I should be writing Book 3...

... but I'm still planning it. There is a LOT of planning. Even more than I did with Book 2 but there is a reason behind my manic plotting. With both books 1 and 2, I ran into major problems between the first and second draft so I'm hoping to spot any problems now so I can fix them before I'm 80,000 words in.

In principle, it's a good idea. But will it work? Hmm, we'll see.

To be continued...

Insecure Writers Support Group - October

The idea of the InsecureWriters Support Group is for writers to blog on the first Wednesday of the month about their fears, struggles and triumphs they have experienced with their writing.

 

It feels like only a few weeks ago that I was at the submitting stage with Book 1 but here I am again with my new bookish offspring, fondly known as Book 2. I said I'd wait until after I was married and back from our holiday before I started submitting to agents and now I have a shiny new ring on my finger (but no tan. I never tan). Now all I have to do is get rid of the fear. Or, failing that, ignore it and post my submissions.

Where are you up to with your writing?

Ravenscliffe by Jane Sanderson

 

 

 

Ravenscliffe, a large, solid house on the Netherwood Common, has stood empty and neglected until Eve Williams and her friend, Anna Rabinovich see the great potential on offer. With a bit of work they plan to make Ravenscliffe a home for themselves and their families.

 

Eve's business is booming and she is about to marry handsome gardener, Daniel MacLeod but her life is far from idyllic. Just 18 months ago she lost her first husband in a mining accident and she is struggling with the idea of leaving their marital home - and memories of Arthur - behind. Also struggling with the proposed changes is Eve's son, Seth. He is still grieving for his father and the only way he knows how to deal with his feelings is to act out against his mother.

 

Set in a Yorkshire town in 1904, Ravenscliffe tells the story of both the people of the town and the staff and residents of Netherwood Hall. The Earl and Countess are expecting a visit from the king and the house is in chaos as the staff prepare for their important guest.

 

There are quite a few characters to get your head around in Ravenscliffe, from Eve, Anna and their children to the people of Netherwood Hall, both upstairs and downstairs, plus the other residents of Netherwood. But soon the characters (and their varied stories) were fully formed in my head and I had no problems keeping up. I was so absorbed with the lives of the inhabitants of Netherwood and they were so real and vivid it was like watching a costume drama in my head.

 

There are many fantastic characters in Ravenscliffe, whether they are good, honest people like Eve or dastardly like bailiff Absolom Blandford. I really liked Anna, who was so independent and strong-minded and the Earl of Netherwood who seemed kind hearted but my favourite character was the Earl's daughter, Henrietta. Henrietta was much more broad-minded than the rest of her family, doing her best to shun what was expected of her as an Earl's daughter and standing by what she believed was right and fair. She is a strong woman, particularly given her position in society at that time.

 

I haven't read Netherwood, which is set before Ravenscliffe, but it didn't hinder the story and I didn't feel like I was missing any information. However, as Ravenscliffe was such a fantastic read, I would love to go back and read Netherwood to see how it all began. Ravenscliffe is a well-written and thoroughly researched novel that I didn't want to end so I'm hoping there will be a third instalment set in Netherwood from Jane Sanderson as I'm itching to know what happens next.

 

 

Ravenscliffe is out now.

 

Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy to review. I will be chatting with Jane Sanderson on Friday.

Who Needs Mr Darcy? by Jean Burnett

Everybody knows the story of Elizabeth Bennett but now it's time for her sister Lydia to take the limelight.

Lydia Wickham is recently widowed after her husband was killed during Waterloo. Now penniless, she relies on the generosity of her sister and brother in law. When Lydia announces she wishes to move on to London after staying with Elizabeth and Darcy, they agree to pay her a 'small' allowance. Lydia intends to climb the social ladder but finds herself being drawn into the criminal underworld, befriending a serial adulterer banker, cheating at cards and discovering the body of a strange man on her sofa.

Lydia jumps from one scrape to another, seemingly attracted to trouble. Her family despair of her actions but Lydia doesn't listen and finds them - and their lives - to be incredibly dull. Lydia's own life is far from dull as she meets musicians and royalty and travels across the continent. I found her to be snobbish at times and quite selfish but in a wonderful, amusing way. I loved the historic references, from Waterloo, Lord Byron and the tragic death of Princess Charlotte. The only (very small) criticism I have is I struggled with a few words and phrases as I don't have a vast knowledge of the time period so a bit more of an explanation would have been handy but it didn't really hinder my enjoyment of the book and I looked up a couple of references so learned some new things along the way.

Overall, I enjoyed Who Needs Mr Darcy? and found it to be a pleasant and amusing read while giving an insight into the early 19th century. I would love to know what happens to Lydia next and read about her adventures.


Who Needs Mr Darcy? is out now.

Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy to review.

In September...

... I read:

• The Confidant by Helene Gremillon
• Ravenscliffe by Jane Sanderson
• Red Ribbons by Louise Phillips
• Who Needs Mr Darcy by Jean Burnett
• Ramshackle by Elizabeth Reeder

... I finished Book 2

Chocolate Macaroons

... was awarded the Booker Award

... interviewed Poppy Dolan and Sophie King

... made Very Chocolatey Macaroons as part of my Saved By Cake Challenge

... My youngest started nursery

... and I got married and went off on my hols to Mallorca

The Most Popular Posts at the end of the month are:

• Yours Truly by Kirsty Greenwood
• Sworn Secret for Amanda Jennings
• Rejection Number One
• Saved By Cake Challenge
• Saved By Cake Challenge - March
• Monsoon Season by Katie O'Rourke
• Birthday & Chinese New Year
• Hello Kitty Bookmark
• TV Highlights of the Week

Saved By Cake Challenge - September

 

 

I have decided to challenge myself to bake a different cake/biscuit from Marian Keyes' book, Saved By Cake, each month, between March and December. I am a beginner at baking and use the same recipes over and over again so it'll be nice to try something new. I will take photos and post them on here each month - the good, the bad and the ugly.

 

Very Chocolatey Macaroons

 

This month's challenge was full of firsts; I'd never made a macaroon before, I'd never even tasted a macaroon before and I'd never separated an egg before. But now I've done all three.

Making the macaroons was very simple, as I've found with all the recipes so far. When I divided the mixture on the baking sheets, it looked like... well, dog poo.

 

 

 

Thankfully they came out looking much tastier (and like the photo in the book), although they were huuuuuuuge.

 

 

 

After allowing them to cool, I made the chocolate buttercream and sandwiched the macaroons. The buttercream was lovely and smooth and gorgeous. Best buttercream. Ever. The macaroons were nice too - crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle. As suspected, they were too big and so I could only eat half at a time so next time I'd make sure I divided them up much smaller!

 

 

 

 

For more Saved by Cake Challenges click here 

I'm Back! (Warning: There Will Be Photos)

Just over a week ago, I finally married The Partner (who will now be known as The Husband - I'm inventive like that). The following Sunday we took our girls away to Mallorca for a week of sun.

We had a very simple wedding, with just me, The Husband and our daughters. The witnesses were two (very kind) members of staff at the town hall. None of us wore traditional wedding attire and we let the girls choose their own outfits and accessories. I didn't have a bouquet but The Husband bought me some gorgeous flowers.

 

 

We had a brilliant holiday with gorgeous weather (so it was a shock to come back to a freezing, rainy England). We went to Club Mac in Mallorca, which was huge and full of fun things to do, from pedalos on one of the lakes, swimming in one of the many pools, kids' clubs and activities, family films in the evenings and entertainment shows.

 

 

 

There was a fantastic playground and the surrounding mountains were stunning. One evening, hundreds of guests lit floating candles on the lake and made a wish, which was lovely.

 

 

 

The beach was a few minutes drive away and the hotel provided a free bus service there and back every half an hour.

 

 

 

We've already been to Marineland in Costa Brava but we enjoyed it so we booked a trip to the one in Mallorca. While it's a lot smaller, this Marineland seemed to centre more on the animals rather than the water park which we found in Costa Brava. There are three shows - parrot, sealion and dolphin, which were all brilliant and funny. We had lunch at The French Coffee Shop, which was just outside Marineland and not only was the food lovely but the staff were too.

 

Behind Marineland is a gorgeous little beach and a short walk away (we went the wrong way to the beach) there is a harbour with very big, very posh boats.