It's a little too late for "Happy New Year" now, right? |
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Hello and welcome to the year's first edition of The Enzograph. We've freshened up the design a little. Hope you like it. Obviously, the cat is annoyed it's not been rebranded to the "Zerograph" as he’s six months old now and a little punk who terrorises everyone in the family and sticks two oddly human claws up at propriety and manners. Enzo cries when he enters the room. Buddy ignores him (as much as you can ignore a bald cat hanging off your tail and biting your flank). Wiener tries to fit his head in her mouth when she thinks I'm not looking. Ah, life with a menagerie. It's all so… relaxing.
When not refereeing the pet smackdowns, I’ve managed to read some incredible books this month and I do have a favourite which I will tell you about later on. I've picked up some brilliant car boot sale finds which you can see over on my Instagram. I have also been sharing my daughter’s brave struggle with anxiety. January can be a hard month, especially because it never seems to go away (like the cat). I hope you are all feeling warm and safe and have someone to talk to.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: The first edition of the year and you choose to open with a photo of THAT creature?!]
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Some new writing. But what is it? |
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There's some new writing over on my website but I'm not really sure if it's a short story or a thought piece or... what, really. I just thought I’d let you in on five minutes in my brain, which is a bit like a map of the London Underground, on acid, where none of the stations interchange properly or take you where they say they're going. And there are lots of tube strikes and delays. Oh, I like this metaphor. | | |
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A new regular feature - Book of the Month |
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I read a great many books that I enjoy immensely but some of them really stand out and make a lasting impression. So, I thought I'd highlight my favourites in each edition of The Enzograph with my very own Book of the Month. And the inaugural award goes to... Miss Austin Investigates by Jessica Bull I absolutely loved this book and I love the woman who wrote it. She is clever and funny and charming and I can’t wait to see people fall over themselves for Miss Austin Investigates. Also, she looks hot in a bonnet. |
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In case you were wondering... |
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If you're curious and would like a little more insider info as we head towards publication day in April, I've put together Five Facts About Goodbye Birdie Greenwing... 1: It is set in Brighton but Shrublands Avenue, where Jane, Ada and Birdie live, is a road in Berkhamsted where my aunt lived and my mother, briefly as a child. It is also the name of the house where my grandparents lived in Newcastle so has a lot of significance for me. I often name my characters after friends and relatives. I wanted to call my eldest daughter Birdie but my husband said no. |
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2: The reason the character Min named her first daughter Suki (read it to find out) is in honour of my grandmother’s cat. Random fact. Before we got 'Zero-the-Insane' we had this rescue cat for a few years. She was even scarier than Zero. We lived in fear of her. She bit off toes and created faecal graffiti up walls and stole entire roast chickens off the table. Anyway, the first time my mum met her she turned around to my dad and said "Nigel [that’s my dad’s name], it’s my mother" (in reference to the cat). Her mother had passed not long ago. I am pretty sure her spirit was not living inside my cat (I hope not, I took it back to the rehoming centre shortly after). My dad just nodded his head, like she’d said something entirely pedestrian, drained his gin and poured another. 3: I am probably most like the character Jane in the book. I didn’t set out to write a character with my shortcomings but it just happened. Sometimes I forget that my characters can do things I can’t. Maybe one day I’ll have one of them sky-dive or do something mad like eat sushi not at gun point. 4: I wrote three books between Dog Days and Birdie. Birdie has been called Marilla and Dolly in other versions. She has been a nurse, a drunk, developed early onset dementia, gotten kidnapped by a bird spotter and had an imaginary friend called Poirot. She had quite the life before she got to where she is today. I still love some of the bits of books I abandoned. Maybe one day I’ll do a book boxset of 'Demos, B-sides & Rarities'. 5: I never use the word autism in the book. Frankie is Frankie, just like my daughter is Daisy, not a diagnosis. We called her autism her superpower. She always knows where they car keys are and if we need milk. I really care about removing the stigma around ASD. It is not a disorder; it is a gift (most of the time.) When I am not writing or coaxing animals to get on, I homeschool Daisy and she schools me right back. She’s the best friend I ever had. Although Frankie is nothing like Daisy, she was written with all my love. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Oh, you've got another book coming out? You should have mentioned it before.] |
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Looking for a recommendation? Head over to the Reading section of my website and check out what I've been enjoying of late. | | |
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Lorraine's life-changing reads |
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The first selection of the year for our '5 Books That Changed My Life' feature was kindly provided by Bookstagrammer Lorraine from 'Travels Through Books and Bakes'. From a fascination with the Second World War to some seriously scary mothering prospects, Lorraine's list is over on my site. And if you'd like to tell us about your five life-changing books, just drop me a line. Everybody's very welcome to take part. | | |
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Dear Daisy: Words of kindness and hope... |
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As I mentioned, my daughter Daisy has been struggling terribly with anxiety recently. Just yesterday afternoon she received a letter from the fantastic writer Liz Hyder offering the most beautiful words of kindness, comfort, support and advice. And hope. We were both so incredibly moved by what she had to say. |
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With the permission of both Daisy and Liz, I'd like to share this amazing letter with you in its entirety. You can read it over on my website. And Liz, thank you so much. |
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Thanks to everyone who entered last month's prize draw to win an advance copy of Goodbye Birdie Greenwing. The winning name out of the hat was Claire Dell in London and her book is winging its way to her. Hope you enjoy it! |
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OK, OK... It is called The Enzograph and it's true that he hasn't featured that heavily in recent editions. So here he is, in all of his handsome, majestic cuteness - your Editor in Chief and my little hero, Enzo. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Yeah, nice sentiment Ericka but that didn't stop you posting a video to Instagram the other day of me in distress in the bath. It was only a bit of deer poo.] |
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February tomorrow - at last! |
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Time marches on. Are you thinking about Valentine's plans? Yikes. Peace and paws out, people
Ericka (and Enzo) |
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