So, what am I up to?

I’m having so much fun.

The weather is chilly, so I’m about to set off into the cold to research an Elena Collins novel. I’m going to start writing it from the middle of this month. It’s a venture into history, fiction, fact, speculation, lots of exploration and the story of sisterhood. I’ll tell more later. Oh, and I’m editing the new EC, as yet untitled.

My new ‘golden’ novel – The Silver-Haired Sisterhood, a sequel to Five French Hens, is out next month on December 4th, and The Cream Tea Killer, the third Morwenna Mutton Mystery, is out in January. I’ve just finished a follow-up to The Silver Ladies Do Lunch, and I really enjoyed revisiting that one, remembering some old favourite characters and creating a few new ones.

So I’m busy…

At the same time, there’s an ongoing project here to open up the old cider barn at the back of the house and turn it into something fun and communal. A cider bar where we can share food and drink? A rehearsal space where we can have performance, music, poetry? A meeting place where we can all put the world to rights and hope to goodness for some positivity and fairness in the future? Who knows?

But I’ve found a real cider press there, and it’s intact and in need of renovation. It’s under a heap of dust, right at at the back. The discovery of something so beautiful has filled me with joy – it’s a link to the past. It’s going to be a long project, but so much fun. I have the best builder in the world to help me. Watch this space..

And earlier this summer, a black with a white tuxedo stray cat arrived in the barn, sleeping rough there, very hungry, untidy, timid. Male, no question. And unchipped – I checked. I have made a friend of him now and he’s moved in. Neutered, properly adopted, named Batface, he’s really happy, affectionate and sweet.

He hates Murphy and TC. They don’t like him either. I’m taking it slowly to introduce them to each other. There’s a lot of insecurity, suspicion and hissing. But we’ll get there. Much more to come about Batface.

So, I’ve an edit to do then I’m off on a journey. More from me later. But meanwhile, stay warm and safe and happy. Sending love.