tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19301360433541731662024-03-13T08:08:23.892-07:00from under the compost heapCelia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-53324022866757161872021-07-06T13:13:00.002-07:002021-07-06T13:13:22.596-07:00Crawling back to happiness?<p>Soon, they tell us, we'll be able to live with no restrictions. Hmmm. Not so very sure about that. Personally, I'm used to wearing a mask, don't want to stop wearing it, don't want to stop sanitising my hands when I go shopping, or the basket or the trolley. It's a slippery slope down to a rise in cases of Covid's new variant if we plunge straight back into the normal we once knew, and, where I live, we've got too many cases and they're increasing. So maybe we should be crawling back rather than racing in and abandoning all caution, which is the message I'm getting. And of course, it'll be our fault, not the government's, when it all goes off again. Just saying. Heigh ho.</p><p>*</p><p>On the writing front, I've just finished a four-part serial for the only magazine I write for (Women's Weekly) and am researching with the hope of doing another. Clocked up quite a few over these lockdown months, seems it's the only thing I can concentrate on, in fact. I'm moving back in time. The latest one was set in the Georgian era, and now I'm looking at the Tudors. As I said in an earlier post, I love delving back into the past. But until I get the OK from the editing team on the latest one, I'm just reading as part of the research... feels like inviting bad luck to start writing it before the last one's been given the thumbs up and of course waiting for a plot to come winging it's way into my head. It might feature shoes. </p><p>*</p><p>Starting to put a tune to someone else's words which is something I used to do a long time ago. It's a challenge, wanting to get it right, as the writer is a very well known poet and until I'm happy with it and the poet is, then I'm giving no other clues. Might record it though, so watch this space.</p><p>*</p><p>A friend of mine mentioned he'd spent some time reminiscing with an old pal of his and they clocked up three decades of memories over three nights. That, to me at least, is worth putting into a song, so also working on that. </p><p>*</p><p>Still hoping to take the band out and do some gigs. The trio has a few outdoor performances under its belt which has been lovely and we're rehearsing again but as for the main band, well that's a space yet to be filled.</p><p>*</p><p>Finally, I can't wait to get back to singing with the groups I used to work with, pre-pandemic. That's going to be the last thing that comes back, I think, sad though it is, when singing and music is so important to the welfare of these particular people. But when it does, finally happen, oh Lordy I'll be smiling! And happy. </p>Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-17596513921800406902021-02-03T05:09:00.000-08:002021-02-03T05:09:03.614-08:00Sometimes just searching for stories<p>Hello everyone, wherever and whoever you are. Here I am stirring up the blog after it's been left to settle for far too long and has probably stuck to the pan! It's been an interesting couple of years since I last wrote (actually I can't believe it's been so long and apologise). I could list everything that's gone on but won't. Suffice to say we've all had a pretty interesting time of it since March last year and nobody needs to know the woes, the wishes or unfulfilled dreams that make up a Covid-19 year. But we can all wish for a better one.</p><p>Really, though, I have been busy- visit my website: https://www.celiabryce.co.uk and you'll see - but I suppose this post is about my most recent writing project. As you may or may not know I really love delving into the past and into the lives of the people who lived there. Much of my writing grows from this exploration and though I do write stories set in present day, the vast majority come from those eras and those places which I am interested in. Such as life in the North East during Victorian times, the First and Second World Wars; the 1950s and 1960s- which, looking at where we are now, sound so very far away and long ago. But those eras are where I'm happiest paddling around in and discovering things to write about. </p><p>Imagine my joy, then, to be given the job of researching North Shields, the town nearest to where I live. This job has taken me out and about to research the place, to look at its history and to speak with people either on the street-socially distanced of course-and down on the town's famous Fish Quay, and through social media. I wanted to gather their thoughts about the town today and the town they remembered. I had the excuse to pore over books and old maps (oh what a joy that is) and to make notes and plant facts into my head. What's not to like! </p><p>All of that resulted in a number of positive outcomes: I found some wonderful material to work with; I read some amazing FB accounts of life in the town, decades ago; heard some great stories through Zooming and came across some fab photographs which people found in response to my questions. </p><p>And apart from learning how to use a microphone in all weathers-bearing in mind that my part in the project started mid-November and ended in January- and managing to up-load my sound files, send them away and actually be sure that they really would arrive in the right place, I did learn a lot about my local area and more importantly about the deep feelings of the local people who live here. </p><p>The end product, by the way, is a podcast, an audio and e-book publication of the story I wrote using some of the information and tales I came across. You can hear and read, 'Time and the Shoe Man' from February 10th. </p><p>It wasn't just me and North Shields, by the way; there were another six places and seven writers who were doing the same kind of thing, at the same time, and over six subsequent Wednesdays you can read and hear all the other stories. </p><p>And as I write this I haven't yet heard any of the work that we've done. This is really exciting. We writers sent away our sound files and our completed stories to the wonderful Philippa Geering, with her production company, Sonderbug. Philippa has had the unenviable task of making it all work! I really can't wait to hear the end product and hope that you all enjoy it. </p><p>So if you'd like more info on this, go to https//bit.ly/HighStreetTales and read all about it.</p><p>That's it for now.</p><p>Stay safe, stay well and try to keep everyone else you meet safe too.</p><p>Celia</p><p><br /></p><div class="yuRUbf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.58;"><a data-ved="2ahUKEwjh_YP4z83uAhWUXRUIHTrZDjYQFjAAegQIAhAC" href="https://www.celiabryce.co.uk/" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.celiabryce.co.uk/&ved=2ahUKEwjh_YP4z83uAhWUXRUIHTrZDjYQFjAAegQIAhAC" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: #1a0dab; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /><div class="TbwUpd NJjxre" style="display: inline-block; left: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: absolute; text-size-adjust: none; top: 0px;"><br /></div></a><div class="B6fmyf" style="height: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="eFM0qc" style="display: inline-block; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 2px; padding-top: 1px; visibility: visible;"><div class="action-menu" jscontroller="hiU8Ie" style="display: inline; margin: 1px 3px 0px; position: relative; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle;"><ol class="action-menu-panel" data-ved="2ahUKEwjh_YP4z83uAhWUXRUIHTrZDjYQqR8wAHoECAIQBA" jsaction="keydown:Xiq7wd;mouseover:pKPowd;mouseout:O9bKS" role="menu" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 2px 4px; font-size: 13px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 12px; transition: opacity 0.218s ease 0s; visibility: hidden; z-index: 3;" tabindex="-1"><li class="action-menu-item" role="menuitem" style="cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: none;"><a class="fl" href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:PqkxBnPrlJcJ:https://www.celiabryce.co.uk/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search%3Fq%3Dcache:PqkxBnPrlJcJ:https://www.celiabryce.co.uk/%2B%26cd%3D1%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Duk&ved=2ahUKEwjh_YP4z83uAhWUXRUIHTrZDjYQIDAAegQIAhAF" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: #3c4043; display: block; outline: 0px; padding: 7px 18px; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></li></ol></div></div></div></div><div class="IsZvec" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.58; max-width: 48em;"></div>Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-47089119077956474952018-07-11T03:17:00.000-07:002018-07-11T03:17:28.304-07:00The Kelpies Prize 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">More than pleased to find that I've been short listed in the annual <b>Kelpies Prize </b>a wonderful competition run by <b>Floris Books</b> in Edinburgh, which champions children's and young adults stories with a Scottish feel. Fingers and pretty much everything else very crossed that my novel Haunted Tide can make the final hurdle! It's been long in the writing, actually, had many edits and rethinks but it's a story I really like and believe in. So obviously I'm delighted that somebody else really likes and believes in it too! Here are the other two <i>shortlisters</i> and what a pedigree! Hannah Foley and Robin Scott-Elliot. Look them up on </span>https://discoverkelpies.co.uk/2018/07/the-kelpies-prize-2018-shortlist-announced/ and you'll see what I'm up against! </div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Whatever happens, I'm sure all three of us find it great that someone out there appreciates the work we do. Hard slog, that's what it is and it's nice to feature on a list! Anyway, it means a day trip up the road with my little band of supporters to meet another little band of supporters. If you're going to be at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and you've got space in your schedule, the award ceremony takes place at The Party Pavilion at 7.30pm. Can't wait! Thanks for stopping by and reading my exciting news!</span></div>
Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-35217065550005549812018-07-02T05:04:00.000-07:002018-07-02T05:04:21.082-07:00From under the piles of stuffLike a mole I've come out blinking and shrugging and realise that over a year has gone by without me noticing it. How on earth did that happen? Anyone's guess, I suppose. Being busy is my usual excuse so I'll stick to that because, folks, it's true! Travelling, singing, running workshops, writing songs, writing stories, shovelling away rejection emails. You know what, it was much easier when rejections were just bits of paper smacking the mat. Now it's cheery emails. Ever tried shovelling away cheery emails that aren't cheery at all? Even a mole can't do that. Anyway. Not to be discouraged I'm working on a number of things, from picture book texts for wee ones to novels for older ones with bits and pieces in between. Birds are featuring largely. Not sure why except our garden is full of bird feeders. If my husband puts up any more we'll have a forest. Our feathered pals do get themselves into all sorts of scrapes, I've noticed, watching them while I'm thinking through stories. Some even fly themselves into my stories. Now, though I don't profess to know so very much about them I recognise a few and so can, with all confidence, let our growing bunch of little people know what the names are. On the subject of little people, our lovelies surprise and delight me at every turn but especially when they want to hear one of my stories. 'We can't sleep without a story out of your head,' they say. Of course it's a ruse, after three stories from books, and I'm on my knees wishing they'd close their eyes, yet, blinking and shrugging, I snuggle up and tell them something from my head. Sometimes they fall asleep in the middle, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they say, that's a funny one. Which is good enough for me. Right. I'm off, under a pile of something. See you later. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-64845857944644715792016-08-10T15:28:00.002-07:002016-08-10T15:28:22.056-07:00Piles of stuff.I know, folks. Over six months. Don't fuss. I'm a busy person. Piles of stuff to do. Mind you, I seem to have been very, very busy and with little to show for it in many ways. For example, my writing room still looks like a hurricane slipped under the door without knocking. I may have mentioned the state of play years back when I first started this sporadic Blog. In other ways, though, being busy has produced some new songs, which I've gigged and which people seemed to have liked. So not all bad. Written lots of stories, too, sold them and had them published. Edited lots of novel pages. What's a pile of stuff in a corner? OK. So there aren't so many corners in a room so things tend to spill over into other, less angular places such as the middle of the floor, or under other heaps, or on top of other composting stacks. I just step over what I can, like a bloke does (rather refreshing actually) or hide them with another mound of paper. Hamster like. Easy-peasy. And it's called being creative. So I'm allowed. And so to the Olympics, the annual accounts (more hills of litter) and a recent song writing experience with the wonderful Gretchen Peters. Some things are put there in front of you and you Just Have To. Full stop. Rather like Wimbledon. You Just Have To. I've noticed leaves falling. Has anyone else? Do you think that's why August and Autumn share some of the same letters? Something to ponder. I've been given an amazing new computer screen. It's the size of a small wall. Great for hiding piles of stuff behind. Which is where I'll leave it for now and possibly for ever, Amen. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-87460455874418092002016-02-02T02:32:00.002-08:002016-02-02T02:32:38.259-08:00Happy New Year everyone. Yes, I know it's February already, but things have been busy, I've been away and came back to a pile of stuff, not all of it pushed through the letter box, which had to be sorted, things on a list which had to be ticked off and just a bit of jet lag thrown in. Crikey. Wears me out just reading that. But here I am again, bright eyed, bushy tailed (honestly) and ticking off The Blog. So where am I this very windy February day? My house is still standing, bits have not blown off, for which I am truly grateful and blessed, and my family still love me. As for everything else... Still writing. Most important. Still getting published. Most important. Waiting for other <i>writerly </i>things to happen. Most important. OK so three things in a row all of which are <i>most important</i>? Yes sir. If people can get away with apostrophes all over the place (or should I say apostrophe's -yuk yuk yuk) and the oddest spellings of things (because some greater nation than ours indulges - guess which one) then I can get away with three <i>mosts </i>in a line. Because as you know writing is my job. To date I have written four novels, a whole pile of songs and heaps of short stories. And now I'm thinking about novel number five. Keeping at it. Most Important. One of these days I might be able to boast that novel number two is heading for the shelves in a good book shop near you. <i>Patient. Be patient.</i> No, no, that's a note to me. Anyway, as I say, Happy New Year to everyone. It's only February. There's time. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-39895082411860369242015-11-10T11:35:00.001-08:002015-11-10T11:35:30.692-08:00November 11 comes round. I'll be wearing my poppy tomorrow no matter that people seem to be fussing about such things. I think there's more to fuss about, frankly, but hey ho. So poppy and two minutes silence. Meanwhile working hard, waiting hard, and hoping hard that the planets are in alignment and lady luck is on my side. Fingers crossed that people like my novel, that people like my songs but mostly that people start liking each other. That's the biggest hope of all.Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-83338511651126850502015-10-09T03:49:00.001-07:002015-10-09T03:49:52.630-07:00May Day 1916OK so you may not know this but I've always loved reading about and researching into the Great War. Why? You loyal folk might well ask and it's nothing to do with the centenary. It stems from childhood, in fact, stems from finding big fat books sitting on the shelves at home, obviously belonging to my dad, and being curious about them. One book which particularly grabbed my attention was called 'The First Day on the Somme.' I remember the cover which was black, white and red, but not the author. Sorry. However, though I didn't read it all, being young, I was very moved by what I did read, and the biggest shock was the number of soldiers who died on that first day. It's this which is behind the lyrics of my band's new single, 'May Day 1916'. It's about the letter sent by one woman to her husband who's on the Western Front. She knows nothing about The Somme and what's to come. Her letter brings a little piece of home to her husband, a little something about the children, the garden, that day's celebration. Nothing about what she really feels, her fears, her loneliness. She has no idea what's going to happen to her husband, or if he'll ever come home. Probably he doesn't. The letter is written with love. Anyway, we like it so much we thought we'd try to sell it and raise money for the Royal British Legion in the run up to Remembrance Day. So we're trying really hard to push it. We release the single on October 14. Available on download or on CD (one of four songs). If you're interested have a look at it on Youtube and wish us luck. Thank you.<br />
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<br />Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-3059882438827378552015-03-31T01:19:00.003-07:002015-03-31T01:19:50.052-07:00whoah, time's winged chariotSeems to me that time just slips away, like someone pulling the mat from under you. Please stop and give me a breather, why don't you? Ah well, some requests are made to be left ungranted. But here I am anyway. Lots going on , very little of it to do with writing and that's OK because it's <i>needs must</i> and it doesn't stop my head from filling with stuff which will be consigned, sooner or later, to the page or the screen. Having said that, still writing to earn a meagre crust (let's face it, some crusts are lovely, especially with butter plastered on top) and working on the novel. Apropos that, changed the sex of the main character which has given me immense freedom. Should have done that ages ago I reckon. Living and learning. This writing lark. Still singing, by the way, squeezing in the odd gig, still thinking about new songs. Wish me luck, you canny folk, drop me a line if you feel the urge. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-59344720417885300452015-02-09T15:11:00.003-08:002015-02-09T15:11:24.301-08:00My last blog was full of errors! Whoops. Never mind. Written in a hurry and prood that rushing isn't goof. Tee hee.Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-21036561624556598032015-02-09T06:58:00.002-08:002015-02-09T06:58:38.649-08:00The French title has landed! I have my advance copies already gracing the shelves which are positively groaning with foreign issues. No, I'm not moaning. Exact opposite! Now then, I've had a few recent<i> face book friend</i> requests, thanks for those. But, I'm not trying to be churlish or unfriendly but if anyone out there would like to send messages you can do it via my website (www.celiabryce.co.uk) or via the Celia Bryce Band face book site. I'm happy to be friends with anyone who would like that, but my personal face book site isn't much good for anyone but family, who understand that I'm not great at keeping in touch or answering friend requests. Hope you all understand. Thanks once again/Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-91420473280607229432015-01-26T07:49:00.001-08:002015-01-26T07:53:59.034-08:00Coming Soon...<img alt="À la vie, à la mort ! - CELIA BRYCE" src="http://www.renaud-bray.com/ImagesEditeurs/PG/1657/1657805-gf.jpg" id="ctl09_ctl01_mz1Div_ctl00_ctl00_imgCover" width="195" />
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... the French version of Anthem for Jackson Dawes. Looking good. Hopefully I'll have some copies on my shelves soon. </div>
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Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-1787497415146957732015-01-03T16:16:00.001-08:002015-01-03T16:16:07.767-08:00Happy New Year to one and all and let's hope it's a better one for anyone who's suffered loss or heartbreak. Sometimes listening to the news makes me very sad indeed. But, I've had some lovely tweets from Brazilian readers recently which makes me feel especially honoured and cheers me no end. So thank you for that, you wonderful people. Just to let you know, book two is now completed, book three well under way with a second draft almost completed, and well, who knows. Wish me luck at this time. So many hurdles to jump, hoops to crawl through, mountains to climb. Gee, this writing lark's no breeze. Fingers crossed on all counts. Bye for now, folks.Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-39671693040905806782014-12-18T13:47:00.004-08:002014-12-18T13:47:54.254-08:00I have a string quartet in my kitchen. It's a first, and I have to say, it's rather nice. What players! But, for once, this isn't a house gig but a trial run to see if 'strings' will work on a song we've written. So they're helping us out. Sounding good so far. They're all medical students, by the way, fresh from their exams and looking forward to some time off from pulsations, eruptions and suppurations, to chilling out. Hopefully, the Thai curry and Ferrero Rocher, hardly a reward but a thank you, will help them slide more easily into their festive vacation. As for the song, I'll keep you posted on future developments. Happy Christmas everyone and a good 2015. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-44300158461632342632014-11-18T09:18:00.002-08:002014-11-18T09:18:48.508-08:00Back from a fab trip to China. Lots of pics. Just trying to transfer them from my seriously arthritic lap top to my main computer. All sorts of lights flashing, things moving sedately across the little Copying box in the left hand corner. A road of green blocks seems to be taking a worrisome amount of time to complete. Hope the memory stick's up to this. Being a technological Luddite I'm finding the whole thing a bit nerve shredding. Could have written novel number three in the time this is taking... Serves me right for liking my digital camera so much. It's turned me into someone who can actually take a photograph, so not to spurn the gift I tend to click rather more than is good for me. So now the stick is full and not all the pics have copied. Operation to transfer and delete. Seems to be OK. 55 seconds to go and whoopee doo! All done. Now to sort them. I may be some time. Anyway thanks for dropping by. Just to let you know on the writing front, second novel awaiting agent's approval and third one underway. I'll keep you posted on that as well as what's happens on the music front. A few gigs coming up, change in band personnel and different slant on the songs. Heck. I notice my desk has something growing on it. Only been home a week. Orderliness is so boring, don't you think?Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-80357991066947409122014-10-07T04:03:00.004-07:002014-10-07T04:03:33.254-07:00People will stand amazed. And I ought to take pictures, not of their amazement, but of my desk, to prove that it is... how can I say this without sounding like an excessive swellhead... transformed. I can see clearly now the junk has gone. I can see all obstacles have been moved. Yes sirree! It's a bright, bright, sunshiny place to work now. A monumental task. Took a whole weekend. But worth it. Just as well. Reading my previous blog and the omission of the word <i>life</i> from it, making the sentence it should have been in read rather oddly, just shows how editing my own writing is a task and a half. You think it's perfect (or as perfect as it ever can be) but Lo and Behold, once it's published, the errors leap out almost <i>smirkily</i>. Editing my desk is a whole lot easier. On the song front, a bit more recording last night of May Day 1916. That song. That song. When it's all done we'll let you hear it, one way or another. I'll keep you posted.Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-71283600973469347312014-09-25T01:51:00.003-07:002014-09-25T01:51:53.368-07:00Working on new idea for novel number three while my wonderfully perceptive agent, James, combs the tats out of novel number two. So working on something new which means thinking time. AKA looking around my towers of papers, turrets of books and the sea of wood that is my desk with its flotsam and jetsam. My desk appals most people. It's like my bedroom when I was a teenager. I could live my whole in that room and ditto from this desk as a supposed Grown Up With Responsibilities. Make-up. Bottle of water. Probably not drinkable. Magazines with my stories in, magazines without. Harrumph. Head phones to listen to missed radio programmes, and recorded bits of novel, printer, computer, hard drive, DVDs, pens that work, pens that don't work. Pencils with points, pencils without. Hand gel. Next year's diary. Two in fact. An Australian ten dollar note. Fisherman's Friends because of the sore throat. I'm singing on Saturday. Sorry all you dentists. What can a person do? Promise to floss. Yup, there's some of that here somewhere. A book which tells me how to get an egg inside a bottle and back out = Important Research for Short Story Which Magazine Might Buy. Harrumph again. 1955 song book complete with chords for keyboard. Tub of elastic bands. Hand cream. Scissors which won't cut a thing. What are serrated scissors meant to cut? Cheap serrated scissors. Pound store serrated scissors. The only thing they do is look like crocodile jaws. A red glove. My favourite perfume. Just sprayed myself and the room with it. Gorgeous. Train tickets for London. There's more and more, but, just for the record, no mouldy food or mugs with foam floating in the dregs. So I'm not a complete Grown Up Slob With Responsibilities. There's more but my feet are getting cold, sitting. So got to get off the chair and have a look about the room, find something to tidy up, have some thinking time. Keep you posted. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-74024561199001887472014-09-13T07:05:00.001-07:002014-09-13T07:07:27.052-07:00Northern Lights Near Miss...?Abortive trip to see Northern Lights over St Mary's Island at 3am
today. Managed to miss it all, though we- which includes
Jack, the Aussie backpacker - let our optical imaginations tease us into
thinking we saw something, changes in the sky, bands of vague light, wispy movement. Tricks of the mind, probably nothing more. Missed it, in fact, by light years, or at least three hours, if
other people's photographs are to be believed. Trying again tonight. Tomorrow the band play at BAA FEST in Bellingham, after a meet-the-author session and a chat with Jane Knights of Folkspot Radio based in Norfolk but in Northumberland for the festival. If you can't get there why not have a listen on <a href="http://www.folkspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.folkspot.co.uk</a><br />
Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-19099037847777418882014-09-08T11:45:00.002-07:002014-09-08T11:45:45.180-07:00Working hard on book two. With my agent's wise words and suggestions it's becoming a complete thing rather than something scatter-gunned onto the page. But all of that work scrambles the brain and requires a break. So took myself off for a river walk. Chilly. Autumn on its way. Great. Ignoring the bags of dog-do helpfully dotted around the place took myself down to the fish quay and then back along to the Tyne Estuary. Low tide. The Black Middens trembling with shore birds. Up the bank to have a look at the sea and the benches with their little plaques. Found I wanted to read them all. Lived here for so long and never done that. Came back feeling as if I'd wandered around a cemetery, having wondered about those people behind the names, their stories. Rather lovely, rather peaceful. Brain unscrambled. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-25367853324612122572014-08-07T04:11:00.000-07:002014-08-07T05:27:19.159-07:00Brazilian Anthem for Jackson Dawes<div id="livro_capa">
<img alt="Uma Canção Para Jack" src="http://skoob.s3.amazonaws.com/livros/399882/UMA_CANCAO_PARA_JACK_1404400750P.jpg" itemprop="photo" style="border: #999 1px solid; margin: 0px 6px 4px 0px;" title="Uma Canção Para Jack" width="200" /></div>
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Just taken delivery of this today. And if you look on Youtube you can see a trailer for it. I loved it. Made me cry and laugh all at once. Fab. Oh I need to learn some languages! Check it out below.<i></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VovHNLaxdCQ"><i>Uma canção para Jack</i> - Book Trailer - <i>YouTube</i></a></div>
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<span class="spell_orig"></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VovHNLaxdCQ"><span class="_L7" style="top: -11px;"></span><span class="vdur _nM _M7"><br /></span><span class="vdur _nM _N7"></span></a></div>
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Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-66545544253673807382014-07-27T10:03:00.000-07:002014-07-27T10:03:17.895-07:00songsSo this weekend it's been hard at it with the song writing team. Colin, Tony and myself. We managed to produce a small sackful, in between bacon sandwiches, lunch, and restorative beverages. Hard work, I can tell you, but worth it. Didn't notice how the strawberries from a day ago had grown an overcoat of mould, they don't last long do they, and had cosied up with the red grapes, equally short lived, at least in our kitchen, and shared their fur with them. So no resting on laurels once the songs were done, it was clean up the kitchen, put out the trash, sweep up the crumbs. Rock and Roll. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-66557942243156780972014-06-12T04:02:00.001-07:002014-06-12T04:02:47.476-07:00All things bright and beautifulYou know, when all's said and done, nothing's so important as life, nothing's so trivial as writing, in the face of a baby born too early, trying to take a bite out of life to see what it's like. There's a teeny feller over in Oz, doing just that. He's one of those wee ones that come complete with hats and tubes and drips and nurses. One of those who live in tanks and under lights and with machines ticking and bleeping away in the background. And somehow, him battling away to get a nibble, makes the world spin a tad faster. My world anyway, and the world of people who matter to me. And over the last week, little feller seems to have developed a taste for catching a ride on it. And he has. So good on him. Time to head home and put some weight on those sparrow-bones and have a go at life outside the box. It's not so bad, little feller. And all the while, my book has taken a nibble of its own, with hats and tubes and bleeping things to help it along, and another miracle, trivial in the extreme, has happened. All creatures great and small. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-72937843620942395522014-05-12T03:36:00.001-07:002014-05-12T03:36:09.537-07:00One of these days I'll get this second novel sorted. Anyone out there with pearls of wisdom, come thread them around my neck, don't be shy, don't hang back, I'm here to be advised, to be have my fevered brow dabbed with something cool. There's just me and the wide blue yonder communing and fretting. But hey, Sunderland has restored my faith in something. All is not lost. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-2987252073270335802014-03-07T03:12:00.001-08:002014-03-07T03:12:33.402-08:00Book two. First draft to agent. Flat battery in car. Hey ho. Soon, though, very soon it'll all be OK. Yes, yes, I'm a believer. Had a nice week, up and down to Yorkshire and then to Newcastle Uni to talk about Anthem for Jackson Dawes. He just keeps going, that boy. Have nice days, folks.Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930136043354173166.post-61701400052962509562014-02-19T03:43:00.003-08:002014-02-19T03:43:44.867-08:00This has been a busy time. Second novel syndrome really does exist, folks, and combating that has taken up all of my energy. Still doing all the first novel stuff, readings and signings, and still hanging on in with some of the awards whose lists it was mentioned in. That takes up quite a lot of emotional and mental energy. Disappointments are inevitable and so I bat them away like flies. No point in dwelling for too long. Only, flies can be tricksy little things. So I keep batting. Three cheers for singing, I say, for being able to write a song and perform it with my band and have people like what they hear. Three cheers for school children and teachers and librarians who invite me in to write with them and to sing with them and to stop me worrying about second novels. Finished rough draft today, by the way. Off to my agent. Fingers crossed. Life is full of crossed fingers, don't you find? And in the scheme of things, when the south of England seems to be melting into the sea, I don't feel that my little dilemmas should even have air space, though getting them off my chest is quite nice. Welcome to the world of writing. Celia Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14546312700924944957noreply@blogger.com0