Tag: life

Not Another New Year!

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It’s that time of the year when the whole world seems to be wetting their knickers over the change of date. In point of fact the whole world will not be celebrating the new year. There are countless new years all over the world and at many different times. Even in our own little country you will be faced with quite a number.

For the sake of argument we’ll start in January.

  1. The change of the number of the year. This incites parties which means spending lots of money. We absolutely have to drink lots of alcohol and eat unhealthy foods at these parties. Some of us travel long distances and spend hours in packed airports and stations. As a penance we do promise ourselves to do better once the first day of that year arrives.  

The financial new year. This stems from when our quaint little country followed the Julian calendar and began the new year in a civilised fashion on March 25th. All accounts had to be settled and people were allowed one week’s grace in order to do this. Never mind a party, your money was destined for the fat landowner.

The academic new year. This begins in September after the harvest is gathered in. At one time everyone had to help with the harvest, both young and old, male and female. There’s a short window for gathering in the produce because we all know what England’s summer weather is like. The school holidays are still based on this for some unexplained reason.

The Celtic new year. The Celtic new year begins on November 1st. The church pinched it as they did most things and changed it to suit themselves. The winter to the Celts was like a prenatal period where we developed and grew ready for the spring.

And then there’s your own personal new year – your birthday.

    I take no notice of new year rituals. Okay, I did have copious snowballs last night but if I didn’t I’d find solidified advocaat in the back of the cupboard next Christmas. Not a pretty sight and I quite enjoy a snowball. I’ve done two loads of washing today and risked being posted on the washhouse door for ignoring the superstition of washing out good fortune but I needed some clean knickers.

    I have made a new year’s resolution if you can call it that. I’m going to be more active on social media. I have books to sell.

    #horror #horrorstories #scifi #scifistories #psychologicalhorror #pyschological stories #pyschologicalcrime #ghoststories #coronabooks #waterdragonpubs #vellichorbooks

    This Week Starts on a Saturday

    susanjeatonLeave a comment

    So far I am having a lovely week. Okay, so that’s probably put a hex on things but you never know.

    I know Saturday is technically the weekend but this week is going to start on a Saturday.

    I had a table at St Andrew’s Book Fair in Porthill. (Stoke-on-Trent for those of you not local to the area.) I go mainly for the gossip, delicious cake and the perfect cups of tea because it’s the sort of place I see familiar faces and they’ve bought my books by now. However, I met some lovely new people who bought lots of books – well six altogether but that meant I could buy more books from other authors to take home –  and cake.

    With my daughter and her partner away for a long weekend it meant I could eat all the cake while reading one of my new books in peace and quiet. Nice.

    On Sunday I finalised all the details concerning the publication of my new book, an anthology of three psychological stories called How Frail the Vessel. Thank you, Lewis Williams of Corona Books for doing all the hard work in getting it ready to present to the public. It’s available now on Amazon in both paperback and kindle.

    Please, please, please write a review when you have read it. It helps to spread the word. We all talk about the Stephen Kings and J K Rowlings of this world but they had to start somewhere.

    Monday was spent in the front garden. No dog as she was still away but I had the cat to help me. Repetitive weeding and tidying helps to stimulate the brain cells and I decided which way my new story is going. It was coming across a bit like The Day of the Triffids meets Shaun of the Dead and I wasn’t sure how that would work but thanks to a day away from the computer (a few days actually) and some hard graft in the garden I can see a, hopefully, more innovative story arc. No spoilers.

    Tuesday began with a trip through road works, a queue for the local tip and a full car park in order to arrive the local surgery in time for a blood test appointment. It’s a good job it wasn’t a blood pressure check. Not so much fun although I got home in time to receive a box of copies of How Frail the Vessel. An excellent reward for a trying morning.