OLD MEMORIES, NEW IDEA

The first Lavender House trilogy was the first set of books I published on Kindle. They were followed, obvious as it sounds, by the second set, and it seems incredible that that’s four years ago now.

I thought that story was told, and was feeling a little sad as I worked on the last stage of the last book for now in the Harbourside series, which span off from it, and then I had an idea… I’m not saying too much yet, but I’m excited that I’ll be heading back to the big old house on the hill next year and seeing what everyone’s been up to and who’s joined them. I know the basics of the story and what I’ll need to research, and that’ll be fun too.

The first new Shadows books for a while will be out next year too. I write those as Eleanor Neville, and they’re a little darker and a little sexier, but grandma will still be safe to read them. In fact, if she's anything like my grandmother, then she'll probably see them as being tame. I’ve got so many ideas that I’m looking forward to a winter spent more indoors, and it’s another good reason to cut back my news consumption. Some of it is where I get my ideas from, but right now I want more time sewing and writing and reading. I wonder if it’s seasonal, and maybe we’re meant to slow down as the days shorten and the nights lengthen?

That feels very odd to me because temperatures are only just dropping below 20C and thanks to my hero husband the house is so well insulated that the house is around the same night and morning. I suspect it’ll suddenly drop and then I’ll enjoy snuggling under quilts and having hot chocolate.

Right now though, my goal is to get the books until April pre-ordered because that gives me a safety margin so I’m happily back to work, and hoping you’ll enjoy whatever you do this weekend. I’m happy too, because there’s barbecue pork in the slow cooker for lunchtime, the batter made for drop scones for breakfast, and I’ll make cheesy flatbreads for tea. I do like it being cool enough to cook, yet at the same time I love it being warm enough to enjoy taking pictures like this…