My Diary – Archive

Thank goodness January is over – for some reason it seems to last for months. What’s new on the writing front I hear you ask? Well, I decided that as this is a significant year for me – twenty years since my first book was published with the wonderful Robert Hale, and this year my hundredth book will be out with Boldwood. They haven’t had a hundred books from me so far, although it might seem like that. In fact, I’ve written so far fourteen new titles and they’ve taken twenty-four backlist. I’m about to sign my third eight book contract which will take me into 2028. I also decided that this year I want to challenge myself – I’ll be an octogenarian in May – so another significant milestone.

Therefore, I dug out the two books I’d written in a romantasy series about a decade and a half ago, and see if they could be made publishable for today’s audience. They’ve never been published not even as indie books. At the time I wrote the required book of rules for the alternative universe which fortunately I’ve still got. My lovely editor listened to my pitch and said she’d read the first one and get back to me quickly. I’ve not heard and am not sure if this is because she doesn’t want it or she is actually reading the rest because she thinks it might work. The second book hasn’t been updated or rewritten and I’ve just got a brief outline for the third and possibly fourth book in the series. Watch this space.

My other project that seems to have overtaken the romantasy one is to start writing new Regency romantic adventures. Now I’ve dropped back to three books a year I’ve got plenty of time to write at least two new titles, possibly three, in between my World War II sagas. Ten of the backlist books that Boldwood took are Regency and they’ve not been gaining any traction at all although they are, if I may say so myself, excellent books in the genre. Four are Jane Austen variations around the main characters in Pride and Prejudice. The first one, Return To Pemberley, had a bookbub promotion yesterday and from nowhere it’s now ranking under two thousand. My editor and I discussed whether it would help the sales of these backlist books to publish new titles. As I can write a Regency in about three weeks you can see why I could make this work. I’m two thirds of the way through the first new title which I started last week and at the moment I don’t know if I’ll be indie publishing it or if Boldwood will want it. As it’s the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth this four book series is set in Bath.

Considering my antiquity, I’m in remarkably good shape for someone of my age. The usual -itisis, associated with getting old but apart from that nothing serious. I decided last year that this year I’d get everything organised for my departure from this world. I’ve prepaid my funeral and have everything ready. I’m starting to clear out things that I know will just be upsetting and unwanted by my son – I’ve still got literally hundreds and hundreds of photographs that my dearly departed husband took, and used to sit and sort out and put into albums when he was unable to do anything else. I couldn’t bear to part with them initially. I’m definitely going to take out the few that might be wanted and throw away the rest sometime this year.

I’m also going on my second cruise with Ambassador, might have been ill 80% of my five day cruise last year but I still enjoyed it. I’m sharing with a friend which will make things easier and we are going to Honfleur, Scilly Isles and Cork. France is my favourite country, the Scilly Isles should be beautiful with all the spring flowers in April, and my mother was born in Cork and I’ve never been to the Republic of Ireland. Also the last cruise was pop music themed which meant the other passengers had come for the music, the discos and the beer. This next one is a craft themed cruise so I’m sure those that those passengers who have chosen to come on this will be quieter as will the ship.

In August I’m going on all-inclusive incredibly expensive once-in-a-lifetime cruise with Saga to Norway. On this cruise I’m going with three other writers so it’s very much business related. The cruise ship is  going to put in their itinerary that four writers will be in the library on sea days and happy to speak to anyone who cares to come along. It’s not to sell books, it’s too get to know possible readers.

The Regency books are out at the end of this month and Stormy Waters at Harbour House is out next week.

I’d better stop rambling as I’ve already written far more than usual,

until next month,

best wishes

Fenella J Miller

Well, that’s another year gone. I’ve always thought of time as being somewhat elastic, if you know what I mean. I can well remember being at school and thinking I wasn’t going to survive the six weeks until the next break, now six weeks is gone so fast my head spins. I don’t know where December went – I can’t believe it’s January already.

I had an excellent Christmas – I don’t celebrate New Year – with my wonderful family and ate too much food. I’m determined to lose another 10 pound before I go on my second cruise in April so I’m eating more sensibly now. A friend of mine has joined a gym and actually visited a couple of times – any bets as to how long she’ll continue to go? I got three big metal birds to go in my garden for Christmas gifts – I’m so lucky to live where I do and have such a beautiful garden to put them in.

I’ve now got someone who takes down my Christmas decorations for me – worth every penny – and he also tidied the shed when he put the boxes and the tree away. I’ve already booked him for next year to put them up as well as take them down. For the first time since I moved here – five years ago – I remembered to tip the two lots of dustmen – I don’t know why I haven’t done it before as I always used to do this at the old house.

I’ve been working hard on the third book in my new Harbour House series and it should be handed in to my editor sometime this month. It’s not actually due until March but I like to have a few weeks in between books when I can relax and read fiction instead of research books. This book will be out in May or June I think.

2025 is a significant one for me – I’ll become an octogenarian in May – I don’t feel or look that old but I do notice I get tired more easily than I used to. As I was never particularly sporty, the fact that I couldn’t even run for a bus now doesn’t bother me. I can do my hour of gentle exercises every morning, take a short stroll with my friend and her little dog when the sun is out, and still do my own housework. I’m holding a party on my birthday for thirty of my friends, fellow writers and family – it’ll only be the second birthday party I’ve had outside my home. The last one was when I was twenty-one! It will also be the last one so I’m going to enjoy it.

My brother who is two years older than me keeps saying that people over eighty are living on borrowed time! I’m determined to be here when I’m ninety just so I can say that I’m older than my horrible stepmother was when she went. I also intend to  to keep writing for another five years at least, maybe not as many books, but as long as I’m enjoying the process and my wonderful publisher, Boldwood, is still prepared to put them out then I’ll still write them.

I’ve got no new books out this month but the second book in my Harbour House series is out beginning of February, Stormy Waters at Harbour House, and also the first two of my six book Regency series, The Duke’s Alliance will be out as well.

Until February

best wishes

Fenella J Miller

Are your decorations up? Mine are. Always up on 1st and own by 30th as I don’t like them up in the New Year. We’ve decide not to give gifts to anyone but close family this year – so much easier for everyone. I donated to charity instead. I finished my gift shopping yesterday -thank goodness for Amazon!!

Has been a poor month healthwise as I’ve had one thing after another. GP said it was a compromised immune system, that I’d pick up and feel better soon. Hope so.  On the plus side I’m losing weight and will be where I want to  by the spring, if not before.

I’m 21K into the third book of my new series, Harbour House, and the first book, Wartime Arrivals at Harbour House came out two days ago.  I’ve already got 79 reviews and all of them good. I was going to write Victorian sagas next year but have decided to stick to Harbour House until it’s completed. The second book, Stormy Waters at Harbour House is also on pre-order. Not sure how many books, but probably seven or eight. The first two of my Pemberley series came out last month, and last two next week. Do  try them if you didn’t read them when they came out a few years ago. If you liked Pride and Prejudice you’ll love these too.

Return to Pemberley, Trouble at Pemberley ( a ghost story), Danger at Pemberley and Scandal at Pemberley.

https://mybook.to/atpemberleyone  https://mybook.to/PemberleyTrouble  https://mybook.to/PemberleyScandal  https://mybook.to/Pemberleydanger

I hope you all have an enjoyable  festive holiday and a peaceful and healthy New Year

Until 2025

Fenella J Miller

Late again – sorry. I’ve just returned from my first cruise and unfortunately I was unwell most of the time. A recurrence of the infection that put me in hospital in June. Thank goodness they have an excellent medical team on board and the very strong antibiotics prevented it from getting worse. Despite the illness it didn’t put me off cruising and I’m really looking forward to returning to the same ship, Ambience, Ambassador line – in April when I’ll be sharing a cabin with a friend. I realise that this is going to be an ongoing health problem that I’ll just have to live with – getting older isn’t fun but the alternative is worse. I’m going for my flu and Covid jabs today so no doubt will be unwell again for several days, but three days of feeling rough is worth it for the protection they give you.
I handed in the second book in my Harbour House World War II series set in Wivenhoe, Essex, Stormy Waters at Harbour House on 9 October and as of yesterday I’d completed the second round of edits. The first book, Wartime Arrivals at Harbour House, will be released on 29 November. It’s on  pre-order – I hope you fall in love with the characters in the same way that you did with those in Goodwill House. The first two books in my four book series At Pemberley, Return to Pemberley and Trouble at Pemberley were released on 31 October. I expect most of you read them when I indie publish them a few years ago but if you haven’t and you love anything Pride and Prejudice related I’m sure that you’ll enjoy them. The second two in the series will be out on 14 December. Boldwood have also taken my six book Regency series, The Duke’s Alliance, and the first two of these will be released, I think, in January. I’m about to start writing the third book in the Harbour House series which will be handed in next February and published, I think, next summer.
It’s election day in America and I, like most sensible people in the world, will be holding my breath waiting for the result – hoping against hope that Harris wins. The thought of a another four years of that fascist, would be dictator, Trump, doesn’t bear thinking of. We have a stable Labour government, not perfect, but moving in the right direction.
I’ve just had my garden fence repainted – it’s a bit brighter than I expected – but I love it. Unfortunately the chap who did it has also dripped paint over a lot of my garden path and terrace. He said he’s coming back to fix that but so far hasn’t appeared. The nights are much longer but the weather here is surprisingly mild for November – I’ve still got some bedding plants flowering. My bulbs are planted, shrubs pruned and I won’t be seeing my gardener until the spring.

Until next time – best wishes
Fenella J Miller

I apologise for being nine days late putting up my monthly diary – I’ve been on a tight deadline to give in the second book in my new series and just managed to do it a day early. I like to write my books fast – eight weeks – and then give myself six weeks without writing. I do research, social media and so on but don’t actually write during those six weeks. The first book in my new series, Wartime Arrivals at Harbour House, is now on pre order and will be out at the end of next month. I have the first two of my Regency Pemberley series out at the end of this month and the second two are coming out in December. I think that will make sixteen or seventeen titles out this year – four of them new and the rest back list.

Boldwood have agreed that I can leave World War II for a while – after I’ve written the third book in this new series – and return to my Victorian sagas. Then I’ll be writing a single stand-alone Regency title to go with my six book backlist Regency series, The Dukes Alliance, which will be coming out early next year. The Nightingale Chronicles, there are four of them, my bestselling books on Amazon so it makes sense to continue that series which I always intended to do. I can’t wait to return to Victorian Colchester and leave the bombs and rationing behind for a while. I’ll return to Harbour House in 2026 and intend to write a further three books, possibly four.

On the domestic front I’ve now booked three cruises which might seem a little foolish as I’ve not even been on one yet – my first cruise on the Ambassador line, Ambience, is at the end of this month. It’s a writing retreat with my good friend Lizzie Lane. It’s only five nights and goes from Tilbury which suits me as I live in Essex. The second also from Tilbury will be in April and I’m going with an old friend and the third in August is with saga and is going to Norway and this is also a writing retreat as there will be four of us working together during the trip.

Loki continues to be an absolute delight although him arriving in my bedroom at three a.m. this morning chasing one of his little plastic spirals about the floor didn’t fill me with joy. Eventually I had to lock him out of the bedroom – I then didn’t sleep much until I had to let him out at five fifteen. He then proceeded to chase next door’s huge bad-tempered Bengal cat from the garden very noisily. I’ll be shattered by this evening.

Until next month

Fenella J Miller