March Update
Mar 15, 2026 8:25 am
Hi
So it’s been a while. I hope you’re well and safe wherever you are in the world. If you’re new to my newsletter – welcome! It’s lovely to have you here.
As the regulars will know, my newsletters are an unpredictable mix of writing and personal news, and when I have no writing news, sometimes I find it hard to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). I know it isn’t much of an excuse for the long silence, but I’m afraid it’s the best I’ve got.
And that’s where I find myself at the moment. The day job is busy. I had a few days in Townsville in Far North Queensland for work recently which was fun – I’ve never been there before and the hotel had a pool which was fantastic! I think I spent every spare moment in the water and it reminded me how much I love swimming – I used to go to the pool on a regular basis but it’s been a long time.
Having fun in the hotel pool in Townsville
I’ve finished the edit of All That Remains, but I’ve decided to look for a traditional publisher this time. The workload of self-publishing, with all its marketing demands, is just too much for me at the moment, especially as this book doesn’t quite fit into the Echoes of War series. While it does reference the war, the book is less about that and more about memory and the consequences of the choices we make in life. I’m very proud of it and am currently submitting it to agents, which is an arduous and slightly soul-destroying process, but I remain hopeful! I will of course keep you posted.
I have another novel simmering in the background – an old manuscript I’m revisiting that didn’t quite work, but that has some potential. It’s about a couple who have been together for 12 years but whose marriage is now on the rocks. As the story unfolds, untold secrets from the past are revealed, casting everything into a new light. I’m not quite sure yet what I need to do with it but it’s percolating away, and I hope to dive back into it soon.
I’m spending most weekends now in the Blue Mountains at our cottage, which is cooler and more homely than our place in Sydney – can’t wait to live here full time! Gardening has become a passion over the last couple of years: it’s definitely my happy place. Except for the couch grass, which has become my new nemesis.
I’m still learning the harmonica, which is giving me great joy, and I got a book for Christmas on drawing botanicals, which I’m spending time with now and then. I’m tyring to nurture my inner child – doing things purely for the joy of them, with no outcome in mind. We live in a world where everything is ‘optimised’, and I’m working on bucking the trend.
What I’m reading: Anna Karenina. This has been on my shelf for years like an expensive bottle of wine, just awaiting the right moment to open it. It’s surprisingly accessible and while the names can be a little confusing at times, the story is completely compelling and utterly heartbreaking.
What I’m watching: The Piano UK. Reality TV at its absolute best. Each week piano players perform on a street piano, secretly watched by maestro musicians Mika and Lang Lang. We learn a little about each person’s story and what the piano means to them. I’ve laughed and I’ve cried, and the talent is incredible: I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Stay safe. Hope you’re happy and well. And until next time, happy reading.
Here are the links to my books. Have you read them all?
Kind regards
Samantha
https://www.samgrosserbooks.com
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/samantha-grosser
