Off to the RNA conference today, amid much family nagging.
Dad: I’m not happy about you driving all that way on your own.
Me, sighing: Dad, I used to travel a lot in my ratrace days. I’ve driven to Scotland on my own. I’ve tackled Glasgow in the rush hour. I’ll be fine. (Deliberately ignores fact will have to drive over the Dartford Bridge – am a tad wary of suspension bridges.)
DH: Have you got your route map printed out?
Me: Yes. (Fishing it out to prove it.) And I’ve printed out a short version to remind me which roads to look out for.
DH: Change for the toll. (Hands over coins.) And you’ve got some cash?
Me: I’m stopping at the cashpoint this morning.
DH: Phone charger?
Me, coughing: I have a packing list on my desk…
Honestly. Organisation is one of my major strengths, and they all know it. And it’s not that bad – it’s two hundred miles each way. Admittedly, I’m not used to motorway driving – more used to tiny narrow roads where you end up scraping the car in the hedge because White Van Man has to drive in the centre of the road – but I’m perfectly capable of doing this.
I think this is their way of saying they’re going to miss me.
Back on Monday with a full report of the conf and pics.
Oh, and ‘on the huh’ means ‘wonky, not straight’. Sadly, I don’t know the derivation and the Net isn’t helpful. But if you want to know what a real Norfolk accent sounds like (as opposed to the West Country mishmash that’s used on TV), go over to the Friends of Norfolk Dialect home page and listen to the sound files.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
the sound of names
Current work: nonfic /MH duo book 2, chapter 1
Listening to: Beethoven piano sonatas
Reading: Sharon Penman, The Sunne in Splendour
Had a newsletter from a certain romance organisation yesterday which had a super link to an article on the meaning of the sounds of names. Very, very interesting (it’s here, if you want to see it). The official science behind this is something called phonesthetic sound symbolism – more about that here.
So an example? Kate… the K is caring and intimate (but can be snobby); the long A is spread out and wide (*cough* yeah, OK, been slacking on the diet front); and the T is Temptation, the letter of the dreamer, the designer of grand schemes, the traveller who follows her star. (Sounds very much like a short, round, romance writer to me.)
What about Pam? The P is very specific, likes everything to be out in the open, no secrets here; short A is balanced and flat (hmm, sure that L should be in that last word?); M is the maker, the mother, the magician and master of skills. (Sounds like the historian who loves her research and gets a balanced story – and who drags her kids with her on field trips. Delegates at the conference this weekend will learn a little about my field trips…) Some people add a final ‘y’ sound to my name: which apparently means “Sure! I'm game!”, naive, trusting, energetic, and expansive. Yup. This is the woman who does six things at once, takes on way too much (note, O Slowing Down Police, that I have been better this year) and isn’t very good at saying no. And who believes everyone is a new friend until proven otherwise. (And most of the time people do live up to my expectations.)
All fascinating stuff. So what about you?
Have also been reading a fascinating book about the Norfolk dialect by Peter Trudgill. I don’t have an accent, but there are three or four phrases I use which I thought were colloquial everywhere. (Especially bearing in mind that I learned them from my mother, who was born in Hampshire and grew up in Essex.) Er, no. Turns out they’re broad Norfolk.
Just out of interest (and without looking it up!), would you know what I was on about if I said that something was ‘a bit on the huh’? (Last word is the same as the phonetic pronunciation of the letter H.) I really, really wish I’d had a chance to do that dialect course I was running on about on Tuesday. Ah. Case in point. To ‘run on’ means ‘to talk too much’, as least in this part of England – but does it mean the same elsewhere?
Listening to: Beethoven piano sonatas
Reading: Sharon Penman, The Sunne in Splendour
Had a newsletter from a certain romance organisation yesterday which had a super link to an article on the meaning of the sounds of names. Very, very interesting (it’s here, if you want to see it). The official science behind this is something called phonesthetic sound symbolism – more about that here.
So an example? Kate… the K is caring and intimate (but can be snobby); the long A is spread out and wide (*cough* yeah, OK, been slacking on the diet front); and the T is Temptation, the letter of the dreamer, the designer of grand schemes, the traveller who follows her star. (Sounds very much like a short, round, romance writer to me.)
What about Pam? The P is very specific, likes everything to be out in the open, no secrets here; short A is balanced and flat (hmm, sure that L should be in that last word?); M is the maker, the mother, the magician and master of skills. (Sounds like the historian who loves her research and gets a balanced story – and who drags her kids with her on field trips. Delegates at the conference this weekend will learn a little about my field trips…) Some people add a final ‘y’ sound to my name: which apparently means “Sure! I'm game!”, naive, trusting, energetic, and expansive. Yup. This is the woman who does six things at once, takes on way too much (note, O Slowing Down Police, that I have been better this year) and isn’t very good at saying no. And who believes everyone is a new friend until proven otherwise. (And most of the time people do live up to my expectations.)
All fascinating stuff. So what about you?
Have also been reading a fascinating book about the Norfolk dialect by Peter Trudgill. I don’t have an accent, but there are three or four phrases I use which I thought were colloquial everywhere. (Especially bearing in mind that I learned them from my mother, who was born in Hampshire and grew up in Essex.) Er, no. Turns out they’re broad Norfolk.
Just out of interest (and without looking it up!), would you know what I was on about if I said that something was ‘a bit on the huh’? (Last word is the same as the phonetic pronunciation of the letter H.) I really, really wish I’d had a chance to do that dialect course I was running on about on Tuesday. Ah. Case in point. To ‘run on’ means ‘to talk too much’, as least in this part of England – but does it mean the same elsewhere?
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
psst – want an early peek?
Current work: nonfic /MH duo book 2, chapter 1
Listening to: Lindsey Buckingham
Reading: Sharon Penman, The Sunne in Splendour
I have a new nonfiction book coming out later this month. So far, I don’t have a copy of the cover to share. But I do know where you can see it online: at my publisher’s website.
It’s a PDF and I think the back copy might be slightly different now (I amended it at proof stage), but it will give you a good clue as to the contents. It’s a book of my heart, so I am really looking forward to this one hitting the streets. (And if you’re wondering where the pic was taken – it’s Baconsthorpe Castle, once home to the Heydon family. The original pic was taken in broad daylight – the designer has done something clever.)
At guitar yesterday, I talked Jim into working out the first four bars of the Lindsey Buckingham arrangement I’ve wanted to play for ages (the one that plays a big part in my award-winning book Breakfast at Giovanni’s – well, hey, you lot told me to be loud and proud *g*). It’s a bit complicated (is jazz-based, complete with loads of accidentals and syncopations) but I’m looking forward to practising it. And I might add that four bars works out at 20 seconds, so it’s quite a long four bars – though it’s a slow piece. Might have a fighting chance of making the stretches, then.
Other things:
Listening to: Lindsey Buckingham
Reading: Sharon Penman, The Sunne in Splendour
I have a new nonfiction book coming out later this month. So far, I don’t have a copy of the cover to share. But I do know where you can see it online: at my publisher’s website.
It’s a PDF and I think the back copy might be slightly different now (I amended it at proof stage), but it will give you a good clue as to the contents. It’s a book of my heart, so I am really looking forward to this one hitting the streets. (And if you’re wondering where the pic was taken – it’s Baconsthorpe Castle, once home to the Heydon family. The original pic was taken in broad daylight – the designer has done something clever.)
At guitar yesterday, I talked Jim into working out the first four bars of the Lindsey Buckingham arrangement I’ve wanted to play for ages (the one that plays a big part in my award-winning book Breakfast at Giovanni’s – well, hey, you lot told me to be loud and proud *g*). It’s a bit complicated (is jazz-based, complete with loads of accidentals and syncopations) but I’m looking forward to practising it. And I might add that four bars works out at 20 seconds, so it’s quite a long four bars – though it’s a slow piece. Might have a fighting chance of making the stretches, then.
Other things:
- Did my proofs of The Children’s Doctor’s Special Proposal – pleased with it
- Panicked a bit over my talk for the RNA. (The butterflies have turned into kittens. I think by Friday they’ll be elephants.)
- Started my new M&B. The hero is a secondary in the book I delivered last week, so I do hope my ed likes him – or, if not, she tells me very quickly, because it’s likely to have a big impact on the new book.
- Had very nice email from the alumni sec at my old school (Wymondham College, if you’re local and were wondering). They’re going to include the RNA prize info in the next newsletter
- Pen samples arrived. I like the barrel of the pink frosted pen but am not sp sure about the clip. Eco one (black and pink) looks good. Decisions, decisions. Will do a straw poll at the conf (delegates and lovely organiser, you have been warned!).
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
nostalgia
Current work: nonfic
Listening to: Kathryn Williams
Reading: Sharon Penman, The Sunne in Splendour
Yesterday was one of those days where I was busy all day but didn’t have words on the page to show for it. Mainly admin – but then lots of PR stuff. As in calls from the press to discuss the new book. (And lots of apologies from me for coughing down the phone. At least my head’s clear today. Please, please, let the cough go by Friday. Or I’m going to be apologising to a roomful of romantic novelists as well.)
Actually, I love chatting to journalists, especially freelancers. I do miss my old freelancing days, particularly interviewing experts. I used to talk to such interesting people. And although this is my dream job, it can get lonely from time to time. Ha. Says the woman who’s been desperate for five minutes’ peace and quiet to work. ‘Be careful what you wish for’, indeed. I did consider trying to get a hot date for lunch, but DH is too busy this week. Most of the conversation I get during the day consists of ‘woof’ – admittedly, I then have to interpret that as ‘oi, the postman’s just knocked, answer the door’ or ‘there’s a sparrow on my lawn’ or ‘there’s a C-A-T on the other side of the street’, but at the end of the day it’s still ‘woof’. So I am really looking forward to the RNA conference this weekend, despite the fact I’m getting butterflies about my talk.
I’d also been catching up with various bits when it also occurred to me that maybe I ought to tell the University of Leicester about the RNA Romance Prize, just in case they wanted to mention it in the annual alumni magazine.
This is the difficulty of PR for the novelist – particularly for an English one. The natural English reserve means that telling people about something you’ve done feels pushy and as if you’re boasting. But if you don’t tell people, you don’t get the publicity and it doesn’t give your career the boost said achievement is supposed to give. Maybe I need some lessons in How To Do Chutzpah. (Offers, anyone?)
Anyway, the staff in the alumni office were really delighted for me and sent me some lovely emails. They also mentioned it to their colleagues in the library and the press office, and then suddenly it went from being a fairly quiet little off-the-cuff email to a fully blown press release. Kate Hardy, Meeja Tart.
But I’m really chuffed that my old uni feels proud enough of me to do a press release about me. I loved my time at Leicester. Best decision I ever made, to go there – even though my school was cross with me for putting Leicester above Cambridge on my UCCA form. ‘It’s not done.’ Ha. I did it for a reason: I wanted to go there. The staff and the course were fantastic. My only regret is that when it came to the specialist subject in the third year, Dialect wasn’t one of the options (it had been, the previous year), and the one I chose originally didn’t run because not enough people signed up for it. (It was on the ubi sunt motif – well, yeah, you knew I’d pick something obscure, didn’t you? Something that involved, um, history?) But hey, I got to spend a year studying Thomas Hardy in depth. And yes, that is indeed why I am Kate Hardy, romance novelist.
This summer, it’s half my lifetime ago since I graduated. Scary. Doesn’t feel like five minutes. Also doesn’t feel like five minutes since the children were babies (note I didn’t say tiny – neither of them were), and my eldest has recently discovered that if he stands on tiptoe he’s an inch taller than I am. Ha. Now that’s cut me down to size :o)
Listening to: Kathryn Williams
Reading: Sharon Penman, The Sunne in Splendour
Yesterday was one of those days where I was busy all day but didn’t have words on the page to show for it. Mainly admin – but then lots of PR stuff. As in calls from the press to discuss the new book. (And lots of apologies from me for coughing down the phone. At least my head’s clear today. Please, please, let the cough go by Friday. Or I’m going to be apologising to a roomful of romantic novelists as well.)
Actually, I love chatting to journalists, especially freelancers. I do miss my old freelancing days, particularly interviewing experts. I used to talk to such interesting people. And although this is my dream job, it can get lonely from time to time. Ha. Says the woman who’s been desperate for five minutes’ peace and quiet to work. ‘Be careful what you wish for’, indeed. I did consider trying to get a hot date for lunch, but DH is too busy this week. Most of the conversation I get during the day consists of ‘woof’ – admittedly, I then have to interpret that as ‘oi, the postman’s just knocked, answer the door’ or ‘there’s a sparrow on my lawn’ or ‘there’s a C-A-T on the other side of the street’, but at the end of the day it’s still ‘woof’. So I am really looking forward to the RNA conference this weekend, despite the fact I’m getting butterflies about my talk.
I’d also been catching up with various bits when it also occurred to me that maybe I ought to tell the University of Leicester about the RNA Romance Prize, just in case they wanted to mention it in the annual alumni magazine.
This is the difficulty of PR for the novelist – particularly for an English one. The natural English reserve means that telling people about something you’ve done feels pushy and as if you’re boasting. But if you don’t tell people, you don’t get the publicity and it doesn’t give your career the boost said achievement is supposed to give. Maybe I need some lessons in How To Do Chutzpah. (Offers, anyone?)
Anyway, the staff in the alumni office were really delighted for me and sent me some lovely emails. They also mentioned it to their colleagues in the library and the press office, and then suddenly it went from being a fairly quiet little off-the-cuff email to a fully blown press release. Kate Hardy, Meeja Tart.
But I’m really chuffed that my old uni feels proud enough of me to do a press release about me. I loved my time at Leicester. Best decision I ever made, to go there – even though my school was cross with me for putting Leicester above Cambridge on my UCCA form. ‘It’s not done.’ Ha. I did it for a reason: I wanted to go there. The staff and the course were fantastic. My only regret is that when it came to the specialist subject in the third year, Dialect wasn’t one of the options (it had been, the previous year), and the one I chose originally didn’t run because not enough people signed up for it. (It was on the ubi sunt motif – well, yeah, you knew I’d pick something obscure, didn’t you? Something that involved, um, history?) But hey, I got to spend a year studying Thomas Hardy in depth. And yes, that is indeed why I am Kate Hardy, romance novelist.
This summer, it’s half my lifetime ago since I graduated. Scary. Doesn’t feel like five minutes. Also doesn’t feel like five minutes since the children were babies (note I didn’t say tiny – neither of them were), and my eldest has recently discovered that if he stands on tiptoe he’s an inch taller than I am. Ha. Now that’s cut me down to size :o)
Monday, June 30, 2008
bad puppy and exciting stuff
Current work: nonfic
Listening to: Medieval Baebes
Reading: Sharon Penman, The Sunne in Splendour (gory in places but am enjoying it, especially as she’s unashamedly pro-Yorkist *g*)
I cracked. Bad me. I just realised Kate Harrison’s new book is out… and I thoroughly enjoy her work (sharp writing, rounded characterisation). And I did promise Madam some more Jane Blonde books, as she’s just started #2 and this means she’ll be looking for #3 in a day or two. (Recommended by the brilliant children’s section Waterstone’s, Castle Street, Norwich. And they were spot on. The difference a good bookseller can make…)
While I was there, I picked up a teensy bit of research material. And… This is a hangover from the book before last, where my doctor hero plays the cello. I discovered Boris Bagger and Martin Ostertag’s gorgeous version of Chopin’s Nocturne in E flat (Op 9, no 2) on YouTube – cello and guitar. Even though I’m listening mainly to 15th-century stuff at the moment (research), this is beautiful and I needed to add it to my collection.
Am still feeling lousy. On Friday, the cough was atrocious and I actually considered going by train to the RNA conference on Friday. However, that would mean:
- Calling in a favour from a friend at school so she’d see Madam in for me (which she would – but it also means Madam not going clingy on me. Chances of that happening = very low, because even though she’s a Daddy’s girl she’s a bit, um, possessive of me as well);
- Trusting that I can get a ticket so I’m facing the direction of travel (if I sit with my back to the engine, especially if it’s hot, I will go very green around the gills);
- Trusting that there will be no delays, especially as I have to…
- … change trains at least twice each way (four times on the way home) – not to mention getting taxis from home-station, station-conference, conference-station, station-home. And that isn’t good because I will have to…
- … lug lots of stuff about (including a very heavy bag of books needed for my talk);
- And, the clincher – home journey involves a bus trip between London and Colchester. I don’t take buses, for the same reason that I don’t sit with my back to the engine.
So I’m sticking to Plan A and driving. (My sister and stepmum both think the infamous cough is stress-related. Even Dad noticed it. And no, I’m not blogging about why this weekend was fairly stressful, out of respect to him – all I will say is that Parkinson’s is a lot more than just a tremor.)
Madam had a major wobbly lip after Dr Who on Saturday. ‘Whoever wrote that was really nasty. David Tennant has to keep being Dr Who. He has a REALLY NICE SMILE.’ Hmm. And I’m away next Saturday so I’ll miss it.
Oh, and the exciting stuff?
- I’m still in the bestseller list with Heroes, Villains and Victims of Norwich (yippee);
- my lovely M&B Modern Heat stablemate Robyn Grady emailed me to let me know that One Night, One Baby was in the e-harlequin top ten bestselling e-books (this changes minute by minute so I might not be there now, but I was there all weekend);
- and I had a great interview with lovely Maggie Secker at BBC Radio Norfolk on Sunday (thanks, Maggie).
Friday, June 27, 2008
the joys of field trips
Current work: nonfic
Listening to: Medieval Baebes
Reading: various research stuff
As I will be saying at my talk next weekend, you can’t beat a physical field trip to illuminate your research. I managed to sneak one in last night. We went into town to get a birthday present. DH and the kids always insist on browsing video games, which I loathe – mainly because said shops play awful music, and I’m not really into video games (except Wii Fit, which is on hold until this cough – yes, YET another one– has gone). It’s so tedious. But this time I was prepared, and they agreed that I could have half an hour to go and take some photographs while they browsed and debated the merits of Wii vs PlayStation vs X-Box 360 vs DSLite. (Yeah. It’s over my head, too.)
So off I trotted. During the day, I had been tempted by one historian’s theory about my current research, i.e. who lived in a certain building. Very tempted, especially as I know who inhabited that particular building before and after the period that interests me. But taking a walk there showed me that it doesn’t quite fit the context of the documents I’ve been studying. The street behind it, however, fits perfectly. And, although the building in question doesn’t exist any more (it was burned down in 1507 and rebuilt by the mayor), it works for my purposes. Perfectly.
(And yes, I’m aware I’m being cagey. Not in a position to talk about this project yet. But if this comes off… let’s just say it includes three of my four favourite subjects, so I will enjoy working on this. Hugely.)
Listening to: Medieval Baebes
Reading: various research stuff
As I will be saying at my talk next weekend, you can’t beat a physical field trip to illuminate your research. I managed to sneak one in last night. We went into town to get a birthday present. DH and the kids always insist on browsing video games, which I loathe – mainly because said shops play awful music, and I’m not really into video games (except Wii Fit, which is on hold until this cough – yes, YET another one– has gone). It’s so tedious. But this time I was prepared, and they agreed that I could have half an hour to go and take some photographs while they browsed and debated the merits of Wii vs PlayStation vs X-Box 360 vs DSLite. (Yeah. It’s over my head, too.)
So off I trotted. During the day, I had been tempted by one historian’s theory about my current research, i.e. who lived in a certain building. Very tempted, especially as I know who inhabited that particular building before and after the period that interests me. But taking a walk there showed me that it doesn’t quite fit the context of the documents I’ve been studying. The street behind it, however, fits perfectly. And, although the building in question doesn’t exist any more (it was burned down in 1507 and rebuilt by the mayor), it works for my purposes. Perfectly.
(And yes, I’m aware I’m being cagey. Not in a position to talk about this project yet. But if this comes off… let’s just say it includes three of my four favourite subjects, so I will enjoy working on this. Hugely.)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
really, really on a roll
Current work: nonfic
Listening to: Bach
Reading: various research stuff
So there I was, thinking (which invariably means displacement activity) and I came across a newspaper cutting in the Evening News. About Heroes, Villains and Victims of Norwich. And lovely Derek James says that hundreds (note that word – hundreds – that’s so humbling and thrilling at the same time) of people entered the local paper’s competition to win my new book.
And then the Evening News rang me (while I was in the middle of rewriting my RNA talk about local history for romance novelists) to speak about romance and the RNA award and my latest local history books. Serendipity or what? There may be new photographs involved (ah, so there WAS a good reason for me to tidy my office this week). But am doing a little happy wiggle here.
This week is turning out to be a FANTASTIC week. And I appreciate every second of it.
Listening to: Bach
Reading: various research stuff
So there I was, thinking (which invariably means displacement activity) and I came across a newspaper cutting in the Evening News. About Heroes, Villains and Victims of Norwich. And lovely Derek James says that hundreds (note that word – hundreds – that’s so humbling and thrilling at the same time) of people entered the local paper’s competition to win my new book.
And then the Evening News rang me (while I was in the middle of rewriting my RNA talk about local history for romance novelists) to speak about romance and the RNA award and my latest local history books. Serendipity or what? There may be new photographs involved (ah, so there WAS a good reason for me to tidy my office this week). But am doing a little happy wiggle here.
This week is turning out to be a FANTASTIC week. And I appreciate every second of it.
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