Let's start at the very beginning...

 Yes, you might notice a bit of a Rodgers and Hammerstein theme in my blog today. Let's see how many song titles I can fit in!

So, starting at the very beginning, I wrote my first blog for Authors Electric exactly four years ago and in that post I told you about some of my favourite things about police procedural books and crime drama TV series. I was setting the scene for what was to come!

Crime books are my passion - not just reading them but writing them too. Looking back at my posts, I've definitely shared the highs and lows of writing with you all. January blues have been a consistent theme so I'm hoping to buck the trend next month. But there's also been happy talk when things have gone well with my writing. Thank you for being with my throughout my self-publishing journey for Rewind, the fourth book in my DI Bernie Noel series. It was certainly a steep learning curve as it felt like I had to climb every mountain to get there. 

I've also shared the book events I've held with the Friends of West Barnes Library at our little Merton library. We did some of them online during lockdown and it was fantastic to finally get back in person in October 2022. Since then, we've had Elly Griffiths, Janice Hallett and Simon McCleave come, to name but a few! I've been speaking to some other authors about getting them in so I have confidence that our events will continue in 2026. Likewise, the library writing group I started in January 2024 is still going strong and allows me to whistle a happy tune every time we meet. It's wonderful to see their progress.

2025 has been a hard year for me personally. The year started with losing Amer Anwar, an incredible British Asian author and a wonderful friend. My mother was very ill in the spring and it's a miracle she's still here. She's now facing a new diagnosis but we're grateful it was caught early and treatment is currently non-invasive. My husband's eye is finally sorted after a year of treatment following a detached retina - so that's good news!

And where am I now in writing? I have a new police procedural book, set in SW London, out on submission. Considering what the market it like at the moment, I have little hope of it being picked up. So, while I wait to hear, I'm writing something out of my comfort zone. Still crime though. Not sure I'll ever write another genre but if a very different idea drifts my way, then I'll be willing to give it a go. It's my birthday soon and although it's not a milestone birthday (I'm not sixteen going on seventeen and definitely not younger than springtime), it is giving me pause to think. 2025 was a passive year. I'd like 2026 to be an active one and taking a bit more control over things.

You may sense where this is going. It's been great getting to know you over the past four years but it's time for me to step down. Thank you to Debbie and all the other authors here for making me feel welcome. Hope you all have a great Christmas and I wish you a very happy 2026. So long, farewell...