tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220557312024-03-07T09:17:53.056+00:00Kate WalkerKate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.comBlogger2006125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-61551456776102847502020-01-17T19:22:00.002+00:002020-01-17T19:22:22.469+00:00RNA Diamond Jubilee<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">This year is the Romantic Novelists’ Association Diamond Jubilee. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdY_XTEu1f1Aza6Sf0KsXBTJJzAI2JDtbIRV2q58Pllo1yhgyRs0Kt9dchJEt0DcyjxQ3kTl1MHYQ3PpqdYNRx26taKzT-gsnp1-uNi-h_dYk4IS8Sept6rdjl2rmSeZaMZsEnlQ/s1600/RNA%252Blogo_in_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdY_XTEu1f1Aza6Sf0KsXBTJJzAI2JDtbIRV2q58Pllo1yhgyRs0Kt9dchJEt0DcyjxQ3kTl1MHYQ3PpqdYNRx26taKzT-gsnp1-uNi-h_dYk4IS8Sept6rdjl2rmSeZaMZsEnlQ/s200/RNA%252Blogo_in_red.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations they are running a blog series on ‘How to Write Romantic Fiction.” This is both for the benefit of our members as a way to share good practice and mentor other authors, and also as a means to spread the word about romantic fiction and celebrate excellence in the genre.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> I was delighted and honoured to be asked to take part in this blog - which starts today and will have a new post each month.</span>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-71191738428342730822020-01-17T19:16:00.000+00:002020-01-17T19:22:57.407+00:00Anne Bronte January 17th 1820<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKprXoTZP6bdr9gb4BzDnRbY3scJ13H1b9CXIHcwD2nzun8i-54gsNWKX80rWfSu8oiwsjr00chjpzJRn7uh8Npl2mJ7LKMCH2uXS6GFHxWGWv8s3rdy9zrSsEn7kihZefUiFow/s1600/Anne+Bronte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="248" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKprXoTZP6bdr9gb4BzDnRbY3scJ13H1b9CXIHcwD2nzun8i-54gsNWKX80rWfSu8oiwsjr00chjpzJRn7uh8Npl2mJ7LKMCH2uXS6GFHxWGWv8s3rdy9zrSsEn7kihZefUiFow/s200/Anne+Bronte.jpg" width="164" /></a>Today marks the 200th anniversary of the day that the youngest of the Bronte Sisters was born - on the 17th January 1820. </div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Unjustifiably she is too often referred to a s 'quiet, little Anne', the baby of the family! And her books are wrongly regarded as second to those of her more romantic sisters - but her detailed account of alcoholism, marital abuse and female rebellion are incredibly powerful - with a real relevance for so many similar topics these days.</div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
One of the memo<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">ries that makes me shudder for the way that Anne's reputation was reduced was when I was working in a university bookshop and was asked the book 'Tenant of Wildfell Hall' by Agnes Grey !</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
To mark this anniversary I'm going to ignore the wind and rain in reality outside and lose myself in the wind and rain - and emotional storms - in The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Happy Birthday Anne</div>
</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-82234300716586566162020-01-07T18:31:00.000+00:002020-01-07T18:31:59.764+00:00Happy New Year - and plans<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6lheKLYYEmYY3S7wnBKlxzqy1Ftcnyb9Pj5wCpNJxyEVekyc-xjPInHBjXRurxs5Z13fF3b0z4GUdyH5g2F3XYdRXilZSQ4Ck-KbyLWwNGKVXT-Mqjac1BRGvZLQigdLxfxk2g/s1600/fishhotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="300" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6lheKLYYEmYY3S7wnBKlxzqy1Ftcnyb9Pj5wCpNJxyEVekyc-xjPInHBjXRurxs5Z13fF3b0z4GUdyH5g2F3XYdRXilZSQ4Ck-KbyLWwNGKVXT-Mqjac1BRGvZLQigdLxfxk2g/s200/fishhotel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
One of my 'new year tasks' is to update my calendars and diaries putting in the details of the events coming up n this year of 2020. It's always a delight to be able to note down the dates of one of my favourite events of the year - the first writing weekend planned - <br />
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Since the Writers' Holiday in the summer closed, there always seems to be such along gap between the last time I was in lovely Fishguard and the date that I'm heading there again - but now there's just over<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> a month to go before I'll be back there with my friends and waking up to the sight and sound of the sea outside my bedroom every morning. I can't wait. You know that feeling with real friends when you haven't seen each other for too long - but when you meet up again it's as if you only parted yesterday. Well, that's one of the very special parts of the atmosphere at <a href="http://www.writersholiday.net/">Writers Holiday</a> - and that's why I love it so much.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
February 21st - 23rd 2020 - Advanced Romance Writing Course with the fabulous<a href="http://www.writersholiday.net/"> Writers Holiday </a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /> Courses also with poet Alison Chisholm, <a href="http://www.simonwhaley.co.uk/">Simon Whaley</a>, Short story writer <a href="http://www.dellagalton.co.uk/">Della Galton</a>, novelist Janet Laurence and drawing and painting tutor Susan Allison.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Numbers on this course are strictly limited so if you're interested, get your booking in while there's still spaces. The course also includes a one to one critique on your writing.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
There are a couple of other weekends planned with Lois Maddox- one a course and one a writing retreat - I need to check on the details and dates and places then get back to you.</div>
</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-19731616502193209092019-12-24T16:47:00.000+00:002019-12-24T16:47:01.212+00:00Seasons Greetings<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-0zD8qPMYIAFAKtSXy16eq8mXKD5H5-hz6VD_-_LfD7gd82aBrsQNZkhW4Oz0WBPUzAboo4wt5-13q6TmzDdkDwrdf5KSyaCxaBTR4K0civ7Li0Us-DbM7KRGPo0oE_mG0RM1Q/s1600/Advent12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-0zD8qPMYIAFAKtSXy16eq8mXKD5H5-hz6VD_-_LfD7gd82aBrsQNZkhW4Oz0WBPUzAboo4wt5-13q6TmzDdkDwrdf5KSyaCxaBTR4K0civ7Li0Us-DbM7KRGPo0oE_mG0RM1Q/s200/Advent12.JPG" width="150" /></a>I'm switching off the computer and staying off the internet as I plan to relax and share Christmas with family and friends. </div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Wishing all my wonderful readers, students and friends the happiest of holiday seasons, whatever you're celebrating. Thank you so much for your interest in my books and writing all through the year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1820wKzSKz0nKSvfMIb1v3H3KGItm5Wub3G-p7l0X0qhNV1AAVFIsmNdxbNIEcEa4nlxArtbFmeCUoMqiw6q8SQ3aKM1fxdPwB-Q0gBacOcaGAPHIgGUSqmvDWrc55W7bTZp0Zg/s1600/xmas12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
To those of you who are wishing that friends you've lost could be with you or who fear this may b<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">ving thoughts your way. Hug your loved ones and family so they know you love them and have warm memories to take with them into 2020. To quote HM the Queen, 2019 seems to have been 'a bumpy year' for many so I hope Christmas is a time to relax, revive, and revitalise so that 2020 will be a happy and loving year for you.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Xyufh7OxadkQegKIYY7fB2xWu6GhtYI7PjvVmRISe5jIcpc9rwvEInDXRYUOB4KV5PxTXePO9ZqLS50-apfMG9juQMTwbQxCuaTKramLz6x53o46v3zByfNm2hTreQVt02X62Q/s1600/xmas12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Xyufh7OxadkQegKIYY7fB2xWu6GhtYI7PjvVmRISe5jIcpc9rwvEInDXRYUOB4KV5PxTXePO9ZqLS50-apfMG9juQMTwbQxCuaTKramLz6x53o46v3zByfNm2hTreQVt02X62Q/s200/xmas12.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
e the last one they will share with dear ones - I know how you feel so I'm sending l<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">oving thoughts your way. Hug your loved ones and family so they know you love them and have warm memories to take with them into 2020. To quote HM the Queen, 2019 seems to have been 'a bumpy year' for many so I hope Christmas is a time to relax, revive, and revitalise so that 2020 will be a happy and loving year for you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjGgVrile1RPfl-bE0fc_x5OOVKBEXsFcDVV4jx3oqSjsCCRaDmXV4HotjQrOLSfDQuDR5-irSH3xR8eQQj8b1NUJzW-hFOF1W9tCmqhRVwC20fjfCUiMx3esXOsLQXN7OGUZZQ/s1600/Rubyfirejan14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjGgVrile1RPfl-bE0fc_x5OOVKBEXsFcDVV4jx3oqSjsCCRaDmXV4HotjQrOLSfDQuDR5-irSH3xR8eQQj8b1NUJzW-hFOF1W9tCmqhRVwC20fjfCUiMx3esXOsLQXN7OGUZZQ/s200/Rubyfirejan14.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Charlie has opened the last gift on his advent calendar and has now helped to decorate the tree, while Ruby is loving the fact that the fire has been lit and she can curl up in front of it to wait for Santa. They join with me in sending you love and thoughts and every wish for a truly happy Christmas!</div>
</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-60505022582158451362019-12-05T16:16:00.001+00:002019-12-05T16:47:28.671+00:00TV Catch up<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Some months back, I mentioned the fact that my husband was heading to Leeds to be involved with the making of a TV programme about a murder in his home city back in 1926. </div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmJ31N5nO0mhjrAql9Nfv-Llst4UgMBuySJ8_YRuThXsGhp_HBmT7xOoaMhMbcCzOsxvj6UncGu6Mqz0GUIAz68gNWyTQjaJOwyd4lfBWvwX4TseDzy4yMVlf7LsOhBBfQpnk3g/s1600/Murder+in+Mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmJ31N5nO0mhjrAql9Nfv-Llst4UgMBuySJ8_YRuThXsGhp_HBmT7xOoaMhMbcCzOsxvj6UncGu6Mqz0GUIAz68gNWyTQjaJOwyd4lfBWvwX4TseDzy4yMVlf7LsOhBBfQpnk3g/s200/Murder+in+Mind.jpg" width="126" /></a> This was after he wrote about the case of Louie Calvert in his book<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Mind-Investigations-Yorkshire-Casebook/dp/0995586179/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Murder+in+MInd+Stephen+Wade&qid=1575564298&s=books&sr=1-1"> Murder in Mind.</a> <br />
<br />
Although he filmed a couple of segments with the company - who were making the programme, Murder, Mystery and My Family- sadly, his contributions ended up on the floor of the cutting room. </div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
But he did alert the producers t<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">o the case, and introduced them to Louie Calvert's great-niece who is at the centre of the programme. So he was very much a consultant even if he never appeared on screen.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> I promised that I would let people know when the programme is actually going out - so for anyone interested - Murder Mystery and My Family, Episode 10 is on BBC One tomorrow morning at 9.15am</span></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"><br /> <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="origin" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fprogrammes%2Fm000byt7%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1wgLiqQ6o9J3ETs5muOo6PZvprbW2rmr0ZSMAxjdYMQJX0pjRBGz_vEtc&h=AT1S2Ocwr9klkEDXHCxnZKbRCK4_jvQWyloGElbQk0mP-7n3oufKD0ep9IcZcXMxotcpXZDmKz8oCHT8g6ny0a0Fh1G3Uan6yFhjpQy69qwT_Yhyr8KmON0flhdjQc4BvfO8b2E5rF8J-heyxfmwpZuZK73m" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000byt7?fbclid=IwAR1wgLiqQ6o9J3ETs5muOo6PZvprbW2rmr0ZSMAxjdYMQJX0pjRBGz_vEtc" rel="nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000byt7</a> and then on catch up TV</span></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-77864719128008734982019-09-23T17:04:00.000+01:002019-09-23T17:04:19.832+01:00Furry birthday boy<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Charlie is celebrating his birthday. He is now 9 years old ! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">So he feels his birthday portrait should be calm, handsome and dignified</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPGdGKyeaejzT41qjT4jcnShzE_yBSjdHTedsDrFhpdUlFcwQNp9x-rtHBRsAS__Q99TB3EXT1yTruCJ8VpABPdMoF6vpuVI_J8xpplgi4C7UO2oj3OQNPkstjvq-NFQWiIF4bw/s1600/9th+birthday+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPGdGKyeaejzT41qjT4jcnShzE_yBSjdHTedsDrFhpdUlFcwQNp9x-rtHBRsAS__Q99TB3EXT1yTruCJ8VpABPdMoF6vpuVI_J8xpplgi4C7UO2oj3OQNPkstjvq-NFQWiIF4bw/s200/9th+birthday+2019.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
- unlike the first pictures we ever had of him when <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn6wPWUxAVmxz1UwtoKysbHQUyve2oNyIFCfjkUFekRNnSHcSpEug5fBdC-eJv1Azu_Fi3nwqKHXhJWH2PZPT9SfKz_QqFSpfzispAAXBGnCo_yyuKtBc4hvu1KWz6zH6bK23yg/s1600/Rumpuss201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn6wPWUxAVmxz1UwtoKysbHQUyve2oNyIFCfjkUFekRNnSHcSpEug5fBdC-eJv1Azu_Fi3nwqKHXhJWH2PZPT9SfKz_QqFSpfzispAAXBGnCo_yyuKtBc4hvu1KWz6zH6bK23yg/s200/Rumpuss201.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
he was a little ginger bundle of mischief.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7i85kIQY7rC7buAtozoe9kNJCKoyhYCZTKonn1OYdrDUg6Sq2XDNNQ9SE0PMwra3Ro_SugGWiCdaFxO8OASdfbESs93GrkYdBYMfAigks7FpCpcmTd4ekdrHXFes72U0xUge-g/s1600/Charlie+Kitten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7i85kIQY7rC7buAtozoe9kNJCKoyhYCZTKonn1OYdrDUg6Sq2XDNNQ9SE0PMwra3Ro_SugGWiCdaFxO8OASdfbESs93GrkYdBYMfAigks7FpCpcmTd4ekdrHXFes72U0xUge-g/s200/Charlie+Kitten.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-19741575510038155332019-08-22T18:11:00.002+01:002019-08-22T18:11:55.592+01:00Writing Course details<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiigtIR8XhgABgoK-Q-p99a5rIGemJoWbkWrb9dJw-U-SH900aRMMqv9Xk-auOps6gFTTcsxQD0KnI3VdOiyVZDD5QtE6h5P-UjTUDvfvCL-cG18EIPdnKaZFy2I5a0Ahbt2Vsng/s1600/NAWGFest_square.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiigtIR8XhgABgoK-Q-p99a5rIGemJoWbkWrb9dJw-U-SH900aRMMqv9Xk-auOps6gFTTcsxQD0KnI3VdOiyVZDD5QtE6h5P-UjTUDvfvCL-cG18EIPdnKaZFy2I5a0Ahbt2Vsng/s200/NAWGFest_square.png" width="200" /></a>I'm finalising the details of the Writing Romantic Fiction Course I'm running at the NAWG Festival at the end of the month. Can't believe how quickly this has come round. <br /> Anyway the topics are:</div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
ESSENTIALS OF ROMANTIC FICTION</div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
CREATING CHARACTERS, </div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
CONFLICT AND EMOTION</div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
SEX AND PASSION</div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
- 4 workshops of 90 minutes each. There are still some places on the weekend if anyone wants to join us. <br /> Contact <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="origin" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FNAWG.co.uk%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1SnzLUUulEDRxcU_CO74aV15lW-mbsq0d5h6gFHAZhS6fSIS1pWAt89C8&h=AT2LoCJ5TGe2V_fCl22RGeDrWZojWYxoTmubZDvrDwKtTUmDpNAskdZmgO5a8DgICGXLj8rCBTZ9HoCDOMDn5pU5gcqw-zslUd59YS6-pQlYmUP57E9GHhBgWK18hYSPzQzadslWJlbnEkcsh15Pz5SkWObC" rel="nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">NAWG.co.uk</a> if you're interested.</div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
(The web site might say you need to book before now - but I just dealt with a lady who thought she was too last and NAWG organised it so that she can come on the course - so if you want to come, it's worth asking to book .)</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
After this, the next writing weekend will be with Relax and Write <br /> 4-6 October 2019 </div>
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
at The Hayes Swanwick Derbyshire</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">https://www.relaxandwrite.co.uk/</span></span></div>
</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-64947495955168962322019-07-17T21:17:00.001+01:002019-07-17T21:17:56.814+01:00RNA Conference Lancaster University<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
The RNA Conference weekend is always so much fun - and so full of interesting and enlightening events. I had a fabulous time in Lancaster, meeting up with so many friends and making lots of new ones. I went </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqwWNTDqUxSRMecrXjb9xbO5nTrNQ26PfnEB7l0HQLdGRXI6Sl1DVg-vciijrmoyw0cpgRLkDpu2_qyK0eH9f-48aIT1ZWvCEEZ5tNf-DT5AddIxYQkUkyBbhK4YTA1Ta0ZYXFA/s1600/RNA+Conf+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqwWNTDqUxSRMecrXjb9xbO5nTrNQ26PfnEB7l0HQLdGRXI6Sl1DVg-vciijrmoyw0cpgRLkDpu2_qyK0eH9f-48aIT1ZWvCEEZ5tNf-DT5AddIxYQkUkyBbhK4YTA1Ta0ZYXFA/s200/RNA+Conf+2019.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
to some great workshops, talked with fabulous writers, drank a little wine (just a little!) and hardly slept at all. Now I'm home and have caught up on the Post Conference Lag - I'm happily recalling some extra, personal moments that made me smile just to think of them.<br />
<div style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
T<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">here was the joy of watching friends and ex-students come out of their one-to-ones smiling and full of delight at having been asked to send their full manuscripts to the editors or agents they had seen. Celebrating with another ex student on the publication of her very first novel Something Like Happy. And seeing Vasiliki Scurfield win the 'Love Story in a Tweet' competition with her great story. I also enjoyed her great workshop on getting t</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzoDOZ2um21wqMffj4EcHgBa2raFW_XdRo0de4Tg-UQrpH99qhmgMCiMkaa7-QJmhyphenhyphen_Yi7Wh0HV_H8UqGAIw2bULZKLyTVvZG7me6dgvRWqLFghuBJIO41mzrnQuekWJUndIqDQ/s1600/Crime+Writers%2527+Casebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="351" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzoDOZ2um21wqMffj4EcHgBa2raFW_XdRo0de4Tg-UQrpH99qhmgMCiMkaa7-QJmhyphenhyphen_Yi7Wh0HV_H8UqGAIw2bULZKLyTVvZG7me6dgvRWqLFghuBJIO41mzrnQuekWJUndIqDQ/s200/Crime+Writers%2527+Casebook.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
he details right when writing about Greek culture - lots of room for inspiration there! <br />
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oSNQeb8eIOeSaAUQIpCQkGbqS1D0rckxyLqo_wcV_7h2wU-k5isUkyEqcl1iZLIfPmfnAq29CrAKUuxZsQM0erkRUejxcJzpknrlwkaMCVx7gO9be4BjnoJHdBPLiOkAX-LMTw/s1600/RNA+2019+c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oSNQeb8eIOeSaAUQIpCQkGbqS1D0rckxyLqo_wcV_7h2wU-k5isUkyEqcl1iZLIfPmfnAq29CrAKUuxZsQM0erkRUejxcJzpknrlwkaMCVx7gO9be4BjnoJHdBPLiOkAX-LMTw/s200/RNA+2019+c.JPG" width="150" /></a> Also workshops by Fiona Harper, lovely Liz Fielding and so many others. There were the long talks deep into the night on writing, life, anything and everything. I got the chance to sit back and enjoy the Convincing Crime workshop run by my DH and his co-author Stuart Gibbon the authors of ‘THE CRIME WRITER’S CASEBOOK’ and ‘BEING A DETECTIVE’ (thanks to John Jackson for the photo taken at the Gala Dinner.) </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
Other unexpected delights were the bargain sale of old Mills and Boon titles where I discovered a 1968 title- Still Waters - by Marguerite Lees who was a friend of my mother's and the first professional novelist I ever met - and in whose footsteps I wanted to follow. Then there was a wonderful gift from another friend and student who made the special gesture of having a fabulous tote bag made for me - with my favourite covers on it front and back. I shall use that for any other conferences I go to in the future.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp_OX8koL5gtEhtHnzj6TlyPi5dftij7ugneWvkliMKGnBwHF7xntAm4u-TjRFea8M7-J-YUXB7gYvoHh1f301t5KYcTuhWluPjjMRjI3yTXJMQZCIn10fOjeJgmq98l0b3snmg/s1600/RNA+2019+b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp_OX8koL5gtEhtHnzj6TlyPi5dftij7ugneWvkliMKGnBwHF7xntAm4u-TjRFea8M7-J-YUXB7gYvoHh1f301t5KYcTuhWluPjjMRjI3yTXJMQZCIn10fOjeJgmq98l0b3snmg/s200/RNA+2019+b.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
Thank you so much Andrea!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHVHATouceC7qAAqV_dduv0dlkPyDc_XqAlBzNDatJ3-2tr7_aLigeGg_UzmEPm9GIgZiaSGz7JnkAQFOko160WJ0rSgWqf6AuGCT32ZGuW7MDlqNMlZvw1wz2VWd8I2Q_lU2tg/s1600/RNA+2019+a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHVHATouceC7qAAqV_dduv0dlkPyDc_XqAlBzNDatJ3-2tr7_aLigeGg_UzmEPm9GIgZiaSGz7JnkAQFOko160WJ0rSgWqf6AuGCT32ZGuW7MDlqNMlZvw1wz2VWd8I2Q_lU2tg/s200/RNA+2019+a.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
All in all - a fabulous, if exhausting weekend. I'm already looking forward to next year.</div>
</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-50871264794182980732019-07-08T17:59:00.003+01:002019-07-08T17:59:57.725+01:00And more hedgehogs<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">I have seriously lost count of how many new members of the hedgehog family we now have living at the bottom of the garden - and needing food!</span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> Last night we were enchanted to spot this very small new visitor and I managed to snatch a photo without frightening him away. Then I heard crunching and chomping coming from another food bowl - another tiny hedgie. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlm5QiWIhLd1Z78wDXKxC0M5m6o_LADrcfV8kHJ8AdzQIt62jmuKkTNy_rrC1iZRYKZPmlY28brYLSgON9ciUSqpSaaLtviF-OJ5EPlPB-s5dj-xLU28B239Ei5aep7y4X8K1RQ/s1600/Tiny+Heck+July.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlm5QiWIhLd1Z78wDXKxC0M5m6o_LADrcfV8kHJ8AdzQIt62jmuKkTNy_rrC1iZRYKZPmlY28brYLSgON9ciUSqpSaaLtviF-OJ5EPlPB-s5dj-xLU28B239Ei5aep7y4X8K1RQ/s200/Tiny+Heck+July.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Looking out a bit later, there were two mini hogs at bowl1, another two at bowl 2 - this little one . . .and then 2 lar</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ge hogs who were facing off - huffing and snorting - over what was left in the bowl!</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> Today it's 30 years since we moved in to this house and inherited the hedgehog colony at the bottom of the garden so it feels great to know that we have kept the generations alive all that time - and there are new ones stoking up towards the winter to hopefully still be here next year. With a life span of probably 4-7 years, that means that we must have had around 5 or so generations living there.</span>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-10079250172662327682019-07-03T16:19:00.001+01:002019-07-03T18:24:18.971+01:00Hedgehog update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUbRs-oXErpxhANFRoGMJg3hHf_VowXomsQ_Qjz-7cQ4iaNuvvjCnXY4jRYtlv8nn9KPSs4SuEW7yGuddZL3ppv6y-2NJUwUIxNhmZ5CEdN3cTHFMcCyLMSh1dYwVbLskzWOFgQ/s1600/Mini+Heck+July+2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUbRs-oXErpxhANFRoGMJg3hHf_VowXomsQ_Qjz-7cQ4iaNuvvjCnXY4jRYtlv8nn9KPSs4SuEW7yGuddZL3ppv6y-2NJUwUIxNhmZ5CEdN3cTHFMcCyLMSh1dYwVbLskzWOFgQ/s200/Mini+Heck+July+2017.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Hedgehog update - there seems to have been plenty of - er Hedgehog hanky panky in the past year because when I went out to put the kitten crunchies and some meat for the newest recruit I found that there were 3 young hogs all around the bowl. And they were being supervised by much larger hog - possibly a parent?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> The Babe Magnet has spent some of his latest payment for articles in the Dalesman on a brand new detached hedgehog house so there should be room for all - as the original Hedgehog Towers is decidedly run down.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> But I now have the perfect excuse for the 'running wild' part of the garden. It was meant as a haven for wildlife and seems to be eminently successful in that. The cost of kitten crunchies has increased hugely though!</span><span class="_5mfr" style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 1px;"><span class="_6qdm" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ta5/1.5/16/1f642.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 16px;">🙂</span></span><span class="_5mfr" style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 1px;"><span class="_6qdm" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ta5/1.5/16/1f642.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 16px;">🙂</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Not that I mind at all. I'd rather have the hedgehogs.</span>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-3036014082277790592019-07-01T20:24:00.003+01:002019-07-01T20:24:48.570+01:00Bargain Books <span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Just checking through book details to make sure I'd completed the PLR form and I've discovered that some of my books are currently on sale on </span><a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="origin" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAmazon.co.uk%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0rYsYVh8a8yM_voMdmaF_0FDARfK_EgiLVROpZ346PiYjJWZ3CCQM8wNI&h=AT02rYvvKMsE-WqXjqpumdUKipi2mtvsrL2ICSwTq0p2cm8-KA5iImD4E3yO3qGXLgcVYczBxSVDutM2QzJWyj8RmiqKnFYRDFd-cChYuNeZfgjPORDnEHh4Zr9gRT8iSyfeDi2Uv-MOZ4CsmF4zUmVsrKRRfyqKf9uuaC4ZqEG8" href="http://amazon.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR0rYsYVh8a8yM_voMdmaF_0FDARfK_EgiLVROpZ346PiYjJWZ3CCQM8wNI" rel="nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> at 0.99p </span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">- so if there are any past titles you don't have on kindle - you might like to grab these:</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;" /><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> The Groom's Revenge</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;" /><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> Flirting With Danger</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;" /><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> A Throne for the Taking</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;" /><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> Hers for a Night </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br style="display: inline;" /> The Sicilian's Red-hot Revenge<br style="display: inline;" /> A Sicilian Husband<br style="display: inline;" /> Cordero's Forced Bride<br style="display: inline;" /> The Married Mistress<br style="display: inline;" /> The Hostage Bride<br style="display: inline;" /> A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance.</span>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-27117193463150543122019-06-30T15:36:00.004+01:002019-06-30T15:36:56.644+01:00Hedgehogs 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiue4tojAa-ZAU7uoM-5nmReVu0xYU-ZwuClnNOwcBUA-A0KwQvMZr6JtiqikSNcX98KeLus_V04UKf4PNnSKwggbuAk3We0vZDi6O8eig_-lnE80hF118ddW0kutboij8UPxwYrA/s1600/Chaz+and+Hog+day+2+b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiue4tojAa-ZAU7uoM-5nmReVu0xYU-ZwuClnNOwcBUA-A0KwQvMZr6JtiqikSNcX98KeLus_V04UKf4PNnSKwggbuAk3We0vZDi6O8eig_-lnE80hF118ddW0kutboij8UPxwYrA/s200/Chaz+and+Hog+day+2+b.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And he (she?) is back again.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Obviously likes an early supper and doesn't wait until dusk. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGSnU6obPRlcIldz_yH_kvukzdDlwDwElpuWNAaGCw0Yu8oLOdu5nyIKcuzN7o-2EbCptY5NOnzpZbflToOWRDhhSazkQSod2cNWG4jai5a0eMLR0Ysa_6jFKialUayHW7Bzvdg/s1600/Chaz+n+Hog+day+2c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGSnU6obPRlcIldz_yH_kvukzdDlwDwElpuWNAaGCw0Yu8oLOdu5nyIKcuzN7o-2EbCptY5NOnzpZbflToOWRDhhSazkQSod2cNWG4jai5a0eMLR0Ysa_6jFKialUayHW7Bzvdg/s200/Chaz+n+Hog+day+2c.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Charlie is quite happy to share some cat meat and crunchies with him/her and they spent a long time just sitting together on the lawn.</span>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-18952158559366130632019-06-28T18:28:00.001+01:002019-06-28T18:28:22.696+01:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A fine sunny day - though not as warm as tomorrow is
predicted to be! - meant that we had an early evening visitor to the garden in
the form of a young hedgehog who came wandering across the lawn in search of food.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi050JsYVr-wte3rGpr0-FHB_d6vFiuDBkeOtiFscsWw4YubjBgUXBsLi2wsc0-9VyxZt-f6tAzDvGfDRfsK6aw3n1l6n45aJK1bACuo6LW8Aco2WZ0jljE-sLbrv3UujoT9nlRGw/s1600/Chaz+and+hog+2+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi050JsYVr-wte3rGpr0-FHB_d6vFiuDBkeOtiFscsWw4YubjBgUXBsLi2wsc0-9VyxZt-f6tAzDvGfDRfsK6aw3n1l6n45aJK1bACuo6LW8Aco2WZ0jljE-sLbrv3UujoT9nlRGw/s200/Chaz+and+hog+2+2019.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although he was really out and about in daylight and that's usually a
warning sign for a hedgehog's health, we had a good look at him and could find
no signs of injury or ill health, So we offered a plate of cat meat and
crunchies which he attacked with a lot of obvious enjoyment - ditto the bowl of
fresh water which he slurped enthusiastically - so he was probably just
hungry/thirsty and determined to get to the food before the bigger hedgies w</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBGqDb7kmLUC-pTbNc2Jc9eBwyIGCzwqrAG2Xzr_7JofphkdnrRim0i26CrhBwmfA4lBPNWiq_TqrkAGcoRFq75U8_meUHqZsEmnnWpKr64oGL7edI_mcS0eG6qEirocW4gqLdA/s1600/Chaz+and+hog+2+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBGqDb7kmLUC-pTbNc2Jc9eBwyIGCzwqrAG2Xzr_7JofphkdnrRim0i26CrhBwmfA4lBPNWiq_TqrkAGcoRFq75U8_meUHqZsEmnnWpKr64oGL7edI_mcS0eG6qEirocW4gqLdA/s200/Chaz+and+hog+2+2019.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
ho
have been wandering about in the dusk most evenings this week. He didn't leave
much for them !<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Charlie the Maine Coon followed him on his way from the
hedgehog houses and sat watching with interest as the youngster chomped his way
through the meat on off. Charlie obviously thought it wasn't suitable for him
as he didn't even try to share it with him!<o:p></o:p></div>
HedgehogsKate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-56675843289382442452019-06-20T20:02:00.000+01:002019-06-20T20:05:44.380+01:00Foreign PartsWell, yet more foreign editions arrived in the mail today but I think we've seen enough of them. Instead, people have been asking about our trip away and where we've been - so here's a brief travel <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyE-NV0vHq_naiP5kXHXrcG4NlPMDBl-uQna71TRTHoNMLeY-XE5gCZNi8V083UZ-p58ZQuBwRUmw6JRUUihMAYPzI5NqHtIy8-NB10n7pr9-0WRcF9N3OKaQKcVW2SNDIHSmOFA/s1600/Montana+Mountains.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyE-NV0vHq_naiP5kXHXrcG4NlPMDBl-uQna71TRTHoNMLeY-XE5gCZNi8V083UZ-p58ZQuBwRUmw6JRUUihMAYPzI5NqHtIy8-NB10n7pr9-0WRcF9N3OKaQKcVW2SNDIHSmOFA/s200/Montana+Mountains.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
report now that I've woken from the jet lag and unpacking/washing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwGm0h5YsPayuHkc1FyMtRwz3zt0yCH5e-IoY1pgA62EGAap_ExkeHYRxVxOE7Z8YQO2x_c0-3HcCRkMlvFKvSgdSp6eHgBohq7W6FEG2oRMgfM32CPfUxKOsf7v8Sq6fU8SxpQ/s1600/Laredo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwGm0h5YsPayuHkc1FyMtRwz3zt0yCH5e-IoY1pgA62EGAap_ExkeHYRxVxOE7Z8YQO2x_c0-3HcCRkMlvFKvSgdSp6eHgBohq7W6FEG2oRMgfM32CPfUxKOsf7v8Sq6fU8SxpQ/s200/Laredo.jpg" width="130" /></a>We flew to America- to Montana to be exact. There we met up with and stayed with the wonderful Anne McAllister. Book discussions galore - I don;t think you've seen anyone really talk until you've seen a couple of writers get together and discuss books.<br />
<br />
Anne and I of course talked romance and looked into the prospect of possibly working together - or working with another publisher perhaps in the future. The Babe Magnet meanwhile did lots of research into the wild west and its history. (Did I ever mention that he has a second identity as a writer of Westerns - and he's embarking on a bigger, deeper story right now. ) So he thrilled to explore the town of Cody Wyoming. The town is named for its legendary founder, Buffalo Bill Cody, that remains as full of Old West adventure as it
was during the days when Bill himself roamed Wyoming.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0Y-yZWnOvKtXCXJVA5QsmUtI8BMGrcwtYiHGjbNRNLZzcuCeY1-cGUxa4qVQWiYetCxI2eEJt-mD3nh-zWdvGz_QxbfgAcp6rwFypDGhjlcwXaQltN83BEabrND1X1qzBe2CEg/s1600/Yellowstone+1+Paint+Pots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0Y-yZWnOvKtXCXJVA5QsmUtI8BMGrcwtYiHGjbNRNLZzcuCeY1-cGUxa4qVQWiYetCxI2eEJt-mD3nh-zWdvGz_QxbfgAcp6rwFypDGhjlcwXaQltN83BEabrND1X1qzBe2CEg/s200/Yellowstone+1+Paint+Pots.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fountain Paint Pot is a mud pot located in<br />
Lower Geyser basin in Yellowstone National Park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We drove from Montana to Cody, going through Yellowstone
Park on the way and it was a real thrill to come face to face (almost
literally) with the huge buffaloes that roam through there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Encountering one right in the middle of the
road<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mean we decided the wisest course
was to stop and wait for him to move on – which he did, eventually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A huge animal. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAktyiDQsA0iNn18AyfxxdoeDZJtXzxN4VmpFQJ6dnwQN2Uojhk-3HPVhloSzHxR62Da3gTFBIRYBdcIXIOjbKNWHofs8IDpkXnkrcMyweJcl33epd5-mUDCcgGhpUGp0O6-uzA/s1600/Irma+hotel+outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="281" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAktyiDQsA0iNn18AyfxxdoeDZJtXzxN4VmpFQJ6dnwQN2Uojhk-3HPVhloSzHxR62Da3gTFBIRYBdcIXIOjbKNWHofs8IDpkXnkrcMyweJcl33epd5-mUDCcgGhpUGp0O6-uzA/s200/Irma+hotel+outside.jpg" width="200" /></a>In Cody we stayed in the historic Irma Hotel which was built
by Buffalo Bill himself and named for his younger daughter Irma. The rooms are decorated in ‘historic’ style
so you can imagine what it would have been like to stay there in the past. And
there’s even a dramatized. ‘gun fight ‘ out in the street one evening.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkdjh6OWdsaNKfarAPyMyyQRQNa29tJdgXFO0-Ky8aQghx7siTnesZyb8VuzAJSHa5Q2YsSTrmxGqNmjeftMbFszVGSTmyq82zDHgnxWT7P34SiFmzUc6QCuqQnciZxLtlmQnnA/s1600/Irma+Hotel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkdjh6OWdsaNKfarAPyMyyQRQNa29tJdgXFO0-Ky8aQghx7siTnesZyb8VuzAJSHa5Q2YsSTrmxGqNmjeftMbFszVGSTmyq82zDHgnxWT7P34SiFmzUc6QCuqQnciZxLtlmQnnA/s200/Irma+Hotel.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Buffalo Bill Centre provides huge amounts
of research information and displays so DH spent an age in there. I loved the Plains Indians displays</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvoR6oXfYrE-DrnK6ICbViV0m7_lnGJHs-XkAfCFaRbqKn7w4F5GqRKEscSOm196Zp3mzLmRTj5s4ts2YMXJX7BdP5nGpbUGtwCuPYzL_dbYPxXabahLOli7tV-MgyRrB9HjjvA/s1600/Indian+shoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvoR6oXfYrE-DrnK6ICbViV0m7_lnGJHs-XkAfCFaRbqKn7w4F5GqRKEscSOm196Zp3mzLmRTj5s4ts2YMXJX7BdP5nGpbUGtwCuPYzL_dbYPxXabahLOli7tV-MgyRrB9HjjvA/s200/Indian+shoes.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>there - so many
beautiful things. And as anyone who knows me knows that I’m partial to a pair
of fancy shoes, there were several pairs of embroidered and beaded moccasins I would have liked to bring home with me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Montana is one of those places where the weather can change
several times from sunrise to sunset. Driving through Yellowstone, in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>68+degrees,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>it was a shock to see snow still piled up by the roadside – in June. We
ever stopped to have a game of snowballs at one point!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1WATIsRzuTQbzrfKT2SX1VMEFNgjRpTfWsTu2ZDy95lrEQEYeVJLukfgW1Y8-ZyndlSJIPJcTR-4Yt0cBJCbYMvQfr5K89Tf3Klbm0h7sjbAabygYK3rvFfe5NjDktTE7CLTPw/s1600/Irma+cowboys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1WATIsRzuTQbzrfKT2SX1VMEFNgjRpTfWsTu2ZDy95lrEQEYeVJLukfgW1Y8-ZyndlSJIPJcTR-4Yt0cBJCbYMvQfr5K89Tf3Klbm0h7sjbAabygYK3rvFfe5NjDktTE7CLTPw/s200/Irma+cowboys.JPG" width="150" /></a>And there was a special delight in waking every morning to
see the mountains away in the distance – that is, when the rain and the snow
(yes there was a brief snowstorm!) had cleared away. So many memories - and I'm sure that so much of what we saw will end up in one book or another at some point.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-22417799471382726692019-06-18T18:12:00.000+01:002019-06-18T18:12:25.517+01:00Foreign Editions - all over the world.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQPDNBsH16Dyqb4ht9Sd_hUDARoI_3BJcAR1D7IpuM_a_XvXnOQQHo69CUC2N-VnFaRhdNdzo31XQOvmiJfj8EB8AjbUqgBg6WvjyuyUh9ZZYzCWr3RWZ8Pd0reVpWaQszDrMyQ/s1600/Scan_20190617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1029" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQPDNBsH16Dyqb4ht9Sd_hUDARoI_3BJcAR1D7IpuM_a_XvXnOQQHo69CUC2N-VnFaRhdNdzo31XQOvmiJfj8EB8AjbUqgBg6WvjyuyUh9ZZYzCWr3RWZ8Pd0reVpWaQszDrMyQ/s200/Scan_20190617.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">It's a good week for foreign editions - the Norwegian and Danish ones yesterday, and I found myself in a 3 in 1 collection with none other than Nora Roberts! That's quite something.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiIu9M7H_K5-3LKrOIBx84GY_psYbrPZfLIIyhkfhuhX51ZEEDSc8MGTCdzCgE7DS4wVoKJPThKgWv2kIW0KXP7T4PsE_tosWn52eNsABK1TOVGln9tIDl3YqL-IFNqy1rRheCQ/s1600/Devil+and+MIss+J+Manga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="352" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiIu9M7H_K5-3LKrOIBx84GY_psYbrPZfLIIyhkfhuhX51ZEEDSc8MGTCdzCgE7DS4wVoKJPThKgWv2kIW0KXP7T4PsE_tosWn52eNsABK1TOVGln9tIDl3YqL-IFNqy1rRheCQ/s200/Devil+and+MIss+J+Manga.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> There were some German editions before that - and now today these great Manga editions.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">I love the Manga versions of my stories and there's a special delight in seeing one of the graphic editions translated into English so I can read the words as well as delight in the illustrations.</span><br />
<br />
<br style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;" /><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> So there's the Manga version of <b><a href="http://www.kate-walker.com/books/the-devil-and-miss-jones.html">The Devil and Miss Jones </a></b>with the runaway bride and her biker hero. </span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> Then this fabulous collection of different stories with Miranda Lee, </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=608211518&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARAttKRcQ27PfisYBWg-lxW7jx-0OtGV4qChuQ05vQB9HD4LOqnwrpD_qYbC8-4YuQN-ZhsZ90N7AIJb%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharon.j.kendrick?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAttKRcQ27PfisYBWg-lxW7jx-0OtGV4qChuQ05vQB9HD4LOqnwrpD_qYbC8-4YuQN-ZhsZ90N7AIJb&fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Sharon Josephine Kendrick">Sharon </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_5Q9WAHxiLd39CD2MA6H3PvXHVT8DYfh_WH5hauYNsX7omLG3AEuNlTYUK_10jyXMxBdheb3jAEMcIibdYqfHkhuT42DlTF2kHdCucAirOMGuJi1F0E8HI9f27d_hOIeb-s4vA/s1600/Scan_20190618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1123" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_5Q9WAHxiLd39CD2MA6H3PvXHVT8DYfh_WH5hauYNsX7omLG3AEuNlTYUK_10jyXMxBdheb3jAEMcIibdYqfHkhuT42DlTF2kHdCucAirOMGuJi1F0E8HI9f27d_hOIeb-s4vA/s200/Scan_20190618.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
Josephine Kendrick<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">, and Chantelle Shaw has<b><a href="http://www.kate-walker.com/books/sicilians-wife.html"> The Sicilian's Wife</a></b> included, and finally the English-translation of the Japanese-translation of the Manga <b><a href="http://www.kate-walker.com/books/antonakos-marriage.html">The Antonakos Marriage. </a></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> The covers are just amazing and you can really get the atmosphere and emotions of the books through the graphic novels inside. I love them.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_-WtYE1sHHdzeLuKqxB8EDxNg00rDDugq9VIcC5ViDRwSnZ-wyw748j_Nhxuru2yR6_eiymdmDk8ptSQ_CyLcaVN920BoRB35tZMglhchtDdgKLYONG9pNgO47bvQ0wyzh8BiA/s1600/Antonakos+MArriage+UK+Manga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="352" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_-WtYE1sHHdzeLuKqxB8EDxNg00rDDugq9VIcC5ViDRwSnZ-wyw748j_Nhxuru2yR6_eiymdmDk8ptSQ_CyLcaVN920BoRB35tZMglhchtDdgKLYONG9pNgO47bvQ0wyzh8BiA/s200/Antonakos+MArriage+UK+Manga.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-10542883024707130042019-06-14T20:49:00.002+01:002019-06-14T20:50:17.049+01:00Back home <div data-block="true" data-editor="82a4e" data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0" style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0">I've been away - travelling, researching, discussing writing, books and heroes (it's a hard job but someone has to do it!) with the wonderful Anne McAllister but now I'm back.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0"> Have slept away jet lag (I hope), done six tonnes of washing which is proving impossible to get dry in the torrential downpours we're experiencing. But today I went to one of my favourite events of the year. </span><br />
<span data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0">I was at the local library, handing out the certificates to the successful students who have completed The Reading Agency's Reading Ahead 6 book challenge. It was wonderful to meet all the students who have struggled with their reading but have managed to complete the 6 books through the year and were celebrating getting their 'Completer' certificates. This is the third year I've done this and this time there was the largest numbers of successful students - 45 in total. It's always such a happy occasion as they show their enthusiasm and sense of achievement.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="9anm3-0-0"> I was asked to give a short talk as well (not an easy thing when I'm still feeling as if my brain is left in America where I was till the beginning of the week . But I talked about my personal 6 books - books that meant a lot to me and everyone seems to have enjoyed it.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="82a4e" data-offset-key="237ur-0-0" style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="237ur-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="237ur-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="82a4e" data-offset-key="3vrpc-0-0" style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3vrpc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="3vrpc-0-0">Thank you again to North Lincolnshire Libraries for inviting me to join them and present the certificates. I had a great afternoon and it was a fantastic way to encourage these students to read and enjoy books.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="82a4e" data-offset-key="35njg-0-0" style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="35njg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="82a4e" data-offset-key="6e5kr-0-0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6e5kr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; position: relative; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6e5kr-0-0" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Now I have to go and add some extra feed to the run-down supplies for the hedgehogs who have been well looked after while we were away, but are snuffling about in the garden, demanding to know when supper will be served. I have a suspicion that there are more of them than when we went away!!</span></span></div>
</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-34418026871963651302019-05-30T13:48:00.001+01:002019-05-30T13:48:47.529+01:00Writing retreats<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Writers' retreats are one of the best things in life</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CwjoGFt1igNnzSxmwQGLCB7vcMz3LLFYcevw4R7hDvsnWUkhcJFpyaNCkbwpmFoh3idkZ9edkq2nNjifzSsSynkhGHcwt7uEQvO4_qx0nForsdB8SWEqvKrwWZQ9_ubStSnEtA/s1600/Rectory+may2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CwjoGFt1igNnzSxmwQGLCB7vcMz3LLFYcevw4R7hDvsnWUkhcJFpyaNCkbwpmFoh3idkZ9edkq2nNjifzSsSynkhGHcwt7uEQvO4_qx0nForsdB8SWEqvKrwWZQ9_ubStSnEtA/s200/Rectory+may2019.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> Even if you don't actually write a lot the talk is always about writing/publishing/romance novels/heroines/ heroes - definitely heroes! We spent a wonderful weekend retreat in a fabulous old Rectory in Worcestershire and covered so much ground (writing-wise!) that we needed a little wine to keep us going. I didn't want to home - but I had another writers' convention to look forward to.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCX1NUcI_mqEUTUK7m1lrkuXb18ciEYXHuqwZ5igYMBejmzOEF2rps3M2i1YikIotM9YJQx6eL8rzdtuIvGNWcd6ZOLsjptwOajWywpyg6xI_UKcE6FsfsxyU4kLrGmeJA2hELQ/s1600/Rectory+retreat+may2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCX1NUcI_mqEUTUK7m1lrkuXb18ciEYXHuqwZ5igYMBejmzOEF2rps3M2i1YikIotM9YJQx6eL8rzdtuIvGNWcd6ZOLsjptwOajWywpyg6xI_UKcE6FsfsxyU4kLrGmeJA2hELQ/s200/Rectory+retreat+may2019.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> Now I'm planning and organising the trip to visit - and discuss writing plans - with the wonderful </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=698886142&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARAkEgX2sQs1x5vosr7yRLI79U9kAA3A7utXrYBYnvgcgoKOffTWjfWo635l0P6Ic53AoRzGJyq0xcXo%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/anne.mcallister.948?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAkEgX2sQs1x5vosr7yRLI79U9kAA3A7utXrYBYnvgcgoKOffTWjfWo635l0P6Ic53AoRzGJyq0xcXo&fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">Anne McAllister</a><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> - there will be yet more book talk, writing, publishing discussions etc . . can't wait!</span>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-77720364796888371152019-05-24T17:45:00.000+01:002019-05-24T17:45:01.809+01:00Spring Birdwatching<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">This happens every year.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> I heard recently that there is supposed to be a shortage of starlings. with numbers very much reduced. Not in our garden. We have had regular visits from a gang of adult birds for months and this last week or so they have been joined by an equally large number of nestlings, newly emerged from the home nest. These youngsters are often as big as - if not bigger - than the poor mother bird and perfectly capable of getting their own food, specially when</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> I put out seeds, fat cakes and mealworms for them all to enjoy. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">But they still appear to think they are little babies and need mum's help to get the food. Every morning there is a loud ruckus of 'little' ones - who are standing on a lawn scattered with</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4CQqwhZtGsLm2tr-PE7eyfSv7fQo_t6NWPjkMGT86-whkuNUMOMTcdXDrvmkz22R0kvZGKp6LGCg_fFAJ0gNTnHW_euPsDKGQz-36VK4NMqsh5_GtEFsNhiWZ2iCj2JRfMVObw/s1600/Starlings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4CQqwhZtGsLm2tr-PE7eyfSv7fQo_t6NWPjkMGT86-whkuNUMOMTcdXDrvmkz22R0kvZGKp6LGCg_fFAJ0gNTnHW_euPsDKGQz-36VK4NMqsh5_GtEFsNhiWZ2iCj2JRfMVObw/s200/Starlings.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
mealworms - shrieking 'feed me ! Feed me!' They stand there with their beaks wide open while the poor mother bird picks the food up from round their feet and stuffs it into their gaping mouths<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">. This morning I watched one poor mother bird working so hard to feed 3 demanding youngsters - all bigger than her - while if the 'little ones' only looked down, they would have seen the feast that was scattered around their feet. The noise of their demands was deafening.</span>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-8762402466700403722019-05-22T21:45:00.002+01:002019-05-22T21:45:41.777+01:00More TV connections<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Last week DH went 'back home' when he was filmed as a contribution to a TV programme about a crime </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJ_oZs0NPxNhdLhW6VpB_eyJWElT_dGJwzj_rU3DoEedhA1XHORcGe51W0ugQsnYToMfYF9a4eE-NX0zPjYf7fiXmJAdVdRs2rmSlDjq4cgQtbsIGAsMzTxQQZmhkroqOUcxctQ/s1600/Shibden_Hall%252C_Halifax_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJ_oZs0NPxNhdLhW6VpB_eyJWElT_dGJwzj_rU3DoEedhA1XHORcGe51W0ugQsnYToMfYF9a4eE-NX0zPjYf7fiXmJAdVdRs2rmSlDjq4cgQtbsIGAsMzTxQQZmhkroqOUcxctQ/s200/Shibden_Hall%252C_Halifax_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
set there. He enjoyed visiting his past home town as well, as being involved in the programme.<br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> This week it's my turn to be reminded of the place I grew up as the BBC shows <b><a href="https://www.hbo.com/gentleman-jack">Gentleman Jack</a></b> - the story of the unconventional Anne Lister of Shibden Hall just outside Halifax. As girls, my sisters and I often went to Shibden Park in which the hall was set - for picnics or walks or </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">rowing a boat on the lake. Later, a friend of mine from school became the curator of the Hall for a time.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> We thought we knew a lot about the history of the Hall - but back then the amazing diaries Anne Lister wrote in code telling the story of her life as well as her </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb7-wI0hX88dy6tNo0gqS0puJmrj8R_WgmHGzH2yvJzHvAt4wb7w5M3n4C6DXNH7-X6YuTZjpuGvK8PVm69Arg1fNcyYLfyPsEiOHVajnotJxXETYash6tdlTUWkrFpZEDo6z5g/s1600/Lister_anne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="792" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb7-wI0hX88dy6tNo0gqS0puJmrj8R_WgmHGzH2yvJzHvAt4wb7w5M3n4C6DXNH7-X6YuTZjpuGvK8PVm69Arg1fNcyYLfyPsEiOHVajnotJxXETYash6tdlTUWkrFpZEDo6z5g/s200/Lister_anne.jpg" width="167" /></a></div>
lesbian life and many affairs had not yet been published.<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">For the next few weeks I shall be able to go back to my childhood days and memories as I watch the TV drama and spot places I knew and often visited in my past. I always loved Shibden Hall and it's wonderful to see it again - even if only on TV</span>Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-64970637934582517462019-05-15T09:05:00.000+01:002019-05-15T09:05:01.304+01:00Living with a TV star!<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
So today is a big day for the Babe Magnet. He set off at silly o'clock to go to Leeds where he is filming in his role of consultant on a TV investigation of a murder (maybe murders?) in Leeds early last century. Can't reveal details as yet but when it's all sorted I can share.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdquN9GjVsV3AtYFWsRfypHb_a0bkrUoijgDqGEMe7biYgSdF6s_rae_QsWzpjhCv2hcuZrVSsvRFODyg8gWpo6EQmy_1yL5enTox4s9OMoea8eVTSiyCT99er7pRkFE1aYMd_Yw/s1600/Murder+in+Mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdquN9GjVsV3AtYFWsRfypHb_a0bkrUoijgDqGEMe7biYgSdF6s_rae_QsWzpjhCv2hcuZrVSsvRFODyg8gWpo6EQmy_1yL5enTox4s9OMoea8eVTSiyCT99er7pRkFE1aYMd_Yw/s200/Murder+in+Mind.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
It's interesting though, the way that your 'birthplace/home town' can reach out and involve one even when you've moved away and haven't lived in the city for -eek! Half a century!! </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
This has al<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">l come about following the publication of his book Murder in Mind in which - as the blurb says - "he looks at his favourite investigations in his home county of Yorkshire, rich with villainous acts, painstaking investigations and outright injustices." One particular case has always intrigued him and he's had a chance to investigate it further - and now contribute to this programme. Should be a fascinating day - and the sun's even shining!</span></div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-34445591120525777602019-05-12T21:00:00.000+01:002019-05-12T21:00:04.083+01:00ME Awareness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiignAVjadYLPAm9j5QcrfJNIdgpdCKAjtog_ZPbawO6ofYmV3YmzOLVYwb-UPzXdhgREsDqmd6TkanDfCaEZgHbKnnvvyU6KOaXZw6tVYQJc2Wi1KXDE7K2bB7jhUPL_yk_Zya-Q/s1600/Florence+Nightingale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="330" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiignAVjadYLPAm9j5QcrfJNIdgpdCKAjtog_ZPbawO6ofYmV3YmzOLVYwb-UPzXdhgREsDqmd6TkanDfCaEZgHbKnnvvyU6KOaXZw6tVYQJc2Wi1KXDE7K2bB7jhUPL_yk_Zya-Q/s200/Florence+Nightingale.jpg" width="143" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As well as being Mother’s Day, May 12<sup>th</sup> is also
the anniversary of the birth of a famous and admirable woman – Florence Nightingale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you know the story of the way that
she went out to help with nursing the wounded injured in the Crimean War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1860, Nightingale laid the foundation of
professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas'
Hospital in London, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the world’s first
School of Nursing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nightingale became chronically ill in her mid-thirties with
a Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-like illness. She
was often bedridden for the last 50 years of her life. Despite suffering from a
debilitating illness, she managed to found the world’s first School of Nursing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this, May 12<sup>th</sup> has
been designated as International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and
Neurological Diseases (CIND) since 1992. The CIND illnesses include Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Gulf
War Syndrome (GWS) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9kMXv7M052eiPbO5SYK7PNXrWR_bdgjgQz2kT3U7qUdqbywlu_pNrc6Jd65qRZ6M3QdgMHfQ7bxAX3Hr5wV7Kms1uhexNzCKY2gDX7rYjkF_Mb5W5-Oa1f5lZOfAncfHPPcJfg/s1600/logo1+++ME.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="350" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9kMXv7M052eiPbO5SYK7PNXrWR_bdgjgQz2kT3U7qUdqbywlu_pNrc6Jd65qRZ6M3QdgMHfQ7bxAX3Hr5wV7Kms1uhexNzCKY2gDX7rYjkF_Mb5W5-Oa1f5lZOfAncfHPPcJfg/s200/logo1+++ME.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t talk about this much – in fact, I’m not sure whether
I’ve mentioned it before, but ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is something I’ve lived
with for years. I can recall almost exactly the time it started to affect my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had glandular fever and I was
really struggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to rest, the
doctor said – lots of rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inset hollow
laughter here. I had<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a two and a half
year old son – active, intelligent – demanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A husband who was dealing with a new job, often working teaching evening
classes, we’d just moved house <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so my
chances of ‘rest’ were limited. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
know then that this sort of situation was the perfect seeding ground for
ME/CFS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was no such diagnosis possible back then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘ME’ was not recognised – and of course was
known as ‘Yuppie Flu’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some doctors
refused to recognise it as an illness at all. I remember one doctor who told me
that I either admitted I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘just’ had
depression<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- or he would refuse to see
me again. Guess what, I left that practice and turned my back on him. I was
depressed because I was ill. Not ‘pretending’ to be ill because I was
depressed. The hardest thing in those days was the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seemingly endless shuttling<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from one doctor to another, the tests<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for this, that and the other in the hope that
someone could tell me what was wrong. And being told it was all in my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These days there is a blood test that shows problems that
create ME/CFS<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which is a great help. The
condition can also <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>often lead to the
added complication of fibromyalgia. Another illness that some people refuse to
admit exists. I have acute fibromyalgia as well as the ME<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and at times it can be very unpleasant
indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main symptom of CFS/ME is feeling overwhelmingly tired
and generally unwell. Symptoms vary from person to person, and the severity of
symptoms can vary from day to day, or even within a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This fatigue <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>doesn't go away with rest or sleep. This can
make it difficult to carry out everyday tasks and activities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Other symptoms of CFS/ME include: sleep problems, such as insomnia, muscle or
joint pain, headache, a sore throat or sore glands that aren't swollen , problems
thinking, remembering or concentrating , flu-like symptoms, feeling dizzy or
sick , fast or irregular heartbeats (heart palpitations)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- people say when
I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tell them I have ME<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- you write books, you teach, you travel. Yes
I do, because I refuse to give in to this thing. I do things that matter to me –
even though sometimes after a journey I’ve made, a course I’ve taught or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a book I’ve written, I need time out to
recover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why mention this now? Well, really because I’ve seen the
posters and the messages, how people are talking about International <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ME Awareness Day and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s important to ‘come out’ – and acknowledge
this problem. Because ME is an invisible disease. You can’t tell from someone’s
appearance whether they have it. You can’t see if it’s a ‘good’ day or a day
when the symptoms have spiked and someone is feeling very ill indeed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Personally, this last year has not been a good one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So writing has not been good either. People
have started to ask questions about the lack of new books from me – so I
thought International Awareness Day seemed like a good day to talk about one of
the reasons for that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know there are so many others who are dealing with this
illness. They have good days and bad days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some end up in wheelchairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
are housebound. I know I couldn’t do as much as I do without the loving support
of my husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I just thought I’d do my bit to raise awareness of this
problem. It’s one that so many people live with as ‘normal’ but because <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s an invisible disease so you might never
be aware that someone has it. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-22525711251818575412019-05-12T18:22:00.002+01:002019-05-12T18:22:44.298+01:00Mother's Day<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">I've never been quite sure why the UK's Mother's Day is on a different date to - well, the rest of the world, it seems. But I want to wish a Happy Mothers' Day to everyone who is celebrating it today. (Well - to any mother anywhere!)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPutxhKwkMeD45aLo0ddZB96O0A6zXEKIcsJ_BEzklsipEJzJypbtYNFFI3ot9U16uqM5wrcaRjqaGT8iT-zMUB25xuymHagtWHpoEewcH4mWcu5ySPRJsF_k08e940vgIUMBJDg/s1600/scan0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="814" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPutxhKwkMeD45aLo0ddZB96O0A6zXEKIcsJ_BEzklsipEJzJypbtYNFFI3ot9U16uqM5wrcaRjqaGT8iT-zMUB25xuymHagtWHpoEewcH4mWcu5ySPRJsF_k08e940vgIUMBJDg/s200/scan0006.jpg" width="140" /></a>A couple of years ago, Mother’s Day weekend had a special impact for me as it fell on the date when we would have celebrated my mother’s 100th birthday. We still celebrated it actually. My sisters and I met up to share a dinner and to raise a toast to her memory. That way we could follow the advice she left us in her final message to us – a note she wrote to all of us in what she knew were her last days. ‘You have been my joy all your lives,’ she wrote. ‘I love you. Love one another.’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My greatest delight and my greatest sadness came together on the day that I received the letter (there wasn’t ‘the call’ back then!) to say that Mills & Boon were accepting my first novel, The Chalk Line, which was the same day as she was given a diagnosis of terminal cancer. We had hoped that she would live long enough to read my first novel in print – she refused to read the typescript because she was holding on in order to be able to hold the book in her hands. Sadly, she didn’t quite manage it, but the doctors said that she lived much longer than they had ever anticipated. I like to think the thought of seeing my book was one of the things that kept her going.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mother taught me to read. She instilled in me a love of books and reading. Because of her there were always books available at home to feed the reading hunger she created. She also dreamed of being a writer herself and had several poems published in her early twenties. I have one hazy memory of her sitting at a writing desk we had in our Yorkshire home, writing away on what I thought were letters, but later, discovered that in fact she was working on some children’s stories. I don’t know what happened to those tales – which is such a pity as I think she would have been a magical story teller herself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She also read aloud to us – often by a real coal fire so that we could curl up beside her, close our eyes, and see the pictures in the story inside our heads… Listening to those stories, concentrating solely on what I was hearing, focusing on the way characters behaved, the dialogue they spoke was the best possible training ground for learning how a novel worked on an instinctive and gut level. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have no doubt that listening to those stories and then drifting off to sleep with them in my head, I took the first steps on the road to becoming the writer I am today, with a storytelling skill learned, literally, at my mother’s knee! I made up stories to myself, finished off the tales she hadn’t yet brought to an end, imagined how the characters she had created or read about would have behaved. And I learned the basics of simple, straightforward story-telling , building up excitement, using dialogue as a result.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Happy Mother's Day to all mothers today. I hope it is a lovely day for you.</o:p></div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-80176730387774619552019-04-20T18:53:00.002+01:002019-04-20T18:55:43.736+01:00Spring Hedgehogs 2<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbMh83oFqd68JHP75e-AcymHM7ZHE9kTq5uGVVXvgjJVhONug_8cI7X3f20a6nxTogqvgZtE7NsLia2BcXndroTsAJwZ9zR66gHt-Iscln6C2mzHeC2JEsM6X7nHYqZvdvzYZVQ/s1600/Hog+bowl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbMh83oFqd68JHP75e-AcymHM7ZHE9kTq5uGVVXvgjJVhONug_8cI7X3f20a6nxTogqvgZtE7NsLia2BcXndroTsAJwZ9zR66gHt-Iscln6C2mzHeC2JEsM6X7nHYqZvdvzYZVQ/s200/Hog+bowl.JPG" width="150" /></a>So when you have put out the right food for any wandering hedgehogs who might visit your garden - how do you know that they have called in during the night and eaten the cat biscuits you left for them?</div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
They politely turn the bowl over to show they've had enough! Or at least that's what our family of hedgehogs do - it's their way of saying thank you.</div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-top: 6px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUbRs-oXErpxhANFRoGMJg3hHf_VowXomsQ_Qjz-7cQ4iaNuvvjCnXY4jRYtlv8nn9KPSs4SuEW7yGuddZL3ppv6y-2NJUwUIxNhmZ5CEdN3cTHFMcCyLMSh1dYwVbLskzWOFgQ/s1600/Mini+Heck+July+2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUbRs-oXErpxhANFRoGMJg3hHf_VowXomsQ_Qjz-7cQ4iaNuvvjCnXY4jRYtlv8nn9KPSs4SuEW7yGuddZL3ppv6y-2NJUwUIxNhmZ5CEdN3cTHFMcCyLMSh1dYwVbLskzWOFgQ/s200/Mini+Heck+July+2017.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
I'm taking a small break - so I just wanted to wish everyone who celebrates it a very happy Easter - and if Easter's not your thing- then happy Spring Weekend to you all. (Though it's more like summer here right now.) I hope you can relax and enjoy.</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-80713472313587235122019-04-20T18:51:00.003+01:002019-04-20T18:51:33.537+01:00Spring's arrival means the hedgehogs come out of hibernation.<div data-ft="{"tn":"H"}" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="mtm" style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-top: 10px;">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; position: relative;">
<div class="_5cq3 _1ktf" data-ft="{"tn":"E"}" style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-left: -12px; position: relative;">
<div class="uiScaledImageContainer _4-ep" id="u_ps_jsonp_9_5_r" style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; height: 385px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 514px;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I've been encouraging hedgehogs into my garden ever since we moved here 30 years ago!! Luckily they keep coming. It's important to feed them the right diet to keep them healthy and strong as well as appeasing their hunger. so I wanted to share this with you<br />
NB - that second bowl should read 'Mealworms' not mealwoms!!</div>
</div>
<div class="uiScaledImageContainer _4-ep" id="u_ps_jsonp_9_5_r" style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; height: 385px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 514px;">
<a ajaxify="/newmiltonhedgehogrescue/photos/a.609951139055037/2279584578758343/?type=3&eid=ARAxrGpLSDsw8XDSoLu8NmcoxalAofkrShvAPiNxCogJXh0mH2OQ8IAut-ooNm97FvMp_xLu4XAISQNe&size=2048%2C1536&fbid=2279584578758343&source=13&player_origin=unknown&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDK7_d1BkXVmb4AYjMsYt7yYWbS-Uxmc19n3OkLwIaG2rVnFM4lEVdNO1Npyeho7JwXRVyfrMWlJTnWKtCJ6JorOsyWs2iR8vnGQ52m5Un4YhAb73EM4Tlws-Gf37xUjO8ZWQL6GQVDjbWSy9VDRX1VvZUONvAcY6fODUOXTdnCIXSHwmzZRWvuWxI5OglLM-Z5p_WwyC4QoezRGfSIMwsbchcLLUVKUvYuEOyJo_lH2Sv--ZYKHCllLZeMVlu-YofGshsFi15vmRmInrTyEBIVPQe-7zsJQwAVeO1AxOTmuTuOTe8tnm6KZbK5ypMp0aCIGBZZLVGJK8CnZlQ&__tn__=EHH-R" class="_4-eo _2t9n" data-ploi="https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/57015629_2279584588758342_3758919222424502272_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=308057dc6f805ccc404647f1aee1df45&oe=5D4647B3" data-plsi="https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/57251187_2279584585425009_8252401483098619904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=1c29b535c8c29f2bc22ce7dc3955b22c&oe=5D74EC81" data-render-location="timeline" href="https://www.facebook.com/newmiltonhedgehogrescue/photos/a.609951139055037/2279584578758343/?type=3&eid=ARAxrGpLSDsw8XDSoLu8NmcoxalAofkrShvAPiNxCogJXh0mH2OQ8IAut-ooNm97FvMp_xLu4XAISQNe&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDK7_d1BkXVmb4AYjMsYt7yYWbS-Uxmc19n3OkLwIaG2rVnFM4lEVdNO1Npyeho7JwXRVyfrMWlJTnWKtCJ6JorOsyWs2iR8vnGQ52m5Un4YhAb73EM4Tlws-Gf37xUjO8ZWQL6GQVDjbWSy9VDRX1VvZUONvAcY6fODUOXTdnCIXSHwmzZRWvuWxI5OglLM-Z5p_WwyC4QoezRGfSIMwsbchcLLUVKUvYuEOyJo_lH2Sv--ZYKHCllLZeMVlu-YofGshsFi15vmRmInrTyEBIVPQe-7zsJQwAVeO1AxOTmuTuOTe8tnm6KZbK5ypMp0aCIGBZZLVGJK8CnZlQ&__tn__=EHH-R" rel="theater" style="border-color: rgb(54, 88, 153); border-style: none; border-width: 0px; bottom: auto; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05) 0px 1px 1px; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; left: auto; position: relative; right: auto; top: auto; width: 514px;"><img alt="Image may contain: food" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="386" src="https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p600x600/57015629_2279584588758342_3758919222424502272_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=ecbed21afc2ff7523a4cbcbea4d36e51&oe=5D29F781" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 88, 153); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(54, 88, 153); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(54, 88, 153); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(54, 88, 153); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; height: 385.5px; min-height: 0px; position: relative; width: 514px;" width="514" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mtm _5pcm" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 10px; orphans: 2; padding-left: 10px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="_1nb_ fwn fcg" data-ft="{"tn":"C"}" style="color: #90949c; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: 400;"><span class="fwb" data-ft="{"tn":"k"}" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: 600;"><a data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard-referer="ARR_BEUu4-3Ta2170oxHWzneC9mIz6U_rDViVDdmiBYo4ejuY2x4FTJOklZdSzms-6U" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=474599962590156&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdkCH-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARAFxcvUzF58GnmiDSzWO8K5N_jJpI5DNigBJK6NzJ0ae5eNVTNakMkSW3168VpfjKKuFoX2wMDHDo4W%22%2C%22hc_ref%22%3A%22ARR_BEUu4-3Ta2170oxHWzneC9mIz6U_rDViVDdmiBYo4ejuY2x4FTJOklZdSzms-6U%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22nf%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/newmiltonhedgehogrescue/?__tn__=kCH-R&eid=ARAFxcvUzF58GnmiDSzWO8K5N_jJpI5DNigBJK6NzJ0ae5eNVTNakMkSW3168VpfjKKuFoX2wMDHDo4W&hc_ref=ARR_BEUu4-3Ta2170oxHWzneC9mIz6U_rDViVDdmiBYo4ejuY2x4FTJOklZdSzms-6U&fref=nf&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDK7_d1BkXVmb4AYjMsYt7yYWbS-Uxmc19n3OkLwIaG2rVnFM4lEVdNO1Npyeho7JwXRVyfrMWlJTnWKtCJ6JorOsyWs2iR8vnGQ52m5Un4YhAb73EM4Tlws-Gf37xUjO8ZWQL6GQVDjbWSy9VDRX1VvZUONvAcY6fODUOXTdnCIXSHwmzZRWvuWxI5OglLM-Z5p_WwyC4QoezRGfSIMwsbchcLLUVKUvYuEOyJo_lH2Sv--ZYKHCllLZeMVlu-YofGshsFi15vmRmInrTyEBIVPQe-7zsJQwAVeO1AxOTmuTuOTe8tnm6KZbK5ypMp0aCIGBZZLVGJK8CnZlQ" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">New Milton Hedgehog Rescue</a></span></span><span class="uiLikePageButton _47we" id="u_ps_jsonp_9_5_n" style="float: right; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="_171_" style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; padding-right: 80px;">
<div class="_5pcp _5lel _2jyu _232_" data-testid="story-subtitle" id="feed_subtitle_2279584618758339:4:0" style="color: #616770; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; position: relative;">
<span class="d_1pl_t0zgvc" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span class="fsm fwn fcg" style="color: #90949c; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;"><a ajaxify="/newmiltonhedgehogrescue/photos/a.609951139055037/2279584578758343/?type=3&size=2048%2C1536&fbid=2279584578758343&source=12&player_origin=unknown&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDK7_d1BkXVmb4AYjMsYt7yYWbS-Uxmc19n3OkLwIaG2rVnFM4lEVdNO1Npyeho7JwXRVyfrMWlJTnWKtCJ6JorOsyWs2iR8vnGQ52m5Un4YhAb73EM4Tlws-Gf37xUjO8ZWQL6GQVDjbWSy9VDRX1VvZUONvAcY6fODUOXTdnCIXSHwmzZRWvuWxI5OglLM-Z5p_WwyC4QoezRGfSIMwsbchcLLUVKUvYuEOyJo_lH2Sv--ZYKHCllLZeMVlu-YofGshsFi15vmRmInrTyEBIVPQe-7zsJQwAVeO1AxOTmuTuOTe8tnm6KZbK5ypMp0aCIGBZZLVGJK8CnZlQ&__tn__=H-R" class="_5pcq" href="https://www.facebook.com/newmiltonhedgehogrescue/photos/a.609951139055037/2279584578758343/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDK7_d1BkXVmb4AYjMsYt7yYWbS-Uxmc19n3OkLwIaG2rVnFM4lEVdNO1Npyeho7JwXRVyfrMWlJTnWKtCJ6JorOsyWs2iR8vnGQ52m5Un4YhAb73EM4Tlws-Gf37xUjO8ZWQL6GQVDjbWSy9VDRX1VvZUONvAcY6fODUOXTdnCIXSHwmzZRWvuWxI5OglLM-Z5p_WwyC4QoezRGfSIMwsbchcLLUVKUvYuEOyJo_lH2Sv--ZYKHCllLZeMVlu-YofGshsFi15vmRmInrTyEBIVPQe-7zsJQwAVeO1AxOTmuTuOTe8tnm6KZbK5ypMp0aCIGBZZLVGJK8CnZlQ&__tn__=H-R" rel="theater" style="color: #616770; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target=""><abbr class="_5ptz" data-shorten="1" data-utime="1555468466" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(97, 103, 112); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #616770; text-decoration: none;" title="4/16/19, 7:34 PM"><span class="timestampContent" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">April 16 at 7:34 PM</span></abbr></a></span></span><span aria-hidden="true" class="_6spk" role="presentation" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> · </span><a aria-label="Public" class="uiStreamPrivacy inlineBlock fbStreamPrivacy fbPrivacyAudienceIndicator _5pcq" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-content="Public" href="https://www.facebook.com/kate.walker.31521#" role="button" style="color: #616770; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: middle; zoom: 1;"><i class="lock img sp__EFZWPnvn_g_1_5x sx_1880b8" style="-ms-high-contrast-adjust: none; background-image: url(https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v3/y8/r/U6t-aAaeNrl.png); background-position-x: -408px; background-position-y: -276px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 500px 308px; bottom: -1px; display: inline-block; height: 12px; margin-bottom: -5px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 12px;"></i></a></div>
</div>
<div class="mtm _5pco" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 10px;">
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_5cbb54268cc6d3822696458" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px;">
IMPORTANT REMINDER about MEALWORMS</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px;">
Please spread the word to everyone you know who feeds their visiting hedgehogs not to put out large amounts of dried MEALWORM<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">S for them.<br style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;" /> There are increasing reports and findings, not just in our area but all over the country of the crippling effects that giving a hedgehog a bad diet is having on them. </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px;">
Mealworms especially but also sunflower hearts & peanuts are very high in Phosphorous and very low in Calcium and this is being linked to be the possible cause of Bone Disease in hedgehogs. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px;">
All of us feed them because we care so let's at least give them a good diet.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px;">
For more information regarding this issue please read this great article published by Lynda Britchford of Oxton Hedgehog Rescue.<br />
<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/oxton-wild-hedgehog-rehab/what-can-i-feed-visiting-wild-hedgehogs-that-is-good-for-them/769239736585477/?fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDK7_d1BkXVmb4AYjMsYt7yYWbS-Uxmc19n3OkLwIaG2rVnFM4lEVdNO1Npyeho7JwXRVyfrMWlJTnWKtCJ6JorOsyWs2iR8vnGQ52m5Un4YhAb73EM4Tlws-Gf37xUjO8ZWQL6GQVDjbWSy9VDRX1VvZUONvAcY6fODUOXTdnCIXSHwmzZRWvuWxI5OglLM-Z5p_WwyC4QoezRGfSIMwsbchcLLUVKUvYuEOyJo_lH2Sv--ZYKHCllLZeMVlu-YofGshsFi15vmRmInrTyEBIVPQe-7zsJQwAVeO1AxOTmuTuOTe8tnm6KZbK5ypMp0aCIGBZZLVGJK8CnZlQ&__tn__=KH-R" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/notes/oxton-wild-hedgehog-rehab/what-can-i-feed-visiting-wild-hedgehogs-that-is-good-for-them/769239736585477/</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22055731.post-68589189819875185192019-04-10T08:51:00.000+01:002019-04-10T08:51:20.482+01:00Busy days<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">It's been a busy time here lately - specially for the Babe Magnet.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">He was at Huddersfield Lit Festival ten days ago - today he's giving a talk at Doncaster Library . . .</span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">and at the same time he's in discussion about another TV appearance on a programme about one of the cases that has most fascinated him over his crime writing career. </span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">This one focusses on a Leeds murder from the past. More when I can reveal details.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu4rphsVMLo7GV5MlG3T48azEGAphZ-kAnrqgfv3cWu1rJ2LIQPMoV44gysGMHrYnv5AAsDgSNbFi3wNs05BAL61Gc-Qo4OB1RWU61J1_WA6w05AgkzwWbWHbbM6qXHRcgtf-BA/s1600/Doncaster+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="559" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu4rphsVMLo7GV5MlG3T48azEGAphZ-kAnrqgfv3cWu1rJ2LIQPMoV44gysGMHrYnv5AAsDgSNbFi3wNs05BAL61Gc-Qo4OB1RWU61J1_WA6w05AgkzwWbWHbbM6qXHRcgtf-BA/s320/Doncaster+2019.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At least maybe today I'll get a chance to be at my own desk.</div>
Kate Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277223651288830541noreply@blogger.com0