PROGRESS REPORT # 43 : BACK ON TRACK (ALMOST)

Autumn in my neighbourhood.

It's been such a busy Autumn but things are winding down now and after this week I'll have lots more free time. It seems I've been on the go constantly either teaching classes, riding back and forth across town on buses, attending social events and there seemed no end to it. This weekend was a holiday weekend and I intended to write all day yesterday but my bird was being very naughty, screeching from morning to night until I could have strangled him. I have no idea why but the angrier I got the worse he behaved. So, unfortunately that killed any thoughts of focusing on my writing. Fortunately today he behaved and was back to his busy little self, sitting on my shoulder or my wrist while I wrote or following me from room to room, (never one to miss a thing!). It was a cold rainy day outside and I was glad to spend all of it indoors and I'm happy to report that I got another chapter segment written for "Shadow of the Lion" -- a rather difficult piece I'd been avoiding and contemplating for some time. I also made further notes for the next few segments of the novel so I'm much closer to finishing this entire part and moving that much closer to "The End".

The beach at Jericho where I spend my Wednesday mornings

I have really been enjoying my classes this term: 3 Life Writing classes in pleasant surroundings (like the one above) and with very interesting people. And a novel writing class that is small but turned out to be really fun anyway with some fascinating stories on the go. I also did an all-day Write from the Heart class as well that was fun.

Flower stall in the West End

In addition, I'm writing two or three pieces for Planet Eye each week so this has taken me on some very interesting field trips getting ideas for stories and doing restaurant reviews. I have quite a lot of the stories planned for the next few weeks when I start doing a series on all the neighborhoods around town. So check it out on www.planeteye.com (Vancouver expert).
This is a really well-paid gig and I'm grateful to have it as it makes me way more money than any of my regular travel articles pay and takes up much less time as well. I consider myself very lucky to have landed this 'job'.

As far as other travel plans are concerned, I am unable to go to Chile (unless there is some miraculous appearance of funds) so will have to content myself with staying close to home. Except my Auntie in California is very ill at the moment and the family suggests I might like to come and keep her company to perhaps inspire her recovery.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a few weeks of respite and writing and hopefully I will keep right on track and finally finish this seemingly never-ending novel!

PROGRESS REPORT # 42 : TRAPPED!

I've finally had some time this weekend to catch up on some of my writing tasks. This morning I posted a new travel blog (see http://travelthroughhistory.blogspot.com) and later put a shorter version of it and another story up on Planet Eye. www.planeteye.com (Vancouver Expert)
Then I finished editing a story about Bodrum and the fascinating underwater archaeological museum there. Later when the rain stopped I went out on a little field trip for Planet Eye. I'm writing about the various neighbourhoods in the city and had to scout along West Broadway in the Kitsilano district to check on the shops etc.
That was kind of fun and a bit of a trip down memory lane as well, because this is a Greek area of town and there are lots of Greek bakeries and two very good Greek supermarkets there. I went in one and Greek music was playing and most of the stuff on the shelves was like what you get in Athens, and all written in Greek. I lingered for awhile -- will definitely go back soon. I wanted to buy a spanikopita at one of the bakeries but I didn't have enough change on me.

I got home in time for my dinner which was just a left-over dish from Thanksgiving, watched the news, and then puttered around. Now I've just finished catching up on some editing for Shadow of the Lion . I hope that tomorrow I will be able to start working on the next new chapter segment.

I have felt so 'trapped' by not being able to get down to work on the novel. Because I've overbooked myself and always seem to be rushing about, riding across town on buses, going to classes and barely taking a breather, I felt as if I was losing my inspiration. Then, after the Writer's Conference last week, thinking over what so many of the presenters said, about your story needing a solid 'voice' as narrator, and realizing that my story is told from various points of view, I started to get that sinking feeling of, "oh,oh, maybe this isn't working after all!" However, last night I went to see a theatre production with my friend and we discussed this. She said that she could see Roxana's voice being the strongest throughout. So I got this idea that I could do the Prologue in Roxana's point of view from a place near the end when she is reminiscing about Alexander. That way it will connect more directly with Chapter One -- his death-- as the way I have it now she doesn't really get her voice until Chapter Two. That little problem solved, I am now going to quit worrying about it and just see how it goes. Recently I went through the whole manuscript
checking on details about two of my minor characters and in reading through I impressed myself. For the most part, it's tight and well written and as I've been block editing as I go along, most of it is pretty nearly final draft.

So now, it's time to get on with it, 'unstuck' myself and continue.

Here's a portion of the chaotic scenes I am currently working on, just to give you an idea of where I am and how things are working out for my characters who are camped out in the seaport fortress of Pydna while the enemy, Kassandros, is only a few miles away camped at the sanctuary of Dion.

Roxana was wakened in the early hours before dawn by the ill-omened sound of shouting. Without rousing the child who slept on his cot beside her, she threw a woollen cloak over her night dress and ran outside. Up on the fortress ramparts she could see a knot of men, swords drawn, peering over the edge of the wall. Breathless with excitement, she raced up the stone stairway and pushed her way past the sentries.

“Is he here? Has Polyperchon come?”

The sentries, who were debating heatedly with one another, paid her no heed. She leaned over the ramparts and looked down. A light dusting of snow lay on the ground and the pale dawn light glittered on the ice-crusted tufts of grass and shrubs. Below the ramparts she saw an army. A troop of soldiers had cordoned off the outskirts of Pydna town that nestled beneath the south wall. She caught a glimpse of their standards. Her heart sank and a cold shudder of fear overcame her. They weren’t Polyperchon’s men. The town was full of Kassandros’ soldiers. Across to the west where the fields met the salt marsh and sea, a troop of soldiers armed with picks and shovels were digging a trench and erecting a wooden palisade, while others hauled up siege equipment.

She felt her breath go out of her and her knees grew weak. She grasped the stone ledge to steady herself as the horrifying truth became clear to her. Kassandros’ army had come in the night and cut off the citadel from the rest of the city. They were trapped.

BOO! CELEBRATING THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

AARGH MATIES! GET ABOARD THE GHOST SHIP

Fright Nights are here again. It seems ages since I got time to sit down and blog here. I didn't do a magical disappearing act or get kidnapped by pirates. It's just been a really busy time for me. Seems I'm running around town from morning til night what with classes and other events. My plate has been full to overflowing and frankly I've been somewhat stressed.

Last weekend I spend the entire 3 days at the wonderful Surrey International Writer's Conference. I always volunteer so I can go free and this year I introduced five presenters and attended lots of workshops. There was a mystery/spooky theme there this year with a masquerade to end the sessions on Saturday night. I had taken my pirate gear along but in the end decided to come back into town to my old neighbourhood where there is a big celebration for the Day of the Dead and a Parade of Lost Souls. Everyone dressed up in ghoulish costumes and the houses in the neighbourhood are decorated with spooky motifs. It's lots of fun.

It seemed an appropriate week to be honouring the dead as it was three years ago on Oct 28 that my friend Anibal died. So along with thoughts of all the other dear departed I lit a candle and remembered....

And then comes Hallowe'en. Our building is going to greet the kiddies at the door with treats so we were given a chance to carve a pumpkin to decorate the lobby. This is my Jack O'Lantern. He's waiting down in the hall now for me to come and light the candle. I'm going to put my pirate gear on and take my bags of goodies down for the little ghosts and goblins who come calling. Afterwards I'm heading for the Latin Quarter as Hugo says the band are going to play some of Anibal's favorite songs tonight. I'm sure his spirit will be there.

I hope in a couple of weeks to have more time to resume work on my novel. My classes end in three weeks and then all this endless running around with stop.
Meanwhile, have a safe but spooky Hallowe'en and remember to light a candle to chase away those bad spirits and welcome the souls of the dearly departed.

WHAT'S WYNN BEEN DOING?

MOUNTAIN LAKE AND WILD FLOWERS

What's Wynn been doing? Wynn's been on a road trip. These are just a couple of the many photos I took. I'll post a few more soon on my other two blogs, especially the http://travelthroughhistory. blogspot.com Here's how this came about. I was offered a media trip, all expenses paid, to this mountain resort called Three Valley Gap. There's a ghost town there and a wonderful collection of antique cars and railway memorabilia. As I write travel stories mostly slanted to history, this was right up my alley. So of course I accepted.

Three Valley Gap is about a six hour drive from the Coast so I invited my friend Andrea along.
She drives a nice little jeep and I knew we'd have a super time together. They listed her as my official 'photographer' so the two of us were off on 'assignment'. It's a lovely drive to the mountains and the weather was absolutely perfect, glorious autumn weather, warm and sunny.
We enjoyed our leisurely drive there, arrived late afternoon.

THE LONG, WINDING ROAD

The chateau was far more than we'd expected. It's a huge complex right at the convergence of three mountain valleys, at the end of a lake. The size of it was rather daunting, especially as it was the end of the season so hardly anyone was staying there. Quite something to have the place to ourselves -- well, more or less!

Problem was, the restaurant there closes at 7 pm and there is no bar. We didn't think to stock up on wine for the weekend. But we enjoyed ourselves wandering around the place, and especially touring the ghost town which has a lot of historic buildings from various places around the area all put together like a frontier town, with lots of artifacts and interesting things to look at including this incredible antique car collection, and a collection of old rail cars that brought back some childhood memories.

We drove into the nearest town, Revelstoke, the next day but it was closed up tight because it was Sunday. You could have shot a cannon down the street! It's basically a railway town built in a very pretty mountain setting.

Before we left the chateau on Monday we treated ourselves to a six minute helicopter tour. If I can figure out how to put movie clips up on my blogs I'll add a clip of the tour. It was so quick that it hardly seemed it had happened before we were landing again, but it was fun.

On our way home we stopped at another historic railway site -- where the last spike was driven connection the rail lines from East to West. And then, because the weather was so gorgeous, we took back roads, meandering through the mountains and valley by the lakes and farms. We stopped at Salmon Arm and had coffee with my daughter, stopped at a farm to buy fresh produce, home made sausage and at another place where they make fresh cheese. Then we pulled into Vernon and had a little visit with my friend Rosie.

It was midnight before we arrived home again after our little adventure. Then I've had this very busy week starting with an early breakfast meet Tuesday with Argentina Tourism and then my classes.

I'll have to write a new blog about my classes, especially my new Life Writing group which is so exciting and inspiring! Besides this I've been catching up on writing and just finished my story about walking the barrios of Santiago Chile. Now it's time to get back to the novel so I will be posting a new Progress Report soon.

THE CHATEAU, THREE VALLEY GAP B.C.

THE ROVING REPORTER

KAYAKING ON INDIAN ARM

This past week has been a time of several 'firsts'. I'm living the life of the 'roving reporter' these days, submitting stories weekly to Planet Eye (www.planeteye.com) and as a result have had a couple of great opportunities to do things I had never done before. First was this kayaking tour.
I've so often watched the kayakers out on the waters around Vancouver, but never imagined me being out there. But as a result of requesting an interview with an adventure tour operator, I was invited to join one of the kayaking tours up the Indian Arm inlet near Vancouver. What a thrill! I'll be writing a longer blog just about this on my travel blog, so watch for it. And I've already posted a short blurb about Lotus Land Tours on my Planet Eye "Vancouver Expert" page.

LOUNGING ON THE BEACH IN MID SEPTEMBER!

After a rainy August, the summer weather returned in September and I was able to spend a day at the beach with my son and his wife picnicing and sunning. We did intend to swim but the water was chilly and a lot of algae floating around the shore so we opted to just sit in the sunshine. There were a lot of sail-boarders out in the Inlet and kite fliers on the shore. It was a lovely day just to relax in the midst of a very busy time.

My friend Patrick arrived from Germany for a holiday and I have been very busy preparing for my new writing classes which all begin this week. One new memoir group started last Tuesday, a small group which I agreed to do even though it means I won't get paid that much. I wanted to establish myself in this new community centre and the few women who came are very nice so it should be interesting. This week I start my other new Life Writing group at Brock House, which is a prestigious group out near the university, and also my other downtown group that has been going now for several years. I have two night school classes starting this week (novel and travel writing) and next month a "night school in one day" Memoir class.

So, along with these preps, visitors, other social events and writing my weekly blurbs for Planet Eye, I haven't had much time to work on my novel. However today is a writing day at home and that's what I will be doing for the rest of the day. Tonight is my writing critique group. So it will be day-long writing for me, something I've missed lately!

A DAY ON THE MOUNTAIN

One of the other 'firsts' that I did last week was to take the gondola up Grouse Mountain. With Patrick along, it made for a grand day. I had never been up Grouse on the gondola. The last time I recall going up there (on the t-bar) was when I was 14. I was reminiscing to Patrick
(who is from Germany) that when I went up Grouse back then, I was with some young German visitors and was trying to speak German to them (which I studied in school for two years -- and never mastered!) They kept laughing at my attempts. I gave up the language after that. I never did care for the sound of it compared to Spanish or Greek. I never mastered French either, although I should have because I live in a bi-lingual country.

Anyway, Patrick and I went up Grouse for the day. It was another warm sunny September day and although the view from the top was a little hazy, it was just lovely up there. Some of the entertainment was finished for the season but we did see the logger's show and had a look at the two grizzly bears in their habitat and also the wolves. I will write a travel blog about this adventure on my http://travelthroughhistory.blogspot.com site. This was also an opportunity for more stories for Planet Eye. I'm really enjoying being the Roving Reporter! (and I get paid for it too! A bonus!)

The next day Patrick and I went to Little India (the Punjabi Market) and a quick browse through Queen Elizabeth Park which was still gorgeous with all the flower beds and green mowed lawns. Having this Vancouver Expert's job keeps me on the go trying out new places, doing restaurant reviews, exploring areas of the city I've never been to before. So it's quite a lot of fun and there's no end of things to write about.

Check out some of my stories there. They are quick and easy to write. Not a long slog like the historical fiction is. But...I promise...I'm back to work on the novel right now! So there'll be another Progress Report coming up soon!

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

The Vancouver Sun building
(The editorial dept. was on the 4th floor)

After graduating from high school I went directly to a job in the newsroom of the Vancouver Sun, one of the city’s big daily newspapers. It was a dream come true.

I wanted to be a crime reporter and the thrill of being accepted as a copy runner (that is, an apprentice reporter, nowadays called an ‘intern’ which back then meant someone studying to be a doctor.) I was the only girl ‘copy-boy’ working with one or two other young fellows who had the same dreams and aspirations as me.

We’d stand at our post in the centre of the big newsroom amidst the sound of clacking typewriters and bustling reporters busy at their desks banging out the day’s news.When one would shout “COPY!” I scurry as fast as I could to grab the sheaf of 8” x 6” newsprint on which the story was typed and race over to the editor’s desk. The editor would take it, scribble a few things, and minutes later yell “COPY!” and the paper would be picked up from the editor, rolled inside a tube and shoved into a pipe-like gadget that would suck it up to the composing room where the story would be typeset for printing.

Me, posing at the desk in the news room

What a thrilling time it was! The reporters were exciting characters to be around, all of them smoking up a storm, their coffee cups not always full of pure coffee (Often we’d discover bottles of whiskey stashed in the coke machine or filing drawers). In the midst of deadline they could be furious as angry lions and we didn’t dare tarry when they shouted “COPY!”. Once deadline was over, things would settle down, and often there were parties in the newsroom. Sometimes buckets of fresh oysters would appear, and plates of goodies and even we lowly copy-runners were invited to join in.

One of the top women writers on the news desk, Simma Holt, wanted to train me for her job taking police calls and following up the stories. But the news editor wouldn’t hear of it and eventually I was encouraged to take a position in the news library instead. That proved interesting, because I was put in charge of the crime files and bios. And in the news library I honed my research skills.

My editor/writer's desk

Now, years later I find myself working as a full-time writer. And recently one of my old dreams came to pass when I was appointed “Vancouver Expert” for Planet Eye,www.planeteye.com which means I’m a kind of ‘roving reporter’ posting local news.But what is also interesting is that these days, because of my own travel website, TRAVEL THRU HISTORY www.travelthruhistory.com, I am also sitting on the other side of the desk in the chair of the editor.

This week I’ve been spending quite a lot of time editing stories for my website and editing my own work too, or stories from the people in the writing classes that I teach. Lately I’ve taken the time to enrol in a few editing classes so that I can hone these skills. It’s very interesting being on the other side of the desk, wearing the editor’s hat. Now I understand why editors are strict about the submissions they receive, and how easy it is to get your work rejected if you are not careful to submit ‘clean copy’.

I used to wonder, when I was a kid back in the newsroom, exactly what ‘clean copy’ meant. It didn’t mean a piece of copy paper with no coffee stains or cigarette burns. It means a piece of work well written, with a strong lead, informative body and satisfactory conclusion; no spelling errors; tight sentences; clear writing.

I’m being much stricter now with the copy that I accept for my travel e-zine. I enjoy editing, but I will not rewrite another person’s work. Unfortunately, on occasions, when I’ve made suggestions to a writer for changes that would make their story acceptable, the writer doesn’t want to change or edit their work. Therefore, no publication.

We writers must learn to edit and send ‘clean copy’ to our editors/publisher.

Never send a first draft, it will only get rejected. And accept the suggestions that are offered to you for improving your work. It’s a learning process, all part of being a writer. Eventually the self-editing becomes easier. It’s always helpful if you’re in a critique group too, because then you get fresh eyes looking at your work (but this must be through another writer’s eyes -- your Mom or your best friend aren‘t likely to understand the craft of writing.) It doesn’t hurt, if you’re a novice writer, to take a few courses from the experts. You’ll learn a lot and it will help you understand the intricacies of writing.If you’re weak on grammar, get a copy of “The Elements of Grammar” by Margaret Shertzer, or Strunk and White’s “The Elements of Style”. And for heaven’s sake, use your spell-check or refer to a good dictionary or thesaurus!

After all these years, from those days back in the ‘50’s in the Vancouver Sun newsroom, when I was this starry-eyed, innocent kid who wanted to be a crime reporter, and spent hours at home sitting at her old Underwood typing out historical fiction novels, I am today a writer/editor with a number of publications to my credit and a new ‘job’ as a roving reporter. And one day, very soon, I’ll have my most important body of work, Shadow of the Lion completed, ready to send off to an editor/publisher and I’ll remember the rule: Send out CLEAN COPY!

PROGRESS REPORT #41: THE GATHERING STORM

Ebb Tide

It's raining here on the Coast putting a damper on the finale of summer holidays.
I always try to make the best of it, and managed to have a swim the other day when there was a break in the clouds, but it's disappointing when this happens on a long weekend and people like to be out enjoying the last of their holidays. Hopefully the sun will make an appearance by tomorrow. Meanwhile, I take advantage of the inclement weather to stay at home at the computer and have managed to accomplish quite a bit this week. There seems no end of the writing tasks to keep me occupied. And a lot of social activities as well.


Last night I went to Bard on the Beach and saw one of Shakepeare's plays that I was unfamiliar with, "King Lear", done in a modern setting. I can't say I was able to follow the grim story that well, rather convoluted plot, but the acting was superb. And it certainly put me in the mood to carry on with the part of Shadow of the Lion that I am working on right now. Lots of murder and mayhem!

CLOUDS

I have been working on a part of the novel that is rather difficult in that it is high drama, lots of tension, and as it's the death of a couple of my favorite characters, it's like doing harm to your friends. It takes some thought and choreographing to make it realistic and appropriately tragic. Shakespeare was good at that, and so where the Greek dramatists, so I appreciated seeing the play last night for inspiration.

Besides working on Shadow, I've been writing up little fun pieces for Planet Eye. Be sure and take a look at the Vancouver Expert's page (moi!) www.planeteye.com This is a new site and deserves some publicity. I'm feeling pretty honored at being in on it from the beginning and I hope it's a great success. This little side-dish is allowing me to be the 'roving reporter' that I always had aspirations to be in my early years of wanting to be a reporter. It's fun and doesn't take up a lot of my time and it certainly is making me aware of all the things happening around town.

Of course I have some other travel writing to catch up on as well, so in between deal with the crisis in Pydna where Olympias and the rest of the royal family are awaiting their doom, I have to take my mind back to Venice and Chile and Greece, many pleasant memories to divert me from the doom and gloom of ancient Macedonia.

And there's lots of social activities happening here too: tomorrow a BBQ for my writer's group, a visit to the yearly P.N.E. (exhibition and fair); dinner with friends, and...hopefully another visit or two to the beach! Where's that sunshine?!

SUNSET OVER FALSE CREEK

PROGRESS REPORT #40: SCHEMING

Panorama view of Thessaloniki, Greece

I've been busy lately trying to keep up my writing schedule in between enjoying summer fun.
There's been a lot to do -- juggling my genres -- getting some travel writing done, edits, the new web site entries for Travel Thru History, and recently the Planet Eye contributions I am writing each week. But I am also not losing sight of my goal to finish "Shadow of the Lion" and
so I am slowly forging ahead with it, plotting and scheming along with my protagonists and antagonists. As always I love taking my mind back to Greece, and these days I'm "visiting" sites I'm familiar with. Above is a photo of Thessaloniki, which will figure prominently in the novel very soon.

The other weekend I went to see Mama Mia with my travel companion Ingrid. We later went for a Greek meal and rhapsodized over our movie 'trip'. Seeing the country, the little details of the village and the houses in the movie brought back so many wonderful memories. (For me, memories of my life on Euboea). I long to be in Greece, but for now I can only be there in my memories and visual it through my writing. (A lot of my travel writing is also about Greece).
But I look forward to next summer and the Assembly of 2009. Even my sister says she's coming to help celebrate my birthday on the hill behind the Pnyx. It's going to be a big one.

I've been 'scheming' too, trying to figure out how to save money again for that proposed trip to Chile that Patrick and want to do in January. So far, though, it seems a bit futile. However soon I'll be teaching again so we'll see what can be done about it. As always, though, Greece is my top priority.

So while I'm doing my planning, so is my antagonist, Kassandros. Here's the latest bit of chicanary my villain is cooking up:

Map of Macedonia
(Pydna is about a third of the way down the coast, and Dion is located just below)

NOTE: Kassandros and his army are at the holy sanctuary of Dion, not too many miles south of Pydna. He has just learned that Olympias has refused his offer of a 'truce' and safe passage to Euboeia. And so...the plot thickens...

As the envoy captain shuffled out of the hall, Kassandros called over his general, Kallas,from the couch at his right hand. “It seems that the time is propitious for us to advance on Pydna. We’ll make the old witch sorry she refused my offer. I want you to leave straightaway tomorrow. Go stealthily, and approach by night, so the guards won’t be alerted. The Epirote refuses to treat with me? Starve them out or bombard them. Just make sure nobody gets out alive. That old fool, Polyperchon, believes the truce he signed is enough to protect the royals. By the time he learns we have captured the fortress, it will be too late for him to act.”

He leaned back on the couch and smiled. Everything was set in motion and he was assured of victory. There was only one more thing he needed to achieve in order to obtain control of the throne and take his rightful place as Regent of Macedon.

He called over his personal squire, Glaukis, a sturdy boy, loyal to a fault.

“Bring the woman, Thessaloniki, here,” he commanded.

Glaukis cast a sidelong glance at him and shrugged. “Sir, the hour is late. Surely the lady is asleep.”

Kassandros caught the edge in the young man’s voice and looked at him with irritation. “Then wake her!” he ordered.

He had never doubted Glaukis’ unswerving loyalty and admiration but he recognized the petulant look of jealousy on the squire’s face.

“You’re a good boy, Glaukis!” he smiled, lifting his wine cup. Glaukis studied him with narrowed eyes, then spun on his heel and left the banquet hall without saying another word.

He had brought Thessaloniki here from Aigai promising to protect her from the Epirote and the Soghdian. After she arrived he had moved into the villa, expropriating it for a decent sum from its former owner. It would have been unseemly to expect the princess to board in an army barracks. She was, after all, one of King Philip’s daughters.

The banter and merry-making of his guests hushed suddenly and he heard the outbreak of whispers as everyone’s eyes turned toward the doorway. He put up his hand to silence them. “Gentlemen, here is Philip’s daughter, a true-born Macedonian princess.”

Thessaloniki paused in the entrance. She was simply dressed in a white shift, her auburn hair unadorned as if she had just come from her bed. Kassandros saw her face flooded with colour; she had a frightened look, like a startled deer.

“Come here, my Lady” he beckoned her forward.

She composed herself and took a hesitant step, then obedient as a dog at heel, she came to stand by him. “My Lord?” Her dark eyes studied him warily.

His gaze met hers. Thessaloniki was thirty-five, but carried herself well for her age, a quiet, civil girl, one who would make a suitable wife, and would be grateful for her position. She wasn’t a great beauty. She was of a slender build, with dark hair and she had inherited the broad, strong features of her father. When the time came, she would make a proper wife, one whose offspring could claim royal status.

“Prepare yourself and your servants,” he commanded. “ You will leave here tomorrow for Pella, while the ships can still sail.”

“Leave Dion, my lord?” Her voice quivered.

“I’m sending you back to Pella,” he responded gruffly.

“But Sir... my lord...” Her face paled. “What about the queens...Olympias and the Soghdian? ”

“No fear of them. They’ll dare not trouble you so long as they are in Pydna. You’ll wait for me in Pella. You must prepare things -- make the palace ready.”

“Ready for what, my lord?”

“When I return in the Spring, triumphant, we will be married.”

She drew in a sudden gasp of breath then threw herself on her knees before him.

“Marriage, my Lord?”

He took her hand and kissed the palm. “As I promised you,” he said, smiling. “When I return to Pella victorious, we shall wed. I have already sent an edict to the citizens of the coastal villages to let them know I intend to consolidate their rural towns into one metropolis. Just as I promised you, my dear, when you agreed to marry me. And, as I promised, the new city will be named Thessaloniki, in your honour.”

She inclined her head. “Sir, you have been most generous with me. Thank you.”

He was amused at her naivety. He reached out and took her by the wrist, pulling her toward him. She looked startled. Could she read his thoughts? His relationship with her was business, nothing more, though she was not unpleasant to his eye, and he could not deny that because of her innocence she possessed sexual allure. Her cheeks flushed red and he felt her hand tremble in his. “You’re a good girl,” he said..

He raised his wine cup and addressed his guests: “It is Thessaloniki who shall reign as queen of Macedon, not the Epirote or the foreigner.”

A pleased murmur went round the hall and his guests lifted their cups in a congratulatory salute.

“Long life to you, Lady!” everyone cheered.

He kissed Thessaloniki lightly on the cheek, then dismissed her. After she had left the banquet hall, he turned back to his squire, Glaukis.

“That’s done! Now, let’s take a stroll by the river.”

They went outside together to the courtyard. Inside the guests were singing again; they would keep it up all night. Kassandros and his squire walked to the gate and stepped outside onto the long deserted avenue. After the noise of the hall, the quiet outside seemed abrupt. The road ran between a stand of eucalyptus and sycamore trees. The light of the moon glinted on the river. They stood in silence awhile watching the night mist rise from the reeds.

Kassandros took a deep breath of the damp pin-scented air. “By Spring we will be in Pella!” he said. “Or would you rather I send you to Athens after the wedding? I’ll need

new men like you to man the garrison in Athens.”

“No Sir...I mean...” Glaukis stammered. “Do you mean to send me away, Sir?”
Kassandros put his arm around the youth’s shoulders. Glaukis spent all his days in the gymnasium and the tautness of his athlete’s body next to his sent a warm surge through Kassandros’ belly. “Don’t look forlorn, my boy. You know who I prefer for a bed-fellow. Believe me, the thought of bedding a dowager princess serves only to make me long more for you.” He winked, and squeezed Glaukis’ bicep. “You know what this is all about. She’s King Philip’s daughter. I need her royal title.”

* * *

NOTE: So now you know where the city of Thessaloniki got its name.
Stay tuned for more scheming!

Statue of Alexander riding Buchephalus
Thessaloniki

THE FESTIVAL OF WRITTEN ARTS

This weekend my friends and I went for a weekend on the Sunshine Coast to the Festival of the Written Arts at Sechelt, a small town on the Sechelt Peninsula. It's been a number of years since I attended this writer's festival and I was so pleased my friend Dianne suggested we go. For one thing, the location is one of my favorite places on the Coast. When my family had their cottage on an island nearby I fell in love with this part of the Province. Being back there again reminded me of those days, and of all the other fun festivals I've attended in the past. One year I spent a week at Rockwood Lodge at a women writer's retreat, another unforgettable event in my writer's life. The lodge isn't there now (too bad!) and I do hope they might rebuild it. There's just the performance hall and admin. buildings on the grounds which are surrounded by gardens and trees. It's quite an idyllic setting, and close to the seashore too.

Being part seal or probably dolphin, I love the sea so this was an excellent way to spend a weekend. Besides the sun (which was beaming down full-force all weekend) and the inspirational company, there was the long stretch of pebbly beach and the forest all around. My kind of setting! Here I am on the rocks, just before sunset not long after we had arrived there on Friday night. We eventually got to swim, but went to the wrong beach and it was too stony. It was refreshing to dip into the ocean though and to smell the fresh sea air. Luxury!

We took in a couple of of events but some of the best things were sold out. However the night we arrived (Friday) we sat outside the performance hall and listened to an interview with writer Elizabeth Hay ("Late Nights on Air"). The next morning we took in two events. One was with Mike McCardell, a well known TV figure formerly NYC crime reporter. His latest book is "The Blue Flames That Keep Us Warm: Mike McCardell's Favorite Stories" He's a very entertaining and personable guy. He usually appears after the news with a human interest vignette that he shares with viewers.

The next reader we heard was Lorna Goodison, a Jamaican/Canadian writer who read some touching excerpts from her memoir "From Harvey River: A memoir of My Mother and Her People" I will definitely buy her book! She is also an accomplished and well-published poet and winner of an award for Canadian Non-Fiction. In the afternoon we heard Claire Mulligan an award-winning short fiction writer who wrote "The Reckoning of Boston Jim", her first novel. She was being interviewed by Sheryl McKay, host of CBC Radio's "North by Northwest"

That evening we sat outside and listening to the keynote speaker, Chantal Hebert, a French-Canadian political writer.

What we missed this time was the lack of the lodge because after the performances in the past, there was usually a reception held there and you could schmooz with all the writers and sometimes get chances to chat personally with them. I also missed the lodge as that's where I'd stayed when I was at the women's retreat. They also used to house the guest readers there. Other than that one small disappointment, it was a super weekend and I returned to the city Sunday afternoon feeling quite revitalized and ready to launch into more writing. (Which I did today and polished off four more stories for the Planet Eye as well as editing a recycled travel story of mine that is going to be published again. Then in the evening, I met my friends at the Yaletown gallery for a poetry book launch and reading by poet friend Diane Laloge. There was music accompaniment and wine and cheese. In all a very rich and inspiring weekend!

And yes...I have completed another chapter segment of my novel besides all the other writing I've been doing. So I'll be posting another "Progress Report" very soon.

LOTS OF SUMMER FUN

I've certainly had my share of fun so far this summer. A couple of weekends ago it was the Summer Dreams Literary Festival in Stanley Park but on by the Pandora's Poetry Collective. Here's a photo of us gals: Me and the two poets, brunet Diane Laloge, red-head Irene Livingston and me, the blonde. Both Diane and Irene were reading and interviewing at the festival and I was helping out with registration and other things like being a photographer. A very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The following weekend I went to the Theatre Under the Stars in the park to see "Jesus Christ Super Star". I have been attended this outdoor theatre since the '50's but it had been quite awhile since I'd seen a show there. It's always a lot of fun, especially on a warm summer night. We had good seats close to the front. The production is all local singers/actors/dancers and was very well done. In a couple of week's I'll make my yearly visit to the Bard on the Beach to see a Shakespeare play. Vancouver is lucky to have these two out-door theatre venues. The Bard is under the tent with an open backdrop of natural scenery so even if it rains you can still attend. But I'm hoping this hot sunny weather will continue a few more weeks!

Last weekend was the annual Gay Pride parade and I went along for the fun although this year I went alone so it wasn't quite as entertaining as usual. I took lots of photos and enjoyed it -- amusing and all good fun. Later I met my old friend Tom at our long-time haunt, the Dover, for a few pints. Then we went to another old-time haunt, The Rooster's Quarters and met his wife there for chicken dinner (Montreal style). Always yummy.

In addition to the fun I've attended some other interesting artistic and theatre events. My friend Jabbar had an exhibit of his paintings this week, then Friday I went to a Cuban movie and reception. Saturday I finally got to see "Mama Mia" (the musical) and later went to a play about Zimbabwe "Super Patriots and Morons" by Zimbabwean playwrights Raisedon Baya and Leonard Matsa. The play was eventually banned in Zimbabwe because of it's political content.

In between all this, I've been writing so there's be another Progress Report about my novel soon. I am also doing a bit of travel writing as I have the possibility of writing for an on-line travel trade publication. More about that later.

I've spent my Sunday (today) at home because I had to catch up on all the writing. The sun is shining again, after a brief rain, but I'm waiting for my neighbour to call as I'm hoping to meet a writer friend of his.

So, that's been my busy life so far, but most of it has been focused on things artistic. Once in awhile, though, we have to just enjoy the moment and have some fun away from the serious business of putting words to paper. I hope your summer has been fun too!