LIZA CODY

Hello all,

It's been a year since my last newsletter. That's probably because 2020-2021 was such a weird and tragic year. I don't suppose I'm alone in mourning the loss of friends and relatives. Oddly none of mine died of Covid, but it was as if they simply chose that year to give up.

       So here we are, with Halloween just around the corner, and the supermarkets full of pumpkins and, oh say it isn't so, Christmas decs. What have I done with the time?

Well, I haven't even started another novel, because I'm not at all confident that I understand the world any more, if I ever did. Also life events change so rapidly and political decisions that affect our lives are made and unmade so randomly that I can't predict that a novel started this year won't be totally out of date in six months time. As most people know a novel takes me anything from two to five years, and I am definitely not a psychic.

       So I've spent the time on short stories. As well as two that no one has seen yet I've collected all my stories since 2003 into an anthology called My People. It's a good title for a character-driven storyteller. But what I'm most proud of is that my grandson, Sam, did the cover design. He had such a good idea: instead of a woman in an urban environment, he imagined the urban environment inside the woman. I love it.

       What else? Well, two and a half years ago I broke an arm. It was misdiagnosed and mis-treated. So a year ago I became Bionic Woman with a reverse shoulder replacement. All that clipped my wings somewhat. But with work and patience I've recovered at least 90% flexibility and strength. And I'm still working on the rest.

       So now, I wish you health and happiness. Stay safe.

        xxx...