Elin Gregory

Hey guys, guess what!

March 30, 2012 by Elin Gregory

I’ve got a guest on my blog tomorrow! I didn’t even have to arm twist or anything.

Want a clue?

Yes, no other than Erastes will be here to answer all kinds of probing questions. I didn’t even have to bribe her!

Tune in tomorrow!!

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Six Sentence Sunday

March 25, 2012 by Elin Gregory

This is my first attempt at Six Sentence Sunday. 🙂 I have no idea if I’m doing it right but there are six sentences. I counted ’em.

6 sentences from WIP, A Fierce Reaping, set in Scotland and Northumbria in the late 7th century AD. Cynfal wishes to join a war band but has been challenged to wrestle a champion for his place.

Cynfal met his eyes and they held each others gaze for a long minute before both leaped to grab and hold. Chest to chest they heaved and twisted, feet scrabbled in the rushes, hands slid across skin just beginning to sheen with sweat. Around them the men of the hall howled. Cynfal rammed a shoulder into Aeddan’s armpit and grabbed a handful of his breeks to lift. The fabric tore. There was a shriek of laughter.

[The photo is nothing to do with Scotland or Northumbria but a very lovely image of a terrific sport – Oil wrestling where combatants wear leather capris and douse themselves in extra virgin before they start. An ancient sport with time-honoured traditions. Yes, his hand is down the other guys pants. ]

Posted in Six Sentence Sunday | Tagged AFR, snippet, SSS | 9 Comments »

Word count

March 23, 2012 by Elin Gregory

As of this morning I have cracked the 100 thousand word mark on my novel “On A Lee Shore”. this is good because the end is nigh but bad because I’ve written two chapter that are pretty much continuous action and now have to find a way of ending the damned story in a way that isn’t a damp little fizzle after lots of KABOOMs.

So there’s still a cause for concern and still a lot of work to be done [after the 1st draft is complete the story can marinate for a while before I’ll go at it with the pruning shears] but I can’t help looking at that word count and feeling just a bit pleased.

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Lucky 7 Meme

March 22, 2012 by Elin Gregory

Here are the rules:
1. Go to page 77 (or 7th) of your current ms
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines – sentences or paragraphs – and post them as they’re written. No cheating.

4. Tag 7 other authors. {Yeah like that’s going to happen.This is a strictly voluntary game.}

I’ve chosen 7 paragraphs from Page 77 of A Fierce Reaping – Cynfal, an experienced but down on his luck soldier, has struck lucky and is leading one wing of Troop Three in a cavalry force sent by Marro, King of Din Eidin, to drive the Saxons out of Northumbria. Here they are just setting out:

Cynfal laughed and turned to Gwion. “Let’s get this misbegotten bunch moving. Can’t you play us something more cheerful?”
Gwion tilted his head. “How about your favourite?” he asked. “When father went to the mountain?”
Cynfal leaned to slap the back of his head, but Gwion was already playing the catchy little tune and voices were chiming in with “Giff, Gaff, catch catch, fetch fetch.” Cynfal shrugged, laughed and began to sing as well.
The song was a good choice. Just as father called to his dogs Giff and Gaff, so Marro was sending them out on the hunt, “catch catch, fetch fetch”, hoping they would return with a border set beyond which the Saxons wouldn’t venture. Maybe Marro appreciated that too? He was smiling, frail and bony in the watery sunlight, and his lips moved in time to the words.
“Dear gods,” Cynon swept up and spun his horse to Cynfal’s side. He glared across at Gwion. “Couldn’t you have come up with something more dignified than that nursery rhyme?”
“Dignified?” Cynfal said. “I didn’t realise you wanted dignified. I thought you wanted ponies packed, whores wrangled, ditches dug, tents put up and general dying done. Nobody mentioned dignified.”
“Well it’s too late now,” Cynon said and grinned. “Everyone likes this song!” And he joined in loudly with “Catch, catch, fetch, fetch” as he rode back to the head of his troop.

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Blog hopping

March 20, 2012 by Elin Gregory

Only this time one of my characters made his way over to Sue Roebuck’s blog all on his own. Feel free to visit to see a little Greek in action.

Hmm, not sure that came out quite the way I intended it.

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Brainzzzzz

March 20, 2012 by Elin Gregory

Weird things brains. I’ve been complaining today that because I’m busy doing something else my characters have decided that now is the time to perk up and start performing. By the time I get home from the day job they will have shut up again, bless ’em.

But then I picked up a pen and wrote 400 words in my lunchtime so I’m wondering if it’s the physical process of typing that my mind is objecting to. Either way 400 words between answering phone calls is a respectable number, even if they are no earthly use to me because i was on a sugar rush – mmmm Mars Bar – and let my sense of humour run away with me.

I can draw too. I think it’s definitely typing that’s the problem.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged block, this way lies madness | Leave a Comment »

Blog hopping.

March 19, 2012 by Elin Gregory

Anyone else for a marathon blog hop in support of International Day Against Homophobia? Open to all authors, reviewers and publishers, just sign up with an idea for a gift in mind. Details and registration here.

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