Deep in Pendle Witch country for research. Days are long and beautiful. Pages and pages of notes, hundreds of photos. Pestering everyone in Lancashire for information. I can hardly believe I get to do this.

Spent the day buried in the archives at the wonderful Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, Cornwall. So incredibly blessed to be able to do this sort of research.

Yesterday I had to make the difficult decision to let my boy Captain cross the bar. He was my first cat - a menace who feared neither God nor man - and I loved him very much. He slipped away very peacefully, and did not suffer.

It's like UQP somehow knew I'd be caught in a downpour today, because look what was waiting for me when I got home! So excited to be working with this wonderful team to bring Flash into the world next year.

It is (finally finally finally) official!

My stack so far this year. I'm a little behind but I'll catch up!

It's been a long road, but I just signed a contract with UQP for the publication of my YA historical fiction, A Flash in the Dust!

Forgot to post this! The Daylight Gate is one of my least favourite books forever. Negative stars. Why was William Shakespeare in it.

The stack grows! Next is The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters.

For the last four years almost every read has been building towards the PhD: Australian, historical, YA, or some combo of the three.
But now? Now! I can read whatever I want. Three so far this year (the Schwab is a repeat). Let's see how the pile grows.

Picking up a few retail shifts over Christmas. Little bit of calm between daycare drop-off and...all of that.

My little lad is vehicle-obsessed so of course we decorated our tree to theme (home made car themed tree topper not featured because he already took it apart for the cars!!)

Our humble contribution to #bookweekbubs.

"But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor's garden, and squeezed under the gate!"