This past month I have had lots of time to read, but the writing has disappeared out the window. These are my excuses:

• Too excited, awaiting for the birth of my first grandchild – and the owners of the Spanish campsite decided to build a road next to our pitch. Of course, playing scrabble had nothing to do with lack of writing – I was honing my literary skills.
• Obviously, I wasn’t finding time to write whilst cuddling my new granddaughter.
• The flight home from Spain was so delayed I arrived home at 3 am in the morning which meant I’d been travelling for ten hours.
• Less than 24 hours later, my mum had another fall and has broken her right hip. So I have been hospital visiting and traversing the wonders of South Eastern Railways. Why do the trains always run late?
• Finally, several years ago, I started making quilts for my great nieces and nephews. I have almost finished the quilt for my daughter’s baby, but there have been three births in as many months so the sewing machine is mightier than the pen.

But, here are some thoughts and recommendations about the books I’ve been reading.

‘Rivers of London’ by Ben Aaronovitch. Thoroughly enjoyable. I laughed out loud, which is rare for me. I would describe this as a detective novel with shades of Neil Gaiman’s, ‘Neverwhere.’ The other four books in the P.C Peter Grant series are equally good.

Also set in London, with a real feel for the places he describes are the Tom Thorne novels by Mark Billingham. Sleepyhead, Scaredy Cat and Lazybones are the first three in the series. I’ve just finished ‘The Burning Girl,’ and found this less satisfying; the background research impinged on the story too much and slowed down the plot and action. However, I have been assured that the later books are worth reading. Good, solid detective fiction.

Hungry Caterpillar Quilt

‘Empire of the Saviours’ by A.J.Dalton is the first in a series of fantasy novels. I found this through the author’s blog, which is worth reading in terms of fantasy writing, e-publishing and a host of other topics. An enjoyable read in the fantasy genre with interesting concepts. The People are not allowed to leave their settlements without special permission; children are drained of magical powers as they reach adolescence. Jillan, aged thirteen, changes the order of things when he has to flee the city. So, some connections with my fantasy novel, ‘The Whirlstone.’

Traditional ‘Round the World’ Quilt

‘The Song of Mavin Manyshaped’ by Sheri S. Tepper. This is just one of the many fantasy novels by this author, born in 1929. I’ve enjoyed all of her books. Years ago, I read a story in which the layout of the city changed every day and the main character needed to find a map that would show the changes. Can anyone remind me of the title of this book?

Above are photos of two of my most recent quilts. Now, where did I put my fountain pen?