Almost Christmas

The days are short, it’s getting colder, the Christmas tree and decorations are up, gifts are wrapped and cards have been sent. Christmas is almost here – the birds are busy in the garden during the short Winter days, foraging for berries and eating seed and fat from the bird feeders – it feels like the world is in waiting.

Writing has slowed to a standstill for me at the moment – I am painting and crocheting my way to the New Year – then I will begin again. I find this a very hard time of year – missing family who have passed away, combined with the cold and dark – it can be very difficult. So I try to take it a day at a time, keep busy, get out when there is a glimmer of sunshine – we will all get there in the end and Spring will arrive eventually.

I wish you all a happy Christmas – or at the least, a peaceful Christmas. Take care of each other and enjoy the quiet delights of Winter (and there are many). I hope this time is not too much of a struggle for you, and wish you all the very best for the New Year.

Almost Christmas

At last!

At last my third children’s book, “Good Luck, Carrie” is finished and published on Amazon! It’s an amazing feeling – I just hope that children will enjoy reading it. Again, it’s free on Amazon KindleUnlimited – as are my other children’s novels, “Carrie in the Land of Not-Oz” and “Carrie in Cornwall”.

Carrie is of course, the main character – she is almost twelve, autistic and about to start High School – she encounters difficulties and changes in her life, but tries to overcome them with bravery and optimism.

I hope the book is uplifting and inspiring for children and their carers, with or without autism, and I hope it gives insight into some of the problems autistic people face on a daily basis.

Cover painting of “Good Luck, Carrie”

Summer Days

The days are long and my third children’s novel is almost finished – bar the editing. Mornings begin early in the quiet time before the rest of the world awakes – that is my time to write. I hope this is a good book – I hope children enjoy it, and the parents that may read it to their children too – I just do my best and hope for the best, that is all.

In between, I paint – my haven and peace. I hope you have a good Summer too – these days disappear so quickly and there is so much that is beautiful around us. It is a beautiful world – we need to cherish it.

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Spring is Here!

Sunday morning, the birds are singing, and my third book about Carrie is going well.  This book is taking longer to write but I’m loving it!  I love Spring above all other seasons and the writing is an added pleasure this year!  I wish you all a happy Spring too 🙂

Halfway through Winter

The first snow drops are appearing in the garden, daffodils are forming their buds, and crocuses are soon to arrive – Spring is on its way!  Winter can be a bleak or a beautiful time – I try to focus on the beauty – it helps me through the long dark days, which can seem to last forever – oh, and a SAD lamp helps too!

Writing is coming slowly this winter, but I keep plodding on – I want to tell this story so much, so I just keep on trying.  It will be written but I cannot rush – it will be done in its own time.

I wish all of you writing your books and your blogs too, much success in your efforts – I hope the Winter is kind to you wherever you are – take care, and keep on going!

Winter is coming

Winter is almost here –  short days, cold nights, maybe frost and snow.  Time to wrap up warm and brave the elements to make the most of the daylight and sunshine, then cosy up at home to indulge in favourite hobbies and spend time with loved ones.

I enjoy the early mornings, while it’s still dark and quiet – time to get on with writing my new book – I need the peace and quiet of solitude and time alone to think, plan and write.

Later in the day I love to walk in the countryside and catch up with nature – I love how birds can be seen more easily amongst the bare branches now – and I love how the sun catches the beautiful colours of remaining glowing leaves.

Painting and making are two of my most pleasurable occupations at this time of year – combined with listening to music, the dark evenings slip away happily, and I am content.

Finally, reading is a joy – I am a regular visitor to my library and love to find new authors and unread books – my world expands with their words.  I am grateful for all these rich gifts in my life.

Enjoy the winter – a time of reflecting and recharging, getting ready for the New Year and Spring.

Almost Autumn

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Summer seems to have flown by, and autumn is almost here again – our garden has given us such joy this year – we are constantly learning new things.  We have never had so many bees and butterflies before – now the birds are appearing daily at the feeders and I feel that autumn can’t be far away, but each season brings new joys and surprises.  I wish you all a happy new season too!

Carrie In Cornwall

Just published my new children’s book on Amazon and Amazon Kindle this weekend.  It was hard work but I loved writing and illustrating it – the main character, Carrie, is autistic – in this story, she makes new friends, has fun, adventures and helps to solve a mystery while on holiday in Cornwall.  The book is free on Kindle Unlimited and I hope that many children,  autistic or otherwise, will enjoy this new story about Carrie.

April – still editing

It’s definitely Spring time in the garden now – our garden reminds me of Dolly Mixtures with all the bright colours – it’s lovely!  My favourite flowers at the moment are the wonderful Hellebores – we have several and the bees absolutely love them! They are a godsend to bees when it is cold and not many flowers are about to feed from – they look spectacular too, which is a bonus!

I am still working hard on my second children’s book about Carrie, who has ASD – I have been working hard on the front cover, and trying something different this time, using acrylics – I have been “winging” it as they say, as I’m not a trained graphic artist, so everything I do is completely trial and error!  Hopefully it will look okay when it is finished, and be enjoyable to read too – fingers crossed!

I wish you all a happy Spring, whatever you are up to, and hope you have fun outdoors in the garden or in the local parks or on country walks – nature is a wonderful thing, so hope you can enjoy it!

Still editing

Still editing my new book about Carrie – it certainly takes time, but is worth it.   I’m enjoying making the illustrations to accompany the text too; they are larger drawings and more dense with deep inky shadows – I hope they will turn out well when I publish on Amazon.

I made a decision to publish on Amazon again – children can borrow my books for free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited, which is what I want most of all.  My books are for children with Asperger’s (autism) and those with an interest in the condition – I hope it will interest and entertain them.  Anyway, I will do my best.

Spring is slow to arrive this year, but each day it is lighter and new shoots and buds are appearing everywhere, so I am happy.  I hope you are too – and wish you a flower-filled Spring.