Caenys Kerr's Blog

This scene is an excerpt from Chapter Four of The Beaulieu Birthright, where Enzo, French perfumier and our main male character, asks Iona, Scottish budding soap-maker and female lead, to set aside the ten years of bitterness between them to consider a proposal to save him from losing his business and the Beaulieu birthright.

Other characters who are mentioned are Lachie, the current Laird who is Enzo’s best friend and Iona’s elder brother, Agnes, Iona’s twin sister, and Thierry, Enzo’s embittered father.

Enzo and Iona are seated at a table in the town square of Kellburgh outside a coffee shop.

Dragging his middle finger across the moisture on his top lip, he leaned away from her. His hands were shaking. He clamped them together. “This is delicate. Not even Lachie has an inkling of what I will tell you. If you can’t keep my confidence from everyone, including Agnes, I won’t go any further.”

“Are you confessing to murder or another illegal activity?” Iona’s mouth firmed.

“Non! Non, cherie. The matter is intensely private with significant business implications.” He sipped his coffee, grimacing when he found it cool.

She tracked his movement. “Okay, if you’re not going to land me in deep manure, I’m fine.”

 “You will have to decide on whether it is manure, ma douce, and how deep it is,” he said, cocking one eyebrow.

“I’m intrigued, especially since you’re suddenly calling me ‘sweet’, eh.” Her pinkened lips pulled into a moue.

After huffing a brief laugh, he exhaled and sobered. “Do I have your word as a McKell you will keep my secret safe?”

“Aye, you have my word.”

Enzo nodded, but couldn’t go on. Instead, he focused on Iona’s hands as she lifted her coffee cup. Her expression mirrored his earlier action. It made him smile, and he relaxed.

“I want two months of your life,” he said.

Her eyes widened. “Oka-a-ay. Not what I expected. How? When? Where? Why? What?”

The gunshot questions made him chuckle. “‘When’ could start now,” he said. “‘Where’ is through several cities ending with a month at my home in Grasse. The ‘why’ is the tricky part.”

Avoiding the interrogation on her face, he stared at the few clouds scattered across the sky, heaved a breath, and returned to hold her gaze.

“My father is eighty-four years old. He plans to sell the Beaulieu business and the Beaulieu name to our arch enemies if I can’t prove I have my life in order by my birthday—despite the fact I’ve been running the business for a decade. The ‘how’ to getting around his threats, is to prove I’ve settled down, with one woman, ready to produce the next Beaulieu heir. The ‘what’ is to have a fiancée or a wife, before my birthday in August, who shares my commitment to the Beaulieu birthright and to producing said heir.”

“You’re kidding me, right? How can he do make you do something as serious as that with your life? What an arsehole, pardon my…er, language.” Her glance slid sideways then returned to focus on him. “You haven’t explained how this relates to me and your help with my soap,” she said, pinching her chin between her forefinger and thumb, her elbow on the table.

Enzo clenched his fists in his lap, away from Iona’s sight. This was his one shot. There was no one else he would trust the way he trusted her. Apart from her being the only woman in the world who could bring him to his knees by crooking her pinky finger, there was no time to find an alternative, believable candidate. His right arm stretched toward her. “I would like you to be my fiancée.”

Jolting upright in her seat, her stunned expression demanded he explain himself—with a lot more information. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I would if I had any expectation you would say yes.” He flashed her a consciously seductive smile, hoping she would treat his comment as a joke. Her cheeks went pink. It bewitched him how a twenty-eight-year-old woman blushed so easily.

He leaned further forward. “You understand me, Iona. I’m not fit for marriage. My father’s intention to create a replica of himself was far too successful. I wouldn’t inflict Thierry on a kind-hearted woman like you nor should I expect you to tolerate me either. Marriage is not in my future. It’s the sword he’s holding over my head. For now, I’m asking you to be my fiancée until my father transfers the business ownership to me on my birthday. We can spend another two weeks in Grasse, then you might find you have urgent business back here. We argue, decide we’re not compatible, and go our separate ways.”

Her skin paled and a smattering of freckles he’d never noticed before materialized in sharp relief across her nose. He took her hand. It was freezing. “Iona, cherie, this has been a shock. Can you consider what I’ve said? I’ll order fresh café.”

He slid his hand from hers, leaving her alone to consider his proposition.

If you enjoyed this passage and would like to read more, the e-book for The Beaulieu Birthright is available directly from Champagne Book Group or from your favourite e-book retailer through Books2Read.

Last year, in April, we made a trip to Osaka in Japan. We’re returning this year. As things go with me writing-wise, images and thoughts, places and people collide to create stories.

For The Silver Cranes Kakejiku, Osaka, particularly the suburb of Ebisucho where we were staying, formed the backdrop. Memories of a visit to a Japanese artisan sword workshop on a work visit years ago, and unearthing a kakejiku scroll that hadn’t seen the light of day since our last house move, mulled in my brain to produce a short story of young love, once forbidden, now renewed.

The upcoming trip prompted me to post the story now before new images overlay it and I’m tempted to discard it altogether.

The photographs I’ve included are of our kakejiku (hanging scroll) – embroidered not painted as in the story; Tsutenkaku Tower; the mural on the underside of the tower; a view of Tennoji Zoo from the top platform; and the arches of Shinsekai shopping district. These may provide a flavour of the area.

You can read the story here. It’s about a ten-minute read. Enjoy.

I ordered a review of The Beaulieu Birthright from Online Book Club. Paid reviews are often frowned upon in the world of writing for the obvious reason there might be a bias towards positive spin, so I checked this group out before proceeding. Their reviews cover the spread of one to five stars. I was interested to see what they made of Beaulieu. I’d love to know if you agree with their assessment. Here’s what they said:

Review of The Beaulieu Birthright

Post by Sargent Muthah » 16 Feb 2024, 10:07

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Beaulieu Birthright” by Caenys Kerr.]

5 out of 5 stars

The Beaulieu Birthright by Caenys Kerr is an enchanting literary journey that follows the adventures of Iona McKell and Enzo Beaulieu across the captivating landscapes of France and Egypt. Their relationship evolves intricately as Enzo, a master in the art of perfume making, imparts his knowledge to Iona. The narrative takes an unexpected turn when complications arise in Iona’s Scottish family home, prompting an early return. Undeterred, Enzo persists in nurturing Iona’s passion and spirits her away on a two-month expedition to delve deeper into the world of fragrances, deepening their connection.

What makes this novel truly exceptional is its ability to weave a rich multi-generational family saga that spans not only various geographical locations but also diverse cultures. The central romantic plotline between Iona and Enzo unfolds with a gradual, realistic pacing that engages readers emotionally. Despite obstacles, their connection remains touching and authentic. The secondary characters, including Lachie, Catriona, Ness, and others, are meticulously developed, injecting the narrative with layers of humor, drama, and familial warmth. The McKell family emerges as a vibrant and relatable ensemble, drawing readers deeper into their world.

The author’s descriptive prowess shines through in the vivid portrayal of settings, be it the grandeur of castles, the serenity of gardens, or the picturesque French countryside. The attention to sensory details enriches the reading experience, allowing readers to feel immersed in the story’s every nuance. The narrative’s dynamic pace is maintained through the artful interweaving of multiple storylines spanning different time periods, ensuring readers are consistently captivated. I didn’t encounter any negative aspects of the book.

Thematically, the novel explores traditions, family legacies, recipes, and businesses, emphasizing the intrinsic value of family, community, and the transmission of cultural knowledge and skills through generations. The meticulous editing of the book is evident, with an absence of errors, enhancing the overall reading pleasure. The Beaulieu Birthright deserves nothing less than a 5 out of 5 stars rating. I wholeheartedly recommend this impeccably crafted novel to enthusiasts of romance and rich family sagas.

******
The Beaulieu Birthright

I’m so excited that The Beaulieu Birthright is available on virtual bookshelves. It’s Iona and Enzo’s story which follows from The Salignac Legacy.

Secrets have a way of getting out, damaging relationships and leaving precious loved ones feeling betrayed.
It’s a risk Enzo and Iona have to take to protect the Beaulieu birthright, a 200 year old perfumery, from being sold off and dismantled. When Enzo is faced with his father’s ultimatum to find a bride before his birthday, and Iona is searching for answers to her own business issues, their priorities coalesce. They must set aside the hurtful history between them if they are to achieve their individual goals.
What they’re not expecting is for Iona’s safety to be threatened by someone with his own agenda for ensuring the sale of Beaulieu goes through.

I’d love to know what you think about this one. Please feel free to let me know through the contact button at the top of the page or int he comments box below.

Cheers, Caenys

My first newsletter for the year has gone out. If you’re not on the direct mailing list, you can access it here.

The big news of the month is the arrival of The Beaulieu Birthright on virtual bookshelves in a couple of weeks’ time. It’s available for pre-purchase directly from the Champagne Book Group website right now.

I’m thrilled with the story, the second in the Heritage Series. The first was The Salignac Legacy which followed the ups and downs of a secret family pate recipe.

In this one, the couple is engaged in a fight to save a family perfumery from being sold off and dismantled, thus destroying the Beaulieu birthright Enzo worked to rebuild from the ashes of his father’s incompetence. It’s a friends-to-lovers story fraught with attempts on Iona’s life as vested interests try to ensure the couple don’t succeed in meeting the conditions to save the firm.

Enzo and Iona travel from Scotland to France, Italy, Egypt and back again on their quest. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it when you read it.

The next instalment in the series is already in progress. It’s Agnes and Ged’s story and their attempts to reinvigorate the Carson Collection.

I’ll keep you posted. Have a wonderful year and keep in touch.

Caenys

Happy New Year. Here’s hoping 2024 will bring to fruition all those successes you truly deserve.

Today, as is our wont on the rare, perfectly gorgeous, Tasmanian Summer day, warm and free of gales, DB (husband) and I took off in the boat upriver for a spot of fishing. Recent sand and water movements have closed the river mouth again, so it might not be long before algal bloom prevents us from our hunter-gathering escapades in this place.

On our return, I sat in the bow with a good view of the river bank on either side, marvelling at the durability of dead trees scattered amongst the regenerated bush growth. One couldn’t say they survived, because they didn’t, in a living sense, but here they remain. The next bushfire will likely take them out. For now, they sculpt the skyline. Here’s the poem I wrote to capture the images.

Steadfast sentinels

High above the verdant heads
Of those that followed—the regenerists,
Death white sentinels raise their limbs
In thanks and silent supplication
To a cloud-pocked sky.
Right by the river, so close,
Though far, far out of reach
When the ravage’s fiery fangs sank deep,
Sucking, bleeding life force dry.
Weaker forms rendered to ash,
Yet these remain.
A glory of respect—for what they were, are,
A warning—of a terror lurking, fearless, ready to pounce
A reminder—against complacent
Acceptance, anticipation
Of the bush’s constancy to offer
Perpetual succour, shield or shelter.
             Caenys Kerr, 11 January 2024

With thanks to Canva for the image.

Today, on the eve of Christmas Eve, I’m in my wee writing nook in our Tasmania house. It’s cool here though sunny, a direct contrast to the mainland states of Australia where temperatures are soaring.

For this Christmas, it will be just be me and my Dearly Beloved, DB, at the table, though we’ll still be connected with our family electronically. Our daughter, son-in-law and grandson will be on the end of a Facetime call from the mainland. If we get the times right, we might be able to include our son and his wife on the same connection from the USA.

We’re a close-knit family year-round, no matter how geographically separate, but Christmas adds the extra dimension of love and acknowledgement. I would wish a similar level of family joy to each of you reading this.

My gift to you is my Christmas novella, “Merry Christmas, Liebchen”, which you can download through BookFunnel here.

I’ve included a link to my latest newsletter, too, for your interest. I hope you derive some enjoyment from it. Here’s a signup link if you’d like to receive the newsletter when it’s published–about four or five times a year.

That’s it for now. So, from me, and all the characters who’ve wandered through my books this year, Merry Christmas. May it be as happy as you can make it.

May-June 2023Caenys Kerr Reader Club 

I have reproduced this post from the newsletter I sent to those who subscribe to it. If you’d like to join the direct mailing list for access to free reads or book-related recipes from time to time, message me through the contacts, comments or RSVP link below and I’ll add you to the list.

First, I’d like to welcome new readers who have joined the newsletter group. Thank you for being here. You have free access to one of my favourite short stories, The Jade Rose.

The timing of my ‘monthly’ newsletter has already blown out since the last instalment. My apologies if you were waiting with bated breath for this episode. I’ve found writing my stories is possible while I’m on the move; my newsletter not so much.

Last time, I invited you to let me know the topics you wanted me to discuss in the newsletter. The travel segment came through as the piece generating a lot of interest.

When I travel, there’s always an element of research for my stories. I acknowledge my good fortune in having the time to travel (because I’ve retired from the full-time workforce); a life partner who’s happy to plan trips for us without being too unhappy spending our superannuation to pander to my passion for new places; and, so far (fingers crossed) the good health to allow it. I hope you enjoy this month’s segment on Japan, Taiwan and a whirlwind trip to Outback Australia. 

Keep those comments coming on what else you’d like me to address. Hit reply to this email and I’ll be happy to hear your responses. That’s where you can comment on any of the stories I’ve written too.



Writing News

This has been a great time to get back into my writing.  Along with the continuing (never-ending) edits of my first shipboard romance, I’ve embarked on another. This one will have a medical flavour when a suddenly-rich, senior nurse and single dad connects with the ship’s doctor who has escaped to the seafaring life  from the grief of losing her beloved parents in Ireland.

The story will draw on images from a cruise we joined from Darwin to Broome before the pandemic, and will include the scene where I tripped in a seabed pothole while reboarding the tender to return to the ship. I landed on my butt in the water, which triggered an explosion of the automatic life-vest I was wearing and further hindered me from regaining my balance to get into the craft.

The incident was the topic of conversation around the dining room that evening, much to my embarrassment. It did serve to prove the point, though, that the lifevests did not require any intervention to do the job they were meant to do. The pre-departure safety briefing the next morning used my experience as a case-in-point to illustrate. Sigh!


Character News

Characters of the month are Clancy, (think a wealthy better-dressed version of Shaggy Rogers of Scooby Doo fame), red hair, freckles, blue eyes; and Richael (pronounced Rich-el), medium height, dark hair, green eyes, who are onboard an as-yet-unnamed cruise ship (some suggestions would be appreciated.)

Richael is learning what the epaulette stripes mean — they don’t teach you that in Medical school. As a doctor, she wears three gold stripes interrupted by red cloth. The three stripes mean she is fairly senior in rank in cruise ship terms. The guy who’s trying to make life difficult for her and Clancy is the Staff Captain (second-in-command). He wears four stripes with anchor. His stripes have no cloth in between signalling he is in the deck area of the ship.  

The most useful reference I found to help Rich on her epaulette study quest was this one by Life Of Iris: Understanding Cruise Ship Officer Stripes – Life of Iris

Richael and Clancy’s story is in the early stages. I’ll keep you posted.


Travel News

At the beginning of April, we head off to Japan for two weeks. We based ourselves in an Air B&B in Osaka, located in the area between Shinsekai and the Tsutenkaku Tower. 

Going through the photos, it was a difficult choice to whittle the selection for the newsletter down to four. Which to leave out? There is more detail and many more photos on my Instagram and Facebook pages.


Within Osaka, we trod the stairway to Osaka Castle with my niece, who lives in Osaka, as guide. We went shopping in the extensive markets near Nipponbashi, and learned to negotiate the metro system to get around.

From Osaka, we travelled by bus to Kyoto for the Shrine of a thousand torii gates and the golden shrine (covered in gold leaf). Our one-day trip to Hiroshima’s memorial of the A-Bomb attack in the second world war, and Miyajima, home of the world’s largest wooden spoon was made possible only because we used the Shinkansen train which reached 312 km/hour (measured by my phone’s speed monitoring app.) The torii gates that mark the entry to the shrine at Miyajima, stand in the harbour.



In Kobe, we sampled the beef for which the area is renowned, and then rode a gondola (aka ropeway) to the Nunobiki Herb gardens to wander through 75000 separate varieties of plants.

Since our earlier attempt to visit Nara and its famous deer was thwarted by heavy rain, we returned in the final week of our visit again with my niece. What a delight it was to spend time with her.

We’d thought our chances of returning to Japan were limited after the cruise we’d planned for last October was cancelled because Japan hadn’t reopened its borders at the time. My Dearly Beloved (DB) is resourceful and immediately set about planning this trip to replace it. He did such a great job, I might have to encourage him to do it again.

Two days in Taiwan. I managed to get us lost on the train system, though when I finally navigated us back to Taipei city, we had lunch in the largest food court I’ve seen outside China, then bought a carry-on suitcase and some clutch purses for next to nothing. We visited the Chiang Kai-Shek memorial and were entertained by the ritual changing of the guard. The visit reminded me of history I’d long since forgotten.


The Captain’s Choice trip to the Outback in May was brilliant and I’d highly recommend it if these are places you want to tick off your bucket list. On Saturday morning of Mothers Day weekend, we flew from Brisbane to Broken Hill for lunch at the Palace Hotel and a quick reconnoitre of the town, on to Coober Pedy overflying Marree Man and Lake Eyre; out to the Breakaways for sunset then back to town for dinner in an underground restaurant. Mothers Day started with a trip across the street from our hotel to the jeweller who had opened early to accommodate our group, (I had to have one small piece as a memento); a visit to the museum and a community-built underground Serbian church, then back on the plane to the Birdsville Pub for lunch. Whew.

By the time we returned to Brisbane airport we had covered an enormous area and marvelled at the beautiful, changing landscape we tend to take for granted.

I can include only a few photos here. Check out my Instagram or website for more. with the remainder from Outback Australia (Marree Man; Broken Hill miners’ memorial; Coober Pedy marker; sunset at the breakaways; Coober Pedy Serbian church and the Birdsville Hotel.)












What I’m reading

By the bed: Anthea Laurelton’s Spartan Quest: Salvation, a well-researched story set in ancient times with mystery and intrigue thrown into the mix.


On the phone: Amy Andrews’ Playing it Tough. I’m not too far into this one yet, but when the heroine decks the hero on first meeting, it’s going to be good.


What I’m crafting

The blue pullover is finished and despatched.  It’s the same as those in an earlier posting so I haven’t copied it here.


I had intended to have some wonderful origami cranes to show off, with paper I bought specifically in Japan. Not so – they’re beyond my patience at the moment.

Instead, I’m working on a beanie, Bendigo woollen mills 12 ply, ready for next month’s adventure.

Until next time…
After a weekend at the Capricorn Coast Writers Festival in Yeppoon over the first weekend in June, we’re heading off to our son’s wedding in the Azores, Portugal.

It’s likely to be two months again before I catch up with another newsletter. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this totally unflattering image of me as Billiken, a charm doll created by an American art teacher, Florence Pretz, which is the unofficial mascot of Osaka. Billiken is labelled, “The God of things as they ought to be.” Sounds okay to me.

RSVP
Copyright © 2023, Caenys Kerr, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
PO Box 459, Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia, 4225.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
 

May-June 2023Caenys Kerr Reader Club 

I have reproduced this post from the newsletter I sent to those who subscribe to it. If you’d like to join the direct mailing list for access to free reads or book-related recipes from time to time, message me through the ‘contact caenys’ tab above or the comments or RSVP links below and I’ll add you to the list.

First, I’d like to welcome new readers who have joined the newsletter group. Thank you for being here. You have free access to one of my favourite short stories, The Jade Rose.

The timing of my ‘monthly’ newsletter has already blown out since the last instalment. My apologies if you were waiting with bated breath for this episode. I’ve found writing my stories is possible while I’m on the move; my newsletter not so much.

Last time, I invited you to let me know the topics you wanted me to discuss in the newsletter. The travel segment came through as the piece generating a lot of interest.

When I travel, there’s always an element of research for my stories. I acknowledge my good fortune in having the time to travel (because I’ve retired from the full-time workforce); a life partner who’s happy to plan trips for us without being too unhappy spending our superannuation to pander to my passion for new places; and, so far (fingers crossed) the good health to allow it. I hope you enjoy this month’s segment on Japan, Taiwan and a whirlwind trip to Outback Australia. 

Keep those comments coming on what else you’d like me to address. Hit reply to this email and I’ll be happy to hear your responses. That’s where you can comment on any of the stories I’ve written too.



Writing News

This has been a great time to get back into my writing.  Along with the continuing (never-ending) edits of my first shipboard romance, I’ve embarked on another. This one will have a medical flavour when a suddenly-rich, senior nurse and single dad connects with the ship’s doctor who has escaped to the seafaring life  from the grief of losing her beloved parents in Ireland.

The story will draw on images from a cruise we joined from Darwin to Broome before the pandemic, and will include the scene where I tripped in a seabed pothole while reboarding the tender to return to the ship. I landed on my butt in the water, which triggered an explosion of the automatic life-vest I was wearing and further hindered me from regaining my balance to get into the craft.

The incident was the topic of conversation around the dining room that evening, much to my embarrassment. It did serve to prove the point, though, that the lifevests did not require any intervention to do the job they were meant to do. The pre-departure safety briefing the next morning used my experience as a case-in-point to illustrate. Sigh!


Character News

Characters of the month are Clancy, (think a wealthy better-dressed version of Shaggy Rogers of Scooby Doo fame), red hair, freckles, blue eyes; and Richael (pronounced Rich-el), medium height, dark hair, green eyes, who are onboard an as-yet-unnamed cruise ship (some suggestions would be appreciated.)

Richael is learning what the epaulette stripes mean — they don’t teach you that in Medical school. As a doctor, she wears three gold stripes interrupted by red cloth. The three stripes mean she is fairly senior in rank in cruise ship terms. The guy who’s trying to make life difficult for her and Clancy is the Staff Captain (second-in-command). He wears four stripes with anchor. His stripes have no cloth in between signalling he is in the deck area of the ship.  

The most useful reference I found to help Rich on her epaulette study quest was this one by Life Of Iris: Understanding Cruise Ship Officer Stripes – Life of Iris

Richael and Clancy’s story is in the early stages. I’ll keep you posted.


Travel News

At the beginning of April, we head off to Japan for two weeks. We based ourselves in an Air B&B in Osaka, located in the area between Shinsekai and the Tsutenkaku Tower. 

Going through the photos, it was a difficult choice to whittle the selection for the newsletter down to four. Which to leave out? There is more detail and many more photos on my Instagram and Facebook pages.


Within Osaka, we trod the stairway to Osaka Castle with my niece, who lives in Osaka, as guide. We went shopping in the extensive markets near Nipponbashi, and learned to negotiate the metro system to get around.

From Osaka, we travelled by bus to Kyoto for the Shrine of a thousand torii gates and the golden shrine (covered in gold leaf). Our one-day trip to Hiroshima’s memorial of the A-Bomb attack in the second world war, and Miyajima, home of the world’s largest wooden spoon was made possible only because we used the Shinkansen train which reached 312 km/hour (measured by my phone’s speed monitoring app.) The torii gates that mark the entry to the shrine at Miyajima, stand in the harbour.



In Kobe, we sampled the beef for which the area is renowned, and then rode a gondola (aka ropeway) to the Nunobiki Herb gardens to wander through 75000 separate varieties of plants.

Since our earlier attempt to visit Nara and its famous deer was thwarted by heavy rain, we returned in the final week of our visit again with my niece. What a delight it was to spend time with her.

We’d thought our chances of returning to Japan were limited after the cruise we’d planned for last October was cancelled because Japan hadn’t reopened its borders at the time. My Dearly Beloved (DB) is resourceful and immediately set about planning this trip to replace it. He did such a great job, I might have to encourage him to do it again.

Two days in Taiwan. I managed to get us lost on the train system, though when I finally navigated us back to Taipei city, we had lunch in the largest food court I’ve seen outside China, then bought a carry-on suitcase and some clutch purses for next to nothing. We visited the Chiang Kai-Shek memorial and were entertained by the ritual changing of the guard. The visit reminded me of history I’d long since forgotten.


The Captain’s Choice trip to the Outback in May was brilliant and I’d highly recommend it if these are places you want to tick off your bucket list. On Saturday morning of Mothers Day weekend, we flew from Brisbane to Broken Hill for lunch at the Palace Hotel and a quick reconnoitre of the town, on to Coober Pedy overflying Marree Man and Lake Eyre; out to the Breakaways for sunset then back to town for dinner in an underground restaurant. Mothers Day started with a trip across the street from our hotel to the jeweller who had opened early to accommodate our group, (I had to have one small piece as a memento); a visit to the museum and a community-built underground Serbian church, then back on the plane to the Birdsville Pub for lunch. Whew.

By the time we returned to Brisbane airport, we had covered an enormous area and marvelled at the beautiful, changing landscape we tend to take for granted.

I can include only a few photos here. Check out my Instagram or website for more. with the remainder from Outback Australia (Marree Man; Broken Hill miners’ memorial; Coober Pedy marker; sunset at the breakaways; Coober Pedy Serbian church and the Birdsville Hotel.)












What I’m reading

By the bed: Anthea Laurelton’s Spartan Quest: Salvation, a well-researched story set in ancient times with mystery and intrigue thrown into the mix.


On the phone: Amy Andrews’ Playing it Tough. I’m not too far into this one yet, but when the heroine decks the hero on first meeting, it’s going to be good.


What I’m crafting

The blue pullover is finished and despatched.  It’s the same as those in an earlier posting so I haven’t copied it here.


I had intended to have some wonderful origami cranes to show off, with paper I bought specifically in Japan. Not so – they’re beyond my patience at the moment.

Instead, I’m working on a beanie, Bendigo woollen mills 12 ply, ready for next month’s adventure.

Until next time…
After a weekend at the Capricorn Coast Writers Festival in Yeppoon over the first weekend in June, we’re heading off to our son’s wedding in the Azores, Portugal.

It’s likely to be two months again before I catch up with another newsletter. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this totally unflattering image of me as Billiken, a charm doll created by an American art teacher, Florence Pretz, which is the unofficial mascot of Osaka. Billiken is labelled, “The God of things as they ought to be.” Sounds okay to me.

RSVP
Copyright © 2023, Caenys Kerr, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
PO Box 459, Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia, 4225.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
 

Fact-checking Angelique today. She’s the French dessert chef in Her Holiday Fling. I made a Tarte au Figue, rather than the apple version of Tarte Tatin. (My wonderful sister Daphne gifted me a shoe box full of scrummy fresh figs.) In the story, Angelique planned to make these luscious desserts on demand. Reality: Unless she has some truly secret cheffie speed cooking tricks, she’s not going to do that. They take a while: making the caramel sauce; prepping fruit; rolling pastry (I used two sheets of butter puff pastry rolled together); arranging fruit so it fits neatly together; layering the pastry on top and tucking it in (easier said than done); baking; cooling; inverting without losing the lot; then serving . Nope. Not a dessert you make on the run. Worth it though. Delicious.

Her Holiday Fling is available in both ebook and paperback from your preferred retailer. https://books2read.com/her-holiday-fling

Fact-checking
.