Friday 16 January 2015

Would ‘sorry’ have made any difference? Does it ever? It’s just a word.

“Would ‘sorry’ have made any difference? Does it ever? It’s just a word. One word against a thousand actions.” - Sarah Ockler

Well I would like to start this first post of the New Year with an apology. To my faithful blog readers, I am truly sorry for not blogging for over a month - perhaps more.  It breaks all the rules of those 'little but often' blog posts I was harping on about last year. 

I wish I could say had an excuse, but I can't. Basically, I've just been lazy. I can't even blame this lethargy on Christmas because too much time has passed. The fact of the matter is I think I'm burning out. For a couple of years now I have tried to stay on top of social media with goals and targets to hit. I installed Google Analytics on my webpage and I tried to tweet as often as I could. I even thought about setting some targets for 2015! But sadly this enthusiasm has left me. I feel a little guilty putting this statement out there for all to see, but that's what this blog is all about - my writing highs and lows (although I'm not sure which this is!). I can sense some of you shaking your heads at this admission. But I am sure there are quite a few writers and readers out there  that have found themselves in a slump of social media fatigue. 

So what have I decided to do? Well firstly, I am going to enjoy 2015 without immense pressure on myself to tweet, blog and what not  (I sound old!) and secondly I'm going to work on my three work-in-progress novels with some realistic deadlines for publication and perhaps start another.  You see I may not have been on-line but I have been furiously tapping away at the keyboard and making progress on my manuscripts.


  • Under the Coconut Tree - A Chupplejeep Mystery (my pride and joy) should be out in the spring. 
  • Poison in the Water - which I am currently re-writing (it's a painful process) should be out in the autumn and 
  • The Body in the Bath - A Chupplejeep Mystery (which I have written a skeleton first draft of) will be perfected by the end of the year.
  • I will also start the next Chupplejeep Mystery - Jetty Jalousie


H is under instruction to sort my website out too. You can see details on the first two books mentioned above here: www.marissadeluna.com

Details of  The Body in the Bath will be on there as soon as H gets organised. I've written the blurb and I'm as excited about this ms as I am about Under the Coconut Tree.

I will try and blog and I am sure as soon as my next novel is out I will find the motivation again to publicise my brand, but for now I'm just having some time out. It feels good saying it!  I will blog - when I can - I have some thoughts on the VAT changes, the demise of the blog (apparently people don't read them much anymore) and front covers! I will keep at my touch typing course. It's going slowly, but I think I will get there in the end (I'm still in the conscious incompetence phase) I will read to my hearts content (there is never enough time to read, is there?). I will try and improve my grammar (always on the list). I will see more of the world and I will write in my journal - a sumptuous brown leather bound one with a wrap. But mainly this year I  want to just be!