It's always an adventure writing a new book
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| St James's Palace |
I
began writing my latest book on 24th August last year, wrote 896
words then waited a fortnight to continue. Why, you might ask? Was I on
holiday? Incapacitated in any way? Neither of those, nor any other impediment.
I had changed genre and needed those two weeks to ‘bed in’. Could I write in
the Regency language I so love to read? It was certainly a change from my usual
contemporary romantic fiction. By 7th September I was burning to
continue and after an amazing five months – almost to the day – I completed the
first draft, and what a journey it was.
Of
necessity a historical novel requires a considerable amount of research, far
more than I have previously needed when writing in a time period I inhabit and
am familiar with. Armed with Google and a wonderful guide to Regency London, I walked the streets virtually and in reality. What an amazing
experience that was. Far more distracting than social media and I kind of got
lost in what I was doing. I shared some of my experiences with you on this blog
here.
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| Blue Ball Yard A mews where stables from the 18th century survive to this day |
So,
how was the journey and did the goal achieve my expectations? The journey was
great. Compelling to the extent that I almost lost touch with my other (what
some would call normal) life. Were expectations realised? I can only say I have never enjoyed writing anything as much before and I made myself cry at the end. I’ve been through the manuscript so many times
with a fine tooth comb. No longer can I procrastinate. This week I have sent my
‘baby’ to my agent, Lisa Eveleigh, founder of the Richford Becklow Literary Agency. Would that she will like it. I hope so.
