Now there's a title you don't get very often. Would be a great set of ideas for a short story, I'm sure. Would probably have to involve time travel though. Anyway, I've spent some of the day - not as much as I intended - editing more of Luther's Ambassadors for Goldenford, but have only managed to get to Chapter 15 on page 82. Still, about halfway through now, so that's something.

I've also been struggling with web hosts - again. Deep deep sigh ... Now neither Zen nor UK Hosts appear to be talking to each other, and so I have written a severely stroppy email to everyone asking why I, as the customer, have to be running around like a demented postgirl (virtually) delivering messages when they could just as well simply pick themselves off their arses and speak to each other to sort it out. And yes, I did put it something like that - but that's the polite version ...

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I have spent hours and hours on a new feature on The Short Review site: a list of the short story collections that are scheduled to be published in 2008. I had never seen such a list and I thought it would be interesting, for me, for other short story writers, and for those who love to read them. You can find it here.

Frankly, I was astonished at what I found. It took a lot of work - I went through Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk with a fine tooth comb because when I did a search for “short stories” hundreds of results came up but I had to check each one and many of them were not actually short story collections. (Not sure how Amazon’s search algorithms work!) But it was wonderful because I found hundreds of collections of all flavours.....

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No more twilight tourism for a while, and after my morning stint I'll be off to town with my flask and butties.

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Well, would you look at this? I've made it past the first post. Whatever happens next, I am at least not doomed to be a one-post wonder. The next goal is to get into double figures, and then maybe we'll look at setting some slightly more ambitious targets...

We're now three days into a new year, and three days from the official end of Christmas on January 6th – Twelfth Night, or Epiphany. All Christmas decorations are supposed to be taken down by midnight on that day, or else... I'm not certain what exactly is supposed to happen to you if you fail to meet this deadline, I only know that it is, without doubt, Very Bad Indeed.

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My cheeks are red and tingly. My legs ache a little and my fingers are only just coming back to life and/or thawing. And I am very happy. I love walking. Especially when the weather's a little white and crisp - almost cutting. I love the rough stillness of being in a place where there are no other people; just trees and birds and grass. I love the merciless iced wind that knives; and the kestrel who didn't seem to mind it one bit.

I am happy that I've taken this extra time off. I am beginning to relax.

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Have spent a very enjoyable day editing Jay Margrave's Luther's Ambassadors for Goldenford. Heck, but Jay is certainly the queen of the dark historical novel - am loving it so far! Can't wait for it to be published later in the year. All those twists and turns in the life of Anne Boleyn - fabulous. I am now up to Page 52 of 162, and the start of Chapter Eleven. Not bad going in editing terms. It's far, far easier using Track Changes, which I have decided to do from now on ...

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A New Year, ten new reviews, author interviews, a sneak preview of short story collections forthcoming in 2008……these are just some of the treats on offer in Issue 3 of The Short Review. If you haven’t already, pop into the site and sign up for our mailing list so you don’t miss out.

On the menu this month.....

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What a cold day. The birds are frantic for food. Before I went off to do my duty, I laid out a feast for their little beaks. Some big beaks too. Returning home, another feast was prepared and dispatched within minutes. This evening I will start editing. So much to do. There are short stories written and still lying on my desk. Too lazy to send out. No, too lily livered. I don't make resolutions but have decided to tidy up this desk. Use the shredder with gusto. Stop thinking unnecessary thoughts. I keep a diary. Have done since I was a young optimist. Then I grew up. There's nothing like putting pencil or pen to paper and not soul can read my illegible script.

..& once more I take up my electronic quill & return to the work in progress. New Year came & went with a fantastic bang, went to a friend’s party & spent the last two days more or less in bed.

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1. The Chocolates


The Girl (3): Mum, I've had an accident.
Me: Oh no! Are you hurt? What happened?

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