To say this has been a strange week feels a little undercooked. In the span of five days I’ve nervously boarded a flight armed with hand sanitiser and disinfecting wipes, traveled to the Blue Mountains for my first writing Fellowship, written more than 20,000 words (and counting) while anxiously following the news, seen the Coronavirus (COVID-19) declared a pandemic, the SAME DAY announced my first ever festival panel for Sydney Writers Festival, and now a day later, watched as tickets are suspended and signs point to the event not being able to go ahead. We will know more come Monday, which is, funnily enough, also the day I’m due to fly home. Fun! Continue reading
I can’t believe I finally get to share the cover for ‘Please Don’t Hug Me’. Jessica Horrocks at 
2019 is teaching me a lesson about vulnerability. It is showing me again and again how much harder it is to stay open and vulnerable than it is to close off, shut down, not talk about it, but also how much more I can offer and be by fighting the urge to take the easier route. 
If writing a book is the natural state for a writer, getting up in front of an audience and reading from that book feels about as far from natural as I can imagine. There are plenty of writers who are natural orators, but unfortunately I don’t fall into that category. I’m to the left in the ‘so anxious I might cry and/or pass out’ category. Hello to all of the other nervous talkers in this category with me. Welcome. May I offer you some peppermint tea? 
2018 has been a big year for *feelings*. I don’t feel alone in that. Just about everyone I know has had an intense year in one way or another. For me there’s been personal loss, creative doubt, incredible milestones, and a whole lot of waiting. I’ve also been panning through my own insecurities and trauma for gold nuggets of emotional truth in my work. And you know what, that gets exhausting. I’m feeling a little wobbly. So if you’re going through any of the above at the moment, or have been this year, I see you. It’s tiring. Be kind to yourself. 
