I went into town yesterday. I had bills to pay, food to buy,
parcels to post . . .
I also went into WHSmith in the precinct and of course now
they are starting with the ‘Back To School’ specials and stationery promotions
are everywhere.They also had a stationery sale. For me, a stationery sale is a
worse temptation than the serpent in the garden of Eden.
I love notebooks. They always hold such infinite
possibilities.
Just think of all the amazing words, the wonderful stories
that can be written in those pristine pages. The memories and images recorded
for posterity . . .
And some of them at 75% off. I was so, so tempted . . .
But . . . errr - I don't need any notebooks I have notebooks. I
have a practical ring file pad that sits beside my keyboard where I scribble
notes to myself as I work so that I don’t forget important ideas.
I have a handbag notebook for ideas that strike me when I'm
out and about.
I have beautiful notebooks that my friends and family have
given me. Notebooks so lovely that I don't dare to sully them with my
scribbles. They paralyse me - but I love them.
So why do the really important notes - the ones that come in
a flash of inspiration and mark points on which the plot of my book, the
development of character, the intensity of emotion always turn so importantly, end up on the
tattiest piece of paper, along with yesterday's shopping list?
I recently went to Wales, to teach a course at Fishguard
Writers’ Holiday and there not one but two of my friends gave me the most gorgeous notebooks – and files . . . I am sitting at my desk looking at
them now – and I have resolved not to put them away carefully but to
use them right now. In fact I’ve actually just pulled one right next to me,
marked the first page with the working
title of the new book I’m working on – and I will be making notes. On this new book? Er – well, no – I have lots
of notes for this one – they’re all on the usual tatty pieces of paper
scattered over my desk.
But the notes for the second book in the series – I’m writing a duet of linked books
about two sisters – they will go into this lovely new notebook, honest – just as
soon as I can make myself use those lovely new pristine pages!
My latest Modern Romance/Harlequin Presents was Destined For The Desert King, which was published in December 2015.
A new title, Indebted to Moreno, will be published at the end of September this year - and if you missed A Throne For The Taking the first time around, that will be reprinted in the 3-in-1 By Request Collection: Claiming His Princess in August 2016.
I've just been sent a copy of my brand-new Harlequin Presents cover for Indebted for Moreno - so I can share it with you here (the UK one hasn't appeared yet).
I've just been sent a copy of my brand-new Harlequin Presents cover for Indebted for Moreno - so I can share it with you here (the UK one hasn't appeared yet).
Visit Kate Walker's website and blog for up to date news; or find her Facebook page here.
4 comments:
I feel a real kinship to Moreno. Wonder why! I empathize with the notebook gravitational pull, too. But having moved mine 1000 miles I now feel a gravitational pull toward online files that don't weigh anything!
Thanks for the heads up re A Throne for the Taking having a new title. Duly noted....
As for notebooks, I do the same thing - buy pretty ones, then use the backs of mailings and their envelopes, old notepads my kids didn't finish in high school ten years ago, and even the cardboard inserts in chocolate bar packaging - although I often just use binder paper too. I was in a stationery store recently and wanted to buy their notebooks, and I resisted by telling myself repeatedly that I had several at home waiting to be used instead. It was very hard to walk away....
You should feel a kinship with Moreno seeing as you gave him his name! (Well surname anyway) And while online files don't have the real aesthetic appeal of a fine notebook, if I'd had to do that 1000 mile trek, I think I'd be happy with the virtual notebook files! I hope you have found everything has travelled with you safely.
Hello Laney - good to 'see' you. I haven't chatted with you for a while. How I understand the way that you had to tell yourself that you had to walk away - but it does take strength! I'm glad to see that someone else does the same as I do and use any available bit of paper to jot down important notes - why does inspiration always strike when you have no pretty notebook to hand?!
Post a Comment