Sunday Post

So, it's Sunday and outside it's grey, grim and damp, and I've promised myself a day off after weeks of manic effort, which seems the perfect moment to start a blog. (thinks: and add another layer of 'things that need to be done now' to life...)

I've been inspired by reading about my son's adventures with his new wife as he settles into his new life in Germany (you can read his here: http://www.welfaresblog.blogspot.de/).

I have been enjoying reading his blog. He has an easy conversational style, and I've been vicariously experiencing the joys and challenges he's facing,  living in a country where you don't speak the language and yet you need to find work, settle down, make friends. I admire him for the choices he has made; it's so nice to see how it's panning out - although I do find myself flicking onto it most days to see if he has updated it, eagerly awaiting the next installment.

I'm not sure if this is the mother in me or just the nosy person. I'm the same with facebook and my other sons, reading their posts,  enjoying the chance technology gives me of getting a glimpse into their world, that they probably wouldn't share with me any other way.

Anyway - what I have I been doing when not stalking my children?

Well, my sitting room looks like a sweat shop in the run up to the Christmas Craft Fair season - for anyone who doesn't know me, when I'm not writing, I make and teach rag rug making and various other crafty things - all good fun, but gradually taking over the house...

And when I'm not doing that I'm writing. I am currently working on a new novel called 'Cooking up a Storm' which I'm planning to self publish early next year in time for Mothers' Day. I've also been working on a thriller, with the working title 'Next of Kin' which is now doing the rounds, and hopefully will find a publisher through the more traditional route - though I've already decided if my agent can't place it then I'll self publish that too.

Why? Well mainstream publishing is currently in flux, which may seem odd given people are buying lots of books, in fact the advent of Kindle and other Ereaders have seen a rise in the total number of books bought. Reading is sexy; we're doing it on our phones, our tablets, on trains, at bus stops - but the publishers don't know which way the market is going, and with the advent of epublishing they find themselves in a similar position to the one the music industry found itself ten years ago. With huge overheads they seem less and less willing to take risks.

So, I'm planning to go the self publishing route with at least one of mine - which all feels a bit scary at the moment... I'll let you know how it's going. Happy Sunday xx