Daynote - Tue 23 Sep

Another gorgeous morning out in the woods today, though a good 3-5°C cooler than yesterday, so that autumnal feeling was intensified. Geese flying overhead also lent a wintry air to proceedings. We first moved out here in October when winter was starting to bite, so for me this always feels like the end of another cycle. It's so, so nice to walk and watch the woods changing day by day.

ON DECK: A solid 1,157 words this morning on PROJECT DRIFT - I'm writing something with a slower pace and it's quite a lot of fun to luxuriate in the descriptions and longer passages of dialogue. I know I'll probably cut them a bit, but it's a real tonic to write something like this after two pretty fast-paced spy novels. I'm having a lot of fun.

LISTENING: Really enjoyed this In My Good Books interview with Kevin Woolard (aka The First Eleven Minutes on Instagram) about the world of book reviewing. I really like that Susie interviews other folks in the books and publishing world aside from authors - it's great to get all these different perspectives.

WATCHING: Got back late from a family visit yesterday, so we didn't watch any TV, but we did watch this fascinating video (the first of two) about a Finnish couple who have rebuilt a cabin from the 1890s on a remote island.

They're an immensely likeable young couple and it's fascinating to see how they've learned and adapted over time, mixing very, very old techniques with new technology.

READING: A bit more of A KILLER IN PARADISE yesterday, which continues to fly along beautifully. No bodies yet, but I can sense it coming.

LINK: I was very chuffed for my friend Nicholas Binge yesterday to see this great review of his new novella EXTREMITY over on the Fantasy Hive. It's very cool to finally see this novella in print, since it was the first piece of Nick's writing I ever read. Back in mid-2021, before I'd queried or had an agent, I encountered Nick on the Edinburgh SFF Discord server, where he was asking if anyone 'knew anything about gun stuff'. I had some minor weapons handling experience from my time in my university Officer's Training Corps and hence the ability to research stuff pretty well, so I volunteered. I really enjoyed reading it and gave him some good feedback and five years later we're close friends, in a weekly critique group together and I sometimes look after his dog. So it's really, really cool to see this book finally out in the world.

UP NEXT: One more day at home tomorrow, then off to London and Bristol on the sleeper tomorrow night and back on Friday morning. Hopefully on various trains I'll be able to keep the momentum going on PROJECT DRIFT.

Onward!