Really struggling to accept that it’s now October! The last few months have gone far too quickly, though a lot’s happened in that time. I do love autumn though. It’s probably my favourite season. I love wandering through the fallen leaves and kicking them about. It’s like snow, except there’s more colour involved. No two leaves are the same. I’ll be content for the next month or so, then we’ll see how winter takes me.
However, September was quite interesting in its own right!
What have I been writing?
I finished the first draft of ‘Stevie’ and pitched straight into the second draft of ‘Carys’. I originally wrote the first draft of this back in 2013 so it’s had a fairly long incubation period. That’s helped me come at it fresh and it’s going down a different path to the first. While the setting of a cruise around the Mediterranean has stayed the same, some other fundamentals have altered. I’m maybe halfway through the draft now and my characters have well and truly taken over. I love when that happens.
What have I been reading?
I actually finished a book! The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley proved to be as interesting as the fancy cover and opening pages suggested. It’s a very intelligent book, one that really made me stop and think. Pulley is good at playing with your emotions and leading you up the garden path a bit, but that’s a compliment rather than a criticism. Definitely recommended, if only for Katsu (see, now you want to read and find out what Katsu is!). Now I’ve started Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie. It’s the series of books that the hit television show Grantchester is based on and, having read one story, I’m getting into Runcie’s style.
What have I been watching?
I’m still on my Holby City kick. In fact, it’s about all I’ve managed to watch this month, unless a few old episodes of The Bill and Bedknobs and Broomsticks with my nieces count. I have to say, Holby is breaking my heart for all the right reasons. It’s a lesson in how to tell a fantastic story which just happens to include two women falling in love. Everything that’s happened is so true to character that I really have to commend the writers.
What have I been listening to?
As I type this, my (almost) brother–in-law is blasting an 80s playlist at me, which I have absolutely no problem with. I’ve been listening to a lot of other people’s choices lately, including one guy in my office who puts on background music for us. He’s taken to putting on playlists for me (like ABBA, The Nolans and some musicals soundtracks) when he senses me getting stressed. Every office should have such a guy. I’ve also put together a playlist to help me get into the ‘Carys’ mood. To give you a flavour of the novel, the playlist includes ‘There She Goes’ by The La’s, ‘Linger’ by The Cranberries and ‘Run’ by Leona Lewis.
Have I done anything remotely interesting?
I suppose publishing But By Degrees counts as interesting? In case you missed it, I released it earlier than anticipated and have had some pretty good responses so far. You can purchase it here in either paperback or Kindle formats, if you’re so inclined. In other interesting news, I hosted a productive session of Wakefield Writers and I’ve been doing a lot of freelance stuff. Novel writing is still the key to my heart though. It’s the reason I do everything else.
