Charlie Cochrane - writing the beauty of his eyes

Newsletter fifty nine

Fri, 25 May 2012 07:26:13 GMT

Apologies for being quiet and not terribly interactive, but jury service is eating the time, eating my brain and giving me too many plot bunnies!

News
Am up to eyeballs in edits for Lessons for Survivors, (Tracey is a hard taskmistress but she edited This Ground which was Secured at Great Expense which is possibly my best story, so she’s worth it.)

Cover art is by the wonderful Alex Beecroft

Edits always make me cringe at my own errors. How could I have mistaken discrete for discreet? How did that phrase appear in 1919, ten years too early?

Here’s a snippet in which I didn’t make too much of a mess. The boys are talking about Orlando’s upcoming inaugural lecture, about which – surprise, surprise – he’s fretting.

“Anyway, make the most of that kiss. There may be no more forthcoming before I give my lecture.”
“That’s hardly the spirit I expect, Orlando. If I were ever to gain a Chair in Tudor Literature or some such wonderful thing, I’d insist on regular romantic activity to fortify and inspire me. A man can’t live by hair pomade and computation alone.” Jonty made good the knot in his lover’s tie for what seemed the umpteenth time. “How far have you got with your first draft, by the way?”
“First draft? At this rate, it’ll never get written. Too many distractions. You being at the top of the list.” Orlando screwed up his face. “Perhaps I should simply write it on the subject of ‘Equations quantifying the known nuisance values of Jonathan Stewart’.”
“That would be impossible to quantify, I’m afraid. Didn’t you tell me there are no numbers bigger than infinity?” Jonty pulled down his lover’s brow to reachable level, but had second thoughts about kissing it, just in case hair and tie both got mussed up again. “If you’re that distracted, we should deem it protocol to sleep in separate beds the next few nights. Then you could scribble away to your heart’s content.”
“It could be done. And the thought of resumption of bed-sharing would be a positive incentive to get the wretched thing sorted out. I need something to give me the proverbial boot up the backside.” Orlando deliberately moved away from the mirror. “Right, that’s it. If I’m not fit for public view now, I never will be. Thank goodness it’s just the official bit today and the lecture’s all of a fortnight away.”
“At least that’ll give Lavinia the chance to buy a dress suitable for the occasion. She’s dragging her heels about getting the right outfit. Worse than you. And she’s almost as nervous as you are. Feels she’s representing all the Stewarts and has to be on her best behaviour.” Lavinia Stewart, Jonty’s sister and the matriarch of the family now her formidable mother had died, was developing into the role with surprising dignity and good sense.
“She’s bound to be better behaved than you, so everyone will be relieved.”

Inspiration

What could be more inspiring than this gorgeous lot, as seen not just on the bus but up close in the “meet the players” zone at Twickenham. I have dibs on Richie Gray.

Another inspiring Paralympian!

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:19:51 GMT

Flyby post, because of the jury service. Interesting but knackering! This lad, Jason Smyth, is another Paralympian trying to break into the Olympics. I must be slipping - only heard of him this weekend!

And talking of Olympics, don't forget to follow the torch .

Generally a fabby day!

Sun, 20 May 2012 10:42:25 GMT

Yesterday was great. Easy run up and down from Twickenham, great atmosphere, brilliant match, only one negative thing, of which more later.

The day started as was due to go on, with me misbehaving.

This was before Guinness drinking, having face painted and chatting up these lads:

Only downside was the pre-match on-pitch entertainment. I hope the organisers of the Olympic opening ceremony were watching and taking notes that this is what we DO NOT WANT!

SUFTUM!

Sat, 19 May 2012 07:58:08 GMT

Big few days of sport hit a new high yesterday when I got a virtual kiss from Nige over twitter. In the immortal words of Elin Gregory, I'll never wash that tweet again.

Amlin final last night brought out the worst in French rugby. Ill tempered, nasty at times, and some cheating which should have led to a yellow card and maybe then to a Toulon victory. Neither side deserved to win. Just hope today is better - we're shouting for Ulster (hence the SUFTUM), especially as they have a hobbit playing at number ten. Don't believe me? Google Paddy Jackson.

And then, to crown it all, THE TORCH is here! (I can has a Ben Ainslie of my own?) First post should be appearing later today at our torch relay GLBTQ fiction related blog site. Looking forward to reading it whenever we get home.

Stand up for the Ulster men!

Grab a bargain and find the origins of a character

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:39:09 GMT

Yes, I know that sounds like a non-sequiteur. It is.

Cheyenne is having a sale of now out-of-print titles The Filly and Hidden Conflict: Tales from Lost Voices in Battle. Get them for $4.99 each at TLA. When they're gone, they're gone!

And I've been a-blogging at Samhain, about which real people inspired book characters. Come and tell me about any I've missed.

Hop against Homophobia

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:35:43 GMT

Today is International Day Against Homophobia.

There are times I’m really proud of my country and the steps it takes to ensure that everyone matters.

In my ‘other life’ I do some freelance training and one of the courses I deliver is about the UK Equalities Act, which came into force in 2010. We’ve always had legislation to cover discrimination of one form or another – the Race Relations Act, the Disability Discrimination Act etc – but this law amalgamates them all into a logical, unified whole.

There are nine ‘protected characteristics’ against which you can’t discriminate if you are an employer, a public body or a service provider. That discrimination could be in any form: directly (e.g. refusing someone a place at University); indirectly (e.g. stacking the odds to make them less likely to be given a job they’re qualified for); by association (e.g. not promoting someone because they have a disabled child); by perception (e.g. not allowing your employee to come on a business trip with you because you think he’s gay).

Two of the protected characteristics are sexual orientation and gender reassignment. There have already been some notable cases under this law, particularly involving Bed and Breakfast establishments.

The discrimination claim has to be reasonable. So a gay pupil couldn’t claim that excluding them for fighting is direct discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation unless they could show that a heterosexual or bisexual pupil wouldn’t be excluded for doing the same thing. And clearly there are times when a particular characteristic can be justified as an occupational requirement – a Muslim women’s refuge could specifically recruit a Muslim woman as their manager and that wouldn’t be discriminating against candidates without those features.

When I’m delivering this training (or other courses, like Selection and Interviewing, which have similar elements) I always tell delegates that what’s in their heads – the baggage of preconceptions and fixed ideas we all carry – which will most affect their discharge of duties and responsibilities. If they go with gut feelings and prejudices they’ll risk both breaking the law and making poor business decisions. With a smile on my face, I say something like:

“That candidate you reject (covertly, because he’s gay and you don’t think the parents will approve of a gay headteacher at a church school) might just have been the best thing that could have ever happened for your school. Some other school will nab him and go soaring up the Ofsted ratings.

“And talking of Ofsted (our school inspectorate) when they come to your school they’ll be looking for whether all groups of pupils perform equally well – including GLBTQ pupils – and they’ll want to know if there’s any homophobic bullying going on. If you don’t believe me, look in their inspection schedule. If they get wind of it they’ll start digging. You don’t want Ofsted to dig.”

I'd like to offer a prize of an e-book/print book (winner's choice) but I'll make you work for it. Mail me at cochrane.charlie2@googlemail.com listing any six of the nine 'protected characteristics' (very easy to google!) for a chance to win.

The list of other 'hoppers' can be found here.

Torch relay blog begins Saturday

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:51:35 GMT

With Syd McGinley taking the Ben Ainslie role and leading the first stage, up through Cornwall. On subsequent days, as the torch wends its way along the West Country and into Wales, we have:

Day Author
2. Clare London
3. Anne Brooke
4. Jo Myles
5. Chris Quinton
6. Bruin Fisher
7. K C Warwick
8. Elin Gregory
9. A celebration of British Flash
10. Becky Black

Gonna be great. (Such a great crowd of hooligans!) Posts will appear here.

And the winner is...

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:27:08 GMT

Elin Gregory, who won the random draw of commenters at Coffee Time Romance. She's chosen a copy of Sail Away, which features my official fanfic of Lee Rowan's lovely Royal Navy series lads.

Writing a different kind of romance

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:23:04 GMT

Am delighted to be a guest today at Melissa Schroeder's blog, talking about writing about heroes who are gay. And disabled. Do drop in and share you thoughts - are there any physical factors in a hero which would put you off reading a story?

Newsletter fifty eight

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:56:48 GMT

By the time I send out the next newsletter, I’ll be up to my eyeballs in jury service. I must resist the concept of the sealed jury room and the long hours sitting listening to a case – such potential for two handsome young men to have a fling...

News

I’ve got a new WWI based story coming out from Carina in February 2013. Here’s a little, unedited, smidge of Promises Made Under Fire (working title):

First light. A distant sound of something heavy being moved. A thin curtain of rain—the sort of misty, drizzly rain that soaked us through to the skin. Prospect of something for breakfast that might just pretend to be bacon and bread.
Good morning, France. An identical morning to yesterday and bound to be the same tomorrow. Tomorrow and tomorrow, world without end, amen.
I looked up and down the trench, the small world I’d become bound in was now starting to rouse, stretching and facing a grey dawn. The men were stirring, so I had to get out my best stiff upper lip; if I showed how forlorn I felt then what chance had I of inspiring them?
“Morning, sir.” Bentham, nominally my officer’s servant but in reality a cross between a nursemaid and a housemaster, popped up, smiling. “Breakfast won’t be that long. You and Lieutenant Foden need something solid in your stomachs on a day like this.”
“Aye.” I nodded, not trusting myself to say anything else until I’d got my head on straight.

There’s lots going on – and lots to win – over the next few days. Tomorrow through to Monday there’ll be UK Meet authors (GLBTQ fiction) over at my coffee corner posting some great excerpts and offering prizes. Then I’m at Melissa Schroeder’s blog on Monday, discussing writing a “different” sort of romance to the traditional. There’ll be a copy of Tumble Turn (or a print book from my back catalogue) on offer.

May 19th sees not just the Heineken Cup Final (I’ll be there, ogling the men, I mean watching the rugby skills) – that’s the day the Olympic torch starts making its way through the UK. We’ve set up a blog relay to follow the torch through the country. A number of authors (draft list here) will be posting something relevant to where the torch is on any given day. A story set there? Their own memories of the area? There should be lots of good stuff.

Inspiration

There was an Olympic themed flower celebration at our local church, last weekend. I think the Bocchia themed display was my favourite. So clever...

Stevie Carroll - guest author

Wed, 09 May 2012 08:45:57 GMT

Today's guest, Stevie lives just twenty five minutes drive away from me, which means we can get together for lunches and shopping expeditions! And she doesn't half write a good tale.

How did you get the inspiration for this batch of stories?

My inspiration comes from all over the place. Most of this batch came from combining places I've been, people I've either met briefly or glimpsed from afar, and snippets of events I've heard or read about. For instance, the setting for 'The Footballer's Mistress' is based on the abandoned cotton mill in the village where I grew up, which has since been converted into houses and luxury flats. I've been to similar Derbyshire mills that are now working museums, and I got to wondering what the former workers in my mill would think of people living where the machinery used to be. Plus Bamford Mill still retains a working engine (although it no longer powers machinery), called Edna and one of the flats was known affectionately as 'Over Edna'.

Were there any other stories you wanted to include but didn’t?

I wrote two bonus stories to one of my novellas, 'The Woman Who Hatched a Fairy's Egg', and while there wasn't room to include them in the collection, they are available to Kickstarter backers who pledge $35 or more (Adventurer tier and above).

I'd quite like to do something similar for my other novella, 'Seven for the Devil', but although I have the ideas, I don't have the words yet. Maybe I'll write them in time for Halloween.

I know you had great adventures getting the cover right for this one. Want to tell us about them?

I had an idea of what I wanted, which included one of the churches that inspired the settings for 'Seven for the Devil' and the Minotaur. We found an excellent artist, who came up with an approximation of what I'd been imagining, but it turned out to be too dark in tone for some of the other stories.

We then tried a range of ideas with stock photography, but none of them quite worked and the one I liked best was very reminiscent of a cover I'd seen elsewhere. So I headed out with my camera, and took lots of photos of churches and graveyards, because I really liked the idea of putting the book's title on a headstone as with the first cover idea.

Finally we ended up combining one of my pictures with a British landscape by a different photographer, and adding a couple of extra details, like the fairy's egg. I think it came out rather well, and the other photos I took aren't wasted as some feature in the artwork available to higher tier Kickstarter backers, along with various of my older artworks.

Is there any mythical (or not!) creature who could get the better of Mr. Singh? And is he based on a real person?

Nothing gets the better of Mr. Singh: he's a septuagenarian action hero. I'd like to see what he'd make of a dragon, though, or maybe the Loch Ness Monster. He's not based on anyone in particular, although I watched the third series of the revamped Upstairs Downstairs after doing the edits on Mr. Singh's story, and I think he'd have some interesting stories to swap with Mr. Amanjit.

Here's a bit of our hero:
She should have brought a jumper. The stairs had come to an
end, and before them was a long, straight tunnel that sloped gently
downwards. Mr. Singh’s torch beam picked out the other sort of
torches, the kind that burned, in holders at regular intervals along
both sides.

“I don’t suppose you have a box of matches?” he asked. “Or a
lighter? We should save the torch batteries for emergencies.”

“You mean you didn’t think to bring either with you? And here
was me thinking what a good Boy Scout you must have been, back in
the day.”

“I was never allowed to join the Scouts. They were a little more
rigid about the meaning of God back then.”

“You seem prepared for most eventualities.” Now there was a
good word, although Angela Braithwaite would probably say Doreen
was getting above herself by using it.

“Army training.”

“You were in the army?” He didn’t look tall enough—though
come to think of it, he’d mentioned that he’d met his knitter friend
in the army. “Proper army, not just National Service?”

“Proper army. Then I was an ambulance driver, a hospital porter,
and finally a shopkeeper. It’s the British way, isn’t it?” His tone implied
that he had heard at least some of Angela Braithwaite’s comments
casting aspersions on his nationality.

“My father had a sweet shop. That’s how I met my Reg: he had
a very sweet tooth.” Even more so than Mr. Singh claimed to have.

“I have a toy shop in Wolverhampton.” Mr. Singh sighed. “My
sons run it now, but sometimes they let me work in it.”

A low moan sounded up ahead. It might have been the wind,
but... Doreen remembered she’d seen a book of matches in the taverna
where she’d eaten with Angela. She’d picked them up as a souvenir;
they might still be in her handbag.

Rummaging around, she found a mirror, a packet of tissues, a
tube of extra strong mints, and finally the matches. “Here you go.”

“We should take one each.” Mr. Singh reached up, and collected
one torch, which he handed to Doreen, then another for himself.

Doreen lit her first match, and held it to the grass-like stuff in
the top of her torch. Miraculously, it caught, shedding an orange
glow over the tunnel. She held the burning torch to Mr. Singh’s unlit
one, and that caught just as easily.

Handing the burning torch to Doreen, he turned off the battery-
powered one and stowed it safely in his knapsack.

“Well, then,” Doreen said.

“Well, indeed.” Mr. Singh reclaimed his torch, and led the way
deeper into the Labyrinth, Doreen following close behind.

What’s the oddest story you’ve written? What’s the story you’d like to write but daren’t?

I'm not sure any of my one of my stories is odder than the rest. I'd like to write more stories based on my family's history, but we're still researching some of it, and I'm not certain I can fully do any one aspect proper justice yet.

You’re heading one of the panels at UK Meet – can we have a sneak preview of what you’ll be discussing?

You seem to have got me lined up for quite a few things: novel openings, and the buffet of banter table on the problems of pronouns in same-sex love scenes for a start! But my main panel will be 'We’ve got the gay: what about the other letters? (LBTQ)' where I'll be pushing for more lesbian, bisexual and trans* stories from British authors, not to mention stories about all the folk who don't fall neatly into any one category. I think there's an issue historically with more review sites concentrating on, or being devoted solely to, m/m stories and the rest of us sometimes feel like we're getting less exposure for what we write, particularly in the UK.

What’s the best (and the worst) thing about meeting up with other writers?

The best is getting to meet the other authors in person so that we can chat and swap ideas. The worst is that there never seems to be enough time to talk to everyone as much as I'd like to do, because all of them are utterly smashing.

Listen to Stevie read an excerpt.

One of my inspirations...

Sat, 05 May 2012 11:49:18 GMT

Today is the anniversary of the death of Ronnie Poulton-Palmer, one of my heroes and also an inspiration for the story I've just had accepted by Carina (working title "Promises Made Under Fire"). That's the story I'm editing at present, so an immured in WWI again.

Rugby playing, philanthropic, heroic and popular, Poulton's last words were, allegedly, "I shall never play at Twickenham again."

Excuse me while I go and find another hankie...

Torch relay has its own site!

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:17:26 GMT

Thanks to Erastes, there's a dedicated site for the torch relay posts, that'll be there in perpetuity. Posting access e-mails are rolling out gradually for those taking part. Very much a work in progress at the moment as this has gone from "idea over lunch" to something dead exciting within a few days.

And, as as if that wasn't thrilling enough, we've got an event going on as part of The Romance Studio and Coffee Time Romance's joint anniversary celebrations.

When: May 12th-14th
Where: Charlie's coffee Corner
What: A celebration - in advance - of UK meet, with attendees dropping in, postings excerpts, offering goodies, etc. More news nearer the time.

Tentative timeline for UK torch relay author tour

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:55:08 GMT

This is very draft and will undoubtedly change much so only take a gander if you're an author interested in filling up some of the empty slots or checking the ones you've been allocated.

Olympic torch relay

Please check your day here. The bar at the top of the article has a link to each day and will show the route. Authors have been allocated a day as they have a story set in or around that area, or a character with links there, or they live there or have some connection. Sometimes I’ve had to use best fit as the torch doesn’t go everywhere (Isle of Wight springs to mind) or we’ve had such demand for a day I’ve had to cheat (and you’ve got the day the torch travels from your area). I’ve also put some people in for more than one post in order to maximise coverage.

Geography is my weakest suit and it’ll be a miracle if I haven’t mucked up somewhere so do yell if I have.

Day (not date!)

1. Syd McGinley
2. Clare London
3. Anne Brooke
4. Jo Myles
5. Chris Quinton
6. Bruin Fisher
7. K C Warwick
8. Elin Gregory
9. British Flash
10. Becky Black
11. Clare London
12. Sandra Lindsey
13. Available
14. Sandra Lindsey
15. Available
16. PD Singer
17. Gerry Burnie
18. Available
19. Tea and Crumpet
20. Available
21. Clare London
22. J L Merrow
23. Blaine Arden
24. Available
25. Available
26. Available
27. Elin Gregory
28. Helen Pattskyn
29. Available
30. Available
31. Becky Black
32. J L Merrow
33. Fulani
34. Bruin Fisher
35. Available
36. Available
37. Stevie Carroll
38. Lucy Felthouse
39. Elizabeth Coldwell
40. Available
41. Available
42. Alex Beecroft
43. Lucy Felthouse
44. Fiona Glass
45. Jessica Davies
46. BZ Snow
47. Stevie Carroll
48. Erastes
49. Stevie Carroll
50. Charlie Cochrane
51. J L Merrow
52. R J Scott
53. Jo Myles
54. Charlie Cochet
55. Chris Quinton
56. J L Merrow
57. Kay Berrisford
58. Alex Beecroft
59. Lee Rowan
60. UK MEET!
61. Charlie Cochrane
62. Kay Berrisford
63. Anne Brooke
64. Rebecca Cohen
65. Anne Barwell
66. Sue Brown
67. Clare London
68. Anne Brooke
69. Charlie Cochet
70. Charlie Cochrane

Water, water everywhere

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:14:47 GMT

Just seen that Badminton Horse Trials has been cancelled because of waterlogged ground. Such a shame; great event.

In other watery news, the Goodreads draw for Tumble Turn was won by Tracey.

Promo idea - following the Olympic torch

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:28:54 GMT

Kay, Stevie and I came up with a mad idea of following the Olympic torch relay as it happens via a series of blog posts (either as a blog hop or various people posting in one place). Just at drumming up interest stage - if you have GLBTQ stories set in the UK (or you're an author live in the UK) and want to take part, let me know.

Homecoming

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:01:32 GMT

This has apparently been doing the rounds (as usual I'm last to happen upon it). It's simple, beautiful, moving, profound and challenging to all sorts of preconceptions.

Newsletter fifty seven

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:06:35 GMT

Life at Cochrane Towers is settling down after a mad fortnight. Lunch tomorrow with Stevie Carroll and Kay Berresford and wall to wall rugby all weekend. What more could a girl want?
(Teeth that don’t hurt, but that’s by the by.)

News:

There’s more Beare faced cheek over at the Lords of Aether project today as it’s my turn to post. And, because I’ve been running around like a mad thing, I cheated and indulged in a bout of limerick making about some of the Lords of Aether characters. I can’t help it – limericks are addictive!

Last chance to enter the draw for a copy of Tumble Turn. Am employing my trusty random number generator on Monday.

I have two bits of “can’t quite tell you everything but am dead excited” bits of news. Have had another WWI short story accepted – more details when I have the contract in my grubby mitts – and might be appearing on a local mystery writers panel.

BTW there'll be a couple of my older short stories (one featuring my actor laddies and one with Miles and Roger) I'll be releasing as freebies in the summer.

Inspiration:

Because nothing's more inspirational than a daft chimp!

Shades of 1976

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:02:06 GMT

I remember that year vividly: taking my A levels in tropical temperatures, Michael "Whispering Death" Holding pelting the English batsmen under burning skies, hosepipe bans and water restrictions everywhere. They made good old Denis Howell (Minister of Sport) the Minister for Drought and, behold, the heavens opened.

Same now. While we don't have a drought order in place in Hampshire, ever since they imposed the hosepipe ban in neighbouring counties we've had hail, torrential showers or good old fashioned drizzle. Maybe God has made Denis the Angel for Rain.

The physically less than perfect hero

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:26:41 GMT

Am sharing some thoughts about him (and struggling to find examples) here. Do share your thoughts here or there.

I'm so proud of my Anglican brethren...

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:46:09 GMT

When they have the bravery and common sense to stand up for fairness and equality.

On the subject of thighs, my dream team and other things

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:49:27 GMT

The lovely Elin Gregory hosts me today, at her blog. Among other things, I give a short essay on rugby players' thighs, I name my dream team of heroic men and provide some more of my excruciating limericks. Do drop over.

My boys, let me show you them...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:56:42 GMT

Great fun at the rugby on Saturday, not least because my Sarries boys won. The lovely Owen Farrell wasn't playing, but we spotted him:

There are times that lad has a distinct resemblence to Kurt from Glee. And talking of glam boys, here's Maurice Botha!

"Boy" British Airways Great Britons winner

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 07:45:25 GMT

This film is short, moving, beautiful and slightly odd. Love it.

Music and the writing muse

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:27:33 GMT

Three more authors reveal how music influences their writing, over at The Macaronis.

It's been really interesting doing this (and thanks to Elin Gregory for the original idea!). Might be making it a regular event - getting snippets from authors about writing related thingies.

Off to see the Sarries against London Irish, today. Intra family battle lines already drawn.