A birthday, a bestseller experiment, a peek inside the world of ghostwriting and another birthday

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Hello!
What do authors use as wrapping paper? Old copies of the London Review of Books.

We've just celebrated Dave's birthday, and a Morris birthday always means an excursion.

This year's felicitations coincided with the day the snow returned. Did anything go according to plan? Not at all. We drove 50 miles over the South Downs to a National Trust property and were greeted by locked gates and an apologetic sign. So instead we explored the nearby town, where we found:

a gallery called Flora Twort
a second-hand bookshop with a parrot that said ‘hello’ in a deep voice and ‘goodbye’ in a high, childlike one
a historic garden that was also closed
and a near-frostbite experience as we tried to take pictures.

We found several other places we'd like to visit (like this ruined Tudor house at Cowdray, also closed) so we drove the 50 miles back home again and began Phase 2, which was presents and wassailing. The country might stop for snow but birthdays don't.

Earlier this month I was the guest speaker at the Alliance of Independent Authors London meet-up. It wasn't long before I was asked: 'Why don't you write a quick blockbuster, make loads of dosh and then concentrate on your "proper" books'?

If I'd had £1 for each time I've heard that question.... it was time to write a blogpost to cover it properly. Warning: contains pic of younger, pouting, fluffier, blonde(!) Roz.
I've also had a craft post at the IngramSpark blog - 6 unusual tips for writing characters. And another craft post at Reedsy - 3 creative writing exercises to help you read like an author.
Psst ... if you're after in-depth writing advice and you don't know about my Nail Your Novel books, here they are.

A couple of weeks ago I visited the headquarters of Hachette to record the Bestseller Experiment podcast with Mark Stay - and it's now available. We talk about how ghostwriters work with authors, finding a structure in a sprawl of research material, writing memoir and other scribbly considerations. Listen to it here.

Mark asked me what I was working on. Ever Rest is still doing well on the editing table, so I felt confident enough to share a few details. It's the most I've ever said about the book thus far - to anyone, recorded or not. If you're curious, you can zip straight there - it's at 41min30sec.
PS If you've read a few of my newsletters you'll know why I'm drawing attention to the ring I'm wearing. Full explanation here.
PPS Excuse lack of hairbrush.

Speaking of birthdays, we've just celebrated the 30th birthday of this great fella, Byron. 30 years. When I bought him as a feisty and frankly terrifying seven-year-old, I was told 'big horses don't make old bones'. I was also told: 'That's a man's horse, my dear. He's far too big for you'. I'm proud as punch that we've both proved everyone wrong.
You might already know that he's the heart of Lifeform Three. But you might not know that as I was celebrating him in the novel, he was developing severe arthritis in real life. There were ghastly conversations with vets because if her treatments didn't work there was only one solution. Thankfully he rallied and it's sweet indeed that he's reached 30. Here he is in the novel, where Paftoo is trying to tame him:

In the darkness, the big horse’s white blaze looks like a mysterious symbol.
His nostrils flutter a greeting. Hello, you’re back. His breath plumes in the cold air.
The other horses lift their heads, checking him out. Next to the big horse they look so small.
The big horse starts to walk. The others resume grazing. They know the routine.
Paftoo follows the powerful quarters. There is a swagger in the way the horse moves; the sureness of his stride, the way his great head inspects everything as though he is making important decisions. To ride him would be magnificent.
The horse pauses to snatch a mouthful of grass and Paftoo shoos him on. The horse starts walking again, one ear checking for what he must do.
When Paftoo is sure the horse is focused on him, he turns away and waits. He hears the horse stop, then come closer.

They have been through this routine many times.
Paftoo turns slowly. The big horse is close behind him. His eyes are a glossy slick in the moonlight. He nudges Paftoo’s hands with his nose and sniffs. Paftoo lays a hand on the solid neck.
Appalled, the horse strides backwards, then gallops away.
Buy Lifeform Three

A few STOP PRESS notifications ...
On 2 May I'm on Wendy's Book Buzz on Mearns FM - more details in my next newsletter.
Further ahead, I'll be at the New Generation Selfpublishing Exchange in London on 3 November.

And to find out about any of my books, click the pic below.
Til next time
R xxx