The Vikings are back!

On a day of glorious sunshine the Vikings returned last Saturday to Rothesay Castle. This time the islanders welcomed them as part of a weekend conference and fun day organised by Discover Bute.
This free event, with demonstrations of age old crafts, attracted people from Bute and beyond and provided entertainment for adults and children alike, especially as so many of the helpers were in costume.
The photos below give you some idea of the variety of the attractions, but for more photos go to

http://www.pbase.com/rothesay/discoverbute2012

                                         

Some of the fair damsels

A young knight

A fiercesome warrior

...and another one

The Vikings fight to the death...over a melon!



Woodworking for beginners



Or perhaps basket making?

A coracle in case the ferry isn't running

..and instructions on how to make one!

Not forgetting the techniques of spinning.

The flag of the Stewarts at the time of the first Vikings!



And meanwhile the swans (and their ten cygnets) swim in the castle moat.



A DIFFERENT KIND OF WRITING

Excuses for not blogging? I've been editing... and that's before the editor's report. As I haven't looked at Last Dance at the Rothesay Pavilion for a couple of weeks I decided to do a bit of revision, which turned into a lot of revision. And once I'd started, I couldn't stop.
At least it provided a good excuse for a trip to Bute last week and I thought I'd post some photos of the Ettrick Bay tearoom where some of the action takes place ( in all the Bute books). I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has read either of the first two Bute books if the tearoom is as you imagined it?

                                                            Inside the tearoom

                                                         The tearoom at Ettrick Bay

April at Ettrick Bay

Blog it!

A big thank you to Janice Horton for featuring me in her author showcase on her blog today. It all helps to keep the momentum going, especially towards the end of the week when ideas are slower than usual. I'm very pleased she has taken the time out of her own very busy schedule.
You can read the interview at
http://www.janicehortonwriter.blogspot.com/

And thanks to everyone who has bought the latest book - Last Ferry to Bute. We went to Bute on Tuesday and did catch the last ferry -I was a bit apprehensive,but fortunately nothing untoward happened!


Suitably inspired, I'm back to Last Dance at the Rothesay Pavilion.

Back to Work

After the great chat and excellent events at the Scottish Association of Writers conference last weekend it's most certainly back to work this weekend.
Everyone who was there enjoyed this action packed weekend and the three days of 'writing talk' was stimulating and thought provoking.
But of course it's easy to talk about writing and not so easy to settle down to doing it, in spite of all the good ideas I came away with. Conferences like the S.A.W. are a great boost for those of us who spend a lot of time closeted with imaginary friends - it's good to meet some real ones!
I was fortunate to receive several 'honourable mentions' including winning the Book Review trophy and the prizes were presented by Alanna Knight who always makes you feel special.
And there were many winners among friends at Writers Scotland and Erskine Writers -congratulations to everyone.
The photos below are by Chris Longmuir -you can tell I had nothing to do with them because none of the heads are cut off! You can find out more about Chris at her website http://www.chrislongmuir.co.uk/  -she writes great fiction as well as being a very able photographer!

                 Receiving the Book Review prize from Alanna

                               The happy prizewinners!

Now to find out what the bearded man in Last Dance at the Rothesay Pavilion has been up to in my absence.

One step forward.....

The blog has been neglected in favour of using any available time to progress the new novel. I suppose I should be pleased I've managed to avoid a number of distractions (though not all by any means).
As this story is also set on Bute, the research about what happened there during the last war has been very interesting. It's amazing how you think you know a place really well and then when you do some digging you find out all sorts of things.
The story of Last Dance at the Rothesay Pavilion concerns what happens when the Pavilion is being renovated and among other snippets I discovered that The Canadian Barn Dance, that stalwart of many a Scottish ceilidh, was first performed in the Pavilion,written by a young commando who was training on Bute.
And the Scottish Country dance evenings were so popular the doors had to be closed at 8.30 p.m.
I can now understand why some historical novelists find it so difficult to finish their books!

The Rothesay Pavilion at its busiest during the 'Big Man' event - when everyone turned out!

A BIG thank you!

Thanks to everyone who commented on Rosemary's interview with me,either here or on the blog:
http://ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com/

It's been great experience and very motivating...in spite of what Alison had to say!
Last Ferry to Bute and The House at Ettrick Bay are now both available on Kindle,assuming there are no gremlins in the system. The 'special price' of £1.90 will be available all through February.

Something strange is going on at the Hereuse Nursing home on the Isle of Bute. One of the residents, Jessie McAdam, thinks her life is in danger. Alison Cameron, who is reluctantly arranging a college reunion on the island, agrees to find out what is causing her mother’s old friend, Jessie, such concern. Before long Alison finds herself involved in a series of mysterious deaths. Meanwhile Alison’s daughter, Deborah, has started a new job at the Regius Gallery, owned by an antiques dealer whose activities are suspicious. Can Alison find out what is happening before it’s too late?

                                                      THE HOUSE AT ETTRICK BAY

                                       When her friend Susie inherits a house on the island of Bute,

                                       Alison Cameron finds her decision to help involves her in a

                                       series of increasingly frightening 'accidents'.

                                       An archaeological excavation near the house leads to an exciting

                                       discovery, one which means Susie may have to change her plans.

                                       When the next 'accident' turns out to be murder, Alison knows she

                                       and Susie are in danger. There are people on the island who have

                                       an interest in Ettrick House - could one of them be willing to kill?

Back to the new Bute novel and keeping Alison in check!



Over to you,Alison Cameron!

Hello Everyone,
For some reason I've been asked to write this blog today. This is something I've not tried before and I hope it's not going to become a regular feature of my life in the novels. As if I haven't enough to do.
Don't get the wrong impression -I don't go out looking for trouble, but it seems as if it comes after me.
Every time I go to the island of Bute, it's with the intention of having a rest, a break from the routine of working as a teacher in Glasgow. Simon (that's my husband) and I only went to Bute the time before last because my best friend Susie inherited a large Victorian house there. That seemed simple, but it almost ended in disaster.
And my most recent visit to the island was to help organise a reunion for my old college friends. 'Help' - that's a bit of a misnomer. I ended up doing most of the work. And if Deborah (that's my younger daughter) hadn't become involved wth a man who was much older than her, it might all have worked out. But then again, it might not. Betsie (the friend who came up with the idea for a reunion) wasn't quite the person I thought she was.
And now I find that in the W-I-P I'm no longer a teacher,but have had to take on a commission to write a history of the Rothesay Pavilion. I ask you! I'm not at all sure I'm up to that task, even though I have a great young research assistant,Tara. I was a bit dubious when I saw her at first -I think Goth describes her way of dressing- but at least she has good research skills. Though I'm very worried about the bearded man who is lurking about. I've no idea what he's doing and what's more, I suspect Myra doesn't know either.
That's probably enough for now. I have to find a way to get out of my latest difficulty and I'm getting little help from the author.
 Alison