A Christmas Blog Post
Today – this morning, in fact – I typed THE END at the bottom of the second Time Police story – Hard Time. Before massive squeeing echoes around the land let me say this doesn’t mean that it’s finished. Sadly, that’s a long way off. I’ve just got the bare bones down and now it’s time to turn it into a story. This is not an easy process – I always liken it trying to stuff a double duvet into a single cover – in the dark while wearing boxing gloves. In other words, a bit of a nightmare. I have prepared for this ordeal with some exotic chocolate - purchased under the heading of ‘Research’, some nice bread, some even nicer cheese, a good book, a comfortable sofa and Love Actually. Writing is hell, sometimes. I’ve also had an email from Audible telling me the recording of Doing Time is under way – thank you, Zara – so everything is on track and I feel I can legitimately celebrate Christmas this year, instead of just half an hour on Christmas afternoon before returning to a panting laptop. The final edits for Plan For the Worst arrive on Monday and I’m hoping to get them done before Christmas. I love the cover for this one and can’t wait to see what they’ll come up with for Hard Time. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas. It’s been an exciting year with new publishers, new agent, new contracts, and but it can take it out of you a bit. And that doesn’t even take into account what’s been happening in the rest of the world. Although as a writer, this doesn’t usually register much on my radar. I hope very much that everyone has the Christmas they wanted and that we all have a considerably less stressed New Year. I also hope you enjoy this year's Christmas story - Why Is Nothing Ever Simple? which features Major Guthrie's last jump. It's available in eBook and audio versions and will be released on Christmas Day.
Take care, everyone. Best wishes from Jodi x
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Readers Q&A's
Not being able to read this one in particular leaves me unable to finish Another Time, Another Place, which makes me sad
Thank you for all the yummy presents you’ve given me over the years: all of your wonderful books and short stories! I’ve devoured every single thing you’ve ever published, and love them all, especially St Mary’s and Frogmorton Farm. As a tiny thank-you gift, I’d like to pass along an article in the Smithsonian magazine about Friar Niccolò da Poggibonsi, a 14th century friar who kept quite the illustrated travel journal of his 4 year pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and includes his illustration of elephants and architecture in Cairo and the earliest illustrations of Venice. I can imagine Max et al trying not to get drool on the gypsum tablets! I can’t figure out how attach a screenshot, dammit! So here’s a link. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/14th-century-illustration-venice-oldest-found-yet-180973945/ Maybe there’s a way to see more illustrations, there’s a link to a more scholarly article. Thanks so much for your amazing brain! And thanks to Zara Ramm, for brilliantly bringing everyone at St Mary’s to life!! She’s amazing! I’m 67, but I want to be her when I grow up. After reading about your bovril toast experience, I would like you to come visit. I’d feel ever so comfortable. Yesterday at the grocer’s I had a gymnastic roast chicken attempt a triple backflip out of its container while transferring from my cart to the checkout counter. It left a trail of hot grease and juice over the contents of the shopping cart, me, the cashier, and it all pooled nicely in my purse on on my coat, which was under everything else. When I arrived home, swishing and squelching and amazingly sticky, my cats were as attentive as a Venetian whore to a Medici prince. Many thanks and hope you can find the 14th century illustrations!
Have a lovely disaster free Christmas Jodi. And lots of chocolate!
Heather
x
All good stuff and leaves us with much to look forward to in 2020.
I was kind of hoping that you would keep Major Guthrie around at St Mary’s…yes i know that he now limps a bit and only has one eye (shades of Treasure Island – ooh arr Jim lad)!! But, he could be a consultant..please?
Enough said..Jodi, Bob and I both wish you a very Merry Christmas and productive New Year xx
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