Daynote - Wed 18 Feb 2026
Spring is springing.
A few signs of spring beginning to creep into the woods, between blasts of wind and rain, including carpets of snowdrops between the trees and the undergrowth. A very cheering sight, when you're ankle deep in mud.
Not quite so cold at the beach either, and Poppy The Labrador brought me her very colourful ball and I got to throw it for her twice. A fine start to the day.
ON DECK: A very solid 1,687 words this morning! It may be coincidence (but probably isn't) that I recently reinstated my Focus blocking rules and my word counts have leapt up. I stopped using it for a bit because it has a really annoying bug that continually reloads browser tabs, but I can't deny its effectiveness.
LISTENING: I've been enjoying the recent episodes of Always Take Notes focusing on publishers and retailers and this interview with Jacques Testard of Fitzcarraldo Editions is excellent. You've probably seen their blue and white paperbacks in the shops and they are gorgeously made. And it's a fascinating insight into who they publish, why and how they make the economics work.
WATCHING: Another episode of DOWN CEMETERY ROAD last night, which is developing well. It's very Mick Herron (complementary) in that you can hear the ghost of future Slough House-isms in some of the dialogue. But great stuff.
READING: Less than fifty pages from the end of RAT RACE by Callum McSorley (Bookshop, Waterstones, Amazon) and I have absolutely no idea how he's going to end it. Always a sign of a good crime thriller, imho.
LINK: A wee reminder that my new novel SOLITARY AGENTS is included in the Waterstones Pre-Order sale until Friday! Just enter FEB26 at checkout to get 25% off the hardback. Affiliate link.
UP NEXT: Just about finished prepping for this Friday's double events, first at Napier, then recording a video with some friends. Looking forward to both.
Onward!