Okay, there’s a fair bit to cover in the couple of weeks since we last spoke, so grab a cuppa and settle down.

As I write this I’m sitting in the airport bar waiting for my flight home to the Sunny Coast. I’ve been in Sydney for the last week training a replacement for the extra role I’ve been doing for the last 6 months. To say I’m relieved is the understatement of the decade. While it’s been a long week with long hours, it hasn’t been without its rewards. Aside from being good to catch up with my colleagues in real life, Chatswood is a fabulous place to stay – and eat.

On Thursday night I dropped by the Candlelight Concert at the Concourse…

I also sourced dinner from one of the (many) stalls in the food market that pops up on Thursdays and Fridays.

The best part though about being in Sydney was being able to stay with my parents on the weekend – something that after the absence enforced by Covid I vowed I’d never take for granted again. There’s something quite grounding about sitting out the back in the sun at this time of the year – and I love the lorikeets that tap at the kitchen window until Mum feeds them.

In regards to writing, while I was in Sydney to work, and while I didn’t hit my word target at all while I was away, I did get in the habit of getting at least some words down before work each morning. I still have no idea which direction this manuscript is heading in, but it will be fun to find out.

I’ve also been occupied with the copyedit for Philly Barker Is On The Case.

Thankfully it wasn’t too bad in terms of workload and I had it nailed in a week. As always the majority of the work was in terms of adding what my editor likes to call depth of feeling. It’s that extra layer where she’ll pop a comment in the sidebar that helpfully says something like “how does she feel about that?” or “Add an action beat…” Given that this is cosy crime and not a romance with mystery elements it’s a fine line to walk in terms of how much emotion I want to convey, yet I’m also conscious that it all helps deepen Philly’s character and her relationship with Robbie.

In any case, it’s done and I’m really happy with it – and proud of it. I adore the characters in this one and really hope you do too.

I’ve sent it off to my beta readers and they’ve loved it so that has given me some comfort. In any case this week I’ll write the blurb, get it off for formatting, and get the preorders up.

Also on the list this week is to get the cover brief for Christmas at Mannus Ridge over to my cover designer. I also need to (finally) write a blurb for It’s In the Stars and finally get it formatted too. Oh, I also need to submit my tax return #adulting.

I’ll let you know how I go.