Reading, Riting and Rithmatec

My 3 R's today.

Reading: I am following RuthO's story - a modern one. It should be good, I like a very clever plot.

Riting: I have something to finish for PatM and my chapter 34 to polish and I overslept! I was so tired from my excursion to Black Mountain that I slept 3 hours later than usual. lol

Rithmatec: bills, bills, bills. Yuck - one of my least favorite things. Did you know I failed subtraction in school? I don't remember if I wrote about this earlier - wait let me check -- nothing shows up when I search my blog, so here it is:

I could never figure out how to subtract the big number from the little. I always tried to take away the top number from the bottom. lol My 2nd grade teacher got so frustrated I know she yelled at me one day while everyone was outside at recess. I went home crying and later that night my dad came into my room and solved my problem. He taught me to put the line above the numbers and not below. So instead of subtracting down, I subtracted up. It worked and it was a simple solution. I subtracted up for years and divided up too (since subtraction is a major part of division). My teacher did try to give me a failing grade when she got my first homework with the answers above the problem, but then my dad went to school (or maybe called) and after that there were no more problems. He never raised his voice, unlike my mom. He also preferred mom to do most of the discipling and that way he could stay a good guy! But I love my mom fiercely as I did my dad, so in our family it worked.

My dad was funny at times. He had one of those sense of humors (much like Rawlings). He also was not always thinking right - such as when he taught me, a mere toddler under 4, how to build things up along the fence so I could climb out of the yard. He used some stools from my sand box, I think. He believed in independence and taught all of us early to be as independent as we could. My mom, however, was not pleased with this little fence climbing since it was she that had to chase me down the street, while my dad went off to work.

Independence! Of course, I delayed my independence until the sixth grade and my whole class formed that secret club; but it was the combination of my father's simple lessons and the meaness of my classmates that gelled inside my soul. I have been independent since, climbing fences both real and hypothetical. Hypothetically speaking, every phase we go through is a fence, of sorts. We have to somehow get over it to move on. From nursery school to elementary, then junior high, then high, and some people college. From being close buddies to finding new love. from single life to married life (or commitment to another); to being alone to being a parent, to relying upon your parents to your parents relying upon you. These are all fences and it is the stuff we use to elevate us until we can swing our leg over the top and run free that makes life so very damn interesting. It is not the fence but the stepping stools we push up against it that makes us so unique- how do we as individuals do what we have to make it over the top.

Well, our poor fellas in Expectations have a very large fence staring them in their sweet, handsome faces. What will they do? How will they build their way to independence and freedom? We shall see.

till tomorrow - I am off to pay the bills and keep this internet access going. Oh yes. I now us a calculator to figure out my money. No more drawing lines above the top number.

till tomorrow,

gayle

Black Mountain Awaits

Today my friend and I are going up to Black Mountain to spend the day. I have wanted to check out the place ever since we moved here (and it is only really "open" during the summer). It is an artsy little town with a lot of nice restaurants. Hopefully I will get some inspiration there.

Last night at the cocktail party, I meet some new neighbors who just bought in Qualla Village. I am sure they were as pleased as I was to see such friendly neighbors. The last Friday of every month we meet for drinks and appetizers (but believe me it turns into an entire meal). Attendees bring their own beverage and an appetizer to share. It can be meats, vegs or fruits. Some even bring desserts. there is always enough for everyone and we all have a fun time talking and sharing stories.

So today, no writing. And Wednesday no writing since a few of us made plans to play MahJOng. I really don't like the game but it is popular here. I prefer Canasta or Double Pinnacle. I don't do bridge.

I have been thinking the last couple of days about Expectations and the viewer reactions. I think I have lost a few readers. I certainly lost a few commentors. But then it is the last week in August and a traditional holiday week. so we will see. The next few chapters are a bit less tense and there is more of "him" on display. I am surprised only a few readers have pointed out his good traits in my story. They seem to gloss over them preferring to focus on the less than nice ones; but there are good points to be made about him as well. That always amuses me.

A couple of readers have indicated this story is too suspenseful but then I did say it was Angsty, somewhat. Although I do not know what that really means. NO one can really say exactly what that means. Some think it applies only when there is trouble between the couple, others say it is the whole story. Who knows.

I have 17 more chapters to polish and the epilogue to rewrite. I am still unhappy with it and this time I am using what I learn from the readers to write it. My instinct tells me that everything is OK with it but I do have this little niggling feeling that something is not finished about it.

So, first my mom's call then off to Black Mountain. I know I will be tired (as I usually am after any sort of activity) so tomorrow may be a sleep in and a late post.

Take care, and happy Labor Day.

gayle

Sent off the chapters

Chapter 31 has been sent to DebraAnne. chapters 32 and 33 to HeatherF. I am on a mission to polish as many chapters as possible before my Mom arrives September 11. she is planning on staying 5 weeks. I also have to "clean" the house before she comes to "clean" the house. lol

So, my mission is clear. Polish my words and my furniture. Unfortunately, something will have to give and as much as I wished it was cleaning it will be writing.

so, another short post today. Tomorrow I am heading out for a long outing but then Sunday and Monday are my days to write.

take care and enjoy the holiday if you are an American.

gayle

busy, busy, busy

I am totally immersed in making the changes in Chapter 31 from Heather to send off to DebraAnne and am polishing Chapters 32 and 33 today. So not much more to say.

Perhaps when the sun rises tomorrow I shall share another tidbit of my life.

gayle

Frustrated

That seems to be the word used by quite a few of my readers. I have left them frustrated, confused, lost, , surprised, but yet they think the story is wonderful as said in different words.

About the lost and confused I have to figure that they mean that the story is unpredictable in that each chapter brings them another piece to the final puzzle and until it is complete they will not be able to see what the picture is. To quote the Sheriff of Nottingham, A clue: It is Darcy. lol

Yes, now that we have moved on to the "second book" of my story, I no longer feel compelled to keep the story on others. It will be dead square on him now. I have moved to his POV because this story is all about him. Even though the first half did not focus on him or his thoughts or his actions too much, it was all about him. I have set up the rest of the story so hopefully my readers will give full weight for the other characters in the story. Had we not spent the time on them I don't think the second half would bring out the emotions I am seeking.

but now I suspect I have lost some readers. the angst is high (if that is what it is called - I just call it suspense and tension, which all experts say you must have in a story otherwise why bother reading it.) Some have enough "angst" in their own lives and only want an escape so they read the happy fluffy stories. I accept that and that is why I do not expect this story to be read by all. In the same token, others don't like the non-tense story. They I think will stick with my story until the end. there is a lot more tension to come.

the next several chapters are called the Homecoming and we get to meet families. I wonder what everyone will think of them. And yes, Blake and Rawlings' backstories are coming. Kent moves into the forefront as everyone guessed. But Darcy is the reason to write. And eventually we will get to Rosings! lol

So grab a comfy chair as we move on to this next phase. Once done I will announce the name of the second phase but not until then. lol

Well, from the Evil Angst Writer Devil,

till tomorrow.

Who is the Falcon?

My post is short today. with only the one question - Who is the Falcon? What will happen to our men? Whoops that is two questions!

I know, surprise is my middle name. I know the story is unpredictable. I wrote it that way, because I like spy books that are unpredictable. I like not knowing what is going to happen on the next page. I like being unable to figure it out. And I like obstacles in the way of the good guys.

the next few chapters will not have high angst as we meet the families. I did not say no angst just not high angst.

Enjoy,

gayle

Wretched Begininnings

Now everyone knows I wrote WB for the HG writing challenge and received the most votes. I thank everyone that voted for me. I was surprised my beta's did not guess it was me! I have such penchant (I like that word) for giving foundation to the secondary characters in order for a better understanding of their actions. Just like Caroline's story, I tried to show why Wickham turned out as he did.

Now I expanded it and added it as a separate story. I will add Caroline's story next. I call each person's story a chapter. I have no place to add Wickham's story in Expectations so I used this time as an opportunity to provide it. And I did not have it beta's so all my weaknesses are laid bare. lol

I wanted to explore other areas of writing that are not included in Expectations. Good gosh! I certainly could not include Wickham's story in DWG. lol they would have an apoplexy.

In Holding Hands, I explored the touchy part of romance between Margaret and John. It was before I got heavily involved in Blake and Elizabeth. It did help me although I came in last place in that contest! I guess I am better at bad than at romance. lol

I don't know if readers will be put off by my additions to WB and I did think over one sentence for a long time. But in the end, I felt it was truly necessary to show how it is possible for Wickham to hate. I am sure others have written a lot worse but it was new territory for me.

Well, off to print the mailing list and documents and head downtown (lol my 7000 person Brevard) to mail out the association stuff.

Tomorrow is posting day and a new wrinkle in the story.

gayle

random word today

I have no thought to start my blog, so let me grab a word from some object around here:'

phone.

Ok what can i say about phone. there is of course voices. I have many in my head but I will save that for another day. there is the tone of the voice. there is the instant communication, well, if the person is available to pick it up. it is a shortened word - telephone. tele that is funny because we say television but cannot say vision so instead we say TV. but I think across the pond they say tele. Which is confusing because is not tele used infront of phone?

back to phone. it rings. nowadays it can have its own tune. phones are no longer those big black clunky things tethered to the wall. I remember having those phones. lol I grew up in a two story house where we had 3 phone. my gosh! My home had at one time been the first ever telephone company in LaPlata Md. (my hometown). It had also been a doctor's office as well as someone's home before it became commercial. When my parents bought the house it had been converted back to a home and not a business. It was however on the main street or the otherwise busy thoroughfare (if you can call the street in the tiny town I grew up in a thoroughfare!) Well, my mom did not like it on the main road so she said shame we would have bought it if it was one block back. Aha! the realtor fooled her. They moved the house one block back. I remember sitting on the school bus passing the house as they moved it. I recall it taking a week at least. I was fascinated by it. they put this 2-story house (wooden) on slats and just moved it with trucks of some sort (ok I was in fourth grade I don't remember much). the house was over 150 years old. they had dug out the basement and placed the old house on this new "foundation". I lived there until I married.

but back to the phone. We had one in the kitchen, one on the side porch (which was enclosed and was given to my brother as a bedroom) and one at the top of the stairs on telephone/chair table. that became my phone. I would lay in all sorts of angles, sometimes stetched down the stairs, and talk. And talk. and Talk. I could talk a lot back then. I talked to girlfriends but when a boy called. I would use the phone in the kitchen and stetch the cord so i could go on the steps to the basement with a CLOSED door. that is when I agreed to my first "date". lol It was not really a date - I was 13 and John Able was 14. I had to meet him INSIDE the movies (after I paid my own way). We were sitting there holding hands and we were way down front - good gosh how stupid of us -- when low and behold my mom comes rushing down the aisle and grabs me by the ear and pulls me out of the theater. Egad! I was not embarrashed but I was furious. And how did she discovers? Yep, the phone.

I did say I grew up in a small town and everyone knew everyone. My next door neighbor was best friends with the person that sold tickets at the theater. She immediately called Irene and told her I secretly was meeting a boy. She had watched Johnny greet me inside the movies! Irene immediately and gleefully dialed my mom and got her all hyper. For god sakes, we were just holding hands. All my friends were dating. Anyway, that was the end of my affair with Johnny Able. I was not allowed to date for 2 and 1/2 years more. At least that is what my mom thinks.

But the phone. Such instant access when you have something you need to say. Shame Blake and Lizzy did not have such devices. On second thought, perhaps not.

till tomorrow!

gayle

Late post today!

I enjoyed my morning talk with mom but I have to admit I was a little bit tired. My youngest son called at 11:00 pm last night wanting to chit-chat. We were on the phone until 12:30 am. Yes, he is my Rawlings. He is witty but does not smoke or drink. He is observant of everything around him. He is curious about everything.

Well, last night we spoke of Olympics, College, Politics, and me getting my will together. He is most worried about that. He vows to call me relentlessly until I do. He is the executer of my estate. He will be hard nosed about what I want regardless if anyone thinks it is off-beat.

I have decided on everything I need to decide now I just need to sit down with a lawyer. Years ago I had a will (and I guess it is still in effect) that had my ex husband getting an stipend from my trust fund for the boys (they were little) and that amount matched exactly the amount he had given me in child support -- $17.50 per week per child. lol I had written in the will "Ernie - if you thought I could care for the boys with just this pittance, than you can do it yourself. lol Vengence is sweet. But the boys are now 36 and 35 I think. So no need for that old stipulation. They have reached the age 35 where I would let them get their hands on my money in that old will anyway.

Lets see. How can I lighten the mood here. I am working on my chapters 32 through 35. there is so much stuff that happens in these chapters my head is spinning. lol I had forgotten what I had written back in February! It has been that long.

But my men are moving along in the alliance stuff and dealing with their uncles, aunts, cousins, fathers and brothers even in some cases. I have many scenes and you get to really know Georgiana too. I have no clue if this is allowed but I have her acting as hostess to Darcy. I hope my dear friend Heather does not smack my hands with this one. I do so many things wrong in the Regency England stuff. lol Her help is invaluable.

I will be busy tomorrow - Double Pinnacle Card game party! lol It is a more difficult game than canasta hand and foot. but we will give it a go. My friend Bert and I have played it for years and now we are going to try and teach others.

I need to do some research on card games for the story. I have a spot or two where I can add it but then may be not.

Picked up a few new readers this week and actually had a few new commenters post a comment for me. Love it when they delurk.

Till tomorrow morning.

back to Blake's backstory. Need to get it right.

gayle

My Poll

Looks like the BBC mini-series 1995 wins the poll by a whopping 72%. Since I have that one, several of them in fact (one for NC and one for Florida) it will not be a problem to provide the girls with it.

Of course, this one is my favorite one as well. Although I long for mini-series from Darcy's perspective. I want to see more of him than of Elizabeth. Mary Street did a beautiful book, which like an idiot I lent to my daughter-in-law who does not like P&P and never got it back. Mary, a wonderful writer, did a perfect job IMHO with Darcy's character. However, she was not creative or inventive enough for the London phase and that is one area everyone seems to fail to a certain degree. I am sure my story will suffer the same fate. Pamela Aiden's whole second book was not at all satisfactory to me, in fact I recommended 3/4 of the book be skipped to my friend when I lent her the book because I know what she would have thought of the whole storyline. I was right, she read it and hated that part. But we both agree the rest was great.

So time for me think up another poll. Any suggestions? Perhaps not for a while.

Now on to preparing a mailing list and making copies of the annual package to go out. Must be done by Monday. So I am off and away to spend my day on boring stuff when I would rather be polishing chapter 31. Down to the word choices on that one.

gayle

sunshine

today is sunny and the damn sunlight thing is coming through my window. Agh! Must I get a blanket and put over my head here too! I don't have drapes- I really don't care if deer see me naked - this is the mountains after all. but now it is in my eyes so I suppose I will have to write a bit brighter story! lol

I use light to show happiness or sadness. Poor Blake in the last chapter saw everything dark. Gray sky when there was none, dark room, tasteless food. that is my idea of sadness. nothing looks bright. Well today is sunny so I will write happy scenes.

so off to work on Chapter 30 (and add a scene as suggested) and polish chapter 31. Hopefully I can get both done by tomorrow. I want to start on Chapter 32 by Saturday. Ambitious plans, I know! and this whole polishing a chapter is hard work. Oh well, I am obsessed to get this finished.

till tomorrow when my sky will dictate the kind of scenes I will work on. Pray for sun. Darcy needs it.

gayle

Meeting Wednesday

Have many meetings today. So just a note or two.

I need to finish up all my other work so I can concentrate on polishing the chapters ahead. I am working on Chapter 31 and I really think I need to be at least 4 chapters ahead of what I post so I will have to push myself next week. I may not have long blogs because of it. I do not wish to delay a single chapter.

So, off to do crap stuff and then tomorrow I will spend all day on this disease called writing.


gayle

This is the moment

Well, for the first half of the story. lol What will Blake do? What will Darcy do? What will Elizabeth do? What about the Collins proposal and how did Caroline closing house come about since Austen never gave that piece of information.

I have posted and I await the comments. Are they mad at me? Do they wish to string me up? Are they worried about Elizabeth and her "broken" heart. I have heard that mantra since the readers began to catch on that the marquess did want to do the honorable thing.

But for now the men are off to London. Blake with his broken heart, Darcy not as unhappy as he was the day before, Caroline pleased to have closed up the house, Mrs. B mad as a hatter, and the other men are in London and they did not know what was happening in NP.

So I shall stay by my computer today (well, I have to - I am typing minutes and stuff for the Association) and check in often to see how my readers reacted.

I will try to edit this post as the day wears on.

the first couple of posts have hit. Kathy always surprises me - Mrs. B is the topic of her comment. I did not expect her to be the point of someone comment. lol but I did make Mrs. B into a baddie here! But no, no more schemes for Mrs. B. She was done in with this one because Collins does marry Charlotte so for a while, Lady Lucas gets that last laugh and can crow to Mrs. B. That should be punishment enough.

Susan (sadriani - I wonder if Adriani is her last lame?) - well I surprised her. I bet I surprised quite a few others too. Yes, my Blake is an honorable man when it comes to Elizabeth. Now he is brokenhearted and I wonder if the readers are satisfied that he is! lol. But poor Darcy does not know what happened. It must weigh on him much like it weighed on my readers. At least they know. Now about Charles and Jane. Well, Austen was not kind and I don't think I wish to change canon in that respect. So if you don't like what happens, blame JA and not me! lol

Alienor4 - Well, I am surprised I blew her away. lol She is a very astute reader and she always quotes some of the most interesting parts of the chapter. No quotes today so I do believe she was blown away. She wants Blake and Lizzy to speak at some time and perhaps they just might. Perhaps, but that would not be for awhile yet. Alienor4 - in one week you will find out all you need to know about Cuffage.

PatM - Now, now Pat! Am I really laughing? It could be the altitude up here in the mountains makes me light-headed. I know you are a die-hard Darcy fan but maybe in a couple of chapters later you will come to like Lord Blake. Maybe. And yes, Collins was an important plot device was he not? Pat, I have it on good authority that what Mrs. Bennet did when trying to convince Elizabeth was exactly what was done back then. The families put pressure on the daughters to marry for security or social connection. Marriages were sealed by contracts making them a business proposition of the most intimate kind. Cuffage, Cuffage - who is he? Next week you will get your answer but don't think I will leave you without any more questions. Yes, I am a devil when it comes to teasing my dear Pat.

taryn - Just for moment, huh. You wanted him to profess his love and what? did you want an answer from Elizabeth? did you want her to accept? Did you want Darcy to come barging in? lol well, sorry, I used Mrs. B to do the dirty work. She is after all the one worried about her daughters' futures.

I have pick up some commenters: Darcyfan 71; CourtneyA; Lucy6526; Junesun; Beatrice and NicoleP.

Seems like everyone is a bit angry at Mrs. B but what did they want? did they want Mrs. B to push E towards Blake? No. They should thank her for doing her best to see to it her least favorite daughter did not make a mistake. She could have helped Blake and watched her daughter suffer financial problems but she is not that cruel (She did not hear Blake say he had financial security).

Glossed over so far: Caroline's manipulation of Darcy. Only alienor4 mentioned it and only to call Caroline a snake. lol Mrs. B teaching Mr. Collins how to propose. Darcy's day in the library; Darcy asking for 2 bottles of brandy. Elizabeth's opinion of the low cut dresses. Jane danced with Mr. Goulding twice! [does that have a future in the story?] Darcy did not wish to interfere with Bingley at first but had no problem doing so for Blake - might there be a reason. I also rather liked some of what Mrs. B said to E. the whole love and respect coming and going and the day to day living wears everyone down.

I guess I should be happy that the reactions were swift. I had teased them long enough about Blake but soon they will learn a lot more about him. Will their opinions change then? we will see. we will see.

It is now 7:24 and I am a tired puppy. Whew this keeping up with the comments is hard word, that I would have sprained my ankle in the first dance! I did surprise everyone with how I kept Blake and Elizabeth apart. They both feel abandoned and I can assure you that is a very hard feeling to shake. but which way will they go? Like Caroline with the secret club, they have a choice of which path to take. Will they be bitter, vengeful, distrustful, or will it just be another unfortunate episode in the life of people during that time.

I hope to keep some of my readers and not feel abandoned! Oh well, each reader has their path to chose too. I will accept what happens with grace. I do understand but I have to write my story that is living in my head regardless of the reception. But I do love my readers comments. It make the whole experience so worthwhile.

till tomorrow.

gayle

Interruptions

This morning I was interrupted by a phone call. A potential disaster lurks. The clubhouse has scheduled two huge Christmas events in the same room at the same time. Of course, the theater group had reserved the room using the proper procedures and the chorale just ignored it and had the Club HOuse manager give them the room. She is new and does not know the proper procedure - we have a scheduling meeting. Chorale was there as was I. We were given the room. Since tickets are sold to both events this can get a little tricky (especially when dealing with old farts that have reached their second childhoods).

OK so now I have followed proper procedure, again, and contacted the Administrator's office that actually schedules the room. Hopefully, the Chorale will be made to change and not us. tomorrow the manager will be in. well see. well see.

Interruptions - life uses them as plot devices, I think. Someone is up there writing my story. Does God assign angels to do this. Is my angel bored with me so a wicked plot interruption was thrown my way just to see some action in my life. Is not canasta enough? Is not going to plays enough? Is not being secretary of the association enough?

Plot devices are used in many ways. I have used the other men to, well, interrupt Darcy when he is about to reveal his feelings to Rawlings. Each time, though, I have allowed more of his thought to come out.

Another plot device is putting someone where they should not be. It can be arbitrary too. Just place them where they can overhear something. I bet you think you know what I am referring too but no it is not the person opening the door to the balcony. lol

A name can be a plot device or more specifically a nickname.

A letter, message or even a lost letter can be one. It can cause many a problem.

I am sure there is somewhere written a whole book about plot devices. I had not thought to research for that one. lol Maybe next week. But I think I use plot devices pretty well. I use them to led the reader where I want them to go, I use them to deceive in away too. Perhaps deception is more about the words I choose (or not choose) so maybe that is not a true plot device.

Anyway, there are a few plot devices coming your way.

Now I am off to take care of my own ones.

gayle

New Day! Maps Ahead

New Day, coffee's on, back is better, breathing good (or is it well - damn thing about words - they can be such a pain in the back all on their own)

Well what shall my topic be this morning. Maps. Old maps. East, west, north, and south! Streets, neighborhoods, landmarks, and me lost!

I admit I have a few good talents but map reading and geography are not among them. I have what is dubbed "directional dyslexia" in other words when I look at a map or directions, everything is mixed up in my mind. North is South. East is West. Streets in my head are located in the wrong part of town. I have always had my left and right reversed.

I can remember an early, early memory of mine. I was about three, I think or four. I was standing in some nursery school or bible study class or something like that. My arms were straight out. a young lady was kneeling down in front of me. I wiggled one arm and said LEFT. She said right. but I think she meant correct. So I said Right. She shook her head. We then finally agreed on the left hand and the right hand. But then, I had to go and turn around. So imagine, when I faced her my left hand was wiggling and I said left, then I turn around and I tried and tried to make her understand that now my right hand was LEFT because that was the left side of the room before I turned around. I could not understand that it was my hand that was important, not the side of the room. She got mad after awhile and gave up.

Even to this day, I do not know my left from my right. I sometimes make a letter L with my pointer finger and thumb and if it looks like the correct Letter L then that is my left. But funny, everytime I go to make the letter L I use my left hand. Strange I know. But you can imagine me giving directions; it does not help to write it down. I will always tell people to turn left when I mean right and vice versa.

I believe a doctor once told me it was a brain defect. Egad. I am not perfect! lol. He said it had to do with some little connectors being crossed in my gray matter. So I will always struggle with maps and directions. I once told my father to turn left at a light and he did not need to wait for a green one - so he turned left and I was speaking loudly - not this way dad! the other left. The light was a turn right on red when clear. Lucky we did not get hit. I can,however, read a map from the passenger seat in a car (and only if the passenger seat is on the right side!). I can figure out how far we have left on this 900 mile trip. I can find alternate routes, in fact, I find everything about maps interesting and exciting when I am sitting in the front passenger seat of a car. I have been known to take maps to my car to make sense of them. I am admitting all my secrets with this blob. sorry, blog. lol

I took ballet and tap as a child. I bet you can guess where this is going, well, perhaps not. Anyway, there were ten of us and we were backstage for our ballet show and it was our turn. I was to line up at the end of the line on the right side - our group was split in two with half coming on stage from the left and the other from the right. Yep, I was on the wrong side of the stage. I slipped in with the five girls and once on stage just twirled my way into the correct spot. lol I had my tiny solo right then. My ballet teacher was none to happy. But unlike the other girls, my mom did not attend the recitals. She hated dance of any kind. She preferred to watch my brothers play baseball. So I went alone. I dressed alone. and I found the wrong side of the stage alone. I was always disturbed by my mom's absence. but my dad was absent too and that somehow did not bother me. I think it was the other girls' moms were backstage, fretting over them, fixing their tutus, hair and offering them encouragement. I, on the other hand, did my own. It was not until the sixth grade and the whole secret club stuff did I understand that my mom had prepared me (unknowingly) to be independent. To stand alone and not be scared. To face anything.

I have been independent ever since. I have not disliked living alone (now that my sons are grown), in fact I prefer it. I can call my left hand my right one and no one is there to care. lol

So, back to the maps. I am trying to figure out the early London map. Whew. where is that bottle of scotch. I am going to need it. I do not wish to have my readers wind up in the Thames when I am trying to get them to Vauxhall Gardens or somewhere.

So today is map reading, practicing my left and right mantras, marking the top of the monitor with a NORTH (but pray I do not somehow turn the map 1/4 clockwise on the screen or else East will be NOrth. Or I might put some river to the north of London instead of the south (or is it west?)

For my readers I will work hard at this map reading but in the end I will trust Heather to point out my mistakes.

gayle

Music to my ears

Ah music is a character in my life and in my story. I read once where characters are not just people but the places, the objects, the animals, even the emotions one may feel. Yes, such as my Black Bull Tavern. I was as much a character as any of my men. It had a heart and soul as the old cliche whispers. It reeked of manly scents, the knocking of the billiard balls beat as rhythmetically as any heart, the wagoring was the mind and the appearance was the dusty floor and well oiled bar.

Yes, objects can be characters, too. How many times does some character in a book hold an object and have it speak to him. A picture can overtake one's thoughts as easily as a flower twirling in ones hand.

Now music is a character that would be prime in a book about Georgiana. As a true musician, she would hear music where the tone-deaf world hears noise. I read once that true artist do not see the world the same. A painter looks at a scene and it is a flat canvas where the only the light of his mind creates the hollows within. The rest of us see the word as three dimensional. At least I do. I try to image the space in front of me living on a canvas and what I am staring at is really just a flat piece of stretched cloth with different colors of paint brushed in every direction. sometimes I wonder how the artists can even walk - do they feel like they burst through the canvas just to reach another one with another image upon it.

I am editing a chapter with Georgiana and I am mindful she is a true musical artist. She thinks in terms used in music. It was a fun scene to write and I, again, hope I did not overdo it.

So music to my ears really is music to Georgiana's ears. I have no special talent except perhaps happiness. I am a happy person even when I wish to be angry. I try to see inside a person, even those that have hurt me in countless ways. Maybe I am just a Jane. I allow for a person's character or background to shape their actions. While I may not agree with what they do, I at least seek understanding of why. Such as my Caroline story. Once you get to there core of the reason someone acts they way they do, then you can be patient, understanding, sympathetic and at times you can even respond is the most successful ways.

So, if someone wants to get close to Georgiana, they would begin by tapping into her true nature - music. Remember, you read it here first!

till tomorrow.

Sorry this was so late, but my mother's voice over the phone this morning was the music to my ears.

Good morning!

My back is better and so here I am. sorry for yesterday just did not want to sit in my chair for too long. good thing it was not my sciatica - whew that takes weeks and epidural steroid shots in my back to fix.

Now, I have just caught up with my responses. I think everyone is ready for my next post. But will they be happy? mmm. I don't know. I get this sense that the readers are now most worried about Elizabeth preferring Blake over Darcy even if Blake and her do not get together. They do not want her heartbroken or marry Darcy on the rebound. Well, her character would never marry someone on the rebound. But I know this is what is worrying so many. What do I tell them? How is her attraction to Blake different than her attraction to Wickham in P&P. Look at her actions about Wickham in Austen's story: She admitted she liked him to Jane. She is the one that brought him home to meet her parents for tea. She introduced him to her favorite aunt. She danced with him the first time he asked. She dressed in her best for him for the NP ball. She defended him wholeheartedly. She was disappointed when he was not at the ball. She was a girl very much acting like she was falling in love. Even Lydia knew it. She asked Lizzy not to "Keep him to herself". She even continued to champion him after he was engaged to another simply for a 10000 pd. dowry.

So, Lizzy was as close to be in love as possible. What would have happened if he had fortune? I don't think there is any question in my mind what she would have done. But that is the issue because I have put that question square in front of my readers. Blake does have fortune enough. He is charming, just like Wickham; he shows her much attention, just like Wickham. I had always wanted a rival for Darcy and I always wanted Elizabeth to be put in the position of having to choose between Darcy and a charming suitor with money. So I wrote this story (well that was one of the reasons - or I guess I should say wrote this subplot). Now we are at the point where Blake is ready to make his move - is he a Wickham or a Darcy? If he is Wickham, we can see Elizabeth saying no easily enough because she is no Lydia. but if he is honorable as Darcy, then what? What would she do? What would she have done had Wickham been able to court her properly? She showed a weakness for charming men (Wickham and Col. Fitzwilliam) - so she was not immune to pretty words. But would that be what she clearly wanted.

What are Elizabeth's expectations?

The story will reveal it all and in its own schedule, not mine.

till tomorrow.

Pain in the back

yes, I have one and I will be trying to nurse it this week. Unfortunately, I am not able to sit in a chair very long. Aagh! that means I cannot spend much time on the blog or the responses to the commenters or chapter 30.

But I did want to say, there is a general feeling that I am torturing Darcy. Well, not true. I am torturing the readers who want a Darcy that does not struggle with his feelings for Elizabeth, a Darcy that is not arrogant, a Darcy that does not believe he is above the folks at Meryton, a Darcy that would warn the Meryton folks about Wickham, - well, I could go on and on but it would still be the same - they want a perfect Darcy from the beginning.

My Darcy will have conflicting thoughts and will not find his road to Elizabeth easy. He did say he struggled. And there will be more struggle to come. the Darcy they want is not the one that would propose in such a way.

Butt in? They are mad that he is butting in? What the heck do they call separating Bingley and Jane but butting in? His butting into Blake's affair is different than the Bingley/Jane match up. First, he is a little skeptical about Blake's intentions, unlike Bingleys. Second, Darcy never wanted Jane like he secretly wants Elizabeth, and third he has just gone through his sister's fiasco which should have left him with a sense of guilt for not controlling that situation better.

So, my question to my fans is not why am I tortoring the poor soul, but why do the other writers give him such an easy pass when Jane Austen did not intend for Darcy to succumb to love so quickly.

I suspect my readers want two things: 1. Hurry up and get to Hunsford so this can be resolved; and 2. Lizzy's thoughts.

1. My story is from the men's perspective and lives. I added the competition but everything else is on target time wise. Now, the Bingley and Darcy did stay in NP for quite a while even in P&P but we never saw what they did other than shoot some birds. I just gave them things to occupy their time. So, since it is from the men's perspective we are moving the storyline through a different and slower path to Hunsford. But we do get there.

2. LIzzy feelings. Well, Austen did not give us Darcy's thoughts or feelings - just a line here or there. I know the lack of Lizzy is frustrating to the readers but I did warn everyone that this is not a romance and romances follow the story from the heroine's perspective. Austen kept the readers guessing about Darcy until the end. Remember he admitted to himself he was glad to see LIzzy leave NP because he was in danger of his heart being captured by her. We did not get to hear what he thought of the one dance at NP they shared. In fact, we went from a few verbal discussions at NP to the Hunsford. I am afraid, my story will be the same except it is Lizzy instead of Darcy that is held back in the story.

Everything changes after next week.

till tomorrow

Today is the ball

and I hope everyone enjoys themselves although I think they were expecting a resolution to the Blake and Elizabeth storyline. That comes next Tuesday. I needed to finish up some stuff before the men leave for London.

I am off to play canasta. I will edit this post later after I find out if anyone at the sites are still speaking to me! lol

gayle

What a Victory!

Last night I watched the mens 4X freestyle relay. From someone that was not that into the games, I found myself jumping to my feet and cheering on our guys. If some odd reason I turned on the tv last night and first watched the whole story about the French girl swimmer and her ex-boyfriend and her competitor and the whole tabloid stuff. I cheered when neither girl won their race. I believe the winner was from Great Britain and that was ok by me. I also route for the athlete that has the best story, too. If he/she has overcome many obstacles (such as the Korean man that had, 4 years earlier, jumped in the pool too soon and was disqualified-- well this year he won and won decisively, I cheered for him. But when the athlete's story is well, arrogant or messy, then I don't route for them even when they are Americans.

but oh, when the announcers shared with the American audience that the French men had said they were going to smash us. And I got the message that was the nicest of all the things they said, I, like all other Americans, watched the race. Ah. We did not have any real hope as the announcer kept saying how the French should easily win. Yes, the American swimmers won and in dramatic fashion. Who ever heard of all three medal winners beating a world record by 3 seconds. WoW.

I cheered and yelled smash that! These American men were a little like Elizabeth - when someone tries to intimidate her, she rises to the occassion. Well, last night our guys rose to the occasion. I loved it. It was the story within the games.

I thought about poor Bingley's olympics. The readers were all routing for their home guy- Darcy - but he did not win. they routed against Blake (which is a little like routing against the superpower America. It seems everyone likes to beat us. Well, so be it. I smile at the Latavians that beat the American beach volleyball team. Those two men really rose to their occasion. The joy in their hearts was clearly evident. I did watch the American men go over and shake the hands of the Latavians. I did not watch the French swimmers to do the same. I watched the American swimmer hug the Korean swimmer and our guy finished 4th. I do see it all the time. Americans make the effort to congratulate the winners. Watch some of the games and see how often that is not replicated when in the reverse. I like to think that the prejudice of our cameras just don't bother showing it instead of the competitors not showing good sportsmanship.

Now I will be hooked on the Olympics. I record the events to watch later and fast forward through the day's activities. I get to skip the stuff I do not like. I find I skip a lot! lol

Today I begin polishing Chapter 30 to send off to my betas. Hopefully I can get it done by Wednesday and then I will attempt to finish chapter 31. I need to get ahead a little further than I am now.

So, off to write!

And God said,

let there be a day of rest. and so it is.

till tomorrow

When my muse is stuck on a word

I have read threads about what to do when your muse has abandoned you. It happens, even to me. But what do you do when she quits in the middle of a sentence. lol Is it the word or the thought that is the problem?

My muse seems to rebel whenever I try to be more of a writer than I am. I try to find the right word or thought and present in a way that goes beyond my novice abilities, she leaves me. Ups and goes wherever it is muses go. I am left at the keyboard, staring at the monitor (my monitor is one of those rectangular ones - not the square ones and it is flat! I suppose it could work as an HD tv screen but I have not clue about that - ok I digress - back to my muse before she leaves me).

What's a girl to do? I turn to spider solitaire. I have three choices: Easy, Medium or Hard. Easy is using only one suit (many decks); Medium uses two and hard uses 4. I use the medium. I don't wish to break my brains just rattle them a little. I am pretty good at Medium. I can will 4 out of 5 times. So I suppose Medium is too easy for me now.

My youngest son (my Rawlings), I discovered on his last visit here, plays the same game; but he plays the Hard one. He is younger and has more brain cells to call upon. Mine have been burnt over time with drink and aging. Well, he sat down next to me and took over my game (when he was not stealing my wireless keyboard). He does that. I am always reminded of Tom Sawyer and the painting of the fence. He made it so much fun that the others took over for him. My son likes to take over for me except when it comes to cleaning. He used to run off to his room and lock the door. lol

Well, I find my muse comes back while I play this game. I think she likes it too. She forgives me and gives me that word or thought and I go back and finish my sentence. Of course, I have written before about what I do when I really need to clear my head. I wonder where my sailor boy is today? It has been 42 years since that sailboat ride. If I only knew anything about him then I would google him or look him up in the Social Security Death Index. Did you know they have that? My mom makes me look up all her old friends when we visit. Sadly, many of them are listed there. I digress again.

This morning I will not play solitaire because I plan to catch up on all my reading.

Till tomorrow!

gayle

random thoughts

Ok, I have no real thoughts this morning. I think I need to make my coffee before something pops in my head. Until then I shall just write down my random thoughts.

Umm, Ok, I have no random thought either. Let me think.

How about a word. maybe random words would be better.

wine stopper. Ok that is two words. Not a word but not a full thought either. But they are my words so I will go with it.

Wine stoppers are like: the key that holds the buzz in the bottle.

See now I have a thought. this is how my mind works. Let me move on from there.

The buzz in the bottle is the delicious elixir of life. Maybe not the elixir but something damn close. I can get lost with good food, good friends and a wonderful bottle or two of a good wine. Writing is a little bit of that. As the writer you put together the pieces of a story for your readers and hopefully your share a good time together. The good food is certainly the story in my mind , the good friends are us, and the bottle of wine is the words on the paper (or screen). the wine stopper is in place to keep the story bottled up until I, the wine pourer, amready to serve.

See that is how my mind goes from nothing to something.

Now we have this delicious glass of wine. I have put my stopper back in place after pouring out 26 servings. I don't want the rest of my wine to spill out unintentionally. So now my wine stopper is in place. My friends have drank their glasses dry and they are holding their glasses up on top of their heads. they are getting drunk. I need to be careful before they get to be sloppy drunks. lol

Ok, my mom shared this one - in her retirement community when they have cocktail parties and their glass is empty they hold the glass on top of the head until the host (or hostess) refills it. The other guests laugh and giggle but the glass does get refilled.

Anyway I have a bunch of readers with their glasses on their heads. I am the wine steward holding the bottle with one hand on the stopper. Do I pour? Do I give them a full refill or just a half of glass. Are they able to drive home later? lol Will they be able to wake up tomorrow and not be sorry for the drink the had the day before?

See how I can turn any word into a thought about my writing! Well, back to the thought.

Tuesday I will pour out some mighty potent liquid. But I don't want my guests to get drunk right away so I will be careful with the amount. I have been stingy throughout this "party" but now I am ready to fill those glasses higher. But how high? I shall go halfies. One half this week but a full size half and another half next week that is again another full size half. Now imagine the size of my glass- it is huge. It could hold many servings if I chose, but I have been given little sips. Yes, I don't want my guests to overdo their partying. But now when the party is half over, I will give them a "half-time" drink.

So did you understand this. Let me translate. Tuesday you will get a long chapter which represents 1/2 of the climax for this part of the story. Next Tuesday you get the other half. Then my friends it is back to sipping the party away until the end where the final climax will be poured out in refill after refill. lol

off to drink (coffee it is too early for wine).

gayle

Drama vs Comedy

Which do you prefer? Or does a story, play, movie, tv show need both? I say yes, but the dominance of one over the other depends upon the story. My story his mostly a drama with bits of humor. I show humor through wit or scenes. Rawlings is my wit and Mrs. B has provided at least one good funny scene.

I am not a drama person except when it comes to thrillers and spy stories. Otherwise I enjoy being caressed by humor. I am not a slapstick kind of person but if an excellent scene comes on and it is slapsticky I will laugh and appreciate it. For instance, I recently watched Rush Hour. Slapstick everywhere but for me it was done right. Usually it is the use of wit that causes me to give my "thumbs up." I believe every story needs humor, especially the dramas.

Now dramas to me are only good when there is something real at stake. Saving the world for instance. (or saving the cheerleader!). Perhaps it is saving the victim of a serial killer. Or finding the treasure that will save the world. But some "stakes" are merely the human heart. P&P is full of drama and it mainly is about the heart and character of two people. Change the character and get the girl. Change the heart and get the guy. and vice versa.

In studying how to write novels, I learned the most important thing (well, according to the writers everything was the most important) was to create a change. Each scene needs a change, each chapter needs a change and the novel as a whole needs a change. Suspense, tension and change. I try hard with each chapter to live up to this ideal. When I start a scene I try to determine what I wish to do, who is to change or what is to change. It is hard but without change the scene becomes fluff. and all the experts say NO FLUFF.

Change can be something inside a person. A thought finally reaches the character's brain. People react to change and that is why you need the next scene. YOu need the reaction and a new need for another change. Quite complicated. Writing without fluff.

Well, even humor can be used to create this change stuff. Mrs. B certainly changed the look of a few gowns of Elizabeth's. I should have said the morning dresses remained unchanged only some of her gowns and especially her social gowns. I digress. But my Caroline story created a change and an in-depth one. This time the change was not in the characters minds or actions, but in the readers. that was another lesson I learned. Change can be aimed at you. Many reader's minds were opened about who Caroline was (at least for my story). I changed their perception and gave them a way to understand her better and not be so critical of everything she does. Once we recognize the reason for a person's behavior the behavior becomes a bit more tolerable. We can dismiss it easier than when we were left in the dark.

As I move the chapters forward to the story "change" I will use humor some, but drama mostly. For this is a dramatic story.

gayle

Extremely Tired

Today I woke late tired. My body does not seem to want to move and my mind is empty. Today will be a struggle to get anything accomplished. So today I rest. Tomorrow I will write again.

Confidants

the post today covers the second half of the Harvest Feast. It is the last post before we get to the ball. Even still, there are important scenes that had to take place before next week's post. Rawlings needed to discover what the problem was between Darcy and Wickham. When his man Logan finds out he acts upon the knowledge. He is a true friend in all regards. He never gossips but he does not need to with Logan as his confident.

Well, oops, hit the enter button too soon! lol

Anyway, Rawlings is able to move about with ease knowing that Logan is there to back him up. He keeps him informed and as the old sayings goes, knowledge is power. Rawlings may be just a second son, but he does have the advantage of knowing what is going on, well, in most cases.

I have enjoyed creating this man. He has many flaws -- lord he drinks like a fish, eats sweets, is free with a cutting word here and there, but I like him. He has something special, something so hard to find. It is so hard I can't name it. It is usually called IT. Now most of my readers want Darcy to be the IT guy. Well he is too but in his own way.

I had to laugh, when I first started posting the story, almost all my commenters found RAwlings lacking. He was not to be trusted, his valet was evil, etc. They have since come to love him as I do.

Next they have placed their dislike on Blake and have begun the campaign to dislike Kent. Oh, my readers do not disappoint me at all. Kristin I believe is still hoping for the best with Blake. Well, Meg was too but she no longer reads my story or rather comments. I believe she is taking a break. If so, it is usually too hard to come back later. I will miss Meg's comments but I understand.

Today, I finally give my readers Darcy's thoughts. It is his POV today as it will be more often in the future. The ball is from his eyes and mind which should make a few readers happy, or will it? lol

I have just finished polishing Chapter 29 and will be sending it off to my beta's. I wonder what their reaction will be. I did take time to provide a look back on the 28 chapters through Darcy's eyes. Of course he had not seen everything so somethings were not covered. But I think it will help everyone move on to the London phase with the right frame of mind.

It will be interesting to note the number of views today. Two weeks ago I hit 650 at AHA. A very respectable number. Last week, barely 550. I think my readers want to get the Blake/Elizabeth plotline done and now are are a little frustrated with me.

I too wish to be able to reveal my thoughts on the storyline. My beta's are a relief, but today I wish to thank my confidant, KarenA. She was my first supporter that was not a beta. She encouraged me and made me feel good about my story. And she has become my Logan. well, she does not drink anyone under the table to gain information but she and I do share confidences. We all need them and I hope you will find your own.

Next I will share my thoughts on my beta's. I shall never be able to repay their kindness. I feel they too are a strong part of my life. but I will share more later and only with their say so!

Have fun reading today. Next week the climax for this part of the story begins.

gayle

the chicken or the egg

which came first. The old saying. I always believed it was the chicken since man started as man but then I am a Christian and not a scientist that has no believe in God. Now the scientists I am sure believe the egg came first or rather a tadpole. or a single cell.

What does this issue have to do with my writing. I know my blogs can seem a little off the wall. They are - most days. I just type the thoughts in my head. Well, this blog focuses on the impact writing has on my life. When I wrote about secret clubs, I imagined them everywhere. I live so close to my writings that my moods are clearly affected (or is it effected - I don't know which is right and I am too lazy today to look it up.)

When we played the games I was happy and fun to be around. Now the story is moving into a more serious phase and I hesitate to admit I am a little sad and depressed. A little. My mood is closer to sadness and depression.

But which comes first - the sad serious writing or the sad serious mood. Was it my mood that causes the story to mirror my feelings or is it the other way around. Right now I take my clues from the story. But when I first wrote the draft it did not. Funny! It is only as I edit and polish the chapters and prepare to post them that I feel the mood of the chapter. I transfer the emotion from the page onto my life. Strange.

I have begun a funny humorous story but have stopped dead cold. I guess I will have to get a few more chapters ahead before I can go back to thinking funny stuff. lol.

Cause and effect. Effect and causes.

Today I shall put on happy music. All day.

gayle

A Sunny Monday

I have woken with the sun shining in my room. I slept through the sunrise which is unusual for me. I wake at five am. every morning like clockwork which is strange because when I worked I did not stir before six am. Without the tension and stress of work, it seems I like to wake up and meet the day. I am as anxious as a child is on her birthday or Christmas. Every day is a gift.

today I shall spend on chapter 29. It needs some work since I am adding a scene and I need to strengthen the other shocking stuff. It needs to be flushed out a little more.

I also plan to continue with my springtime house cleaning. Ok, I am late. I know but who cares. I will pull apart my pantry and restock everything. I have things that need to be thown out I am sure. I am such a pack rat. lol. I hate to throw things out, which explains why I have almost a gigabite of chapters and research on my flash drive. I never throw document into the recycle bin. It is all still there.

So today I am off and away.

gayle

Story, History, Enchantment

"There are three points of view from which a writer can be
considered: he may be considered as a storyteller, as a
teacher, and as an enchanter.  A major writer combines these
three--storyteller,teacher,enchanter--but it is the enchanter
in him that predominates and makes him a major writer."

"To the storyteller we turn for entertainment, for mental
excitement of the simplest kind, for emotional participation,
for the pleasure of traveling in some remote region in space
or time.  A slightly different though not necessarily higher
mind looks for the teacher in the writer.  Propagandist,
moralist,prophet--this is the rising sequence.  We may go to
the teacher notonly for moral education but also for direct
knowledge, for simplefacts...Finally, and above all, a great
writer is always a greatenchanter,and it is here that we come
to the really exciting part,when we try to grasp the individual
magic of his genius and to study the style, the imagery, the
pattern of his novels or poems."

(Vladimir Nabokov, "Lectures on Literature")

I liked this bit of stuff I found on the internet recently. Storyteller, teacher, and enchantress. Those are three wonderful goal to strive for.

As I look over my chapters I try to determine if I have achieved Vladimer's concepts.

Storyteller. I like my story. I think it has most features that is necessary: compelling characters, an interesting and believable plot, a beginning, a middle and an end. I think I have injected humor, romance, and some intrique. I don't believe I have failed at storytelling. It might be a bit complex now and then but it is a good story. It does push forward to the ending each chapter building upon the ones past. Even my storyline within the chapters is ok. All this I must qualify as coming from a first-time writer. There are weaknesses in the storyline but not glaring ones and that is my goal for this first story. A good storyteller does offer great characters and I have worked hard to offer my reader wonderful ones. Now Blake and Rawlings have taken the forefront but I tried to also use whatever gifts I have to show other ones in believable light. Caroline, for instance. Since my story is about the social changes in the time, she made a perfect example. I used her school life to show the reason for her being the way she was. I try to use them to enhance the story and not detract. But ocassionally it is a distraction.

Teacher. Whew. Is there balance between teaching and storytelling? There must be. I have tried not to bore my readers with paragraphs upon paragraphs of history. I tried to present what I consider to be important historical references in dialogue or a few scene setting descriptions (such as the Black Bull Tavern). In other words, I try to sneak my history stuff in it so the reader does not realize she has just had a history lesson. For instance, I did give an accurate accounting of what members of the four-horse club wore by having Rawlings wear it. Another example is the steam locomotive exhibit that actually happened in 1811. I gave you a lesson couched in the men's scoffing at the thought of riding in one of them. But sometimes I think I miss my opportunities or I present the information poorly. Oh well, I will keep trying. I do enormous amount of research because I think the story is enhanced by it. The clothes worn by Rawlings for his race added to the excitement and the visual image and believe me when I say I could not have dreamt it up! lol So research does aid in many way.

I also am trying to convey the sense of change from an agricultural based society to the industrial one. That was an historical time and the change was truly revolutionary. We are in the midst of one of our own - from the industrial revolution to the informational one. We have made the world so small that a group of women (and a few men) can belong to a tight-knit community and yet be spread out all over the world. We needed no government (well other than the adms/mods of the site) and the taxes are strictly voluntary. Our world is changing and believe me when I say us old foggies are much like the old men debating the young ones about progress. Our world was fine for us so why change. Rawlings said it, Change is what we do. True statement about the young. They will change life.

Enchantress. This is where I think I am the weakest. How do you go about enchanting readers? Is suspense a form of enchantment? Vladimir wrote that the enchantment comes from the style, the imagery, the pattern of .... So have I enchanted with my style? Do my scenes visualize in your mind as you see the characters push the story forward? Is my pattern of words fluid? Do I create the right balance between images and storyline and history? I hope so because that is the goal I am striving for. '

So, have I enchanted you?

another short post

I have alot on my agenda and cannot spend too much time at the computer. I won't bore you with the details, well, this time.

I have shipped Chapter 27 off to Debra Anne for the final review - it is the ball and I know from the comments everyone is waiting for it. It is followed by the wrap up of the NP phase of the story in Chapter 28. Both are so long they should have been split in two making 4 chapters instead of 2 but I think my readers will forgive me for 2 long posts. They have waited too long for them as it is and the chapters flow better without splitting them.

Next up to post is Chapter 26 - the second half of the Harvest Feast. I split that chapter and now I think I should have kept it long too. Sometimes I need long chapters to cover everything I want. I don't care how many chapters total but I do care for flow.

At least in chapter 26 you get inside Darcy's head. lol everyone waited a long time for this. lol

Chapter 29 will be the wrap up (by Darcy in his carriage ride home to London) of all the pertinent things and a few surprises too.

well, off to do my thing. Tomorrow will be my morning call with my mom and then I a free to work on my writing.

gayle