or at least we will in a couple of weeks.

We had another double glazed panel blow over the weekend and made a call to the company we used to replace the others to come and give us a quote………………..
And since our call, we have been thinking.

So far, we have replaced two panels on separate occasions, one in the kitchen and one in the main bedroom at a cost of £70 each. The other pane in the kitchen had been replaced by the previous occupiers, and it turns out that one of the smaller panels in the lounge bay window had also been replaced, so that makes four. Double glazing is guaranteed for ten years, so as the property is now 12 years old, it’s not surprising they are beginning to fail.

Last time, we calculated that it was more practical for us to replace the panes as…

What is it about memory, that makes us remember summers as being better in our youth? Ask most people about the weather, and they will almost always agree that the summer was better when they were young.

Six weeks of unbroken sun, school holidays spent outside, with perhaps the occasional thundery shower, that helped to clear the air. Given that this might span a time period from 1958, to 1998, it cannot really have any basis in fact. Although I do not have the real statistics to hand, (and cannot be bothered to look them up) I am sure that we didn’t always have fabulous summers, with weeks of Mediterranean heat, and unbroken blue skies. So why is it that this is how I remember them?

Before we moved to Kent, when I was fifteen years old, I spent my summers on the streets of Bermondsey, a South London district…

What if I were to tell you there’s a fantastic way to get your readers to pay attention

One that you could use to great effect. One. Just one.

One simple word.

Curios to know what it is?

Read on.

The words of the tongue
should have three gatekeepers:
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?

~ Arab Proverb ~
_________

“Atonement in Bloom” continues the urban fantasy from the point where “Atonement, Tennessee” ended.The quaint town was stranger than Ralda Lawton could have imagined. The local population included supernatural beings of the fae variety. Although only she and a few others knew about that.In a past life, Ralda ― Esmeralda had been involved in something with those supernaturals and it had carried into her present life. In Atonement, Tennessee, that almost got her killed. Now she has new problems, and new supes to complicate matters.Atonement in Bloom continues the misadventures of Ralda, her friends, and neighbors in the small (but far from peaceful) town of Atonement, Tennessee. Her old house and cemetery are still there, along with Lilith the cat, quirky townsfolk, and assorted supernaturals.Now Lilith the calico sniffs out a strange beast.Fae foolery backfires. A friend is abducted.On a cold December day, Atonement, Tennessee comes into bloom.

The Beginning

The first time I tried to write Dempsey’s Grill it was your typical mess. The idea was there but the story line was off. I could tell there was something missing and I could see the characters were not well written.

But it was a start.

By the time it was complete I knew I had something. It wasn’t because I wrote it, it was because I wrote something I wanted to read.

No is not the final answer

At the time I had no idea if others would agree but I knew I had to find out. For the longest time the answers were the same.

NO

I think it was rejection 100 when I stopped counting. Who am I kidding? I counted every one. But no matter how many publishers or agents said no I kept going.

Why?

Because I wrote a book I wanted to…

The words you guys. The words. Yes, I know, you are thinking. “Uh, excuse me Jessie, books are literally made of words.” But these words describe places in such lyrical ways they roll around in my head painting vivid pictures. I was only on page two…  “Beside me, buildings cringe with moss. Walkways glisten with dirty puddles. Teetering balconies slouch from walls with garments strung between casements like cobwebs.” …and there I was, in love.

I’d like to think it’s more than personal preference that makes this setting of such a vivid scene so important. Thrown into a whirlwind of a fantasy world where the heroine is being marched away in chains by the end of the first chapter you’ve got to be able to get your bearings quickly.  And the beautiful descriptions make sure you do.

I hit the unveiling of the big plot point and found myself in…

Hi, SE Readers. Joan here today to talk about the importance of using an editor.

Self-editing, beta readers, and critique partners or groups are all an important aspect of the writing process. Each step has its benefits. Some writers may not use beta readers, and others don’t have a critique partner or group. I believe both provide useful feedback. It goes without saying that self-editing is necessary.

However, if you want your manuscript to be the best it can be, you need the services of a professional. It’s important to know there are different types of edits—content edits, line edits, and copy edits.

Some people use the terms line editor and content editor to mean the same thing essentially. Others differentiate slightly on the two. You may also hear the term developmental edits rather than content edits.

Today, I’m going to talk about content editors. This person can take an…