Now I Have Something to Write About!

The nitting knitting news is quite dismal around here, (blah, blah, the bottom and three rows up the sides on the new pink Sophie bag for Abigail) and nobody seems to be blog-reading much.  I guess everybody is busy with their holiday preparations, kids home from school and all that good stuff.  So I didn't really think I had anything to write about, and not much incentive to bother.

But, my stars, Dear Watson! Look what oy's got in me mayobox yestiday:

You remember this novel, of which I spoke a few days ago? 

And I bet you missed this, in my comments:  Talk about making my friggin' day!!! (year/decade....)

I don't know exactly what genre the Sherlock Holmes book falls into but for anyone who's curious, perhaps I can throw some light onto what it's all about. It was written as a 70th birthday present for my father (yes, the man who drove Norma down to the Welsh ditch to find fish). When I was younger and reading the Sherlock Holmes stories for the first time, he always used to wonder aloud what life must have been like for Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper. This book is my attempt to provide an answer...

Of course, you can probably guess that Mrs Hudson the housekeeper and her helper, Flotsam the scullery maid, turn out to be very formidable investigators in their own right - mainly through applying their domestic knowledge and common sense to the problems baffling Watson and Holmes.

I'll be back in Wales this Christmas, walking up the hills (well, small lumps), enjoying the snow (probably just warm rain)and trying to put aside the mince pies long enough to work on a sequel!

Many thanks to Norma for getting in touch and drawing my attention to this blog. How come I didn't know about it sooner? It's wonderful. Must stop now to catch up on all the entries I've missed...

Posted by: Martin | December 20, 2004 09:54 AM

Yes, that's from Martin!!!  The author! author!  Did I mention he's an author?  Wow, I've got authors just dripping off me these days.  I'm sure I'm responsible for their respective successes.  (Cheshire grin)

How come I'm not one (an author, that is)?  Shit.  This is making me feel very inadequate.  Thanks a LOT, Martin.  And Stephanie.  And Cari.  But congratulations to all of you.  I feel privileged.  I honestly do. 

People, Martin's first novel is available at BN.com.  I haven't read it yet, but it looks intriguing.  And this was written for his Dad.  His Dad and Mum were the bestest hosts EVER.  They (or their neighbor -- can't quite remember) have a RAM.  He butted Abigail when she was only nine.  (ouch!)

They fed me well and kept me very well oiled when I was visiting.  I gained about five pounds when I was there.  All three times.  They took me to see tumuli and an ancient cave that was only open to the public one weekend a year.  This cave (wish I could remember the name of it) had prehistoric drawings in it and had been found to have mammoth bones inside.  I sat outside the cave and looked around, and I was utterly convinced that it was the exact cave and location used by Jean Auel in her books, the one where the character Ayla stayed in exile. 

North Wales is so pristine and beautiful.  One evening while Mrs. Davies was making dinner, Mr. Davies and I took a walk.  A "walk" to Mr. Davies was like about 25 miles at a pace of about eight-minute miles across hill and dale.  I thought we were going for a "light stroll" while she was making dinner.  Ha, the joke was on me. 

It turned dark, and we were still racing walking along.  (never fear!  I had my trusty Welsh walking stick.  This is an essential part of the attire, I must tell you.) 

This is the kind of darkness that most of us can only imagine, and I live here in a part of the country where it's very rural.  But the light pollution is quite astounding. You're not even aware of it 'til you've walked in the dark in a place like North Wales.  (or stayed in a bed and breakfast in Rhinebeck, NY, when the power goes out.  But I digress.) 

We were walking along (at a very quick pace, I remind you, clambering over fences and rocks) and at one point we heard ....... footsteps.  Like the footsteps of thousands of men.  Soldiers, maybe.  And they were getting closer and closer to us.  I didn't have a clue what it could be, and I was too polite (read: embarrassed of my ignorance) to ask. 

All of a sudden.....and I do mean ALL OF A SUDDEN....I was face to face with a bovine NOSE.  (Scores of bovine noses, actually.) I nearly peed my pants.   Now, people, I was born on a farm, but this is NOT what I expected those footsteps to be.  The footsteps sounded human.  And it was SO PITCH BLACK DARK that I did not see what was there until I felt her breath on me.  Literally.   A farmer that Mr. Davies knew was moving his cows down the road, and we had a chat with him. 

Dinner sure did taste wonderful that night. 

Martin tells me in an email that this is a light read, and I'm looking forward to devouring it (the same way I did dinner that night) over the holidays.  Sounds like just the ticket!

Comments

[Nathania]

What a delight! My favorite Author! Author! moment was after a young writers' conference in high school. I had bought one of the author's books for him to sign and later that night, while I was reading it, he called me! At 1 am. My father wasn't well pleased (I was 15, after all), but I was thrilled. We kept up correspondence for years afterward.

Enjoy your new book. I can't wait to read your review.

[erin]

I connot wait to read this book! i haave Just finished rereading the Sherlock adventures, and i caould not help to think that A) Sherlock (and his brother for that matter) is such an odd duck. B) I wonder how his "help" could ever put up with him. I guess now I'll know.

[erin]

Wow. I guess I should have proofread, huh? Must be the Pete's.

[Celia]

I am anxiously awaiting a copy of the book to put in my DH's Christmas Stocking. Then, of course, I will try to read it on the sly. Thanks for letting us know about it, Norma.

[carolyn]

very intriguing - i love all holmsian items, such as the laurie king series about mary russell his wife. :)

martin's dad sounds like a great guy.

[rachel]

Martin makes the bookwriting sound so easy! Like, hey, I think I'll knit a sweater for you for your birthday. Or maybe write you a book! Voila!

It looks great, though. I'll have to pick that one up!

[Annie]

What fun! I love the stories of your adventures in Wales. Can't wait to hear your review of the novel. Happy reading!

[roggey]

I adore the gift of books, go figure (http://www.livejournal.com/users/bibliovixen/ - my other blog)... I also loved Holmes stories when I was younger, so I'll have to scope out this book!

And btw, I'm out there reading and still commenting, even with all the holiday stuff going on... well, not for me as this year I wised-up and ditched a lot of baggage =) So darlin', keep blogging away!

[Lene]

Who blinked first, you or the cow?

Love your stories about your visit to the UK. More, please.

(and say hi to Martin from us all ;))

[Julia]

How exciting! What a lovely gesture to stop by your blog and comment. What is it about authors? I have several friends who are published and I am always amazed when I think about it occasionally while we are engaged in conversation about something or other, this person is an author. How cool is that? Maybe it's because of our love of reading that we are so impressed with authors. But, Norma, don't take anything away from yourself - you are a writer. Most bloggers are. Some are better than others. You are a good one. And since your little "contest" you now know just about how many folks agree. By the way, the yarn arrived and it is wonderful and I can't thank you enough. You just don't know what a thrill it was to win. Now, if there is anything you need from down here in Texas, you just holler, 'kay?

[Cassie]

I'm still having trouble with you sneaking up on that cow. Did it ever occurred to you that YOU might have scared the cow? Poor Bessie.

[adelaide (gin)]

This is so exciting! I think we should all buy this book and see if we can get it onto one of the best seller lists. It really isn't hard to do. I'm sure we'll send Stephanie's book over the top when it is published. Let's start now.

[Sharlene]

Merry Christmas Norma! So glad to have discovered you and your blog this year. :) Best wishes for a wonderful holiday with your family.

[Mary Beth]

Jeez Norma! You always keep us guessing! Maybe you were the inspiration for this one too? Nah! You don't look anything like that lady on the cover!

[Colette]

How cool to have the author leave a comment! I once got a email from Lindsey Davis and was so thrilled I printed it out and kept a copy.

I am glad you fared better than I did in my bovine encounter - true mine was only with one cow, but, trying to get away from the damn thing I kept backing up and ended up sliding down a small hill scraping myself badly and eating dirt all the way down. It did provide a high note for the locals who called me la loca americana the rest of the trip.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[Jen]

You are SO much an author, you just need to write a book! Seriously, love all your stories.