SUMMER DAYS

I left Auckland on the 19th December, and only returned on the 17th January. A month of long days at the beach, reading, board games, walking, swimming, drinking… Long days of not getting much work done whatsoever.

School holidays have always been like this. Even during my own childhood we would leave Auckland on the last day of school, travel to the family beach house, then returning the day before school started again in the new year. Idyllic.

Sadly idyllic beach holidays with the extended family, and without wifi, do not go hand-in-hand with finishing thriller novels. I managed to get some words down, but the impetus really wasn’t there!

Instead, I spent the summer holidays watching my children do their surf life saving training and reading, drinking wine with my mother and my marvellous sister-in-law, blatting about on the jet ski with my brother, and going on long beach walks with my husband. Throw in a couple of bingo nights, a triathlon (no, not me, thank goodness!), a couple of surf life saving competitions, and you can see why The Ruination of Art still hasn’t been completed. Sorry, not sorry!

I also managed to read seven books in January. I’m taking part in the 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge, where i’ve said I’ll read fifty books this year. I decided to ensure balance in my TBR pile and I’m aiming to read a 50:50 split of male and female authors, and a 50:50 split between Kiwi authors and overseas authors. So far I’m on track. You can check out my progress by clicking the button below - it will take you to Goodreads:

There is however one very good reason why now it’s full steam ahead…

In May this year I will be appearing at Newcastle Noir, before carrying on to do my annual archaeological dig at Vindolanda. The timing couldn’t be more perfect!

Newcastle Noir is now in its seventh year, and has gone from strength to strength, featuring authors from around the world and some of the UK’s best-loved crime writers.

The full programme of speakers and guests will be announced soon but Northumbria University lecturer, Jacky Collins, Dr Noir, who has spear-headed the event since its launch, promises there will be something for every kind of crime fiction follower.

She said: “From the very beginning we have always wanted Newcastle Noir to be a local, national and international crime fiction event.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be appearing at Newcastle Noir. I keep having to pinch my overly tanned arm!

So, watch this space for more details about Newcastle Noir, and the release of The Ruination of Art. I’m thinking that they may go hand in hand…

Before I go… some of you may have stumbled across the #DollyPartonChallenge, either on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Here’s my attempt at the #DollyPartonChallenge

https://time.com/5770992/dolly-parton-challenge/