Merry Christmas everyone! First present of the day was a story written for me in the @quillhollow.bsky.social Secret Santa Story Exchange - definitely the best way to start off the day. It was so me, and I am honoured that someone wrote it for me!

With 10 days left until 2026 (when did that happen?!) I'm thrilled to announce that I'm well ahead of my goal to read 20 books this year. Currently reading book number 28 (not including reading my own for editing!) What's your favourite book you've read this year? #BookSky #AmReading

Day 1 of the Christmas holidays and we've made baubles, played multiple board games, done Lego, done colouring, done a jigsaw and it's only one hour since lunch 😵

So disappointed that the UK aren't following suit...

@matthaig.bsky.social is right as always. Reading is such a delight. Since I've started being intentional with it, I've over doubled how many books I've read in a year. And I'm a better person for it, mentally, emotionally, socially. Reading is everything!

Obsessulated 🩷💚

In happier news, I'm part way through @mizdoomcookie.bsky.social's wonderful debut book, and it's giving me all the festive feels along with a good old helping of enemies-to-lovers. So that's warming me from the inside out ❤️ 📖 A Spell For Midwinter's Heart #AmReading

I've been rather MIA with various other deadlines and constant real life disasters happening. Got to try and prioritise myself and my writing a bit more. *Insert meme of your choice here about how writers do anything other than write*

Sadly this is still true. My brain is functioning at a lower percentage than is useful and all my good plans and intentions are fast falling by the wayside. But I'm having toad in the hole for dinner (all my non-UK friends, you miss out on this deliciousness) so that's a positive.

I was in the room where it happens

I have the lurgy

As a Brit, I reserve the right to complain about the weather at any point in time. I'm wrapped in two blankets and still can't feel fingers or toes. Lack of fingers makes typing challenging (toes less so). I'm going to need some more heat please #AmWriting (or I would be if I wasn't too cold 🥶)

If you can't have Leslie Knope in your corner, have @mjhuntsgood.bsky.social

As burnout edges nearer, Erin survives by magically discarding her unwanted emotions. When her boyfriend plans a future that feels suffocating, Erin fakes delight. But if she can embrace her feelings and her autism, she might find a life she loves enough to live without a mask. #DVPit #ND #R #SFF

Humans grow protective exoskeletons in response to negative emotions. Hers grows internally; crushing her organs. His is terrifyingly over-reactive. Believing they're freaks who should be shunned is easy. Loving themselves seems impossible, but a chance meeting might change that… #DVPit #ND #R #SFF

Erin’s mask is flawlessly maintained through magically discarding her emotions to blend in with everyone else. When burnout stops her powers from working, she discovers her world is not accepting of any necessary accommodations. But perhaps there’s a place out there that would be… #DVPit #ND #R #SFF

As burnout edges nearer, Erin survives by magically discarding her unwanted emotions. When her boyfriend plans a future that feels suffocating, Erin fakes delight. But if she can embrace her feelings and her autism, she might find a life she loves enough to live without a mask. #DVPit #ND #R #SFF

Humans grow protective exoskeletons in response to negative emotions. Hers grows internally; crushing her organs. His is terrifyingly over-reactive. Believing they're freaks who should be shunned is easy. Loving themselves seems impossible, but a chance meeting might change that… #DVPit #ND #R #SFF

Aubrey's protective exoskeleton is killing her. Unlike everyone else's, hers grows internally. Her doctor says she's one stressor away from a spike piercing her heart.If she's going to survive, she'll need to learn to accept herself and the love of others before it's too late. #DVPit #ND #R #SFF

Yessss! I'm in a Christmas mood already ha ha

Today I feel like my laptop: too many tabs open and likely to freeze at any moment

The exciting times of putting this in my StoryGraph "to read" section (even if it's not out in UK for a little while longer) @mizdoomcookie.bsky.social

I am far more worried about the rise of fascism than the rise of autism. Can we look into the causes of that?

She's out! I've got a day planned of going around sneakily signing books in all my local stores. booktrib.com/2025/09/23/a...

I wonder what Trump's mum took in pregnancy to make him like he is 🙄

This is going to be amazing! Plus it's never too early to start feeling festive... 🎄

A haiku about my life right now. Prior home owner: Eccentric visionary? No. Just idiot.

"This will add some great realism to a book one day," she says to try and keep herself from falling apart. Although, right now the problem of the leak is turning into less a novel and more an epic saga where nothing goes right and there is no HEA. 🤣🤣🤣😬😵

Good morning! Here are some new #PitchDis stats for you: -After deleting duplicates, the updated pitch total is 542. -422 people pitched and 120 of them pitched two projects.

And that's the pitches sent! #PitchDis, you've been a blast!

It's been so much fun doing the 21 days of #PitchDis, I'll be sad once I've submitted and it's all over (at least until #DVPit)

#PitchDis day 21 mood board time part 2! The World We Make is white. Crisp and clean and the possibility of starting over. New life, fresh growth, blank slates just waiting to be written on. Comforting soft wool and fresh linens.

#PitchDis day 21 - anything else? Aka mood board time! Skin Deep I feel is very red. The colour of pain and explosion and hatred...but also of love and warmth and passion.

#PitchDis day 20 - favourite thing about your book. Okay, firstly how dare you make me choose my favourite bit? I love it all! One of my favourite bits of Skin Deep is a scene where we just see some really healthy and emotionally sound male friendships play out with true vulnerability and support.

#PitchDis day 19, Halloween costumes. Erin would definitely wait to see what her friends are doing then try to fit in with them. Aubrey would be avoiding going out but if she had to, something that covered as much of her body as possible.

#PitchDis day 18 - writing with people or alone? I'm a lone wolf. Or more accurately, when I have an idea I want to see it through in the way I envisage. That said, I wouldn't be where I am without my critique partner/betas. They help me in so many ways. But I've got to lone wolf early drafts.

Feeling excited for this, Hope it ends in bliss.

Day 17 of #PitchDis The vast majority of my main character names are fake names that I used to give to guys in bars. People I hate get negative characters named after them (sweet revenge!) People I love, good ones. In one novel, some of the guys are named after players from Newcastle United #HWTL

#PitchDis day 16 - genre you're planning on writing next. Currently part way through another romance with a touch of the speculative...and have a document saved with plenty of other ideas within that genre too. There's also a few YA fantasy ideas floating around as well, but I like where I'm at.

Day 15 of #PitchDis - favourite book with disabled/neurodivergent/chronically ill character. I've loved all of Helen Hoang's novels, but The Heart Principle holds a special place for me. Its depiction of the journey to a late ASD diagnosis and the challenges that come with that just hits perfectly.

“What’s your argument against generative AI?” Do you mean the environmental, economic, social, ethical, cognitive, creative, or practical argument? Because I feel like any one of those, even in isolation from one another, makes using it a non-starter.

#PitchDis day 14 - fav critique partner. Well that award goes to @mjhuntsgood.bsky.social who is my ultimate cheerleader, sounding board, helper for all things in life. Also a huge shout out to all the members of Quill Hollow. You hedgies mean so much to me and make me a better writer ❤️🦔

#PitchDis - Day 13, your book as emojis Skin Deep: 🦔🤕💻🏋️‍♀️🍰🦆❤️❤️❤️ The World We Make: 🎭😢➡️☺️🤬🙎👋♾️🏅🧩❤️🧍‍♀️❤️👩‍❤️‍👨 If that makes sense to anyone, I'm VERY impressed 😅🤣

#PitchDis Day 12 - books as songs. Skin Deep: Flaws by Bastille "You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground" The World We Make: Set It All Free by NIIC "I was a girl caught under your thumb But my stars gonna shine brighter than your sun"

#PitchDis day 11 - favourite secondary character. Well from one book I'm pitching, it's definitely the pair of old ladies (no they will NOT be separated), who were meant to play a minor role and then talked my ear off and got a few extra scenes out of me. Love it when a character talks to you!

#PitchDis day 10 - inspo time! A lot of my influences are vaguely Star Trek related...the threat ganglia of Saro, Deanna Troi's betazoid ability to sense emotions... But they're also very grounded in my real world experiences with mental health, neurodivergence, love etc.

#PitchDis day 9 - pets in story? Unusually for me, both the stories I'm pitching have no pets (although the one I'm writing at the minute has a cat). There are still plenty of animals mentioned throughout, however. Ducklings make an appearance in one, and a sausage dog named Peanut.

#PitchDis day 8 - underwriter/overwriter? I think nowadays I pretty much land within the target range I'm going for. Of course I end up cutting some bits and adding things in still, but generally I'm around the word count I aim for.

No better way to deal with deep rage than going to the gym and smashing some weights

#PitchDis day 7 - favourite spot to write. I'm boring but I love writing at my desk, with my cheery yellow wall, my collection of pops and other random objects, and my Parks and Rec quote poster. But my favourite places to think of ideas are the gym or while cycling!