Work In Progress

If anyone is wondering about the long night of silence that has befallen this blog, I’m still here! But during these past few months two demanding and not-very-compatible experiences have coincided: the deadline for the novel I am currently writing is approaching and I have moved house.

I prefer not to say much about the novel as yet because it’s in such a very raw state, I’m afraid that, like opening the oven door too soon on a soufflé, if I reveal too much about it at this stage, it might flop. By the end of November I have to present my publisher with a decent first draft and given event number two my main thought at the moment is: AAGH!

The move has eaten up two months writing time and while I do have a spacious new study, I haven’t been able to use it very much. The new house needs quite a bit of work doing to it and men have been on the roof, up at the windows and under the floorboards. For the last two weeks my study has looked like this:

Luckily a kind friend has lent me her house during the day when she’s not in it and every morning I’ve been ‘going off to work’. And without distractions such as the internet and with nothing else to do but write and eat the odd French Fancy my friend thoughtfully provided, I have got on so much faster than I do at home.

But, alas, phase one of the work is complete and I’m back at my desk and what happens? Instead of Getting On, I find myself diverted by questions about shower enclosures and floor tiles. Hopeless!

Will we ever reach the stage of having floorboards that don’t squeak? Will I get the book finished in time?

Watch this space!