To all my Blogging Mates and their Pets

And a Happy and Healthy 2009 to you and yours and may wishes and dreams come true.

I Got an Award - Must Pass it On!

Thank you to the delightful Debs debs-daydreams in the shed for this great award.The Rules that go with this award are as follows:

1. Every superior scribbler must name other super scribblers, although with so many brilliant super scribblers to choose from, it's almost impossible to do. Anyway, here are a few nominations:
Amanda's Writing Diary Christina Phillips Crystal Jigsaw Every New Writer's Journey Kate Hardy Sara Hantz Shirley Wells

2. Link back to the name of the blog that gave you the award: http://writeupthehill.blogspot.com/

3. Display the award and link to this post, which explains the award.

4. Add your name to the Mr Linky List, http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/2008/10/200-this-blings-for-you.html some way down the page, as a record of who the superest scribblers are.

OK, I think I've made a right pig's ear of the links. Blame the bronchitis!

Tessa Buttons' First Snow of Winter

A friend (Hi, Loretta) took these photos on Tuesday morning before the snow got really thick.

Gas Masks, the Blackout and Strange Scary Places...

Aka the Book of my Heart

I've been wanting to write this (children's) book for a long time - probably since I first read 'Goodnight Mr Tom' waaaay back in 1980/1.

I used to talk to my Mum about it and, although she lived in Newcastle when WW2 started, she was never an evacuee. She loved my book idea and told me a lot about people she'd known who did go to a safer place - and those who came back after a few weeks and about Life on the Home Front.

So just over a year ago I decided I'd start writing it. But then...

Mum died and I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Maybe it was getting the first anniversary of her death over, or maybe it was one of my CPs niggling me to write it, or that I've got a two or three mss out with publishers and an agent and I know it will be a while before I hear anything. Whatever, the time feels right now.

As usual when I'm about to start writing something new, I make myself picture prompts while I'm getting to know my characters and the ups and downs of their lives.

Have any of you waited over 27 years to write the book of your heart?

A Question for Dog Owners

Have any of you ever had, or known, a dog who seems spooked by a smell? On Wednesday on our usual afternoon walk, Tessa B suddenly let out one looooong howl then turned round and ran, barking like crazy, to a nearby drystone wall. She stood on her hind legs staring to the downwards fields, hair on end, wild look in her eyes. I hadn't heard any unusual noise and the fields were empty, the sheep out of sight. I put her on the lead, calmed her slightly and took her home. Indoors, she stared out of the window (facing the downwards fields again) carried on sniffing, barking, sniffing, barking.
She's booked in for spaying on Tuesday so, although I couldn't see any sign, in case she was having a phantom pregnancy and barking to protect 'the puppies', we took her to the vet. Definitely not a phantom pregnancy; the vet gave her a thorough check all over and said she's now in tip top condition. Vet couldn't shed any light on the spooked problem and suggested a DAP collar. We put it on her straight away. She's very slightly less spooked but not much and we sussed out when she sniffs it seems to be towards where the ram is about to - or has just done - his duty. The strange thing is, we've walked her really close to the ram and she didn't bat an eyelid. But all three times we've done that, the ram has been 'resting'. We have foxes, badgers, squirrels and weasels come in the garden so she's used to the smell of them - though I suppose there could be a newcomer who smells different.
I've asked farmers and a few blogging friends who have sheep farms if they've ever known a dog spooked by the scent of a ram but they haven't. Tessa B still enjoys playing out with her doggy friends but stops mid-play to sniff the air.
LOL, sorry for the smelly post but it's just so sad and worrying to see Tessa B acting this way, she obviously feels threatened by the smell; any thoughts, suggestions and/or advice will be very gratefully received.

The Draw Has Taken Place

Congratulations, Honeysuckle! Please send Christina your email so you can receive a download of her fantastic novella.

You'll Never Guess What!!

Christina Phillips (yes, THE Christina who guested here to answer our questions) has just been offered a contract by The Wild Rose Press for her Scarlet Rosette, Touch of the Demon. Pop over to her blog Christina Phillips to congratulate her.

THE Q&A Spot with Debut Author, Christina Phillips

So here it is! Your triple chance to win a download of
FORETASTE OF FOREVER!

All you need to do to go into the draw to win is ask Christina a question here or comment over at http://amandaashby.blogspot.com/ or Sara Hantz's blog: http://sarahantz.com/blog/
where there are Interesting Interviews with Christina.The winner will be chosen and announced on Wednesday 5th November

CONTEST: A Date For your Diary...

From Halloween until November 4th Christina will answer your questions about writing and her road to publication.

So, get thinking then come back on Friday when the Q&A Spot will begin in a new post and you'll see how you could win a download of FORETASTE OF FOREVER...

Another Award, Another Birthday, Another...

Isn't it great? Tom Foolery held the TFX 2008 Writing Competition and all the entrants received a fantastic bespoke card as a prize - every card is different and all designed by TF herself so go to TF's and check them out!

Another Birthday. I'm 63 today! Time feels like the wheel on the card free-wheeling quickly away; I can NOT believe I'm so old. OK, old in years but young at heart (sometimes).

The third 'Another'? Unfortunately that was an agent rejection. The nice thing is that I got it earlier in the week so it hasn't blighted my day.

And please go and give Helen @ Fiction Is Stranger Than Fact a hug to let her know we're all thinking of her.

Party Time

It's Book Launch Day for my fabulous friend and CP, Christina Phillips!

Please go and join the celebration and read an exciting excerpt of Foretaste of Forever at http://kayemanro.blogspot.com/

Friendship is a Sheltering Tree

That's a quote from Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

So thank you all for the hugs and messages and for

being my 'sheltering tree'.

An Award that Cheered Me Up

Mummy @ A Mummy's Meanderings awarded me with this. It was very timely because I'm feeling sad today. So, thank you, Mummy!

Edited to add: Thank you for all the hugs and emails. They help. A friend died on Monday.

The winners of this award have to answer these questions, in one word per question.... so here we go:
1. Where is your cell phone? Unowned
2. Where is your significant other? Workshop
3. Your hair color? Blonde
4. Your mother? Heaven
5. Your father? Heaven
6. Your favorite thing? Life
7. Your dream last night? Upsetting
8. Your dream/goal? Republished
9. The room you're in? Study
10. Your hobby? Countryside
11. Your fear? Loss
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
13. Where were you last night? Here
14. What you're not? Male
15. One of your wish-list items? Aga
16. Where you grew up? Various
17. The last thing you did? Log-on
18. What are you wearing? Leggings
19. Your TV? Off
20. Your pets? Chewing
21. Your computer? On
22. Your mood? Sad
23. Missing someone? Parents
24. Your car? Isn’t
25. Something you're not wearing? Pyjamas
26. Favorite store? Deli
27. Your summer? Mixed
28. Love someone? Yes.
29. Your favorite color? Autumnal
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Today

OK, I also have to pass this award onto another 5 blogs that I love –
This is so hard; some of my favourite bloggers have already won this award
Crystal Jigsaw
Flowerpot Days
The Weaver of Grass
Wright Story
Pamela Terry and Edward

YAY FOR TAM!!

Go and see Tam's News: http://wordyblog.blogspot.com/

Wearing My Children's Writer Hat...

The main characters in my mystery series for children stay in a house that’s part of a coastal railway station. The first story is finished (25,500 words), the series proposal is on its way to a publisher and the second story is 'bubbling' nicely.

Over on Fiction Is Stranger Than Fact Helen has listed the soundtracks to her novel.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So…
Here are some of the songs I’d choose for my soundtrack:
"I Love the sound of a Whistle" Box Car Willie
"Ghost Train" The Bee Gees
"Bye Bye Black Smoke Choo Choo" Joe Glazer
"Peppermint Twist" The Sweet
"Rockaway beach" Ramones
"The Peppermint Rock Song" ???

Sticks of rock play quite a part in the first book.



Of course there's a dog in all the stories.
She's called Hilda.
The song for her is: Cat Steven's "I Love My Dog".