Well, our visitor has left and so there is simply no excuse in not getting back to THE BOOK. It's always nice to see old friends and rellies, but during their visit your time is not your own to do what you want. I also find that most people treat my writing as a 'hobby' and don't understand just what it is that compels an author to write. OK. Maybe it isan't anything like going to an office 5 days a week and sharing your job and views with other workers. But, that's not to say that I (and I'm sure every other author) doesn't put more than 100% into what they're doing. You have to believe in yourself and what you're hoping to achieve. Because of that it can be a very hard graft indeed. Thankfully most of the people I have around me understand - most of the time!

So, I have just finished off another short chapter today and started another. I then found I couldn't concentrate properly so stopped 1/3 of the way through. Maybe not a good place to stop but it's better than making a pile of mistakes and rewriting it all again later on.

This week has whizzed past. Is it an age thing??
I've just completed a tax return - yuk! -my first in years. So many questions and why if you're innocent do you always feel guilty? It's a bit like talking to a policeman/customsman for eg.

On Tuesday we also experienced our first earthquake here in Cyprus. 4.5 on the Richter scale. At first I thought it was a huge earth moving machine on the house they're renovating opposite. When I looked round and saw the Venetian Arch in our snug 'dancing' I thought, ohoh, that's no building work. Scarey but exciting all the same.

A lot of you will know I am amember of Goodreads. An excellent site where readers and authors come together and discuss books and poetry. Up until the end of October I am giving away a few copies of The Crossing. So if any of you still haven't bought it yet (shame on you) then here's your chance to win one. Simply log on to www.goodreads.com/faithmortimer to find my pages. Good luck to you all and have a good weekend.

Happy reading

regards

Faith

Well, the cat's back! She has 2 wound sites and a load of stitches; but she is so relieved to be home. Wait until Tuesday when it's back in the box and down to the vet for the stitch removal! We still haven't managed to get rid of the kitten either. Anyone out there who lives in Cyprus who'd like a sweet little moggy?

Enough of that. Writing has had to take 2nd best this week as when you have holiday visitors then they kind of get in the way. That's not meant with any menace, it's just a fact. I have only managed to escape to write down thoughts as they spring to mind at odd times. But all is not lost. I think that by sitting back sometimes, and taking a look and thinking of where you're going, then the path can become quite straight and obvious. So some good ideas have been squirreled away for later chapters.
Come Wednesday we're all back on our own and my head will be firmly down, engrossed with Chapter 31.
I have one dilemma. With The Crossing; I had the middle part almost entirely separate and a complete flash back to WW2. In the latest novel The Assassins' Village I could be in danger of repeating myself. Is that a problem to anyone, or is it best to look at another alternative? Maybe layering the chapters with different periods. More difficult, but perhaps better? Please let me know, you budding critics and reviewers. The heat here is still almost intolerable at times. With winds blowing in from the SWwe pick up a lot of dust from the middle east and besides Cyprus is a dusty island anyway. So it is probably time to take our guest and head down the hill to the cool blue waters of the sea...
Have a good remainder of the weekend and Happy Reading
regards

Faith

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 This week had been a real mix. One of our cats (our favourite little feral) had an enormous abscess inside her abdomen. The vet wasn't at all sure about operating, but we insisted and so far she looks quite perky. Hopefully we can bring her home on Tuesday - fingers crossed. Strange how worked up you can get over a small thing like a cat, and an ex- stray at that. We also had 3 tiny (4 weeks old at most) kittens dumped on our doorstep. Here in Cyprus the locals don't usually bother with animals, repeatedly leave them out to starve and die, or even poison them, and knowing that we expats are soft-hearted and will usually feed starving dogs and cats, we get the strays. Anyway, 1 disappeared within a day or so and another was run over outside our front door. So we are left with one tiny starving little moggie. He has latched onto us, is so sweet but I don't want any more!!

Writing had gone extremely well. Another few chapters in the bag so to speak. Only another 15-20 to go! It might be another big book!
I have reviewed a couple of books this week too. Still have a problem with one as, on Amazon it has been awarded all 5* and I really can't agree with what they are saying. I shall have to have a good think and be diplomatic, but that hardly helps the author does it?

Found another site yesterday via Twitter (that's a fun site). This one is AgentQuery. Some of you might want to check it out - if you already know of it then ignore my ramblings. Have a good weekend, we're off to the beach after our hour long hash, which will be bliss in all this heat!

Good reading

Faith

I've had a couple of fantasticlly good days for writing, and have completed another couple of chapters on 'The Assassins' Village'. I can now see the book really taking shape which is always rather a thrill. After this post it's head down and more words to be got down on paper.
I also had some good news from my publishers yesterday. Apparently they are delighteded with figures for 'The Crossing'. This book is now beginning to take off and sales are doing very well - hopefully this will push the royalty cheque higher for the next half year!! (We can always live in hope, but I'm not ordering the new yacht for Chris yet!).
Had a couple more good reviews, and there is a sniff around about someone possible being interested in screening The Crossing. Wow! Now that would be something wouldn't it?
Good reading.
Regards
Faith

It's always good to be back home. As much as I like visiting old friends and family, and meeting new friends there's nothing quite like the feel as you slip your front door key into the lock and the old familiar smells of home greet you.
Still, it was a great visit back to the UK, and it didn't rain ALL the time.
Briefly, the 2 book signings went very well and I have organised another 2 for the end of November in Winchester and Bishop's Waltham - where the book is set.
It was great meeting people who have read 'The Crossing' and hearing what they thought of it. Good news is always cheering. It was also interesting hearing other people's slant on the story  - imagination is wonderful.
At the moment I have 3 books to review. All 3 are completely different and range from a murder mystery, a thriller and a child's story set in 2 time periods. It is sometimes difficult to be unbiased when you know there are already written reviews on the subject and yet your own is going to be completely different. You can't please them all though.
Summer presses on. The garden is still looking nice despite a lack of rain (and it didn't help when one's spouse turned off the automatic watering system by mistake)! The figs are turning ripe on the trees and it's time to knuckle down once more. The end of  'The Assassins' Village' is just around the corner if only I don't have more interruptions!
Good reading!
Regards
Faith