I’ve just returned from a mini tour of Cornwall – at least, the part that follows the road from Okehampton in Devon, all the way down to Penzance and Mousehole.
Part writing retreat, part literary festival and library talk and part research trip – this 8 days odyssey has been tremendous fun (apart from my backache due to issues from 3 slipped discs – how joyous it is to be in your mid-fifties!)
The first part of the trip was very writing focused. Four nights in a flat in Liskeard. Not a place know for tourists – and, sadly, it has certainly seen better days – however, it was perfect for what myself, and my travel companion, P.J. Reed, needed for this leg of the adventure. The aim was to write – and that is what we did.
I had set myself to aim of reaching the 80,000 word mark of the fourth novel in my cosy crime series: The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives.
Meanwhile, Pam was busy working on her latest play.
We told ourselves that, if we reached our goals we could have a few treats – and we did just that. After all, all work and no play…
On Sunday afternoon we took ourselves exploring. First we visited the amazing Restmorel Castle. Run by English Heritage, this fascinating place had somehow passed me by before. It was fascinating – and gave both Pam and myself a chance to let out our inner historians. It was a joy to walk around such a magical place with a fellow castle lover.
Then, it was on to the National Trust’s Lanhydrock House. We’d both been to the house a few times before, so we we just hit the coffee shop and gardens. The heat was intense, as you can imagine, but it was worth braving the elements, as the flowers were utterly stunning.
On Monday, having worked very hard all morning, we took ourselves for a late lunch at a nearby farm shop, and then had a wander on Bodmin Moor, where we came across a stunning tin mine.
On Tuesday, having made my back worse by picking up a random sock, and after reaching the 81,000 words point of Book 4 of my cosy crime series, I waved goodbye to Pam and headed off to Newlyn and on to the Penzance Literary Festival, where lovely people, more heat, and lots of painkillers awaited me…