The above phrase has always been at the heart of my beliefs and it is a motto I subscribe to every day. Sometimes the positive isn't always obvious, its not always clear straight away and it doesn't always occur immediately, but I believe it is true and I live my life by it.

Often this phrase is the only thing that has kept me going when times, like now, are at their hardest, if not nigh on impossible. Things happen during stressful times that change the way you look at things. It changes the value you place of things and people in particular. I know I am fortunate to have people who love me and this stressful time has reinforced that state, not only recognising that I am loved and love in return, but how precious and short lived it can be. Especially when you consider the rising number of deaths globally and in the UK

I urge you, don't waste this time, complaining about what you don't have, what you haven't got, what someone else has. Look instead for what you have now, and plan for your future. Your life may not be brilliant. You may not have money or success, but you may have something more important than that, because whatever you are from a carer at home, a keyworker to a celebrity or king, you will never be able to take your success or money with you. Better to have the love and kindness of a great friend, relative or helper. Better to have your health and be alive. Better to be safe, surrounded by people who care for you than to worry about the lacks in your life. Concentrating on these can led to bitterness, envy and misery and there's enough of the last one in the world without you inventing more.

And what if you don't have any of those? I can hear you asking. This leads me back to my early point. Not every positive happens at the same time as the negative event. Let this time be one of reflection and decision-making and goals. Is there one thing you don't have that you desperately want, promise yourself when this is over that you WILL reach for it. 

If its other people, reach out to them instead of waiting for them to come to you. If its a job, a skill, a hobby, anything. It is achievable with patience, practice and determination. You need at least these three elements to stand any chance of success and most of us have many more attributes than these. Try not to give up or lose focus in your goal, because this is what happens to most people. They lose their way and end up in that negative place again. I know I have been there several times in my life. I sometimes wonder how I'm still here.

I've tried to find voluntary work offering my services during this time without success which didn't make me feel good. However I did manage to accomplish one worthwhile thing, taking a friend to Kings
hospital and back for her Cancer surgery and though it was a very sad reason for her. I felt honoured to be able to do something for someone. (One Positive)

This has been a great time for me writing wise. I've used the time to almost complete another novel during lockdown and tidy up several others ready for release. (Two Positive.) In my heart I still want a traditional publisher, though part of me is not sure why any more. I think its something to do with being validated and recognised as being capable of producing something a wider audience likes, rather than a few good friends, who I wonder are just being nice -because they are.

The biggest buzz currently would be for my Podcasts (Three Positives) to take off after my decision to release Witch on the Warpath weekly on YouTube chapter by chapter. Its one way, I thought, I can do something for folk stuck at home and also get one story out there (Four Positives). So far several more than 'a few good friends' have seen it, but naturally I'm not content with that and want more. I've linked them into my front MY NEWS page to help spread the word. LINK HERE TOO. 

I encourage everyone reading this to take a couple of minutes identifying a couple of poisitives in their life and if you can't think of any at this moment in time, consider two positives you would like, then decide how you are going to accomplish this.

My heart and love go out to everyone. Stay safe, stay well and remember nobody has to be alone unless they wish to be. Pick up the phone, Email, message, Instagram, Podcast, Twitter, Skype, WhattsApp and Zoom. And if you don't have any of that, do what I did... start writing. You could always reply to me.

WOW, how much can a world change in four weeks. Was it only a short while ago I was at London Comicon? Its unbelievable. Although I'm gutted that I'm not at work full-time, the schools closed early in Term 4, and now its half-term. It has presented me with a unique opportunity that I'd be a fool to ignore. Namely, moving my writing and publishing forward.

I've been writing every day since leaving work and its given me an insight into what it would be like to be a professional paid author. I'd started Quest for Courage, the third book in Onk's series and had done several thousand words in the trilogy, but writing every day has me just under 50,000 words to date. Usually my first drafts are around 60,000 extending to 85,000 to 95,000 words prior to proof editing. I wasn't planning on releasing number three this year but who knows? 

Writing about 1 - 2,000 words a day still requires some focus. It isn't easy getting into the zone when the dirty bin and son's sock drawer calls. I thought I'd be writing 5,000 a day easy, but it's also easy to get distracted quickly. Feed the cats six times a day - when you're home. Make six cups of tea a day - when you're home. Have a snack six times a day  - when you're home. Then there's watering the plants, filling up the peanuts and several outdoor water baths, plus tidying the son's disgusting bedroom. Then after all that, you need a break in front of the TV watching Gordon Ramsey sort out another problematic family relationship in a restaurant.

Back to writing, as well as continuing with Q4C, my latest completed novel WHAT IF? is with my Proof Editor and now I've completed the Blurb for the back cover, my cover design illustrator is on the case. In addition to that, I've split Aquasapien Metamorphosis into two books and am currently seeking printing estimates. So, if you have the complete story in one copy hold on to it because it won't appear in that format anymore and it could become sought after (I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, as Kylie reminds me). These two books will come out at £7.50 each and the original will be going back up in price to £9 once they are for sale. Book three is still on hold while I finish C4Q.

Finally, and due in part to the virus crisis, I've released WITCH ON THE WARPATH as a podcast on U-Tube, producing chapter by chapter in instalments read by yours truly. This widens the audience of readers to those unable to read the written word for whatever reason. Please check it out HERE