A Key Writing Moment or Two

I’ve managed to write a rather complex scene in The Music of Flowers this week, but it certainly proved difficult. Fleur has realised some deep truths about her past and there is more to come. In other news, I have now reached the 70,000 word marker so am pleased with that. And I’ve also finished this particular Fleur chapter and am turning back to Julia now.

In unexpected news, I’ve also starting writing another MM romance short story, tentatively called A Game of Chance. It’s the first time I’ve written any gay fiction for quite a few years, so it’s nice to be back in that zone. It’s the sequel to thoughtful romance Brady’s Choice (which has a separate cover for the upcoming audiobook as seen below) and tells the continuing story from the point of view of Brady’s new partner, Tim. I’m looking forward to seeing what transpires.

Meanwhile, this new 5-star audiobook review of School for Doms is certainly making me smile: “So incredibly steamy it might even be illegal in some places!”

NEW at Amazon audiobooks & Audible this week is mystical MM romance A Stranger's Touch, excellently narrated by Gabriel Cassata! As usual, I have a number of Audible US & UK vouchers for a FREE listen in exchange for a review - just let me know if you would like one in the comments.

And also NEW at Amazon audio & Audible is heartbreaking & uplifting friendship novel Three Perfect Gifts narrated by Cindy Palmer! Once more, I have a few UK & US Audible vouchers for a FREE LISTEN in exchange for a review!

This week’s poem is The Evening Garden and is found in A Fragile Map & Other Poems. It was so lovely to watch the bees on that day. Don’t forget the collection is now available as an audiobook at Amazon & Audible - so why not give it a listen!

I’ve read The Barbecue at No. 9 by Jennie Godfrey: another excellent book from Godfrey, with that glorious trademark slow revealing of characters and truths. I loved this book and I particularly enjoyed the complex strand of neighbour relations throughout. I have to say that my favourite character was Lydia - who manages to annoy almost everyone in the novel, and yet who is absolutely the woman to rely on in every way when the various terrible crises happen. She was fabulous. Up until the very end, this was a 5 star read, but then something happens which I thought was (a) too much of a cliche; and (b) completely unnecessary in a family/people-based saga, and should only really happen in a crime novel. Apart from this misstep, this is a great read.

I’ve also read Killing The Dead by John Blair: this is a fascinating and in-depth tour through a wide variety of vampire epidemics, both historical and more present-day. Yes, you have to concentrate as it's very academic in tone, but there are some key ideas that are well worth the effort. I particularly liked the realisation that whenever people are blaming the dead for the difficulties in their lives and bringing them out of their graves in order to 'kill them again', they are at least not focusing on blaming the living for their problems. Hence vampire epidemics don't tend to coincide with witch-hunting eras, so mutilating corpses is a far better option than killing innocent women. The study of different cultural responses to vampire beliefs is also fascinating. And, yes, killing the dead still goes on in the modern age, as the author reminds us. Well worth a read.

The garden looked lovely in the sunshine this week and the first rhododendron is in bloom.

Finally, welcome to May, everyone - may we all have a good month. Don’t forget to buy a book - hopefully one of mine, LOL!

Anne Brooke Books