Pauline Rowson's Blog - Posts Tagged "reading"
THE END - or is it?
I was asked the other day how I feel when I tap out the immortal words THE END at the completion of a novel.
The timing of the question was quite eerie because I was just reaching the final pages of the copy edits of my latest DI Horton marine mystery crime novel Blood on the Sand which is being published by Severn House in February next year. It is the fifth in the Inspector Horton series. Reaching the end of this my feelings were relief mixed with anxiety: is it good enough? Should I re-write one more time? Could I have changed anything? Too late…I’ve pressed the send button and it’s gone to my editor. The next time I’ll get to review this will be at proof reading stage and all the anxieties over what, if anything, I should have changed will return. But by then it really is too late to make changes.
So how do I feel when I tap out the immortal words THE END at the completion of a novel? (Although I don’t actually tap out THE END).
It really depends on which draft I am writing. After the first draft there is a feeling of elation - I have finally managed to reach THE END after bashing out, as quickly as I can, somewhere between 80,000 to 100,000 words. With the second draft comes a greater sense of satisfaction that all the ends are beginning to tie up neatly. The third and fourth drafts fine tune the novel and by the time I’ve reached the fifth and sixth I’m beginning to know it backwards, up side down and inside out and can no longer see where the glaring holes are – time to get a second opinion from my editor. But always, no matter how many drafts it takes to get to the final version, when I reach the END I feel a shiver up (or should that be down?) my spine. This can be a shiver of satisfaction or excitement or both, and if I feel that then hopefully my readers will feel it too. And I’m pleased that Inspector Andy Horton has survived another case and will live to solve a new one.
Tide of Death
The timing of the question was quite eerie because I was just reaching the final pages of the copy edits of my latest DI Horton marine mystery crime novel Blood on the Sand which is being published by Severn House in February next year. It is the fifth in the Inspector Horton series. Reaching the end of this my feelings were relief mixed with anxiety: is it good enough? Should I re-write one more time? Could I have changed anything? Too late…I’ve pressed the send button and it’s gone to my editor. The next time I’ll get to review this will be at proof reading stage and all the anxieties over what, if anything, I should have changed will return. But by then it really is too late to make changes.
So how do I feel when I tap out the immortal words THE END at the completion of a novel? (Although I don’t actually tap out THE END).
It really depends on which draft I am writing. After the first draft there is a feeling of elation - I have finally managed to reach THE END after bashing out, as quickly as I can, somewhere between 80,000 to 100,000 words. With the second draft comes a greater sense of satisfaction that all the ends are beginning to tie up neatly. The third and fourth drafts fine tune the novel and by the time I’ve reached the fifth and sixth I’m beginning to know it backwards, up side down and inside out and can no longer see where the glaring holes are – time to get a second opinion from my editor. But always, no matter how many drafts it takes to get to the final version, when I reach the END I feel a shiver up (or should that be down?) my spine. This can be a shiver of satisfaction or excitement or both, and if I feel that then hopefully my readers will feel it too. And I’m pleased that Inspector Andy Horton has survived another case and will live to solve a new one.
Tide of Death
Pauline Rowson video interview on the path to becoming a published crime author
I loved adventure and mystery novels when I was young, and this has continued throughout my adulthood with the enjoyment of reading crime fiction. I adore heroes and I think most women do and most men want to be one.
In this video interview just uploaded on my website and to my You Tube Channel I'm talking to Tony Smith about what got me into crime writing, my progression from reading childhood adventure stories to becoming a published crime fiction author and how my marketing skills have helped both with my writing and marketing my novels.
Death Surge
In this video interview just uploaded on my website and to my You Tube Channel I'm talking to Tony Smith about what got me into crime writing, my progression from reading childhood adventure stories to becoming a published crime fiction author and how my marketing skills have helped both with my writing and marketing my novels.
Death Surge
A lively and friendly audience for tales of criminality at Ringwood U3A
On Thursday 19 June I had the pleasure of speaking to members of a very friendly and welcoming U3a at Ringwood. Ringwood is an historic market town in Hampshire located on the River Avon, on the western edge of the New Forest. It’s situated between Southampton and Bournemouth.
Apparently Ringwood had a long history of a thriving hand knitting industry. (I knew I should have taken my knitting with me). It became famous for its "Ringwood" woollen gloves, which were knitted in either cotton or wool 4 ply, and on fairly thick needles. Ringwood gloves were knitted commercially until after the Second World War.
But it wasn’t to talk about knitting that I was there but about my crime novels.
I entertained members of the audience with tales of the dogged Portsmouth cop, DI Andy Horton and explained how I plot, research and write the DI Andy Horton series and my other crime novels all of which are set on the South Coast of England, in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
I talked about the inspiration behind the Horton novels and my two standalone crime novels, In Cold Daylight and In For The Kill. After the talk there followed, as usual, a very lively Q & A session and a book signing.
I give a number of talks around the UK to many different organisations. I will be appearing at Worthing Library on 28 June and Lymington Library on 16 July.
For all my forthcoming speaking engagements or to book me as a speaker visit the Events Page on my website
U3As are self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operatives for older people no longer in full time work, providing opportunities for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun.
Shroud of Evil
Apparently Ringwood had a long history of a thriving hand knitting industry. (I knew I should have taken my knitting with me). It became famous for its "Ringwood" woollen gloves, which were knitted in either cotton or wool 4 ply, and on fairly thick needles. Ringwood gloves were knitted commercially until after the Second World War.
But it wasn’t to talk about knitting that I was there but about my crime novels.
I entertained members of the audience with tales of the dogged Portsmouth cop, DI Andy Horton and explained how I plot, research and write the DI Andy Horton series and my other crime novels all of which are set on the South Coast of England, in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
I talked about the inspiration behind the Horton novels and my two standalone crime novels, In Cold Daylight and In For The Kill. After the talk there followed, as usual, a very lively Q & A session and a book signing.
I give a number of talks around the UK to many different organisations. I will be appearing at Worthing Library on 28 June and Lymington Library on 16 July.
For all my forthcoming speaking engagements or to book me as a speaker visit the Events Page on my website
U3As are self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operatives for older people no longer in full time work, providing opportunities for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun.
Shroud of Evil
