I’m not keen on counting, but it’s good to review the year and consider some very lovely times.
Month by month, here are my writing highlights and a celebratory photo for each.
January
Delighted to have a rare poem published in Visual Verse
February
Had three flashes published this month. Particularly proud of The Man I Am Not Marrying, published in Spelk
March
After a nail-biting time, signed a book deal with Louise Walters Books for my second novella, In the Sweep of the Bay, due to be published on 17th September 2020.
April
Took part in both the Abergavenny Writing Festival and the Llandeilo Litfest.
May
A wonderful week at Palazzo Forani in the village of Casperia in the Sabine Hills, north of Rome, led by ace flash fiction writers Kathy Fish and Nancy Stohlman. New writing, new friends, new food!
June
Spent a day at the Flash Fiction Festival in Bristol. More great writing experiences – and lovely to meet so many writers I knew from internet connections.
July
Spoke at another LitFest, this time in Caerleon.
August
Structural and line edits of In the Sweep of the Bay completed.
September
Copy editing time for the novella. Challenged myself to write a (long) short story of which of which I was given paragraphs 1 and 20. Could be the bones of a new novella…
October
Busy weekend at the beginning of the month: up to Leicester for the launch of this anthology one day and at the Crickhowell LitFest talking about novellas the next.
November
Finally started writing the story of my Auntie Phyllis, internationally famous circus artiste!
December
Five flashes published this month, after a lean time.
Cath Barton 