The new novel is off to the printer so my publisher tells me. Hooray! The long meticulous slog of proofreading is over, the cover image is chosen and looks fabulous, the blurb on the back cover approved and the sketch-maps finalised. Now my head is free to read other people’s novels.
Irish novelist Sebastian Barry has a new one out – Old God’s Time. I admire his writing greatly. This one is dedicated to his son Merlin.
About twenty years ago, Sebastian and I were at the same Writer’s Festival in Perth, Australia. The organisers treated us to a launch trip out to Rottness Island. He and I and Merlin all elected to swim ashore, but as we enjoyed the gorgeous water those on board were screaming and pointing: several huge black sting-rays were below, sharing the enjoyment with us.
We came back on board pretty quickly, though I have since learned that they are intelligent and benign.
Jenny Pattrick 
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