That pretty much sums up my life when it comes to writing. Notes go in a notebook. I like them handwritten. I remember things easier if I’ve written them down. Cut and paste doesn’t cut it. Although, some notes I do keep in a file attached to the current book. Usually if there’s a lot involved. I’m not handwriting seven pages of information about plastination, for example. 🙂

Currently, notes for [Bravo Romeo Bravo] are co-existing with final thoughts or things I wanted to check in [Indigo Delta Kilo]. It’s working for me. Now here’s something that I didn’t notice until a recent read of [IDK] … how often Ronnie uses a pen and notebook. She may have inherited my love of pens and notebooks. Or, she prefers to write with a pen in something that cannot be hacked. (Could be stolen or lost though …)

Yesterday I sat down and organised my thoughts around publishing and the industry. Like most people, the journey has had highs and lows. I paid my dues. The agent hunt with all the fun of rejections that tell you nothing – if they answer at all. I lost one agent (she was a pretty well respected agent at that) because my main character’s mother died. I get it.

I did have an agent for a while there but her life imploded and she stopped working. Back in those days email was fairly new. Requests for pages meant you had to post them!! It was $80 to send a manuscript to the UK! So, it wasn’t something I did often. I had to really like the agent who requested pages. 🙂

But, it was a fantastic experience. My bestie/sister and I were talking about it the other day. She reminded me about the massive indexed book I had with agent names in it, addresses, when I’d submitted and so forth. I only threw that away when we moved in March. I’d had it thirty years. THIRTY. Back then their was no one I could reach out and ask, here. We were at the bottom of the world and in traditional Kiwi fashion I figured it out on my own. (I did belong to Backspace which was an American group and a magnificent community of authors and I learnt so much from other authors – but there weren’t any other Kiwis, there weren’t even Aussies in that group.)

Because I had to figure it all out myself, whenever I have the opportunity to help other authors, I do. I know what it’s like in the publishing trenches so if I can make something less daunting, I will.

Stay tuned, because this blog post is going somewhere – but I can’t quite tell you all yet.

In other news: [Indigo Delta Kilo] is now complete. I have final files. [Bravo Romeo Bravo] is underway, slowly, but it’s underway. Ronnie’s Christmas story will be free for a few days from today, I think. Or maybe tomorrow … time zones can be annoying. 🙂

Christmas has arrived early! 🎄

Christmas. Family. Glitter. Tinsel.

And, because this is Ronnie Tracey we’re talking about, a secret that probably should have stayed buried. 😉

Meet [Alpha Victor Romeo Charlie] — A Very Ronnie Christmas.

Ronnie is taking Christmas off. The office is closed, the family is gathering, and all she wants is a few peaceful days with the people she loves.

Then a discovery among Nana’s old Christmas decorations raises questions Ronnie can’t ignore.

Because some secrets come wrapped for Christmas.

🎁 [Alpha Victor Romeo Charlie] is FREE on Amazon for five days only!

📅 October 16–20.

If you’ve never met Ronnie Tracey, this is a perfect opportunity to step into her world.

👉 Grab your FREE copy here: [Alpha Victor Romeo Charlie]