A quick update on work in progress

Emerging from hibernation, the promise of spring in the air, I’m thinking about the creative projects I’ve got planned for 2025.

Creative writing is my favourite hobby. When I’m ‘in the zone’ I’m completely absorbed and time whizzes by. You may be surprised to hear that I find writing extremely difficult, but that’s what I love about it: it challenges me.

The hardest part about writing is finding the time and energy. It takes a huge effort to put my bum on the seat in my make-do office, switch on my computer, and get going. There are constant distractions: dogs to walk, dishes to wash or laundry to fold. The list goes on!

But somehow I manage to snatch opportunities here and there. And, bit by bit, like a jigsaw, the pieces eventually come together to form a satisfying whole.

Current projects

I have a few projects in the pipeline.

The first is a follow-up to my children’s book, Nonnie: The Quiet Little Mouse (a squeakquel, you might say!). This one is called Nonnie and the Purple Socks, which I hope to finish in a couple of months (all going to plan). Nonnie can only wear purple socks, you see, and they must come up to her knees. She doesn’t know why, she only knows they must! I will share the link to Nonnie and the Purple Socks once it’s uploaded to Amazon.

I’ve also been working on a memoir. The title is under wraps at the moment, and the structure is still to be decided. However, I can tell you it will focus quite heavily on my experiences as an extreme introvert living in a world of extroverts!

A lot of people prefer listening to reading. So another project I want to complete this year is the audiobook version of my mystery novel, The Glens of Carnegie. I have in mind an actor friend to do the narration, but I don’t want to give too much away just yet!

A twist of fate

My partner Patrick and I are currently living in Blairgowrie and Rattray, Perthshire. A stopping-off point for tourists travelling to the Highlands, Blairgowrie is a bustling, friendly town.

Last Friday was my birthday and, as I often do around this time, I took a few days off work.

Patrick’s mother, who we live with, is 84, frail, and needs someone with her at all times. Because of this, Patrick and I must always go out separately. But on Wednesday, with the help of a kind relative, we had the opportunity to leave the house together for a couple of hours. Neither of us is very adventurous, but one thing we both love to do is browse charity shops and second-hand bookstores, hunting out gems among the bric-a-brac.

As we browsed around Booklore, a community bookstore run purely by local volunteers, I came across a book called How to Write Your Life Story: The Complete Guide to Creating a Personal Memoir. I snapped it up for £2.00! It’s full of helpful tips and has spurred me on to write.

Patrick, by the way, bought some local history books. Although his mother was born in London and his father hails from Dundee, it turns out that one of his ancestors lived in Old Rattray, very close to where we’re living now.

A final note

I still consider myself a novice writer, despite having been dabbling in the hobby for over 30 years. My old friend Imposter Syndrome is never far away, and there is always something new to learn. So, if you’re reading any of my work and spot any errors or areas where you think I can improve, please leave me a comment. And if you haven’t already, please check out my books The Glens of Carnegie and Nonnie: The Quiet Little Mouse.

And if you’ve already purchased either of my books, thank you – it means a lot.