31/1/2025 0 Comments My January reads ...![]() Two books read, one partially finished and an epic slow read - that's my reading for this month. The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse - Charlie Mackesy - read and reread (then hugged it for a while). Little Women - Louisa M Alcott - read* Jane Austen at Home - Lucy Worsley - partway through** Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie (still reading a few pages each day - getting there). * Little Women has haunted me for quite a while. I read it as a teenager and wasn't impressed by the story, probably too young to appreciate the writing style. I then skim read it for my English literature degree at a time when I was falling out of love with reading - which is part of the course on an English lit degree! Due to these previous experiences, I've never felt that I'd truly 'read' the book and so it has remained on my 'TBR' pile for years. I'm glad I gave it a third try and enjoyed my time with the March sisters - I only wish the teenage me had been a little wiser when encountering it the first time but hey, ho. ** I'm loving 'Jane Austen at Home' so am savouring each detail as Worsley has explored so much more about Austen than previous biographers. Well worth a read.
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29/1/2025 0 Comments Finished ... I think![]() My current drawing has taken far longer than I ever expected but finally, I think it is finished. Drawn using graphite and coloured pencil it has given me immense pleasure in recent weeks. I intend to have it photographed and displayed on a canvas. Thank you for the messages received via social media asking about my progress. I haven't attended art classes since school, but learnt by watching Youtube clips in recent years - there's hundreds to choose from. Give it a go, you'll never know otherwise! ![]() As many of you know, my journey as an author began at the age of five when I regularly attended our local library, with my father on Saturday mornings. It was my first experience of freedom where I could choose what I wanted, be alone in a public place and enjoy the delights discovered in their children's corner. From September 2023 to September 2024 - I gave 15 talks in my local libraries telling my story, explaining my path towards publication and sharing my books. I met many wonderful library readers, librarians and some potential authors on my travels. Most importantly, I hope I spread the word and importance of using our local libraries for entertainment, social connections and knowledge. With each book publication, I donate half my paperbacks received from my publishers to my local libraries, ensuring that library users can read my books on publication day. In return my wonderful library readers have delivered to me the largest amount I have ever receive from the Public Lending Rights fund. Many people don't realise that every time you borrow a library book the author receive a tiny payment ... but little by little that amount becomes a lot. It is paid annually each February. I've seen my statement. I'm thrilled to think that readers browsed packed shelves, selected and borrowed my books time and time again equating to a borrow rate of five figures! I know, I screamed in delight! Readers will never know how much that matters to me - the little girl who sat quietly on the 'padded poof chair' in the children's section of her local library. Thank you xx ![]() ‘The Universe had a moment of alignment when all was right with the situation, but then … boom!’ My readers may recognise this line from my latest book ‘Reunited at the Lakeside Cottage’ when my character, Paisley reflects upon a difficult situation that was nearly resolved to work in everyone’s favour. Sadly, it didn’t as the unexpected arrived causing further disarray. I’ve used similar lines about the Universe in previous books, usually when a character is feeling isolated and looking up at the stars for comfort or guidance. One of my habits in life is to search for the brightest stars in the sky, to admire the shape of the moon and at times, wish that the Universe would align - a ‘moment of me’ woven into the plotlines of my characters. The truth is the planets are usually in alignment as the revolve around the sun, they simply aren’t visible from our position on Earth. Though on Saturday, 25th January 2025 until early February our night sky will show seven planets: Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, Saturn and Mercury - most appearing bright and two somewhat faded in the night sky. I’ll take that, I’m not too fussy. I’ll accept the Universe doing the necessary as long as I’m allowed to enjoy the effects. 14/1/2025 0 Comments Bucket List 2025/26!![]() I haven't had an official 'Bucket list' for several years, since I was 40 in fact - that's just a year or two ago now! But since I've self-proclaimed 2025 as my year - no lockdown, no ill-health and no life-lessons. I've drawn up a list of several things, big and small, that I'd like to achieve before 31st December 2026. I won't manage all of them in the two years but a gal can dream! You'll probably remember that last year, I passed my piano exam - twice! A mini goal that I'd set myself during lockdown and I finally managed to claim a 'merit' grade. I embarked on a journey of volunteering in the community - a desire I'd had swimming around my head for a decade or so - tick. I even managed to visit one or two sightseeing trips which I'd meant to complete before now but they were waylaid by ill-health. So 2025/26 has an official bucket list. Big, small and seemingly insignificant things are listed but each means the world to me! I'll let you know as I tick each of them off the list - please don't think big, jaw dropping moments - some are the smallest pleasures in life! 14/1/2025 0 Comments GoodReads Reading Challenge 2024Call me nerdy but one of my delights at New Year is seeing the stats on my year's reading via GoodReads. I always sign up for their annual reading challenge, aiming to read 25 books. I always start a New Year with a strong reading routine which usually lasts until April time. Afterwhich, it tends to dwindle until the heights of summer arrives - when I get to sit in the garden for entire days, with a good book, enjoying the sunshine. Autumn tends to be a 'refresh and refocus' time regarding my reading habit and I'll plough through to the end of the year but I'm usually behind with the Goodreads challenge and need to play catch-up to reach my goal of 25 books! I'll admit it - as my year develops my reading books get slimmer to ensure I achieve my goal. Every year, it makes me laugh and still I allow it to happen, but not this year! There I've said it, this girl is turning over a new leaf! 7/1/2025 0 Comments Thank you!![]() Can I say 'thank you' for the kind messages regarding my drawing of a rose. It appears that many of you have enjoyed my updates - which is truly heart warming. I literally do as I do because it brings me joy. I share because I like to keep my blog content as varied as possible providing a true reflection of my creative journey. This is the current drawing - it has taken longer than I expected but I am hoping it complete it in the coming week or so. My next drawing will be ballet shoes - you know my brain, always one step ahead! 7/1/2025 0 Comments Happy New Year!I’ve spent the first week of 2025 organsing and planning for the writing year ahead. I’ve had a muck out of my writing room, I’ve shredded a load of old papers and created a new system for completing smaller projects relating to writing groups. I’ve even scribbled on numerous white boards with colour pens and refreshed my bucket list.
It was lovely getting back to my weekly routine after the Christmas holidays – the break leaves me feeling so disorientated, not even knowing what day it is! Last Thursday, I attended the first of my virtual writers’ group – which was a gentle experience of listening while others read aloud and received vital feedback. I was inspired by one particular poem and began jotting down ideas for my own version – which has become a mini-project for the week. I woke early on Monday with a fragment of a line whirring around my mind – thankfully the language and imagery have continued since then. Last Saturday, I attended my first in-person writing group of the year which was a delight as only three of us attended but wow, did we have a cracking session! That probably sounds a little selfish but the three of us wrote, chatted all things bookish and unravelled lots of mini-issues that were niggling each of us – a seriously productive meet-up. It certainly boosted my resolution to ‘connect’ over this coming year. I left with a spring in my step eager to return home and crack on with my writing. I’m hoping to have my current project finished by the 31st January – which needs to happen as my brain is already nagging me to start something brand-new and sparkly. Over the years, I’ve learnt to accept this as my natural creative process but one that can trip me up if I fall foul of my brain’s constant nagging to switch projects. The thoughts such as ‘it won’t hurt’ or ‘just an hour or two’ have fooled me in the past and have proven to be the undoing of the ‘current project’ as the deadline only drifts. I don’t want it to drift. I want focus. I want a finished project by 31st January hence, I’m ignoring my brain as it throws up small details to tempt my muse. My final task of 2024 was to have my name engraved upon the large plaque belonging to a local writing group, as I’d won the annual short story competition. The plaque dates back to 1971 which is ironic, as so do I! On collection, I found a safe spot at home in which it can reside for the next twelve months, until the annual competition comes around. It makes me quite sentimental when I see the other writers’ names beside who I now sit. Sadly, many have passed on in life, some have given up writing or attending the local group. Though undoubtedly it was cracking start to my new year seeing my small contribution added to the history of this plaque. |
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