What I’ve Been Up To: January & February

– writing –

I’ve been working on the first draft of a new novel since the beginning of January. It’s something a bit different than anything I’ve written yet…and I’m pretty excited about it…but I don’t feel ready to talk more about it just yet. I decided I wanted to get to a certain point in the first draft before I shared anything about it or shared any snippets, and I hope to reach that point by next month at least. So, stay tuned…

On an already-published note, I recently released Bridge to Trouble as an ebook at Amazon, Kobo, et al. It came about after Goodreads deleted the book page on the grounds that the title wasn’t available anywhere but for free through my website; and I eventually decided that having it for sale would be a good thing in more than one way, in that it would give readers more of a choice as to how they wanted to get the book. New subscribers to my email list still have an option to download Bridge to Trouble for free, but anyone who wants to read the book yet doesn’t care to subscribe can buy it at their favorite ebook retailer.

– reading –

I’ve been so focused on writing that I actually haven’t read very much this month! That does tend to happen with me: I’ll go through spurts where I’m really involved with a project and don’t read as much, and then read a ton when between projects or in a more relaxed stage of the writing/editing process. I have been re-reading a couple of favorites, though. I’ve been slowly working through Dorothy Sayers’ The Mind of the Maker since before the holidays, and it’s the kind of book with enough depth in it that you take away new thoughts when you revisit it at different points in your life. The chapter “Problem Picture” certainly yielded more now that I’ve read Gaudy Night—which was amazing, by the way, perhaps even more so as a deep and meditative novel than as a mystery. I should mention that that chapter in The Mind of the Maker includes complete plot spoilers for it, which I inadvertently ran smack into on my first reading years ago. I think perhaps since I already knew the basic solution of the mystery when I read Gaudy Night, I was more tuned in to the character development and philosophical themes of the book.

I’m also re-reading Georgette Heyer’s The Unknown Ajax, and oh my, I’m rediscovering why it’s one of my favorites of hers—top three or maybe even top two now. It was one that I liked just moderately when I first read it, but it’s grown on me since, especially this time around. It’s delightful and hilarious and that long climactic scene is just a brilliant piece of writing. In the right hands it would make an awesome movie, by the way.

– listening –

Mainly the playlist for my WIP…which is also a subject for another day. But one of my recent discoveries while listening to classical music radio was a charming waltz by English composer Eric Coates, “Dance of the Orange Blossoms.” I went on YouTube to look it up again afterwards, and of course ended up hopping to another video of a Coates composition and then another, and I think I’m going to enjoy listening to more of his work!

Also, I don’t think I’ve mentioned the Petersens on here before—they’re an amazing family bluegrass band I discovered a little over a year ago, and their music is wonderful. Just about everything on their YouTube channel is worth a listen, but a few of my favorites are “Sweet Beulah Land,” “Landslide,” “Carolina in the Pines,” “You’re Still the One,” “Moments,” and “Amarillo by Morning.” They also have several full live concerts on there which include most of their best songs, including some I just mentioned.

– otherwise –

I finally have a working computer of my own again! I got it for Christmas, actually, but there was a tiny flaw in the screen, so we had to exchange it, and…the second one had an issue with the keyboard, so we had to exchange it again. And then had to spend a couple of weeks after the third one arrived trying to get hold of Microsoft customer service for help with a software issue, and that’s about as easy to do as getting an audience with an emperor. But the kinks are all worked out at last, and I can once more use a word processor and check my email without having to borrow a computer from a long-suffering family member.

I’ve been taking a hiatus from Twitter while working on my new novel, and I think it’s done me good. I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do with my social media moving forward, but even if I don’t leave Twitter I’ll probably spend less time there. In that case I’d like to try and focus more on my newsletter and on this blog (perhaps post a little more regularly, even if not super-often). I’ve also been having fun getting a little more involved with the bookish community on Instagram, so if you’re on there stop by and check out my posts sometime! My username is @elisabethgfoley there, as with most places.

photo credit: me