- Barbara Copperthwaite
Spring update #amwriting #writerslife
Time is whizzing by so quickly. Freezing cold days full of grey clouds that had me hibernating by the fire have been replaced with sunshine, the pleasant play of warmth on the skin and a nip in the air when I venture outside. Monochrome has become Technicolor, as the world garlands itself with buds, blossom, and bright flowers. Even the silence of winter has been filled with the birdsong of spring and the deep drone of bumblebees.
It’s been one year since I handed in the first draft of my last book, passing it on to my editor for her thoughts. At the time, I’d no idea that just a few months after publication of THE PERFECT FRIEND I’d fall so ill that my writing stopped entirely. The good news, though, is that since the start of this year things have really begun to turn around. Every week I’m a little stronger and more full of energy – and I’ve been writing again every weekday, even if only for an hour here, a couple of hours there.
In addition, last month I attended a wonderful event – Tamworth Library’s Literary Festival, alongside Carla Kovach, Samatha Hayes, Donna Ashcroft, Emma Davies, and Louise Jensen.
It was great to chat with readers, and catch up with author friends. At the end of the day I was exhausted, but so happy to have pushed myself to take part – and as a thank you for having me, I donated a copy of each of my books to the library. Hopefully, someone will be able to enjoy them.
Last week it was time for another adventure, when I travelled to Lincoln for research on the book I’m currently writing. I hadn’t been able to settle on a location, and it was something that had really been bothering me. Then, seemingly from nowhere, Lincoln popped into my head and I started to get really excited at the prospect. It’s been years since I’ve visited the capital city of the county where I grew up, though, so I was going to have to check it out thoroughly. As soon as I arrived, I knew I’d made the right decision. What an incredible place! From the stunning historical buildings, to the steep cobbled streets, from the welcoming pubs, to the cathedral and castle facing off across a square, inspiration was everywhere. I was positively fizzing by the time I left the following day!
Now, I’m working hard to breathe life into all those ideas. Filled with new energy and enthusiasm, I’m determined to get the book finished and can’t wait to share it with you. It will still be a while coming, sadly, but I promise I’m doing the very best I can – and I can’t thank you enough for bearing with me x