Savouring a sunny afternoon in Snowdonia.

With another sunny morning giving promise of a beautiful day, I put work on hold to spend time in the garden. The pots needed a good tidy; the creative juices needed to flow. Taking refuge in a garden chair after a couple of hours work, I looked around in satisfaction.

OH returned home. 
'Let's go out,' I suggested, 'with the top down [car], while the sun is shining. I will take the day off.'
He didn't need any encouragement so I put the cap on the creative juice bottle while we decided which direction to take.  Should it be east into Cheshire; south into Shropshire; north to the coast; or west into Snowdonia.
It was no contest. Snowdonia won.
'The views from the A5 are different as the seasons change,' OH reminded me. 'The last time we went down there, the snow was three feet high over the hedges.' (That was only a few weeks previously.)

What a glorious day! The roads were quiet as we headed down the A483. Turning onto the A5 Holyhead Historic Route at Chirk we gradually headed towards the mountains. I was amazed at how many sheep there were but my OH explained that as spring was late they were still grazing on the lower slopes. The late spring also meant that the trees were late coming into leaf. Peering over walls and hedges, I could see babbling brooks and streams as they tumbled over stones before rushing round a bend and disappearing from view. Here and there, sheep paddled in the water.

Most of the snow had melted but I could see patches of white nestling in folds of the mountains. Small lambs everywhere either kept close to their mothers as they foraged for food or lay in the sun as they slept. One or two, becoming playful, hopped and jumped about, full of the joys of being alive.

Once again we pulled into the re-furbished Waterloo Hotel at Betws-y-Coed for a snack lunch of  Bacon, Perl Wen (soft cheese) and Cranberry on Rosemary Focaccia. Delicious! All washed down with a chilled thirst-quenching drink.

Heading towards Capel Curig on the A5, we revelled in the ever-changing view of brooding  mountains, buds bursting on mostly bare trees, lakes and the spring sunshine. Turning at Capel Curig we were soon driving through the Llanberis Pass, heading towards the Bangor on the coast. Mighty Mount Snowdon dominated the sky. 

I was so relaxed that I fell asleep in the sunshine, missing the fantastic views of the slate quarry at Llanberis. Reaching Bangor, we shunned the busy A55 coast road in favour of heading south east on the A5 back to our little corner of North Wales. This took us through the old village of Bethesda. On the right were the slate quarries; the face of the mountain scarred black. 

This stretch of the A5 is so beautiful and peaceful. I couldn't help thinking how it must have been in the days when  a stage-coach, drawn by a team of horses, was the main means of travel from London to Holyhead from where travellers would have caught the boat to Ireland. At various points along the roadside are signs reminding the traveller of today that they are on a historic route.

Just past Bala, we turned off the A5 to go across country on the A5104 towards Wrexham. The sun was still shining as we arrived home. After such a hard winter and heavy,late, snowfalls the change in the weather is welcome. After all it is the month of May. (It is also my youngest grandson's sixth birthday.) 

Refreshed, I might let the creative juices out of the bottle tomorrow!

Rosalie x

The 'ORANGES' harvest is complete..

Update April 26th 2013

ORANGES: A Journey has been released in print ahead of schedule. We received our

 author stocks today. It is always a 'catch your breath' moment when we open the box and see those lovely glossy covers inside.
The story - a fiction - is built on a dream and initially was classified as 'fantasy'. After finding that this was included on one national book store site as 'Science Fiction / Horror' it has now had that category removed and the more appropriate one of 'Travel' substituted. This links with the other more defined ones of Spain and Portugal.
Following the Kindle promotion we have had some lovely reviews which brought a little tear. Thank you all who have read and, I hope, enjoyed.
Other e-book formats will be available in June so my Kobo and Apple followers across the globe - look out for it.

Rosalie xx
------------------------------------------------------

Great excitement and emotion today as I opened a parcel. It was the proof copy of ORANGES: A Journey; and what a journey.

• Lots of hard work and flexibility if fitting the writing around other life pressures.
• Lots of support from my OH.
• Lots of support from my family.

I enjoyed writing the story and we enjoyed designing the book block and jacket. Like good wine everything improves with age.

 Already out on Kindle, ORANGES: A Journey in paperback is due for publication on May 6th and is available for pre-order now in most stores. I have recently found that all the Adobe PDF titles are listed for download on a website which brings the independent booksellers together (and that the print formats are also listed). They have picked up on the problem of independent having e-books available for download.
This is marvellous news for independent booksellers and those who want to support them. And there are some nice discounts. 
ORANGES will be out in ePub and Adobe PDF in June due to the special Kindle promotion on at present.
http://www.hive.co.uk/search/rosalie+marsh/mediatype/all/
Go to http://www.hive.co.uk/store-locator/ to find an independent store near you.
Go to Rosalie's Bookstore for more links to your favourite bookseller.


Now I am back to writing The Long Leg of Italy. This is the third in the Just Us Two travel series and covers what it says - the long leg of Italy from the lakes in the north, through to those wonderful cities in the heart of Italy  before going south to the foot. In some of it we were really on our own and others, well, the 'just us two' phrase has come to mean, well, us.

Short and sweet today.
Happy reading
Rosalie x

The contrasts of an Easter Weekend.

Well, I am now drawing breath after battling the snow last weekend, where we were snowed in. We also had abandoned vehicles blocking us. help arrived on the Sunday to dig us out.

We have also had a busy time this weekend; one in which our Wedding Anniversary fell. After 49 of them I am still in a state of wonderment that we are still forging ahead together at life's trials, tribulations and joys. Visits from daughters and grandsons sealed the day.

Daughter: 'Tell me Dad, How do you reach 49 years?'
Dad: (Tongue-in-cheek) 'Just keep saying "Yes"!

Actually it is more than that and a compliant partner would not be any fun. Team work is the answer, together with sharing  basic beliefs in things while - and this is important - keeping your own identity and interests.
We had a lovely meal at the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel at Pulford, between Wrexham and Chester. One of our favourite

celebratory places.  As it was a special treat, OH tucked into a pudding. Mine was decorated with a special message.


Sunday dawned cold but I was determined to wear my new dress and Antique Mist (cream) shoes with a small (for me) black stiletto heel. We arrived at church - St Mary's Cathedral, Wrexham, a little early to make sure that we got a good parking place. The car park was full as the Polish Mass hadn't finished. Round the block we went. Twice. Then parked in a side street. We had lunch booked in one of our favourite eateries so in the end we were glad as we got out quickly after a prolonged service which included two baptisms.
After a lazy afternoon, OH brought out my 'Easter Egg' - a box of Cadbury's Roses - which we proceeded to devour.He does like to help me out!
We had a ride out today to the wonderful Betws-y-Coed and stopped for a snack  lunch at the Waterloo Hotel.  
(A5). They have continued with their refurbishments and have a new reception area in what was a small lounge facing the door.. The old reception area is now a spacious reception lounge. Doors are now  automatic.
Heading back branched off at Pentrefoelas to over the Denbigh Moors. The landscape was like something out of Siberia with huge walls of snow bordering the roadside in places. The snow still lying on the hills, gave definition to the contours and shape of the mountains making them stand out starkly against the skyline. Here and there huge swathes of pines cast black shadows on the snow. At Bylchau , we headed towards Denbigh from where we took the road through Ruthin. Thankfully, the Nant-y-Garth Pass was open; the roads were dry, albeit quite dirty; everywhere many broken branches of trees and shrubs were hanging broken over hedges.
Taking the turning from Ruthin for Llangollen, we headed over the Llandegla Moors to the Horseshoe Pass and our favourite stopping off place there - the Ponderosa Cafe. When it was built, the slate building to the right was a very smart restaurant where we enjoyed special meals. Over the years it has changed and expanded into what today has become a complex.It is a Mecca for bikers as well as tourists in general. Today the car park had been cleared, the gift shop was doing a good trade in sledges for youngsters to trek up the hills across the road, and there were clear roadways from the car park to the cafe - thankfully.
Last week, the news had shown how the snow was up to the roof tiles so it was good to see them open for business.

Snow piled at the roadside on the Horseshoe Pass

We really do live in a wonderful part of the country. 

This week, it is onwards and upwards preparing for the Print launch of ORANGES : A Journey. This is my first fiction work which draws on real experiences and settings with a heavy dollop of travel in Estremadura,Portugal and Andalucia, Spain. 

Rosalie

xx

ORANGES: A Journey. Re-loaded

We are gifting two (yes, two) more days of FREE downloads on Thursday and Friday this week. 

Why? Honesty being the best policy, I will share this with you.

What a performance! Wiping egg off our faces, we realised to our horror after upload to Kindle that the proofing net had some holes in it and that some of those devious little punctuation marks and grammatical phrases had been hiding. They were probably enjoying the juicy oranges too much to come out and be seen! 

All is not lost and ORANGES: A Journey has had another bout of the red pen syndrome. Well, we can't be the only ones with red faces can we? 

Thank you to all in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada who have either downloaded the free copies on Mother's Day last Sunday or purchased at the bargain introductory price of $0.99c, £0.77p. E0.89. To put matters right, please accept a free gift from us and download the revised copy on Thursday 21st  or Friday 22nd this week for FREE.

• The promotion will be live sometime in the early morning Pacific Central Time which will be around late morning in the UK and so on. Please share. 
• ORANGES is also available to Kindle Select prime Customers.

• Yesterday I added some book extras to Amazon which should download to your Kindle as well. Here is a message from me:

"Hello reader. 

Thank you for purchasing ORANGES: A Journey. This contemporary novel with a hint of romance, is my first fiction work.

 Of course, I had to set it in two of my favourite European countries - Spain and Portugal.- using real settings and experiences to tell Charlotte's story which is built on a dream. You might find that a map will help you to follow the exploits of Charlotte and her friend Daisy . . .

I hope that you enjoy ORANGES: A Journey.  It introduces Charlotte to the world and  is the precursor to a longer, more involved saga which is still in the making, having been gestating for many years."

About the book.
A delightful contemporary novel built on a dream as young Charlotte falls asleep and dreams of sunshine lands where oranges ripen in winter. A handsome Portuguese stranger captures her heart. Detailed descriptions of the Estremadura region of Portugal and the interior of Andalucía. 

If you prefer a paperback to stuff into your pocket or bag and read on a park bench when you are out walking, pop along to Waterstones or order online. BookDepository,  Amazon etc.  to pre-order.

Thank you for reading. Enjoy the journey. And the sunshine!

Rosalie x

Mother's Day Gift. Download ORANGES: A journey for FREE!

ORANGES: A Journey is now live on Amazon Kindle.

For March 10th. One day only. You can download ORANGES: A Journey for free on your Kindle or Kindle App for iPad,iPhone, PC etc.

The Introductory price of £0.77pence(GBP) $0.99c.USD or E0.89c (Euro) will revert to FREE from Midnight (on Saturday) Pacific Standard Time for one day.

For a limited period Prime Customers enrolled in Kindle Select  can download it for FREE.

Have a Happy Mother's Day, put your feet up and see what Charlotte and Daisy get up to.

Rosalie x x
From the book back. (Paperback due out on May 6th.)

In the cold and damp of a British winter, young Charlotte is fascinated by the orange, which she holds in her hands. She wonders about the sunshine lands, which are warm enough to ripen oranges.
A delightful contemporary novel built on a dream as young Charlotte falls asleep and dreams of those sunshine lands where oranges ripen in winter. 
Her dreams take her into the future; with her friend Daisy, she finds herself in Portugal where a handsome Portuguese stranger captures her heart.
After the escapades in the hills near Obidos with Daisy, Charlotte’s dreams take her into Andalucía, to the winter sun of southern Spain.
Detailed descriptions of the Estremadura region of Portugal and the interior of Andalucía which bring to life the sights and sounds of the Iberian Peninsula as Charlotte and Daisy live life to the full.
Does Charlotte find oranges? 
Who is the handsome Portuguese Senhor? 
Are they really dreams?
Or reality?