 Abbotsbury, 28/12/2021 Over the past four months, I've barely found the time to breathe. And now I am struggling to actually catch my breath, physically and mentally, so tired I am. I actually think I haven't been that tired for a couple of decades! You know, that kind of tiredness that takes hold of your brain and buries deep into your bones... Yes, that kind of tiredness. I actually have no idea how on earth I have managed to last the four months... But after a week and a half of time off, I'm still not where I'd like to be. Fortunately, I had taken some time off to go away for a while, which now is not going to happen because of the Covid pandemic. BUT I have kept those extra weeks of time for myself and I intend on using them wisely. I'm trying to reconnect with my own projects, with my writing, with my true purpose. Reading books is helping. I am enjoying Tom Cox's 21st-century Yokel immensely at the moment (I purchased it in the fabulous Little Toller bookshop in Beaminster - such a gorgeous little bookshop!). I'm now planning on getting more of Mr Cox's books over the next few months...  I also dip in and out of Richard Wells's fabulous Damnable Tales - A Folk-Horror Anthology. What a beautifully illustrated and designed book, just exquisite! That's the type of quality I'm after at Arcane Publishing... But I'll need the right budget for that!  Unfortunately, I'm not quite done with the fundraising effort. It was supposed to finish on 17th December but I stupidly accepted to carry on until Easter - a daft, spur of the moment decision which I now regret... But I intend on taking some time off to concentrate on The Right Place and the development of Arcane Publishing and the bookshop in 2022... The next three weeks will be dedicated to making some progress with The Right Place before picking it up again in April. We're still on schedule for an autumn 2023 publication... Watch this space!  I hope that the weather will improve and that I will be able to get out and about in Dorset - it's always great for inspiration and general well-being!  Rainbow over Abbotsbury, 28/12/2021  23/12/2021 I'm back (for a few weeks) Today, I literally ran outside as soon as a weak sun poured into my office. I wanted to check whether the sea, which is on my doorstep, was still here. The past four months have been incredibly challenging. I have been working on an assignment in order to raise funds for Arcane Publishing as I really want to get going with the publication of my third novel and the development of my online bookshop. Since early September, bar a few days in October, I have been getting up at 5am to do a truly exhausting job (mentally and physically). I have barely seen the sea or the countryside, and have worked every day even at the weekend. My working environment has been unsafe and extremely challenging, but I have made it to the end of term without catching the virus. I am now taking a break before going back out there to earn a bit more money for the Arcane coffers, and therefore, I will be reporting back on any progress I'll be making on The Right Place. Then I'll be offline again from late January until the first week of April, when I'm planning on taking a long break to work exclusively on my own projects... Watch this space!  One of the best things has been going back to buying and reading books, which I haven't been able to do at all since 1st September.
Last week, I finally made it to the Little Toller Bookshop in Beaminster - a true gem full of gorgeous books! I came out with Tom Cox's superb 21st-century Yokel (unputdownable) and some lovely cards illustrated by Eric Ravilious. Tomorrow, I'll be picking up the manuscript of The Right Place and try and get back into the story. I desperately need to complete the first draft so I can keep to my publishing schedule (and publication date of Autumn 2023!). |
AuthorI think therefore I write. Archives
August 2024
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