The Calm Before the Frenzy
Merry Christmas from Down Under!
It’s traditional to send off a round-robin at this time of year. You know, an open letter to friends and family listing the highlights of the past year and, in this time of reflection and optimism, looking forward to the glorious new year.
First, let me share my thoughts with my American friends. You’re in for a rough trot. At the very least it will be another four years of chaos and outrage but there’s every chance that the great experiment of liberal democracy that marked the success of two centuries will not, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, long survive.
I was appalled as the numbers came in on the first Wednesday in November. How could Americans be so stupid, ignorant, and downright evil as to select a clown and a crook to head their nation? After all the incompetence and corruption of the last time around?
That wall didn’t get built and Mexico didn’t pay for it. The national debt wasn’t paid off and in fact it ballooned out. There’s not a word comes out of that guy’s mouth that has any merit or credibility.
And yet …
Not my country, not my clowns, but America has all through my life been big enough to make not just ripples across the Pacific to cool my toes but waves big enough to change the landscape. I rather think that the vacuum of well-meaning, if not actually benevolent, world leadership will pass to China and that’s going to be a cultural tsunami.
Milestones
In April I turned forty. I don’t think too many noticed it, but there it was. I still tell NightCafé to portray me as young and blonde and beautiful, but at least one of those things is no longer true.
Can’t escape growing older, and as my great-uncle used to say when the topic was raised, “just consider the alternative.”
He’s been gone for some time now and I’m living in his house, filled with happy memories of Christmas parties and gifts and bowls of nuts and chocolates, but I still remember his laughing eyes and kind words.
I intend to grow old with grace and joy, and perhaps a few grand-nieces and nephews to run around the house making noise and being carted off to the beach to look for shells and sunburn.
Not this year, though. Just a few friends and a few quiet drinks.
Travel
Trips I’ll admit to, apart from my usual zipping here and there, were international jaunts to New Zealand and Finland, a week in both places and very pleasant they were to be sure.
A cruise - more in a moment - and the usual winter holiday in sunny Queensland.
Writing
I’ve pretty much left Medium behind and have dipped my toes into Substack. I have big plans for Unclad Author, and I must set my nose to the grindstone to make a few sparks fly.
New Year, new dreams, eh?
I’ve just come off a cruise. Those who know me well will not be surprised, but this one gave me more than the usual satisfaction, laziness, and need to work off a few kilos.
It was the Great Australian Literature Festival at Sea, five days of author presentations, workshops, and book signings from Sydney down to Hobart and back again aboard Cunard’s impressive Queen Elizabeth.
Alexander McCall Smith was the biggest name in the speaker list and he cranks out five best-sellers a year. Fiona Mcintosh has been publishing two intricate and deeply-researched novels per year, and others aboard weren’t fart behind.
I need to lift my game!
I have three long-form writing projects sketched out and I’ve promised myself to do more on Unclad Author.
In my next post there I will be giving a recipe for erotica writing success:
Write and publish a short story every week consistently,
Package them up in themed bundles of five or so at a discount,
Build a following,
Increase the passive income from a growing back catalogue
It would be kind of hypocritical to preach this without practising, so that’s what I’ll do, and we can all keep track of the project.
Future plans
Nothing really major. Big international trip to the Netherlands, a weekend in New Zealand, winter trip to Queensland, maybe a cruise or two.
Spending more time writing is my big project. Nailing that one to the door and sticking to it will be a challenge for me but I can make it a lot of fun and with good planning, profitable.
Over to you
Two questions:
I’ve got fifty naughty stories to write each year. What topics, themes, kinks should I cover?
What are your plans?
Britni
You made great achievements as an author in 2024. Your travel experiences are inspiring. I wish you more success in 2025.