MONTHLY UPDATE

Holidays, Italy, MONTHLY UPDATE, READING AND REVIEWING, WEATHER, Writing

AUGUST UPDATE…

Posted on August 25, 2023August 24, 2023 by Jo Lambert - Author

August had the potential to save summer. To inject some sunshine into those last thirty one days before September arrived. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Okay, there were moments of warm sunshine. Days when the beach beckoned, or eating in the garden was possible. But somehow the rain just kept coming back, bringing with it gloomy grey skies. I’ve always seen the August Bank Holiday weekend as the gateway to autumn. Having said that, both September and October can often surprise us with unexpected sunshine and unseasonably warm days. So, who knows, maybe this year, an Indian summer awaits us. We can only hope!

AUGUST READS

August has been a quiet month for reading. I’m still working on the outline for my new book, which I plan to begin writing at the end of September. I think that probably cut the number of reads. All in all, it proved to be a month of quality rather than quantity, with Kate Ryder’s Echoes on a Cornish River definitely coming out on top as my favourite read.

September starts with a holiday. Our long awaited trip to Italy. This was booked in February, which seemed ages ago, but suddenly, here it is, less than a fortnight away. We are returning to Desenzano on Lake Garda. It’s my first trip abroad since 2018 and the fated ankle break while staying in Menorca. It was followed shortly after by Covid, which curtailed our ability to take holidays, even in the UK. It will be our fourth trip to the lake and second to Desenzano (where we stayed in 2016) . Italy is one of my favourite holiday destinations. I love everything about the country – the weather, the food, the people…and, of course, the history. I’m so looking forward to this trip, which will be followed by our Ruby Wedding Anniversary in October. And then, we’ll be thinking about Christmas…

Well, that’s all for now. I’ll be back at the end of September. In the meantime, wherever you are, enjoy the coming Bank Holiday.

MONTHLY UPDATE, Reviewing, Writing

We’re having a heatwave? I don’t think so…

Posted on August 2, 2023August 1, 2023 by Jo Lambert - Author

So here we are again, the end of yet another month. Seven down, five to go. This year has been a strange one. We’ve had only a handful of lunches on our back patio and as for the seating on the decking? Well, the covers have yet to come off. As I sit here, there’s rain against the window once more. I’m hoping that August will restore my faith in the weather and bring some of that much missed summer sunshine back to the UK.

July was a quiet month with not much to report. I’m still working on my new writing project, but don’t plan to begin until we’re back from Italy later in September. Desenzano, on Lake Garda, where we will be staying, actually features in A Cornish Affair, which was published back in 2019. It definitely ticked all the boxes when I was looking for somewhere for my two star crossed lovers to meet and resolve their differences.

I’m planning to write a piece on my writing blog about using real places in my fiction. I have done this many times in the books I’ve published and on one occasion, when I needed a heroine to walk around Verona, I used Google Map. I had actually visited the city, but my memory, coupled with photos I’d taken at the time, weren’t really sharp enough to make the scene convincing. I’ll be posting on FB and ‘X’ as it is called now (not sure I can get used to this strange new name, but that’s another story) later this month.

MY READING MONTH

And finally…

From the covers below you would be forgiven for thinking I’ve been locked away in a room for the last 31 days and done nothing but read. Not so, but it’s my biggest monthly reading challenge so far this year. Some books, depending on the story, I’m able to finish in a couple of days; others take a bit more time. All of these were great reads, but there were three which I felt really stood out – two crime and one coming of age novel set in the States.

The Nail Salon by Natalie Tambini.

Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman.

The Crying Cave Killings by Wes Markin.

Check out my Goodreads account to see my reviews

Well that’s all for this month, I’ll be back at the end of August.

Best wishes, Jo

Cornwall, Devon, Goodreads Reading Challenge, Holidays, MONTHLY UPDATE, Psychological Thriller, Writing

June Update

Posted on July 5, 2023July 6, 2023 by Jo Lambert - Author

A little late this month as I spent the last week of June in South Devon. An amazing break, catching up with family and ex-neighbours plus having two friends stay over with us in our apartment.

When visiting South Devon we usually stay in either Dartmouth, Kingsbridge or Salcombe. This year it was the turn of Kingsbridge, where we last stayed in 2017 just before the pandemic put us into lockdown. Post Covid there have been changes in the town. Some retailers have gone, while new ones have arrived. Thankfully the Mangetout Deli is still open and thriving. It was one of the first places we dropped into to purchase items. We have also enjoyed meals at The Crabshell Inn, which is only a few moments walk from our apartment. This year, however, we were shocked to find how much prices had shot up there, so opted to eat elsewhere instead. It’s a great place, right on the water’s edge but I couldn’t believe how expensive it had become.

We had a great week, meeting up with OH’s cousin, and having lunch with ex-neighbours who have moved to Ivybridge. We also had friends join us for a two night stopover. The weather held, hot and cloudless over the first weekend changing to sunny intervals accompanied by a strong wind for the rest of the week (check out the cloud formations as Beesands where we stopped for a coffee at The Cricket Inn on our way to Dartmouth on Thursday).

We walked a lot, checked out some new eateries and generally relaxed. The view from our apartment window was amazing. A view of the estuary with fields of sheep opposite. South Devon is one of my happy places and Dartmouth has, like Fowey, proved inspirational when creating Kingswater, the fictitious estuary town in my Cornish trilogy.

As at the end of all holidays, we were sad to leave, but now it’s all about where to choose for 2024 – Salcombe or Dartmouth? My money is on Dartmouth. Post Covid we found it swamped with tourists, but now holidays abroad are back, it’s much less crowded. It’s a great place to watch not only people but activity on the water as well. Relaxing and restful, I can’t wait to return.

READING

During June, I managed to read and review five books. It means I have now hit my Goodreads Reading Challenge target for the year. I would like to give a special mention to Sheryl Browne – yet another edge of the seat read with My Husband’s House. I also enjoyed Luisa A Jones’ The Gilded Cage, while Isabel Ashdown’s Homecoming and Nikki Smith’s The Beach Party both received five big stars from me – both highly recommended.

So that’s it for June. Back with you at the end of July.

Crime Thriller, Holidays, MONTHLY UPDATE, Psychological Thriller, Writing

Posted on March 3, 2023March 2, 2023 by Jo Lambert - Author

First post of 2023! January has simply whizzed by and now we’re saying goodbye to February. The first month of the year is my least favourite and usually the most quiet. So, I decided to move on and save my first update for February. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to have happened, here so I am, finishing off the post during the first few days of March!

What a lot of difference these weeks have made. The days are lighter and the dusk is nudging towards six pm. Whether you believe in Seasonal Affected Disorder or not, dark mornings and the early onset of dark evenings as the year ends definitely makes an impression on me. And not a good one. The run up to Christmas, with all its social activities acts as a distraction. There are things to look forward to. Purchases to make, get togethers to organise. And then, soon after the last strains of Auld Lang Syne have faded, there you are, face to face with January and a whole month which makes me feel I want to hibernate. No, of course that’s an exaggeration. It’s another year. New things to plan and look forward to. Nevertheless, I always find myself eager to get away from those thirty one days and move into February. And now, here we are, and I know I should not wish my life away, but I’m so glad January and February are behind me.

Fitness classes have resumed and I’m glad because I really felt the need to get back to proper exercise. Standing in the kitchen using two tins of beans for weights is no substitution. Joking aside, I do actually have some proper weights (in a girly pink circa late 1980s). I also have a step exerciser, and a selection of exercise bands, and I try to make time for home exercise. There is no substitution, however, for exercising as a group with a proper fitness trainer.

Holidays – I think everyone thought I was mad booking two holidays for 2023 in November. However, it’s clear from the situation with the current level of bookings on holiday websites that UK holidays a very much in demand. I’m spending my birthday in Norfolk at Wells Next The Sea. We first came here in 2007. Friends of ours retired to Dereham and love it so we always catch up with them whenever we stay here. I’ve always had this thing about boats and water and love Wells. It’s also a place for walkers and is a great opportunity to walk those extra pounds off (the pubs here are very good!)

In June we travel down to Devon. This time we’re in Kingsbridge; somewhere we haven’t stayed for quite a few years, usually opting for Dartmouth if we decide to stay in South Hams. And finally, in September we’re spending a week at Lake Garda. I really love the Italian Lakes and this time we’re going back to Desenzano, staying in the same hotel as we did in 2016. It will be my first trip overseas since Covid. The last time I holidayed out of the UK was in 2018 in Menorca. Memorable for all the wrong reasons, as I broke my ankle stepping awkwardly off the bottom step of the staircase in the villa where we were staying. As a result, I spent most of the summer in plaster, followed by a boot and physio. Not something I’m keen to repeat…

And finally –

READING AND REVIEWING

A busy two months so far – and some exceptionally good reads. For an excellent crime drama, I can recommend The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markham. Or if you are a lover of psychological thrillers then why not try The Summer Party by Rebecca Heath?

JANUARY and FEBRUARY

Have a good March everyone, by the time I’m here again, we’ll be looking forward to Easter and hopefully, the weather will be a tad warmer…

Cornwall, Costal Romance, MONTHLY UPDATE, ROMANTIC SUSPENSE, Writer's Journey, Writing

JULY UPDATE…

Posted on August 1, 2022July 31, 2022 by Jo Lambert - Author

Another month over and a milestone reached. Yes, at last I’ve arrived at the point in my writing where I can finally type THE END. At just over 103,000 words, it’s the smallest book I’ve written so far. And it has been one of the toughest. Some books almost write themselves. This one hasn’t. Part of the problem has been I’ve had one or two health issues. They have been irritating rather than worrying ones but nevertheless distracting enough for my writing to go into stop-start mode. Not a good thing when you have a timetable to keep to.

This month has seen another trip – a mid-week break to Alderminster, just outside Stratford Upon Avon. The Bell is a favourite stop over of ours. I can highly recommend this as a place to stay if you’re planning to visit Stratford. Not only is the accommodation first class, it has a really good restaurant if you fancy staying put for the evening. And if you want to leave the car behind, there’s a good bus service into Stratford with a bus stop right outside the pub.

We had a two night stopover, giving us a whole day to ourselves. Deciding to make use of our National Trust membership, we decided on a trip to Coughton Court, near Alcester (about 12 miles away). A Tudor Country house with extensive grounds and gardens, we spent a few hours there before returning for a late lunch in the pub garden.

Book News – The manuscript has left the building, which you would think leaves me with a huge amount of time on my hands. Not so. In fact I seem to be busier. As a great fan of period drama, I managed to get some chill out time watching Jane Austen’s Emma and Persuasion. I loved Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role of Emma Woodhouse and Bill Nighy did a great job as her father. Netflix and Persuasion not a good mix. Not only was this my set book for English Literature ‘O’ level, the action takes place in Bath (my home town) and Lyme Regis. That means I’ve always had a special affection for it. I’ve also carried with me my own idea of what Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth should look like – which as any reader knows is dangerous once a book finds its way onto the screen. I have seen two previous versions, one with Ciaran Hinds (1995) and the other with Rupert Penry-Jones (2007) taking the role of Captain Wentworth. Although Hinds was quite imposing as a senior naval officer, I preferred Penry-Jones (far more handsome), and was keen to see how this twenty first century version compared. Unfortunately, all I managed to watch was 33 minutes then sadly, I gave up. Maybe my expectations were too high, who knows? The whole thing simply didn’t work for me, particularly having Cosmo Jarvis as Frederick Wentworth.

JULY BOOK REVIEWS

And finally, when I next post, I will be including a cover reveal for my new romantic suspense novel Secrets That We Keep. It is the third part of my Cornish Estuary series set in the fictitious town of Kingswater. When I finished the first book Shadows on the Water I had no plans to turn it into a series. However, with three young women featuring, I soon saw the potential for two more stories. What happens next? Well, that’s all in the lap of the gods at the moment. We’re staying in Fowey during September so perhaps I’ll pick up those Cornish vibes and return home with the inspiration for another book. Who knows?

Until next month, take care and enjoy August…

Cornwall, Devon, MONTHLY UPDATE, Writing

September/October Update

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Jo Lambert - Author

The change from late summer to full blown autumn seems to have happened in the blink of an eye. One moment there we are, sitting having lunch in the garden, the next we’re wrapped up and pondering whether to turn on the central heating, -which as I write has already happened.

This year has been a strange one. Covid, of course, has changed everything. Since emerging from lockdown we have managed three escapes. The first during July to celebrate a friend’s birthday and then just the two of us on a three night stay at Alderminster, just outside Stratford on Avon. Both enabled us to relax somewhere other than home and (very luckily) to enjoy some good weather. Last week we took a break in Cornwall. I’d really wanted to return to South Devon but back in September when I looked at availability it seemed any self catering accommodation for two or four people was fully booked. So I tried Cornwall instead and managed to bag a really lovely apartment in Fowey at The Old Stationmaster’s House. There we had a relaxing week, did a lot of walking and ate some fabulous food. It was good to get away from home and forget about domestic and day to day stuff for a while. But all good things come to an end and here we are, back again. My OH has been busy clearing the garden while I’ve had my eye on the loft and five boxes and three suitcases long overdue for sorting out. Happily two of the suitcases were empty and the third, containing a set of ancient curtains, will go to the local recycling centre once we’ve collected enough items to book a time slot. With the coming of autumn and changing into something warmer it’s also been an opportunity to sort out clothes for the local charity shop.

Last week, our first since returning from Cornwall, turned out to be a little manic. There was just so much activity in those seven days that we even postponed our daily walk. Of course the weather had a part to play in the latter. After my surgery earlier in the year I was keen to get back to full health and walking played an important part in my recovery. Yesterday, the 26th, we had an afternoon walk and it was amazing how everything had changed since the last time we’d been out (8th October). With the clocks going back at the weekend, we were walking at what would have been five o’clock. It was colder, what was left of the sun was well on its way towards the horizon and there were carpets of leaves along the pavement. That is one thing that is noticeable here. Usually the council have contractors out clearing the pavements but not this year. No doubt the Covid situation has something to do with it. It means we really can kick our way through the leaves as we walk.

On the writing front, while I was in Cornwall I had time to think about the current state of play with my WIP. My writing mojo had decided to take itself off on holiday and for a few weeks progress had been very slow. Added to this were the other social media platforms that all needed regular attention. Something had to give and so on my return I decided to take a step back from Facebook. I simply did not have the time to keep up with all the posts. It’s not a total goodbye. I will return at some stage, it’s just that for now dipping in and out of Twitter and Instagram works better for me. Happily I’m gradually getting back into the swing of writing more. Sitting in front of a blank screen, wanting to write a post and having absolutely no inspiration for any topic at all was scary. Even more scary (and frustrating) was having to admit that my WIP simply wasn’t working. After publishing Shadows on the Water I realised I needed to make some radical changes. So it’s been consigned to the bin and I’m taking the characters and location and incorporating them into a completely new and different story. The plotting has been done and I’m pleased with the new version. Now all I need to do is sit and write.

Well that’s about it for September and October. I’ll be back at the end of November, hopefully with the news that the new WIP is going well. Crossing fingers!

And finally, I’ll leave you with a few reminders of our summer.