The Rushford Times - A weekly newsletter from Jodi Taylor
Sent on Wednesdays to paid subscribers and Fridays to free subscribers
This week we have:
Jodi Taylor’s: Maple Syrup and Origami – not a match made in heaven
It’s time to vote for the winning Valentines Day poem - CLICK HERE TO VOTE
February audio clip competition - guess the book and characters speaking for your chance to win a signed copy of Out of Time
A Symphony of Echoes is just 99p or 99 cents this month on Amazon
Short Story of the Month: The Very First Damned Thing - a chance to discover some of the St Mary’s short stories
There’s plenty to read this week and you can see everything on the blog too. CLICK HERE for the blog.
Maple Syrup and Origami – not a match made in heaven.
I stink of maple syrup. I don’t know how – well, yes, I do know how – I’ve just gluttoned my way through a stack of pancakes with bacon and maple syrup.
I have form in this area so, trust me, I was very, very careful with the syrup because that stuff can be lethal.
Anyway, we’d been out for a family lunch and I found myself next to my great-nephew. At least, I think he’s my great nephew – I don’t mean I just snatched a random kid off the street – I mean he’s the son of my nephew, so, yes, I think that makes him my great nephew. He’s a lovely lad, five years old and he was teaching me origami.
In the interests of full disclosure – he’s absolutely amazing at it. I’m not. I’ve been cackhanded all my life and origami has now publicly highlighted my many deficiencies in that area.
We were making a paper spinner – something that involved six pieces of different coloured paper, together with industrial strength folding.
It started simply enough. Fold in half, then quarters, then two triangles, then more triangles, then peel back, then insert Flange A into Fold B while standing on one leg and whistling Old MacDonald Had a Farm. He was quite happily working alongside me – fingers blurring with the speed of his folding. I did my best – honestly – but while he managed to produce a multi-dimensional, multi-coloured miracle of elegance and dexterity, mine looked like a table mat that had been run over by a muddy bus.
No one said anything – they never do – and that somehow makes it worse.
But, dragging myself back to the maple syrup – fortunately the food arrived before the family witticisms could gain full momentum. Every single one of my family fancies themselves as the Oscar Wilde of Hurtful Comments – and so, in self-defence, I got stuck into my pancakes.
I was very careful because as we all know, maple syrup can be pretty lethal in the hands of an amateur.
Lunch accomplished without major mishap, great nephew and I resumed our origami fest. Right from the off something didn’t feel quite right and when endeavouring to insert the spinny bit on top of the paper base I found myself unable to let go.
In short – I was adhered.
Naturally the family sprang into immediate action – uncontrollable laughter, pointing, hurtful comments, photos – seriously, a ban on families can’t come soon enough for me.
I went to brush my hair out of my eyes with my free hand only to discover that that was quite liberally coated with maple syrup as well. And now the stuff was in my hair. I panicked – who wouldn’t? – and tried to rub it off on my jeans and guess what. And then it was on my chin. And my elbow. And the table. And the origami spinny thingy showed no signs of letting go.
Obviously, no one had a wet wipe. Despite the fact that it’s mandatory for all adults escorting any child under the age of 18 to carry at least one (1) full pack each – not a wet wipe between them. Just lots of cruel mockery and shrieks of Don’t you dare come anywhere near me.
I myself maintained the glacial calm for which I am legendary throughout three counties. Seizing someone’s glass of water – no, I didn’t stop to ask, so sue me – I dipped a napkin therein and began emergency rescue action.
Hands first obviously. Then chin. I decided my hair could look after itself even though I was pretty sure I looked like Mary in that film. (You know – the one where she has a tuft of stiff hair – although I don’t think she used maple syrup – I didn’t really understand that bit but, apparently, there was quite a resemblance.)
Then my elbow. Then the table. Most of the cutlery. Then the great nephew who was alternately regarding his own hands and hysterical relatives with equal horror. Until… finally… I was allowed to rejoin the human race. Not that anyone will come near me even now in case we all end up glued to each other like that fairy story whose name I can’t remember.
And let’s not get started on the smell …
IT’S TIME TO VOTE FOR THE WINNING POEM
We were delighted to receive so many entries to this competition. We asked for a Valentine’s Day Poem with rhyming couplets written to any figure from history.
Please CLICK HERE to read all the poems and then CLICK HERE to vote.
The winner will be announced on St Valentine’s Day and will received a framed copy of their poem.
FEBRUARY - GUESS THE BOOK COMPETITION
Guess the book and characters speaking for your chance to win a signed copy of Out of Time
Put your knowledge of Jodi’s books to the test with our audio clip competition. Listen carefully to a short extract and see if you can identify the book and the characters speaking for a chance to win a signed copy of Out of Time.
Audiobooks are hugely popular among Jodi Taylor fans, bringing her stories to life through distinctive voices, character-driven performances, and immersive narration. For many readers, audiobooks offer the perfect way to enjoy a favourite series while commuting, walking, or relaxing. They make stories more accessible, flexible, and engaging than ever.
Tune in, trust your ears, and see if you can name the book and the characters behind the voices.
Results for January’s clip: the book was A Bachelor Establishment and the speakers were Mrs. Elinor Bascombe and Lord Ryde. A winner has been selected at random and contacted by by Jodi’s publishers. I’ve been advised that, for personal data best practice, we are shouldn’t announce the name but they have a signed copy of Out of Time winging their way.
A Symphony of Echoes is just 99p or 99 cents this month on Amazon
The Very First Damned Thing - available in Kindle and Audiobook formats - also included in The Long and Short of It anthology
Ever wondered how St Mary’s came to be? This story follows Dr Bairstow as he embarks on the ambitious and seemingly impossible task of founding the St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research. As part of his strategy for official recognition and the funding that comes with it, Dr Bairstow takes a team of civil servants to witness the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. During the battle, they find themselves caught in the chaos of one of history’s most decisive battles and witness first-hand the brutal reality of Napoleon’s final defeat. With that secured, Dr Bairstow can set about recruiting the first generation of St Mary’s historians, security, and technicians, assembling a team that will define the institution’s unique blend of academic brilliance and bloody-minded recklessness.
Jodi Taylor says…
‘I think I’d written more than four or five books before I wrote this prequel. I don’t know why I was suddenly overwhelmed by a need to go back to the beginning but I did. Normally my overwhelming needs involve chocolate. I always say to people – don’t read this one first. Get a couple of books under your belt first otherwise some of it might not make sense. Which assumes the rest of it does…’
With grateful thanks, Jodi, for stimulating the Canadian economy, keep spreading it around to help us 'bring home the bacon' and pancakes. I hope it was the real syrup not the Unreal Stuff.
BTW, I must admit that I have never tried to carry a full pack of my under 18 kids.
What a delight! A much needed lift!!