Excuses, Fallon and Osman

Dear Reader,

It would appear that over six months has passed since my last post and for that I am sorry. I have been working on three stories, two of which have been submitted to a writing competition and a one of which I have nearly finished the first draft.

In the last few months, I have not only moved house but have been battered by the necessary obligations and distractions of life. Plus I think we all lost a few days when it was unbearably hot. Nevertheless, I have been writing and reading (as usual) - finally getting round to Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club which was an absolute joy and really took my mind away from things. What a brilliant story; I was guessing right until the last chapter, and the characters were an absolute delight. It was so enthralling that I went away for a few days and finished it on day two! And so, on a very windy Friday night in Northamptonshire I popped into Tescos and picked up a copy of Jane Fallon's Just Got Real, which I cannot recommend highly enough if you want to curl up on the sofa and relax (make sure you have somewhere to set down your wineglass though as you will be laughing throughout and I don't want you to spill your whisky and lemonade like I did). I have only just discovered Fallon but she is a master of human behaviour and I can't wait to delve into her other work.

As my luck would have it (and due to my other half's selective hearing) a few 'must read soon' paperbacks were packed away in one of the moving boxes, including the second instalment of Osman's crime series. So, while I wait for it to turn up I have decided on The Cottage by Lisa Stone, which at the moment is a promising horror about a woman house-sitting at a cottage which seems to be off the grid and near a woods. I expect it will be a hide-behind-your-cushion situation but it is too early to tell. The protagonist is accompanied by a good dog though (can anyone think of a better companion?) so fingers crossed no harm comes to him.

I should find out in September if either of my stories were shortlisted in the competition and if not I will be able to publish them both on the website, but hopefully before then I will have something for you.

I will keep you updated!

Lauren x