tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52783567863299731742024-03-15T18:10:07.095-07:00Reading and WritingReading, writing, books and writers.
'If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.' Ivan Turgenev
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger679125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-75275830870781905022020-06-13T06:34:00.000-07:002020-06-13T06:34:30.654-07:00All Change...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">After too many years of posting here to recall, I've decided to stop updating this blog. I've been very neglectful of it for the past couple of years and feel guilty whenever I remember! So this seems an ideal time to take stock of all my social media and writing tasks and make any changes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rather than delete it, I shall leave it here in case anyone ever visits older posts, or wants to check out some of the other blogs mentioned at the side, plus it still has my books on it. Blogger is about to change its format in some way, so it's another reason to make the change now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">However, I'll still be writing blog posts now and then but they'll be on my new website which means everything is in the one place. I'll also be on other social media platforms and will no doubt see many of you in various places. Thanks so much for all the encouragement and support readers have given me over the years. Please do keep in touch by other means!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.rosemarygemmell.co.uk/" target="_blank">Website</a> (including blog)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RGemmell/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/RosemaryGemmell" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://instagram.com/rosgemmell" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/rosgemmell/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rosemary</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-11899312676671855302020-05-30T02:28:00.003-07:002020-05-30T02:28:39.790-07:00Stay Home Story SummitI'd meant to post this earlier but you still have time to register for the free <a href="https://the-stay-home-story-summit.teachery.co/registration" target="_blank">Stay Home Story Summit</a> as it runs through June 21st.<br />
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This is an excellent selection of videos covering everything from story structure and creating tension to website, social media and marketing tips from authors, entrepreneurs and marketing experts.<br />
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Once you register, you'll be given a link and can watch the videos whenever you like. I've now completed them all and have to say that I got something from every single person. As always, some are better than others and not all of them might suit everyone.<br />
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Now I just have to put some of the teaching into practise!<br />
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Enjoy.<br />
RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-27856406131827356662020-05-13T07:13:00.004-07:002020-05-13T07:13:55.155-07:00Keeping Busy!As we head through May, I've found a couple of other ways to keep busy besides writing. I do enjoy sorting out my wardrobe every now and then, much needed because of clothes bought too rashly in sales, those that don't fit properly or suit me any more, and those I can't stand wearing now, having kept them too long. I'd already given lots of good items to the charity shop before lockdown but I still wasn't satisfied when I looked in the wardrobe and couldn't see what to wear (as we do).<br />
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Then I read about Courtney Carver and Project 333. I signed up to her website, <a href="https://bemorewithless.com/" target="_blank">Be More with Less</a>, and started receiving occasional blog posts and hearing all about her challenge of having a capsule collection of only 33 items for 3 months. It doesn't include underwear or leisure wear (fortunately) but pretty much everything else, including jewellery and bags!<br />
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I've loved reading about her own journey to a simpler life and was soon hooked on the idea. So I bought the book, have read it through and am now about three quarters of the way to having that whittled down set of clothes. It's a good time to address things like this in the hope I soon get to wear some of what's left, other than for the house, garden or food shop but I won't be buying any clothes this summer.<br />
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The other challenge I've started is the <a href="https://www.bodygrooveondemand.com/" target="_blank">Body Groove</a> on demand funky dance exercise course. I kept seeing it on Facebook and then a free 30-day challenge was on offer so I signed up as I 've always loved to dance as part of my exercise! I'm now on day five and thoroughly enjoying every minute. It's perfect for moving the body without the kind of non-stop exercise that bores me.<br />
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This has different styles of movement and dance each day but you can make it your own and take it at a steady pace. Misty is so encouraging too, emailing little life-affirming post most days. Definitely one for appreciating how to move your body and getting fit at the same time. Between this and our daily walk after lunch, it should compensate for sitting at the computer and scoffing the baking!<br />
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<b>Writing News</b><br />
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I discovered my little piece was published in the Subscribers' Spotlight pages of <i>Writing Magazine</i>, and I was quoted on Lorraine Mace's last page article! Then I received the new issue of <i>The Highlander</i> magazine this morning with my latest article published inside - and he's accepted another.<br />
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Meanwhile, the baking and cooking continue but husband is now keen to learn to make the soups all by himself - not a problem as far as I'm concerned!<br />
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Have you started any new challenges?<br />
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RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-81902802008453473112020-05-04T05:37:00.000-07:002020-05-04T05:38:07.967-07:00May Musings on LockdownHard to believe it's now about six weeks since the UK lockdown and social distancing began in earnest. I expect many people will be settled into a new routine and perhaps some will retain a few changes made at this time. I love the way the earth is healing and nature is reclaiming the cleaner spaces, but I wouldn't wish such an awful illness on anyone, never mind the fatalities. However, I certainly won't want to travel huge distances for a long time, if ever, and will happily discover more of our own country when allowed.<br />
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It's a more difficult time for anyone alone who is used to company, or for those missing family and friends. I've been used to working from home for so long that little has changed apart from the school run with granddaughter (she is much missed), catch-ups in real life with daughter and other family, and jaunts into Glasgow for coffees, lunches and chats with friends, although we have weekly phone calls. Strangely, I can't be bothered with Facebook and Twitter so much, partly because I get fed up with all the things we're encouraged to do, watch or try! I'm happy as I am, thank you.<br />
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Husband and I are fairly content with home, gardening and daily walks together. I'm trying to catch up with various projects and organising work files, photos and clothes (again!), though my full length writing still eludes me. Thankfully, I enjoy shorter items and do think about which longer length work in progress is most calling to be written. That's the problem with having about three different novels/novellas on the go but not getting into any of them.<br />
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One thing I've been enjoying is going through some of my old baking recipes and trying a few new ones. So far, I've baked a new recipe walnut and date loaf using oil, a lemon loaf cake, Greek yogurt pancakes (to use up the yogurt), and raspberry buns which are now cooling on the wire rack. So far, I've been happy with the results and decided to experiment with freezing a little of each to keep fresh to eat later - all worked well but haven't tried freezing the buns yet.<br />
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Husband and I have made various soup and we tried a new chicken recipe during the week: Alpine Chicken Stew. Very tasty but I would reduce the amount of crème fraiche and white wine the next time. My only problem soon will be getting self-raising flour for more baking!<br />
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How are you occupying your time? Stay safe.<br />
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RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-76781281986414428302020-04-24T01:43:00.000-07:002020-04-24T01:43:46.442-07:00More Free BooksHope you're coping well with the continued lockdown and social distancing. Although I'm still not getting into my full length fiction writing, I am enjoying writing shorter items.<br />
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Both my grown-up children have birthdays this weekend but will obviously have to celebrate them at home! However, the Internet is very useful at times like this.<br />
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I decided to offer two more e-books to download FREE for a few days: sweet Victorian novella, <b>Pride and Progress</b>, and a timeslip adventure to Ancient Egypt for 8-10 year olds, <b>The Pharaoh's Gold</b>. Both are also available in paperback.<br />
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Available from <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0762RSG1M/" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0762RSG1M/" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> and wherever you are.</div>
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Available from <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L4XHLMM/" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L4XHLMM/" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> and wherever you are.</div>
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Stay safe and well,<br />
RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-10812767997056131292020-04-12T02:44:00.004-07:002020-04-12T02:44:27.115-07:00Easter BlessingsAt this very difficult, uncertain Easter, most people will be missing seeing their families if they don't live in the same household, while others will be mourning their loss.<br />
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Hopefully, this virus will soon pass and life will gradually move to a new normal and more lives will be spared.<br />
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These are two short Celtic blessings that seem appropriate for Easter and the days ahead.<br />
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May the road rise up to meet you.<br />
May the wind be always at your back.<br />
May the sun shine warm upon your face;<br />
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, <br />
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may God hold you in the palm of His hand.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a;">Deep peace of
the running wave to you</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "&quot" , serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a;">Deep peace of the flowing
air to you</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "&quot" , serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a;">Deep peace of the quiet
earth to you</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "&quot" , serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a;">Deep peace of the shining
stars to you</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "&quot" , serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a;">Deep peace of the Son of
peace to you.</span><br />
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Stay safe,<br />
RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-42469347254424594492020-04-03T03:03:00.001-07:002020-04-03T03:03:52.887-07:00Writing and Reading During Coronavirus Lockdown<div>
I hope you're managing to cope at this awful time of lockdown and social distancing as the world tries to contain and survive the very contagious coronavirus. I'm sad at not seeing my wee granddaughter but we're emailing each other now and then and her school has been brilliant at keeping in touch with the pupils. I've had to enjoy previous photos of our favourite seaside escape since we can't go there just now.</div>
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Evidently many writers are finding it difficult to focus, not surprisingly, and Facebook in particular is providing lots of diverting content. Although I haven't been getting on with any of my longer fiction, I have been very much enjoying concentrating on shorter fiction, non-fiction and poetry, some new, some rewritten. I've also been submitting them to competitions or markets wherever possible.</div>
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So far, I've had an acceptance from The People's Friend (shortly before lockdown), a non-fiction article about to be published, a short story accepted for a lip-reading service, and just yesterday my first short story acceptance by Yours Fiction Special. Lots of other items still to be decided. It's a great way to focus the mind after reading the updated news.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Husband and I have settled into a new routine, both working in separate rooms until lunchtime, then enjoying our short daily walk in early afternoon. I've been watching and reading escapist material, but that's my preferred normal anyway!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The new series of <b>Malory Towers</b> has been great fun - I watched it all on BBC iPlayer. At the moment, husband and I are watching <b>Anne with an 'E'</b> on Netflix - a very good new series of Anne of Green Gables which is slightly grittier than those I've seen before.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm always reading of course, a paperback downstairs and a different novel on kindle at night. I'm enjoying the novel <b>For my Sins</b> by Alex Nye, about Mary Queen of Scots. One dystopian series I'm loving on kindle is <b>After the Thaw</b> by Heidi Catherine and Tamar Sloan. The prequel, <b>Burning</b>, is still free on kindle at the moment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stay safe and keep well!</div>
<div>
Rosemary</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-85827903108067607602020-03-15T02:57:00.003-07:002020-03-15T02:57:42.572-07:00Free BooksAs the world tries to cope with the increasing Coronavirus
pandemic, more people will find themselves in self-isolation or lockdown. One
of the pleasures I’ve most enjoyed through any kind of crisis or concern is reading
– escaping into the pages of someone else’s (fictional) life.<br />
<br />
I’m fortunate enough to be a writer who works from home,
although I love going out. My husband also has no need to leave the house if
the worst happens. We have enough food to last a while, I can bake and cook,
and we have a supermarket within walking distance as well as family nearby.<br />
<br />
Some, however, will lose jobs and income and it might take
many companies a long time to recover. There is little we can do, apart from
continue to support food banks if possible and to avoid panic bulk-buying.<br />
<br />
In light of all this, I’ve decided to offer some of my
e-books FREE over the coming few weeks. I’m only allowed to do this for a
limited time on Amazon, so I thought it best to stagger the giveaways. The
schedule is included below so you can look out for any you might like – or to mention
to your friends. It’s a small enough gesture and my apologies if you have read
them all but at least it’s something I can do to spread the pleasure and
escapism of reading.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGXF79HJkL6EYi9VrJih9HImQZnv89bwvRhzfw4d8Dad3Xc64sYUF3ItpqXHFSZMvd0kVsew6zZ3Bi_EoFcsNGSrRcGjMrvJJnYlBw-GOK-9MnpILp3b8gG5xVQ3iYCk1EgiZ8COeXigb/s1600/Free+Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGXF79HJkL6EYi9VrJih9HImQZnv89bwvRhzfw4d8Dad3Xc64sYUF3ItpqXHFSZMvd0kVsew6zZ3Bi_EoFcsNGSrRcGjMrvJJnYlBw-GOK-9MnpILp3b8gG5xVQ3iYCk1EgiZ8COeXigb/s1600/Free+Books.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Schedule for Free Books</span></b></div>
<br />
<b>March 16-20<sup>th</sup> inclusive</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Dangerous Deceit: Full length Regency Novel<br />
Beneath the Treetops: Short Story Collection<br />
Venetian Interlude: Contemporary Novella<br />
<br />
<b>March 22-26<sup>th</sup> inclusive</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Highland Lass: Full Length Dual-timeline Scottish Novel<br />
Summer of the Eagles: Tween Book<br />
Scotland People and Places: Non-fiction Articles<br />
<br />
<b>March 27-31<sup>st</sup> inclusive</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Mischief at Mulberry Manor: Victorian Gothic Mystery<br />
End of the Road: Short Story Collection<br />
The Aphrodite Assignment: Contemporary/mythological Novella<br />
<br />
You can find them all on my <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosemary-Gemmell/e/B00U19Z4H4" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a> if you want to read the blurbs.<br />
<br />
Take care over the next few months,<br />
Rosemary<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-59328855662408594802020-03-02T02:40:00.001-08:002020-03-02T02:40:38.199-08:00Learning AdventuresI've always loved learning ever since I was old enough to read and that has never changed through subsequent decades. I even studied as a mature student with the OU right up to a postgraduate Masters in Literature and History many years ago, when my two children were going through their own school and university exams.<br />
<br />
These days, much of my learning comes from writing and research, especially since I like trying different forms and genres. In between the novels and novellas, I love to write short stories, articles, poetry and children's fiction. Now I've added drama to the list - a one-off perhaps, but I'll see how it goes and if it comes to anything!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfTxeyR-e3zp1Zt9wY27O4odymlhnZQVcB_EdiU1I1d9dgmhjbWHj8cXDoea32TwPAVlXZ5Su2L2HKu2b4JWc9DfFsWmDq37GONR1Qd2clOzP-ZaXb1NZpCkomjK6PDv6Y3fF2XDRIM3Q/s1600/Learning+Adventure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfTxeyR-e3zp1Zt9wY27O4odymlhnZQVcB_EdiU1I1d9dgmhjbWHj8cXDoea32TwPAVlXZ5Su2L2HKu2b4JWc9DfFsWmDq37GONR1Qd2clOzP-ZaXb1NZpCkomjK6PDv6Y3fF2XDRIM3Q/s320/Learning+Adventure.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
So I do love this colourful poster that sits on the wall near my desk with its affirmation that Every Day is a Beautiful New Adventure. I've propped it above this unusual little plaque given to me by my best friend way back when we were both studying. It states: I am still learning and is attributed to Michelangelo.<br />
<br />
Great encouragement to get those words down each day!<br />
<br />
RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-85238197060256233522020-02-24T01:36:00.000-08:002020-02-24T01:36:03.093-08:00Writing, Blogs and BargainOnce again, time has run away, we’re more than halfway
through February – and I’ve been neglecting my blog again. However, I have been writing shorter items and submitting them. I was delighted to have one acceptance from The People's Friend so far and one for an article submitted to an online magazine. More details when I have them!<br />
<br />
The RNA is still celebrating this month of romance reading
and any readers out there can join the very friendly <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/RomanticFictionBookClub" target="_blank">Romantic Fiction Book Club</a> on Facebook.<br />
<br />
I’m very pleased to be on <a href="https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/2020/02/historical-scottish-sites-by-rosemary.html" target="_blank">Brenda Whiteside’s blog</a> on Monday 24<sup>th</sup>,
mentioning a couple of the locations in my most recent novel, <b>Highcrag</b>. To mark
the occasion, and the month of romance, Highcrag is being reduced for the very
first time and for one week only to 99p (99c): 23rd Feb-1st March.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="1600" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8mVM_5jwhPd1nICNpVSKjJ8J8Um_42Dr4i1haJD7ChqCxcxzT48xAvk-pwJPTMk6zXkPlRDJtoIqCENg-GOoTVY3sCLG9MVrefKqkjq9MIlXNp6Lkc_p_OL3Xtif2Lb42Exw7iAAPhJi/s320/3D+Image+%2528crop%2529.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<br />
Highcrag is a little longer and darker than my previous novels but
has some good five-star reviews so far. Here's a short blurb:<br />
<br />
When Cate Stewart takes a job cataloguing the unusual
library at Highcrag in Scotland, as she has a personal interest in the
notorious Scottish witch trials of 16<sup>th</sup> and 17<sup>th</sup> century,
the past begins to affect the present. As Samhain approaches, who can she
trust?<br />
<br />
It's already received some great five-star reviews but I only discovered this morning one on Amazon Australia from a top 500 reviewer that absolutely thrilled me as<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mary Stewart is one of my all-time favourite romantic suspense writers</span>:<br />
<br />
<span style="background: white; color: #111111;">"Enjoyable gothic romantic
suspense, reminiscent of the old Mary Stewart books" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Highcrag is available on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XC93JVH" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XC93JVH" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> or wherever you are, and the
paperback can also be ordered through bookshops or via libraries.</span><br />
<br />
RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-27598897242541581402020-02-09T03:16:00.004-08:002020-02-09T03:16:51.746-08:00Books and Giveaways!<span style="font-size: large;">The Romantic Novelists Event from members of the Scottish Chapter of the RNA is well under way on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/172509054027536" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With Novel Excerpts and Giveaways, do come and join us! These are some of the books and authors being highlighted over the weekend.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5ZvpwdzCGyAWn36H8X-6Pv8nKRoMCqxFrAtoT8A_9Mw5F3p5TbdzpRpa15wAVhBhj0Ae2ijbPNMBIQmbIqg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Rosemary</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-44654732745398613212020-02-02T05:56:00.000-08:002020-02-02T05:56:28.063-08:00Scottish Romantic Novelists WeekendJanuary went in quicker than I expected! Now that we're into February, it's a great month to focus on romance, not least because the 14th is St Valentine's Day.<br />
<br />
This year is the Diamond Anniversary of the Romantic Novelists' Association and there are special events happening all over the country. Some members are organising bookshop or library events and a few are taking place on Facebook.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihz6H6faWVXpwAlDLTaqLxHPlb8oli_cDgk5PKA1zV6eqyFRUJBexMKf-uto_xfiGLCpOf1ptILaEbHeGSZt1alQiF4Yd9tJGOBeovqIXAQHeUD71B6boSw-2U-AbOxk05lfnHpl7n14SR/s1600/Pink+Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1600" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihz6H6faWVXpwAlDLTaqLxHPlb8oli_cDgk5PKA1zV6eqyFRUJBexMKf-uto_xfiGLCpOf1ptILaEbHeGSZt1alQiF4Yd9tJGOBeovqIXAQHeUD71B6boSw-2U-AbOxk05lfnHpl7n14SR/s320/Pink+Rose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Throughout their sixty years, the RNA has seen many debut authors, and those who became more famous, come through their organisation. I began many years ago on their wonderful New Writers' Scheme and the first novel I submitted for a critique, Dangerous Deceit, went on to be published.<br />
<br />
Members of the association have Chapters in different parts of the country, where members can get together to support each other and discuss romance writing. In Scotland, we are so spread across the country that we have a private Scottish Chapter Group on Facebook, and we try to meet up two or three times a year in real life.<br />
<br />
To celebrate the RNA's 60th year, our Scottish Chapter is having a 'Meet Scottish Romantic Novelists' event next weekend on Facebook. It will run on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th, when lots of us will post excerpts or details of some of our books. Readers can interact with us and ask questions. Hopefully, some might discover a new favourite author!<br />
<br />
Come along and meet us <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/172509054027536/?event_time_id=172509060694202" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-66996964427208029152020-01-20T08:39:00.001-08:002020-01-20T08:39:32.222-08:00In Celebration of Burns Night<span style="color: black;">This
week, we’re leading up to Burns Night, which is celebrated all over the world
on January 25<sup>th</sup>. Our national bard is one of the characters in the
historical chapters of <b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07B7CVTDW/" target="_blank">The Highland Lass</a></b><i>.</i> Although that's more about
Highland Mary's story, Robert Burns does of course figure in it since he was
Mary Campbell's great love. There's also a quote from Burns at the top of each historical chapter.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCTQxabFz0vZ7AkHNN57cmQGsoPEYqtCjwMWs_IQQPBAy3edfWix7xTvX_W8xYMWwicwISsOpEYh7lMAFSNy-ay0N6RaIFaRIVkPzrE4Cur1sABWoJGCNPXQqfWlPU4U0PTJCqKRggXb_/s1600/Highland+Mary+on+plinth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="645" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCTQxabFz0vZ7AkHNN57cmQGsoPEYqtCjwMWs_IQQPBAy3edfWix7xTvX_W8xYMWwicwISsOpEYh7lMAFSNy-ay0N6RaIFaRIVkPzrE4Cur1sABWoJGCNPXQqfWlPU4U0PTJCqKRggXb_/s200/Highland+Mary+on+plinth.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;">I’m a fan of his poems and songs,
finding so much wisdom about human nature in them. As well as being a farmer
and poet, Burns was also a popular figure of the Edinburgh Enlightenment,
perfectly at home in the salons of Edinburgh in the second half of the
eighteenth century. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">When the
crops on his farm failed, he also became an Exciseman in 1789, or a 'poor
damn’d rascally gager', as he called himself. He had mixed feelings about
such an unpopular post but needed a paying job, though it didn't stop him
writing a song called <i style="font-size: 12pt;">The
Deil's awa wi' the Exciseman</i>. Here's a sample mentioning some of
the popular dances of the time:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">“There’s threesome reels, there’s foursome reels,</span></div>
<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">There’s hornpipes and strathspeys, man,</span></div>
<o:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></o:p>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">But the ae best dance that cam’ tae the land</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">Was the de’ils awa’ wi’ the Exciseman.”</span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;">
It's remarkable to think that this humble farmer poet from Ayrshire is not only
remembered in Scotland but is celebrated so well in other countries. I suspect
that those who claim Scots ancestry probably make more of Burns Night than many
of us do at home!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwiQWTWOYO4vZtBiXV5qCDnyBVXtRd9OA4pWYSZrhTXI3aq0RuVwXVFCEm9hhnUpMK2VXaVPKFpYotPpuogaJzfYuo2xHLSuDmtWwyAOIVhWpm2edFsYt4v1cLbfVuizoiO-6gBlLalfj/s1600/whisky+bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwiQWTWOYO4vZtBiXV5qCDnyBVXtRd9OA4pWYSZrhTXI3aq0RuVwXVFCEm9hhnUpMK2VXaVPKFpYotPpuogaJzfYuo2xHLSuDmtWwyAOIVhWpm2edFsYt4v1cLbfVuizoiO-6gBlLalfj/s200/whisky+bottle.JPG" width="152" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">We might
not all like haggis, although it's quite tasty with mashed potatoes and turnip,
but I'm sure many a person will be willing to raise a wee dram to the poet's
memory on Burns Night. And if you do happen to attend a Burns Supper, you'll no
doubt hear the Address to the Haggis, after it's brought to the table on a
silver platter accompanied by the sound of the bagpipes. It begins:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-align: center; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;">Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, </span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">Aboon them a' ye tak your place,</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">Painch, tripe, or thairm:</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">Weel are ye worthy o' a grace</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">As lang's my arm.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">Slàinte
Mhath! Good health!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">Rosemary</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-55234216392454034202020-01-13T03:26:00.002-08:002020-01-13T03:27:15.196-08:00Highcrag in Print with Ingram SparkI've been updating all my books so they're available in print on Amazon, using their very good printing service.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHFimfpY-N6u_d_KfOmxI5Wa1jSH-ArYNL074JJ0nI4FWOIflAOG9sAQKT0ceGFQaO1k0JEUsuTApzypqsT9H4INDNTXX2NfJZG7Zb0uU4Pb7SaEIeivty0_H0OjKrSwIE9cRHc4kaIjA/s1600/Highcrag+Paperback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1089" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHFimfpY-N6u_d_KfOmxI5Wa1jSH-ArYNL074JJ0nI4FWOIflAOG9sAQKT0ceGFQaO1k0JEUsuTApzypqsT9H4INDNTXX2NfJZG7Zb0uU4Pb7SaEIeivty0_H0OjKrSwIE9cRHc4kaIjA/s320/Highcrag+Paperback.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
However, I'm also publishing my three Scottish novels, to begin with, through Ingram Spark as well. It's been a learning curve, trying to get them exactly the way they should be formatted before uploading to their site. I also had to get a paperback version of the covers absolutely correct in Pdf!<br />
<br />
Although I have no problem doing kindle covers, the paperback version defeated me so I found a very good creator on fiverr.com who has been converting them to paperback covers for me. And now the first paperback from Ingram Spark is available!<br />
<br />
Highcrag has its own ISBN <span style="color: black;">(<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">978-1-9162577-1-9)</span></span> and can now be ordered from bookshops and through libraries. Ingram Spark distribute through a large number of UK (and global) companies such as Gardners and Bertrams in the UK, which should supply most bookshops and libraries.<br />
<br />
This is quite an exciting development for me, although I don't know if it will be worth it in the end, but it's another way in which readers can access some of my books, especially for those who prefer print.<br />
<br />
So now the paperback is available from <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XC93JVH" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XC93JVH" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> and worldwide.<br />
And from your local bookshop, or ordered through your library. I've just discovered it's on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/highcrag/rosemary-gemmell/9781916257719" target="_blank">Waterstones</a> website!<br />
<br />
Return to Kilcraig will be available later this week and thereafter it will be The Highland Lass, though I still to have the paperback Pdf for that.<br />
<br />
RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-28131038061900511542020-01-05T06:18:00.001-08:002020-01-05T06:18:42.007-08:00Organising the New YearApart from after the summer holidays, this is my favourite time of year for getting organised for the months ahead. I don't make resolutions, or even concrete plans, but I do like to clear up and tidy out desk drawers, files and photos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMUw7NhM-loAR8nEt7Mdrvr6DxbpDG2-cnfZVFVxQukUuuR2iDCow0qjjBKT7OXu-EIVYxUnZzgDlbS0IykpbfdCxt4F8A5-JVKTBWT3dIHd0itKsJfYUioUtQHkVIFFD7nV_QQ0wpW64/s1600/Creativity+Journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1130" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMUw7NhM-loAR8nEt7Mdrvr6DxbpDG2-cnfZVFVxQukUuuR2iDCow0qjjBKT7OXu-EIVYxUnZzgDlbS0IykpbfdCxt4F8A5-JVKTBWT3dIHd0itKsJfYUioUtQHkVIFFD7nV_QQ0wpW64/s320/Creativity+Journal.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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I also write a rough list of what I hope to finish during the year (it's usually <i>finish</i> because of all the things I start and don't complete!). This year, it includes the following (hopefully):<br />
<ul>
<li>completing a novella for spring</li>
<li>finishing a novel by summer (to pitch at the RNA conference) that's been on the go too long</li>
<li>developing/continuing with the first of a new series of novels in a different genre</li>
<li>more articles for The Highlander Magazine in the US</li>
<li>more short stories for the PF and other markets/comps (if inspired enough)</li>
<li>sending out another couple of children's stories</li>
<li>rewriting/submitting more poetry</li>
<li>keeping up with promotion/marketing opportunities for the books already published</li>
</ul>
I've already republished just about all of my books now, with new website details inside and putting them into print - only a couple to go. I'd also like to make better use of the lovely Creativity Journal daughter gave me last Christmas as it fell by the wayside last year.<br />
<br />
Obviously the novels (and even novella) take up the bulk of time, for writing, thinking and researching, but I do enjoy shorter forms of creativity in between.<br />
<br />
If I didn't write with pen and paper in a café at least once a week, and on my train journeys to Glasgow or Edinburgh, I wouldn't get nearly as much done! It must partly be due to being away from the computer. I refuse to use a smart phone of any kind with Internet connection as I know myself too well (being tempted to look at social media instead of writing) so I'll hang on to my trusty old Nokia for a while yet - at least it has a camera.<br />
<br />
Hope your own plans for the writing year ahead are taking shape.<br />
RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-10715831036178831872019-12-31T08:01:00.000-08:002019-12-31T08:01:16.679-08:00Happy New Year!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Hogmanay from Scotland! </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b>Wishing you a very </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b>Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2020</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"></span><b></b><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tFHAYXWQ45BTJN3KXrD22pK96lpkv-Knz7N60_xan2J4d0qDkN73hQOeDLd32HpiX73XIZawYwvrlw9G4NFvAjusGZDY_MjLqlhwP5zRFaUFcpk36aA9pwMbeJ_FUDez5FgfNBFcTshW/s1600/distant+mist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tFHAYXWQ45BTJN3KXrD22pK96lpkv-Knz7N60_xan2J4d0qDkN73hQOeDLd32HpiX73XIZawYwvrlw9G4NFvAjusGZDY_MjLqlhwP5zRFaUFcpk36aA9pwMbeJ_FUDez5FgfNBFcTshW/s320/distant+mist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Here's a good mindfulness quote to set us off on the right track!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">'Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and celebrating it for everything that it is.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"></span><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-59788508770803549592019-12-26T02:02:00.002-08:002019-12-26T02:02:20.157-08:00The Jigsaw Puzzle<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">My mystery for 8-10 year olds (and the young at heart), set in the Scottish countryside between Christmas and New Year, is only 99p (99c) for the next few days!</span> </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Playing around with a little video this morning...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxBpSgl5x_yZg-uCVGNraH1OSnh67_bvm0ecPB6KjdFoY3SdRnj7e204DimeZYc3CyBA2JdfQso0DSgak8s2w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00X2C2PRY/" target="_blank"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #000015;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00X2C2PRY/" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="color: #000015;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X2C2PRY/" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-16732501230291564042019-12-19T03:48:00.003-08:002019-12-19T03:48:35.396-08:00Winter Solstice<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXdRNIbjevUWhCOY4FS61Yhu9Iq9RCpGt3glHGlx9ZAVPkoIe7QgebJZkuxvxR6z3cfTEqjK6bGPPNr66U7xW2zJEUR1dDWgY2FQE3Andm9xVprFVVEdzVKetLBjpF9yWRzxopPRl7Y1O/s1600/Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1177" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXdRNIbjevUWhCOY4FS61Yhu9Iq9RCpGt3glHGlx9ZAVPkoIe7QgebJZkuxvxR6z3cfTEqjK6bGPPNr66U7xW2zJEUR1dDWgY2FQE3Andm9xVprFVVEdzVKetLBjpF9yWRzxopPRl7Y1O/s400/Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
To encourage some more visits to my new website, I've posted a piece about the Winter Solstice on the blog there. It's similar to one I've posted on blogger before, but you can read it <a href="https://www.rosemarygemmell.co.uk/post/the-winter-solstice" target="_blank">here</a> if you wish!<br />
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I also wanted an excuse to use this photo again that I'm rather proud of!<br />
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RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-18938372083048725872019-12-17T03:07:00.000-08:002019-12-17T03:07:32.055-08:00FREE Non-fiction Collection<span style="font-size: large;">A quick note to say that the e-book version of my collection of seventeen articles, Scotland People and Places, is FREE to download on Amazon until 18th December!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLvRi-2_gsp_eivb5bmZ2w6tLLTQdADk3Cz55qJrD8620z4NjCARC40t6rn-KULJnb-WADulu6BW5Lf4_p2SMOMOZmXG7rWBk0f9X0lxrnkzBZrALnFX7BkWLgNc_C_Dd6MA2FPDL48vb/s1600/Scotland+People+and+Places+%2528updated%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1025" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLvRi-2_gsp_eivb5bmZ2w6tLLTQdADk3Cz55qJrD8620z4NjCARC40t6rn-KULJnb-WADulu6BW5Lf4_p2SMOMOZmXG7rWBk0f9X0lxrnkzBZrALnFX7BkWLgNc_C_Dd6MA2FPDL48vb/s320/Scotland+People+and+Places+%2528updated%2529.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073SBPRV6/" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073SBPRV6/" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rosemary</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-48647236185773193392019-12-08T06:11:00.000-08:002019-12-08T06:11:24.429-08:00Writing Encouragement<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Now that my latest novel is
out and everything is geared to getting ready for Christmas over the next
couple of weeks, it’s a lovely bonus to see success in other parts of my
writing. It also reminds me how much I enjoy the variety of shorter items in
different genres, and I think this will always be my first creative love.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jCmnDIOGdoGfBWRh9wwdA70GSEIQZZOL_cwLi2lEcBLcLwgB9I09yBDlFrQ0oqU_0BjGvM05mTSQOD7XrG1yWt7JZdL6KUFb0w3aqnkGLkqjmLjeRIqTGGk2RATu_171Eb21P75d6cYB/s1600/The+Highlander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1190" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jCmnDIOGdoGfBWRh9wwdA70GSEIQZZOL_cwLi2lEcBLcLwgB9I09yBDlFrQ0oqU_0BjGvM05mTSQOD7XrG1yWt7JZdL6KUFb0w3aqnkGLkqjmLjeRIqTGGk2RATu_171Eb21P75d6cYB/s200/The+Highlander.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve had many articles on
Scottish history, people and places published in <b>The Highlander</b> magazine in the
USA and I’m delighted that my latest one was published in the new issue - the kind editor has also accepted another. The fact I get paid right away is
another plus, compared to waiting to see if books sell for their royalties.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve also started writing new
short stories now and then and I’m so pleased to have an editor at <b>The People’s
Friend</b>. He is passing on two of my stories for the next stage to be considered for
publication. Can’t wait to see if and when they appear! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Another type of writing that
I really enjoy is stories for children of different ages. I was delighted when
online publication Smarty Pants published my Tin-Can-Man story in November. Now
they’ve just published my little <a href="https://smartypantsmagazineforkids.com/2019/12/08/storytime-sunday-ferns-first-winter/" target="_blank"><b>Fern’s First Winter</b></a> story and I love the
illustrations they provide!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So much encouragement to keep
writing in whatever way inspires my imagination and creativity. When it also
leads to payment, that’s even more incentive although, like most writers, I
mainly want readers to enjoy my stories.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<u><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073SBPRV6/" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073SBPRV6/" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1025" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRmUswz-QYaMc7vP1CUgWfnOWXB0NaAeE57udI6zffI_YFdCpIsOHlkASZ6RHKAsXdly6l20FVkSTBACZiTApIwljlDoFCcPD5wh_AtrRBheJfxodtQ3gd-vAzKWiYYlrwUKpyZ6dVMOO/s200/Scotland+People+and+Places+%2528updated%2529.jpg" width="127" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYIt9O1uaO2KJPHsGIeaNULfxUDrdeIYY-PMKEdkh0KpEWQUsEAiQvLXXcsfUlrev7yBCvsgN-FeUArswGIXR3gpU5EihtExeU4pJJQ5x1lbxYPTCM6i02HRKrB_vHAZfiQmNNaI4X_4U/s1600/Beneath+Treetops+%2528Feb+2019%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1025" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYIt9O1uaO2KJPHsGIeaNULfxUDrdeIYY-PMKEdkh0KpEWQUsEAiQvLXXcsfUlrev7yBCvsgN-FeUArswGIXR3gpU5EihtExeU4pJJQ5x1lbxYPTCM6i02HRKrB_vHAZfiQmNNaI4X_4U/s200/Beneath+Treetops+%2528Feb+2019%2529.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="127" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf1vSgZ_R-28jR9s0mzq-0wApwAEnxsJNtpdV3z4ieT5JS_y-2kwd_T-Y_VhqhYYytkJSjRf1HTufRrIg0NMcJqZKejChUXAJB_-TZWNNSPf097PojB6jlKE99223cOA0yncLKSi6DGrQ/s1600/Two+of+a+Kind+%2528Feb+2019%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1025" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf1vSgZ_R-28jR9s0mzq-0wApwAEnxsJNtpdV3z4ieT5JS_y-2kwd_T-Y_VhqhYYytkJSjRf1HTufRrIg0NMcJqZKejChUXAJB_-TZWNNSPf097PojB6jlKE99223cOA0yncLKSi6DGrQ/s200/Two+of+a+Kind+%2528Feb+2019%2529.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="127" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx5KP8iD2s_yjnrP3vpS97XX9r-UYWbtfL6tI7R9bjVP2I8PceXVrEkHt0ziPzRh-RBzGP_Ah7L0Jv10VZbXgxtjo3Er0ifp5_Mpl10sgBdGz9vv3XFLGw1vDYPx1zy323JLKNnSzeK0z/s1600/End+of+the+Road+Cover+%2528updated%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx5KP8iD2s_yjnrP3vpS97XX9r-UYWbtfL6tI7R9bjVP2I8PceXVrEkHt0ziPzRh-RBzGP_Ah7L0Jv10VZbXgxtjo3Er0ifp5_Mpl10sgBdGz9vv3XFLGw1vDYPx1zy323JLKNnSzeK0z/s1600/End+of+the+Road+Cover+%2528updated%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1025" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx5KP8iD2s_yjnrP3vpS97XX9r-UYWbtfL6tI7R9bjVP2I8PceXVrEkHt0ziPzRh-RBzGP_Ah7L0Jv10VZbXgxtjo3Er0ifp5_Mpl10sgBdGz9vv3XFLGw1vDYPx1zy323JLKNnSzeK0z/s200/End+of+the+Road+Cover+%2528updated%2529.jpg" width="127" /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If you're interested in my collection of articles on Scotland people and Places, or any of my short story collections, you can find them on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosemary-Gemmell/e/B00U19Z4H4" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Gemmell/e/B00U19Z4H4" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> in e-book and paperback.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">On with the Christmas
preparations now!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Rosemary</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-21212397798723929182019-12-02T01:14:00.000-08:002019-12-02T01:14:43.403-08:00Meet the Author: Melanie Roberston-King<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">A warm welcome to the Reading and Writing blog for Canadian author Melanie
Robertson-King. Melanie’s second book in the series <i>It Happened On</i>… is set in
Gastown, Vancouver, an area I visited some years ago. I’m very much looking
forward to reading this!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Welcome Melanie and thank you for sharing an excerpt from your new book.
First of all, here is the cover and blurb.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">It Happened in Gastown</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Trainspotting </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">m</span></b><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">eets<i> Hot Pursuit...</i></span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hilary Dunbar is a uniformed constable with the Vancouver Police with an
agenda to rid the streets of drugs, especially the bad ones the notorious
dealer, Carlos Navarra, is trafficking.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Heroin addict, Erik Layne, has lived on the streets of Gastown for as
long as he can remember, having left home and Toronto as a rebellious teenage
addict. His and Hilary’s paths cross when she finds him unconscious in an alley
after injecting a batch of the contaminated drug. He must fight for his life to
keep from dying, not only from the tainted smack but also from the man who
provided it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">A domestic disturbance call goes wrong, and Hilary suffers life-changing
injuries as a result. As luck would have it, she and Erik are hospitalized in
the same ward at Vancouver General Hospital. When she sinks into a deep
depression, it’s he who pulls her out of her doldrums.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">But will Hilary’s obsession with bringing down Navarra and others like
him destroy their relationship and, more importantly, jeopardize their lives?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>EXCERPT</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Out
on routine patrol, Constables Hilary Dunbar and her partner Lukas
Stephanopoulos drove north on Cambie Street towards the Gastown Steam Clock. As
they passed the end of Blood Alley, she shouted, “Back up. Something’s down
there.”</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your
imagination getting the better of you again?” He teased, but pulled over to the
curb and slowly reversed until they blocked the mouth of the narrow passage. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Originally
they called the lane Trounce Alley. Some maps still referred to the laneway as
that. Others labelled the back street Blood Alley. Given the appearance, Hilary
thought the latter more appropriate.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Window
down, she trained the beam from the powerful spotlight mounted on the cruiser’s
mirror into the alleyway. “See, beyond those dumpsters.”</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Likely
just garbage.”</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Wait
here; I’m going to take a closer look.”</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before
exiting the car, she plucked a pair of nitrile gloves and the naloxone kit from
the glove compartment. Once out, she shoved them in the pockets of her
trousers. With the fingertips of her right hand brushing her gun holster and
gripping the barrel of the torch in her left, she sidled towards the object. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Graffiti
tags covered the walls of the buildings as well as the wooden hydro poles. The
farther into the confined space she crept, the hairs on the nape of her neck
bristled beneath the bun in which she styled her black hair. Whatever was down
there wasn’t rubbish, as Luke said. The pong of stale urine made her eyes
water.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Past
the second dumpster, the body of a young man leaned against the wall.
Dishevelled and filthy, his body odour was strong enough to make the foulest of
skunk spray seem mild. At first glance, he appeared dead. His skin had a bluish
tinge, and weeping sores dotted his face. Dark circles surrounded his eyes.
Inching forward, Hilary squatted beside him. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
blood-filled syringe protruded from his left arm. Flashlight held under her
chin; she donned the synthetic rubber gloves she brought with her and felt his
neck for a pulse. The rhythmic throbbing beneath her fingertips, barely
discernible.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
naloxone. The kit had been made available to officers who wanted the
medication. Luke was against carrying the opioid blocker in the cruiser, but
Hilary persuaded him. Now was the time to use it. She took the package out of
her other trouser pocket, peeled the wrapper open and placed the nozzle in the
victim’s left nostril and pressed the plunger. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
keyed the mic on her handset and started to speak. “Constable Dunbar.” As
though on cue, the nearby Steam Clock began whistling — no sense in trying to
outperform the contraption. Wait for the completion of its proclamation of the
top of the hour — Westminster chimes followed by singular whistle blasts
counting out the time. Soon relative quiet returned and Hilary tried again.
“Constable Dunbar. Badge 8652. I need an ambulance at Blood Alley and Cambie
Street. Suspected drug overdose. Have administered four milligrams of Narcan nasal
spray. No response as of yet.”</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
now, Luke had the cruiser’s roof lights on. Blue, red and white alternating
then running from the driver’s side to the passenger’s side of the vehicle.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
wail of the siren grew louder. In minutes, paramedics jumped out and trundled a
stretcher and medical equipment to the stricken person.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hilary
stood back, letting them do their jobs. “I gave him Narcan,” she said,
handing the spent plastic bottle to one of them. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He’s
alive ... just. You found him in time. We’ve bagged the needle so they can run
tests on the contents at the hospital. Figure out what he shot into his veins.”</span><span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i>Sounds intriguing, Melanie!</i></span></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It Happened in Gastown</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is available on</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/en/ebook/it-happened-in-gastown"><span style="color: #0066cc;">kobo</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://mybook.to/it-happened-in-gastown"><span style="color: #0066cc;">kindle</span></a></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHLCMptrPyP2ipmNnfgAeoRqG0oQdLH4rL4xS3BeYrAtVeZxI66qMt5mRadm4XoasxF5Ws8378JOYT1YQv575X5YQcT2z6Cc4LWBDSiUe4oFCToMpjEEe12Dv0yqkLhdmxy8l2xc-RWqL/s1600/headshot+for+diy+interview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="988" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHLCMptrPyP2ipmNnfgAeoRqG0oQdLH4rL4xS3BeYrAtVeZxI66qMt5mRadm4XoasxF5Ws8378JOYT1YQv575X5YQcT2z6Cc4LWBDSiUe4oFCToMpjEEe12Dv0yqkLhdmxy8l2xc-RWqL/s320/headshot+for+diy+interview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>About the Author</b></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA">A native of eastern Ontario, during her </span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA">pre-school years,
Melanie Robertson-King lived in a winterized cottage on the shore of the St
Lawrence River. Before starting school, her family moved to Brockville, where
she received her education, including a post-secondary degree in Computer
Programming.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA">Growing up as an only child, Melanie was an avid reader and
remains so to this day. She knew then one day she would be a writer. When she
wasn’t talking about her dream of becoming an author, she wrote stories and
began honing her skills at an early age.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA">Melanie’s father was a Scottish national. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA">He came to Canada
as a ‘Home Child’ through the auspices of The Orphan Homes of Scotland. She
promised herself that one day, her feet would touch the soil in her father’s
homeland. That first trip was in 1993, and she’s not looked back since, having
returned to the <i>auld country</i> many more times and is looking forward to her
next trip, possibly as soon as 2020.</span><span lang="EN-CA"> On one of her many trips to Scotland,
Melanie had the honour of meeting Princess Anne (The Princess Royal) at the
orphanage where her father was raised.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA">Encouraged to study Highland Dancing, she competed locally.
Her final competition took place during the summer of 1969, a few short months
after her father’s death, at the 1000 Islands Highland Games. In that last
event, she won the Silver Medal in the Sword Dance.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA">Melanie began her professional writing career in
non-fiction. One of her articles graced the cover of an international
publication. At the same time, she continued to develop her writing voice:
short stories (both fiction and non-fiction) as well as novel-length work.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA">Since her debut novel was published in the summer of 2012,
Melanie has written seven more books (including two for children) and released the
second edition of her first.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">It Happened in Gastown</span></i></b><span lang="EN-CA"> is Melanie’s
ninth book, and the second in the “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It Happened</i></b>” series of sweet
romances set in picturesque locations across Canada.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA">Her short story, <b><i>Cole’s Notes</i></b>, has been
re-edited and is available as a free read through her website and blog.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA">When not sequestered in her cave writing, plotting or
editing, you’ll find her out and about. Favourite haunts (pardon the pun) are
cemeteries (the older, the better) since they have more character, and perhaps
a few more characters. She also loves travel and photography.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Melanie
and fellow authors, Wendy H. Jones and Chris Longmuir, make up the infamous
trio – the Princesses of Pandemonium.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You
can engage with Melanie on the following platforms:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://melanierobertson-king.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/" target="_blank">Celtic
Connexions Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melanie-Robertson-King/221018701298979" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6543072.Melanie_Robertson_King" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertsoKing" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/robertsonking/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-41019727316184539882019-11-11T03:29:00.000-08:002019-11-11T03:29:32.833-08:00Time for an Update!This is not the first time I've updated some of my books but this time, I'm updating every single published e-book and creating a new print version of each.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELRRoj6dLf1fRRrmG5UIgdEXPLw9XE1zFfbPQMdc194S-_GBLZsLQOBe6HXD-4BnMnLfsBnIQ7UqBWB-NtfVIhbyNPkMa3iISNZHfYfVF1TkdrbBmQqSsqccCri8xrCqvEMTOPcCI4kxh/s1600/clock+slipping+%2528slate%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELRRoj6dLf1fRRrmG5UIgdEXPLw9XE1zFfbPQMdc194S-_GBLZsLQOBe6HXD-4BnMnLfsBnIQ7UqBWB-NtfVIhbyNPkMa3iISNZHfYfVF1TkdrbBmQqSsqccCri8xrCqvEMTOPcCI4kxh/s320/clock+slipping+%2528slate%2529.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Pixabay</td></tr>
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<br />
It's a good idea to update every so often, especially if only using e-books as that's relatively easy to do. But I've made the decision to keep control of all my published books, now that I have all the rights back, and to do it properly.<br />
<br />
So the 'front and back matter' of each is being updated to include my new website address, the full list of published books and anything else that needed updating. I've also bought my own ISBN numbers for the full length books and tween novels. At the moment, they are all being published as paperbacks on Amazon - as that's the most straightforward to do.<br />
<br />
But I'll also be uploading them to Ingram Spark for wider distribution, once they roll out their new facility. I<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">'ll keep the novellas and short story collections only on Amazon at the moment, although they're also in paperback. With Ingram Spark, it allows the books to be ordered in bookshops, from suppliers and by libraries. Hopefully, I'll work out how to format the covers for I.S. by then!</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
As I go through them, I'm also updating a few covers, especially those I wasn't happy with before. The idea is that once I've done all this, I can forget about the published books, apart from promoting them now and then, and concentrate on what comes next.<br />
<br />
I have at least two unfinished novels, one of which is a complete departure and would probably become a series. Once I decide which to tackle first, I still have the option of sending them out to an agent or publisher. At least all the other books will be available meantime. I'm still writing occasional short stories, articles and poetry as well, so I need to get more organised.<br />
<br />
No doubt I'll post more updates when everything is ready. Meanwhile, I've blogged about the <a href="https://www.rosemarygemmell.co.uk/post/the-joy-of-reading-poems-together" target="_blank">Joy of Reading Poetry Together</a> (with my granddaughter) on my new website, if anyone is interested!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-89462476139089469722019-10-28T02:51:00.000-07:002019-10-28T02:51:07.429-07:00Reading NostalgiaAlthough I have over 100 e-books on my kindle and loads of paperbacks still to read, now and then I feel like an old favourite; a comfort read perhaps.<br />
<br />
One evening, my glance fell on a smart little hardback edition of Agatha Christie's <i>Murder on the Orient Express</i> that I'd bought in a charity shop long ago. It was exactly what I wanted to read as I've always loved her books.<br />
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I'm sure there must be few people who have never seen at least one version of the film, even if they haven't read the book, and I was hoping it wouldn't be <i>too</i> familiar to read it again. I needn't have worried. I enjoyed every page, and there was something more satisfying in <i>reading</i> about each clue as Poirot put his famous 'little grey cells' to use.<br />
<br />
It was also a good lesson on structure, if read as a writer, but for me it was pure pleasure reading one of the crime queen's most famous novels. It helps if you enjoy fiction set in the golden age of crime, while the setting of course doesn't come much more glamourous than the Orient Express.<br />
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I was lucky enough to travel on it some years ago and had no problem imagining I was part of the set for a 1930s mystery. Gorgeously decadent, with delicious food, ornate décor and a grand piano. I need better photos, so I'm still trying to convince husband we should have another journey and blow the retirement fund! The first photo is on the Pullman coach on the UK part of the journey and the one above is of our Steward on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express.<br />
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Incidentally, I remember seeing an updated version of the film on TV a few years back, with David Suchet as Poirot ( my favourite in the role). It was a bit darker than previous versions but it was very close to the book. I must look out for it if it's shown again.<br />
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My 'must-read' is usually <i>Jane Eyre</i>, or perhaps <i>Rebecca</i>. I might revisit one of those after I catch up on some new books!<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Do you sometimes have a yearning for reading nostalgia, or a favourite book you like to revisit? </span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-76855804123109966932019-10-20T11:01:00.003-07:002019-10-20T11:01:58.398-07:00Autumn BreakAs usual, we've had a little autumn break while the schools have been off, especially when we had no grandparent duties this time (although I always love going on outings with my wee granddaughter)!<br />
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On one of the best days, we went further into Fife, to the lovely harbour town of Anstruther, famous for its fish and chips. With all that daily fresh fishing catch, we had to sample it of course. I went for the special recipe battered haddock while husband prefers breaded fish. A calorie-loaded treat!<br />
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Another day trip we had was to Edinburgh, when we then walked for miles and miles to Leith. I didn't even know there was such a big shopping mall at the Ocean terminal, where the (former) Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed. We passed on the ship but had a delicious Italian meal before getting the much-appreciated bus back up to Edinburgh for the train!<br />
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Sometimes all we need are days when we can decided to do nothing much in particular, rather than rushing out each morning. All in all, it was a good break and gave us time to take stock of our respective work loads.<br />
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Now, it's full-speed ahead getting all my e-books updated and putting them all into print. A laborious but enjoyable task which will take a while yet. Can't wait to get my hands on the brand new paperback version of them all.<br />
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RosemaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-4285209485946102342019-10-01T09:05:00.000-07:002019-10-01T09:05:20.310-07:00Trick or Treat October Book Bonanza!<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Trick or Treat! October is the month to celebrate all
things paranormal, supernatural, suspenseful and mystical. If you’re like me,
you’ll want to accept this very special invitation to join the festivities at
N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s first annual <a href="https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/trick-or-treat-book-bonanza" name="_Hlk20406481">Trick or TreatBook Bonanza</a>. </span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">35 authors share what they’d dress up as for Halloween
as well as 42 books featured plus a chance to win one of the following:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble
Gift Card</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble
Gift Card</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble
Gift Card</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble
Gift Card</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble
Gift Card</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My book, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Highcrag,
</i></b>will be featured on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">October 3<sup>rd</sup></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></b> Wait until you read what my
Halloween costume would be. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Bookmark this event and tell your friends. It’s open
internationally and </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">runs October 1-31 </span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Drawing will be held on November 1. </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "baskerville old face" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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