Christmas and Diamonds

Yes, I know it's the end of September and I imagine that those of you who follow me on thetraveleditor.com think I'm crazy for putting a Christmas related article on there this early. The fact of the matter is that the Bluebell Railway is already advertising and selling its very popular Christmas events. Which, of course, means booking early. http://www.thetraveleditor.com/article/8113/Things_to_do_Attractions_Historic_Railway_Christmas_Entertainment_on_the_Bluebell_Railway.html

The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace close to the public on 2nd October. That is, until 2012 which is also a very special year for the Monarchy. Not because of the Olympic Games, but because it will be the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Needless to say there will be loads of special events around the country, including at the various royal castles and palaces.

So far planned for the Buckingham Palace opening is "Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration". This will show how diamonds have been used by British monarchs over the past 200 years. On display will be some of Her Majesty's personal jewels - inherited and acquired during her reign. The exhibition will also show how many of these stones have been re-cut or incorporated into new settings. This exhibition is, at the moment, expected to be open during August and September 2012, but additional dates may well be added. As they say - watch this space.

For my book fans, sales of "Homicide in Hampshire" continue and I am now currently working on the manuscript of another crime novel which I hope to publish within the next few weeks. This one is set in Florida and I suspect that my fans there will be looking forward to reading it.

"Homicide in Hampshire"

First I want to thank all of you who have bought copies of the book. For those of you with a Kindle the good news is that the book is now available on Amazon.

Now to clear up a misconception. The other day someone told me he hadn't downloaded a copy of the book because he thinks e-publishing is the same as vanity publishing. (Vanity publishing being where the author pays for publication). E-publishing IS NOT vanity publishing.

Before the book is accepted for e-publication it is vetted.

If you still aren't convinced, check the author's qualifications. For example, I am a member of the Society of Authors and of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. Both well-respected organisations for professional writers.

Now I have to get back to work on the manuscript of one of my others books that I am planning to e-publish in the near future. 

Buckingham Palace, Faberge and a Wedding Dress

This summer there have been two special exhibitions at Buckingham Palace. One is of items from the Royal Collection of Faberge. Absolutely exquisite. I could have spend hours looking at them. Some of those wonderful Easter eggs, miniature furniture, animals, cigarette cases - almost anything you can think of.

The other exhibit is THE wedding dress of the year. That worn by Kate Middleton when, in April, she married Prince William and became the Duchess of Cambridge.

Seeing it on display is the only way to get the full impact of the beauty - and the delicate handiwork - of this gown. Magazine pictures just don't do it justice. Delicate hand-made lace attached to the fabric with miniscule stitches, the buttons down the back and - the matching shoes.

Buckingham Palace and these two exhibitions are open the public until 3rd October, 2011.

A very good idea to save queuing and, of course, to make sure you get in is to pre-book via www.royalcollection.org.uk/

http://www.thetraveleditor.com/article/7086/Things_to_do_Historic_Castles_Palaces_Buckingham_Palace_State_Rooms.html



The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery

riding past Buckingham Palace.

Remembering Slovenia

This past week or so I've been working on some articles about Slovenia, one of my favourite European countries. I first visited it on a day trip from Italy when it was still a part of Yugoslavia. On that trip we went to Lipica and the caves at Postojna before being driven to the coast to take the ferry back to Italy.

My next visit was two weeks at Kranska Gora, a ski resort - except that I was there in the summer. Unless you are into walking and climbing, not a lot to do but, as a writer, I was able to keep myself occupied in this beautiful village. Since then my trips have been press ones and I've now covered almost the whole of the country from Maribor in the east to the Adriatic Coast and, of course, Lake Bled in the north.

If you want to read about some of these places then I suggest you go to my page on www.thetravelwriter.com. The three articles which I put on this past week have proved to be very popular - the number of people reading them even surprised me! One article is about Maribor and Ptuj, another about Lake Bled, Lipica (lovely picture of a Lipizzana) and the caves at Postojna and the third article about the capital, Ljubljana which has a wonderful mix of architecture and loads to do both during the day and in the evenings.

An update on Homicide in Hampshire - still selling well. Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy. This is available in all formats including downloading onto the computer (using Adobe Digital). Also thank you to everyone who has contacted me with their lovely comments. I'm so glad you like the flamboyant Cleo.

Now it is time to get on with writing another book.


              Lake Bled and the Julian Mountains

Links:  www.thetraveleditor.com/authors/6261/Barbara_Bothwell/
           www.smashwords.com/profile/view/barbarabothwell

Homicide in Hampshire

Pleased to report that people are buying this e-published book……

"Late one evening Cleo Mainwaring comes home from London to find that her housekeeper has apparently drowned in the swimming pool. The housekeeper's husband and Cleo's Volvo are both missing.

"They are both found - the husband dead, and the Volvo in the Forest.

"Later in the book the village gossip is found dead in Cleo's garden. She had been strangled with one of Cleo's scarves in an attempt to frame her. That failed as Cleo was known to have been in London that day.

"Towards the end of the book there is a very strange car chase - keeping to speed limits and obeying traffic lights…..

"The DCI in charge of the case is 'Steaming' Kettle - a one time neighbour and schoolfriend of Cleo's. Yes, they do get it together."

The advantage of having published it through Smashwords is that it is available for all e-readers. And that includes Kindle!

As well as that it is gradually appearing on various e-book sites such as Apple, Diesel e-books and several others. It will also shortly be on Amazon and Sony.

The price is only $1.99(99p.) so it won't break the bank.

Later in the year I am planning on e-publishing another crime novel so, as they say, watch this space.



Swan-upping on the River Thames

The Queen's Swan-uppers with David Barber,
The Queen's Swan Marker

My day on the press boat was great fun, sometimes we'd be following, sometimes ahead and sometimes alongside the skiffs carrying the swan-uppers. Needless to say I managed to get some terrific shots on my camera.

It was fascinating watching the six skiffs manoeuvre around a family of swans to either lift them into the boats or lay them on the river bank. There would be much squeaking from the cygnets and anxiety from the parents but swan-uppers are experts in calming them down so you feel the swans realise that it is for their own good - health checks, weighing and ringing the cygnets.

A couple of times David Barber, the Queen's Swan Marker, came on board the press boat for interviews. As a large part of his job is conservation and education, it was fascinating talking to him.

I asked how he got his job. "When the previous Swan Marker retired, twenty-two of us applied and were interviewed at Buckingham Palace. I got the job."

A part of that interview dealt with the future and as David is avid about the River and the swans, his aim is education, particularly with schoolchildren. He often goes to schools to give talks. The major problems for water fowl, especially swans, are swallowing fishing hooks, getting entangled in discarded fishing lines, people throwing stones and kids with air rifles. Not an easy life being a swan.

When we had embarked at Eton Bridge I noticed a huge flock of swans and asked David about it. "That's the singles club. Shortly they'll pair up and move along the river to claim their territory."

Swan-upping takes place in July. For details of observations points log on to www.royalswan.co.uk/

Fabulous Exhibitions at Buckingham Palace

Oh wow! Both of this year's exhibitions are breathtaking. The first one is a selection of Faberge items that the Royal Family have been collecting since Queen Victoria. It has to be one of the largest collections in the world. Everything from the Mosaic Easter Egg to art deco cigarette cases and small carved animals. Then there are delicate flowers, a tiny miniature tea set, desk seals and even a clockwork elephant.

The other exhibit is Kate Middleton's Wedding Dress. As HM The Queen said to the Duchess of Cambridge when she inspected the exhibit - it looks like a ghost!

It is on a stand in the centre of the Ballroom with the veil and diamond Cartier 'Halo' tiara suspended above it. There is a video about the making of the dress, behind glass a panel of the lace to be examined and a chance to walk around the stand to get a good look at the dress.

http://www.thetraveleditor.com/article/7817/Feature_Article_Leisure_A_Ghostly_Wedding_Dress.html

(Copyright the Royal collection)                                      

Buckingham Palace is open to the public until 3rd October and tickets really are a 'hot ticket' item this year so it is advisable to book early.