10.21.13

Nice day back to work, though truncated by wicked reverse jet lag. Wrote a bit, ran out for lunch, wrote a bit more. My count was negative, simply because I was cleaning things up, but for all the head fog, at least there was forward progress.  Only a few hundred words, but progress.

Beginnings are hard for me. I can't get the right flavor, tone, word choice. I struggle with the first few chapters of every book, which is a silly thing to do, because I know I'm going to go back and change things once the story really gets going. It's the same every time: I prevaricate and procrastinate, only get a hundred words here, a hundred there. It's fear and resistance; there's an element of beginnings that scare me on such a deep, subconscious level that it can be paralyzing if I'm not careful. 

What am I afraid of? I'm not entirely sure. I'm not happy with the opening. I have three written, and I'm not sure which I will end up using. Which tells me I should just go on to the next scene, and worry about the perfect opening later.Tess Gerritsen once said she forgets how to write a book every time she starts a new one, and that's definitely what I'm feeling. Right now, I have 5,000 words, I know I need 100,000 more, and it's daunting as all get out.  I don't feel at all settled until I'm at the 20,000 mark. Which I hope to be very soon. 

I'm not going to go to bed just yet, though my body is screaming for sleep. Will have an early dinner, get to bed as early as I can, and start fresh in the morning. And I'll try to get some pics posted. 

Sweet dreams!

10.19.18

Oh, my chickens. So much to share. I ate haggis! Not only that, but I loved it. We had haggis balls at the Cuillin Hills hotel in Portree on Skye, and they were absolutely divine. And in strange events, our waiter was a dead ringer for the guy Catherine and I based Nicholas Drummond on. Totally unbelievable.

We drove almost all the way across Scotland today. We are about two hours from Edinburgh, and a very early morning, but there's a beautiful fireplace at my feet, and a finger of Laphroaig to hand, so it makes the travels creaks feel better. I'm sorry to leave, and I won't pretend otherwise. This country speaks to me at every turn. There are places in the world that are beautiful and fun to visit, and then there are the ones that touch your soul and beg you not to leave. The past two days, out in the countryside, watching the sea and the lochs, driving through the glens and moors, staring at the heather and grasses and bleak wonderfulness of it all, it reaches deep into my being and thrums a cord that I feel through my whole body. And all I can do is sigh, and promise to hurry back.

Chì mi a-rithist thu, à leannan. Slàinte!

10.18.11

Second to the last night, and we are firmly ensconced on a leather couch in front of a fire in a lovely hotel in Portree, Isle of Skye. This is a beautiful little town, nestled off the Minch, a fishing village surrounded by towering mountains. So glad we had a chance to come up here; it's simply gorgeous. And we hit the Talisker distillery today. Talisker is the very first Scotch I ever tasted that I liked. So it was awesome to see it firsthand. 

Happy and tired and full of salmon and wine, and it's time to snug down and read for a bit. I have been honored with the chance to read a manuscript for a very talented friend, and honestly, I'm cutting this short so if can get back into the story. It is fantastic, and when it gets published I will let you know so you can rush out and buy it.

As I was told this afternoon, slàinte!!  

10.15.13

I can only tell you part of what I did today, to preserve the sanctity of my next book plot. But the morning, glories, was rather spectacular. There were falcons, you see, and owls, and eagles, and hawks. And a massive castle by the sea, a vertable princedom by the sea. 

I'm speaking of course of Dunrobin Castle. The land of Memphis and falcons and manicured gardens. I will post some pictures when we return (photo uploads being a small issue with the wireless speeds) but I'll shoot some onto Facebook.

i will tell you the afternoon's adventure involved 90 miles on single lane road. DH is a champion driver and deserves medals and whatnot for his heroics today especially driving us home with literally one headlight, that being the high beam, which was scary but doable. We'll be getting a new car tomorrow. 

So a brief wardrobe update. Thank all that's holy for Barbour and their waxed jacket. And the last-minute never-been-worn Merrells? All I can say is BUY THEM NOW! 

Cheers, chickens!  

10.14.13

Today was a day of happenstance and serendipity in the form of a visit to Roslyn Chapel. Roslyn's been on my bucket list for years, ever since THE DAVINCI CODE. In three previous trips to Edinburgh, I haveb't made it to the Chapel, so I was beside myself with excitment. We arrived in time for noon prayers, Roslyn being an active Episcopal Church. So there I was, saying the Lord's Prayers in Roslyn Chapel, feeling more than a little verklempt. I was able to light a candle as well, which made me very happy, and we also timed it perfectly to hear a twenty minute lecture on some of the fascination of the chapel. It. Was. Awesome. 

Then the long, beautiful haul up to the Highlands. We had all sorts of weather, stopped at Blair Castle (many of you remember I based Memphis Highsmythe's ancestral home, which features prominently in WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE, on an amalgamation of Blair Castle, and Dunrobin, which I've never actually seen, but I'm visiting tomorrow!) and instead of the massive chickens -- I'm talking come up to your knee chickens -- there was a mated pair of peacocks stalking the car park. Just wandering along, doing their peacocky thing.   

Now we're at our very favorite Highlands hotel, Lochardil House, managed by our very fine friend (also distantly related) Robert McBean, where we've been warmly greeted, fed and watered, and are now going down for the night. I'm developing a taste for a finger of Laphroaig just before bed. This is one habit I can definitely get behind.

Slàinte, and sweet dreams!