My Diary – Archive

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

I’m glad March has gone as it’s not been good one healthwise. I went to the Romantic Novelists Association awards evening – feeling perfectly well for the first time in weeks – had a wonderful time and the day after I returned I started to feel unwell. I’d caught Covid for the second time.That was on 8th March and I’m still not well. I’ve now got a different infection and am on yet another round of antibiotics. I think I’ve spent as much time in bed feeling sorry for myself as I have been up and working this month.

Hopefully, now the nights are longer and it’s warmer, I’ll soon be well again. My garden’s coming alive and I wander around it most days to admire the new plants. I’ve no idea what most of them are so it’ll be a complete surprise when they finally blossom.

On the writing front I did the  final edits and proof reads for Wedding Bells at Goodwill House and that’s now on pre order and will be out on June 1st. My fifth book, A Wartime Reunion at Goodwill House was published on 2 March and seems to be doing really well. The final book of the first series of Goodwill House will be out later in the summer. I’ve just started writing the first in a four book series about the ATS – Auxiliary Territorial Service – the women’s army and, as always, I’m finding it a bit of a struggle to get to know the new characters and immerse myself in a completely different world. I have sold over a hundred thousand copies of my Boldwood books in the past twelve months and I’m surprised and delighted by this milestone.

Boldwood are having another summer party in May but I’ve decided not to go this year. I really don’t want to catch anything else as I’ve got a big family wedding in the middle of June. I missed my brother’s golden wedding anniversary celebration because I had Covid and I’m not going to miss anything else. I’m definitely going to the RNA conference in August because if I catch covid again I’ve got months with nothing planned to get over it.

Things can only get better – for me I’m hoping that in the May local elections it will become clear to the horrible government we have that they are not popular. How can who are multimillionaires have any notion what ordinary people are enduring because of their thirteen years of austerity and cutbacks.

Until next month

best wishes

Fenella

Wedding Bells at Goodwill House

J Miller

Where shall I start? My health has been decidedly poor  most of February – a nasty virus similar to Covid which I just can’t shake off. Loki got frightened and was missing for five hours on one day and had ten hours on the next. I kept him in for four weeks and now he’s going out again has shown no sign of leaving the back garden. I’ve actually got three formal invitations proudly displayed on my bookshelf – two weddings and a golden anniversary party. I really need to concentrate on getting fitter and thinner so i cna buy myself a fabulous new outfit for the weddings in June.

Book News is all tickety-boo. My fifth book, A Wartime Reunion at Goodwill House, is published today and the next one, Wedding Bells at Goodwill House, the sixth, is on preorder. I’ve just had one book on a BookBub  promotion and another is just starting a month long one with Amazon. I’m on the last two chapters of the final book in this series and hope to hand it in next week. There will be more exciting book news next month.

My kind neighbour, the widower on the right of me, is trying to sell his bungalow. That will be the second time this house has changed hands since I moved here. It seems his very elderly (almost 100 years old) mother is now in a very expensive care home and he needs to sell in order to pay the exorbitant weekly fees. He will be living in her vacated house as he is the only child and will inherit it when she goes. It’s not a good time to sell a house and there have only been one lot of people look round since it went on the market two weeks ago. Last year it would have sold by now.

Things are so grim everywhere with earthquakes, rail crashes, boats capsizing and mass shootings that it’s hard to be optimistic about the future. Added to these disasters are the appalling cost of living rises which are pushing so many people all over the world into debt. My family and I are the fortunate ones as we’re able to weather this financial storm. At least with the lighter nights and improved weather families will be able to use less power and the worst will be over for a few months.

Until next time

Fenella J Miller