Author: carolanneyeomanson

There are many book groups on Facebook, but this one is new and especially good and definitely deserves a shout-out.

They go by the name of the Military Thriller Book Group and allow people to post books on their site.

So if your’e on Facebook, why not drop in and join them?

The point of this post though is to give a shout out to the many Authors and Books on that site. Dozens of books that I’ve never heard of and are definitely books that I would love to read and intend reading. My son jokes that I haven’t got enough life left to read all the book on my To Read list!

1. Landslide. Adam Sikes debut espionage Thriller
2. Born in the Borderlands – Gordon Doherty
3. Shadow State by Andy McNab
4. A Rock and a Hard Place by Gordon Clark.
5. The Musicians Daughter by Ryan McGinnis

Hopefully you’ll read some of these books and if you are on Facebook drop in and join this group.

I never make any secret that my drink of choice is Gin and I’ve got many different kinds, but I’ve recently discovered a totally new one. Mainly because I was given it as a gift.

It’s called Porthleven Gin – and comes from Cornwall. You can’t buy it in any Supermarket. It comes from a very small village – funnily enough called Porthleven and is made in the large area behind someone’s house.

However, if you go online and type in Porthleven Gin it will take you to the link and show you exactly where it’s made and you can buy it from there.

So last night, I poured myself a glass, and tasted it, without the tonic at first and thought – yes……….this is different……and then added the tonic and thought…..I’m not sure….then……this is nice……this is really nice……I’ll have another one…….

You could tell it was Gin but not the gin that we’re used to. In fact it was really good. So if your’e looking for something different, why not go and take a look at Porthleven Gin? It might be more expensive than the kind you find in the Supermarket, but do we Gin loves worry that much? And it does come in a big bottle. It’s not as though you only get a couple of glasses out of it. It will last you a long time.

Sea and Coast is a worldwide monthly maritime magazine/journal published from New Delhi in India. Focused on Maritime News, including coverage of Naval, Ferry, sail, and Cruise Sectors. It is an on-line and Print Magazine also available on App Store. Sea and Coast if the Official Media Partner of the Indian Navy’s Think Tank. National Maritime Foundation and SAMES. Society for Aerospace Maritime and Defence Studies.

Founded in 2016 by an ex Mariner Amit Kumar.

The magazine is registered under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)

There is an Advisory Board and every member of the board works very hard to ensure the success of Sea and Coast but also to ensure that there is total honesty in the world of Naval, Ferry, Sail and Cruise Sectors. If Amit and the team hear of a Container Ship that needs help, then he will do his best to help. If there is a fight to be ‘fought’, then Sea and Coast are ready for the fight.

I have known Amit and Sea and Coast for a very long time, as a friend. I know that both he, and Sea and Coast will work until they drop if they need to.

If you enjoy reading all things Maritime, you will really enjoy Sea and Coast.

As you know, or maybe you don’t my son is my Editor but as when he isn’t working at his day job and editing my books, he’s a London Tour Guide. He qualified years ago and is a Green badge Guide in London. I’d never really thought about the History of Guiding, so I thought I’d find out more about it. My personal gripe about Tour Guides for years has been at the speed they walk at. I’ve seen many people, including myself, who just can’t keep up with them. It’s fine if your’e completely fit but not fair if you need to walk slower. Sometimes I’ve found the Guide is halfway down the street before all the party are off the Coach even. Not much use if your’e in a foreign country and don’t know your way around. According to Jack a Guide should walk at the speed of the slowest person in their group.

Anyway, back to the History. The First Tour Operator went into business in England in 1758 and is still in business today. Pleasure Travel started in earnest in during the 1840s when Thomas Cook began conducting tours to Paris and then around Europe. By the 1850 Railroad tours were already in Operation.

Peregrinatio in Terram Sanctum (Pilgramage to the Holy Land) is said to be the Worlds first Written Tourist Guide. Written by Bernhard Von Breydenbach and illustrated by Reiwich it was published in 1486. The pair swiftly became the worlds first travel influencers.

Tour Guiding in the Renaissance and Grand Tour. A prescribed route through France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland to Italy was travelled by young men of the Upper Classes from Britain.

What are the Values of a Tour Guide?

1. Knowledge of the Tour Area
2. Ability to communicate
3. Strong empathy and understanding
4. Charismatic Personality
5. Keen Ability to Improvise and Adapt#
6. Focus of Building a raport
7. Engaging Storyteller
8. Flexibility

I am so proud to say that my son ticks every one of these boxes.

When we look back now at the way we travel so easily, we have so much to thank the Ancient Tour Guides for because they were the front runners of the Guides we have now. Yes the Guides now are different because information for their walks is easier. My family went on a Guided Walk many years ago to Pompei. It’s the only walk I’ve been on that made me shudder inside because we were given time to walk around. I swear some of the ghosts of those poor people were still here. Now you can go on Private Tours with a Driver and Guide which is a Guided Tour by any other name. Guides take school parties around. Funny story Jack knows believe me. He took a party around St. Johns Gate in London. Lovely young boy who wanted the ins an out of a poor man who had died by having a sword stuck up his rear end – if you don’t my the phrase – he keep on and one Bless his heart!

Then of course there was a time in Russia where I’d hurt my knee. Don’t go anywhere in Russia with a man in a car alone if you are a woman! Be aware! was the advice. So my husband and son went off with our Guide. Next thing I knew Alex our Driver, who I imagine might have shot a few people in the Military along the way. Starts the car, drives off at a speed, me – alone – in the back – thinking he’s going to kill me! Was he heck! We had a wonderful time driving around all the sights!. He didn’t speak English, I didn’t speak Russian, but there you go. Don’t judge people.

So when a Guide meets his Party now does he have a few rules? It seems he does. If you are taking medication, tell him. He gives a safety briefing before each walk. If you are going to drop out of the walk tell him. From what I gather, each Guide is different. One thing I do know that every London Guide I’ve every come across is brilliant. Different but brilliant. My son writes a lot of his own walks. He does public and private walks. You name the subject and he will be able to take you on a walk around London on it.

Do you love to crochet? Are you on Facebook? Then why not come along and join a friendly new crochet group that’s run by my friend Leo.

Firstly I hear you say why should I? There are dozens of crochet groups on Facebook. Well, yes your’e right but it’s Leo who makes it so special because Leo is a Crochet Designer. He designs all his own clothes as well as some spectacular other things. In fact, he’s becoming quite well known.

We chat away about crochet, put up pictures of things we’ve made. It doesn’t matter what standard you are. You can be an expert or a beginner. If you want some help, Leo will help or one of us will. We are all friends and one thing I do know is that age doesn’t matter.

Just go into Facebook and look for fashion clang which is the name of our group. I know it’s an unusual name, but that’s our Leo. A lovely young man with a heart of gold.

Feel free to tell him where you heard about his group and you’ll get a very warm welcome.

The Newberry Knitters are back in Book 3 of the series. Do things ever go right when the Knitters are involved. No is the easy answer and they don’t this time when the Knitters visit the Knitting and Stitching show in London, so why not join them?

Available now on Amazon Kindle for £1.99. If you do read it and enjoy it,

I’d love you to leave me a review.

Like millions of other people, I’m on a couple of Social Media Sites. I chat on them. I have friends there. I chat to people I went to school with. People who served in the Armed Forces I’m proud to be friends with. I push my books on there – so tell me an Author who doesn’t. So what’s gone wrong with the Social Media I used to know.

Where has all this hatred suddenly come from? Some of it is vile and I mean vile. People who were my friends have left because they can’t stand it any longer. Personally I’m frightened to answer some of the Tweets I see because I know that I’m going to get hatred spewed out at me. I was once called Lady Nazi because I had a different opinion to someone else over the wearing of masks.

This morning is was from a group of people who seemed to have a hatred of people who have money. Well, in my humble opinion, what’s it got to do with anyone else whether someone’s money is inherited or not. Are we going down the road of the days in France when we be-headed the Aristocracy???

Maybe the people who Police the Social Media sites should have a tighter control because from what I’ve seen if the ordinary people like us say one word out of place, we end up in prison or as my lovely American friends say In the Slammer !. On Facebook I’ve seen some of the most disgusting, near pornographic photographs on Author and Book Groups. The people who put them up there claim to be Authors. Somehow I don’t think any Author would do that. I know that’s true because I’ve blocked several.

Re-tweets? Fine I use them but not that often. Mainly for my friends, but I’m getting them by the dozen and about people I don’t even know or follow and even to the point of not in English and quite honestly I’m fed up with them.

Anyway I’d like to see a way of controlling it but somehow I doubt it.

My Editor has always had one dream. The see the cyclists in the Tour De France ride into Paris. One reason is that he loves watching the Tour De France and the other is because he loves Paris, so this is the time for him to live his dream. So you would think it would be easy wouldn’t you?

Well, think again. He booked his hotel, which was amazing to say the least. None of your bed and breakfast type places. View over the Eiffel Tower, but then he works hard, he’s my Editor and people tend to think that because he’s my son, he does it for nothing. Well, sorry, he doesn’t. He might well be my son by I pay him for Editing every one of my books. He booked his train. The 11.40am out of St. Pancras Station in London. A single table, complete with a meal and wine. Packed his case, had all the relevant papers, proof of vaccination and you would that was it? Well most people would think that wouldn’t they??

Bad mistake. That’s when it all crashed down on his head. He arrived at the station to complete and utter chaos. Well no. It was worse than chaos if there is such a thing. People were so crowded in, he contacted us and said they couldn’t even breath. It was worse than cattle being coralled together. (Excuse my spelling). Oh I digress. Late last night he received an e mail from the Rail Company saying that there had been a change of plan as far as the Rail Service were concerned. He wouldn’t be going on the same kind of train. Instead of a single table, he would be sharing a table of four – in other words close proximity with three strangers – no food.

Back to this station this morning. He was taken ill because of being in so many crowds and couldn’t breath. He found a member of staff at the station and explained that he was feeling ill and asked if she could help him and apparantly was refused in no uncertain terms. In other words almost laughed out. The crowd I gather were starting to push from being coralled. A bit later I received a Whats App saying I’ve found a seat.

I’m in the Gent’s Toilet. Put the seat down and am sitting on the toilet with the door locked but at least I’ve found a seat and can breath a bit. Now, I know I shouldn’t but part of me wanted to say Good for you and punch the air.

A while later I get another What’s App. I’m on the train Mum and on my way to Paris.

How are you getting on with the other people?

No, I’m on the train I was mean’t to be on. Here’s my lunch -look.

So you were on this train complete with wine, food and by yourself with luxury, then it was cancelled and you were having to sit with four people with nothing to eat, and now your back to a train with only yourself and food and wine???

Ehhhh – yes Mum……..just don’t worry about it. At least I’m going to make it to Paris.

And this is our brilliant Rail Service who want to come out on strike for more money ?????

As you all know, I love to craft. It’s my love and my obsession apart from writing my books. I make anything and everything and support two Charities close to my heart. One is the Mission for Seafarers and another is Jane and the Ladies. Jane is the most incredible lady. She helps – well anyone who needs help and has a team of crafters who make a host of different things and donate to her.

Violets and Lace is my on-line shop. I make and sell on there. I’m not really sure how to describe what I sell because I’m never sure what I’m going to make. I knit, I crochet, I sell crafting accessories such as knitting patterns, buttons, I make hats to sell, I make jewellery, although only costume. Much as I’d like to work in real gold and silver, it’s way out of my financial means. I’m always adding to my shop, so you’ll never know what you’ll find.

As far as prices go, I know that money can be a problem these days, so I keep my goods at a price that people can afford. It’s not fair to expect people to look at something that they have no hope at all of buying.

I’m adding new things to my shop all the time, and you can always message me. That’s one thing about me. Don’t be afraid to talk to me – please. I’m not one of these top end people that won’t talk to you.

I’ll eventually be stocking things for everyone. Ladies, men, children, the home. I’ll even be stocking things for your pets!

My shop address is

http://www.folksy.com/shops/violetsandlacecrafts

The third and last in the trilogy of Mistress of the Wines is now finished and I’m about the pass it to my Editor. It’s taken me a very long time to write this book. I’m sorry for that, but the main reason was, how did I end it? It’s been controversial from the very start. Not when it came down to reviews, but believe me I got some very nasty messages about the story line I had chosen for this book, but I always make it clear in all of my books that they are a work of fiction. I never go out there to hurt or offend anyone.

Benoit was a young man with sexual problems, and went to a Brothel where he met a young Prostitute Corine who was asked by the Madam to help him. He was a ‘hopeless case’, but somehow this young girl made a man of him as the saying goes and love conquered all.

Now I’m not going to spoil the whole thing for you because I would love you, as an Author to read the books. After all, what Author doesn’t want you to read their books.

This was an unusual story as it follows the Dynasty of the Family as well as the love story of the two young people. The challenges they faced, and not just because that Corine came with her own past. I brought in other characters that gave me other storylines that didn’t particularly involve Cornine, and then because I felt I needed to bring in a particular storyline – hell almost rained down on me.

I don’t usually give away storylines of my books but at one time Corine has to have an abortion. Not by choice. So I dealt with it, I thought very gently and with great respect. Until I started getting Messages. Not reviews which you would expect. Messages. In fact one was a threat which came with a picture of an unborn child saying You Know Nothing.

That was very true. I have a beautiful 36 year old son, who is my Editor. I know nothing? I do know that when he was three weeks old I suffered a small stroke down my left side completely out of the blue caused by a blood clot in my lung and was rushed to hospital and when I came home I couldn’t do anything for him except look at him and still take blood thinning drugs to this day.

Anyway I was determined to give the final book the ending it deserved and it ended up with an ending I wasn’t expecting. When I was a very new Author I couldn’t make up my mind which way I wanted my book to go and I had a Mentor. A wonderful American man called Denis Michaels. When I told him he said, Well it’s obvious. Ask your characters.

Pardon? When your’e on your own, sitting in front of your lap top or in bed at night, ask your Character which way they want you to go.

“OK fine” I sort of went if you know what I mean.

So I did and stupid as this sounds they did tell me. Always.

So I had my ending to Mistress of the Wines and I was able to type the two words I love.

THE END

And now it’s onwards and upwards to my next book.

Wish me luck when I talk to my next character. Hopefully they’ll give me some good advice!