To misquote the Aussie band, Powderfinger, “This year turned out nothing like I had planned”. (From the song, These Days, featured in the soundtrack for the movie Two Hands starring Heath Ledger. Great movie). How are you holding up?

Some days it’s a real fight to leave the real world behind long enough to enter my fictional universe and write. Other days I’m incredibly grateful that I can – and that I can share the results with you. Stories of hope are so important these days. And always, I guess.

2020 has been one shock, struggle and tragedy after another. Personally, I’ve been lucky. None of my family and friends were burned out by the Australian bushfires that started the year, nor have we had COVID19. Still, the changes in society to combat the spread of infection have had an impact. New routines, and dealing with old problems in new ways, all take energy to adapt to.

I want to give everyone virtual hugs. It’s been a heck of a year – and we have another six months to go!

A few years ago, a friend told me to be as kind to myself as I’d advise another person to be to themselves. That’s gold star advice, so I’m passing it on. You deserve cake and naps and some time in the sun. I’m ORDERING you to look after yourselves. Please.

Thank you all immensely for your supportive comments and reviews of my new book, The House That Walked Between Worlds. Launching a new series is nerve-wracking. Launching a new series in the middle of 2020 is like waiting to be targeted by an asteroid, or something like that. It fosters weird dread. Your kindness makes all the difference.

House in Hiding (September) and The House That Fought (November) will complete the trilogy that The House That Walked Between Worlds kicked off. Then in early 2021 you get Space Baby! Thanks to your comments that YES! You want more of Thelma and Max and all the frontier crew, you get a human baby and a baby AI, plus a whole heap of fun trouble for the New Year.

Wishing you happy reading and good health!

Jenny