Hello, lovely reader! It’s time for another update on what this month has held. Read on if you like behind-the-scenes, book recommendations, and cute cat photos.
Writing
In my March newsletter I shared that I had the opportunity to pitch two manuscripts, over video call, to two editors. This was a great chance to refine my pitches, and I was pleased that both editors requested to read a sample of my manuscripts when I’m ready.
For most of the last month, I’ve been revising Project Cruise and have now sent off the partial manuscript to one of those editors. Now comes the waiting… if they like my partial, they may request a full, and we’ll take it from there. My expectations are quite realistic in terms of the difficulty of getting a manuscript picked up by a traditional publisher, but I’m very grateful for the chance to show my work to this editor. Fingers and toes crossed.
My plan going forward is to see if feedback is offered, and once I have that information, likely make some changes to the manuscript before querying it to agents.
I am still working on Project GPO and once that’s finished, I will also send a partial off, as requested by the second editor. However, this project is still a little while off and I’m in no rush to share it before it’s ready.
I recently interviewed Jess McFarlane on the blog, the author of Woman of Wolves – about writing across different genres. If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s a great read!
Editing
As I shared previously, I have accepted an in-house part-time editing role. I’ve been enjoying settling into my role and the challenges that come with starting a new job.
The new role has meant a change in my freelancing schedule, but I’ve been glad to still have time to take on freelance projects. Lately I’ve been working on:
- An Australian historical fiction about organised crime in Sydney
- Query package reviews for existing clients (it’s so exciting seeing long-time clients take that next step in their publishing journey). This is a new service that I’ve begun offering in 2025, for existing editing clients.
I also had the pleasure of meeting in person for the first time an editing colleague of mine who has just moved to Melbourne. So lovely!
Resting & Reading
As always, I try and be intentional with resting in this hustle and bustle world. With everything going on this year so far, this has been more important than ever. Here’s what rest has looked like for me this month:
- A new jigsaw puzzle: I really enjoy the ‘world of’ jigsaw puzzle series by Lawrence King and illustrated by Adam Simpson. I just completed The World of Frankenstein and loved the intricate scenes from the book. The cats enjoy snoozing on the puzzles while I try and make them, which is not very helpful, but is very cute.
- Stardew Valley: The Mister and I have been playing this cozy videogame since the start of the year and it’s been a great game to play co-op. We both have different things we enjoy about the game (he’s a miner; I’m a fisher).
- The gym: in the interest of self-care, I decided to trial a few classes at a local gym. I’ve always wanted to do boxing, so I tried it out. It was a great workout and lots of fun! (though my arms felt like they’d turned to noodles afterwards!).
- Sunrise on the Reaping (2025) by Suzanne Collins: I’m firmly back in my Hunger Games era thanks to the latest prequel book in the Hunger Games franchise. This book focuses on Haymitch’s games, and is a great read, especially for fans of the original series. The book also feels timely given the political climate globally, making some interesting points about propaganda. After reading this one, I did rewatch all the films, which I’m pleased to report still hold up well.
- Us in Ruins (2024) by Rachel Moore: a standalone YA action adventure rom-com. I listened to the audiobook of this one, and my favourite thing about the book was its main character, Margot. Margot is the type of protagonist I haven’t seen enough of in this genre–unapologetically feminine, emotional, sensitive, but still having incredible adventures without needing to compromise who she is. An easy read, with a strong voice throughout.
Open tabs
In this section, I share a couple of my favourite articles from recent times. I hope you find something interesting to pique your curiosity.
- Almost half of Australians wish they read more books. Here are 10 ways to get back into reading in a distracted age – This article is a collaboration between The Conversation and Australia Reads and is a great summary of the research that Australia Reads has recently done into Australian reading habits. If you find yourself scrolling on social media more than turning the pages, this article has some great tips for increasing your reading.
- Are Writer’s Festivals Catering for the Next Generation? – Kill Your Darlings produces some excellent think pieces, and this one regarding the approach of most of Australia’s writing festivals offers some great points. The points about the need for festivals to offer a diverse and inclusive program has been something on my mind for some time. After being so impressed by GenreCon’s thoughtful lineup of speakers and inclusive programming, it is worth hoping that more discussion might lead to other writers’ festivals following suit.
Cat corner:
Steph Huddleston 