Daynote - Tue 2 Jun 2026

It's both the second day of the month AND two days to go until SOLITARY AGENTS, my second book, comes out.

I'm fine. It's fine. Everything is fine.

Seriously though, this is a very different experience to publishing for the first time. I both (sort of) know what I'm doing and am less worried about the overall process while also having a whole new set of things to think about (will it sell as well as the first book? will people like it? will people show up to the launch event since I'm no longer a shiny new debut? etc etc etc).

So, I'm just trying to get the things done that I need to get done this week, not think too hard about it and get through to launch day.

ON DECK: No writing OR editing this morning - I'm behind on my reading for my Cymera panel (just one book to go, but various things at the weekend kiboshed my intention to finish it them) so I spent my usual writing time reading instead. It was quite nice, to be honest. Reading in the morning is lovely, when you're not (as) tired. I should do it more often.

LISTENING: I've been a big fan of 'Boards of Canada' for years, but I had zero idea they had just put out a new record, INFERNO. I got a CD of it (old school, I know, but physical media is back in, don't you know) and it's fantastic. Definitely of a piece with their previous albums, but also bang up to date. Great stuff.

WATCHING: More of BIG MISTAKES last night, though for some reason we keep calling it 'Bad Decisions'. Which would be an equally applicable name, to be fair.

READING: More of (but not enough, hence reading this morning) THE LAST CONTRACT OF ISAKO by Fonda Lee (Bookshop, Waterstones, Amazon). I'm glad it's a very good book, because it makes trying to read it quickly much less difficult. Nothing worse than a book you're struggling with that needs to be read quickly. Not the case here, thankfully.

LINK: I really enjoyed this piece from fellow Bloody Scotland Debut Prize shortlister Richard Strachan, on the line in his bio that reads 'former bookseller'. It's a funny thing, the list-of-jobs-as-bio, especially what the marketing chooses to focus on. Mine has a few too many in it, I think.

UP NEXT: Reading reading reading. Then event prep. I'm fine. This is fine. Everything's fine.

Onward!