Margaret Mayo

Foto Friday

Margaret — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:21:47 +0000

There’s something about sunsets that makes me rush outside with my camera. I’m never awake early enough for sunrises, but sunsets really appeal to me. The colours in this sky I find totally amazing. I can just imagine two lovers sitting on a bench somewhere watching the sky create its magic – just as that same magic is casting a spell over them…

Research

Margaret — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:05:44 +0000

I have the perfect excuse for studying the male anatomy. Fully clothed, of course. And purely for research purposes. The World Snooker Championships are on and I’ve been glued to the TV. I used to play snooker as a child with my father and brothers (when they allowed me) and I’ve always been a fan. But oh, those taut bottoms and long, lean bodies. The imagination runs wild.

What sport does it for you?

Writing routine

Margaret — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:42:04 +0000

Each morning before I start writing I read through the previous day’s work and make any nec-essary corrections. It helps me ease back into the book. Especially if I’ve had a day or a weekend away from writing. I use a black font against a pale blue background which I find easier on the eye, but – each day’s output is in dark blue. Then, when I’ve read through it and corrected anything that didn’t read right I change it to black.

I’m not a fast writer, two or three thousand words is good for me. I think four is the most I’ve ever done, and some days it’s only a thousand. How about you? What is your writing routine?

The Twelve Month Marriage Deal

Margaret — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:28 +0000

This cover is from a Hebrew copy of my book The Twelve Month Marriage Deal. I love the simplicity of it. What do you think?

Heroes and Heroines

Margaret — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:59:00 +0000

I’m enjoying writing my current book far more than I usually do. Not that I don’t still have days when I tear my hair out and wonder what the hell I’m doing writing when it’s so difficult.
But this story seems to be resonating inside myself more than usual. I love my hero, really love him. Perhaps it’s because he’s lost his memory and I feel sorry for him. Or could it be-cause he’s totally gorgeous? Aren’t they all? What would be the point of a hero who did not tug at our heartstrings? And my poor heroine who thought he’d deserted her and has now found him again – she’s going through the mill because there are things that happened in her life after he left that she does not want to tell him about.
So you can see why I’m enjoying it.
I haven’t done much writing the last couple of weeks because I’ve felt really rotten, but I’m back on form again now and I’m looking forward to finding out how my hero and heroine resolve their issues.

Happy Easter!

Margaret — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:20:21 +0000

I’m sorry I haven’t blogged recently. I’ve been off-sorts with a head cold and a cough that won’t go away. To top it all one of my eyes wouldn’t even open the other morning, it was clogged up with mucus of some sort. It’s not better yet but it’s improved.

I do want to wish you all A Happy Easter, though. Enjoy your egg hunts and whatever else you do at this special time of year.

Writing tips

Margaret — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:30:15 +0000

I always remember when I was first trying to write, way back when, we had a speaker at the writer’s circle to which I belonged, and talking to her afterwards I told her that I had difficulty in interspersing my dialogue with actions and thoughts. So she suggested that I write the dialogue first like a play and then go back and put everything else in. And it worked. I don’t have that problem any longer, although I do still sometimes add a little more action after-wards when I’m re-reading.

Did anyone else ever suffer from that same problem?

And in case you’re wondering who the speaker was, it was Mary Wibberley. She wrote for HM&B in those days. Does anyone remember her? She also wrote a book on writing called To Writers With Love.

Foto Friday

Margaret — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:26:44 +0000

I thought you might like to see a photograph of my current hero who is seriously not behaving himself. He wants to go one way and I want him to go another. Life’s never fair, is it?

I have this particular photo pinned up on my cork board right in front of me as I work and every time I look at him I can’t help but forgive him. As some of you probably know, it’s Matt Boman who stars in the American TV series White Collar – which unfortunately we don’t have over here. At least I don’t think so..

I have my heroine pinned up right next to him – but I have no idea who she is in real life. All I know is that she’s one very attractive, very feisty blonde.

Busy weekend

Margaret — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:07:44 +0000

I had a computer free weekend as my daughter came to stay – with her three year old! Need I say more? It was Mothers Day here yesterday so we had a lovely meal and I have lots of beautiful flowers to brighten up the house. It actually snowed in with the rain which took everyone by surprise because we’ve been having some unseasonably lovely weather. Like today. The sun is shining, my washing’s blowing on the line, and I’m sitting here at my keyboard ready to start work.
I always read my last day’s work before I start so I’m looking forward to that. Sometimes I think, wow, did I really write that. Another time I’ll think, what a load of rubbish and cross most of it out.
Do you have days like that?

Apples

Margaret — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:01:13 +0000

I’ve been looking for recipes to use up the cooking apples I stored last year and which are not keeping as well as I had hoped. I want something quick and easy (don’t we all?) so if anyone has any suggestions I’d be very grateful.

As a reward I’ll send a copy of one of my books to whoever sends the recipe I like best.