On this beautiful, glorious, bright and clear sunny morning, I'm up and awake with the lark (sorry, no lark, but there are woodpigeons nesting in the tree outside my window, so their coo-cooing will have to suffice).
Can't sleep but don't feel too bad for it so I got up and sorted out the animals - Bear and Jasper the dogs, Garfield, Stripes (no stripes), Piper and the sisters, Shadow and Spirit, and fed the fish - no, I don't name the fish. Then off down the garden to water the plants early so they don't get scorched and parched, strawberries, potatoes, carrots, peas, gooseberries (not ripe yet) grapes, apple treelets, patio cherry, patio peach (which died but sprouted from the rootstock, so I think they're now a mini-copse of damsons, we'll have to wait and see), raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Then there are the accidental things that have not been planted but grow anyway and I take care of them, re-pot them when possible etc. I have accidental potatoes growing in with the carrots, accidental potatoes in with the blueberries (don't ask, I don't know how!), accidental gooseberries and an accidental poplar tree. All watered from the three water butts I have dotted around the garden.
Yes, it does sound like I've got it all sewn up today doesn't it? Not even 07:30 and I'm writing my blog!
Then I realised what day it was and I took another look around me. The garden is a mess (building work waiting to be finished, the sheds need some work doing on them, the grass needs cutting etc, etc but it is a beautiful sight, everything is green and growing, I have food, actual FOOD growing in pots and containers all over the place and it may sound daft but it makes me happy.
Then I came up to my office to start work and for the first time in a long time, I have ONE job to do. I've cleared the backlog of everyone's work that had accumulated since I was ill at the beginning of the year (horrible sinus infection, laid me low for a good three weeks).
I'm a day late (well, actually, three weeks late) in starting but today I start the Ghostwriting project that has me so excited!
So, before the sun hits its zenith and tries to turn my attic office into an oven, I'll get started.
H

AuthorCraft is a new and exciting 'Support Group' for Writers. It's been going for a while 'down south' and is now making inroads up the country. I went to another of the AuthorCraft meetings yesterday at Via Fossa, Canal St Nottingham and as usual, it was a lively and interesting evening. We met Author Liz Harrison for the second time and I believe it's fair to say that she went from the meeting with a lot of her questions answered and a lot of ideas on how to move forward with her work.

It's not just for writers though, AuthorCraft also has good connections for artists, designers, editors, publishers, printers - basically anyone and everyone in the book trade. The meetings are designed to put people in touch with each other in a manner that isn't the hard sell on anything.
AuthorCraft have a wealth of connections with Literary Scouts, Literary Agents, Publishers, and the like and they are willing to come and share their expertise with writers who want to know more about getting their books into readers' hands.
I have to say I'm involved with AuthorCraft because I've found it a great resource for all things Writing and if I have any questions, Chris Day has always had time for me with his advice and answers.
Last year as some of you know, my books were represented at the Frankfurt Book Fair - that was all down to Chris and his advice. When the 'one pagers' for my books were showcased, they attracted a lot of attention, not least from a well-respected Literary Agent - who I am now signed up with. Cruel and Unusual has gone off to a Publisher for perusal and we're hoping for good news from that quarter.
Fame, Fortune and a six-figure book deal hasn't happened yet, but with help and advice from AuthorCraft, I'm a lot closer than I was even a year ago.
The next meeting is at Via Fossa, Canal St Nottingham on 9 July.

Just a little bit... perhaps.
What's happened? I'll tell you what's happened - I've sent one of my babies off to a Publisher to see if it can stand on its own two feet. I think it can, I've spent the last few days re-reading, editing and tweaking it; polishing it to perfection and my baby SHINES - I hope.
Yeah, I know I have the confidence to carry this off, but that's what's known as a 'mask', behind which is a terrified protector of a prized piece of work that I spent hours and hours and HOURS over, making it right, making it shine and I hope to all that's holy that I've done a good job on it because if it crashes and burns, I don't know what I'll do.

Yes, we should stand up and face our fears and even though it's difficult, I have and I do - for myself, but this time, this time it's my work that's been sent out there. What if I'm not as good as I thought? What if I'm a pale imitation of what I want to be? What if I FAIL?

Well, if I fail, I'll just get up and try again.

The best thing about this is that it has been requested, it's not unsolicited, so there is hope for me - I hope.