Blog - Page 19 of 19 - Laura E. James

The Port Glass.

The Port Glass.

8/22/2011 9:30:06 PM

No fingerprints, no grease marks, no smeared white lines

Its clarity, crystal clear

A remnant from an age gone by, that proves that you were here.

And I know it’s just a glass for wine, but the hands that held it once held mine

And your mouth would once have kissed its rim

Sipping port, its warmth within,

And if I touch it now, what will I feel? A tangible spark, something real?

I pray reflections in this glass will show me something of my past.

I’ll hold it gently, around the stem

I’ll treat it like a long lost friend

I’ll keep it safe and from time to time

I will replenish it with wine

And drink to you, whom I held dear.

A crystal glass – proof you were here.

Wonderful Week.

Wonderful Week.

8/21/2011 9:39:56 PM

I have had the most excellent week and it is set to continue with Off The Cuff tomorrow.

I have had a Twitter account for a couple of years, but only this week discovered the joys of tweeting. I am not entirely certain as to how I ended up making the connections I did, but I am so happy and smiling so much, you can see my molars.
There are a handful of authors whose books have moved me and inspired me to write, two of whom are Jill Mansell and Erica James and this week, I have been lucky enough to ‘talk’ to them through Twitter and FaceBook.
In my technological naivety, I posted a comment to what I thought was Jill Mansell’s fan page, commenting on one of her books, Good At Games, not expecting anyone to respond, but hopeful that I would at least connect with another fan. Well, I was blown over by the fact the lady herself sent a direct reply to me! I was so excited. I then felt like I had gate-crashed her Tweets, but she has assured me this is not the case and this is in fact how Twitter works. It made my week.
Well, I continued to find my way around Twitter and decided to follow Orion Books, who had tweeted about Promises Promises, by Erica James. There was a link that took me to the FaceBook Fan Page for Erica James. Good, I thought, I’m on safer ground, having been on FB for a couple of years. In my experience, it is very rare for the Fan Page ‘subject’ to host the page and once again, I posted a comment announcing how much of a fan I am and how wonderful the internet is for connecting people with other like-minded people. I was already relishing the discussions I could have with other readers about the books and looking forward to finding other fans who were also developing writers.
Then it happened again. Erica James, the author, responded to my comment. I was on a roll. I showed my daughter the message and she joined in with the grinning – her excitement on my behalf was wonderful and added to the euphoria of the day.
Tomorrow Isolde Martyn is attending Off The Cuff and I am very much looking forward to seeing her again. Isolde is an established Historical Romance author, who very generously gives her time to OTC to help us develop as writers. Isolde is now based in Sydney, Australia, but always drops in for a session or two when she is in Dorset.
What more can I say? It has been a stunning week and I am touched by the fact these three ladies are happy to engage with their fans. I am a willing student and they could teach me such a lot.
If you are a lover of romantic comedy, contemporary romance and historical romance, I recommend you take a look at these three authors. Jill Mansell made me laugh out loud, Erica james made me cry and Isolde Martyn taught me a thing or two, historically and literally.
I also ‘met’ another member of the Romantic Novelist Association’s New Writer’s Scheme through Twitter and I am looking forward to getting to know her better. Perhaps, next year, when I attend the RNA Conference, I shall be fortunate to meet these inspirational ladies.
Write on!

Matchsticks or Trolley Jacks?

Matchsticks or Trolley Jacks?

8/16/2011 11:21:51 AM

Oh man. I’m tired. Matchsticks simply are not strong enough to prop open my eyelids. I’ve had to drag myself out to the garage and retrieve the trolley jacks.
I’ve had the luxury of four entire days to myself and have spent the time eating chocolate and editing Truth Or Dare? It has been a fantastic opportunity to break the back of it and I have exploited it to its fullest, but boy, am I tired. I might give four in the morning a miss for the next few nights – I need to re-energise, besides these jacks weigh an absolute ton.
I think I have developed addict-like tendencies with writing. I am compelled to write and if something gets in my way and prevents me from spending time with my pen and paper, I become antsy. I buy pens and books and secrete them away, not intending to use them, but happy in the knowledge I have emergency supplies in times of desperate need. A trip to Staples is a day out for me. Oh yes.
My friends say my mind is always on the go. I think that’s a good thing; it keeps the brain active, but perhaps I should apply it to everyday life from time to time, because the stories I hear out in the real world, I couldn’t make up. I’m always on the lookout for a title, a phrase or a snippet of conversation that gets my imagination going – I spend my time thinking ‘what if I this happened?’ or ‘I wonder why they’re standing outside the bank…’.
Well, back to reality – the washing machine has beeped at me, demanding my attention.
Might need some help here – I can’t move the trolley jacks…

Resting.

Resting.

8/12/2011 12:34:19 AM

I recently had my thumb fused, which has set me back a little with my writing. For some reason, although it was an excellent operation, it knocked me for six.
With little sleep and even less energy, I have not written for a couple of weeks; I have returned to Truth Or Dare? to continue with the editing, but have not tackled anything new since I last posted. Hopefully, with some extreme sleeping, normality will be resumed.
I am still considering publishing The Girl Who Changed The Rules online, on a fortnightly basis. I wonder what sort of readership it would attract. How much would constitute a good read each time? A couple of pages? If you have any thoughts on this, I would appreciate reading them. Thanks.
Currently, I am reading two books and hoping to start the third soon. The first is an easy read by Melissa Hill, called The Last To Know – I have not read any of this author before, but a friend lent it to me and said I should give it a go. It has held my interest, although I found the start a little confusing; that may just be me post-op. The second is Ulysses, by James Joyce. Now, the reason I wanted to read this is because I am a huge Kate Bush fan and amongst all of the songs of hers I love, is one called The Sensual World, and she borrowed the lines from Ulysses to form the basis of the song. I was intrigued enough to want to find out why the story inspired KB to write a song. I have not got very far as of yet, but will let you know what I think of it in a few years time. The third book is Room – bought for my birthday by a dear friend – I have not ventured into this yet as I am saving it for the right time.
I have a fourth ready to read, written by a friend of mine, who also attends Off The Cuff writing group – Pamela Gaull. Her book is called The Darkness Of Dreams. I have made a start and that will probably be the next one I finish after The Last To Know.
There are two pieces of advice that have stuck with me – read, read, read and write, write, write; that way, our own writing skills will improve. Well, in order to maintain the balance, I think tonight will be a reading night.

OTC.

Off The Cuff Writing Group.

8/1/2011 8:02:08 PM

Great session today at the writing group. Peter, our illustrious and very clever leader set the task and we each interpreted it our own way.
The idea started with time passing and recent memories fading, with ones from way back and those we’d rather forget, maintaining their presence.
Here is my contribution; short and to the point.
Why do those times we would like to forget, form the most prominent and detailed memories? And why do they provide us with the strongest emotions? It is very rare that a happy memory produces the depth of feeling a sad recollection can.
The birth of your child is an overwhelming and wonderful experience and whilst we may marvel at their achievements as they grow, we become used to that person existing; we love them and we ride the waves of emotion with them, but we cannot feel that same sense of wonderment that engulfed us that first time we held them. We simply remember that we felt that way.
Another question then: Why is it we can relive the torture of losing a loved one? We don’t only remember how it felt when they died, we feel the sorrow and the grief with great intensity, often for many years and though time is a great healer, too much of it encourages us to contemplate and degenerate into dark thoughts and depressing moments. Those memorable moments we would rather forget.

You Need Hands.

You Need Hands.

7/30/2011 11:26:17 PM

I had a thumb fusion on Tuesday. It was the best operation I’ve ever had. Is that a strange thing to say? I was treated so well, it was like a morning out, with hot chocolate and hot, buttered toast as good as you’d get at your local Weatherspoons.
This is the fourth hand operation I have had with this particular surgeon, and I am exceptionally comfortable with his knowledge and ability – he has not let me down or misguided me once and it dawned on me, whilst I was lying on the table, chatting with the nurses, that it was my surgeon who had been instrumental in getting me writing and maintaining my hands so that I can continue to write. I will be thanking him in my first book.
About four years ago, I had a wrist fusion, and like this op, it was during the six weeks school holiday. I wondered what I could do with my time, as I was due to be in plaster, then splints, for the duration. Since I am right-handed and it was my left hand in a heavy back-slab, I decided to write ‘that novel’ I always said I had in me. This eventually turned into Truth Or Dare?, although it started as an entirely different story.
The following year, my surgeon gave me a new knuckle and the year after that, he repaired two ruptured tendons – that was the worst operation in terms of recovery. It seemed to take forever, and it was on my right hand. I was in a cast for six weeks and then splints for some time after that, but, as usual, my surgeon did a sterling job. He had to strip half a ‘spare’ tendon (lengthways) from the underside of my forearm and graft it in to the topside of my forearm, thus giving my fingers the ability to extend once more. For three weeks before the surgery, I worried about thanking other drivers for letting me pass, as it was the little and ring fingers that had dropped. It must have looked like I was giving them the two fingered salute!
And so to this year – my thumb fusion. Haven’t got into any trouble with other road users and did not offend the medical team when they asked what the problem was, by showing them my two working fingers.
That could explain the star treatment……
Only joking. I would like to sincerely thank the hospital staff at DCH for a lovely morning and I look forward to seeing you all again soon for my next op.
Oh yes…there is already another lined up!

The Girl Who Broke The Rules.

The Girl Who Broke The Rules.

7/18/2011 10:45:07 PM

I have had an idea in my head for some time now, but have put off writing it down as I feel obliged to complete the edit of Truth Or Dare? and finish writing Broken Down, but the urge was too great to resist the other night, and so I have begun The Girl Who Broke The Rules.
This has already taken a different form to the other two stories and if I can write it the way it appears in my head, it will have that little something extra the first two don’t. Maybe the quirkiness of it will be the main attraction. I am not even sure I can call it a romance – not in the traditional sense – although its main theme is love.
I am attempting to keep the story from one person’s point of view – Mrs Andrews – she doesn’t have a first name yet – and everything we read is what she tells us. It is apparent that she is with her daughter, Lydia, and it is clear something very, very bad has gone down and Mrs Andrews has taken matters into her own hands in an attempt to put right what has gone so wrong.
I was playing about with the opening and put it out on Facebook – it received a positive response, I’m pleased to say. Now, I am thinking about publishing it as a serial on my website, but I’m not sure I am brave enough to commit to that – it would require great self-confidence and I am yet to achieve that with my writing. I am likely to write a chapter, publish it and then consider it not quite right and wish I had not published it until it was entirely written.
So, you see my problem. I am no Charles Dickens. I shaved the beard off for a start.

Another Late Night.

Another Late Night.

7/11/2011 12:34:21 AM

Well, it’s Monday morning, 00:34, and I should be tucked up in bed, but the coffee has kicked in and I am reasonably awake.

I’ve played Scrabble on Facebook, watched videos on You Tube of my friends singing at the Beach Live event this weekend, been upstairs to put some clothes away, blogging…anything than sorting out a troublesome paragraph in Truth Or Dare? – I am led to believe this behaviour is quite common amongst some writers – I don’t normally suffer with distraction, but I just cannot get my characters to where they need to be, quickly enough and am taking refuge in other activities.

Mind you, if the last troublesome paragraph is anything to go by, it will be three months before I sort this one.

I wouldn’t be surprised if inspiration hits at the most inopportune moment, when the only things to hand are toilet paper and toothpaste and believe me, it is not easy to take notes with either item. There have been occasions when I have had to use eye liner to make a note or write down a lyric, but with the advent of mobile phones, life has become so much more dignified … unless I have to dictate whilst I am in the cloakroom.

What you won’t have realized is that I have just spent twenty minutes, searching for inspiration. At one in the morning, with the house silent, it’s interesting to note how much echo there is in the cloakroom. I have now made a mental note to never dictate in there again. Great acoustics, so may sing instead!

Comments:

Laura:

7/11/2011 1:21:39 AM

Writing.

My friends singing – so cool 🙂