Thursday 30 June 2011

Busy, But Fun

After a busy week of preparations for my daughter's prom; a house full of her friends coming to stay the night afterwards(we're talking much shoe envy from me!); my son's lovely girlfriend coming to stay; son and girlfriend getting their 2nd year exam results from university (both did fine); and finally reaching the last 10k or so words of my 120k-word novel (hence the pic of Grumpy on his chair in The Plotting Shed), I know I'm in for a busy weekend of writing (and partying on Saturday) before I can take a deep breath and relax for a couple of days. But I've loved every minute of it all.

I do wish I was able to go to Helen Hunt's (very successful short story writer) workshop on Saturday July 30 from 10.30am to 4pm at a brilliant cost of £30, including lunch/refreshments and the critique of one story.

If you enjoyed Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, then you'll probably enjoy The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly, reviewed (by moi) over at Novelicious today.

It's been wonderful having my son back in Jersey for the past few weeks and even though he's working full-time, I'm enjoying having him back in the house when he's there. He's on his way home now and my daughter, who has just finished her GCSEs is down at St Brelades Beach with her friends. I keep trying to persuade her that now is the time to look for a summer job, but 'manana' seems to be the order of the day where that particular topic is concerned.

Have a fabulous weekend and here's hoping the sun keeps on shining.x

17 comments:

HelenMWalters said...

Thanks for the mention Debs. I'm really looking forward to running the workshop.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

helen - I'm sure it'll be wonderful and wish I could attend too.

Sue Guiney said...

Sounds like great times over by you. I'm so glad. these times when everyone seems happy all at the same time are really to be cherished, eh? jersey sounds wonderful. I've been curious about it. maybe I should make the trip sometime. Have a book club I could talk to? Hmmmmm......

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

sue - it is good when everything is going well, long may it last.

Jersey is lovely most of the time. There isn't a book club that I'm aware of, but if I do discover one, I'll let you know. You could contact the Jersey Arts Trust and maybe they might be helpful.

Flowerpot said...

Sounds like a busy but very fun time, Debs - enjoy the partying as well!

Pauline Barclay said...

Sounds like you are having a fab time and pleased you have your family with you. Fab on the writing too. Have a great weekend and enjoy every minute of it! x

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

flowerpot - thank you. I think it also helps when the weather is so beautiful.

pauline - thanks so much, I hope you have a fabulous weekend too. x

Feisty Crone said...

Busy is good, Debs. I'm glad you are taking time out for some fun, though. Enjoy!

Anna Scott Graham said...

So many good things for you all! I've been enjoying my chicks home to roost, but I love your daughter's assessment for summer employment. My youngest seems to think the same... :)))

Congrats on hitting the end of your novel! Definitely grab a few quiet days after the fun of this weekend.

galant said...

I like the sound of The Little Women Letters, Debs, and I confess to never having read the book although I began reading it as a child. Perhaps it's one of those books written for children that only adults appreciate? However ... when I was 12 and at a small private primary school, each Christmas we would put on a play and that year it was scenes from Little Women. I was Mrs March, or "Marmee" as I was called. We had no idea that we had to affect an American accent and I dread to think of the very proper English in which we spoke in the late 1950s! It might've sounded like Lionel Bart's Oliver as sung by Noel Coward!
Margaret P
PS I have the book and so it's about time I dug it out and read it! The only thing putting me of is that I'm searching for the edition I had as a child. That would be made easier if I knew who the publisher had been, but I've not one clue, only that I'd recognise the book if I saw it!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

gran - thanks. It helps too that the weather is gorgeous at the moment.

anna - it is good having them at home for a bit.

I still have about another 10k words to do, but I'm nearly there.

galant - I do hope you find your original copy, they're so much more fun to read somehow.

Faye said...

Is this naughty Grumpy in his "time out" chair?

Saw on FB that your weekend was just as much fun as expected. Glad you're enjoying having the offspring home for the summer. BTW, looking forward to your review of Pillars of the Earth. We get Zen with the lovely Rufus Sewell in mid-July. Can't wait. Of course, you've already seen?

Talli Roland said...

Wow, you have been busy! It must be nice to have your son home again. :) And I can relate to your daughter -- I used to hate summer jobs!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

faye - it certainly is :)

I'm reading Fall of Giants so will be reviewing that, unfortunately I haven't read Pillars of the Earth yet and have only seen the tv series (so wonderful).

talli - lol, Sas is slowly giving in and 'sort of' looking for work.

Faye said...

Oops! I mix up Ken Follett's Pillars and Giants all the time--both great reads. :-) Looking forward to your take on Giants.

Cait O'Connor said...

Thanks for the Little Women link, I am a big fan of that book, I will check out your review.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

faye - I'm loving Giants and wished I didn't have to stop reading it to fit in other things.

cait - thanks, I hope it's a book you'll enjoy.