Where Have You Been?

I imagine this is the question some of you might be asking, or maybe you haven’t noticed that I’ve been gone :-(.

Sunset at Llandanawg Beach, North Wales

                                         

When my mother broke her hip in April, I didn’t realise the impact it would have on me. I don’t necessarily mean in time, but the impact it would have on me mentally. It added another layer of things to worry about and somehow meant that I had to stop doing some things to cope. Blogging was one of the casualties.

Many weeks on and Mom has had another fall, this time she wasn’t hospitalised, but broke some ribs. She is in dreadful pain and we still don’t know why she is blacking out. She lives alone and it is a constant niggle at the back of my mind whether she is safe.

However, this morning I woke up and wanted to blog!

Writing wise I have continued to write lots. I finished my 2013 RNA New Writers’ Scheme novel and sent it off. My critique raised a lot of valid points and a re-write will be necessary.

Perhaps the highlight of the summer was the RNA conference in Sheffield and the fact I came second in the Elizabeth Goudge competition for the first chapter of a novel with the subject of “ice”. This was even more pleasing as the winner was a many times published author, Kate Johnson. The RNA issued publicity about the competition and I ended up with a short radio slot on BBC Hereford and Worcester. The presenter, Tammy Gooding, even interviewed my ten year old son, who is to this day mortified that under the spotlight he said his favourite subject was history!

We have had a lovely summer and managed time away in County Durham and North Wales.

Let me know about the highlight of your summer by commenting below. I hope you will forgive me for being away so long.