D M Roberts's Blog, page 10

And breath

We had a lovely day out today at the stunning Pashley Manor gardens. It’s located in the south of England, Sussex. The food was fantastic, it had that homemade look and taste, I have to admit the chocolate cake called to me, not being the kind of gal that ignores such requests I buckled. It was well worth the calories if you’re a calorie counting human (I am not one such human)

The lucky

The gardens themselves are incredible, kudos to the hardworking team that keeps them in tip top condition. The sculptures that adorn the lawns and featured planted areas are magnificent, many created by local craftspersons.

The talented

It does the heart and soul good to get out amongst nature, time to breath, time to relax. We’re quite fortunate to have so many amazing places remaining in a world obsessed with progress, if you get a chance, get yourself out there.

The floral

Interview Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/interview/donone10

What things will people not realise about the era you write about

The amazing discoveries and advances that were made in the early 1900’s, it’s remarkable, socially, technically and medically that without these fascinating people and their breakthroughs we would not have the ease of life that we have now.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

My latest book is the third in the Billoughby series. It will focus on the relationship of Tom And Mrs. Stanhope amid the disappearance of young David.

What motivated you to become an indie author?

I wrote my book/manuscript and sent it off to a few publishers. They informed me that it wasn’t the kind of thing their readers would like, i sent it to quite a few friends, relatives, friends of friends and they were all really positive about it, they also read the second in the series and are eagerly awaiting the next Billoughby. I self published mainly because i believed in my stories, i didn’t write them for financial recompence i wrote them because i enjoy writing.

What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

It would have to be the feeling of being in different times and places without moving an inch.
That, coupled with the hope that others like what i created.

What are you working on next?

I’m working on 2 books at the moment, a third Billoughby & A new County Girls Chronicle.

Who are your favorite authors?

I really enjoy Wilbur Smith, Christopher Smith, Tolkien and some of the classics including Emily Bronte, Catherine Cookson.

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

The fact that i can, not everyone is so lucky to have this wonderful thing called life.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

I am a field archer, when i get a chance i like to go to the archery club and shoot, i go to tai chi classes, car events and i dabble in some d.i.y, recently I’ve been trying my hand at making things from palletts.

How do you discover the ebooks you read?

usually word of mouth or via the internet

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

Yes1 I wrote a story when i was around 7 years old for a competition, it was about a frog that had gotten lost and i won a Wombles book, i loved it! The smell of a new book had me hooked.

What is your writing process?

Honestly i don’t have one. I just pick up the laptop and write. The only process i have to adhere to is the research part, I’m quite rigid on that aspect.

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?

The Water Babies if memory serves me, i thought it was magical.

How do you approach cover design?

I have done my own cover designs, usually i will sketch it, copy it to the pc and edit it.

What do you read for pleasure?

Anything and everything, i have no set genre. The last book i read was Fields of Dust.

What is your e-reading device of choice?

It was a kindle, now i use my iphone.

Describe your desk

Tidy!

What is the hardest part of self publishing

For me, I have found the editing particularly difficult. So you have this great idea in your head for a story, you finally manage to get it down on ‘paper’ then realise that the work is only just beginning. I have three books to date and it’s been a long haul, with the help of a lovely person on fiverr I am hoping to upload revised books soon.

How do you choose your characters names

I think, subconsciously, my character names come from people that i have known. I may change a letter here and there. Often, i will take initials and work with that.

Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.

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Billoughby – video

Billoughby – video

Thundering Heart

Be still
Be calm
When teacups stir
For you are stronger than most my dear

When pressures come to weigh you down
Stand tall
Stand firm

Breath deep  like the roots of a tree
Spread your feet in the earth beneath
Draw in the goodness breath out the spent

Be still
Be calm
As an ocean on a fine day
Free your mind
Let the pressure float away

All carry troubles on shoulders too small
It’s no shame to leave them to fall to the floor
Gather your strength

Breath in
Stand tall

Pick them up when you’re ready once more

Under the rug

I recently attended a book fayre. This was a fantastic day and I spoke with many members of the public, something I never imagined I would have the nerve to do being the shy, retiring person I am.
There was one person in particular that stuck in my mind.
Now, before I get into this I will say that I am an avid believer in the rights of everyone. Women, men, LGBT, children, dogs, ponies and frogs as well as ‘other’ (as they now place on forms.)

The person asked me about my books, great, I thought and began to describe the characters, plot ECT. They listened intently, let me say my piece then folded their arms.
‘Your main character is a man?’
‘Yes’
‘British?’
‘Yes’
‘I see. You didn’t think to have the character a strong independent woman?’
‘No, the character is male’
‘I shall not be reading it ‘
I went on to try to explain that in the time my story is set, the character (an inspector) would have been a man, that was the era they were living in, there were few women of power with the exception of the late Queen Victoria.
My comments fell on deaf ears. I mentioned that whilst the main character is male’, there were plenty of intelligent and highly capable women. Not good enough.

In the early 1900’s this is how it was :

The 1885 Criminal Law Amendment Act made any homosexual act illegal, even in private. Punishable by imprisonment, fines even hanging.
Property most often passed to male heirs.
Women with same sex partners lived as ‘sisters’ etc.
Children were sent down mines and up chimneys, beaten often with little food to eat.
Do I agree with any of the above? Absolutely not!
Is it possible to go back in time to change this? No, I’ve sat in a Deloreon and take it from me, they cannot take you back in time.

The past is our exercise/reference book , we should acknowledge it, learn from it but never deny it.
To pretty out all of the struggles of the past is to tell future generations that it didn’t happen, that life is always plain sailing, that if you don’t like something simply cover it up or slap a filter on it.

As lighthearted as my Billoughby series is, I want readers to ask why. Why were there few female police officers, why were there no homosexual characters, why did it take so long to get anywhere or, why were there orphaned homeless children.
Public lavatories for instance, great if you were male, they simply did not have them for women.
I’m not anti-feminist neither am I an ostrich.
Some may choose to sweep the unpleasantries of history under the rug, I choose not to.
Just maybe it will make them realise how very fortunate we are and how far we have come.

What’s your poison?

What makes you write about the things you write about? Is it a nagging idea in your mind that refuses to go, a thought you might have when you’re watching the world go by, or,  is it a planned concept from start to finish?

Do you have an idea of what your characters personalities are, what you will name them, will they be good or bad?

Personally I’m a ‘seat of the pants ‘  kind of gal. Once I get started it kind of works it’s way out but I know many that map it all out beforehand.
Either way, if that’s what works for you it’s all good.

I love the research part of writing, takes you down so many interesting roads and what fascinating facts you learn into the bargain!

One of my books came to me in the middle of the night. It was during the pandemic at the time when death rates were high and there seemed no rhyme or reason as to why some seemingly fit and healthy people sadly died yet  others that you worried about due to ill health seemed to cope quite well with the virus. It’s true,  as humans we need logic, answers to questions that serve to make us feel better, settled in our mind whether these answers are good or bad.

It got my mind wondering, what if? What if there is reason to it all? What if there’s a reason to the why’s?
Of course it’s purely fictional, it’s my thought process. 
It isn’t meant as a religious book, it’s a story from my imagination.

Book fayre

We had the privilege of attending the Brighton and Hove book fayre on Saturday. This event is of course a chance to sell some books, but more than that it’s a great opportunity to meet fellow authors, gain & share valuable tips and feel a little less of a solitary crusader.

The event was organised by Peter and Leanne, Red Cape Publishing and as ever it was a fantastic day well spent. These guys worked very hard to make a fab – if very hot – day.

Personally I love these kind of days, I look on them as a chance to learn, a chance to get to know and talk to readers of the general public (important to practice in the event that you knock JK off the top slot ) I never go with the thought of how many books I might sell, yes, it’s a plus if you do but not the end of the world if you don’t. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that.

If you get a chance to attend a book fayre, go! You’ve nothing to lose and so much to learn.

Technology!

I have to admit, I’m from the era of paper and pencil, I liked that. Technology mostly has me flummoxed. There, I said it! I watch with wonder at our younger generation as they type at lightening speed, with their split screens and varying media platforms and honestly, it hurts my brain. This is my third? Attempt at creating a website (is that what it’s called) and as the stubborn old lady that I am I refuse to pay for somebody to do it for me. It will be wonky in places I’m sure, no doubt I will put menus in the wrong place and widgets? where widgets have no business being but, I will be happy in the knowledge that even at my age I gave it a go

Her

I used to be me
then I disappeared
and in her place came you.
I do not know you,
you do not fit,
no matter how long you stay here and sit.
I catch glimpses of her that take me by surprise,
I strain to catch hold of her hand,
to make her stay just a little while,
but she doesn’t seem to understand.
She wants to run, to dance, to sing
to laugh and smile- who wouldn’t ?
Do the things I want to do & some of the things I couldn’t.
She mocks me at times, it angers me –
had she stuck around the pain to see,
as bit by bit,
piece by piece
time and again, but no…
she ran, deserted me then.
Her footsteps echo the beats in my chest,
the faster she runs the harder they get.
If only she’d turned around, just once,
I know she might have saved me,
I will get her back, of that I’m sure,
the glimpses more frequent of late.
There will come a day when I catch her hand and she will be happy to stay.

About Me

About