Liverpool Echo - Writer's Block

Finding the time for writing

2009-07-08T15:47:34Z

Topping & Co in Bath - photograph by Susan Humphreys
I guess its hardly surprising that I haven't had much time for writing lately - well not unless you count filling in application forms for jobs - I've written plenty of those! I've even written a report on social networking as part of my volunteer work and of course i'm writing all the time on Facebook and Twitter - even on here whe i can think of something to share! but as for actual fiction - nothing!

]]> There's no excuse really though and as a former reporter I should know you just have to do it! I must try harder! Especially as this month's National Geographic magazine has Angkor on the cover.
I have however managed to find time for my quick trip to Bath where I got to hear my hero Glen David Gold read from his new book Sunnyside. He was very funny and admitted he is also very bad at writing when he should - "oh look there's a cat in the yard," was his comment. I got to have a quick chat with him after the reading and he very kindly signed my books and told me he is however working on something new (hurrah). I'm hoping it won't take him eight years as it did after finishing Carter Beats the Devil - my favourite book. I also mentioned I read his blog - which he seemed very pleasantly surprised about! Well I know how that feels - when I'm writing on here I always feel like no-one's reading it.
Topping & Company was a fanatastic bookshop - you could spend days in there and the staff were lovely. They are also open 7 days a week till 7.30pm! I couldn't resist buying the new Jonanthan Stroud book too - Heroes of the Valley especially as it was a signed copy. If you're in Bath and you love books do pop in - well linger!
I also got to pay my second visit to Bristol Zoo, it was a glorious day and I got to check out al lot of Madagascan animals again including the aye-ayes, mouse lemurs and mongoose lemurs. One of the highlights though was getting to shake hands - well legs- with Gabriella the tarantuala - which involved letting her carefully put her limbs on the palm of my hand. She was much lighter than I expected and very soft - not at all scary. I also got to hold a Madagascan Hissing Cockroach again - they were very noisy!

Two writing challenges for young people

2009-06-29T13:55:44Z

Can you finish a story by an Usborne author?
I have also been quite busy applying for jobs so apologies for the gap between posts. I've had another rejection, a basic slip, came back very quickly, and the envelope had got chewed up in the post. Was a bit disappointed as the agency's requirements ask for the first 50-100 words with a footer, which took a bit of time sorting. Oh well.
I have just received the new programme for this year's Bath Festival of Children's Literature. Inside there is the usual fantastic list of visiting authors (perhaps I'll get to go this time, so far I've always had diary clashes!) and there is mention of two competitions that I thought I'd pass on.

]]> The first is by Bloomsbury, the publisher of the Harry Potter books. It is called 247tales.com and is for young writers aged between 8 and 16 resident in the UK.
The challenge is to write a story in 247 words or fewer. Each month a Bloomsbury author sets a theme and writes their own 247 story - then its your turn.
This month's deadline has just passed it was about The Web and the author was Gemma Malley author of The Declaration, a book I would like to read. The winner will be posted on Wednesday so they may change to the next theme then too.
One winner is chosen each month and they receive £75 worth of Bloomsbury books and have their 247tale featured on this website. Ten runners-up will get a signed copy of the latest book from that month's featured author, as well as links to their stories.
You can email your story (only one per month) via the website www.247tales.com or post it to: 247tales competition, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 36 Soho Square, London W1D 3QY.
Include your name, age, address and a contact number or email address on your entry.
The second competition is the Usborne Young Writers' Award 2009 and challenges youngsters to finish stories by five authors. The publishers are celebrating five years of Usborne Fabulous Fiction, by offering UK writers up to the age of 14, the chance to write a story with a real author.
The lucky winners will receive a trip to Usborne House in London to meet all five authors, plus lots of other great prizes including £100 worth of FREE Usborne books and an author event at your school.
The competition is open to UK children up to and including the age of 14 on 23rd October 2009, which is the deadline for the competition. Stories must be completed in no more than 1000 words (excluding the story starter).
To enter write the story-starter author's name on your story, then send it to Usborne Young Writers' Award, Usborne Publishing, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8RT or email it to youngwritersaward@usborne.com
Find the stories, full rules and lots of tips at http://www.usborne.co.uk/features/young_writers_award.asp
By the way some people seem to have had problems with posting comments. I have now realised they sometimes go into spam and are automatically deleted, so I will double check there from now on.
I have also been asked about following this blog, there is no need to register.

Whitby short story challenge and reply from agent

2009-06-16T09:17:06Z

Well if you've been following me on Twitter you will know I've had a reply from the agent who was looking at my full manuscript of my revised Dr Midas and the Pirates. Sadly the whole thing had come back so I knew it was going to be bad news.

]]> She wrote : "Publishers are being increasingly choosy about what they take on and many have cut back on the volume of books they acquire. This has a knock on effect and I have to be equally choosy. Unfortunately I didn't think that your work had that elusive "stand-out" quality that I am looking for, although I did enjoy your lively style," and went on to wish me well.
This is obviously a difficult time for publishers just as it is with other companies, and it seems to me they really need to be certain of guaranteed big sales before they'll sign a writer and this is the case with agents too. Perhaps I need to get all of you to pledge to buy a copy!!!
Anyway I've done as I always do, sent it out again to another agent.
I'm also going to have a go at the two Pure Inspiration writing competitions, being run this summer by English Heritage and being promoted by two very successful children's book writers.
The first has to be based around Whitby Abbey and will be judged by Yorkshire author G.P Taylor. Winning stories will be published in a special English Heritage book.
Graham received loads of rejections himself before self-publishing. Promoting the competition, he said: "When you are an unknown author, getting that first break can be extremely difficult. This competition will give several authors the chance to have see their works in print, hopefully uncovering some bright new talent for the future."
The second has to be based around Lucky Spot, a crystal horse made of suspended crystals, by Stella McCartney at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland, and will be judged by the author of Skellig, David Almond.
Winners of the Belsay competition will receive signed books, and the overall winner will receive a year's free membership to English Heritage.
The Whitby competition runs from 19 May to 4 September 2009, with entries welcomed from writers of all ages and abilities - although they must use Whitby Abbey as an integral part of the story.
There are four categories that will be judged separately:

* Ages 11 and under (maximum story length: 500 words)
* Ages 12 to 16 (maximum story length: 1250 words)
* Ages 17 to 21 (maximum story length: 2500 words)
* Over 21s (maximum story length: 2500 words)
All entries should be emailed to whitbystorytelling@fim.org.uk, no later than 12 noon on Friday 4 September 2009.
The Belsay stories can be set at any time: past, present or future, or indeed, be set in the real world or a parallel world, as long as Lucky Spot remains an integral part of the story. They must be submitted by email to no later than 12 noon on Tuesday 7 July 2009.
For more details visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.20852

A trip to Maryport to see a high wire act for research

2009-06-03T13:09:35Z

Don't look down! I loved watching this amazing double high wire walk by Sky Productions at Maryport harbour.
One of my characters in Dr Midas and the Khmers, Tomistoma, wants to be an acrobat and tightrope walker, so when I heard about a free high wire event I just had to go!
I love any excuse for a research trip and this one was to take me up to Maryport in the Lakes. My mum went along with me as she's been before to see for a pirate day which I couldn't make.
The event was called 'Walk to the Stars' and was part of Lakes Alive a fantastic arts event which included six Reach for the Sky performances by aerial acts including Corazon de Angeles which I've looked up on You Tube.
The event I chose was on Friday night at Maryport harbour and was by Ramon Kelvinck Jr and Jade Kindar-Martin (Sky Productions) from France.

]]> The town was packed out with locals and visitors and we all craned our necks to watch the two men make their way from one side to the other 60 feet above the ground - crossing over at the half way point!
The wind was clearly blowing their shirts and the music really added to the atmosphere. Scarily they wore no safety harnesses or ropes and there was no safety net. I was able to get a real sense of the skills needed to do a high wire act and I loved the fact the two men placed a hand on each others hearts before doing their act and kissed the mast before climbing down after successfully completing it!
There were other acts on during the evening including Los Kaos - Penny Farthing stunt-riding identical twins and Bongo Bolero who wore a striking leotard.
For pictures of those and more of the high wire act visit my website www.drmidas.co.uk
When I got back I wrote up what I'd seen and felt so I can use it in my book.

Two events I'm looking forward to this summer

2009-05-27T09:50:10Z

As you may know I now volunteer one day a week at the Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston, Lancashire. I was really excited to hear about their new summer exhibition which is all about fairy tales.
Enchanted Worlds: Art of Fairy Stories and Mermaid Tales runs from the 13th June - 5th September 2009 with a big family fun day planned for the first Saturday at 12 noon.
Enchanted Worlds will include painting, sculpture, photography, film, animation, puppetry, print and illustration from some of the world's most revered artists of the genre.

]]> The exhibition includes pieces inspired by Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. With rare first editions illustrated by famous artists such as Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac and Mervyn Peake being on display.
Other featured artists are Richard Dadd, Jean Cocteau, Lotte Reininger, David Hockney, Quentin Blake, Paula Rego, Jan Pienkowski, William Heath Robinson and Mabel Lucie Attwell.
For more information on this exhibition visit www.harrismuseum.org.uk
One of my top three favourite books is Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold. So I was really excited when I discovered he is visiting the UK to promote his new book Sunnyside. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the book - its publication kept being delayed - so it will be a real treat to hear him talk about it too. His tour is very short taking in London, Brighton and Bath. I'm going to Bath (July 2nd) where he will be at an independent book shop called Topping and Company - what a great name!
They have lots of great book events (they also have an Ely branch) on so take a look at their website if you fancy an excuse to visit the lovely city. Their website is at http://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/. Interestingly Gold's publishers had originally planned an exclusive three month tie-in with Waterstones which really upset smaller bookshops.
My only other news is that I've decided to change my main character in Dr Midas and the Khmers from a boy to a girl. So Joe is becoming Jo - thank goodness for find and replace although there's no shortcuts I know of to change the his's to her's without affecting those belonging to other characters! The reason I decided to make the change is because I was reminded there aren't enough girl adventurers while I was reading Blood Sun (highly recommended) and the Eye of the Serpent. Having Jo seems to work better with having her mum in the story too and with another plot device I can't mention as it would spoil things.
I'm hoping to write about twins in my next book - a boy and a girl - but again I'm now thinking two girls might be the way to go instead. Better finish this one first though.

Catching up with you and my reading

2009-05-18T15:20:34Z

Hello again. Haven't really got anything particular to talk about this week so I thought I'd upload my photo of me meeting the lorikeet at Rainbow Landings, Edinburgh Zoo.

The bird is such a beautiful colour you can see why they called the exhibit rainbow landings!
I had an email last week from someone I know via volunteering who said their granddaughter loved reading and animals so they'd had a look at my website (www.drmidas.co.uk) and really enjoyed it which was really nice to hear. Its nice to know I'm not the only one who loves books and animals!

]]> Speaking of reading I'm really enjoying a book by Philip Caveney at the moment called Eye of the Serpent featuring his boy hero Alec Devlin. Philip is from Manchester (hurrah another northern writer!) and stupidly I missed his talk to the North West branch of SCBWI recently.
The book is a mystery set in Egypt with some fantastic scenes (some are a bit scary!) involving hyenas and bats - of the possessed type! I don't like my animals coming to any harm in my books but when they're demonic I suppose it's ok! Ha! There's another sequel out soon which I can't wait for and I'm going to have to try his Sebastian Darke series next.
I love finding a new writer because it can be a wait between books. I'm also very excited to hear that the next Max Gordon book is out soon by David Gilman. I love the Dangerzone series and will be checking out WH Smith for the latest Blood Sun this month. I'm not actually supposed to be reading as you know having vowed to steer clear of my Eva Ibbotson book until I've finished my first draft but I'm failing miserably. It's not my fault that there's such good books out there though.
David Gilman has a nice website and blog too where you can follow his writing, he recently went to see some tall ships - like I have - and he very kindly replied to my comments.
Don't forget to let me know your favourite writers too.

The People's Author - Alan Titchmarsh launches competition

2009-05-12T16:01:18Z

The Alan Titchmarsh Show are looking for 'The People's Author' - a writer who has a "strong, real life inspirational" story to tell.
The winner will receive a publishing deal with Orion including a £20,000 advance.

]]> The closing date is Tuesday June 30th. Entrants must be 18 or over and living in the UK and you must not be a professional writer. Only one entry per person.
Your entry (not previously publishes) must be a real life story based on incidents that you have experienced.
To compete you must send an outline (synopsis) no more than two pages long, and a sample from your story up to 5,000 words long, and a brief biography.
Entries must be posted to The People's Author, The Alan Titchmarsh Show, P O BOX 64382, London, EC2P 2GJ.
For more details visit http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/TheAlanTitchmarshShow/Thepeoplesauthor/default.html

Countryfile magazine writing competition

2009-05-07T19:08:10Z

BBC Countryfile Magazine are running a competition to celebrate the centenray anniversary of the birth of Sir Peter Scott, who founded the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).
The competition is to write about one of your experiences of great British wildlife in no more than 100 words!

]]> The magazine says: "It could be a description of natural phenomena you have witnessed, a chance encounter with wildlife, or conservation work you have been involved in."
The winners receives a fantastic short break at Thornbury Castle in South Gloucestershire including a special VIP day at the WWT Slimbridge reserve. The winning story will be published in the September issue of Countryfile magazine.
Entrants must be 18 and your story must not have been used elsewhere. You need to complete an entry form and attach it to your story and the deadline is June 1st 2009.
Further details at http://www.bbccountryfile.com/webform/enter-our-british-wildlife-writing-competition.

Espresso machines that print books?!

2009-04-29T10:40:00Z

Before I forget and in case you miss Tony's comment elsewhere here's an event at Pritchards in Formby that fans of football books might like.
He says: "On Sat 9th May Peter Lupson will revisit to sign copies of his wonderful 'Across the Park' it really looks at the origins of LFC and EFC and shows how much they have in common, he will be joined by curator of LFC museum and also crime author Stephen Done and also Robert Galvin from the National Football Museum in Preston and we hope a few special guests too. A great day out and a chance to get a great book or two."
I'm not a footy fan myself despite pressure from my nephew but that sounds like a great event.

]]> Anyway back to the subject of today's blog! I've been following people's thoughts on the new Espresso Book Machine that can print books while you wait. The first one has been installed in Blackwell's Charing Cross Road branch, London and can pump out up to 500,000 titles of your choice. Word is it will be popular for printing off anything from copies of rare books to self-published titles. The clever part is that it also binds the pages together with a jacket. The quality is apparantly very good although I have heard of some teething troubles. The machine if successful will be put into other Blackwell's including campus shops. I remember the thrill of having my disertation printed and bound imagine if you could use this machine to print off your own book. Some would-be writers are already talking about how handy it would be to print off first drafts and if the price was right I think I'd be tempted it can be hard work flicking through A4 pages, I think that's why some (mainly U.S) agents now like to read submissions on their Sony Readers.
I, of course, am still on my first draft of Khmers and have again been rethinking the beginning, I've changed the opening so that it is Joe, my boy character and not his mum that begins the adventure - much better. I have also decided not to emphasise the Churning of the Milk legend, I've been a bit uncomfortable using a religious belief and it has been restricting, so I'm going to keep the amrita but me more general, I've decided there will be different traps to go through before the elixir can be reached too - I'm thinking more Indiana Jones.
I had a great time at Edinburgh Zoo and got to feed the lorikeets nectar at Rainbow Landings which was brilliant. I was really surprised how soft and warm their little feet felt on my hand though, I wonder if that's what a parrots are like too - I might have to double check for Dr Midas and the Khmers. I loved the penguin parade too - they looked like they loved it and it all began when one escaped in the 1950s - a great story there! I also got to see the aye-aye at Edinburgh, he was really active and was enjoying having a drink. Now I've only got to see the ones at London Zoo!! I even got to see the paws of a wolverine after failing to see them at Stockholm, they're still on my list to see properly!
oh and don't forget you can follow me on twitter @drmidaswriter

A short trip to Scotland and one to the sorting office

2009-04-15T14:48:43Z

Well I'm still working away on book three, I've been moving early sections around as I've realised my main child character - Joe - wasn't in it enough. Also working on being in his head more - which is a problem I had to fix with the rewrite on my first book. I'm also considering culling a character - a prince - as I think there are too many adult characters in my book.

]]> For those of you who are following me on twitter (drmidaswriter) you'll know I also missed the delivery of a big parcel this morning. The little red card was on the floor (with dog teeth marks in it again!) and I felt really miserable as I'm worried its my manuscript come back which only ever means one thing - rejection. I'm just holding onto the hope that it's a book I ordered a while back, instead.
I always feel I'm in some kind of limbo when I'm waiting to hear about my book, but however horrible the waiting is it's nothing compared to the return of an SAE! I was feeling really blue for a while as I'm trying so hard. Well I'll just have to be brave and go and fetch the parcel in the morning.
On the upside I'm off to Edinburgh for the weekend with my mum to the zoo! We are also hoping to call into another zoo where if you get there early enough a small number of visitors can buy a ticket to feed the ringtailed lemurs! I love visiting new zoos, fingers crossed it doesn't rain.
I've also been reading up on sea serpents for my Khmers book and enjoyed watching a really silly programme called The Monster Hunter the other day where a guy goes into jungles looking for mysterious creatures. He never actually sees much, it's a bit like those ghost hunting shows- but it's great hearing about strange creatures that my just exist in remote parts like terror birds in Zambia and giant ground sloths in South America. I love cryptozoology and I'm pretty sure I'll write a Dr Midas adventure one day with element of it in!

Galaxy Book Awards and Jason Isaacs

2009-04-07T15:57:03Z

Well another year has passed! Yes I've been blogging for over a year now and another Galaxy Book Awards has come and gone without me being invited - ha!
It's one of my favourite fantasies to imagine lurking on one of those tables at the back! What did you think of this years' winners? There were at least two books I liked the sound of that I haven't read, because I'm always desperately short of things to read as you know - NOT!

]]> The other daydream I've been having this week is casting the starring role in the film adaptation of Dr Midas! Oh a girl's allowed to fantasise about huge success now and again. Anyway it wasn't my fault, I just happened to catch Jason Isaacs on Jonathon Ross's chat show on Friday and thought he'd be perfect! He's probably best known as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter series where he has very long blond hair. He's also originally from Liverpool so he ticks the box for being a northerner too! I wonder how he'd feel about growing a moustache for the part?!
Other than that I've started experimenting with twitter as DrMidaswriter so feel free to follow me on there.

SCBWI Undiscovered Voices anthology 2010

2009-04-01T10:05:19Z

I've probably mentioned before that I am a member of British SCBWI - that's the Society of Childrens Books Writers and Illustrators. I joined a couple of years ago after reading about an anthology competition they were running.
I didn't get anywhere with my entry but I did get to meet some really nice people online and at the North West branch. There are always events and critique meetings going on as well as an email group.
Now they're running a second anthology competition for members so I thought I might have another go and share the details with you too.

]]> The co-editors, Sara Grant and Sara O'Connor, said: "The objective of the anthology will be to showcase new talent and promote its members to UK and US editors and agents. The anthology will be produced and distributed in 2010 thanks to the kind support of Working Partners Ltd.
"There is no submissions fee but only unagented and unpublished members of SCBWI are eligible. The submission deadline is Monday 1st June 2009. Interested writers should visit www.undiscoveredvoices.com for eligibility requirements and submissions guidelines."
The anthology stories will be selected by a panel of editors and agents - Julia Churchill of The Greenhouse Literary Agency; Zoe Duncan of Scholastic Children's Books; Lindsey Heaven of Puffin Books; Sarah Manson, Literary Agent; Jo Unwin of Conville and Walsh; and Emma Young of Macmillan Children's Books. In addition award-winning author Melvin Burgess will serve as the honorary chair for Undiscovered Voices 2010.

Three of the 12 selected authors from the 2008 anthology had their novels contracted for publication, a fourth author won a book packager's contract to write four books and seven of the 12 have signed up with agents. You can find out more about their successes and the competition at www.undiscoveredvoices.com.

Lemurs and rejections

2009-04-01T10:05:19Z

Hello again,
Sorry I haven't posted anything new in a while, haven't had much to report and have been busy finishing off my rewrite.
I'm happy to report I've finally completed it and have sent it off to the agent who enquired about Dr Midas and the Pirates a little while back.
The only hiccup was I managed to copy down her house number incorrectly, but luckily the people who must have been surprised to receive my manuscript have offered to redirect it, hopefully it's only a couple of doors away!
I have also enjoyed a trip to Twycross Zoo on Monday where I got to see lots of fantastic animals, I've taken some more pictures of ones from South America for when I add Dr Midas and the Incas to my website. I also got to see the crowned lemurs which are so cute! I'll be adding those pictures to my website this week.

]]> On the downside I've had some more rejections. Three for my short stories which I sent to My Weekly.
The very nice reader has returned them very quickly, which I'm very grateful for, and her comments are very fair. She said my first twist in the tail wasn't really a twist in the tail (0h dear!) and that my second was "quite a sweet tale in an unsual setting, but it's just not strong enough to engage the reader fully and the ending is just a little too predictable." For my third she said: "It's nicely written and quite a sweet idea but I'm afraid it's just not strong enough to engage the reader."
Still I can always try again. My other rejection was from Writers Forum who were very harsh about my story. The story was the 'Rough Justice' one I nearly sold to My Weekly as well so it just goes to show critiques are just a matter of opinion. I haven't had much success with Writers Forum at all with my stories and I'm beginning to resent paying £7 to have my stories bashed! So I'm not going to send any more there. I think they prefer more literary stories anyway, they certainly didn't like my twist in the tail giving it 0 for the ending! You have to have a thick skin when submitting believe me, thank goodness My Weekly had been so nice about it!
Don't forget you can alway leave a comment and tell me how you're getting on!
Susan

Festival wants short plays from Sefton teenagers

2009-03-17T11:10:15Z

Here's a fantastic festival which is looking for new short plays by young people aged 13-18 and from across Sefton.
In 2009, Theatre in the Rough is producing 16 world premieres by 48 new writers across three shows at the Southport Arts Centre and at The Brindley
in Runcorn, this May.

]]> Artistic and Literary Director, Chris Fittock said: "Our mission is to help cultivate the next generation of aspiring playwrights, and to prepare people with vital voices for the first steps in their career.
"Scripts should be no longer than 15 minutes in length and the plays should somehow be connected with some aspect of Sefton - but
remember to think imaginatively.
"Writers may also work in groups if they wish."
There are also lots of playwriting tips available on the festival website at www.theatreintherough.com along with other opportunities.
Plays should be emailed to info@theatreintherough.com by Thursday 9th April, 2009. You also need to complete an application form.
The Theatre in the Rough Festival is funded by Express Sefton and Awards for All.
Tickets are also available for the festival from the Southport Arts Centre box office.

My research trip to Stockholm's Vasa Museum

2009-03-17T10:38:46Z

The Vasa ship has incredible sculptures on it (picture Susan Humphreys)
Well as promised here's a little bit about my recent trip to Stockholm, Sweden.
The city is a series of islands and the old part is incredible, we were able to have a good look round on our first day and then the next morning we awoke to thick snow. It didn't stop all day which made our walk to Djurgarden very interesting!

]]>
The Vasa museum, Stockholm is hard to miss! (Picture Susan Humphreys)
The Vasa museum is located close to the entrance to Djurgarden island and you can't miss it as the masts of the Vasa ship are sticking out of the roof!
The warship was built during a time when relations were bad between Poland and Sweden. But on it's first voyage out in 1628 the ship sank with 30-50 lives lost (. Many more could have died but it hadn't reached the pickup point for the 300 soldiers that were to join the crew.
The ship was then carefully brought up from its resting place in the 1960s.
The Vasa is absolutely huge and remarkably 95% of what you see is the original ship.

Me in the Vasamuseet, Stockholm
Walking round the six different levels gave me an excellent idea of what a pirate ship would have been like (if smaller.) There were also wonderful exhibitions including a reconstruction of the deck which was good for imagining myself in a ship. There were also lots of items on display found on the Vasa - including pots, cooking utensils and even shoes which good english explanations which reassured me on what I'd written about my own ship The Nine Sails.
We also enjoyed a visit to Skansen, the open-air museum, which looked beautiful in all the snow. We got to see Scandinavian animals and in the Akvariet (aquarium/terrarium) I got a nice picture of some huddled-together gentle grey lemurs.
Since I've returned home I've been continuing with my rewrite and I'm past the halfway point. I have also reintroduced Sniffer about half way through, but I'm not sure yet if he will stay - I have made him talk though which makes him more involved. My Cornerstones reader also suggested I needed to make more of the fossa but I must admit I'm struggling with that. Maybe something will come to me. There has been quite a few changes, hopefully for the better, to this version which I'm pleased with.
The only other hiccup I've got is I'm still skirting a bit round a scene where my heroine Millie hads to climb up to the Crows Nest. The problem is describing it accurately, I think I'm going to have to find somewhere to go where I can go up high and see how it feels - any suggestions welcomed. I should of course point out I'm not good with heights, in fact I get vertigo if I have to go up steps with gaps in!
I would definitely recommend a visit to Stockholm and we are hoping to go again. The Swedish people were also really friendly and made us feel really welcome.
Don't forget if you've been somewhere interesting in the name of research feel free to comment.