I have a cold that has settled in my nose. Not very pleasant but it's okay. As for my mystery story, I am in a dilemma. What to do next when I wrap this it up and send it off for editing and, I hope, to an interested editor.
Writers are ever hopeful for the big break that may or may not come, mostly it doesn't come. At my advanced age I'm not sure if I want to start a new novel of 65,000 words. I may not live long enough to finish it. I imagine a future great, great grandchild searching through my files and finding a partial manuscript. Will she or he finish it? Make much of finding it? A future dream of which I will have no part.
Sunny spring is eluding us again and I fear the strawberry crop will suffer. I desperately want our wonderful fresh strawberries. They have a luscious taste that melts on the tongue.
As for aging. Is anyone interested it what it feels like to grow old in a society catering to the young, middle aged and early sixties/seventies. I wish some clothing store would feature an advertisement showing older women, looking elegant or cool. No spike heels, for God's sake. If I dare to put on such a pair I would fall and break my hip! We need smart looking sensible shoes. Smart looking clothing. I love long skirts with a swish and bright colours.
Bright colours are in this spring. Lot of splashy flowers. I shall see if I can find such a thing.
I'm applying to renew my passport and have had my picture taken. I look as if I've been disinterred and might fit into a zombie movie.
Tell me, what is the appeal of zombie movies? Creepy and scary and really dumb. You'd have to have a secret weapon to kill someone who is already dead. Do they smell?
Enough already. Go buy my romance novels where real characters live real lives, struggle through adversity and score a happy ending. A VERY DIFFICULT MAN, ISABELLE'S DIARY, ISABELLE'S STORY, RING AROUND THE MOON, TOO YOUNG TO DIE.
Order from my publisher, Ellora'sCave.com or at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.UK or other Amazons around the world.
Anita Birt
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Anita Birt's Note Book and other Stuff
The "other stuff" is about writing and killing a character I didn't like. It was a bloody, nasty scene even to the point of getting rid of the body. I went to bed. I thought about the scene in the morning and decided it didn't fit my book.
My novel is a mystery. There are difficult characters involved in illegal activities, drugs, dealing drugs and maybe, dealing in illegal diamonds from the Congo. So I cut out the murder scene and felt better. There is an accidental death to work around.
Living with my characters makes them very real to me. I am glad for them. I worry when there's trouble on the horizon. I like it when one of my characters makes tea properly, in a warmed pot. I like the German shepherd, the guard dog/pet for my tea drinking character.
It's easy to write a bloody murder and figure out how to get rid of a body. Not pleasant. That's why I cut it out and re-wrote the scene.
I have come across a Canadian poet, James Pollock, who is short listed for the Griffin Poetry Prize to be awarded in June. Pollock was interviewed in the National Post. I loved the poem presented in the article. It begins, "I sailed a boat to Babylon,
and rowed home lonely in the rain,
Look it up on the Internet and enjoy the whole poem. I'm reluctant to print it here because of copyright restrictions.
One of the things I liked about the poem is how the words feel in my mouth as I say them. I do say them out loud! To myself. I have memorized the poem. A good test for an ancient woman trying to dodge the dotage.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
My novel is a mystery. There are difficult characters involved in illegal activities, drugs, dealing drugs and maybe, dealing in illegal diamonds from the Congo. So I cut out the murder scene and felt better. There is an accidental death to work around.
Living with my characters makes them very real to me. I am glad for them. I worry when there's trouble on the horizon. I like it when one of my characters makes tea properly, in a warmed pot. I like the German shepherd, the guard dog/pet for my tea drinking character.
It's easy to write a bloody murder and figure out how to get rid of a body. Not pleasant. That's why I cut it out and re-wrote the scene.
I have come across a Canadian poet, James Pollock, who is short listed for the Griffin Poetry Prize to be awarded in June. Pollock was interviewed in the National Post. I loved the poem presented in the article. It begins, "I sailed a boat to Babylon,
and rowed home lonely in the rain,
Look it up on the Internet and enjoy the whole poem. I'm reluctant to print it here because of copyright restrictions.
One of the things I liked about the poem is how the words feel in my mouth as I say them. I do say them out loud! To myself. I have memorized the poem. A good test for an ancient woman trying to dodge the dotage.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Anita Birt's Note Book and other stuff
It's Mother's Day tomorrow.Hard to miss with all the articles about mothers, especially young and pretty mothers, or actress mothers or famous mothers, i.e. Jackie Kennedy but not a single wrinkled old mother like me. Boo Hoo.
Life goes on. We can't stop time. We can't stop the changing seasons. We can't stop dying. It happens to all of us. "Life is a terminal illness." Don't like that, it assumes we are sick, sick, sick at the end of days. Doesn't always happen that way.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY tomorrow no matter what your age, weight, height or status. We are here. Enjoy the day. Quaff a glass of wine. Eat a piece of chocolate cake. Sit back with a hot cup of coffee and think how lucky the world is to have you living in it.
My mystery novel is progressing as it should. I'm pulling together evidence. Drug smuggling seems to be part of it. A side operation in diamond smuggling. What the hell! Why stop at drugs. Diamonds are much prettier and last a lot longer. Most women love diamonds.
On our sixtieth wedding anniversary several years ago my husband asked if I wanted a ring, a necklace or a bracelet with diamonds. I said no. Diamonds are not my thing. On the morning of our anniversary my husband handed me a brown envelope. Inside were twenty shares in a diamond mine! Worth a fair amount of money then but have dropped in price. I treasure the shares and will never sell them.
I miss my clever, thoughtful husband but I sense his presence. A loving human being doesn't disappear after 65 years of marriage. I'm not talking about spooks, I'm talking about a feeling. You either have it or you don't. My Celtic blood knows.
Make my Mother's Day a treat by ordering my five romance novels on your e-reader or in trade paper back. Order from my publisher, Ellora's Cave or from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.UK
A VERY DIFFICULT MAN. ISABELLE'S DIARY. ISABELLE'S STORY. RING AROUND THE MOON. TOO YOUNG TO DIE.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
Life goes on. We can't stop time. We can't stop the changing seasons. We can't stop dying. It happens to all of us. "Life is a terminal illness." Don't like that, it assumes we are sick, sick, sick at the end of days. Doesn't always happen that way.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY tomorrow no matter what your age, weight, height or status. We are here. Enjoy the day. Quaff a glass of wine. Eat a piece of chocolate cake. Sit back with a hot cup of coffee and think how lucky the world is to have you living in it.
My mystery novel is progressing as it should. I'm pulling together evidence. Drug smuggling seems to be part of it. A side operation in diamond smuggling. What the hell! Why stop at drugs. Diamonds are much prettier and last a lot longer. Most women love diamonds.
On our sixtieth wedding anniversary several years ago my husband asked if I wanted a ring, a necklace or a bracelet with diamonds. I said no. Diamonds are not my thing. On the morning of our anniversary my husband handed me a brown envelope. Inside were twenty shares in a diamond mine! Worth a fair amount of money then but have dropped in price. I treasure the shares and will never sell them.
I miss my clever, thoughtful husband but I sense his presence. A loving human being doesn't disappear after 65 years of marriage. I'm not talking about spooks, I'm talking about a feeling. You either have it or you don't. My Celtic blood knows.
Make my Mother's Day a treat by ordering my five romance novels on your e-reader or in trade paper back. Order from my publisher, Ellora's Cave or from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.UK
A VERY DIFFICULT MAN. ISABELLE'S DIARY. ISABELLE'S STORY. RING AROUND THE MOON. TOO YOUNG TO DIE.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Anita Birt's Note Book
Shall we talk about aging? Shall we think about it? Like it or not it is heading your way and my way. Life is a terminal illness. Have I said that before? Who wants to think such a thing when we are young or sort of young or very old.
I am old and lucky to have made it this far. What is old? A state of mind? A fear of the future? I have inherited my aged health genes from two tough Scots women, my grandmother and mother. Did I tell you my mother was a writer. She wrote The Maxie Books for Girls as Elsie Bell Gardner. Maxie had terrific adventures in various parts of the world. Trinidad (my mother lived there as a child) Venezuela, Australia, Spain, American cities and boarding schools. The books were written in the 1930's and early 1940's.
The books are hard to find even at ABE books. I have the seven Maxie books and treasure them. Their covers are faded and torn here and there so I keep them safely on a book shelf.
I am continuing my mystery novel. I've pulled together a list of "persons of interest," and work with my two protagonists to wind up the story. I still have 20,000 words to go but time is flying by and summer is coming in. I'm not wild about sitting at a computer when the sky is blue, the sun is shining, the sea is rippling quietly and the snow capped mountains in Washington State add to the beauty.
I'm off. Comment when you feel like it.
Buy my books for your e-readers or in trade paper back.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
I am old and lucky to have made it this far. What is old? A state of mind? A fear of the future? I have inherited my aged health genes from two tough Scots women, my grandmother and mother. Did I tell you my mother was a writer. She wrote The Maxie Books for Girls as Elsie Bell Gardner. Maxie had terrific adventures in various parts of the world. Trinidad (my mother lived there as a child) Venezuela, Australia, Spain, American cities and boarding schools. The books were written in the 1930's and early 1940's.
The books are hard to find even at ABE books. I have the seven Maxie books and treasure them. Their covers are faded and torn here and there so I keep them safely on a book shelf.
I am continuing my mystery novel. I've pulled together a list of "persons of interest," and work with my two protagonists to wind up the story. I still have 20,000 words to go but time is flying by and summer is coming in. I'm not wild about sitting at a computer when the sky is blue, the sun is shining, the sea is rippling quietly and the snow capped mountains in Washington State add to the beauty.
I'm off. Comment when you feel like it.
Buy my books for your e-readers or in trade paper back.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Lazy. This is a lazy blog where nothing important happens, nothing important is expected to happen and nothing ever will.
I'm so busy writing my mystery novel time flies by and I forget about this blog. It's bloody boring anyway, isn't? I shall keep it going to publicize my book when it's published. I am thinking very positive thoughts. For an aged lady still pounding out stories is not usual. Lots of aged ladies paint and knit and quilt and embroider but how many are writing mysteries?
That's all I shall say on that subject, except to say, my two main characters are a fascinating pair. Hmm. I've blogged about that already. I can still write but trying to remember what's I've blogged about is real downer.
Daffodils have faded but there are dark blue small lilies blooming. I think they are called, Camas lilies. They are really beautiful. Casting a blue haze over the rough grass bordering the path above the sea. Even with bloody back spasms giving me a lot of pain, I feel good to be alive outside and gazing at the little dark blue lilies.
Drop a comment! Someone. Please. I know there are page views and I'm pleased with that but think how comforting it would be to read a comment.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
Enjoy good reads on your e-readers by purchasing one or all five of my books.
I'm so busy writing my mystery novel time flies by and I forget about this blog. It's bloody boring anyway, isn't? I shall keep it going to publicize my book when it's published. I am thinking very positive thoughts. For an aged lady still pounding out stories is not usual. Lots of aged ladies paint and knit and quilt and embroider but how many are writing mysteries?
That's all I shall say on that subject, except to say, my two main characters are a fascinating pair. Hmm. I've blogged about that already. I can still write but trying to remember what's I've blogged about is real downer.
Daffodils have faded but there are dark blue small lilies blooming. I think they are called, Camas lilies. They are really beautiful. Casting a blue haze over the rough grass bordering the path above the sea. Even with bloody back spasms giving me a lot of pain, I feel good to be alive outside and gazing at the little dark blue lilies.
Drop a comment! Someone. Please. I know there are page views and I'm pleased with that but think how comforting it would be to read a comment.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
Enjoy good reads on your e-readers by purchasing one or all five of my books.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Anita Birt's Note Book
My notes are about nothing in particular so you may stop reading now! I am working hard on my mystery novel. I did a lot of editing yesterday and enjoyed reading my story from the beginning. Having said that, my two protagonists have to get busy and find the bad guys who are connected to a murder, two assaults and other illegal activities. Lots of characters and lots going on.
My blog is of no interest to anyone but I keep on going, although I miss days when I'm not inspired to look at it. However, this item in a newspaper is worth sharing. It's about snakes. Garter snakes. Harmless little creatures who eat slugs that damage your garden plants.
The newspaper heading:" Garter snakes leave cosy digs in crawl space to slither through hospital halls." It started when a snake was seen sliding down a hall at the hospital in Herbert, Saskatchewan. Then another and another. I'm quoting from the article."Garter snakes turned a crawl space beneath the hospital into a warm home for the winter and began to emerge as spring approached."
The crawl space has been sealed off. About 100 snakes have been captured. They'll be set free to find their natural seasonal migration route of their hibernation areas. All's well that ends well.
I am taking part in a competition that involves wearing a step counter and noting my steps in a daily log book. I walk by the sea unless a Force 8 gale is blowing and the sea is churning white caps. It was windy this morning but it was sunny. Lovely to feel the sun on my face. BUT. A storm has blown in and rain is pounding against my window.Can't trust Pacific coastal weather.
Until my new book is published do keep buying my romance novels. A VERY DIFFICULT MAN. ISABELLE'S DIARY. ISABELLE'S STORY. RING AROUND THE MOON. TOO YOUNG TO DIE.
Enjoy
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
My blog is of no interest to anyone but I keep on going, although I miss days when I'm not inspired to look at it. However, this item in a newspaper is worth sharing. It's about snakes. Garter snakes. Harmless little creatures who eat slugs that damage your garden plants.
The newspaper heading:" Garter snakes leave cosy digs in crawl space to slither through hospital halls." It started when a snake was seen sliding down a hall at the hospital in Herbert, Saskatchewan. Then another and another. I'm quoting from the article."Garter snakes turned a crawl space beneath the hospital into a warm home for the winter and began to emerge as spring approached."
The crawl space has been sealed off. About 100 snakes have been captured. They'll be set free to find their natural seasonal migration route of their hibernation areas. All's well that ends well.
I am taking part in a competition that involves wearing a step counter and noting my steps in a daily log book. I walk by the sea unless a Force 8 gale is blowing and the sea is churning white caps. It was windy this morning but it was sunny. Lovely to feel the sun on my face. BUT. A storm has blown in and rain is pounding against my window.Can't trust Pacific coastal weather.
Until my new book is published do keep buying my romance novels. A VERY DIFFICULT MAN. ISABELLE'S DIARY. ISABELLE'S STORY. RING AROUND THE MOON. TOO YOUNG TO DIE.
Enjoy
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
Monday, April 8, 2013
Anita Birt's Note Book - AGING
I may be about aging or maybe not. I have started to read, "The 100-year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared." Lower down on the front cover are these words. "IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER."
I am inspired to continue writing my mystery novel if only to find out, "Who Done it?"
Lots of suspects and suspense and an interesting bunch of characters. The two main characters are so different but I shall not reveal their names and what they do for a living.
Change of topic. I received my royalty cheque to-day. My romance novel that sells better than my others is, "A VERY DIFFICULT MAN." I am surprised that fifteen copies of the e-book version are purchased for the Kindle. I receive my royalty but what does someone do with fifteen copies of an e-book? Can copies be transferred from one computer to another?
If you enjoy reading a really interesting and exciting historical romance novel purchase, "A VERY DIFFICULT MAN." A wounded hero. A young lady at whom he throws books. He thinks she may belong to a temperance society who'd rejoice in taking away his solace, Brandy. He drinks it to ease the pain in his soul and the stump of his amputated leg.
And there is a gypsy fortune teller to add an exotic component to my story.
Enjoy.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
I am inspired to continue writing my mystery novel if only to find out, "Who Done it?"
Lots of suspects and suspense and an interesting bunch of characters. The two main characters are so different but I shall not reveal their names and what they do for a living.
Change of topic. I received my royalty cheque to-day. My romance novel that sells better than my others is, "A VERY DIFFICULT MAN." I am surprised that fifteen copies of the e-book version are purchased for the Kindle. I receive my royalty but what does someone do with fifteen copies of an e-book? Can copies be transferred from one computer to another?
If you enjoy reading a really interesting and exciting historical romance novel purchase, "A VERY DIFFICULT MAN." A wounded hero. A young lady at whom he throws books. He thinks she may belong to a temperance society who'd rejoice in taking away his solace, Brandy. He drinks it to ease the pain in his soul and the stump of his amputated leg.
And there is a gypsy fortune teller to add an exotic component to my story.
Enjoy.
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
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