Hello! Welcome to my newsletter for September/October 2019. In this issue:
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In our corner of the world, autumn is taking hold. Old patterns are changing.
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I went to the Words Away Salon and broke the habit of a lifetime. As promised in last month's newsletter, I talked to the other attendees instead of sitting quietly, filling my notebook. It was good! I'll do it again. (Next salon is dark thrillers, if you're interested.)
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New writing adventures are afoot. I've had this email from author and journalist Deb Curtis.
'I want to write a book that will inspire girls and women: Successful Women Have Grit: A Cowgirl Shares Life Lessons Learned from Horses.'
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Deb is intervewing devoted horsewomen from all gallops of life: publishing, obviously, but also sports, business and showbiz. As you'd expect, her equestrian pedigree is flawless - you can read it here. She's also a copywriter and journalist, and has a book or two simmering on the back burner.
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Deb says: 'All of us grew up falling off and getting back on. I know I gained self-confidence, patience, empathy, work ethic, courage...I'd love to include a chapter on what you've learned in your life from riding.'
Life lessons... Deb mentions patience, which is interesting. Humans of 2019 are not a patient species and I'm no exception. I know coffee's better if it brews for 4 minutes but can I bear to wait those 240 seconds? Can I wait for an answer to an email or do I want it ASAP? But when writing, I'm the very model of zen. Ever Rest has taken 5 years and counting. Lifeform Three was a mere 2. My Memories of a Future Life was epic - I made my first attempt in the mid-1990s, finally published in 2011. I had so much to learn - about writing, about myself, about what I wanted my first 'real' book to be.
Now, on second horse and third novel, I know patience is the way. Did I learn this from horses or from my ornery books? Anyway, it takes as long as it takes. (Don't ask about today's argument with Val.)
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Meanwhile this week, the UK books media report that Susanna Clarke has signed a deal for her second novel, 15 years after Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Her agent, Jonny Geller, is saying it is 'unexpected', 'wonderful', 'perfectly constructed'.
The reward for patience.
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Just as we were happily exchanging emails, bucking and whinnying around our respective fields, Deb said:
'I've been reading your self-publishing book! And I notice your Penny Appleton books have horses on the covers...'
Screeching stop. Those aren't by me. They're Joanna Penn (left).
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I've had this before - I'm sometimes confused with Joanna because people find me through her podcast. Was that who Deb really wanted? I'd understand. After all, Joanna's empire is impressive.
I replied. 'There's something you should know...'
Deb came back. 'Oh no! Red face! I've been trying to do too much at once, late at night. No, I meant you! Life lessons from horses, eh? Here's one. From time to time, we goof.'
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