Finishing up A Series of Scandals - Yeah!!

This is my last weekend of editing A Series of Scandals. And then it is off to my sister who will pitch it to a couple of publishers. I kept thinking I was done. Three years of thinking I was done. Three more years on top of so many more that I have worked to forge out this story. But I really like it now. If a publisher is interested, then I’ve heard I will have to change it even more. But at least that is moving forward.   

I've begun working on its sequel. Its working title is Out in the Open. I'm sure there are a thousand books with that title. But until another one comes to mind, I’m stuck with this one.  

Out at Cherry Creek this weekend.  

Musings of Colorado, Writing and a Gown

From a foot of snow on Tuesday to sunshine and 45 degrees, I'm loving everything about Colorado today.  Here's the view from my front window.

This week has gone by so quickly, but I've been able to write every day. I'm not entirely satisfied with the excerpts I have been posting from my Out of Focus book. But the deadline is helping me to finish a chapter at a time. And it is coming along better than when I give myself a deadline and then fail to meet it. Any comments on it would be greatly appreciated.

Below is another gown that my daughter made for me. It goes along with my Regency book. And yes, I'm still editing it. My sister/editor has given me a March 1st deadline, and so I'm reading every line and making sure each one reveals something or I'm cutting it. With 114,773 words, it is in desperate need of losing a few words here and there.    

Sewing projects for the nobility and gentry

Tapestry on canvas was another type of sewing that the women of Regency England did. It could be geometric or a colorful scenery. Once finished it would be stretched over a footstool or the seat of a chair. For the nobility and gentry alike, there were many types of fancy needlework that you could employ several hours a day working on.

A design was drawn on a white piece of muslin with pencil or a very light charcoal and then the pattern was embroidered. A gown or shawl could be enhanced with a colorful design using every single type of stitch. French knots, running stitch, chain stitches or satin stitch could be used.

Another type of fancy needlework would be netting. You could make a purse using this method. Basically it is similar to macramé with knots and a particular type of shuttle, but used fine smooth yarn, silk or cotton thread. Sailors used this same type of netting knots to make fishing nets.  Once done this could be embroidered onto material and then it would be very fine sewing.

Book covers and Writing

Happy Memorial Day.

I went to visit my 97 year old friend in her nursing home. She was a nurse in England during WWII. I thanked her for her service and she said, "You're Welcome."

Just like that. But what else could she say.  The times were tough, but she found out what she was made of. She saw things, places and people she would have never met but for those times. It took something from her and in return gave her something. She's a better person and yet images of those events run through her deteriorating memories. Some as friends and some still adversarial. On a good day, she talks of a doctor that she met at the hospital. He wanted to marry her and said he would find her. He never did, but sometimes she asks about him. She remembers, her heart remembers.    

She also told me how to heat up tea properly and thought it wasn't that hard. I agreed but told her that I did not have access to a stove. Her look of disgust told me she didn't believe me.

Another week of writing. I worked hard this weekend and was able to go through my entire Regency novel reviewing and reworking certain sections.  The amount of time that I have spent on this book, one would assume it has to be amazing. But you would have to know where I started to understand why it has taken years to be able to offer anything.

My daughter Jordan from http://zoundsdesigns.com/ made these covers for my modern day book. The first one I’ve posted earlier.  My second daughter, Bailey likes the first one. I like the one below the best. But there is something about the 3rd and 4th one that intrigue me.  I'd love to hear what you think.