This week at the loch - 12/09/2025

This week has been a tough one. I feel like I should have recovered from last week’s illness by now, but I haven’t really. My pain and fatigue are high, brain fog is awful - I feel like I can’t hold a thought in my head for more than a minute or two - and my heart rate has been very erratic, leading to all sorts of unpleasant side effects. Because I feel like I should be better by now, I keep trying to force myself to work, but I’m not actually achieving very much.

I’ve done lots of little bitty admin tasks that don’t take too much concentration, and it’s always good to clear those off my desk, but it doesn’t really feel like doing anything useful.

Between my slow recovery and the fact that it’s been very wet and windy here this week, we haven’t managed to get out bramble-picking yet, and this weekend looks like a wash out as well. I don’t mind so much doing these things in the rain if I know I’m coming home to a hot shower and dry clothes, but the kids are rather less enamored with it all.

I was really excited to see that ticket sales have opened for my event in Waterstones Argyle Street in Glasgow, where I’ll be chatting with Sam K Horton and Meg MacDonald. I can’t wait! Sam K. Horton and Shona Kinsella In Conversation | Events at Waterstones Bookshops

What I’m working on - No real writing achieved this week as my brain refuses to function properly. Very disappointing.

What I’m reading - Still on House of Open Wounds. I’m really enjoying it. In some ways it feels quite different to City of Last Chances, definitely a more tightly focused narrative, but it has a similar tone.

What I’m watching - Went to see The Conjuring 4: Last Rites on Saturday and I loved it. It’s not full of scares, but there’s a constant tension and it feels like a fitting end to the series. I’m really fussy about horror movies, so that’s high praise coming from me.

What I’m listening to - I came across this dark, moody blues this week and I’ve been obsessed https://youtu.be/s4ACjyobAug?si=UFV5ienwfx3inEaa

Something Interesting - I am currently recruiting mentors for the 2026 BFS Mentorship Programme. We’re looking for mentors who can offer advice and support to people in a variety of roles related to writing and publishing. It could be self-publishing, marketing, building an author website, getting a draft finished, querying agents etc. If you think you have the skills to help and are interested in getting involved, you can fill in the form here: https://forms.gle/xczUwVRizy3jFcDDA