Home news, rain and books
Yippee! More free water in the sterna. Unfortunately, it’s too wet outside to use the washing machine and get things dry, so I’ll have to wait for this rain to pass before doing that. From my window, I can see the waves breaking on Nimos across the bay, the shutters are creaking on their hinges and will have to be closed later when I’ve finished work. The rest of the house shutters are closed (bar one) giving us a permanent night for day feeling like you see in old Hammer Horror films but in reverse. I was told that when they did their ‘day for night’ shooting they used to use blue filters over the camera lens, so they could shoot out in the wild woods of Transylvania (aka Buckinghamshire) no matter what time of day it was. Today, here on Symi, it’s all grey and a little bit windy, wet and, although it’s not cold, it’s certainly a day for staying in.
Which is unfortunate as I have to go shopping. We’re down to a couple of carrots and some dubious beans in the fridge. Although there are some frozen leftovers in the freezer, they are more dubious than the has-beans. So, after I have posted this ready for tomorrow (today), it’s on with the walking boots, my only waterproof footwear at the moment, and the overcoat and down to the supermarket for some supplies, chat and fun – as that’s what we always get when we go the supermarket. It’s the only place to hang out. I reckon if Sotiris put a coffee bar in there he’d be full up all day long.
The morning (Tuesday) started off well as I woke up to realise that I have, at last, finished the last draft of ‘The Saddling’, the next James Collins novel to be made ready for the printers. Nothing is ever finished though – I still worry about lyrics for shows I wrote 20 years ago and wonder where I put my copy so I can change the occasional world here and there – but it’s done for now. All I need to do now is wait for the editor to check the latest additions, send me any typos etc. change them, send it back unformatted and ready for setting, then work on the ‘front matter’ which will, for this novel, include an explanation of some of the dialect I have researched and used, and a glossary. Meanwhile, I am looking around for a freelance cover designer and the editor has sent me to a site where you can post jobs needed, or search for freelancers and see examples of their work, and where an hourly rate is stated or negotiated. I’ve found so many that look good I don’t know where to start. So, it’s not exactly finished, but it will rest there for now.
A few days off to catch up on housework and other things and then on to the next travel book, which is already in draft preparation. That should see me through to the summer unless any other ideas leap to mind and so it will soon be all go again. Just as we like it.
