Newsletter 197
Apr. 28th, 2018 07:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
charlie_cochraneWe’ve been all over the place like a rash the last fortnight. I’ve blogged about the big family weekend here and here. If you like planes, as much as I do, there are some more in this post!
News
I’m at present proofing Pack up Your Troubles, which will be coming out soon from Williams and Whiting. It’s lovely being able to check over a proper print copy. (Much easier for an old fogey like me.)
My current competition is still open. It’s part of a whole host of posts/giveaways linked to the annual blog hop for Autism awareness. Just leave a comment at my post about invisible disabilities and your name will go into the virtual hat.
I’ve a new profile at the RNA site, where you can also find my partners in crime Liam and Clare, who’ll be sharing the Harbour Lights Cover? Art! exhibition with me. The exhibition runs from 4th to 30th May 2018. You can find the cinema details, like location and opening hours, at their site.
Because I like to come bearing gifts, today I’m featuring Blitz, one of my free stories, which you can download from my website. This was one of the first things I ever wrote, so bear with any creakiness in the writing. Highly appropriate era, given the museums I've been visiting.
Excerpt:
Scarborough made a gesture of recognition and seemed pleased when Adam beckoned him over. They’d had a pint together a couple of times before and always enjoyed each other’s company, with perhaps a spark of something else in the background. Conversation had always centred on family, work, this bloody war, how long London could withstand the German bombs. Today was no different, and they chatted contentedly over their beer, until the violent backfiring of a car in the street made Scarborough start.
“Are you all right, old man?” Adam was genuinely concerned. He knew exactly what it was to be on edge, now that the air raids were becoming a nightly occurrence. Everyone’s nerves were being tested.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that the house along the road from mine copped it two nights ago and then the one over the way was hit last night. It feels like they’re making a bee-line for me.”
“You can come and stay with us. I’m not sure it’s any safer in Kensington than in Highgate, but at least you wouldn’t be on your own. There’s solace in numbers if not safety.” Adam made the offer out of the blue, having no idea why he was being so bold. It was true that his family had room to spare—his brothers had enlisted and many of the staff had done the same. Now even the aristocracy had to fend for itself. But he’d never invited anyone to share the delights of his home, not since he was a lad and had asked his schoolmates back to visit. Now he’d become a man and discovered a man’s pleasures, he’d enjoyed them away from the nest. “Stay—just until the worst of this is over. It can’t go on forever.”
“Can’t it? I sometimes think that there’ll never be an end.” Scarborough drained his pint. “Are you quite serious about that offer? Wouldn’t I be in the way?”
“Mother would be pleased to have someone to fuss over. There’s only me at home now and she feels at a bit of a loose end, despite being up to her eyes in WRVS work. She’ll be off there tonight. We can make do, you don’t need to fetch your stuff until tomorrow.” Adam could feel himself nattering on nervously; the idea thrilled him for a particular reason, one he didn’t want to acknowledge at present in case he was presuming too much. Like a child with a wild scheme, he was expanding it and concentrating on practicalities, as if in defining a concrete plan he would make it happen more quickly.
And finally
News
I’m at present proofing Pack up Your Troubles, which will be coming out soon from Williams and Whiting. It’s lovely being able to check over a proper print copy. (Much easier for an old fogey like me.)
My current competition is still open. It’s part of a whole host of posts/giveaways linked to the annual blog hop for Autism awareness. Just leave a comment at my post about invisible disabilities and your name will go into the virtual hat.
I’ve a new profile at the RNA site, where you can also find my partners in crime Liam and Clare, who’ll be sharing the Harbour Lights Cover? Art! exhibition with me. The exhibition runs from 4th to 30th May 2018. You can find the cinema details, like location and opening hours, at their site.
Because I like to come bearing gifts, today I’m featuring Blitz, one of my free stories, which you can download from my website. This was one of the first things I ever wrote, so bear with any creakiness in the writing. Highly appropriate era, given the museums I've been visiting.
Excerpt:
Scarborough made a gesture of recognition and seemed pleased when Adam beckoned him over. They’d had a pint together a couple of times before and always enjoyed each other’s company, with perhaps a spark of something else in the background. Conversation had always centred on family, work, this bloody war, how long London could withstand the German bombs. Today was no different, and they chatted contentedly over their beer, until the violent backfiring of a car in the street made Scarborough start.
“Are you all right, old man?” Adam was genuinely concerned. He knew exactly what it was to be on edge, now that the air raids were becoming a nightly occurrence. Everyone’s nerves were being tested.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that the house along the road from mine copped it two nights ago and then the one over the way was hit last night. It feels like they’re making a bee-line for me.”
“You can come and stay with us. I’m not sure it’s any safer in Kensington than in Highgate, but at least you wouldn’t be on your own. There’s solace in numbers if not safety.” Adam made the offer out of the blue, having no idea why he was being so bold. It was true that his family had room to spare—his brothers had enlisted and many of the staff had done the same. Now even the aristocracy had to fend for itself. But he’d never invited anyone to share the delights of his home, not since he was a lad and had asked his schoolmates back to visit. Now he’d become a man and discovered a man’s pleasures, he’d enjoyed them away from the nest. “Stay—just until the worst of this is over. It can’t go on forever.”
“Can’t it? I sometimes think that there’ll never be an end.” Scarborough drained his pint. “Are you quite serious about that offer? Wouldn’t I be in the way?”
“Mother would be pleased to have someone to fuss over. There’s only me at home now and she feels at a bit of a loose end, despite being up to her eyes in WRVS work. She’ll be off there tonight. We can make do, you don’t need to fetch your stuff until tomorrow.” Adam could feel himself nattering on nervously; the idea thrilled him for a particular reason, one he didn’t want to acknowledge at present in case he was presuming too much. Like a child with a wild scheme, he was expanding it and concentrating on practicalities, as if in defining a concrete plan he would make it happen more quickly.
And finally
(no subject)
Date: 2018-04-29 04:07 pm (UTC)Husband is plane-mad and would be jealous of your trip!
(no subject)
Date: 2018-04-29 06:38 pm (UTC)I have plane binged the last few weeks. I need to take a rest. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2018-04-29 09:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-04-30 03:05 pm (UTC):)