They danced by the light of the moon

by Michelle Douglas

Reading: America’s Star-Crossed Sweethearts by Jackie Braun

Watching: MASH reruns

Listening to: the warbling magpies gathered on our front veranda

Making me smile: Homemade fruitcake

And hand in hand on the edge of the sand,

They danced by the light of the moon,

The moon,

The moon,

They danced by the light of the moon.

This is the final stanza of the poem The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear. Back in January I blogged about my brand new calendar—the fun, the whimsy and the love story that is The Owl and the Pussycat. And my calendar didn’t let me down. It brightened my months. It made me smile. It was my muse. And, as in all good romances, the owl and the pussycat live happily ever after.

“They danced by the light of the moon.” Don’t you think that’s the most wonderful line with which to end a romance?

Which started me thinking…

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a first line may draw a reader into your story, but a last line will have them rushing out to buy your next book.

We have a tendency to remember first lines (as in the one above that I’ve pilfered and corrupted from Pride and Prejudice), but what about last lines? Who remembers the last line(s) of Pride and Prejudice?

I don’t remember the first line in Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy, but I can recall the final exchange vividly:

“Charles!” uttered Sophy, shocked. ‘You cannot love me!”

Mr Rivenhall pulled the door to behind them, and in a very rough fashion jerked her into his arms, and kissed her. “I don’t: I dislike you excessively!” he said savagely.

Entranced by these lover-like words, Miss Stanton-Lacy returned his embrace with fervour, and meekly allowed herself to be led off to the stables.”

Oh, it has just the perfect tone for all that preceded it! I am so jealous.

As I stare at my The Owl and the Pussycat calendar and December’s gorgeous picture with that final line—They danced by the light of the moon—I realise I would love all my stories to end on such an uplifting and satisfying note.

They danced by the light of the moon.

Do you know any noteworthy last lines?

January

By Michelle Douglas

Reading: Bedded by Blackmail by Robyn Grady

Watching: Pie in the Sky

Listening to: Creedence Clearwater Revival

Making me smile: The Owl and the Pussycat

One of the things I most love about January is cracking open the plastic around a brand new wall calendar, smoothing it out and then hanging it on the wall next to my desk. Choosing a calendar is serious business. After all, this calendar is going to be hanging above my head for a whole year. I don't want something that's boring and monochrome or that, once hung, I barely notice from one day to the next.

This year I've chosen The Owl and the Pussycat. Here it is.

Isn't it gorgeous!

Why The Owl and the Pussycat?

Well, for starters, I love the poem. It's a wonderful piece of nonsense and it rhymes, and this particular calendar has the most wonderfully evocative illustrations with the strangest details.

Also, The Owl and the Pussycat is a love story. Sigh. I write love stories. Sigh. So my calendar is inspiration.

But the major reason I've chosen The Owl and the Pussycat calendar for 2011 is whimsy - pure and simple. Playfulness and fun and laughter are their own rewards. This calendar makes me smile. And quite frankly I've come to the conclusion that the meaning of life is surrounding yourself with things that make you smile. It's hard to be gloomy when you have so many things to smile about.

So what about you, are you as hooked on calendars as I am? What calendar do you have up on your wall?