winter | jenjsilver

With the cold weather, both before Christmas and now, my outdoor activity is somewhat limited. But it’s a great time to indulge in binge-reading. I tend to do that, rather than binge-watching TV shows. Although I have to confess to watching The Expanse series three times. I’m now watching Silo and I’m sure it will be a re-watch in the not too distant future.

The Expanse books are one of my binges and I finished re-reading them just before Christmas. And the weeks before I started them, I re-read the Chronicles of Alsea.

What to read next? Some comfort reading is required so it’s a toss up between books by Erik Schubach and Jane Fletcher. Sorry, Erik, but Jane won the toss. I’ve started with my favourite in her Celaeno series, The Temple at Landfall. It’s the only one I have in paperback. As you can see from the photos here, I enjoy reading printed books.

All this reading is great, but not a lot of writing is happening. However, I am pleased with the reception my last book received, including the audio version.

So, wishing everyone a happy new year, with longer days and better weather to come. (And maybe some creative inspiration will drop out of the sky too.)

Print and eBooks by Jen Silver are available from Affinity Rainbow Publications / Amazon, Bella Books, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Apple Books

Audiobooks – narrated by Nicola Victoria Vincent:

A Wild Moon Rises: Audible UK/ Audible US / Apple Books / Kobo / Nook (B&N) / Storytel / Google Play / Libro.fm / Audiobooks / Everand (Scribd) / Spotify

Country Living: Audible UK / Audible US / Audible DE / Audible CA / Audible AU / Amazon UK / Amazon US / Apple Books

Darcy Comes Home: Audibl e U K / Amazon UK / Amazon US / Apple Books

Starting Over: Audible UK / Audible US / Audible DE / Audible CA / Audible AU / Amazon UK / Amazon US / Apple Books

Changing Perspectives: Audible / Amazon / Apple Books / Beek / Chirp / Everand (Scribd) / Google Play / Kobo / Nook / Spotify

This time of year I like walking through the woods as things that are hidden behind summer foliage can be seen. And the bare limbed trees show a range of incredible shapes.

It makes me think that the stripping away of leaves is like writing. Taking away the coverings from our minds reveals thoughts and feelings we didn’t know were there. Or maybe we knew they were but hadn’t paid any attention to them, happy to keep them hidden.

I often find I’ll read back something I wrote a while ago and think ‘where did that come from?’ Perhaps it comes from the collective subconscious that we’re all connected to, the hive mind. That is a scary thought. There are plenty of minds I don’t want to have contact with.

Back to the woods, the bare trees with the branches reaching up to the sky, I revel in the openness, the spaces between. And now as the season changes, new leaves will start to fill in the gaps, and the mind will focus on the bright colours of spring. That which was exposed during the winter months will be hidden once more.