Bad News/Good News

Those of you who are my Facebook friends will already know this, but last week I had some bad news and some good news. 

The bad news was that after a lot of work and three rounds of revisions, I got the final verdict from Mills and Boon on The Welsh King’s Spy—in the end although they liked my voice and thought I had potential, the story wasn’t quite what they were looking for.  The really bad news was that I’d just put on mascara and my first lesson was due to start in ten minutes when I read the email, so instead of crying and sulking, which always makes me feel better, I had to smile and explain circular geometry. I wouldn’t recommend that as a remedy for dashed hopes—I think my poor student is now terminally confused.

The good news was that the editor went on to say that although TWKS wasn’t right, she’d like to continue working with me on my next story. I’m really excited about that because she wouldn’t go to all that work and trouble unless she thought my voice was a good fit for Harlequin Historical. So now (after being wiped out for a few days by a cold caught from my maths student) I’m working on some characters and plots for a few scenarios set in the Twelfth Century. Hopefully I can come up with something that shows promise. Wish me luck!

A Roman day out

I’m lucky enough to live close to Wroxeter—the site of the fourth largest Roman city in Britain. 

Now all that’s left is a few stones and bricks in a field and it’s hard to imagine how it must have been in Roman times. However, this weekend a group of re-enactors moved in and brought the place back to life. I had the time of my life, chatting to all the participants and getting a glimpse of what life in Roman Britain was like. Of course, I took loads of photos and made pages of notes for my WIP which is set in Roman Britain.

Surgical instruments and wound plugs

Trepanning demonstration

For me, the highlights were the surgeon (medicus) and the midwife (obstetrix). My mother—a former nurse—informs me that some of the instruments used were remarkably similar to ones in use today. We saw catheters (metal, rather than latex, obviously), a trepanning tool (used for relieving pressure within the skull as a result of a depressed fracture) and an eye-watering speculum. Oh, and haemorrhoid clamps! 

Midwife's sign - a copy of a tomb relief found in Ostia. Not much doubt what's happening there!

A birthing stool

In addition to the medics, there was also a cookery demonstration, a potter, weaving and military displays. It was so useful to be able to chat to the participants and get a feel for the practicalities of daily life in Roman times. An invaluable experience for a historical novelist!

Roman armour. I picked up a shield - it was so heavy I couldn't imagine carrying it on a 26-mile march!

Potter's wheel

A Roman kitchen

Lying to myself

Can lying to myself ever be a good thing? It might surprise you to learn that there are times when I think it can. Obviously, I’m not talking about the big things in life, like trying to be someone I’m not, or convincing myself that I can eat a huge bowl of Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream every day and not put on weight. Um…yes…the less said about the last one, the better.

No, what I’m talking about is self-motivation. For me, I use self-deception in two areas of my life when I need a kick up the backside.

The first is cycling. I love cycling, but I’m not very good at going up hills, and if I didn’t lie to myself I would never make it to the top. It goes something like this:

Me: Aargh! That’s a huge hill ahead. I’d better stop for a breather before tackling it.

Sneaky me: Tell you what, just climb as far as the first corner, then you can stop. You’ll get a good view from there.

At the first corner…

Me: Hurrah! I made it. Time for a rest.

Sneaky me:   You know, the view isn’t as good from here as I thought it would be. See that layby a bit higher up? You can make it that far before stopping and you’ll get a clearer view from there.

And it works. I usually make it all the way to the top before stopping, albeit with a face the colour of beetroot.

I couldn't have made it over the Brecons without some serious lying

It’s the same with writing. Not so much keeping going, but to get myself started every day. Here’s an example:

Me: I don’t feel like writing this evening. I’m going to read a book instead. That’s research, right?

Sneaky me: That’s a good idea, but wouldn’t you rather turn on your laptop and play Spider?

As soon as the computer’s booted up…

Sneaky me: At least open up your WIP so it’s ready if you decide to work on it later.

Me: Okay. Done that. Now for Spider.

Sneaky me: Hang on. Why not read the last scene through, just to keep it fresh in your mind? Then you can play Spider with a clear conscience.

Me: Okay, why not. [Reads] Ooh, I’ve just had a great idea what the hero would do now.

Sneaky me: Better write it now, before you forget.

And off I go. 

Anyone else think self-deception can be good? Or am I just deluding myself?