I’m writing this to avoid a harder job. The grand re-edit of my novel, the Wolf of Wistman’s Wood, is proving difficult. I’ve literally been working on it (with very long gaps) for a decade, and I’ve read it so many times that it’s hard to focus (see my April newsletter, Re-re-reading).

Right now though, I think part of the problem is a sense that summer isn’t the time for busy work. It has been hot and dry here for several weeks, and I’m not built for this weather.

The kids are about to finish school for the summer holidays, which fills me with 50% joy and 50% “how the hell do I work and manage this lot for six weeks?”

If I wrote self-help, I’d probably give you an awesome life-hack right now – how to stay cool with a 5am ice bath, or my seven-point plan to become nocturnal during hot weather.

Instead, I plan to spend a little longer staring uselessly out of the window before finally giving up and going outside.

OK, I’m back. Where was I?

Ah yes, the summer daze. If it’s hot where you are, take a break. Breaks are rarely a waste of time. The unfinished novel (or whatever else you’re working on) will be waiting when you get back.

Comfort fiction

Summer seems like a great time to escape into a fantasy world – and where better than Terry Pratchett’s Discworld? My particular favourite is Going Postal, in which Lord Vetinari (who rules the city of Ankh-Morpork) hires a convicted criminal to run the post office.

On being offered the job, Moist von Lipwig says: “Of course, I accept as natural born criminal, habitual liar, fraudster, and totally untrustworthy perverted genius.”

“Capital! Welcome to government service,” replies Lord Vetinari.

Dicing with death

We’re currently taking a summer break from recording our main Small Embers adventure. But our ever-industrious DM Tom has recorded a new mini-series with our dear friends the Ungovernables – so look out for episodes from them over the next few weeks. I’ve listened to the first edit of chapter one and I’m already hooked.

While I’m enjoying the break from Small Embers, I’m feeling a restless urge to get back aboard the Sterling and see what happens next for Seeksorrow, Petren, Tock and Vander. In a strange way, I miss them. Even Vander. Maybe. Or maybe the heat has affected my brain.