erastes

The Hallowe'en Lust Bites competition has been judged and winners selected. First prize to Udo, second prize to

leathdykeuk, third prize to Marinca - well done all of you!

I was watching University Challenge last night and this question came up: "Who took control of fleet at Trafalgar after Nelson's death?" and I answered "Collingwood" without a second thought. The thing is - I didn't even know I knew that. (The students, didn't, hilariously) So I've learned something from my Age of Sail chums,

lee_rowan

alex_beecroft and

joyful_molly!! I'll still never write an AoS book - the research is far too scary but it's good to learn something has rubbed off. Hurrah!

Transgressions has gone off to the editor after the first sweep. It was a very hard piece of work - god alone knows how I would have managed to have done it while I was working - it was difficult enough to do full-time. But it's certainly a better book now than it was, that's for sure. Less purple (although Mrs Giggles still won't like it) by about 75 percent, and the history that I've put in (only small touches here and there, to keep the reader aware of how things are in the world around the protags) I think have helped to focus it. I'm very happy with it, to be honest.