Well folks, we’re halfway through the first month of 2020, how is everyone finding it? I can sum it up in one word…busy! Don’t get me wrong, I am most definitely not complaining, as I cannot stand to be bored, so busy is good.

Flower Guard Books seems to have taken off since the start of the year, so I thought I would share what has been happening in January so far:

• I’m halfway through writing a new adult poetry book with a working title (that will probably stick) of Just Motherhood. After years of not writing poetry for adults I finally got back in to it after the release of Just Words. The success that has had made me crave more attention for my adult writing and as a working mom, I thought it would be good to get my ideas of motherhood down on paper to share with others.

• I’m continuing work on the Ruff’s Guide to What Was Here app in conjunction with the East Riding of Yorkshire Libraries and Archives, which will hopefully lead to further collaborations.

• I’ve already been booked for World Book Day (not until March) and the East Riding Festival of Words (not until October), which will give me my hat-trick of third year in a row.

• I’m in the process of booking a brand new venue for a Storytime with Flower Guard Books in an award winning children’s attraction in the East Riding.

• I’ve started the ball rolling with arranging a library tour that will see me travelling around the great East Yorkshire county.

• I’m working on the illustrations for my brand new non-fiction book, Ruff’s Guide to Endangered Animals.

• I’ve done a few test illustrations for two new stories that I’ve written.

Something I still haven’t got round to though, which is bugging me immensely, is finalising the illustrations for AAAAALPACAS! I have such a clear idea in my head of how it should look and unfortunately, my illustrations just aren’t fitting the bill. Luckily, the deadline I originally had of the end of November has been extended, so I still have more time to play about with how I want it to look.

As well as doing all this I’ve also had fabulous fun times with my family, gone back to work as a HLTA in a primary school after the Christmas break (always hard, as too much great food and relaxation always makes me feel like I want to hibernate) and celebrated my Nan’s 93rd birthday.

2020 can be busy, it’s not a problem, in fact it’s great. So here’s to having too much to do and not enough hours in the day, it can only mean that my dream of being a successful author and illustrator is becoming a reality!