Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May - and I levelled up in years.
Also…
What I'm writing
Penelope Wise loved trains.
Unlike her sister, who worshipped their intricate engineering and the tiny, moving parts of their models, Penelope enjoyed their silence. She liked their dodgy WiFi that kept the world away, and even the lukewarm tea from the trolley with a chocolate bar. She liked to watch the world go by as she worked, the little towns and green fields and vast rivers stretching away from her. With her tablet across her knee, she made entire worlds come to life with a stroke of her stylus, realising the dreams of her clients in London or further afield, a mere train ride away.
After finishing my draft of Outpost Asia, I have returned to more familiar territory: Last Save, my final Amy Lane novel.
Following the collapse of my publisher, it was too painful to write a book that came with so much baggage. Every time I turned to it, I was filled with bitterness. That is not fertile creative ground for a contemporary mystery novel!
But this book is also important to me. I want to chose the ending of this series that has been my companion for almost a decade. This is my way of reining in the horse that I thought was lost forever, to get back in the saddle and finish the journey we started together.
I can't wait to explore our destination - and I hope you're there to enjoy it with me.
This month, I am writing:
The first draft of Last Save, sixth and final novel in The Amy Lane Mysteries
The final draft of The strength of a tree, to submit to this great Honno and Crime Cymru Welsh women's anthology
Something for the Mslexia Roots theme, because I never met an identity theme I didn't like.
What I'm reading
This has been a month for devouring speculative crime!
A House of Ghosts by W.C. Ryan - I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook version of this, narrated by the exquisite Jot Davies. If you like spooky period mysteries, this one is for you.
Widow’s Welcome and The Stitcher and The Mute by DK Fields, the first two books in the Tales of Fenest trilogy. These fantastical stories about stories are compelling reads, with the final part Farewell to the Liar out in September!
What I’m eating
It was my birthday on Star Wars day, so we celebrated with good food!
When a yellow weather warning cancelled my lunch plans, I turned to this Garlic Butter Salmon Pasta. I also whipped up some eggless Chocolate Brownies, using gluten free flour and coconut yoghurt to delicious effect, and the Lemon Blueberry Bread beloved of my circle of Book Twitter.
I also treated myself to an afternoon tea, ordering amazing scones from the Incredible Bakery Company and a box of gluten-free, soy-free, vegan doughnuts from Borough 22.
Because the greatest treat is when someone makes food for you - like the Victoria Sponge my friend and daughter cooked up. <3