World War Woos, Recording Woes, and a New Format
Jul 24, 2022 1:46 pm
Hi
Hello again from Sydney, where the rain has finally started to abate. Today is the first truly sunny day in a long while, and I celebrated with a walk this morning along the river nearby. It’s amazing how much a blue sky lifts the spirits!
You may have noticed the newsletter has a new format (things writers do when they don’t feel like writing!) I hope you like it – please let me know. I’m always open to ideas and suggestions to make things better.
Since my last newsletter I've spent a lot of hours on the audio version of Out of the Ashes, but it became apparent in the editing stage that the studio in the cupboard under the stairs is not quite soundproof enough to produce the best quality sound. So we’ll be hanging up more blankets and soundproofing in the next few days and then I’ll have to start recording again. Which is a bit frustrating, to be honest – I’ve spent a lot of time in that cupboard – but I’m taking it as a practice run, a dress rehearsal. Certainly the later chapters were easier to record, and sounded better as I became more relaxed in front of the microphone. Fingers crossed the next evolution is more successful! As always, I’ll keep you posted.
I’m still absorbed in research for the next book, and have begun writing notes, character sketches and scenes. I should be ready to start writing it soon. I just don’t have the first scene yet, and I need that in my head to begin. As a "pantser" (a writer who tends not to plan much out in advance), the first few scenes are crucial to setting the story on the right path.
I've also been thinking about bundling my World War 2 books into a ‘series’ so that they appear together on the various storefronts, making it easier for readers to find them. But I need a series title. My son, who is studying Philosophy at university and is quite the comedian, suggested World War Woos, which is hilarious but not very helpful! I was thinking more along the lines of the World War 2 Collection, or World War 2 Stories. I’m terrible at thinking of titles, so any suggestions or thoughts would be much appreciated!
Don't forget Out of the Ashes will be released on August 4, and is available to pre-order here: https://books2read.com/u/ba6dOy. Alternatively, ask your library to stock it (either as a paperback or an e-book) - most libraries will get books in if readers ask for them.
What I'm reading
Elektra by Jennifer Saint.
I love that there’s a whole new genre of retelling Greek myths from the female point of view. I’ve enjoyed Circe, Silence of the Girls, A Thousand Ships, and Ariadne, among others. Elektra is the sequel to Ariadne, and every bit as good. Switching betweeen the viewpoints of Elektra, Clytemnestra, and Cassandra, the novel interweaves a complex tapestry of connections that can only lead to the inevitable tragedy. Beautifully written, the characters come alive. Highly recommended.
What I’m watching
The Essex Serpent. Streaming on Apple TV (which I subscribed to specifically for a short time just to watch this …)
I loved the book of the same title by Sarah Perry, and the series was almost as good. Set just after the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is a haunting tale of the clash between science and faith, reason and superstition, with characters that are are both flawed and sympathetic. Well worth a watch.
Here are the links to my books. Have you read them all?
Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction with a touch of fantasy
Till next time - happy reading!
Kind regards
Samantha
https://www.samgrosserbooks.com
