Crusades, new author and screaming at Harry Potter VI

First of all, on my trying to find out more about the RWA Nationals wanderings, I encountered Ramblings on Romance where there is an active crusade to get people to watch North & South. This sort of crusade makes me very happy. And if anyone has not seen it yet (why not?) do so. Now. I had to laugh -- Kristie helpfully linked to my post back 2007 just after I watched N&S. I had forgotten that originally Simon Clare of Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife was named Gabe. It is hard to think of him as anything but Simon now! N&S is wonderful...This reminds me -- I have lent my copy to a friend who professed ignorance. I need to get it back. She is supposed to lend me all the series for Spooks (MI5 in the US) which she says is brill.

Another bit of news that I learnt was there is a brand new Harlequin Historical author -- Jeannie Lin. Her struggles to get published are awe inspiring and I am so pleased that HH bought a Chinese set historical. Fingers crossed that it does well. It is always good to have another Unusual Historical author.

Last night, it was time to watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The entire family went. Luckily we had booked tickets ahead of time as the Hexham Forum had sold out. I saw other families with their grown up children obviously doing the same as us. HP VI is the best thus far. It is a bit dark and the themes are more adult. It has grown along with its original audience. My eldest really enjoyed it. Towards the end, I was half paying attention and half thinking about the ending to my latest, and so missed the build up and let out a piercing shriek at one point. It is frightening in places! If you are a fan of the series, go and see it. It has a 12A rating for a reason, and could cause nightmares amongst younger children. But it is good fun and now I have to re-read the last book as I need to remind myself where everything was found.

My work in progress will be finished in first draft form today and then I have the AA's (final check after copy edits) for The Viking's Captive Princess to do. These should clear my mind so I can properly edit HRG.

Revisions arrive

Yesterday, my editor sent through her thoughts. As ever, her thoughts are like gold dust and will serve to make the manuscript stronger.

Yes, I know I have been waiting since late January, but thoughts like these are worth waiting for. They are clear and precise. She has picked up on inconsistencies in the back story, and shades of meaning. And it does not look like there will any big shifts in scene order.

This means I have done my usual -- namely print off the manuscript. Now, I will go through and reread the story so that I know what I wrote, and as I read, I will hold the revision thoughts in my mind. Then I will go through and make the changes. Then I will reread and see if anything else needs to be changed. Finally I will go through at random twice more -- once to tighten on tension and once to tighten on Point of View. Then hopefully, it will be ready.

Revisions are fun because they are about making the story stronger. They are probably my favourite part of writing. No, I lie -- my favourite part is when I know the story has been accepted for publication. And I am just pleased to be working on this one again...

I had a great post from Anna Louise Lucia -- an advanced copy of her book Run Among Thorns. It looks great. Unfortunately my dd has started reading it and has hidden it as she says that I have revisions. My dd does not agree that the female model looks vaguely like Anna. She says that Anna has a far pretty face and much more interesting hair.

Should I watch North & South again as Richard Armitage helped to inspire my hero? The last episode is so fantastic. Hence the photo from BBC's Robin Hood.

North and South, Richard Armitage and me

A confession -- now that I have the title thing working. Until last week, I had not seen the BBC production North and South with the wonderful Richard Armitage. I had seen Richard Armitage in Monet, and in Robin Hood. I knew about the obsession that he tends to engender in some women, but had slightly missed it. My editor when she asked me to do this regency duo, said that oh I could have an industrialist as a hero -- you know use Richard Armitage again.

I thought I had best actually watch the series. It is compulsive viewing. I was going to be good and watch one episode per day. I watched the first episode on Thursday and then had to watch ALL the remaining episodes on Friday. The last episode is -- wow.
The major reason for watching it is Richard Armitage. The part of Jack Thornton could have been played by Sean Bean as well, but Richard Armitage did a great job. In fact he was totally gorgeous. And as I know Phillipa Astley sometimes reads this blog -- Pip I now understand why you were compelled and why he has fuelled so many fantasies.
I don't know if Gabe will end up being based on Richard Armitage or not. For one thing, John Thornton is far too near to my Jack Stanton, the hero of A Christmas Wedding Wager. Gabe needs to be different than Jack. Gabe has to be his own man. Gabe is the second hero in the Regency duo. But I do like the hard integrity of RA in North and South.

But if you have not seen North and South, and you like alpha males, see the series. He really is a hero to die for. SIGH.