More Bird Talk

‘Aw, aren’t they sweet?’

Blackie spoke from underneath the bird feeder, where he was busy hovering up fallen seeds scattered by the little blue and yellow fluffy balls.’

‘Six this year,’ crowed Blue, puffing out her chest with pride.

‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Blue.’

‘Whatever do you mean?’

‘Letting your babies eat from bird feeders instead of teaching them how to forage.’

‘I’m giving them the best start, the best vitamins around.’

‘It’s spring! The hedgerows are full of nutritious shoots and insects.’

‘But it takes ages to gather enough food for the day. If they come here, they have so much more time to play.’

‘But you know, back in the day, humans hadn’t used to put seed out at this time of year, so that fledglings like yours would learn about natural food sources.’

‘Yeah, but since then Springwatch has been on the tele to raise awareness of us birds and what with the fantastic marketing of RSPB products and other wild bird food companies, there is never a shortage of seed.’

Blackie flew up and sat on the fence with a cackle.

‘Short-sighted, Blue. You mind my words, you’ll regret this faddy diet, they never work in the long term you know. What happens when the humans in this house go on holiday and there is no seed put out for two weeks? Answer me that.’

‘I’ll show them how to forage then.’

‘By then you could have flown into a window, been eaten by a hawk or a cat. What happens to your precious babies then?’

Blue froze, her beak set in a strange line.

‘Pessimist.’

Nevertheless, she turned to her fledglings.

‘Come on you lot, let’s go and investigate that damson tree. Lovely sweet shoots and loads of ants.’

The biggest fledgling flew over to his mum.

‘Mum, that’s so old-fashioned. Seed is best, foraging is boring. You said so yourself.’

‘Meet my Main Character’ Blog Hop

I don’t know where the days go! How can it be so long since I posted on my blog? I have been busy polishing my work in progress for a critique by the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) New Writers’ Scheme (NWS).

I'm loving my garden this year, the flowers seem to have vivid colours. I am continuing with my swimming lessons and making steady progress – now without floats! Last lesson, I managed half a length backstroke and half proper front crawl with arms and breathing. Yay! 

‘Meet my Main Character’ Blog Hop

Janice Preston has tagged me to continue in the ‘Meet My Main Character’ blog hop. Janice’s debut novel, Mary and the Marquis, is published on 1st August 2014 and available in the shops from 18th July - link here. If you would like to read Janice’s blog, or know more about her and her debut novel she can be found at http://janicepreston.co.uk

I have decided to introduce you to Tanner, my hero in Rosie and Tanner, the novel I am editing at the moment. Janice gave me some questions to answer about him, so here goes:-

What is the name of the main character? Is he real or fictitious?

Tanner Bryant is a fictional character in my novel Rosie and Tanner. His mother is American, hence the unusual first name. Tanner was her maiden name.

When and where is the story set?

The story is set in and around present day Worcester, Worcestershire, England.

What should we know about him?

Tanner didn’t have a particularly happy childhood. His father was distant and Tanner never felt he could please him. His mother had her own business, so rarely had time for her only son. His parents split up when he was sixteen, after years of living separate lives under the same roof and his mother went back to live in America.

As he never felt good enough for his father, he has tried to rebel against his father’s world and make his own way. However, now that his father is gravely ill, Tanner has stepped into his father’s shoes to maintain his business and charity commitments.

He is thirty years old, with wayward shoulder length blond curls and lips that make women who meet him fantasise about kissing.

What is the main conflict? What messes up his life?

Tanner’s father illness has bought him face-to-face with the conflicts in his life. When his father changes his will, after a visit to his hospital bed by his ex-wife, Tanner also has a mystery to solve. His father’s estate will be now be shared by Tanner and a mysterious Rosie Phillips. The terms of the document mean that their lives will be bound together, but who is Rosie and what is her link to the Bryant family?

What is the character’s goal?

Tanner’s goal at the start of the novel is to find out more about Rosie Phillips. He chooses an unusual way to go about this, which causes both himself and Rosie problems and conflict. As Rosie is unaware that she is mentioned in the will, or that Tanner has a private investigator’s file on her, she just thinks Tanner is showing an interest in her and this leads to misunderstanding.

Hopefully, if I can find a publisher, you will be able to read more of Tanner and Rosie’s story in the future.

I am pleased to invite two fellow RNA NWS members to carry on the blog hop. The talented and I’m sure soon to be published Bernadette O’Dwyer and Lynda Stacey. Bernadette’s blog can be found at http://secretwriter1.blogspot.co.uk and Lynda’s at http://lyndastacey2912.wordpress.com

Watch out for their posts next week. I’m looking forward to reading all about their main characters.

Maybe you would let me know in the comments below if you are intrigued by Tanner’s story.