I chose today’s music because when I was touring Uniacke Estate Museum this past Saturday (Yes, I was there again 🙂 ), there was a piece of music Schubert on the music stand in the sitting room. This tour was a special, limited-number tour in which the ropes were down and we were guided into the rooms and behind closed doors and given the chance to see things up close and from different angles. We even got to peek inside drawers and cupboards.
Published to YouTube by J.J.Burred on February 6, 2017.
Here is the music stand with the music which was right next to the early 1800s piano and then on the other side of the piano were several music books.
We also visited Sherbrooke Village, a Victorian village, at the start of the week.
Between the two trips, I spent some time in bed and visiting therapists because, over the previous weekend, my hip began giving me some trouble and continued to worsen. (I think it was one walk up a steep gravelly path too many 🙂 ). Continue reading Music Monday: Schubert – Ständchen (Serenade)
Helland, Peder B. “Relaxing Celtic Music: Fantasy Music, Flute Music, Harp Music, Beautiful Music, Relaxing Music ★91.” YouTube. Soothing Relaxation, 17 Sept. 2016. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
This is a fanciful piece of music, is it not? I found this video about two months ago, and it has become a standard go-to piece of music for getting my mind into writing mode. There is something about it that just grabs my imagination and leads it down the creative path. It is also calming which helps me shift from the busyness of a family to the right frame of mind to think and create. (Seriously, it almost magical how well it works for me.) Because of these things, it has a place near the top of the playlist on the old mp3 player that lives on my writing desk. This piece of music does have a connection to some of the writing I did this week — in a roundabout way. I’ll get to that in a minute.
First, to give you an update on my current writing projects, I have been editing, editing, and editing. I have completed the first round (the most strenuous round) of edits for chapters 1- 12 of So Very Unexpected. The story, which when it completed posting here was around 36,600 words, is up to about 39,300 words currently, and I have several more chapters to go before I am done editing. I think it is very safe to say that this story will cross that 40,000-word novel threshold. I haven’t made any big changes. It has been more of a refining of what was there — adding details, rewording, smoothing, making certain that Lydia’s eyes which started as blue and ended hazel in the first draft are now hazel throughout — those sorts of things. I has also been helpful to know exactly what happens in book four before doing these edits since some things tie together there. So, I am happy I decided to finish book four’s first draft before picking up my editing pen on So Very Unexpected. I will continue editing this week and will more than likely share an excerpt of this story with you next week instead of this week since today, I have something else planned to share with you.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 17, 2017, is my day to post on austenauthors.net. My post is about my writing plans for this year. Part of these plans involves attempting to write Austen-inspired fairy tales. If you are listening to the music video, do you see how this music could play a part? This music makes me think of fairies and magic and all things fanciful (and romantic 🙂 ). Another part of my plans for this year involves the creation of a special Facebook Group,
Another part of my plans for this year involves the creation of a special Facebook Group, Leenie’s Sweeties. It is primarily for those who are fans of my books and would like to help promote them, but it is also a place where I hope to interact with readers while I work on putting my writing plans into action over the course of the year.
Now, in place of a story excerpt this week, I am sharing a link below to a story I placed on the Austen Author’s Writer’s Block Forum for my post tomorrow (which means you get to read it early). This story is an Austen-inspired fairy tale that I wrote a couple of years ago in response to a writing challenge.
Enjoy the story, and I hope to see you at Austen Authors tomorrow!
Click to read this story on Austen Authors Writer’s Block Forum
2Cellos. “2CELLOS – Shape Of My Heart [OFFICIAL VIDEO].” YouTube. 09 Dec. 2014. Web. 08 Jan. 2017.
Happy Monday! Isn’t this a beautiful piece of music to start the week? It is one of my favourites to listen to while writing. (Yes, I know I have a lot of favourites, but they are all so good. 🙂 )
I chose to feature this video today for a couple of reasons that are related to what I was working on this week. First, the plucking of the strings makes me think of traveling by horse or carriage and the constant clip-clop of hooves as you roll or ride along for hours. There was a good deal of travel in what I was writing this week because Bingley had some business to take care of.
Second, the visuals of floating and burning papers made me think of things happening in the plot. The business our hero left to complete was not of a pleasant nature, and it was the sort of which you do not really wish to have documentation. (Yes, I am talking about Bingley as the hero here. There is something surprising hidden behind that pleasant exterior.)
I finished the story except for an epilogue, and, thanks to the help of a reader and friend on Facebook, I have a title for this fourth book in the Willow Hall Romance series. Yay! The title is At All Costs, and I think it fits perfectly since the story, both for the hero and one of the “villains” (yes, one of them — there are several that cause trouble), is a story of fighting for and protecting your love at all costs.
I plan to write the epilogue in a few weeks after I have edited So Very Unexpected. That book is slated to be published on February 14, 2017, so I am busy doing the first round of edits so that I can send it to my first reader, fix what she tells me, and then send it on to my proofreaders/copy editors. This means the story has disappeared from the blog, but I have left a link to a two chapter preview on my Leenie B Books page. I am enjoying going back to this story after being away from it for about two months. I still love Lydia!
I believe that is all the writing news I have for you today. This week, I will be editing and working on my Austen Author’s blog post for next Tuesday (which will feature a giveaway). Enjoy your week! Hopefully, you will get to stop by the blog on Wednesday and Thursday for a lovely painting and a full chapter of At All Costs.
EXCERPT FROM At All Costs: *Contains spoilers and a cliffhanger. 🙂 *
The sun was setting as Bingley and Richard wound their way through the streets of London. They had paused long enough upon arrival to leave their bags at Bingley’s townhouse and for Bingley to stop at his solicitor’s office to check on the progress of marriage papers and a special license. Now, however, he and Richard had left the favourable portion of town and were slowly making their way down toward the river.
Bingley waved to some chap who was seated on a crate marking things off in his notebook.
It will be the second day of 2017 when this posts, but as I am writing it, it is still 2016 — it’s New Year’s Eve to be exact, and the radio is on and playing a list of their top 103 country songs of 2016. It is that time of year when we look back on what has happened and look forward to what might be in the new year. And so, I am taking a few minutes to look back at my year in writing.
One of the biggest changes this last year has been moving from a regular paycheck to being self-employed. This change also came with a move from a classroom full of students to one — my son. And it has been a challenge figuring out how to mesh his classes, my work schedule, and just regular house things together. We’re doing ok, but I would not say we are “there” yet. 🙂 But it has been a wonderful change — a definite blessing!
So besides giving up the day job, what tangible things can I point to that show what I have accomplished this year in my writing life? Well, I have made a few changes on the front page of this website. I have completed two Thursday’s Three Hundred stories and have another one started — and I have published several books.
His Inconvenient Choice
Her Heart’s Choice
And Then Love (written in 2015)
Finally Mrs. Darcy
Waking to Mr. Darcy
The Tenant’s Guest
A Very Mary Christmas
Wow — I guess that feeling of always being busy was not imagined! It has been a busy year, and not everything both professionally and personally was wonderful. There were some definitely difficult times that twisted my heart and bent me under their weight, but this little reed is still standing. 🙂 But here’s the thing, (and I am going to get a little “spiritual” here because my faith is part of who I am) I am still standing and have accomplished what I have not through my strength alone. God has been good. He has sustained me in the rough places and granted me moments of seeing His blessing being poured out. The lyrics of the song above say
But here’s the thing, (and I am going to get a little “spiritual” here because my faith is part of who I am) I am still standing and have accomplished what I have not through my strength alone. God has been good. He has sustained me in the rough places and granted me moments of seeing His blessing being poured out. The lyrics of the song above say
Call it a reason to retreat I got some dreams that are bigger than me I might be outmatched, outsized, the underdog in the fight of my life Is it so crazy to believe
That You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach Called me to waters a little too deep Oh, I’ve never been so aware of my need You keep on making me see It’s way beyond me
I have definitely felt this way this past year, and as I begin the process of looking forward to 2017 and sketching plans, I still feel this way — the dreams are still big, the waters still feel too deep, and I am so very aware of my need of His sustenance. But, even if there is a flutter of nerves in my stomach and that little voice in my mind that questions if I can reach my goals, I will be moving forward — in His strength.
Now, in order to accomplish my goals, I must do my part and be faithful in my work, which includes writing — daily or nearly so. Life does like to mess up the schedule some days. This week, there were a few days that writing did not happen, but then there was one day when I was able to write for hours and managed to type out somewhere around 6,000 words. A few of those words are below in a short excerpt. I will remind you again…this is the current Thursday story and we are getting to the end. Things are starting to be resolved, so if you read this, there may be spoilers.
AlexanderRoublev. “The Irish Rovers. Good King Wenceslas.” YouTube. YouTube, 18 Dec. 2011. Web. 25 Dec. 2016.
ABOUT THE SONG:
This was one of my favourite carols as a child. Why? Because it told a story about a kind king. I would listen to the carol, often singing along, as lovely images of a king and his page struggling through the snow would play in my mind.
I could feel the wind blowing and would shiver as the cold seeped through the pages clothing chilling his blood. I could see the peasant stooping and adding another twig to the pile in his arms. I would imagine his family huddled around the hearth at his home waiting for his return. I could see the page taking large strides to match those of his master as he followed behind the king sheltered from the wind and snow. I would smile at the thought of the surprise visit and gift from the king to the peasant. And I would be reminded that I was blessed.
I still think about these things when I hear this song, and it is still a reminder of just how blessed I am.
WRITING NEWS:
I have spent more time reading this week than writing. In the midst of the busyness of the season, combined with the release of A Very Mary Christmasand hosting a book launch giveaway on Austen Authors, finding time to write was challenging. Finding time to read was less challenging, so I reread parts of some books that I have read several times before. It’s a thing I do when I find a book that I particularly enjoy and am drawn back to. I reread these stories with a purpose — to discover the story or character development techniques the author has used to engage my interest. I like to think of it as studying at the feet of the masters. 🙂
However, it was not all reading this week. Below is a small portion of what I was able to write. I am still working on Willow Hall, Book 4. I am getting into the things are starting to come to that ultimate climax before the resolution portion of the story, so read at your own risk. 🙂 It will be many weeks before this portion shows up in a Thursday post.
STORY EXCERPT Willow Hall Romance, Book 4:
Later that evening, Bingley tapped his fingers on the table next to the letter he had written. He was uncertain if this was the best course of action. Perhaps he should just take a trip to town to speak with Mr. ___. Letters were tricky items. There was no guarantee that the intended recipient would be the only recipient of the news in a missive. He scanned the words again. Continue reading Music Monday: Good King Wenceslas, The Irish Rovers
