As I take my characters down the Shipway (Lympne Hill) to the Sandtun (West Hythe), I reflect on the use of language in my novels.
Having just written a book set in the 1920s and another in the 1940s, I became well used to my female characters saying: ‘Gosh’ and ‘Golly’ and ‘Crumbs’ and there was even an ‘Old Bean’! They called their parents ‘Ma’ and ‘Pa’ or ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ depending on their upbringing.
But my favourite era so far was Medieval times and when the great storm was battering Romney, they were hardly going to say ‘Gosh’ or ‘Cripes, jolly bad luck old chap’. They said ‘God’s teeth’, ‘Christ’s bones’ or ‘By the blood of Christ’. These were pretty strong and quite appropriate for if your boat or home were being smashed up by the storm.
Now I step back to Saxon times and although I write in modern day English (I wouldn’t sell many books otherwise), I want to know how my characters are going to curse if they find themselves in trouble. Well… it turns out the religious swear words are not going to happen. The best I can find is … ‘Death’s head on a mop-stick’. Hmmm, there’s only so many times I can use that in one book! I’m going to have to give up on that search.
I move onto terms of endearment and find ‘Dearling’ and ‘Sweeting’, which I like. That reminds me that I tried to use ‘Honey’ in my medieval book. It was correct for the era, but sadly sounds too American so had to go…
What else? What will the children call their parents? ‘Modor’ and ‘Faeder’ – I like that! I also have a grandmother and she is called ‘Elder-Modor’.
Now I have to consider how far will I take this, without it becoming irritating for the reader? I decide to use ‘I thank you’ and I like a ‘Mayhap’ and a ‘Perchance’. Oh and I use ‘Aye’ and ‘Nay’.
If there are any rules about how far to take this in a historical novel, then I know nothing of them. I go with what feels right for me and my characters and I hope my readers agree. I have to be careful not to slip these words into a descriptive passage, as these parts are my words written in my 21st century style.
I do frequently check words to find out when they were first used. As I write this I have just searched twine, to see if my character can tie a goat up with it, or should it be rope? But words do slip through - a character was recently well ahead of her time when she used meters as a measurement in Victorian times! I do get it wrong and that’s when I rely on my readers to let me know. The kindle edition or the next print run of books can easily be changed.
​As I pass my halfway stage in the novel, I still need to use ‘Death’s head on a mop-stick’ and I’ve got ‘milk-soft’ on my list, which I think is rather nice! 

It's been two weeks since I launched The Artist's Gift. Usually the book is available whenever I get the copies and usually comes out on Kindle a few days beforehand. This time was different as I had the opportunity to have a stall in Lydd Church on the day of the Summer Fayre and Teddy Bear Jump. What an amazing opportunity - to launch the book in the very place the first scenes are set!
The people of Lydd have always been great supporters but imagine my surprise when I saw I had my very own special place - a table under the painting of the bombed church. The church wardens were so busy and it was wonderful for them to think of putting me there for the launch.
It was an amazing day and I'm so grateful to people who came on that day especially to support me. One of my friends arranged for my book to be launched off the church tower under its own parachute! Hence the reason why it was launched twice in one day!
Since that day, I have been delivering to local customers, something I always enjoy doing. Then I had a successful book signing at the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, always a nice place to spend a few hours. I also went to meet a book club who had read Secrets of the Shingle and very much enjoyed the discussion about the book.
Coming up... I've got three more book signing events in Greatstone, Dymchurch and Hythe. 
Yes, I am writing the new novel and I just need to take a couple of photos and I'll be ready to tell you about it.
Huge thanks to everyone who supports me - the regular customers, the people who buy the books as presents, the people who put lovely comments on facebook and send me messages. I really couldn't do it without your support. xx

Wow!​ I've been so busy since I ordered Stranger on The Point. Before the books arrived, I set up three book signings and started advertising on Facebook. As interest came through facebook, I sent everyone a message to make contact. Then I started on my list - the first of many - noting down what books were wanted and where people lived. When I had a delivery date, I then started contacting people and arranged my first delivery run covering Brookland, Lydd, and Dungeness in the morning and Dymchurch and some rural areas in the afternoon. The books arrived and I set out, with books and lists, delivering in torrential rain.
I love delivering the books. I get to meet so many people and everyone is happy to see me and interested in what I do.
The next week, I delivered to Lydd again, then along the coast - Greatstone and Littlestone - and to New Romney and St Mary's Bay. It was still raining!
After all that rushing around, I was grateful to spend a day at the fantastic Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, where I am always made so welcome. The book signing was made really special because both Leigh, who painted the hagstones on the cover, and Aaron who designed the cover, came to see me. It's amazing when people come especially to see me and buy my books!
The following week, I had a meet the author event in Mary's Tearooms, Dymchurch. Such a lovely morning, sitting drinking tea and eating cake, while chatting to different people who came in. It was a great atmosphere and the cake was yummy as always.
It's been exhausting but brilliant fun and I couldn't do it without all the support I get from local people. A huge thank you to everyone who buys my books, comes to see me and writes positive comments on my facebook posts.

As I wait for Rosemary, my proof reader, to send back Stranger on the Point, I'm pausing to reflect on all the support I've had in the last year. Much of it comes from people who are new friends. Of course there have been people who have been there for me throughout my writing journey, but this is for the people who have come into my life in the last year.
When I joined Facebook a year ago, with the intention of promoting myself, I wasn't actually brave enough to do it! So huge thanks to Neil who insisted I join groups, tell people about my books and has been a great supporter. He even featured my novel in Lydd Panto!
I've has so much support from my new Facebook friends and it makes a massive difference to sales. All your positive feedback encourages other people to buy. I can't mention you all, but special thanks to Alec and Caroline Hobbs who took a chance on buying books from an unknown author and have been constant promoters of my work.
It's tough recognising that you're good enough, so a big thank you to Dave who told me never to put myself down for being self-published. I listened and I don't anymore! I'm really proud of my books and their quality.
Last spring, I met Mary from Mary's Tearooms in the post office. She offered me an author talk (my first!) and sells my books, taking nothing for herself. Of course I now have to keep going and buying tea and cakes in the tearooms, it's a tough life...! And also thanks to Grant from the post office who sells my Dymchurch novel; it's great to have local support.
Also on facebook, I've met authors James Collins and Chris O'Donoghue. It's been great to chat to you both, to gain your support and advice.
I could go on and on, I am over-whelmed by all the lovely people I have met this year and the interest there is in my books. I appreciate every comment on facebook and every time someone goes out of their way to come and meet me at a book signing. Thank You!
The picture shows me signing a book to the lovely Sue Parry at the New Romney Day Centre talk.

I started my blog in February, when I had just finished But First Maintain the Wall and was thinking about the next novel. So here I am, about seven months later and I've just finished Stranger on the Point.  It's been an amazing seven months with But First Maintain the Wall selling really well. More and more people are hearing about my books and supporting me, which is fantastic. For the first time I really made an effort to promote a novel and I've loved meeting so many new people, chatting about my writing and passion for Romney Marsh. 
Now, I'm back where I was last February, but with a new book. It's just gone to the proof reader and I'm thinking about cover designs. Hopefully I'll be ready to reveal a cover design very soon and the novel should be ready by the end of November! I'll be planning some meet the author events and book signings, as well as promoting through Facebook.
But as before, my thoughts are also on the next novel. Another sequel to Secrets of the Shingle and Stranger on the Point, this one will take readers to the Second World War. I'm going to need a different approach this time though. Usually I start a novel with an event and just see where the characters take me. I work hard at making it historically accurate within the Romney Marsh setting, but don't plan the plot. But now I need to study Romney Marsh at War and make a timeline of key events, and have an idea of what to include. I guess my characters will still do whatever they chose to do, but the framework will be more structured. I've decided on the opening scene, and the ending. Just got to fill in the other eighty thousand words!