Hello, and welcome to my September Newsletter.
What a lovely summer we have had! I know the heat has been a bit much at times, and the wildfires have been terrible, but I must confess that, on the whole, I’ve enjoyed the sunshine. As most of you will know, we moved into our new house last November and have had a lot of work done, particularly in the garden, and we’ve certainly made the most of it over the last few months. We invested in some new patio furniture and a parasol, and have loved using it.
At our last home, a bungalow with an enormous garden, we hardly ever sat out and relaxed, as there were always so many jobs needing our attention. However, now that we have downsized, we have the time to enjoy it, and as you can see, we have some lovely flowers and shrubs.
And now, finally, after so long, we’ve had torrential rain over the last few days, and the lawn is already looking the better for it.
Old Saying of the Month
Son of a Gun
Nowadays, this saying is a jovial or affectionate way of referring to or addressing someone. However, in the past, sailors would sometimes be allowed to take their wives on long ocean voyages, and inevitably, pregnancies occurred. It is thought that if a woman gave birth on a ship, it should be between the cannons on the ship’s gun deck, as it was the most secluded place. Therefore, a child born in that area was referred to as “a son of a gun”.
A Poem for September
This is another of my favourite poems. I hope you enjoy it.
The Tyger by William Blake
This is perhaps one of the best-known poems of all time, and I, and probably like many of you, learned it at school. The whole poem is full of questions about God and his creations, and particularly whether the same God that created a vulnerable lamb could also have made such a fearsome creature as the tiger. Anyway, I enjoy the lyrics and hope you will enjoy reading them too.
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
My Writing News
Book 8 – Title Still Uncertain!
The good news is that I have nearly finished the second edit of my latest book and progress has been made on a cover.
The bad news is that I’m still undecided on a title for the book, and until I make up my mind, the cover can’t be finished. At present, the cover shows a title of “A Mother’s Love”, but it’s unlikely to be that. Other contenders are still “A Moment of Madness”, or possibly “A Difficult Dilemma”. When a few people have beta-read it, I will ask them what they think – and then probably choose something completely different!
Anyway, I thought I’d share the cover with all of you, and I’d be delighted to hear what you think of it.
I usually edit the book one more time, then work on the back-cover blurb and start formatting it for Kindle and paperback on Amazon.
I’m hoping to publish the book in October or November, so it should be available in plenty of time for Christmas if anyone is looking for a present.
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Over the last few months, I’ve been hosting blog tours for The Coffee Pot Book Club: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/, and here are the ones I hosted last month. I’ve not read either of these books, but you might like to take a look.
The Duty of Daughters by Wendy J Dunn
Castile, 1490.
Doña Beatriz Galindo is an uneasy witness to the Holy War of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband, Ferdinand, King of Aragon.
A holy war pushing the Moors out of territories ruled by them for centuries. Beatriz does not want a life like other women. She desires power over her own destiny. Even if this means walking a far harder road.
A passionate and respected scholar, Beatriz serves her friend Queen Isabel of Castile as her advisor. She also tutors the queen’s youngest child, Catalina of Aragon.
Dedicated to Queen Isabel and her children, Beatriz guides the young Catalina of Aragon to walk her own hard life road. But can she prepare Catalina to be England’s queen?
You can find the book here: https://mybook.to/FPS
The Duke and the Spirits of the Past by Michael Stolle
A gripping historical novel full of intrigue, dark secrets, and deadly struggles for power!
France in the 17th century – an age of conflict, love, and honour, where any means are justified in the pursuit of power.
Henri de Beauvoir is a man who will stop at nothing — even making a pact with the devil — to achieve his sinister ambitions. As the ruthless cousin of the Marquis de Beauvoir and Duke of Hertford, he spins a perilous web of deception, intrigue, and betrayal to bring about his cousin’s downfall. A secret enemy from the past threatens to destroy the Marquis. Danger lurks in the shadows — always ready to strike. An unexpected love may change everything. When the fate of the Marquis hangs in the balance, a deadly game of cat and mouse unfolds — one where every move is could prove fatal. Can Henri carry out his dark plans, or will the secrets buried in his past become his downfall?
You can find the book here: https://books2read.com/u/mgXQ8v
Book Bargains This Month
Special Offers – 99p
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 in September. There are three to choose from this month:
Betsey will be reduced to 99p from 3rd to 10th September
Set in 1820, Betsey is the prequel to the much-loved Hartford Manor Series.
Betsey: The prequel to the much-loved Hartford Manor Series. Set in 1820 in a Devon village. A little girl, lonely and abandoned, is entrusted with a secret she must carry for a lifetime.
You can find the book here:
http://mybook.to/Betsey
The Rabbit’s Foot will be reduced to 99p from 10th to 17th September
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.
You can find the book here: http://mybook.to/TheRabbitsFoot
Annie’s Secret will be reduced to 99p from 17th to 24th September
1887, North Devon, England
When Lady Eleanor Fellwood gave birth to a badly deformed baby, she insisted that the child be adopted as far away as possible. However, that proved difficult to accomplish, and so, in return for payment, Sabina Carter, an impoverished widow living locally, agreed to raise the little boy as a foundling. The child’s father, Lord Charles Fellwood of Hartford Manor, warned Sabina that the matter must be treated in the strictest confidence or her family would be evicted from their home. As far as Lady Eleanor was concerned, the child was being cared for miles away.
All was well for several years until fate took a hand and, against his parents’ wishes, Robert Fellwood, the heir to the Hartford Estate, married Sabina’s daughter, Annie.
Robert arranged for his mother-in-law, Sabina, and her family to reside in the Lodge House, situated at the end of the Manor House driveway. A house that Lady Eleanor passed regularly, and it was not long before she spotted Danny’s dark curls among the Carter redheads. As she looked into the child’s eyes and noted his disabilities, she recognised her son.
Now, at seven years old, Danny has had numerous operations to correct his disabilities and is a happy, healthy child. However, his presence is a source of constant anguish for his birth mother as, day after day, she watches him play in the garden. Her husband, Charles, and son, Robert, are aghast when she announces that she wants him back! An impossible situation for all concerned, and a rift develops between Robert and Annie as he struggles to find a solution to suit everyone.
Over the years, Lady Eleanor has steadfastly refused to acknowledge her daughter-in-law, for she disapproves of Annie’s lower-class origins. When a freak accident forces the two women to spend time together, they inevitably find themselves drawn into conversation. Before long, the years of pent-up resentment and family secrets surface as home truths are aired.
Will the two women be rescued from their precarious situation unscathed? And, if so, will the family survive the scandal that is about to be unleashed?
You can find the book here: https://mybook.to/AnniesSecret
My Book of the Month
The Eternal Traveller by Helen HuberAbout the Book
Near-crippled after a freak accident, Iona Abernathy volunteers to trial Borderland Incorporated’s revolutionary new exercise machine. However, the equipment is more than it seems…… Trapped in an alternate reality, Iona takes refuge in a priory of the Great Wheel, where the monks hail her as the living incarnation of a long-dead saint. Freaked out by the medieval-level living conditions of this strange new world, Iona must discover how Borderland tricked her. Only then will she stand any chance of returning home. Meanwhile, local villagers keep disappearing, their unknown fate possibly connected to the deception that ensnared Iona. She has no choice except to join forces with the aggravating Zingari sword dancer, Shay Hawksmoor, who seeks to uncover the culprits behind the vanishings. Their quest becomes a journey of self-discovery, but will they have the strength to face the devastating truth?
My Review
Wow! What a story!
When Iona Abernethy volunteers to trial a new exercise machine to aid her recovery from an injury, she has no idea what she is letting herself in for. Transported to an alternative reality, she finds herself living in a medieval world, which is not all bad. I must admit a world without cars, litter, or the internet does have its attractions! This beautifully written novel is an incredible tale, and I am in awe of this author’s imagination. Fantasy is not one of my favourite genres, but this book drew me in from the first page and held my attention until the end. Recommended.
You can find the book here: The Eternal Traveller by Helen Huber
Well, that’s all my news for now, so until next time, thank you for continuing to follow me and take care.
Best wishes
Marcia
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