Romy Gemmell's Blog, page 31

Travel Inspiration: Cobh in Ireland

In acknowledgement of St Patrick's Day, and the fact I had Irish grandparents, I thought I'd post a couple of photos from a visit to Ireland a few years ago. Cobh was one of our favourite stops.


A pretty fishing and harbour town, the most impressive sight on the approach to Cobh is the 19th century Gothic St Colman’s Cathedral which sits on the hill overlooking the harbour. Situated on the Great Island near Cork, the harbour town of Cobh has links with many famous ships, including the ill-fated Titanic.

Developed during the eighteenth century, when the natural harbour was used to assemble the fleets during the Napoleonic wars, Cobh (pronounced ‘Cove’) became a health resort during Victorian times. In honour of Queen Victoria’s visit to the town in 1849, Cobh was renamed Queenstown and thus it remained until it reverted to its Irish name in 1920.  RefugeesCobh was in an ideal position for Irish emigrants who wanted to escape their poverty and sail to the new world across the Atlantic, in hope of a better life in America. The terrible potato famines between 1845 and the 1851 left many unable to survive and, during this period, over 1,500,000 Irish people emigrated to America. It was also one of the great ports for transatlantic liners at the turn of the 20th century. These days, Cobh provides a lovely walk along the sea front with an art gallery at one end and Heritage Centre at the other where you can learn about its interesting history. I'd love to go back and explore this pretty, colourful harbour town again one day. If anyone is inspired by their travels, you could try entering the Telegraph 'Just Back' travel competition. Rosemary  

A Very Good Writing Lesson

Arrival of the Entries For the past couple of months, I've been enjoying reading all the novels that I was honoured to adjudicate for the Scottish Association of Writers' Pitlochry Award - for a Romance Novel this year. Entries had to be between 10,000 and 15,000 words plus a synopsis, so there have been lots of lovely words and an interesting mix of themes and ideas.

I won't say anything about the novels themselves as I have to deliver my thoughts and results at the conference in a couple of weeks time, as well as provide a written critique for every entry. That has been an absolute privilege - I've only done this for short stories and articles until now. It reminded me how much I appreciated the detailed written critiques from the RNA New Writers' Scheme some years ago, when I was starting out as a novelist, and I've tried to be honestly constructive as well as encouraging and helpful. It remains to be seen if I succeeded!

An added advantage of reading other writers' work so closely is the fact it reminds me of what makes a reader want to read on, the kind of repetitions we all are guilty of to some degree but tend not to see in our own work, and how to make the best use of our wonderful language. For me, it's also been a valuable reminder about writing for a particular genre, so hopefully the entrants will agree with most of my comments.

Talking about repetition in general (and not the competition) - one word that many of us use to distraction is very. I'm very guilty of this - see, I hadn't even registered I was using it just now! If this is one of your bugbears, you might find this article on '45 Ways to Avoid Using the Word 'Very' extremely useful! Think I need to print it out and keep it beside me at all times.

What's your most repetitive word?

Rosemary

Featured Author: Paula Martin

It’s a pleasure to welcome again to the Reading and Writing blog British author Paula Martin, whose novels I thoroughly enjoy for their modern romance, characterisation and authentic settings. Her new novel, Irish Inheritance , is now released and Paula kindly agreed to share some of the inspiration behind this story.

It’s lovely to host you again, Paula. First a little about the novel.

Irish Inheritance

English actress Jenna Sutton and American artist Guy Sinclair first meet when they jointly inherit a house on the west coast of Ireland. Curious about their unknown benefactress and why they are considered as ‘family’, they discover some surprising links to the original owners of the house.
With the help of local descendants, they unravel an intriguing tale of a nineteenth century love affair. At the same time, their mutual attraction grows, even though they each have personal reasons for not wanting any romantic involvement at this point in their lives.
Problems arise when a local property agent appears to have her own agenda concerning the house. Other events pull them back to their separate lives in London and America, and friction builds between them over their decision about the house and its contents.

Will their Irish inheritance eventually drive them apart — or bring them together?
Irish Inheritance is available for Kindle and in paperback from Amazon USA, Amazon UK and Smashwords (for other e-readers, or for download to a PC)
Inspiration Behind the Story
About eighteen months ago, I found an article online about a Paris apartment that had been abandoned in 1939, when the owner fled to the south of France at the outbreak of war. She continued to pay the rent, but never returned to the apartment. When she died, in her nineties, in 2010, the executors of her will entered the apartment – and stepped back in time. The apartment, under a thick layer of dust, was exactly as it had been left seventy years earlier, with furniture dating from the late 19th century, and other personal items. The most stunning item was a portrait – and research eventually proved this to be the owner’s grandmother, a French actress. It was painted by an Italian artist in 1898, and a love note found in the apartment suggested he had been having an affair with the actress.
I saved the article because somehow I knew there was the basis of a novel here. Maybe you could call this an inspiration; I tend to think of it more as an itch at the back of my mind that won’t go away! I played around with a few ideas as I scratched that itch. An apartment in Paris was tempting, but I’d already used Paris as a location in two of my novels, so where else? The English Lake District maybe? Again, I’ve already used that location. Then the real inspiration struck. Ireland!
Connemara I’ve been to Ireland about ten times in the last 6 or 7 years, and love the country, the scenery, and the people, but I’d never set a novel there. It didn’t take me long to decide exactly where in Ireland to set the story. Connemara, in the west of County Galway, is one of my favourite areas of Ireland, combining wild mountain countryside with the inlets, bays, and islands of the Atlantic coast. So the ‘Paris apartment’ became a house near the small town of Clifden on the west coast.
The article also inspired the 19th century characters in the novel: the French actress became an English actress, and the Italian became an American artist, and I decided to mirror them in my contemporary characters, who are also an actress and an artist. Once I had my setting and characters, it was time for all the ‘what if…?’ questions that run through my mind as I work out what I think might be the basic outline of the story. I don’t do any detailed plotting, but allow my characters to become my inspiration as I start writing about them.
When I first began this story, I had no idea that a local property agent would have her own ‘agenda’ about the house, or that Jenna and Guy would travel across Ireland to meet with someone who could give them more information about their family history. Maybe that was Ireland inspiring me again, because I enjoyed taking them to visit many of the places I’ve also seen – Galway Bay, the Cliffs of Moher, the Wicklow Mountains, and of course Dublin.
I was delighted when one of my American readers, whose grandfather came from County Galway, said, “Couldn't put it down. Loved your description of the scenery and points of interest in Ireland. That's a tour I wish I could take but won't ever get to make. At least I saw it through your eyes.”
By the way, here’s the link to the article about the Paris apartment, if you want to read more details:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8042281/Parisian-flat-containing-2.1-million-painting-lay-untouched-for-70-years.html
Thanks for that fascinating insight into your inspiration, Paula. I can’t wait to read Irish Inheritance now!
  Paula Martin lives near Manchester in North West England and has two daughters and two grandsons. She had some early publishing success with four romance novels and several short stories, but then had a break from writing while she brought up a young family and also pursued her career as a history teacher for twenty-five years. She has recently returned to writing fiction, after retiring from teaching, and is thrilled to have found publishing success again with her contemporary romances.  Apart from writing, she enjoys visiting new places. She has travelled extensively in Britain and Ireland, mainland Europe, the Middle East, America and Canada. Her other interests include musical theatre and tracing her family history. You can connect with Paula on her Website, Blog and Amazon Author Page
 

London Interlude

We just came back from a lovely three day visit to London last night. I was shortlisted in the recent Holland Park Press poetry competition and invited to read my poem at their results evening. So we decided to turn it into a short break since we don't head that far south very often. Since husband was coming with me, we stayed at a more up-market hotel than I originally imagined near to Kensington Gardens, which I wanted to explore. But the Royal Garden was worth every penny, especially since we got a good deal, and it added to our enjoyment.

Kensington PalaceIt was a pleasant experience on the Friday evening, reading my poem out to the appreciative  audience and listening to all the shortlisted poems. One of the judges explained they had received 456 entries from all over the world and there were eleven of us shortlisted for the poem in English prize and six for the Dutch prize. I was very honoured to be included in the shortlist and wasn't at all surprised not to win, especially after hearing the other poems! An American girl was the deserved winner.

One of the great things about such events is the chance to meet other writers and hear the standard of writing around. As with reading short stories if writing them, it's very valuable to hear poems read aloud. It was lovely to meet the publisher and judges too and I was told to choose one of their poetry books as a gift. So I am now the proud owner of a sturdy paperback collection of poems, To Sing Away the Darkest Days, by the main judge, Norbert Hirschhorn, who was away on a poetry reading tour.
Peter PanOn the Saturday, we exhausted ourselves by walking through the whole of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, right up to Oxford Street. I adore the London parks and we didn't want to miss the chance to walk in the unexpected sunshine. My main goal in the Gardens was to see the statue of Peter Pan and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I thought it stunning as I particularly like sculpture and didn't realised it had such wonderful detail. Hyde Park was another revelation as it was packed full of wildlife along the Serpentine.



We kept walking on up to Oxford Street so I could visit Selfridges as I've been enjoying the TV programme, although I had to use my imagination a lot! I don't do any shopping at all (and didn't want to), but we had a lovely lunch there. We couldn't wait to get back to the peaceful parks again, away from the noise and busyness of town. so we walked all the way back, via the Royal Albert Hall and a few of the museums. We reckoned we deserved the delicious dinner in the fabulous French restaurant we discovered that evening quite near the hotel.

As the train home wasn't until yesterday afternoon, we spent a leisurely morning walking (again!) to the Victoria and Albert Museum where we added stairs to the exercise. Thank goodness for a wonderful, relaxing train journey all the way up to Glasgow! As I've said before, it's great to get out and about and visit new places, as it certainly stimulates this writer's imagination and always inspires me with ideas for some kind of new writing. Now it's back to reality and finishing those adjudications before my next gallivanting weekend at the annual Scottish writers conference.

Rosemary

Tirgearr Publishing Anniversary Sale

Great news for readers – Tirgearr Publishing in Ireland is having their huge bargain anniversary sale of ALL their kindle books. Available for 99 cents on Amazon US and only 77 pence on Amazon UK from today, Thursday, through to Sunday!

It includes my own two books: full length historical Midwinter Masquerade and short contemporary novella (with a little mythological fantasy) set on Cyprus, The Aphrodite Touch. You can view the whole excellent list of Tirgearr books on their website or on Amazon – includes interesting different genres from a host of international authors. That's just a sample on the banner.Happy reading!Rosemary

Internet and Writing

 Until right this minute, I’ve had no Internet connection since Friday morning so you can imagine my frustration, considering the time writers have to spend online – on social media or otherwise. Even submitting stories, articles and novels is mainly carried out by email these days, apart from a few magazines and occasional agent or publisher. The up-side is that I’ve been writing more!

Fortunately, I’m able to use my husband’s work computer and separate connection at odd moments, when he’s having a break, but it’s far from ideal. Even just in these past few days, I’ve had two lovely pieces of news, one of which came by email and needed a response, the other by text but required viewing online.I don’t how many of you know of txtlit, which I mentioned a long time ago, and it’s in the box at the side of the blog. This is a monthly competition, on a specific theme, submitted by mobile text – and must be no more than 160 characters (not just letters) including the first word ‘Story’. I won it a couple of years ago and had forgotten about it again until trying to get my writing organised at the beginning of the year. I entered the January comp with the theme ‘hello’ and was notified I’m a runner-up. Sure enough it’s now online, just when my internet goes down! This is a great exercise in being concise.

The other great news is an acceptance from The Highlander magazine in America, which takes Scottish historical articles. I’ve written for them before, again not for a couple of years while concentrating on novels. The lovely editor emailed to tell me he would be running my article on Inchmahome Priory and could I now email the photos. Fortunately, I had them all ready in a file on my computer but had to put them on a stick and send from husband’s computer. At least they’ve gone now!I’ve really enjoyed getting back to writing shorter items like articles and stories, which is where I started, and it’s certainly a different form of creativity from slogging on with a new novel and wondering where it’s going! I’m also trying to finish the critiques for the romantic novel competition I’m adjudicating at the SAW conference in March. I’ve really enjoyed this, especially when they are all of reasonably high standard. Still deciding on the winners and commended but at least I’ve had no Internet to distract me the way it usually does. Maybe a few days with no connection is not too bad after all, as long as it's not too long. 

Rosemary

Author Spotlight: Jennifer Young

I’m delighted to extend a warm welcome to fellow Scot, Jennifer Young, whose debut novel, Thank You For the Music , is now released from Tirgearr Publishing. I love to see writing colleagues get that first publishing deal and start on the exciting journey, even though Jennifer has plenty of other types of publications behind her. Thanks for joining me here today! I’m reading and enjoying Thank You For the Music at the moment. First, a little taster of Jennifer’s novel.

Thank You For the Music

Are things looking up for Abby Mortimer? After the death of her father it seems as though her long-term boyfriend, Edward, is about to propose – but their romantic walk on the beach doesn’t end as Abby expects when Edward breaks the news that he’s found someone else.

Heartbroken, Abby flees to Majorca to stay with her sister Liv and brother-in-law Robert, who run an upmarket hotel. Liv and Robert are looking for a singer for their piano bar and Abby, who’s a talented member of the local dramatic society, steps in to fill the gap – and finds herself immediately attracted to Rafa, the hotel’s pianist.But what looks like a new-found happiness becomes complicated when Edward returns to apologise and win Abby back. And she’s aroused the bitter opposition of waitress wannabe Ellie, who’s trying to catch the eye of musical impresario Marcus Paterson, a guest at the hotel and always on the lookout for a new act. Torn between the contrite Edward and the flighty Rafa, between a steady life in Scotland or a career with her beloved music, Abby has difficult choices to make…especially when she learns that Edward has a secret…

Thank You For The Music is available from: Amazon US and Amazon UKand in all e-formats from Smashwords.You write scientific articles as well as fiction, Jennifer – which do you prefer and why did you turn to fiction?

I can’t say that I prefer one above the other. They express different sides of my personality - the science part of my brain likes accuracy and answers but when I’m in fiction mode I’m the exact opposite. When I’m writing creatively, I don’t feel the need to have everything defined. I’ll bend scientific accuracy to fit my story - but if someone suggested I do that in a science article I would be dreadfully offended!In my current fiction project, I’ve finally managed to bring the two sides of my personality together - the hero is a geologist whose endless quest for ‘real’ answers and failure to deal with anything emotional and abstract are what drives the plot. Fiction is my first love, though - I came to science quite late.

How have you found the whole process of being published by an independent e-publisher? Anything surprise you about it?I was surprised at what fun it was. I envisaged a situation where the book gets put up and that’s it. At Tirgearr I was welcomed not just by the publishers but by fellow writers and the whole process has been an absolute pleasure. I’ve discovered an online community which I wasn’t expecting - although I shouldn’t have been surprised, because these communities do exist all over the internet.

Did you have to do a lot of research for Thank You for the Music?Er…none at all. (Perhaps I shouldn’t say that.) Unless by ‘research’ you mean holidaying at a lovely hotel in Majorca, lying in the sun, visiting ancient towns, eating ice cream and drinking chilled white wine as the sun set over the Mediterranean. I did all that, with the utmost diligence. In fact, every cup of coffee and every ice cream in the book is (or was once) real and was lovingly researched.

I can imagine that wasn’t too much hard work!

How are you promoting your book? Is it easier with e-books, do you think?

Never having had hard copies to sell, I can’t make the distinction. I’ve always known that no matter which type of media the book is in, most of the promotion would be done in the virtual world and that the days of the book launch with wine and nibbles are probably fading. I’m promoting it mainly through Twitter and Facebook, trying to establish an online presence and an association with good quality readable fiction. I embarked on promotion with great trepidation but in the event I’m finding it both easier and more fun than I thought. And I’m delighted to say that I just got my first review for Thank You For The Music - five stars from someone I don’t know in California.

An excellent start!What is the most difficult part about starting a new book?

Oh. Ah. Hmm… It’s all hard. I keep changing my approach to see if I can find one that works better than any other. But I think the hardest part is probably knowing when to start writing. I don’t fly by the seat of my pants, although nor am I a really detailed planner. There’s a point at which I haven’t overthought the plot but I still know pretty much what I want to write. The last one I got just right. The one before I left too long and got bogged down. It’s now in a drawer, waiting for me to go back and try and sort it out.Do you have a favourite writing place?

I wish I did. I dream of a turret with views in all directions - I know some people who have little dens like that and I’d love one, though in reality I’d probably spend most of my time staring out of the window. My desk is in the bedroom but I’m a gregarious soul and like to be around people, so I often end up typing on my laptop in the living room watching the telly with the family. This is not only bad for the posture but it also generates a very high level of errors, in typos and plot. Fortunately I love the editing process as much as the writing part!Do you find time for hobbies?

Writing is my main hobby and always has been. But I do like to do other things too. With my background in geography and Earth science I love travelling and visiting places - and they usually provide inspiration for a plot, or for a travel article. I love cycling, which is another pastime in which I spend most of my time thinking up plots. But it’s usually writing, writing and more writing, in some form or another.What are your current writing plans?

Plans? That implies a little more organisation than I think I can lay claim to! At the moment I’m working on completing my Masters degree in Earth science with the Open University so that’s taking priority; and I’m still writing regular science articles for a website called Decoded Science. And my fiction output may have slowed but it isn’t on hold - I completed a novel (awaiting polish) in November as part of the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) scheme and there’s a whole line-up of ideas for short stories, novels and novellas forming a disorderly queue in my mind. Just wait until I have more time…Any tips for new writers?

How many tips do you want? I’ll confine myself to two. The first is often-repeated and can’t be said enough. NEVER give up. The second is something that, when I look back, shaped my career as a writer without my knowing it. Surround yourself with writers. Hunt them out and talk to them. Join their groups. They will understand you in a way that your nearest and dearest non-writers won’t; they’ll pass on the befits of their experience; they’ll share your successes and feel your pain. I’ve found this to be true for both fiction and non-fiction. And for an unpublished writer, being surrounded by other writers makes you realise that everything you go through, both the pain of rejection and the pleasure of success, is normal.Many thanks for answering the questions, Jennifer.


Jennifer Young is an Edinburgh-based writer, editor and copywriter. She is interested in a wide range of subjects and writing media, perhaps reflecting the fact that she has both arts and science degrees. Jennifer has been writing fiction, including romantic fiction, for a number of years with several short stories already published. Thank You For the Music, which is set on the Balearic island of Majorca, is her first published novel.

Find out more about Jennifer on her website, blog and Facebook. Jennifer also blogs with a few other friends at Novel Points of View. 

Elephants on Parade

The other day on my weekly visit to a local mall, I couldn't believe the delightful sight of one beautifully painted elephant statue after another leading me along the ground floor to where I have my coffee. On closer inspection, I discovered each individual animal had a name and a unique design painted by local artists.


There is a serious point to this wonderful display that is taken to venues all over the country and further afield. Most people know that elephants are now an endangered species, mainly because of their valuable ivory tusks, and the fight is on to ensure their survival. One Dutchman, Marc Spits, is making a difference after meeting a baby elephant in Thailand that was to change his life.

Mosha had been brought to the elephant hospital in Lampang when she lost a leg after stepping on a landmine. Hearing of the plight of the Asian elephant, whose numbers in the wild have decreased to only 1,500 in Thailand, Marc and his son, Mike, founded Elephant Parade. The world's largest open air art exhibition, each of the painted elephants is a unique piece of art and the inspiration behind each design is explained on a plaque.

 A few of my favourites were Mrs Bennet, in her pink tulip hat, Butterfly Effect, in her colourful array of butterflies and Mega Nova, representing the stars and universe. I've only picked out a few from the stunning display and each one told its own story. There's also the chance to buy a replica of the elephants in various sizes, coloufridge magnets and other items. Part of the proceeds will go to The Asian Elephant Foundation. I couldn't resist buying a tiny replica of Mosha with her bandaged leg as a memento and in the hope that I've made even a small contribution to this essential cause.

Flash Fiction

I've been so proud of daughter Vikki's recent success with her creative flash fiction stories that I thought it might be good to mention these opportunities on the blog today. Sometimes, when you don't feel like settling down to a long writing session, or you want to refresh the creative muse, a short piece of fiction is the ideal length to work on. Flash fiction is very popular so look out for the markets available. Even the Bridport Prize now includes this category!

Vikki is using these as creative exercises and her two pieces are published on two different online sites where you can also read other writers' fiction and find out the submission requirements. The first, Empty Orchestra, is in The Puffin Review. This is a very atmospheric and descriptive piece - almost an observation. The second flash fiction, At the Fair, was tweeted as the editor's choice the other day on Postcard Shorts. This is a very poignant and descriptive piece with a twist ending.

I'm certainly inspired to try more of these short pieces as a means of developing my creativity, as well as encouraging observation and descriptive skills - both of which I often hurry past in the eagerness to finish a story. If anyone gets one published, let me know where and I'll tweet it for you!

Have just discovered I'm featured on Jane Riddell's blog today - quite an in-depth interview!

Rosemary

Featured Author: Myra Duffy

I’m delighted to welcome friend and fellow Scottish author, Myra Duffy, to the Reading and Writing blog today. I love Myra’s cosy crime novels which are set on the Isle of Bute, the venue of my childhood summer holidays. Although I enjoy many good crime novels, it’s the mystery element that most attracts me and Myra’s books have not disappointed in this respect. Her fans are very pleased that her new novel, Endgame at Port Bannatyne , is now available! Thanks for sharing the inspiration behind the series and this latest story, Myra.

Endgame at Port Bannatyne

Endgame at Port Bannatyne is the fourth in Myra Duffy’s series of cosy crime mysteries set on the Isle of Bute, just off the west coast of Scotland. All four books feature the same main character, Alison Cameron, a very ordinary woman who finds herself involved in crime in spite of vowing, ‘this time it will be different.’

In this latest novel, Alison is offered a job as assistant scriptwriter with Pelias Productions. The company is on the island making a film about one of the most famous sons of Bute, James Hamilton, and has based itself in the sleepy village of Port Bannatyne. It’s not long before Alison has cause to regret her decision. Two of the cast members, Franklin Todd and Quentin Quizling, are at war; the actress playing James Hamilton’s wife has something to hide; the Director, Sol, is tetchy and secretive. Then a suspicious death and an on-set accident throw the production into disarray.

Alison’s personal life is also in turmoil: her relationship with her husband, Simon is fraught and the company of Robert, an old friend from the past, only complicates matters further.Inspiration Behind the Series and Story

For many years we’ve had strong connections to Bute and when I wrote my first cosy crime novel it seemed an ideal setting. It’s a very peaceful island, with little crime, not at all the sort of place where you’d expect the sort of thing that happens in my novels. But the fact that it is small with a limited population of some 6000 (except in summer when visitor numbers swell the population) provides lots of writing opportunities for small town gossip and intrigue and ways in which incomers can upset the balance.In Endgame at Port Bannatyne, the story of James Hamilton was such an interesting one, it seemed exactly the kind of basis for a film by a company like Pelias Productions.

James was an Edinburgh lawyer who bought Kames Castle but unfortunately he had a profligate wife, Harriet, who preferred the society of her friends in the capital and quickly ran through his money. Bills of sale from the castle records show he was reduced to selling the bedroom furniture to pay his debts while Harriet was having her portrait painted by Raeburn. Her picture hangs in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh.He is buried (alone!) in an overgrown spot on the road to Ettrick Bay and rumour has it that he’s buried standing up so that on Resurrection Day as he rises from the grave the first thing he will see is his beloved Kames Castle and Kames Bay. But no one as yet has investigated the truth of this.

Of course, this being a crime novel, nothing and no one is as they seem and Alison finds herself in danger as she stubbornly tries to find out the truth about what is happening.

Great idea, Myra - all the best with this new book!The Isle of Bute mystery novels are available in print and e-book on Amazon UK, Amazon US and at selected bookshops. Endgame at Port Bannatyneis also available in print from FeedARead.

Although Myra is a well published author of non-fiction, she's been writing fiction for as long as she can remember (winning a national competition when she was thirteen), but has recently turned to a life of crime. A writing life, she hastens to add.

For many years she's been a frequent visitor to the Isle of Bute, just off the West coast of Scotland - a firm favourite with visitors from Glasgow. Holidays in the island inspired her to write the first Bute novel: 'The House at Ettrick Bay' (an archaeological mystery) and this was followed by 'Last Ferry to Bute' (dark deeds during a college reunion) and 'Last Dance at the Rothesay Pavilion' (past events cast a long shadow as the Pavilion is refurbished).

 Myra has been published in various magazines such as 'My Weekly' and in the 'Ireland's Own' anthology and has also won a number of awards for short stories, poetry and non-fiction, but novel writing is what she enjoys most.

You can find out more about Myra Duffy's writing on her website, or blog and she can be found on Facebook and Twitter (@duffy_myra).