Hello, and welcome to our first February selfie.
This week (as per preceding weeks) we have been busy looking after a stray cat and writing book 3 of our Chumley and Hudson Investigate series. Both have required a lot of TLC but in different ways.
The cat, whom we in the locality have now called Thomas, spends a lot of his sleeping time on our combined doorsteps. He came to our attention some months back, doing what stray cats do: lurking in the background and getting on with life. But when our neighbour became concerned about some blood on his face, which turned out to be a massive burst abscess so big we could see into his teeth and jaw, we had to act quickly.
With swift work, Thomas was lured inside one evening by our neighbour for a bite to eat, and he was then crated up and driven to the vet for emergency attention. Antibiotics and painkillers were administered and the wound trimmed to facilitate healing. Thomas returned to the hood and has seemingly recovered quite well over the last three weeks. The hole has closed enough that we can't see his teeth, but there is a scab/wound area that needs to heal, too. Thankfully, the cold and generally not-so-good weather has kept the flies away and Thomas resting up and eating to pass the hours of the wintery days.
A huge shout out to both George and Sammy for all they have done for Thomas the Cat. Such selfless kindness and prompt action deserves recognition and much good karma.
As to the book, Mrs H and I have been posting chapter progrss updates on Bluesky. We are heading into the final two/three chapters. But as this is the first draft, albeit a pretty complete draft, we know we have additional work to do. For instance, to keep the word count up and to add some extra peril and flavour to the scene, we need to add an additional chapter early on. This, of course, means we need to re-jig the wording of other chapters, before and after, to accommodate the changes. But such is to be expected. Writing Middle-Grade books has its challenges, but once you're in the flow it can be highly rewarding.
If you've ever thought about giving writing a go, do try. Mrs H says that if folks can put together a good blog, and enjoy creative reading, then they can write. Confidence, speed and capability come from doing and not doubting.
And as Mrs H suffers from, amongst other things, a form of dyslexia, thankfully we have an excellent editor and an excellent typesetting publisher to assist. Plus, awesome Beta Readers to point out technical errors and silly mistakes.
There are also some great writing software packages out there. Some are free and others, for a small sum, can do a lot of the editing and set-up work on your book for you. To the point they will even create the file to download straight onto Amazon to print a self publishable book. Such as 'Pro Writing Aid', 'Atticus', or 'Vellum'. Click on the blue text to link to the appropriate websites.
OK, enough of our writing and stray cat updates, let's get on with a selfie!
Till Laters!
ERin
Lovely selfie, Erin! How kind of you and your neighbours to look after poor Thomas. We hope that face heals completely very soon. We're always impressed by the discipline of those who write for the love of it. #1 writes quite a lot but it's usually for work.
ReplyDeletePurrs,
The Chans
Thank you. Yes, kindness flowed, and did the right thing. Mrs H used to write a little for one of her other jobs. Business letters only. MC Beaton, who wrote the Hamish McBeth books and Agatha Raisin books, was a newspaper editor. She transferred that skill to fiction very well. Maybe your own world can provide you with the inspiration for a work of fiction?
DeleteERin
It sounds like your new book is progressing well. I am glad you and your neighbours helped Thomas and hope he continues to heal well. Your sleepy selfie is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Book 2 is at the editors and book three nearly done. So time to start thinking on books 4 & 5, MOL
DeleteERin
ERin, yer mummy Mrs. H, has given Lynn food fur thought about writing. She's tried doing a diary afore and may go that way agin. Thomas is so fortunate. Maybe he'll star in one of the new chapters? Precious
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely have a go. Don't rush but enjoy whatever adventure comes to mind. He may well have a walk on or in part in one of the next books ;)
DeleteERin
ERin excellent selfie. Give Mrs. H a high five on her progress. When Madi and I started out blog in 2009, I had no idea how much fun I would have. Often think about turning her portion of the blog into something but just haven't
ReplyDeleteHugs Cecilia
Thank you. Don't miss out on a new line of adventure. Who knows where it will take you. And, it doesn't have to feature cats either. Mrs H started our adventures based on a half hour of writing a day. Did short stories and built up from there.
DeleteERin
thomas, we send de manee blezzingz oh st francis two ewe that yur woond heelz compleet lee...high pawz two de peepulz that helped ewe out ♥♥♥ ERin, ewe iz lookin mozt gorgeouz two day and eye hope yur N joyin sum mice creem and perch ~~~~ best fizhez two mizzuz H on yur book ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteThank you one and all for each thanks to one and all. G & S sure do a lot to help, even though they have lots of responsibilities themselves. The sign of good folks, for sure. Mice cream? Did someone say micecream? Sorry, must dash ;)
DeleteERin
You're such a sweet kitty, Purrincess Erin. That sleepy selfie is extremely cute😻So happy your neighbor took care of Thomas, so he can recover from his tooth thingies quickly. Here's a Healing Pawkiss from us too🙏Double Pawkisses for a Happy Week ahead to you and mrs H too and good Luck on the writing🐾😽💞
ReplyDeleteThank you, all healing thoughts and prayers are welcome for the lad. Good thoughts generate so much positive energy.
DeleteERin
HURRAH fore efurryone takin care of Thomas Kitty!!! Youss' are so wunderfull an yore nayburrss. Maybee inn time; Thomas will beecome a house kitty?!?!?
ReplyDeleteGuud luck on THE ree-write an re-jiggin! BellaSita Mum iss on final chaptur of her novella. Aftur 'writin herself innto a corner' 3 timess (shee said you'd understand Missus H); shee thinkss shee has figured out a guud endin...pawss crossed ;)
ERin yore Selfie iss so lovelee...let's nap THE Wintery day away.....
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~ an {{hugss}} BellaSita Mum
Thank you. Oooh, good news on the novella. Hopefully you will share it via Amazon when you are ready.
DeleteERin
Beautiful selfie! Thank you all so much for helping Thomas.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and I know Thomas will appreciate everyones warmth and best wishes.
DeleteERin
That's a pretty selfie sweet Princess. I sure am glad that Thomas got the help that he needed and I hope the healing goes quickly. Good luck on the final chapters of the book. I might just check out those websites.
ReplyDeleteThank you, paws and toes crossed Thomas will do well in the coming months. That is all we can really ask. Yes, do have a look at those writing aids/assistants. When it comes to self publishing, they are invaluable for the novice and pro writers alike. Some will even assess the manuscript and offer a synopsis and critique of content, style etc. Thankfully they do not write it for you. I guess what one gets out of them will depend on where ones strengths and weaknesses are.
DeleteHave a wonderful week!
ERin
ERin, we love your selfie, as always. How nice of your neighbors to care for Thomas. We are glad he seems to be doing well.
ReplyDeleteWe are so excited for you and Mrs. H making such great progress on your book!
Thank you. George, Sammy and we could not stand by in the face of such a trauma. It says a lot about folk when they rise to the need without second thought.
DeleteThanks, the book will be good, at least we hope so :) Books two and three are very much different from book one. Way more action and adventure, and here's a spoiler, NO kittens! 🙂
ERin
I am glad someone is taking care of poor Thomas. Could someone adopt him or does he not want to be inside? I can't wait to read more of your stories. Beautiful selfie, as always Miss Erin. XO
ReplyDeleteThank you. The villagers, some at least, are compassionate and caring. Thomas isn't instantly an indoor cat, and would need to have the op and learn to socialise better with others. But there is hope that were good folks care we can strike a balance for him.
DeleteERin
I really like that selfie and I'm so happy about Thomas. I hope he fully recovers.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting the writing done, I do admire writers.
Do have a go yourself, it is such good fun once you get going. We do believe everyone has at least one story to tell, be it fact or fiction.
DeleteERin
You look so sweet, Erin!
ReplyDeleteGlad that Thomas is being looked after well.
He is getting the best help we can and will soon be neutered. That will help him in a few ways we hope. Though the shelter seems reluctant to keep him long enough to get him an actual indoor home; so many cats and kittens and not enough space I guess, or time.
DeleteERin
Oh poor THOMAS!!!!!!. What a nightmare! We have had abscesses but nothing so dramatic.I do hope he will be OK Erin,
ReplyDeleteHe is healing well, and now in a shelter to have the snip. But he may well end up back on the streets as no space/time for long term cases it seems. So many cats and kittens in need everywhere, some more adoptable than others....
DeleteERin
Such kindness in evidence when your neighbours helped Thomas get the medical attention he needed. Lets hope he continues to heal well.
ReplyDeleteNIce selfie this week, Erin!
Hope the book writing chores go well.
Thank you. Book writing chores aren't always that. Some is deeply exciting or emotional. Especially when you get carried away with a plot line and a great set of characters 🙂
DeleteERin
Thomas is one lucky neighbourhood cat! You are terrific to keep an eye on him and take care of him like that. And wowzers! We loved reading about your writing process! We have tried to get our Mom to do something like that, but she was unsure of where to start! Erin, we want to thank you for stopping by for Nutmeg's First birthday. She was so furry excited and thoroughly enjoyed her special day! She had so much fun that she wants to have a pawty every week! Keep being awesome guys!
ReplyDeleteMarvelous Marv, Kozmo, Jo Jo, Nutmeg and Mom Barb
Starting can be half the fun. But if you start and change direction that is perfectly fine. Do persuade your staff and mom to have a go. Ponder for a few days then set nib to paper or finger to key, and let rip. I'm sure there is an Arabian adventure in there just waiting to burst forth.
DeleteERin
PS Maybe it's a romance!
Mummy's brother, Uncle D. and her sister Auntie N. keep telling her She should write a book, but We reckon She's too lazy (mol). Well done to you for purr-severing.
ReplyDeleteWe are furry happy you are looking after Thomas.
Everyone should have a go. It is surprising how good it feels to get things down on paper and to leave a story for posterity.
DeleteERin
Warm, wonderful selfie, Erin, and we certainly hope Thomas heals up nicely. It's refreshing to read about the goodness in some people.
ReplyDelete