Anita Birt's Note book

Is it possible to have an attractive frame around a blog? I'll have to investigate. My blog is not much. I'm not famous. Or beautiful. Or clever. Or inventive. I am who I am for good or ill. I read this in one of the newspapers the other day.

"Be gentle with one another's efforts. It's just as hard to write a bad book, as it is to write a good book."

When I'm writing, is it good or bad? For instance, a scene popped in to my head two days ago and would not go away. I sat down and started writing. I'm not sure where it's going but it seems kind of creepy to me as if two characters are not what they seem to be. My protagonist is "normal," it's the two  characters who enter the picture I'm not sure of.

I'm also writing another story, normal in the sense that some of the characters behave badly because they are not nice people. When bad people are in positions of power, the powerless behave heroically.

I'm reading "The Ghost Map," The story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - and How It Changed Science, Cities and the Modern World.

We're talking about Cholera.

My historical romance, A Very Difficult Man, takes place in 1858, in London, England. While researching the history of the time I read about the cholera epidemic in London; that led me to Steven Johnson's book , The Ghost Map. It's a wonderful read, full of fascinating insights into cities, how they became cities and the problems facing cities as the population grows faster than the underlying infra-structure can cope.

Steven Johnson is a brilliant writer who brings the story of the cholera epidemic to life by describing how and when it all began. How London became such a large city in a relatively short time and the problems it faced. THE GHOST MAP is an interesting read. Mr. Johnson writes like a mystery writer. The Ghost Map is a page turner. Recommended

Anita Birt
www.anitabirt.com (still in transition)

Anita Birt's Note Book and other bits and pieces.

Weather news. We broke a heat record on southern Vancourver Island yesterday. It was 30.7 deg C. that's about 90  deg. F. It's cooled off a bit to-day.

Have you ordered, rushed out or otherwise purchased your copy of ISABELLE?

Here's how Isabelle's Story starts: Isabelle's brother tapped on her bedroom door the night before her fifteenth birthday and hushing her to be quiet handed her his gift. "I thought it best to give it to you now. If mother knows you are keeping diary she will insist on reading it." And so will father, Isabelle thought.

In the morning she smoothed her hand on the maroon leather cover of the precious diary, rested her cheek on it, breathed in the scent and slid her fingers along the glossy gold-edged pages. She had never owned anything so beautiful and hesitated before picking up her pen to write. It seemed a shame to sully the pages with her boring thoughts but she had the diary and boring or not she'd start writing in it to-day.

And so Isabelle's Story begins.

I've been doing a lot of editing to-day. It's slow work for me not being as swift as I once was. I'd love to have a new book published at my advanced years. Never give up. If I don't crack the publishing world I won't curl up and die or wither away or fall into a deep depression. I shall continue writing a second book I have just started. Writers write.

I have a free week-end. Except for playing bridge with friends tomorrow night I don't have to go anywhere or do anything I don't have to do.  Oops. I have some ironing. Can't keep avoiding it, I will do it first thing after breakfast then back to editing with a clear conscience.

Anita

Anita Birt's Note Book and more

Have you picked up a copy of ISABELLE to enjoy two romance novels, one historical and one contemporary?

I've been reading manuscript pages all afternoon and my brain is tired and so am I. I have printed off copies of my mystery novel, The Ghost Writer Mystery, to edit before sending the manuscript to a professional editor before sending it out to publishers and agents hoping to catch a break. My story if very different. The protagonists are two interesting characters working to solve crimes taking place in and around a retirement residence.

I have a beautiful brand new great granddaughter, Caroline. She is adorable and smart, of course. All grandchildren and great grandchildren are smart. Sadly for me, Caroline and her parents live in England so I have to rely on lots of photos sent by e-mail and wait for Caroline and parents to fly here to visit.

We are going to have a small marketing event where I live to promote ISABELLE. Writers are often asked how they get their ideas. I remember very clearly how I decided to write ISABELLE'S DIARY.  A scene in a small cafe in the town of Llandrindod Wells did it for me. I was sitting in a cafe with my husband, we'd been on a walking holiday in Wales, and stopped for a coffee in the cafe on the main. street.

I noticed an older teenager sitting at a window table. She was dressed in black. Girls were wearing vintage clothing at the time, a bit of a lark. The girl kept looking out the window as if expecting someone.

Here's the scene I imagined. My heroine, Sally Carter, has stopped for coffee in the cafe and noticed a girl dressed in Victorian black sitting at the window table. She holds a diary in her hands. She weeps  as she turns the pages. Sally thought she should off help but she was distracted. When she looked again the girl had disappeared and the waitress insisted no one had sat at that window table all morning.

Who did Sally see weeping over the pages of a diary? You must buy ISABELLE to find out.

Anita Birt

Anita Birt's Note Book and other ramblings

My publisher surprised me. My two ISABELLE stories have been combined in one book. I think it's a fabulous idea and it does work.

The historical - Isabelle's story is set in and around Llandrindod Wells in Wales. I mentioned that in my last blog. 1895 - 1900. Isabelle lives with her parents and brother. Her father makes all the family decisions, reads all the mail no matter to whom it's addressed, he makes decisions about Isabelle's future without consulting her. It's the wish of her parents that she marry but Isabelle isn't in hurry until her parents try to foist a young clergyman on her. She detests him.

She accidentally meets a titled young man visiting the town where his mother and grandmother are "taking the waters" at the Spa.  It's the beginning of a love story with tragic overtones. A page turner. A love story.

Isabelle's Diary - a contemporary romance. Sally Carter is on a walking holiday in Wales and stops in a cafe in Llandrindod Wells for a morning coffee. When she sees a young girl dressed in black weeping over the pages of a  a diary Sally is compelled to offer help. When the girl disappears Sally tries to trace her without success. But ...

There's a wonderful love story when Sally asks for help from a handsome Welsh historian.

Isabelle's Diary has twists and turns. A page turner until the last few pages when ...

Buy ISABELLE from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca. If you live in the States, my book is available in your favorite book store. My publisher does not market in Canada or the UK.  Order from my publisher, Ellora'scave.com as well.

Two great reads in one volume. What could be better?

Anita
My web site is still in transition.

Anita Birt's Note Book and other musings

About the re-issue of my e-published book, Isabelle in trade paper back, as ISABELLE with a gorgeous new cover. Price is interesting. On the Ellorascave.com web site my book is priced at $18.99 . On Amazon.com the price is $14.27 There's a war of words and perhaps legal action pending against Amazon's pricing. They are taking away the profit from the publisher who promotes and publishes the books. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Not pleasant.

My publisher is sending me author's copies of my book. I want to hold the book in my hot little hands and admire the cover.

In the meantime, I have started writing another book. A whole scene suddenly appeared inside my head. What to do? Ignore it. It didn't want to disappear so I have kick started a book. This takes place in a care home for people suffering from dementia and/or Alzheimers. Not a pretty picture but my character is not suffering from dementia. Why is she there?

That's all to report this Sunday. I am awaiting the birth of my first great grand child in  England. The baby is due any minute now. My son and daughter-in-law are eagerly awaiting their first grand child. So much excitement.

Do order ISABELLE and enjoy a historical romance, 1895-1900. The setting is in and around the town of Llandrindod Wells, in Wales.

I'll let you know when my new web site is up and running. My web mistress wants me on Face Book to promote my books.

Anita

Anita Birt's Note Book

I should be used to it by now but having one of my e-books now available in trade paper back is always a thrill, especially ISABELLE  with the lovely new cover. I hope I will never get to the point in my life where I ignore a "thrill" and miss the pleasure of anticipating something new.

My mystery novel, A GHOST WRITER MYSTERY is still in the hands of my editor, whom I am paying, to give my book a professional touch.

When I wrote my romance novels for Ellorascave.com they provided the editor. She lived in Australia. We did all the work via the Internet. It worked out well and my books all had excellent reviews.

I received my royalty cheque yesterday from Ellorascave.com. My historical romance, A VERY DIFFICULT MAN, sells better than my other books. If you haven't read it, try it as an e-book or in trade paper. My royalty is better when you purchase it in trade paper.

Do try my other books. ISABELLE'S DIARY, only available as an e-book. Read it before buying ISABELLE (You are buying it, are you not? Makes a wonderful Christmas or birthday gift for a woman who enjoys a good read. It's a historical romance.)

RING AROUND THE MOON - a time travel with a difference. He comes from the past to the present time. It's set in magical Cornwall where the unexpected can happen. Dip your writing toes in my book and enjoy the journey.

TOO YOUNG TO DIE - a contemporary murder/mystery where my courageous heroine, in order to escape from a man with rape and murder on his mind, has to save herself and the three month old baby she is caring for by heading into the  Cascade mountain forest at midnight.  Bears. Cougars. Lynx. Who knows what lurks in the trees? Enjoy my book as an e-book or in print.

ISABELLE is now available in trade paper back. Cost. $18.99
Save your pennies. Buy a copy for a woman who enjoys a page turning historical romance. It almost didn't have a happy ending. Came close though.

Anita Birt

Anita Birt's Note Book and other ramblings

I think Ellora's Cave must have the price wrong for my historical romance, ISABELLE. Who is going to pay $18.99 for my book? USA dollars makes it even more expensive for Canadian buyers. The price is way out of range for romance novels.

Go have a look at the cover. See it at, www.ellora'scave.com  Type in ISABELLE in the search box.

My web mistress (sounds like a spider at work!) is reconfiguring my web. Change of colour. Scene changes. She might put in a swan since it was seeing a swan swimming in the sea and writing;
THE MISADVENTURE OF TILLIE,  A SWAN, that I found my writing voice.

I have done no writing to-day. Had an appointment to see my doctor. Unusual for her, she was running late. Made me late getting home and by that time my energy level had dropped. I also walked over 1000 metres in the morning. Can't do everything.

The Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield has written a book titled, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. Worth a read. He spent six months commanding the space vehicle (can't think of its name) He played guitar and sang. Entertained classrooms of kids. Inspired we on earth to live well, think well and do well.

That's all my ramblings for tonight. I have to send e-mails to family, friends and various hangers on to buy ISABELLE and make me smile.

Anita Birt