Hello, and welcome to my July Newsletter.
Well, June was quite a rollercoaster of a month for Bryan and me. As regular readers will know, we put our bungalow on the market in early January, hoping to move to somewhere with a smaller garden. We are moving with some reluctance, as we love our garden and view, but we are finding it’s becoming a bit too much to manage since arthritis has made an unwelcome appearance. We were lucky to find a buyer within 6 days and also locate a property in our village that we fell in love with.
Unfortunately, we’ve been in a chain of five people, and while buyers three, four (us), and five have been ready for at least three months, the lady second in the chain has been dragging her feet over giving notice to her tenants. Three times we were told she had given notice and provided with a moving date, but each time it failed to happen. Very frustrating!
A couple of weeks ago, we were assured that this time it was genuine and we would be moving on 14 July. Thank goodness, we thought, for we had packed most things in early May, when we were told we would be moving in a fortnight, and since then, we have not been able to find anything! You can hear a “but” coming, can’t you? And, yes, you’re right. Later that same day, the first-time buyers at the beginning of the chain pulled out, as they had split up, and the chain collapsed as one by one the properties were put back on the market.
However, I do have some good news to share. We put our bungalow back on the market on a Friday evening, and had an offer on the Monday morning from the first people to view it. Fortunately, we have been able to continue with the purchase of the property we wanted, and this time, there are only two people in the chain. I guess it will be at least another three months before we move, but fingers crossed, that things go smoothly this time. At least I can now watch Wimbledon with no packing or unpacking. The photos are of my lovely garden before I leave it.
Old Saying of the Month
Spick and Span
Nowadays, we take this saying to mean neat and tidy, but originally the saying was “spick and span new”.
A span was a wood shaving, and if something was newly built, there would be tell-tale wood chips lying on the ground, so it would be span new. A spick is an old word for nail, and new spicks would be shiny. Over time, the old saying ‘spick and span’ came to mean neat and tidy.
My Writing News
I’m delighted to tell you that I have finished writing the first draft of Book 7 of The Hartford Manor Series and have started editing it. As things progressed slowly with our house move, I kept plugging away at it and hoped to finish writing the book before we moved, as I was sure my writing would then be neglected for a few weeks as we tried to get settled. I’m pleased with the book, but I need to come up with a suitable title, and then I can ask my daughter-in-law, Laura, to design a cover. I’m hoping that by the time I’ve reached the end of the first edit, I will have thought of a title. Anyway, a few of you have been asking when it will be released, and I’m hopeful that it will now be later in the year.
The Hartland Book Fair
I mentioned last month that I would be attending the book fair in Hartland on 14 June. It was a great day, well attended, and I sold quite a few books.
There are always delicious cakes as the organiser is an excellent cook and she provides free cake for the authors – definitely a bonus.
I enjoyed the day, mainly for catching up with the other authors that I have got to know over the years, and I always learn something new about writing and publishing books.
Barnstaple: The Oldest Borough
This is a blog I wrote some time ago about my nearest town, Barnstaple, which is allegedly the oldest borough in England. Although Hartford, the setting for my books, is an imaginary village, the characters visit local places, including Barnstaple, and so I thought this might be of interest. The photos are of the Albert Clock and Butcher’s Row, which are mentioned in my books. I hope you enjoy reading about my home town:
https://marciaclayton.co.uk/barnstaple-the-oldest-borough/
This Month’s Bargains
All of my books are free to read if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited on Amazon. However, if you want to grab a bargain, these books will be reduced to 99p on the following dates:
The Rabbit’s Foot – 99p until 3 July
Sam, a tramp all his life, inherits wealth beyond his wildest dreams, but all he wants is to find Marrok, the son he abandoned at the age of five. A moving Victorian family saga.
The Mazzard Tree – 99p from 10th – 17th July 2025
When Annie’s father dies, her mother is left with 7 hungry mouths to feed. Annie, 15, is determined to keep her family from the workhouse. Will she succeed? What lengths will she go to? A gripping Victorian family saga.
The Angel Maker – 99p from 17th – 24th July 2025
The Angel Maker is set in a Devon village in Victorian times. Unmarried mother, Charlotte, is distraught when her aunt has her baby adopted behind her back. Will she ever see her daughter again?
My Book of the Month
Protecting Her by Tracey Gerrard
About the Book
Ex-police officer and military man Kane Summer now runs his own security company along with his four brothers. Never one to break the rules, he instils the same ethic into Summer Knight Security—staying within the law is paramount. However, things are about to change. When the life of Meadow Walters— his secretary and the woman who’s driven him crazy for the last two years—is threatened, he jettisons everything he upholds as breaking the rules is the only way to protect her. Meadow Walters doesn’t have much in her life.
No boyfriend, no family—except for a long-lost uncle and a few friends—her nights are often lonely. One thing keeps her going—her job. It keeps her busy and close to two of her oldest friends and their brothers. But there’s one problem. Kane Summer. CEO and the eldest of the Summer brothers. Her boss. Making her life a misery is what he seems to be put on this Earth for. He’s rude, insufferable and every woman’s dream—except hers. He oozes confidence and is efficient at his job, but Meadow would rather cut off her right arm than spend any time other than office hours with him—and she knows that the feeling’s mutual. When her life spirals out of control and danger comes knocking at her door, will the man who normally wouldn’t give her the time of day be the one to save her?
My Review
This is a great story that grabbed my attention from the very first page—a very readable book. The novel is beautifully written, the characters are likeable and interesting, and the budding romance between Meadow Walters and Kane Summer is well-paced. Having enjoyed other books by this author, I was looking forward to the Summer Knights Series, and I was not disappointed—I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series. Keep ‘em coming, Tracey! You can find the book here:
Protecting Her Book 1 in the Summer Knights Series
Well, that’s all my news for now, so thank you for continuing to follow me. Until next time, I hope you keep safe and well.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.