Sad Today....Part 3!

....It's been a bit of a traumatic 6 months I have to say. First it was the death of my lovely MIL last August, and then in December my gran who was 93.

Then, if that's not enough, this week we've lost our lovely dog Molly. She had mouth cancer and the vet said it was for the best. But still, it's a massive loss. We were both devoted to her. She ruled the roost there's no doubt about it, wrapping both myself and the DH and my other dog Bob around her paws like no-ones business! But she was my fur baby. I've never had children, and I'm the first to admit that I treat my dogs like children. Some people don't understand how an animal, be it cat or dog or whatever, can take the place of a child. But then others can.

Anyway - to say I've shed a bucketload of tears these past 3 days is an understatement. My only consolation is that we had her for 7 fabulous years. She came to us aged around 6 from the dogs home, having been abandoned and then picked up by the dog warden (who I know through work). She was in a very poor state when we got her. Skin and bone. But we fed her up, took her for long walks around our lovely island here on Anglesey, and she soon forgot all about her poor start in life. She especially enjoyed our outings in our old motorhome.

Anyhow - choking up now. So RIP Molly - we loved you so much.

Hello? Is there anybody out there....?

....I'm only asking as it's been an AGE since I last posted. Mucho apologies - that old saying "I don't know where the time goes" springs to mind.

Again, all I can say is sorry. Life seems to just keep getting in the way at the moment. Presently its work related. As an EHO specialising in housing issues (think landlords/tenants) my "busy" time of the year is winter. I get a lot of complaints about housing conditions - especially damp and mould. So I get to inspect a lot of damp dingy houses (nice - not) and then have to do something about it, either by writing to the landlord asking them to do/fix something (and if they don't pointing out our enforcement powers). But sometimes the condition of a house is not because a landlord won't do something. It's a delicate thing trying to explain to a tenant that the house they are living in -that is seriously affected by black mould and thier children are suffering from chest infections- is actually being caused by thier own actions. This is something that happens a lot - and has definately been affected by the current economic climate. People have to decide whether they heat thier homes or put food on the table. I've had scenarios where people have ripped off wooden doors for wood to put on a fire as they can't afford to run a heating system.

I often find that some of the work that I do definately finds its way into my writing life - especially my short stories. Pretty much anyone who writes will tell you that your creative process is very much driven by what you've experienced, or are experiencing, in real life. For example I wrote a short story recently about an eccentric old man who had eliniated his neighbours. This was definately drawn from "real" life. Again in the day job I deal with "F&V's" - Filthy and Verminous. We ofen have to get into a property and clean it up - and sometimes the person as well! It can be upsetting, but at the same time rewarding. 9 times out of 10 the person who you are trying to help is (initially) very hostile to what they see as interference. But once we've cleaned them up so to speak, arranged for help via social services etc. they often thank us for helping them. It's very often a cry for help - things have gotten so bad - that they just can't cope anymore.

Anyhoo - enough wittering - I've got work to do! Speak soon - Caroline x

Writer or not?

I'm in a dilemma! I visit lots of blogs and like to leave comments. I refer to myself as "unpubbed", describing myself as a would be writer (of books). But...I have had a short story published here in the UK - and was paid for it.

So...do you think I can call myself a "published author" or not? I feel it's a bit cheeky to say that I am if I'm honest. In addition, when it comes to writing competitions I'm still eligible to enter if I've not had a book published.

Any thoughts? Caroline x

What'da get for Christmas?......

....Hope it was what you wanted.

I did! DH brought me a Kindle. Just the bog standard one - that's all the technology I can deal with! But it's enough! I LOVE it!! I didn't get a chance to play with it on Christmas Day - way to busy cooking and looking after guests and flying around all over the place. But since then I've downloaded and read the following:

Lethal - Sandra Brown
The Perfect Concubine - Michelle Styles
One Perfect Night - Rachael Johns
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (quarter of the way through) and
Dracula - Bram Stoker (not yet read) - but I downloaded it 'cos it was free!

I can see I'm going to have to keep a reign on how much I'm spending - but my excuse is that they are a lot cheaper than buying a hard/soft copy from the shops. And I'm also going to have to keep an eye on the reading - I can see it stopping me from writing! Hey ho - see ya. Caroline xx

Sad today...

.....sorry I haven't been around for a while - there has been a lot going on.

I lost my gran today. She was 93 and I was there when she passed. It was a blessing in the end as she was suffering with pneumonia and it was sad to see her struggling so. I was so lucky to have a gran like her and for so long - I'm 48 now. She didn't have a bad bone in her body and will be much missed by all of her family.

Other news? Ehh not a lot really - except I did celebrate my DH's 50th birthday on the 14th. We had a great day - and he was well chuffed with the surprise prezzie I bought him.

Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and a propserous New Year. Caroline x

I may be gone some time...

...well like I said on my last post, I'm trying to knuckle down to some serious writing. Hence my attempt at giving NaNo a go this year.

As you may, or may not know, NaNo kicks off today, so I've given myself a SERIOUS talking too about the amount of time I spend blogging and not writing. I'm limiting myself to half an hour of blogging a day (yikes!) and then it's knuckle down time on the WIP.

I've decided to go with the "Viking" book. This particular book has been "calling" me to write it for over 2 years now, so I think it deserves to be written! It has a working title of "Viking Temptress." It's a Viking story with a twist (I hope) in that the Heroine is the Viking who is captured by an Anglo Saxon Hero. Like I say, a slight twist on the normal "Vikings" which normally have the Viking as the Hero.

Anyhoo....drum roll please......So far (and bearing in mind it's only the 1st of November)....my word total is.....2449 words. Not bad Caroline, not bad. The only thing is...can I keep it up? I'll stick my neck out and say that I'll post a weekly sub total through out November so you guys can keep me on my toes! Caroline x

2449

It's about time.....

....that I buckled down to some *serious* writing. 2011 has been a very poor output year. Yes I can (and frequently do) make excuses - but the upshot is that I've hardly written anything this year.

So...what am I going to do about it? Well I'm going to attempt NaNoWriMo - it starts in November and I'm going to have a go. 50k words in a month! More than I've done in about 2 years I'm sure. It is dooable - I have written that amount before - but it was a while ago. But I need to do it - for my sanity if nothing else.

I've got all these books fighting to get written. But which one? The "Viking"? The "Romantic Suspense"? A "Contemporary Romance's" - a choice of 3 of them! Perhaps another "Roman" or how about the "Regency" that's been brewing? I've even got a "Christian Romance" up my sleeve! Anyone got a favourite that you think I should start with? (((SIGH))) Let me know - if not - it's the Viking that's calling me at the mo.

Caroline xx p.s it goes without saying that the blogging is going to have to STOP!!!!