This year will see the first of a trilogy commissioned by Storm Publishing – The Girl in the Loch, arriving 26th January.

On December 31st I completed the second in the trilogy, working title Pagan. Then on to book 3.

I’ve never written to order before, so now have had to approach creativity as a job rather than the idle musings of a rambling mind. That’s fine – I’m hanging up my engineering hat and can wear any hat I like (as you can see)!

I was planning on grandiose musings on 2023, but to be brutally honest it can get in the bin. As mortal creatures, we don’t need reminders of the short and transient nature of life. I have lost people to death and its cruel sister dementia, seen those I love diminish like an autumn mist until they are lost to everyone they love – even whilst their hands are held by sons and daughters they no longer recognise.

Before Christmas I buried my aunt in the Netherlands. A devout catholic all her life she lost her faith at the end, unable to reconcile a benevolent God with the greed, pain and suffering in the world. Like me, she became a pagan of sorts. Able to regard the cold immensity of space with an unflinching and unafraid eye.

No, I will look forward and if I can make my corner of the world that little bit better then I have accomplished something worthwhile. The blue tits are nesting, snowdrops raise their heads, life continues as long as we don’t destroy this one home we all share.

Maybe they should teach that instead of religion.