Cathie Dunn writes...

I'm another step closer to the release of Highland Arms. :-) With us being away for so long (did we really spend three weeks in North America?), my 2nd round of edits was delayed. So finally they've gone back to my editor. Hopefully she likes my suggestions as much as I liked hers, and the final round will be a quick one. I should hear back from her in the next 3-4 weeks. Once I've then done the final read-through I hope to get my release date. Very excited. The cover is so gorgeous that I can't wait to see it in the online shops. Remember? I'm now back to my current work in progress, A Norman Legacy. The research on 12th C Perche (west of Normandy) proves intriguing. My MMC's name developed from 'Geoffrey who' to 'Geoffrey de Mortagne' after I spotted the lovely county but I discovered much later that a real man of that name, an ancestor of the counts of Perche, existed who lived a few decades prior to my invented Geoffrey. I hope the experts on...

I wish all my followers and friends a happy, healthy and successful 2011! :-) We went into the New Year in style - watching the fireworks from Edinburgh Castle. We didn't opt for the street party as I don't fancy myself as a sardine, standing around in the cold, buying overpriced drinks. No, we went on a pub crawl, starting in the West End at The Rutland Bar , then via Castle Terrace up to the Royal Mile to our favourit pub, the Albanach . But as the views from North Bridge last year were nice, we went back down to the west end, and enjoyed the best view we've had on all our Hogmanays in the city - from the Castle Terrace car park. Joining families, tourists and other celebrants, we 'oooh-d' and 'aaah-d' at the colourful display. Excellent decision. We ended back in the first pub, the Rutland Bar, where I danced the hours away until 3am to the sounds of '70s disco & soul. A wonderful night out. My main resolution for the New Year - completing my cur...