Hi there, I hope all is well in your corner of the world and a warm welcome to new subscribers, thank you for joining us.
Firstly, three Facts About August:
In the northern hemisphere, August is considered to be the last month of summer. In the southern hemisphere, it’s the opposite of course, so it’s the last of the winter months!
August is a hugely popular name in Sweden. In fact, it’s cracked the top 60 boys’ names in the country a few years ago.
The official birthstones for the month of August are sardonyx and peridot.
@Home
Every year since we moved to Italy we have gone to the outdoor opera in Macerata, our provincial city. Last year of course was the exception. We’ve re-booked tickets, are both fully vaccinated and hoping that it won’t be cancelled again. This year it’s La Traviata, one of my favourites, and you never know what you’re going to get. The productions always have a different take on the original, some small, some big, some to the benefit, some not. Exciting. Hope to have some pictures next time.
There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva.
Josh Groban
Or a tone deaf warbler, like me...😊
@ My Desk
Following on from Season of the New Moons, the next book in the series, The Lunar Legends, is with my Alpha Reader, Simon. My husband always reads my books first. He is the only one I trust with my very rough stories. He’s very supportive but not afraid to be constructive in his feedback which is just what I need.
I’m also looking into a new way of publishing my work. I attended a virtual free summit for writers and listened to a fab talk by a writer who has done a lot of research. It’s a method I’ve been thinking about for sometime and have kind of dabbled in it. And it’s not new either. More on that next month.
Summer Giveaway
There are lots of books to choose from at this giveaway, both Sci Fi and Fantasy. All books are free, but remember it’s always good to let an author know what you thought of their book so a quick email or message is always welcome. Make a writer's day and get in touch.
A Quick Flash
Every day I warm up my writing muscle with a quick, very short story on Twitter #vss365. Here is one from July.
She opened the wardrobe and pondered. Which #persona should she choose? The dove grey cardigan of Lucy the Librarian? Or Carla the CEO’s dog tooth check? Maybe the cool ice blue of Brenda the Brain Surgeon? Her fingers settled on the jam red pj’s of Wanda. The Writer.
And a Sketch…
We have lavender and Russian sage in our garden and both are humming with activity from bees, butterflies and hummingbird moths. Love the sound which follows me around.
I hope that wherever you are in the world that you find that corner of peace and relaxation whatever season you may be celebrating and that you and yours keep safe and well. Thanks for reading!