Beth Elliott's Blog

 

SILK, originally spun only in China, 

was gradually traded as far west as Persia, before Medieval rulers managed to acquire silkworms and mulberry trees to set up their own silk industries - in Lebanon, in the Byzantine Empire and much later in Europe. 
The trading routes from China to the Mediterranean and into Europe soon became known as the Silk Roads as silk was the main product. Valued for its lustre and texture, silk rapidly became a symbol of luxury, wealth, power and social status. It was...

 

Armistice Day

 C.S. Lewis responding to a letter from an American schoolgirl asking him for some writing advice. [1]


Which points do you consider most useful?
For me it's numbers 3 and 5


[1] credit to creator of the clip - although it has been shared many times.

Advice to New Writers : "Before starting to write your novel you must know all about your main characters " 

That advice seemed very helpful. 
Back in the day when I was a beginner at novel writing, I diligently wrote a profile for my two main characters, mentioning all the items suggested in the advice.
pet hates, favourite activities, any strengths, flaws, relationship with family, and so on - and on. 
Well, that novel was written long ago but although it earned praise from editors and critiquers,...

Advice to New Writers : "Before starting to write your novel you must know all about your main characters " 

That advice seemed very helpful. 
Back in the day when I was a beginner at novel writing, I diligently wrote a profile for my two main characters, mentioning all the items suggested in the advice.
pet hates, favourite activities, any strengths, flaws, relationship with family, and so on - and on. 
Well, that novel was written long ago but although it earned praise from editors and critiquers,...

 It's summer -  so time for sea air 

- and where else but Brighton, especially when the Prince Regent is in residence at his Summer Pavilion. 

Little does he know that his fondness for sweet cakes could be the end of him. 

Among the visitors is Anna, rushing from one near-disaster to another, and Lord Giles Maltravers, the ton's most dangerous Rake, who by mischance has to act as her chaperon. 

An amusing frothy tale with cricket, races, concerts and fashion. 

The Rake's Challenge    

Sea bathing on t...

 Joachim de Montailhac

In Spring 1818, 27 year-old Joachim is very proud that this year, for the first time he is in sole charge of running the family estate. This is a great challenge. As the youngest of five children, he has always had to fight for his dignity. So with this new responsibility he is determined to do as well, if not better than his two brothers.

Athletic, handsome and always a gentleman, he is devoted to his parents, plays the violin like a dream, rides and shoots well, goes fishi...

 The SWWJ recently ran a competition for a 500 word story with the title 'TREES'.

I submitted a bit of whimsy about the fair maid Solveig saved from life with Gunnar King of the Trolls by a friendly Birch tree spirit.

My entry was the runner up [out of 31 stories entered]

That was pleasing enough, but the real reward is the judge's comments. 

'This had shades of 'Lord of the Rings' and I liked it for its originality and beautiful prose, which completely pulled me into the magical world of fjords, tr...

 'Here they are, mother, Miss Hartford and Miss Sophia Hartford.' says Joachim as he presents the visitors to his mother [and he thinks 'I really wish they weren't here.'] 
Actually, Nell and Sophie really don't want to be there either, but having been cast out of their home in Paris they have nowhere else to go. 
Why are the sisters tr oubled?
They lost their brother, Captain Alex Hartford from his wounds at the battle of Waterloo. Not long after that their mother died. Their father, Colonel Robert...

 There are three brothers in the Montailhac family.Henri, the diplomat and Arnaut, the businessman, horse breeder and charming Rake have both experienced their own, very different adventures. Their two sisters are happily settled. 
That leaves Joachim, the youngest.   

                      This year, both his brothers are away and so for the first time, he is solely responsible for managing the family estate and livestock. Athletic and hard-working, he is keen to prove himself worthy of the respo...