Happy New Year

To all my family and friends...

All the best for 2017!

Hope 2017 is full of unexpected surprises and smiles.

2016 has flown by for us again and I have to say that my life has changed a lot. 

I seem to have lost my "stay-at-home" mum status by going back to "work"... not sure how I feel about that now?!

As a mum, I have never stopped working. And becoming a writer there never seemed to be a time when I actually switched off. However, going back to teaching means I have set hours I have to be somewhere, and I have a lot of planning to do in the background.

Structure in life is helpful. Also, being in a "role" give you a sense of belonging. But, for all the writers out there... your work is brilliant and at times totally unappreciated - just like being a mum!

So, let's all keep our heads held high in whatever we are doing and take pride in what we achieve.

I hope anyone reading this keeps in touch and sends me books that I must read. I will find the time!

All the best,
Vanessa

Back to School... #Writing versus #Maths

My mind is full of numbers at the moment... I have gone back to teaching maths and although I am enjoying it my mind boggles. Words have left and numbers have taken over!

Writing seems like a million miles away and I find it hard to believe that I wrote several books and published them not that long ago.

I am still working on my historical fiction book, but am apprehensive about publishing it until I am completely satisfied that it works. I also need to finish it since I decided not to make it a series.

The truth is that I still hold on to the dream of a publisher... my new book would really benefit from the advice of an agent.

So, my challenge for 2017 is to...

* FINISH IT
* SUBMIT IT TO AGENTS
* FINISH IT...

If all else fails, I will publish it myself... when I finish it!

It seems strange to think that I started this writing journey 7 years ago... and now it feels like nothing more than a dream.

I wonder how other self-published authors have done? Have any, like me, lost heart and decided to go back to the "day-job"?

After being a stay-at-home mum, I lost faith in my ability and hope that by teaching I can help some children to aspire to be more, to want more, and to achieve more than they ever dreamed possible.

It seems that nowadays it is easy to lose heart, to give up, and yet we have so much to smile about.

Happy Christmas to all!

Let's think about what we truly consider important next year.

Vanessa