Sorry for the scary pic, I've been feeling a little out of sorts lately.
This was taken after we got back from Glenn and Kay's Halloween party last night. I should have posed for the pics before we went out - but never mind, I think I'll revisit this one on Wednesday for when we greet the kids that come knocking.
I love Halloween, it's a great excuse to dress up and goof about but it wasn't always so. It used to be a time when our ancestors had grave misgivings about the whole night. Fear of the unknown, fear of what comes after death - anything that they didn't fully understand. I'm glad we live in a more enlightened time.
The kids last night enjoyed the evening, especially the apple-bobbing and I know they'll enjoy Wednesday. I'm not entirely certain that Americanising everything we do in this country is a good thing all the time but I guess I can accept Trick or Treating as one of those better activities. It adds a whole lot of fun to the scariest night of the year.
We don't do Thanksgiving here but I would welcome that if it were ever to take off - not in a commercialised way, like Christmas is in danger of becoming - but as a good reason for friends and family to gather together just for the sheer joy of it. We need more reasons to do that, I think.

One other thing, the reason that I came to post on the blog, is to keep you updated with my next novel. Sorry but Red, Dusty and Celtica have been elbowed aside for the new novel - Children of Sol - and I'll be getting a little more info out to you very soon, including images of the cover (Oooh exciting!)
Children of Sol is to be my debut Vampire novel and so far it's taking a lot of thinking about. I want - no, I NEED - to make it as different as I possibly can to at least set it apart from the other Vampire stories already out there. So far, so good, it's coming along nicely I think. I had trouble at first, it was looking too much like either an introduction to something or a research document (just the facts, ma'am) so I slowed everything down on the advice of my husband and daughter and the flash of inspiration from reading a book, Black Dog by a very talented author - Stephen Booth gave me a clearer definition of what the new novel needed to do.
I'm VERY excited about this one and the target I've set of getting the book finished by my birthday (beginning of December) is looking very do-able.

Thanks for coming back

This morning I set out to find Romania. Philip Gardiner - Director of Exorcist Chronicles (amongst MANY other movies) picked me up and off we went to find somewhere that could pass for a foreign country. Well, I'm delighted to say we found it!After a very pleasant hour or so being wind-swept and weather beaten, exploring places which had SO much potential for the new movie Phil has planned, we came away from the place delighted!
We're going to make another movie!
Are you interested in joining in with this new adventure? Would you like to be a part of this new movie concept? All you have to do is ask!
Being filmed in the Midlands in ENGLAND in November!
We're looking for people who want to be involved in a spy movie, people who are not only the 'usual suspects' but are also willing and able to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the thick of things. people who are prepared to try action-packed scenes and possibly stunts. We also need a bevvy of beauties to be our own brand eye candy for the big screen. Bond Girls with a twist of sadism. Are you up to the task? Are you up for it?
email for details:
info@exorcistchronicles.com and let the adventure unfold around you.

Glorious sunshine here in Sherwood Forest. A beautiful morning with a day full of promise ahead.

I did get my act together yesterday - finally! I wrote two of the reviews I had planned and the last one will be done today. I finished an interview for Search my Trash and I'm very pleased with that.And I cleared and cleaned my desk! Stripes, my cat doesn't like it much, she's determined to cover it with cat fur... she either lies sprawled across my desk or tries climbing onto my lap as I type, standing on the keyboard - very helpful.

This morning seems to be tranquil for me somehow. I'm calm and relaxed, I feel no pressures to get everything done at the moment but I'm pretty sure that will change when my brain catches up with what I have to do. Perhaps the dreams I had last night are still occupying it... very weird dreams.

There's not a breath of wind in the air outside my window. The garden looks like a photograph, it's so very still... what a great time for contemplation...

I'd better get on with it then. I promised an update to yesterday's chaos. It doesn't look much but I'm happy with what finally got done. With the reviews, gym, and other bits and bobs, the whole day seemed packed - a very different feel to this morning. It's not 9am yet and here I go, ready to begin.

Wish me luck, I'm off to do battle with my Muse - whether she's my opponent or at my side, fighting the Writer's Block Beast I'll know later.

Writer's Block - myth or reality?

I don't know whether it's real or not but over the last week I've not been able to produce much of anything at all.
I did think that there was a story in my head which I was refusing to acknowledge so it was getting its own back by not allowing anything else to get out. I had a massive headache but as soon as I started the story, it began to go. I suppose it's psychosomatic - all in my head (and looking likely to stay there too if this carries on).
What to do then? I have a list of writing that needs doing and the list is growing! At least I managed to get AWESOME out, even if it was late.
Dusty wants her screenplay writing, she also wants a novella putting together so she can finally get into print.
Red has another story that's part-written.
The new book, a vampire story is clamouring to be written and of course the enigmatic Celtica Diamond would like it everso much if I'd get on with hers too!
I have three book reviews to write, two for The Historic Novel Society and the pile of books that I've promised to read is growing every day!
My desk is a total bomb-site but I have now got my other computer, the steam-driven and very slow 'just for writing' one up and running again. I use that one because it's not connected to the internet so there's no excuse. I find myself reading blogs, articles, emails, Twitter, Facebook etc instead of writing - so getting the older computer back means no procrastinating - in theory...

Maybe it's Mondays?
Maybe it's the weather?
Maybe it's just that I'm allowing this to pile up and weigh me down and I should just give myself a boot up the bum and get on with it?

Come on Michelle! Turn that corner, get your act together and write the reviews first, then the two new stories you've got buzzing in your head may just get outlined and you can see what comes next.

Perhaps I shouldn't beat myself up about the doldrummy feeling I've got. Perhaps I just need to sit back, take a look at what I've done, where I am now and compare it to where I was three short years ago.
But after sitting back and slapping myself on the back for a few minutes, maybe I should get my arse into gear and buck up my ideas and get down to what I enjoy most - writing.

Well, I'm so sorry if I put a downer on your Monday morning (or whenever you read this) - I promise it'll not keep me down for long. I have a desk to tidy and organise and then three book reviews to write!

I'll keep you updated with how it goes today. See you soon!