Back to the here and now (yeah).
Soul II Soul lyrics aside, it’s back to real life from today.
How was your Christmas and New Year? Did you take a break?
The last two weeks have been a really delicious break from routine for me and the kids. It feels as though we’ve been away for months, rather than a couple of weeks, although I’m not sure I would describe myself as rested.
We ate lots, spent time with family, explored London, had two birthdays (my son’s and mine) and generally enjoyed the season. I did check emails a few times, and had a full admin working day last Thursday, and I’m glad I did, as I’m starting back properly today with a fresh inbox and a clear(ish) head.
Some things I loved last month
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Stacey Halls’ new book, The Household*. I will read anything Stacey writes, and I loved this story about the women who come to populate Urania House, the halfway house for fallen women sponsored by Charles Dickens and Angela Coutts.
I also enjoyed Hex Appeal*, which I came across while doing a competitor review for a client. I liked the blurb, so bought it on a whim. A really fun read.
I watched Saltburn. It was deeply uncomfortable in places. The worst, worst, worst scene was when Felix took Oliver back to HIS home in Preston. Everything else I could just about cope with, but I had to look away for that part.
I’m watching The Traitors, which I LOVE so much. I kind of wish they would do away with the prize-building activities and just show more of the cast interactions, but I suppose it wouldn’t be much of a game show without them.
We played: Ping Pong, Monopoly, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza* (which is VERY fun), and many many rounds of rummy 500.
What I’m working on this month
I’ve got ongoing accountability with a number of clients who I started working with before the holidays, a new client kicking off next week, and potentially a new publisher project to work on later on in the month.
Right now I have one space for a new Author Marketing Accelerator client in January, and 3x from February, so if you’d like to start 2024 off with constructive feedback on your current marketing, as well as an actionable plan and resources to help your marketing become as effective as the most successful authors, book your place here.
I will also be getting back into the habit of posting on Instagram (I’m going for 3x per week now, instead of daily) and here on Substack. I’ve started writing a list of authors (/and others) I would like to host here over the next 12 months, and I’m up to about the middle of the year. If there’s someone whose marketing you would like to learn more about, let me know and I’ll see if they are up for coming on.
Some changes
I’ve decided to make three changes here on Substack.
You might not get every single piece of content I create here in your inbox. Last year I stepped up my emailing from fortnightly to sometimes more than weekly. You’re still here, and I’m grateful for that. I’m still aiming to continue weekly emails, but where I write something off the cuff that is in addition to that plan, I will very likely not send it out via email. Instead it will get shared as a link in a future email.
I will no longer be doing monthly Q&As for paid subscribers, but will be creating content specifically for the people who are signed up (and if you have a question you’d like me to answer, you can email me anytime and I’ll create a post around it).
I have added a £150 ‘Founding’ level subscription. As part of that membership, you will get an annual review of the marketing channel of your choice (this could be a social media channel you are struggling with, your latest Amazon page, your website etc).
Enough about me - how was your break? Did you take one? Have you been working? What have you read or watched and enjoyed? Hit reply or leave a comment over on Substack - I would love to hear how you’ve been getting on.
Oh, I love Stacy Halls-looking forward to her new one!
At the moment I'm reading Ian McEwan's latest novel, 'Lessons', which is a sweeping and fascinating, albeit slightly 'heavy' story. Having been a piano teacher myself for many years, the premise resonates with me - though not to the point of fancying any of my pupils!!
Over the holidays I also read The Ghost of Frederic Chopin by Eric Faye. Oh how I would have loved to be visited by Chopin's ghost and have new piano pieces dictated to me ...! A curious sort of novel.
Finally, The Lost Bookshop - an okay-ish read, though it didn't really 'get' to me in a deep way. Most of all I loved all the details sprinkled throughout the pages about great writers of the past.