What I’ve Been Up to in Wales…So Far

What have I been up to on my Wales writing residency?

If you want to follow day-to-day updates, pop over to my Instagram. While I’m sending updates to Facebook, I’m not checking it every day. It uses too much data, and I don’t have wi-fi at the residence, meaning I must visit the local pub or cafe to get online.

In fact, I’m writing at the cafe now.

Would you like a quick tour of my studio? OF COURSE YOU WOULD! Stiwdio Maelor is a self-supporting artistic residence in Corris, Wales. I share the house with four other residents at the moment.

Here’s my studio, which as a non-painter, I primarily use for yoga and making origami.

Do you like the oil paintings? They’re by Irish artist Liz Doyle. I found them shoved facedown in a corner when I arrived and decided to spread them out and let the art shine.

I write (and sleep) in this space:

Note the owl. Linda Washington crocheted it for me. She’s been my mascot while writing I Am Number 13.

I’m making new friends.

Yesterday, Christina and Kristina and I went to Aberystwyth. They’re artist/photographer/videographers from California, and they’re staying in the attic above me until 4 June. One of the biggest joys of these residencies is making new artsy friends who revitalize and bend the way I see the world.

But the biggest news of all?

I FINISHED I AM NUMBER 13!!!!!!!!!!!!

Minor polishing remains, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS STORY SOSOSOSOSO MUCH! I can’t WAIT for you to read. As soon as I have a publication date, I’ll share it here and everywhere. (Wish I could share the gin and tonic in a can, but they’re only available at Marks & Spencer. Perfect for 2am solitary celebrations!)

Get ready to read I Am Number 13!