THE MIDNIGHT SUN

I've just returned from the Arctic Circle and seen the midnight sun. An amazing feast for the eyes but how the Norwegian people cope with sleeping when the sun disappears for only a short time in the summer is beyond me. I found that the only way I could sleep was by blacking out the windows with rubbish bags and Gaffer tape. [I had gone prepared!]

And then all that darkness in the winter! I asked one Norwegian woman what they did in the winter. ‘Oh, there’s plenty to do,’ she answered. ‘ Knitting… making rhubarb jam… painting the house…' I realized in that moment why so many Norwegians were depressed. Imagine living there if you hated knitting, making jam or painting?  

So, in spite of our bad summer this year, I was glad when we finally reached home.

TIME AND WRITING

I went to the book prize award ceremony and dinner last week and although I didn’t win, I enjoyed meeting so many interesting people very much. One was a 91 year lady who won the non-fiction prize. She made the most interesting speech of the evening. I only hope I’m that lively at her age. 

Now I’m looking forward to the publication of my crime thriller A Fatal Façade at the end of August.

In the meanwhile, I’m surging forward with my novel set in Vienna in the 20^th century. I’m so emerged in Viennese history at the moment that it’s a surprise to me when I stop writing to find myself in the 21^st!

THE LAST HOUR!

Only an hour left [UK time} before voting for the People’s Book Prize closes.You'll see my psychological thriller, THE DAY OF THE SWANS  half way down the page. The finalists are in alphabetical order.

http://www.peoplesbookprize.com/finalist.php

I’ll be travelling up to London later today to be interviewed by a TV crew before the awards ceremony dinner starts. After dinner, the three awards to the winners will be announced by the writer Frederick Forsyth. Should be an exciting evening if we can manage to get through the London traffic!

More about it later this week.

INTERESTING BLOG SITE

I’ve discovered an interesting blog site where the David and Donna ask people to contribute guest contributors to write something helpful for other writers. I hope you find the following information useful.
http:// tweedling.com/2013/05/guest-post-linda-m-james/

Only four days left to vote for The Day Of The Swans! 

I do hope you’ll vote if you haven’t done so yet.

http://www.peoplesbookprize.com/finalist.php

VOTING FOR SWANS

I know that some of you have already read my psychological thriller THE DAY OF THE SWANS which has become a finalist in The People’s Book Prize and enjoyed it, so I hope the rest of you read it. This is a prize which is judged by readers and not judges which I think is wonderful. The voting opens tomorrow,  21st May and closes on 29th May. I would be so grateful if you’d vote for it as I’ve been told that the story is gripping.

Here is a link for voting for it between those dates. If you follow the instructions on line it will take you a few minutes to vote.

http://www.peoplesbookprize.com/book.php?id=807

I’ll be going to the awards dinner on 29th May in London where the 3 winners will be announced. [Fiction, Non-fiction and Children’s Section.]

The winners will be presented with their awards by the writer Frederick Forsyth. It will be an exciting, if nail-biting evening, which is being televised!

Many thanks for your support.

All the best

 Linda