Authors are constantly  - if with trepidation – seeking reviews for their published work. The longed-for 4 and 5* variety can be re-tweeted, re-posted, repeated, all helping to bump up social media visibility of a book and, with inexplicable algorithms, encouraging more sales.

If I were counting writerly success in amount of original fiction written, then February would be anunmitigated disaster – I’m guessing my word count would be far below zero, when I take editing into consideration.

There’s so much pressure on January, as the first month of the year: resolutions, intentions for the next twelve months, setting the mood and tone…so I like to wait until the end of the month to reflect and plan. Not sure I’m fooling January, but I’m tricking my mind into replacing aspirational expectations with manageable ones. In writing terms, the move from 2022-2023, feels like a specific transition. Last autumn I was offered a book deal - and with everything else that was going on, I never - until now - got to mentioning it. Actually, it's a two-book deal from a very well-established and well-respected independent press. The novels is question are both written, both won awards, but sat quietly in the wings, clearly waiting for their moment! Don’t give up, people said. It just takes one agent or editor, they went on. Look at JK Rowling, Stephen King, Agatha...

The very best of festive wishes to everyone out there: wherever you are and whatever you celebrate, do so with mindfulness and a sense of fun! And if you're a writer, remember that...

Last month I was preparing for my return to Bangladesh and Bhola's Children. This month it's a flash of a - fantastic - memory, that's allowed me to reconnect with everyone and everything that's important out there.