In case you've ever wondered, this is what the accumulated rough drafts of three novels looks like - 22 inches in height and - shortly after I took this photo - all over my study floor, when the table decided to tip over. It looks a bit like a giant angel cake because I use different colours of paper for each complete draft. That way I don't mix up different versions of the same book. This is all three books - the final drafts are kept safe elsewhere - and all this needs recycling somehow... As you might have gathered from this, I've spent much of the first two weeks of my holiday trying to find the house beneath the clutter and junk which accumulated during the time I was writing SCOTCH PINE. Finally, I feel as if I've got my house back but I'm ready to stop being domesticated and be creative instead!It has been a busy few weeks for other reasons too. I spent a very interesting day at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival 'Creative Thursday' for writers and came awa
y with at least one good idea for Grouse and Partridge as well as the determination to try and see if I can get an agent interested in the first book. It needs some re-writing, but I think I could face having a try at untangling it for a new audience. I'm also determind to stay a little longer next year and indulge in some of the excellent author events they arrange.
y with at least one good idea for Grouse and Partridge as well as the determination to try and see if I can get an agent interested in the first book. It needs some re-writing, but I think I could face having a try at untangling it for a new audience. I'm also determind to stay a little longer next year and indulge in some of the excellent author events they arrange.And this week I spent three days in London, indulging in theatre (including the wonderful production of La Cage aux Folles at the 
Playhouse Theatre, starring Philip Quast and Roger Allam who are two of my very favourite actors anyway! I can't recommend it too highly - it was inspirational!) shopping for art and craft materials and visiting the John William Waterhouse exhibition at the Royal Academy. I also drooled over the Crime Fiction Department of Hatchards bookshop in Piccadilly - it's wonderful! - and saw a fantastic photography exhibition at the Photographer's Gallery off Oxford Street. More on this in the next post, I think!
Playhouse Theatre, starring Philip Quast and Roger Allam who are two of my very favourite actors anyway! I can't recommend it too highly - it was inspirational!) shopping for art and craft materials and visiting the John William Waterhouse exhibition at the Royal Academy. I also drooled over the Crime Fiction Department of Hatchards bookshop in Piccadilly - it's wonderful! - and saw a fantastic photography exhibition at the Photographer's Gallery off Oxford Street. More on this in the next post, I think!Best cake? Found in the Royal Academy Restaurant, without doubt. They called it 'Orange and Almond Cake' but to my mind it was more of a marmalade orgy on a plate, dripping with syrupy orange pieces. Huge portions, went down well with a large (strong!) Americano...
Scotch Mist to an agent? Genius!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear about your ideas for a new audience - however, I think the current version is just perfect as it is - I am loving reading it at the moment! Everytime I read, I laugh out loud. All I can say is - I wouldn't like to be the one who has to keep washing Partridge's clothes haha!
Hope you're okay :) x
In Book one Partridge washes his own clothes at a wee laundrette just down the street from Mrs Sheepshanks's which must be very popular as it is always mysteriously crammed with women on his regular wash day. Some of them are very glamourously dressed for just going to the laundrette and they all seem to need the help of a strong, muscular Scotsman to add the soap powder, or fill the dryer. He doesn't mind. It's still a whole lot less scary than the only time he tried to wash his smalls in Mrs Sheepshanks's twin tub...
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