December Round Up

Doesn’t time fly? I was writing the first draft of this December newsletter a day after the final show of the charity pantomime I take part in every year.

It was great being able to interact with the audience and act alongside a fun, dedicated theatre group. Being a full-time writer can be isolating. I find having a break and doing something different (and dressing up in a camel costume to sing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is certainly different!) helps me get stuck into writing projects I might have struggled with earlier in the year.

It was only six shows, but now I’m absolutely shattered!

Current News ?

Part three of my serial has just been approved. I’m now finishing up the fourth instalment. Luckily, I did the extra research needed for part four while I was waiting to hear back, so only two more parts after this 😊

Still no publication news, so onto the next bit.

WIPS !

Here’s a wintry scene to get in the mood, because there’s been no snow where I am yet!

 

Elsbeth held her breath as the door swung open. Bitter winds heavy as sea waves rushed across her cheeks, fluttering her eyelashes and stinging the corners of her eyes. Coating the hedges around her cottage were cobwebs prickled by frost that resembled snowflakes suspended in time.

Their summers could scald a man’s back when he worked the fields, winters froze milk in the pail and turned hands raw and scratched, and yet the strong contrasts brought their own beauties.

Elsbeth took in a deep, steadying breath and the cold scraped her lungs. There were guards out there, waiting for some fool to brave the night and try to celebrate Christmas.

—The Ploughman’s Song

DISCOUNTS |

As promised, A Christmas Carriage Ride will be discounted from $2.99 to $1.99 throughout the second half of December. It’s a collection of original winter themed stories inspired by classic tales I grew up reading: Dracula, Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera and a side story related to my Sleepy Hollow spin off, The Ichabod Crane and Headless Horseman mysteries.

 

The Wedding Mask will also have a dollar off in December. With much urging from reviewers, this one is a collection of Phantom of the Opera inspired stories. Some of the stories include an alternative retelling with mermaids, a modern day story and a tragic tale entwined with the Pygmalion legend…

WRITING TIPS @

Not really a tip, but with Christmas coming up we all know what gifts writers often get. Notebooks!

I love getting a new notebook, but once I’ve filled the pages, I never want to recycle them as most have gorgeous covers. Unfortunately, I’m steadily running out of space for them.

So, if you don’t want to get rid of an old notebook, reuse them for scrapbooking. I use washi tape and picture corner tabs to stick in postcards, trading cards and article cut outs. The reused notebooks can also be lined up on the shelves.

At least it might help with my New Year resolution, which is decluttering the house and finally getting through my to read pile.

 

See you all next year!

About the Author

Kitty-Lydia Dye wanders the beaches for inspiration with her dog Bramble. Her historical fiction has been influenced by the local myths roaming the haunting landscape of the Norfolk marshes. Many of her short stories have appeared in The People's Friend magazine. She has also released a collection inspired by Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera. She enjoys knitting dog jumpers, gazing at the waves at night, exploring church ruins as well as taking part in amateur dramatics (and played the part of an evil flying monkey!)