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Keeping a Cool Head Those who know me would admit that keeping a cool head is not one of my characteristics. I react first and then think. This leads to some interesting results and often necessitates apology. I think I've found the answer to my problem now. I was in Hevik last week , a small town in the Balaton area of Hungary. The main attraction in Hevik is its thermal lake. It was a beautiful sight as the warm lake lay wreathed by mist in the freezing air. I swam in the 32 degree waters of the outdoor pool - and yes, you've guessed it - body warmed by the water , head cooled by the frosty air. I must say I didn't like the sulphury smell of the mineral waters but the soothing comfort of the heat was bliss. I spent a few days in Budapest too where I was stunned by the increase in prices since my last visit there. Still great value in the local food markets though where the fresh fruit and veg are second to none. We spent a very pleasant day visiting Budapest Zoo. I know that doesn't sound too exciting but it's worth visiting if only to see the buildings. The animal houses are beautiful structures , especially the elephant house ( see photo album) . It is possible here to get closer to the animals than in any other zoo I've seen. We were very impressed by the animals but I don't think the admiration was mutual. We got some disdainful looks from them as we stared at them. Can't say I blame them. It must be awful for animals whose nature it is to roam free ,to be locked up . On the other hand so many species are under threat of extinction that zoos may be the last haven for them. So back to work now. Holiday over and Under The Rainbow hits the shops at the start of next month. Little by little the cool-headedness of Hevik is fading away. Under The Rainbow Under The Rainbow will shortly be back from the printers and will be in the shops at the beginning of April. As usual, I feel sad when I come to the end of writing a book. Over the course of creating a novel you get to know the characters very intimately.Because I wrote Under The Rainbow in the first person, I felt especially close to Adele, the main character. However when their fictional lives are bound between the covers of a book it is time to say goodbye to my fictional friends. That never stops me wondering how the characters are getting on and how the rest of their lives are turning out. The only cure is to start writing a new book and that's what I'm up to now. Interesting Times Recession has long since sunk to Depression here in Ireland. We have a mournful streak in our genes which eulogises disaster but the past few months has provided even us Irish with more than enough material to keep us lamenting for a long time to come. Our economy has gone disastrously wrong. The blame game is underway as dole queues lengthen and homes are re-possessed. Some point out that we are still a wealthy country. Of course we are when compared to the abject poverty of third world nations. That fact does not lessen the suffering of people who are losing their jobs and homes. To make matters worse Summer did not happen on the Emerald Isle. It took a detour around the Jet Stream and left us with appropriately grey skies. All we are left with now is the hope that lessons , economic and political , have been learned and that , next Summer , the sun will again shine on this most beautiful of islands. YouTube We recently captured on video a frantic feeding frenzy by a flock of starlings on the birdtable in our garden. Below is the link to YouTube where you can see and hear genuine tweeting ! http://www.youtube.com/authorosullivan http://www.twitter.com/authorosullivan Inside Out - now available in paperback  I'd like to thank the many readers who bought and read Inside Out , especially those of you who contacted me with your comments. Your support is very much appreciated. The characters in Inside Out will always have a special place in my heart , as all my characters do. I hope you find the same pleasure in their company as I did.  I am very pleased to say that Susan and Paul Feldstein of the Feldstein Literary Agency in Bangor have agreed to represent my work. I look forward to working with them . See their website at www.thefeldsteinagency.co.uk |
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