Stephen King says: ‘if you don’t make time to read, you can’t make time to write’. Yes! Reading is nourishment for the soul, intellect and entertainment.
I grew up loving to read. Although, even when I was a kid, I was never really into romance novels. While all my friends were reading the Sweet Valley High and Babysitter’s Club series, I was reading Missy’s Murder by Karen Kingsbury and all things detective. Anything mystery; The Famous Five, The Secret Seven (who didn’t want one of those badges they had to wear to show they were part of a secret society?), The Hardy Boys, Trixie Beldon… You know the list goes on. Half horrified and half fascinated by the puzzle of a crime and how they were solved. Later Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham and Michael Connelly books featured heavily on my Christmas or birthday present list.
It’s funny though, now I’m a writer, I find reading a little more difficult. The book has to really grab me for me to keep reading further than the third or fourth chapter.
2019 was a horror year for me personally (and many others I know) and I had to make some changes; diet, exercise, new habits and getting rid of bad ones.
This included making more time to read.
I had carpel tunnel surgery on both hands in June and that was when I started to read again – I couldn’t write, so I had to do something else.
While I was carving out more time for reading, I was asked to write a writing course and as I did that, I had to return to the basics of writing… Ones that I had forgotten; the joy and excitement of turning a new page. Of the fun that playing with words gives. Of living in that subconsciousness and hanging out with imaginary friends!
Between the Pages with Fleur McDonald is a look into my world as a writer. What works for me, little tips and things I’ve learned over the last eleven years and fourteen books. And as all good mystery readers would want, there is a SECRET group that if you buy the course, you’ll be a part of! You’ve got me as your personal coach and it’s a sixteen day course that turns up in your email box every day. Between the Pages will help you create a new habit; making time for writing.
if you love writing, but don’t have a lot of time, this is a good course for you. And in conjunction with a new year, what better time to start creating that new habit?