New project in the making

Some time ago, I mentioned that I had inspiration once more. But some things have changed again... Corona came, and gone was the inspiration!

Now that the restrictions are at last less severe and we can finally do more (even travel!) I've got this great idea and am working on it. You'll know I've been writing from an early age. During my first years at primary school, I kept myself from boredom (they couldn't teach me anythng I didn't know before) by scribbling in little notebooks. I invented stories, crudely based on the fairy tales at first. As I grew older, these stories became longer and longer, and when I was about 14, I wrote my first real 'novel'. That was the first draft of what was later to become Maria Gonzalez. I kept on writing, and the following three books are also worth my looking into.

Now, almost fifty years later, I must confess that I wrote fairly good stories in my youth. Of course I was a heavy reader, and as a result I was inspired by various authors I loved in those times (still do): Alexandre Dumas, Juliette Benzoni, Walter Scott, to mention a few.

Yesterday I began the new version of Julie, a story of a young woman set in Napoleontic times. Full of adventure, action and of course love. I have a good feeling about it. I know I can complete this book, but of course it will take some time, at it's a rather long story, put down in several notebooks of the time!

I'll keep you posted.

Update on my writing

The last few weeks have been pretty busy. And when I'm busy, I can't write.

Writing is not something that go on automatic pilot with me. I need to be in the right mood and not be disturbed by anything.

But right now, I've found peace of mind and today I've once again put some lines on paper (well, that is some paragraphs on a Word document).

I've switched the WIP once more, and am again working on Curse of the Diamonds. Sometimes inspiration comes quite unexpectedly. I hope to keep on this flow for a while, so I can at least finish this chapter. And I've finally seen how to tie Book Two to Book Three. It's been a long process!

Writing once more, after surgery

I don't know what's wrong with Curse of the Diamonds. In June, I was working fine on it and when my surgery hadn't happened I could be halfway through it by now.

But surgery was necessary and I was in hospital for a while. Later on, I needed to recover from it. Being me, it didn't take overlong to feel okay once more, but I really didn't feel like putting one word on paper (of a novel, my blogs never are a problem).

Now I like to write again. But there must be a curse of the above mentioned book. I'm working on one that goes nicely now. I'm even having fun writing it! It's also based on one of the short stories in my collection Face in the Mirror and Other Stories.

I wrote those short stories when I got bored at my job (I had an office job at the time, and some days there was nothing to do). And just like The Black Coach this new novel is one I don't have to think about. The ideas just pop up in my mind.

It's titled The Witch of Hawestone Moor and it deals with time-travel. Madge Hawestone is a witch and hasn't yet earned afterlife. She must do more good deeds before she deserves it. So she decides to help out Kevin and Alayne.

Of course, the book isn't written yet. I've made a good start though. I've introduced Kevin and you learn why he is unhappy. Madge is set on improving on it. Now I'm about to introduce Alayne.

I'm sure this is going to work out well. Give me a few weeks of undisturbed worktime and it will be finished soon enough. And perhaps then I'll find the inspiration again to continue on the second book of The Medici Diamonds.

Curse of the Diamonds is getting along

I'm so happy my new WIP is going well. I hadn't been writing for quite some time, as I experienced some troubles with my health. Now that everything is under control, I can concentrate on my writing once more - especially now I have lots of time after my going into pension.

I realized I should write a sequel to Diamonds for the Devil - after all, I told the publisher The Medici Diamonds was to become a trilogy. The first book has been out for years, and finally I have begun with the second one.

Every day now I sit down to write some pages to this new book. I've a good idea where it's going already.

Curse of the Diamonds is set in the early 19th century - actually it begins with the French revolution but that is only in the prologue. The actual storyline is set in Napoleontic times. The head character is Julie, granddaughter of a noblewoman although she doesn't know this at first. Julie grows up in Marseille, then sails the Mediteranean where she is going to experience some adventure. I won't tell too much, I don't want to give away the story, but I have a feeling it's going to turn into a good book, which will be fun to read.

Slowly getting into the mood again

The trip to Krakow appeared to have a positive influence. I came home, feeling the urge to write once more.

So today I picked up where I left with the sequel to Diamonds for the Devil and already got some pages further into the story. For this first part of the novel, I can use material I wrote when I was 18 and pretending to sit down to study for my uni exams (!) My mother never knew I put empty pages of paper between my books and scriblled them full using my fantasy. The story I fabricated then was called 'Julie Mercourt' and now she will be the heroine of the new novel (working title: Curse of the Diamonds).

Julie will go through many an adventure before she takes off to Paris, where she'll meet Josephine de Beauharnais, first wife of Napoleon. From then on I'll have to think of a suitable continuation of the plot, but it must include a meeting with the heir of the Shrevenports, who took up the leading roles in the first book about the Medici Diamonds. And some mystery, lots of action & adventure, and not to forget romance.

I hope I can now finish this book and later on continue writing on the Phantom of the Opera one, or my time-shifting try-out.

Cover wars

Hello there folks! I need your votes.

My latest book's cover - that of The Black Coach - will be featured at Cover Wars the week beginning June 25.

The link to vote is here : http://authorshout.com/cover-wars/

So please, if you like it, vote!

Not writing at the moment

My writing (except the blogs, which I can always master) is on a low burner. To me, writing is linked with how I feel at the moment.

Right now, I'm rather occupied with some health issues. In about 6 months' time, the level of sugar in my blood has risen spectacularly and without an explanation. I care about what I eat and have been doing it for years. I move enough (I walk and cycle, not having a car) and restrain my intake of alcohol. Also I don't smoke. 

Another thing is, now three weeks ago, my sister spotted a swelling at the base of my throat. I hadn't noticed it before. This was while we were on our way to Argentina, for a vacation there. As soon as we returned, I made an appointment with my GP, who send me on for röntgen pictures. These were not conclusive enough, so the next step was another scan in the city hospital. Now at last I know it's a 'cold' lump, but it needs a punction to know it's benign or malign. That will happen tomorrow. 

I hope they can give me a fast conclusion, because I'd like to know what's wrong. My next appointment with dr. Robrecht (the one who send me for the puncture) is only on May 16th, so I hope that other doctor will tell me something before.

I'm also having to check my sugar levels 4 times a day for the following weeks (until the appointment) to get a picture. Because my diabetes is atypical, says the doctor. 

So for the time being no writing is done. Hopefully, all goes well so that I can resume the thread in the book I was working on - and enjoy my pension which officially begins on June 1st.