Dr Who Exhibition, Train Drama and Disappointment

24 March 202324 March 2023 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

So, last weekend, myself and the boy went through to Edinburgh to see the Dr Who exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland. It started poorly when I slept in and we missed our 8am train. We got the 8.30am train into Glasgow. Now, we can stay on that train and it goes straight to Edinburgh. However, if we get off at Queen Street Station in Glasgow and go to the upper level to catch the Edinburgh train, it takes less time to get there….at least 15-20 minutes. Also, it has a tea trolley. So, we got off at Queen Street, go up to the upper level only to find that there was a huge queue for the Edinburgh train. The Scotland ruby team were playing at Murrayfield Rugby Ground in Edinburgh and this was people going through…very early. It was 9.30am and the kick-off wasn’t until 12.30pm (it only takes around an hour to get to Edinburgh from Glasgow by train). So, rather than waiting in the massive queue, the boy and I turned tail, bought some pastries and drinks at a little kiosk and then went back down to the lower level to catch the next train to Edinburgh.

I had booked us in to the exhibition for 10.30am and the next train got us into Edinburgh Waverley for around 10.35am, so we were late. We looked for a taxi, couldn’t find one so had to hike it up the hill into the Old Town. It’s not a long walk, but it’s up a steep hill/stairs. We finally arrived at nearly 11am. We still got in and it was a good exhibition. Me and the boy are Dr Who fans, so it was great to see all the props and costumes.

Anyway, we both enjoyed the exhibition and it was worth going to see. It only took us around half an hour to walk around (we’re not lurkers!) and then we had a look at the other exhibits in the museum. It’s been years since I was there and they had a great exhibition about clothing. Of course, I forgot to take pics!

So anyway, how are you? Hope you’re all good. Are you wondering what the ‘disappointment’ bit of the headline? Well, it’s all to do with Carnival Row. I loved the first series, but the second series wasn’t as good and the ending….all I can say was it was very disappointing. Sigh.

Currently watching: there’s actually not much on tv right now that I’m excited about. I did enjoy Prime’s Daisy Jones and the Six. Of course, it ended on a cliff-hanger. So, now I’m wondering what the hell happened. No doubt, there will be a second series. It’s the story of a 70s rock band and, boy, does it have you glued to it. The story is superb (of course it is, it is based on a book of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid (who also wrote The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo). The cast are great, but I have to note that Sam Claflin is fab in it and very sexy. Yes, I do have a bit of a thing for him! The music is also great and there’s a soundtrack which you can get on vinyl! yay!!

In case you missed my last post, Loch Ness is now up for pre-order. Here’s the blurb:

When farm girl Esther Abercrombie is offered a job as an assistant to the famous cryptozoologist, Dr Thaddeus Dwell, little does she know the dangers that are to come.

Dr Dwell is on the hunt for the legendary Loch Ness Monster and he doesn’t care whether he gets it alive or dead. With his dwarf assistant, Cassius Ironblood, and a big game hunter, Charles Warrington, he wants to capture it and slice it up…all in the name of science, notoriety and greed.

But Esther can’t let this happen. Joining forces with the mysterious Duncan, they work together to thwart Dwell’s evil plans and save the monster from extinction. Along the way, she uncovers Duncan’s startling secret and finds herself falling madly in love.

Set in late 1800s Scotland, this fantasy novel takes our heroine on a wild adventure from her humble beginnings in rural Ayrshire through the wilds of Loch Ness and on to the high society of Victorian Edinburgh.

Steam level = sweet

Action level = packed full of danger, adventure and thrills

PREORDER:

https://books2read.com/u/bpyPVq/

Right, that’s enough for now. Till next time.

Dawn xxxtv

Envy, Bony and Why The Beach Bum is So Bad

2 November 2022 / darkislethebooks / 1 Comment

Hi, how’s everyone? Hope you’re all well!! So exciting news! Envy comes out in three days’ time” THREE DAYS!! Woohoo. It’s another of the Sisters of Sin series, it’s romantic suspense (available as a paperback and romantic suspense Kindle book) and what I would describe as action adventure. The heroine is Izzy Starr, an assassin, who is given a job by her ex to see is an international chocolate company is indeed using child slavery on its African plantations.

Heres the blurb:

Envy loves her life as an assassin working for the Sisters of Sin…until her ex, Adam, shows up begging her for help.

Someone’s forcing children into slavery on African cocoa plantations.

Pretending to be a couple, Envy and Adam fly out to the Ivory Coast to investigate.

What they find sickens even her…and now she’s armed and very, very angry.

Enemies to lovers. Action and adventure. Fake relationship. Steamy Sex. Envy has it all.

https://geni.us/envydanelson

HALLOWEEN PARTY

Okay, so what else has been happening a Nelson Towers? Me and the kids were at a Halloween party on Saturday night at our next-door neighbours’ house. It was a fab party. I was originally going to go as Cruella de Vil. I’d bought the costume last year, but it came too late, so I brought it out Saturday afternoon only to find the damn thing doens’t fit me. Despite ordering a size up from my normal curvy self, this was waaaaaay too skinny fit for me. Sigh. Way to go costume makers! You’ve made a plump woman feel even fatter! Anyway, I dug out last year’s costume (a black stretchy dress) and wore that instead. I back-combed my hair (big mistake, took me ages to brush it on Sunday morning!) and donned black shoes. It was a fab night. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of myself taken.

Our beloved Bonya, gone but not forgotten.

BONYA

The night had a tinge of sadness over it however. We had to have our beloved pug, Bonya, put down a few weeks ago. She was old and had various health issues, so it was the best thing to do for her. We were all devastated, and I couldn’t sleep properly for about a week afterwards. Apart from her farting, she was a terrible snorer, and my bedroom was just too quiet. Anyway, Bonya always came with us to any party our neighbours were having (and they have loads) and became known as Party Pug. This was our first party without the wee soul. She was missed. She will, however, never be forgotten…mainly for her lovely personality, her cuddly-ness and her farts that could clear a room. She was an amazing animal, and we were so lucky to have had her in our lives.

BOOKS

Right, on to happier things. So, my mum gave me a book, The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley, and I desperately want to like it. But it’s boring me to tears. It’s dragging on and on and I just don’t want to finish it. My mum really enjoyed this book and its sequels, but I’m going to have to give it back. I feel like I’m wasting my time on it. Sorry Lucinda Riley.

I am reading Robin Sharma’s The 5am Club, which, while the storyline is a bit cheesy in places, does have some good solid advice to give to people who want to improve their productivity and their lives in general. While I won’t be getting up at 5am, I am trying to get up earlier. I am very productive anyway, but I’m looking to add more hours to my day. I can’t do it after dinner (6pm-ish) as I’m just too tired by then, but maybe getting up at 6am instead of 7am is doable. I’ll let you know how I get on.

TELLY

Right, so there are some amazing programmes on tv right now and I’ll briefly take you through what I’ve been watching.

Firstly, I re-watched Carnival Row on Prime because it’s just so amazing. If you like fantasy and history, this is the series for you. It stars Cara Delevigne and Orlando Bloom, and is just amazing. I cannot wait for the second series!

Secondly, everyone’s been talking about The Empress on Netflix. It’s about the life of Empress Elizabeth of Austria and is excellent. It’s stunningly shot as well.

Thirdly, Walter Presents Agatha Christie’s HJerson (I watched in on More Four) is a superb Swedish crime drama based around a tv producer and an ex cop. Hjerson is the main character of Ariadne Oliver, the writer in the Poiro books. Anyway, this is a modern look at that character and what he might get up to. It’s clever, it’s funny and I just loved it.

Fourthly, again Walter Presents, Astrid: Murder in Paris is about a woman with autism who helps Parisian police investigate murders. It’s quirky and clever, and very very enjoyable.

Fifthly, (and I haven’t just been watching telly all day, promise), I watched The House of the Dragon. It was a bit of a drag at first. I stuck with it, though, as I’m such a huge Game of Thrones fan, and thank God it did heat up towards the end.

And finally, my current obsession thanks to a recommendation by my sister, Vicky, and that is The Tudors. Oh my God, this series is so GOOOOOOOOD. Okay, not 100% accurate (the history lover in me has winced a few times at story lines that weren’t correct), but very addictive. I’m on season two right now.

A BIG RASPBERRY

Things I would not recommend are: The Beach Bum starring Mathew Macconaughey. It’s dire. I watched half of it hoping it would get better. It did not. I didn’t like the characters and the storyline dragged. A big raspberry from me!

WRITING LIFE

I’ve signed up to do another anthology, which is due out in February next year. I’ll let you know more nearer the time.

I’m also about to embark on writing a new fantasy book for adults. It’s set in Victorian Scotland. More on that later.

Right, I need to say adieu just now. I am away to the dentist to get a filling replaced. It fell out two-and-a-half years ago in the midst of the pandemic and this is me just getting it replaced now. My dentist has only just reopened to non-urgent patients.

Okay, that’s me off now. Till next time.

Dawnxxx

Ukraine Anthology, Babs, The Anchor Line and Das Boot

10 March 2022 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

I decided that in this post we all need a bit of cheering up, so I’m filling it with sunlight and flowers. Well, the images will be that. How are you all? Hope you’re all fine.

So, first things first, let’s talk about Ukraine. I’ve felt so horrified about what’s been happening and have been giving to charities helping people on the ground as much as I can. A friend of mine basically spent her entire life savings helping four families escape. They are the families of people she has been working with and they are currently in the Netherlands. They’re hoping to get them to the UK at some point. When I say life savings, I’m talking five figures, nearly six. My friend is amazing. I don’t have that kind of money, but I have been involved in a fundraising anthology to raise funds for Ukranian children in need.

Here’s the details (they were in the last post, but here you are again):

｡☆✼★Preorder: https://books2read.com/u/47QGJq ★✼☆｡

Protect the innocent.

Provide for families.

We stand with Ukraine.

Across the globe authors have come together to provide stories filled with hope, heart and understanding, inspired by the events of February 2022.

STAND FOR UKRAINE is a collection of romance, women’s fiction and poetry. Proceeds go to Save the Children’s efforts to provide Ukrainian children with food, warmth, shelter and psychological support.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/…/60546251-stand-for-ukraine

I’ve already submitted my short story and I’m looking forward to seeing this fly off the shelves (metaphorically speaking). Well done to the ladies of the Romance Cafe who organised this, including my friend Sofia Aves (who is a superb author).

Right, moving on. What else has been happening? I managed to actually go out last weekend. I met up with three friends who were up from London. We had dinner at Babs (really nice Mediterranean food) in Glasgow and then drinks at The Anchor Line. I had a fab night. I’ve known the three of them for more than 20 years and being with them again was like no time had passed. Yes, we’ve all gotten older, but our sense of humour stays the same. Thanks for a great night guys.

Over the weekend, I also caught up with my parents and visited my niece and her wee boy who is around five months old and totally gorgeous. So, busy weekend.

What I’ve been watching: I am totally loving the new series of The Marvellous Mrs Maisel. It’s superb. So funny, so stylish, so beautifully written. I’ve also been watching the newer version of Das Boot (I remember the original series) and it’s also really, really good. Gripping storyline, brilliant characters and just all round excellent series. It’s mostly in German with some French and English. Talking of German programmes, I cannot wait until the new series of Babylon Berlin comes out. I believe they are working on it now. Cannot wait! Also cannot wait for the new series of Outlander and I’m hoping there will be a second series of Carnival Row, which is in my top three all time amazing tv series along with Babylon Berlin.

Films – I watched the majority of Marley & Me the other night, but had to switch it off when Marley got old. If you know the film, you know the outcome and I couldn’t bear watching it again, especially as we have an elderly pug, Bonya, whose legs are starting to go and who has issues with incontinence. She’s an old girl, we love her and it’s unbearable to think she might not be around soon. I’m hoping we’ve got another year with her. Keep everything crossed for us!

Yes it’s another image of tulips, but they are my favourite flowers – equal billing with peonies. Ooh can’t wait til peony season!

Right, so that’s us up-to-date so far. Please preorder the anthology and, if you’d like more information about Sisters of Sin, other authors and freebies, please sign up to my newsletter. Til next time,

Dawn xxx

It’s hard to write a blog when you’ve done nothing :-)

28 April 2020 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

Hello, hello, how are you all? Here’s another blog from lockdown. Not that I’ve that much exciting news to tell you. Above is an image I took of the River Clyde the other day. Not only proof that we’ve been having gorgeous and unseasonably warm/dry weather lately, but that the Clyde can look blue sometimes. The tide it out in this image and that’s Port Glasgow across the way, but it gives you an idea of how nice it’s been around here. Thank goodness, because I think if the weather had been dreadful things would be a lot more depressing for all of us who are having to stay indoors at the moment. People are already complaining of boredom and feeling depressed, awful weather would have made that worse for them.

I’m not going to ask you what you’ve been up to because, let’s face it, no matter where you are in the world, you are more than likely staying indoors to help stop the spread of Corona Virus. Instead, I’ll just ask you what you’ve been up to. Have you been watching copious amounts of telly? Started a new hobby? Baked until your fingers bled? Gardened until there’s barely a green bit of the garden left? 😉

I’ve been watching tv, but in small amounts. I’ve taken to watching Carnival Row again. Yes, again, for the fourth time. I love it that much. I’m also considering watching Game of Thrones again too. You see, apart from Killing Eve (which is bloody brilliant), there’s not much on the telly I want to watch right now. There haven’t been any decent history programmes or documentaries, I find a lot of comedies dire and I don’t watch soaps. So, it’s back to old favourites. I’m loving Carnival Row all over again and seeing things I didn’t notice before on the three other times I watched it.

Here’s a pic of two of my dogs on a local beach. It’s a riverside beach and not the nicest of beaches, but it’s great for dog walking and the dogs don’t seem to mind the stones and detritus thrown there by the river.

What else have I been doing? I am writing, writing, writing. Just finished 2000 words of my assassin book plus did another few pages of my non fiction book. I’ve sent a tv programme I wrote to a scriptwriting competition. Not sure if it’s good enough, but we’ll see what happens. I’ve also been doing bits and pieces around the house – you know, the wee things that need done but never get done because you’re so busy. I have a whole list of those to do. Sigh. Well, I’m not going anywhere soon so I’d best be getting on with them! 🙂

A big hello to any newbies who are following this blog. Welcome and thanks for joining us. I’m please to say I have 831 subscribers to this blog and a few more subscribing to my newsletter. If you want to receive the newsletter, add your email address to the Mailchimp signup form to the right of the page.

Right, depressingly, I have nothing else to tell you. I dream of going out for lunch some time soon with friends or taking the dogs and kids up to Oban for the day or going to my parents’ house for dinner. And I keep telling myself ‘It’s not forever, we will get back to normality soon.” I hope that’s true!

On that note, I wish you all a good week ahead. Stay safe and stay sane. Til next time

Dawn xx

PS big shout out to my aunt who turns 70 this coming week and to my friend Mark who has a birthday too. Happy birthday to you both.

I’m baaaaaack!

7 January 2020 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

Okay, so it’s been a wee while since I’ve written a blog on this site and it’s safe to say it’s because I was getting really stressed out before Christmas. There was still so much to do to prepare for Christmas Day itself and I also had social media stuff to do. And then, on top of that, I was extremely tired. So, I thought ‘stuff it’ and then I thought ‘I’m a freelancer, I can do what I want’ and then I thought ‘I’m shutting up shop early’. And I did just that. I did all I needed to do with regards my social media business, I tied up some loose ends with some other work I was doing and then I shut up shop.

Thank goodness I did as I had a whole load of things to do (present wrapping etc) before the big day itself.

So, how was your Christmas and New Year? Did you have a good one? I really enjoyed the festive period this year. I think it’s because I decided to put my feet up and not do very much. I had my parents and a friend for Christmas Day (plus the kids and dogs), which was great fun. My parents stayed over so we had a quiet Boxing Day up until they decided to go home in the afternoon. I’d recorded the Call the Midwife Christmas special and we watched that before devouring a huge fry up (fried square sausage, bacon, potato scone and black pudding – yum!). The programme was okay, but a bit heavy on the tartan and red hair.

I went round to a neighbours’ house for Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve), but didn’t stay for the bells as I was driving to my parents’ house the next day for dinner. My mum, who is a great cook, made us steak pie and home-made soup and it was heavenly. I love her steak pie and soup. My sister and her family were there and after dinner we played games and had a round of general knowledge.

Aside from those three events, I didn’t do an awful lot else except binge watch The Witcher (which I thought was okay, but it was jumping all over the place story-wise which was annoying) and Bones. Also started watching the BBC’s new Dracula. Saw the first episode, not sure if I’ll watch the rest of it. It was okay. I don’t know if it’s just me being fussy about telly or that telly programmes just aren’t that good at the moment. Nothing surpasses Game of Thrones or Carnival Row for me – they were just superb, perhaps I’m expecting too much. Am also enjoying Suits and I’ve discovered a French/Flemish programme on Netflix called The Thieves in the Woods which looks quite good.

Anyway, all this tv watching and resting has meant I am back this week feeling fully refreshed and ready to take on the world.

I’m back into writing and currently drafting up a script for a one-off tv show which I’ll not speak too much about just now other than to say I’m really enjoying doing it. Whether it gets on telly or not is another matter – I hope it does – but I’m enjoying the process of writing again.

Talking of which, the nose is back to the grindstone for The Jacobite’s Share which I am planning to bring out in March. Been drafting up the cover words and I’ll send those over to my cover designer later this week. In a couple of weeks, I will begin promoting the book and plan to do an online launch of it. So, watch this space. I also have another couple of books that need edited, so I will start working on those at some point soon.

What else have I been doing? A little bit of reading. I was sorry to hear that M C Beaton (creator of Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth) died over the festive period. I enjoy her books. They are not heavy stories, but are great when you want a murder mystery that’s not just full of ingenious clues, but are warm and funny too. I’m currently reading the Agatha Raisin murder mystery The Haunted House. I am also still reading Mary Beard’s Pompeii, which is great. There’s a lot of things I never knew about Pompeii.

Right, I am going to finish up here and wish you adieu. Got a fair few things to do before the kids come in from school. Til next time.

Dawn xxx