10/2: Ten moments from June & July—emerging from the cave

Helloooo,

It’s been a while (Forever! Actually, more like a year), but I have emerged from the cave after a year of collapse, compromise and change: so many changes. Primarily, I left my job running a writing program at our local high school and have become a full-time carer for my mum who lives with dementia and decreasing physical capacity. I am still doing most of the things I did before, just… differently and… slower. 

I know many of you signed up in a previous life and if this is now no longer where you’re at, please feel free to “unsubscribe” (no hard feelings), as I too am not where I was at (however, for me, this is a good thing). If you’re not sure, but are up for the adventure, my goal is to reach out every 2 months with a brief-ish catch up of what’s been going on in my part of the world with…

In no particular order

1. I published a children’s Picture book! Late last year I was commissioned by the Somerset Regional Council to write a Picture Book promoting conversations around Dementia. It had very specific guidelines: I had to include all towns in the region; and the businesses that have signed up to be Dementia friendly; be suitable for children 8 and under; fit into 12 pages; and I had 2 weeks to write it. (I had been thinking about it previously, so I’d had some ideas). The launch was in June, and it was a great success. You can check it out here at the bottom of the page (the book, not the launch).
2. In my enthusiasm to come out of the cave and start connecting with you all again, I crashed my website… as in deleted… gone… crickets. After a few deep breathing exercises, and a moment to reflect on my supreme stupidity, I remembered there was a safety net on my hosting site (love you SiteGround). After a very tense million hours (okay, 20 minutes), it was all back. I had to redo a few things, but I’d much rather that than take up a new career… again. 
3. have started a new YA project! I will continue my Armour of Light series but am taking some time to explore this new avenue. Stay tuned.
4. I have started releasing a new short story mini-series exclusively (yes, exclusively!!!) for you. You can read the first two instalments here.
5. I blogged a post! It’s been a while, but you can check it out here.
6. We have 3 new chickens (Lula, Lotty and Lolly) on account of the super hungry python leisurely picking off the previous 3 (Pecan, Pumpkin and Caramel). Making the old coop snake proof was a bridge too far. So, I redesigned the whole area including a …
7. New veggie patch (which was also neglected due to gardening on a hill making equal water distribution problematic). Hopefully everything is now python proof and the girls are safe. However, there is a particularly persistent (and extremely annoying) marsupial who keeps breaking through the chicken wire to dig up the lovely damp soil under the veggies. #thestruggleisreal
8. I updated my website gallery! You can check it out here. 
9. WriTri starts tomorrow (even though this is about the previous 2 months, I have been preparing for a while). Over the next 3 months (Writing Trimester) I will be writing 6 days a week with the goal of completing, and polishing, a 60-odd thousand-word draft of my Young Adult novel (see point 3).
10. I have restarted my email newsletter (as evidenced by receiving said email newsletter).

How about you?

Well, that’s enough about me, how has your last year been? Feel free to drop me a line to share some highlights.

Until next time, 

db

PS: All typos are my gift to you. They are evidence of an authentic, original newsletter, written with my own non-AI, typo-prolific, grammar assassin fingers : ) 

PPS: If this newsletter is not right for you, or if you feel it’s not right for you… right now, please feel free to hit “unsubscribe”.