December Update

The third and final book in The Torc Trilogy which feature The Belgae Torc and The Gordian Knot, is progressing at last.

I now have 77,000 words done and the plot is thickening.  This book should have been completed by Easter this year but unfortunately I missed the deadline mainly because I moved house in January and that upset all my writing plans.  My new deadline of October has been and gone, but now I am in full flow at last, :-)
I should have the book written by about March, so another Easter release.  (Only a year overdue).


I continue to get great feedback for my book The Witness with many readers wanting to know when the next book will be out.  This book was designed as a stand alone novel with no sequel.
I plan to write a series of books, five probably that overlap, so the next book in the series is about a Cellist.  Some characters and places that featured in The Witness will appear in this book, but it is not a sequel.
I admit that I'm tempted to think about a follow up to The Witness, but this will not appear any time soon.

I am looking forward to writing the next book in this series.  I have about 35,000 words of notes and a research file.  Ideas and notes for the other books are beginning to develop, so I should have enough material and ideas to keep me busy for at least the next few years.
All I have to do is improve my marketing techniques, earn some money and give up the day job!
Happy reading book lovers!

Some of my paintings

All of these paintings are acrylic on box canvas approx size 600 X 600mm

A monochrome using Burnt Sienna of various shades

Another monochrome using Paynes Gray of various shades

A mysterious woman who may be a character in a future novel

Josie MacDonald from my novel The Witness.
This painting, minus the wall clock of course, was used was the cover of my book.

I intend to paint more in the future, but at the moment I don't have time what with a full time job and writing novels.  I like the idea of painting the designs for my book covers and I also like to paint images of my characters.

My Study

When working in my study I am usually joined by at least one of my two cats.  Here is Tuppence helping me to write another chapter of the next book in The Torc Trilogy. 

Tuppence looking interested

Tuppence not looking interested!
The battle axe in the background is used to  keep people out when I'm working!

Looking sleepy!

Looking bored!

Smile please!

After thirty years in storage this dusty typewriter takes pride of place.

My study used to be a bedroom hence the rather flowery wallpaper.  I will get round to decorating it, but I quite like it as it is for the moment.

I sometimes like to play background music when I work, so here is my gramophone.  It's an HMV 101 and was made in 1927.  It's all original and works perfectly.  It always puts a smile on my face when I wind it up.  It can be a little loud so sometimes I have to use a record player.

Recently I bought this little portable as I have not played my records in years.  It is just like a briefcase and can be used all around the house.  It is great fun.

This is just some of my book collection.  The broad sword is also a weapon used to repel intruders!

Research notes for my current novel.  Other files contain accounts and ideas for other novels yet to be written.

The Torc Trilogy

The third and final book in The Torc Trilogy is currently being written, 66,000 words completed so far.  I need about 115,000 words so just over half way.

Unfortunately this book should have been completed by Easter 2015, but it didn't happen. An extension was granted by my publisher, so October became the new launch date, that time has come... and gone, but still the book is not done.

My only excuse is that I moved home in January and have found it difficult juggling a full time job, helping to re-decorate a new home and writing a book.  It is very frustrating as I desperately want to complete this novel and start the next one.  Ideas are tumbling out of my head and I have notes for at least five books.

There is only one thing for it; I will have to give up the day job!

Autumnal musings

Here in England the weather is turning autumnal.  The crops in the fields around where I live have been gathered in leaving the landscape open and bare but still there are fields lush and green where sheep, born in the spring still live. 

I like this time of the year, especially when the weather is fine with bright open skies, sunlight brushing the tops of trees accentuating the russets and browns, the colours that we associate with the coming of winter.   Evenings drawing in can be a comfort too, snuggling around an open fire, the atmosphere soft with candlelight, the essence of spice perfuming the air.   

During the summer we discovered a source of pine cones.  These make fine fuel for open fires, they burn well giving off heat far longer than wood and sometimes they release a subtle aroma of pine as they burn.  Before using the fire the chimney was swept, something I have not experienced for years.  I remember as a child standing in the back yard with my brother and sister as the sweep swept the chimney, and oh how we cheered the moment a puff of soot shot up into the air heralding the arrival of his brush as it blossomed like a black flower from the pot on the roof. 

Happy days!

Last minute jobs fill my precious weekend, tasks in the garden like pruning trees and bushes, avoiding spider’s webs heavy with dew or things not so pleasant and last minute mowing of the lawns.   Now with the early onset of dusk, I am less inclined to sit outside and enjoy the garden, so I spend more time in my study during the evenings working on my next novel.  Those who are waiting for the next book will cheer no doubt, I have 65,000 words complete, so the book is half way there.  Give it a few months and it will be complete so publication should be early next year. 

Enjoy these autumn days because soon they will be gone and winter will be upon us.

A sobering prospect indeed!

The Gordian Knot

Amazon has reduced the price of the paperback version of my book The Gordian Knot from £9.99 to just £4.63. This is book two in The Torc Trilogy, The Belgae Torc being book one. This offer usually lasts for just one copy, so be quick!

A splendid review

I must share with you this wonderful review; it is for my book The Belgae Torc.  Reviews like this makes all the time and effort spent writing a novel worth while.  It thrills me when my work touches another persons soul and compells them to write such a great review.

 

 

A Curse Which Crosses Millennia
The Belgae Torc is at its heart an adventure story. However, it’s a lot more than that. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story moved from the ancient past into the present and the historical realism gave the impression that the tale might be based on a true story.

There are loads of well-developed characters although at times I found it hard to keep a track of who’s who. The book definitely deserves to be given decent chunks of reading time… it’s not a story to be read in small slices (I read it on holiday and it was the perfect book for long sessions lying in the sun).

While I enjoyed the historical parts of the adventure, I became much more gripped when it moved to the modern times. That’s when the adventure really took off and I thought Orlagh the archaeologist was a super character (maybe that’s something to do with my Irish blood).

Kevin Marsh has a great turn of phrase at times (e.g. ‘A mixture of strong brew and bravado was a deadly catalyst.’) I found myself stopping every so often to reread a phrase I’d particularly enjoyed.

I can happily recommend The Belgae Torc, particularly to anyone who enjoys a bit history and a lot of adventure.