Life update: In which I make peace with January (almost)

Hello and a very Happy New Year!

I begin with an admission: January is my least favourite month. Over my many years on this planet I have come to the conclusion that it has no redeeming features whatsoever. It’s cold, dark, long and joyless. I’m always broke, tired and lacking in energy and enthusiasm for just about anything.

Last year proved my point. I spent the first week of the New Year recovering from a nasty bout of the flu. I decided to do Dry January (over-rated, if you ask me). Looking at my camera roll, I didn’t do anything much except work. I might as well have hibernated for the entire month.

This year, though, I’m feeling much more full of beans. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say that January isn’t as bad as I always thought. The month began with a big freeze but at least that meant blue skies and no mud. I’ve been walking more, I’ve started ten minutes of yoga a day, I’m sleeping better (probably because of the walking and yoga) and I’ve been trying to eat well without worrying what the scales say. In a nutshell, I’ve been practicing a bit of self-care.

[Yes, I know it’s all a bit woowoo, but who cares if it means I’m feeling better for it!]

It also helps that I already have lots planned for the year ahead and plan to carry on my ‘say yes to everything (within reason!)’ mindset in 2026.

Before I tell you about things that are happening this year, I thought I’d take a look back at 2025. Highlights included (and in no particular order):

·         Our amazing holiday to Mauritius

·         The release of The Husband Before You

·         Speaking on two panels at the Redwings Book Festival

·         Being part of the volunteer crew at the Self Publishing Show Live

·         The Bookouture summer party at the glitzy St Pancras Hotel

·         Signing copies of The Baby at our local branch of The Works

·         Attending Harrogate Crime Writing Festival and meeting some author legends

·         My brother-in-law’s wedding in beautiful Cornwall

·         A week with friends in Switzerland

·         A weekend in South Wales with more friends

·         Giving a talk on self-publishing at Maidstone LitFest

·         Completing 3 sets of 10 push-ups

·         The release of The Girl in the Window

That's not to say it was all plain sailing. After beginning the year in bed with the flu, I had more viruses than I’ve had in years, and I also had to have two (minor) surgeries to cut out a dodgy mole on my back. Plus the usual ups and downs, setbacks and curveballs. But all in all, it was a pretty good year.

So what about 2026? Well, Adrian and I are off to the Ashdown Forest (home of Winnie the Pooh) for a couple of days in February, and in March we have something epic planned – a two-week holiday to Borneo.

My new (yet to be named) summer thriller comes out in May, and I already have loose ideas for my next two books, which I’ll write this year.

We’ll try to get away for another walking holiday somewhere hilly in September, and fit in a few short breaks if time and money allow.

So there it is: my 2026 in a nutshell.

Time to sign off now. Hopefully, when I next get in touch, I’ll be able to reveal the title and cover of my new thriller.

In the meantime, a (belated) Happy New Year! Let’s hope 2026 is packed with good health, friends, family and good books for us all. 😊

Much love,

Amanda x