Hello everyone,
Well, here we are in July, not that you’d know it from the weather we’ve been getting recently; talk about four seasons in one day, with the emphasis on the chillier ones! It amazes me every year how surprised I get that summer isn’t more summery – you’d think I’d have learnt by now. I think it’s due to a combination of useless memory and excess of optimism! Hasn’t been all bad though – we’ve had a fair few pleasant days so far, and of course we have an abundance of daylight hours which is wonderful, so I’ll take whatever comes and be thankful for it.
Well, Life Before Us was published on June 11, as you all well know if you’ve been reading these updates. Pic below shows my local bookshop, O’Mahony’s, giving it plenty of window space! They’re brilliantly supportive. Notwithstanding the window display, I opted for less fanfare than usual for Life Before Us. For various reasons I didn’t have a launch, but I assembled a small few friends and neighbours around publication date and we raised a glass to the new arrival – and I’m delighted to report that it’s currently sitting at number eight in the Irish bestseller list. Thanks to all who helped to put it there; I’m really very grateful. I’ve taken a bit of a step back from writing for the last few weeks, just felt it was time to give the brain a break, and I think it was the right decision. I’m feeling like it’s nearly time to go back now though, so from Monday on (has to be a Monday, doesn’t it?) my kitchen should be filled with the tapping of laptop keys (hopefully!) as the next offering begins to take shape. Not due out till Christmas 23, so plenty of time to get it right.
In other news, I got the all clear from Galway hospital after the melanoma drama, which was a big relief. No sign of spread, all gone. I’ll be going back every six months for the next five years, just for monitoring and making sure nothing shows up again. I’m lashing on the factor 50 these days – no ray of sun, or even ray of light, will dare penetrate!
Hope everyone’s well. Hope summer, whatever the weather, (or winter if you’re down under) is bringing its share of laughter and good times. Lots of fresh air is my prescription. Waterproofs and sunglasses at the ready!
love
