It’s Monday once more and the outside the rain is steady and persistent. I feel this winter has been particularly awful with very few light sunny days and so much wet, dark weather. We’re very lucky to live on the side of a hill even though we are probably only five hundred yards from a river – By Brook – which meets the River Avon on the edge of the village. No chance of flooding, which I guess, next to fire must be one of the most awful things a house owner can experience.
When I woke up this morning I realised we’d already reached January 15th – half way through the first month of 2018 already! I’m trying to keep up the positive vibe, pleased that I’ve secured Tuesday Talk interviews for February and March. That’s one less pressure. I’m also nearing the end of a very long writing journey. As no doubt I’ve mentioned many times in previous blogs, my current WIP has at times has taken to me to the edge of my patience…and sanity. It began really well last January and I thought that this, like all my previous books, would be finished by Christmas. Unfortunately not. This story has taken on a life of its own. I guess I could keep revising and improving until the men in white coats turn up to take me away. However, I’m glad to report I have one extra scene to write – something I feel needs to be included in the book – and then I’m done. Part of the reason I’m drawing a final line under this particular WIP is that a new story is knocking on the door. I’ve been gradually putting it together in my head as I’ve been doing revisions on The Boys of Summer. This has given me the boot up the backside I badly needed in order to get one project finished and another started.
Hopefully at the end of play today I’ll have written and polished that final scene and the whole thing will be winging its way to my editor for a final check and read through.
And the new project? Well currently I’m getting the cast together. The location? I’m still not there yet. It’s going to be either South Cornwall or North Devon I have a great love for both counties and the atmospheric backdrops they can provide so am finding it very hard to choose. As far as the plot goes, although there’s the central romance there will. as usual, be subplots woven through the book. I began as a saga writer and I guess I’ve never been able to shake off the need to write a story which centres on more than just two people. Strangely I’m not a great fan of soaps although I guess there is a slight parallel in my books in that it’s all about characters, families and communities. So what do you think?
SHOULD IT BE NORTH DEVON?
OR SOUTH CORNWALL?
In the time it’s taken to write this, the rain has stopped and then returned. A thoroughly miserable Monday but this writer has work to do. So now I’m off to sort out that very last scene. Wish me luck!
JO LAMBERT 