Celebrations - January 17, 2014

It is Friday again, and a time to stop and take stock of the small things we celebrate, often unknowingly.  Thanks to VikLit, who had the idea for this wonderful bl0g hop, we can remind ourselves of the beautiful things in life that make our days just that much more lovely.  You're welcome to join - head on over to her blog!

Details are at the end of this post.

I have been what the French call hors de combat (out of action) for a while with a bad case of bronchitis and pneumonia. It's clearing up, the solstice has passed (if you can survive to December 22, you can start seeing the days lengthening).

This morning I awoke to a view of a full moon hoving over the hilltop through a smoky lace veil of bare branches. I actually stepped outside (barefoot - don't tell my mother!) to look at it.

I could feel that I was on the mend, and I'd had an idea for a twist in Book II of The Orphan's Tale, which I am working on at the moment. A touching idea, introducing (incognito) a man who would be a major contributor to mid 1800's Europe. To have the prison-raised hero encounter this fellow as a young man (the fellow, not the hero, who is in his mid-forties) and recognize in him a sort of wistful admirer, has me smiling.

There's another character who appears in the trilogy (it's shaping up to be that) and he's always such a joy to write about:



Larouche The Great

He's a street-child with a sad background, a lot of commonsense and some very good luck.  He is the hero's more-than-match.  In fact, the conflict in the last volume might have been ably handled if Larouche had been given free rein.

I love writing about him.

The flow of creative juices is always a cause for celebration.


(And I am remembering that today is a Friday!  I hope you all have wonderful weekends.)