The tomato situation is out of hand. Even as I write this I should be in the garden collecting yet another bucket of tomatoes. Yes, bucket, bowls will no longer do. I have many packages of frozen tomatoes. I've given tomatoes to everyone who steps into my house including the friend to Giant Teenager No.2 who looked at me as if I was asking him to please take a package of nuclear waste home.
But tomatoes notwithstanding, I've actually had a fairly productive week. I finished my rough draft of The Vanishings. It is currently very plotty as my books tend to be at rough draft stage. It has all sorts of curves because we like curves. Now it will sit for at least a month probably two to cook.
I have set aside the end of the year for four fiction projects and thanks to my good royalties this year, I have the time to do that. The first was to finish this rough draft. Number two is a romance novella that has been banging at my head and I fear will almost be vomited into the computer as fast as my fingers can type it. Then I need to go back to the book I worked on in Egypt, Revelations. I'm quite excited about this as it's been in the cooking phase and I have some solid ideas about where I want it to go. Lastly I want to work on a young adult book for next year's Sanlam Prize. The theme is hope. I'm hopeful I can come up with something that does not scream maudlin as much as theme suggests it might.
In the meanwhile, today I was going through proofs for two of my books with Vivlia Publishers in South Africa: Curse of the Gold Coins and Anything for Money, the third book in the Kate Gomolemo series. It was nice to read them after such a long time. I also got alerted to a write-up in The Mail and Guardian (a South African newspaper) about the Sapphire books and both of my books were mentioned, Kwaito Love and Can He Be The One? Though they spelled my name wrong, I was still pretty pleased.
So that's what I've been busy with. And of course tomatoes.
Wow! Congratulations on everything. Your writing is prolific. Even your tomatoes are prolific, lol. Seriously, it is a nice thing if you are receiving good royalties as a writer. All the very best!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to royalty cheques - they're what paid for my 3 day writing retreat last month. Best of luck with the tomato invasion. I suspect sea monkeys are involved.
ReplyDeleteAnd we're at the time of year when tomatoes are the most rare and expensive. Perhaps that's why my writing is going so slowly :)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with yours, Laurie!
Oops - I meant Lauri *blush*
ReplyDeleteI just want to say - You are amazing! Your devotion to your work and your productivity shame me... and I'd like some tomatoes please, we didn't get any in our beg box this week!
ReplyDeleteYou inspire me too. There is joy and abundance around you as evidenced by all those tomatoes. I am really glad for you.
ReplyDeleteGreat news on the writing front. We're coming to the end of tomato season here 'bouts. Here's an example of what too many tomatoes can lead to:
ReplyDeleteDateline: Stringtown, West Virginia.
WOMAN VANISHES AFTER RECEIVING TOMATOES
A farmer disappeared after taking two huge cases of tomatoes into her Stringtown kitchen on Saturday. The tomatoes were intended for canning, though there was some disagreement about their best use. According to a source inside Stringtown Rising Farm, the last time the woman was seen, she was being followed by chickens.
An investigation is underway as the search continues. A representative for the chickens told the media: “We love the woman. She gave us two pumpkins. Her disappearance leaves a huge hole in our lives, but it’s not one we pecked ourselves.”
Fowl play is suspected in the case.
Life's been hectic so have just caught up your news. Fantastic on the two M&G mentions - pity they spelled your name wrong! :( I still can't get over how prolific you are as a writer...(:O = me in awe!)
ReplyDeleteJudy
Sun-dried tomatoes are very tasty. Then they shrink in volume too >:)
ReplyDeleteThanks guys. I'm currently running up and down across our country. Just back from Francistown, tomorrow off to Gaborone.
ReplyDeleteAnd the tomatoes continue. Actually Cold as Heaven, I may get sun dried tomatoes since I won't have a chance to pick until Sunday. :)
Bonita- are you trying to scare me with that story??