2013 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog. Here's an excerpt: A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,700 times in 2013. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people. Click here to …

Tree Lights and Happy Thoughts

Only a quick post today, as I promised to show you my wreaths. I couldn't help snapping a few shots of the tree, too. I'm sure you'll forgive the over-exuberance of color. What can I say? I love Christmas! Editing-wise, you'll be pleased to know two more books will hit the shelves in time for …

Feeling Free on the First!

Hello, my dear friends. First of December - where has this year gone? It seemed more like a couple of hundred seconds than a couple of hundred days... I've experienced so many ups and downs and so many changes. But none as significant as the last three months. The move to rural Ireland has not …

NaNo Bites the Dust and Other Seasonal Thoughts

I've come to the conclusion November is the wrong month for NaNoWriMo. I mean, I don't know about others, but I'm not so perfectly organized that I lose all Seasonal Anxiety long before Christmas. In fact, the opposite is true. Far back in the days when office work was my life and my family was …

Tales from the Roaring Water Bay #2.5

Time for a quick update (the proper tale is still in the draft stages). Busy is a disease, they say, and I guess I've caught it. I'm getting better now, and as soon as I finish another edit (tomorrow, with a bit of luck and a following wind) and one more later in the week, …

Tales from the Roaring Water Bay #2

  Hello from the Roaring Water Bay. You'll be pleased to know the wind has dropped somewhat and my life has settled into an almost relaxed routine. As soon as I open the door to let the fresh Atlantic breeze in, early in the morning, I'm met by my personal trainer for the first round …

Tales from the Roaring Water Bay #1

It's 15.45 and I'm gazing out over the cliff at the Roaring Water Bay. Why did the Irish call it that? I can't see any roaring water. In fact, the only roaring around here is the result of the gentle coastal breeze. The North Atlantic seems pretty peaceful from where I'm standing, in the doorway …

2013 – Week 32 and A Flying Puppy

Hello and welcome to newsletter #32. The reason I'm so happy today is this: (*whispering*) I've had two days off. Two! Consecutive! Two consecutive days off. Last time I did this was... Hmm... my memory doesn't go back that far. Still, I've finished a last read-through edit for an amazing novel. You'll love it! You …

2013 – Week 32 and What Would it Take?

Hello and welcome to newsletter #32. It's been a busy week... Finished round one of editing on two manuscripts - both epic fantasy - and I'm a couple of days away from finishing round two on the Christmas novel. Also done two short betas... well, one beta read and a manuscript evaluation-cum-pointing in the right …

2013 – Week 31 and a Must-Do Marketing Tick-List

Hello and welcome to newsletter number 31. Quick update for this week: Tomorrow I'll finish editing the first book of an amazing new series - and it will be a cracker, trust me! - and then I'll go back to the second round of the Christmas romance I was working on through July, plus a …