JULY 2008

Hello and I hope you are having a lovely summer.

It’s been a quiet few weeks for me as I’ve been trying really hard to knuckle down to some serious writing on my latest novel. As well as thinking of interesting things to write about in my weekly column in the Belfast Telegraph. And also keeping on top of the household chores! Every few months, I make a massive effort to de-clutter the house, organise cupboards and drawers, make to-do lists, plan a work diary and an exercise diary. And then a few days in, I fall off the wagon and go back to spending all day reading other people’s novels and living on ready meals.

The new novel is going well (I hope) and I’ve decided to put in a bit of magic this time. Not Harry Potter-type magic, of course. But you’ll see what I mean if it ever goes to print. This will be my sixth novel and I do treat each one as if it’s going to be my last. Because one day, it will be. So I’m really taking the time to make this one really special and thankfully my agents and publishers have been very supportive. I don’t want to give too much away about the new book so I’ll just give you one clue. It’s about handbags. Not ordinary handbags, mind. Special handbags...

I’ve been getting into handbags in recent years. Not shoes, so much. I love pretty shoes but I can’t wear them because I’m too tall and “bargey” for dainty shoes. But bags are a different matter, aren’t they? Bags fit all sizes. I have one designer bag, by Lulu Guinness: the travel one with all the glamorous cities written on it. Which Dermot bought me for a laugh because I have a slight flying phobia. But anyway, the Lulu bag (and the general love most women have for their handbags) gave me the idea for my current book. I hope to be finished the first draft by Christmas.

A short story I wrote for the SUNDAY EXPRESS was published this month and it looks amazing to see my name in a national newspaper. Thankfully not in connection with a major scandal. So that was lovely and so is the gorgeous little picture they have put alongside the story.

Thanks for all your messages on MySpace, and if you want to get in touch with me and can’t be bothered going online, you can write to me, care of Poolbeg (Ireland) or Penguin (UK). I’m an old-fashioned girl who likes nothing more than a hand-written letter. I sometimes think I’m the reincarnation of a Victorian lady because I dislike flying, flashy cars, most fiddly gadgets and the advertising of personal “feminine” items on TV. And I love fountain pens, long coats, candles, cooking and just sitting looking out the window.

We’re not going on holiday this year as we are too busy with work. But we are enjoying putting our feet up each night and just watching telly on our new sofa. And recently I’ve been craving Cremola Foam and curry-chips. You know, that lovely orange-coloured, spicy curry sauce they used to have in the 1970s. I was reared on that sauce but nobody seems to make it any more. Now it’s all golden-coloured and gelatinous and not-very-nice-at-all.

I’ll post some new pics when I get myself and/or the house tidied up. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and enjoy the summer.

Best wishes,
Sharon.