June 2014
I am sending this from Rome where I have disappeared to for a few days to escape dogs, sheep (yes!), olive trees and all commitments other than writing. I have found myself a perfectly airy studio in the eaves of a hidden complex in one of the fabulous old ochre-toned Roman streets near the Spanish Steps. I am including a photo taken from its courtyard and you may be reminded of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn riding around the city on a Vespa in Roman Holiday. Yes, the street where I am staying features in that film. I spent a fair amount of time here in my twenties, originally to visit a very good friend from drama school who had landed himself a zonking leading role in a film being shot at Cine Citta but then life unfolded and I stayed on. Stayed on and then came back… and the city continues to act as a magnet and, of course, since shooting The Olive Route films I have made a whole new circle of friends here.
So, from Roma, my news shaded by a spreading fig tree.
If you have not been checking in to my website regularly you may not know that Hotel Paradise, my second Kindle Single has reached the number one slot for Amazon Singles on both sides of the Atlantic. Of course, I am thrilled. Thank you to those of you who have downloaded it. If you are looking for stories for your holiday both Hotel Paradise and its predecessor, The Girl in Room Fourteen might be just what you want. Here are the links for both for the UK and the US:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Paradise-Carol-Drinkwater-ebook/dp/B00IXOBK4U/ref=zg_bs_3596434011_7
And
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Room-Fourteen-Kindle-Single-ebook/dp/B00F8GP5O2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=01R561GJ523202XZR2Y7
UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Room-Fourteen-Kindle-Single-ebook/dp/B00F8GP5O2/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1BY06VJVBK6DNP7MXD2G
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hotel-Paradise-Kindle-Single-Drinkwater-ebook/dp/B00IXOBK4U/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1SX83B95MEGGYWFCVTGV
I am currently preparing a trip to Bantry in West Cork for the West Cork Lit Fest where I will be giving a five day workshop on Memoir and Writing from Life. The class is almost full but if you hurry I think two places are still open for booking. Here is the link:
http://www.westcorkmusic.ie/literaryfestival/workshops/detail/memoir-life-writing
If you cannot manage the full five days but would like to be involved in at least one event, I will be introducing the Irish writer, Alice Taylor, on Monday afternoon 7th July at 2.30pm. Do try to come along to that. We will be talking about gardens and their healing powers.
http://www.westcorkmusic.ie/literaryfestival/programme/detail/the-gift-of-a-garden-with-alice-taylor
So, that’s the promoting over. Now, some news. We have been given three black sheep. They are of the Ouessant breed which is originally from Brittany and predominantly used for grazing rather than meat. At present, they are living in the garden of our place outside Paris, christened by me, the Mad Old Chateau. Aside from our three fabulous dogs, I have never been an owner of livestock and not since holidays on the family farm in County Laois when I was a child have I ever lived with farm animals. I must say, I love it. This little trio, father, mother and son, are delightful and surprisingly intelligent. I had always been led to believe that sheep are rather stupid but I don’t find it to be the case with this team. They sneak out of their extremely large pen and trespass our neighbour’s garden and eat his roses. Fortunately, he is a priest and rarely in residence so the sheep’s antisc have not yet been discovered. You can see from the photograph that they are in need of shearing. If you live in or near the borders of the Brie and Champagne area and your are a sheep shearer, please, send me an email as soon as you can. We have a job for you!
Speaking of emails. It seems that the command to order The Olive Route films or to buy books from us is not always working on this website, so if you have written to me to order books or films and have not received a response, huge apologies. I never received the requests. If ever you need me, I am available on olivefarmbooks@gmail.com If you have ordered and heard nothing, please try again and I will be in touch with you directly.
On 26th of each month, I will be blogging on the very excellent History Girls site. Here is the link. Every day there is a fascinating piece from one member of this group of twenty-eight females who write, although not exclusively, historical fiction. As I said, my date is the 26th of each month so my first post is imminent.
http://the-history-girls.blogspot.com
I will try to see whether we can link my posts to this website.
Life at the farm. Midsummer and glorious. The soft fruits season. I have been gathering apricots and nectarines. I am also thrilled that an avocado stone I planted in the greenhouse and then replanted as a shrub on the land is now a tree taller than any man and has dozens of small avocado fruits on it, pollinated by our bees and various insects. The peaches are plentiful and beginning to blush but still too hard to pick. Pears and apples are for the autumn. We have such an abundance of bitter oranges and lemons that Michel has begun to make tarts with them and I am thinking about citron sorbets. So any delicious and unusual recipes would be much appreciated. You can write to me on the email address above.
So, back to work for me. I wish you a wonderful summer, or winter if you are reading this on the other side of the world, with plenty of time for reading.
Two earlier novels of mine have been republished as e-books and are garnering very positive feedback. Both are novels of intrigue set in tropical locations. An Abundance of Rain and Mapping the Heart. Both are available on Amazon everywhere. These are the UK links but they are available for downloading in all territories.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-Abundance-Rain-Carol-Drinkwater-ebook/dp/B00K2076F0/ref=pd_sim_kinc_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=10N4P67J2PKCCM1S1X47
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mapping-Heart-Carol-Drinkwater-ebook/dp/B00K20748Y/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1NS9AFFDE8QX2Z7CYW3H
If you want to suggest recipes, buy books and/or DVDs or rent our little cottage, which is available for holiday stays, you will find me on olivefarmbooks@gmail.com
Enjoy these wonderful days and thank you for being supportive and staying in touch.
Carol