I was checking back on my previous first blog posts of the year and noticed that I never set any goals for 2020…maybe some sixth sense was already at play there.
While I was out for a walk at the weekend, I was thinking about potential goals for 2021. (Ever the optimist)
Creatively, there are two that I’ll strive for:
Publish Long Shadows on 14 February 2021 (with the hope of getting at least 25 pre-orders before then…. yes that was a hint!)
Post one blog on here every week.
In life, there’s just one:
To live in a world once more where we can hug our friends and family.
I think the first two might be easier to achieve….
It’s a crazy, screwed up, cruel world we’re living in. No matter what goals you set for yourself this year, I wish you health and happiness to achieve them. As my mantra says – dreams get you started, discipline keeps you going.
It’s reached that time of year when, despite the restrictions of our Covid infested society, we are dominated by To Do lists as we prepare for the festive season.
I’ve lists of gifts that I’ve bought, gifts to buy, gifts still in transit and food shopping. I’ve also my creative To Do list as I am knee-deep in proofreading and editing Book Baby 6 aka Long Shadows.
It’s list city around here!
When I announced the release date for Long Shadows, the 14th February 2021 seemed a very long way off. Now, it seems scarily close and I’ve a million things left on that To Do list! (Ok- slight exaggeration but its still a lengthy list! This book baby still has a bare bum!)
I had hoped to have the pre-order set up before Christmas (it’s on the list) but that’s now looking more likely for early January so please be patient with me. Life’s busy!
While you are impatiently waiting, I thought I’d treat you to a little sneak peek at Jake and Lori’s Christmas Day.
Happy reading.
Wrapping paper and ribbons littered the sunroom floor as Jake and Lori sat back watching the kids open their Christmas gifts. From the shrieks of delight, “Santa” had delivered everything on the kids’ wish lists. Almost against Lori’s better judgement, he’d even brought Jesse a drumkit.
“We’re going to live to regret this, aren’t we?” whispered Jake as Jesse begged for it to be set up.
Giggling, Lori nodded then swiftly said, “Jess, it would be better set up down in the basement beside Uncle Paul’s kit. That way he can give you lessons.”
“Yes!” screamed the over excited three-year-old.
“Quick thinking,” said Jake with a grin. “But I’ll leave you to tell Paul about those lessons.”
Once the kids had opened all of their gifts, Jake reached under the tree and retrieved a large flat box and two gift bags.
“Merry Christmas, li’l lady,” he said, kissing Lori on the forehead.
Looking almost as excited as the kids, Lori tore the gold shiny paper from the box.
“Wow!” she gasped. “I guess Santa was listening to me too.”
“What is it?” asked Jesse, coming over to inspect his mother’s gift.
“A new laptop. Just what I need. Thank you!”
“Open the box,” suggested Jake with a knowing smile.
Carefully, Lori opened the box and slipped the sleek laptop from the protective sleeve. Engraved into the surface of the computer was the Silver Lake Celtic knot.
“That’s perfect,” sighed Lori as she ran her fingers over the intricate design. “Seems like a million years ago since I first drew that for you.”
“The first gift you ever gave me,” recalled Jake, feeling a warm wave of nostalgia wash through him.
“Melody,” called out Lori from her seat on the couch. “Can you reach those two blue bags and the flat silver gift, please?”
“Did Santa leave those for Daddy?” quizzed the curious little girl reading the labels.
“Only the blue ones,” replied Lori, trying to think what she’d written on the gift tags. “The silver one is from me.”
Accepting the presents from Melody, Jake opened the silver one first. Inside was a framed drawing.
“That’s….” began Jake, lost for words. “It’s…”
“You like it?” asked Lori shyly. “I thought you needed a proper logo for your solo shows and, who knows, you might even do a solo record one day.”
“I love it, Mz Hyde,” declared Jake, gazing at the detail in the design. It was a gnarled twisted tree and woven into the exposed roots was his name. “It’s awesome,” Jake paused then added, “But who said there would ever be a solo record?”
“Never say never,” giggled Lori.
“I guess,” said Jake quietly, a small voice in his head saying, “You know she’s right, don’t you?”
“Part two of the gift will be revealed when Garrett’s tour starts,” began Lori, resting her hand on her twitching baby bump. “I’ve arranged for that to be your backdrop and for shirts to be made up with that on the front.”
“I don’t know what to say,” said Jake lost for words again. “Thank you doesn’t seem enough.”
Last night, after many many hours of writing and typing, Long Shadows aka Book Baby 6 was finally transformed from my handwritten scribbles into a typed document.
That was the cue to divulge the release date…..
Pre-order details to follow soon.
If you’ve missed the start of the series, there’s plenty of time to catch up. Here’s a few links to help you.
Apologies, folks, I appear to have lost track of time and it’s been way too long since I posted a newsletter update.
I’ll blame the fact that 2020 feels as though it’s been one long month since mid-March and there doesn’t seem to be many signs of improvement. C’est la vie!…
Now, where were we?
On the creative front, I’ve been working diligently on Book Baby 6 aka Long Shadows and revealed the cover on my blog on 1st October. Missed the big unveiling? No worries, here’s a reminder:
And, as promised, I also shared a sneak peek inside back in July
I’m currently in the home strait with the first draft of Long Shadows and hope to have the first draft completed by the end of November, keeping me on track (by the skin of my teeth) for the planned publication date early in 2021. Patience. All will be revealed in due course.
Over the summer months I continued to have fun with some acrostic poetry
Months of living in lockdown gave me time to reflect on the things that in future I won’t take for granted and I shared those thoughts on my blog in late June (seems a lifetime ago now)
Since we last caught up, I celebrated a “milestone” birthday and was surprised with the most fantastic birthday cake. Check this out! It was incredible and delicious!
Last time out I told you about The Gingerbread Tea House and their fabulous book exchange. The owner has put her own lockdown time to good use and has now published her first novel, Chasing Butterflies, with her second, The China Doll, due for release on 14 November. I caught up with Nicole Thorne earlier this month on my blog
Like many, I have found 2020 challenging on many different levels. One wise woman in the organisation I work for said a few months back (and I paraphrase) – “don’t think of it as enduring things. Think of it as making history.” And I guess she’s right. Each and every one of us has helped to write history this year and who knows we may still be “making history” well into 2021. Time will tell on that one.
For now, I’ll leave you with a reminder of my mantra. This really has kept me forging forwards this year.
Stay safe, folks
Love n hugs
Coral
PS – don’t forget to check out the Silver Lake series and Ellen. If you’ve read them and loved them, tell your friends 🙂
While the adults chatted, Becky used the kid’s entertainment pack to keep herself amused. After a time, Lori noticed that the little girl was quieter than usual.
“What are you drawing?” she asked softly, leaning over to take a look.
“Daddy and my Silver Lake uncles,” replied the little girl seriously. “But I can’t draw the music.”
With a flash of inspiration, Lori showed the little girl how to draw a variety of music notes. Soon the page and several napkins were covered in their doodles.
“Having fun, girls?” enquired Rich, lifting one of the napkins.
Lori laughed, “Yes. Do you want to keep that one?”
“A Lori original,” he teased grinning mischievously. “Will you autograph this original artwork please?”
Without realising what she’d done, Lori signed her flamboyant Mz Hyde signature and passed it back. Rich looked at it, then at her then at Jake.
“Mz Hyde?” he asked, eyes wide. “THE Mz Hyde?”
Lori smiled and nodded slowly.
“Jesus!” cried Rich. “You did our album artwork!”
“Yes,” replied Lori. “I did. That’s what you do to help out a friend or to say thank you or both.”
“I paid a fortune for a signed print of your last album artwork!”
“Well, you better take good care of that napkin, then, Rich,” said Lori softly, mischief twinkling in her blue eyes. “It’s an original.”
If you want to read more then check out the Silver Lake series today
Coral McCallum 