The Winding Narrative Turns Six

As The Winding Narrative turns six, it’s time to review progress. Last year saw some big changes for me professionally, so let’s see the year in review…

Note the cover photo is from my recent trip to Vancouver.

Novel Writing

My big news for 2023 was that I signed a publishing contract with Wings ePress for The Godfather of Dance. My mystery novel went live Jan 1, 2024, so I am now a published author! If you’d like to read it, you can buy a paperback or Kindle copy from Amazon US, Amazon AU (or search your country website) or eBook versions on a variety of platforms including Kobo and Nook at Books2Read.

This is book one of a series and I’m busily editing book two, so hopefully, Wings like it, and it and put it out into the world!

Brightside Story Studio

To allow time for my writing, I have been less active in seeking work for my book editing business, Brightside Story Studio, and mainly take work from existing clients. I still love working with authors to help bring their stories to life. In particular, I work with the inspiring Sara Adrien and her wonderful Jewish regency romances.

Check out our Clients’ Book, which shows the works I’ve had an editorial hand in, either through Brightside, NAC or as a key beta reader. At least another five books will be added to this list by the end of 2024.

The Winding Narrative

For fun, I had a look back at my first post, Baby Steps. I remember how anxious I was to put this out into the world. Since then, I’ve done 160 posts, and I no longer agonize (as much) over pressing “post”.

This year, I aimed to blog once a month and managed 16 posts – interviews, short fiction and some posts On Writing. My interviews were all with authors about their latest releases.

My most viewed new blog of the year was the announcement of my book deal in The Enormous Difference Between BUT and AND. My most viewed blog of all time is still The Book Publishing Flowchart. The most popular blog this year (based on likes on the blog site) was my interview with Sarah Bourne on writing about social issues.

Short Stories

I also had stories in two wonderful anthologies:

Heart featured longlisted stories from the inaugural Mansfield Readers and Writers Short Story Competition. My story, ‘Christmas Charades’, tells the story of a Christmas long past several times, each one peeling off another layer of the onion.

Flights of Fantasy was published by Iron Faerie Publishing and edited by the wonderful Stacey Jaine McIntosh. I have two stories in this book about a ghost who’s afraid of the dark: The Exam and Old Fourlegs.

Expat Writers Facebook Group

I continued growing the Expat Writers Facebook group for writers whose work is influenced by living overseas. We welcome new members whether you write novels, articles or letters home as either an expat or immigrant. Our members come from all corners of the globe. Find out more here.

New Authors Collective (NAC)

To allow more time for writing, I have stepped down as Head Editorial at literary agency, NAC. I am so grateful for the experience I gained at NAC with Michael Cybulski, the NAC editorial team—Sue Anderson, Bella Ellwood-Clayton and Lisa Heidke—and the talented authors I worked with. I look forward to staying connected with this wonderful group of people.

I hope you’ll stay with me through 2024. It’s shaping up to be an exciting year.

Next time: an interview with the fabulous Bella Ellwood-Clayton on Weekend Friends
Next writing post: I introduce the protagonist of my mystery novel The Godfather of Dance. Writing a Mystery: Introducing Jade Riley
Next year: The Winding Narrative Turns Seven
To see where I was last year: The Winding Narrative Turns Five