Hello! I thought it was about time I started a website/blog, so here I am! I’m not very techie savvy so when I was trying to set up this site I had a bit of a nightmare, but with the help of a lovely WordPress person on the help chat, I managed to work it all out. Saved me hours and a whole lot of swearing!
I don’t know about you, but I’m in a wintry slump. It’s February. It’s cold, it’s grey; summer is a long way off and I just feel…a bit slumpy. I’m fed up with the weather; I’m fed up with wearing the same jumpers and jeans and coats and boots and thermal fluffy socks every day (actually, the socks can stay…). I’m happily writing the Book After Next during the day (Next Book, out spring 2021), but I’m spending too much time in the evenings mooching on my phone, watching rubbish TV …and eating naughty things I really shouldn’t be eating, then wondering why, the next morning, my tummy seems to be edging nearer and nearer to my desk. I need a focus for my evenings, a challenge. I want to be transported. I want to be inspired.
I write about women who, if perhaps not strong at the beginning of my books, are strong by the end. Who have evolved, lived and learnt stuff about themselves… Strong women are where it’s at, for me. And women’s stories are what I’m all about. So, I’ve decided I’m going to read 50 inspirational women’s autobiographies or memoirs – in a year – starting from today, Valentine’s Day (why not? I’m calling it my Valentine to myself, in case Matthew doesn’t give me one!!!). I’m going to read the lives of real women. I want to be immersed in those lives and taken out of the winter slump of my own. Women who have lived extraordinary lives, far from my own in terms of geography and experience. Women who have something quite different to say. I will spend my evenings and weekends living vicariously – reading vicariously – and I think I’m going to really enjoy myself.
That’s my challenge. I’m going to start with Becoming by Michelle Obama. I’ve been wanting to read it for aaaages (bit late to the party, but hey, it wouldn’t be the first time…!), so now I’m going to do it, and I can’t wait! After that, I have a few books in mind but I’m going to go where the mood takes me. If anyone chances upon this blog and has any recommendations, please lob them to me in the comments. If anyone wants to join me in my challenge, I would love that! I’ll post my musings on each book here in the blog, once I’ve finished reading.
We’ll see how I get on. I think it’s going to be good!
Fiona Collins 