Well it looks as though taking time out from writing my novel has paid off! I've been put forward for a prestigious prize for my history dissertation - the Sid Chaplin Prize - ran by The North-East Labour History Society. I'm delighted to be in the running to win this amazing prize, which would see my work published in the societie's journal later this year if I were lucky enough to win.
My degree is now finished, so I am getting back to the task of completing my first YA fantasy novel - Elodie Black, Guardian of Dreams. I'm around a third of the way through and enjoying every minute of it. It's certainly less taxing than a 12,000 word dissertation with references and footnotes, That's what I love most about fiction; there are less rules and regulations to adhere to. If I want to turn my MC into a carrot for three chapters then I can. (That isn't going to happen by the way). Ah, the freedom of it!