Sunday 12 September 2010

Great Week & A Weekend With Mr Darcy


It's been a great week. Two meetings I'd been nervous about went very well (work-related) and my long-suffering postman delivered my copy of Victoria Connelly's latest novel, A Weekend With Mr Darcy. As I always do when I receive a new book, I opened it and read the Acknowledgements, before having a sneaky peak at the first few lines of the story. I had to re-read one part of the Acknowledgements to make sure I was reading the words correctly, and yes, it did include 'Debs Carr' in there. So exciting! Thanks Victoria.

As soon as I've finished reading Christina Courtenay's book, Trade Winds, which I'm loving (perfect hero) and which I'll be reviewing for Bookersatz later this month, I'm going to sit down with my Earl Grey-filled Pride & Prejudice mug and start reading A Weekend With Mr Darcy.

Also this week, Rob and I were emailed to let us know that we're being sent invitations to attend the Naming Ceremony of the latest Cunard liner, the Queen Elizabeth in October. I can't wait. We were lucky enough to go to the Naming Ceremony of the Queen Victoria three years ago and had the most incredible day.

We had the Battle of Britain Air Display this Thursday and although I was working for part of the afternoon, I was lucky enough to see the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane doing part of their display. Later on, I heard them once more and went outside to watch them flying off together back towards the mainland. It always gives me a lump in my throat. "It makes me want to cry," I told Sas. She gave me a poor-old-soul smile and said, "But Mum, everything makes you want to cry." Not true. The only other time I cried is when Brian Dowling won Ultimate Big Brother. A worthy winner and so entertaining.

My WiP is coming along slowly, but surely, and although there are many useful blogs with helpful writing tips and advice, the one I continue to learn so much from is Sarah Duncan's blog. I subscribe via email and receive her latest posts automatically. Not only is Sarah a writer of five novels, she also teaches creative writing for the Universities of Oxford and Bristol, so knows what she's talking about. She certainly helps me.

Have a great week.

30 comments:

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Glad you had a terrific week. Will look out for your name in 'A Weekend With Mr Darcy'.

XX

Anna Scott Graham said...

What a lovely find!! Enjoy that naming ceremony and happy writing!!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

suzanne - lol, thanks. I was so excited to see my name included there and can't wait to read the book.

anna - it was. I'm looking forward to the naming ceremony and to getting on with my wip this afternoon. Happy writing to you too.

Lane Mathias said...

Is it really three years since you wrote about the Queen Victoria?? whoa!

How fantastic to be mentioned in the acknowledgements and glad you've had a good week.

Anonymous said...

That's really great Debs. The books sounds brill too I shall put it on my Xmas list:O)

Anonymous said...

Pleased you’ve had a good week. I hope that the next one is even better for you.

All the best, Boonie

Feisty Crone said...

Have a great week, and thanks for the link!

DJ Kirkby said...

What a fabulous week! Well deserved too...

Queenie said...

Glad all is going well, and thanks for the tip about Sarah Duncan's blog which is new to me. I've just been over there reading and it looks very interesting and helpful.

Ellie Garratt said...

What a wonderful week you've had. I would loved to have seen the air display - what a treat.

p.s. I’m running a competition this week. If you get time, pop along and have a look.

Leigh Russell said...

That's very cool, to be acknowledged in someone else's book!
I'm so glad you enjoyed listening to Southgate & Leigh's 'Where We Are'. I'm sure they'd be thrilled if you wanted to interview them here on your blog.

DAB said...

It's nice to be acknowledged, Well Done :) The Read Arrows always make me proud to be British, We watched them a few weeks back at Eastbourne seafront - great display TFx

Talli Roland said...

I've heard great things about Victoria's book - I must check it out. How cool that you got a dedication, too!

Chris Stovell said...

Lots going on over yours, as usual, Debs! How lovely of Victoria to acknowlege you like that.

Pia's book is smashing isn't it? Lovely hero.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

lane - I know! Doesn't time fly? I thought it was two years ago until I double-checked.

madeleine - I thoroughly enjoyed Molly's Millions and can't wait to start reading this book.

boonie - many thanks and the same to you.

gran - my pleasure. Thanks.

dj kirkby - thanks very much.x

queenie - SD's blog is full of useful writing advice, glad you're enjoying it.

ellie - I'll pop over to your blog and have a look at your competition. Thanks for the link.

leigh russell - they're very good and your daughter has a beautiful voice. I'll email you seperately.

tom foolery - it was a lovely surprise.

talli - I'm looking forward to reading this book. It was very kind of Victoria to include me in her Acknowledgements.

chris - it was very kind of her and I was delighted to see my name there.

I'm loving Trade Winds. Pia has certainly created a fabulous hero.

Melissa Amateis said...

The Battle of Britain Air Display sounds fantastic! Would love to see that some day. :-)

Kath said...

Crikey, you keep yourself busy, don't you? The air display sounds amazing.

I loved Killian in Trade Winds, too. He's gorgeous, and I love a man who knows what to do with a big bearskin coat.

I've hoping for A Weekend with Mr Darcy soon, maybe this coming weekend.

Best of luck with the WiP!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

melissa - it's always fantastic, but even better this year as we had the Vulcan bomber back once again. I'm sure you'd love seeing the WW2 planes in action and always get a lump in my throat when I see them flying over so majestically.

kath - I'm loving Killian and I know what you mean about that bearskin coat!

Casdok said...

A weekend with Mr Darcy sounds just what i need!! Brillient that you got a mention :)

Flowerpot said...

Sounds like a great week Debs!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

casdok - it certainly does. I hope you have a good week.

flowerpot - it certainly was, thanks.

HelenMWalters said...

I love the sound of A Weekend With Mr Darcy. Sounds fabulous.

Pauline Barclay said...

What a wonderful week you had, thanks for sharing it all with us. Also congratulations on your name being mentioned in Victoria Connelly's book, I am sure you deserved it.

Have a fabby week.x

Faye said...

Hi Debs, just wondering if His Grumpiness is feeling better today? Is this something serious or just general doggy malaise that you all were going through last night? Maybe he needs a weekend with Mr. Darcy! I'd love to spend a week at an Austen Conference--in fact, have looked at the schedule several times but other places call me. Enjoy the upcoming festivities--nice that they have family significance.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

helen - I've had a sneaky peak and it looks so good.

faye - he's feeling a bit better today after having to endure 3 injections yesterday. I'd love to attend an Austen conference too, I can imagine they're great fun.

Karen said...

I'd love a weekend with Mr. Darcy. Sigh. But the book will have to do - sounds great and lovely that you've an acknowledgement in it too!

Unknown said...

Glad you had such a good week. Oh, and the sight of those old planes always makes me want to cry too. :)

I'll look out for your name in A Weekend with Mr Darcy! I'm sure it's a brilliant read.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

karen - I know, wouldn't that be a weekend worth having?

shirley - I'm looking forward to reading it too, I can't wait.

Phillipa said...

Sounds like you had a great week and I thought I was the only one with a lump in the the throat at the Spitfire flypast. I watched First Light and the McGregors' Battle of Britain Tribute last week. How those young RAF pilots endured what they did, is beyond me.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

phillipa - it was wonderful, thanks. It breaks my heart when I see old footage/films about these men who gave so much. I'm glad we mark their memory each year.