This year, for the first time, I had some time away from writing. There has been a lot going on in my life which has pulled me away from my favourite thing to do.

The main reason though has been to give my eyes a break. I have dry eyes. There is no cure for it. I've mentioned it before, but as I get older I want to take more care of them. This has meant time away from the computer screen writing. Though, I have not stopped my plotting and working out the story. On that, I have been very busy.

I have decided to start writing Book 7 of The Cambridge Murder Mysteries, from tomorrow, December 1st! A Christmas treat to myself. I am going to try something new in terms of my writing. In the past, I have written up novels on paper first and then typed them up. This time, I am going to write them up on paper and then rewrite them on paper, and see how that goes. I might also use the dictate function on my computer.

So off we go, on another adventure. 

It seems such a long time ago when I started the mysteries. Writing Poison seems like forever ago. It launched me into this experience, and for that I will be forever grateful. It took hold and wrote itself in the end.

I'm hoping for as much fortune when I start today. Hoping I can bring another novel to you soon. 

Much love, 
Cxx
p.s. I took the photo of this typewriter in an exhibition of art in Vézelay, France. I didn't catch the name of the artist, but the piece grabbed my attention
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2023 has been the year of Holiday Mystery for me, Book six of The Cambridge Murder Mysteries. I really enjoyed writing this book. I finished it a while ago, and found myself deciding not to shout about it. I don't know why. I think I felt like I'd just see how it was received naturally for a while. I will probably bring out a newsletter soon.

Now, I feel ready to blog and tell you that I am so happy with this novel. It means so much to me. It captured a moment in my life when I was remembering my mother, travelling to Portofino, to Florence and Siena. When the words felt like they were tumbling out of me. 

I hope if you decide to read it, that it transports you to those streets of Tuscany. That if you have been there already, that it evokes happy memories and perhaps if you have never seen the delights of the architecture, tasted the food and driven over the undulating hills, then it might tempt you to book a flight. 

Thank you, to all my readers. I want 2024 to be a year when I am more available to answer questions, more present on line for my readers. After half a year mostly away from the internet, I'm ready to come back and share with you more about my writing process, my life and hopefully inspiration for any writers out there too.

Love and peace, Cxx