Nice stuff

[essayel]

I have had a very good day and in accordance with my resolution to spend more time smiling I'm going to talk about it.



I spent part of last night reading a very good book. Old pal authorm, aka Megan Hart, is well known as a writer of romances. I have to be honest and say that while her usual books are beautifully crafted and I admire her style very much I don't actually find them that enjoyable. Erotic romances with a first person female POV aren't really my thing, you see. But this one is very different - 3rd person pov and I suppose it might class as a psychological thriller. Anyhow from the first page it grabbed me and I eventually passed out with it draped over my face at about 2.30am. So I can heartily recommend Precious and Fragile Things. I'm planning an early night to finish it.

Work was fun. As part of the preparation for our pirate exhibition in May I spent the morning looking at movie posters for pirate films - boy are some of them cheesey! Then someone rang up to offer us his great-granpa's handcuffs and spurs! [He was a mounted policeman apparently]

Good news that bg_thomas has sold another story - 12 hours from submission to receiving the acceptance!!

I've had a proper count up of my continuing Nanowrimo story and On a Lee Shore now stands at 59559 words. A little disappointing because I thought it was over 60K but then I've never been any good at maths. However I'm getting onto the fun stuff so have a snippet:

He reviewed the plan, making the usual “and if this happens I could do that” additions, but knowing full well that pitfalls were rarely predictable. In the midst of a contingency plan that was becoming more and more complicated he slipped into dreaming and must have slept soundly because he woke feeling calm and clear headed and ready to take on the world.
What had awakened him, though? All was silent and there was just the hush of the sea and the liquid flutter of moonlight reflected off the water onto the ceiling of the cabin. He blinked in the darkness and stretched.
“I’m sorry.” Griffin’s voice was as hushed as the sea. He was just a shadow standing close by. “I didn’t mean to wake you,”
Kit stretched again. “Denny warned me that you would,” he murmured. “It’s early.”
“It will be a long day,” Griffin said. “Soonest started, soonest finished. I-if I could take your part today I would but I am too obviously the Englishman. We can’t afford for them to have a moment’s doubt. O’Neill and Wigram don’t speak Spanish and Valliere’s authority would be questioned. You can carry this off. I’m using you Kit, but I wanted to say that I hope you take no hurt from what happens today. It would – grieve me, if you were injured.”
He had stepped back to allow Kit to get out of the hammock but as his bare feet touched the oil cloth and Kit reached for that days clothing Griffin stepped close again.
“Do you understand me, Kit?” he asked, his voice quiet. “Your health – your well-being – is important to me.”
There was an intensity in his voice that made Kit feel that some honest response was required. Griffin might be responsible for Kit’s present position but he had been a good friend. An interesting and erudite companion and if the circumstances had been different Kit would have taken great joy in their association.
A very great joy. Pleasure in fact - from touch and closeness despite the laws of God and man. Impossible of course, but perhaps the friendship should be acknowledged?
All at once he realised he had thought for too long and that Griffin was moving away. Kit let the bundle of clothing fall and put his hand out. He felt the edge of a linen shirt under his palm, cool skin under his fingertips, a strong heartbeat. Before he could draw his hand away it was covered and held in place.
“Nothing to say Kit?” Griffin murmured. “Nothing at all?”

And finally, has anyone else noticed the similarity between Captain Hastings and The Desert Peach? I don't know what it is, there's just something about them and it makes me smile.

Comments

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

I love the image of the protagonist falling asleep in the midst of a contingency plan that was becoming more and more complicated, and what can be gleaned about the imminent events from this little snippet sounds exciting. By the way, this is a nice sort of griffin, too. ;)