season's greetings ...

It’s a year since I dipped my toe into social media - preparing my platform for when I am that thing that all serious writers hope to become - a published author.

So - this year, I have completed my second novel CROW - a family drama with dark edges. It’s been edited - thank you Samantha Sainsbury, for your skill, feedback, and encouragement - revised and polished to its eighth draft. It’s now sitting on someone’s desk in one of the most respected publishing houses in Australia. I lull myself to sleep each night, imagining that phone call.

And on to the next project - another family drama set in Tasmania. This one has a working title - Thicker than Water and is 30,000 words in. My plan is to complete the first draft by end of March 2023.

And so to Christmas - creating a sparkly Christmas for my family including gifts wrapped to a colour scheme, seasonal vignettes crouching on any available flat surface and of course the food. My menu is planned, I can see the Christmas table setting in my mind and the grocery shopping list is on the bench, ready for the last early-morning dash to the supermarket tomorrow. And speaking of lists, I have a list ready to make sure all the elements of the menu make it to the table. Did someone mention the peas lingering in the microwave that I found last year just after the Queen’s speech?

In my mind’s eye, I’m fast forwarding to this year’s King’s speech. Family members - happy and full of food, dogs madly scattering wrapping paper into every corner of the house and an empty microwave! Will anyone notice if I skulk away to my quiet space and write a few words?

And meantime - I’m still waiting for that phone call.

Merry Christmas All.