Book Seven is begun! So far I think it’s pitched more at the 10 end of the 8-10 spectrum, but we’ll see how it unfolds.
It was a beautiful starry morning, but Chris didn’t know that because when he woke up he was in a house with no skylight, and anyway there was a cat on his head.
“Urmph,” he said.
“Mrau?” the cat replied, carelessly flicking its tail. Evidently it didn’t think there was anything unusual about going to sleep on someone’s head.
Continue reading “There Are No Cats In America”
I am currently trying to write two totally different articles for two separate publications, both about 12 books in 12 months and how it got started. They’re due at different times and the word count is different for each.
It’s not as easy as you might think.
Continue reading “Trials and Tribulations of Self Promotion”
This weekend, I have mostly been playing in the sunshine – as I’m sure you have too if you’ve got any sense. Was this conducive to writing book seven? Of course not. But our flat is one of those Edinburgh specials; ice-on-the-inside-of-the-window-cold during winter and bone-meltingly-sauna-like as soon as there’s a hint of sunshine, so I doubt I’d have done any more if I’d remained indoors. Sweat in places I didn’t know I had, perhaps.
I didn’t used to have a blogroll. This wasn’t intentional, it just sort of happened. Or didn’t. Anyway, I’ve made one now, and you can locate it on the right hand side of the page. It’s not in any particular order, and I’ll probably add to it over time, so suggestions are welcome.
Currently it includes:
Hello Dear Readers.
This is the last day of book six, so naturally I’ve been frantically catching up using my breaks at work and all of this evening to boot. Except of course I haven’t, because I am knackered. I was reading Caitlin Moran’s new book in my break at work (very funny so far), and when I got home I ate some biscuits and watched Hollyoaks. Hollyoaks! Not even the news, or a re-run of Friends, or anything else remotely watchable! I am clearly a feeble wreck of a woman, in need of about sixteen hours of sleep.
To that end, I am about to retire. (To bed, obviously. I can’t retire from work til I’m about 70, or haven’t you been keeping abreast of the strikes? I don’t blame you, it’s something to do with Michael Gove wanting kids to learn history in chronological order. Except that isn’t what it’s about at all. But he does think that.). However, before I go, I feel the urge to sate your insatiable thirst for knowledge about how it’s all going. So, CLICK HERE to read the last of my guest posts for Mslexia Magazine, in which I evaluate the project thus far and cunningly explain it to new readers at the same time.
Thank you, and good night.
Further to my news that a short story I wrote is to be featured in Beyond the Horizon, a collection by Bamboccioni Books due out towards the end of July, I’ve been given permission to share the front cover with you. 
I think it’s rather lovely. Makes me feel a little fraudulent though – my story is a bit silly and would probably be more in tune with a raggedy illustration by Quentin Blake. Still, it makes me look good, so I’m not complaining!
12 Books in 12 Months 