A TROPHY ON MY SHELF

Last night the results of the latest competition for the Dunedin Writer's Workshop was announced. Actually, being the president, I've known who the winners were for a week or more, but of course was sworn to secrecy.

The theme for our 3000 word story was crime/mystery and as I mentioned back in June here, I wrote about a stagecoach journey.  And now I'm very pleased to be able to tell you that I won first place!

After all the stops and starts and various interruptions to my writing this year, winning the trophy is just the shot in the arm I need.

THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE BY JACQUELINE KELLY

This is one of those wonderful books that elicits a satisfied sigh as you turn the last page. I finished reading it this morning and the characters are still with me. Although it ended in just the right place I can't help wondering what happens next in this young girl's life.

In a year where the telephone comes to town, new wind machines cool the air and inventions like automobiles are heard of but yet to be seen, Calpurnia discovers her Grandaddy: a cantankerous figure who spends his days studying plants and insects. He opens up a whole new world of science and nature, but in 1899 an eleven year old girl needs to learn to cook and sew and knit.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The insights into the workings of an eleven year old mind and the relationship with her grandfather are truly convincing. Her six brothers stand out as completely formed characters and the interaction between them was delightful.

This is Jacqueline Kelly's first novel. I hope she writes many more.




 

WRITING UPDATE

A whole week has passed since I last posted. A week where I have worked hard at getting my Blackbird manuscript into shape. I've juggled with the time line; had scenes that were set in winter that I've had to change to summer, deliberated over which scenes are important and which can go. Said good bye to a couple of characters and stepped up the importance of others. And I've blended a few scenes together too. They have been the most fun. Upping the tension and drama, moving the story along at a much better pace.

Last night I finished writing out the new plan on a time line then wrote a post-it note for every scene. I found when I was doing NaNo last year that this is what works for me. I stick the post-it note on the wall in front of me and write that scene and nothing but that scene.

 Now I have to knuckle down and write. I haven't got as much free time as when I did NaNo, but I am determined to get this story finished.

Today's scene involves a ride into town, the surprise purchase of something very special, then finishes with a heart stopping episode.

 

THE DITHERER

I'm almost too scared to tell you about the latest developments in my writing. If you've followed my blog for the last six months, or so, you will be well aware that I've put one project away, started a new one, rehashed the new one, battled with distractions and generally been rudderless. But this last week everything has changed - I hope. (see, I'm living up to the ditherer moniker.)

I've always maintained that there is nothing more helpful than putting a distance between yourself and your newly completed work. It needs to marinate and the writer needs to have a chance at objectivity, and I believe the last six months have done that. So I pulled out the manuscript to Blackbird and bingo!

It took me less then a day to realise I needed to chuck out the first 300 pages and make what had morphed into two books, back into one. So I sat down and wrote the new first chapter and amazingly my MC Maddie popped out more formed than she ever had been and my style of writing has changed too. I'm writing in a much closer 3rd person perspective and I think it serves the story well.

Now I'm wading through the manuscript. I spent three years learning to write on this story and I wrote far too much. There are too many 'events' and a few too many characters. So I'm making great use of my literary shears: slicing off unnecessary scenes and splicing together others.

I know some writers would turn their back on the story they 'practiced' their craft on, but this is a story I care about and the characters just won't leave me alone.

I'll keep you informed of my progress. And don't worry, Amelia's Strath Taieri story is tucked away safely, but not forgotten.

THE SCHOOL TERM ENDS

Today is the last day of the school term and I'm thankful to have finally gotten to the end of it! It has been a term filled with illness, unusual busyness and hockey - which has taken over our lives: All of the family play plus hubby coaches, the eldest umpires and the youngest plays for two teams. Let it be noted that I've never played a game in my life, but I'm a really good taxi driver! Between games and practices there is only two hockey free days per week.

Now you may have an inkling as to why the blog posts have been somewhat scarce. Unfortunately the writing has suffered the same fate, but as this term draws to a close, I'm happy to report that my health is back on track and there is an easing of the busyness in sight.

One good thing about being laid up is that while I may have been too miserable to write or blog, I have read a good number of books. Here are a few that stood out as great reads:

THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON by Kate Morton.

 I thoroughly enjoyed this. It reminded me of the books I read as a teenager. A lovely long read with a cosy feel.

At ninety-eight Grace Bradley looks back on her younger days as a house maid at Riverton Manor. The Edwardian era is drawing to a close and the Great War looms. Both a romance and a mystery, it had me hooked from the first page. Interestingly, I watched the first episodes of Downton Abbey at the time I read this - a wonderful double dose of Edwardian England.

THE MERCY SELLER by Brenda Rickman Vantrease.

I picked this book up at a library sale, in a very dilapidated state. From the first paragraph, where the burning of an heretic takes place, the story grabbed me by the throat. I have since bought my own copy and also her previous book THE ILLUMINATOR, which should tell you how much I loved this.

In fifteenth century Europe, when the copying of the Bible was an act of heresy, Finn and his granddaughter, Anna, work in secret. When all she holds dear is lost to her, Anna must flee to England. Along the way she meets up with Little Bek - a disabled boy and Brother Gabriel, masquerading as a Flemish merchant.
But when she finally reaches England, her safe haven has already been breached.
As colourful as the richest tapestry, this book drew me in with wonderful depictions of the era and a multilayered story with plenty of twists to keep the pages turning.


THE GENTLEMAN POET by Kathryn Johnson.

This book opens in 1609 with a storm overtaking The Sea Venture, a sailing ship on route to Jamestown, Virginia. On board is Elizabeth Persons, a young servant girl.

Shipwrecked on the Devil's Isles (Bermuda), Elizabeth splits her day between cooking for the survivors and caring for her cantankerous mistress. Wooed by ships cook Thomas she turns to her new found friend Will Strachey for advice.
Finding the father figure she lacks, she also finds the great playwright: Shakespeare.

In a cleverly wrought story, Kathryn Johnson presents a 'what if' explanation of the writing of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Roll on holidays, where much writing and reading - in front of a roaring fire - will take place!

These reviews are part of the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.