Tuesday 23 December 2008

I want to wish all the bloggers who comment on my blog a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS. I hope you all find 2009 brings you what you wish for.

I've put my disappointments of 2008 behind me and am busy writing my current book. It's turning into a dual-purpose MS. I hope my publisher gets their act together and this current MS becomes Book 2 in the Geraldine Steel series. If the problems of 2008 persist throughout 2009, I may start again with this current MS featuring a different detective.

Now that I've stopped devoting time to promoting Cut Short, I've more time for writing again, which is great. I might even dust down two more MS I wrote last year and even consider what to do with them . . . although I'll probably think twice before approaching any more publishers!

35 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

Oftentimes, dealing with publishers is the biggest headache of them all. I hope things look up in 2009

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks, Charles. I'll certainly keep the blog updated. I still seem to be doing everything backwards - Am I now progressing from writer to 'wannabe' writer...?

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that 2009 sees things working out better for you.

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks, Debs - a wonderful Christmas to you too, and all the best for 2009. I'll keep you posted on the latest on my saga . . . Will the story have moved on by 2010, I wonder?!

Bill Clark said...

All the best for Christmas 2008, Leigh, and I hope you have a wonderful 2009. I'm sorry that the publishing industry is in such disarray at the moment, but it's certainly no relection on you!

And what a shame that Britain is losing its Woolworths! We lost ours in this country back in 2001. Barbara Hutton (builder of Winfield House and erstwhile Woolworth heiress) must be rolling over in her grave.

Whatever happened to the world as we knew it back in 2007?

Middle Ditch said...

Leigh, keep at it. Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and peaceful new year.

We wrote a Christmas special last week, rather in a hurry, recorded it on Sunday with four other episodes, edited, added sound effects on Monday morning and posted it later that day. Phew!!

But what I gather from the comments, it's okay ...

hug

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours. We will look forward to all those new books out in the next year or so. Good luck with the publishers and great to hear you are writing again. All the best for a rewarding and satisfying 2009.

writtenwyrdd said...

Have a wonderful holiday season. You mustn't expect the tortise to beat the hare in a race, even though it's rumored to have happened once upon a time! Keep your chin up, lady!

Barbara Martin said...

Leigh, have a Happy Christmas, and please don't fret over your publisher. These are circumstances beyond your control. You are doing the best thing possible, which is to keep on writing.

Sleepy said...

Merry Christmas and a very successful New Year!

Virginia Lady said...

Happy Holidays and good luck in 2009!

BernardL said...

Writing the new MS will help smooth over the rough spots. I hope their new spring date comes true for Cut Short.

Britta Coleman said...

Here's to a fabulous 2009. And you're definitely a writer, no wannabe about it.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year - here is hoping 2009 will be a fantastic year for you and your writing.

Barbara Martin said...

Leigh, Happy New Year and here's looking to moving forward into a new creative year with good health and prosperity. I'm looking forward to reading your new book.

Leigh Russell said...

So many lovely comments! I've been very lazy about responding. Here goes -

Leigh Russell said...

bill - What happened to the world we knew in 2008!? Happy New Year - you're the hare to my tortoise, except you won the race. Good on you! Still waiting to hear what the prince has to say about your book...

Leigh Russell said...

Monique - "okay" is a bit of an understatement. I think you should stop being so modest and trumpet your success to every media outlet - someone has to broadcast Middle Ditch to the nation. 2009 might just be your year. Have a good one.

Leigh Russell said...

Aggie - Have a brilliant 2009.

Leigh Russell said...

Writtyenwyrd - I'm a tortoise who seems to be losing the race... come back Aesop! Happy 2009.

Leigh Russell said...

Barbara Martin, you're so right. No point stressing over circumstances beyond your control. A new year, a new start. Happy 2009to you.

Leigh Russell said...

Sleepy - Merry xmas and a wonderful 2009.

Leigh Russell said...

Virginia Lady - yes, I need some luck for 2009. Here's hoping you have a wonderful year too.

Leigh Russell said...

bernardl - Thank you for your brilliant support, as always. Happy 2009.

Leigh Russell said...

Britta Coleman - yay! I'm a writer! That is the main thing, really. Happy 2009 and thanks for the encouragement.

Bill Clark said...

And good on you, Leigh, for spending New Year's Day sending out notes to all your friends! I once had a friend who used to call everyone he knew on New Year's; you've gone him one better.

As for Prince William, I (along with many others, I'm sure) was very disappointed when Boxing Day came and went with no announcement. His decision to sign on for a seven-year hitch seems to have taken many off-guard, no doubt Kate among them. In my novel they spend a fair bit of time together, which ultimately leads (spoiler alert!) to their tying the knot. But in real life, I guess things are different.

The Prince's Private Secretary was kind enough to send me a thank-you note on Palace stationery for my book - or did I already tell you that? As for the Prince himself, my hope is that he picks up the book, reads it, likes the way things play out therein between him and Kate, and takes the plunge.

Can life imitate art? Stay tuned!

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Bill - yes, you did tell me, but tell me again. It's cool. As for life imitating art - considering the themes of my writing (dead bodies galore) I hope not! (If my writing can be called 'art'). . . !

Akasha Savage. said...

Happy New Year Leigh. I have positive vibes about 2009. Here's to our writing! :D

The World According To Me said...

I hope you had a fab Christmas and new year.

Here's to a brighter 2009.

Michelle said...

Hi Leigh
Found your post on my thirtysomethings blog! Thank you for your comment there. Hope 2009 is a great year for you.
Kind regards
Michelle
x

Monty said...

Ach, published or not, all are fiction writers who sit and worry about how to move a character across a room believably, whether this dialogue could perceivably come from someone with such a history as we have created for them and who sometimes wish they could hang out with the hero over a beverage...
Being published does not necessarily make you a great writer, practice does - and pfffftttt to the world you did start from the right place in pleasing yourself first because if you are passionate about the writing it shines through and others become passionate about it too - we haven't read it yet and we already want to because you're happy about the whole process of writing it!

And, of course, I'm great at offering advice and cr*p at following it but my first draft WILL be finished this year...

Anyway, all the best with everything in 2009 and I hope you had a cool yule.

Don't worry too much, doesn't your detective always win out in the end? ;)

Leigh Russell said...

Akasha - good vibrations for 2009 to you too!

Leigh Russell said...

World According to Me/You - Here's hoping 2009 will be a great one. I've got off to a good start.

Leigh Russell said...

Mickmouse - all the best for 2009. I can't believe it's a new year again. It doesn't seem like 5 minutes since the last one.

Leigh Russell said...

Monty - yes, the detective has to win in the end. I have to admit I did have a bit of a problem with that in the beginning - the bad guys are so much more interesting to write about than the good guys, and I was quite taken with one of my villains... I couldn't kill him off and he certainly couldn't be locked up. Needless to say, he had to go.