New Ideas for fiction.

Have a few new ideas already for some new stories.
I have 2 ideas for novellas which I don't relly feel ready to go with and a half developed novel which again I do not want to go with just yet. They may never see the light of day as I have moved on a lot since then, but as ideas they are handy to have around.
Like songs, some of which I rework in different forms 10 years down the line into something totally different they are handy receptacles for a different approach.
The ideas I do have have been kicking around for the last few weeks and come form newspaper articles or just some little occurrence that sticks in my head. One even came to me this morning from a trivia night that my group 'Blue Valentine' played at. I'll write them down before I give away the titles.
As I said in a previous post the first draft of 'Flora and Fauna' Book 1 is ready. I think I can almost safely look at it now as I have read 2 novels [Idea of perfection/Kate Grenville...Treasure of Montsegur/Sophy Burnham] over the last week and there is now a good reflective space between me and the work. Found a brilliant cover idea which is going to be worked up and already have some interesting feedback. Will try to get it up on the website soon.
Book club meeting was last Wednesday night and it is starting to gel as a group. Fantastic discussion and great to get differing views and perspectives on the work in question, which this month was 'The secret river/Kate Grenville. I had to review it in 350 words and had a ball putting on my critics hat.
Fantastic writing/journalism exercise.
It coincides nicely with the start of my freelance journalism course. I now have the first modules sitting in front of me.

The first little blast of winter arrived today and the temperature didn't get over 19 degrees.
Think Lou and me will have a roast tonight.

Crossroads

Mark this date down.
I am literally at a crossroads........

Its only just colouring outside. Dawn is approaching.
On the table in the sunroom lies the completed first draft of "Flora and Fauna." It has been collated, printed and put together in A5 form and all 14 stories are ready for "reading"
I have spoken before of my "Gang of five". Editors/Book shop owners/Avid readers and ultimately friends whose literary opinions I value and respect.
Now.......finally it is completed to a stage where I am confident enough to show it to the world.
Self publishing is a risky business. One must have confidence in ones own judgment.
Hopefully the input from my critics will propel the work to a fitful conclusion.

I have been self editing for weeks/months now and can no longer see the forest for the trees.
I won't look at it now for a week or two.

Also at the crossroads of music.
The Blue Valentine CD is almost finished and ready for mixing.
The direction of the music coalesced as it went along and a lot of songs and ideas fell by the wayside. Now it seems to have a voice of its own.
I am now collating rushes and takes from the 2004 sessions of the Figtree Renaissance "Stone Fruit" project.
It is the next project to sink my teeth into.
The show must go on

Flora and Fauna Progress

Only have 3 stories to finish revising to get to the First draft phase.
Fear of flying
The most beautiful couple in the world
Grapes and Lightning
I have been sending the completed ones to Pirie and he has been formatting them into A5 bookform with fonts, woodcuts, etc. They are easier to read and when seen in the actual bookform are better to digest and review.......plus.........................they are easier than A4 to hold!!!!!
There should be 3 to have a look at soon on the WORDS page.
One of the 15 stories, I have decided to leave off the book as it seems to want a larger treatment that isn't served well in short story form. It's called Maze Maker and has 3 different timelines and features a talking/dancing statue from Greek ancient history/mythology. It has become a maze itself and has definitely taken on a life of it's own.
If I get stuck into the last 3 today/tomorrow I should have it all finished and then can finish off the Blue Valentine CD in peace.
Amen