Sunday 30 January 2011

Tales from the grape vine

This morning saw me finishing revisions and corrections to Joe Hunter seven, No Going Back, based on a line edit by my wonderful editor, Sue Fletcher at Hodder and Stoughton. It served me well, getting my head back into the Joe Hunter-sphere - a place I hadn't really trod since October last year. It was good to be back and hear Joe's voice in my head once more, and it has enthused me to knuckle down and get on with his next adventure.

However, there were first a few neglected chores to see to, so (reluctantly) I joined my good wife in the garden to trim back a vine that has grown to magnificent proportions and was threatening to engulf both our house and the building next door. Like Joe Hunter, I've had a few dodgy moments in my life, one of them which has left me with an equally dodgy knee, so going up a ladder wasn't my most favourite chore of the day. Needs must though and I set to it with minimal moaning (you should hear me on a good day!), and got stuck into the vine with a vengeance. Sacoteurs aren't men's tools. I'm not even sure I can spell the word correctly never mind use them with deft aplomb. I elected to the mannish approach of ripping and tearing the vine from limb to limb, battling valiantly. The problem is - unless you're Alan Titchmarsh - gardening and authoring should never be mixed. Cue blisters and a beautiful blood bleb the colour of my frost reddened cheeks. But the job's done and behind me, and I can now settle down to writing with a clear conscience (but sore hands).

Do you understand the self-sacrifice I put myself through to bring you Joe's latest adventure? ;-)

p.s. I'm seriously thinking of insuring my 'typing finger'.

8 comments:

SueH said...

So glad you could 'tear' yourself away from the literary mayhem to wreak the same in the world of horticulture!

Just don't use that 'digital' injury as an excuse to not buckle down to writing!

(BTW - I have half a lawn that needs digging up, if you have a moment......)

Author said...

The blood bleb is growing to super-sized proportions, but worry not....it's just a flesh wound! cough!

SueH said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SueH said...

I bet Hunter would've had that vine down pronto and no messing!

(and he wouldn't be wingeing about cuts and bruises!);-p

David Barber said...

You need to get yourself a gardener, Matt. "Sod" all that hard work!

See what I did there? HA!

Author said...

David, I'm with you, mate.

Sue, not to worry. I underwent radical surgery to rectify the problem (jabbed it with a needle actually!) and am not hale and hearty and ready for the next adventure. That Joe bloke doesn't know how easy he's got it. ;-)

Paul Grzegorzek said...

'Typing finger' eh? Don't tell me you write that fast with only one finger hitting the keyboard? I use 8 and i can't churn them out as fast as you!

And gardening is definitely a vine way to damage your fingers...

Author said...

Yup. The legendary calloused finger tip strikes. Usually holding a cup of coffee and a fag in all the others.

I know it's bad for my health...people positively shouldn't follow my lead. They shouldn't garden LOL