tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15137696329139685022024-03-19T01:36:57.265-07:00Jessica HartWriting Romance around the WorldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-89890721965934713652013-08-16T04:58:00.000-07:002013-08-16T05:00:52.638-07:00Special price for Vintage Collection now!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’m happy to announce that we’ve rolled out the Vintage
Collection to all e-readers now, so whatever you read on, you can download
these classic romances from the 90s … and at 90s prices!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now all five books are available at
their original price:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> w</span>ho says you can’t
go back in time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Check out the home page on my <a href="http://www.jessicahart.co.uk/">website</a>, and you’ll find
natty little icons for a whole selection of e-readers, which look so much nicer
than long strings of complicated code (needless to say, I didn’t manage to do
that myself!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">If you’d like to keep up to date with news and special
offers for subscribers, why not sign up for my newsletter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only goes out three times a year, so you
won’t be inundated with emails from me, I promise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a sign up form on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jessica.Hart.Author">Facebook page</a>, or of course you can email me directly saying that you’d like to subscribe j<a href="mailto:Jessica@jessicahart.co.uk">essica@jessicahart.co.uk</a> - I'm always happy to hear from readers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Happy reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCn8gg6fMV4KrKD-ow8RqaonnuPZeKgvM8bteL45vhVUAqutq9X5r3rsv8eEP1fofEu99-0kjYuiX0dcXjHNn8wrGnKwrr0rfW5ZzEMyAfOVXC_n3539TnoOh6KyeAjXWPq_NEQzDfuw/s1600/JH+ASP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #727272; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCn8gg6fMV4KrKD-ow8RqaonnuPZeKgvM8bteL45vhVUAqutq9X5r3rsv8eEP1fofEu99-0kjYuiX0dcXjHNn8wrGnKwrr0rfW5ZzEMyAfOVXC_n3539TnoOh6KyeAjXWPq_NEQzDfuw/s320/JH+ASP.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px;"><div class="JH" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright Yuri Arcurs 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
<div class="JH" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">A Sweeter Prejudice</span></i></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sweet, old fashioned Abby is horrified when movie star Nick comes roaring into the calm</span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Cotswolds village of Stynch Magna. Nick is ridiculously handsome, irresistibly charming …</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">and American … everything Abby has learnt through hard experience to distrust. But he’s</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">also not a man who gives up easily, and he’s not about to be beaten by Abby’s prejudice. Can</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
she resist the overwhelming excitement and passion he brings to her peaceful existence?</div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="JH" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNUkhm6x7PwTiBsa6tgDTSuz-qr_X_1nDiwDyQid6VL0fi_m8ZvirF_skbc8ItNaruL7EvlLZUI2tjMlXXoKwtUAzDs8fLzJLScAfx5Uys4UY-iI2WDXJCL78gbe5o3Dc4V01qrFu9rM/s1600/JH+TWL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #727272; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNUkhm6x7PwTiBsa6tgDTSuz-qr_X_1nDiwDyQid6VL0fi_m8ZvirF_skbc8ItNaruL7EvlLZUI2tjMlXXoKwtUAzDs8fLzJLScAfx5Uys4UY-iI2WDXJCL78gbe5o3Dc4V01qrFu9rM/s320/JH+TWL.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px;"><div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright Yuri Arcurs 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
<div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">The Trouble with Love</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Scatty photographer Poppy joins Dr Keir Traherne’s expedition saving the West African rain</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">forest. He thinks she’ll be nothing but a distraction, and pretty soon she’s proving him right -</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">her luggage goes missing at the airport and things go downhill from there. But Poppy is warm</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">and funny, as well as accident-prone, and soon she’s distracting Keir and stirring his</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">emotions in more ways than one ...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPid8oPfzZA8-HOFdq2j-XUxE9b5acFjEkqEpnoyiJJrosYQM2ftubX-D9Ufs2vzaP0IwQMjF3rLAUX_2I60oKbLP4iiwr4AuyXTvpGFJ8Rxp8huoDu8dgUyUG-PA_19ryldQK-hJ5MHY/s1600/JH+WWC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #727272; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPid8oPfzZA8-HOFdq2j-XUxE9b5acFjEkqEpnoyiJJrosYQM2ftubX-D9Ufs2vzaP0IwQMjF3rLAUX_2I60oKbLP4iiwr4AuyXTvpGFJ8Rxp8huoDu8dgUyUG-PA_19ryldQK-hJ5MHY/s320/JH+WWC.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px;"><div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright MJTH 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Woman at Willagong Creek</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cool, chic, city girl Olivia flies out to Australia to bring her best friend’s orphaned son,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">David, home to London. Cattle rancher Guy, who’s been looking after David, wants to keep</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">the little boy with him at Willagong Creek - no place for a woman like Olivia. The only way</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">she can stay and care for David is a marriage of convenience to Guy. Against the wildness</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">and heat of the outback, Olivia’s feelings grow for her strong, masterful husband - but Guy</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">won’t lay a finger on her … until she asks. Will Olivia dare to seduce her own husband?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUEgKd0P7nN0pbAKrFP46IXoPRi23cgZtzH4xBKFlAYjM6H4xegvfR__tkyUjrtvPuqpRZPIm7V0Oi_VMgi8lGJLYqq6EssdxIv_iHtAI69BZB9TEdzrKks3JowlFE10bdveLOFom1NM/s1600/JH+DL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #727272; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUEgKd0P7nN0pbAKrFP46IXoPRi23cgZtzH4xBKFlAYjM6H4xegvfR__tkyUjrtvPuqpRZPIm7V0Oi_VMgi8lGJLYqq6EssdxIv_iHtAI69BZB9TEdzrKks3JowlFE10bdveLOFom1NM/s320/JH+DL.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px;"><div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright Yuri Arcurs 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Defiant Love</i></span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Gussie cares passionately about the Northumberland countryside and clashes with developer</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Hunter Scott over his construction plans. When Hunter offers her a job as an environmental</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
consultant on the project, Gussie is thrown<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">. </span>Can she make a difference working on the inside</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
of the development? What will it be like working side by side with Hunter? And can her</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
principles stand up to an even more powerful emotion - her growing feelings for Hunter?</div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<br style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtCnkUv0J_rCWBGA34orDygZQxjJUfw5HVJlXANPl9VHjeXN2Ini8gRzn4EOMEQp8xRX0DhzhVNqxGNMSg4w8GI1JyWb9ab7OfAILxffZCiQROjPOSHo0Wmbhx0dx3Fm9C5GoaRShNTw/s1600/JH+LB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #727272; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtCnkUv0J_rCWBGA34orDygZQxjJUfw5HVJlXANPl9VHjeXN2Ini8gRzn4EOMEQp8xRX0DhzhVNqxGNMSg4w8GI1JyWb9ab7OfAILxffZCiQROjPOSHo0Wmbhx0dx3Fm9C5GoaRShNTw/s320/JH+LB.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px;"><div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright solominviktor 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<i>Legally Binding</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
Ten years ago, Jane was far too sensible to run away with local rebel Lyall. But now he’s</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
back<span style="color: #0d8f1f;">, </span>and the bad boy is all grown up. Lyall is a successful businessman who holds the keys</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
to the future of her family business and this time he’s going to make sure he specifies the</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
terms … but has he really changed? And will Jane risk her heart again?</div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-74386261226583724492013-04-27T15:34:00.000-07:002013-04-27T15:34:49.212-07:00Jessica Hart Vintage Collection - available now!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83FhxKkKawa38ksTvj_hi1MHqwWJsvOD59ZvToEbKjbuqTewOMuDmXQtF1iH5VirkC5sBA4X3-RNmg5blh2lQYKE8jTHOQBDfHr889ptrl3xdeN_n4jFuCXVQxImMTOUzkQl_ZhVZKF0/s1600/JHVC+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83FhxKkKawa38ksTvj_hi1MHqwWJsvOD59ZvToEbKjbuqTewOMuDmXQtF1iH5VirkC5sBA4X3-RNmg5blh2lQYKE8jTHOQBDfHr889ptrl3xdeN_n4jFuCXVQxImMTOUzkQl_ZhVZKF0/s320/JHVC+.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ta DA! Resurrecting this blog to announce the launch of the Jessica Hart Vintage Collection, now exclusively available on Amazon!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wrote these five books in the early Nineties, and the collection includes my very first three books: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>A Sweeter Prejudice</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Trouble with Love</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Woman at Willagong Creek</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rereading the proofs, I've been struck by what period pieces they all are. The Nineties don't seem that long ago to me, but the books belong to a different world, one in which few people had a PC or a mobile phone, and whole plots could turn on whether or not a letter had been received. (How on earth did we ever make arrangements to meet without texts?)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The collection will have an official 'launch' on 23rd May, with <i>Woman at Willagong Creek</i> available to download absolutely free, but we'll be rolling out to other e-readers later in the summer so keep in touch! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you'd like to sign up for my newsletter with details of upcoming offers and news, do drop me an email: jessica@jessicahart.co.uk. Otherwise, you can always find me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Hart/197786216977996">Facebook</a> or Twittering erratically as @JessicaHartXX - I'd love to hear from you any old how! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCn8gg6fMV4KrKD-ow8RqaonnuPZeKgvM8bteL45vhVUAqutq9X5r3rsv8eEP1fofEu99-0kjYuiX0dcXjHNn8wrGnKwrr0rfW5ZzEMyAfOVXC_n3539TnoOh6KyeAjXWPq_NEQzDfuw/s1600/JH+ASP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCn8gg6fMV4KrKD-ow8RqaonnuPZeKgvM8bteL45vhVUAqutq9X5r3rsv8eEP1fofEu99-0kjYuiX0dcXjHNn8wrGnKwrr0rfW5ZzEMyAfOVXC_n3539TnoOh6KyeAjXWPq_NEQzDfuw/s320/JH+ASP.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright Yuri Arcurs 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">A Sweeter Prejudice</span></i></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sweet, old fashioned Abby is horrified when movie star Nick comes roaring into the calm</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cotswolds village of Stynch Magna. Nick is ridiculously handsome, irresistibly charming …</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">and American … everything Abby has learnt through hard experience to distrust. But he’s</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
also not a man who gives up easily, and he’s not about to be beaten by Abby’s prejudice. Can</div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
she resist the overwhelming excitement and passion he brings to her peaceful existence?</div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #002060; text-decoration: none;">Amazon.com <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF136Y4" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF136Y4</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #002060; text-decoration: none;">Amazon.co.uk <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF136Y4" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF136Y4</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNUkhm6x7PwTiBsa6tgDTSuz-qr_X_1nDiwDyQid6VL0fi_m8ZvirF_skbc8ItNaruL7EvlLZUI2tjMlXXoKwtUAzDs8fLzJLScAfx5Uys4UY-iI2WDXJCL78gbe5o3Dc4V01qrFu9rM/s1600/JH+TWL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNUkhm6x7PwTiBsa6tgDTSuz-qr_X_1nDiwDyQid6VL0fi_m8ZvirF_skbc8ItNaruL7EvlLZUI2tjMlXXoKwtUAzDs8fLzJLScAfx5Uys4UY-iI2WDXJCL78gbe5o3Dc4V01qrFu9rM/s320/JH+TWL.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright Yuri Arcurs 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
</div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Trouble with Love</span></i></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Scatty photographer Poppy joins Dr Keir Traherne’s expedition saving the West African rain</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">forest. He thinks she’ll be nothing but a distraction, and pretty soon she’s proving him right -</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">her luggage goes missing at the airport and things go downhill from there. But Poppy is warm</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and funny, as well as accident-prone, and soon she’s distracting Keir and stirring his</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">emotions in more ways than one ...</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #002060; text-decoration: none;">Amazon.com <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF13E9G" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF13E9G</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amazon.co.uk <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF13E9G" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF13E9G</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPid8oPfzZA8-HOFdq2j-XUxE9b5acFjEkqEpnoyiJJrosYQM2ftubX-D9Ufs2vzaP0IwQMjF3rLAUX_2I60oKbLP4iiwr4AuyXTvpGFJ8Rxp8huoDu8dgUyUG-PA_19ryldQK-hJ5MHY/s1600/JH+WWC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPid8oPfzZA8-HOFdq2j-XUxE9b5acFjEkqEpnoyiJJrosYQM2ftubX-D9Ufs2vzaP0IwQMjF3rLAUX_2I60oKbLP4iiwr4AuyXTvpGFJ8Rxp8huoDu8dgUyUG-PA_19ryldQK-hJ5MHY/s320/JH+WWC.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright MJTH 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Woman at Willagong Creek</span></i></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Cool, chic, city girl Olivia flies out to Australia to bring her best friend’s orphaned son,</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">David, home to London. Cattle rancher Guy, who’s been looking after David, wants to keep</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">the little boy with him at Willagong Creek - no place for a woman like Olivia. The only way</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">she can stay and care for David is a marriage of convenience to Guy. Against the wildness</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and heat of the outback, Olivia’s feelings grow for her strong, masterful husband - but Guy</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">won’t lay a finger on her … until she asks. Will Olivia dare to seduce her own husband?</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #002060; text-decoration: none;">Amazon.com <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF13III" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF13III</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Amazon.co.uk <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF13III" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF13III</a><span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUEgKd0P7nN0pbAKrFP46IXoPRi23cgZtzH4xBKFlAYjM6H4xegvfR__tkyUjrtvPuqpRZPIm7V0Oi_VMgi8lGJLYqq6EssdxIv_iHtAI69BZB9TEdzrKks3JowlFE10bdveLOFom1NM/s1600/JH+DL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUEgKd0P7nN0pbAKrFP46IXoPRi23cgZtzH4xBKFlAYjM6H4xegvfR__tkyUjrtvPuqpRZPIm7V0Oi_VMgi8lGJLYqq6EssdxIv_iHtAI69BZB9TEdzrKks3JowlFE10bdveLOFom1NM/s320/JH+DL.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright Yuri Arcurs 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Defiant Love</i></span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gussie cares passionately about the Northumberland countryside and clashes with developer</span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hunter Scott over his construction plans. When Hunter offers her a job as an environmental</span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
consultant on the project, Gussie is thrown<span style="color: #575757; font: 11.0px Helvetica;">. </span>Can she make a difference working on the inside</div>
</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
of the development? What will it be like working side by side with Hunter? And can her</div>
</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
principles stand up to an even more powerful emotion - her growing feelings for Hunter?</div>
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #002060; text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #002060; text-decoration: none;">Amazon.com <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF134IW" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF134IW</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amazon.co.uk <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF134IW" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF134IW</a></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtCnkUv0J_rCWBGA34orDygZQxjJUfw5HVJlXANPl9VHjeXN2Ini8gRzn4EOMEQp8xRX0DhzhVNqxGNMSg4w8GI1JyWb9ab7OfAILxffZCiQROjPOSHo0Wmbhx0dx3Fm9C5GoaRShNTw/s1600/JH+LB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtCnkUv0J_rCWBGA34orDygZQxjJUfw5HVJlXANPl9VHjeXN2Ini8gRzn4EOMEQp8xRX0DhzhVNqxGNMSg4w8GI1JyWb9ab7OfAILxffZCiQROjPOSHo0Wmbhx0dx3Fm9C5GoaRShNTw/s320/JH+LB.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover design by and <span lang="EN-US">copyright </span>Debbie Lishman 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JH" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of couple copyright solominviktor 2013, used under licence from Shutterstock.com</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<i>Legally Binding</i></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Ten years ago, Jane was far too sensible to run away with local rebel Lyall. But now he’s</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
back<span style="color: #0d8f1f;">, </span>and the bad boy is all grown up. Lyall is a successful businessman who holds the keys</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
to the future of her family business and this time he’s going to make sure he specifies the</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
terms … but has he really changed? And will Jane risk her heart again?</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060;">Amazon.com <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF0T5OU" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF0T5OU</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
Amazon.co.uk <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF0T5OU" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CF0T5OU</a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-36840300781872259602012-08-15T14:44:00.001-07:002012-08-15T14:44:17.845-07:00All good things come to an end …<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdQTEH8KOt7p4AFTvExRJOkbFbcotw7CJodeRahD2HGeo4kub6EtqVluIH2XWiAvwI2vAbFYKCIbYj9mKRPuzy37B4mX4Xe0rsqMshhmQLhrqk9Thc3JoDQ4Q_67xXiU2H1vLlAzqjFg/s1600/Donna+&+Jessica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdQTEH8KOt7p4AFTvExRJOkbFbcotw7CJodeRahD2HGeo4kub6EtqVluIH2XWiAvwI2vAbFYKCIbYj9mKRPuzy37B4mX4Xe0rsqMshhmQLhrqk9Thc3JoDQ4Q_67xXiU2H1vLlAzqjFg/s200/Donna+&+Jessica.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I spent last night drinking pink fizz with fellow York
writers Jessica Thompson and Donna Douglas, and what a great evening we
had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t remember the last time I
had to be kicked out of a bar!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I don’t know if it’s the cava talking, or words of wisdom
from Jessica and Donna, both of whom are much more clued up on the social media
front, but I think it’s time to face some realities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am scrabbling to keep up with two blogs and
two Facebook pages and not doing any of them properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">So it’s time for a new social media strategy (sounds
impressive, doesn’t it?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this
blog has run its course, so I’m calling it a day here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be keeping my Jessica Hart hat on for
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Hart/197786216977996">Facebook</a>, where I have a lovely time posting photos and wittering on about my
day, and I do hope you’ll come and find me there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">And of course, news about new releases will be on my
website, <a href="http://www.jessicahart.co.uk/">www.jessicahart.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I’ll be putting on a less frivolous hat for my <a href="http://pamelahartshorne.blogspot.co.uk/">Pamela Hartshorne blog</a>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">newly moved from
Wordpress to Blogger (don't get me started on what a business <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that
</i>was!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">My plan is to focus future
blogs on my historical research rather than on my gold medals in
procrastination and if you’re interested in history, I’d love to see you there
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come on over in September, when
I’ll be back from my holiday and find snippets of background research, excerpts
from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Time’s Echo</i> and a chance to win
a signed copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Until then, many thanks to those of you who have read and
commented on this blog in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
been wonderful to feel connected to you all and please keep in touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Jessica Hart on Facebook: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Hart/197786216977996">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Hart/197786216977996</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Jessica Hart website: <a href="http://www.jessicahart.co.uk/">www.jessicahart.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Pamela Hartshorne blog: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://pamelahartshorne.blogspot.co.uk/">http://pamelahartshorne.blogspot.co.uk/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Pamela Hartshorne website:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://www.pamelahartshorne.com/">www.pamelahartshorne.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">And finally, I’m on Twitter @PamHartshorne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Confused?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I am!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaT-RckjYPARUiPjM_yiNPcG1ApOFMTUur7kKnRxlu_-CHFKygcQ9N0WH6oVfqwA8oy-RT6ShLr7pir_OQ0EzngyTIWrj5hop6ZOeK5PRJt69IGG8LrV0GgDVWg-IJ4AuS-aCFYK_KgQ/s1600/Facebook_Cover_RIVA_OutNow%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaT-RckjYPARUiPjM_yiNPcG1ApOFMTUur7kKnRxlu_-CHFKygcQ9N0WH6oVfqwA8oy-RT6ShLr7pir_OQ0EzngyTIWrj5hop6ZOeK5PRJt69IGG8LrV0GgDVWg-IJ4AuS-aCFYK_KgQ/s320/Facebook_Cover_RIVA_OutNow%255B2%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Oh, and finally, don't forget to look out for the RIVA relaunch in October, including a re-release of <i>We'll Always Have Paris</i> with a new cover. There'll be more about this on Facebook! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Jessica<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">xx<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-64995571906351916732012-08-09T03:35:00.002-07:002012-08-09T03:35:48.079-07:00To update or not to update? That is the question.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Always
one to wait until a bandwagon has trundled past and I’m left coughing and
spluttering in the dust before I start to run after it, I am about to venture
into self-publishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeebinIv2xDuTE_oEiTjIZLloboJ1u30ympSHlucqgQntEu_sSAGlkIJv_LkNgwsmwqX9VGVLmxUjzss-REkLSqaPGr8nnXFv6_I34WDaj9DtNS5Kg0HiFrfrkQMjQrbeE8FE7ooUwQo/s1600/Willagong+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeebinIv2xDuTE_oEiTjIZLloboJ1u30ympSHlucqgQntEu_sSAGlkIJv_LkNgwsmwqX9VGVLmxUjzss-REkLSqaPGr8nnXFv6_I34WDaj9DtNS5Kg0HiFrfrkQMjQrbeE8FE7ooUwQo/s400/Willagong+Creek.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Copyright
©1992 by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Rather
to my own surprise, I have recovered the rights to five of my earliest books,
including my very first, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Sweeter
Prejudice</i> and one that remains a favourite after all these years, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Woman at Willagong Creek.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you have no doubt gathered, this was
before I discovered that books sold better with Wedding or Baby or Billionaire
in the title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">The
technological challenge of the whole business has me daunted, but fortunately
that’s being taken care of for me, so all I really need to do now is to decide
how much editing I need to do before we publish these books again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opinion seems to be divided about whether you
should update the stories so that the characters use cell phones and the
internet, or whether you leave them as ‘vintage’ pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’m
inclining towards the latter, mainly because I’m afraid that if I start playing
around with books written so long ago, I’ll end up feeling that I have to
rewrite the entire book, which would defeat the whole object. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">There’s
no way stories twenty years old aren’t going to seem dated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can tell that even reading re-releases of
early books by successful authors like Mary Balogh, Tess Gerritsen or Harlan
Coben.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems to me that it’s not so
much the details as the writing itself that is dated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">What
do you think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you like your
contemporary romances bristling with up-to-date references, or are you prepared
to make allowances for a vintage story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-12890748842943509062012-08-02T06:18:00.000-07:002012-08-02T06:18:04.337-07:00Success vs failure: It's all in the mind<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKebUY_yo2uq-VLtUB80Z_UVgQL1BJmg_8XCoIUqWvdWvMKHHpVs-9DMGJyX1wNjoA5wbVmi6ywavUw2DE2qqNvgnit8NTojM9JLapo9FTnXQ9mwvGQrd6n-zQpSVEsRwuHiVjMn67etM/s1600/Timetable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKebUY_yo2uq-VLtUB80Z_UVgQL1BJmg_8XCoIUqWvdWvMKHHpVs-9DMGJyX1wNjoA5wbVmi6ywavUw2DE2qqNvgnit8NTojM9JLapo9FTnXQ9mwvGQrd6n-zQpSVEsRwuHiVjMn67etM/s320/Timetable.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’m
a great one for goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the middle of
June, I set myself a target of a 100,000 word draft of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Memory of Midnight</i> to be completed by today, and on one level,
I have to admit failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if
you’ll be able to see in the photo, but as of last night I had only done 93,620
words – although I have notes for the final two scenes which should take me to
96-97,000 tonight, I reckon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">As
so often with success and failure, it’s all in the interpretation, though, and
I am choosing to see this as success in spite of those missing words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hard part for me is squaring up to the
blank screen, and I have been slowly but steadily accumulating words until I
have ended up with 326 pages with the story blocked out. That’s plenty for me
to work with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">And
work there is still to do. At the moment I have plot and not much else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been banging out the words without
stopping too long to research, and now I need to layer in texture and emotion
and pace and character and tone and historical detail and new dialogue ….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Re-write the entire book in fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll mean going back to the beginning and
starting all over again, but for me the hardest slog has been done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Next
Tuesday I’ll be sitting down to read through the draft I’m so smug about right
now. I predict much tearing of hair and wringing of hands and
omigod-this-is-a-disaster because that’s what I do when I read through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all part of the process, not that it’s
much comfort at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I’ll
start the real business of writing as rewriting and that’s the point – I hope! –
when it will all start to come together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">In
the meantime, I’m thinking of my draft as complete (what’s 4-5000 words and a
bit of missing punctuation in the last two scenes between friends, after all?) and
rewarding myself with a weekend away, walking along the south coast, before
knuckling down again next week. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Enjoy your weekend too, wherever you are and whatever you're doing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-86112602754239887442012-07-25T00:47:00.003-07:002012-07-25T00:47:41.163-07:00A Sensible Wife<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtyWsH8J6Q8TpqeUiD4Bqtr8KFseNU8MRGfPH9BV2z67x9hKnmID_jo1SzxTFLnaH-wCLdYWR_5FM9WKAaEe01whUuO_Ns1iiKaHMz2JuW0LgdPmaDB4Og95gxfzoiPkQPF0QpfnCtbU/s1600/Japanese+Sensible+Wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtyWsH8J6Q8TpqeUiD4Bqtr8KFseNU8MRGfPH9BV2z67x9hKnmID_jo1SzxTFLnaH-wCLdYWR_5FM9WKAaEe01whUuO_Ns1iiKaHMz2JuW0LgdPmaDB4Og95gxfzoiPkQPF0QpfnCtbU/s320/Japanese+Sensible+Wife.jpg" width="201" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">It’s always fun when translations drop through the door,
especially when they’re in exciting languages you can’t understand. This is a
Japanese version of <i>A Sensible Wife</i>, as I had to discover by looking on the
inside page where it always gives the copyright information in English. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I might have been able to guess from the cover, which is
not often the case, even in the original English versions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My working title for this story was <i>The
Frangipani Tree</i>, and the eventual cover, as you can see, did indeed show a
frangipani bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">In fact, <i>The Frangipani Tree</i> was my title for my very first
attempt at writing a romance. Somewhere in the depths of my cupboard, the
manuscript still moulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It received,
quite rightly, a very prompt rejection but at least writing it proved that I
could fill the requisite number of pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was house-sitting in Scotland one November and I banged out the story
without it ever occurring to me that I had no idea how to write a book or
structure a romance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just sat down and
wrote, which in retrospect wasn't a bad thing. If I'd done any research and discovered how hard it was to write a romance and how long it takes to make any money from the whole business, I would have given up before I started.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM7ank8ITcnlneNV0xO9daKRPPN_3wy4RrCbW2lg8CVnn07zsDzKjEel3tBS1dc_wuRjp7c7ACNmAv8L9nKmqdiMpZv0vVYYnpBjDAXqGbevFh9sa9SBPDN1KwGeE27mBKnAOs9_bku8/s1600/a+Sensible+Wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM7ank8ITcnlneNV0xO9daKRPPN_3wy4RrCbW2lg8CVnn07zsDzKjEel3tBS1dc_wuRjp7c7ACNmAv8L9nKmqdiMpZv0vVYYnpBjDAXqGbevFh9sa9SBPDN1KwGeE27mBKnAOs9_bku8/s320/a+Sensible+Wife.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’d had six books accepted before I dug out that first
manuscript and thought about rewriting it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was duly appalled when I read it again and in the end used only the
Indonesian setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’m reluctant now to
reread <i>A Sensible Wife</i> in case I feel the same again now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect the story will be as dated as the
cover, which would be a shame because I remember it as one of my very favourite
books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot was deeply contrived,
but this was the first story I had really had fun with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deborah was the first of what I think of as
my ‘ordinary’ heroines: not particularly beautiful or slim or clever or good,
but with an infectious zest for life that is just what the buttoned-up heroes
they encounter need most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">For anyone interested, <i>A Sensible Wife</i> is still available as an e-book from <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sensible-wife-jessica-hart/1001864584">Barnes & Noble</a> and <a href="http://ebooks.harlequin.com/ACCE15E3-869D-4A95-80C4-E10F194EE87A/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=0116A21F-6D8F-47D1-9572-AA29F3DB8CE3">Harlequin</a> – or in paperback if you read Japanese! – but if you
give it a go, do remember that it’s nearly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>20 years old and don’t hold that against it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-26224971129953096732012-07-19T00:38:00.000-07:002012-07-19T00:38:17.219-07:00Historical novels, and what they can do for you<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwnRUk503XLQXCcZRdhpDTAVankG0CCcd-4FNdwdDrc_bDVwrwXDzBR0kz0dQu9SEGIoQ27lkZjI9-9XiQMGz7SGbJFMHemywpzBTpEUq8WaS9jAkM_-SzLK1NjDDSSOuQFugrA78u98/s1600/Middleham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwnRUk503XLQXCcZRdhpDTAVankG0CCcd-4FNdwdDrc_bDVwrwXDzBR0kz0dQu9SEGIoQ27lkZjI9-9XiQMGz7SGbJFMHemywpzBTpEUq8WaS9jAkM_-SzLK1NjDDSSOuQFugrA78u98/s320/Middleham.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middleham Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’m
not very good at ruins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always think I
should be – history’s one of my things, right? – but always find it hard to get
past the bare stones to picture the building with roof and floors and hangings
on the walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><br /><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I like those information boards that give you pictures showing what it might have looked like, but it's impossible not to walk around and wish you could go back and see what it was <i>really </i>like ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><br /><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6E7yv4n_ogiSBD3JPUQrU6YHZXiWyy8jEpUlL8Q0RXj_CSSjmmy3Un-U036beyLODU63_QQaMsYBASyMSss0mwsEPnb8X9QV0CaCv8Rtlq0wCWoYKHmSbcFcvveNqIwBqq-qstB3ikms/s1600/Sunne+in+Splendour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6E7yv4n_ogiSBD3JPUQrU6YHZXiWyy8jEpUlL8Q0RXj_CSSjmmy3Un-U036beyLODU63_QQaMsYBASyMSss0mwsEPnb8X9QV0CaCv8Rtlq0wCWoYKHmSbcFcvveNqIwBqq-qstB3ikms/s200/Sunne+in+Splendour.jpg" width="126" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">Short
of your very own time slip, the best way to get that sense is to read a really
good historical novel.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I was at
Middleham Castle last Sunday, and what might have been just an impressive ruin
came to life thanks to Sharon Penman’s </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Sunne in Splendour</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">(This was the
book that literally changed my life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I
read it in Australia in 1986, and loved it so much that I decided I wanted to
go back to university and study medieval history. While scratching my head
about how I was going to pay for a PhD, I lit upon the bright idea of writing a
romance, because everyone knew they were dead easy and made lots of money very
fast ... er, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wrong</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">But that’s another story…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoilEttWa3Jdym4Ju0zIvtikT3VChDKX35ZBL19R6ifcmLT5HbFsChd0GNNrWMDEa3Fo9MuTLjNjUhgP_KhzS_4Wf-ST-qDKQO6IADAlsx6A87Fjq3z5DbuQwsZ5mgcr4T_viKA9Q0AkU/s1600/Richard+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoilEttWa3Jdym4Ju0zIvtikT3VChDKX35ZBL19R6ifcmLT5HbFsChd0GNNrWMDEa3Fo9MuTLjNjUhgP_KhzS_4Wf-ST-qDKQO6IADAlsx6A87Fjq3z5DbuQwsZ5mgcr4T_viKA9Q0AkU/s320/Richard+III.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of Richard III at Middleham</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">The Sunne in Splendour</span></i><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"> is the story of Richard III, and if you ever want to be
convinced of who really killed the princes in the tower, I suggest you read
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I absolutely loved the way Penman takes
the complex history of the 15th century and brings it to life. Of course a
historical novel can never be totally authentic but when I’m reading a story
I’m prepared to sacrifice history for engaging characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to feel as if I’ve been transported to
another world which <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feels </i>true and
which helps me imagine what life was like in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a reader, I don’t want to puzzle over a
document or marshal my statistics. I want the author to do the research for me
and then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">show</i> me in a way I can
understand and remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJftA7RHWYnuPUYQnEDIdG7s3aUKswkQsWK8zXAaRAj9e7xWX-6-w0aE-bNeLqfuySicRlqI2fEuYUMVP0HObtMz8DRh4ze6Tn0RymOqeK_XTnIy5eQrhvloYHUhjonAjoATelQxFPX0/s1600/Philippa+Gregory+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJftA7RHWYnuPUYQnEDIdG7s3aUKswkQsWK8zXAaRAj9e7xWX-6-w0aE-bNeLqfuySicRlqI2fEuYUMVP0HObtMz8DRh4ze6Tn0RymOqeK_XTnIy5eQrhvloYHUhjonAjoATelQxFPX0/s200/Philippa+Gregory+1.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Philippa
Gregory does this brilliantly in her novels based on real historical characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The facts about Anne Boleyn are rehashed
endlessly in documentaries, but the story Gregory tells in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Other Boleyn Girl</i> is the one that rings truest for me because
it’s the only one that touched me emotionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only a novel can do this, I think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY8VzL1G9kvJIB27scTtblXcFD9Ewug7wNMdP9B3SEM7BXmQUDLj1i0TMOVEa0Wu0Fj98YvJZH6xS-0v0GNxWezBnVjONt16GYXDT6GAseEEM5LMAsJySTsl5kEn4YXv4HHgf2CZbmx0/s1600/Road+to+Avalon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY8VzL1G9kvJIB27scTtblXcFD9Ewug7wNMdP9B3SEM7BXmQUDLj1i0TMOVEa0Wu0Fj98YvJZH6xS-0v0GNxWezBnVjONt16GYXDT6GAseEEM5LMAsJySTsl5kEn4YXv4HHgf2CZbmx0/s320/Road+to+Avalon.jpg" width="197" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Another
of my favourites is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Road to Avalon</i>
by Joan Wolf. As you might guess from the title, it’s the story of King Arthur,
but this is not the legend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is
absorbing and utterly persuasive. I defy you to read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Road to Avalon</i> and not think at the end: Of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">course </i>that’s how the legend must have
started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m always taken so completely
into the world of Wolf’s Dark Age Britain that tears run down my face at the
end, no matter how often I read the book.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">This
is what a good historical novel can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It can make you believe that’s how it was, even if every instinct as a historian
says that there’s no way people in the past would have thought and spoke and
acted that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wolf’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Edge of Light</i>, about Alfred the
Great, is also wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Are
you a fan of historical fiction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
like ‘faction’ or straight fiction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
do you like your history mixed up with romance or crime or (dare I say it?) the
time slip fantasy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-61697338481350786872012-07-12T00:23:00.002-07:002012-07-12T00:23:58.472-07:00Websites and scene planners<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gu4XspyZSd2SNDlOSeltE5fcYx7waX-b0utHxVhcCV4UVo7IBMoNNZ-EwpHWpX-6RhhS-Gu9l86BNAa5MwEyjV7CCb97NxrxIQQjJ8OkdIc5A65i_ioEOz47GFDmLZY6UfvUrcgbRgw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-07-12+at+07.59.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gu4XspyZSd2SNDlOSeltE5fcYx7waX-b0utHxVhcCV4UVo7IBMoNNZ-EwpHWpX-6RhhS-Gu9l86BNAa5MwEyjV7CCb97NxrxIQQjJ8OkdIc5A65i_ioEOz47GFDmLZY6UfvUrcgbRgw/s320/Screen+shot+2012-07-12+at+07.59.28.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Hadn't realised what a mess my screen looks!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">I am sticking to my schedule here, with 59,000 words under
my belt, in spite of the distraction of getting to grips with all this new
social media stuff. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">My new website, <a href="http://www.pamelahartshorne.com/">www.pamelahartshorne.com</a> is up and
running at last. It needs a few tweaks
still, but I was spending so long dithering over it that in the end I decided
to just go with it as it is. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZCtc1-w2F_hvNXV_aM4BO3SOkbzBZoikqdkqz2QPXm9kkCno63A-4htYWIaz5bOSu4yPOxWU_b3lgWQnVmUdgJTL2cI-TKLgIQR_Kt4j77-VBQ3JVTI04IdLPXC9KmBjQBqwIm9rMWk/s1600/JH+screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZCtc1-w2F_hvNXV_aM4BO3SOkbzBZoikqdkqz2QPXm9kkCno63A-4htYWIaz5bOSu4yPOxWU_b3lgWQnVmUdgJTL2cI-TKLgIQR_Kt4j77-VBQ3JVTI04IdLPXC9KmBjQBqwIm9rMWk/s200/JH+screenshot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">Have a look
anyway, and let me know what you think.
I wanted it to be quite different in feel from <a href="http://www.jessicahart.co.uk/">www.jessicahart.co.uk</a> and I think it’s
certainly that. Of course, having only
book to talk about as opposed to 58 makes a big difference!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve also started the <a href="http://pamelahartshorne.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/presents-and-pasts/">Pamela Hartshorne blog</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">but it’s heavy going, and I’m struggling with Wordpress –
it’s quite a relief today to get back to dear old Blogger! What with the blog, the website and the
constant logging in and out of Facebook and Twitter with my different hats on,
it’s amazing I’m getting any writing done at all! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaMzcwERsCTWjDpolfg3hMw-_hjtMXCVGSX40bm7SRYeEK_CqtroM3RFhyphenhyphenmTIsxuUWJ76whFGgT-tMHZfDb9PNgi6-EGE6u9XMp-gM_i4xm5IA9Sv4smIR5JHh1lzXPtzHx2SKUWRedQ/s1600/Scene+planner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaMzcwERsCTWjDpolfg3hMw-_hjtMXCVGSX40bm7SRYeEK_CqtroM3RFhyphenhyphenmTIsxuUWJ76whFGgT-tMHZfDb9PNgi6-EGE6u9XMp-gM_i4xm5IA9Sv4smIR5JHh1lzXPtzHx2SKUWRedQ/s320/Scene+planner.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">But I’ve still got another 41,000 words to write before 2nd
August so I need to keep at it. The
story is starting to come together. I’ve
found my scene planner very helpful in keeping track of where the characters
are and what they’re supposed to be doing.
The order of some scenes has shifted and – phew! – the characters have
started to move the story in directions I hadn’t thought of before, but the
overall shape of the story has, so far at least, stayed the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">Forcing myself to consider what the scene is for and what
changes in it was really useful, and I might try something similar with my next
romance, although I can’t imagine it working in quite the same way when the
‘plot’ is emotional rather than physical. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">This is a Shitty Second Draft, so I’m concentrating on just
getting the words on the page at the moment.
Once I’ve got my 100,000 words, the real writing will start. That’s when I’ll need to add some texture to
the story – and do some more of that research I was so determined to do at the
scene planning stage … but I’d better keep that for my other blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile, I’m off to get to 60,000 words before lunch ...<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-43758393861523442892012-07-08T23:54:00.000-07:002012-07-08T23:54:10.874-07:00It's shoe time!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsnMDxJakeNmwnzNX8ImXHK60_7EmKpHq7nhclzNZ98__AZja8xzomp9x5EvHVWoOAmTxIdbfdepPjVQSu0XvJDcGA97i_AZVrl93UbppG1c6o3C0ArEoUnBPHpPwklX3i7E_L-r29eI/s1600/Jewelled+shoes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsnMDxJakeNmwnzNX8ImXHK60_7EmKpHq7nhclzNZ98__AZja8xzomp9x5EvHVWoOAmTxIdbfdepPjVQSu0XvJDcGA97i_AZVrl93UbppG1c6o3C0ArEoUnBPHpPwklX3i7E_L-r29eI/s320/Jewelled+shoes+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Some women love shoes, and some think they’re just things
you put on your feet … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">If you fall into the former category, get yourself over to
the <a href="http://www.harlequinromanceauthors.com/?p=1014">Harlequin Romance Authors’ blog</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">right now for some fabulous shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are my jewelled sandals which make an
appearance, but wait till you see some of the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, you need to check out Shirley Jump’s
shoe collection!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">As you know, I usually make a terrible fuss about writing
blogs, but that one was great fun to do, and I am suffering from some serious
shoe envy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">If you fall into the latter category ... well, I don’t know
what to say to you, other than you’ll miss out on the chance of a bumper
giveaway if you don’t take a peek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
got eight books to send to one lucky winner, and you don’t need to be a shoe
fanatic to enjoy any of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">So what are you waiting for? I'll see you there!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://www.harlequinromanceauthors.com/">http://www.harlequinromanceauthors.com/</a></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-87159867089642630592012-07-05T14:25:00.000-07:002012-07-05T14:25:05.535-07:00Uh-oh, writing metaphor alert<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Phew, what a relief to be myself again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This double social networking identity thing
is going to take some getting used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have spent all week logging in and out of my two Facebook accounts and trying
to think of something suitably sober to say as Pamela Hartshorne before
skipping back to Jessica Hart and posting photos of my lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make matters worse, I keep losing my
Pamela Hartshorne self between my page and my profile – I hate to think what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that </i>is a metaphor for!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I was thinking of metaphors last weekend, in fact, when I was in
Wiltshire helping my occasional other half create a cottage garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I was going down to turn over the
earth in some ready prepared flower bed and plant a border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have known better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">This is the garden before we started:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><br /><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVRZCz8amYKRyvQZernQ9Eru75OJZTLJOP_CGN7YsybZ5hV1jSN-MG2geaYVNfuZWiv2S0vDnr507_v344hbkXRjW-XFPFcIpw97kfzweTPEI6wo9SPzoQVAkUFRSKEDQIg1IRa3DEJQ/s1600/Garden+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVRZCz8amYKRyvQZernQ9Eru75OJZTLJOP_CGN7YsybZ5hV1jSN-MG2geaYVNfuZWiv2S0vDnr507_v344hbkXRjW-XFPFcIpw97kfzweTPEI6wo9SPzoQVAkUFRSKEDQIg1IRa3DEJQ/s320/Garden+before.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">There’s a plant hanging over the fence from
next door, and a climbing rose I planted years ago that has somehow managed to
survive against the odds, but apart from that, nothing but some claggy, stony
earth – and an idea of what a beautiful garden this could be with some grass,
some structure, some plants, a patio (not to mention somewhere to hide those &$£!$&
bins!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">John set about taking down the trampoline, clearing out the garage and preparing the patio,
while I dug out the beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really
hard going, but it had to be done, a bit like writing a Shitty First
Draft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the basic shape of each bed
was there, I went over them again, digging out more weeds, getting rid of the
stones, adding in bonemeal and compost, and – after two more days of hard
labour – eventually putting in some plants in the pouring rain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">So this is the garden on Monday evening when we had, er, not finished at all:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexCjKK2dBLCOJx-xZynuwCfSJTC2M61RS-gOILK5achCuAmrZH8hZkI79TbNtzaSDD5d-4J2Sy66xkpyb48bKHu5Wo6JrRUrGPF-6ChF8gnhFqgKjBh0sRBz1D6HBkJLUDNw9TQnE_SY/s1600/Garden+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexCjKK2dBLCOJx-xZynuwCfSJTC2M61RS-gOILK5achCuAmrZH8hZkI79TbNtzaSDD5d-4J2Sy66xkpyb48bKHu5Wo6JrRUrGPF-6ChF8gnhFqgKjBh0sRBz1D6HBkJLUDNw9TQnE_SY/s320/Garden+after.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After (in case you can't tell the difference!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">We had had grand plans of getting the patio finished, the fence repainted and the turf laid too, although quite how we thought we would accomplish all of this in two and a half days I don’t know!<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I know it looks like a spot-the-difference
test, but we’d laid a lot more groundwork than you can see here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grass, the patio and everything else
still need to be done, but the plants are in and growing and if the sun ever
shines again this summer (please, God, let it be sunny soon!), we’ll see how they
do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I should have known that making a garden, like writing a
book, can’t be rushed. Having an idea is all very well, but starting a garden or
a story from scratch takes a lot of hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once the initial labour is done, you can add in all the
food/compost or dialogue/character/tension/pace but even that isn’t the end of the
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You still need to plant
it/bring it all together, but when you do get to that stage, there are few
things more satisfying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">At the end of every day I was filthy and exhausted, but I love
making something from nothing, and even though the garden still has a long way
to go, I can see how it will be and imagine sitting on that patio of a summer evening with the garden blooming around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">And
that’s sort of the stage I’m at with my current book too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I can imagine it finished. </span>Perhaps I’m still at the stage of digging out
the borders, but I know it can be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, where’s my spade …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-24230683306969313492012-06-29T00:36:00.000-07:002012-06-29T00:36:24.437-07:00My split identity social networking strategy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Well, what a lovely time I had on Tuesday. Lunch was at
<a href="http://www.firmdalehotels.com/london/covent-garden-hotel/covent-garden-braserie-max/summer-a-la-carte">Brasserie Max</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">which I can totally recommend if money is no object.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Important things first: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I had asparagus and a poached egg with champagne
hollandaise to start, followed by the daily special, a pork chop with thyme
jus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yum, yum, yum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, yes, and we talked about me, me,
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, what could be nicer?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71ZvN049MgLxSREQU-nHpJjv8mhcW5TKWDc2XNyboM9-va2BkSXWRX69SK4Ql2YjP7Lx1f_c6uVnqc7UDLMl84tX3ZV2ndxbe0TpqetxhaEH5YCMDfsCH036io2xY6OjGfD8OWcjEGwY/s1600/Jessica+Hart+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71ZvN049MgLxSREQU-nHpJjv8mhcW5TKWDc2XNyboM9-va2BkSXWRX69SK4Ql2YjP7Lx1f_c6uVnqc7UDLMl84tX3ZV2ndxbe0TpqetxhaEH5YCMDfsCH036io2xY6OjGfD8OWcjEGwY/s200/Jessica+Hart+2012.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica Hart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">My fantasy about the publicist telling me not to bother
about social media got a laugh, but as suspected, remains a fantasy. Starting
next week (aarrgghh) I will be writing two blogs, one here as Jessica Hart and
another as Pamela Hartshorne, for which I am going to have to reinvent myself
and be serious and sensible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more
wittering. No more holiday pics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more
whingeing about the writing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
dear me, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re talking history and
research and proper author stuff over there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqR0W4FWhIg5U7AB9lo0NaOpKvm-EazY7IAQdg0vq92VKnggePhmB0xcIkiU-bCZ5SDVtPc5Zdr0FhbVnaEpEYHKhIvQqnkp7gwsEc2h2Cisg-tlqiUezvDSPI3C38G9RH8uUZzBBzqco/s1600/PBH+A+Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqR0W4FWhIg5U7AB9lo0NaOpKvm-EazY7IAQdg0vq92VKnggePhmB0xcIkiU-bCZ5SDVtPc5Zdr0FhbVnaEpEYHKhIvQqnkp7gwsEc2h2Cisg-tlqiUezvDSPI3C38G9RH8uUZzBBzqco/s200/PBH+A+Medium.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pamela Hartshorne: spot the difference?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Confusingly, this means that the real me will be carrying
on here under an assumed name, while I assume a false identity to blog under my
real name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I’ve been trying to update
this blog twice a week (in between holidays) but will have to scale back to
once a week I think or my head might explode.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">And then there’s Facebook. I have a very happy time on my
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Hart/197786216977996">Jessica Hart page</a> but now I’m going to have to be a different person there too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set up a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pamela-Hartshorne/220530941392774">Pamela Hartshorne page</a> some time
ago in fact and currently have all of 2 likes (wonder who the other person
is!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- if you’re on Facebook and can
bear to pop over and ‘like’ me, it would be much appreciated!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- and I've </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">made a total mess of Twitter, twittering as @PamHartshorne
but really Jessica Hart, and as a result am not sure WHO I am now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;">Still, it has to be done. Everyone says so. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I have a nasty feeling my split personality strategy is
going to be a hard one to pull off, but I’ll have a go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want to take bets on how long I last before
beating my head on the desk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;">So I'll be back in a week. Be good until then, and have a great weekend.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-7013945557931908952012-06-25T07:51:00.001-07:002012-06-25T07:51:34.459-07:00The place of manicures on a priority list<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">Oh, dear, my careful schedule is shot to pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s fatal to lose momentum when writing, and
after visitors on Friday, the course on Saturday, going to a wedding party,
having guests, going out for a drink last night (hair of the dog) and coffee
this morning, getting nails done … well, you can see how easy it is to slip
behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfQnZkpfcfJvBLCaGUNooVQn2J0XSv3cSQmAXUoShxP1ME3nh5hJNnu0tzGk_dpM9-XR1kVnzzYhuUYdm-86LN710eCJyuulBb3_mA_KDRIf1ExeSP15GWdhIKoYAHf4ghHMEeRYNVfM/s1600/Nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfQnZkpfcfJvBLCaGUNooVQn2J0XSv3cSQmAXUoShxP1ME3nh5hJNnu0tzGk_dpM9-XR1kVnzzYhuUYdm-86LN710eCJyuulBb3_mA_KDRIf1ExeSP15GWdhIKoYAHf4ghHMEeRYNVfM/s320/Nails.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">You might think that getting my nails done is hardly a
priority under the circumstances, but tomorrow I am off to London for the day
to have lunch with my editor, my agent and my publicist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hang on, I need to say that again in case
you didn’t get how cool it was: lunch with my editor, my agent and my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">publicist </i>(OMG, I have a
publicist!!!!))<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Now do you see the vital
importance of the nails?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fresh layer
of gel and a coat of Bordeaux does wonders for the confidence, and I had no
hesitation in moving a manicure up the priority list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Of course, I am deeply excited by the prospect of such a
glamorous day, but it's tempered by an undercurrent of anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mainly in case my editor wants to read what
I’ve done so far on my WIP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m only on 27,198 words (which means I still have 3802 to do today to
get back on target … like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that’s </i>going
to happen) and they are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so </i>not ready
to be shown to anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a Shitty
Second Draft, and the thought of anyone looking at it in its current state
makes my toes curl in distress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (</span>If I
ever fall under a bus, my executors have strict instructions to shred any SFDs or
SSDs without even glancing at them)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">And what if they want to know my PR strategy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, wait, that’s the publicist’s job, isn’t
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a little fantasy that she’ll
say: "Darling, forget about setting up another blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t worry about Facebook or Twitter or any of
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t need to think about
promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book will miraculously
sell itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just concentrate on
your writing."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">As you see, I have a rich inner fantasy life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I suppose it's handy when you're a writer, but coming up against reality is always a blow.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Never mind, I am determined to enjoy tomorrow – after which I
will have to come home and wrestle my schedule back on track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-88673424196932918332012-06-22T02:06:00.000-07:002012-06-22T02:06:25.547-07:00In search of good (romantic) sex<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQEhBgy_zYFPCN1sJa3dtPNTt9_c-qrj6d28kgOOXZBF4Bg_z_IbLuxS7VAR0OGxtoxgxu3WrHCjYYBkcBdcPN2MzlvrG4fOTgMjH_mQtcADlGXKOKas6nvgz1NiIvUGOpBJQzWybdCI/s1600/Mr+Impossible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQEhBgy_zYFPCN1sJa3dtPNTt9_c-qrj6d28kgOOXZBF4Bg_z_IbLuxS7VAR0OGxtoxgxu3WrHCjYYBkcBdcPN2MzlvrG4fOTgMjH_mQtcADlGXKOKas6nvgz1NiIvUGOpBJQzWybdCI/s200/Mr+Impossible.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I’m teaching a one day Crash Course on Writing Romance on
Saturday, so spent yesterday going through my notes from last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (</span>Funny how no matter how often you think: that
went pretty well, I’ll just do that again next year, you always end up
rewriting and changing things around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The couple of hours I’d planned on preparation stretched to the whole
day in the end.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">The focus of the course is on emotional tension, which I
firmly believe is the key to any successful romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t have that, no amount of good
writing will stop your story from sagging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But of course a romance is more than just structure too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with a crash course is that we
just don’t have time to do everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And in my case, when it comes to writing about sex, this is probably
just as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTedu8aX-KNuRwGTU0QfSgnjoYZHwmdI4GNFFvOuR9A7H6yyeZGcQ_7tvhgwfFaXBVMa_No84aqIYICUBpKdpUNV6S7RwZWB7Sp1dY4bDIT6O6T-BdiVTV57i_4xOarvSRCoIUaHxzFec/s1600/Taken+by+the+bad+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTedu8aX-KNuRwGTU0QfSgnjoYZHwmdI4GNFFvOuR9A7H6yyeZGcQ_7tvhgwfFaXBVMa_No84aqIYICUBpKdpUNV6S7RwZWB7Sp1dY4bDIT6O6T-BdiVTV57i_4xOarvSRCoIUaHxzFec/s200/Taken+by+the+bad+boy.jpg" width="120" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I have to hold my hand up and say that I’m not good at sex
scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sexual tension, yes, I can offer
advice on that, but the business itself … not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is a shame, as when it’s done well,
scenes which show that the hero and heroine are sexually as well as emotionally
compatible are central to many romances. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">It’s a great skill, I think, to keep
the reader engaged with the characters and what they are feeling when they make
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often I’m pulled out of a
story by icky descriptions or euphemisms that make me squirm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most memorable was one I read nearly 30
years ago: “With gentle, hurting care he stormed the furled portals of her
womanhood”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eeeuuwww.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMNaiko55g-uVtCM0MYi4p1tTyT6tc-jUqmK3Emb3dOLRM0Slp82ZxgLyQK-ir7P9e2IZekIwpcKFreA9jtFrkBm3QMBwNAdrc_l0qlX_53lCe8OTi2Ayvc8FSHBqE79cfGo_90EA0Fw/s1600/Welcome+to+Temptation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMNaiko55g-uVtCM0MYi4p1tTyT6tc-jUqmK3Emb3dOLRM0Slp82ZxgLyQK-ir7P9e2IZekIwpcKFreA9jtFrkBm3QMBwNAdrc_l0qlX_53lCe8OTi2Ayvc8FSHBqE79cfGo_90EA0Fw/s320/Welcome+to+Temptation.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Luckily for me I write for Harlequin Romance, a line in
which we “close the bedroom door” (a pretty icky euphemism in itself!) but when
it comes to teaching a course like tomorrow’s, the best I can do is to tell
participants to read those authors who write about sex really well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">It’s almost impossible to give an excerpt, as it never
works out of context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The emotional
tension in the story is the foreplay that makes these scenes truly satisfying,
and that takes time to build up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
reader needs to know the characters, to have shared their growing awareness of
each other and to understand why they are feeling what they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHor4T777sr4MshNFlQV24L6cv0Q-eHE9-bzCdsP4-gXtln-pp1z6BAxk_SH_LaS_PjaCnY8Lfpz1a5oNHLGRH-8s10fzjTxBrCJU8yfcdjopPZvCfq7OJ_9Ey9EfYNJtu0Lpc_PotlE/s1600/Dream+a+little+dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHor4T777sr4MshNFlQV24L6cv0Q-eHE9-bzCdsP4-gXtln-pp1z6BAxk_SH_LaS_PjaCnY8Lfpz1a5oNHLGRH-8s10fzjTxBrCJU8yfcdjopPZvCfq7OJ_9Ey9EfYNJtu0Lpc_PotlE/s200/Dream+a+little+dream.jpg" width="127" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Loretta Chase, Jenny Crusie Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora
Roberts, Kelly Hunter … all these authors write brilliant sex scenes and I’ll
send everyone on the course away with recommendations to read them, but I’m
always looking for new authors to recommend. Who do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> think does sex really well??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Oh, nearly forgot! The winner of this week's competition is Natalija ... Natalija, do you want to email your address to leah@leah-ashton.com and she'll put a copy of SECRETS AND SPEED DATING in the post to you - enjoy! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-70047975139606486802012-06-18T14:27:00.001-07:002012-06-18T14:27:51.145-07:00Leah Ashton<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">* cue drum roll</span><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"> *<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m absolutely
delighted to welcome Leah Ashton to my blog today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I first met Leah at the RWA Australia conference in Sydney
in August 2010, so it was a wonderful coincidence to be teamed up with her for the
New Voices competition that year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leah’s
“voice” jumped out of her writing immediately, and I was thrilled – but not at
all surprised – when she won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9Vo-mHyau0UhpZplRat4YCvmf4DX2A-fI4tgp6YZR8Pmjf7Kxz9O-iQGOc6iHvWRcmPd66ljV5EH980yLroCDKAt2Jtmt1SqJ7ZwnqskymuAne1uuJY6wNmaEKVvedLC0zUkcLFqkMw/s1600/Leah+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9Vo-mHyau0UhpZplRat4YCvmf4DX2A-fI4tgp6YZR8Pmjf7Kxz9O-iQGOc6iHvWRcmPd66ljV5EH980yLroCDKAt2Jtmt1SqJ7ZwnqskymuAne1uuJY6wNmaEKVvedLC0zUkcLFqkMw/s400/Leah+cover.jpg" width="252" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Now <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets and Speed
Dating</i> is published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in the
middle of reading it right now, and getting a little thrill whenever I
recognise a tiny moment from the competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Apart from those few brief moments, Leah’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>story has changed
completely, but that easy, readable voice remains - you know, that one that keeps
you turning the pages even though you really should be getting up and going
back to your keyboard … </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">It's wonderful to be able to welcome Leah as a fellow Harlequin Romance author and to be able to follow the journey she's taken to publication. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Today Leah’s talking about character, and she’s offering a
free copy of <i>Secrets and Speed Dating</i> to one lucky person who comments
below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that’s not you, make sure you
order yourself a copy anyway, and put Leah Ashton on your auto-buy list!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll get Leah to pick a winner at the end of
the week, so don’t forget to check back to see if you’ve won.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Over to you, Leah! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thanks so
much Jessica for inviting me to your blog!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I think it’s
crazy that it’s now almost two years since the original New Voices competition,
and since I was lucky enough to have Jessica Hart as one of my mentors.
Although, when I think back some of the truly dreadful brainstorming I did with
Jessica via email at the time (what was I thinking?) it is a great reminder of
how far I’ve come with my writing. Although, of course – I still have a long
way to go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNI8IqW8iNNrNjAGxpU_qkEO4HHHDo4BsxsCPE46o1ldqyrElTldnLfeuCmHT07wwax6m8oM1mTSOIL732iZHU1rjRGtgwwvZrOL0-aRwthx7CgKtlmhVVPq7GMmLxcS3mSlu4OAM7xgc/s1600/Leah+Ashton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNI8IqW8iNNrNjAGxpU_qkEO4HHHDo4BsxsCPE46o1ldqyrElTldnLfeuCmHT07wwax6m8oM1mTSOIL732iZHU1rjRGtgwwvZrOL0-aRwthx7CgKtlmhVVPq7GMmLxcS3mSlu4OAM7xgc/s320/Leah+Ashton.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.leah-ashton.com/books/secrets-speed-dating/"><span style="color: #0000f1;">Secrets & Speed Dating</span></a>, my New
Voices-winning story, is currently on the shelves in the US, and it also has
come a long way since the night I hit “submit” and entered New Voices. For
those unfamiliar with the New Voices competition, the format was to submit your
opening chapter. From there the top 10 were selected, and had the opportunity
to write Chapter Two with the assistance of an author and editor mentor. Then,
the lucky final four got to write their pivotal moment, and the winner was
chosen. I can tell you, when it was me, I was ecstatic!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But – when my
next task was to finish my book, I soon realized that the story that won New
Voices was not going to carry an entire book. Ouch!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Looking back,
I think the issue was that I never truly answered the question I’d asked myself
right at the beginning, when the opening sentence to <i>Secrets & Speed Dating</i>
popped into my head:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Just so you
know, I can’t have children.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When that
line of dialogue came to me, I immediately wanted to know who had said that,
and why. And that was where Sophie Morgan, my heroine, started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The problem
was, that as I wrote my New Voices entry, and the subsequent chapters, I never
really answered my question. Who was Sophie Morgan?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I didn’t
really have a handle on her. I didn’t know what her job was (I kept on coming
up with ideas for a career that would help manipulate the plot, rather than
being true to her), I didn’t really know why she went speed dating and
certainly I didn’t know why she’d agree to the arrangement she eventually
agrees to with my hero, Dan Halliday (although, he’s rather delicious – maybe
agreeing to pretend to date him without solid motivation is not so far fetched…).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It wasn’t
until I realized that Sophie was an extremely well organized person who had
responded to a recent major disaster in her life by writing her own life plan –
The Sophie Project – that everything began to fall into place. The woman who
was just a sketch in my mind, was suddenly walking and talking and breathing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve written
two books since <i>Secrets & Speed Dating</i>, and each one teaches me more and
more about my writing and what makes a good story. I keep on making mistakes,
but hopefully not the same ones too many times! But Secrets & Speed Dating
certainly taught me that character is everything – without a strong character
driving your story, you’ve got absolutely nothing </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">J</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Wingdings;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Wingdings;">So, I’d love to know – who is your favourite
character? It can be from a book, or from a movie or TV show – I don’t mind!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">Tell Leah your favourite character below, and you'll be in with a chance to win a copy of <i>Secrets and Speed Dating</i>. </span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-53046205665959237302012-06-14T23:37:00.001-07:002012-06-14T23:37:44.563-07:00Write or Die: a cure for procrastination?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">This should be Day 5 of my new regime, but I have factored
in a hiatus today: my Occasional Other Half (OOH) is coming tonight and my
cupboard is bare, so I must go and do some shopping, and a cursory clean of the
house is probably in order too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
otherwise, the routine (6.15 start, 500 words before shower, 3k words a day)
has got off to a pretty good start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
goal, taking weekends and odd days off into account, is a 120k draft by 6th
August. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I played my usual psychological trick on myself and was 2k
words in before I started, so only had to write 1k to reach Monday’s target,
and was then ahead on Tuesday’s and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I aimed to have 15k finished by the end of today, and in fact have 17k
under my belt – although I have to admit that I’ve been able to cannibalise
more than I expected from my Shitty First Draft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nbXc2cmwQW44Jo1P-EI6NmWMFj6ZAqaxS_-6xoYm7nNcKws7JeEjH8AbPPJzvFRob1Axbwe4CH3CFNeYbc0c79fErK8d89lqqnO_sRl9tFPe4QtlnJhgbKLPs6zcbDBgLej6NjJ15LU/s1600/Write+or+Die.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nbXc2cmwQW44Jo1P-EI6NmWMFj6ZAqaxS_-6xoYm7nNcKws7JeEjH8AbPPJzvFRob1Axbwe4CH3CFNeYbc0c79fErK8d89lqqnO_sRl9tFPe4QtlnJhgbKLPs6zcbDBgLej6NjJ15LU/s320/Write+or+Die.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">This meant that I got sloppy yesterday, and wasted most of
the morning trying to sort out holiday dates and when I should launch Time’s
Echo, neither of which were on my schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I confessed to this on Facebook, my friend Isabel posted a new app
designed to put an end to this kind of procrastination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2012/06/not-writing-theres-an-app-for-that-write-or-die-app.html">Write or Die</a> is designed, apparently, to put
the prod back into productivity. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">The prospect of a noise going off the moment I stopped
typing would probably work for me, but am not sure I could handle the stress of
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">The app is clearly based on the same principle employed by
my cousin’s husband when I spent a few months in Australia in the early
1990s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would go out to work, while
I stayed home and wrote, and I was set up on their computer in the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first day I sat down and typed CHAPTER
ONE and then, as is my wont, paused for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirty seconds later, the screen saver popped
up: BACK TO WORK SLACK BITCH!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the
first I knew that (a) you could customise a screensaver, and (b) that you could
change how soon it appeared – and, actually, it did the trick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did get back to work – once I’d finished
laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’m not sure there will ever be a realistic cure for
procrastination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as writers
write, we will be checking our emails, filing our nails, posting on Facebook, making
cups of coffee, remembering that we really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">must
</i>send that birthday card/clean the oven/find that obscure reference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I squeeze the words out with the help of
frequent little rewards, but the only thing that really makes me settle down
and write is an imminent deadline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
needs an app when you’ve got adrenaline?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Have a good weekend, everyone, and may it be sunnier and
more productive than mine is set to be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-3365889468281373132012-06-12T02:47:00.002-07:002012-06-12T02:47:48.833-07:00Plunging vs planning<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I was reading last week about a couple planning to drive
round the world in 800 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18355129">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18355129</a> They seem very well prepared and I approved of all the neat boxes, but instantly, I was plunged into crisis. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i>
used to be that kind of person too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
aren’t I planning a round-the-world trip? When did my life become so
boring?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have adventures any
more. Omigod, I’m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">middle-aged</i>! And so
on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShQ5Ag34nYkYiutVuHRBssCkITSG_JX0ktLVADydF7q4_JIJMlSbsNFrASu-sz8VZFTKgLsYcB-Diwl1eH68kGRJW8suvVRWNrIK4bsKsA9BFg7mQdw5ODIgp8kMD6xEdI2TKWzhzn_o/s1600/Land+Rover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShQ5Ag34nYkYiutVuHRBssCkITSG_JX0ktLVADydF7q4_JIJMlSbsNFrASu-sz8VZFTKgLsYcB-Diwl1eH68kGRJW8suvVRWNrIK4bsKsA9BFg7mQdw5ODIgp8kMD6xEdI2TKWzhzn_o/s320/Land+Rover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Not that I ever got myself organised to undertake quite such a
mammoth trip, you understand, but I had lots of dreams. When I was at university in Edinburgh, I
wrote to British Leyland and asked if they would like to sponsor me by giving
me a Land Rover to drive from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I have no idea what made me think that they
would, given that I was 20, had never driven a four-wheel drive and had no
organisational backing or relevant experience whatsoever, but eventually I had
a pleasant letter (remember those?) back saying that they were sorry not to be
able to give me their support but wishing me the best of luck for my trip,
which was very nice of them under the circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG52RU89e6Bsc9WJMZ5xVCkmKshhEPPRzHNOn80bWVVi2hOHGuoO9Dh7ogCg9Q4QPeEhL1wD5BJt6kp30NYqRT-vKLbxTGl_5vhpeW-y-JMJJrg2nxfVnl22pawsegM9KT1p2WJ9Y6xbc/s1600/North+and+South+America.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG52RU89e6Bsc9WJMZ5xVCkmKshhEPPRzHNOn80bWVVi2hOHGuoO9Dh7ogCg9Q4QPeEhL1wD5BJt6kp30NYqRT-vKLbxTGl_5vhpeW-y-JMJJrg2nxfVnl22pawsegM9KT1p2WJ9Y6xbc/s320/North+and+South+America.jpg" width="269" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I hadn’t planned anything beyond getting hold of a Land
Rover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew nothing about mechanics or
visas or any of the myriad difficulties involved in driving the length of the
Americas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even have anyone to
go with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just thought: ‘ooh, I’d
like to do that’, and dashed off a letter to British Leyland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows what I would have done if they’d
said yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Maybe I’d have got my Land Rover to Alaska and started
driving, and just maybe I’d have made it to Tierra del Fuego.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Or maybe I'd have realised just what a ridiculous goal I'd set myself and how inadequate I was to the task.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">It’s a bit like writing a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you think too much about how difficult it
is, and how unlikely it is that (a) you’ll ever get to the end, (b) anyone will
publish it, (c) anyone will read it and (d) that you’ll make any money out of
it, it’s all too easy to give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
certainly have given up if I’d known how long the whole process takes, but I tackled
writing the way I planned my South America expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having decided it was a good idea, I plunged in
without a moment’s thought or research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">And was promptly rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point I
did the sensible thing and borrowed Mary Wibberley’s book on how to write
romance from the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Light bulbs
started popping all over the place. I still had another rejection to go, but I
was on my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’m thinking about that time now as I embark on my second
time slip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There seems such a long way
to go, I can’t believe I’ll ever get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve planned a strict writing regime (bird by bird), but it won’t be long before I
start to doubt the story/characters/my ability (the equivalent of coming up to
the first police roadblock and smudged visa issue when you’re driving round the
world).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">So for now I’m refusing to
anticipate all the difficulties involved and just doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s only so long you can spend preparing
and planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while, you have to
get in and drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may not be going round the world, but perhaps it will be adventure enough to write this book, and if I can get to the end, I'll be happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-68586363265785407992012-06-07T00:50:00.000-07:002012-06-07T00:51:48.990-07:00What I did on my holiday<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqGc01sa3pckn0_TWpRaTUGS04A2woDmaT801JRm75AWMb37mNlwrXhr_WC18zT9efR13ywzwqUAafISPvCHyeBXj4zxLL-_a6SfrHo9KFdQ5nILMJEGmxhI8W1V2n3Uv2t3gIicIm6Y/s1600/P1030042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqGc01sa3pckn0_TWpRaTUGS04A2woDmaT801JRm75AWMb37mNlwrXhr_WC18zT9efR13ywzwqUAafISPvCHyeBXj4zxLL-_a6SfrHo9KFdQ5nILMJEGmxhI8W1V2n3Uv2t3gIicIm6Y/s200/P1030042.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">Remember me? Am home
at last after a wonderful time walking the Dingle Way, on the west coast of
Ireland, where we only wore our waterproofs for about two hours over ten
days! We were so lucky with the weather
and the first three days in particular ended up looking for shade which is not
something I think happens an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">awful</i> lot on the Dingle Way … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkKfmc-4dO0Zx1R34V_c4aw-QFLZCA63uFwcKEMykqeuBRFMtTYPmiBv1jbmzozrTf6SiGZM0tJAUC3ZPI5B4iEMXZBgRIOS3LotbScrODxbStxT-zGhaSrp_YW7Z4bOCSTmxV3RjCas/s1600/P1020835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkKfmc-4dO0Zx1R34V_c4aw-QFLZCA63uFwcKEMykqeuBRFMtTYPmiBv1jbmzozrTf6SiGZM0tJAUC3ZPI5B4iEMXZBgRIOS3LotbScrODxbStxT-zGhaSrp_YW7Z4bOCSTmxV3RjCas/s200/P1020835.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">I love these holidays.
All you have to do is get up, have a delicious breakfast (entirely
justifiable since you’re going to be walking all day) and then walk to where
you’re staying that night. No deadlines,
no connections, no waiting for someone else to turn up. Just one foot in front of the other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-H1esdYCWMUzHhIb4xDs-GzP5glRTjeJfLO941uamWEz-o7MgM8EHDofxkEWfObZDCLSjsQ9n3fcTcHpJm89qbqg9of6hoClrytvWt19i4jHmp5mUcMONvzrSwvsXjRGwfYjrGsk4Jo/s1600/P1020902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-H1esdYCWMUzHhIb4xDs-GzP5glRTjeJfLO941uamWEz-o7MgM8EHDofxkEWfObZDCLSjsQ9n3fcTcHpJm89qbqg9of6hoClrytvWt19i4jHmp5mUcMONvzrSwvsXjRGwfYjrGsk4Jo/s320/P1020902.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">My mind empties when I’m walking, in spite of my best
intentions to think about the next book, but I think that’s why it’s so
relaxing. The moment I got home
yesterday evening I started scribbling lists of things I mustn’t forget to do,
but when I was sitting high on the shoulder of Brandon Mountain looking at the
Atlantic, none of it seemed to matter very much … sigh! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;">Unforgettable moments:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb4mV7GPFWha6qrVg_x-hkcF51EOaq2og2X72dIsQ7zqeIaas8-O1xO7FR5-JDVKkzphmBCTX9htMHFfRo0sODsaa9_VGodbVGbl_gzQPRJDWKu9UZcJ2Ykw0IXXlQG5lY3w2mB0S61I/s1600/P1020880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb4mV7GPFWha6qrVg_x-hkcF51EOaq2og2X72dIsQ7zqeIaas8-O1xO7FR5-JDVKkzphmBCTX9htMHFfRo0sODsaa9_VGodbVGbl_gzQPRJDWKu9UZcJ2Ykw0IXXlQG5lY3w2mB0S61I/s200/P1020880.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;">Having coffee on these boulders beneath Minard Castle</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUs8L7mmLCjgwJGTlxLF72a0RI8eQ_0Z9pmZmQRyJjtKIbXOT9Eu8def1J_TKYs9DM0On31emYEx9N3YuE0h-r-bC9m6KVkRVEfxgFRCktUDzkTMk1jcCTXHR7uduWrSZ0R503gP8xpQ8/s1600/P1020887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUs8L7mmLCjgwJGTlxLF72a0RI8eQ_0Z9pmZmQRyJjtKIbXOT9Eu8def1J_TKYs9DM0On31emYEx9N3YuE0h-r-bC9m6KVkRVEfxgFRCktUDzkTMk1jcCTXHR7uduWrSZ0R503gP8xpQ8/s200/P1020887.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>and being my usual elegant self ... </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvWkBk3Gi7oPI5ybYM7t9Ud4PmAIuTe68uF6MlSyNCl6sH7UbyKoFkbH36w49YkILkRUBOrKvzjjF_0ZRkRN2GEr7QiHNaGhW8vkXleLMAkKwR_4HqL8wI75O5FY_bLzWt4ltxniIEw8/s1600/P1020951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvWkBk3Gi7oPI5ybYM7t9Ud4PmAIuTe68uF6MlSyNCl6sH7UbyKoFkbH36w49YkILkRUBOrKvzjjF_0ZRkRN2GEr7QiHNaGhW8vkXleLMAkKwR_4HqL8wI75O5FY_bLzWt4ltxniIEw8/s200/P1020951.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A boat trip from Dingle around the strange Blasket Islands (next parish New York)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">Climbing Brandon Mountain, walking along Ireland's longest (deserted) beach, lamb cutlets at the South Pole Inn, the farmer we met on the road to Annascaul, prehistoric walls between Dingle and Dunquin ... nope, far too many photos to include here. I'll put up a full selection on my Facebook page later.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy0ySTSpT8dlPD09tozxlBW3jU-DQDe7jgsnVUnuV4LgWfguOeygcEmAw0FPRYbvZswcAe9jgmQPoeFQA7l2sxxjAGOQQASNyzG6pAFuxp2RpfokHEEq0V0ZWrRqQ7OsrQ5k3RrWD0K8/s1600/P1000001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy0ySTSpT8dlPD09tozxlBW3jU-DQDe7jgsnVUnuV4LgWfguOeygcEmAw0FPRYbvZswcAe9jgmQPoeFQA7l2sxxjAGOQQASNyzG6pAFuxp2RpfokHEEq0V0ZWrRqQ7OsrQ5k3RrWD0K8/s200/P1000001.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only downside was forgetting to take a book with me so
that I could add another photo to my Books Around The World collection. I tried taking <i>Ordinary Girl in a Tiara</i> in
front of the Jubilee River Pageant instead, but the weather was so foul, it
didn’t really come out. The atmosphere in London was terrific that day, though - it's not often you get good <i>craic</i> on the tube! </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I was lucky
enough to be able to watch the pageant from a balcony in Chelsea Harbour, and
it was an amazing spectacle in spite of the weather.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5974Eq3m6vMyHI0vpprhmmiqoAuOP87hT1GlCc4xkp6-Hw74fg797QPXD0WvM3kDI_R-BjKTRQcypJ8pKj8dzZbjPJ8lxUWeHm8U5sL_ceGi-L89ojgCmniNWXkSslTTu7hcvhuZSskY/s1600/P1000032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5974Eq3m6vMyHI0vpprhmmiqoAuOP87hT1GlCc4xkp6-Hw74fg797QPXD0WvM3kDI_R-BjKTRQcypJ8pKj8dzZbjPJ8lxUWeHm8U5sL_ceGi-L89ojgCmniNWXkSslTTu7hcvhuZSskY/s320/P1000032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">Never mind, will just have to have another holiday one day
to get that photo. Not for a while,
though. I have a book to write now, and
no excuses not to get on with it …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-67365916954057842022012-05-21T00:13:00.000-07:002012-05-21T00:13:51.751-07:00New website!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">It feels like a very long time since my friend Isabel
designed the very first <a href="http://www.jessicahart.co.uk/">www.jessicahart.co.uk</a>. The site has been through a couple of incarnations
since then, but when I started to think about a website for Pamela Hartshorne
(of which more later), I thought it was time for a major revamp of the Jessica
Hart site too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">After a LOT of to-ing and fro-ing and hmmn-ing and ha-ing,
the new version is at last up and running and I am very pleased with how
professional it looks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;">This time, though, I get to update it myself, a very
laborious process that involves me doggedly following step-by-step instructions
and makes me even more appreciative of Nikki of 2DC who has been looking after
the website for me until now. (Thanks,
Nikki!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.jessicahart.co.uk/">Take a look</a> and let me know what you think: www.jessicahart.co.uk <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXp8cvscKtryLNf-EOca5rBme7YCyhwIXJ4QykDbSRqMNyyJnz6NCNxKCci3CKXb5YD9EMcR2WE05xVeZ4fS7JR1WA05mraOs7cv7kzT9ptNCHkmc5-_WZr-YbI_L3urHPKlA7aqTvj4/s1600/Dingle+Way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXp8cvscKtryLNf-EOca5rBme7YCyhwIXJ4QykDbSRqMNyyJnz6NCNxKCci3CKXb5YD9EMcR2WE05xVeZ4fS7JR1WA05mraOs7cv7kzT9ptNCHkmc5-_WZr-YbI_L3urHPKlA7aqTvj4/s320/Dingle+Way.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">Meanwhile, I am off to walk the Dingle Way first thing on
Wednesday. Nearly two weeks without
phones or computers and nothing to do all day except eat breakfast and walk to
the next place to stay along what looks like a beautiful coastline – bliss! So nothing from me until after the Jubilee
holiday in June. Happy reading and
writing until then!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-50507693986336613572012-05-16T05:58:00.001-07:002012-05-16T05:58:34.905-07:00Capsule wardrobes (or not)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Back home after a quick whizz down the motorway to
Wiltshire, where for once the sun was shining (every now and then, anyway) and
the woods were hazy with bluebells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hw_DtsVabBVTODsZz8Z5waPFULP7ai_A0DkqcUsQoqDRffEYgyq_x38hA6_dHGBt0rfVpHGDIDlzLp5sk7doNOm-lhh-l4FZD-znk678sKtTXUYevqCB-GsFqP-Vunes0yRvODM3PGk/s1600/Bluebell+woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hw_DtsVabBVTODsZz8Z5waPFULP7ai_A0DkqcUsQoqDRffEYgyq_x38hA6_dHGBt0rfVpHGDIDlzLp5sk7doNOm-lhh-l4FZD-znk678sKtTXUYevqCB-GsFqP-Vunes0yRvODM3PGk/s400/Bluebell+woods.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Woods, near West Overton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Now at the half unpacked stage, which I hate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why I don’t just open my case
and put everything away as soon as I get back, but instead I leave it, trip
over the case at least six times a day and scrabble frantically around in
search of that last clean pair of knickers for days afterwards, all the while
getting crosser and crosser at the mess of it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">This time it’s even worse as it hardly seems worth
unpacking when in less than a week I’ll be packing again, and will be going
through the same hair-clutching agony about what to take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how many times I go away, I never
seem to take the right clothes with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve always longed to be one of those cool women who can jump on a plane
with just a clutch bag, but I guess you need your own private jet, not to
mention an unlimited luggage allowance, to get away with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Still, a capsule wardrobe shouldn’t be beyond the bounds of
possibility. A few key pieces, comfortable, uncrushable and yet effortlessly
elegant, in colours that go together and, in my case at least, that don’t show
all the stains from stuff you’ve dropped down your front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and layered, so that you’ve always got
something to put on if it’s cold or take off if you’re having a hot flush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, how hard can that be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, getting just the right clothes to
take every time remains ever elusive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Life would be so much easier if only I had the kind of lean, rangy
figure that meant I could just take a pair of jeans and a couple of T shirts
(how cool would that be?) but sadly I’m more of a baggy top, elasticated-waist
kind of gal, which combined with a preternaturally sensitive internal
thermostat and a princess-and-the-pea approach to anything remotely scratchy
makes the whole clothes issue a fraught one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Next week’s packing is doubly complicated, involving as it
does one case for 10 days walking along the Dingle Way (list begins: whisky,
waterproofs, ibuprofen, blister kit …) and another for the Jubilee weekend
split between London (watching Thames flotilla from smart balcony in Chelsea Harbour) and
Wiltshire (village ceilidh).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
fancy my chances of getting all of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>
in a capsule wardrobe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Oh, well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Less
fretting about my packing and more working is required in the week I have
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read through the proofs of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Time’s Echo</i> in Wiltshire, so that was a
good (and exciting!) job done. I had to keep pinching myself to realise that
I’d actually written it myself. Now to get back to my Amazing Plotting Plan ... still a lot of scenes to go. I keep discovering more that need to be slotted in. Originally I planned on 30, but it's looking more like 45 now<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> and who knows how many more good ideas I'll have before I get to the end??</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-60607310896485336862012-05-11T07:38:00.001-07:002012-05-11T07:38:01.535-07:00Me and my tulips<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZXz7L4UkNZlHfNxXyKQNTWvXXlpeVOjppGmdYFzbzYtsy5hgsJG6LLM-Xql2NGi2RYBcgPgazkpNtLMkosmWj0nqGsuJwY_Jf3GI04k3nu11QnhDefpLz5-IFXbzgwgVAaDlphVDoD4/s1600/Tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZXz7L4UkNZlHfNxXyKQNTWvXXlpeVOjppGmdYFzbzYtsy5hgsJG6LLM-Xql2NGi2RYBcgPgazkpNtLMkosmWj0nqGsuJwY_Jf3GI04k3nu11QnhDefpLz5-IFXbzgwgVAaDlphVDoD4/s400/Tulips.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Look at my poor parrot tulips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made a valiant attempt at being
spectacular, and one bright morning I even found them holding their heads high, and they looked absolutely wonderful.
I so wish I’d taken a photo then, but of course I never got round to it, and
now they are beaten down by the rain and really look as if they have had
enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Hands up who knows that feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You do your very, very best and sometimes you even<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>get to feel as wonderful as tulips on a sunny
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at others life can seem as
relentless as the rain this May, and it all seems a bit too hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I don’t know why I’m waxing maudlin today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not even as if I’m writing at the moment
(am persevering with my Amazing Plotting Plan notes, though), my desk is super
tidy, and I have a lovely holiday to look forward to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’m suffering from Seasonal Affective
Disorder – me and just about everybody else in the country, it seems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Rain or no rain, this year feels like a plod, and as I’m an
instant gratification person motivated by immediate results, I’m not good at
the long haul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hhmmnn, I wonder if this
could explain my relationship history??)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I need to give myself some immediate deadlines to get the adrenalin
racing again, I fear. I appear to operate in two modes only: fritter or frenzy.
I am firmly in fritter mode at the moment and it doesn’t feel good, however
much I might congratulate myself on my plotting notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">But I’m going away for the weekend, and they’re even
talking about the sun reappearing for a while, so I’m bound to cheer up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I get home, I’ll have just under a week
to finish the APP before heading to Ireland, and I have no doubt that come
June, when time will be ticking away on my second timeslip deadline, I’ll be
back in frenzy mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You can confidently expect a blog complaining about that come the summer!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Have a great weekend everyone, wherever you are, and whatever the weather.</span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-24430826775440593992012-05-08T03:54:00.002-07:002012-05-08T03:54:57.567-07:00Staples and my inner secretary<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Rather to my own surprise, my Amazing Scene Plotting Plan
appears to be working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I don’t
really have much of a sense of how I’m going to write each scene yet, making
myself stop and consider exactly what the characters are wearing or how they
feel has been much more useful than I imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>True I have to keep going back and rewriting my list of scenes drawn up
from the outline, but I’m telling myself that’s the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sketching out the details of one scene
and an idea for the next pops up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Already I am a long way from my original plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oIePkEnyMJ0tZMsI48rnUrOsFLvbs_pG72olfz8jdIIGmP5OiS8zyyZDrJb90WXPrd_DLUWVdRcgX3KJzsSbENHeFCOeCRm9jqmKGD_jyS3FISNFV-GOZO-vE8ftRi-G7blh3-3JuSw/s1600/Staples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oIePkEnyMJ0tZMsI48rnUrOsFLvbs_pG72olfz8jdIIGmP5OiS8zyyZDrJb90WXPrd_DLUWVdRcgX3KJzsSbENHeFCOeCRm9jqmKGD_jyS3FISNFV-GOZO-vE8ftRi-G7blh3-3JuSw/s320/Staples.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I have made so much progress that I have a rapidly growing
pile of pages of completed notes for each scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly, this meant I needed a special ring
binder to put them in, and a trip to Staples was justified – hurrah! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">In fact,
today’s haul was relatively restrained: as well as that file for the scene
notes, I came out with a goose-shit green coloured ring binder (for mythical
research notes, I thought), two packs of pens, colour-coded punch pockets (not
sure what I can possibly code, but still), padded envelopes for posting out
books (no book out until November, but they won’t go off), two ink cartridges
(on special offer, rude not to) and a pack of different coloured plastic
document envelopes which I am sure will be terrifically useful, and the fact
that I already have one for my passport is neither here nor there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I love stationery stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Invariably I go in needing one thing, and emerge laden with inessentials
like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stripy paper clips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fluorescent files.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Multi-coloured file pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dinky clear plastic boxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bulk supplies of sticky tape. Funky metal
in-trays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fat marker pens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Highlighters</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even found myself contemplating a Dora the
Explorer lunch box today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">When I’m in Staples, my inner secretary blossoms and I
imagine a perfectly organised office, where everything is carefully labelled
and colour-coded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get quite sulky when
I realise that I really have no use for a staple gun or one of those machines
that makes labels, and therefore cannot justify either as an expense against
tax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was actually a very efficient
secretary and I sometimes wonder if I should have carried on as an
administrator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically, at home my
office is a tip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I come to
the end of a project, I vow to reorganise my study, but somehow the task is too
daunting and I never get beyond clearing my desk, feat enough in itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">For now I am ignoring the mess around me and will spend a
happy few minutes punching holes in my scene notes and ordering them in their
smart new file.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A top time-wasting
exercise, but it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feels </i>like
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the time will come when
the file is full, and then what will I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh, yes, then I’ll have to start writing …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-63027742082274160462012-05-04T02:33:00.000-07:002012-05-04T02:33:02.450-07:00Scene notes: My amazing new plan<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’ve spent the week clearing my decks, and once the last
few jobs are done today, I will be able to devote myself – not before time – to
the next time slip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">So far I’ve done a 25k SFD of the story in the past and 10k
for the present, neither of them finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is not great progress, especially given I’m going away (again!) in
a couple of weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two weeks isn’t long
enough to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>build up any momentum and in
any case I’m not really ready to write anything other than a Shitty Second
Draft, which I don’t think will gain me much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7SOW7ojsvbCNjbxYbpHyFd_ntJcG9X2BphDaD24k8WQ3d62Q3TF0SVAcGzP4tb-tw8qBAwgOoEJ2ZnLyEt81JwTD8RBMDSwBLHsXxupxc5ftt-HHxHe50L8il5_z42TFzBwhGLvWek0/s1600/Scene+notes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7SOW7ojsvbCNjbxYbpHyFd_ntJcG9X2BphDaD24k8WQ3d62Q3TF0SVAcGzP4tb-tw8qBAwgOoEJ2ZnLyEt81JwTD8RBMDSwBLHsXxupxc5ftt-HHxHe50L8il5_z42TFzBwhGLvWek0/s320/Scene+notes.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">But I have a plan!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have a sense of scenes in the book, and for each I’m going to fill out a form
like this one (which I've now realised you can't see very well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever I’m writing a
story set in the past I find myself having to stop and scratch my head and
think: What would they have had for breakfast?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would there have been pews in the church at that time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i>
Drake sail around the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
remedies would they have used for cramps?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would the death of a vagrant have been investigated, and if so, how? How
exactly did Margaret Clitherow die? Were there horse chestnut trees in the 16th
century? And so on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I might have a PhD but I know none of this stuff - I can’t
have my characters disposing of their rubbish for the entire book, sadly - so I
have to stop and look it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the
same for the present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sooner do you
start writing than you realise how much you just don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">My amazing new plan is to do all the important research in
advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I realise that this isn’t in
fact new for anyone else, and that a detailed storyboard is probably par for
the course for any serious writer, but it’s new for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i>, OK?) I’m going to write careful notes for each scene, being
clear about what the point of the scene is, and what changes as a result of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then if I also know exactly what the
characters are feeling/doing/wearing/talking about, when I come to write it,
the words will come easily, right? (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Right</i>?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">If you can't read the image, my boxes have the following prompts: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">* Location</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">* Season/time (so I don't have to stop and wonder what the light is like etc)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">* </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">Who else is in the scene?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">* What are they doing? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">* What are they wearing? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">* Point of scene/Change (vital: every scene has to change something, and it's easy to get carried away writing a lovely scene where your characters just continue being themselves and nothing really happens)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">* How does she feel at beginning of scene?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">* How does she feel at the end? (change again)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">* Research (exactly what I need to find out about)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">* Other notes (because I'm bound to have forgotten something important)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I have a vision of a page for every scene, beautifully
written out and filed in a ring binder, perhaps with little pictures attached
to remind me how to fasten a sleeve to a bodice perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course, when I have the two stories
plotted out, I can check that the pacing is right, and that I have hit all the
right points on the story arc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, it
will be a thing of beauty!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A plotter’s
paradise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why have I waited so long to
realise the joy of proper plotting?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">The truth is I’ve always been more of a “pantser” than a
plotter, and I suspect I will quickly run out of steam when I realise I don’t
know what happens in a scene, but I’m going to have a go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t feel like writing at the moment, and
this seems like a good way to use these two weeks to focus my research where I
really need it, as opposed to getting carried away down fascinating but
irrelevant paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or that’s the theory,
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-33817626777704490412012-05-02T00:31:00.000-07:002012-05-02T00:31:16.248-07:00Rome, home<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-BqGEeNFKdMCCkrO8KeTI77FWJWcVY3Ha278CDih9gJgOXLGz-1GpEgTgJPvCMQCH0AsFlT9W7RIQjdHmYRtt29wW3Cl8_zp0cQnPIMvdFMATZSSaWIXOI5reB-jI-BRLFIairyxtpY/s1600/P1020665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-BqGEeNFKdMCCkrO8KeTI77FWJWcVY3Ha278CDih9gJgOXLGz-1GpEgTgJPvCMQCH0AsFlT9W7RIQjdHmYRtt29wW3Cl8_zp0cQnPIMvdFMATZSSaWIXOI5reB-jI-BRLFIairyxtpY/s200/P1020665.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I am back in the land of speedy broadband, after more than
1000 miles of motorways over the last few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right now, I would be glad never to get in the car again, but it was
worth it to get to Rome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I went with my cousin, Jenny, to celebrate, rather
belatedly, our 50th birthdays, and what a great time we had! We only had one
full day and a morning, so we stuck to Ancient Rome, and barely scratched the
surface of everything there is to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsMn9UAqrzoA0V8UheihDVpyc3p8fK7lx_mppk-L7nu4kNNanQRn8QmTshuAPQ34d3zwevJFb7Id3XprfNU3iasfxjvDooNKeLQJ4Wft7wkGTP8D0uQhkvcePlvQLvrkG95o_kPOwLNo/s1600/P1020644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsMn9UAqrzoA0V8UheihDVpyc3p8fK7lx_mppk-L7nu4kNNanQRn8QmTshuAPQ34d3zwevJFb7Id3XprfNU3iasfxjvDooNKeLQJ4Wft7wkGTP8D0uQhkvcePlvQLvrkG95o_kPOwLNo/s200/P1020644.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">We’d arranged a <a href="http://www.newromefreetour.com/nrft/Homepage.html">private tour</a> of the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill and the
Forum, which was absolutely fantastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No queuing, special entry to the underground and top level of the
Colosseum<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and a wonderful and
entertaining guide in Vito.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I want
to spend the rest of my life studying Ancient Rome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">I’d have to write a novel to tell you everything we saw and
learnt last weekend, but here’s what I’ll remember most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More photos on my Facebook page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWTKdx_eramjC6OJxy7J42NVDxol49y9TWY0ehxaqVfuLUh_NiDcw3xGoSFZbSy6JRL2r04IiTABHU1zvEXOgY4QUH8BFV8TgnOrZ8VH_i75DtKZdJ-M2RRbyy7puR7Er0WtxWFadA-0/s1600/P1020726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWTKdx_eramjC6OJxy7J42NVDxol49y9TWY0ehxaqVfuLUh_NiDcw3xGoSFZbSy6JRL2r04IiTABHU1zvEXOgY4QUH8BFV8TgnOrZ8VH_i75DtKZdJ-M2RRbyy7puR7Er0WtxWFadA-0/s200/P1020726.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">The sheer jaw-dropping scale of the Roman remains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they were <i>everywhere</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Columns and carvings that anywhere else would
merit a museum of their own were just lying by the side of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepXUHeBobPDvg1nXMcCOalAqX1x1skkOG1lcb68qfsu1st0j8ZiNjcyeiUiXMrVmF-gCOrmUok-ItuptnFFAd2dLO7y2ddKyILgvOUtowGxBOseydVMVvu8RFGynV7_RtOcUQy4KYda8/s1600/P1020698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepXUHeBobPDvg1nXMcCOalAqX1x1skkOG1lcb68qfsu1st0j8ZiNjcyeiUiXMrVmF-gCOrmUok-ItuptnFFAd2dLO7y2ddKyILgvOUtowGxBOseydVMVvu8RFGynV7_RtOcUQy4KYda8/s200/P1020698.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Italian ice cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not normally an ice cream girl, but this was something special.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhoZst5F_s_gCTtXb4SKJA6cB30_32CeYoS02IiSItx8a9z8bIUNnWI0mvZPS3ip59h68C3jz_zH2ZsyqLelYaz6NzrzZ6b9GrwoNxVlL5kYHDnN0QZnM-wZiwiDy_t06CLWrwaruORY/s1600/P1020637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhoZst5F_s_gCTtXb4SKJA6cB30_32CeYoS02IiSItx8a9z8bIUNnWI0mvZPS3ip59h68C3jz_zH2ZsyqLelYaz6NzrzZ6b9GrwoNxVlL5kYHDnN0QZnM-wZiwiDy_t06CLWrwaruORY/s200/P1020637.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">A free concert (Bach and Handel) in this church around the
corner from our hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Walking on paving stones from the time of Augustus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Shabby buildings with closed shutters, with incredibly
smart shops tucked away on the ground floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGLQMDW3zq-c4SXRdRoriRJ1CxyHhTmW3JB7JSUmwdtJixPMQw6imfciGtvbjZiEdRsG1Th4WNHKPihuQXPvOAhn8aUeWXOQ1DqEBJCwRhzakM1lC13wYHYCL1Dhu59GZrrxsp40h3SA/s1600/P1020772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGLQMDW3zq-c4SXRdRoriRJ1CxyHhTmW3JB7JSUmwdtJixPMQw6imfciGtvbjZiEdRsG1Th4WNHKPihuQXPvOAhn8aUeWXOQ1DqEBJCwRhzakM1lC13wYHYCL1Dhu59GZrrxsp40h3SA/s200/P1020772.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Prosecco in the sunshine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3FZi8vapnf0Chk8F1fsgmJVS2Z7KlIwrb8lr3QgZ-BIwg5GC4xW7wmIZI2ZwIUW4xMHinuDyN6sr1maBEng_0C1TTbu9pNhjCsrScrcg4_negSqvRyierY-JfI-Wu_IF-xRgjCssa34/s1600/P1020758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3FZi8vapnf0Chk8F1fsgmJVS2Z7KlIwrb8lr3QgZ-BIwg5GC4xW7wmIZI2ZwIUW4xMHinuDyN6sr1maBEng_0C1TTbu9pNhjCsrScrcg4_negSqvRyierY-JfI-Wu_IF-xRgjCssa34/s200/P1020758.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Wandering around the Palazzo Altemps with the sound of a
Sunday morning service drifting over the courtyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJng7wesO0oQK9nNSwLQPbj3Qnp2i1cDuoVlg0g8qYWZJgCfcX7FJ3OBemL19OvP9AA3eQYL8Cisq-PfTmV75pm00U_25XQM5eW-Sh_DH3MTax125B6MWm1UgTzfy05_JO20-GK8Mazk/s1600/P1020739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJng7wesO0oQK9nNSwLQPbj3Qnp2i1cDuoVlg0g8qYWZJgCfcX7FJ3OBemL19OvP9AA3eQYL8Cisq-PfTmV75pm00U_25XQM5eW-Sh_DH3MTax125B6MWm1UgTzfy05_JO20-GK8Mazk/s200/P1020739.jpg" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">Jenny telling me about an academic article on classical
scrotums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, it was believed
that the left testicle was the source of daughters, the right provided sons, so
to indicate virility, classical statues often show the right testicle as
bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meant that we spent a lot
of time staring at the genitals on the (wonderful) statues in the Palazzo,
puzzled by the fact that there it was the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">left</i>
testicle that seemed to be bigger on most statues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might have looked as if two middle-aged
women had an unhealthy interest in male genitalia, but we were motivated purely
by scholarly research, honest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwA-inDleaZ6owLL9ZTVHdJXMCCNJ82LIChIjM9UzLHdMGbzQP41YJaPfOYKmIH1iOIOhCe_G_KKcGtOAHS-eX7SZOH4oX-3_p_7oIMlJoVVdaAPwMUPJinZGYgeD7geCxtuPIITWZb1Q/s1600/P1020719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwA-inDleaZ6owLL9ZTVHdJXMCCNJ82LIChIjM9UzLHdMGbzQP41YJaPfOYKmIH1iOIOhCe_G_KKcGtOAHS-eX7SZOH4oX-3_p_7oIMlJoVVdaAPwMUPJinZGYgeD7geCxtuPIITWZb1Q/s200/P1020719.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">The carvings on Trajan’s Column.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgan-VNu-LUjcpjFe-W1xMkNvPqNaHGCerIjJHjgQeGyEWq8pJcmGWTWkmqbDiO_9P6N64x-rD6HGhllT5VqzaSFfNIbY89JC21wTEcQWryhaIEiHpRHx4VpXH7RcgOFO2IogqqzdmYjGU/s1600/P1020622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgan-VNu-LUjcpjFe-W1xMkNvPqNaHGCerIjJHjgQeGyEWq8pJcmGWTWkmqbDiO_9P6N64x-rD6HGhllT5VqzaSFfNIbY89JC21wTEcQWryhaIEiHpRHx4VpXH7RcgOFO2IogqqzdmYjGU/s200/P1020622.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Umbrella pines <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Gusty sigh ....<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #215868; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">h well, it is good to be home too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learnt while I was in Scotland that Book
59, the one with Frith and George that caused me so much trouble, has gone
through, so that was a big relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
only had a few revisions in the end, which says much for the power of self
editing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am contemplating a
horribly long ‘to do’ list, on which ‘next time slip’ doesn’t appear until the third
page, but after three weeks away, it’s probably time I knuckled down to some
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-37012770170464036192012-04-24T05:11:00.001-07:002012-04-24T05:11:43.829-07:00Holiday reading<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I have decided that the problem is not the internet connection but my laptop which is so-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o slo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-w that checking email or doing anything else online is excruciating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s amazing how life changes when you’re not spending your time Googling or Facebooking or Twittering or emailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a start there are hours more in the day, and I am feeling very detached from ‘real life’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been trying to write 2k words a day, but it’s more important to go out for a walk and enjoy the hills and the water, and rediscover the fact that there are few surer ways to restore a sense of proportion than standing on a sunny beach throwing sticks into the sea for a dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXJsERpgiCTyVcOdJ5k6fi2_nFBHpPldWC_OycHMTK1Y25hvAeQJMXXZimgYUwqOKxxs9d7nHcBPCLNOWsyUc65VpFnbt6WiCGrASGl3PDfmHmupRWjN_wjAyvpwlwGrhAy6_P_rT9Ik/s1600/Books.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXJsERpgiCTyVcOdJ5k6fi2_nFBHpPldWC_OycHMTK1Y25hvAeQJMXXZimgYUwqOKxxs9d7nHcBPCLNOWsyUc65VpFnbt6WiCGrASGl3PDfmHmupRWjN_wjAyvpwlwGrhAy6_P_rT9Ik/s320/Books.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I’m staying in the holiday house that’s been in the family for over 30 years, and like all good holiday homes, it has a store of old books, the kind you would scorn to read at any other time, but are somehow just what you want when you’re away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years, a motley assortment has been left here over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We seem to have a lot of truly dreadful thrillers from the Seventies, some dated blockbusters, tattered historical, war stories, and the odd literary novel which has clearly been brought for effect and then discarded in favour of easier reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and a set of Jessica Harts, of course!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I like to work my way through the almost complete collection of Agatha Christies when I’m here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder on the Orient Express</i> last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s something incredibly comforting about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care that I’ve read them many times and know who the murderer is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mind the fact that the plots are dated and contrived and turn on silly coincidences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Agatha Christie is a master class in PTQ: you pick one up, intending only to flick through a page or two for old time’s sake, and suddenly you’re turning the next page and then the next, and before you know where you are, you’re absorbed in the story and refusing to do anything else until you’ve finished it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I wouldn’t take an Agatha Christie away on holiday with me, and I wouldn’t read one at home, but here in Scotland, they’re just what I want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mysterious Affair at Styles</i> ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-37789841922196699572012-04-18T06:50:00.000-07:002012-04-18T06:50:07.499-07:00Bad connections <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEfEozo7gtQ9dC3pZH_DvjWvmHKaEJqDkCZuX-Z0W56VsPbQpNlFcLbUpg14uF3cTJKm6hhJUguSbo73jLWXSTYnlbGdSrNgdUck_LVkHsOaCoQBuQMkn0VaALoFaDsYSWRP9lxgH2Lc/s1600/P1020610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEfEozo7gtQ9dC3pZH_DvjWvmHKaEJqDkCZuX-Z0W56VsPbQpNlFcLbUpg14uF3cTJKm6hhJUguSbo73jLWXSTYnlbGdSrNgdUck_LVkHsOaCoQBuQMkn0VaALoFaDsYSWRP9lxgH2Lc/s320/P1020610.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screel from the Muckle</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I have decamped to Scotland for a couple of weeks, but the internet connection is very ropey so had better keep this brief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sending a simple email is an exercise in acute frustration, as the screen keeps freezing, or is overlaid with the tool bar so that you can’t see what’s underneath, or sometimes the message disappears altogether until I am ready to take a hammer to my laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I am SO missing my lovely fast Mac. </span>Don’t even want to think what it’s going to be like uploading this to the blog, but will give it a go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just block your ears to the language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aaarrghh will be the least of it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R45oPjtbMkqiNrakhM7kmoCEr4Yqluw4nu5pPwgBmaSDFZE_wkoFqTnCwuXp9X-gsViCt71NeZ2q-cW_gDd89uaRRWIth3LhRetKvPetVq_wLEF5_qqGGlizd1BoQ88wr6f0Lpd10Vk/s1600/P1020590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R45oPjtbMkqiNrakhM7kmoCEr4Yqluw4nu5pPwgBmaSDFZE_wkoFqTnCwuXp9X-gsViCt71NeZ2q-cW_gDd89uaRRWIth3LhRetKvPetVq_wLEF5_qqGGlizd1BoQ88wr6f0Lpd10Vk/s200/P1020590.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">On the plus side, the whole process is so fraught, I am only checking my email twice a day which is very good for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, Facebook and Twitter are out, and in theory I have a lot more time to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am here to keep my mother company while my father, coming up for 89 and almost totally deaf, has taken himself off on a cruise around the Black Sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it’s a whole new routine, which involves a lot of little meals and a lot of dog walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No hardship when the dog is as sweet-natured as Roxy, and the walks are all through scenery like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun has even been shining ... so far!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3