hear this comment all the time. “I want to write a book?” But few people actually write. First Sentence to First Sale is an online writing course that helps you decide if writing is for you and gets you started on your writing journey.  Due for release soon, we’re a little behind schedule so please stay tuned Click here for details

The books are available at online retailers. Click the title, make your choice

The Blue Pendant Book I     Anna’s Legacy Book II    Sarah’s Choice Book III

First in series The Blue Pendant  on sale on  2.99 A perfect summer read 560 pages of reading pleasure

Anna’s Legacy and Sarah’s Choice E-book at all online retailers $4.99

Check out the synopsis on My Books page. A great Book club read.

A gift of an e-book Ruins in Silk prequel to the trilogy. A perfect summer afternoon read. And the opportunity to sign up for Susan’s Reader’s Group.  

“Her mother’s death sets a path of tragedy; betrayal, misguided love and even murder ” 

  Click to download your gift of a free e-book   

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Polish and Shine

Hi! Did you miss me!

Good Day! I’m giving Miss Penny a rest today, although she likes to be the centre of attention, the subject of the blog is of a technical and serious nature and Miss Penny prefers playing. I have very much been in left brain mode this week, outlining and altering the Sophie series as we discussed last week and putting the finishing touches to the new writing course. It always amazes me the number of typos that seem to hide and then suddenly jump out at you when you are least expecting it, which brought me to thinking about the editing process.

Polish to a Shine, editing, is an essential part of writing, putting the final polish to many hours of work. As a reader, editing probably never comes into your head… unless… you find a typo or worse a piece that escaped the editor. Most professional writers would agree that editing is the most important part of the writing process and the most expensive both in time and money. Even then there are always the typos that escape all eyes and that could be three or four sets of eyes and 10 – 20 readings. I guarantee the reader will spot them. And, please if that happens let us know. In today’s digital world it is relatively easy to correct mistakes. 

However, sometimes the spelling is not incorrect, depending on the writer’s style of English. American English does not use U in words like neighbour or colour, British English uses S and not Z in words like realise and then there’s one L or two in the word counselling or counseling and just to complicate things more, Canadian English is a combination of British, American and Canadian. This is the style I use most of the time and that confuses everybody, except Canadians. When I asked a colleague, a British author who sells millions of books, what style she used, she answered, ‘American English, because if I use British spelling the Americans complain but when I use American English, no one complains.’ I guess I’m a purist but so far I have stuck to Canadian English and yes, I get complaints. Please forgive those pesky typos and mistakes but I can assure you, I do my best to keep them at a minimum.

Writing Updates: This week, as mentioned, I made major changes to Sophie, I have decided that the first book in the series will take place in London as we follow the nurses at River House, their work and romances and how Londoners fought their own battle with bomb ladened German Zeppelins. 

Books I’m Reading: Fiction – Twenty-one Days by Anne Perry an excellent book. Ms Perry’s long-standing mystery series about Charlotte and Thomas Pitt in Victorian London has evolved into the 1900s with their grown-up son, Daniel Pitt, who is as a lawyer, but has his parents aptitude for solving crimes. 

 

 

Nonfiction: – I’m still working on the cover design reading. 

Writing Courses: – First Sentence to First Sale – Part one is close to being finished. Much more work than I expected but at last I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Thanks to the Apple Store workshops. I have all the material and just need to blend the slides with the video. 

Would you like to write? I hear this comment all the time. “I want to write a book?” But few people actually write. First Sentence to First Sale is an online writing course that helps you decide if writing is for you and gets you started on your writing journey.  Due for release soon, we’re a little behind schedule so please stay tuned Click here for details

The books are available at online retailers. Click the title, make your choice

The Blue Pendant Book I     Anna’s Legacy Book II    Sarah’s Choice Book III

First in series The Blue Pendant  on sale on  2.99 A perfect summer read 560 pages of reading pleasure

Anna’s Legacy and Sarah’s Choice E-book at all online retailers $4.99

Check out the synopsis on My Books page. A great Book club read.

A gift of an e-book Ruins in Silk prequel to the trilogy. A perfect summer afternoon read. And the opportunity to sign up for Susan’s Reader’s Group.  

“Her mother’s death sets a path of tragedy; betrayal, misguided love and even murder ” 

  Click to download your gift of a free e-book   

SaveSho

After the Cut

I knew it, I knew it! I am naked. This is Miss Penny, again, Susan is busy having an epiphany—whatever that is—as you can see I had a haircut, more like a skin shave, but I have to say my face and tail, nick-named happy tail because it wags very fast, both look good and the shaved part was inevitable as my fluffy undercoat had matted. I can’t say I like the look but it sure is nice and cool. Thanks to   Max & Kat’s Great place for doggie daycare and holiday stays. So this week has been boring as I mentioned Susan had this epiphany, judging by the reading aloud and the new comments about London in the Great War the epiphany seems to be about the Sophie series. After discovering that London was bombed by Zeppelin airships in 1915 causing death and injuries to civilians not unlike the blitz of WW2, Susan has decided that the first book in the Sophie series will be about London, which means Sophie won’t go to war until Book 2. In my opinion, and as we’ve mentioned in previous blogs, dogs have opinions, I think this is brilliant as the stories of London at war, on the home front, are heartbreaking and inspiring. Well, that’s it for today, I think Susan will be back next week. I almost forgot, if you would like to sign up for Susan’s Reading Group she will gift you an e-copy of Ruins in Silk just click here– Read about Sophie’s young an tragic life, from privileged young woman to hotel maid. Even then she was strong and resilient, or if you read the book or just want to join the reading group without the book click here.

Writing Courses: First Sentence to First Sale –  Thanks to the Apple Store workshops. Apologies for the delays. As is often the case there is far more work than expected. But it is coming soon.

Would you like to write? I hear this comment all the time. “I want to write a book?” But few people actually write. First Sentence to First Sale is an online writing course that helps you decide if writing is for you and gets you started on your writing journey.  Due for release soon, we’re a little behind schedule so please stay tuned Click here for details

The books are available at online retailers. Click the title, make your choice

The Blue Pendant Book I     Anna’s Legacy Book II    Sarah’s Choice Book III

First in series The Blue Pendant  on sale on  2.99 A perfect summer read 560 pages of reading pleasure

Anna’s Legacy and Sarah’s Choice E-book at all online retailers $4.99

Check out the synopsis on My Books page. A great Book club read.

A gift of an e-book Ruins in Silk prequel to the trilogy. A perfect summer afternoon read. And the opportunity to sign up for Susan’s Reader’s Group.  

“Her mother’s death sets a path of tragedy; betrayal, misguided love and even murder ” 

  Click to download your gift of a free e-book   

SaveShow

 

Fuel for Stories!

Zoomed back into childhood; that happened to me this week. I was ten years old sitting in the dickie seat (a seat inside the boot/trunk of a sports car) of my dad’s grey Triumph Roadster with my friend Margaret, our hair blowing in the wind, waving, usually the royal wave, and giggling at the reaction from passersby. We felt very important. Pictures from Classic cars

One perk of writing historical fiction is the research, it can be boring on occasions but, more often than not, it’s intriguing and like my research this week it brings back memories. How I came across 1949 Triumph Roadsters when I was actually researching British cars in 1917, is a bit of a puzzle, no matter, because I love the happy memories. 

The 1917 car information was for my current book Sophie (working title). Carlos, Sophie’s lost-recently-found love is taking her to dinner in his car, a Model T Ford. Now, in 1917 personal cars were few as the War Office commandeered them for war services and the men who were the drivers, although that was changing, were fighting the Great War. Fuel, that would be petrol, was scarce and pretty much impossible to find for personal use. Another interesting fact I discovered was that gas, (the vapour kind not the North American word for petrol) was used as fuel. They attached a large inflatable balloon to the roof of the car or van, which fuelled the vehicle for short distances, the limit was about 30 miles. Um… not sure I would want to be driving around with explodable gas sitting on my head! Pictures from  BBC Schools 

Back to Sophie, Carlos is now, an orthopaedic surgeon, for those of you who read Ruins in Silk, you’ll remember he worked for Sophie’s father; we will catch up with his past life as the story unfolds. As a practising doctor, he would have a car and a petrol allowance, for emergency calls. Perhaps not intended for taking a lady to dinner, but if an emergency arose at the hospital while dining, he would need transportation.

If you would like to join Susan’s Reader’s Group online and receive a gift of the e-book Ruins in Silk. Click here or if you would prefer to purchase either an e-book or print book Click here

Writing Updates: The article above updates the progress of Sophie this week. However, I have interesting news about the contemporary romance Love’s Endings and Beginnings – A sweet romance novel – Heartbreak to second chance romance. My wonderful editor Meghan Negijn has worked her magic on the manuscript. I will correct it this week, write the front and back matter, design the cover and have it ready for you in a few weeks. 

Books I’m Reading…. Fiction – I am on the final leg of Elizabeth George, a new Inspector Lynley and DS Barbara Havers, mystery. I am finding this book very different from Ms George’s other Lynley books. There is a mystery, but it isn’t the main focus of the story. The story is more about the characters, in particular, DCS Isabelle Ardrey. The characters are well developed and interesting but for a 690-page book, I think I would like more mystery. Just my thoughts on The Punishment She Deserves 

Nonfiction – Not much reading this week mostly Google searches.

Would you like to write? I hear this comment all the time. “I want to write a book?” But few people actually write. First Sentence to First Sale is an online writing course that helps you decide if writing is for you and gets you started on your writing journey.  Due for release soon, we’re a little behind schedule so please stay tuned Click here for details

The books are available at online retailers. Click the title, make your choice

The Blue Pendant Book I     Anna’s Legacy Book II    Sarah’s Choice Book III

First in series The Blue Pendant  on sale on  2.99 A perfect summer read 560 pages of reading pleasure

Anna’s Legacy and Sarah’s Choice E-book at all online retailers $4.99

Check out the synopsis on My Books page. A great Book club read.

A gift of an e-book Ruins in Silk prequel to the trilogy. A perfect summer afternoon read. And the opportunity to sign up for Susan’s Reader’s Group.  

“Her mother’s death sets a path of tragedy; betrayal, misguided love and even murder ” 

  Click to download your gift of a free e-book   

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