My fourth novella, The Geography of the Heart,was actually published at the end of 2023, in California. Huge thanks to Thomas Thomas of Arroya Seco Press for taking it on.
And thanks also to fellow author Nigel Jarrett, who interviewed me for the launch of the book in Abergavenny Library in January.
Abergavenny Library, 20th Jan 2024
February
Hill walking, a life-saver for me.
In the Black Mountains near Abergavenny
March
A pamphlet of my short stories., Mr Bosch and His Owls, was published byWelsh Indie publisher Atomic Bohemian. Huge thanks to Briony Collins of At Bo for believing in me.
Pleased and proud.
The origami owl that goes with the book
April
A visit from old friends Katrina and Jeremy, long-term residents of Abergavenny, now living in North Berwick, Scotland. They were here to receive an award from Abergavenny Town Council for all they did for the town.
May
I was a member of a team that did the Big Black Mountain Challenge (a 22k hill walk) and helped to raise £3,000 for the Longtown Mountain Rescue Team.
Our team on the hill
June
Trip to London to meet up with my friend Elizabeth, planning for our Camino walk (See Part 2)
Camping at the Flash Fiction Festival in Bristol. I thought my camping days were over, but no! Lovely to see so many fellow writers and attend some great workshops. I even sang karaoke!
In writing: As, sadly, Louise Walters, who published by novella In the Sweep of the Bay, decided to stop publishing, I started working on a project to develop the book into a full-length novel, a saga going back to the 1930s and continuing until the present day.
August
In the footsteps of my ancestors
Great trip to Scotland, visiting old friends and also the place in Eskdalemuir where my paternal great grandparents are buried. I found that very emotional.
In writing: On my return I wrote a little piece for Paragraph Planet (which was published later in the month)
In his footsteps. He was a shepherd, but now there are no sheep. The hills are half-covered in plantations of firs- sitka spruce, he would never have heard of it. But he would have heard what I hear now – the meadow pipits, willow warblers, swallows. All of them, and the sound of the river, the White Esk, ever-flowing, dancing and burbling down the valley. My great-grandfather and me, walking the same land, then, now.
September
Rainbow over Newport Bay, North Pembrokeshire
I took on a challenge which was initially to walk 30 miles in the month in aid of Dementia UK. I decided to aim for 100 and in the end walked 134.5 miles – including some brilliant walks in West Wales – and, thanks to many people’s generosity, raised £1,255 for the charity. So pleased and proud and it’s inspired me to aim for a new walking challenge in 2024 – more of that in the New Year!
No writing really – walking was the most important thing for me in September.
The final part of my 2023 Snapshots series follows on 31 December.
Cath Barton 