AUGUST
Family time
This month has been a busy one with family. Charlie’s son and his family were over from Sweden, staying with us for a week. It was a bit of a squeeze in our flat, but it was lovely to see them. We broke the visit up with a trip to Tyndrum, where other members of the family joined us and walked part of the West Highland Way. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it as I had stubbed the little toe on my left foot and the middle toe on my right foot so could hardly walk. It was so painful. Thankfully, they are a bit better now. I expect, like us, lots of you have had children or grandchildren starting primary or secondary school this month. This year, our granddaughter, and our grandnephew, both started primary school and our great granddaughter, started high school. Each of them is beginning a new adventure on life’s journey and I wish them and all the other children starting school a safe rite of passage.
Second Book in The Uist Girl Series
I’m still waiting for the editor’s report on my second book in The Uist Girl Series, but I’ve now had feedback from my beta readers (my sister and four friends), Catherine, Margaret, Elizabeth, Liz and Ian, who have all given me really constructive comments. It will be interesting to see if the editor picks up the same things. I had hoped to publish the book in September, but realistically it will be October or November as I can’t do any further work on it until I receive the editor’s report. It’s due on the 24th of this month, so fingers crossed it arrives on time. Here’s the first draft of the blurb. Let me know what you think. Would it entice you to read on?
ONE FAMILY. ONE WOMAN. REVENGE.
It’s 1920, the beginning of a new decade promising prosperity to a country beleaguered by war and the Spanish Flu. Chrissie and Roderick Macdonald embrace the optimism of the period, believing their troubles to be at an end now that Colin Donaldson is dead. Everything is looking bright as they move into the Factor’s house, but an ill wind blows a new schoolteacher into North Uist, and she’s bent on revenge.
A series of anonymous letters reach the Laird and put at risk Roderick’s job and the family secrets he and Chrissie have vowed to keep. The novel follows the lives of Chrissie, Roderick, and their sons as they battle against the malicious forces from Roderick’s past, which leave Chrissie with a momentous decision to make that will change the course of their lives forever.
A tense and thought-provoking historical novel set against the social issues of the time, His Bitter Seed interweaves a psychological mystery with a family saga and will keep readers guessing until the last page.
Bearsden Writers
Bearsden Writers’ Writing Festival took place on Saturday 20th August in Kilmardinny House in Milngavie. Sally Magnusson was the special guest, and she was excellent. She answered questions put to her about her writing and her life with honesty and good humour. There were also eight different workshops for participants to attend, one of which was self-publishing, which I was presenting. I was rather nervous to begin with, but then got into the flow and it went fine. Two of our members, Leela Soma and Maura McRobbie, will be talking about their books at Gavin’s Mill Café this coming Tuesday 23 August, if you would like to go along. Tickets cost £7.
Till next month, keep well.
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MARION MACDONALD 