With grateful thanks and positive thoughts to

 Those who support, encourage, comfort, give positive feedback and very helpful suggestions.

Anyone who knows me (and probably read my books) will I hope, recognise themselves in that sentence.

They all mean more to me that words can say.

Why?

For a lot of different reasons. Chiefly because I know if they say something needs x, or y, or z, then that's what it does need. If they like it  but...listen to the but. If they give it a thumbs up I give myself a high five and a congratulatory extra cup of coffee.

(they are not cats but I love this pic courtesy of pinterest)

I trust them.

Take this week for instance. I asked in my reader group on facebook (The RavDor Chicks) about ideas for blogs. 

One person especially, backed up by another, gave me some great ideas.Enough to keep me going for several blogs, and each I reckon a great topic.

One made me smile.

How do you write m/m or f/f when you've had no personal experience.

Now I know some people should say that if you haven't got the personal experience or knowledge you don't do it.

Hmm.

Okay.

So how do we write anything historical? 

We research. We have to.

It's the same with everything we write. Even if you do have personal experience of something, you still check.

Then if you  get queried by your editor (or a reader) you have the answer.

And often if you (or I) don't someone else does.

That's where I get my reassurance that what I've written is correct. From people who know.

Take my m/m books for instance 

(Teaching Teacher will be out soon.)

When I originally wrote this —this is a new updated reissue after being out of print for many years—I chatted about how and what I should write to two of my male friends who are in a relationship. 

When I'd completed it, they read it. Made sure it was correct.

They loved it. Pointed out a few things that needed tweaking. I tweaked.

Reassured I sent it off to a publisher, (we will call them A), only to get a scathing rejection.

It basically said I know nothing of the subject and I needed to listen to people in a same sex relationship talking to each other!

As I had.

Right, okay then, that's your opinion.

I promptly sent it elsewhere, (Publisher B) where it was snapped up. 

Then the fun began.

In the meanwhile another story (not a same sex one) had been accepted by A.

When the M/M book came out, the editor from A who had rejected it must have read it, because I got an email asking why I'd never showed it to them!

You can imagine the pleasure I got from replying telling that editor  I had sent it there, and she, yes she, had rejected it and enclosing a copy of her original email!

Petty maybe but oh so satisfying.

We both moved on.

Research and ask questions is the key if you are unsure. People can only refuse to answer you.

Luckily for me, they rarely refuse.

On that note, I'm back to my research, this time on Regency Beverley in Yorkshire.

Happy reading,

love Raven xxx

Not sure what you'd call this except...

 In praise of some people.

Oh yes.

(Source Pinterest)

Those people who go the extra mile.

Those who say, I would if I could so I'll try...

Or say, yes I will.

Or even say no.

What do I mean?

 Yesterday, there was a news report on TV about a famous ex-footballer who is swimming the channel both ways for a charity. ( www.debra.org.uk )A rare skin blistering condition.

It's great that celebrities get involved in such things and their name really helps promotes awareness. But there's also a lot of 'ordinary' or should that be 'extraordinary' people who also fund raise. in many ways.

From poppy sellers to tin rattlers and more.

It got me thinking about how some people go the extra mile to help others, while some just look the other way, often with the words, oh I would if I could but...

and follow it up with a list of reasons. Some 'proper' some not.

Now before I have to dodge rotten fruit, let me add, it is every single persons absolute right not to donate or raise funds for anything and no need for excuses. 

However, a wee shout out for those that do, is an absolute right as well.

When my granddaughter was ten she cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise money for RNIB and Save the Children. Yes she was ten and had the back up of her dad and uncle, but she did it.

At ten yers of age.

A couple of years later, her dad, who has retinitis pigmentosa (a degenerative eye disease) rode around Britain for RNIB. He'd hoped to do it in a record breaking time, but his vision made that impossible.

But he did it.

And then of course we have Andrew (and his lovely wife, Rebecca. They blog as Travelling Blind and raise money to train guide dogs by Andrew walking. This year it's the Borders to Bridlington.

And he'll do it.

Of course there 's a lot more unsung heroes, and really this is just me saying thank you to each and every one.

I know no one person can support them all, and we all have our favourites, but, even if it's putting a poster up, rattling a tin, or even throwing a few pence in that ratting tin, it all helps.

Then of course you're not saying I wish I could but... you're doing your bit.

Thanks to you,

love Raven xxx

When you realise you have a book out soon and...

 Oops, you've not promoted it very much.

(Yes I did on Wednesday and was gently reminded it might be a good idea to do it again. So sorry folks here's another promo.)

The Castle on the Loch, 3 books boxed set. 

Those of you who know me, also know my interaction these last few weeks hasn't been brilliant. Nor has my attention span.

Now I'll be honest, I find pimping and promo-ing difficult at the best of time, but when I'm not 100% It's even harder.

It goes on my list of to do, along with 'take meds', 'do exercises', 'write a shopping list', (for my lovely dh) 'finish m/s', and so on.

Therefore, trying to think of a good (or even bad or indifferent) promotion post, blog or whatever kept getting put off.

It's not that I don't think the books are good. I do, but then yes, I am biased. Yes they can be read as standalones but in sequence, I think they read even better.

So what better than reading them in one lovely set?

I must admit, when I got my copy I did just that and as I hadn't read them since they came out, I enjoyed them. Of course, I found bits that I wish I'd written differently, but I'd say that was normal.

Therefore, if you fancy a new read—or even a reread, why not try this

https://www.totallybound.com/book/the-castle-and-the-loch-box-set

https://amzn.to/4dbIAcC   (Amazon UK)

https://tinyurl.com/56vdw3we (Amazon US)

(okay, promo over.)

Now it's time to make some buns, eat some buns and open the WIP.

Happy reading,

love Raven xxx

A Wednesday wonder

 Or is it a ponder?

(source, pinterest)

Who knows. I think I'll hedge my bets and say a bit of both.

In case you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, I'll explain.

I've been hum-ing and ha-ing over the ending to the book I'm trying to finish off. The one I realised to my horror I've been playing around with for several years. Opening it, writing a bit, and putting it to one side and writing something else. Which is so not like me. It's usually, start write and finish.

Even my laptop is confused.

Why?

 That's what I'm wondering, or is it pondering?  I'm only a few thousand words from the end. I know how it finishes, whether it's a HEA or a HFN. so why aren't I getting on with it and finishing it?

I wish I knew.

I seem to be doing everything except doing that. Research? Great but not for this story. Rereading? Ad nauseam, but then getting to the last sentence I've written and...making a cup of coffee, baking, knitting, reading, walking...anything but typing where I need to.

How do I get out of that mind set? 

Do I think the story is rubbish so it doesn't need finishing? Actually no. I really like it. But I guess here's the rub.

My writing style has changed over the years. Of course it has. But what I'm now comfortable writing, is generally not what my publishers want. So I wonder if that's one reason why I'm swithering. Because if I want it to see the light of day, I'll need to self-publish. and that scares the you know what out of me. (Yes daft but there we go)

Luckily I've got a great new publisher in Bastet's Quill with whom I'm updating and re-editing sone of my well out of print stories. Teaching Teacher is coming out at the end of the month.

I'm also incredibly fortunate to have fabulous co-author in Cassie O'Brien. Our next offering will be this year's Christmas stories.Watch this space.

I've made notes for another couple of stories, and I'm itching to get stuck in. But I'm determined to finish this WIP first.

Some one shake me up please.

Meanwhile I can get excited about the boxed set of the Castle on the Loch series

Marcail, Bonnie and Baird, siblings who need to accept their fate and move forward.

Love by the Stroke of Midnight

History, family, fate. Accept it or deny it at your will.

The Heather and the Plaid

History, family, fate. Accept it or deny it at your will. To have a future, they need to make peace with the past.

The Renaissance of Baird Drummond

Family has to be resolved and wrongdoings undone. Love recognised, accepted and returned. Then, only then, can life move forward. Or can it?

https://www.totallybound.com/book/the-castle-and-the-loch-box-set 

Out from Totally Bound and Amazon on 30th July 2024

Meanwhile, back to the unfinished WIP...

Happy reading,

Love, Raven xxx

It's the little things

 That you take for granted...

until you can't. Like going for a walk, cooking, gardening... I could go on.

Even down to little things like bending, stretching...

A few weeks ago I had an operation which resulted on me using crutches. Both hands occupied.

And all of a sudden lots of  activities I took for granted were no longer easy. Or in some cases, impossible.

It made me take a long hard look at how, when you can do something, you don't really think about it. you just do it.

Like walking upstairs, carrying a cuppa, then making the bed. Pulling blinds up or down. Picking things off the floor. Bending, kneeling (no no no) even getting off the lowish settee.

(source:pinterest)

All things you do without any real thought when you can use both hands. With both hands wielding crutches... not a chance. 

The stairs I conquered. One stick, one hand on the bannister. The bed...hmm.lets not mention it.

I slung a bag around my neck and shoulders and put things in it. Made coffee in a spill proof mug, ignored the bed... spilled the coffee, wriggled on the bed,

But, was lucky to have a husband to look after me (and yes, cater to my every whim.)

However, I admit it wasn't easy, Biting my tongue when something wasn't done the way i'd do it. Wanting to do something, but no idea what.

I couldn't settle to anything. not writing, reading, sewing. nothing grabbed my interest.

I did my exercises bit my lips at the pain and counted the days.

Cussed at how hard it was to sit in the car for an hour to go back to hospital for check-ups. Tried not to notice things I usually take for granted which hadn't been done.

And then...

Down to one stick.

Make a cuppa, and carried it. Walked around the garden between showers. Went to the supermarket and the lovely husband pushed me around in one of the wheelchairs you can borrow. That was a real treat. 

All of a sudden I realised how much I was now able to do. The physio was pleased with me, and signed me off.

I got some edits to do—Teaching Teacher out soon from Bastet's Quill publishing—and realised I was now ready to write again.

Baby steps but oh so satisfying.

I've learnt a lot about myself these last four weeks.

And I can honestly say I will never, ever take things for granted again. Especially my health and abilities.

Onwards and upwards,

love, Raven xxx