Beth Elliott's Blog

'Know your characters,' they said....

Advice to New Writers : "Before starting to write your novel you must know all about your main characters " 

That advice seemed very helpful. 
Back in the day when I was a beginner at novel writing, I diligently wrote a profile for my two main characters, mentioning all the items suggested in the advice.
pet hates, favourite activities, any strengths, flaws, relationship with family, and so on - and on. 
Well, that novel was written long ago but although it earned praise from editors and critiquers,...

'Know your characters' they said....

Advice to New Writers : "Before starting to write your novel you must know all about your main characters " 

That advice seemed very helpful. 
Back in the day when I was a beginner at novel writing, I diligently wrote a profile for my two main characters, mentioning all the items suggested in the advice.
pet hates, favourite activities, any strengths, flaws, relationship with family, and so on - and on. 
Well, that novel was written long ago but although it earned praise from editors and critiquers,...

A Summer Holiday at the Seaside

 It's summer -  so time for sea air 

- and where else but Brighton, especially when the Prince Regent is in residence at his Summer Pavilion. 

Little does he know that his fondness for sweet cakes could be the end of him. 

Among the visitors is Anna, rushing from one near-disaster to another, and Lord Giles Maltravers, the ton's most dangerous Rake, who by mischance has to act as her chaperon. 

An amusing frothy tale with cricket, races, concerts and fashion. 

The Rake's Challenge    

Sea bathing on t...

A PERFECT GENTLEMAN?

 Joachim de Montailhac

In Spring 1818, 27 year-old Joachim is very proud that this year, for the first time he is in sole charge of running the family estate. This is a great challenge. As the youngest of five children, he has always had to fight for his dignity. So with this new responsibility he is determined to do as well, if not better than his two brothers.

Athletic, handsome and always a gentleman, he is devoted to his parents, plays the violin like a dream, rides and shoots well, goes fishi...

TREES

 The SWWJ recently ran a competition for a 500 word story with the title 'TREES'.

I submitted a bit of whimsy about the fair maid Solveig saved from life with Gunnar King of the Trolls by a friendly Birch tree spirit.

My entry was the runner up [out of 31 stories entered]

That was pleasing enough, but the real reward is the judge's comments. 

'This had shades of 'Lord of the Rings' and I liked it for its originality and beautiful prose, which completely pulled me into the magical world of fjords, tr...

What about the two troubled sisters?

 'Here they are, mother, Miss Hartford and Miss Sophia Hartford.' says Joachim as he presents the visitors to his mother [and he thinks 'I really wish they weren't here.'] 
Actually, Nell and Sophie really don't want to be there either, but having been cast out of their home in Paris they have nowhere else to go. 
Why are the sisters tr oubled?
They lost their brother, Captain Alex Hartford from his wounds at the battle of Waterloo. Not long after that their mother died. Their father, Colonel Robert...

What about the youngest brother?

 There are three brothers in the Montailhac family.Henri, the diplomat and Arnaut, the businessman, horse breeder and charming Rake have both experienced their own, very different adventures. Their two sisters are happily settled. 
That leaves Joachim, the youngest.   

                      This year, both his brothers are away and so for the first time, he is solely responsible for managing the family estate and livestock. Athletic and hard-working, he is keen to prove himself worthy of the respo...

A Romantic Setting

 

Constantinople by Moonlight

Guest Author Interview with Rita Lee Chapman

Thanks to  author Rita Lee Chapman

author of the Anna Davies Mystery Series  

www.ritaleechapman.com 

for featuring me on her Author Interview Blog

 

Thisweek it is my pleasure to interview Beth Elliott. 
Would you please introduceyourself to my readers and share something about your life.

With a Welsh mother and a Lancashire fatherI’m a mixture of imagination and practical common sense. Most people in myWelsh grandmother’s town spoke Welsh and that fired me with a determination tospeak other l...

Not now, Napoleon !

One summer afternoon at Malmaison

                             

                 
           

N   Impatiently - Joséphine,here I am, making time to spend with you and I sense you are not pleased to seeme. Come here, my darling, I will soon change that.

 J   How kind of you to visit, Napoléon, but as yousee, I have this day received a large shipment of roses from my dear friendJoseph Banks in London.

N   Hah! These Englishmen, you have them underyour spell. Even when the English Navy blockades us...