candace robb
walking the Mean Streets of Medieval York
“One forges one’s style on the terrible anvil of daily deadlines….The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” Émile Zola
This quote from today’s Writer’s Almanac struck a chord as I dash toward the end of this revision. I felt guilty taking time out for a walk and for some gardening. Terrible anvil indeed. But it’s also exhilarating.
candace robb 
I can’ imagine how difficult it must be to be creative in a non-creative world. I do appreciate the hard work you put into your books. I hope it helps to know your readers appreciate what you give to us.
LikeLike
I understand completely. My first historical fiction has just been published on Kindle and the first draft of the sequel is about 2/3 finished; all this while I try to balance a full time job. Writing wins out. I retire in twelve weeks time!
LikeLike
Congratulations on your first publication and retirement!
LikeLike
I recently finished “The King’s Mistress”, the first non-mystery novel I read in many years. Having also just been through the first five Owen Archer books for the second time [or is it the third?], I kept waiting for John Thoresby to appear in the story of Alice. Did you leave him out because he may never have interacted with Alice? Or because it could have changed the reader’s [or readers’] view of Alice if they were familiar with the Owen Archer stories?
LikeLike
As I recall it was my British publisher who suggested that including Thoresby in The King’s Mistress would bring up too much negative baggage about Alice, and I agreed. Nor do we know whether their paths actually crossed, though I imagine they did.
Emma
LikeLike