Caterpillars, Cats & Christmas.

Hi everyone.
First, I would like to give a huge thank you to the eight people who gave me a thumbs up on my last blog. It’s a first for me. It made me feel so humble to know that someone out there does actually read my words—I was beginning to think I imagined it—and also took a couple of seconds at the end to click LIKE too. Thank you who ever you are. Because of this I’m going to continue blogging. I’ll admit I was starting to get a teeny bit dispirited.

Christmas is almost upon us, and before you ask I haven’t written a Christmas story, but I have completed Shea Pingle and the Swarm, hot on the heels of Chicken Wizard (WC). That’s two new children’s picture books written. I just need the illustrators to make them a reality. Ellie is hard at work getting through the pictures for WC (not to be confused with Water Closet) but there’s only so much one girl can do. I know she is trying to do her college work too and I don’t want to mess that up for her.

Mustard and Marmalade Dachshund Dog Detectives are still in my head at the outline stage. The first two books are rhyming stories, and I haven’t decided yet whether to continue the theme with The Case of the Missing Fillet Steaks. Not sure how much rhyming I can do around a butcher’s shop, but you never know.
I’ve finished all my signings and selling for 2022, and sadly haven’t got any bookings for 2023 until May. Unless you know someone who’s got an event I could fit in between now and then. You can of course order books through Waterstones or contact me direct. I’m happy to deliver locally.

I actually get most of my ideas and do a lot of my writing whilst at signings and Comicons etc. I think it might be the overwhelming environment of creative people within eye and earshot. The colours, the activities, the sounds. I also can’t resist purchasing items, either for myself personally or as set dressing for the table (that’s my excuse). Only last week I ended up buying a eight-foot furry caterpillar whilst I was in a toy shop. Do I need it? No. Is it for someone else? No. Is it set dressing? No. It needed me, and I needed it. Currently, Cleo the caterpillar is gracing our king-sized bed—my husband is so understanding!

I’m not sure whether I’m eccentric or still in child-mode—probably a bit of both— each room in the house boasts at least 20+ fluffy toy animals. Each is unique. Each has a name, or a function in a number of cases. For example, a blackbird on top of the sofa means one of the downstairs windows is open and needs closing before we go out. Okay, maybe that is the only one with a function, apart from the four or five animal doorstops. One cat, one mouse, one panda, one horse, one kingfisher. (I didn’t include them in the room count.)
I believe this all ties in with my love of fantasy. The famous Toy story films are right up my alley. I love things that make me go “ahhh”. Only the other day at work my colleagues announced that I was so easy to buy Christmas presents for. I wasn’t sure whether to be pleased with that statement or slightly irritated that I’m such a predictable person. I like to see myself as slightly edgy and unpredictable, but apparently not, judging by their smiles when they made me open the present in front of them. Yes, another of my weaknesses is hairbands and they purchased me some hum-dingers. I couldn’t make up my mind which one to wear for the rest of the day. Thank you ladies – I love them. That brings my hairband count to well over 50+

I’m sure there are folk reading this who also have there own unique indulgences. I’ve heard of people who collect owls, hedgehogs, elephants, tigers, (not real ones) and other curiosities. I myself have a few cats (I have a lot of cats!) from a specific pottery in Cornwall. They adorn the mantlepiece, the display cabinet being too full of other animals (and cats). Is it something we do as we age? I don’t think so. I think people have an affinity with a certain item, an element, something that calls to them and gives them enjoyment, to see it, hold it, interact with it, like books. Some come with memories, like ornaments from grand parents or aunts, some come from holidays, I have a blue goose in our downstairs loo from Disney World in the 1990’s. Some just speak to us. To me.

I’d love to hear what other people collect and how they choose to take home that specific object.

Anyway, till next year. I hope you all receive that one thing you want for Christmas, especially if its for your collection. Take care, keep safe and remember, we are all unique. There is noone else like you in the world, but someone else might just like fluffy animals too.

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