I'm currently working on the next book in my "Bewitched by Chocolate" series (Book 7: Salted Caramel Sorcery). I have to confess, it has not been going smoothly... aarrggh!! I thought I had the plot all figured out but after I started writing and got about a third into the story, I kept getting stumped. I couldn't "hear" the characters talking in my head and the scenes just wouldn't flow easily...
That's usually a sign that something is "off" with the plot or characterisation, and it's bothering me subconsciously, so I need to stop writing and fix things. (Like making sure that your car has the correct type of fuel in the tank, rather than forcing it to continue down the road with the exhaust pipe billowing black smoke and the engine spluttering and stalling 😉 )
So, this week it's been back to the drawing board and I'm revising the plot again... sigh. I'll get there in the end but it might just take longer than I expected. Maybe the pandemic mayhem has affected me more than I realised or wanted to admit. Writing seems much harder and I'm less productive these days...
You know, I'm a complete introvert - happily going for weeks sometimes without much social contact and completely content spending days living "in my head", with just myself for company. So I thought the lockdowns and restrictions wouldn't really bother me. But maybe the constant anxiety and uncertainty has been more draining than I thought - it's certainly harder to feel "creative" in such a tense, uncertain atmosphere!
Anyway, I'm working as hard as I can to get back on track! And in the meantime, here's a little sneak peek of the beginning of the new book...
(ps. for those who keep asking - yes, I'll be writing the next Oxford Tearoom Mystery after I finish this Bewitched book! )

Oops! I nearly forgot to share that I have a new German audiobook release! 😛 The 2nd book in the Oxford-Tearoom-Krimis has been brought to life by the wonderful voice talents of my German narrator, Michaela Gaertner. TEE MIT MIILCH UND MORD is now available in audio on Audible, Apple and Amazon:
Audible DE: https://www.audible.de/pd/Tee-mit-Milch-und-Mord-Hoerbuch/B091B9DPQ3?source_code=EKAORWS0223189009-BK-ACX0-250979&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_250979_rh_de
Apple: https://books.apple.com/au/audiobook/tee-mit-milch-und-mord-tea-milk-murder-ein-oxford-tearoom/id1561047745

"Hollyhock Cottage" in my English Cottage Garden Mysteries is named after one of my favourite flowers... and here's my attempt to create my own little "Hollyhock Cottage" in Australia! ;-)