I’ve come to the realisation that I don’t have enough time/life to do everything and it’s annoying me. Life’s far too short! As you probably know if you see my instagram feed, I’m a total jack of all trades – or a dilettante if you’re Jerry Seinfeld. He says in a GQ interview:
‘You have to dedicate yourself to these great things. And I don’t believe in being good at a lot of things—or even more than one… There’s nothing I revile quite as much as a dilettante. I don’t like doing something to a mediocre level.’
But I love trying my hand at everything, and it’s this attitude that got me writing a children’s book in the first place. Any way, I think trying new things is a strength. It takes a certain level of guts and determination to try something new in full sight of the world in the hopeful view that you will get good at it if you practice. (I mean, I may not get good at something, but I’m an optimist, so…)
Life’s all about learning, isn’t it?
The highlight of the summer’s TV was the Olympics. I LOVE THE OLYMPICS. Most of all I love all the new events, like the skateboarding and BMX freestyle. All these young kids leaping about the place, performing death-defying stunts and then hugging each other afterwards like they’ve all just passed their GCSE exams – even if they’ve just crashed awfully on rock hard concrete. It’s the best. I managed to persuade my daughter to have a go.
Here in Hastings/St Leonards we are graced with the most awesome underground skatepark called Source Park, and on Wednesday nights there’s an all girls session. It’s the most wholesome, supportive, wonderful two hours you’re ever going to see. Needless to say, my daughter has now caught the bug and can’t wait to go again. The terrible thing about it is that I, too, now want to have a go. Am I too old? Will it kill me? What if I break a wrist? What if I’m rubbish?
I’ll let you know how a middle-aged man’s adventures in extreme sports goes later!
More importantly, there will be exciting news of new books soon. I’ve been working solidly on them over the summer holidays, in between swimming in the sea, sanding a staircase and visiting some of the fancy National Trust properties of East Sussex. I’m also working on a book to crowd fund. I’ve always wanted to give this method of publishing a go, especially as I have four or five fully written books that are just languishing here on my computer.
The truth is, I hate having things unfinished, they keep me awake me at night. Yes, that half a path in my garden annoys me every time I walk up it. Yes, that idea for a board game that I plotted and planned and made tiny little beaver models for still annoys me because I never quite got to the point where it could be played.
So, having books remain unpublished simply because there are other similarly themed books out there for a publisher to take on annoys me. After all, you write a book to be read, and this is hopefully an opportunity to get them out there.
First up, I’m going to try with a story that’s closest in age and content to my Hotel Flamingo series. It’s called The Little Shop of Magic, and is all about a girl who finds herself in charge of a shop that sells magical supplies to wizards, witches, trolls, and all sorts of magical creatures you might find in the fantasy world.
In the coming months we’ll be putting it all together, but it’s written, it’s funny, it’s got dragons, talking books and tasty troll bogeys in it, and I really like it.
For now here’s a sneak peek at the cover I’ve been working on. I’m sure I’ll tweak it, but it’s nice to put something out there to show the world. Do let me know what you think of this idea, and if you’d be interested in it!
And now, back to the increasingly failing summer. Rain. Darkening evenings… just one more week of sun and swimming in the sea, please?!
So with you on extending summer, yes please!!!
The Little Shop of Magic sounds very interesting and I need to know why that cat on the cover is grumpy. I think my kiddo would love it, we love all things magic. Thanks for a sneak peek a potential cover. Also, how can troll bogeys possibly be tasty?