Category: Review of the year

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2023: Snapshots of my year (Part2)

April

New growth

The coming of Spring is always a joy – the variety of colours in the new leaves, and the blossoms. This is the acer in our garden.

In writing: Back to serious work on the next round of edits of my circus novel.

May

Laying in supplies for the Coronation

I’m not an ardent Royalist, by any means, but the coronation of King Charles was such a significant moment in our history, we had to watch it on TV. The music and the ceremonial were both extraordinary. We raised a glass!

In writing: Finished work on Draft 2 of my novel. And was delighted to have my short story , Spawn, published in Fictive Dream, an online magazine which I greatly respect.

June

St Antonin

Back to the English Bookshop in South-West France for a week, this time with my friend Katsy and also husband Oliver.

In writing: What writing?

Part 3 follows on 24 December

Posted on

2023: Snapshots of my year (Part 1)

I post a photograph every day on https://www.blipfoto.com/Cathaber. It’s a wonderful visual diary. So here are some highlights of the year which is drawing to a close

January

Chinatown

First time in London for over 3 years. And met up with my very good friend Katsy for her birthday lunch.

In writing: I began reading entries for the Cheshire Novel Prize, something that would take up more and more of my time over the following months. It taught me a lot.

February

Coming round the mountain

Walking has been a very important part of my life this year. Here, with the Abergavenny Women’s Walking Group on Table Mountain. Also, longer and shorter walks with one or two friends.

Venice

Had to put in an extra photo to remember a very special trip with OB to Venice, a magical city.

In writing: Talked to a local WI about writing, but didn’t do much of it!

March

A new novella

Between the Virgin and the Sea. Published in Novella Express #3 by Leamington Books in Edinburgh.

In (new) writing: Started work on a substantial short story for the first time in ages.

Part 2 follows on 22nd December

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2022: Snapshots of my year (Part4)

October

Met up with my novel-writing buddies, as I’ve done throughout the year. They’re super-supportive

Drinking a toast to us

November

Began to learn woodworking skills. A revelation and so enjoyable.

Countersinking

December

Bookselling with other Marchers Authors at Christmas Fairs

At Llanvihangel Court Christmas Fair

I’m ending the year unagented as yet, but with renewed determination to get my circus novel out into the world next year. And I’ve novella #3 being published in January.

I’m hugely grateful to all the people who’ve supported me in my writerly endeavours over the past year, and in particular:

My novel-writing buddies Jude Higgins, John Wheway and Alison Woodhouse

My fellow Marchers Authors

All in the Afon Llwyd Writers

All my writer friends on Twitter

Sara Cox and all involved in the Cheshire Novel Prize

Isobel Copley for the chance to run a bookshop in France for a week, and Katsy Blamont for doing it with me

And, more than I can say, my dear heart, Oliver, and my dear furry purry boy, Feely.

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2022: Snapshots of my year (Part 3)

July

It got mighty hot! OB and I took a trip to Hereford on the bus to hear a concert in the Three Choirs Festival. It felt like going to another country. Well, of course that was literally true!

Church Street, Hereford

August

By mid-month the weather broke. Phew!

Walking in the rain

September

Went to South-West France to look after a second-hand English bookshop for a week with my friend Katsy. Loved it!

Two Go Mad in Tarn-et-Garonne

Lots of good walking with friends over this period, though not in the blistering heat, when I sat in the shade in the garden and read. Did no writing and didn’t worry about it. And – major excitement – an agent asked to read my novel!

Find out what happened next in Part 4 – coming on New Year’s Eve.

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2022: Snapshots of my year (Part 2)

April

OB and I had a short holiday in Dorset. We stayed in a wooden cabin surrounded by woods. Walked, read, ate and slept. Just what we needed.

On Golden Cap

May

The year blossomed, in our garden and others too. We visited old haunts, met old neighbours.

Open garden in Harry Stoke

June

Had another little holiday, at one of our favourite places, in West Wales. The weather was variable. We watched a lot of Wimbledon which – fortunately – we love.

Visiting the pigs in the rain

I also had some lovely walks closer to home over this period. In writing news, I got onto the Long Longlist of the Cheshire Prize, which was very good news, and meant that my work would – later in the year – be included in an agent showcase. Very exciting!

Parts 3 and 4 follow next week.