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Last weekend, I went to Dungeness. I thought it was important to go exploring as I am re-reading Secrets of the Shingle and am now half-way through writing the sequel. I retraced Alice's (my fictional character) footsteps from the old mainline train station, along the tracks to the remains of the school. Very little is left of what was once quite a substantial building – just a few scattered slates, bricks and some concrete bases. The school was built in 1876 and closed in 1940. It also served as a church, with a curtain pulled across the east window and altar during the week. Accommodation for the teachers was attached. The shingle now has far more plant life on it than in the 1890s; it would have been even bleaker in those times.
The school also featured in a Malcolm Saville book but he described it as having two storeys, which doesn't appear to be accurate from the photos. Monica Edwards also takes her characters from Rye Harbour to Dungeness, where they use the RH&DR steam train to travel to Dymchurch.
I've now written 43,000 words of the new novel, which is fantastic progress for me and I am so enjoying writing this book. I don't start with a fixed plan. In fact, I start with very little plan at all. Just an idea of a dramatic event to begin with, a main character or two and then I see what happens. It's good fun and I do get a few shaky moments when I wonder what is going to happen next. But it all works out and the words keep flowing. As with the previous novel, my main character will go to Ashford and I am just about to write a couple of chapters set there. That's all quite new to me, so a bit of research to be done. I had best get on with it if this novel is going to be ready for the end of the year...
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This week I went on the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Tour as part of JAM on the Marsh. We visited four churches and learned a huge amount about the history of these gorgeous buildings, thanks to Joan Campbell. In the past I learned about a possible anchorhold at St Nicholas in New Romney. Joan spoke about the belief that only the most saintly went straight to heaven on death and most of us had to work our way through purgatory. The more the living could do to ease the deceased through purgatory, the better. One of the most extreme examples is to brick someone up in the walls of the church, with a window towards the altar and another to the churchyard. The anchoress' whole existence was devoted towards praying for the dead person in order to speed up their journey to heaven. This inspired me to place one of my characters in an anchorhold in What the Monk Didn't See.
What inspired me this time? I love East Guldeford Church. It is so different to the other Marsh Churches and equally beautiful. The freeze of angels shown here is high up on the walls. Joan suggested they were painted in Victorian times at a time when the fashion was for the 'less advantaged' women of the parish to become engaged in pursuits to improve their minds. Wouldn't you love to know who painted these angels and what impact it had on their lives to be involved in such a project? Maybe one day I'll put these women and their painted angels into a novel.
What inspired me this time? I love East Guldeford Church. It is so different to the other Marsh Churches and equally beautiful. The freeze of angels shown here is high up on the walls. Joan suggested they were painted in Victorian times at a time when the fashion was for the 'less advantaged' women of the parish to become engaged in pursuits to improve their minds. Wouldn't you love to know who painted these angels and what impact it had on their lives to be involved in such a project? Maybe one day I'll put these women and their painted angels into a novel.
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. Not a first review for the latest novel but a sneak preview of what's coming up! I've been working really hard at my sequel to Secrets of the Shingle and have just shared the first seven chapters with a good friend who reads as I write. So what did she have to say about it?
Dear Emma, I have been keeping greatly entertained with your Dungeness novel.
I was on the lookout for your repeating Secrets of the Shingle in a formulaic way, but not at all! In fact, I kept thinking "What, no murders?", then you plunged the reader into the dreamlike tale of *******. You very cleverly suggested a hypnotic state in Lily through the grey tea, but the outcome of her state is quite unexpected and original.
What no murders? Could any sequel of Shingle continue without some random bodies strewn about? I have assured my friend that there would soon be a body on the shingle and as I write this I have left the story in limbo. A body has just been discovered, but I have been delayed and so there he/she remains until I have time to continue!
Dear Emma, I have been keeping greatly entertained with your Dungeness novel.
I was on the lookout for your repeating Secrets of the Shingle in a formulaic way, but not at all! In fact, I kept thinking "What, no murders?", then you plunged the reader into the dreamlike tale of *******. You very cleverly suggested a hypnotic state in Lily through the grey tea, but the outcome of her state is quite unexpected and original.
What no murders? Could any sequel of Shingle continue without some random bodies strewn about? I have assured my friend that there would soon be a body on the shingle and as I write this I have left the story in limbo. A body has just been discovered, but I have been delayed and so there he/she remains until I have time to continue!
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It's been another busy week for me as I continue to promote my novels. On Thursday 7th, I was at the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, which is always a lovely place to visit and the staff are so welcoming. I was there for a book signing/meet the author event. As always it was good to meet and chat with people. There was an extra bonus as the Goddard Family were displaying their art there (they are there throughout June) and after the book signing I went to meet Philippa and Terry. It was lovely to meet them and to look at all the art by different members of the family. Two days later I went back and bought a print by Emily, but have a feeling I might be back for more.
On Sunday I had a stall at Honeychild Manor for an open farm day. Again, I met some lovely people - the highlight being a man who thought he recognised me from being on The One Show! Not me, I admitted.
On Thursday 14th, it was my first author talk in Mary's Tearooms, Dymchurch. Huge thanks to Mary for inviting me. I had prepared bullet points and some props and spoke about my author journey. It went well and I think everyone enjoyed it. A really good evening in a gorgeous place.
On Sunday I had a stall at Honeychild Manor for an open farm day. Again, I met some lovely people - the highlight being a man who thought he recognised me from being on The One Show! Not me, I admitted.
On Thursday 14th, it was my first author talk in Mary's Tearooms, Dymchurch. Huge thanks to Mary for inviting me. I had prepared bullet points and some props and spoke about my author journey. It went well and I think everyone enjoyed it. A really good evening in a gorgeous place.
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Last summer I discovered that the Fifth Continent group were setting up projects to learn more about the history of Romney Marsh. One of these is a search for the port of Romney - and they are looking for volunteers! Really exciting for me as the port at New Romney was lost during the 1287 storm, which of course features in What the Monk Didn't See. Boats once moored stern to bow along the Rother, all the way past Hope and on to Old Romney (shown here), but by the time of the storm, the river had already silted up and the New Romney area had become the port.
On Saturday there was a chance for potential volunteers to learn more about the project and training opportunities, so I went along to learn more. What a surprise to find another opportunity which I couldn't resist - next summer the team are hoping to discover the extent of St Martin's church in New Romney and to date it. I know nothing at all about this church, only where it was and that it was all gone by the 16th century, so I'd love to be involved in that too.
I'm working really hard and making good progress on my 20th century sequel to Secrets of the Shingle, but I am sure I'll be lured back to Medieval times for the next novel...
On Saturday there was a chance for potential volunteers to learn more about the project and training opportunities, so I went along to learn more. What a surprise to find another opportunity which I couldn't resist - next summer the team are hoping to discover the extent of St Martin's church in New Romney and to date it. I know nothing at all about this church, only where it was and that it was all gone by the 16th century, so I'd love to be involved in that too.
I'm working really hard and making good progress on my 20th century sequel to Secrets of the Shingle, but I am sure I'll be lured back to Medieval times for the next novel...
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It's still all fun in my world of promoting But First Maintain the Wall. Last Saturday I was at Crafts 4 U at Lathe Barn (you can see my books on the shelf in the picture) for a 'meet the author' and book signing session. It was fantastic to meet people who had come especially to see me and to talk about a shared interest in Romney Marsh. I really appreciate all the support I am getting. All the money raised from book sales goes back into printing and other costs, so a huge THANK YOU to everyone who is buying my paperback and kindle books.
Coming up is another 'meet the author' at the Romney Marsh Visitor centre on Thurs 7th June between 11 and 2pm.
Then on Thursday 14th June, I am at Mary's Tearooms in Dymchurch to give a talk about my writing and the process of publishing my novels. This starts at 7pm. Thanks to Mary for showing an interest in my work and giving me the opportunity to do this.
Then there are some other plans in the pipeline, including one very interesting proposition, more on that later...
In the meantime, I'm having fun writing the latest novel set at Dungeness.
I love to hear from anyone who has read my books or has an interest in local history, so please do get in touch.
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When I finished my third novel, I immediately launched into my fourth, giving myself no time to promote What the Monk Didn't See. This time round I was determined to do it differently, and although I have been dabbling with a new novel since last February, I have only just started writing in earnest.
So where on Romney Marsh is the latest one set and in which era? This time I am going for a sequel and decided it had to be a return to Dungeness and so we continue the story of Secrets of the Shingle... With the original novel set in the 1890s, I now enter the twentieth century, which really is a bit modern for me. But with Dungeness still very much cut off from the modern world, I guess it won't be so very different from the time Alice Tibbs stepped off the train to begin her role as a teacher there.
I mentioned I had been writing a bit every now and then, so last Thursday I was on 12,000 words already and aim to write 3,000 a week. Look at my word count, I'm on over 15,000 today!
I'm going back to it now, so more on the book launches and author talks in a few days...
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What a brilliant week I've had as I begin promoting But First Maintain the Wall. I've got some fantastic supporters locally and was thrilled to be able to deliver the first book from my stock to Caroline, who has been promoting my writing through facebook since we first met last December. May has been the best month for Kindle sales and readers who are discovering me for the first time are buying the other books as well.
I've been to chat with Liz at the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre about a book launch but I was feeling a little shy so we decided on a 'meet the author day' which will be on June 7th. Liz has been so supportive since I showed her Secrets of the Shingle back in 2016 and now I have half a shelf of books there!
But a day after telling Liz I couldn't possibly stand up and talk about my books in front of an audience, I found myself doing just that in front of a packed hall at the Dymchurch Heritage Group's meeting! The group had kindly allowed me to take my books along as their talk for the evening was about the authors of Romney Marsh, I hadn't expected to be standing up and giving my own short talk about the novel. I guess it was good to be thrown in at the deep end and it has given me the confidence to think that, with a few notes, I could manage a longer author talk. Nice to spot Oliver Tidy, another Dymchurch author in the audience. And afterwards - a chance of a book signing. Lovely to have such support from the members of the group.
More book signings and a talk coming up... more on this next time.
I've been to chat with Liz at the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre about a book launch but I was feeling a little shy so we decided on a 'meet the author day' which will be on June 7th. Liz has been so supportive since I showed her Secrets of the Shingle back in 2016 and now I have half a shelf of books there!
But a day after telling Liz I couldn't possibly stand up and talk about my books in front of an audience, I found myself doing just that in front of a packed hall at the Dymchurch Heritage Group's meeting! The group had kindly allowed me to take my books along as their talk for the evening was about the authors of Romney Marsh, I hadn't expected to be standing up and giving my own short talk about the novel. I guess it was good to be thrown in at the deep end and it has given me the confidence to think that, with a few notes, I could manage a longer author talk. Nice to spot Oliver Tidy, another Dymchurch author in the audience. And afterwards - a chance of a book signing. Lovely to have such support from the members of the group.
More book signings and a talk coming up... more on this next time.
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With the proof copy of First Maintain the Wall looking good, it has been time to order from the printers. One of the issues was when could I be at home for delivery. I was ordering 200 books (100 of What the Monk Didn't See as well). It was hardly fair to expect a neighbour to take them if I couldn't be at home. While pondering on delivery, it came to me that perhaps I could collect them myself as I was due to go to Devon. A quick search on the map showed me Imprint Digital were only ten miles from the family I was visiting in Tiverton, Devon. On Tuesday, I called David at Imprint and asked if my books could be ready by late Thursday afternoon. He seemed sure they would be and so it was agreed I would confirm on the day, subject to traffic.
With delays on the M25 it wasn't a great journey, but an hour after arriving in Tiverton, I set off down winding country lanes to collect my books. It was fantastic to meet David and the team, and to have a tour of the printing works.
With eight boxes in the boot of the car, I headed off and the books are now back in Kent awaiting delivery to local shops.
With delays on the M25 it wasn't a great journey, but an hour after arriving in Tiverton, I set off down winding country lanes to collect my books. It was fantastic to meet David and the team, and to have a tour of the printing works.
With eight boxes in the boot of the car, I headed off and the books are now back in Kent awaiting delivery to local shops.
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Finally my proof copy of But First Maintain the Wall came through the post from the fantastic printers, Imprint Digital. How amazing to see the completed book which I started writing last June.
My local historical group, Dymchurch Heritage Group, had an open afternoon with lots of items on display and I was planning to go along, but hadn't expected to be able to take the novel with me. There was a lot of interest and support for me as a local author. In their next meeting they have a guest speaker who is talking about writers from Romney Marsh, so they suggested I take my books along. What a great opportunity for me!
So now I move onto a new stage in my author journey, as I follow up the invitations I have for book signings and author talks. The book has just been put on Kindle and I am hoping to have stock of the paperbacks within a week.
My local historical group, Dymchurch Heritage Group, had an open afternoon with lots of items on display and I was planning to go along, but hadn't expected to be able to take the novel with me. There was a lot of interest and support for me as a local author. In their next meeting they have a guest speaker who is talking about writers from Romney Marsh, so they suggested I take my books along. What a great opportunity for me!
So now I move onto a new stage in my author journey, as I follow up the invitations I have for book signings and author talks. The book has just been put on Kindle and I am hoping to have stock of the paperbacks within a week.
