Nothing happened in 2017? I can’t believe that! Just completely got out of the rhythm of writing a blog.
Well, 2017 was good. I attended a class at Glasgow University entitled ‘Who? How? Why? Fiction, crime and readers.’ A great class and we analysed classic crime fiction from Carver, Highsmith to K. Atkinson and Mankell. I also went to various lit events. My own was at the Milngavie week in June when I chaired a meeting with super authors Magi Gibson, Lesley McDowell, Ann Mc Laren and Finola Scott. Looking forward to the next one this year.
Got some poems published in magazines. So not entirely unproductive. I was again shortlisted for the pitch perfect tweets organised by XPONORTH and went to Inverness. What a beautiful city! A great experience to meet Jenny Brown, other agents and publishers from Scotland. Not surprised to hear how tough the publishing world is. There were some great pitches at the event, but no one got a publishing deal this year as far as I know. The last year winners were for non-fiction books.
In autumn we had a wonderful holiday in DC and later in November- December we were in India.
Unfortunately the year ended rather terribly. House burgled, some health issues in the family and I really did wish the year away.
Keeping the blog brief and interesting would be better in 2018. Can’t miss a whole year out again.
Leela Soma 