Writing? What writing?
I’ve been injured and out of action for four weeks now. And in that time I should have almost finished The Shifu Cloth. In fact I have 30,000 words to go and another six weeks of rehab. Finishing is a possibility if I dedicate myself. But the silence from London over Glass Flowers/Paperweights is hardly conducive to me finishing a further novel. I believe there is a summer holiday-break in the UK and London business has almost shut up shop, and it is a soothing thought.
I have to console myself that even though I managed 10,000 words of The Shifu Cloth, I have also managed nearly 11,000 words of The Sheriff, some Pillow Book and editing of what I have done so far of Shifu. So my couch-bottom and couch- potato status can be removed by said work.
In between times, my favourite bookshop has passed a proof copy of the new Jilly Cooper to me (Jump)and I can barely sleep at night as I laugh and gallop through Cotchester with her at a pace reserved for favourites at the Melbourne Cup. This one is about the National Hunt and jump racing scene in the UK and culminates in the Grand National. Thankfully Rupert and Taggie Campbell-Black are in it and all’s right with the world. I even laughed at the names and the descriptions of her characters in the front pages and bless Jilly, even the animal characters had one and a half pages to themselves. After Jilly I shall read the new Fiona Walker (The Love Hunt) and both women have the fastest wit, so I shall have had two pacy reads in a very short time.
It’s hard to return to one’s own writing without wanting to inject the same pace, so maybe we shall see smoke coming off the pages of Shifu and Sheriff. Who knows?
On the subject of new releases, my friend and writer, SJA Turney has just had another historical fantasy on Roman Britain published, entitled Ironroot. For details go to http://sjat.wordpress.com I am ordering it from Amazon today.
And for those who expected The Sheriff’s Collector again, it’s coming, and I leave you with a comparison:
Disney's Gisborne: Sir Hiss
This . . . or . . . the one beneath?
Armitage's version of Guy.
Oooh. Now I’m going to have to watch Disney’s Robin Hood again. Just got to love Peter Ustinov in anything. Thanks for that plug too. Oh, and do get healed. It seems to have been a very long time and I worry.
I had forgotten all about Disney’s Robin Hood! Ha, I can remember watching that with my cousin in summers gone by 🙂
Hope you’re feeling better–sometimes life intrudes and insists we take a day–or a few weeks–a little easier. Glad you’ve gotten so much writing done in spite of being under the weather.
Victrix, I remember it was one of the first videos I bought for my kids at the time, a pirated copy bought in the streets of Bangkok.
No problems with the plug, it’s deserved . . . can’t wait to hear the ‘maybes’ that you mentioned on your blog.
The ankle is taking a long time . . . but that’s okay, I am actually being active within the parameters of crutches and boots and strapping. Walked a kilometre the other day! And have been doing my bit with feeding out to the ewes from the back of the 4-wheeler. Thanks for worrying, it makes me feel cherished.
Hi Rowenna . . . it is such a funny adaptation and still resonates, even now. Who won the comparison?
I sure am taking it easier. Physio has me on an excercise bike daily to keep up energy levels. I may be fitter than before the accident, what with that, with the actual rehab and with the muscles from the crutches! Definitely not a medieval maid.
Writing, as I’m finding out, has a will on it’s own. Sometimes it refuses to stick to our schedules… 🙂
But even with the injury- you did an amazing job Prue and got a lot of writing done. Perhaps the Shifu Cloth needed a little break and you’re doing great with The Sheriff! Can’t wait for the next part.
I do find I’m rejuvenated when I come back to Shifu, after a burst of Sheriff. If anyone had said that one could write two stories at once, I would have said no. I think the harder thing is editing one and writing the other.