My Diary – Archive

August was dry until last week but even with some substantial rain things in the garden has decided it’s time to shut down for autumn. I’m going to pick the ornamental gourds today as with a hosepipe ban I can’t water them anymore. My garden is dry gravel garden and all plants are put in by experts with the idea that they would survive drought conditions and didn’t need watering. This hasn’t proved to be the case and there are several things that I’ll have to remove and find something else to go in their place. I had my seat cushions outside from me until two weeks ago which has to be an absolute record. I’ve still got pairs on my tree which my teenage grandson will pick next time he comes. I’ve had a record crop of figs – I thought I didn’t like figs but these are quite delicious and I’ve been giving them away in bowlfuls.

On the writing front I’m now seventeen  thousand into my eighth Harbour House book – War Comes to Harbour House – and although it will be a bit of a push it should be done by the end of October and not  handed in late. I’m usually a month early but I found it impossible to work during the heatwaves and it wasn’t until I had air-conditioning fitted the beginning of August I could really start writing again.  I’ve also written half a new Regency and I intend to finish that before I start the ninth and final book in my Harbour House series. Boldwood took the new Regency four book series set in Bath. The first one, The Earl’s Bride, will be out next week.  I will have finished writing the Harbour House series by next February and have no idea what I’m going to write next – my contract states it must be World War II sagas and I’ve six months to come up with an idea. Huge changes at my publishers as Boldwood has been acquired by an American media company. They are the biggest suppliers of audio in the world but had no toe in the book market. This is why it seems like the perfect match. Boldwood remains an independent entity with the same staff and CEO and we’ve been assured nothing will change apart from increased sales.

We now have a new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and he’s saying all the right things but that doesn’t change the fact that there isn’t any money in the pot to all these wonderful things so you have to be very inventive if he can provide the hope he talks about to those in desperate need. Farage resigned his seat in parliament hoping to stop the investigation into his finances and then for the by-election he caused against count been face and thirty-two other people I’d never heard of. I voted for the bin. As soon as he was elected investigation reopened. what a waste of taxpayers money.

Love Returns to Harbour House is on pre order is now on net galley. I love my Boldwood covers but for some reason this already has fourteen thumbs up and seventeen thumbs down – no idea why. This book will be out in October.

until next month

Fenella J Miller

July has fizzled past in Essex. Half of the time it was in the high 30s and I just can’t function when it’s that hot. I’m having air-conditioning/heating installed on Monday and I’m hoping from then on whatever the weather I’ll be able to keep working. I’ve fallen so far behind with my intended schedule that I can’t see me catching up. I’ve been making a real effort to eat more healthily, do more exercise even if it’s the seated variety, and have managed to prise off just over 4 kg – my intention is to lose another six before Christmas.

I’d hoped to be half way through the first book in my new Regency romantic adventure series about the four Carlisle brothers. The first one, An Unexpected Adventure, is set in St Malo for the first third of the book – I’m hoping to have the book published before I go to there again next year so I can take a copy and show the people I spoke to about it. On the eleventh of this month I must start the eighth – the penultimate – book in my Harbour House series. I’ve already got two new research books and I’ll read those before I start.

Bad News at Harbour House, which came out in June, is proving very popular with my readers. If you haven’t downloaded it why not give it a go? The next one, which isn’t due out until October, Love Returns to Harbour House, is now on pre-order and is also proving popular. The Earl’s Bride, the first of my the Regency series, The Earl’s Unexpected Wards, is also on pre-order and will be out on 9 September.

My garden’s suffering from the drought and I suppose we’ve all got to get used to it as climate change means it’s going to be horribly hot every summer and horribly wet every winter in future. I thought it wouldn’t be in my lifetime that places in southern Europe would become uninhabitable but the way things are going I fear that it will.

Until next time

Fenella J Miller

What a month June has been, like the curate’s egg, both good and bad in parts.

I went to St Malo and fell on the car deck when we arrived – an avoidable accident, not my fault  – and this made my research trip more difficult and far less enjoyable. I then spent nine hours in hospital on my return as my GP thought I had a pulmonary embolism. Also my mobile refused to revert to UK and remained struck as if in France. Not ideal in an emergency. I had to get a taxi to hospital instead of a lift from my daughter-in-law. After tests, doctors, x-ray they released me saying it was internal bruising from the fall the previous week. This is what I’d suggested to the GP but she was sure I was wrong. I did enjoy my trip and am intending to go again next year.

It’s been blisteringly hot these past two weeks – my poor neighbour  said her home was 36.5  in every room one day. Mine was, at it’s worst, 29c –  too hot for me to function normally. Since it cooled down I’ve done edits for the next Harbour House book, Love Returns to Harbour House, and this will be out in October. Bad News at Harbour House, which came out 17th June already has 324 5* reviews. Really happy about that.

Boldwood have taken my new four book Regency series, The Earl’s Unexpected Wards, and so I removed the first one from Amazon and The Earl’s Bride  will be out again in September. Will be writing the first in the next Regency series, partly set in St Malo,  over the next few weeks – weather permitting – and then will start the eighth Harbour House book  in August.

Until next month

Fenella J Miller

Another month gone and soon the nights will be drawing in. We’ve had blazing heat most of the month. 35 c really knocks me out. Have had to water most nights and top up the pond every couple of days. The garden is looking wonderful apert from the fact that my neighbours have had a massive extension built a metre from my fence. This was built 18″ above the legal height and when I pointed this out the builders acted surprised – the neighbour certainly was – and the roof had to be lowered. They are going to put trellis along the fence to help disguise it.

I’ve celebrated another birthday – I’m feeling better than I have for years. Have eventually sorted my foot problems and got rid of the continuous infections. Off to St Malo soon with a companion to do some research for my next Regency series. In the Napoleonic wars the privateers docked there and I’m going to have either the hero or the villain a French privateer. I’m on the last chapter of the seventh book in my Harbour House series, Love Returns to Harbour House, and should be able to hand it in before I go away. Then I can enjoy my holiday and only have to write a few notes and take lots of photos.

Boldwood reconsidered their initial refusal to take any new Regency titles and I’ve just signed a four book contract for the ones I was indie publishing. Only the first one went out, the second was on pre-order, but both are now down. The Earl’s Bride will be out with Boldwood in September, A Scandalous Bride in December. Thrilled that they’ve taken the lovely covers J D Smith did for me.

Until next month

Fenella J Miller

Late again – but I have an excuse. Had a birthday bash – ladies only – yesterday, and Friday was cooking and so on, yesterday was partying, today is my actual birthday. Another year has flown past. I actually think I’m in better shape this year than last.  My goal is to remain mobile, fit and active and keep writing for as many more years as I can.  My garden is looking wonderful – pity about the huge extension my lovely neighbours have put up. I’ll ask them to clad it in white or cream and also put up trellis.

Writing is going really well. Ahead of my schedule – that doesn’t always happen and on track for finishing this book before I go away in June. This is the seventh book in my Harbour House series, Love Returns to Harbour House, which is out in October. Bad News at Harbour House is now on Netgalley and out on June 17th. I’ve got a new editor who came down from London to take me out to lunch and I now know roughly what the 8th and 9th books will be. The 10th will be 1945 and Emily Roby’s story. My new Regency series, The Earl’s Unexpected Wards,  is doing okay – but there might be exciting news about this next month. The Earl’s Bride is out, A Scandalous Bride is on pre-order.

I avoid the news if I can as it’s so bad. I thought King Charles made an excellent speech in America, wish Sir Keir Starmer would improve his delivery. What he says is often interesting but he sounds so boring you tend to not listen. We’ve got big local elections – Essex is predicted to get 58 Reform councillors and 28 others. 58 random, ultra right wing, fascists, racists, misogamist  and generally unpleasant people will be taking over the social care of our most vulnerable. God help them and the rest of us.Farage is polling on a platform of ‘Vote Reform. Get Starmer out.’ Local elections are local, nothing to do the government or the PM. But the fact it’s a lie no longer matters. That’s how much this wonderful country has changed.

Until next month,

Fenella J Miller