Category Archives: WIP

Helena Schrader’s Historical Fiction Blogpost

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Today, I am having a quick chat on Helena Schrader’s Historical Fiction Blogpost about why I write Historical fiction. My piece there explains my thinking behind the creation of the Clearwater Mysteries, and how I set out to write characters in a world where being gay was illegal, as, sadly, it still is in many countries around the world.

Understanding ourselves by understanding the past

Dr. Helena P. Schrader is the author of 24 historical fiction and non-fiction works and the winner of more than 53 literary accolades. Click Here.

Current Work in Progress

At long last I am able to read through the first draft of Follow the Van. This has been a work in progress for some time now, thanks to various interruptions, such as putting together ‘1892’, Christmas, a trip to Athens, Covid, trying to find some work, but it’s here at last, draft one. Almost.

I have to write two more chapters to finish things off, but before I can do that, I need to go right back to the start to make sure the story works, everything ties up, the clues are there but not too obvious, and I know what I have to explain at the end. I have already started weeding out stray threads that I put in thinking they would be a good idea, only to find out they didn’t work, or they led nowhere. Once that’s done, I’ll have a clear second draft on which to work, will know exactly what the main story and emotional threads are, and I can start polishing the thing.

The best thing about writing every day is that I get better at first drafts. I often reach the end of one thinking the thing is terrible, then go back and read again, only to think it’s not too bad. I don’t just mean the writing style improves every time, but the storytelling too. I know instinctively when something will work, when to leave out unnecessary observations or details, and how to make every sentence about character development or plot. (Well, not every sentence, as I also like description and atmosphere, but seen/described from the character’s perspective.)

So, that’s where I am today, but I am also on Helena Schrader’s Historical Fiction Blogpost, so please click over and take a look.

Mardi Gras LGBTQI+ Romance Promo

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Yup, I have another promo to tell you about, and this one is the Mardi Gras LGBTQI+ Romance Promo.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/lgbtromancemdp/mxgjqlwf49

There are 75 titles in this promo, with all books being available on Amazon, Kindle, and some on other platforms too. Each has an info page that you find by clicking the book cover, and those pages come with a summary or blurb.

I have two series starters in there, Deviant Desire, and Guardians of the Poor. I expect most of you have read them already because you are lovely, loyal readers, but there must be plenty of titles and new authors in the list waiting for you to discover. Looking at those covers, you can see there is an eclectic mix of niches, including friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, contemporary, fantasy, MM romance, FF romance, and, of course, historical fiction. Among the authors, you will find Addison Albright, Anne Barwell, and Ann Lister.

There is even one that features a model I used on one of my covers. T.L. Travis has ‘A Little Christmas, Orion’s Secret’ in the promo, and the guy on the cover is the same one who appears on my Dracula-related mystery, ‘The Stoker Connection.’ We share the same taste in tasty main characters!

Check out the list, click a few covers to explore further, and recommend your favourite authors on my Facebook Page.

There’s another massive promo coming next month, and I’ll be sending out a newsletter about that at the start of March.

Follow The Van

As Wednesdays are my work-in-progress update day, here’s a quick update on Follow the Van (The Delamere Files book three).

This novel has probably given me more hassle than any other I have written. Why? I am not sure. One reason is because of interruptions, but another is having too many ideas. There are so many threads, I am worried they have led to a lot of repetition. That will all be fixed, and the repetition is me reminding myself of what happened when I last picked up the pen two weeks ago, or even yesterday.

Fear not! It will be fine in the end, and the end is what is in sight. I have started on the climax/finale, though I have left the build-up to it until I have finished the climax, so I know how to start it… You see? It’s one of those that needs a good, long re-look once I’ve stumbled to the end. I’ll keep at it and am aiming to finish the first draft (in whatever form) by this time next week.

Click to find the promo with 75 titles.

Work In Progress: Marie Lloyd.

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I have something slightly different for you today. Yes, this is a work-in-progress update, but I also want to share a piece of research with you: Marie Lloyd’s baptism record.

If you’re not sure who I am talking about, the music hall artiste and actress known as Marie Lloyd was probably one of the most famous such entertainers of the late 19th and early 20th century, in Britain, at least. She did tours of other countries, including America, and was known as the people’s favourite. She came from Hoxton in East London and started on the stage when she was about 14. Click to Wiki to find a biography of Marie Lloyd.

She was also known for singing the popular song, ‘My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)’ from which I took the title of my current work in progress, ‘Follow the Van.’ The song came after the time the book is set, but as the story is also about Jack Merrit discovering things about his late father, it all seemed very appropriate.

The draft is now at 70,000 words, and I guess I am looking at the first couple of weeks of March for a release. That is if I can pull my finger out and figure out the ending, write it, rewrite everything and do the usual checks and proofs before all that, while thinking up a cover and having it designed. So much to do! So, I’ll leave you with this image of Miss Marie Lloyd’s baptism. She was born Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (second row down) in 1870, and her father was an artificial florist. There will be more about her on a future blog, possibly on Saturday, with some more images from the past.

Work in Progress Update

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Follow the Van

Good morning! This is a very quick update to let you know I’ve not forgotten about you, and the next Delamere story will be along in a few weeks. I am currently around 60,000 words into ‘Follow the Van’, and am heading towards my main character’s personal climax. Once that’s happened, he’ll be free to think clearly and head into the action climax when the mystery will finally come together and be solved.

Meanwhile, here on our Greek island, the winter has continued to be mostly reasonable, in that it’s not been freezing cold. In the past we’ve had temperatures down to freezing, but this year, only a couple of days of single figures (so far). This means, on days such as yesterday, it’s a pleasure to go for a walk in the morning and while doing so, set in my head the next piece of action or the next chapter. Today’s chapter will be the second half of yesterday’s wandering and wondering. I talk to myself as I walk, talk internally that is, and tell myself the story as if I was reading it. When I get back from the walk, I jot down the outline of what I’ve just dreamt up, and hope I remember the detail when I come to type it all up.

I need to start thinking of a cover soon, and as usual, am at a loss. I have Andjela working on some new banners for this website, so you may see some changes there, and I am looking at more Book Funnel promos to join in with because they are producing sales results, for which I am very grateful because I’ve not got much paid work in at the moment. And that’s my update, so back to the typowriter and chapter seventeen…

One of the locations in ‘Follow the Van’

WIP: Chapter 15. Again.

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Follow the Van

Today’s update: I am just about to rewrite chapter 15. I started the story with a draft outline that gave me a beginning and some idea for the middle, but no ending. I thought, ‘I’ll come back to that later,’ and now is the time to come back to it. However, along the way, I have set up some events for the middle which now won’t work if I go down the preferred ending route. In fact, I think I have too many ideas going on and need to weed some out.

That’s what chapter 15 seems to be about: the moment when my main character will go one way or the other, and I’m not 100% sure which way he should go. I think I was origin he’d make up my mind for me, but he hasn’t yet. So, I am going to start rewriting that pivotal chapter and see what happens, because I am still undecided about which way the ending of this story will go.

I know what I mean! Lol. It will all come right in the end. The problem with Follow the Van has been interruptions. First, by writing and putting out ‘1892’ which, I am pleased to say, continues to sell and is doing well, and then by Christmas, then by New Year, and then by this flu which still hasn’t left me alone and keeps coming back.

So, this week’s output has been low-level, but I am aiming to pick up the pace now that I have no other distractions, apart from trying to find some new freelance work so I can make some real money, and then there’s the music and piano lessons, and building my model, and trying to get back into walking, and…

Right! Back to chapter 15…

The Last WIP Update of 2023

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Hi folks, I’ll be posting something on Saturday, and then heading off into the holiday season straight after that. I will, though be on Facebook as usual, and if you keep an eye on my page there, you should see some shots of our madcap family Christmas and a trip to Athens we have arranged for the week after.

Meanwhile, a quick update on my work in progress: Follow the Van.

I have managed to move things on a little since my last post, when I was focusing on the release of ‘1892’ which, I am pleased to say, is doing well and has already gained several five-star rates and a couple of excellent reviews around the world, Canada and Australia, actually, which is excellent.

As for ‘Follow the Van’, that’s now up to 35,000 words and I am having one of those moments when the story is flowing, lots is building up, and I am approaching a halfway mark and yet… Oops! There’s a lot to set correctly in this one and I seem to be taking the time to construct a lead-in to the untwisting of the mystery. That’s not a problem, though, because when it starts, it’s going to unravel pretty quickly and, with strong foundations laid, it should be a fast and furious ride to the end. I shouldn’t read too much into that. It will probably all change when I get back to writing after my holiday.

Until then, I am still writing away, although today, I must also see about a kitchen light, write a review for one of my companies, play the piano a bit, and meet a friend for Christmas drinks tonight, but in between all of that, there will be some typing on ‘Follow the Van.’

Btw, part of the plot involves a song and a clue to the mystery is contained within it, so I have set about writing a late-Victorian music hall song in the appropriate style. I’m basing the lyrics on the song from which the book gets its title, ‘Don’t Dilly Dally on the Way.’ (The ‘way’ perhaps being a reference to Jack Merrit finding his feet and falling in love in ‘Fining a Way.’) The original song wasn’t written until 1919, but I’m only using the scansion and rhythm, not the words, so I think that’s fair. Also, I wanted a song that the reader might know, so that they could more easily imaging the song being sung, and I’m pretty sure most British people at least would have heard the song:

My old man said “Foller the van,
And don’t dilly dally on the way”.
Off went the van wiv me ‘ome packed in it,
I walked behind wiv me old cock linnet.
But I dillied and dallied, dallied and I dillied
Lost me way and don’t know where to roam.
Well you can’t trust a special like the old time coppers
When you can’t find your way ‘ome.

I’m not sure if that’s the original spelling, but you know what I mean.

Now, I must find my way home, pop the kettle on and settle down to do some writing. See you on Saturday!

Work in Progress: 1892

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The latest update is a brief one: I am now working through the last draft to check the proofs, and Andjela has sent me the full cover. Except the link to the file transfer site got lost in my spam folder and now I’ve found the email, it comes without the link, so I am waiting for another. It’ll take me a while to check through the MS and then have the pages set out ready for publication, but you’ll definitely be able to get hold of this feel-good Christmas collection well before Christmas Day.

If you are a member of my private Facebook group, Jackson’s Deviant Desires, you will be able to get a free copy, and I will let you know how in the group pages when the time comes.

Meanwhile, I must now get back to ‘Follow the Van,’ the third Delamere Files instalment. I have put it off for a while to work on ‘1892’ and some other (paid!) writing work I had in. In this case, it was a set of stories for two German magazines. They get translated into German but also appear in the magazines in English. These are twink adults-only magazines published in Germany and on sale throughout Europe. I won’t provide links, but if you want to search them out, one is called PornUp and the other is called DreamBoys. Both are top-shelf magazines, so watch how you investigate!

That aside, I aim to be back following the van by the end of this week when 1892 will be ready for laying out, and I can forget those stories and concentrate on where I was.

Meanwhile, don’t forget the Clearwater Calendar will be on sale only until the end of the year, and don’t forget to join my private FB group so you can claim a free copy of 1892 as soon as it is ready.

1892: Cover Reveal

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The other day, I dropped off the blurb for the new book, and in the meantime, I had a friend read the MS, because she’s a writer of short stories, whereas, I usually prefer to write novels. ‘1892, The Clearwater Tales, Volume One,’ is my first foray into short stories apart from those I have written for adult sites and magazines. As they tend to be 20% story and 80% nookie, I don’t really count them. I don’t talk about them much, other than to say, I do them as a means to a financial end, and would much rather write my historical mysteries and some romance/adventure novels.

Anyway, my friend used to work as a reader for a large London publishing house. One of those poor souls who have to deal with manuscripts from hopeful authors looking for publication. She has told me about the job, and what it entailed, and it’s not all about reading a few chapters and saying yes or no, she also worked in editing and entertaining potential authors, and she did the job for long enough to know good writing from bad. So, I was cheered to receive her thoughts on ‘1892.’ Her message included this:

Have read the short stories. A nice warm Christmas read, particularly for your loyal readers but you have managed to make it perfectly understandable for anyone new. It’s a lovely picture of that luxurious but cosy first-class carriage puffing down to snowy Cornwall with all mod cons and lashings of food.

That was good to read from a professional reader, and she summed up the overarching story of the book perfectly. Seven characters on a train heading for Cornwall for Christmas Eve. Within that are six stories, five told by the characters you see on the cover, and the other being the wrap-around story from the point of view of the stranger who is travelling with them.

To view the cover, click on the picture below and it should open separately. You will see who the cast is. From left to right you have: Joe Tanner, the antiquarian, Mrs Norwood, the housekeeper (here modelled by my friend, Jenine), Professor Fleet (as depicted by my husband, Neil), Andrej (Fecker), the baron, and Will Merrit, the detective.

I’ll have more news about the release and how you can get a free e-copy in a future post and on my Facebook page and group. The freebie is for group members only, so check out and join Jackson’s Deviant Desires to know when and how you can have a free e-copy. Meanwhile, here’s the full cover. Click the pic.

Work in Progress: 1892

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Again, it has been a quiet week with not much to report other than this:

‘1892’ is going off to be proofread later this week, and I am waiting for the full cover from Andjela, but that should be with me soon too. Then, I will have one last read and contact the layout guys about setting out the pages.

1892 will be free for a limited time to members of my Facebook group, Jackson’s Deviant Desires. Soi, if you are not a member of that group yet, now’s the time to join. Any members of the group will be able to get a free digital copy, as long as it’s within the advertised time frame (I’ll let you know nearer that time), and after that, it will be on sale in the usual way.

I’ll release the full cover before long, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you don’t have too long to wait.

Here’s the blurb for ‘1892’ to keep you hanging on the edge of your (railway carriage) seats.

1892

The Clearwater Tales

Volume One

Five characters from the Clearwater, Larkspur and Delamere Mysteries find themselves taking the train to Cornwall for the 1892 Larkspur Hall Christmas Eve ball. To pass the time, they each tell a story from their past.

Sitting in their carriage is a stranger who listens to their stories of detection, mystery and prophesy, and recognises some of the people involved. As they near their destination, the stranger realises he is more involved with his fellow passengers than they know, but who is he? Where is he going, and why?

(1892 can be read as a short, standalone novella, and there’s no need to have read the Clearwater, Larkspur or Delamere series to enjoy the story. However, you might gain more from reading 1892 if you already know the characters and their histories.)

1892, Follow the Van, and an Update

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Hi folks.

I usually do a work-in-progress update on a Wednesday, but today, I thought I would update you on the current WIPS and other matters. Let’s start but going back to the future, and 1892.

1892

This will be my next release. A set of short stories that currently has this draft blurb:

Five characters from the Clearwater, Larkspur and Delamere Mysteries find themselves taking the train to Cornwall for the 1892 Larkspur Hall Christmas Eve ball. To pass the time, they each tell a story from their past.

Sitting in their carriage is a stranger who listens to their stories of detection, mystery and prophesy, and recognises some of the people involved. As they near their destination, the stranger realises he is more involved with his fellow passengers than they know, but who is he? Where is he going, and why?

Here’s a snippet of the excellent cover as designed, as always, but the marvellous Andjela V.

You can just see the top of the head of the five characters, so you may be able to guess who appears in this collection if you don’t already know. There are two characters from Clearwater, two from Larkspur and one from Delamere, plus two other characters. One is the railway steward who caters for his passengers in the private-hire saloon, and the other is the mystery man who appears in one book attached to the Clearwater series and is mentioned a couple of times in others, but he’s from a long way back, so hopefully, you’ve forgotten about him and will get a nice surprise at the end of the book when his story becomes the sixth. Actually, his story is the whole journey, but… Well, you’ll see in time.

Follow the Van

Meanwhile, I am beavering away in the same year but on a different book, the Delamere Files Book Three, ‘Follow the Van.’ I’ve been doing some research into Victorian music halls and theatre for this one, and one day, I’ll do a blog post about that research. I’ve almost finished reading about the Gaiety Theatre (now gone), and am about to start on another which, although a novel, is written by a historian, and it’s about the music hall artist, Dan Leno (1860 to 1904), real name George Wild Galvin. That’ll be interesting background.

Symi, Greece

Meanwhile, here in the real world, we’re approaching the winter months, but so far, have been very lucky with the weather and temperature. The island is quieter now there are very few tourists about, and many businesses have closed for the winter, but enough remain open for us locals to carry on regardless. We’re now discussing bringing the duvet out of summer hibernation, and dusting off the heaters, though I’d rather keep them unplugged for as long as possible. Fuel costs and all that. (We don’t have central heating or gas, so everything is electric.)

View from the balcony on Thursday.

In a week or so, Neil’s off to visit his brother in Vienna, leaving me home alone with two books to work on plus my daily freelance work, and we’re both off to Athens for New Year with our best friend and our godsons. There will no doubt be more about that adventure when we get back, and in the meantime, if you’re interested to read more about where we are, and what we do here all year round, you can check out my five-day-a-week blog, Symi Dream. Just click that link and you’ll be in my madcap, sometimes lively, sometimes rather mundane, life here on a small Greek island.

And now… Back to the future (publications) and more work on Follow the Van. Everyone sing along: My old man said follow the van, and don’t dilly dally on the way…