My Diary – Archive

Lots to tell you about. I’m still fighting with Long Covid, that makes six months now, but the symptoms are getting less severe so hope it’s finally waning. I’ve had several unpleasant visits to a podiatrist and have surgery on my big toe on October 2nd. My sister in law had a mild heart attack and is recovering,  and a friend died suddenly. At my age you go to more funerals than weddings.

Loki has fully recovered from the abscess on his neck and is as lively and noisy as always. The garden is looking wonderful and I’m so glad I invested the money to have it designed and landscaped.

My latest book A Christmas Baby at Goodwill House came out yesterday and is flying up the charts. There should be a new Goodwill House series  starting late next year. The first of my fourteen back list books is already on pre order. The Land Girl’s Secret, this is out on 30th September. This was previously called Hannah’s War. Two more WW2 books from my back list are out  in December. The first one is now called The Pilot’s Girl and was called Barbara’s War. The first of my great new series, The Army Girls Reporting for Duty, is on pre order and I’ve just finished writing the second. This will be out on November 2nd.

On the 11th I’m off to Bordeaux to Chez Castillion with a writer friend for a week’s writing retreat. Have a new laptop to take but doubt there’ll be much writing done. I went to the RNA conference in London and it was excellent but will be the last one I go to. In future it will be a writing retreat not a conference every year.

best wishes

Fenella J Miller

July was a busy month for me as I took my annual holiday – the first of two this year – to see my cousin who lives on the little Greek island of Paros. Getting there is complicated and I won’t be going again. Having my niece and great-niece with me was what made it possible to go this time but I’ve now made three visits so it’s my cousin’s turn to come and see me.

I managed to get the first book in my new series in three days before the deadline – I like to get it in three weeks before so it was stressful. I had covid when I started writing this book and am still getting over long covid. I think I’ve finally shaken it off but it’s taken five months – last time it took six months so I suppose that’s an improvement. I’m now writing the second book in the series and this one is going swimmingly – it should be finished a month early.

Boldwood have now got the first of my indie books on pre-order. The Land Girl’s Secret will be published for a second time on 30 September. The last book in my Goodwill House series, A Christmas Baby at Goodwill House, is also on preorder and this comes out at the end of August. I just love the covers that Boldwood do for me and can’t wait to see how they do the new ATS series.

I’ve been loving the test cricket against Australia over the past six weeks and the last day of the fifth test was yesterday afternoon and what a nail-biting finish it was. England would have regained the Ashes but for the weather, but that’s cricket. Stuart Broad announced that he was retiring from all forms of cricket after that match and had the fairytale ending everybody wanted for him. The last ball that he hit was a six and the last ball that he bowled took the winning wicket. To anyone who doesn’t follow cricket – probably most of you – this is all gibberish but let me assure you it was riveting and I’ve now got The Hundred to watch for the rest of this month.

June has been a hectic month but an enjoyable one. I attended the evening celebration of a young neighbour’s wedding – I didn’t stay long but was pleased I saw her in her beautiful gown. The next day was the big family wedding of my great-niece to her New Zealand husband. Forty or more of his family and friends flew over from New Zealand and they all stayed at a very smart caravan park adjacent to the venue.

My ten year old grandson wore a suit and he looked very smart. My son had to buy smart trousers and shirt as he didn’t own anything suitable and I wore a lovely silk dress I bought in Paros four years ago. My daughter-in-law had heels that were positively dangerous and looked very glamorous too. My great-niece, Emma looked absolutely stunning in her wonderful gown as did the four bridesmaids and bridesman and four groomsmen and groomswoman and of course, the groom.The venue was perfect and the occasion absolutely as it should be.

It was a wonderful occasion but sad too as we all thought about those who couldn’t be there in person – Emma’s father died tragically ten years ago and of course my Dusty died over three years ago.They are a lovely couple so very much in love and despite the fact that they will be living on the other side of the world I’m sure they will be over  next year sometime – at least I hope so as I don’t think I’ll ever do a 24-hour flight myself.

I’m still struggling with the after-effects of Covid but I think long Covid is finally waning as I do have a few days feeling well before it strikes again. The secret is not to rush about doing the things I couldn’t do when I was feeling ropey because as soon as I do this just triggers another relapse. I’m definitely wearing a protective mask on the plane when I go on holiday next week as are my niece and younger great-niece.

Wedding Bells at Goodwill House was published at the beginning of the month although it didn’t get any bestseller flags or drop into the top hundred it continues to be a really good seller. Boldwood know what they’re doing . A Christmas Baby at Goodwill House is on preorder and that also seems to be doing very well. I completed the first book in my new ATS series and sent it in on Monday five days before the deadline – which is today – and at one point I didn’t think I was going to be able to meet my deadline. I’ve now started the second book and really want to get a few chapters written before I go away so I’m not stressed about being behind my schedule for the whole three months as I was with the last book.

My garden is looking stunning and Holland Landscapes came back yesterday to make a list of the flowers that didn’t survive and they’re coming back in the autumn to replace them and will do all the necessary tidying up, pruning and so on to keep it looking as it should. Considering it’s the first year I’m astonished at how wonderful it is and I’m so glad that I had it done. I’ve now got solar panels, and environmentally sustainable garden and my next big purchase will be to lease an electric car and I intend to start thinking about this when I get back from my holiday.

Take care and I’ll be back next month,

best wishes

Fenella J Miller

Wedding Bells at Goodwill Houseller

Here we go again – another month has gone by but from the weather you would think it was still the beginning of spring and not halfway through the British summer. I turned the central heating off at the beginning of May but it has gone on for a couple of hours the past two mornings. The gardens wonderful but it’s still not growing the way one would expect in June.

I think I have finally shaken off long Covid after three months of struggling. I know thousands and thousands of people have suffered far worse than me but I’m so glad to be finally free of all the horrible symptoms apart from the fatigue which kicks in if I overdo it. I’ve got a big family event on Saturday to celebrate the completion of the memorial garden for my beloved husband Dusty. The weather forecast is much better for Sunday otherwise we’ll all be shivering outside or squashed inside. I want it to be really special as all the people I love will be there to raise a glass in his memory.

My book news is very exciting. Today Wedding Bells at Goodwill House is published. Here is the link you haven’t already downloaded and I think over four thousand of you have.

https://mybook.to/Goodwillwedding

I’ve also signed a fourteen book contract with my fabulous publisher Boldwood for backlist books. They took all seven of my World War II stories, my Victorian saga series and my three Jane Austin variations, set in Pemberley. The first one is out in September and then they will be coming out at regular intervals between then and next August. I’m busily writing the first book in my new series about the ATS – the girls’ army – and although it’s been a struggle I’m now slowly catching up and it will be in on time or only a couple of days late.This will be out in November this year.

I’ve got so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to. I’m very lucky and am now determined to start enjoying my unexpected good fortune by doing the things I could never afford to do. I’m going to buy/lease an electric car later this year and am planning a writing retreat in the south of France with a special friend in September. Imagine! I can’t remember ever having two holidays abroad in one year in my life before. I’ve also got the RNA conference to look forward to in August.

Until next time,

best wishes

Fenella J

Wedding Bells at Goodwill House

Miller

A few days late this month. It was my birthday yesterday and also had a bad reaction to the booster last Saturday,  so I was all over the place. Anyway, here I am. Still have long Covid so things not tickety-boo on the health front. I’ve not reached the stage of just being glad I’ve actually woken up but still literally a pain not being even 75% fit. I have so much to celebrate and I don’t have time to be unwell.

I’ve got a new book, Wedding Bells at Goodwill House, out on June 2nd and I’m sure you’ll love this as it’s such a happy, romantic story. Not just one wedding but two!! I’ve also got a marketing meeting for A Christmas Baby at Goodwill House, the seventh and last book in this series.  I think this is out in August. I’m writing the first book in a new series about four ATS girls during the Blitz. Slow going because of health but it will be in on time, July 1st, and published in November, I think. Boldwood are taking fourteen of my indie published books but not signed the contracts so far – been told they are coming soon.

In June I’m having a family garden party to celebrate my beloved husband. His memorial garden is now looking lovely and we had no wake when he died due to Covid restrictions so looking forward to raising a glass to him. There is also a big family wedding that month too.

Until next month

Fenella J Miller

Wedding Bells at Goodwill House