Over the past months I’ve been reading a great number of motivational and inspiring books on the topic of personal growth. I’ve also been listening to podcasts and watching videos on YouTube. This interest has sprung from a combination of factors as I’ve recently reached a few significant milestones in my life; I retired and turned sixty and I have five grandchildren between the ages of three months and nine years. I am concerned with aging, health, and emotional wellbeing, as well as my children and grandchildren’s future challenges. I have more time to reflect and more things to reflect on, so I’ve found these books, podcasts and videos very helpful, especially in these uncertain and volatile times in which nothing can be taken for granted. I’ll be sharing my thoughts with you on Mondays.
This Monday I’m really excited about introducing you to inspirational Marisa Peer, nutritionist, therapist and creator of RTT (Rapid Transformation Therapy) which has helped change and improve lives. She has written books on dieting and pregnancy, but the book I’m going to tell you about today is I am enough: Mark your mirror and change your life, a complete manual of all her thoughts and proposals for a better, healthier and happier lifestyle.
I’ve been reading and listening to Marisa for a few years now, because she has a lot of useful advice and experience which she conveys in a calm and pleasant voice. The strategies she proposes are logical, clear and achievable. I already do many of the things she suggests, but hearing and reading about it also reinforces the power we all have to take control of our thoughts and actions.
She has a great metaphor for the struggle between the conscious and the subconscious mind, in which the subconscious mind is a wild horse and the conscious mind is its trainer, so when the horse loses control the trainer has to find ways to rein him in and work for us instead of against us. Marisa helps us find ways to do just that.
One of her most famous and useful suggestions is also the title of the book, the affirmation ‘I am enough’, because she considers that the root of all our troubles lies in the negative blocks which lead to our sense of failure, and she proposes specific ways to overcome these negative, preconcieved and damaging ideas and turn them into positive affirmations which have the power to change our lives.
This is a tiny gem of a book which presents all her personal development theories in a clear and concise nutshell.
I first found out about Marisa was through her Tedx Talk at Kings College London, Reach beyond your limits by training your mind.
She also has a second TedxTalk How to avoid rejection and get connection.
As always, I searched for her on YouTube to see and hear her recent talks and I found a wealth of videos on her youtube channel including topics such as self-hipnosis, meditation and tips and strategies to improve our physical and mental wellbeing, and motivation.
This is one of her latest interviews, where she explains her philosophy to achieve a happier, healthier lifestyle and offers clear and straightforward proposals to make our lives better.
This morning I went out for a walk. It was a lovely sunny mrning, un spite of being the 8th of November, because I’m fortunate enough to live in the south of Spain.
The trees are full of oranges, low enough to pick! However, most of them are the bitter ones for making the famous ‘Seville Orange Marmalade’.
Yesterday, one of my best friends, Gabriela, gave some sweet oranges from her garden.
And this afternoon I made an orange cake for tea! It’s a really simple and delicious recipe which I’d like to share with you.
These are the ingredients: 3 eggs, one whole, Spanish orange, 70ml of olive oil, 100gms of sugar, 250 gms self raising flour and a pinch of salt. That’s it!
First put the eggs, oil, sugar and orange (washed, seeded and roughly cut) in a blender.
And this is what happens!
Then put the mixture into a bowl and gradually add the flour.
Until it’s all combined and you put the mixture into a greased tin.
40 minutes later at 180° this is what you get!
A delicious orange cake. I wish you could smell it. It’s like having an orange tree in the house!
Now the best part. Make a cup of tea or coffee and share it with someone you love or just eat it yourself!
Go ahead, spoil yourself it’s quick, easy, healthy and delicious. And you don’t have to eat it all on one day. It’s even more delicious tomorrow and the day after.
Welcome back to #MarcosPlaylist and #SaturdaySingalong with another song from the playlist I made for my grandson in August 2020 on Spotify, when he was just a few days old. I chose my favourite songs with a mellow rhythm to sing to him, dance with him cradled in my arms and perhaps send him to sleep, or at least calm him down! This post, tanka and playlist is for Marcos, now fifteen-weeks old.
Today I’m featuring Ain’t no Mountain High Enough, the song which has plenty of verions, was written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 and became a hit in 1967, when Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, recorded it.
Later in 1970 it became a hit again thanks to Diana Ross’s version which was her first solo number-one hit, nominated for a Grammay Award, after leaving the Supremes.
I vividly remember watching this scene in Stepmom (1998) with my own teenage daughters, now mothers with young children. We all cried our eyes out in this scene, when ‘the mother’, the wonderful, Susan Sarandon, sings the song with her young kids, because it is so emotional. No spoilers, if you haven’t seen the movie, watch it with a huge box of hankies. By the way, a very young, Julia Roberts, is the (not wicked) stepmom and Ed Harris, is the children’s father.
It’s such a comforting thought, that the person you love will be there when you need them. We can all relate to that need for safety, love and support. I really enjoyed singing this song to Marcos and I hope he’ll be able to count on his grandmother for many years to come! This Tanka is for him.
All Hallows at Eyre Hall has seven main characters, Jane Eyre Rochester, Edward Rochester, Richard Mason, Annette Mason, Michael Kirkpatrick, John Rochester and Adele Varens, although there are about thirty-eight other secondary characters, 16 created by Charlotte Bronte, which appeared in Jane Eyre, and 16 characters which are unique to The Eyre Hall Trilogy.
I just love this image, sandwiched between Thomas Hardy and Elizabeth Gaskell. You can’t get more Victorian than that!
Characters mentioned in Jane Eyre and All Hallows at Eyre Hall:
Edward Rochester, Jane Eyre, Richard Mason, Leah, Adele Varens, Bertha Mason, Dr. Carter, Mr Briggs, Mrs. Diana Rivers, Mary Rivers, St John Rivers, Captain Fitzjames, Mr Wharton, Mrs Alice Fairfax, Mr Fairfax, Mr Woods.
Note: Jane’s Aunt Reed and cousins Georgina and John are briefly mentioned, but they do not appear in All Hallows (her Aunt and John died in Jane Eyre).
In any case, none of the original characters are exactly the same as they were in Jane Eyre, twenty-two years have passed, so their lives have changed and their characters have developed over time and they been recreated in my own imagination.
The following table will help you see this transition from Jane Eyre to All Hallows at Eyre Hall.
Character
In Jane Eyre
In All Hallows at Eyre Hall
Edward Rochester
He was the master of Thornfield Hall and the Rochester Estate. He was about forty years old and claimed to be a bachelor with no children.
He’s about 65 and on his death bed. He’s still the master of the Rochester Estate and also of Eyre Hall. He claims to have only one son, John Rochester.
Jane Eyre
She was a 19 year-old governess, who married her employer, Mr Rochester.
She’s 42 and becomes a widow during the novel. She is a novelist and philanthropist, who is concerned with the well-being of young orphans and the education of children.
Richard Mason
An English landowner who lived in the British colony of Jamaica. He was Bertha Mason’s brother (step-brother according to Wide Sargasso Sea) and he interrupted Jane and Rochester’s wedding, exposing him as a bigamist.
He still lives in Jamaica, but he has squandered his family fortune and has returned to blackmail Jane, after Rochester’s death. He knows more of Rochester’s secrets, which are still unknown to Jane.
Adele Varens
Mr Rochester’s 10-year-old ward, who was born and brought up in France. She was most probably Rochester’s illegitimate daughter, and her surname is Varens, like her mother, a French opera singer, who was Rochester’s mistress.
She is a 32 year-old spinster, who is still living with Mr Rochester and Jane, searching for the love of her life and looking forward to meeting her mother who is living in Italy, before she dies.
Leah
She was a young servant when Jane Eyre arrived at Thornfield.
Mrs. Leah is the housekeeper at Eyre Hall. She is a spinster who is about Jane’s age.
Bertha Antionette Mason
Mrs Rochester. She was Mr Rochester’s first wife, whom he locked in their attic claiming she was insane. She allegedly burnt Thornfield and jumped from the battlements to her death.
She is mentioned as Annette Mason’s mother, whom she gave birth to while she was in the attic.
Dr Carter
He was Mr Rochester’s private physician.
He is still the Rochester family doctor, who currently resides at Ferndean, Mr Rochester’s manor house. He is about Mr Rochester’s age. He has one son who is studying medicine.
Mr Briggs
He was a London solicitor who interrupted Jane and Rochester’s first marriage attempt, at Richard Mason’s instance, and later informed Jane that her uncle had died and she had inherited his fortune.
He is a solicitor who works in London and is employed frequently by Mr Rochester.
Miss Diana Rivers
Jane’s cousin, whom she met by chance after leaving Thornfield. Diana and her siblings take Jane in when Jane is homeless and penniless after leaving Mr Rochester on finding out he was married. She marries Captain Fitzjames. She is Mary and St John’s sister.
Mrs Fitzjames. She is married to Admiral Fitzjames. She employed Michael’s mother as a seamstress and took the orphaned Michael and Susan for holidays at her house. Jane met Michael and Susan on a visit to Diana’s home at Christmas. They have no children.
Miss Mary Rivers
Jane’s cousin, whom she meets by chance and takes her in at Morton, when Jane is homeless and penniless after leaving Mr Rochester on finding out he was married. She marries clergyman, Mr Wharton. She is Diana and St John’s sister.
Mrs. Wharton is a clergyman’s wife. They have moved to Wales, where he has found a good position. They visit Jane once a year, usually at Christmas. They are childless.
St John Rivers
Mary and Diana’s brother. He is a clergyman. He proposes to Jane, but she rejects him. He leaves for the colonies in India as a missionary and never returns to England.
He is only mentioned, but he has not returned to England and is still in India.
Mrs Fairfax
Mr Rochester’s housekeeper whose husband was related to his mother, née Fairfax.
She is only mentioned.
Mr Fairax
He was a clergyman who was related to Mr Rochester’s mother, whose surname was Fairfax, thus Mr Rochester’s middle name was Fairfax.
He is only mentioned, but a letter written by Mr Rochester to Mr Fairfax, shortly after his marriage to Bertha Mason, is an important document in All Hallows.
Mr Woods
He was the local clergyman at the church on the Rochester Estate. He married Jane and Rochester.
He is very elderly now, but he is still clergyman on the Rochester Estate church.
Captain Fitzjames
He is briefly mentioned as Jane’s cousin, Diana’s, husband.
He is now retired Admiral Fitzjames. Michael and Susan’s father died while on a mission on his frigate.
Mr Wharton
He is briefly mentioned as a Clergyman who married Jane’s cousin Mary Rivers.
He is briefly mentioned in All Hallows.
Characters which are unique to All Hallows at Eyre Hall:
John Eyre Rochester, Michael Kirkpatrick, Susan Kirkpatrick, Annette Mason, Bishop Templar, Mr. Greenwood, Jenny Rosset, Nell Rosset, Thomas Rosset, Simon, Beth, Christy, Mr Raven, Mr Cooper, Mr Tempest, and The Sin Eater, Isac das Junot.
****
Annette Mason. She was born in Thornfield Hall. Mr Rochester denies being the father, although he was married to Bertha Mason, who was locked in the attic, when Annette was born, so, if he is not lying, her father’s identity is, as yet, unknown.
Her uncle, Richard Mason, who had taken her with him to Jamaica, as a baby, brought her back to England to claim her birthright when Mr. Rochester was dying.
John Rochester. He is Jane and Rochester’s son. He is 21. He is studying Law at Oxford and he is engaged to Elizabeth Harwood, the daughter of a London Judge. Elizabeth is mentioned, but she does not appear in the novel as she is ill throughout the novel.
Michael Kirkpatrick. He is Jane’s faithful valet, who has been employed at Eyre Hall since he was fifteen, nine years ago. Jane met him at her cousin, Diane’s home and offered him and his sister, Susan, a job at Eyre Hall.
Susan Kirkpatrick,is Michael’s younger sister. She started working as a maid and is now teaching at the Sunday and Parish school, although she still lives at Eyre Hall.
Jenny Rosset claims to be s a widow with two young children,Nell and Thomas. She is about Jane’s age and she works at the George Inn occasionally and sometimes she works as a prostitute for wealthy clients. She knows some secrets about both Thronfield and Eyre Hall.
Mr. Greenwood is a widowed London poet who has been courting Adele. They have been exchanging letters for months and he has been invited to stay at Eyre Hall and meet Adele and her family. He has offered to marry Adele and accompany her to Venice to be reunited with her mother Celine Varens.
Simon is a clumsy servant at Eyre Hall. He is Mr Rochester’s valet.
Beth and Christy are two maids who work at Eyre Hall.
Mr Raven is the owner of the Rochester Arms, the only pub on the Rochester estate. The Sin Eater, Isac das Junot, is a mysterious, supernatural character who appears in every book of the trilogy when someone has died. He makes prophesies and scares the life out of most people who cross his path.
Mr Cooper is Mr Rochester’s accountant and Mr Tempest is the Undertaker.
I was scrolling though the blogs I follow when I came across Lucysworks.com and I read her poetry contest prompt, which were the following lines from Pullitzer prize-winner, Wallace Stevens, and I was inspired at once.
“Elysia, these days, half earth, half mind; Half-sun, half thinking of the sun; half sky, Half desire for indifference about the sky.”
–– “Extracts From Addresses To The Academy of Fine Ideas.”
Well, here’s my poem, sorry it’s a bit dark, but that’s where the prompt took me this time. It would have suited Halloween!
This post was written in response to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group monthly (first Wednesday of every month) blog hop to where writers express thoughts, doubts and concerns about our profession. By the way, all writers are invited to join in!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG
November 4 question – Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?
This is a question I rarely ask myself explicitly, but I do think about the answer, because so many people ask me, and on this occasion it’s the Insecure Writer’s question for the month, so I’ll do my best to reply.
As I understand it, this question has two parts, a) why I write and b) why I write what I write.
a) Why do I write?
I write because I can’t not write, the same as I can’t not think, or feel, or walk, or talk.
Once I learn to do something which is useful and rewarding, it becomes part of my life and I can’t unlearn it or undo it.
I can’t stop writing a poem when I see a beautiful image, or have an emotional thought, or memory.
I can’t help carrying a notebook and jotting down ideas for poems or scenes for my books, and I’m sure I’ll never stop doing it, in fact I shudder to think I could ever stop the creativity flowing through my mind.
Now to the second part of the question, b) why do I write what I write?
I write about topics which I feel strongly about. This doesn’t mean I’m on a mission to change or improve the world, I would never be so presumptuous, it just means that I write about what is significant for me.
I write poems because I love capturing my emotions with a few symbolic words and giving them an artistic shape and sound, based on syllables and rhythm or rhyme.
I write Victorian novels because I admire Victorian authors who gave me so many hours of joyful reading and inspiration, and in so doing, I offer them my humble tribute.
I write about Jane Eyre, because when I first read it in my early teens, it was the first novel that inspired me to even think about writing myself, and I’ve never been able to get Jane Eyre out of my mind.
I write my blog because I want to reach out to and communicate with other authors and readers. It’s thrilling to know I can ‘meet’ and interact with other people who I’d never be able to reach or talk to or read about in my day-today life, if I wasn’t an active blogger.
I could go on, and if we could sit and chat with a coffee, a tea, a beer or a glass of wine, depending on our mood and the time of day, we’d share more ideas and reasons, because I’d love to know why you write too, and of course, why you write what you write.
Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to like and/or share and/or leave a comment 🙂
Today I’m reviewing two novels by Tracey Garvis Graves, whose debut novel, On the Island (2012) spent 9 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The novel has been translated into twenty-nine languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. I read the novel earlier this year and I enjoyed it so much that I also bought her second novel, The Girl He Used To Know (2019), which I enjoyed even more! Her books are romantic, but the romantic couples have highly problematic relationships, so there’s plenty of angst, before we get to the happy ending! Which is fine by me, I quite like some authentic, controversial and thought-provoking, romantic turmoil.
From the Blurb
When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a summer job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family’s holiday home in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation: a tropical island beats the library any day.
T.J. has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He’s almost seventeen and if having had cancer wasn’t bad enough, he now has to spend his first summer in remission with his family instead of his friends.
Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.’s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Marooned on an uninhabited island, Anna and T.J. work together to obtain water, food, fire and shelter but, as the days turn to weeks then months and finally years, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man…
****
My Review
This novel starts with a bang until they reach the island, and then it slows down, as the unlikely couple are stranded on a desert island for literally years, and in the meantime, the teenager becomes a man and they fall in love.
Their time on the island is at first traumatic. They both experience illness, hardship and emotional anguish due to the isolation and harshness of a life with no amenities at all. Their situation is challenging and it’s very well described. I felt claustrophobic on the island too! Their love helps them get through the worst, but is it real, or is it a product of their unique situation?
The next part of the novel, back in civilisation brings even more challenges. They’ve broken too many rules and taboos and their family and society’s demands strains their relationship to breaking point, more than once.
The difficulties they face and the way in which they gradually overcome the negative forces around them, as well their own traumas, was nerve-racking, although we’re ultimately given a believable and happy ending, no spoiler there, because it’s the way they reach their happy ending that concerns readers of romantic fiction.
The characters grow in age and evolve emotionally throughout the novel, and their love is constantly tested. It’s an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end, which I admit I love!
****
From the Blurb
Annika Rose likes being alone. She feels lost in social situations, saying the wrong thing or acting the wrong way. She just can’t read people. She prefers the quiet solitude of books or playing chess to being around others. Apart from Jonathan. She liked being around him, but she hasn’t seen him for ten years. Until now that is. And she’s not sure he’ll want to see her again after what happened all those years ago.
The Girl He Used to Know is a heartbreaking and uplifting second chance romance. Annika is an unusual, loveable heroine, who faces many challenges due to her brutal honesty and lack of social skills, which Jonathan finds it hard to cope with, in spite of his efforts. Johnathan is a worthy hero, but there are heartbreaking pitfalls to their happy ending. The story is told from both characters’ first person point of view, so we get to understand the characters as if we knew them intimately.
Especially for readers who enjoy uplifting romantic novels with plenty of angst and complex characters.
Hi again! Sorry if I seem persistent, but this will be my last post reminding you that my novel, All Hallows at Eyre Hall, the sequel to Jane Eyre, and Book 1 of The Eyre Hall Trilogy, is free today, for the last day.
So, if you were thinking of purchasing it, hurry because today is your last chance! Follow this link!
I’d also like to thank those of you who have already downloaded your free copy, because thanks to you, All Hallows at Eyre Hallhas reached third position on Amazon’s Best Sellers for Historical Thrillers in the USA.
It has also reached second position on Amazon UK for the Victorian, Historical Romance category of free books, so I’m naturally thrilled.
In Spain it’s number one in Romance in English, right next to Jane Eyre, which is a real treat for my eyes!
I’m also thrilled that it’s in third position in Canada in Victorian Historical Romance, which is a wonderful discovery. I was in Montreal, some years ago and loved the city, but I have no friends there at all, so it’s a lovely surprise to know I have readers in Canada!
So, it’s been a really great promotion as far as visibility and publicity goes. Fingers crossed buyers will also be readers and hopefully reviewers!
It’s not easy being an Independent author, there’s a lot of work to be done which has nothing to do with creative writing, such as formatting, promotion and marketing, but it’s also empowering to make your own decisions and control the process from writing the novel to reaching the readers’ kindles and hopefully minds!
If you’ve read it or are in the process of doing so, I’d love to know about your experience as a reader of All Hallows at Eyre Hall.
Over the past months I’ve been reading a great number of motivational and inspiring books on the topic of personal growth. I’ve also been listening to podcasts and watching videos on YouTube. This interest has sprung from a combination of factors as I’ve recently reached a few significant milestones in my life; I retired and turned sixty and I have five grandchildren between the ages of three months and nine years. I am concerned with aging, health, and emotional wellbeing, as well as my children and grandchildren’s future challenges. I have more time to reflect and more things to reflect on, so I’ve found these books, podcasts and videos very helpful, especially in these uncertain and volatile times in which nothing can be taken for granted. I’ll be sharing my thoughts with you on Mondays.
This Monday I’m really excited about introducing you to fitness and health influencer Lucy Wyndham-Read. I swear by her workouts! They really helped me keep up my physical and mental motivation during lockdown and I’m still doing her workouts!
I discovered Lucy, quite by chance, as I was looking for youtube videos with short, simple and effective exercises to do at home, while on lockdown, back in March. Lucy is a brilliant trainer, her videos are clear (she explains the exercises and then does them with you), they transmit enthusiasm (her voice and motivational talk while doing the activities is energising), achieveable (I’m over sixty and I can do them all with no problems), and effective (you feel great after doing them!).
This is one of the latest videos on her youtube channel, a fun, 7-minute indoor walk, perfect for lockdown or rainy days! I urge you to subscribe and get access to all her free videos! She has tons of videos, so you’re bound to find something for you! There are 4, 7, 10, 20 and 30 mintute workouts. She even has workouts you can do sitting down!
After watching and doing her workouts, I was curious. Who is this fabulous online trainer, who has 1.6 million followers on youtube and says she’s on a mission to help women love and improve their bodies, whatever their shape, size, age or fitness level.
I found out that Lucy is in her mid-forties and has been a Personal Trainer and fitness expert for over 20 years. So she knows what works to achieve real results, claiming her followers achieve incredible fitness transformations with her short and accessible routines. And I can vouch for that!
I also discovered the real Lucy and the motivation behind her mission in her inspirational Ted Talk, ‘Yes, I Can’.
Now to Lucy’s book, 7-Minute Body Plan. This marvellous, little book has four parts: An intorduction where she justifies and explains her fitness method, 9 7-minute workouts with images and explanation, Healthy recipies, and finally the 7-Minute body plan for life.
This book is just like having a life-long gym membership at home, you don’t need to go to the gym or invest in any equipment. You can design your own 7-exercises-in-7-minutes workout, by choosing and combining the 49 moves the book offers.
The recipies are delicious, and easy to prepare at home. I’ve only tried a few so far, like the courgette, noodles and Coriander pesto, for example, which was delicious. I love the smoothies, too, Green Goddess with avocado, apple, cucumber, celery and seedless grapes, for example is a delicious way to prepare your own homemade, energy drink!
The book also has plenty of tips amd ideas to keep your motivation and energy level tip top!
I love Lucy. She’s is a life-saver!
Find out more about Lucy, she’ll change your health and fitness routine for the better!
![I Am Enough: Mark Your Mirror And Change Your Life by [Marisa Peer]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41JqDfAJaBL._SX260_.jpg)
![On The Island by [Tracey Garvis Graves]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Lek8F86jL.jpg)
![The Girl He Used to Know: A Novel by [Tracey Garvis Graves]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519CARGkUBL.jpg)
![7-Minute Body Plan: Quick workouts & simple recipes for real results in 7 days by [Lucy Wyndham-Read]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/4135sggQIbL.jpg)
Rereading Jane Eyre 