Welcome back to another Open Book Blog Hop!

Today’s topic is: Tell us the top five best things that have happened to you in the past year. (Focus on writing, but other things are allowed!)

And remember to visit my fellow writers to see what they have come up with. You can find their works here!

I’m going to change things up a little from the given subject. I’m not going to outline five things, rather than just talk about some of the highlights of the year. From a writing perspective I’ve learned a thing or two this year. I was really piling on the pressure to get As the Crow Flies finished, and to release The Twelve Days of Christmas by Christmas this year. Neither of these things has happened, or will happen. Instead, I came to the realisation that I wasn’t enjoying my writing with such a deadline in place. As it stands, I’m on the final round of edits before I get As the Crow Flies sent off for final checks, but the pressure is off now.

I’ve also had a go at formatting the book myself. It’s been a challenge, but I’ve given it a go, and have come away with more knowledge than I had. This has helped me come to another realisation – I need to work within my means. The design and editing of Chasing Shadows was something I absolutely love, but from a cost stand point, I cannot keep paying out. I’ve come to accept I can format and cover design my own books – they won’t bee to the same standard perhaps, but they will be my own work and they will be much more affordable given the sales I’ve seen so far. Going forward, I think I will be working on my own designs.

On a personal level, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend some fantastic holiday time with my wife this year. A return visit to Portsmouth, a favourite place for us now, started things off in early summer. Later in the year we took our first overseas trip since Covid to Copenhagen. Such a wonderful city, I’d love to go back! And as Christmas approaches, I look forward to even more family time and maybe even a bit of writing.