Summer
/I’ve realised that for the next couple of weeks I’m not going to have time to do much writing, marketing or anything else, so I thought I’d do a quick blog update before the chaos begins … to explain.
We have a large family and everyone is descending on us this weekend to celebrate my daughter’s visit from America. The pandemic made travel pretty difficult, if not impossible and so we’re all getting together this weekend for the first time for ages. I’ve realised there are going to be fourteen adults, five children and four dogs – it was only when I started planning lunch that I counted. I’m hoping that we’ll all be spending most of the day in the garden and looking at the weather forecast, it should be okay.
Families are strange things – you don’t see them very often (due to distance) but when you do come together it’s as if you’ve never been apart. All the shared experiences from the past make it so easy for everyone to be together – you laugh at the same jokes, you remember sad times and miss people who are no longer there. We all tend to talk at the same time and often you have to shout to be heard! Now there are young children to add to the mix, it’s utter chaos! There will no doubt be walks to the river with the dogs, jaunts to the local cafés for coffees and croissants and long discussions about a film we can all watch in the evening. I don’t like the expression ‘making memories’ but I’m sure this weekend will be one to remember.
I think that was probably an elongated ‘excuse’ for a lack of communication in the coming weeks as it’s not just the weekend. It’s going to continue with a holiday all together at Center Parks, a music festival (Womad), a trip to Giffords Circus and much more. I’m probably going to need a week to recover!
In September, I intend to start my next book. It hasn’t even got a working title yet, so don’t get too excited! I’ve spent so much time recently marketing my current ones, I haven’t done any writing. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m a writer, not a social media expert/admin. I wonder sometimes if I’m spreading myself too thin; I started out with a Facebook author page, then expanded to Instagram and Twitter and now I’m even trying TikTok. You might think that’s a weird thing to do as I’m blatantly rather old for it, but in fact, TikTok is turning the publishing industry on its head. It’s become THE place for writers and readers under the hashtag BookTok – it’s very slick and modern in its approach but it’s full of people recommending books, both old and new and authors are finding new and innovative ways of attracting readers. I’ve yet to ‘go viral’ as they say, but you never know. I’ll let you know how I get on in the future.
So, I hope you too will enjoy your summer, wherever in the world you are. I’d love to hear from you so if you have any questions or comments, do get in touch.
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Speak soon,
Sarah
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