Writing

My editor and I have decided to enter a contest with my book. The deadline to send in the completed manuscript is mid-December. So now we are going to jump into hyper-speed and reread every line. Make sure each person stays true to who they are and to make sure the plot holds throughout the entire book.

Can we do it. . . I don't know. But it is worth a try. We've worked so hard for so long. It sure would be nice to receive some type of recognition. The recognition itself only means that whoever judged the book lost themselves as they read. That is my goal.

To be that book that someone will think about during the day. That after they have finished it, they wonder what the characters are doing. Those books whose characters seem to be their very best friends.

I wish this book would be just that. I do not know . . . . I shall keep you posted.

I've posted this gown before but just love it and wanted to see it again.

Ball gown and Writing assignments

Up to the mountains to see St. Mary's Glacier. A little bit of a hike but beautiful.

My last chapter is almost there. I need to re-work the last scene. I have it in the POV of the hero and it needs to be the heroine. My very kind and generous editor gave me a new assignment. It has been such fun to do.

She asked me to take each of the main characters and write a description of them, what their goals are, what their secret is, about their personality and finally what they fear most. Next to find a map of their city and see if they can make it logistically to the places I have them going to.

My daughter sent me this link. It is very interesting reading of the finances of Jane Austen's characters.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/11063670/Could-Mr-Darcy-afford-a-stately-home-today.html

Life and a Ball gown

The last two weeks have been crazy. I caught a cold on top of my allergies which blocked my ear. So I've been deaf in my right ear now for two weeks. One week into it, I went to the finest nurse practitioner money can buy at the Walgreens Well Clinic. She was a kind a gracious woman that told me that my eustachian tube was blocked. So now I have been taking sudafed, nasal spray and Claritan D to try and open that tube up.

Then my van called the "Grey Phantom" died. It not only died but it happened while bringing six children home from a field trip an hour away from home. My daughter that does all the great artwork was with me. And my husband had to leave a business lunch with his boss who had just flown into Denver. But I was so grateful that he came to my rescue. Yeah!! But now I'm car-less. It is not a great feeling.

To the left is another one of the marvelous gowns my daughter made for me. I love the rosette

So I am relying on my grown kids to borrow their cars and to watch my daycare kids as I take the older ones to and from school. Thank heaven that my one son is looking for a job and is carrying the brunt of helping me out.

In the midst of all of this, we went camping this weekend. A much needed reprieve from troubles. We saw three baby fawns with their white spots still showing. A bunch of baby calves, bats and a vole. We watched the stars and satellites in the sky by a roaring fire at night. One of our sons fished the river with much luck, the other went hiking. My daughter also went hiking.And when they weren't doing those things they played Yahtzee. My husband and I went on a hike up the side of a mountain. I should re-think my footwear.  I don't think flip-flops were the ideal choice. But I did make it to the spot where the rapids were wildly beautiful.

Again my last chapter rests with my editor. I think I closed the gaps between coincidences and reality. We'll see.

Adorable Regency Ball Gown with a pattern of feathers

I was just thinking today that I have been writing now for almost ten years. Which makes me think that writing is for the writer and then secondly for the reader. I think Jane Austen, one of the greats, was able to tell a simple story by weaving in and out of daily life. There is something highly rewarding to create a world and then invite people to come in.

Here is one of the most adorable gowns, yet. I would love to wear this dress myself. 

Another Version of the Pink Ball Gown and Writing

Writing is such hard work. It is also very lonely. When you write a great line, there is no one to whom you can go and say. "Hey isn't this one line great?"  No one wants to read one line and one line doesn't make sense unless you have read the above lines and can put it into context.  

That is why I love these dresses that my daughter designed. Here is another version of the same ball gown from my last post. I like this one better but just by a little bit. Both are amazing.         

Pink Ball Gown

Could you imagine having a closet full of ball gowns and all the accessories that went with each one?  Not only the undergarments, but you would need matching gloves, slippers and ribbons for your hair. 

Here is a ball gown that my daughter made for my main character, Lady Diana Pemberton for my book “A Series of Scandals”

I know, I know it is not debutante white. For sticklers, it is not what would have been worn. All in white would be pretty to wear like a wedding dress in today’s times. But who wants to see various gowns all in white.

Plus who doesn’t love pink and the only thing better than pink is pink with lace and if that pink is silk. I love the lace split down the side and the intricate underskirt contrasting with the lighter pink overdress of the skirt. What do you think of the lines?

Did you notice how I haven't mentioned writing, I am still working on the first three chapters.