This week I took time out of my current WIP to give Poor Hands (B&C#3) a final read-through. It’s now gone down the production line for proofreading. It really works for me to put some time and space between myself and projects. A few weeks away and I return to them with with a freshened perspective.

I started this book a year ago and kept allowing things to get in the way of pressing on with it. I had some issues with character direction that I struggled to resolve and that led to me moving onto other things while they sorted themselves out. I believe it’s all been for the best and that things have worked out well in this installment. I’m happy with it, and that feeling of being ‘happy’ with a project has stood me in good stead so far regarding finished articles.

Here’s the blurb:

Out of a big old building on the south coast of Kent David Booker runs a book-themed coffee shop and Jo Cash operates a private investigation business. They live there, too. But not like that.

Jo needs help with tracing a mystery client’s living relatives. David needs help with his staffing problems. Sometimes two heads are better than one. Sometimes a poor hand is better than none.

I don’t think I’ll be doing the preorder thing on this one. Probably as soon as I get it back, format it and read it through again I’ll list it. (I’ve got a few readers  making thinly veiled threats regarding what will happen to me if I don’t hurry up and get it out there.)

I have a working title for the current WIP (my attempt at YA dystopian fiction). The Boy From the Blue Zone. If nothing else it will stick it to those millions of ‘The Girl (insert word or phrase of your choice here)’ titles.

Finally, I saw a great quote this week that made me feel good about what I’m doing at the moment. It’s from Cyril Connolly:Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. (You can tell he didn’t need the money.)