Continued:: working on The Black Coach

Some time ago, I mentioned I was again working on my next novel, titled The Black Coach. Last year, I had written a number of chapters already when I got stuck with writer's block.

And believe it or not, but recently I was dreaming - and the solution to my problem became quite clear to me.

So for the past week or so I have been working on the novel again. I began with editing what I wrote before, and now I know where things are lacking. I feel confident that I can continue with it, as long as nothing or nobody does disturb me.

Because I'm that type of author who needs to be alone when writing. When someone is in the house, like my sister, I can do no writing but blabber or bit on my blog.

I'll keep you guys posted when the book will be ready and when it will be published!

P.S.

I hope to finish the last chapters of this book by the end of this month. The writing is going well, so hopefully I can keep to my schedule!

Proofreading

I don't know if I already mentioned that next to being a teacher and a writer, I also do proofreading for my publisher?

Well, it's an interesting job (although you don't earn a lot by it). The main purpose of proofreading is to check if everything is alright.  Sometimes punctuation is forgotten, or the author uses 'that' way too much.

Of course, when going through a manuscript, you hope the novel is some good. Most of the works I've proofread were ok, but right now, I'm working on a book that is just ... boring!!!

For starters, it's 267 pages long. I'm now at page 107 and still don't know exactly what it's about. In my honest opinion I think this won't sell. When you write about the military, you expect action from page one.

But here... The author goes on and on about guns, missiles, history, ....  I have to make extra-strong coffee to avoid falling asleep while reading.

Yeah, that's life!

Love reading: Brother Cadfael series (Ellis Peeters)

These days, I'm re-reading my series of Cadfael novels (twenty in total). The late Ellis Peeters has created a wonderful character in the person of Cadfael, the crusader who turned into monk.

Cadfael has lived a full life before he joined the cloister, so he knows what's for sale in the world. This ability comes in handy for him when he is confronted with deaths galore. His investigations are very helpful to the sheriff and to his deputy, Hugh Beringar.

But what I like most about these novels, is the intertwining love-story in each plot. And also how Cadfael fares with his helpers (he is responsible for the herb garden and makes all sorts of salves and drinks to make people better).

I find these books are an ideal read when you're on a trip. They read very fluently and don't have too many pages.

In the course of the series, Cadfael will meet a young man - who turns out to be his son. In the last novel he'll have to choose between this son and his vows to the church.