This blog post đ
Okay, that’s a cop-out answer. If this means ‘real’ writing, it would be a (long) short story. But before I reveal more about that, let me digress.
Writers write a variety of stuff, not only their published stories. in the past few weeks, I’ve written a slew of blogposts for this challenge, four guest posts, rejigged my entries on Amazons US, UK and Germany and drafted my monthly newsletter. Oh, and and I’ve written another 5,000 words for my new book.
The writing challenge resembles me speaking to you direct, i.e. wittering on, but the posts have got my ‘writing muscles’ back into shape after a rather dull patch this summer. It’s also released me to talk about several things I wouldn’t normally have the chance to air and post photos that are only mildly embarrassing.
The guest posts are a great way to contribute to the writing community and to make my own work known more widely.  A Roman history enthusiast carves a new world from medieval chaos! on Anna Belfrage’s blog and Serious About Writing a Series on Tony Riches Writing Room are already published. There is, as Romans could have said, a quid pro quo in all these things and I’ve had the great pleasure of welcoming guests to this blog on Thursdays.
The Amazon stuff? Usually a task relegated to the back office, but it’s vital for authors to keep the content fresh as well as updated on the world’s biggest bookselling platform (sorry). And the newsletter is something I send out each month to keep ‘Team Roma Nova’ informed about what’s going on and hopefully entertain them. This month there’s a special announcement on the book front plus a fantastic contest to enter. That will go out later this week.
The new Roma Nova book which I’ve provisionally called FONDATIO is rolling along quite well. The research (essential for any historical fiction) is quite heavy as I’m up against scarcity of resources but I have acquired two fantastic books Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West 376-568 by Guy Halsall, a 600-page doorstop, but crammed with information and discussion, and the golden one, Noricum, by GĂ©za Alfödy. Both are chock-full of sources and references which are even more important when the primary source material is lace-thin on the ground.
So what else? Oh, yes, the new long short story… Well, it’s part of a project called Betrayal in collaboration with other historical fiction writers. Official cover reveal day is Thursday (15th October). Do join me then on my Roma Nova blog for more about this exciting project!
Writing challenges so far:
Day 22: What’s your current word count?
Day 21: My preferred genre
Day 20: Charactersâ favourite food (and drink!)
Day 19: Charactersâ pastimes
Day 18: Charactersâ pet peeves(!)
Days 16 & 17: Favourite outfits (combined)
Day 15: The many-hatted author
Day 14: Show your workplace
Day 13: A funny family story. Or not
Day 12: Early bird or night owl?
Day 11: Favourite writing snacks/chocolate porn
Day 10: Post an old picture of yourself
Day 9: Post 5 random facts about you
Day 8: Whatâs your writing process?
Day 7: Introduce your âauthor friendâ
Day 6: How the writing all began
Day 5: What inspired the book Iâm working on
Day 4: The setting for the new Roma Nova book
Day 3: Introducing the main characters Julia and Apulius
Day 2: Introduce your work in progress
Day 1: Starting with revealing information
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers â  INCEPTIO,  PERFIDITAS,  SUCCESSIO,  AURELIA,  INSURRECTIO and RETALIO. CARINA, a novella, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories, are now available.  Audiobooks are available for four of the series. NEXUS, an Aurelia Mitela novella, is now out.
Find out more about Roma Nova, its origins, stories and heroines⊠Download ‘Welcome to Roma Nova’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alisonâs monthly email newsletter. You’ll also be first to know about Roma Nova news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.
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