Stuart's Daily Word Spot: We're, were or where?

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We're, were or where?

Homonyms (words that sound alike but which have different meanings) cause much misunderstanding amongst those learning the language. They should be familiar to native speakers, but seem to confuse a lot of folk. Here are some suggestions to help in remembering the correct usage for each.

'We're' is a contraction of the phrase 'We are.' If the phrase can be used in place of the word, then this is the one you need.

'We're (we are) all going to march on Parliament to protest about the way MPs have been making fraudulent claims for living expenses.'

'Were' is the past tense of 'are' and is used to describe something that has happened in the past.

'We were going to the Houses of Parliament to protest, but we are now going to the pub instead.'

'Where' is a locational term, in common with 'here' and 'there'. It can be used in a question about the location of something or it can identify the placing of a person or object.

'Where are the houses of Parliament?' 'Here they are; on the banks of the Thames, in London.'

'The Houses of Parliament are where British MPs sit to make laws intended to keep them in power and positions of privilege.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Quadriga

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Quadriga: noun - a Roman chariot, pulled by four horses harnessed abreast; a representation of such a chariot in sculpture or on a coin.

'In his shining armour, and standing fierce and proud in his magnificent quadriga, Septimus Maxima was a figure of terror in the eyes of the common folk on conquered Gaul.'

But it'll be Worth it, Won't it?

Having spent the last few days on some domestic labours, I am slowly getting back into the groove of writing. There was the turning bay we had designed for the front garden; a necessity for the future when our daughter, now at university, will no doubt want her own car and somewhere to park it. That little job, requiring the laying of 31 edging stones and 3 tons of gravel, we have now completed.
Then I decided to redecorate and re-organise my study, having been encamped in here for 11 years without change. I've got the new carpet down, the painting all done and the furniture repositioned. Today, I put back the shelves that live two walls and started returning the books to these. But, it struck me that i had lost track of what books I have, so I decided to catalogue them as I was re-shelving them. It's an interesting and worthwhile task as I've discovered books I'd forgotten I had and haven't yet read, and others I have read but had forgotten. So far, I've catalogued just under 300, so a few more to go before the job is done.
Many of you will be aware that I have suffered from ME/CFS for the past 8 years or so, and may be surprised by the amount of physical work I'm doing now. Well, I've suspected that I 'd shrugged off the condition for the past few months, but, having been caught out twice previously only to discover the problem returned with a vengeance, I thought I'd give it a while before I started to test myself. Following the past three weeks, with much physical activity and a week's holiday walking in hilly country, I'm now convinced I have finally defeated the beast. It's a great feeling, as you can imagine. But I've aged 8 years and lost a good deal of strength and fitness along the way, so I need to start a programme of exercise to regain my former physical condition.
But it's truly wonderful to be free of the many symptoms I suffered over those years. I aim to make the best of the years ahead. And, as a start to that, I'm going to join the NaNoWriMo  and attempt to write a popular novel during the month of November. Watch this space for my progress. For those unfamiliar with this challenge, the idea is to write the first 50,000 words of a novel during the month of November.
So, wish me luck and join me here as I detail my progress.

Pic: Wandering way; a public footpath outside Driffield, East Yorkshire.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Pathetic

Pathetic: adjective - bringing about an effect on the emotions; moving, stirring; causing pity or sadness; full of pathos; arising from or expressing strong emotion; passionate, earnest; miserably inadequate, feeble, useless (colloquially); in pathetic fallacy - the assignment of human emotions or responses to inanimate things or animals in art and literature.

'When he was accused of fraudulently claiming expenses to which he wasn't entitled, the politician made some pathetic excuse about his lack of awareness of the rules.'

Jodie turned her back on the man beside her. 'You're a pathetic excuse for a man, John. I don't know why I let you take me in like that. Now, get out of my bed and don't ever come back.'

Pathetic Fallacy:

'Old Man Willow wept copious tears, swelling the stream into which his roots spread, as he contemplated the swan's sorry loss of his lifetime partner to the carelessly discarded fishing tackle left by an angler.'

Pic|: Trout stream in Driffield, East Yorkshire.

Author Interview with Sarah Baethge.

Hello Sarah, please tell us about you, as a writer.

I have always liked Science-fiction and Fantasy, and write primarily to entertain myself. I admit this does result in the creation of many things that I never finish when I see that they take too much personal knowledge I am not willing to share in order to be fully understood, but I figure that if I could not be a fan of my own work, there is little point in spending the amount of time required so I feel like my story is fully told.

Your latest book is ‘The Speed of Darkness’; perhaps you’d you give us some insight into it in a few sentences?

‘The Speed of Darkness’ –my combination of Sci-fi and werewolves. The first book I’ve ever written fully enough that I was comfortable with pointing to a spot and saying: The End.

Excerpt-

   Sam closed and locked his door. With clear disgust on his face, he addressed Nigel.  “Nice,” he said sarcastically. “Nice to know you could have just gotten away easily when I jumped in to help you.”

Nigel fidgeted uncomfortably as he tried to keep himself from meeting Sam’s gaze, “It doesn’t work like-“

“You certainly were able to do it at will just now!” Sam yelled, stomping up to him.

“But Bart-“, Nigel began, gesturing as he spoke.

“Your psycho friends!” Sam thundered in anger as he raised his hands above his head. “Thanks! Can’t forget those two freaks are now after me too. All because I didn’t want to just stand by and watch them cut up some little fruit like you on tape!

“Now I find out that’s what you wanted.” With a sickened look he folded his arms and stepped away from Nigel, who simply looked confused.

“What..?” Nigel called after Sam, as he looked helplessly at the back of the other man, “I never want-“

“Oh, come on,” Sam said derisively, turning around and grabbing Nigel’s shoulder. “Why would someone, who can –FOR REAL- just zip away, stand around and wait for his buddies come at him with a knife for a video?”

Nigel finally met Sam’s eyes and said, (as if it explained everything)”Bart had a flashlight.”

How did you come to write this particular book?

A couple of silly ideas knocking around in my head started to build themselves into a story; as I wasn’t doing much else at the time, I wrote it down until I got sick of it and filed it away for 2-3 years. When I pulled it back out and read it again, I liked it just as much as ever.

Do you have a favourite character from the book? If so, who and why this particular one?

I like Nigel Hunter, my mad scientist who started experimenting on himself when others refuse to let him test on animals any more. When I was trying to decide how he would react to different situations, I let him do what I would like to do, but wouldn’t really dare to.

Where can people buy your books?

Both are here:

http://beta.iwritereadrate.com/books/search-results/?author=baethge

and you can get 1 chapter of the other FREE.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Sarah+Baethge&x=0&y=0

What qualities does a writer need to be successful?

Imagination and determination

What’s your working method?

Do nothing until after lunch, Relax on weekends; don’t get trapped within your own book.

Finish EVERYTHING.

Don’t ever delete anything; just file it away where you can get back to it when you’re no longer sick of it.

Yes, I realize the last two rules are currently eating up way too much space on my computer, but hey :P my crazy laptop has a multi-gigabyte hard-drive.

What’s the single biggest mistake made by beginner writers?

Deleting anything. There is nothing worse than suddenly having the idea to fix where your story flagged out, to only find it’s no longer on your computer when you go to fix it.

To what extent are grammar and spelling important in writing?

If you don’t write correctly, others will have a difficult time trying to determine what you mean.

How much do you revise your MS before sending it off?

I go through it as many times as it takes for me to be able to go through it without making any changes at all.

As a writer of Sci-fi, to what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?

You have to know the name of the genre that your intended audience will look for or you might prevent your future fans from ever finding your work.

Many authors see marketing as a bind. What's your opinion on this, and how do you deal with it?

I’m somewhat iffy on this, I know that without some marketing no one will ever find my work; but because I’m so attached to what I write, I  would almost rather have that no one ever see it before I am tempted to change it for the sake of boosting sales.

What sort of displacement activities keep you from writing?

Reading, movies, and video games

What support, if any, do you receive from family and friends, writing group, or dedicated professionals?

As I am not working any ‘real’ job I live with my dad and stepmother. I receive emotional support from my mother, grandfather, 2 sisters, brother, stepsister, and a good sized list of friends and family online.

Is presentation of the MS as important as agents and publishers suggest?

Save a couple random short stories I’m only self-published, so I wouldn’t actually know.

How long does it take you to write a novel?

The actual writing is probably only a couple of months, but to let the ideas accumulate might take years.

Who or what inspires your writing?

Artwork, real life, TV

Basically anything and everything

If there’s a single aspect of writing you find frustrating, what is it?

Pace; if I stick to writing too much I start to hate it, if I take too much time off I lose the flow and cant continue what I was working on.

Is there a particular feature of writing that you really enjoy?

I like having the control to make exactly what I want to happen, it’s why much of what I write becomes too silly or embarrassing to ever finish.

Do you believe creative writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?

I think it is a common natural talent that must be practiced to enhance to a worthwhile skill level like running or swimming.

What are you writing now?

I have a couple of modern-fantasy ideas chasing each other round my head, but the question has startled them into hiding to the point where I’m at a loss to describe what the story’s even about. Won’t have a character named Sam though. I’ve had far too many of those.

Do you have a website or blog where readers can visit?

Closest thing I have to a website is here: https://profiles.google.com/u/0/doUreallyWant2see

you can get to my blog off of there

Given unlimited resources, where would you do your writing?

Right at my desk where I’m sitting right now... Somewhere new would just distract me, prevent me from writing at all.

Where do you actually write?

A little desk in the corner of my room on a happy little 15 acre donkey ranch in central Texas. Within easy screaming distance of the cockatiel that has something to say about everything I do...

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Verbal or oral?

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Verbal or oral?

Verbal: adjective - of someone - dealing with or using words, especially in contrast to things or realities; using a lot of words; talkative, verbose; articulate; of or pertaining to words; consisting or composed of words; of the nature of a word; in Grammar -  derived from a verb, of the nature of a verb.

Oral: adjective - performed with or by the mouth as the organ of eating and drinking; in Medication - taken by mouth; involving such administration; uttered or communicated in spoken words; conducted by word of mouth; spoken, verbal; delivered or transmitted verbally; of or pertaining to the mouth, as a body part; sexual activity where the genitals of one partner are stimulated by the mouth of the other, cunnilingus and fellatio; in Psychoanalysis – relating to a supposed stage of infantile psychosexual development, where the mouth is the main focus of energy and feeling.

As you can see, Verbal can refer to both written and spoken communication, but oral is more useful for distinguishing the spoken word from the written.

'The press secretary produced a verbal statement from the politician, in which he attempted to explain, in as many polysyllabic words as he could devise, the steps that had led to his fraudulent expenses claims.'

'Standing on the steps of the cathedral, the bishop made an oral declaration of his intent to root out child abuse by priests, which had been endemic in the parish prior to his appointment.'

'Stanley and Joyce were so committed to oral sex that they rarely achieved orgasm any other way and therefore found it impossible to become parents.' 

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Oats

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Oats: noun -  the grains of hardy cereal plant, Avena sativa, used as food for people in the form of porridge or oat cakes, etc., and for animals, especially horses; the plant as a crop; various wild grasses related to or resembling the cultivated oat; sexual gratification (slang).

'Salina brought her pony into the stable from the cold and fed him a bag of oats as she brushed his shaggy coat.'

'Geoffrey had always hoped to sow some wild oats with Sarah and now, as she performed her slow striptease, it looked as though he might get his way at last.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Upwind or downwind?

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Upwind or downwind?

Upwind: adverb - against the direction of the wind, into the wind.

Downwind: adverb - in the same direction as the wind.

'Gill and Sandra ran for cover into the woods, keeping upwind of the wolf pack so they were less likely to leave a trail of their delicious scent in the air to tempt them.'

'In cities, the poorer quarters are always downwind of the prevailing winds, so they lie in the way of the smells generated by sewage works, tanneries and other noxious fumes of civilisation.'

Interviewed on Another Blog

For a change, I'm the subject of an interview on another blog. Here's the link: http://indiebookblogger.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-stuart-aken-author-of.html

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Naff

Naff: adjective - lacking in taste or style, unfashionable; faulty or poor quality.

'Geordie described his stunning model girlfriend's garish new outfit as the most naff dress he'd ever seen.'

'The operating system on Bill's new computer was so naff, he threw the whole thing out of the window in disgust and frustration.'

Pic: Trees on a drovers' track, Yorkshire Dales.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Downstream or upstream?

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Downstream or upstream?

Downstream: adverb - in the direction in which the water flows in a stream or river.

Upstream: adverb - contrary to the direction of flow of a river or stream, further up or along a moving body of water.

If you have trouble remembering these two, just use the analogy of stairs. Water always flows down, never up. So: as you climb up the stairs, so you go 'upstream', toward the source of the river in the hills.

'It's much easier to swim or paddle a boat downstream, as you follow the flow toward the sea.'

'If you intend to drink from a stream, it's probably best to make sure there isn't a dead sheep lying in the current upstream.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Macerate

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Macerate: verb – make softer by soaking in a liquid; erode or separate soft parts of something, by steeping; make something grow thinner or waste away, especially through fasting; to fret, vex or worry.

'Facing the pressures of the catwalk, the fashion model used diet and exercise to macerate her already lean figure, and, although her sponsors could see it was harming her, they did nothing to prevent it.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Laboured

Laboured: adjective - used for work; hard worked; cultivated, tilled, ploughed; produced or accomplished using labour; performed with great effort; tediously elaborated or lacking spontaneity, heavy.

'Carol's rendition of the poem was laboured and dull, lacking the emotional element that the words should have conveyed.'

'Barry's breathing was laboured, his eyes closing from the simple effort of drawing in the air, and it wasn't long before the final, ragged breath signalled his death.'

Pic: A farm track in East Yorkshire.

Author Interview with Stephen L. Brayton

I'm a Fifth Degree Black Belt instructor in the American Taekwondo Association. I started martial arts training in 1991, earned my black belt in 1993, and gained my instructor certification in 1995.

In 1996, I opened up my first taekwondo club in Grinnell, Iowa.

In 2003, I assumed ownership of the club in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

I've written stories for many years, but started seriously while working at a radio station in Kewanee, Illinois. After I moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, I started attending a writers' group in Des Moines.  So much knowledge about writing and critique came out of that group and the others I've enjoyed.

I attended my first conference in 2007, Love Is Murder, In Chicago. Mike Manno introduced me to 'pitches' and we discussed writing and history and law while sharing the drive.

In 2009, while attending the Killer Nashville conference I was fortunate enough to meet Mary Welk of Echelon Press. Subsequent to the conference I submitted two novels to Echelon and in October, they BOTH were accepted for E-publication in 2011.

I'm a reader; a writer; an instructor; a graphic designer; a lover of books, movies, wine, women, music, fine food, good humor, sunny summer days spent hiking or fishing; and I'm a catnip drug dealer to my fifteen pound cat, Thomas.

Tell us about “Beta” in a few sentences.

Mallory Petersen is a private investigator and martial artist. Her clients usually lean toward the nuttier side, however when she accepts a case to find a kidnapped eight year old, she steps into a dark world of unspeakable crimes. The trail leads her around Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines to the Quad Cities.

Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?

I’ve based it out of Des Moines mainly because I’m familiar with the metropolitan area. I’ve never been to New York or Los Angeles and could get lost in Chicago quite easily. I don’t know of any book where Des Moines has been featured. It’s also set in present day, although I don’t say which present day (if that makes any sense). I started this over ten years ago and since then, the Des Moines downtown landscape has changed and technology has changed. I kept making changes in my story to fit the current scene. However, I finally had to stop and go with what I had. So, some of the places I mention in the book don’t exist any longer.

How can people buy your books?

You may purchase this and the previous book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and OmniLit.com.

How do you set about writing a piece?

Normally, an idea will come to me at any given moment. I may write it down or I may contemplate it for awhile. If it won’t leave me alone, I may start jotting notes, interesting scenes, maybe a few characters. If it bugs me enough I’ll work on an outline and write a few research questions I’ll need to check out later. Then I’ll develop a few characters (names, descriptions, etc.). Once I have a starting basis, then I can begin with the prologue or the first chapter.

Beginning writers make many mistakes; what do you think is the most harmful?

They stop writing. They don’t believe in themselves. I read a statistic that 80% of Americans would like to write a novel. Well, why don’t they? Many do not take the idea seriously. Many stop after receiving critiques. Most critiques are given by other struggling writers, those who are also learning the craft. However, beginners think their stuff is crap and do you want to know the truth? It probably is. Everybody writes crap. I’m sure Stephen King, Ernest Hemmingway, and Shakespeare all wrote crap when they first started writing. But they had a dream, they learned, they honed their talent, they persevered and they believed in themselves. Don’t stop writing.

To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?

What good are playing or singing the correct notes to a musician? What good is having good rhythm to a dancer? The right tools for a plumber or a carpenter? If a hockey player can’t skate, then he doesn’t play the sport. Spelling? Come on, every word processing software has a spell checker. Don’t tell me dictionaries suddenly have disappeared.  Grammar? Most of us do not write like we speak. Many Americans are lazy talkers. If you’re a writer, though, you’d better have learned something in those English classes because editors will nail you on the fundamentals.

How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?

When I write END, I stop writing the story. Then I celebrate that I’ve completed the task I had set before me. I may take a break, allow a few days to pass, then I will start at page one and read through the entire story, making corrections on dialogue, punctuation, grammar, continuity errors, etc. Then I’ll read through it again. And again. I don’t keep track of the number of times. After I get sick of looking at the manuscript, I’ll put it aside for awhile and work on another project. I may still be reading parts of it to a critique group, but I don’t actively work on it. Then after a period of time passes, I’ll pick it up with fresh, relaxed eyes and reread again. I know, though, no matter how many times I go through it, some editor will pick it apart and find those errors I still missed.

Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?

I have a couple of really close writer friends. We try to meet weekly although the plan doesn’t work out all of the time. We’re all working on getting published either again or for the first time. Critique groups are invaluable and if you’re not part of one, you are missing out on free but priceless advice. And a whole lot of fun. Family? Wow, my family has supported me and encouraged my writing for years. When I was accepted by Echelon Press for my first two books, I called my Dad before I even replied to Echelon’s email.

Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?

The research. I envy those authors who can create entire cities or worlds or people from nothing more than their thoughts. If I’m writing about a building, or a park, or a cemetery, I have to see it. I want to talk to people, ask questions. It’s fun because I’ve discovered little things I may not have known about if I hadn’t traveled to those places or talk to those people. Often, the little things end up in the story. I turn real people into fictional characters and include minor tidbits about a particular neighborhood. For instance, while looking at spots around Des Moines for a future book, getting lost and confused on directions, a friend and I discovered a Buddhist temple right in the middle of a residential area. Neither of us knew the place existed. It was a beautiful site. You just know that building is going to end up in a story somehow.

 

What are you writing now?

I’ve completed the sequel to Beta and am working on the sequel to my first book, Night Shadows. I’m also writing another private detective story I plan to finish this year as well as a obtaining more research to continue on a thriller.

Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?

My website is www.stephenbrayton.com. My blog where I do author interviews and post writing related stuff is www.stephenlbrayton.blogspot.com. My book review blog is www.braytonsbookbuzz.blogspot.com.

Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?

Awesome question. I’d like to give you an exotic place I could be, like Fiji or France or Tibet, but I don’t think I’d end up writing there. I’d want to explore. Ideally, though I’d love to write where I could have no distractions from the Internet, email, phone, or people stopping by for a visit, with an ample supply of food, and a station playing continuous, no commercials classical, jazz, or light pop.

Where do you actually write?

Usually at work (don’t tell the boss, though, okay?). Sometimes in the park, maybe a coffee shop.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Transcript or transcription?

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Transcript or transcription?

Transcript: noun -  something that has been transcribed; a written or printed copy; in law - a copy of a legal record; a copy, imitation, or reproduction; a representation or interpretation.

Transcription: noun - the act or process of transcribing something; also, an example of this; the result of transcribing something; a transcript or copy; in Roman Law - a transfer or assignment of debt or obligation.  

Although it is possible to use 'transcription' as a synonym for 'transcript', it is best avoided, as it can cause confusion.

So:

'When the comedy writer made a transcript of the scene, it was both accurate and highly decorated with rude depictions of the action suggested in the text.'

'Hilary was engaged in the transcription of the conversation she'd had with her ex-boyfriend, ensuring she wrote it word for word, so she'd have the evidence to condemn him out of his own mouth when he next tried to seduce her.'

A transcript is a thing; a transcription is the process of creating it.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Kamikaze

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Kamikaze: noun - in Japanese tradition, this is the gale that destroyed the fleet of the invading Mongols in 1281; during the Second World War, it came to represent both the crewman of a Japanese aircraft and the plane itself. Usually loaded with explosives, these made deliberate suicidal attacks, crashing into enemy targets; a suicide pilot or plane; in surfing - a wipeout taken deliberately.

'I tell you, I could see the mad eyes of that Kamikaze pilot as he aimed his fighter at the bridge of our destroyer. It was only Johnnie's accurate anti-aircraft fire that saved us and blew the bugger up before he could crash into us.'

5 October 1936 And 200 men set out from Jarrow in the north east of England to march to London and bring the poverty of their region to the attention of the politicians in Whitehall.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Tortuous or torturous?

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Tortuous or torturous?

Tortuous: adjective - full of twists or turns; twisted, sinuous or winding; not direct or straightforward; devious, circuitous.

Torturous: adjective - characterized by or involving torture; tormenting, excruciating; figuratively - violently twisted or distorted; perverted.

The use of 'torturous' in place of 'tortuous', although more common these days, is the result of a misunderstanding of the real meanings of these two words and should be avoided.

'The delta of the Mississippi is full of tortuous distributaries, carrying the waters over the flat land to the sea.'

'The tattoo on Jodisa's leg led a tortuous path from her ankle to the place all men desired to enter.' (That's a reference to the epic fantasy I'm writing.)

'For Sandra, being with Michael was a torturous experience, making her wince with his every advance and clumsy fumble.'

'The inmates of the foreign prison were subject to torturous treatment, which left many of them unable to stand unaided.'

A tortuous experience winds around; a torturous one causes pain.

4 October 1911 If you use the London Underground and travel via Earls Court, you might like to know the first escalator opened there and is now 100 years old. I suspect they’ve updated it since it was first installed, though.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Jackanapes

Jackanapes: noun - a tame ape or monkey; someone who displays qualities or behaviour associated with apes; a ridiculous upstart or impertinent person; a cheeky child.

'Johnson ran up to the boss, tweaked his nose and kissed him on his bald pate, acting like a jackanapes.'

Pic: Drovers' track in the Yorkshire Dales.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: There, they’re or their?

There, they’re or their?

More homonyms that constantly cause confusion. Hopefully these suggestions will help keep you on the right track with them.

'There' is about the location of something, as in 'It's over there.'  One way to remember this is as follows:

't(Here) for coffee, there for t(ea).'

'They're' is a contraction of 'they are'. 

'Beware if they're too pleasant; they're probably after your money.'

If you can use the full phrase, 'they are' in the sentence, then 'they're ' is the suitable word.

'Their' is the plural pronoun that equates with 'mine' – both have an 'i', which will hopefully act as a reminder.

'Their dresses are too short, but mine is just the right length.'

Pic: Looking toward Huggate, East Yorkshire.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Ice

Ice: noun - frozen water, which is a brittle translucent crystalline solid; a body of such frozen water; the sheet or layer of ice on a pond, river, etc; figuratively – a lack of warm feeling, cold-heartedness, deep reserve; an ice cream; the icing on a cake; diamonds and other jewellery (slang); the profit made from illegal sales of theatre or cinema tickets (US slang); protection money (slang).

'Donald took his vanilla ice onto the frozen puddle, which was now solid and allowed him to skate on the surface of ice.'

'When Gordon made his suggestion to her, Deidre replied with a glance that exposed the ice in her heart and he knew he'd spend the night in the guest room again.'

'Marylyn counted the crystals of ice that poured from the soft leather bag, handed her by her aged but hideously rich admirer, before she calculated how she'd reward him.'

Pic: Bridlington Bay.