Tuesday Treasure: The Valley of Vision

I skipped yesterday's blog because I had two children home ill and we ate takeaway from Marks and Spencer, which I find is a more economical option than takeaway from a restaurant, and generally just as good. If you're curious, I had the Thai red curry :)

Today I wanted to highlight a book that was introduced to me about ten years ago, when I lived in Connecticut and was attending a Presbyterian church. (Incidentally, we've run the gamut of churches--Episcopalian, Anglican, Presbyterian, and now Baptist!

In any case, the book is called The Valley of Vision and it's a collection of Puritan prayers.

And all I have to say is... those Puritans knew how to pray! Well, actually, that's not all I have to say. The prayers are meant as reflections or meditations, and there is quite a lot to reflect on, with beautiful imagery and poetry and no word wasted. Here is an example from a prayer about God being all-sufficient:

The world is before me this day,
and I am weak and fearful,
but I look to thee for strength;
If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,
but on the beloved's arms I am firm as the eternal hills;
If left to the treachery of my heart I shall shame thy name,
but if enlightened, guided, upheld by thy Spirit,
I shall bring thee glory.
Be thou my arm  to support,
my strength to stand, my light to see,
my feet to run, my shield to protect,
my sword to repel, my sun to warm.

Reading these prayers quiets my soul and gives me great perspective on the days and weeks ahead, which sometimes as a mother of five with too many deadlines and worries, feel like a great big slog! So I was happy to read this prayer today and remember what it's really all about. 

Friday Photo: Rainy Walk

It rains a lot in the UK. Everyone pretty much knows that. When I first moved back to the US after six years in the UK, I was amazed at how sunny it was. And I moved to Connecticut, not California! Every sunny morning felt like a not-so-small miracle. The long, hot summers were wonderful, and then they were not so wonderful, but I still appreciated things that the UK rarely has--outdoor pools, screen doors, sprinklers in backyards, kids spending most of the day in their swimsuits with drippy popsicles. Now, I know, on occasion, the UK experiences a heatwave and it's wonderful. Admittedly, a heatwave can be anything above 70 degree F. More than once, when I lived in the Lake District, someone would tell me it was 'red hot'. I checked the temp and it was something like sixty degrees, which in America in summer would be seen as a cold snap.

I admit, the weather here gets me down sometimes. I struggle. I compare it with weather in other places I've lived on my phone, and usually it comes out worse. When it doesn't, it feels like a small victory, which is petty, I know.

But anyway, we've had a spell of nice, warm, sunny weather here--and by spell I mean about four days. And I started, amazingly, to take the warm, dry weather for granted. And then it rained, and I was surprised. Surprised. How?  I have a short memory, I guess. But when I took the dog for a walk, and the air was damp and verdant, I actually enjoyed the wet. A little bit. And here is a picture I took:

Thursday Throwback: When He Fell

When He Fell is my second book for Carina; the first was This Fragile Life, and they are both very emotional, high-concept reads. The idea for this book came when I read an article about two sixteen-year-old boys and best friends who were messing around on the school yard, and one threw a cricket ball at the other. It hit him in the head and he was instantly killed.

Of course, our sympathy goes instantly with the boy who was killed and his family. What a terrible tragedy, so immediate and pointless. But then I started thinking about the other boy. How would it have affected him? What would he be feeling? And I changed the ages and motivations of the boys, adding layers of secrets between the families, and this book emerged--the story of what happens when one boy pushes another and he falls and becomes brain damaged as a result.

This book is a bit darker than This Fragile Life, because it's about responsibility and forgiveness, and how we all can have a small part to play in a tragedy. But it has hope too--I couldn't write a book without a hopeful ending!

You can buy the book here.

Wednesday Writing: When Your Story Surprises You

So I'm nearly halfway into my current manuscript, Marry Me at Willoughby Close, and the story suddenly took an unexpected turn! I was preparing the hero and heroine to have a fancy dinner at a restaurant in London when my heroine decided not to go. (Spoiler--hopefully readers will have forgotten this by the time the book comes out!) I realized her decision to be independent was more important than the conversation (and flirting!) they'd have at the restaurant.

I love when a story surprises me, and the characters start to speak for themselves. I think it's usually a good sign that the story and characters have depth. I'm not just putting them through the motions. Here is a snippet of the scene I wrote that surprised me:

It wasn’t a date. She knew that. Of course she knew that. She wasn’t for one second imagining that Henry was interested in her. He was taking pity on her, for heaven’s sake, and pity was one thing Alice knew all too well.

She’d been pitied all her life. Pitied or ignored, and in all truth Alice didn’t know which one was worse. She didn’t want either, and she realized she was dreading this dinner because she didn’t actually want Henry gently instructing her on which forks to use or ordering for her because she so obviously wouldn’t know what to order herself.

She could see it all so clearly—Pretty Woman or Pygmalion—she’d read it for GCSE—it was all the same. The rich, sophisticated man telling the clueless girl what to do. How to feel. Introducing her to a world she never could have experienced or even found on her own, and then smiling smugly when she fumbled with the forks or marvelled at the taste of an oyster.

So now I've got to figure out what happens after they don't go out to dinner! Stay tuned. And in the meantime you can order the book here.

Tuesday Treasure: Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

Instead of a book or author today, I'm highlighting a band and a song. I've been listening to music quite a bit lately as I write, which I don't often do as I find it distracting, but this song really spoke to me and related to the themes I'm exploring in my Willoughby Close series, and the book I'm writing now, Marry Me at Willoughby Close. 

It's called Healing Begins and it's about what happens when we let our walls come down--which is a theme in my book! Here is a link to the youtube video (which features clips from a movie the song was featured in): Healing Begins.

The band is called Tenth Avenue North and they are a Christian rock/pop band that have a lot of songs about brokenness and healing and hope, all things I write about :)

Monday Meal: Sauteed Veggies with Garlic, Coriander & Lemon Juice

This is actually a lunch dish, for me anyway, but as it is yummy and healthy I thought I'd include it! It's super simple, takes five minutes, and I'm happy to have it most days for lunches or leftovers.

Ingredients:

Veggies, sliced--I like red pepper, courgettes, and mushrooms but I've also used spring onion, sugar snap peas, and broccoli as well. Basically, whatever you fancy!
1 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed (I like it quite garlicky!)
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves

Sauté the veggies in the olive oil with the garlic for about five minutes. Add lemon juice and coriander, and voila! This was my lunch today (it was leftover from yesterday):

Friday Photo: Happy dog!

I think this photo speaks for itself. Our dog Amica enjoying her evening walk.

I love these long, light evenings... and so does Amica!