Tag: walking

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The old year – looking back on 2024 – Part 1

January

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)

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2023: Snapshots of my year (Part 3)

July

Breakfast in my tent

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.

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Words can trip you up, or fail you

Lately, they’ve simply been eluding me. I had nothing to say. At least, nothing to commit to the page.

So I did some other things, mainly a big walking challenge.

People say we get writer’s block because of fear – of failure, of success, perhaps just of being accountable. For we must stand by our words, I do believe that.

I used to like writing very short work, was a regular contributor to Short, Fast & Deadly. So I tried writing a few micros again, and something shifted. Perhaps I just got out of my own way.

I’ve started a new story. And this week I’m back to editing my novel.

Plus, there’s something else to tell you about. Soon. Be patient.

One step at a time

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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.