The condom moment - in the library

I always check out the writing section of my local library. Yesterday I found a how-to book on erotic literature. Yes I thought, worth a read. The book wouldn't scan so I had to take it to the library helpdesk. It was like the moment in the chemist when you want to buy a condom and the cashier doesn't know the price and has to shout to the manager. Luckily the ladies were very understanding when I said I was a writer. They didn't ask to read anything I'd written though.

Garter Day and an idea

I grabbed the chance to go to Garter Day at Windsor Castle. The most fascinating thing I saw was the table they laid Charles I on to sew his head back on before burial. That was when I wish I wrote crime.

Derek Bell and Goodwood

The antique car track day at Goodwood was enormous fun. The Corvette Stingray was just gorgeous, but the Austin Healey won my heart. I was lucky enough to get a big smile from Derek Bell too, so now I'm working out how to include racing driving in one of my novels.

Getting critiqued

The worst thing in the world, but the best thing you can do to improve your writing. I've got some fresh eyes on mine and wow are they picking up stuff I never saw.

The family of crime

The writers, readers and literary agents and critics at Crimefest 2010 were wonderfully approachable, the panel sessions informative and guest speaker Gyles Brandreth an entertainer par excellence. Value for money and great fun. Highly recommended. 5 star.

Crimefest

Hob nobbing with the writers of crime, and what a lovely bunch of people - but are they? These lot have killed off goodness knows how many people in goodness knows how many ways. Are they safe to be around? If this is my last post then you'll know.

Catch up

There's heaps of things to do, but I'm fighting to keep the feelings I had in Cornwall. I'm amazed how priorities change depending on location and I must build in the productive practises I learned down there.