As of today, there is a new cover for the ebook edition of Bethany Rose . 

Five thrilling insights into the secretive lives of artisan-sorcerers! Five stand-alone tales featuring Fabian, Bethany Rose, Rowan, Jason and the Peacock King himself! Discover the people.   Explore their world.   Taste the magic.   Out today on Kindle, Smashwords (and associated distros once it seeps through!)   Only $2.99.  Treat yourself!

Never underestimate a Jack Russell Terrier     It's a pity this photo didn't turn out better.  I've tried tweaking it but the image suffers from poor exposure.  I had been busy in the kitchen and decided to check up on our two Jack Russells.  They'd dragged a cushion off the couch and taken it onto the patio.  And there they were, contentedly sunbathing in comfort.  I didn't want them to stand up before I had chance to take the photo, so I quickly put the batteries back into my digi camera - it devours batteries if they're not removed - and snapped this on Auto.  Is that cute or what, hmm?   It is as well that they enjoyed the sunshine as it's poured with rain almost non-stop since.  The car park behind The Concourse was largely underwater last night as Tim and I arrived for the Riverside Writers meeting.  We discussed several versions of the proposed front cover for Seaside Stories, as this project is nearing complet...

Poppi   Poppi and Emily, blanket buddies   Sunny snoozes     These photos answer the queries about how our two dogs are getting along with each other.   They're both doing fine together, as can be seen.   A fresh coat of white emulsion is now on the kitchen walls.  A second coat will be needed, and I'll need to do the ceiling too.  The external doors and a few internal doors are sporting fresh paint as well.  All of them need doing though,  the problem of new white paint being that it makes every other surface look like it needs painting.  We're just doing everything white, doing the Blank Canvas thing.   I've begun compiling the contributions for Seaside Stories , which will be a free ebook showcasing original stories and poetry from Riverside Writers members, including me.  As a group, we published a paperback anthology in 2010 and while we had fun doing that we also found that distribution was an iss...

Emily and Poppi enjoying the sunshine.     I've begun a major clear-out of household junk.  So far I've filled two bin-bags with shredded MS and gone-curly ring-clip files, ancient plant pots and "useful" kitchen equipment which  hasn't been used since the last Ice Age.  And this is only the start of the de-junking process.  The wheelie bin is already piled high, so there's no point in me doing more until that's been emptied.   The dogs supervised, of course, until they got thoroughly bored with listening to me singing along with Suede, and  wandered off to snooze on cushions.  Actually, this afternoon I thought Poppi had somehow got out of the garden as I couldn't see her anywhere.  The garden's escape-proof but you should never underestimate the resourcefulness of a Jack Russell.  Anyway, I found her curled up fast asleep on Richard's pillow, which she'd dragged half-way across the bed to a sunny spot.   Poppi ...

Sleepi Poppy   Our chickens are now happily re-housed with a family in Bebington, who have kept hens before.  I'll miss their antics - and their lovely fresh eggs - but we've a planned big change on the home-front and so we needed to find a new home for them.   While we said goodbye to Penny and Felicity, we said hello to Poppi.  She's a fifteen month-old Jack Russell who Emily had befriended.  Her owner couldn't look after her properly anymore, and asked Richard if he'd be  interested in adopting her.  That's a bit like asking a kid if it wants ice-cream...and so we have a new family member - who will easily fit in with our planned domestic changes.  We've had a cat named Poppy, so it feel a little odd calling her this but it's been her name for so long already it seems silly to change it.  If she'd been given some pea-brained blood-and-guts name then I'd change it immediately, but Poppi is a lovely name so it's staying - we'll just lat...

Frederika I had lunch with an old friend on Thursday.  Freddie and I have known each other since high school days, when we were regular attendees at the Lowton Vortex.  I wonder how many Lowton people remember the youth club being nicknamed that?  Not many, I'm sure.  Anyway, that was a looooooong time ago; mucho aqua under the bridge etc. etc.  Freddie now lives in Nottingham but she was visiting family who still live in Lowton, and as I have family there too we decided to meet for the first time in around twenty years. I recognised her immediately, even though she was standing with her back to me.  As we crossed the road, heading towards The Waterside pub-restaurant in Leigh, who did we see but my neice Vikkey with nine-month old baby Logan.  "Hello Logan, I'm you're Aunt Adele," - and right on cue he began wailing.  I have this effect on kids.  Lunch was good.  Freddie and I had a great time catching up on each other's news, of co...