So sat doing some Fadmin (family admin) whilst the first Christmas cake is cooking. The smell is amazing and is making me feel very Christmassy.

I love my role as a Lead Writer with the young people in my @writingwestmids Sparks @thesparkwriter group. Today I'm working out how to make paper fortune tellers for a writing activity. First time I've made one since I was 7!

Reading lots of mystery books, books about wartime SOE agents, 1920s murder mysteries, gardening books, all great research for my two WIP series' that I'm working on. I love it when reading is working!

I'm so excited to be running the Sparks sessions again from September with @writingwestmids . We cover lots of different sorts of writing, play word games and have lots of fun. To book follow the link below.

Just picked up my homework from the library. @AmySparkes used an extract as an example in her brilliant Dealing with Dialogue course. The writing is magical both literally and metaphorically and is inspiring to read when you are pushing yourself to be the best you can be.

I get to write today which is a treat so I'm starting my cb sequel and plotting a new cb series. I love the freedom to explore characters, settings and build tension and drama that chapter books give you.

I'm submitting to agents again which is great, this time with my Chapter Book. The nerves and refreshing email have started again!

The path of a writer is never straightforward. Thursday had a rejection (but a lovely, constructive one) from a publisher. Then Friday I found out I'd been longlisted for a competition! Down one minute, up the next. This is one hell of a rollercoaster!

Hoping the longlists for the @WritingMagazine PB and CB prize may be out before Christmas?! Trying to keep myself occupied with other things while I wait! @AmySparkes

We only went out and bought this beauty! Didn't even have to order it in; there was a display of them in the local bookshop, Rossitors. Also started re-reading the two Winston books as we felt it was unfair for Winston to miss out as Christmas is so HIS time! @Alex_T_Smith