Supporting Ukraine, book news and Castle on the box

26 February 2022 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

Hello, how are you? Hope you’re all well. I’m not normally political on this blog, but I just want to say I totally support the Ukrainian people against the oppressor Putin. I can’t believe in this day and age someone like him can think he can get away with entering someone else’s country and try and take it by force. It’s horrific. I really hope the international community can do more to stop this. People are dying. I should also mention the people of Finland, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia etc who must be wondering if they are going to be next. These are scary times.

Right, on to more pleasant things. This week has been really busy as per usual. I’m continuing to work on my Sisters of Sin novels (whoop whoop!) and the first one of the series, by my lovely friend Terry Wells-Brown, is due out on June 5 this year. My novel, Greed, follows on July 5 and I have a second one a few months later. Basically, myself and the SOS group of core writers will be launching one a month right into next year. So, watch this space for details.

In other book news, I’m in the process of planning my new steampunk/historical thriller series and I hope to launch that next year. I sat yesterday and planned out the next few months of work. It’s going to be hard work, but worth it. I’m not going to say any more, but sign up to my newsletter and you’ll get more news on this series, on Sisters of Sin and my friend’s new releases, as well as any freebies that are going!

TV and film wise – I’ve finally finished the last episode of Castle. I re-watched all the series and loved it all over again. It’s inspired me to watch again Nathan Fillion’s other big series, Firefly, which I love. I’ve also started watching Das Boot. I watched the original series in the 80s and this new version is superb. Really recommend it. I haven’t watched a lot of films lately, but yesterday I was hankering back to the 90s and watched Grosse Point Blank which must be the best movie to come out of that decade. It stars John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Joan Cusack and Dan Aykroyd and is a superb comedy thriller. It’s one of those films you could watch again and again. John plays Martin, an assassin for hire, who returns to his home town for a job and for the high school reunion. He meets up with Minnie Driver as Debi Newberry, his ex girlfriend and the one who got away. I’m not going to say anything more about it other than: download it, buy it, watch it, it’s superb.

Before I finish up for today, I just want to wish one of my besties, Tracy, a very happy birthday on Monday. Have a great weekend and enjoy your day. 😘😘😘

Right, I’m going to go. Stuff to do, people to see and all that. Til next time.

Dawn xxx

Sisters of Sin News, Wandavision and Castle

13 January 2022 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

So, the excitement grows. The Sisters of Sin series is being launched this year 🥳🥳🥳and over the coming few weeks, I’ll put up the links for the pre-orders so you can be the FIRST to get the books. This is set of nine romantic thriller novels about a group of kick ass female assassins and the hot sexy men in their beds. Over the coming weeks, I’ll share information about seven authors behind the series, do cover reveals and give you more info about the books themselves…including sneak peak chapters. Watch this space for more!

So, how are things with you? I’ve been busy as usual running around like a blue arsed fly trying to keep all the plates spinning. Hopefully once the books are launched, things will be a bit quieter. I’ve been mostly doing domestic stuff, writing Envy (one of my two Sisters of Sin books) and working. I’ve also had a busy time with my degree course. I’m currently reading The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy as part of this year’s course. It’s a really great book. I’m thoroughly enjoying it, I love the way Roy writes. It’s about a family from Kerala and how tragedy in the past affects them in the future.

What else have I been doing? During the odd times I have some time, I’ve been watching telly. I finished watching Wandavision on Disney+ recently and I really enjoyed it. The first couple of episodes were odd and I wasn’t sure I liked the series. However, I stuck with it and I’m glad I did because it really took off. After that I moved on to reruns of Castle cos it’s highly enjoyable. Nothing taxing, just a good watch.

Due to the pandemic, I had to cancel a whole load of things I had planned over the festive season and as Covid is still raging here (although it’s mostly the Omicron variant which appears to be not as nasty), I’ve not managed to reschedule those yet. So, it’s been pretty boring around here. I’m desperate to meet friends for lunch or just get a change of scenery. However, I’ll need to be patient. This weekend I can’t go out anyway as I have a big uni assignment to write: 2000 words on Ali Smith’s Hotel World. I hadn’t read Smith before I did this uni course and I thoroughly enjoy her writing style and storytelling. I’ve now also read her Girl Meets Boy and it’s really good, beautifully written.

Right, I’m going to go now. Got housework to do 🥱🥱🥱 (I hate doing housework, it’s such a bore) and my uni course work. I also want to get 2000 words of Envy done if I can. So, I’ll say adieu for now and see you soon.

Til next time

Dawnx

Rain…sigh!

24 September 2015 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

Well the lovely autumn weather has disappeared today as the rain (with heart-lifting spells of bright sunshine) hits the west coast hard. It was literally teeming down about five minutes ago. Winter is coming right enough!

So how’s things with you? Hope you are well. My week has be super busy at work and super busy at home. Today I’m taking it easier. I should be doing my housework right now, but I’ve got Grand Designs on the box (recorded last night) and I’m here talking to you and I’m just about to get another wee cup of tea. Life’s good.

Am a tad achy after swimming just over half a mile this morning in our local pool. I felt great after doing it, but am now starting to feel a little stiff around the legs. Think I should maybe have stretched a little afterwards. Am now in training for next year’s mini triathlon and Great Scottish Swim (haven’t yet signed up for this but I will).

This weekend I will be taking it easy. It’s the September weekend so I’ve got Monday off…yippee! That’s three long lies! Last weekend, me and the kids were up early to meet my mum at Braehead shopping centre in Renfrew. My parents always buys the winter coats for the grandweans as part of their Christmas (that’s on top of the pressies and/or money they also give them…they are so generous!). I hate shopping, but it wasn’t quite so painful when my mum treated us to tea and cake before we started and then we treated her to lunch a couple of hours later. The kids both got really nice winter coats from H&M. The girl is now so tall she needed a small adult’s coat, which she thinks is just fantastic. She looks great in the coat and just loves posing in it. It’s navy blue with a fur hood. The boy got a lovely charcoal grey jacket (no fur on the hood, but lovely none-the-less). He looks great in it too, really suits the colour.

Have just taken possession of Jenny Lawson’s (aka The Bloggess) new book, Furiously Happy. I have her first book Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, which was so funny I had tears streaming down my face and I snorted so much I eventually couldn’t breathe. Her blog is good too. I’ll let you know how I get on with it, although have just started a biog of E Nesbit and am about to start Jayne Williams’ The Slow Fat Triathlete having just finished (yesterday) Meredith Atwood’s Triathlon for Every Woman (which was excellent and very funny). Yes there is a bit of a theme going on here: not only the triathlete bit, but both ladies are larger athletes which is good because I am not a teeny wee stick of a wummin myself.

Apart from relaxing, I am also planning to search out a pair of waterproof overtrousers that I bought about two weeks ago and have now lost. I hope I didn’t accidentally post it back to Amazon with the other pair of the exact same trousers that I accidentally bought (in other words I ordered two pairs instead of one and sent one back…at least I hope it was one pair and not two!). Am such a ditz. Wonder where that other pair are? Sigh. I hate it when I misplace something. What’ll happen is I won’t find them, so I’ll order a replacement pair and on the very day the replacement arrives I will find the original pair I was looking for in the first place.

Right am off now. Last night’s recording of Castle calls and you know how much I love Castle! Hubby thinks it’s mince, but I like it…it’s not scary, it’s funny and it’s fun. Til next time.

Dawn xxx

Hunting for treasure

30 July 2015 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

It’s been a bit of a non week this week. The weather was terrible at the beginning of the week, so we couldn’t really get out plus hubby had a few hospital appointments so that put the kybosh on making plans.

The last couple of days, however, the sun has finally come out and the kids have been out playing. I’ve been working on a couple of things – one of which is a new book – and been reading. I finished Zorba the Greek and started John Forster’s biog of Charles Dickens.

This morning, I trundled down to Helensburgh for a spot of treasure hunting in the local charity shops. I had a happy hour roaming the shops (one my own – other mums will understand how fab that is) and came back with five tops and a brand new pair of jeans all for £25! Bonus! They are all in really good nick! One is a beaded Jacques Vertes top I got for a fiver…result! And it’s not granny-ish (I find many JV outfits a little too older lady for my taste).

This afternoon I’ve been catching up with Castle and doing this blog. I have Jo Pratt’s Spring Chicken Casserole (from her In the Mood for Healthy Food book) in the oven and tomorrow I plan to gut my study…it’s really really untidy. Over the weekend, I have a kitchen to strip (it needs done up) and the inside windows to clean. I may even squeeze in a wee carpet cleaning as well. Ahem, well that’s the plan…I’ve been finding myself being a little lazy these days. I will just have to take a mental ‘runny’ at them and just get them done. That is the problem with being a grown-up – there’s always stuff to do that you really can’t be bothered doing, but need done! Sigh!

Right am off. Got the table to set and rice to get on! Til next time.

Dawn xxx

Drat! Foiled again…no romantic lunch for us!

25 June 2015 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

Hello. How are you? What’s been happening? What’s the gossip? Me? Truthfully, my life hasn’t been exciting lately. I could make something up. I could say I flew to Paris with hubby for a romantic moonlit dinner under the Eiffel Tower. I could say I’m just back from trekking to Machu Picchu and brought back a lhama, but none of those two fantasies are true. Sigh.

Hey ho! Instead, this morning, hubby and I attempted to go to Clydebank to do a bit of shopping and to pick up a bit of lunch. We got as far as Dalmuir, which is pretty much as close to Clydebank as you can get without actually being in Clydebank when we got a call from our local school. The girl was sick. We had to turn about to get her. I am telling you this story not because it’s particularly interesting – it’s not – but because every single time we try and go out for lunch over the last couple of years one of the kids have been ill and we’ve had to pick them up from school. It’s not like there was any sign of illness before we sent them to school – we’re not such bad parents. Honestly it’s like someone is trying to tell us we shouldn’t go out for lunch together. The kids don’t know our plans beforehand, but they must psychically be picking up on our plans to spend time together! Anyway, we had to return home and she’s now in bed, tucked up having been given the magical elixir that is Calpol.

It’s been weird. For months I’ve been procrastinating with writing and haven’t been daydreaming up any new stories for, well, several months, years even. But the past few weeks, since hubby’s been getting better, my beloved daydreaming has returned and ideas have been popping up for stories and other crafty things all over the place. It’s like I’ve got my mojo back. I think it’s to do with the fact I’ve been doing yoga every day and meditating regularly. I feel mentally and physically good, so it makes sense my writing mojo is returning. Yoga has also been great for getting my old lady bones moving and not stiffening up. I was feeling I was getting really inflexible from all the driving and sitting around I was doing whilst hubby was in hospital. Now I can do a downward dog without even thinking about it!!

Have you noticed the images I’ve put in this blog? There is a theme. If you want to, drop me a message and tell me what you think it is.

So they’ve finally gone and done it. Castle and Beckett have married! Finally! I thought the episode was not up to it’s usual highly entertaining standard though. I mean – Castle going into another dimension?? A bit twee, but hey I still love the series. Hubby maintains I love anything on tv that features a writer and he’s not wrong. Some of my favourite films: You’ve Got Mail, Something’s Gotta Give, Julie & Julia…need I go on? TV programmes are the same, hence the love of Castle – although the murder mystery bit of it is a big part of my enjoyment of the show. Plus Nathan Fillion who plays Richard Castle was also Captain Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly. What’s not to love about a programme that has him, murder, Stana Katic as a kickass Kate Beckett and a writer in it?

Am having Game of Thrones withdrawal at the moment. I’m trying to keep away from all the theories on Facebook about Jon Snow, it’s giving me too much hope the character will come back. The good thing is my favourite character Tyrion Lannister is still there…long may he continue!

Right I must be off to do some planning (yes – writing planning) and other bits and pieces. Til next time!

Dawn xxxx

Attack of the stinging notebook

29 January 2015 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

This is not the evil notebook in question, but is here as an illustration.

I’ve been under attack. For the past week, my hands have become increasingly covered in small cuts and quite frankly they are painful (especially in the shower or when I’m cutting up things like tomatoes). It took me a little while to work out what was happening. After all, like most folk I do suffer the odd cut every now and again. However, I’ve suffered five in the last few days. Yes, I’m being attacked by a notebook I use for work. How do I get around it? Do I just ditch the notebook and start with a new one? No, that goes against my green instincts. Do I muss up the pages and make them less knife like (honestly my fingers have been sliced to bits)? Hmmmm. Am thinking this might be the answer…a beaten up, softened notebook can’t possibly sting!

Anyway, apart from the cut fingers, my life has been trundling along nicely thank you very much. Not much has been happening chez moi, but that’s fine with me. I’m not one of those people who needs excitement or drama to feel alive – I get that from laughing with my kids or reading a good book or having a deep conversation with hubby over a glass of wine. I have been watching a lot of telly lately. I should be writing or exercising or doing something around the house, but I have been caught up in reruns of Castle, Rizzoli & Isles and Father Brown. I can’t help myself. I love murder mysteries. It’s a passion of mine! Have also been reading Terry Pratchett’s Thief of Time. Yet another thumbs up to Mr Pratchett for an excellent book. It’s funny and exciting and inventive. I couldn’t put it down nearer the end.

So how have you been? I hope well. Have you been caught up in this mad weather too? It’s snowing outside as I write. It’s lovely, but I hate driving in it. It’s barely lying here, but who knows what it’ll be like this time tomorrow if the snow keeps going. I got caught in a heavy snow shower yesterday whilst walking up through Springburn to get to Stobhill Hospital for work. By the time I got to my destination, I was covered from head to foot in snow, a veritable walking snowman/person. And it chilled me to the bone. I haven’t felt that cold in ages. When I got home later that day, I had to sit at the radiator just to get the heat back into my limbs. Thank God for whomever it was who invented central heating…I salute you sir or ma’am!! Hmm…that might be a quite interesting thing to find out: who invented central heating? Note to self: find out who invented central heating.

Anyway, I am wittering on. The boy is at home today having woken up just before 7am and thrown up in the toilet…twice. He now appears to be perfectly well and is watching Dr Who on Netflix as I write whilst simultaneously playing Minecraft on his tablet. The colour is back in his face, he’s as cheeky as ever and seems back to normal. However, I shall have to keep him off school tomorrow because our school, quite rightly, requests that parents keep sick kids off til at least 48 hours after the sickness stops. Sigh. Bang goes my two days of peace!! Still, I am a self confessed Whovian myself so watching Dr Who isn’t so bad. We’re watching the 11th Doctor save the world from little black cubes. Go Doctor!

Anyway, must dash. Stuff to do. Til next time!

Dawn xx

PS If you want to find out who invented the central heating, click here…lots of great info!