
Where did January go? I seem to have missed it. Or was I just busy?
I think it was the latter.
Anyway, I'll start with the book front, since that is the main reason for this website.
The short story is that it's still with the publishers, now expected to be completed at the end of next month, fingers crossed. One of them has Covid - maybe I'm a jinx? Thank goodness I've had it just the once, so far. In the meantime, I've started the first chapter of Book 3, still known as Book 3. See sneak preview below. Bear in mind that it will probably change, but you'll get the general gist. It follows on from "Of Greenstone and Violins" but can stand alone as well:

1889-1914
One
Hamilton, New Zealand 1889
Just five days after Joseph’s untimely death from congestion of the lungs, Lucy placed this advertisement in The Waikato Times:
'I beg to notify to the friends and patrons of my late husband, Joseph Greenwood, that I intend CONTINUING THE BUSINESS.
Having secured the services of a FIRST CLASS HAIRDRESSER (who has now arrived in Hamilton), from MESSRS MASON BROS.’ WELL KNOWN ESTABLISHMENT AUCKLAND, every satisfaction will be given in this department.
By this step, I hope to earn a livelihood for my young family, and I shall endeavour to conduct the business so as to secure the sympathy and support of the public.
LUCY GREENWOOD
Hamilton, March 25th, 1889'
Only the two oldest children, Joseph and Francis, understood that their father was on an adventure that would take him away from them indefinitely. In fact, Hōhepa, as Joseph was more commonly known, had already informed his oldest son and namesake that, at six years of age, he was about to become the man of the house. But not to worry because Pāpā would guide him from afar, wherever that was.
“So where will the man from Auckland sleep?” asked Francis, the next in line, as he watched his mother making the bed for the first time since the funeral. Until now, Lucy had avoided such everyday tasks, as they all reminded her of life before illness. Only now the bed seemed enormous. She couldn’t bring herself to spread out onto Hōhepa’s side. It was too soon.
“He has his own house to live in,” she replied with a smile. Francis was the curious one, and practical, like herself. “He has a family just like us, so there’s no room for them upstairs too.” She detected a look of relief on her son’s face when she said that. Like her, he wasn’t yet ready to let other people into their family life.
A voice from downstairs interrupted Lucy’s musings.
“Hello? Anyone home?”
It was Sarah, the proprietress of the Hamilton Hotel, just down the road. She and Lucy had both experienced the misfortune of becoming widows at a young age, Sarah having lost her beloved husband, Richard, six years earlier. Lucy knew she still missed him terribly. The sad and sudden death of Hōhepa had brought the two women closer together, and Lucy felt eternally grateful for Sarah’s daily visits before and after the funeral.
“Just up here!” called Lucy, as she plumped the pillows and then surveyed the room with a look of satisfaction. She checked on the two youngest children, Fred and Miriam, who were sleeping soundly in the next room, then assigned Joseph the task of watching them while she took Francis downstairs with her to greet Sarah.
Whilst waiting for inspiration, I listened to more audiobooks, some from genres I haven't explored for a while. One author who has impressed me lately is British novelist Alice Feeney. She specialises in suspense-filled plots, with a shot of horror thrown in. I've finished 'Beautiful Ugly' and am half way through 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'.
Despite knowing that I do get through quite a few books this way, I was still surprised when I received this in an email from Audible:
If only I could actually read that many books! I suspect however that I must have fallen asleep on New Year's Day, after a big New Years Eve, and left the book playing to deaf ears, lol.
On the New Zealand front, I return in three weeks for another few months, before I head off on a big adventure. (More about that below.) I was pleasantly surprised and flattered when asked last week by the Tauranga Writers if I would consider taking over as Secretary. I'm assured I can do it remotely when needed, so what could I say? Apart from being a challenge, it might be good for my credibility in the writing field in the future. I'll give it a go anyway.
Now about that adventure. Whilst spending time in London on two previous occasions when the Self-Published Authors Symposium was in full swing, my schedule didn't allow me to attend. This year it is going to happen. Being retired has helped, as well as now having self-publishing experience. So on June 5th, Neil and I are flying to England via Paris.
As an interesting side-note, we both have great uncles who died in World War One, mine in France and Neil's in Belgium. We intended to visit their graves in the past, but as usual we ran out of time. So, along with the Symposium, we are making the time to do it, from Paris via Amiens, Brussels, and Poperinge, then to Lille and finally London.

Today, however, is the last day of January in this part of the world, so I need to stop here so I can say I post a blog every month. So until February,
Arohanui
Donna
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