The world can wait

Last time I blogged about my books, I did the whole of the Monday's Child series. Sunday's Child features a hero who works for the RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution. I say works. Actually almost every single person who works for the lifeboats is a volunteer. They have a pager, like Cal, and have to drop everything and leave at a moments notice, in order to save lives at sea. Sometimes, like the other week, it's a surfer who defied the storm warnings and decided to go surfing in Storm Ciara. The Hastings lifeboat almost capsized. You can watch a video that someone took HERE . The RNLI is not government funded. They are supported by voluntary contributions, sponsored walks, runs, items they sell through their website and in their shops. I visited a lifeboat station whilst writing the book. So, the point of this post. March is the extra mile for the RNLI challenge. So my arthritic knee and I are walking 31 miles in support. My sponsor page is HE...

Today is the day I've looked forward to and dreaded. If that makes sense. The last of my seven book series, Monday's Child, releases.  Sunday’s Child on life seas is tossed, awaiting the lifeboat that rescues the lost… Hattie Steele feels like the world is passing her by. Her entire life revolves around the guest house she runs in Headley Cross with her overbearing twin brother. He even attempts to undermine her friendship with a handsome guest. Not that famous ex-footballer, Callum Trant would ever give her a second glance. Hoping to regain control of her life, Hattie takes a well-earned holiday with her aunt on Penry Island. After retiring from football, Callum Trant divides his time between the family business and volunteering as helm officer on a lifeboat. Danger is nothing new for him. But when he’s called out on a shout and finds the beautiful innkeeper from Headley Cross on a sinking vessel, Callum realizes his heart is in danger. But could Hattie ever forge...

It's Friday, so you get five sentences from the current WIP. It's still Sunday's Child but I've just passed 41k so once Hattie and Cal stop changing the plot on me, it'll soon be done.  I'm handwriting draft one and typing up draft two at the same time. The hand written version is about 2 chapters ahead of the typed version. Before you ask, no this wasn't in the chapter plan. It wasn't even in the handwritten draft one. It suddenly appeared in the typed up draft two. So will have to make notes on the hand written one now. Sigh... But here you go. Today's five sentences. She ran a hand down his face. “I’m marrying you and nothing is going to stop me from doing that.” He leaned into her touch, catching her fingers with his lips. “Good--maybe we elope.” “Or just post the banns today and marry in three months’ time in which ever church can fit us in.”

Sunday 15th July, the one dry day in weeks, which was just as well, as hubby, 2/3 kids and me set off on a 90 mile trip to the coast (yes that's one way mileage) to visit Hayling Island RNLI station for research purposes. Armed with a notebook and camera and a list of questions 10 miles long, I needed lots of information for Sunday's Child.  The hero of that novel, Cal Trant, works on a lifeboat. The D.A.L - deputy lifeboat authority - Graham Raines MBE spent three hours answering all my questions. Despite what the TV adverts claim - the AA is NOT the 4th emergency service. That's the coastguard . Not many people know that you can call the coastguard as well as police, fire and ambulance by dialling 999. I did -- and not just because it was a question on Pointless a few months back!  Hayling Island is an inshore lifeboat station and protects a vast portion of shoreline along with Chichester Harbour. these guys all have full time jobs and carry a page...

Ok since I'm now 6 chapters into Sunday's Child, the cast has been sorted a while. I'm just not very good at posting on here. The short story - bad pun, sorry, - is that Everyone who commented is in the book somewhere :) Either the name you picked or in another way. And I'm off to a lifeboat station this weekend, hopefully, to see a boat, talk to some crew and take loads of pictures. All in the name of research of course. But hey... Men In Uniform.... Maybe hubby needs to bring his lab coat home one evening, then I'd have my very own man in uniform in the house. :D

Ever wanted to be in a novel? Now's your chance. I have two characters up for grabs in Sunday's Child. One male and one female. The heroine's aunt. Hattie goes to stay with her. The aunt is in and out of most of the book. She runs a charity lifeboat shop on the quayside. And the hero's brother. He doesn't have an occupation yet. So I'm open to suggestions. The hero and heroine both meet on holiday. To be in with a chance of winning, just comment with your fave holiday memory. Either comment here or on facebook or twitter as this posts automatically to both places. I'll pick two winners at random in a couple of weeks.