I’ve become so familiar with the seafront in Penarth that I’ve never ventured from the main path. Contented with the changes in the light, I found comfort in the same view. On Boxing Day, crowds of people in Penarth forced me to walk a new path above the seafront.
As I looked down on a familiar view from a new perspective, I released some of the characters in my work in progress. Maybe these characters will remain forever lost or appear in another story. Who knows? I’ve worked in my tiny writing room, with my cast of characters, for many months. In the new year, I will print out my work in progress, read it aloud and look at it from a fresh perspective.
It’s certain I will remain with Pearl and Jim who will also need to digress from their familiar paths. Alas, they can’t text each other, connect via social media or email each other. When the characters are a distance apart, they must physically travel to meet up or write a proper letter. They can’t even use a landline as they don’t have telephones.
Attitudes and beliefs in this era continue to shock me. My twenty first century perspective means I can support my characters a little yet cannot control their anxiety. The girls in the factory are currently on strike and they can’t google the legislation to find out more. It would’ve helped if they could connect with the Dagenham strikers in a Facebook Group, but social media is decades away. Of course, they’ve seen the headlines and the world seems to have gone on strike. And I’m in despair because some of the women have been tempted to parade in a fashion show of clothes for the bosses. In future, they will learn about the Miss World protests. I know these destinations are ahead of them but how can I navigate them and force them to take new paths?
Like me the characters are facing January, but the January of 1970 was a harsh one. I have twenty ideas for the title of my next novel and all suggestions include the word ‘love’. Love will guide my characters. In the words of Dylan Thomas. ‘Though lovers be lost, love shall not…’
As the sun sets on another year, I wish you and my characters some happy and new destinations.
Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.
It’s fascinating to write about another era – really makes you see what you have. I’m writing two thousand years into the future and though that means I can use a clean slate technologically etc, a lot of what has happened has happened because of our generations. Happy New Year to you and your characters!
Another era is fascinating and challenging. Happy New Year to you too.
Happy New Year, Jessie. Good luck with your story and the characters. 🙂
Happy New Year, Jessie! ?
Wishing you a Happy New Year, Jessie. May it be a creative one 🙂
Happy New Year Jessie,in the words of John Lennon: Let’s hope it’s a good one’. Have my own blog post to write this afternoon but it feels like I’ve been given homework. LOL. Really enjoyed reading your blog and learning more about your characters. All the best for 2019, keep writing and being the wonderful supportive on-line presence that you are.
I remember us connecting via my first post of 2018, so it is wonderful to welcome you here in 2019. Thanks for your kind words. I look forward to more of your fantastic books in 2019.
Happy New Year, Jessie!! Thank you for an amazing support during 2018 and for great reads! Looking forward to more adventures with your formidable characters! A blessed 2019 to you and yours. xxx
Wonderful you were my first visitor of 2019. Looking forward to another year of magical book releases.