Fiona

Another year has flown past between updates. Many apologies for being one of the tardiest bloggers around. That’s the side effect of two children under two, a book in the pipeline and a new business to run. I used to think I was pretty hot at multi-tasking until I found myself juggling nappies, accounts, manuscript, hoofpicks, computer keyboards, dog lead, Thesaurus, frying pan, digital camera, calculator and a Maisy Mouse jigsaw. Life’s never dull, but I am shamefully lapse in updating anything…although I do have a new book coming out soon, hooray!

My next novel, Love Hunt, has been with the publisher since April of this year – and will finally hit the bookshop and library shelves in April 2009. One reason for this long delay is that Hodder have given me a completely new cover look – very sumptuous and sexy, I am delighted to report. Please see the Love Hunt page under the menu heading ‘The Lodes Chronicles’.

My brilliant web designer has also assured me that before long we will get our heads together and completely rethink this website so that I will be able to make a few changes myself from home, update the news more regularly, add in dates for signings or readings, post photographs etc. I hope that will make it much more up-to-date and user friendly and will reward the patience of those visitors amongst you who come back repeatedly to check book news, or who take the time to email me personally. With all that multi-tasking going on I have been embarrassingly slow replying to emails, but please bear with me – I do get there eventually.

On the home front, baby Antonia – known as ‘Winnie’ – was born in May, and is now a big, giggly, gurgling six month old with two tiny goofy teeth on her bottom jaw. Turbo-charged toddler, Dora, was not wildly impressed to begin with, but has since come round to finding her sister quite entertaining, and takes great delight in whipping the soft toys from Winnie’s crib with Pink Panther stealth while her sister is sleeping. This is pretty impressive when you learn that Winnie doesn’t really ‘do’ sleep – especially at night. Four hours is her record so far …

Despite this, I have started writing my next novel. With the working title ‘Mounted Games’ it features my favourite characters of Tash and Hugo, plus some of the Oddlode crowd – and a lot of horses. It should be ready for publication in early 2010.

In the eighteen months since Sam and I moved to the Blackdown Hills we have come to feel wonderfully at home in this stunning corner of Somerset. The dressage yard is up and running, with Sam coaching local riders, taking horses in for schooling and producing our own horses to compete and sell. We currently have a real fairytale collection of Spanish Andalucians and Dutch Friesians, which make a total treat for a novelist to watch for a bit of inspiration as they strut around the arena, long manes and tails flowing. And we have a dedicated website www.dovecote-stables.co.uk. As I write, the local council have just given us permission to run as a specialist training centre enabling riders to take flatwork lessons on highly trained schoolmasters to feel what it’s like to ride movements like piaffe and passage, tempi changes, pirouettes etc. We’re really excited and can’t wait to get started. But first, I have a book to write amid the business planning, baby-changing, toddler-entertaining, dog walking, horse training, Christmas shopping, meal cooking, bill-paying, family entertaining chaos.!

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