A Few of My Favourite Things

I love writing and it's my favourite thing to do but sometimes I like to have a break and do something different. I have several hobbies and I like collecting old books, and doing artwork. I make paper and fabric sculptures and paint pictures of woodland creatures. And I must confess sometimes I do that when I should be writing but I really do love browsing through second hand book stores to see what I can add to my growing collection. This week I added three books. Since I love art, especially illustrative art, I like to collect children's books. I know it might seem strange collecting children's books but I love the artwork in them and one day I'll give them to my grandchildren. This week I was lucky to find a hard cover illustrated version of the Wind in the Willows. See below and some lovely illustrations from it.

 And I found one book for me in pretty good condition from 1969. It's just over fifty years old and called, The Scarlet Pimpernel which is about an English spy during the French Revolution for those of you who aren't familiar with it. I love the pretty gold scroll work on the cover. I have a version of Lorna Doone like that as well published around the same time. Below is a copy of the title page. Some times people write messages in them which is lovely. I have a copy of Tom Brown's School Days from 1920's and there is a lovely hand written message on the title page. It says, To Richard, first prize for knowledge of catechism. I love when people put messages in books, especially when you find one from an older time. It's priceless. 

So as far as my own writing is concerned I'm polishing up a book I rescued from the closet and a couple of others as well which is progressing. And I always seem to have too many ideas for a book and sometimes I just let the ideas mull at the back of my mind for awhile before I decide what I'm going to do and I scribble ideas and draw characters in my notebook until it all comes together. I think I'm at that point at the moment of starting a completely new project and I just may be working on two at the same time as one of them will take a while to write. Anyway best get back to the writing page. Happy reading and writing until next time.  

Kingdom Of Lions by Anna St George

Tales of Old England

 The Kingdom of Lions is set in the 12th century England in a time of Castles with gallant knights and beautiful ladies.It is a tale of suspense, mystery, love and honour.  The scene is a mist laden landscape with interesting characters affected by troubling times with rumours of wars and marriage arrangements that arise to dictate the state of holy matrimony.

Gwendolyn Godwyn is the youngest of the Godwyn clan, a medieval tomboy who loves horses and hounds and shooting from a crossbow. Her outright opinions about everything and her loyal cause to the animal kingdom get her in trouble from time to time.  And why did that Welsh Prince have to be so gorgeous? He was incredibly annoying. Her beautiful sister Ceridwyn is about to become the trophy of a prestigious tournament and will the winner be the man she is besotted with or will it be someone else. Her sister Meridyth has learned the hard, bitter way that not all are lucky in love.  Her family are faithful to God and country and when conspiracies arise to oust the king, courage arises to the cause of righteousness. The prodigal daughter suddenly returns home after being away for almost ten years along with a mysterious arrival in the night. Their lives will never be the same again.

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Happy New Year Everyone!

Hope your New Year has started off on the right foot. So far mine has and as far as resolutions are concerned I plan to write more, exercise and eat well and enjoy my loved ones around me. My New Year has started off with lots of ideas and fingers on the keyboard. I look forward to releasing another book later in the year and as for now. Happy New Year. May 2017 be a great one!

Sir Walter Scott

I am currently reading, The Betrothed by Sir Walter Scott.  I had never read any of his novels before nor seen any films based on his novels but since collecting the books and doing some research I saw the film Ivanhoe with Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor. It was a good film. Well, one day when I was rummaging through a hospice bookshop and found a whole collection of his novels that were printed in 1887. I grabbed about six of them, the ones in the best condition which were; The Betrothed, the Talisman, The Bride of Lammer Moor, St Ronans Well, The Surgeon's daughter and Castle Dangerous, and The Antiquary. 

Below is a picture of the Title page and a page from the book. I love title pages of old books. They are always so decorative.  And the Chapter is written as Chapter Sixth which I thought was quite different.

In case you are not familiar with the book The Betrothed. It is the story of Eveline Berenger the daughter of Thomas Berenger. Being the fairest maiden in England she becomes the object of war when her father refuses her hand in marriage to Gwynwyn, the Prince of Powys. And not to mentions the fact that he is married and she is engaged to Sir Hugo de Lacey.

The war ends with her father being killed and the de Lacey's coming to her aid. Damian de Lacey, the nephew of Sir Hugo is sent to protect her but the sparks fly and the two young ones fall in love. Lovely tale. I think it would make a lovely film. 

Medieval Tomboy

There is a young woman in the kingdom of Northumbria and she is outspoken and stubborn and has a will of iron. She has her governess bedraggled and her sister worried for she is one determined young lady who will not be given orders. She may have plans but her father has plans too, to marry her to someone of equal wealth and title.  She can ride a horse as well as any knight, she can shoot an arrow clean and swift, and her seat in the saddle is one to be praised. You won’t find this young beauty with long dark hair and sweet face sitting in the upper chambers of a castle weaving tapestries to share boredom. NO! She would be running through the fields in the heart of the day, competing in tournaments, concerned for the welfare of animals, and the kingdom. She is a medieval tomboy. She is Lady Gwendolyn Godwyn.

Read about Lady Gwendolyn in the Kingdom Of Lions, coming soon! http://annas777.wix.com/anna-st-george

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Merry Christmas

I don't know about all of you but I love candy canes at Christmas time.  I always have and I really looked forward to hanging them on the tree each year with my sister.  The tree just wasn't the tree without those candy canes.  There is actually a story behind the candy cane as to how it came about and it is known as; 

The Legend of the Candy Cane
 Many years ago a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy; white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church; firmness to represent the promise of God.

The Candy Maker made the candy in the form of a 'J' to represent the name of Jesus, who came to the earth as our Saviour. He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who like all sheep have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately the candy became known as a candy cane - a decoration seen at Christmas time. But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Old Books

I find it is always beneficial to have a break in between writing projects and  I am now well into the beginnings of the next one which I am planning to be a series of books based in medieval times. 

It’s nice having a break and I am always keen to get back to writing. It’s my favourite thing to do. In between I try to spend the time doing things that are inspirational and contemplating my next project if I don’t already have an idea but I usually know what I’m going to do.  If I find a break in the winter, I usually settle down by the fire with something arty or crafty and watch

movies or TV Series that inspire. I also like to study literature and history and collect old books.  I love old books!! Maybe one day I’ll live in a castle and have a library of old books.  Dream; dream.

I recently found a couple of books in second hand shops that were like finding a gold mine. It made my day. And every time I look at them I think of how wonderful God is that he guided me to these books.  One

is a book on the castles of Scotland and the families who lived in them and the other is a book on the Social History of England.  Most wonderful of all was finding a series of books written by Sir Walter Scott and the books were printed back in 1886. Yes! I love old books!