Whether Weather?

 

Spring is one the way. 

I'm a bit late today. Spent most of yesterday with my tribe - the Cariad chapter of the Romantic Novelists' Association - tea/coffee and cake, then lunch and a very instructive workshop on newsletters from Imogen. Do I need a newsletter? A question to ponder. 

I've been doing chores this morning and time got away from me - wanted to get the washing out while it was still sunny!!! That's what got me thinking, because on two mornings running, when opening the curtains to greet the day and my two visiting magpies, I was greeted by heavy mist. Very atmospheric. The eclectic brain of the writer, which is always running a background programme in any situation of 'Can I use this?'  made me wonder. I'd love to use it - not sure how. Anyway the sun is shining now and the washing is out and here I am, thinking about weather. And whether it makes a difference? 

How far does it impinge on enjoyment of a book? As you know, my thing is sunshine, Both as a reader and a writer and generally as a human, I respond to light and warmth.  My mood is definitely cheering up as spring approaches.  I have written a Xmas book and appreciated that for that one, snow was essential, but it is not my special thing. If you have any pretensions to writing about situations with glamour and fun, which I do in the Riviera series, then sunny days and places seem essential. Other writers have made use of the weather in special situations. Think of Sherlock Holmes and you inevitably think of heavy fog. I'm trying to remember of books where storms and rains are essential - I'm sure there are obvious examples, but my mind is blank on that one at the moment. Wuthering Heights might not be a book at all without the moor. Gothics certainly need to plug into light and dark and weather extremes. I know reading about cold or heat affects my mood. It's an essential but unobtrusive part of the location and setting. I remember making it rain in my debut published book because the hero was depressed and I wanted to help convey the mood. I can do bad weather.

Despite the love of sunshine, that urge to produce a Gothic novel is still rumbling around in my head. I have an idea. Maybe it will grow - we will have to wait and see.