Went to a quiz last night put on by the Jane Austen’s House at Goldfinch Books in Alton and our little team of nerdy writers won! @janeaustenshouse.bsky.social
These gorgeous postcards arrived for The Bear and the Hare and the Fair! And I'm feeling very lucky to have Matt Hunt as the illustrator for this series!
Well, the highlight of my week is happening in front of me as I type this! The old fella sat opposite, reading a Sebastian Faulks novel, has a Little Badman bookmark! “Waterstones had a stack of them,” he explained. “Took a bunch.” 😊😊😊
I saw someone say yesterday that in less than 60 days it’ll be light after 7 and I didn’t realise how much I needed that. I’m sure when I was younger winter didn’t affect me as much.
I was talking about time travel with a year 6 class at a school visit yesterday and one kid said you’d know if you’d time traveled because everyone would be using words like ‘Indubitably’. I loved that!
I wrote a new PB, managed to get a few chapters closer to the end of my MG dystopian WIP, and recorded a lovely podcast with Jedlie at Reading With Your Kids, which always makes me smile. Also, elbows deep in Mexican Gothic, which I am loving. 🥰
My latest MG whodunnit, The Beanstalk Murder, has been shortlisted for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. I'm well and truly thrilled. #KidLitUK #KidLit
We're awaiting Storm Eowyn, so I am warming up leftover lasagne, have the stove is roaring in the kitchen, and I plan to listen to an old recording of Rosencranz and Guilderstern Are Dead and bugger about with watercolours for the afternoon.
While I've still got a cough I'm finally feeling more myself after 2+ weeks of flu. Looking forward to getting back to school on Monday (but glad I can hibernate today and tomorrow)
I watched my eldest child sing with 8000 other kids at the O2 arena as part of the Young Voices choir which was both bonkers and amazing (they also have a foundation that enables kids to participate in music https://yvfoundation.org.uk)
Week 4 with a broken shoulder and I can now open sachets of cat food and carry a cup of tea between rooms. Be a few months till I can punch a nazi but progress every day
Putting all my annual leave requests in inc 2 weeks off for my 30th in Jan 2026 👍 feels a little mean to everyone else to take 2 weeks in Jan but also...30th birthday...and I want to go abroad...
Had the chooks inside out of the storm and it was nice hearing them chirp away. We had no power most of the morning but it came back. Hope you’ve had a good week.
My drag king group got invited to a fairly new bar on Tuesday & the owner/manager would like to collaborate with us. Our group only had our debut show in August & now a venue has reached out to us. Exciting for the future of drag kings in Johannesburg.
Last night I got word from one of my oldest friends that she was queuing up to see the smelly flower in Sydney Botanic Gardens. Was just in time to join the livestream here in Belfast and see her and her daughter waving at us on camera.
I'm determined to actually make it through my first rubbish draft of a children's book. I'm making the best progress I have for years this week and I'm not letting myself give up.
My deadline for completing the draft is Easter. So we shall see! 🫠
My son and seven of his classmates hosted a Come Dine With Me experience in school yesterday. They cooked meatballs, pasta, garlic bread, muffins for pudding and made lemonade to go with it. A local celebrity (and pantomime legend) came to eat with them and they all had a wonderful time.
I have just been out with my next door neighbour and we ate this vegan burrito from Vegan Antics, and it was delicious! Came away with ‘sausage’ rolls & lemon curd Viennese Whirls too! 😋
A rather exciting chat about the marketing and launch of my debut #ukkidlit book. And we are GO GO GO for a cover reveal on World Book Day! (Also now dealing with the FEAR because people will actually read my book... 😱)
I presented my master’s research at a uni dissertation showcase and I got a far better reaction than I expected. It was so affirming! I’m still buzzing nearly a week later!!
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We are also past the red warning and the house is still standing. #phew
Today, I read a couple of books to the Unicorn Princess, so her Mum could read to middle child.
https://bsky.app/profile/madhmstr.bsky.social/post/3lgcnze7srk2x
1. It’s historically less likely to trigger my asthma than summer and winter
2. My birthday! (No bias at all!) 😂😂😂
So naturally I produced a Lego kit of the Endurance that I got for Christmas... And I Love Her SO MUCH!!!
https://youtu.be/7DGOgvxP7LE?si=zBVeEb27RbIsZmG0
- stayed on top of kids' appointments, study, and meals all week
- asked for help for serious problems
These are big positives for me worth celebrating.
My deadline for completing the draft is Easter. So we shall see! 🫠
Not a bad week all told <3
I looked at how office housework* perpetuates gender inequity in technology companies.
* things not in job descriptions that help the org/people but are generally undervalued e.g. cards, collections, emotional support
I’m applying to do a PhD because I have too many questions left and seem to have found something that resonates! 🥰
I’m working on a distilled version that I can share and will share here too. I want to hear other examples!