We writers need as much of this as we can get. Us senstivie artistic types have to somehow develop a skin thick enough to withstand the multiple rejections and endless waiting of the writing life.

Had a little gift of hope from the writing gods yesterday in the form of a surprise email from Ben Ball, publisher at Penguin Australia. He thought I’d rung (I hadn’t) and told me to call again today so we could talk. Did, he’s out, but still… I’ve sent an email asking if perhaps he’d be interested in reading the Cambodian novel ms, “Bittersweet”.

He’s a great guy. I was lucky enough to have an editorial consultancy with him on Thrill Seekers and he tried very hard to get it over the line at Penguin but it was short stories then and “not literary” enough. In contrast to “Bittersweet” being “too literary” for Hachette. Hmmm.

Hopefully I’ll find just the right balance with the next one.

Hope is important I’ve decided. Even false hope. That dream of one day being a best-selling author, may not come true, but it’s a lovely way to spend day-dreaming time. Beisdes, JK Rowling had that same dream. So did Ernie Hemingway, so did Margaret Atwood.

I have to hope that if I only persist and perist and persist, all the practice I’m getting in that time will make my work so good it’s irresistible!

Love and HOPE to all