Update about my Writing, my Pets and my Life in Bulgaria :-)

Escape your reality for a moment and join my peace and joy. -- Latest Episode in the Canine Soap Opera. --What my cats really think of me. :-D -- The science fiction story I'm working on ---

Escape Your Reality for a Moment and come on a Virtual Visit to my Garden in Bulgaria

I know some of you are living with great tensions and worries, with hair-raising developments in climate, economy and politics, all spiralling out of control at breathtaking speed. I wish I had a magic wand to make those issues go away. Alas, I don’t.

So I want to invite you on a virtual visit to my garden in spring in Bulgaria. Imagine you’re here with me:

All around us, fruit trees are covered in blooming froth: the plums snowy-white, the peaches pink, the apples in delicate white-pink hues. Bulb flowers - late daffodils, early tulips, and stately fritillarias - put on a spectacular display in bold colours.

Wildflowers spread like colourful rugs everywhere, white and lilac on a rich green ground, dotted with golden yellow. Above these flower carpets hover humming bees and large butterflies with brightly patterned wings.

We’ll sit on the wooden garden bench and sip coffee (or herb tea, if you prefer) and watch the storks glide gracefully through the air. The storks land and strut through the meadow on long, bouncy legs, looking at the same time goofy and dignified.

Birds twitter and chirp in the trees, calling “Cheep, cheep”, “Chirri-chirri-chip”, “Chichi-bay! Chichi-bay” and “Huh-hooh-huh!” A stork, high up in her nest on the utility pole, rattles her beak.

My cats stroll happily through the grass, play-wrestle, chase butterflies (but dont’ catch them), then come to us and ask for pets, while the dogs sunbathe at our feet.

Maybe we’ll chat about writing. Or maybe we just sit, sipping our coffee and listening to nature’s songs.

Left to right: McCoy really approves of the new garden bench which isn't even finished yett. Sulu and Chekhow sit on the garden table, waiting to get petted. Uhura enjoys a blissful nap on my printer while I work on the laptop.

What my Cats Really Think of Me

While I was hospitalised for surgery for a week, my animal-loving friend cared for my pets, visiting them every day.

My cat adore Stoyan and were happy to accept food and pets from him. However, he observed that they were clearly missing me, searching for me in my usual places. Sulu especially was distraught, sitting for hours by the garden gate to wait for my return.

When I did return after a week, all four cats pretended not to be interested in me. Sulu, Uhura, Chekhov and McCoy acted as if they had not even noticed my absence and didn’t care that I was back.

But then at night, all four came to my bed and lay on top of me, effectively pinning me down, and didn’t allow me to move. They had clearly hatched this plan to keep me captive so I wouldn’t be able to get away again!

It seems they love me very, very much, but they don’t want me to know.

Left: Kara the Karakachan loves to sunbathe. Right: Jane came back on a long visit.

The Canine Soap Opera: Latest Episode

Here’s an update about Kara, the karakachan. She used to have home, but her owner died and the heirs kicked her out. She lived for a year as stray, always begging people to adopt her. Some people abused her, others gave her food, but nobody gave her a home.

Friends of friends heard that I was looking for a dog, and they had heard of this dog who met my criteria and brought her to me. She has settled in. She’s a calm, gentle giantess who enjoys getting petted. Last week, I took her to the vet to get her neutered and microchipped, so now she’s officialy mine.

After a year of physical exhaustion and constant danger, she finally feels safe and can relax. She sleeps a lot, probably has a lot of sleep to catch up on. She loves to doze in the sun, letting the spring sun warm her pelt.

Do you remember Jane, the super-intelligent dog with Houdini-level escape skills, whom I rehomed with a friend so she could get the professional training she deserved?My friend brought her for a ten-day visit, and I was delighted see the sweet girl again. She’s clearly in good shape and happy.

She enjoyed meeting her old doggy friend Ginger and me, but was less pleased to find that another dog has taken her place! For twenty-four hours, Jane and Kara growled at each other. But on the second day they formed a friendship and were working together to dig escape tunnels under the fence.

My friend has picked Jane up again, so now I’m back to two dogs. But now Kara has acquired escapologist skills and there’s no way to keep her confined.

When the weather gets cold, my cats seek warmth

The weather has recently varied between warm and sunny with a bright blue sky, and frreezing cold with storms and rain.

On chilly days, my woodstove is a magnet for the cats. You can Sulu reflected in the glass. Uhura (Yura) wanted it even warmer, so she crawled into the stove, the section normally used for drying wood.

Update on the AI-Free Writing Contest

Thank you, everyone who entered the short story writing contest for writers who write without the use of AI.

The judging is underway. The judges told me that they’ve already discovered some great stories. Of course, as the sponsor of the contest I will keep out of the judging process and leave it all to the judges.

Unfortunately, one of the judges has fallen ill, so there’s a delay. We may have to bring another judge on board. Whatever happens: we’ll find the best stories and awared the prices. I’ll keep you updated.

Which of my Books Would You Like as Audio Books?

Audiobooks have been a sore topic for me. I published several through ACX, but when I moved to Bulgaria seven years ago, ACX declared that only publishers in the US, UK and Canada may publish audio books. ACX kept selling my audio titles - but didn’t pay out my royalties!

Now there’s a new option. Amazon (a company with which I have a love-hate relationship) has invited me to be part of a beta programme to publish audiobooks Apparently, the fact that I’m based in Bulgaria is no obstacle. These audiobooks will be narrated by artificial voices - something else I’m divided about. But the voices sound really good, and seeing that ACX has ripped me off and there’s no other option for me, I may do it.

I’ve already launched a few audiobooks, both fiction (short story collections, the novel Storm Dancer, anthologies) and non-fiction (mostly from the Writer’s Craft series).

Are there any books you would buy in audio if I make them available? (There are over 35 titles in the series now.)

What I’m Currently Working On

While tidying up my old file folders, I stumbled across a story draft I’d written (and abandoned) in 2005. I started reading and was enthralled. I wondered why I had dropped this promising project. But it often happens - only with the passage of time can we assess which of our works are truly good.

I remember what inspired me in the first place: I’m German, and I wondered why so many Germans (including my grandparents) continued to support Adolf Hitler and his Nazis, even after it became clear that he was an evil man and they were leading Germany into doom.

So now I’ve revised the piece, a 15,000-word near-future science fiction story, with the working title ‘The Meaning of Compromise’. And I think it’s good.

Would anyone like to read it, give feedback, offer suggestions how to improve it, perhaps help me find a better title? I’d be happy to critique one of your stories or chapters in return.

Free PDF Workbook: Grow Your Author Voice

I offer all my newsletter suscribers a free PDF workbook Grow Your Author Voice. Most of you have received yours already, but if you haven’t, contact my virtual assistant Zorica (info.zoricailic@gmail.com) and she’ll send it to you.

Joyful Greetings from Sunny Bulgaria

Rayne Hall

Outside a coffeeshop in the nearby town Elhovo where I’m meeting a friend for coffee.