Until I was hit by a severe bout of pneumonia in mid-March I
was researching the Lines of the Torres Vedras in Portugal. These were lines of fortifications built in 1809-10
on order of the then General, but future Duke of Wellington outside of
Lisbon. These “Lines” of forts,
escarpments, trenches, and outlooks were a masterpiece that stopped French
Marshal Massena and his army in their tracks. But that’s probably more
information than you need or want.
I used several sources to ferret out the topography around
Lisbon and Busaco (one of the villages in the lines where there was a battle as
Massena approached the lines) and the villages in the area. I usually use the google searches as a
starting point and then delve into my resource books. Sir Charles Oman’s seven volume series on the
Peninsular War is a main source. I also have books on the war by several other
participants present at the events plus modern day researchers. Napier, Londonderry, Haythornthwaite, Muir,
and Fletcher are some of the main author’s I use for this topic.
I lost three weeks with the pneumonia and then well, you
know what a medical roller-coaster my health has been on for years. My current research is on laminectomies which
equals another bigger loss of time. I am
beginning to wonder if my writing days are behind me. Every time I have tried to get back into this
book life intervenes. I have four
chapters written but think they may have to be put aside and parts used as
flashbacks throughout the book--IF I could just get writing. I’ve given myself all the lectures about
wasting time (anyone know of Free Cell Anonymous Chapter nearby?), not setting
priorities or goals. I have Rox’s photo on my desk and can almost hear the whip
cracking but all to no avail. As
yet. I still hope to get my act
together. After all I have the fourth
Honour book waiting to be published. I
just need to get the fifth written!
Do I just raise the white flag and the next time someone
asks me if I’m still a writer, say “No.”
Do I keep trying to get this book written? Any ideas on how to jump start that appreciated.
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