Those of you who know me might recall the blog I used to write a few years ago, under the name of Tuppence (*) Cataldo, called Dream Catching, in which I interpreted people’s dreams.

Well, here’s the one I had the other night.

I’m eighteen, a student again, and it’s almost the summer. But I haven’t completed any of my assignments, for some reason – and if I don’t do them all by the end of term, I’m out. So I wander round to each tutor, collect the assignments and steadily start to work through each one. It’s not difficult, I’m methodical, and I know I can complete them all well, but it’s a mountain of work. As with all dream catching, I ask the dreamer – myself – about my emotional reaction at the time of the dream. The answer is I feel calm, steady, not overawed but not excited by the prospect of all the work.

Then my dream interpretation comes to me.

I’m thinking about the edits I have coming in quite quickly now.

A proof edit of The Silver-Haired Sisterhood, which is out in December, is in. This novel is set on Skye, in a gorgeous hotel called Sicín Orga, the Golden Hen, which is very fitting as the novel reunites the Five French Hens and takes their story forward. I’m sure you’ll love the setting and the action.

On the back of that comes the copy edit for The Cream Tea Killer, the third in the Seal Bay/ Morwenna Mutton series. I love how the characters and relationships are developing in this series – not just the crimes Morwenna has to solve, but her life in Seal Bay is changing. The supportive and warm community is central to the action.

Then, shortly after that, the next Elena Collins structural edit will come back. I’m excited about these books, as ever. I love the dual timeline/ ghostly genre and this one was as much of a blast to write as the last four.The research an an eerie area of Cornwall was inspirational. And I’m researching the next one soon… I can’t wait to tell you where that will be set or what it’s about, but it’s special, and I think you’ll love it.

But back to my dream. I’ve just finished writing one novel, I’ve a new one to research and three edits to do. All this before the end of the year, if I can. So my dream is about my creative energy limbering up and preparing me for it.

And I’m ready. It’s what I do. I’m privileged to be a novelist. Although the scale of the work looks like a bit of a mountain right now, gazing at it from ground level.

So here’s a plea to friends and family. Please don’t think I’m stuck in the writing cave, being distant, or that I’m too busy to be interrupted. Do message, do call round. Make me have a tea break. Drag me out for coffee, lunch, dinner, to the theatre, the cinema, live music. For a walk in the woods, in the countryside. Just make sure I get plenty of social time. I’ll be so grateful. And you won’t believe how much a writer , stuck at a desk on the third floor, needs a break, however short.

If my future blog posts are erratic, please forgive me. That’s always a sign of being immersed in a task. Sometimes I concentrate to the point of excluding everything else. Hyperfocus. My middle name.

Do let me have any dreams, if you want them interpreted. But don’t be surprised if it takes me a few hours to get back to you.

I’m editing!

.(*) My dad’s nickname for me when I was tiny.