Review of 2025

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

This is my yearly round up of my writing life in 2025. I always rather look forward to this bit as I can see what I have achieved (or not) and think about setting goals for the following year. Make a cuppa or read this over your lunch hour. This is a long post, but I hope you will get something out of it.

In terms of submissions, it's been a rather lean year, but that is mainly due to producing two books and all the marketing and setting up a book launch for one. In terms of goals, those were my two goals, and  I achieved them.Tinsel Street in particular took off far beyond my expectations. I've heard from my friend, who works in the bookshop in Switzerland, that they are going to order more of my books for next year! I also found out that the bookshop is the largest in Switzerland and what I thought was an English table is a whole floor dedicated to English books, and is one of them.

With all the push to get my Christmas book out there, the book I call my Lawnmower book, a collection of flash stories, became rather overshadowed, which is a shame. My publisher loved it, his words were 'I was hooked'. So as ABBA once said, Take A Chance on Me and try another of my books. This one will really appeal to those of you who like quirky stories of various genres, some humour and some serious subjects. It really is a mix. And as a reminder, most of the stories have previously been published in places such as Visual Verse, Paragraph Planet, Goldust and others. However, there are some new stories in there.

So, on to submissions for 2025. As I said, there were less of them, Here is a rundown:

Poetry - 16 submissions, three of which were published

Flash - 11 submissions, three of which were published

Short stories - 1 submission

Novellas - 2, both published

I am still waiting on three replies - 1 flash, 1 short story and 4 poems submitted together.

So, a lean year, but I am still hitting above the 10% published mark, which is around what is reckoned to be the average acceptance rate of work.

Events:

During the year I attended various events either in person or online. These don't include writing group meet-ups, which tend to be monthly.

Open mic night in London

Webinar series in self-publishing - 6 weeks in all (January-February)

Line Endings correspondence course with Live Canon (poetry) which was incomplete. I don't know what has happened to them. I only received feedback on one poem, and the last tutorial never arrived. I also had no reply from them when I emailed. Disappointing as they are usually very good.

Zoom with three poets - Cafe Lit

Troubador Self-Publishing Conference in Leicester

Making Your Scenes Cinematic - Readsy Webinar

Organising Chaos - Self-Editing Your Manuscript with Writers Online

Outspoken - Live event with poetry and music at the Purcell Room, Southbank, London

Booker Prize Readings - Live event at The Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London

Poetry Society, poets reading - live link which broke down several times, so I'm afraid I gave up

Other stuff:

This year I finally upgraded to Windows 11, firstly backing up all my files just in case. My little laptop copes well, though I still have the problem with the screen blacking out for a few seconds now and then, though I am still able to keep typing and hear whatever playlist I am listening to! The cost is too much to have it repaired. as it needs to be sent away abroad and I'd be without it for months. My son will build me a desktop, but maybe not for a year as the cost of parts has gone through the roof. He did tell me why, but I've forgotten. In the meantime, I may just have to buy a cheap laptop if things worsen, or my laptop completely crashes one day, God forbid. This laptop was built to specification and has an enormous amount of saving capacity and still runs quickly.

My new way of recording things has worked. Over the years I've tried different year planners, yet they never seem to work for me. This year I bought a book with some tabs, which I labelled Deadlines for submissions, Goals, Mini Projects and Events. This has worked for me, and I can continue to use it in the coming years as it's not dated, and I'm not wasting pages I don't use. It was also a lot cheaper than a Year Planner. Like everything else, its a case of what works for you.

I began writing on Substack this year. The content is usually different to what I write here, but sometimes there is a crossover. I have a few followers, though this blog is well established, and I don't intend to move on from Blogger as we understand each other (mostly!). I did some work on the blog to bring it up to date, and that will probably continue. 

Speaking about my writing life, I hope, helps others to see the positives and the lows of writing. Many people (non writers) have no idea about what goes on behind the scenes. I had some friends who thought my book was available in supermarkets or on Audible. Er..no. Audio is a whole new ball game, and an expensive one. I'm not saying never (I never say never), but not at the moment. There are only so many learning curves I can deal with at one time! I hope I continue to write content that is interesting, but if there is anything you are burning to ask me, you can. Just leave a comment and I will answer.

I would like to thank my family, especially my son Stephen, for all his help, not only the endless tech questions and fault solving with my laptop, but for being so great at my book launch. You couldn't tell from the state of his bedroom that he can be so organised. He was my little right-hand man on the night and dealt with my card reader like a pro. My friend Judith deserves a mention for her enthusiasm and organisational skills for the book launch. She kept everything running like a tight ship time-wise, and for her relevant questions on the night. The book launch was in the local Methodist church cafe and she was asked to write a piece for their Spotlight magazine. I had read it previously, but I've just seen it now in the magazine with a few photos. So thanks for that too. Thanks to Chris from Sutton Writers who wrote a lovely piece with photos for their website. And for all my friends who travelled from near and far to be with me on the night. There aren't many friends who will listen to me waffling on about writing without their eyes clouding over (non-writers), but I have a few, and one said to me recently that she looks forward to me waffling on in the coming year!

My friend Diane, who is one of my beta readers and feedbacker, couldn't be at the book launch, but we met another day and spent hours chatting. She reads most of my work (even the stuff not yet published) and keeps all my work in a folder. She's always saying 'when are you going to send me something else?' We all need friends like these, and I appreciate every one of them.

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash

Books:

I've been very lax writing book reviews this year (did I write any?). I'm not going to promise to do better next year, but I will try. I am in the process of reading my 70th book of the year. I've half way through it, and it's another LJ Ross one called The Creek. I've read lots of hers this year, but this is a different series  - the Summer Suspense Mysteries, which I also enjoy. Anyway, here are my top reads of fiction and non-fiction this year:

Fiction:

William by Mason Coile. I couldn't put this one down. Having ventured into the horror section in the library, I picked it because it sounded interesting. The main character is an inventor living with his wife. His computer runs the house, and he has built an AI robot. However, the robot begins to want a life of its own. He has thoughts and is getting out of control. He needs shutting down before he kills someone. Can it be done? This is fast paced, on the edge of your seat stuff. Once the robot takes control of the computer and shuts down the house, they are all trapped. Can they get out? Yet everything is not what it seems as a huge twist arrives near the end. I didn't see this coming, and I don't want to spoil it for you. With AI making a big splash right now, this is relevant about what is possible and perhaps we should be afraid...very afraid. Great one.

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kid. There are some authors whose books touch you, and I have loved everything this author writes. The book is fiction but based on facts. Classed as a Christian book, it is about a woman who meets Jesus. Ana is related to the wealthy and her brother is Judas. She meets Jesus when he is eighteen years old. They eventually marry and live with his family. But Jesus is always wandering off, leaving Ana with the family. The story follows Ana as her own family is driven out and she longs to see her grandmother again. The facts of Jesus' life (apart from the marriage) are based on the New Testament, and when Ana hears that Jesus has been arrested she goes searching for him. This is an excellent book of what could have been Jesus 'life and the settings and characters are believable for that time period. I loved this, though it is heartbreaking, and passed it on to a friend who is equally enthralled with it.

The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter is set in the future. A place built on an island for the future of mankind while the rest of the world is falling apart. Ben's fiancée has been living/working on the island for six months and now he wants to find her. Getting there is difficult and dangerous. People are suspicious, and reluctant to take him there. Once he does arrive, he begins to think this is a good place, but Cara, he is told, is working and cannot yet see him. She is off island. As Ben begins to fall into a feeling of acceptance and the way things work, he also finds things don't add up. Once he begins to question and look for clues himself, people want to stop him. Sanctuary isn't what he thought it was, and evil is at play. Can he find Cara and get them off the island before destruction occurs? A great story this. It draws you in and then turns you.

Bodies of Light by Sarah Moss. Picking any Sarah Moss book is hard because I love her writing, and I've read two books of hers this year. This one is set in Victorian times. Two sisters growing up in an unusual household. Their father is an artist and their mother is a do-gooder to the extreme. Her religious evangelical morals turn her children into a life of drudgery. Anything their mother deems unholy is stamped upon and they are given tasks to complete. They are often cold and hungry. This would be child cruelty these days. Their father indulges them when he can, but he never stops what the mother is doing. I guess looking after children was very much down to the mother in those days. While May poses for her father's paintings, Ally devotes herself to becoming a doctor and working with her mother in the slums. She works hard, but her studies are interrupted by her mother's tasks for a wrong doing which are almost unbearable. This was a hard read, with the cruelty and hardship the two girls live through, but there is a happy ending, thank God! 

I have read a number of Japanese books this year. My youngest son is married to a Japanese girl, and he often passes books to me. It seems Japanese books are becoming really popular now. Two of the books were about life in a Japanese convenience store and the third was part written and featured a local cafe I go to, a very dog-friendly cafe, so I knew all the local places mentioned. I think I shall be reading more books set in Japan. It is a fascinating country,. My son loves it, though he and his wife live here.

Non-fiction

The Criminal Mind by Dr Duncan Harding. I picked this up without even reading the blurb. I knew it was my book. I find the mind fascinating and why people do what they do. No one is born evil. The  book held me all the way through as Dr Harding describes interviewing criminals for court and finding out about their lives and behaviour. Some of it is really sad, their backgrounds. Yet why do some people go through terrible childhoods and never offend while others go on to do unspeakable things to people? I guess its down to how one reacts, and we do all approach things differently. Of course I felt sorry for the victims, who couldn't, but I also often felt sorry for most of the perpetrators. It makes you question things. Haunting. The book is also about the author's life too, what he grew up experiencing himself and how he came to be top in his field. Fascinating.

Steeple Chasing by Peter Ross was a book I received last Christmas. The author visits famous churches and cathedrals, quite a lot of which I've been to. He talks about the history and what is happening now. He speaks with the clergy. I really enjoyed this one.

Estuary by Rachel Litchenstein. Anything about the River Thames and the estuary interests me, and while there was a moment I got bogged down with this book, I really enjoyed most of it. It's about history, the changing times of the Thames and its estuary as well as the author's adventures on the tidal Thames. There are handy maps too.

Auscultation by Ilse Pedler (poetry). I won this book at an open mic night (not for my poetry, sadly, but in the raffle). It's taken me a while to get around to it, but this was really good. Medical in content about humans and animals. Ilse is a holistic vet which comes across in her poetry. I didn't know what to expect reading this, but it was enlightening and sad. I felt at one with this book, maybe because of my love of animals. A really good read. I looked up the title to see what it meant, and it is listening to the body's internal sounds mainly using a stethoscope. Well, you learn something new every day.

There are other books I loved like The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page (fiction) and Offshore by Penelope Fitsgerald about the loneliness of people living in boats on the Thames (set some years ago) and The Testaments by Margaret Atwood which should be in the horror section! Reading her 'author bit' at the back of the book was another eye opener and we should really think about what this world is coming to now as we see what's happening around us. A big warning, I think.

Well, that wraps things up for another year. Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope you will continue to drop by. Happy New Year to you all.

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash

Flash November and updates

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

 During November I took part in FlashNano. Every day I received a prompt via email, which I could use or use one of my own to write a flash story. I've taken part in this for about four years, though I dropped out early on last year. This year (the last year this lady was running it) I decided to stick with it. I surprised myself. I've come out of the month with thirty stories, some of which I am really pleased with, and one I have edited and already sent out. There are a few stories I know will not make it, but most can be edited and hopefully submitted in the future.

Some of the flash stories I've written in past FlashNano's have been published, but I think this year the stories are stronger. But it wasn't plain sailing. At my wits end one day, I just typed a name on my blank screen and then I just wrote without knowing what I was going to produce. It ended up being one of the stories I was really pleased with. Another one began as one thing, but developed into something else, as well as a complete genre change! I quite like writing like this, though it's scary until I get into the story. 

I have to admit I was glad to get to the end of the month, but I have a lot to work with now.

Meanwhile, Tinsel Street has been doing really well as readers have bought copies for friends as Christmas presents. I've been so pleased with the feedback I've been getting from people who have already read it (and relieved...putting your baby out there is always a bit of a gut twister!). People love my characters, saying they are believable, and I'm always interested to see which one of them will come out as being people's favourite. Readers are finding connections with things in their life. 

My book also now graces the English table in the Swiss bookshop Buchhandlung Stauffacher. See photos. This is wonderful because at last I have a book actually on display in a bookshop, and I thank my friend for telling her colleague about my book and for her to order a few copies.

When I was at the library on Saturday, I did my usual check to see if my book was there. It was again absent from the 'seasonal reads' and the main shelf. So, people are still borrowing it. One always hopes that things will go well, but I have to admit that I really didn't think my sales would be this good! My 'aim low' goal setting has paid off, and the result has exceeded my expectations. By bestseller standards this is just a drop in the ocean, but for me, it is a tide!

Now everyone is asking me for a sequel. I just hope it doesn't take five years to get it out, and everyone knows the second book is harder, and no, I haven't started it yet!

Sharing the highs & lows with others + tips

 

Photo by NMG Network on Unsplash

I'm having a catch-up on my magazines now I'm taking a break from writing (though I'm writing here, and do some form of writing every day, but you know what I mean). Two articles caught my eye, both in Writing Magazine. One was in the October issue and the second in the November issue. The first spoke about writers only talking about their successes and not their disappointments. Hey, have they met me? I've always written about the lows. I may have had a little success recently (big in my goal-setting), but it has taken me years for this, and I still remember how low I felt at one time. I almost quit. And the sad fact is that some writers never make it and/or quit writing.

I don't kid myself that now things will be easier. This is a high, a big one for me, but at some stage I have to go back to submitting my work and going through the whole rejection and lows again. What's different is that these days I don't let it get to me as I once did. Which brings me to the second article about how to survive the lows.

Basically, setting out as a writer, there is no way you can avoid the rejections and pain. We all go through it. I've even heard bestselling writers talk about crying over the phone to an agent who says the second book is not good enough. They struggle too. Life is tough as a writer.

Here are my tips on this aspect of writing from my own experience (some of this I've written about before):

• Submit several things and keep doing it. Don't sit around waiting to hear (sometimes you get no response at all). Keep working away, submitting and trying to forget about hearing back from anyone. That way you are not dwelling on the reply and eventually rejections won't hurt so much.
• After a rejection, mourn, have a tantrum, do whatever you need to for a day and then forget it. Look at the piece again. Can you do more edits to improve it? Then submit the piece elsewhere. The reason for rejection may not be down to your writing (which we all think is the reason). You have to remember how many submissions agents and magazines get.
• If you get a request to send more of your work after a rejection, do send them something else for the next open submission window. They may have liked your piece but have no room to publish it. A positive rejection is worth having and remembering.
• If you are lucky enough to have feedback on your work (rare, but it does happen, and some will give feedback at a price), take note of what is said and go back to the piece and see if you agree. They are usually right, even if at first you are so angry you want to throw your laptop through the window. It's happened to me! This is the way you learn.
• Nothing is ever wasted. Even a piece that doesn't quite work may do in something else. I rarely throw anything away, just in case. And do keep a note of where and when you send things. Some small presses don't mind multiple submissions, but I try to avoid that. I write everything down in a book as well as writing a card. The card is good because its easier to see where pieces have been sent before (so you don't send it back to the same place a few months later). Excel works for some people, but I hate it. Do what works for you.
• Celebrate each acceptance and when they build up, remember these when you are having months of rejections and feeling down. We are such a negative lot, us writers. It doesn't matter how many successes we have, it's the rejections we remember. But if you have been published, especially after a few times, your work has found the heart of someone who wants to publish you. That's a big thing.
• If you are lucky enough to have a book published, enjoy it, celebrate it. Now you have to go and write another one!
• Do talk about those lows, the difficulties you experience because it actually helps others. Writing is a lonely business, and we need to talk about the highs and low with other writer. They are the only ones who will understand. If you talk to non-writing friends you may get that devastating line, 'Well, it's only a hobby.' It maybe, depending on why you write, but for others it's a slap in the face.
• Do you have goals? Some people go all out with big, unrealistic goals that are doomed to fail. Once,  in the past, I set myself a goal of 'making it' in the five years I'd given myself. Ha! My advice, aim low, that way you are less likely to be disappointed, and any success is then a bonus. Example: For my first self-published book my goal was to sell 20 books. I sold about 22, so I was really pleased. For Tinsel Street my aim was to sell more than that book. Goal reached!

Photo by Ashutosh khot on Unsplashhighs

My writing goals for this year were to publish two books, and I've done that. Leading up to those came years of writing, re-writing and editing, and in the case of the Lawnmower book, gathering work previously published over a number of years. I've not thought about goals for next year yet. After the year I've had it's too soon. I've had family illness and my cousin's estate to attend to while all this was going on. Talk about stress!

So, keep submitting. No submitting means no chances. Get your name out there one way or another. Choose smaller competitions if that's what you are drawn to. Big poetry competitions seem to be dominated by big-name poets. Try not to dwell on the negatives, and celebrate the positives and acceptances. Let everyone know. Get on social media and follow poets/writers you like. Even though X is toxic these days, I do find competitions and submission windows through them.

If you writing novels some of the above applies. We would all love to be traditionally published, but the more I read about it, the less I think it would be for me. That is a choice you have to make and another whole blog post! However, it's down to goals again and what you deem success.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Poetry & Music and a Tinsel Street Update

Karin Kamar

 I'm staggered and on a second high, but I'll come to that shortly.

Out-Spoken

On 27th November I went along to another Out-Spoken event. This time it was back in its usual place, the Purcell Room. I had no idea who the poets or musicians were, but that's part of the fun. There is usually a surprise.

The first poet was Haia Mohammed from Gaza. Oh my, what a story she related of her life in Gaza, and when she read her poetry, you could have heard a pin drop. She moved people to tears, and she received a standing ovation. The room was filled with chants of Free Palestine. Wow, amazing. I bought her book.

Haia Mohammed

Other poets included Ozifa Benson and Luke Kennard. I really liked Luke's poetry. Using the story of Jonah and the Whale, but updated, this was a witty rendition of different parts of the story. I might have to check his poetry out. He's won lots of prizes, yet I'd never heard of him.

Ozifa Benson

Luke Kennard

Shanteh

Musicians were Karim Kamar (classical pianist who I've seen a few times there), Jared Nandra who played boogie-woogie and Shanteh, whose loop pedal I was fascinated with.

So an interesting evening.

Tinsel Street

I seem to have started a fad. Most people who have bought my book (people I met) began reading in on 28th November when the book starts. All the chapters start on a date. I've been told by various people that they are hooked and can't wait to see what happens to the characters. That is so pleasing. When you send a book (or any writing) out into the world, you never know how it will be received. Will they get you and what you are saying? Will they like the characters? Which ones will they prefer? Tinsel Street is my baby. I spent five years on it, and I love my characters. They have become my friends, and I would quite like to know what happens to them next. So, there may well be a sequel.  When is another matter. I've neglected other parts of my writing this year to get the 'Lawnmower' book and Tinsel Street published, but it has been worth it.

I found out yesterday that I have sold 75% of the print run of Tinsel Street! I cannot believe it. My goals are always low. I prefer it that way, so I am gobsmacked that this has happened. People are saying lovely things (please say them in reviews!) and the new box of books I ordered has diminished, and I think I shall be left with three spares. 

A new box of books arrives

My penfriend in Switzerland who works in a book shop (she is also a crime writer), has asked her colleague if she would order one of my books for the English table. She's ordered three!

I have a quote up on Troubador's website about my experience with them as my publisher. They have been great and so supportive.

I was given a few gifts at my book launch by friends. Each one was beautiful, lovely flowers, beautiful words and a bag that made me laugh out loud. Thanks. You've all been fantastic.

It's not too late to buy a book while stocks last! But out of all this, it is so nice to know people like my stories. This was always my aim. I've never sought big money (ha, likely chance anyway). I only ever wanted to share my stories with people and for them to take them to heart. I'm never going to be a bestseller writer, but I don't care. Small goals!

Playlist for Tinsel Street on YouTube

 I have just put together the Tinsel Street Playlist on YouTube, for those of you who don't use Spotify. Never let it be said that I don't think of my readers!

Here is the link. I have also added this to the Publishing History. Oh, and if you have bought my book, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Many thanks.

Successful Book Launch of Tinsel Street

Talking to Judith about writing

 I think I may have just about returned to earth after my book launch last week. It's taken me this long to get around to posting, partly because the video my son took needed some editing and he was short of time.

I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came along to the book launch. Friends/family came from Herftordshire, Sussex, Norfolk and Ireland. There were surprises, people I didn't expect, people I didn't know, and everyone was wonderful and said lovely things about the book cover.One group were going to start the book on the 28th November, the date the book begins.

The talk went well, and there were some interesting questions from the audience at the end. A queue of people lined up with books to be signed. Time flew by. I sold every book and have had to order another small batch, of which eight are already spoken for. 

For a first book, the turnout was amazing. I'd read somewhere that only 10% of people who attend book launches buy books. I hadn't intended to take all the books along until I heard how many may be there, and then I took the whole box. We had to bring in extra seats for people. I even sold a few of my previous books.

Thanks to my eldest son for being my media man and tackling the card reader for book payments.. He also put together the bookmarks with my card for each book.

Nearly all the refreshments went (the drinks certainly did), and I thought I'd overdone it! My friend Judith did a marvelous job with introductions, 'interviewing' me, setting up the chairs ahead of time and clearing up at the end while I said final goodbyes to friends.

Since then I have been uploading the photos, taking further orders, and thinking what next?

Thanks to my family for pitching in on the night and my wonderful friends for their support, and those I didn't know who also bought my book. 

It was a wonderful evening and I still can't believe it all went so well. Right now I am taking part in FlashNANO, writing a flash story every day throughout November. It's going pretty well, and I receive a daily prompt by email to work with. I am also doing some editing. However, I can now start to think about Christmas. My diary doesn't know what's hit it, and I need some time to relax. It's been one hell of year!

Book Launch - The countdown is on!

 

Under three hours to go to my book launch. Am I nervous? You bet! Hopefully, I've got myself organised, and everything will just flow.

In my last post I meant tp say that I have had a flash story published by Underbelly Press. This is my second showing in this lovely Ezine this year, and I'm proud of this story. You can read my story here.

See you soon.