Sunny summer days

It's a long time since we've had a summer like this one, when you can sit outside almost every day and enjoy brilliant blue skies and feel the heat of the sun on your back. Sometimes when the sun's shining in one area of our wee part of the world, it can be a completely different climate just a few miles down the road - often it can be raining in Belfast and glorious sunshine in Coney Island, but that's maybe because we like to believe Coney is such a special place.

When it's Coney time, it's also muffin time, so today, in honour of the fabulous weather I concocted a new summery recipe - lemon and raspberry, which were rather delicious.

Coney Island didn't disappoint this morning, though when we arrived it was shrouded in mist, making it very eerie.

We soon discovered that the mist was actually smoke, coming from a nearby forest fire. So before writing, but after coffee, a muffin and some chat we set out on a short walk

for some writing inspiration, to observe what happens on sultry, sunny summer days in Coney

and to be thankful that the forest fire had been dealt with.

I tend to write more in the long, dark, cold winter months than brighter summer months, but this summer I've started writing more outside in the garden. In Coney there's always plenty to be inspired by, and today was no different. Let's hope this good weather continues a bit longer.

 



 

So you like to write?

Yesterday was National Writing Day. I celebrated the day in style! If only writing were like how it's portrayed in fiction!

Jo decides she's going to write a novel

Yesterday there was one submission and one rejection.

And I wrote. Thanks to the great workshop facilitated by Shelley with the Community Arts Partnership in Belfast for National Writing Day.

The day was rounded off (very appropriately) attending an outdoor theatre performance of one of my favourite books - Little Women with family and friends with an evening picnic in the glorious summer sunshine.

Mr Laurence asks Jo - "So you like to write?"

Jo's story is accepted for publication.
 

To be fair to Jo, she realises she has to go through some serious editing and that success is as much about hard work, luck and determination as it is about talent.

the week in numbers

I always preferred English to Maths at school and this week the numbers are good in relation to writing:

Submissions - 6

Rejections - 3

Books purchased - 1

Books read - 1

(It's probably best to get this one out of the library as it's very short and while I enjoyed it and there are a few good points well made, it won't be one I'm referring to every week).

Pieces published - 1  https://mornawriter.blogspot.com/2018/06/todays-cocktail.html

New book cover reveal - 1 https://mornawriter.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-big-reveal.html

SCWBI meet up - 1

Coffee - I lost count!

Today's cocktail

If you drop in to Cafe Lit  you'll find my story 'A Date with Paprika' is today's cocktail. Enjoy!


https://cafelitcreativecafe.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-date-with-paprika.html

the big reveal

So here it is! I'm so excited that my book cover can now be viewed over on the publisher's website - Sainted Media.

It's been an exciting journey, working with the editor and publisher over the last year on my story of St David for children. I've learned so much from them, and am still learning. I'm now reviewing illustrations to be included in this digital book. The exciting journey is continuing...

Coneying

Coneying = A new verb to describe eating chocanana muffins,

 and our lunch outside in the sunshine overlooking the beach,

reading out our works, sharing good news about our writing (and there is an abundance of good writing news in our group at the moment!), laughing (because we do have fun together), smiling (because we create happy memories),walking on the beach, and of course some writing....

Sunny summer days in Coney are idyllic

That moment when you see the first draft cover of your book for the first time!!!

Over the last few weeks I've been continuing to submit some of my work to publishers and agents, receive rejections, (a necessary part of the process) and attend my writing critique group.

Enjoying the fabulous weather we've been experiencing, has meant my creativity has been in the garden, rather than on a page,

but nevertheless, equally enjoyable.

 

So this early morning, before I ventured out to the garden, I was delighted when I checked my emails to find one from my publisher. I was even more delighted when I opened it to find an image of the first draft cover of my book attached! Exciting times ahead!