January 2014

I suddenly realised that we are almost at the end of January  and I am way behind with news, not that there is a great deal as January is the month when I catch up with writing the 'novel in progress.'

December is generally hectic as we all gear up towards Christmas, but Christmas 2013 I chose to go away to Malta for the holiday, to take a rest after  a busy schedule and enjoy some sunshine. The sunshine was missing, however, and the weather rather dull and wet which was a pity but we saw the sights of Malta and the hotel was delightful as was the food. A big disappointment was the island of Goa where the rain came down in torrents; I'm sure it's lovely in the summer. Coming back into Heathrow we realised that we had missed the worst of the storms in the UK and felt the difference in temperature -icy blasts as we  scurried into the terminal building.

I've kept indoors since then apart from going out to shop or visit family. I'm definitely a hot house flower and don't like the cold or the rain, but my excuse is that I must stay in and finish the novel and as some of the settings are in Switzerland and Italy in June, I am at least enjoying the summer weather and the wonderful Italian food in my imagination as the rain streams down my window pane. One of the perks of being an author is that we can travel the world without leaving home! 

November News

This morning the 20th November came the announcement that Hull  had won the bid for the City of Culture 2017. What a glorious achievement that was greeted by a great cheer from those waiting at the Hull Truck Theatre and those who like me were listening in on Radio Humberside.
Congratulations are in order for the teams who were so actively promoting the city in the bid. Well done and well deserved.

I too have had a busy and exciting time in both October and this month of November. October saw in the Beverley Literature Festival with many celebrated faces and personalities and I  was fortunate to be there hosting a panel of Romantic Novelists; Rhoda Baxter, Jane Lovering and Sarah Mallory. I think I can safely say that it was a success and we were pleased to see other novelists in the audience to support us.
On the last day of the festival we also saw the culmination of the Val Wood short story competition and prizes were kindly sponsored by Quickline Communications to very worthy winners. The successful stories can be read on my website.

November is always hectic as this is the month when a new publication comes out. His Brother's Wife is my latest offering and as it is twenty years since the publication of my very first book The Hungry Tide, to celebrate I also wrote a short story, The Maid's Secret, which came out as an e/publication on the same day as His Brother's Wife. It is intended as short prequel to the main novel and tells the story of why the young Ellen Tuke became the person she was in His Brother's Wife. I will say no more about her, but suggest you read His Brother's Wife first!

The launch at Waterstone's Hull was brilliant and once more the staff there produced a wonderful window display. The Town Crier in all his splendour rang his bell and made a proclamation and so many of my lovely readers came along to help us celebrate.
My signing schedule is almost over now with just one more bookshop to visit in Doncaster on the 29th and then dear me, we shall be in December. Where has the year gone? Well, I might say the same for the last twenty; it's gone on writing books.

September

Today is the first of September and appropriately the day is slightly cooler than the glorious weather we have enjoyed in August.

At the beginning of August I attended the award ceremony at the Burstwick golf course where golfers kindly and generously took part in a tournament to raise money for The Friends of Hull Memory Clinic, a well deserving charity that I support. I and June Cooke who is Chair of the Friends both became quite choked when giving our grateful thanks, as we both have experienced at first hand just what it means to care for someone with memory loss. It is at times like this, when a kindness is given, that no matter how prepared we are, we are 'caught out.' But no matter; emotion is an important safety valve.

On the following week two friends celebrated their Golden Wedding and everyone had a lovely day and apart from a howling wind which threatened to lift off the marquee the day was sunny and we were able to lunch outside.

My youngest daughter and I enjoyed her birthday in the delightful market town of Helmsley, with lunch and shopping and then a walk round the lovely walled garden close by the castle. We hadn't time to visit the castle on that day, which gives us the excuse if we should need one, to visit again. As she always manages to make her birthday last a week, we then enjoyed a garden party at the weekend.

David Burns of Radio Humberside invited me into the studio to talk about the Val Wood Creative Writing Competition that with the support of the East Riding Libraries and Quickline Communications who are sponsoring the prize, is to be held this month. A series of library workshops start on Tuesday 3rd September. Details of this are on my website.
Coming up too is the Beverley Literature Festival and this year on Saturday 12th October I am acting as host on a Romantic Novelists' Panel. Three successful and prize winning authors, Rhoda Baxter, Jane Lovering and Sarah Mallory will be speaking about their own particular genre of Romance - Romantic Comedy, Historical and Paranormal. It should be an interesting and entertaining afternoon.
On the following day, the winner of the Val Wood competition will be announced and the prize presented. Both of these events take place at the Toll Gavel church in Beverley and details are on my website and in the festival brochure.

In the meantime I have finished a short story for my publishers which will be presented as an e/book, but more of that at a later date. The cover for His Brother's Wife will be up on the website very shortly, and I'm delighted to say that The Hungry Tide, my very first book, is being re issued with a brand new, delightful cover to celebrate the twenty years since it was first published - and never been out of print. Also coming up will be a holiday, hurrah, and yes I have managed to do some work on the novel in progress, although I admit not very much. Time is at a premium - always.

July

In my garden I have Valerian, chosen, you will understand, for the association of the name; it's long and lanky as I was too when I was a teenager, and it is flourishing very well in my garden. It has been such a glorious weekend, weather wise and tennis wise with Andy Murray's championship win at Wimbledon but as I am more of a garden fan than a tennis fan, I spent most of yesterday, in between dashing inside to see the state of play, tidying up my patch. I had made the decision that the nettles that I had left in the borders in the hope that they would attract and encourage a butterfly or two hovering nearby, must at last be pulled out; there has not been a sign of even a cabbage white for weeks, the cold and wet weather in spring and early summer has I fear, finished them off. I have left the Herb Robert, which if it isn't allowed to spread too rapidly is a dainty pretty plant and the Fever-few with its delightful daisy like flowers that were used in the 'old' days as a cure for headache, the wild garlic and of course the buttercup that peeps its golden head through the 'proper' plants and when I cut the grass I left a small patch of daisies and clover to feed the bees.

I am continuing with the novel in progress, have written a short story for a Christmas edition of a women's magazine, been in discussion regarding events for November's launch of His Brother's Wife, and importantly over this last weekend have read and judged children's stories for a Literacy Celebration competition inspired by children's author Jacqueline Wilson and co-ordinated by Heritage Learning in co-operation with Hull schools.
If only, I feel I must say - if only there had been such an event when I was a child I would have known so much more pleasure in my school life; to have known that an ability to write and express myself in the written language was as important as remembering my times table. The children's stories I have read were delightful, funny and inspirational and importantly, imaginative. They may never know how lucky they are to be allowed to let that imagination fly, and why indeed should they be, for it is surely their right to express their ideas and fantasies.

On a personal note my eldest daughter celebrated her birthday on Sunday. Although she was in Worthing and her sister and I were in Beverley, we sent her flowers and raised a glass of bubbles to wish her a happy day. I recall the day so well and it seems like only yesterday.

June

Before I finally finish with May it is important to relate the very last AGM at the Hull and District Talking Magazine for the Blind that my colleague Irene and I attended before saying a final goodbye to the members of committee and volunteers. We were presented with a beautiful pot plant and rose bush as parting gifts which were  unexpected and so gratefully received.
The following week, we met again, unexpectedly, to attend the funeral of a very dear colleague who had died suddenly; a mild and gentle man who will be sadly missed, not only by his friends and family but by the charity where he has done such sterling work for many years.
On the 11th June I drove to Burniston near Scarborough to attend and speak at the 30th anniversary lunch of several local WI's. We had a splendid lunch at the Three Jolly Sailors and a lovely afternoon with such welcoming and charming ladies. Not content with that alone, I also went on a trip down Memory Lane to look up the house where my paternal grandparents used to live and where my sisters and I spent many happy holidays when we were young.
The next day was the Carers Anniversary Service at the Beverley Minster and I had been invited to speak, not in my capacity as an author but as a former carer. It was a lovely service with hymns by the Singing for the Brain choir, and a wonderful soloist in Noel Griffiths. Music is such a balm to the soul. Mary spoke of her recollections of the changes in attitudes towards the elderly and in my short talk I expressed the fervent hope that carers are given help and the recognition that they surely deserve.

On the writing front I eagerly await sight of the cover of my next book
HIS BROTHER'S WIFE due to be published in November. It might seem a long way off, but there is much to do in publishing to bring out a new book. The cover is an important aspect; the author has a picture in his/her head of the characters and setting, the sales dept need a cover that appeals to the reader, the bookshops want a cover that sits well and importantly fly off their shelves. It is a small miracle if everyone is happy!   

May 27th 2013

Has summer come at last? We have had two unbelievable days of sunshine although the forecast for today was rain. Who can we believe? The best test of all I find is on waking draw the curtains aside and look out of the window, then believe what you see. But fool that I am, on the last sunny weekend, I overdid the gardening, shifted pots and bags of compost in the fear that there might not be another chance of improving my small patch of garden, and then suffered a 'bad back' for almost a week. This weekend I have been more cautious and apart from wielding a watering can -- now there's a novelty -- I sat comfortably in my old basket chair and read a book; not a book for research but one of fiction, such a treat.

Last month I was a guest speaker at World Book Night at the Hull Central Library. I think I can say it was a great success with an attentive audience, not only for me but for the many events and speakers. It's so encouraging to know that people do still support their libraries and not only for the loan of books, but for information and research too and good to hear that many authorities have a Home Service where delivery of books can be made to those who, for whatever reason, are unable to access libraries for themselves.
At the beginning of May I was invited to speak at 'Lincoln Inspired' Literary Festival, 'In Conversation With Margaret Dickinson,' where we discussed the many similarities in our working pattern. Margaret and I enjoy a friendly rivalry across the Humber Estuary, Margaret on the south side and I on the north and where we both trespass on 'foreign land' from time to time. The Yorkshire author Mike Pannet was another who had dared to cross the strip of water, but both of us I'm happy to say were made welcome.

Then there was the Macular group meeting held at HERIB on the 17th. As usual there was warm hospitality and as many in the audience knew me from my voluntary work with the Talking Magazine for the Blind, there were plenty of questions from the audience, not only about books and audio books in particular, but also due to the fact that I have read and presented the recordings for the charity of TMB as we refer to it, for the last time. After nearly thirty years it was time to call it a day and time to move on, but I shall I hope, keep in touch with the many listeners, friends and colleagues made in that long association. There is a link on my website if anyone would like to take a look at what the organisation does and how it operates to provide a service to the blind and partially sighted community, and volunteers are more than welcome.

June is acoming in, but more of that when it arrives and in the meantime ignore the distractions and on with the writing.

April 2013

The blossom is almost out here in East Yorkshire and we get occasional bursts of sunshine, but it's still very cold and I can't yet divest myself of warm joggers, sweatshirts and thick socks as I sit at my desk.

I have had mixed fortunes since I wrote my last blog. I told you of the paperback launch of The Innkeeper's Daughter on February 14th and was then delighted to hear that it climbed into the Top 50 official charts and up to last week was still there at number 39. It does make me wonder what it is that makes one book a best seller whilst others never reach the charts. Readers of course have their favourites; perhaps within a novel there's a reminder of some loss or joy or remembrance of their own which gives a book a special appeal. I have been re-reading Barbara Kingsolver's
Prodigal Summer, a delightful book and wholly suitable for bedtime reading which is the only time I read fiction. I know that in a couple of years I will fish it out again and read it once more.


February and the first two weeks of March I had a hectic signing schedule but managed to finish and send off my new novel His Brother's Wife to my editor. I thought then that there would be time to dig out my office and dust my desk before beginning the next one. But life has a way of travelling its own course and sweeping us along with it. John Lennon famously said, 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.' It is true. Life and death stops us in our tracks and makes us aware that we are not in complete control after all, although many of us might think that we are until we discover otherwise.
I have spoken publicly on Dying Matters, was asked to speak on the subject as it was known I had lost my much loved husband to Dementia - but there, I have fallen into my own well sprung trap. I haven't lost him, he is still close to my heart. He died. Death is a difficult subject to discuss, but here I am writing about it again as I grieve over yet another sister, who died quite suddenly in March after heart surgery. I find I can speak of her or write of her if I imagine I am speaking as someone else, the third person, as we would in a novel. Wanting to telephone her to tell her something or entering through her front door when she is no longer there, is something else entirely and only time will change that.
The secret is keeping so busy that you don't have time to feel sad; that is until a piece of music or someone being nice to you can open the floodgates. To keep my equalibrium I have given two talks - speaking in the third person again, attended a literary lunch as a guest, had meetings with fellow authors and attended live concerts to hear beautiful music and shed a silent tear. I do believe that when a sibling dies, comes our awareness that life is short, and there's nothing more certain that I personally will avoid the tragedy of dying young, and that none of us will live forever in this life though your views on the life hereafter may bring up another story.

This year is the twentieth anniversary since my first novel The Hungry Tide was published and plans are afoot to celebrate. I know that they will be tempered by loss, but also am aware that those who are missing from my life would want me to continue living life to the full on their behalf.

February 2013

So what did you do on St Valentine's Day? Did you receive chocolates and flowers and protestations of enduring love and devotion. Well good for you!
I was curious to know the origins of St Valentine, but after some sli.ght research he remains an enigma. Several sources describe him as a Roman martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith, others as a temple priest during the time of Claudius. He did exist however, as archeologists discovered a tomb and ancient church dedicated to him. It seems though that there were several Valentine's -- which means valour - and when relics were found in Rome in 1836, they were attributed to St Valentine and dedicated to young people especially those in love! So there you are.
What I did on Valentine's Day was dress in my heart shaped patterned dress and drive to Harrogate, at least my daughter Catherine did, we went through snow and then thick fog but eventually arrived safely at the Cairn Hotel where I had been invited to speak at the Yorkshire Post Literary Lunch. Two other authors also speaking were Lesley Pearse and Clive Aslett. It was a very pleasant afternoon and the sun came out briefly.It was a special day for me as the paperback edition of The Innkeeper's Daughter was launched that day and I am still travelling on the signing tour. And I have received flowers -- and cake -- from some of my lovely lovely readers which made me feel quite emotional.

I know I haven't mentioned January, and I didn't reallyt intend to as this month for me is the clearing up month, a time for finishing the very last edit of the work in progress or WIP as authors call it, and trying my hardest to keep warm without turning up the central heating and breaking the bank. Is it me, is my blood thinning, or has it really been very very cold and a very long winter?

This week I have several more local signings to do, then a trip to Scarborough Waterstone's on Saturday. The good news out of Scarborough is that last year's  library lending list is just out and my book THE HARBOUR GIRL was the top loaned book in the Scarborough district. I think that  coupled with Radio 4's Open Book and the East Riding libraries where I was named as one of the UK's top loaned authors I can give myself a small cheer!

I hadn't finished!

The most important thing that I wanted to say, was that I hope that all of my friends and readers have a very happy Christmas and that I send my good wishes to you all for a healthy and happy New Year.

With love from


Valerie aka Val

      xx

Three Sleep Nights to go

As the children of friends might say.

People weighed down with the responsibilty of shopping and preparing for Christmas often say it's for children, which it is, but it's for adults too; it's a time for catching up with old friends and for reflection on the year which has almost gone, and too quickly for most of us. It's also a special time for thinking of those who are no longer with us, except in spirit and deep within our hearts.
For me it has been a satisfactory and busy year, with the paperback publication of my last book The Harbour Girl and the creation of The Harbour Girl Trail which has been so well received, particularly in the libraries, and the November publication of The Innkeeper's Daughter.
My lovely loyal readers have once again shown such support and at each signing have asked will there be another book next year? Yes, I say, should I live so long!

This year of course has been so very exciting with the Queen's Jubilee Celebration and not forgetting the wonderful Olympics. I must confess that I had been rather cynical over the original hype but was won over by the sheer joy and exhilaration of it all, especially when so many Yorkshire athletes brought back their golden accolades. Call it jingoism if you like but it brought a tear to my eye and filled me with delight.

Since I wrote my last blog I have 'cut a ribbon' at the opening of a new office for the charity Beverley Lift, supported the firework display in aid of the Hull Memory Clinic, given several talks on the aforementioned Trail, launched The Innkeeper's Daughter at Hull's Waterstone's where they built a wonderful Christmas tree of books in their window, and where the book sales exceeded those of last year; wrote a short story for My Weekly which is out now and had a mention on Radio 4's Open Book. Oh, yes, and wrote a few more words for the next book, and a quick trip over to Stockholm as a prelude to Christmas where we knew for sure there would be snow!

You might well ask where have I been

The last time I wrote here was back in August and I'm not going to mention the weather.

As I look back in my diary I see that at the end of that month I had a quick visit to London and the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Brilliant as always. Then home in time for a lunch that same week at the Burstwick Golf Club in Holderness which was held in aid of the Hull Memory Clinic. Also a telephone interview on the same day with one of my favourite personalities of BBC Radio Humberside, Carl Wheatley. We had a good chat, a few laughs and a talk about my upcoming new book The Innkeeper's Daughter.
Later that month, a visit to the dentist, and the hairdresser,  I'm sure you want to know this and then a week of cat sitting, or at least cat visiting whilst my daughter and partner were on holiday. Twice a day a cat cuddle which was so satisfying for both of us.
Wednesday the 5th September an evening at the Hull History Centre for the start of a festival which I was going to miss as I was off on holiday the following day. However, I didn't want to miss the launch of this special festival and I managed to catch up with various people who over many years have been important to my work; in no special order, David Alexander Smith who spent many years at Hull Central Library and the Hull History Centre, Dr Robb Robinson and Dr Alec Gill, both well known historians as well as many others. It was such an interesting evening and I'm so glad that I made the effort to be there, in spite of not having finished my holiday packing.
Then the following day off to Sicily, land of glorious sunshine and ancient monuments. A wonderfully interesting if exhausting holiday.

Whilst I was away, just in case I'd given any thought of slacking, plans were afoot by the delightful people who look after my marketing and publicity, to prepare for two pre launch readings from the new book, and an invite to the launch of the Beverley Literature Festival.
A gave a lecture at Holderness Grange, and attended a meeting of RNA northern authors in Beckwithshaw where we heard a fascinating talk on the life of author Alan Wilkinson. I've known Alan for twenty eight years when we first met at a writers' workshop when we were pre published and embryo writers; he has led an amazing and varied life.
What else? An interview by a Hull Daily Mail journalist for the said new book and oh yes, several thousand more words for next year's novel. Next week the preparation for the readings begin and the following week is -- launch week!

August. Summer's here

In spite of the awful weather during July, it turned out to be a very special month for me. I mentioned in my last blog about the round of visits to the East Riding libraries to promote The Harbour Girl Trail. The first section of the tour culminated at the Boulevard library off Hessle Road, Hull, which was a perfect setting as the Boulevard was at the heart of The Harbour Girl novel. Not perfect only for that reason, but because the library - recently re furbished and brought into the 21st c - is the most splendid library I have ever come across. Not only have wonderful 19thc features such as windows and doors been retained, but the building is bang up to date with a computer suite, plus -- ongoing at the moment, a garden is to be created for the readers' pleasure. I was delighted to have the company of Dr Robb Robinson who gave me much needed advice on the fishing and trawling industry during my research for The Harbour Girl, and Dr Alec Gill who is a a well known historian on all aspects of Hessle Road, its fishing industry and its inhabitants. I was most grateful for their contributions which added to the enjoyment of the event.
The final day of the Trail tour was last Sunday - the 5th August and in a very appropriate setting at the Carnegie Heritage Library on Hull's Anlaby Road. The audience were very welcoming -- some of them had already been to other libraries and were keen to hear more about the Trail -- and all were keen to try their computer hands at searching online for details of maps and photographs of Hull and Scarborough and asked dozens of questions. To add to the afternoon, Steve Goodhand of Lordline had brought old and historical photographs and books on Hull and Scarborough, for people to look at or buy. Again a most welcome contribution to the afternoon.

The library tour has been a resounding success and I'm delighted to know that people do still want their libraries, not only to borrow books, but for other facilities which are offered; for research, for lectures, for computer facilities which they might not have at home or which they are nervous of using, but where at the libraries, help is at hand.

In between times, I have had a short break in Portugal, checked the copy edited and final printer proofs of The Innkeeper's Daughter which I won't see again until November when it is in hardback book form, written a short story (which is under wraps at the moment) and have written a few thousand more words of the now current novel -scheduled for November 2013.
And finally, the only 'slacking' I have done has been in watching the Olympics and cheering on all of the wonderful sporting competitors.

Jubilee

Looking back at my May blog I read that we had glorious weather! Not so in June when we have had so much rain. However our spirits were not dampened and I confess that I spent much time glued to the TV watching the Jubilee events, getting up early to write and then taking the afternoon off to watch the ceremonies. I loved it all with perhaps the exception of the Pop concert. Perhaps the Queen felt the same, she too might have preferred watching from her own front room with her shoes off. What a stoic she is!
I have had a meeting with the Sewerby WI at the Nth Bridlington Library, yet another  splendid Jubilee Tea Party in my old village of Leven where I met up with friends and acquaintances and ate sandwiches, home made scones with strawberries and cream and scrumptious cakes! The following day I gave a 'Master Class' on creative writing and it's simply great that so any people are interested in putting their imagination down on paper. Also this month my daughters and I presented the Peter Wood Memorial Prize to the second winner of the Holderness Art Show which is given in memory of my husband and their father. And not forgetting the Olympic Flame which came through Hull and Beverley and attracted thousands of people. This present week is The Harbour Girl Trail week in which every day I have visited local libraries to talk of the Trail and demonstrate it on the libraray computers. Tomorrow is the last one of the week at Hornsea library, and if we get the same enthusiasm there as in the other libraries, then I can truly say it has been a fabulous success. Next week there is one more event at the Hull Boulevard library, which is in the heart of Hessle Road, one of the two settings for the book, and the final one at the Hull Carnegie library on Sunday 5th August where I hope that two local historians, Dr Robb Robinson and Dr Alec Gill, will be joining me to talk of the shipping and fishing trade of the 19thc.

May 28th 2012

This month there have been many events. The first in Driffield for the WI. A very enjoyable evening with a responsive audience and a lovely rendition of Jerusalem given by the ladies.
On the following Saturday I was at Hedon Flower Festival in St Augustine's Church which was held in aid of a staircase to be built to take visitors up to the top of the tower to admire the view. I met many people I knew as I formerly lived in the South Holderness district for close on thirty five years. We sold copies of The Harbour Girl and on my table was a beautiful flower display in the colours of the book cover.
Then came Bilton Social Circle, again in my old stamping ground and a few days later I spoke at an NHS conference which covered Dementia and Bereavement, both subjects which really need to be talked about.
Two more events the following week and by now you'll wonder why I call myself an author, but these also were important occasions. One was a splendid Ladies Lunch on behalf of HERIB; the speaker was Emily Roberts who is a TV cook. Then came a Tea and Tiara Tea Dance supporting the Alzheimer's Society which was simply brilliant. A violinist -- although perhaps fiddler might be a more appropriate title as he was such a wizard with foot tapping music, and accompanied by a piano-accordianist. A really fun afternoon with dancing and cakes too!
But now, I promise that in between gardening in this glorious weather we are experiencing, I have completed about three thousand more words in the next but one novel.  The Innkeeper's Daughter is with my publisher and in the production line.
Next week is the start of the celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee and many more functions are arranged for this. I already have my bunting fluttering and my window baskets decked out in red white and blue. Hip Hip Hooray!

There have been very many events this month, some of which I have already mentioned; it has been a long paperback signing as detailed in an earlier blog, but very enjoyable. One of the most exciting events was appearing at the Scarborough Literature Festival on Friday the 13th; a very lucky day for me as the concert hall at the Vernon Road Library was almost full. My host was Peter Guttridge who asked interesting questions which allowed me to expand on explanations of my work in creating fiction set in the Yorkshire area. We also discussed the making of the Val Wood Harbour Girl Trail which is now up and running on my website and available for all to see and explore. I'm very thrilled about this as it's something I have wanted to do for a long time. Now it is a reality.Also this month I was invited to the Hessle Road, Hull store of Boyes and was treated like royalty, with a comfortable chair, a good table display of books, an offer of tea or coffee and staff who couldn't do enough to make me welcome. I shall certainly go again if invited. I managed to slip in a quick visit to the Keukenhof Gardens in Holland to see the beautiful tulips, seven million bulbs are used to make this wonderful display. A very restorative break from a busy schedule. Since then I have visited Radio York to speak about the Trail, given a telephone interview of the same to 'Yorkshire Life' and not least, attended a Fashion Show on behalf of the Friends of The Hull Memory Clinic of which I am a keen supporter.

April 2012

Once again I have lost a month. This time it was March and this is because I had a veritable raft of book signings. Apart from my home territory where the paperback of The Harbour Girl sold very well, I also travelled to Leeds, Lincoln, the delightful market town of Malton and of course Scarborough. I arrived home to find a request from a bookstore in Bradford but sadly had to decline until the next book comes out as I'm now on my much neglected writing schedule. The Innkeeper's Daughter is with my publisher and so in the meantime I have started another novel; this will be for November 2013, and from the way it is progressing will be a shade darker than the others and set in the higher reaches of the Humber estuary. Can't tell you more than that as ideas are filling my mind.
The exciting news, however, which I'm sure I have mentioned before, is that the launch of The Val Wood Harbour Girl  Trail is almost ready for lift off. I'll announce it on the Blog just as soon as I hear, because of course, I am not creating it myself, but leaving that to an incredible team Divine Clark pr. I will tell you more next time.

February 2012

I seem to have lost January completely, so what happened there?  Cleared up and got life together again following Christmas,  had several dental appointments to fit a new crown, had editing, reading and committee sessions in my capacity as a volunteer with the Talking Magazine for the Blind; continued with the novel in progress and then fell over in my kitchen -- during the day I hasten to add in case anyone might think I'd been imbibing anything stronger than tea -- I hadn't -- and injured my left wrist. It was painful and swollen enough to warrant a visit to the casualty department at my local hospital where it was x rayed and my arm put in a plaster cast; the following day the cast was taken off and a wrist strap put on; the consultant decreed that it was not a fracture after all but a soft tissue injury. Whatever it was, I lost a week's work as I couldn't bend my fingers or thumb. However, it is just about back to normal now and I have today finished the editing and checking of the manuscript which I have titled THE INNKEEPER'S DAUGHTER. It remains to be seen whether the title will be kept, and indeed if my editor and publishers like it!
I was again invited to an interview on Radio Humberside to discuss the proposed closure of the mobile libraries in Lincolnshire. I have previously given my views on this subject and they remain the same. Readers must have free access to books or reading matter. Libraries are essential as I said as a guest speaker for the Friends of Hull Central Library. Thank goodness that the East Riding Library Service appears to thrive.
Since February began I have been to two free lectures on Charles Dickens in this his 200th anniversary of his birth. What an amazing writer he was. Like Shakespeare he was pure genius. After reading the works of both these great men, it doesn't make me want to give up my own poor offerings, but only want to do better.
I'll finish by saying I didn't receive a single Valentine card but that I don't mind a bit, for I absolutely know without a shadow of doubt, that I have been loved.

December 2011

December almost gone, two days before another year begins; so how was December? Busy busy busy, but mostly satisfactory. I was late with Christmas shopping, but nothing new there and as always happens, everything is always ready by Christmas Eve, give or take one or two presents to be wrapped.

The day after the Hull Literary Luncheon where I spoke along with fellow writer Mike Pannet, I flew off from Humberside Airport to visit the daughter of a friend in Stockholm; it's such a lovely place to be in the run up to Christmas. No snow this year, unlike last, and not so cold, but nevertheless the city was very festive with shop windows beautifully decorated and almost every house and apartment window displaying decorous Christmas lights; not a sign of a blow up Father Christmas or flashing rooftop reindeer.
We once more enjoyed a delicious Yulebord, a wonderful Christmas concert in the Royal Opera House, visited a museum where work by Turner, Monet, and Cy Twombley, an artist I haven't come across before, were on show. We walked by the quayside and breathed in the icy Baltic air and thought what a great way to begin the Christmas month.

On our return, I had two more signing sessions with another visit to Hull Waterstone's and WHSmith, two speaking engagements, one draw of a raffle at HERIB, always a good place to be invited, a visit to the dentist, Christmas carols at St Mary's in Beverley, and then the delivery of family presents, and at the last minute, a Christmas video to all of my lovely readers -- or as one of my daughters wryly remarked, my message to the nation!

But now everyone has gone; we were six for Christmas lunch, and various friends and family called in over the holiday. The time goes so rapidly and the New Year will be upon us before we can blink an eye. I hope whoever is reading this, that life treats you kindly in the coming year, that you have good health, loving  friendship to sustain you, lots of books to read and enlighten you and above all wish you a very happy New Year.

Here we are at last in November, my busiest month of the year when a new book is about to be published; but first let me tell you about September and October which here in East Yorkshire had been mild weather wise. Then I went off to enjoy a short holiday in beautiful Portugal which was hot hot hot! We stayed in Cascais, next along the sandy beach from Estoril, famed for its lively casino, and only a short train journey to Lisbon which is always a joy to visit.

After returning home and even before I unpacked I was interviewed by Debbie Hall of the Hull Daily Mail Journal. We chatted over a cups of tea about all kinds of things but mostly books of course, which is why she came. The article should appear in the magazine at the end of November. Following this I spoke at two meetings, one in Hull, the other in Bridlington and attended the AGM of Home-Start Hull, the children's charity of which I am local patron. They have had a very difficult time recently as so many charities have through loss of funding. Fortunately, they are managing to keep going; the volunteers and staff are all very dedicated and they do so much to help families in difficulties it would be terrible if they should have to close.
Libraries too are hanging on by their finger nails to keep open and one enterprising librarian from a library near Wolverhampton has been getting in touch with authors to ask them to write a short letter to readers at the library to encourage them to try different authors and thus enable them to keep up their book lending. I was certainly pleased to do that.

I have been asked if I will be patron of the Friends of the Hull Memory Clinic. Who are they? They are a group of people with dementia, their carers and families who are determined to do what they can, to live as well as they can with this disease. Alongside the professional staff members of the clinic they are dedicated to promoting a positive attitude towards living with memory problems. Having known through personal experience how difficult this can be, how could I possibly say no?

At the Beverley Literature Festival I spoke about my forthcoming book -- more of this in a moment -- alongside the popular author Mike Pannett.
Socially I have been making the most of the various concerts, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Hull Male Voice Choir with the Brighouse and Rastrick Band, and 'Live' opera from the Met being shown at Cineworld. Don Giovanni A rare treat! 

But now to November. My new book THE HARBOUR  GIRL set in 19thc Scarborough and Hull will be published on the 10th so just over a week to go and the excitement has begun. Waterstone's Hull is the venue. Time 5.30 pm and EVERYONE is welcome.

October 5th

I've needed to check my desk diary to find out what I've done or not done since I last wrote within this blog. Time seems to move ever faster and without my diary I wouldn't be able to keep up. Many people I know use their mobile phones to record or remind them of appointments etc, but I feel safer with a pen or pencil and a diary where I can turn a page.

Towards the end of August I recorded a Podcast with the lovely James Nash which will be available soon. That same week I visited the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull to view Hockney's 'Bigger Trees near Warter,' which was absolutely beautiful and I'm so pleased that I made the effort to see it. It's gone now from Hull but I think still continuing the tour of the UK. If you haven't seen it yet then do try to catch it somewhere.

On the first of September with other local authors we attended the Northern Branch meeting of the Romantic Novelists' Association at the Smiths Arms in Beckwithshaw near Harrogate (we call ourselves The Flying Ducks -- but that's another story). Our speaker was Lincolnshire based Margaret Dickinson who is also a member of the RNA and  a friend of mine. She told us of how she began as a novelist and of the books she has written. A very interesting afternoon and before driving home, some of sat outside revelling in the sunshine which has been in such short supply this August.

The final proofs for The Harbour Girl came in the following week and because it was imperative that they were checked before I left for holidays the week after, I missed the events which were being held in Hull for the Heritage Open Days. A great success, however from what I heard. I checked the proofs within a week and fortunately they contained only one error -- mine -- which I spotted immediately and was able to rectify. My daughter Ruth and grandson Alex came to spend that weekend with me, and two days later I was on my way to Portugal with my other daughter Catherine and her partner.

Hot hot hot! I had expected it to be warm but as usual if I go abroad I never expect it to be as hot as it is and despite lathering myself with Factor 50 I still managed to burn. We stayed in Cascais, a coastal resort near Lisbon, which is a wonderful city, and had a very enjoyable and relaxing time, well set up now for the busy weeks ahead.

My first day home I was interviewed by Debbie Hall of the Hull Daily Mail Journal. Debbie was very warm and friendly and we sat and talked about many things over cups of tea at my kitchen table. The profile will probably be included in the November issue. The Journal photographer came and took dozens of photographs. There has to be one which is flattering!
My last appointment of September was with the ladies of Time For You at the Freedom Centre in Hull. A more friendly group of ladies you couldn't hope to meet.