The First Time (a blog)

Photo taken by the author.

An empty page. My own website. I might write about anything…

But there is a purpose (I can hear you muttering thankful for the existence of God). This space will be used to review the books that I’m reading, chat about what works in a story and what doesn’t and maybe a little conversation, at times, about the world of publishing and my own (tiny, TINY) place within it. Other writers will be interviewed. Travel will definitely come up. Probably politics (don’t groan). And as an ageing woman, the marginalisation that shadows me more and more… Yeah, that’s up for debate. Because I doubt that situation will disappear anytime soon. I want to talk about living alone, the challenges that entails and also the joys. It’s a fine balancing act. But Virginia Woolf was right. "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction".

It’s exciting for me, this empty page. But at the grand and privileged age of 62, I know myself fairly well. Perhaps the most difficult thing will be disciplining myself to take my hand off the mouse.

Welcome.