D M Roberts's Blog, page 12
August 24, 2021
August Update
Work in Progress
It has been a busy old month with one thing and another.I have been busy on the start of my new book, Billoughby 3. The 3rd in the series it will concentrate on the disappearance of young David. David, as you may recall, is one of three children that were taken in by Elsbeth Stanhope.
Elsbeth and Tom continue with their secret relationship, while Tom is being driven into the arms of another by his family. The Billoughby’s want Tom to be happy, they are unaware of his feelings for their friend.
Tempers flare when Tom is questioned about his reasons for being at the Hall the night before David’s disappearance. Will Tom flee from the small village and it’s gossips, after all, he has a ticket for passage onto the mighty Titanic courtesy of his brother Adam.
Daisy is visited by a handsome stranger to the village with a proposition that she may not be able to refuse.
A Day off
I have mentioned in my blog that we enjoy a little reenacting. This weekend we attended the Fishbourne Roman Palace with the Britannia group as members. Can you imagine our surprise to find out we had made the BBC News! The event started off as quite a drizzly British day, this soon cleared in time for the Gladiator spectacle. I had the pleasure of sharing a seat with Author Caroline Lawrence aka -for the day- Agrippina. It is always wonderful to meet and talk with the public, especially the children. Armed with their swords and shields they had a fantastic time.
We managed to get in a round of archery this month, always great fun if a little tiring.
Excerpt Billoughby 3 - Lost Souls The sun was vaguely making its appearance behind a stray cloud when the door knocker jolted the two women awake. Mary scrambled to her feet, the incident of the day before forced its way to the forefront of her mind.
“I’ll go.” She said as she left the still confused Elsbeth to gather her thoughts.
“Good morning dear wanted to give you an update. We’ve found nothing yet.” Robert looked tired and weary as he rubbed his eyes.
“Oh no. Come in, my love and I’ll make you some breakfast. We can’t have you falling ill.” She kissed her husband tenderly on the cheek as Elsbeth joined them in the hallway.
“He will be okay, won’t he?” Robert tried to put on a brave face, a weak smile appearing on his lips.
“Of course he will Miss. The lad’s hiding, that’s all.”
Elsbeth knew that he was trying to be positive for her benefit.
“Yes, he’s a devil for playing tricks that one.” The three made their way to the cool kitchen. Mary began to fill the kettle, her mind racing with ‘what ifs’ she had grown quite attached to the children over the months they had been at the Hall.
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Enjoy x D
August 9, 2021
Google Books
https://www.google.co.uk/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22D+M+Roberts%22
Available on Google Books. Please leave a review if you have read any of the books, Thank youAugust 3, 2021
50 questions to ask an author
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on? Albeit accidental we visited St James’s church- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens [image error][image error][image error]What is the first book that made you cry? The lovely bonesWhat is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry? Does writing energize or exhaust you? EnergiseWhat are common traps for aspiring writers? Publishing houses that charge you for your work Does a big ego help or hurt writers? Hmm not sure on that oneWhat is your writing Kryptonite? Procrastinating Have you ever gotten reader’sblock? Definitely had reader blockDid you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? Considered but decided against it Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? Original, always a plus if it’s received well Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? Absolutely, because you don’t behave a certain way does not mean you don’t feel emotion What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? PassDo you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? I prefer to have connections when I plan my story If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Start sooner! How did publishing your first book change your process of writing? It didn’t really What was the best money you ever spent as a writer? Buying copies to give to friends for feedback What authors did you dislike at first but grew into? Wilbur Smith What did you do with your first advance? Bought chips to celebrate What was an early experience where you learned that language had power? In letters, love writing letters to people What are the most important magazines for writers to subscribe to? I’m not sure, I don’t really read magazines What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? How do you balance making demands on the reader with taking care of the reader? You have to make the reader think but at the same time give them surprises As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? Wolf What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters? Their thanks How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? 2 unfinished What does literary success look like to you? If one person enjoys it I’m happy What’s the best way to market your books? Word of mouth is good, social media is a great tool What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? I do huge amounts of research, luckily it’s the best part for me Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice? Yes, it takes me to a different place and time What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? Their thought process How long were you a part-time writer before you became a full-time one? A while How many hours a day do you write? As many as I can What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult) I don’t write about myself What did you edit out of this book?” Nothing Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction? Lord of the rings What are the ethics of writing about historical figures? Stick to the facts as much as you can How do you select the names of your characters? I literally pluck them out of the air If you didn’t write, what would you do for work? Receptionist Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? Yes, I try to thank everyone for their input good or bad. I still have a lot to learn Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find? Yes, you have to What was your hardest scene to write? A kidnap scene Do you Google yourself? No, I’m not that important What one thing would you give up to become a better writer? I don’t think I would, I like what I write and I’m happy with that What are your favorite literary journals?What is your favorite childhood book? The water babies What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? Editing definitely, I’m useless at itDoes your family support your career as a writer? I think so If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do? I would have paid more attention to things How long on average does it take you to write a book? Around 3 months Do you believe in writer’s block? (DO NOT ask whether they’ve had writer’s block). I guess it happens, I haven’t experienced it as yet
July 23, 2021
Ria
Ria lives life in London as a rule. Taking a break from it all she heads to Cornwall for some alone time to gather her thoughts. Cornwall is a beautiful place and she soon settles in to the lazy routine. Its hugely different from the hustle and bustle of her hectic life in the capital city where she runs an advertising business, a successful company she has worked hard to build. Her marriage failed and no thoughts for a reconciliation she ponders what direction her life will take.
Befriending a local and his group of pals she accepts an invitation that will change her life forever.
Follow Ria's journey through good and bad times.
County Girls Chronicles. - Cornwall
https://www.amazon.co.uk/County-Girls-Chronicles-D-M-Roberts/dp/B096LPVCPV
Ria lives life in London as a rule. Taking a break from it all she heads to Cornwall for some alone time to gather her thoughts. Cornwall is a beautiful place and she soon settles in to the lazy routine. Its hugely different from the hustle and bustle of her hectic life in the capital city where she runs an advertising business, a successful company she has worked hard to build. Her marriage failed and no thoughts for a reconciliation she ponders what direction her life will take.
Befriending a local and his group of pals she accepts an invitation that will change her life forever.
Follow Ria's journey through good and bad times.
What do you do when your life is turned upside down? You can choose to hide away from the world, hiding away ensures that you cannot possibly be hurt again surely. A woman with a successful business under her belt, confidence and beauty decides to do just that. Ria Odann takes up the kind offer of her London friends to get away from it all after a failed marriage. The village is a quaint, seaside resort in Cornwall. A simple invitation leads to a harrowing and brutal experience that will rock the village for a long time to come. Do you become a victim to your past or do you stand up and take your life back? A tale of how love, friends love, the love between a man & woman, even the love of an unexpected variety can conquer even your darkest days and nights
July 22, 2021
Writers Block. Do you believe?
I have never suffered with writers block, some people say it's not real and I have to admit I too have pondered this question. Recently whilst talking with a friend I could not for the life of me remember the name of a place that I had regularly visited. Is this the same thing I wonder? If it is then I can now appreciate how very frustrating this must be to a writer. You're all set to go and WHAM! Nothing!
When I write I have gotten into the habit of writing many different projects at the same time, switching from one to the other as my brain requires. It might not be the greatest novel of all time and yet this simple practice helps me to take a break but keep active. The projects are usually very different ones so there is no chance of confusing the 2.
I imagine that when your brain needs a break from various creative projects it lets you know. Sometimes with a block perhaps, often with misspelling - we've all been there- other times with repetitiveness on our parts. Take that break, if it's in your head it will show itself eventually.
Happy scribing x
July 8, 2021
Billoughby - The Long Shadows on Smashwords
Meet Inspector Billoughby. Read about the good Inspector, his family and friends that all reside in the quaint rural countryside village in Kent. Discovering a body in the churchyard sends this usually quiet village into shock, their days are spent farming and raising families, not worrying about crimes more inkeeping with the bigger Cities. Can the Inspector find the murderer before they strike again?
D M Roberts
June 30, 2021
Available now 
June 18, 2021
Goodreads
D M Roberts’s books on Goodreads
Billoughby: Petticoats & Bowler Hats
reviews: 2
ratings: 2 (avg rating 5.00)
BILLOUGHBY: THE LONG SHADOWS
reviews: 2
ratings: 2 (avg rating 4.50)
County girls chronicles
June 7, 2021
County Girls Chronicles
This is my new book County Girls Chronicles.
What do you do when your life is turned upside down? You can choose to hide away from the world, hiding away ensures that you cannot possibly be hurt again surely. A woman with a successful business under her belt, confidence and beauty decides to do just that. Ria Odann takes up the kind offer of her London friends to get away from it all after a failed marriage. The village is a quaint, seaside resort in Cornwall. A simple invitation leads to a harrowing and brutal experience that will rock the village for a long time to come. Do you become a victim to your past or do you stand up and take your life back? A tale of how love, friends love, the love between a man & woman, even the love of an unexpected variety can conquer even your darkest days and nights.
This book contains strong language, scenes of a sexual nature, scenes of sexual violence & some may find it offensive.
Available on Amazon, Kindle, Google, Barnes and Noble, Apple Ibooks.
