‘Tis the season to be jolly, or so the old Christmas carol
says. I guess that’s right, personally I like Christmas, not for the
commercialization, all the dashing around, frantic buying of things, writing of
cards etc. but for the looks on the children’s faces on Christmas morning as
they open gifts, the good food, the way almost everyone is happy and most of
all for the fact that we get to relax and I can write once it’s all over.
The run up to Christmas is a busy time of year so the
writing has been neglected a little lately, more so in my case as a glitch in
my laptop meant it had to go into the shop for a week. It wasn’t a virus this
time but was two versions of Microsoft Office vying with each other and
throwing everything else out of joint. It’s fixed now and ‘Cheating’ is under
way again although I am not making any rash promises concerning a publication
date this time, it’ll be ready when it’s ready.
Speaking of which I mentioned around Thanksgiving that ‘The
Sins of the Father’, a follow up to ‘The Lichfield Conspiracy’, was undergoing
it’s last edit and that I hoped to have it out for Christmas providing I could
find a suitable cover. Well, the edit is taking longer than usual and the name
has now changed to ‘DA’ but the good news is the cover is ready as soon as my
editor has finished with the final draft. This one really should be out in
January some time.
My plans for next year are firstly to finish ‘Cheating’ and
get it published. After that I have a couple of stories churning around in the
back of my mind. One is another of the Dean and Steph mysteries and the other
is a saga a little like ‘Weoley’ but covering the fortunes of a family over
three hundred years. I’m not sure which of them will come to the fore yet but I’ll
let you know as soon as I decide. In the meantime I’ll also still be writing my
weekly column for the Putnam Herald and maybe trying my hand at some new short
stories.
It’s going to be a busy time but that’s what I like, a
writer has to write. For now though I’m told that we need to go to the store
for some last minute stocking stuffers so I’ll leave you to your own
preparations and I’ll wish you all a very merry Christmas, may Santa be
generous to you all.
