Adventures...

...for Knots in the String...

I have to say there’s usually some sort of adventure (an unusual or exciting or daring experience) in my life at least once a week.

I’m a believer in trying to make my life an adventure. I want to look back on it and wonder at the wonderful experiences I’ve had, how satisfying they were. I don’t want to languish in my old age with regret hanging around my shoulders like a crocheted shawl.

Firstly let it be known that I’m a complete techno-dunce. Anything to do with technology I have to be led through slowly with repetition to understand it. How amazing then, that I managed to organise myself for a first ever Zoom meeting this week. That was to be my first adventure!

In addition, it was for a podcast called Rock Paper Swords – the brainchild of highly successful UK hist.fict writers Matthew Harffy (published by Head of Zeus/Aries) and Steven A McKay (Broadsword Publishing)

So, there it was – the second adventure!

It was honestly an honour to be asked to appear on Rock Paper Swords. An honour for me, my books and my brand. The video podcast was about an hour and delved into my life, but more than anything it was so nice to talk to Steven and Matthew ‘face to face’.

I live far from my chosen book settings and far from the pulsating hearts of my favourite historical fiction alumni who live well north of the Tropic of Capricorn. The chances of me actually meeting any of them, let alone Matthew and Steven, are slim at best. Thus this real-time chat for an hour was the very best thing.

I’ve known Matthew since he hit the book-charts running with The Serpent Sword (The Bernicia Chronicles) and I became an immediate fan, because here was a writer who wrote a hero with a heart and a very deep soul – a thinking man. His protagonists continue in that laudable vein.

Steven, I knew from his legendary retelling of The Robin Hood saga, Wolf’s Head (Book One of The Forest Lord) series and from which he has gone from strength to veritable strength over the years. They are stellar books!

I look forward to seeing what the chaps come up with when they edit the podcast and will advertise details here when its ready (if I’m game!).

The other adventure for the week (and probably not an adventure by others’ calculations) has been seeing the gradual transformation of the old family home, The Millington House, from faded grandmother to stylish Coastal Grandmother. It looks the same on the exterior but its new owners are rebuilding the interior exactly the way Mum and my brother always wanted to do it. If ghosts haunt happily, I think Mum will be one happy ghost.

Decorating, I think, will be jaw-dropping, as the new owners have style in spades. As things were revealed and colours and furnishings hinted at, my imagination went into excited overdrive.

Just look at this beautiful wall light for the living room for starters.

So why is this an adventure?

There are many memories in the house, and the changes might have reduced me to ruins. Instead, walking through the back door in trepidation turned out to be that ‘exciting experience’ which is exactly what adventures are made of. And the house still maintains it’s age-old, remarkable integrity.

My Time:

1.     Making a conscious decision to finally, after 7 long weeks, leave the city behind me and return to my roots much more permanently, with my feet knee-deep in the water.

2.     Stitching. Naturally. Nearly finished a gift for a friend’s 80th. Finishing a load of pocket hearts which I delivered to clinics and hospitals.

3.     Gardening. Of course. Wildflower meadow seeds sown in a trial ‘bee and butterfly patch.’ A wheelbarrow seeded likewise. Veggie garden weeding begun. New plants to go in – hollyhocks, aquilegias, sanguisorbas, plume poppies and so forth. I intend revelling in many wet and temperate climate plants while La Ninã is with us. If and when we ever return to dry conditions, then I will rethink the coast garden once more.

4.     Walking. Ticked off the first long coast walk (Day 1). Walked our favourite beach in splendid solitude on Day 2 and took the grandson and terrier on Day 3. You should see the terrier’s jaunty walk. He radiates simple joy! (So does grandson, and probably me too). I had an idea the terrier may have been flagging in the city, but his current demeanour proves it. Long walks, nicer walks and a much bigger garden – what’s not to love!

Watching:

I suppose fairly mundane really, but it resonates so much.

More of Grand Canal Journeys with Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth. Stimulating and beautiful. And humorous.

More of The Durrells repeats. Good humour and so well put together.

More of Spooks repeats – my God that show moves along with heart-stopping tension. A timeless spy thrill every episode.

Two-part documentary The Queen Mother.

Saving Lives at Sea.

Reading:

No magazines.

Quite a lot of Substacks. See previous newsletters for high accolades. This week Tom Ryan, The Real Emily in Paris, With Love From Sweden and Wandering Alice are my standout faves.

Research for my previous fantasy novels (The Chronicles of Eirie). There’s gems stashed in the folders that I think I can use.

Spirits, Faeries, Gnomes and Goblins – an encyclopedia of the Little People. It’s a perfect guide to creatures of myth and legend which is vital for this latest novel.

The Singing Trees by Boo Walker. It’s not holding my interest. Shame as it reviews very well. I think it’s more to do with what my spirit wants to read right now.

The Last Stitch by Prue Batten to recall what evil intent the city of Veniche holds in the fantasy world of Eirie. It’s just about to feature again in the new manuscript which is re-named tentatively The Mapmaker’s Scroll.

And finally, I’m writing this newsletter – Knots in the String. To show up weekly to write something folk might enjoy is not just re-educating me to discipline, but it’s actually un-knotting my creative wiring.

So here’s to newsletters, here’s to uncrossed wires.

But more than anything – here’s to adventures, big and small.

Cheers.

PS: Masses of little white lambs everywhere. Mothers handling twins and triplets with ease. Perfect lambing weather. Mild, sun and little wind. The grass grows apace as I watch! So does my garden!