I've got my new diary for 2022, plans are on my study wall, and among them is a list of books to write (on this blog, see the page for What's Next?). Fitness goals (walk more). Health goals (try not to buy a pack of ciggies when I get stressed and try to drink water.) Writing goals, family goals, keeping the house tidy goals... Not so much with the resolutions. But goals to try and follow. Along with that, is gratitude. I'm still here and my loved ones are still here. Right at this point in time I am extremely grateful and very, very lucky. I went out with a friend for a takeaway the other day. We walked a bit in fine weather, found a quiet spot in a park (pretty hard to eat when the wind was blowing a gale and you have long hair, I tell you!) and it was good to catch up, share low points and high points. I admitted that the past year was a good one for me and she said the same thing but for differing reasons. For me I finished the year publishing two Maddie Summers stories...

I'm excited to announce that These Magic Moments is now for sale on Amazon and in the Kindle Unlimited programme.  Take a look at it HERE. Here's the blurb from the Amazon page: A cosy and sweet romance to warm your heart and brighten your day! A new flat on Bluebell Road, London, and a new job at the posh Bartley’s Department Store, is just what Julia West needs after leaving behind a disastrous affair. Moving into the flat on Bluebell Road with new friends, Lydia and Kate, is the perfect tonic as Julia sets about getting her life back together again. What she doesn’t expect is to meet gorgeous Nick Bartley and to end up working for him on a top secret project – as nanny to his sister’s children.   Nick Bartley runs Bartley’s Department Store with his super-efficient sister, Clarissa. But when he learns Clarissa is facing a crisis and that her life is falling apart, he is left holding the fort for her—as in, caring for her four, young children. Something he is not...

                                                                                                          How adorable is this jigsaw puzzle? It's a 1000 piece puzzle I got for Christmas from the family. Although to be honest, I probably did only about 50 of the pieces. We cleared the dining table and put it out so everyone took part in doing it. This was also the biggest puzzle we've done. Normally a 500 piece puzzle is our limit but this was fun to chip away at, day and night.  I'll let it sit for a day to admire the gorgeous picture, then scoop it up in the box, and we'll do one of the 500 piece puzzles next. ~ Maddie.

  MERRY CHRISTMAS! I trust its a nice time wherever you are and with whoever (whomever? Grammar was never my strong point) you're with. And if you're on your own, I hope you've eating something nice and doing something fun. I used to hear people say that Christmas was for the kids and I say .....   NO! No, no, no, no, no!!!!!! Why waste the chance to cook something special, to bake something special, to blob out and watch TV, or if you like go somewhere, or buy a special book and settle down and read it, or a special movie, or magazines or... something. If you're on your own next year, you could plan it. Buy yourself some small gifts, even put them in a stocking the night before, and open them on the day? Yes, I say, why the hell not have that fun? (Actually, I've never done that, but what a good idea to just buy little treats here and there, wrap them up, stash them and then put them in a stocking and open them on Christmas Day and be treated,, because you've f...

 I made some gingerbread biscuits for the first time ever. I was pretty happy with them especially the Christmas Trees and how cute they looked. The red one was a rounded-star shape.. The gingerbread was nice. It maybe could have been rolled a bit thinner but the ginger flavour was nice, and doing the white icing squiggles was fun, too. There must have been about a dozen trees and ten of the stars. They're all gone!! Happy "last few days before" Christmas! ~ Maddie.

 I saw in a local paper someone doing their Best Ofs, so I thought, I'd do some, too. Even if it is a bit early. That is, its not even Christmas yet! What were some of my best ofs? Best telly Show  - I love the Great British Bake Off, always (massive Paul Hollywood crush and I admire Prue Leith to bits). and I enjoyed The Larkins, the updated The Darling Buds of May. Fun! Best Music - I went through my mum's CDs and I "discovered" Ella Fitzgerald. Really have enjoyed playing this music. Funny, though, I don't remember my mum ever playing the jazz CDs she's got now. Best Book - I will say it was non-fiction and discovering the work of Austin Kleon, an American artist who writes on creativity and I love his stuff. I've got his book Steal Like An Artist and I have his two other books coming to me so I can wrap them up and put them under the tree as a gift from Santa.

 Oh yes, its not just for the kids imo that we talk about the sleeps!   How are my plans going? Pretty good. Menu sorted. Food for Christmas dinner (although its 1pm-ish so not night time) sorted. That would be a Pork Roast with apple sauce, gravy, cranberry sauce and I'm going to do Yorkshire puds this year. Not a turkey fan at all. The cake's made and I'll do the almond icing on Thursday, then put the white icing on the next day. Which would be Christmas Eve.... I'm going to make the Mince Meat pies, a Panettone for our traditional bread (last year was a German Stollen). I've got some frozen savouries and a quiche to enjoy for our Christmas Eve dinner. My son is going to make a dessert as well, and on the big day we'll have pudding and custard, a trifle, and a baked Alaska which we've never done before, but why not!! ~ Maddie.

 A bit of tweaking, and here is the result for the cover for These Magic Moments. I think it is suitably evocative of the type of story it is. A cosy, gentle romance. Watch this space for release dates. It will be available next week on Amazon, and will be enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited programme. ~ Maddie

Trying new covers and I came up with this, using illustrations instead of photos. I quite like it. I like the idea of the illustration as it adds to the "sweet" nature of the story. Or as some might say, quaint and a bit old fashioned. Anyhow, I will see but I'm thinking... This might be it! ~ Maddie.

 Am busy writing my newest book, the first in a series I've tentatively titled Bolton Street. It revolves around the flatmates of a flat in London who are all getting over broken relationships and have moved to London for new jobs and a new start. Julia is the heroine of the first book. She left home to put the memories of her relationship with her university lecturer behind her and has taken a job as a sales assistant at the prestigious Bartley's Department Store. The hero? A Bartley, of course. Nicholas, the gorgeous heir who runs the store with his sister, Clarissa. I still have to confirm a title and a cover but I am hopeful this book will be available on Kindle before Christmas! Christmas! Here's a gorgeous Christmas image. ~ Maddie.

 Enjoying a fine day in a park while out walking a while back, when the weather was fine. I was visiting a relative in hospital so I took a break to check out the nearby area and found a nice spot to sit down and people-watch for a moment with a cuppa. Blessed to have such open spaces, and the lovely green grass, thank you, rain! ~ Maddie.

December is a good month. Well, I like it. The build up to Christmas, the making of the cake, the decorations going up, including the fake tree.  Planning Christmas Day. The Presents! Nothing huge in our household. Gone are the days of the latest Lego set or toy. We don't need much. A few bits and pieces, chocolate, of course. Maybe a jigsaw puzzle to crack into over the holiday. I have some books on order that when they arrive I'll wrap up and put under the tree. Why not save them for the big day? I have no objection to buying myself a gift, wrapping it and putting it under the tree to open on the big day! The streets and stores are decorated, and even if you only window shop at the posh department stores, the window displays can be just amazing. Taking the wee ones to visit Father Christmas, hearing Christmas songs. We all have our favourites and those we hear and cover our ears becaue we just can't stand it! I love O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful and Do You Hear Wha...