Can you believe it that we've reached the end of our #AtoZBlogChallenge for April 2020? This brings us to Z and with it Zillions. A zillion is still a number I can't get my head around. Okay, I must confess. Most numbers confuse me. Maths had never been my strongest point. I do know, however, that zillion must be a really big number. My husband usually ends all his letters (yes, I still got those!), faxes, emails and messages with "...millions and billions and zillions and q

When I started this #AtoZBlogChallenge, I knew this was where I'm either going to give up, use something from my travel blog (there are loads of names in Chinese starting with an X!), or throw a tantrum. Or maybe getting very, very creative. So I got creative. As I'm supposed to be a wordsmith, I pulled up my online dictionary and decided to creative. And this is the word I focused on: Xeric. Did you know what it meant? I didn't at first, but now I do. According to the online

"A setting is one of the most important elements of a good fiction novel. When properly developed, the setting can really bring your novel to life and captivate your readers." That statement comes from wikiHow and it is true. Your readers want to know where the book is set and get the feel for the place. It is not to say, however, that you should sound like a tour guide when you describe your setting. I know, I read a book not too long ago like that. Of course, I did not fini

You know during this isolation period, you have all these questionnaires on social media like "What does your surname reveals?" and stuff like that. Some are complete bollocks but I think boredom lets us play along. One question had me thinking, however, and that was: "What is my favourite reading position?" I had to think about it because I'm so used to read wherever and whenever I can, I never thought about my favourite reading position. I may still sound like Dr Seuss but

When I had to decide on today's post, I had to write something starting with a Q and I didn't have a clue what. I probably could've written about Queens, Quests Questions or Quirks but no, trust me to write about food. Now I think it is quite apt. After day 23 in lockdown, I think more and more about the things I miss. In previous posts, I've mentioned that I miss my family most of all and I miss having a home and long walks. going to the hairdresser and meeting friends. Toda

I know many authors who have a specific playlist when writing. I don't. In fact, I like to write in silence, but it is not always possible. I don’t mind the howling wind outside or the patter of rain on the roof next door. Those are soothing sounds and natural. It’s the manmade ones I’m not so keen on. Of course, it depends on where I write, because in a public place you don’t have much choice. There you may have to compete with background music, people talking, announcements

Don't we all have one? A bucket list of all the things we want to do and see before... Well, maybe before we die or maybe before we're too old to enjoy it or maybe before the children leave school? Or maybe, just before the end of 2020? We may revise our lists from time to time, or as I do, every year. Of course, a bucket list does not only include travelling. It might be things you still want to do or learn or experience. Or even if it is travelling, it might be close to hom

You know when you had something, and you didn't realise how good you had it until it's gone? Yes, almost like freedom of movement and shopping when you want and all those over things we all crave for now. What I miss most now is my own writing space. I had this amazing study a couple of years ago but then we downscaled for a year before we became nomads. How I miss that space! That's where I've written most of my books and it had been my happy place. In another blog, I will t